Tag Archives: toys

Playing with the Bubble “Machine”

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My kids love bubbles. I think it’s a given for children, bubbles are such an amazing, fun and simple thing. So now that it’s warming up my boys have been asking more and more about bubbles…I mean, sure it’s not an activity limited to outdoors, BUT I’d rather have them run around and spill all of the bubble solution outside, rather than inside!

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Okay, so for Easter they got these giant “Paw Patrol” bubble wands. I liked those because it’s easy for my toddlers to grip and they quickly got the concept of how you dip it in the tube to get more solution and then you don’t even have to blow, you can sort of hold the wand up and let the wind catch it and create bubbles for you. Of course there are the traditional bubble bottles with the small wand inside. Those are easy for my kids to blow their own bubbles, but without fail, it all spills out for one reason or another, and doesn’t last long enough! I’ve also bought them some bubble sets with trays and wands with fun shapes and those work good too.

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But, the reason I really wanted to talk about bubble is because the other day we headed to the playground with a couple bubble “machines.” And, I put machines in quotes because the easier term would be “gun,” and I just feel awkward saying that in the same sentence when refer to a toy my boys have… Prior to becoming a Mom, I hadn’t given it too much thought, and I hadn’t even bought them these bubble makers…they were gifts.

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I figured it would be much easier for them to play with the bubbles, less mess and all they had to do was “pull the trigger.” But even saying that makes me uneasy and as we walked to the playground I kept thinking, I hope any other parents there don’t give me the side eye for allowing my toddler to play with these “guns.” They were a pair of brightly colored toys, that look nothing like the real deal, but the shape and mechanism are similar to what a gun would be.

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It turned out not to be a big deal, my guys were so quick to make sure they kept the bubbles coming that they ran out of bubble solution quick. The ones we had were also a little leaky, so before the batteries gave out, there were no bubbles left to be blown! All this to say it did feel weird, but I don’t think I should feel bad. We’ve never given them any type of toy gun at home and I don’t plan too. I’m sure as they get a bit older water guns and other type of play guns will be things they want to check out…they are boys.

But for now, I’ll limit them to the bubble machines and make sure they know them as such and not say the “g” word.

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

Playing with Everything BUT their Toys!

My home has been overtaken by toys. Sure we try to limit the toys to the boys bedroom, but inevitably their stuff makes into into the living area – under and in the couches, the coffee table, kitchen table, kitchen counters, etc… It’s not uncommon to stumble upon a ball, car or action figure in our bedroom either – under the bed, by the window or even between the sheets! I’m sure that’s a “toy story” we all deal with…BUT the funny thing is, my boys’ favorite “toys” are not really THEIR toys!

So many times it’s not the toys, but the boxes the toys or diapers, come in!

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Lately my older toddler has been obsessed with keys. Sure he has play keys, but he knows they’re not the “real” deal. He wants my car keys, my house keys..he wants every key except the ones he is allowed to have and hold.

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Another funny preoccupation my older toddler has right now is anything that “snaps.” From my flat iron to my tweezers, he wants to SNAP things.

ironAnd finally, the tablet,the iPad. My children are lucky enough to have been given a Nabi Nick Jr. tablet as well as a Sprout Cubby..but at the end of the day, they want my iPhone and my iPad…ay yi yi!

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What non-toys are your child’s FAVORITE toys!?!?

5 Emergency Essentials When Stuck in a Hotel with Toddlers

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This isn’t a blog post I ever envisioned writing. My family is currently “displaced,” and has spent some time in a hotel as our temporary home! Long story short, freezing cold temperatures caused a pipe in our condo building to burst and the whole line of units that we were in got flooded. Yes, water, flood, NO BUENO.

Luckily, we were home when it happened and we immediately called for help and were able to protect our personal belongings…but half of our home is now affected by water damage and with 2 toddlers, there is definitely no way we can stay there. So while that’s all getting sorted out, we’ve been staying at a hotel.

Living in a hotel isn’t an ideal situation. First, with toddlers or any child I’d assume, being in a new environment brings with it lots of curiosity, they tend to be thrown off routine and schedule, plus you simply don’t have the comforts of home. It’s one thing to be on vacation, another to live out of a hotel when you still have work, a babysitter coming in and you’re not on leisure time. I think of it as a forced “staycation.”

Thankfully we’ve had lots of support and despite how stressful it has been for us, the kids are happy as long as we’re around. At any rate, I came up with this short list of the emergency essentials for toddlers when you unintentionally end up in a hotel.

  • Swim Attire – If the hotel has a pool, the kids will love it..and it will wear them out
  • Security Blankets/Pillows – Makes them feel right at home
  • Books, balls and toys – Avoid those that are too noisy for close quarters, but a little variety of each to occupy them while you deal with the situation will help
  • Coloring Books/Crayons – Who doesn’t love to color? Creativity cures…
  • Snacks – Hopefully you have some type of refrigerator in your hotel room, but either way with goldfish, fruit snacks, veggie straws and crackers on hand, it has certainly helped us out

You know, it’s been hectic and crazy since we don’t have our usual conveniences of being at home…but the one thing my better half reminded me of, is that no matter where we are and what we are doing, as long as we are having fun…the kids will be okay!

 

Holiday Gift Guide for Mom, Dad and Kids

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This fall I took on the daunting task of putting together holiday gift guides for everyone and everything on your list… and presented them on my show. Shopping may seem fun and easy, but it’s actually pretty tough to select items and make suggestions to make sure you cover all the demographics and range of tastes for all kinds of individuals! All that being said, I think I did a pretty good job to help someone out with some “bright” gift ideas….

All the video clips and list links are below…

Angela & Roi Handbags – www.AngelaRoi.com 

Pure HANDKIT’s Original Button Wrap – PureandCo.com

Galaxy Gold Jewelry – www.galaxygold.com

Vionic Shoes – www.vionicshoes.com

Rodan + Fields Anti-Aging Skincare – www.maryjaneng.myrandf.com

Bed of Nails – http://bedofnails.org/

Festified – www.festified.com

BodiPro – www.viatekproducts.com

YogaSmoga – http://yogasmoga.com/

Philips Norelco Shaver Series 9000 – http://www.usa.philips.com/

RumChata Holiday Gift Box – www.rumchata.com

Craft Beer Growler & Glasses – HomeWetBar.com

BBQ Dragon – Visit www.BBQDragon.com

Tastosterone Cookbook – http://www.tastosterone.com

Junk Food Clothing – www.junkfoodclothing.com

ScoreBand Pro – www.scoreband.net

Nap Anywhere – www.napanywhere.net

GrillGrates – www.grillgrate.com

Ribalizer Rib Cooker – www.ribalizer.com

Marbleworks  Raceway Sets – www.DiscoveryToys.net

SuperME Backpack – www.supermehero.com

Sydney Paige Backpacks – www.sydneypaigeinc.com

ciao! baby Portable Highchair – www.theportablehighchair.com

Philips/Disney SoftPal – http://www.usa.philips.com/

Original BedBug – http://originalbedbug.com/

Pediped Shoes – www.pediped.com

Lassig 4Kids Trolley Suitcase for Kidswww.habausa.com

Fashion Friends – www.DiscoveryToys.net

PlayTape by Inroad toys – www.inroadtoys.com

 

Discovery Toys

I’ve been working hard on gift guides for television segments at work and I came across Discovery Toys which I love! First off, the company is based in Nor Cal aka the Bay (my hometown)…but what I truly appreciate about these “toys” is that they all have educational value. I mean when kids play they are learning, but it’s makes these toys extra attractive because while they play they are tapping into many senses…creating…and being educated!! Childhood development professionals recommend these toys…just saying.

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For babies…there’s a new Earth Play collection of hug-and-hold take along animal buddies for babies, all produced with certified organic cotton. Among the neutral colored items in the collection are a lovie, squeakie, musical pal, rattle and puppet..not too much pink or blue, just perfect for any baby!

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Then they have classic toys like the award winning Measure Up! Collection. Watch learning in action with this kitchen-themed set…sine they love all real kitchen utensils and stuff anyway… Spoons, cups and pots are all accurate sizes, perfect  for interaction. Introduce a host of fundamental concepts related to counting, sorting, volume, size, patterns, measurement, clock time & more.

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And for your bigger kids, the Marbleworks raceway sets are fun, who doesn’t love marbles. They have several sets that all work together, so you can add to the set as desired. Connect colorful tubes, chutes and bases together in different ways to create an infinite number of raceway configurations. As the marbles speed through the course, children learn about the laws of gravity, object permanence and cause and effect. Marbleworks products inspire girls AND boys to pursue higher education in the fields of engineering, math and technology. Yes inspire them to love and pursue a future in the STEM fields!

fashion

The Fashion Friends are perfect for the diva designer in your little one. Fashion design with math in mind! Mix and Match tops, bottoms, skirts, hairstyles and accessories with hundreds of combinations! I remember my fashion plates when I was a youngin and it was one of my favorite things.

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Finally, check out Change-the-Story books. These are guaranteed to inspire the imagination and induce a ton of giggles. Story crafting builds vocabulary and early reading skills. This engaging interactive book lets the reader change the story every time it is read.

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Every item in the Discovery Toys catalog is BPA Free, meets or exceeds all required safety standards, and is backed with an unconditional satisfaction guarantee. Discovery Toys products are available through DT Educational Consultants and at www.DiscoveryToys.net

Zoo Animals Party Theme

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This past weekend we celebrated my baby boys birthday at the Virginia Zoo! I had originally had a whole ‘nother theme idea to celebrate their joint party, but after we moved and chose the Zoo for the celebration location…it only seemed right to make it a “ZOOper Birthday” bash!

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My uber creative super designer sister Adrienne whipped up these fun in-theme birthday party invites..I didn’t want anything too “babyish” with the animals and this worked perfect! And — the great thing about having a party at this zoo was that included in the “fee” were the room rental, private animal encounter, table clothes, plates, cups, pizza and drinks…all I really had to do was bring a cake, but…of course I decided to do a little bit more! 😉

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I decided I’d do one decorated table and found a zoo animal party theme style online to get the coordinating tablecloth, centerpieces, banner, etc… Since it was Isaiah’s 1st birthday, I had a fun “Chalkboard Poster” printed up (ordered on Etsy, printed at Costco) …did one for Raef last year, a nice keepsake to hang in the bedrooms after the party. Then I found cute animal print frames to put each of the boy’s photos in.

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Aside from the favor bags which I handed out as my guests were leaving, I wanted to have fun in=party distractions (need those for the little ones), and setup a “Party Animal Gear” area where they could choose from an assortment of animal clappers, animal face “masks” party blow outs and of course the classic party hat!

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Apparently the “zebra” face was the most popular, but the animal faces came in monkey, elephant, tiger, lion and giraffe too!

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My little Isaiah was fine rockin’ the traditional party hat with his giraffe shirt from Gymboree!

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For dessert I did got a chocolate chip message cake (it was a big hit) and I had cupcakes with zoo animal picks and animal print wrappers. I also found the cutest animal print candles too!

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Part of the party package was a private animal encounter for the kids. We had a rat snake, bunny rabbit, centipede and the chicken pictured. It was nice a nice educational presentation with a zoo educator and the kids could ask questions and had the opportunity to pet the animals too!

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Finally the favors…I came up with these great little colorful canvas bags with animals on them, stuffed them with boxes animal crackers, zoo coloring books and crayons, animal print sunnies and an animal-themed beach ball too! All in all it was a roaring good time…Happy Birthday to my little guys!!!

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Gear Up for the Beach “Baby”

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Summertime and trips to the beach with the kiddos can certainly make for the perfect family outing… And packing and having the right gear once you hit the sand can make the day that much more FUN! Our favorite time to go to the beach is first thing in the morning. Once we get up and eat breakfast, dress and get ready, we load up the car and head out. Of course this takes some pre-planning, but heading out early (in my house) is key. First, the kids are fresh and ready for the day (less likely to meltdown). Second, it’s so much easier to find parking…and subsequently a spot on the beach. Smaller crowds always equal less headaches. I love the morning sun and the “fresh” sand. Third, you make the most of your day. Whether you do a full day at the beach or just start it there, a jump start always makes a better day for us.

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When thinking about the setup and what essentials to pack…you definitely need more “stuff” when you’ve got the kids…but sometimes you try to minimize what you’re hauling onto the beach because it can be a trek from where you started (parking) to where you end up, and it’s not exactly convenient to roll stuff on the sand (i.e strollers, carts, etc…). So, this is what works for me. I use an old flat or fitted bed sheet to lay on the sand to mark our spot. Fitted actually works well because you can fill the elastic sides with sand to hold it down! 😉 Sheets are lighter and less bulky than towels and this way your towels aren’t covered with sand when you actually want to use them to dry off!

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I also invested in a “Lil Nursery” tent. It’s small and lightweight and offer shade for a small child if they want to nap or get away from the direct sun. The set up on this one is pretty easy and while my kids have yet to actually nap, it also sort of is a good place to keep our personal belongings that we don’t want out in the open. And it’s perfect to use for diaper changes….BONUS! You can also find great family tent options here.

pool

Okay now, the plastic ring pool is SO key! I won’t claim this idea as my own (I got it from a fellow Mom), but it’s perfect when you have a non-walker who can just chill in there and enjoy the beach with everyone else and you can set it up right at your feet. I picked up the inflatable pool at the drugstore and it was cheap, like $5, and worth every penny. I bring along a small hand pump, inflate it, add some ocean water and voila, fun and easy way to keep them cool while you lay out and catch some sun.

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With the tots you can’t forget the beach toys. Depending how much you want to bring a bucket and a shovel are usually enough. Although we tend to bring multiple items with rakes, molds and other various beach toys. The huge blue bag we got from IKEA (the cheap one they sell at checkout), works so excellent to pack the toys, tent and towels in.

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And finally – I can’t forget the cooler. There are a variety of coolers available, we have a medium size one that rolls, but also a more portable over the shoulder insulated bag that works well too. It’s always a good idea to keep milk, water and any fruits “refrigerated.” Other items for a day of fun in the sun…sunblock, swim diapers, wipes, tissue and music!

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I don’t do beach chairs or lug along extra umbrellas as of now…maybe when my guys get a little bigger and can be a bit more help to transport the items onto the sand. But this is what works for me! I hope these suggestions can work for you too.

 

Yes, I’m THAT Mom

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If you’ve ever been on the Babies “R” Us or Toys “R” Us websites and the image above looks familiar…it’s because “Yes, I’m THAT Mom.” One of the most common comments I hear these days (everyone around me is growing their family), from my circle of friends and family is that they saw me online doing a product “review,” for a Medela breast pump no doubt! 😉 Then, I am often times told “you look really familiar,” when meeting new people. Well, chances are if you have young children or have been shopping for baby shower gifts, you may’ve come across one of the hundreds of product videos I’ve done for those sites.
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I actually started hosting these videos in my pre-Mommy days, and it’s inadvertently proved to be a great crash course in learning and navigating all the baby stuff I’ve now needed and used when I official took on the Mom role! From playards to activity gyms, strollers, scooters, toys, tubs, breast pumps, baby monitors and more, I had a true hands on opportunity to learn all about them.

BTW, the videos are (technically) not “reviews” either…I’m really just giving the product descriptions, very similar to what you can read on the page or on the packaging. The videos are very helpful though if you’d rather have someone tell you about the items and also get an idea of the size/proportions of the products. I’m not sure how many of my videos are still in “rotation,” but if you want to press play and check some of mine out, here are a few links to visit the product pages, and you can find the video players about halfway down the page.

Medela Pump In Style
Jake and the Neverland Pirates
Baby Einstein Adventure Gym

DIY Easter Basket for the Kiddos + Giveaway

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Last week I started thinking I need to “get on it” in regard to making Easter baskets for my boys. They are still pretty young and can’t really understand the concept of Easter or the bunny, egg hunt, etc…, BUT I need to get in the habit of planning and putting together things like Easter baskets, in advance, or else I’m subjected to what’s left when I make a last minute dash to the store! So, I started thinking about what to put in their “homemade” baskets and it can be a little more challenging when you’re assembling these for infants and toddlers because the typical Easter “fillers” of assorted candy, chocolates and peeps aren’t exactly something I want to give to my babes. Ok, so all that said, I teamed up with GILT to show you some 3 of my favorite picks for baby’s Easter basket!

birdpushtoyBird Push Toy by manny and simon exclusively for Gilt. I love this cute, friendly little eco-friendly bird that any tot would enjoy! Push toys are big for new walkers or “trying to be walkers,” the 100% recycled wood construction is durable and the soft color (made with non-toxic and ultra low odor paint) makes it a perfect addition to any Easter-themed basket. GILT: $32

magentic blocksFour Magnetic Cubes by Tegu. These magnetic blocks come in a fun pastel color palette and are sure to brighten up any basket. I must have a thing for the wooden toys because the set of 4 cubes are made up of FSC-Certified Honduran Hardwoods. A great gift item for any child ages 0 and up, its magic magnets will be sure to attract them to this toy instantly! GILT: $10, Original Retail: $15

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Fluffy Buffy Bunny by Maileg. And what basket would be completely without a loveable plush toy?? This soft rabbit is adorable with its floppy ears and body. Any child would love to put their arms around this one and give the (Easter) bunny a BIG hug. GILT: $38

So there you have it a few of my favorite Easter basket musts for the infant/toddler set – girl or boy, available on Gilt! To purchase any of these to add to your Easter basket, use this link http://www.gilt.com/53weeks especially created for 53 Weeks to purchase the products…OR…GUESS WHAT?? You can win them right here on 53 Weeks, because I am giving all 3 items away to ONE lucky winner!

The “53 Weeks Easter Gilt Giveaway” runs April 1, 2014 until Tuesday, April 8, 2014, and that’s when the winner will be selected! It’s free to enter, just fill out the official entry form below, then LIKE AND leave a comment on this post sharing what some of your plans are for Easter or a DIY basket! Good Luck!

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