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Why Disney Planes movie will be a family favorite.

For family movie night, as part of a sponsored post for Collective Bias, we snuggled under blankets to watch Disney Planes DVD. I am pretty picky about what movies and shows I let my kids watch. They are only four and two and very impressionable. I only heard positive things about the movie when it was in the theaters, so I jumped on the opportunity to watch the Planes movie with my kids.

Disney Planes Family Movie #shop

If your kids are big fans of the Cars movies, they probably will love the Planes movie too. The characters are very similar and my kids kept asking, “Where is Lightning McQueen?” After they got over the missing character, they settled in to watch a story of courage and determination. My four year old asked a lot of questions during the movie, which is new for us. Questions about winning a race, questions about mean characters, and questions about planes being shot down. (The last part was part of a flashback…planes were safe but just a heads up.) It made me realize how important it is to choose movies that portray values we believe in.

Family movie night homemade popcorn #shop

Family movie night with homemade popcorn

The movie reminded me of both The Little Engine That Could and Disney’s Brave movie. Like Dusty the Plane, the characters believe in themselves and choose to pursue a dream. They overcome odds and continue to be courageous in the face of adversity. As my children grow, I love sharing stories like these with them. Sometimes it’s easier to use a movie, or book, to help explain a challenge they are facing in their own world.

As the holidays approach, I would happily endorse the Disney Planes movie for your next family night. Own it on Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital HD on November 19th!  Movies are a great non-toy gift to suggest to grandparents and family members.

Get ready for family movie night by offering the kids some Planes craft projects in the afternoon. My kids colored this color-by-number worksheet. You can find lots of other ideas on the Disney Planes Pinterest Board that are age-appropriate.

Disney planes color by number

Do you have a family movie night in your house? What are some of your traditions?

 

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Zebra ERGObaby Carrier Giveaway from Thanks Mama

Ergo zebra giveaway

When someone asks me my favorite thing about babies I often think about babywearing. I love having my little one all snuggly warm next to me. Even better is when they fall asleep against my chest and I can relax and give the big kids my full attention. I’ve used different carriers with all three kids and I finally have an ERGObaby Carrier for baby #3! This week I’m excited to bring you an opportunity to win an ERGObaby Carrier from Thanks Mama natural parenting store!

Thanks Mama online baby store features a selection of twelve baby carrier brands, among them the popular ERGObaby Carrier. This particular brand was the one that started it all and revolutionized babywearing to be truly comfortable and suitable for every day life. The ergonomic design of this carrier supports the correct sitting position for baby and also balances baby’s weight on the parent’s hips and shoulders.

 

My Favorite Features of the ERGObaby Carrier: 
  • Reinforced stitching between fabric intersections make a safer carrier
  • Padded waist belt supports the lumbar area
  • Can be worn on the front, back, or hip
  • Attached sleeping hood that can be tucked away
  • Thick, comfortable foam straps
  • Fits babies from 7 to 45 pounds (with infant insert)

 

My Favorite Features of the Thanks Mama Store: 
  • Large selection of 28 brands of cloth diapers
  • Over 15 options of reusable potty training pants
  • Eco-friendly and non-toxic baby care solutions
  • Classic and modern wooden toys
  • Non-toxic mattresses for the whole family
  • Eco-friendly furniture for baby and kids made of rubberwood
  • Free shipping on all U.S. orders over $60 and Worldwide shipping rates available
  • Earn rewards dollars with every purchase

Purchase: You can purchase the ERGObaby carrier at Thanks Mama. Use code CARRIER for 15% off!

Win It! Thanks Mama is generously giving away the Zebra print ERGObaby Carrier to one winner.

Special thanks to AnaB Social for hosting this giveaway. Huge thanks to Thanks Mama and all participating bloggers as well! Giveaway ends November 21st at 11:59 pm, open to U.S. residents, ages 18+. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below (see directions on how to enter here). Thank you!




Disclaimer: Random Recycling, AnaB Social, Eco-Babyz, and all participating event bloggers are not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. I did not receive compensation for this post but hope one of my readers can win this wonderful piece of baby gear for themselves or a friend. 

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Plan Your Next Party with Peapod Curbside Pickup

Planning a party when you have little kids is no small feat. Whether the party is for 10 or 30, it still requires cooking, coordinating, and cleaning. This past weekend we baptized Connor and hosted a party for twenty. I’ve learned a thing or two about planning an easy menu, utilizing the slow cooker and taking the appropriate short cuts to make life a little easier. As I prepared for the party, I decided to take the opportunity to test out the Peapod curbside delivery service. We are big fans of grocery home delivery so I was curious to see how the curbside pick up would stack up.

 Peapod Pick Up at Stop and Shop

Here is what I experienced during the Peapod pick-up experience.

PROS

  • Free service with no minimum order. My order was under $100 and it was still free.
  • I pulled in to a covered area and an attendant came right out to the car so I didn’t have to get out with the three kids in the car.
  • Groceries were loaded into the car while JJ slept…awesome.
  • I could get the groceries while out and about doing all the other shopping. I didn’t have to stay home for a three hour window.
  • Cold items were already packed together so I could easily put them into a cooler as I continued my party prep shopping.
  • Attendant gave me a heads up on an item that was out of stock so I could deal with it before I got all the way home. (although I wish they had called to let me choose a substitution.)
  • Staying out of the store means no impulse buying so you can save money.
  • Done in about 5 minutes total.

Peapod pick up

CONS

  • Not as easy as home delivery. I could be in my PJ’s and get my groceries.
  • My closest location is 7 miles away so it’s really not super convenient.
  • Wish there was an option for same day pickup. Delivery times start the next day, but it is open 7 days a week.

Overall it was a positive experience. For Moms who have a pick-up option at their local Stop and Shop, this is a great time saver. It does take some planning to make it work, but in the long run, this can save you time and money. I did receive a gift card to test out the service, but all opinions shared here are my own.

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We Flipped for the New Flip Diapers

Flip Cloth Diaper Review

It’s no secret that we are a mostly cloth diapering family. Yes, it is a little extra work but it’s just a normal part of our routine now. The one thing that always drives me crazy is having to stuff the diapers once they are clean. The Bum Genius diapers have been the only ones we used for the past four years. They just came out with a new hybrid diapering system called Flip. We tested out the Flip diapers for the past two weeks and I am excited to keep them as part of my diaper stash. (We got the diapers as part of a promotional program with Flip™ and MomSelect.)

Flip Diapers for babies and toddlers

Flip Diapers fit both a 14 week old and a 2 1/2 year old.

The best part of cloth diapering infants is you really get your money back when it comes to investing in cloth diapers. The Flip diapers will fit babies from 8 lb- 35 lb. I tested it out on our 14 week old 12 lb. infant and our two-year old toddler weighing 30 lb. They wore the same diaper and it fit well on both of them.

Hands down the best part about the diaper is how easy they are to wash, and there is no need to stuff! Well, minor stuffing where you just lay the insert into the cover. Nothing like trying to get the insert into the pocket diapers and trying to avoid damaging the inner waterproof lining with your wedding ring. Also, after the baby has used the diaper, there is no need to try to “unstuff” the diaper. This is rather handy after those epic blowouts.

My favorite diapers for babies are still the Bum Genius sized diapers. The size small diapers are much less bulky than the one-size-fits-all diapers (a.k.a. All in Ones). What I do like about the Flip diaper is the insert has a new fold over design that is softer and contoured better to the baby’s body. Plus it’s super soft, even after washing it a few times.

Flip Diaper sized insert

With the two-year old, we are in that transitional stage of diaper wearing and potty training. We used the outer diaper covers over underwear to control any possible leaks. I like knowing I can use the covers for both kids when we were out for a day trip.

The hybrid part of the system is handy when you are on the go, but probably not as useful for our family right now. The insert is fairly large and the waste would be more than an infant sized diaper. There were not any leaks when either boy used them, so the idea is you can reuse the covers and then put in a disposable insert. I am so trained to put the entire diaper into the wash it will take a look to get me to make this kind of switch!

Head over to their website to learn more about the Flip diapers. I tried out the velcro (hook and loop) closure, but I also found the snap Flip diapers over on Amazon. Snaps will hold up better over time, but the velcro is very easy to use.

Thanks to Mom Select and Flip for sharing the diapers with us! All opinions shared here are my own. 

 

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Time to get mom organized for back to school (Giveaway)

Tiny Prints Back to School

When we think about back-to-school it’s usually about getting the kids ready. But really it’s mom’s time to get ready for back to school. Here’s some quick tips for getting Mom ready for afterschool sports, birthday parties, meal planning and more.

School Zone at Home

  • Pick a spot for backpacks. Have the kids leave them there when they get home and return them there after completing homework so they are ready for the morning.
  • Put together a craft supply basket with scissors, pencils, markers, etc. to be used in a homework zone. Now is the time to stock up with back to school sales.

Meal planning

  • Pick a Sunday afternoon to put together a few freezer meals for when life gets busy and you don’t have time to make dinner.
  • A new notebook and meal planning printables are a great way to stay organized. Make notes of what dinners are favorites and incorporate them into your week’s meal plan.
  • Pinterest is my go-to for meal planning. You can find my meal plan posts here and dinner recipes here. If you need some lunch box inspiration, head over to my Lunch Love board.

Play dates

  • Schedule one or two in advance so you can plan for some free time to check things off your list.
  • Mom contact cards make connecting easy on the playground or in passing at pickup time.

After school activities

  • Pack a bag in advance with sports gear, clean and ready to go. (Pack second small bag for siblings if they will be hanging out waiting)
  • Keep some snacks ready to go and prepackaged so getting out the door is a little easier.

Birthday Parties

  • Buy a few gifts at a time for a certain age group so you are always ready
  • Gift tags are handy to have on hand and personalize a store wrapped gift.

Tiny Prints Labels

 

To help get Moms (and Dads) ready for Back to School season, Tiny Prints is offering a great package of products to get you started! The giveaway is up to a $97 value!

  • 5 sets of 24 gift tag stickers
  • 1 – 5×8 lined notebook
  • 100 – mommy/play date/contact cards

Giveaway is open until August 22nd to US and Canada residents only. (Canada must pay for shipping~ sorry!) Please enter using the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get another chance to win by entering Tiny Prints Back to School contest for another $200 in prizes! Contest is open until August 28th.

I will also be receiving my own customized Tiny Prints back to school package…I can’t wait to pick out some new labels for the kids and I will get new mommy cards with all THREE kids names on them! All opinions shared here are my own. 

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Canon Powershot G15 Giveaway from 42nd Street Photo

 

This year I’ve spent a fair amount of time trying to improve my photography skills. I have a great camera and finally learned how to shoot manual, thanks to a class by the wonderful Kerry Goodwin. I’m excited to partner with other bloggers and 42nd Street Photo on a giveaway for the Canon Powershot G15 digital camera. Life flies by fast, especially when you have kids. Especially young kids. It’s vital to capture our time with them while they are young and be able to share it with them when they are older.

42nd Street Photo is a camera store based in New York City and they have a vast selection of digital cameras and camcorders. They have been in business for over 40 years, established back when we used to capture memories on film! It’s convenient to shop there as they have great deals and sales, a variety of ways to pay, free shipping, and a free cleaning kit with your purchase. 42nd Street Photo is generously sponsoring this giveaway for the Canon Powershot G15, a small camera with big performance. This camera is a great step-up from the average point-and-shoot with a lot of features of more expensive DSLR cameras in a compact package. It also receives raving reviews from users!

Our Favorite Features of the Canon Powershot G15: 
  • Fast 5X zoom lens
  • 12.1 MP High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor, enables rapid continuous shooting, no lag!
  • Exceptional low-light performance to ISO 12800, 1.8 to 2.8 aperture
  • 1080p HD Video Capture
  • High speed automatic focus
  • Intelligent image stabilization
  • Bright, high-resolution LCD
  • RAW image capture capability
  • Hot shoe for optional flash in addition to build-in one
Purchase: You can purchase the Canon Powershot G15 digital camera at 42nd Street Photo. 

Win It! 42nd Street Photo is generously blessing one winner with the Canon Powershot G15 digital camera!

Special thanks to AnaB Social for hosting this giveaway. Huge thanks to 42photo.com and all the fabulous participating bloggers as well! Giveaway ends September 3rd at 11:59 pm, open to residents of US and Canada, ages 18+. See detailed terms and conditions on entry form. To enter please use the Rafflecopter form below (see directions on how to enter here). Thank you!



Disclaimer: AnaB Social and all participating event bloggers are not responsible for sponsor prize shipment. I did not rece

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Baby’s First Beach Trip

Babys First Beach Trip

 

Have you ever felt intimidated about bringing a baby to the beach? While it’s not always the easiest adventure, I wanted to share with you a few of our must pack items. We are preparing for our annual beach vacation, this time with a newborn in tow. Here are some tips to make life on the beach with a baby a little easier on everyone.

  • Beach Hats – always pack more than one as they often get wet or sandy
  • Coverup swim suits are much easier than trying to keep up with sunscreen on wiggly, wet babies. If your baby is old enough to play in a little water, pack two suits.
  • Beach Tent– get one with a SPF rating of 50+
  • Sunscreen Blanket – I bought one from Coolibar to try and I bought one for my sister from Isis Parenting.
  • Aden and Anais blankets are a must. They work as a nursing cover, and also to cover a stroller on a walk.
  • Umbrella – get a good one. Ours is from Coolibar that has a high SPF. The cheap ones don’t give great sun protection and they are also tricky in the wind. We also use a sand anchor with our umbrella to make it secure.
  • Water Bottle for Mom, especially if you are nursing. I love my new Lifefactory glass water bottle I ordered. The flip top cap to make it easy to me to drink it on the go.
  • Cover Up for Mom. If you stay cool, baby will stay cool.
  • Safe sunscreen for both baby and Mom. Avoid using a cheaper chemical based sunscreen on your body and just the safe stuff for baby. Babies often fall asleep against your chest and can have a bad reaction to sunscreen from your body. (Ask me how I know…)
  • Stroller- a bassinet (or pram) stroller  gives newborn babies a little more breathing room. I don’t suggest using the car seat for newborns as they get too hot strapped in during a nap.

What else would you add to the list? Let me know if you have any questions about bringing baby to the beach!

There are a couple of affiliate links included in this post, however all items featured were purchased by me and not included as a review. 

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10 Safe Sunscreens for Every Budget

It’s hard to avoid all the articles recently talking about the safety of sunscreen. If you love to play outside like our family, sunscreen is one of those summer necessities you spend a lot of time applying and reapplying. What’s really in the sunscreen you use for your family? Here’s my cheat sheet of what to look for in your sunscreen and what to avoid. Plus I’ll share some of my favorites that all get grade of 2 or better on the EWG Guide for Sunscreen.

What do you want in your sunscreen?

  • Mineral based products using zinc oxide or titanium dioxide
  • No false promises. It shouldn’t read “sunblock” or “waterproof”. These terms are no longer allowed on sunscreen labels. Water-resistant is ok.
  • Broad Spectrum label which protects against both sunburns and aging.
  • SPF of 30-50.

What to avoid in your sunscreen?

  • Oxybenzone or any other chemical based lotion that has an ingredient ending in “one.”
  • Spray sunscreens. Aerosol based sprays contain nano particles that can be inhaled into the lungs and cause hormone disruption. Yes they are easy to use, but they are TOXIC!! The FDA is finally investigating this issue. Read more about why you should avoid spray sunscreens here.
  • Anything claiming to have an SPF over 50.

10 Healthy Sunscreens for Every Budget

 

For my top picks, I’m including brands that I’m familiar with or have tested out myself. I also choose sunscreen products that you can get at your local drugstore, Whole Foods or on Amazon.

  • Aveeno Baby Natural Protection Face Stick, SPF 50 (Rating 2)
  • COOLA Suncare Baby Moisturizer Mineral Sunscreen, Unscented, SPF 50 (Rating 1, this is what I’m using on my kids now)
  • COOLA Suncare Plant UV Face Moisturizer Sunscreen, Unscented, SPF 30 (Rating 1, I’m using this as my face sunscreen for everyday. Did you recently see the article about how wearing sunscreen keeps skin looking younger?)
  • Coppertone Kids Pure & Simple Lotion, SPF 50 (Rating 2)
  • Coppertone Sensitive Skin Suncreen Lotion, SPF 50 (Rating 2)
  • Dolphin Organics Naturals Mineral Sunscreen, SPF 32 (Rating 2)
  •  Kiss My Face Natural Mineral Sunscreen with Hydresia, SPF 40 (Rating 2)
  • Miessence Reflect Outdoor Balm, SPF 15 (Rating 2) (I’ve shared my thoughts before in a past sunscreen post.)
  • Mustela Broad Spectrum Mineral Sun Stick, SPF 50+
  • Seventh Generation Wee Generation Baby Sunscreen, SPF 30

 

Further Reading: My friend Lori shared her thoughts on finding the best non-whitening sunscreen. For a very detailed cheat sheet with product reviews you can read Kathy’s SafeMama’s 2013 recap.

Disclosure: I have received some of these products in the past and none for the purpose of this review. All opinions shared here are my own. The Amazon link is an affiliate link, if you make a purchase via Amazon it helps support this site. Thanks!

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Highlights of the Boston Drool Baby Expo

Magic Beans Drool Baby Expo

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the Drool Baby Expo organized by Magic Beans for the second year in a row. It’s an event highlighting the latest baby gear, clothes, trends, local companies and more. Since we are having our third baby fairly soon, we don’t need too much stuff at this stage of parenting. I did find myself excited by a couple of new items that would be worthwhile for a new mom or a third time mom.

Blooming Baby Bath

Adorable Blooming Baby Bath. I don’t love our current plastic tub because of space issues so I may give this one a try.

4-moms-mamaroo-classic-silver

4moms mamaRoo swing is very cool and I loved the movement choices. A great upgrade from the traditional swing options.

Purely Pears Boston Baby Food

Loved the display from Purely Pears highlighting what fresh baby food should look like.

I did see a number of items that are cute and fun from a novelty perspective, but really not worth the investment if you are creating your priority list of baby needs. A fancy labor gown is really not necessary. Trust me when I say your outfit is the last thing you will be thinking about during delivery. My old boss gave me a great tip once, pack a beautiful pashmina or scarf. Add that around you for some pre/post baby pictures to give your pictures a little more color. Otherwise, just let the focus be on that new little baby.

Also, if anyone is thinking about buying a stroller that requires two hands to fold it, don’t do it. I made this mistake with my first stroller purchase and  just wish I knew how often I would only have one hand free to fold down a stroller. The stroller was expensive and works well, but I tried to avoid folding it and bringing it in the car, ever. The great part of being at the expo is being able to try out all these strollers yourselves and have the brand expert answer all your questions. You can find lots of other stroller experts at your local Magic Beans store as well.

Disclosure: I attended the Drool Baby event to offer media coverage, which covered the cost of my ticket. All opinions expressed here are my own.

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Monday May 20 Meal Plan

As I prepared my meal plan this week, I thought about how many places I buy my food. There is the local grocery store (which also does our home deliveries), Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Costco and the farmer’s market in our town opens up June 2nd. I got into this new habit of shopping after I became a stay-at-home-mom and wanted to get the best food at the best price. I don’t hit every store every week, but at least two a week. We spend a lot of our monthly budget on food, even with me traveling to all these different stores. As I think about life with three little ones four and under, I think I’ll have to make some adjustments.

I wonder what other moms are prioritizing when it comes to shopping locations. Is it price? Is it selection? Is it how fast you can get there and get home? Meal planning has helped me stay on top of what is actually in our freezer/refrigerator to decrease the amount of food wasted. Now I’m going to make sure my meal planning allows me to visit one big store each week, plus one local stop for additional produce for the weekend. When we started making smoothies our produce stash started diminishing awfully quick! If you have suggestions of how to streamline the grocery store process, I would love to read them in the comment section. 

On the menu this week…

Monday Meal Plan May 20

Sunday~ Homemade Waldorf Chicken Salad for Daddy, Hot Dogs for the Kids. Mom’s off duty and heading to Rice Barn for a spicy dinner and a meet-up with local bloggers for some pre-summer catch-up.

Monday~ Burgers, Sweet Potato Fries

Tuesday~ Date night after the Magic Beans Drool Baby Expo in Boston

Wednesday~ Homemade Chicken Nuggets, steamed green beans and a side of pasta

Thursday~ Pasta Fagioli (meatless meal) and a side salad

Friday~ Mixing it up with Pulled Pork Cemita, Veggie Rice and Guacamole

Saturday~ Pizza night is bumped to Saturday in case we get together with friends and need to make a bigger dinner. Did you catch my recipe post last week for our homemade pizza dough? I tried it with some whole wheat bread flour, but wouldn’t do it again. A little whole wheat is fine but it’s much better with mostly white bread flour.

Homemade Waldorf Chicken Salad

Homemade Waldorf Chicken Salad for Sunday night

What’s on your menu this week? Any great grocery shopping tips to share?

For more inspiration, see my past menus here, or the Pinterest board here, or OrgJunkie for a link-up of meal plans.

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