• Is your family getting psyched for the opening of Jurassic World this weekend? It’s been so long since the last film, I’m feeling like a dino myself! If you’re looking to get your kids in the mood for this summer blockbuster, you can turn playtime into a movie set with the Lionel Dinosaur Diesel Train Set. As tourists are shuttled through the amusement park on trains in Jurassic World, kids can recreate the scenes, and even make up their own. The set lets them reenact the movie once they’re back at home with plenty of cool extras, including an electronic locomotive controlled by remote, two freight cars carrying precious cargo of dinosaur eggs and scientific equipment, a caboose, track and a pack of dinosaur figures. [&hellip

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    We recently took a stroll down memory lane watching videos of when my girls were toddlers. It’s hard to believe they were once that young–no backtalk, just babble–and so fiercely independent (or at least trying to be). I  remember so well how determined my older daughter was to drink out of her own cup, minus the top. And if my well-worn kitchen floor is any indication of just how many spills of knocked-over drinks I’ve cleaned up, well…let’s just say there’s a reason for all those stains. If you have an equally determined toddler on your hands, you know that meal time isn’t the best time for arguing over minor mishaps. Katesplace Kupp’ is the answer to those relentless cries of “I do it myself!” [&hellip

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    It’s not even June yet, and it already feels like summer. The sun is out, the heat is on and the kids are thirsty. Fresh off the school bus with sweaty, rosy-cheeked faces, they can barely make it through the door before they are asking for something cold to drink. Yesterday, I was able to surprise them with something new and boy, did it make an impression. Honest Tea‘s latest addition to its organic Summer Refreshers line, Watermelon Lemonade, combines the classic taste of tart lemons with a refreshing twist of mouthwatering melon. The result is a well-balanced beverage that tempers the taste of sharp citrus with subtle fruity flavor. We like to think of as a new summer beverage for the seasoned palette…or for [&hellip

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    What a great day to be out for a stroll! And if you’re out with your baby in tow, it’s the perfect excuse to strap on your front carrier and let her take in all the sights and sounds of a warm, spring day. We’ve got our eye on the brand-new BABYBJORN Ice Cream Collection of carriers that make a fresh statement for today’s babies. Available in a mouthwatering palette of four refreshing colors–or should we say “flavors?”–including Pear, Strawberry, Blackberry and Blue Mint, the Baby Carrier One can be worn either forward-facing or back-carrying as your baby’s needs changes. Because it is designed to accommodate children from 8-33 lbs., you can use this carrier well into the toddler years. A baby product that lasts? [&hellip

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    Earlier this week, I was invited to attend a press luncheon with an important agenda on the menu. The focus was on helping to promote safe sleep practice for babies, both in the home and at daycare. Many of us grew up with our parents having placed us in our cribs on our tummies, blissfully unaware of the dangers of SIDS. Today, our generation is striving to better educate our own parents (now grandparents) and caregivers by insisting that babies be placed on their backs, without any loose blankets, plush toys or pillows. (Yes, as snuggly as that soft teddy bear might be, he is best reserved for playtime and not when a child is sleeping.) To help promote safe sleep awareness, representatives from First [&hellip

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    Breaking Bad may be over, but the legend of Saul Goodman lives on. If you’re a fan of the television series, chances are you’ve been able to get your fix on this season’s spinoff Better Call Saul, starring the legal eagle himself. My husband and I get a kick out of watching this guy make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear, so to speak. I don’t know what pains me more: his makeshift law office in the back of a nail salon or his sad attempt at trying to connect with people other than potential clients. Lawyer or not, this is one guy who wears his heart on his sleeve and we love him for it. Because we catch up on our DVR [&hellip

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    Homework is a real drag. And at this point in the school year, with the warmer weather beckoning kids outdoors, it’s getting even harder to sit still and get that work out of the way and done! In the spirit of finding innovative (read: inexpensive) ways to entice my newly minted 7-year-old to breeze through her math problems, I presented her with Wild Animal Scented Erasers and boy, did she perk up. These soft erasers are designed in colorful animal shapes–purple gorilla, blue elephant and green frog–and sit atop an easy-to-grip decorative holder. With 5 refills in each pack, your kid can make as many mistakes as she pleases. And don’t be surprised if some of them are intentional; one whiff of those erasing animals, [&hellip

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    There aren’t too many preschool-aged TV shows left that my budding middle schooler and soon-to-be second grader can agree on. (Sometimes, I miss the good, old days of crowd pleasers like “Clifford the Big Red Dog” and “Oswald”…sigh.) Lucky for me, “Peppa Pig” is one of those shows; my older daughter will “tolerate” it, but I have a sneaking suspicion that she actually enjoys it. I mean, C’mon: Who doesn’t like a catchy jingle about baked beans and the adorable British accents of Peppa, George and the rest of the gang (including Mr. Zebra)? Fans of the show will finally get their day in the sun when a live show makes its way around the country this fall. Dubbed Peppa Pig’s Big Splash, the show [&hellip

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    As April turns into May and thoughts of summer vacation are on the horizon, it’s the perfect excuse to update your little one’s wardrobe (as if you needed a reason to shop!). If you’ll be planning a trip to a seaside destination this summer, why not speak the language of the natives and go for some beach-inspired baby wear? We are loving the newest collection from SoftBaby, makers of designer organic cotton clothing for infant boys and girls. From soft tees, to one-piece rompers, this all-natural assortment is entirely non-toxic and features whimsical prints that are both playful and fashion-forward. We especially love the long-sleeved play suits that protect little ones from chilly sea breezes…utterly adorable. So, stop dreaming about your summer vaca and start [&hellip

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    As I begin to enter the tween years of parenting, I’m faced with challenges that I never would have dreamed of (social media madness, anyone?). To help curb my own pity party, I sometimes remind myself of those early year moments that fortunately I won’t have to experience ever again…like teething. The sheer agony of watching my then-toddlers cry in utter pain and writhe their little bodies mercilessly was enough to convince me that mothers do, in fact, experience their children’s discomfort as though it were there own. Perhaps if I’d been able to inject some humor into the situation (as I tend to do with so many other uncomfortable moments as a mom), I’d be able to smile through those tears. That has got [&hellip

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