Category: Kids

Halloween Countdown Calendars – get yours now before October starts!

Halloween Town Countdown

As a kid, I LOVED getting an Advent Calendar at the beginning of December. You know, the paper kind with a tiny piece of chocolate behind a door you opened each night leading up to Christmas? As a fan of everything Halloween, I thought I would search for something similar for the month of October. Enter: Countdown Calendars for Halloween!

Ghostly Gathering Countdown

Super cute! They don’t come with chocolate, but instead have either a spooky joke behind each door or a clue to lead you to which door to open next. I love these because they are just as fun to open, but don’t offer kids even more sugar during October. Also, they’re not too expensive which is a plus! Now, comes the hard part – picking which one to get.

Get them here through our affiliate links:

Halloween Town Countdown: https://amzn.to/2mvwAyD
Ghostly Gathering Countdown: https://amzn.to/2kGohja
Little Goblins Countdown: https://amzn.to/2mDFLgN

Little Goblins Countdown

If you’re looking for something a little larger, check out this Felt Countdown Calendar. It comes with a cute little bats that you put into a new pocket each day of the countdown and detachable ghost ornaments. You can get it here with our affiliate link: https://amzn.to/2kAX1Cr. Happy Haunting!

Felt Halloween Countdown

September 23, 2019
No Tie Kids Shoelaces that WORK!

For the first two weeks of 1st grade my daughter would come home with her shoelaces tied in what seemed like hundreds of tiny knots. She is still learning how to tie her shoes so in her rush during the school day she resorts to just tying knots. This method does not successfully keep the laces off the ground – so it isn’t safe.

I did an investigative search on Amazon and found these gems. No Tie Shoelaces from Homar. They are very reasonably priced and they work!! It takes a bit of time to get them through the lace holes but once installed they make getting shoes on soooo much easier.

Hint: Be sure to cross the middle two laces and thread them through the loop on the tongue. This will keep the tongue from sliding down when your child puts their feet into the shoe.

These no ties shoelaces come in a wide array of colors, even rainbow. They have them for kids and adults. I have even used them on a pair of sneakers to make them slip-ons! Check them out using our affiliate link here: https://amzn.to/2LEgUDf

No Tie Shoelaces for Kids – Brown

No Tie Shoelaces on
Focus 2 Performance Athletic Shoes – C9 Champion® Mint Green from Target

September 20, 2019
Kid Gift Idea: Melt & Mold Jewelry from Klutz
Our family has always been a fan of Klutz! I remember my own “Official Koosh Book”. Did anyone else have an obsession with Koosh and anything Klutz? Yes? Well, they continue to make fantastic books and crafts for children. We received Kultz’s Melt & Mold Jewelry as a gift – wink 😉, Aunt Carolyn! She had used it with her girls and knew it would be a hit.

How it works: You melt the plastic discs in hot water and add the melted wax into the mold of your choice. My daughter is eight and needed assistance with the water because it needs to get fairly hot. She was able to choose the colors and add the wax to the mold. The best part of this craft is that it is very forgiving. You can always re-melt the wax. HIGHLY recommend this kit! It’s reasonable price it makes the perfect birthday or Christmas gift! Check it out on Amazon HERE.

*affiliate links
September 13, 2019
Kids & Brushing Teeth – a Toothpaste my child will actually use!

Tasty Paste – Find it here: https://amzn.to/2Q2lLlY

What is it with kids and brushing their teeth? Why is it so hard to get them to brush and, when they finally do, to get them to do it correctly? One of my daughters does NOT like to brush her teeth – she hates the taste of toothpaste so much that she spits it out the second she gets the toothbrush in her mouth. I tried so many different flavors: fruit punch, bubble gum, strawberry, watermelon, mint. The list goes on and on until I finally tried a chocolate flavored toothpaste.

Yep, you read that right. I found this toothpaste, Tasty Paste, on Amazon and finally have a toothpaste my daughter will use! If you have a reluctant brusher at home too, give this toothpaste a try! Find it here: https://amzn.to/31fSYvu.

September 10, 2019
Sunscreen & the Product That Saved My Sanity
I love summer! I love it a lot. I love the weather, the sunshine, the more relaxed schedule. But, one thing I do NOT love about summer is the constant sunscreen struggle with my kids. It’s such a time-consuming and frustrating, but necessary part of our day. The kids squirm and complain when I apply their sunscreen, but don’t do a great job getting full coverage when they do it themselves. So when I saw this product, called Solar Buddies, I ordered it right away. I am here to say that this product has been fantastic for us this summer! You can find it here on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2yXGOuU
Basically, it is a container with a roller and sponge at one end. You screw open the container, put in the sunscreen of your choice, close it up and let the kids get to work. As they roll it over their skin, the sponge helps to smooth it out. They don’t have to squirt any sunscreen out of a bottle which usually ends up in a big mess and the Solar Buddies size is perfect for little hands. I did find that we would have to rub the sunscreen in afterwards with our hands sometimes, but this is so much easier for my kids to use!
As with most products for kids, it works best with supervision. They still need help with their backs for example, but I have to say this has made putting on sunscreen easier and more fun for my kids. It’s a win-win!

*affiliate links
August 13, 2019
Free First Day of School Printable Signs!

Flip Sequin Sneakers – Target
Sequin Stripe Shirt – Target
Similar backpack – Target

It’s that time of year again! And by that I mean the time of year where you see photo after photo in your social media feeds of adorably dressed, smiling kids holding up signs announcing their first day of school. I actually really like to see these pictures, they give us a chance to see how kids have grown and show us a smile before the reality of school sets in.

In honor of this day we made some First Day of School Signs for the 2019-2020 school year. Feel free to download and print out to make your life a little easier! I usually just pop them in a picture frame to make them look a little nicer and snap a pic on the way to the bus stop! Enjoy!

Download ou r Free Printables here!

First Day of School Printables Download

August 7, 2019
DuckTales: A Welcome Return!

I always think it’s great when something I loved as a kid turns out to be something my own kids love, too. It’s even better when that thing has changed juuuuuust enough to stay current, but retains everything you loved about it back in the day. This is what has made the new Duck T ales series – now in its fourth season – such a blast. Prepare to have a certain theme song stuck in your head…..and to admit you’re a sentimental member of Generation X.

Back in action are all the classics: Scrooge, Donald, Huey, Dewey, and Louie! Webby Vanderquack and Mrs. Beakley! Launchpad, Gyro Gearloose, and Duckworth! Even arch nemeses Flintheart Glomgold and Magica De Spell! Sit down to watch with an after-school snack, and it’s like you’ve stepped back into the late 80’s.

Naturally, there have been some changes. The animation style is new, subtly altering the appearances of most characters, and there are new voice actors, whose work quickly grew on me. The series’ family-friendly humor was expected, but I appreciate the fact that some jokes seem intended for parents. However, some of the biggest (and among the most positive, in my opinion) changes were those made to Mrs. Beakley and Webby. No longer is Beakley a worrisome, grandmotherly type; she’s now a shrewd ex-secret agent who expertly navigates the chaos of McDuck Mansion. Webby no longer stands on the sidelines, clutching a stuffed toy; instead, she is intellectual, adventurous, independent, and exceptionally worldly for a kid. These character changes certainly make things more interesting, while making for some nice and unexpected storylines, and as someone with two young daughters, I really appreciated the stronger and more prominent female characters.

If you’re a fan of the original, or just love All Things Disney, I would highly suggest checking this reboot out! With episodes running at just 22 minutes each, they’re bite-size and well worth watching with the kids. You can find them on Amazon Video (like us), Disney Channel or Disney Now. https://amzn.to/2WY0ooq

*affiliate links

June 10, 2019
The last time… cherishing small moments.

This time of year is a favorite for most people and with good reason. Those last few days before summer break for kids, the start to hot days filled with sprinklers, ice cream and late nights. For me of course it’s a great time, but also bittersweet. Our youngest daughter had her last day of Pre-K this past Friday and as I watched her walk out of the school, for what I realized was the last time ever, I made sure to take a picture to commemorate the moment and even shed a small tear. But, as we drove home I got to thinking about all the other moments in the life of parents and children that come to an end, that have a last time ever, but that we don’t commemorate or even realize is happening.

I got to thinking of when my kids get older and there will be a point where I will carry them in my arms for the last time ever. Will I even notice that deep toddler belly laugh for the last time? Tonight when they jump into my bed scared at the thunder and looking for comfort, will it be for the last time? These are the small moments in life where time and memory are not on our side. As parents we are so busy with the day-to-day routines and stresses that it can be hard to take a moment to stop and appreciate the age and stage of development our kids are in and to see the small changes as they are happening.

As I got home that day and gave my kids a snack, I thought: do my parents remember the last time they made me a snack? Did they realize the last time they helped me with my homework was going to be the last time or that it would be the last time they read me a book? Did they get sad one day when they realized I was older and didn’t need them as much? That is how I know I am going to feel, blindsided one day, maybe when I see my youngest doing her own hair or navigate the latest technology. I’ll think, when was the last time I did that for her? And most likely I won’t remember.

I know as I scroll through my social media accounts this week and next I’ll see kids holding signs commemorating their last day of school and I’ll smile and take the same pictures of my own children. But, I hope as I go through this summer I’ll stop to commemorate the small moments as we go. Take lots of pictures, stop to notice the growth in each day, even if small.

June 6, 2019
Unicorn Sprinkler – Because Summer is More Fun with Unicorns

You guys – Target has this 6 foot Unicorn sprinkler on sale for $45 dollars this week! Do you need a 6 foot Unicorn sprinkler? No, probably not. But will you the hit of the neighborhood, and parent of the year, by getting a 6 foot Unicorn sprinkler. Yes.

Right now, this sprinkler is $45 and if you add another qualifying toy or game to spend $50 you will get a $10 Target Gift Card! Seems like a no-brainer.

*affiliate links

May 28, 2019
Mighty Meg – A Great Story for All Ages
In our house, we prize reading. It can be anything, really; chapter books, picture books, magazines, comics, graphic novels, or even the backs of cereal boxes. We are constantly looking for new reading material for our two girls, and given their varying tastes, finding something to read with the two of them at bedtime that appeals to both of them can sometimes be a little challenging.

That was why we were so happy to find the Mighty Meg series.

The series focuses on the title character, Meg, an inquisitive and kind young girl who receives a beautiful, antique ring as a birthday gift. When she discovers the ring imbues her with superpowers, Meg embarks on some challenging adventures, and has to decide how – and whether – to put her new powers to use, all while trying to master them.

The books are adventurous, family-friendly, and are appropriate for a wide range of ages (we read these to our 6 and 8 year-old daughters). In addition, Meg tales seem short enough to appeal to kids that may struggle with longterm focus, and also have illustrations on nearly every page, which will certainly help keep younger readers engaged. I really loved the focus on the importance of family, how Meg struggles with the idea of keeping her powers a secret from those she cares about, and how, even being as young as she is, Meg understands the importance of helping others.

We weren’t even halfway through the first book when my girls began to ask if we could read the second book together, and I was more than happy to tell them that we would!

In short, this is a fun, kid-friendly series with wide appeal. Highly recommended for family reading time!

Find the whole series on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2JRn8PJ
* affiliate links
May 20, 2019