Great Everyday Adventure Backpack for Parents - Humble-Bee Free Spirit SP

*Item/s were received for the purpose of review.  All opinion are a 100% my own.

One of the exciting things to pick out when you're pregnant is a diaper bag.  Something that meets function, style and comfort isn't always easy to find.  With so many choices out there, I'm happy to bring the Humble-Bee Free Spirit SP Diaper Bag to your attention.  I've found it to be a great everyday adventure bag.  Personally having three children I'm always on the move and still carrying snacks, wipes, medications and all their little needs.  I appreciate the functionality of the bag.  It provides comfort as it's just like a backpack, but with plenty of storage a parent can appreciate.

METTA - Natural Energy & Awareness Drink (Caffeine-Free!)

*Item/s were received for the purpose of review.  All opinions are a 100% my own.

Do you need a way to pick yourself up without the added extra caffeine?  The Metta drink is an all natural drink that can re-energize you without over doing our caffeine for the day!  It's available online and on Amazon.  It has a refreshing taste to enjoy anytime of day.  There are times of the day as a mom that I need a pick me up, but drinking a coffee cup after another can leave me with jitters and regretting it.  Metta drink is the first ever energy drink that is actually caffeine free, which means no jitters, no racing heart, and no trouble sleeping come bed time. 

The company uses all natural herbs that have been used for centuries to provide us a long-lasting natural energy.  I took it in place for my daily coffee to see how effective it would be for energizing me and giving me a boost.  I'm happy to report that it did the job, and very convenient.  

Live Today Like It's Your Last...

Needing desperately to stay positive, so I decided to do what I used to love doing.  Write and connect with people.

Everything with life is so uncertain, nothing about tomorrow is promised and that rings so clearly now that I'm going through days that I once again, never thought would be my life.  First major one has to have been when I lost my mom as a young teen.  And now here I am, it happens again...  A very different kind of "loss," I lost my husband from my life.  I can't go into that right now but will say every day has been a struggle.  Hiding my tears from myself and my kids, trying to keep strong for my kids.  Truly getting different levels of MOMents!    

Today, I was on Facebook, scrolling past homeschool sales, tips, some local yard sales, a few updates of love with Valentine's Day around the corner, then "RIP" posts came with an old co-worker tagged along with the images of her.  Beautiful mom of two, she was just posting about a month ago I thought I had scrolled passed it as usual.  She is now the second coworker to pass away from that same store we worked together years ago before I became a mom.  They were both young, maybe late twenties, early thirties.  Both unexpected, both so full of life, so full of beautiful personalities...  And just like us full of opinions, and worries about our children I'm sure.  Doing all we can in this life.  Then something happened to them, families haven't said what happened online.  It was so sudden - we'll never know what happened.

Just that they lived, and then, they are now gone.

Help LEGO Give Back to Families In Need with the #BuildToGive Campaign!

Thank you LEGO Group for this amazing campaign, and allowing us to help spread the news.  

I am so excited to let you guys know about #BuildtoGive campaign.  From November 5th to December 13th, children of all ages are welcome to come into a LEGO retail store or build from home, a brick ornament.  The LEGO Group invites New York to turn creativity into gifts of goodwill for half a million children around the world.

For every LEGO® ornament built and shared, the LEGO Group will donate one LEGO set through local charity partners, with a goal of giving 500,000 children around the world the chance to play. What an amazing opportunity to have fun and give while doing so.  They are so close to their goal, so please take part before it's too late!

The Evenflo EveryStage DLX All-in-One Car Seat - Infant + Convertible + Booster! #EvenfloEveryStage

This is a sponsored post.  All opinions are a 100% my own.

The thing about being a parent is that everything is ever-changing.  They outgrow stages quickly and along with it outgrow items we get for them as well.  One of the biggest purchases you will make is a car seat for your new bundle, and while most car seats can be bought separately by stage, the Evenflo EveryStage DLX All-in-One Car Seat is the only car seat your child will ever need.  It delivers safety, comfort, and an easy installation experience.  All fantastic features, and all you'll need to replace your Infant Seat, Convertible Seat, and Booster Seat.  I loved the innovative EasyClick™ LATCH system that made me installing the seat on my own easy, and it provides a 3X tighter installation for a wiggle-free seat without having to get into the vehicle.

Summer Infant 3Dpac CS+ Compact Fold Stroller #summerinfant #3dpac

Parents and parents to-be, if you are looking for stroller for your little one, you have to check out the Summer Infant 3Dpac CS+ Compact Fold Stroller.  I have had many strollers in the past ten years as a mom, many of them I loved but I have always picked and chose the right time to use each one.  I felt the need to have different ones for different times, and they always took a huge space in my home.  I had compact strollers, bigger strollers, an umbrella stroller and so on.  One had a really good basket, one was really lightweight, one had the best canopy, one had a cup holder, but not all of them had it all.  The Summer Infant 3Dpac CS+ Compact Fold Stroller has been my favorite go-to stroller for the past few months, and I feel like it can replace many strollers I've had in the past most times, I really gave it a full try before I can tell you how much I really love it!  They thought of everything and I feel all my stroller needs are met when I use it.

NY's 529 College Savings Program #NYs529Event #AD

Last week I enjoyed an afternoon with my children at the Crafting Studio in New York City.  While my children had fun crafting, I learned about the NY's 529 College Savings Program at the #NYs529Event hosted by Mom Trends.  A great opportunity to mingle with fellow blogger families and learn about a great option to start saving for our children's future.  I always imagined opening a savings account for higher education to be a difficult task, at the least one that would require a large amount to deposit, so I was pleasantly surprised that it takes as little as a dollar to open an account.  The other fact that stood out to me that I wanted to share with you all is that there are tax savings, you  earnings grow federally tax-deferred, qualified withdrawals are tax-free, and in some states like here in New York have other tax benefits as well.

Go Organically Fruit Snacks Giveaway + Giving Back to a Deserving School Sweepstakes

*Giveaway is sponsored. 

www.goorganicallysnacks.com

I'm excited to share an exciting new program Go Organically Fruit Snacks has launched in partnership with First Book!  The Go Organically Literacy Program is open until August 29th and is asking consumers to vote for one of five in-need schools across the US for a chance to win additional Book Wishes, an e-reader, beanbag chair and more.  Book Wishes allow 50 other educators across the country to stock up on school supplies, backpacks, and more for their students as we head into the next school year.  One deserving school based on votes will be blessed with supplies for the school year, a great cause and easy participation.  In helping you learn about the sweepstakes, I'm also offering you a chance to win some Go Organically Fruit Snacks to try.  To win some fruit snacks for yourself or your child's lunch box, keep on reading and easily enter following the steps at the end of this post.

Flip Box Surprise! FlipaZoo!

Most of us in the toy world all know about FlipaZoo from Jay@Play, but not all families do, and I have to share these goodies with you again.  These adorable and lovable plush toys are 2-in-1, so usually twice the fun.  If you are familiar with these cute finds for kids, let me remind you again and make sure you know about Flip Box Surprise.  The Flip Box Surprise is a party in a box, full of adorable little accessories, a blind bag, and a fun surprise character to be revealed after opening!  A great spin on blind bag opening for kids..and us adults who still like to collect, and believe toys are so much fun!  Great for back-to-school season as it serves for a great way to celebrate a new chapter for our little ones.       

Shark Week Themed Toys & Fun for Kids! #SharkWeek

The 30th Anniversary of Shark Week is this month!  In celebration I have 2 great shark themed items for children.  First off the amazing Living Ocean Shark line from Wild Republic, it's part of a new line of ultra-realistic plush.  The Living Ocean line has plush stuffed animals ranging in approximately 20-25" in length depending on the species you choose.  Bringing the great detail and quality that we've come to expect from Wild Republic.  Along with the amazing plush sharks from Wild Republic, there's Alex DIY Knot-A-Shark where children ages 8 and up can knot and stitch a shark blanket.  Great items to use as learning tools, and study about sharks this month.  For more information, keep reading! 

Jurassic World Fans - Learn & Play with Dino Themed Toys & Activity Sets!

Those young and old are feeling the excitement for the thrilling Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom movie!  No better time to learn about dinosaurs with your children and get excited with some dino themed toys.  While young children may not be able to enjoy the movie, they sure can join in on the dino fun!  There is something for everyone, from an adorable classic plush with glitter from Wild Republic, to an excavation kit from Thames & Kosmos, and even fun for everyone from Magformers!   

Puzoodles - Collectible Mash Up Characters You Snap Together & Build!

Check out the latest from Blip Toys, the adorable #Puzoodles!  Puzoodles are collectible mash-up characters for kids to build with easy snap-together pieces.  Each Puzoodles puzzle piece is packaged in a surprise blind bag, and includes easy-to-follow assembly instructions.  Kids can display or take them apart to build again and again.

Screechers Wild - Race Car Machine Hybrids #toys

Check out Screechers Wild, based off the online animated show - for more information on the action filled show visit alphatoys.com.  These toy vehicles transform into creatures with explosive 360 degree flip morphing action.  They come with special discs that assist them in the flipping transformation.  There are over 6 different characters to choose from, keep reading to see it in action.

New York Baby Show 2018 Favorites! #NYBSBloggerLounge

*This is a sponsored post.  All opinions are a 100% my own.

Being a parent has been the most rewarding, amazing and absolutely one of the most difficult parts of my life.  There's nothing like having children that will let you know how time is flying by.  One of the good and fun part of parenting is the fun stages your children go through, and the fun items that are out there for you and your child/ren.  It's one of the reasons why I love attending the New York Baby Show each year, there's always something new to check out and it is truly ever-changing.  I was excited to see so many new items out on the market available for parents and those expecting as well.  I've done the difficult task of narrowing down my top picks from the show to three, items that I truly think parents will love.

Monet - The All-in-One Wallet, Phone Grip & Kickstand!

*Item/s were received for the purpose of review.  All opinions are a 100% my own.

Our phones are a fashion accessory for most of us, whether we mean it to be or not.  Monet the 3-in-1 phone grip helps you accessorize fashionably.  It's a phone grip the also stores your money & cards, serves as a fun kickstand, and helps you #selfiebetter.  A wallet, grip and kickstand in one! 

Family Must Have - The Super Duper Spinner

*Item/s were received for the purpose of review.  All opinions are 100% my own. 

Who doesn't like swings?!  This Super Duper Spinner is a must-have for all families!  It is absolutely fun for kids but can hold up to 650 lbs, so parents can enjoy being a child too.  The Super Duper Spinner can comfortably sit up to four, I tried with my three kids during a previous event!  As you can see in the picture above, everyone is sitting comfortably, and super happy trying it out.  It is made with durable materials, and the Super Duper Spinner swings are built to withstand the elements.

Must Have for 3 Year Olds - The Razor Jr - t3 Scooter

*Item/s were received for the purpose of review.  All opinions are a 100% my own.

I'm a huge fan of Razor scooters, both my older kids started with Razor scooters and graduated to the older kid versions with time.  My youngest just turned 3, and was recently borrowing his sister's old Razor scooter which was pink.  My daughter's first scooter was the Razor Jr Lil' Pop Scooter, a really fun scooter with lights!  My son was so excited and ready for his own scooter, he literally took off with the Razor Jr t3 Scooter right away at the park.  Now everywhere we go, he is on his scooter.  When my children and I go anywhere together, I'm the only one that walks - they scoot!  When I bought my son his first scooter many years ago and realized the quality of Razor scooters, there's no wonder they are known for their scooters.

Neon Street Rollers - Clip on Roller Skates

Neon Street Roller are fun LED Light-up Clip-on Roller Skates.  Kids can turn their regular shoes into roller skates instantly by clipping on the Neon Street Rollers.  The wheels feature a special glow technology that makes them light up when you move, it requires no batteries!  They are small enough to be tossed in your bag, to roll anytime.  They come super fun neon pink, green, and blue colors!  Check out the "Neon Lyghts" site for more light up ride-ons, website below.

Mickey and the Roadster Racers RC Toy!

The Mickey and the Roadster Racers R/C car is more fun than I expected it to be.  It is easy to control for beginners, and rides fast.  It is a fully functioning R/C vehicle with some fun features packed in, including a transformation.  It is based on the show Mickey and the Roadster Racers on Disney Junior, and little fans will love to see it in action.  

Children's DVDs for Roadtrips - Wild Kratts, Word World, Mister Roger's Neighborhood and more!

*Item/s were received for the purpose of review.  All opinions are a 100% my own.  

I periodically have to restock the car with new DVD's for my kids to watch on one of our long road trips, or days where we have to sit in traffic for too long.  In order to encourage learning through every opportunity of screen time, I try to choose those that have a positive message that is presented in a fun engaging way with tons of educational content.  The latest additions for you to check out to add to your library of DVD's are below with all the episode details. 

You Are Not Responsible for My Child with Food Allergies

I stopped writing about food allergies a long time ago.  Every time I start typing, I honestly feel discouraged.  It feels like everyone has their minds made up and it's not worth speaking up.  But time and time again I've read many stories where food allergic families, mostly those allergic to peanuts show extreme outrage in the wrong way.  There are also so-called studies that come out every once in a while concluding the cause of allergies along with the miracle "fix".  I even heard of companies making a business out of helping you make sure your child doesn't become allergic.  It's all wrong.  It also serves for fuel for comedians time and time again, all with the wrong information.

New LEGO® NINJAGO®: Master of the 4th Dimension Movie in LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester’s Cinema + Fun Activity Days

LEGO NINJAGO Event Days are taking over LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Westchester April 14-15 and April 21-22.

Activities to look forward to include:

• New 4D Movie, NINJAGO® Master of the 4th Dimension
• NINJAGO® themed mosaic builds in the Master Builder Academy
• NINJAGO® MINILAND Takeover
• Meet our Kai Costume Character all weekend long!
• NINJAGO® Masks, Pop Badges & Poster Giveaways
• Element Stamp Scavenger Hunt
• Photo Ops & More!

Peppa Pig - Lights N' Sounds Family Home Playset

*The Peppa Pig Lights N' Sounds Family Home was received for the purpose of review.  All opinions are a 100% my own.

This adorable "doll house" will be your little one's dream come true. The Peppa Pig - Lights N' Sounds Family Home is the perfect size for little hands and big imaginations.  If you are looking for a toy that will keep your little one busy for long periods of time, and keep them interested for months to come this play set is one to check out!  Peppa Pig fans will squeal in joy at the 22" Lights n' Sounds Family Home that features 7 rooms over 4 floors and includes 13 amazing accessories along with 3 character figurines!  Made to withstand hours of playtime, no loose peaces falling apart.  At 22" tall it's the perfect size, not too big to clutter the playroom and not too small that children would lose pieces.  

10 Tips for First Time Home Buyers

If you are looking to purchase a home for the first time, here are some useful tips to keep in mind.  These tips are useful in protecting yourself, and unique from common tips often shared.

1. Do your own research, and compare it to the ones others offer you.
2. Don't be afraid to ask questions.

The NYC Playroom Collab with KidsShoes.com

Jett Harlow-T

Jagger - T

The Playroom NYC is the perfect place to bring your little one to play indoors when the weather isn't pleasant out.  Great for fun any day or for parties.  It's well designed clean space made to be a fully functional place for children to play and explore safely.  The Playroom NYC is owned and operated by two moms.  They have partnered up with the website kids shoes.com to create a new fashion-forward line for designer Sydney Jordyn.  We got to check out the line in person and love them!  The collection is exclusively available on kidsshoes.com.  Uniquely designed with the real needs that children and parents need in shoes.  

New Season - New Start - Gifting to Friends & Family

New year, new seasons, new week, a new day...  Whatever the occasion we always look for opportunities to start over, work on relationships, and change the way we did something in the past.  How about gifting to someone you care about in your life, without it being a big holiday or birthday? Be the change you want to see.  It would absolutely thrill anyone to be in the receiving ends of gifts, but why not be the one to give instead and start the trend.  While we can't dial back time, we can signify our new perspective with a new watch.  Treat yourself, treat your new friend, or family you care about.  There are many beautiful Armitron watches to choose from, with the new spring collection with new pastel colors that make for the perfect gift.  Prices start at only $25!

New Blind Bag Collectibles - Perfect for Easter Baskets & Spring Celebrations!

One of the most memorable times of the year for children is backyard "egg hunting" or finding the hidden surprises inside their home.  If you're looking for creative ideas that will have them squealing with delight, check out the fun lineup of items from Basic Fun!  They fit perfectly in Easter baskets, and can be hidden all over perfectly as well.  I love to keep these in my purse or back of my closet for "emergencies".  It comes useful when I want to reward my children with a small surprise, when we are in waiting rooms or long road trips.  So if it's not to celebrate Easter or Spring, stock up with all these goodies!       

Learning Tool + Fun Toy - Singing Machine Wise Ol' Owl Blackboard Calculator

*Item/s were received for the purpose of review.  All opinions are a 100% my own.  

The way to get children learning is without them knowing about it.  I've learned as a mom to 3, every child learns differently but one thing they've all had in common is that they learn best through play.  Our newest learning tool that has been fun for all ages is the Singing Machine Wise Ol' Owl Blackboard Calculator.  It's great for learning your numbers, beginner math, and even different languages.  My oldest often checks his work after a math problem and always misplaces his calculator - there's no misplacing the owl.  It looks like a toy, so my two youngest fight for their turn and learn!  It's a large calculator that's the perfect homework helper for young children.

2018 New York Baby Show Ticket Giveaway + 1/2 Off Code! #NYBSBloggerLounge

*This is a sponsored post.  All opinions are a 100% my own.

New and expectant parents, mark your calendars for the @NewYorkBabyShow on May 19th and 20th.  It is the place to be for young families.  It's the largest show of it's kind in the country, not to be missed. You'll learn all about the latest gear and products presented by a huge range of brands, there will be plenty of buying opportunities, hands-on testing and tasting of products, as well as some fun activities.  There's always something new to check out every year, and I can't wait to go back to check everything out myself.  I have been attending for the past few years, it has not only been fun but highly informative.  Your chance to get FREE tickets for your family is below!

Squishy, Stretchy Fun You've Got to Check Out #WubbleFulla Marbles & Slime

*This is a sponsored post.  All opinions are a 100% my own.

Watch out for these awesome new additions to the Wubble Ball line!  Wubble Fulla can be found at Target, Toys R Us, and Walgreens.  They are available in Marbles, and Slime!  Both available in a "huge", "large" and "tiny" version.  It is addictive fun to play with on your own and with friends.  As much as my kids loved it, my husband and I liked it as much.  It was almost therapeutic how relaxing it is to squish and squash them.