Tag Archives: dad

10 Tips for Celebrating When Your Baby Turns ONE!

A guest post written for 53 Weeks.

Your baby is turning 1!!! It’s time to enjoy and celebrate this major milestone! Here are 10 tips that helped this mama out!

  1. Pick a theme

Picking a theme can be fun and it helps you stay focused and helps organize the direction of the party.

We decided to go with an “Alice in Wonderland” theme. My daughter has an adventurous spirit and is full on wonder so it was a natural choice for us!

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  1. Ready, set, shop!

Now that you have your theme, it’s time to set a budget. Remembering that in the end it isn’t how expensive your party is but how memorable and fun it was for everyone.

The first place to start for me was shopping online at party supply sites. They have great deals and so much to choose from! From there check out your local dollar store. It’s amazing what you can find for a $1! I headed to a local wholesale lantern store to purchase all the colorful lanterns that we hung from the ceiling. I ordered most party supplies on Black Friday and took advantage of the discounts. If there is a holiday coming up take advantage of the savings!

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  1. Guest list

Make a list and check it twice! You’ll need to know how many people you want to invite in order to plan successfully. This will help you decide on location, budget and overall work. Surround that little one with loved ones who have made the year so special! It takes a village, right?

We decided to invite about 75 people. Below is our group shot (blurred to respect privacy).

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  1. Location, location, location

Now where to have the bday bash? Keep weather in mind – not so fun having a jumpy house outside if it’s raining. Can you accommodate all guests in your home? Is a restaurant more your style and letting staff handle the set up & clean up?

We decided on a recreation center. The blank space allowed us to decorate freely and there were no time restraints which allowed us to enjoy the party without watching the clock.

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  1. What’s on the menu?

Try to be creative and work with your theme. Also, keep in mind how convenient it will all be. No one wants to be stuck in the kitchen during their child’s party.

We decided on sandwiches which were individually wrapped with salads as sides. This made it easy for all and allowed many variations and choices. Best of all – no one is heating anything up or running around. For the cake, I decided on going with cupcakes which are very convenient. No cutting, no passing out, no mess. I purchased a cupcake stand on amazon for presentation. Our daughter, of course, had her individual smash cake. I was able to find a cute cake topper on Etsy.

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  1. Planning ahead will help you stay sane (kinda).

A first birthday is a big deal and one may feel the pressure to have it all be great. But now that you’re a mom, who has the time to be Martha Stewart? I started planning about two months prior. The time also allows for extra creativity and DIY projects. I shopped online, made calls and completed projects all during my daughter’s naps.

  1. Dress the part!

Get your guests involved and make everyone feel like they are part of the fun! Children love to see fantasy come to life.

We offered our guests their pick of hats as they walked into the party. Hats were purchased from a party supply store. Some of us wore costumes and had a blast! Our mini Alice looked adorable in her light blue tutu!

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  1. Gotta entertain the littles.

Try estimating how many children will be coming to the party and their ages. Kids want to enjoy themselves and be a part of the theme via games and activities.

I purchased a corn hole game and covered it with green fabric and glued some flowers on it. My husband printed out posters at work. We also printed out some coloring pages for the younger kids. We also hired someone to face paint and hand out balloons.

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  1. DIY with Love.

Crafty? Time to put your skills to work. Not crafty? Recruit friends and fam who are. Or now will be the time to become great friends with Pinterest and DIY tutorials on YouTube. Why DIY? Because sometimes you just can’t find what you want or need in a store. It can also be great way to save money.

For me, I enjoy DIY projects because I’m taking the time to do something out of love. Some DIYs I made were garland made out of dollar store playing cards, Queen’s guardsman which were made from dollar store poster board and construction paper and our table runners were also made by simply purchasing some fabric and sewing the sides. I also had some items which included pictures of her first year.

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  1. Have fun!

When all is said and done…ENJOY this special day! In the end it isn’t about the décor, it’s about celebrating their sweet life. A year has gone by and it probably all happened in the blink of an eye (despite the sleepless nights). So take it all in, these moments go by way too fast. Remember to take lots of pictures so your little one can look back on the celebration! Congrats you made it! Happy Birthday little one!

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Our Favorite Rides at Disneyland

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On our family’s recent trip to SoCal, I was the only family member who had ever been to Disneyland before. It was a first for our two boys and  first for Daddy too! And — it was then a FIRST for us as a family, I mean it felt all new to me since the last time I went was many moons ago for grad night when I was a senior in high school! LOL!!

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I think we lucked out with weather and picking a good day to be in the park. We beat the Spring Break rush and temperatures were in the mid 70’s! I downloaded the Disneyland app before we got there so I could see how it worked and how it might help us when it comes to ride time (highly recommend doing this), but we didn’t really need to use it too much. Typically we had to wait 5-15 minutes for most rides, with our longest waits being about 30 minutes. Ride-wise we pretty much got to experience all of the ones our kids were qualified for…we skipped any big rides like Splash Mountain, Matterhorn, Haunted House or Space Mountain, but had plenty of time to jump on the rest. The only one ride I wish we could’ve done was Peter Pan, but hey, save something for next time, right??

Thinking back, one of the things I can appreciate about the majority of the rides there that simply require the shorter set to be accompanied by an adult is that for the most part you get on the ride and it’s taking you through a maze of attractions telling a story, something we can all enjoy. I will say Alice and Wonderland and Pinocchio’s Daring Journey were a little dark (kinda scary) for the boys, and Roger Rabbit is way before their time, but everything else was lots of fun.

All that being said, these were each of our “first time” favorites.

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Raef loved the Astro Orbitor. It was the first ride we went on after enjoying our character breakfast at Plaza Inn, and at the end of the day he still proclaimed it as his favorite ride of the day. I think he liked being high in the sky and able to control going up and down!

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My favorite was the Mad Tea Party, you know teacups! I liked this one because we all got to sit in one teacup together and spin around and around…

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Isaiah’s favorite kept changing throughout the day with Dumbo the Flying Elephant being his most consistent pick, BUT for sure, his highlight was meeting Pluto in Toon Town. Toon Town was a lot of fun. We got to meet Mickey at his house, hang out with Goofy, ride a roller coaster and more. However, when Pluto showed up, it made Isaiah’s day!

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T (Dad) says he had no preference. I will say he beat us all at Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters though… In this ride, you have these laser guns and there are targets along the ride route that you can aim for and earn points…well I only discovered that halfway through, so when I realized how to make my score go up the ride was already half done! HAHA! However, when we disembarked I say that T had amassed the most points, clearly he was in the competitive spirit of the ride.

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Other favorites included It’s a Small World – Raef keeps re-watching a youtube video of the ride and singing its signature song. The carousel is always a big hit and the daytime Mickey’s Soundsational parade was also lots of fun. We didn’t do any of the Star Wars stuff this time around, but I know next time we visit, that will be a main attraction.

3 Easy Tips for Disneyland First Timers

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My family is fresh off its first trip to Disneyland and there are so many thing I want to share about our experience, namely a few “insider” tips that I wanted to share. I say “insider,” because I learned the value of these tips after being on the inside. If you’re reading this post as you plan to take your kiddos for the first time, chances are you’re probably trying to sort out and absorb the overwhelming amount of info out can find about planning a trip to Disneyland. I did my fair share of pre-planning and felt pretty confident going in with my crash prep for the trip, I wrote about that here. Right now I want to give you a heads up about a few easy ways to make your trip a little more memorable.

1stvisit1. 1st Visit Button

First up, a FREE souvenir… Be sure to pick up a 1st Visit button! It was a cute giveaway that can be proudly worn to show off that it’s your very first time. I wouldn’t have even known about this, save for one of the park attendants, who asked if I had one for my kids. He gladly gave them to me, making us feel that much more welcome for their first visit! I saw some people wearing other like buttons and pins, so maybe it’s a “thing” and they have them for all sorts of stuff…keep your eyes open.

A photo posted by Aubrey Aquino (@fifty3weeks) on


2. Character Breakfast

If it’s your first trip to Disneyland (or Disney World), I would highly suggest making reservations for a character meal. We chose to do Breakfast with Minnie and Friends at the Plaza Inn on Main Street USA inside Disneyland. It was easy to get a reservation – I think I did mine a week ahead of time, and it’s so worth it! Note – you do need the admission ticket for Disneyland in addition to a reservation for the meal. I wasn’t sure how my boys would react to the characters in person and it was a great ice breaker.

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This was our first activity of the day and we got into the park a little early, before it opened through a special entry marked for the character breakfast! It was a breakfast buffet with all the standard favorites. The food was good, but more than the food you are paying for the experience. The characters continuously made the rounds, each stopping at our table multiple times…taking photos, high fiving, interacting and signing the boys’ autograph books.

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We met Rafiki, Tigger, Pooh Bear, Dale, Fairy Godmother, Max, Hook, Eeyore and of course Minnie Mouse!

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**BONUS – Scoop up the FREE souvenir button, showing you went to the breakfast!

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3. Ride Photos

Several of the rides at Disneyland snap your photo during your excursion and at the end of the experience you can view the picture and email it to yourself free of charge. Another great memory saved in a photo, at no extra charge. At first glance I thought it would be a photo they’d try to sell to me, so it was a pleasant surprise to realize it was complimentary. We got one snap from the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters ride.

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All in all, our visit was exceptional. Other than our tickets for entry and buying each of our kids a Disneyland hat, we made it out without breaking the bank. We brought a few snacks/munchies and my dollar store finds like the autograph books and neon, glow in the dark goodies for when the sun went down…and managed to steer clear of any over the top, unplanned purchases!

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Discover the Dinosaurs

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We did a Sunday Funday outing to “Discover the Dinosaurs.” It’s a traveling exhibit and we had the opportunity to catch it during its 2016 San Jose stop. My boys aren’t super into the prehistoric animals, but besides the actual dinos on display, there were also activities to engage the kids, so we checked it out.

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We went first thing in the morning when they opened and on the way to the convention center we did our best to get the boys excited about seeing the dinosaurs. It was great when we walked in and they didn’t immediately get scared.

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The dinosaurs on display are pretty big and make “life-like” movements. I don’t think they are life-size, but to a 3-footer toddler, I’m sure they come across larger than life. We enjoyed looking at them and reading the different names and teaching those terms to the boys, very educational. This part doesn’t really take too much time, you can do it in 30 minutes give or take, depending on how much or how little time you spend looking at the creatures.

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Then they had a few dino rides. My older toddler wasn’t interested, but my 2-year old chose to take his turn riding the Triceratops! Right after that they had sandboxes set up where kids could brush away the sand and discover fossils. This was cool for maybe 5-10 minutes, but the big attraction for my kids was the inflatables area.

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My boys are big on the bouncies and this is where we spent most of our time. They had a pretty good variety of bouncy houses with slides, big bounce areas and obstacles for both smaller and bigger kids.

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Other attraction were a mini-golf set up, coloring area and a “mining” area, with the latter requiring an additional charge to the admission.

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Overall, it was a fun outing, in total we spent less than 2 hours there total. I’d say this exhibit is best for kids ages 3-7, and/or babes who LOVE dinosaurs. If you think the dinos may come across scary, that wasn’t an issue with us, but I did see at least one kid hesitate to do a dinosaur ride. The cost of admission may be a bit steep, a family of four is about $100, not sure if price is dependent on location.

Snow Play at Spicer Sno Park

One of the great things about living in (Northern) California is having all kinds of “nature” at your doorstep. You can head to the coast for some beach time, or hit the hills and trails for a hike….there’s also the Sierra Nevada’s which provide for some awesome SNOW PLAY!!

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Personally, I’m not much of a cold weather person. I’ve been fortunate to grow up and live in places where it really doesn’t ever snow, so that has worked out well for me. I have gone skiing and tried my hand at snowboarding, but at the end of the day, I’m gonna be okay if I never do either again.

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However, because I believe in doing my best to expose my kids to new experiences and trying to cultivate family time activities, I made it a point for us to enjoy the “El Nino” snow, that’s just a short drive away. Last year my boys did get to see snow for the first time while we were living in Virginia, but I must say, snow in California is something special.

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I did my due diligence in researching areas which weren’t far from home, didn’t have a big price tag and could provide us with a fun day of snow play! The big thing around the Bay Area is Lake Tahoe, but if you don’t aim so far north and think more direct east….you can avoid the Tahoe traffic, and find lots of areas to enjoy too!

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In our case I chose the Spicer Sno Park – I have no idea why there is no “w,” but that’s how it’s listed. The California State Park system has 18 Sno-Parks to choose from in Northern California and the only cost is a $5 parking permit you can buy online or at designated locations on the way to your destination. Here’s a link to the map >> http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=24867 

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Since we have toddlers and didn’t want to drive more than a few hours, we chose Spicer, off Highway 4. The play area has an ample parking lot and portable restroom on site. There was plenty of room to play, and you could take your pick of smaller hills, or steeper ones to slide down. We brought our own snow Saucers that I purchased at Big 5 before we left the Bay Area. And, everyone there pretty much knew the drill to bring their own sleds, toboggans or discs. Find more snow gear here.

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All in all, it was a good day. We stayed for a couple ours to play and then went right back home. I also made/edited my first ever video mash up of the day, using iMovie on my iPhone! Press play below…

Toddler Word Play

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One of my favorite things about the toddler stage of development is language development. Here they are, these little sponges that have been listening to me yap and yap, talk up a storm with myself as I try to communicate with them…so when they finally start using words, figuring out meanings, pronunciations and even putting them in phrases and sentences, it’s an exciting time!

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Not too long ago I purchased magnetic letters for the refrigerator because it just seemed like a “family” thing to do, but I also figured my boys could maybe benefit from seeing letters on the fridge and playing with them too! In the top photo, you can see where my almost 3 year old, Isaiah, put together the word “RASP.” I’m sure he has no clue what it means and even I had to verify that it was an actual word, but nonetheless it is and I was impressed at his consonant and vowel placement!! BRAVO!

My kids have a definite affinity for letters, maybe it’s because we watch a lot of Wheel of Fortune! And — as can be expected they say the darnedest things. The words they use and come up with and you scratch you head and think…where did they get that from!?!? Here are 5 words and word combos that give me a good chuckle every time they say them in the most serious way.

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AIR PUMP – A few weekends ago, we went out with a bunch of deflated balls and the mission was to fill them up! I have boys and they want to play with their balls…so like any good parent I figured we’d roll out to a gas station and get some air. Right? WRONG. When we arrived at the air fill station, I realized we didn’t have the needle and so it then became a quest to find an “air pump,” and ever since then Isaiah will randomly tell me “air pump,” like that’s a solution to any and every problem.

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EYEBROW – In the boys room they have a Sesame Street puzzle floor mat and while they love to rip it apart and assemble it back again, somewhere along they way Bert’s eyebrow has gone missing. So now they have learned the word “eyebrow” and they are both concerned about the “eyebrow,” inquiring about it daily.

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STARBUCKS – Okay, so what do you do when you need to leave a play area or go home and your child starts to have an “I don’t want to go home” meltdown?? Well, my keyword is “Starbucks.” Think what you want, both me and their father don’t even drink coffee, but I will have an Iced Chai and he likes the green tea! Then we started letting them eat the ‘Iced Lemon Cake’ and Houston we have a problem..or not! Lately, all I have to do is utter the word and they are ready to go…to Starbucks..which sometimes takes the detour to HOME…no tears, no complaints, no nothing. But yeah, when they have their mind set on Starbucks, they will keep reminding me they want cake and will point out the locations we see while we drive, which is like every block! ha!!

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HOW WAS YOUR WORK? – A few times now while randomly sitting on the couch or hanging out, my almost 3-year-old toddler, Raef, will say “How was your work?” Say what? LOL! I guess he’s picked it up listening to Mom and Dad interact, but he asks in the sweetest way, like he genuinely wants to know. So, I give him the “work is fine” answer. Makes me smile and giggle every single time.

holaSPANISH – My children’s babysitter is a native Spanish speaker and a few of the boy’s’ good friends are Spanish speakers as well…plus they were born in Miami at a hospital in Hialeah – one of the largest Spanish speaking communities in the U.S., so my boys are kinda like bilingual a little bit! 😉 However, one of the cutest revelations ever was when Raef looked at me and said, “Oscar is Spanish. Raef is Spanish too!” Then a few days later, he made that same observation about his babysitter Beatriz. I’m not sure how/where/when he put it all together, but it totally melted my heart to learn he understands Spanish is different from English and attributed it to the right people! *side note, my kids stopped saying “‘shoes,” now it all about “ah-pah-tos” aka “zapatos.”*

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Man I tell ya, these guys are always listening. They know and can comprehend so much before we probably even realize it. One thing is for sure, it’s very entertaining and fulfilling to relearn and see the world through a toddler’s word play!

What eye-opening, surprising words did your toddler says that would give you a good laugh?

I’m Not Going to Label My Kids Biracial…

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I’ve had this topic on my mind a lot lately…the way society likes to “label” and designate people into categories based on race, culture, ethnicity, etc… One of the common terms we hear a lot is “biracial.” By definition, it means: having a biological mother from one racial group and a biological father from another. Okay, so in my case, my children could technically be called “biracial,” but I am not going to put that label on them. From an ethnic standpoint I am Filipino (for the most part) and their father is Black (with his roots stemming from Louisiana Creole). When I look at my babies, they are mine and I don’t view them as my biracial kids.

I guess you could say I’m hypersensitive to these tags we’re given, especially when we fill out a form and have to check a box defining our race, ethnicity, etc… It’s annoying. And what’s even more bothersome is the often times misuse of the terms. So many times people will ask what my “nationality” is and when I tell them American..they are baffled. I mean, I know what they are asking, but that’s not the right term to use. Then, many times when I give them the info I want, I’m greeted with, “well, you don’t look Filipino,” etc… I know their father has gotten his fair share of questions about his appearance too.

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Alright, so all this to say that I hear the biracial term thrown around all the time and there’s nothing wrong with it…BUT it seems pretty inclusive to people who are black and white. My kids aren’t black and white, but they are biracial. My boys have dark hair and brown skin, they look like me and their dad…and for me, that’s what matters.

If I had to choose a term, I’d say “mixed” would be preferred. Growing up in the Bay Area, California, I was fortunate to be surrounded by a melting pot of people, I had plenty of friends from varying ethnic backgrounds and while I recognized cultural differences and our differing appearances, I wasn’t necessarily taught to classify people because of them. So, I’m not going to (consciously) label my children that way either.

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I realize my children will learn about race and ethnicity, and that as parents they will look to us for guidance in understanding it. However, I refuse to be the one to label them and view them as my “biracial” boys or my mixed kids. Instead of putting race at the beginning of the equation, I’ll push it toward the back, as more of a matter of fact item, than one that defines who they are, before all else… I will surround them with love and acceptance by way of education, friends and experience, and help them appreciate people.

There’s nothing wrong with being biracial or mixed, but since mine aren’t “black and white,” – and really nothing in this world truly is, I will not contribute to creating a box that they really don’t need to be in, and apparently they don’t really fit in, because when I hear biracial, my children don’t come to mind. My boys are my little humans, they are a blessing and they are beautiful.

If you are the parent of a “biracial” or “mixed” child, I would be interested to hear how you approach and/or view this topic!

 

Father’s Day Gift Guide

I find that it’s usually pretty easy to find a gift for my Dad. He’s pretty awesome, he is thankful for any gift and likes pretty much everything. However, I’m always trying to think of great gifts to give him to show him how much he is appreciated. So, (for work) I put together my Father’s Day Gift Guide for 2015, from cologne to grilling, watches and family-fun games…I thought I’d share it here too!

Kenneth Cole Mankind Ultimate
macys.com

Ralph Lauren Fragrances Polo Blue
RalphLauren.com

Bison Belt and Wallet
www.bisonmade.com

Stauer’s Watch
www.stauer.com

Lapizta Watch
http://www.lapizta.com/

Zoinx Sunglasses
http://www.zoinxsunglasses.com/

Out of Print Socks and Matchbooks
http://www.outofprintclothing.com/

A-MAZE-N Tube BBQ Smoker

www.amazenproducts.com

Tequila Partida Reposado
http://www.partidatequila.com/

Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva Rum
http://www.rondiplomatico.com/

Epicureanist™ Stainless Steel Ice Cubes
www.jcpenney.com

Cooper & Kid Box
www.cooperandkid.com

Play Day Trader
PlayDaytrader.com

Baby Gear Product Roundup

I recently hosted a “Baby Gear Product Roundup” on my show the other day, with a look at some of the newest and coolest gear designed with baby in mind. When it comes to baby stuff, there is SO MUCH out there, and I had to squeeze in some of my favs in the few minutes we had…so watch to see some of the “must have” items, from cute to innovative, and the downright necessary!

Here’s the rundown with links of the featured items:

Beyond Junior Y
http://www.abiie.com/

Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Bouncer and Backpack
us.diono.com/littletikes

Soap Sox
www.soapsoxkids.com

Whale Pod
http://www.pishposhbaby.com/

Boon Bathtub
http://www.pishposhbaby.com 

Nested Bean Zen Swaddle
www.nestedbean.com

Boppy
www.boppy.com

Beebo
www.thebeebo.com

I See Me Books
www.iseeme.com
Use discount code “HAMPTON” for 20% off any order at iseeme.com, exp 5/15

Cetaphil Lotion & Diaper Cream
http://www.cetaphil.com

Baby Magic
http://www.babymagic.com

Set an Example: Our Children are Our Mirrors

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This parenting thing isn’t always easy. Everyday we are confronted with new challenges and situations, many of which are things we could’ve never prepared for…but nonetheless, life happens and you just figure it out along the way. As moms and dads we have a huge responsibility on our shoulders, to raise children who will be happy, healthy and productive members of society. We want to prepare them and give them the tools to be successful and achieve any dream – big or little, that their hearts desire.

Well, I by far am not a “perfect” parent or person, nor do I think I know it all…and I certainly don’t have the answers for everything, but I do the best I can every single day. I do it for myself, my children and for the people with whom I surround myself. So, last week when I was “bullied” online by presumably another mother – her profile photo showed her and a small child, not only was I insulted, but it sickens me to think of the negative example she is setting for her child(ren).

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Long story short, I am an on-air TV Host. For whatever reason, we (media folks) become open targets for criticism by the public, and with the rise of social media, people have become increasingly outspoken (good and bad), to the point where it’s not surprising to be nit picked and pulled apart for our looks, the way we talk or for any other number of reasons. Well, I had posted a “fun” video on our show’s FB fan page, teasing our viewers about the upcoming segment I was pulling together to show cool “baby gear,” and I jokingly said I had to figure out how to assemble a high chair, and that it would eventually be given away to a lucky viewer. Sure enough, a “not nice” person left a comment basically saying that “if Aubrey put it together, I would re-do it.” I immediately saw it, and thanked her for her support (or lack thereof), replied that I have 2 toddlers and am very skilled at assembly…and then evidently she deleted her nasty comment. Maybe I should have taken a screen shot…

Why she believed she was entitled to publicly make that judgement about me, I have no idea. At any rate, not only did her unnecessary comment insult me, but to think that she is a (fellow) mother and that is the type of example she is setting for her kids, is nothing short of disturbing. It made me think of all the ways in which our children are our mirrors. Plain and simple, they are a reflection of who we are in every way.

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Think about it, they watch our every movement and repeat what they see. We are their example, the blueprint for navigating this crazy world. Our words, power and influence in their lives start from even before they enter this world, and will have a lasting impression on their entire lives. You hear the cliches, “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” “he is his mother’s child,” “monkey see, monkey do,” etc… The list goes on.

From the ways in which we think, behave and love, to our tastes in food, culture and pastimes, all of it has so much to do with where we come from, who we looked up to and what we were exposed to. So, I started to consider all the ways in which my children may follow in my footsteps and how very important it is for me to be what I want them to be. I take this responsibility seriously, and I can only hope everyone else does too, because if we want the world and the future to be a better place for our children, the change and the beginning…all starts with us.