Win With Svan
As featured on Ellen’s Mothers Day show, Svan’s Signet could be yours just by entering their contest!!! What are you waiting for mamma? Enter HERE
A Girl Can Never Have To Many Pairs Of Shoes
We’re almost too afraid to say it…in case we spoil the warmer weather on the way…but we think its just about time to break out the sandals. Wearing summer shoes just might inspire Mother Nature to turn up the thermostat a little. We’ve been waiting for the nice weather so we can let our little girl slip into her super cute, yet very practical Pediped sandals. She chose the shiny bronze t -strap Vivian sandals because of the three sparkly gem stones embellishing the front…we said yes because we know how comfy and reliable Pediped shoes are. The velcro closures are on both sides making the fit as tight or as loose as your child needs and the base is very flexible making them a great playground shoe. It’s difficult to find a shoe thats dressy enough for a birthday party and sturdy enough for a bike ride and game of tag, but we think the Vivian fits the bill perfectly No need to have shoe envy though momma! The founder of Pediped, Angela Edgeworth has a fab new line of amazing shoes at Brian James Footwear. Now mommy & daughter can both be comfy and stylish!
Disney’s New Fantasyland Is All That & Then Some
Having been to Disney World a few times over the last few years with my family, the news that Fantasyland was expanding was really exciting. Magic Kingdom in Orlando is loved by so many people and holds so many wonderful memories not just for my family, but for millions of families from all over the world. We were fortunate enough to have received tickets to explore, review and see all the changes and additions made. How could Disney make Magic Kingdom even better? Would they be able to mesh Disney tradition with new modern experiences? The answer is a resounding YES!
The Disney expansion includes two new themed areas, The Enchanted Forest starring Belle and Ariel, and Storybook Circus. You’ll encounter two new castles while in The Enchanted Forest ares, one being Prince Eric’s. While there you can ride in a clam shell while taking in an abridged version of The Little Mermaid. It’s a ride full of great music, memories and a fabulously over the top Ursula, The Sea Witch. Make sure to get a fast pass for this one as the line can get long. While you wait for your fastpass time, grab a seat and a snack at Gaston’s Tavern. The croissants are tres delicieux (while in France….) and the seats outside have umbrellas to shade you from Orlando’s hot sun. You may just get a chance to meet Gaston himself. He is hands down the most convincing Disney cast member we have ever met…flexed muscles and all. Very entertaining.
While in the Enchanted Forest you’ll also have a chance to interact with Belle from Beauty And The Beast, at Enchanted Tales With Belle in her French country cottage. It’s a wonderful way to combined a meet and greet with an interactive experience. Your wee one gets to see Belle and be part of the experience. If you can, try and have lunch at the Be Our Guest quick service restaurant (it’s a sit down, full service restaurant at night). We tried to go…but the line up started well before lunchtime. It’s on our list for next time as we love the French restaurants at Epcot and the reviews have been quite glowing. C’est la vie.
Storybook Circus is just as you would imagine it. Bright, fun and full of nostalgia, but with a carefree Big Top feel. It’s here you’ll find Dumbo…all shined up and offering a new experience. We loved the way they made you feel like the line up to ride Dumbo was gone. You receive a pager and get to play in an indoor playground. When the pager goes off you can go onto Dumbo with a much shorter wait time…you’re still waiting, but your children can have fun playing and you can have a well deserved rest. Another must do in Storybook Circus is the Barnstormer. It’s billed as a junior roller coaster starring Goofy…but it elicited great yells and squeals from this momma. So much yelling that the poor little boy who had the misfortune to sit in front of me was crying by the end…not from the ride but from me..the screaming crazy lady. Its a ride that your 4 year old will enjoy and that you will hold on for dear life…but that’s an opinion from a roller coaster novice and an admitted scaredy cat. ( I’m working my way up to Thunder Mountain)
We spent hours in the New Fantasyland, taking in all the characters, new sights, and rides. It’s very interactive and definitely lives up to all the hype. We think it would make Walt very proud. Can’t wait to see what they have in store for 2014 when the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster opens. I promise not to scream too loud next time…
Fancy Tees & Onesies You’ll Want…We Promise
Is it finally Spring yet? Must be, as we finally gave in and let our youngest toss her coat off at the playground to run about in her tee shirt and jeans. No hat, no mitts and no coat. Finally! Time to pack up the woolies and break out the onesies and short sleeves. Our baby of the family finally got to sport her new artist designed shirt from Wordsation, a very hip and completely cool childrens wear company. They take a very soft and basic tee shirt or onesie and have an artist’s design applied to the fabric. The animal characters are very appealing to both children and adults. They look sharp, clever and still remain kid friendly and fashionably quirky. Love the bear on a unicycle, and the cat and his hat. The detail and whimsy is so unheard of in most kids clothes. Wordsation’s tees and onesies would make an amazing baby shower gift, especially if you used their subscription option where a new onesie arrives every few months as the baby grows. That would put a smile on any new mom’s face.
Beatrix New York Impresses Us Again
We’ve been long time fans of the fresh kid gear at Beatrix New York. In fact, we’re still toting one of their stylish yet sturdy wheelie suitcases on our family vacations. With our 4 year old starting school in the fall, we knew he needed a backpack that could withstand his rambunctious nature and look cool doing so. After careful consideration, and a lot of time looking at all the fabulous bags they design…and a great debate with a tot about monkeys and dinosaurs, our “school age boy to be” chose the adventurous and jet fueled Alexander robot backpack . Once it arrived, it was swiftly opened by a tiny set of hands and stuffed with many prized treasures. It really is a fantastic bag we must say. The colors and graphics are appealing to children and parents…a perfect balance of whimsy and style. The inside compartment holds a lot, and the cushioned straps balance all the added weight out. There will be room for books, pencils,a packed lunch and crayons…and don’t worry…there’s lots of extra room for mommy’s tissues for that inevitable first day of school. Sniff.
Soft As A Baby’s Bottom
All this mothering has left a definite mark on my sensitive skin. Up late and throughout the night…early mornings…dehydrated from lack of time to care for myself and little time left to pamper my skin has made me look older then I am. One long look in the mirror during a brief five minute break (hiding actually in the bathroom) led me to the conclusion that it was time to take care of myself…and my aging skin. I may feel tired and look like I partied all night, but there must be a miracle cream that will hide all that…right….? I put myself on a strict diet of 1 whole extra hour of sleep a night, drank heaps more water and started using a brilliant new face cream to start working on all my fine lines, wrinkles and definite lack of glow. Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica Cream is a gorgeous new line that uses a rare resurrection flower known for its hydrating properties. I’ve been using it for about a month and my skin does feel firmer, less dry and does in fact glow at times if we do say so ourself. It’s super thick, and works best if you warm a small amount up first before rubbing it into your skin. I’m a huge fan of Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Oil too, and when used with the Rosa Arctica line, it makes my almost middle aged skin look less 40-ish and way more 30-ish. I feel pampered and indulgent and it only takes this busy momma a few extra minutes, while hiding from the family in the bathroom. I’m still tired…and I still get up at all hours, but my skin looks hydrated, rested and more firm. Miracles do happen.
Finally…We Have A Nanny
We do have a nanny…not the traditional type, but perhaps one even better. It’s a coveted Toy Nanny from the smart mom’s at 2 Red Hens. They have created a circular blanket with mesh pockets and a soft center playmat that pulls into a stylish toy tote that looks fabulous and provides tons of time saving function. The Toy Nanny makes life easier, tidier, less stressful and heaps more hip & stylish. Love the vintage look of the designs and the water proof resistant backing ( no need to cry over the milk that will get spilled mamma!). It has made cleanup time after a playdate super easy and more convenient as the straps cinch and you just throw the bag over your shoulder. The mesh pockets allow your child to see just what they have available to play with, and it’s all within their reach. Celeb moms who are as lucky as we are to have some 2 Red Hens baby gear are Sarah Michelle Geller and Tiffani Thiessen and Ali Laundry. Smart mommies thinking alike. Keep up to date with 2 Red Hens on their facebook page…you’ll be the first to know what’s new.
We have one Toy Nanny to give away to a lucky reader! Leave a comment on this review telling us your favorite Toy Nanny Design. Simple as that! Contest ends Feb 14th.
Hip, Modern & On Sale!
Have you heard about Aven Clothing? We discovered it a few weeks back and have been ohhing & ahhing ever since. Aven is all about cool, edgy clothes for boys….nothing cutesy or adorable. Just well made clothes that you won’t find anywhere else. The cuts, fabric and textures give the whole line a very street wise feel while still keeping it kid friendly and age appropriate. Not an easy task…but done so well that Dad will wish it came in his size too. Our faves and must haves are the line of jackets and blazers they designed. They have a distressed , “vintage find” feel and look amazing. The blue pea coat stands out the most though, and we love how it looks on our edgy, adventurous toddler. We dress it up & down depending on what’s on the agenda. Best part? They are having a major sale right now…like a 30% off kind of sale…just fabulous! Let us know what you love from Aven’s line.
Protect Their Skin
With three kids, we’ve tried just about every cream and ointment there is during the cold harsh winter months. All three children get red chapped cheeks and dry weathered lips no matter what we do. Although we love our Rosebud lip salve (it cures just about anything overnight….we have tins of it throughout the house) we’ve always wanted to find the perfect preventative and protective cream for our tots sensitive faces. The more natural and chemical free the better. We read a lot about Weleda’s Calendula Weather Protection Cream and decided to try it out. Weleda is such a well loved and trusted brand and this new addition to their baby line sounded like the cream we have been searching for. Celeb moms such as Gwyneth Paltrow and Jessica Alba are reportedly fans of the baby line. After using the barrier cream for a few weeks, we gotta say that our kid’s chins, cheeks and lips are having their best winter yet. It’s a really thick almost oil like cream…but it absorbs super fast. It’s packed with sweet almond oil and calendula so it smells amazing as well. A little dab goes a long way, so one small tube really will work for a whole family. We keep our new cream by the hats and mitts and use it everyday now. Finally…a winter with happy, healthy skin despite the cold Canadian snow, wind & winter.
Hip, Retro & Practical
Now that the presents are all unwrapped, the tree is (hopefully) on the curb, and the kids are back at school, its time to put up your feet and relax. We’ve been propping our wooly socked feet up on mounds of unfolded laundry while fooling around on the iPad…perusing great blogs (Cup Of Jo & MomFilter will keep you from getting anything done for hours…) and sipping coffee. How are we protecting our greatest form of distraction lately? With a super hip iPad sleeve designed by Julia Rothman from Chronicle Books. It’s cushioned with fleece on the inside, has a zipper around 3 sides for easy access and it looks just so completely retro chic. We’ll admit…our kids still can’t even quite grasp what a typewriter is…our world is well beyond that now. But for those of us who remember the clickity clack and could still unstick a key with our eyes closed, this cover is totally for you.