Supersized and classic toys, innovative RC vehicles, custom-built creations and zombie-inspired playthings are among the top industry trends of 2014, according to experts at the Toy Industry Association (TIA). The trade group unveiled this year’s hottest playthings during a packed seminar for media and buyers at TIA’s 111th American International Toy Fair. “Personalization and open-ended play are definitely the buzz words of 2014,” said Adrienne Appell, TIA trend expert. “Whether kids are building with classic...
Name: Kalyn Chapman James Children & Ages: Phoenix, 11 and Zen, 7 Hometown/Current Location: Lives in Miami, FL, and is from Mobile, AL Quick Bio: Kalyn Chapman James is the Host of Art Loft. She is a native of Mobile, Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a minor in Sociology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. An accomplished dancer and choreographer Kalyn has danced since the age of nine. She served as a television journalist on The Fox Sports Network’s show Behind the Game, and she is the first, and only,...
Repost from CBS Sacramento, Credit: Audrey Asistio “About a quarter of pregnant women will miscarry,” my doctor said to me, back in May 2013. I just learned my pregnancy was “abnormal” and my baby wasn’t going to make it. I was two months along. As you could imagine, I was devastated. Let me take you back. Several years ago, my husband Mark and I tried to get pregnant for more than a year but didn’t have any luck. It was a difficult time for me.August 2012, I decided to take a break from “trying” just to get my emotions...
I decided to try and make a homemade honey cough syrup after seeing an insert with the recipe in the “Swag Bag” from the Biggest Baby Shower. Both my boys have been having on and off runny noses and Raef has had this cough that wakes him up when he sleeps, so I figured I’d give it a shot…you know when you get to the point where anything is worth a try!!! The good news is it’s pretty easy to make and he didn’t mind taking it! I’m still figuring out if it is really helping or not, but I thought...
I have a set of Irish Twins…ALMOST! My boys were born exactly 53 weeks apart, so we missed the official “Irish Twins” designation by a week. If you’ve never heard of the term, here’s the definition as posted by Verywell.com. Definition: The term is used to describe two children born to the same mother in the same calendar year or within twelve months of each other. The phrase originated as a derogatory term associated with Irish immigration to the United States and England in the 1800’s. The implication...
Written by Jaclyn D. for 53 Weeks. As a young, independent woman, time was all I had. I worked part-time at a news station and attended the university as a full-time student. I dedicated my free time to writing stories for class assignments or relaxing on the beach like a washed up coconut. I could sleep in if I wanted to, heck, I could get up and just go. I could literally jump in my car, bad breath and all, and just go. Time? Who needed that? Time brought change (good and bad), and I wasn’t ready to be all ‘grown-up’...
Name: “Lisa Lee” Arneaud Children & Ages: Alyssa (12), Tristan (10), Chance (21 months) Hometown/Current Location: Miami Gardens/Pembroke Pines Quick Bio: Always on the Go sums this Mom up. I have always been likened to the Energizer Bunny who wears a Colgate Smile. My days are always packed with a million and one things to do and somehow they get done. I like to tell other moms that my secret is wine at night and coffee in the morning. The wine is to put me down and the coffee is to get me up. I juggle a full-time job,...
I just LOVE this uber cute idea for Valentine’s Day!! Twinkies dressed up like Minions to let your “sweetie” know that they’re “One in a Minion!” I actually lifted this photo from a friend of mine, and she got the idea from Pinterest. I wanted to share it here because it’s just too cute. I’ve discovered the whole concept of giving valentines in school has far surpassed the flimsy paper ones we handed out in my day…these days it can’t just be a card, there’s stickers, tattoos,...
Any first time parent can relate to the overwhelming task of figuring out the ins and outs of baby products, trying to pick a stroller, baby furniture, create a registry, etc… And — if you’re ever cruised the aisles of baby stuff at the stores without doing your homework, it can be a mind-blowing experience! Well, that’s where the “Biggest Baby Shower” comes in. The event, hosted by Big City Moms, features more than 100 of the best baby and parenting companies in the industry and the “expo”...