Alright. It’s about time we get a post up that is music-related. This family loves music, so we should be talking about it WAY more than we do. I suppose I should speak for myself because the hubs is always talking about music on his blog. I have a very good reason to talk music at ParentSphere right now and that is because Kidzapalooza is only a week away.
In case you really don’t know…Kidzapalooza is part of Lollapalooza. You’ve surely heard of Lollapalooza, right? If you haven’t, where the heck have you been?! Lolla was founded by Perry Farrell and has been around since 1991. It was the first, huge outdoor music festival that I attended and that was way back in 1995, when the festival was still touring the country. Since 2005, Lollapalooza graces its presence in one city each summer and lucky enough for me, that city happens to be Chicago.
I took the preschooler to Kidzapalooza in 2008 and we caught one of our favorite kid acts, The Terrible Twos (Matt from The Get Up Kids/New Amsterdams). Here’s a video from their performance:
It was Kidza that rekindled my love for Lolla (are you getting confused yet?). How many of us can say that we attended our first big outdoor music festival twice before we were 5 years old? My kid can.
Anyway, we’re stoked. We’ll be there on Sunday the 8th. We’re thrilled to feature Recess Monkey here on ParentSphere. We’ll be dancing with them, singing with them and interviewing them in just over a week. We’re equally as stoked to finally catch Dan Zanes. He’s been a favorite for a long, long time around here.
Here is the 2010 Kidzapalooza line-up for all three days:
Sunset over Manitowish Lake, Manitowish Waters, WI
It’s already the end of July. This is right about the time during summer when I feel like we’re over the hump and heading quickly toward Fall. I can sense it in the air. I’ve been living it up for the majority of the summer and now that I’ve survived seven flights since May (four of those with kids) and 25+ hours in the car traveling to and from neighboring states, I’m ready to relax. I’m ready to stop living out of suitcases for a while and get some cleaning and organization done in my house (and my head).
There really is so much to talk about; from how I managed to do all of this traveling with kids and stay sane to the awesome products I’ve come to know and love that were so helpful to me on my travels. I feel like I’ve got some good experience under my belt now after spending some time in the Caribbean, Disney World and in the north woods with a one year old and a four year old. Even though it was quite hectic at times, I was able to ensure we also had a very enjoyable time on our adventures.
In the coming weeks, I plan on showcasing more of the products that we got some good use out of and revisiting some of the products from companies I’ve already talked about, like SecuraTrac, Little Honey, and butt-ums up baby to name a few. I’m also looking forward to sharing my ideas on summer travel with the family.
So, what have you done this summer? Have you stayed close to home or adventured out into unknown lands? I’d love to hear some of your do’s and don’ ts for traveling with kids.
My daughter is very active, so I generally dress her (actually, she dresses herself) in comfortable clothes that she can move around freely in. I’m planning on getting her involved in some activities, something like gymnastics or soccer in the coming months. Something where she can burn off some of that crazy amount of energy she has.
With this in mind, when I was contacted about a company out of Vancouver, B.C. called LiLiKiKs, a company specializing in sportswear for active girls, I was immediately interested in learning more. They sent us the Courtney Tank and Borealis Capri for review. The outfit arrived before our first two trips this summer, so it was a no-brainer for me that Hailey would wear the outfit on our four flights, two of which were five hours long. I needed something comfortable and durable.
The tank and capri’s have become a favorite of hers (and mine). The tank is made of Shea fabric and has UVF 50 protection (which makes me happy) and the capri’s are made with KiK Dri fabric (which makes her comfortable and happy). LiLiKiKs line of active wear for girls and tweens range in size 6 to 14 (XS to XL). I like it that you can shop by sport on their website. Makes narrowing down your choices much easier.
As soon as a decision is made as to which sport(s) we’ll try first, I know I can confidently shop at LiLiKiKs for quality and comfort.
We were recently sent one of the softest hooded towels by Bebe au Lait for our baby. Honestly, this is the softest towel I have felt. I love wrapping our soon-t0-be one year old in it after she’s played in the pool or when she’s fresh out of the bath. It’s not scratchy on her delicate skin like other towels I’ve had. Have I mentioned it’s the softest baby towel ever?
We have the Bebe au Lait hooded towel in Capri, a modern Asian-inspired pattern (it’s beautiful). The towels are made of 100% plush terrycloth and the trim is 100% cotton and they are the perfect size for babies up to 24 months.
Do not hesitate to purchase one of these hooded towels as a gift for a new mom. Bebe au Lait also has coordinating nursing covers, bibs and burp cloths in many appealing patterns. Their gift sets and towels are packaged beautifully.
If you’re going to be at the pool for any amount of time over the summer, you should definitely have one of these hooded towels on hand to snuggle around your precious summer baby.
We recently returned from two amazing, back-to-back vacations. We visited the Dominican Republic, came home for a week, and then jetted off to Florida for our first family visit to Walt Disney World. I have been itching to write about our adventures and especially the awesome products that helped keep us and our kids happy and sane.
Here is a run-down of some fantastic products that are perfect for traveling with kids. Whether we were gifted with some of the items or if we purchased them, the following are our own, honest opinions. We hope you’ll find these products just as useful as we have.
Plum Tots
On my mission to find travel-friendly food items for the baby, I discovered Plum Organics. I purchased about a dozen packs of Plum Tots fruit “mish mash” blends for our 11 month old. Little did I know how handy these travel-friendly packs would be. I threw these into the diaper bag, along with a disposable spoon and whenever we were at the pool for the afternoon or a not-so-kid-friendly restaurant, I squeezed some of the organic fruit puree onto the spoon and voila, the baby was a happy camper.
These soft, sweat-proof sunscreen towelettes are a must-have. There were so many instances on our two sunny vacations when we didn’t have one of our bottles or sticks of sunscreen readily available and we wanted to re-apply sunscreen. These baby silk babysafe sunscreen towelettes were a godsend. There is enough sunscreen in one wipe to completely cover a baby or kid from head-to-toe. A big pat on the back for the MD Moms for these indispensable sunscreen wipes.
FruitziO
We love, love, love the new FruitziO freeze-dried fruit snacks from Crispy Green. We brought several packs of these 100-calorie healthy snacks with us on our vacations and both the kids and adults enjoyed them immensely. It was nice to have a handy, healthy snack along where it was quite easy to indulge in treats that are not-so-good for you (like those all-you-can-eat 24 hour buffets).
ColourCollection from Goody (new!)
If you have girls, then you already know that Goody products are a staple. We were sent Goody’s new ColourCollection hair accessories and have been making extremely good use of them. When we were in the Dominican Republic, the ouchless hair ties, Ribbon Weave Gentle Elastics and snap clips helped tame our humidity-struck locks. In Florida, the above Goody products helped keep our hair up and out of the way as we braved the 100+ degree heat.
Trunki
I can’t tell you how many glances, giggles and compliments we have gotten about Trunki (and how many adults wish they could have ride-on luggage, too!). That’s not the only reason we like her, she’s been an incredible travel companion for our preschooler. Inside of this kid-friendly luggage, we tucked everything she needed to feel safe and entertained away from home and we were able to pull her while she rode on Trunki through the airport. We couldn’t have made a better decision in a carry-on for our little one.
Bendaroos
We were gifted with a box of “Fun Food” Bendaroos and admittedly, when I opened the box, I was unimpressed with this product. I had different expectations on the quality of these bendable, wax-covered pieces of yarn BUT my 4-1/2 yr old LOVES THEM. That, to me, is more important than my initial disappointment. I like activities that the kids can do with their hands and minds. They provide hours of entertainment for the kids and make a great travel activity.
Pipila
The Pipila, a portable pacifier (and nipple) sanitizer was a product that I used religiously on our trip to The Dominican Republic. There were signs right on the faucet in our suite that read, “don’t drink the water”. So, the last thing I wanted to do was wash the baby’s pacifiers or nipples with it. I rinsed them a bit with bottled water and then 6 minutes in the Pipila and they were 99.9% sterilized. This product worked like a charm.
butt-ums up baby Diaper Changing Pad
Now that I’ve been there, done that (ie: traveling via flights with kids), I can attest to the use one gets out of this product. I would have been lost without the butt-ums up baby diaper changing pad. I used it on the plane (in the bathroom and while in my seat!), at the pool, in the stroller and in many baby changing stations around Walt Disney World.
Baby Banz
This company knows all about warm weather. Baby Banz is an Australian based company that specializes in UV protection for babies and kids. We were gifted with the items pictured above. The one piece, UV Banz swimwear is for babies 0-24 months, UPF 50+. There is a front zipper and zipper closure on the leg inseam for easy diaper changes. Baby Banz is known for their baby and kid’s sunglasses (and accessories). Donotpassupthiscompany when you’re shopping for sun protection for your kids. We highly recommend Baby Banz.
SecuraTrac
We took the SecuraPAL (Personal Automated Locator) along with us on our trip to Disney World. I will soon post my detailed review of how we used this GPS tracking device with our preschooler as we braved the crowds at the parks. SecuraTrac offers a very smart, tech-savvy way to keep those you love from getting lost. We also very highly recommend this product (SecuraPal) and service (SecuraTrac). Check out a demonstration of this service.
Little Honey Bug Repellent Bands
These things are freaking awesome. We were surrounded by flying, blood-sucking insects while we were out of the country and then when we came back into the country. When they started to attack, we just set out one of these 100% Natural Bug Repellent Bands near us and suddenly, our blood was of no interest. We have many more summer nights where we’ll be prime targets for those nasty mosquitoes, therefore, we will have plenty more bug bands on hand. It’s a no brainer.
Vincent Shoes
We’re long time fans of Vincent Shoes. I have trusted the quality and durability of their kid’s shoes and they have not let me down. Tor (pictured above) proved to be worthy of keeping my preschooler on her feet on wet, stamped concrete walkways and while running to and fro around Walt Disney World. Did I mention they have ridiculously awesome sales all of the time? Well, they do. So check out Vincent Shoes.
Britax Blink Stroller
I can’t say enough good things about this lightweight stroller. We take our Britax Blinkeverywhere with us. This stroller has been through airports, checked at gates, folded and unfolded to transport on and off trams, through security, on bumpy, stamped-cement walkways, in and out of elevators, all over Disney World, etc. No complaints from the 11 month old. No complaints from the parents. This stroller is a must-have.
Congratulations to our winner, commenter #125, Eileen!
What you see pictured above is MobiGo, the brand new hand held touch learning system from VTech. I was sent a MobiGo to check out and talk about here at ParentSphere. What you read below is completely my opinion.
There is a July 2010 release date for MobiGo (MSRP $60) and it’s going to be a load of interactive fun for your 3 to 8 year old. My daughter is 4-1/2 and when I introduced MobiGo to her the other day, she was hooked. She’s at that age where she can follow instructions and has a basic understanding of electronics; in this case, fun, learning activities. I’m predicting it’s going to be a big hit this holiday season.
MobiGo has a touch screen, much like mom and pop’s smart phone. The screen slides back (with a smooth transition) to reveal a full QWERTY keyboard to get your son or daughter familiar with using a computer. I am so digging this. Here is Hailey playing some games from the Touch and Learn game cartridge:
Using the QWERTY keyboard:
Using the touch screen:
As you can see from the videos, this new hand held learning system is right on par with today’s high-tech gadgets. A feature included is connecting online to share scores and track progress. A+ in my book. That’s what I’m talkin’ about. I am highly anticipating the other titles (11 to start) soon available for MobiGo. You can order your MobiGo online at ToysRus, where you can also view a list of the current software titles.
View more images of MobiGo:
We are fortunate enough to be able to offer a brand new VTech MobiGo to one of our readers.
Enter our VTech MobiGo giveaway!
I will choose a winner from the comment section of this post (using Random.org’s number generator) on Friday, June 18th. Giveaway open until midnight PST (you must be located in the continental US) to enter.
You can do any or all of these things to enter. That means, you have four chances to enter.
Entry chance option 1:
Leave a comment on this post letting us know if you own any other VTech products.
Entry chance option 2:
Tweet about this giveaway. Then, come back to this post and leave a comment with the link to your Tweet and your Twitter “handle”. I’ll make this part easy, you can copy and paste the following text for your Tweet (it fits, I checked):
I just entered to win a MobiGo touch learning system from @vtechtoys and @ParentSphere http://bit.ly/cnygMF
(Just make sure you mention @vtechtoys and @ParentSphere in your Tweet!)
Entry chance option 3:
Follow VTechToys on Twitter. Come back to this post and leave a comment letting us know you and VTechToys are Twitter buddies.
Entry chance option 4:
Become a fan of VTech on Facebook. Come back to this post and leave a comment letting us know you’re a fan.
*Make sure each of your entry comments on this post are separate or they will only count as one. Good luck!
By the way, there are a TON of MobiGo giveaways happening right now. Just check out the list of sites hosting them on VTech’s Facebook page. (If you enter any of the other giveaways that request leaving a comment on VTech’s Facebook wall, please note they have a special giveaway discussion board, instead of flooding their wall with giveaway feedback.)
We just returned from our trip to the Dominican Republic and I have so many things to talk about! First, I’ll start with what kept mom and dad’s feet happy on our 6 day international adventure.
We were each sent a pair of Merrell shoes from the Summer 2010 collection (pictured above) to give a test run (or stride, in our case).
We did a lot of walking through the airport and then around the Iberostar Bavaro resort property in Punta Cana and can testify to the durability of the above pictured sandals. We didn’t have much of a doubt that Merrell shoes would provide support and comfort but finding out first-hand was the icing on the cake.
The sandals kept us safe on the wet, stamped cement walkways of the resort. I was able to remove the heel strap from my Siren Tansy’s and wear them in more of a “flip-flop” fashion.
What is attractive about these sandals? Several things, actually. Mine have an antimicrobial solution added to the footbed (non-slip, anti-odor), Q-Form® (women’s stride alignment technology), Vibram® Siren sole (stability and traction) and they’re girly, to boot.
The men’s Huron have cement construction for durability, a microfiber footbed, Merrell® air cushion in the heel and, they look pretty darn good on him. They were perfect for our al a carte dinners at the resort where the men had to wear pants and a more “dressy” sandal.
Both of these sandals are lightweight and c-o-m-f-o-r-t-a-b-l-e. It’s a no-brainer that we’ll be wearing these around the Walt Disney World parks this coming week and at the cabin on the lake later in the summer.
We are now counting down the hours until we leave for our beach vacation. I’m not “completely” packed but I have a great head start. At this point, I still have my own clothes and stuff for the baby to pack. I’ve been keeping track of how many diapers we go through each day, so I know how many to pack. It’s going to end up being a mix of swim diapers and disposable diapers.
Speaking of diapers, I know I’m going to want to have something for the baby to lay on for diaper changes, considering we will only be in our suite first thing in the morning and at night to sleep, so I’m bringing our butt-ums up baby Changing Pad.
There is a convenient clip for attaching the changing pad to your stroller or diaper bag when you’re on the go. I have a feeling I will end up changing my little one on our four hour flight, so mine will be clipped to my carry-on luggage. This changing pad holds 2-4 diapers and a travel wipes container. One side is made of vinyl (easy to clean…) and the other side is ultra soft chenille (…and machine washable).
Stacy Sager is the mompreneur behind butt-ums up baby. Aside from creating products that come in handy for the on-the-go mom, she’s also somewhat of a travel expert and I had the chance to chat with her when she was on The Mommy Mentor show back in February. She offered some valuable tips to me, as this will be my first time traveling abroad with my children.
Some of her family travel tips include:
Try to be relaxed and calm because babies pick up on your emotions. Preparation is key when you’re traveling with kids and you have to expect the unexpected. Kids learn and grow by sensory, so don’t leave them behind! Planning ahead will ensure you and your family have a fantastic time when you arrive at your destination.
Regarding international travel, allow for delays and enough time to check bags and get through security with your little ones. Airlines suggest two hours before boarding. We’re giving ourselves a little more time than that since we have to take a tram into the airport from parking.
Airlines allow you to bring formula or breast milk onto the plane for the baby, as well as snacks and medicine. It’s important to have something for the baby or child to drink, eat, suck on during take-off and landing. Most importantly, landing.
Bring disposable bibs, utensils, placemats, so you don’t have to carry around the messy stuff. Bring some ziplock bags and hand sanitizer/sanitizing wipes on your flight, so you can dispose of dirty diapers. I may even stick a dryer sheet in the bags for extra “scent control”. Pack a change of clothes for the kids in your carry-on, in case of accidents.
Stacy has so many more useful tips in her article in Expectant Mother’s Magazine. You can read and print-out her informative checklist here.
Be sure to check out butt-ums up baby for fabulous, made in the USA baby items. Excellent place to shop for brand new mamas where you can find matching blankies, burp clothes and changing pads among other fabulous things.
*A special thanks to Stacy for the gorgeous changing pad and all of the useful tips she has provided me. I am feeling quite confident about traveling with my kids and she has a lot to do with that!
I have very fair skin and I am also quite freckly. My days of “laying out” or going to the tanning salon are over. I can’t risk the likely chance I have of getting cancer. I have my health and my two little girls to think about.
So, that being said, I’m taking Neutrogena® sunblock along to the beach and anywhere else where there’s sun exposure. I like and use Neutrogena® products, I always have. I fully trust the protection they offer.
The fabulous collection of products shown above were sent to me for promotion on my site.
Quite honestly, I’m much more concerned with protecting my skin. So, before my feet hit the warm sand next week, I will lather myself up with Neutrogena’s® Spectrum+ Advanced Sunblock Lotion (SPF 70) (great for all over protection) and Ultra Sheer® Liquid Sunblock (SPF 70) (great for the face).
As I am building the world’s most awesome sand castle with my preschooler in the sweltering Caribbean sun, I’ll stop and re-apply my sunblock using Neutrogena® Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock (SPF 45) (because it instantly cools as it protects). Sweet.
Speaking of the preschooler, you know I’m all about protecting her delicate 4-1/2 year old skin. I will be doing that for years to come. Before her little feet hit the warm sand, she’ll be lathered up with Neutrogena® Waterguard™ Kids Sunblock Lotion (SPF 70+) and Waterguard™ Kids Sunblock Mist Spray (SPF 70+) (both excellent options for my active little lady).
All of the above products include Helioplex® and what you need to know about this ingredient is that it provides longer lasting protection.
The baby sunblocks include PureScreen, 100% naturally sourced sunscreen ingredients. It provides a physical sunblock, however, it is not greasy or oily like most physical sunblocks.
Phew. Holy Neutrogena ad, batman. But seriously though, I don’t want to leave anything out. These items are necessities for the summer months. All I’m saying is, it’s important to protect your skin and thank goodness we have these products from Neutrogena to help us do so. Look, if something doesn’t work out for us, we’ll come back and let you know but don’t hold your breath because Neutrogena is on top of their game. I’m just sayin’.
Are you heading out to the theater tomorrow to see Shrek Forever After? We’re going to wait for a nice, quiet afternoon matinee…during the week, so we can really enjoy the movie.
Since we’re not going to opening night, in an effort to satiate our excitement over the last flick in the Shrek series, we’re checking out the Shrek Forever After iStoryTime kid’s book app from FrogDog Media. The app (for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad) is $1.99 and can be purchased and downloaded through iTunes. You can click on Shrek to get there.
FrogDog has got more great iStoryTime app kid’s books, so, stop by and check them out.
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