This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx

When a box full of back-to-school goodies arrived, Olivia and Henry could hardly wait to see what was inside. The Yipes! wipes are perfect for cleaning up Henry's messy little faces and hands. They are conveniently individually wrapped that are easy for children to open on their own and fit perfectly into Olivias lunchbox as well.  I especially love that these wipes are made from 99% plant-derived ingredients and are hypoallergenic (ideal for Henry's sensitive skin). They are vegan and made right her in the USA. Yipes! wipes are a Good Housekeeping Parenting Award Winner!

Stride Rite has always been my go-to for toddler shoes, and the SRTech Quinn style is just perfect for Henry's everyday adventures.   These shoes include memory foam insoles, flexible design, and enhanced traction.  The patented SRT sensory Pods help children develop their balance and perfect their walking.  The removable "fit check" insole indicates when kids need a new size.  The adjustable hook and loop closure with elastic faux laces make them easy to pop on when heading out.  

Save $10 off your purchase $70 or more with code BBRITE10 

Offer valid 7/18/22-2/1/23

Disclaimer: $10 off your purchase of $70 or more at striderite.com. Discount applied in cart with one-time use coupon code. Offer cannot be combined with any other special offers, promotions or coupons. Offer may not be applied toward previous purchases, eGift certificates, gift cards, shipping or taxes. Items marked "Final Sale" cannot be returned or refunded. Consumer pays all applicable sales tax. Offer valid for in-stock merchandise only. Other exclusions may apply. Void where prohibited by law. Stride Rite reserves the right to cancel or modify this offer at any time. Offer valid through 2/1/2023.

Olivia could not stop giggling when shop pulled out the Heroes of Goo Jit Zu Goo Shifters Hero.  She eagerly crushed their Core to activate their "Goo-formation" and excitedly watched as the Goo inside their bodies changed color to release their inner power! There are 7 Heroes of Goo Jit Zu Goo Shifters Characters, and Olivia is hoping to collect them all. Each has a unique Goo Filling and "Goo-formation"  and can be stretched  up to 3x their size and  come back to their original shape. So fun!

Back-to-school means that Olivia is exposed to lots of germs! We believe that prevention is the best cure.  Although we strive to stay active, get a good night's sleep, and eat a nourishing diet, sometimes nutrient deficiencies are still a concern. SP Children’sTM Immune, a chewable supplement for kids ages 4 and older, help her stay healthy during this busy time of year. They proved her with nutrients for proper immune system functioning and development so that she can be her best!

 This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx

Our mini schnauzer, Lila, was beyond excited when a box full off pup-approved goodies arrived just for her!  She went crazy over these healthy Fruitables® Yogos which are real yogurt dot treats designed as roll-ups and filled with yummy natural ingredients.  I feel good knowing that these yogurt dog treats are superfood packed and free of grains, wheat, corn, and soy protein. Lila loves the delicious flavor and easy to eat treats. 

This super cute bandana from Galaxy Vets Foundation is the cutest on Lila!  Galaxy Vets Foundation is a non-profit founded by Dr. Ivan Zakharenkov - a veterinarian brown in Ukraine. As thousands of animals in Ukraine are suffering because of the war has destroyed their homes or killed their owners, Galaxy Vets Foundations has prioritized its efforts to help these animals.  These animals are in desperate need of food, medications, supplies, and veterinary care.  Anyone can help with this effort by making a donation of any size here.

Lila is such a good girl, but sometimes messes happen!  Simple Solutions Pet Extreme Stain and Odor Remover is a professional strength pro-bacteria and enzyme formulas that breaks down and eliminates stains and odors.  This is a safe and effective way to clean up pet messes from carpet, upholstery bedding, and other water-safe surfaces in our home. Pet messes are not fun, but have pace of mind knowing that we can reach for Simple Solutions Pet Extreme Stain and Odor Remover.

Lila's tail could not stop wagging when we introduced her to the Nina Ottosson Dog Tornado Interactive Treat Puzzle and Fun Feeder Slo' Bowl! These are such a fun way to interact with our dog (should not be used unsupervised) and make eating a bit more playful.  Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Dog Tornado Interactive Treat Puzzle is perfect for homemade frozen treats or other summer treat to keep dogs cool.  Learn more about how to make pet popsicles here.  Lila loves a good challenge, and this has truly kept her occupied and happy!

Lila's tends to scarf down her food, but the Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slo' Bowl has helped her take things a bit more slowly and enjoy her meal. It works well with dry, wet, raw, and frozen foods.  It is made of BPA, PVA, and phthalate-free material that can easily be hand washed between each use with warm water and soap. Yum and fun!

Mother's Day Gift Guide

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx

Whether you are shopping for a special mama this Mother's Day or just need a bit of pampering yourself, I have some great products and discount offers to share with you!  Mothers truly do so much throughout the year, and these items are the perfect way to promote self-care and relaxation. 

Having a moment to curl up to a good book is absolutely a luxury... especially when it sparks creativity! Watercolor Life: 40 Joy-Filled Lessons to Spark Your Creativity by Emma Block includes with forty gorgeously illustrated lessons for any skill level. This books shows you—with clear, step-by-step instructions—how to paint everything. I found this to be incredibly calming, perfect for the times when you are searching for a meditative, soothing activity.  This book is beautifully packed and packed full of charming illustration.  It's a gift that will truly be appreciated!

Moms absolutely deserve a bit of pampering! Here are a couple of Tree Hut products that I have been using for at-home spa nights that leave my skin feeling positively exfoliated and silky smooth:

Moroccan Rose Sugar Scrub 

       The Moroccan Argan Oil in this product helps to improve skin elasticity, balance and help hydrate dry skin with lipids, fatty acids and vitamin E. It also contains Rosehip Oil which is known to help visibly refine skin’s texture and promote a radiant glow. This sugar scrub smells like a warm, romantic, floral with key notes of Bergamot, Tea Rose, Amber. I am obsessed with how smooth my skin feels after use.

Moroccan Rose Whipped Body Butter 

       This body butter contains Natural Shea Butter which is known to deeply moisturize, nourish and soften dry, skin while helping to promote elasticity. It is perfect for scent-layering after using Moroccan Rose Body Scrub and Shave Oil. The Moroccan Rose Whipped Body Butter added so much moisture to my skin.

The perfect gift combo for Mom or that powerful woman in your life! 

Learn more about Tree Hut products HERE

Give the gift of a great hair day! BIOTOP Professional offers luxurious in-salon and at-home treatments to help keep hair heathy, manageable, soft, smooth and shiny. Every way feels a bit luxurious when messaging these high quality products into my hair and scalp. I have recently added the following products to may wash day routine, and they have truly made an incredible difference in my hair.

1. BIOTOP Professional 911 Quinoa Shampoo For shoulder-length hair, saturate your hair thoroughly, then dispense a nickel-to-quarter size amount of shampoo to palms. Massage into your scalp and work your way out to the ends of the hair, leave on for 30 seconds and rinse. Repeat above steps using a smaller amount of shampoo and leaving on for 1-2 minutes before rinsing. This Double Shampoo helps keep your scalp healthy, especially if you don’t shampoo every day. 

2. BIOTOP Professional 911 Quinoa Conditioner After shampooing with BIOTOP Professional 911 Quinoa Shampoo, apply a nickel-sized amount of conditioner into your palms and work through hair from midshaft to ends. Then, work your way up to the scalp area. Especially if you’re experiencing dry scalp or just want more self care, massage into the scalp. Leave on for 30 seconds, rinse and towel dry. 

3. BIOTOP Professional 911 Quinoa Mask After shampooing with BIOTOP Professional 911 Quinoa Shampoo, apply a quarter-sized amount of the mask starting from ends of the hair and work your way up to the scalp. The mask can stay on for as little as 1 minute or for 10minutes depending on the needs of your hair. If there is time, pamper yourself by wrapping a warm towel around your head and letting the mask penetrate.                              

4. BIOTOP Professional 911 Quinoa Serum Use on wet or dry hair. Use a dime-to-nickel sized amount on towel-dried hair to achieve a smooth blowdry, leaving the hair soft and manageable or let your hair air dry. Once the hair is dry, apply a little more Serum to smooth frizz or flyaways and add shine. Using small amounts is the key to this product, a little goes a long way!

BIOTOP Professional haircare products are truly a gift any mom would be thrilled to received. 

Use code BIOTOPMOM for 20% off until May 7th.

Mom deserves to sparkle! Sparkletini by Verdi are a line of naturally fruit flavored Italian spumantes developed as an extension to nationally renowned sparkling beverage, Verdi Spumante. The line includes Raspberry, Peach, Strawberry, Watermelon and Green Apple. We will be featuring Strawberry Sparkletini for this campaign – Strawberry Sparkletini is 5% ABV, easy-to-drink, semi-sweet, cool and refreshing – made with all natural Strawberry fruit flavor. Sparkletini’s patented resealable cork closure keeps the product sparkling for up to 7 days! Elegant packaging elevates perceived brand value. 

Sparkletini can be enjoyedchilled on it’s own, in a cocktail or in a variety of flavored brunch Mimosas. The patented resealable cork closure keeps the product sparkling for up to 7 days after opening! Click HERE to find a retailer near you.

Moms run on coffee! The Instant Solo Single Serve Coffee Maker offers 2-in-1 Functionality: Compatible with K-Cup® pods and your own ground. Ground coffee can be placed into the Instant Solo using the specially designed reusable pod to activate a unique brewing process which extracts more flavor, aroma and body from your favorite ground coffee. The Pre-Infuse Cycle gently soaks grounds in a K-Cup or the reusable pod before brewing to produce a more flavorful cup of coffee. YUM!

Diamonds are a mom's best friend! Mother's Day is the perfect time to celebrate these special women with a little sparkle. Helzberg Diamonds helps mark this special day. I love my personalized and keepsake-able initial pendant necklace. This versatile piece can be worn on its own or layered with other pieces for a style that is uniquely you. This is a piece I plan to wear throughout the year to remind me of my beautiful children and that one day I plan to pass down to my daughter.

Check out Helzberg Diamonds for the full Initial Collection!

 

Mother's Day Gift Inspiration

                     

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.

Whether you are shopping for a special mama this Mother's Day or just need a bit of pampering yourself, I have some great products and discount offers to share with you!  Mothers truly do so much throughout the year, and these items are the perfect way to promote self-care and relaxation. 

 

Having a moment to curl up to a good book is absolutely a luxury. The Woman with the Blue Star is an unforgettable testament to the power of friendship and the extraordinary strength of the human will to survive.  This intriguing book is written by Pam Jenoff, the New York Times bestseller author of The Lost Girls of Paris and The Orphan's Tale.  This book is from Park Row Books and is currently available for purchase on Amazon.

For the mature mama, LiftActiv Supreme H.A. Wrinke Corrector is an anti-aging face and eye serum with 1.5% Hyaluonic Acid.  This product plumps skin for a visible filling effect.  It is formulated with Vitamin C and Vichy Volconic Water and has been clinically proven to significantly reduce wrinkles and find lines. It is fragrance-free, paraben-free, non-comedogenic and safe for all skin types.

A Loyal Society is a clean wellness lifestyle brand that focuses on all-natural self-care products and providing virtual self-care coaching, uplifting fabulous moms and women with pure relaxation vibes.  The Botanical Bath Soaking Salts add an amazing fragrance to your bath and help to uplift your mood while soothing sore/tired muscles after a long day.  The facial Mists are incredibly refreshing to incorporate into your skincare routine after cleansing or throughout the day.  The Rose & Lavender Soaking Salt Pack with reusable sachet can add a bit of luxury to a bath or shower. Use code CELEBRATE15 for 15% off through May 9th, 2021.

Roux has been beautifying mamas for more than 85 years with easy-to-use, result-oriented hair color and care products at an affordable price. The Roux® Weightless Precious Oils Luminous Shampoo (12 oz./MSRP $9.99), Roux® Weightless Precious Oils Softening Conditioner (12 oz./MSRP $9.99), Roux® Weightless Precious Oils Restorative Hair Masque (7 oz./MSRP $9.99) are available for purchase at Sally Beauty stores, sallybeauty.com and Amazon. Learn more about Roux's problem-solvers at   RouxBeauty.com.

Erin's Faces was founded by NYC Makeup Artist, Erin Williams. The Fruit Smoothie Lip Gloss is a super hydrating/not sticky vegan gloss that comes in recyclable glass packaging.   These glosses feel like a lip balm, a gloss, and a lipstick all rolled into one!  They provide both incredible hydration and great color payoff. The Fruit Smoothie Lip Gloss is made with organic ingredients. Use code SPRINGLIPS for 10% off through June 15, 2021.

Photos by Sara Malanaphy

Our family recently spent a lovely afternoon in the bustling community of Tradition. Located in Port St. Lucie, Tradition is a master-planned community of neighborhoods, featuring two retail centers with an array of shopping venues, delicious dining destinations, and over 300 acres of trails and lakes along Florida’s Treasure Coast. We strolled through Tradition Square, the cheerful Town Center that reimagines small town living with fresh, modern amenities and experiences with nostalgic charm. This is located in the heart of the community where residents can enjoy events, concerts, dining and more. We grabbed lunch at one of the restaurants in Tradition Square before moving on to our next adventure.

The highlight of our visit to the charming community was a ride on the Tradition’s 

recently welcomed autonomous shuttle, TIM (“Tradition in Motion”). This shuttle 

offers residents and visitors a convenient, safe and environmentally friendly way to 

get around the community. Two routes are available connecting Tradition Town 

Square to the Landing Shopping and Talk in the Park. Olivia thoroughly enjoyed 

the ride, and it was such a unique way to navigate around the community and 

experience life in Tradition. 

We rode through both routes but ended up hopping off TIM at Talk in the Park. With 

a focus on wellness, Tradition is home to the T-Trail. This trail network winds through the community and connects people to the outdoors while conveniently leading into the Town Center. The T-Trail connects over 300 acres of gorgeous lakes and parks and is perfect for active families such as ours. 

 

Overall, we had a truly enjoyable experience in the community of Tradition. It is simply bursting with opportunities for both residents and visitors. The Town Square, TIM, and the T-Trail give this community a unique feel that kept us entertained throughout our visit. We are eager to return to beautiful Traditionthe next time we find ourselves in Port St. Lucie!

 

This is an #AD from Hasbro

Every princess has a story… what’s yours? Olivia was over the moon with excitement when a box from Hasbro arrived packed full of Disney Princess Royal Shimmer Fashion dolls and other royal surprises!  Inside the box Olivia found four shimmery Hasbro Disney Princess dolls, a foam crown with accessories to decorate, and a custom princess notepad perfect for writing her very own fairy tale.  After carefully decorating the foam crown with the sparkly jewels, she felt like “one of the princesses” and played with her new dolls for hours.  She happily twirled around the house in a fairytale daydream and doodled away in her princess notebook. Foam crown and notebook were a special surprise in her box, but are not available for purchase.  While it was very difficult for her to choose a favorite doll (she is crazy about them all), she decided that she especially loved Tiana and the diversity that she brings to the Disney Princess family.

Each Disney Princess character has their own unique and iconic  personality. With Hasbro’s line of classic Disney Princess dolls, Olivia was able to express her special style and create her very own stories as well! She is hoping to collect all her favorite Disney Princess characters with the Disney Princess Royal Shimmer Fashion doll assortment that are available at most major retailers. This assortment includes royal characters such as Ariel, Rapunzel,  Cinderella, Belle, Aurora, Snow White, Tiana, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas, and Merida. Each princess shimmers and shines in a unique outfit that sparkles from top of the bodice to bottom of the skirt! Olivia has just loved playing out her favorite magical moments from Disney Princess movies and imagining her very own fairytales with these fashion dolls.  With Hasbro’s line of classic Disney Princess dolls, Olivia has truly enjoyed expressing her own style and creating her very own stories.

Parents can shop Hasbro Disney Princesses here. After all, we all have a princess inside of us! 

How Probiotics Benefitted My Baby

This post is sponsored by Gerber Formula but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

My heart explodes with pure joy each time I look at my darling Henry's face. From his infectious smile to his mischievous giggle, he has truly brought so much happiness to our family.  From the moment we brought our little miracle home from NICU, we knew we would do anything to keep our tiny boy healthy.  He initially experienced mild spit-ups and seemed uncomfortable after eating.  Our older daughter, Olivia, had experienced signs of colic as a baby, and we were concerned that Henry may have similar digestive issues.  We decided to incorporate probiotics into Henry's diet. 

Gerber® Good Start® SoothePro Powder Infant Formula, which we purchase at Target, has been a perfect option for keeping Henry happy and growing while alleviating symptoms of digestive discomfort.  This one solution formula is specifically created to reduce excessive crying, uncomfortable poops, fussiness, colic, mild spit-up and gas. It is clinically shown* to reduce fussiness as early as the first bottle and is designed to ease colic, excessive crying, gas, mild spit-ups & uncomfortable poops. Through our own experience, we have learned so much about the benefits of probiotics.  Here are a few of the ways that they have benefited our baby boy:

- Henry's spit-up incidents have decreased dramatically.

- Our little one has experienced more comfortable poops since we began using Gerber SoothPro. 

- We have seen notably less diaper rash.

- Overall less gassiness.

- Henry has been overall healthy and currently shows no signs of digestive discomfort!

We have had a wonderful experience with Gerber SoothePro thus far and have watched our sweet baby thrive.  Without the worry of digestive discomfort, he has developed a bubbly personality and is always on the move looking for his next adventure.  Our family has been so blessed with our darling rainbow baby, and we truly cherish the everyday moments we share with Henry.