Friday Favorites: Travel Activities for Kids

We've done quite a lot of traveling this summer and we still have a trip to go. My kids aren't very entertained by the car DVD player (or they pretend they're not to torture me!). So I knew I needed some new activities for the car. I try to find activities that are good for the car and also to use on vacation. I've definitely had a lot of "mom fails" with travel activities in the past, but this summer nailed it with the selections. I stocked up but was careful to reveal the activities slowly, when needed.  We had a few Mudpuppy items in the past and they have always been a huge hit with my kids, so when I stocked up this summer, I selected all Mudpuppy items. If you like Mudpuppy or want to try their activities, you can often find them on Amazon for a great price. Right now if you use the code SUNNY40 on the Mudpuppy site you get 40% off your ENTIRE ORDER. It's a great time to stock up! Here's a list of our favorite travel activities this summer:

1. Magnetic Figures: Mermaids and I Love NYC 2. Magnetic Characters: Madeline  3. Pouch Puzzles 4. Flip & Draw: Animals of the World and Ballerina  5. Play scenes: At the Zoo & Princess  6. Travel Journals 

All of these activities were perfect for my girls' ages: 4.5 and 6.5. They played with the items above in the car, on a ferry, in a house, in a hotel and in plenty of restaurants. 

We used the Pottery Barn Kids lunch boxes to hold toys for travel. A friend sent them as a surprise before we left for our trip and they honestly hit the perfect amount of toys for a trip. 
The journals in the photos with their names on them are from May Designs. I was ordering a gift for someone and noticed the notebooks were on sale. You can order them with blank white pages, so if you're kids like drawing, these are a lot of fun for travel. 

One more item (not Mudpuppy) that I just found in the Target Dollar Spot that has been a huge hit: chalkboard "lap top". It's $3 and comes with the chalk too. It fold in half and is the perfect size for laps in the car or on a plane. Last, but not least, a cheap one time use water proof camera is a fun activity to use on a trip.  Happy travels everyone!   


We were not composted for this post. We did receive items for the purpose of review. As always, all opinions are my own. 

Friday Favorites: Top Travel Clothes for Kids

We've got a new brand in our bags this summer: JoJo Maman Bebe. I've seen this darling Brittish brand  online and in photos for a while now but had never tried it. After seeing their summer line at The Biggest Baby Shower this past spring, I realized they had great clothes for all four of my kids sizes and styles. With summer travel upon us, I decided to try some of their cute coordinating nautical styles and beach wear. 

Here's why JoJo Maman Bebe quickly became a favorite for summer travel attire for kids: 

It looks nice but also comfy! This is key for travel. When we travel, I like the kids to look nice because we go out to dinner, take photos, etc. I also like them to be really comfortable, because if there's one sure way to have irritated kids on vacation, it's putting them in clothes they dislike. All of the clothes from JoJo Maman Bebe we have are soft, comfortable for the kids to play in and always look so nice.  

There are ton of mix and match styles! Packing clothes that you can mix and match for travel is key. When you're trying to not over pack, but want to have extra clothes for spills, dirt, etc, it's great to be able to change JUST the shirt or pants and not need an entire new outfit. JoJo Maman Bebe has so many mix and match options. They also have great patterns amongst the different sizes and genders to make for cute coordinating sibling outfits. They also have adorable shoes! 

In addition to JoJo Maman Bebe having excellent clothes for summer travel, their swim line is awesome! The styles are really cute and geared towards sun protection. 

Their swim range includes funky sun suits in sizes zero – six years, with matching sun hats, all with built in UPF 50+ protection.

JoJo Maman Bebe has an excellent resource on their site all about sun protection for little ones: Safe in the Sun. Check it out before you head to the beach or pool! 

Right now there's an awesome sale going on over at  JoJo Maman Bebe. You can also find a lot of their summer styles on sale at Diapers.com right now. Happy Friday! 

Friday Favorites: Roarin' Rainforest Jumperoo

I can't believe I waited until my fourth baby to get a Jumperoo. Honestly, I always thought they looked neat but were just something that would take up even more space in our house. I wish I got one years ago. It's so fun and all the activity really entertain and then tire out the baby. Miles started holding himself up on his own right around 5 months. I wanted something for him to go in and play when he was hanging out in the playroom with his sisters and brother (and me). We decided on the Fisher-Price Roarin' Rainforest Jumper. Miles loves it! 

There’s so much for baby to discover on this Jumperoo. There's music, lights and exciting sounds (that can also be turned off). Miles loves grabbing at the toys and playing and when he starts to get tired of one set of toys, we spin him over to the next set of toys. The Roarin' Rainforest Jumper has a rotating seat that gives the baby 360 degree access to a ton of different toys and activities. A few of the fun items: soft monkeys overhead, spinners, clickers, a bead bar, mirror, etc

In addition to be fun and colorful, the Fisher-Price Roarin' Rainforest Jumperoo was designed to give developing motor skills a helpful boost. There are plenty of items that the baby can reach, grasp, and move, plus they can groove and jump so high! 

The size of the Jumperoo is perfect for Miles because it actually gives him a bit of a barrier from his super loving (sometimes giving TOO many hugs) siblings. He can actually have a bit of time to play on his own. Although one of our favorite things about watching Miles in the Jumperoo is that his sisters and brother form a circle around it and chant "jump Miles jump, jump Miles jump". This makes Miles giggles and jump so high! 

Also, for how big the Roarin' Rainforest Jumperoo is, it's really very easy to fold for storage. It's also not very heavy and easy to move. Sometimes Miles jumps in the family room too. I would highly recommend the Roarin' Rainforest Jumperoo. It's a great item to add to your baby registry or to get if you have a little ones ready to "jump" and play. 


Disclosure: We were not compensated for this post. We did receive product for the purpose of review. As always, all opinions are my own. 

6 Summer Favorites For Kids

We are now almost a month into our summer vacation & I couldn't be happier.  I love having the kids home all day.  Yes, it's exhausting but I love having the freedom to do whatever we want without schedules & commitments to fill our days up.  We kicked off our summer with a ten day trip to the beach.  We spent everyday digging in the sand, playing in the surf, and soaking up the sun.  Once we arrived home, we have pretty much spent every day at the pool.  There's something about our trips at the pool that keep these long summer days full of sanity.  The kids swim their hearts out, delight in their daily ice cream treats, & we get to enjoy some great company with fellow families.  So today, when I am talking about summer favorites, it's pretty obvious that all of my summer favorites so far this year are related to water because that's what we have done:)

Summer Favorites

1.  Sunuva Swimsuits:  Courtney & I have been using Sunuva swimwear with our kids for the past couple years.  Their suits are stylish, fun, and most importantly protective against the sun.   You can be confident that Sunuva offers the best sun protection for your little ones, because all of their swimwear features UPF+50 sun protection.  

Sunuva swimwear ranges in size 6 months to 14 years and there are so many fun prints to be found for boys and girls.  Sunuva swimwear is made to last.  My kids' swimsuits from Sunuva still fit from last year from, and even with plenty of wear and tear from the ocean and pool, the suits are still in excellent condition.  The kids love the fun prints & these swimsuits are really some of the most adorable suits that we own.

2.  Real Kids Sunglasses:  I have to admit that we have gone through a lot of sunglasses over the years.  Trust me, between breaking and losing pairs, we have seen more than enough pairs of sunglasses go through this house!  Today, I'm sharing a new "beach favorite" in our households because we have find a pair of sunglasses for kids that will last!  Real Shades are stylish and made to last. With the bend'em, flex'em, and you can't break'em technology, these sunglasses for kids are virtually unbreakable.  There are many other reasons we love the Real Shades sunglasses for our children:  the adjustable/removable band, 100% UVA/UVB protection, shatterproof lenses, and the wrap around frames.  There are a variety of sizes for children ranging from babies all the way to young adult.  Our crew of children have been wearing these sunglasses for the past month and through all the rough and tumble that our kids have put on these glasses, they are still as good as new!

3.  Sand Toys:  Every year before we head to the beach, we stock up on a new set of beach toys.  These toys get a ton of use not just at the beach, but also when we head back home for trips to the pool and to the park.  This year, we got the beach basket set from American Plastic Toys.  It comes with a variety of molds, small pail, bucket, and sifter lid as well as a bucket to carry all the small toys in.  My kids had a blast at the beach with their new sand toys!
4.  Sprinkler:  As much as we love the beach and the pool, there are always a few days that we just can't make the trip there.  Instead, we take the water fun to the backyard!   This year, the kids are loving the Hydro Swirl Spinning sprinkler.  This fun sprinkler shoots out water just like a regular sprinkler, but also has six wiggle tubes that shoot water in every direction.  The kids have a blast running and jumping through the water!

And for Courtney's tiny beach goers... 
5. Bumkins Swim Diapers: I've tried a lot of swim diapers over the years and this summer, our favorite are Bumkins. Bumkins new reusable swim diapers are durable and waterproof. Also, they keep any diaper contents tightly contained to prevent spills. They come in a range of sizes and a bunch of adorable patterns. There are cute summer patterns plus DC Comics, Dr. Seuss, Disney and more. 

6. Aden + Anais: We seem to use Aden + Anais all day in our house lately - blankets, bibs, at bath time etc. This summer I tried their clothing for the first time and their breathable sleeping bag. Both have been great for keeping Miles comfy and cool. The clothes are made in the same soft, breathable fabric as the swaddles and come in many of the same patterns. The sleeping bag has been wonderful. Miles still is cozy at night, but not too hot. 

Happy Summer!

Friday Favorites: Rockin' Baby

I love discovering new kids' clothing brands & today, I am going to share about one of our new favorites.  This summer, Abby & Andrew have been wearing some new items from Rockin' Baby & they are so adorable.  Every time the kids wear them, someone asks me where the outfit came from because their clothes are cute, unique, & fun for kids.  Not only are the clothes fashionable & cool, but more importantly, Rockin' Baby gives back in a big way.

Rockin' Baby was founded in 2002 to provide stylish baby slings to fashionable moms.  In 2011, Rockin' Baby transformed into a one-for-one philanthropic model, where for every baby sling sold, one would be donated to a mother in need.  As Rockin' Baby has expanded into creating childrenswear, they now partner with non-profit organization around the world to donate slings and kids' clothing to mothers and children: child to child, mother to mother.  

I love when companies find ways to give back to those in need and Rockin' Baby just does that.  Reading this story about how they have impacted those in Haiti is truly amazing   The infant mortality rate in Haiti is the highest mortality rate in the Western Hemisphere due to disease & poor living conditions.  Rockin' Baby wanted to help make a change.  They have donated their slings to give mothers the ability to be hands-free, so they can cook, clean, and tend to their families while keeping their baby close.
As you can see from our pictures in our post, Rockin' Baby creates clothes for kids of all ages.  There are something for the itty-bitty babies, including pouches and slings for their moms.    Their baby & toddler line is cute, comfortable, and perfect for summer days.

There is also clothes for the big kids.  Their clothing line ranges from age 0-10.   Again, the clothes are comfortable and the kids love the fun prints of the outfits.  Rockin' Baby carries a wide range of items, from swimsuits to casual dress clothes so there is something for everyone!  

We hope you take a moment to check out the Rockin' Baby clothing line for summer.  There are lots of bright & cheerful items for kids of all ages!  The clothes are well made and perfect for lots of playing outdoors.  Right now, they have a great summer sale where you can get 40% off all spring and summer.  Happy Shopping!

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A Fun Summer Family Adventure (& Giveaway!)

Summer started two weeks ago in our house.  We spent our first week of summer vacation away at the beach.  We arrived back home earlier this week & are getting settled into our summer routine.  On most days, our schedule consists of lots of playtime at home, meeting up with friends, daily trips to the pool, & catching up on errands that need to be done around town.  As much as I love the simplicity of summer days, I also want to make sure that I take advantage having all my kids home every day during the summer.  This year, I decided to plan an Adventure Day each week that we are home.  We will go somewhere or do something that we normally would not do!  There are so many places to go and things to see in our area, so this will make sure that we get to see a few of these wonderful places before the school year starts again.  This week, our little Abby had a very special request.  She has been begging to go see the cute goats and piggies, so we decided that our first trip of the summer would be to a free local farm in our area.

  

The kids had a blast.  Despite the heat, we got to see lots of farm animals including goats, pigs, cows, and more.  We also took a special wagon tour around the farm learning more about farm life & the history of the farm.  Our adventure also included a special ride on the carousel, their absolute favorite spot on the farm.  I often pack our lunch when we head out and about for the day & this week, we found the perfect picnic spot in the shade of this old red barn.

 

 

With three kids, I have learned over the years to be prepared when I head out.  There are things that we must have no matter where we go or how long we are going.  This year,  I have been using the JJ Cole outdoor blanket for our summer adventures.  Honestly, I just keep this in the trunk of our car and have it no matter where we go.  We have used this summer blanket for picnics at the park, trips to the pool, and even for a trip to see fireworks last week at the beach.  It's large enough that our whole family can fit on it, but is super easy to fold and store away and carry with the shoulder strap.  It's comfortable,comes in fun patterns, & is super easy to wash.  I highly recommend this blanket for outdoor adventures with your family.  You can read more about this awesome outdoor blanket & purchase on Amazon here.

 

I also love to have a bag that is packed and ready for outdoor adventures, separate from my purse and pool bag.  In this bag, we store snacks, bug spray, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, wipes, & all the other necessities you need with young children.  I often keep this right by the door so we can just grab and go when we head out.  This year, I have been using the JJ Cole Aqua Radian Bucket Tote.  I love that this cute bag is super durable because it's made of water-resistant canvas.  There are 13 different pockets making it easy to store different items, including the cell phone pocket that is on the inside the bag making it easy to locate my phone quickly.  For parents of younger children, it also includes bottle and pacifier pods that easily attach to the bag & comes with a coordinating changing pad.   I also love that it comes with stroller straps that allow you to hook the bag onto any stroller & leave the storage basket in your stroller for other items that you may have be carrying or need.  You can learn more about the bag & purchase at Babies R' Us here.

I love how easy it is to store these two items and it makes it easy to grab and go when we head out the door.  I often head out on these adventures while my husband is working, so the convenience of carrying both of these items on my shoulder is great!  Today, I am excited to share that one of our lucky readers will win a JJ Cole Diaper Bag & Outdoor Blanket.  To enter to win, just fill out the Rafflecopter below.  Good luck! Disclosure: We were not compensated for this post. We received this diaper bag & outdoor blanket set from JJ Cole Collections for the purpose of review. As always, all opinions are our own. 

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