• Monthly Archive:: June 2014

    My favorite thing about having young kids is witnessing their imaginations firsthand. My 6-year-old wishes she were a bunny, and sometimes draws her alter ego as herself. (I won’t get into her insatiable appetite for carrots and celery…let’s consider it a parenting perk.) If you happen to be blessed with a kid with a penchant for pretend play, then surely you must know Julius Jr., the preschool sensation with his own Nick Jr. TV series. This little monkey has the knack for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary, including a basic cardboard box that turns into a wonderland of magic and fun. Bringing Julius and his gang’s excitement over to playtime is a complete line of toys and books. Fisher-Price has already launched a number [&hellip

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    Here we go: summertime in the suburbs, and that means plenty of afternoons spent leisurely lounging by the pool and making my way through a long list of beach reads undisturbed…NOT! With two kids about to descend upon my daily routine of quiet and productivity, that fantasy is about to be shattered. Because my creative kindergartner will be with me for much of her summer break, we’ve got to get those creative hats on and start thinking. I tend to look for craft supplies that don’t require too much parental supervision (not only to encourage her independent thinking, but to keep me from hovering). So when Elmer’s recently introduced its Early Learners line, it earned big smiles in this house. Products like the Washable Glue [&hellip

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    Tomorrow marks my most favorite day of the year…after Christmas and my birthday, of course. The summer solstice promises to be a sunny and beautiful one. Naturally, that means plenty of time spent outdoors…and plenty of sunscreen. I’m not taking any chances with my kids, having gone through enough skin cancer treatments to keep me forever under a wide-brimmed hat and in long sleeves. They’ll be slathered in sunscreen from head to toe, whether they like it or not! Because we go through so much sunscreen over the course of the summer, I like to stock up on well-made products that go the distance, rather than settle for an inexpensive drugstore brand. Elemental Herbs All Good Kids Sunscreen is a high-quality product that deserves a [&hellip

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    My aunt and uncle have a summer house in New Hampshire, a place I remember from my childhood as one of peace and tranquility. While nature was all around us, it was the stillness of the lake, momentarily shattered by the cry of the resident loons, that I am able to recall instantly. If you’re not familiar with this species of bird, you come to know them by their haunting call, one that lingers long after you’ve packed up and gone home for the summer. So when I received my copy of The Lake Where Loon Lives, I knew I could be transported back to New England simply by turning the pages. What I did not anticipate, however, was the sharp contrast to the sounds [&hellip

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    If your baby’s first bath was a momentous milestone, imagine what her first shower will be like someday. My own daughter’s transition from bath to shower was a bit late in the game (she was especially fearful of the water continuously hitting her face), but if Rubber Duckie & Friends had been around, the experience probably would have been a lot less traumatic…for both of us. Playfully designed in the likeness of a rubber duck, frog or other smiling-faced animal friend, this removable head attaches easily to any shower arm for an independent shower-taker, or it can be used a handheld sprayer for parents unsatisfied by emptying cups of water over their child’s head. It comes with all of the essential materials (a wand, 6-foot [&hellip

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    Right now, I’m in Brazil (mentally speaking, of course). While I wish I were relaxing on one of their beautiful beaches, the place I’m in is a far cry from the sandy shore. We’re packed in like sardines at the Sao Paulo stadium, but hey, it’s worth it just to see J. Lo and Pitbull in the midst of an Amazon rainforest made up of walking trees and dancing flowers…Poof! I’m wide awake now, but as they say, a mom can dream, can’t she? If you or your kids want to live out their World Cup fantasies over the next few weeks, we have a few toy suggestions to help get your game on. Playmobil’s Take Along Soccer Match comes with everything needed to play [&hellip

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    This past weekend, I did not have one of those ‘lightbulb moments’ in parenting. After returning from a quick sojourn to the beach with the kids, I failed to pack up my daughter’s nightlight that I had remembered to bring along in the first place…and only realized my blunder at bedtime. (Mind you, this is a kid who can not, will not live without some semblance of light in her bedroom.) In a pinch, we wound up swapping another nightlight in its place, but only temporarily, natch. I keep thinking that if we had a nightlight that stood out a bit more, maybe I’d be a bit better about noticing it when it was time to head home. Kushies Night Lights are a surefire example [&hellip

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    T-minus 6 days until Father’s Day, and you’re still searching for the perfect gift. If Dad is difficult to please, and a new set of clubs just won’t cut it, we’ve got a gift that celebrates his special day and that keeps on giving. Panama Jack’s Balcony and Adirondack Chair collections are made of hand-crafted cypress wood designed to withstand all types of weather…just like your guy. Outfitted in signature motifs like the Chairman of the Boards, Sailfish and Parrot patterns, you can find the perfect chair and style to fit his temperament. We’re partial to the parrot ourselves, but that may be because we’d rather be wasting away in Margaritaville than shopping. After all, it must be 5 o’clock somewhere, right?…Happy Father’s Day. In [&hellip

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    Next weekend is Father’s Day…have you picked out a tie yet? Yes, we know it can’t be easy for to buy something for the guy who has everything…and it’s even more challenging if he’s not into golfing, grilling or playing with his big-boy tools. To add a little spice to his day, why not go a la Boardwalk Empire and pick up some hand-crafted moonshine? Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine makes 10 different flavors passed down from old family recipes, and packs them in moonshine jugs and jars that make extra-special gifts. From Original Moonshine, to Charred Moonshine, each has a distinct flavor all its own…and one that dear ol’ dad may want to keep all to himself….If your guy is trying to cut down on [&hellip

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    The ice cream truck has been making its rounds in our neighborhood, signifying the unofficial start of summer. The unmistakable sound of that piped-in music seems to act as a siren call for my 10-year-old, a budding entrepreneur who is eager to drag out a table and chairs and set up a makeshift lemonade stand (thankfully, we have very kindhearted, generous neighbors). Even though she considers herself a seasoned veteran when it comes to selling summertime refreshments, it couldn’t hurt to learn a thing or two about making her business even more successful. If you have a kid destined to flex her entrepreneurial muscles this summer, consider treating her one of themed summer activity kits from Bizainy. Packed with all the essential tools to help [&hellip

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