As people who travel a lot, we have learned that it pays to pack light. No one ever brags about how much luggage they had to haul around on vacation, but ending up with no clothes to wear halfway through vacation is no one’s dream, either. At this point, we’ve gotten our packing down to a science and we bring only the essentials. A big portion of this is planning on washing and rewearing clothing on long vacations so you don’t need a full new outfit each day. While this might sound like the perfect plan, problems arise when you can’t find a good place to wash those clothing items {we’re talking about you, European showers and backwoods hiking trips} or you find yourself going... Continue reading

With summer on the horizon, I know many of you are thinking about programs you can enroll your kids in during the break to avoid break boredom. I’ve heard everything thrown out amongst friends from Chinese classes to playdates at the park, but I’ve got something more exciting up my sleeve: bowling. Just like archery, sports, and musical talents, my husband would also like our kiddos to be amazing bowlers. For this reason, my announcement that we would be participating in the Kids Bowl Free program this summer was a very welcome announcement to him and the kids. Have you heard of the Kids Bowl Free program? It’s actually quite simple; you just need to visit KidsBowlFree.com and sign up your kids aged 15 and... Continue reading

Time travel is something that holds a special place in my heart. Technically, time travel is responsible for hubby’s and my first date ever. Okay, not actual time travel, but a theoretical discussion on the merits and limits of time travel that led to an impasse that led to a bet: declared loser buys dinner for declared winner. I lost the bet. But, I’m pretty sure he bought me dinner. And, we’ve been together ever since, which I suppose we can thank time travel for. I was already excited when I found out we were going to get the opportunity to review a new Wummelbox craft kit through Team Mom, but even more so when I saw the theme of our package: time travel. I... Continue reading

It’s that time of year again when you shed your sweaters and jackets and get all ready for warmer weather and summer clothes… and then you realize that the dreaded swimsuit season is on the horizon again. But, this year I’m going to be ready for it, thanks to a very welcome present from AT&T. What does AT&T have to do with my fitness, you ask? A whole lot, now that AT&T carries a range of smart fitness products that can communicate with your smartphone and help you track your fitness goals. Why do you need a fitness product, you ask, isn’t that what diet and exercise are for? It’s true that we all know that to lose weight you merely need to expend more... Continue reading

When we finally moved my son to his own room, it was a big blank beige box and I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do to really make it his. Ideally, it would be something fun that really reflects who he is, but also something more mature that he can grow into so we won’t have to redecorate every few years. We ended up deciding on a “vintage world traveler” room and it really couldn’t fit our train/car/bus enthusiast any better. With maps, compasses, airplanes, trains, cars, and vintage suitcases to complete the look, I thought we were done decorating… but then I was introduced to Disney paint from Glidden. When I heard that I was getting a chance to review these special... Continue reading

by Tyler, editor and reviewer Even from a young age, I was obsessed with spy technology. I used to stay up at night thinking of how cool it would be if cameras could fit in the palm of your hand, if fingerprint scanners could lock your valuables or if Hollywood’s technology would ever be a reality. Unfortunately, I was clearly born a few decades too soon, because it’s only now that technology is catching up with my imagination. For instance these, which are the ultimate in spy high-tech gear. Forget cameras that fit in your palm, the Spy Tec Inventio HD is a camera you wear on the bridge of your nose. You can bet we were thrilled when we heard we would get to... Continue reading

Please don’t just randomly stop by my house. You see, for the past few years I’ve had my house professionally “styled” by my little ones, typically with a line of toy cars down the middle of the floor and a ring of baby dolls and their gear around the couch, the toy chest, and anywhere my daughter wanders. But, don’t mistake the mess for a dirty house, because we are constantly cleaning each day. My husband and I despise the stickiness and dirt that active and adventurous kiddos tend to bring into a house, so even though it’s not always as tidy as it could be, you can bet our surfaces are clean. With two kids running around, playing on, and often eating on those... Continue reading

We love the Harlem Globetrotters. We've seen them the past three years in a row now and we always have so much fun. You know those events where everyone is in a good mood and people go out of their way to be helpful? Yeah, that's what it's like at a Globetrotters game. As excited as we are for the 2014 tour, this year we are thrilled because the Harlem Globetrotter Clinics for kids ages 6-14 is coming to Seattle. These clinics will come to select US cities and take kids behind the curtain to see the Globetrotters’ electrifying skills and tricks, while also having fun staying active. Each participant receives: • A free ticket voucher {valued up to $40} to see the Globetrotters during... Continue reading

by Tyler, editor and reviewer Like everyone under the age of 20, my daughter loves the KIA Soul. The dancing hamsters, the toasters, the “you can go with this or you can go with that” commercials, and most of all, the car itself. Have no idea what I’m talking about? This YouTube video should help you out: Now that you’re up to speed on why the Soul is awesome, it’s not going to be a surprise that we were thrilled to test one out through STI - The Drive Experience Company. Since we had recently checked out the KIA Sportage, I was a bit worried that the cars would be so similar that there wouldn’t be much new to write about, but I was proved... Continue reading

Five years and two kids ago, I took about half the photos I do now. Granted, as someone with a photography degree under her belt I still took a ton of pictures, but there are really only so many photos you need of yourself and your husband or the sunset from your deck. But, once I had kids it was if I was seeing the world all over again and there were a million reasons to bring out the camera each day. Like this gem from Easter a million years 3 years ago. I know everyone says it, but they just grow up so fast. But, in addition to million reasons to pull out the camera, there were also a million reasons to get a... Continue reading

Just like so one will forget when they first heard the term “smartphone”, no one will ever be able to forget the first time they heard the term “phablet” {you know, a phone and tablet in one}. My first time was in reference to my NOKIA 920 Windows Phone from AT&T, which I was assured was a “phablet” based on size alone. Well, it turns out that my phone is not a phablet, but it is actually a real thing, and I think that’s really awesome. I really love having a phone on the bigger side as I do a lot of picture viewing and video watching on my phone, so to me, bigger is better and I’d love to get a phablet some day.... Continue reading

Oh, Mother’s Day, how I love you. Not because I get presents {although I do love the things the kiddos pick out for me each year}, but because the stores I love have discounts for stuff I adore. For instance, Seattle's own Blue Nile jewelry. Or rather, Blue Nile jewelry for 10% off using the coupon code MOMGIFT13. You’re welcome for that. It’s no secret that I have an immense love of jewelry. I’ve been saving jewelry for my daughter since before she was even born and I was absolutely thrilled when I realized that I had passed this love of jewelry down to my daughter via genetics. I was prepared to do subtle brain washing if need be and was happy to find it... Continue reading

by Tyler, editor and reviewer After having so much fun trying out the KIA Optima last fall, we jumped at the chance to try out the KIA Sportage CUV {compact utility vehicle} earlier this month through STI - The Drive Experience Company. Since we don’t have an SUV or CUV in our family, we were all very excited to try out something new and exciting and see what we’ve been missing out on. And, as it turns out, what we’ve been missing is adventure. There’s something about a fancy new car that makes you look for reasons to drive, and we found plenty of places to drive our loaner Sportage. From short road trips to all-day adventures, the KIA Sportage was the perfect solution for... Continue reading

My kids love baby food. Basically, if it’s pureed, they will eat it. They may not gobble up spinach and squash on its own, but if it’s in baby food form, they devour it. But, while jarred, canned, and pouched baby food certainly is convenient, when you’re working within a budget and have two kids eating baby food, or if you want to know every single thing that goes into your baby’s mouth, making your own baby food really is the way to go. So, for the past 4 years or so I’ve been making nearly all of our baby foods. It used to be that making my own baby food was kind of a pain… and really messy. This was mostly due to the... Continue reading

This is a sponsored post for all of you still shopping for Mother's Day. Which, judging by the emails and messages I've been getting, includes most of you. Well, this is one time it pays to wait until the last minute because just in time for Mother’s Day, Sears has the PERFECT deal for all the Moms in your life. For ONE DAY only, on May 5, Sears is having its Family & Friends sale where you have a choice between receiving 15% off your purchase, or 25% in SHOP YOUR WAY REWARDS Points added to your account. Awesome, right? And, with Mother’s Day just a few days away, it’s a perfect opportunity to make sure you get that perfect gift. Or, if you're a... Continue reading

Remember last November when I was raving about the new Steven Spielberg film, LINCOLN? The huge Lincoln fan in me has been eagerly awaiting the DVD and Blu-ray release so I could see the movie again {and again, and again}, so I was thrilled when LINCOLN hit shelves last month. As one of my favorite films of 2012, I was thrilled to watch the movie again now that the hype has died down. And, it was just as amazing as I remembered, and every bit as moving after a second and third viewing. Add in all the special features in the 4-disc collection and being able to watch it in the comfort of my home and I was a happy girl. If you're one of... Continue reading

A few months ago I realized that almost every single pair of jeans I wear was either badly worn or had a gaping hole on the right knee. The exception to this rule was my two pairs of “good” jeans, which I only wear a few times a month. But, my pile of holey jeans isn’t because I am really, really hard on my clothes, it’s because I have only gotten two new pairs of jeans in the past five years {AKA my “good” ones}. Pretty awful, right? Hence, this post that took place on Facebook {edited for length and with names removed, but with the jeaneology comment left in for humor's sake} : This wouldn’t be a problem if I was a slacks and... Continue reading

How well do you know your Crayola Crayons? Would you recognize the Original 8? Would you be surprised to find out that Crayola Crayons have been around since 1903, bringing joy for 110 years? It’s true, the Original 8 are turning 110, and they are celebrating in a big way with a Crayola 110th birthday limited edition pack, an interactive adventure, and daily fun online. This May, the Original 8 will be “coloring the town” in a journey to promote the new Crayola Experience in Easton, PA. The Crayola Experience will feature four floors of interactive exhibits and attractions for casual and avid art fans of all ages. And, if 4 floors of fun wasn’t enough, the 110th birthday limited edition packs will also be... Continue reading

Some girls play with dolls; others make friends that are dolls. My daughter is definitely in the latter category, and she treats each of her dolls like a beloved playmate. Her dolls each have personalities of their own, which she will likely tell you all about should you ever ask. According to her, some of her dolls like adventures, others prefer the peace and quiet of their stacking bunk beds, and other dolls like to do anything and everything she does. As someone who did the same with the dolls I played with when I was her age, I completely understand this kind of love that exists between girl and doll. So, when I got the email with the chance to review a doll from... Continue reading

Up until just a few months ago, our kids were a parent’s dream at night. We would literally pop them in their beds after their bedtime routine and not hear from either one again until I would have to wake them up in the morning. Yes, true story. But, while my son is still firmly in the “parent’s dream” category of sleepers, our daughter has been asserting her own, uh, independence. Independence from things like “bedtime” and “naptime” and “reasonable wake up times” and because of it, her schedule is all out of sorts. This means that getting her to sleep is a big huge struggle, often involves bargaining, and most of the time, involves tears {mine}. While the major problem might be that she’s... Continue reading

Do you remember how awful recycled paper was when it was first introduced in most stores? I vividly remember picking out a big huge recycled notebook one year in elementary school that I had intended on using all year to show my support for the newly labeled “green” movement. But, what I soon discovered was that the paper inside that notebook was awful. It contained exactly 250 pieces of spongy brownish-grey paper that you couldn’t read pencil on and tore with even a little bit of pressure. I ended up hiding that notebook in the back of the classroom bookcase and then I begged my mom to take me to the store to get a new one. One {hopefully} with smooth and clean white paper,... Continue reading

I’ve had a bit of a love affair with RedEnvelope since my teens and I now have numerous pieces I’ve gotten as gifts or bought for myself from them throughout my home. Many pieces of jewelry are from them, and they are nicely stored in a wooden RedEnvelope box. My wedding photos are in shadow box frames from RedEnvelope, and both of my children have special personalized baby gifts bought from RedEnvelope. If you’ve never shopped at RedEnvelope before, you are in for a big treat. Everything from their easy-to-search gifts for all occasions to their easy ordering process and their beautiful red packaging, it’s easy to see why RedEnvelope is one of my absolute favorite stores. Their goal is to make gift giving easy... Continue reading

You know when you get something that just clicks so well that you wonder how you ever did without? That was the exact way I felt when the Joovy Caboose Too Ultralight arrived for review. As slim as a single stroller and more versatile than any of our other double strollers we’ve ever used, the Joovy stroller filled a need for us in a very big way. They say the Joovy Caboose Too Ultralight stand-on tandem stroller is like two strollers in one, but I would argue it’s more like 5 strollers in one. You can use it from birth with the car seat adaptor and you can use it for multiple kids in multiple different configurations. Back to back, front to back, standing in... Continue reading

Checklist for spring: spiff up the house, add some color to wardrobe, and enjoy the great outdoors. There’s something about the change in temperature that makes me want to throw open all the windows, let a little sunshine in, and freshen up for spring. But there’s one more thing I found out I should put on my list for spring: start new skincare routine. The change in temperatures with each season effects your skin in many ways and often what may be perfect in the cold of winter is too heavy for warmer months and ends up leaving your skin feeling greasy. Not only that, but many beauty items expire just like food does, so fall and springtime are a great time to re-evaluate your... Continue reading

I used to write poetry. Really, really awful poetry that ranged from flower-y preteen stuff to angst-y teenage poems that were written in the margins of my term papers. I have since come to my senses and admitted that writing poetry is not my forte. Don’t get me wrong, I still like reading poetry and am enjoying rediscovering it again now that my daughter enjoys it as much as I used to. As for my poetry career? That ship has definitely sailed. But, just for one day I’m breaking my own promise and giving you the little treat below. In honor of National Poetry Month, my husband and I are dusting off our pen and paper to celebrate by writing two poems about two things... Continue reading