Friday, May 29, 2015

Must Have's For Lil' Monsters: Review of the Crayola DJ App

Apps for Kids
Note: Thank you to Legacy Games for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own

Music is universal and brings people together, it stimulates the brain, encourages movement and puts smiles on the faces of all ages. After school the first thing my monsters ask for is for me to play one of their curated playlists of music as they break out into their own mini dance party and show off their moves. This week we had the opportunity to try out the new Crayola DJ App as the monsters pretended to spin awesome beats on our tablet.

What's great about the Crayola DJ App is that you don't have to be a musical prodigy with tons of skills to enjoy it because it gives easy instructions to follow while kids create multiple tracks simultaneously. Kids will have so much fun playing with almost 100 exclusive tracks (created by professional DJ’s), with 5 musical styles available, including Hip Hop, Pop and Dance.

Apps for Kids

Once a child has mixed their music just the way they like it, it's showtime! While they bop their heads to the beat they can scratch & create a spectacular light show with the color-coded tracks. It’s a lot of fun and they can even earn points during the show: The more scratching and on the fly changes children make, the greater the applause of the crowd and the higher the point score.

The coolest feature to the boys was the DJ Battle! As brothers they love a healthy dose of competition and rather than argue about who gets a turn mini DJs can battle it out in two-player mode to see who the star of the main stage is. You could tell they were proud of their musical debut as celebrity DJs and neither wanted to stop playing. At one point a horn sound echoed through the room, which reminded my boys of a famous DJ on the radio and they started to giggle because it seemed like the real deal, like they were performing for a huge crowd.

DJs can then save their music to play again and again for friends and family which makes it the perfect app for keeping busy while on the go.

Apps for Kids

                

The new Crayola® DJ app is available now for $4.99 on Google Play for Android phones and tablets. In June, it will also be sold in the iTunes Store for iOS devices, for the same price. Be Sure to Follow Legacy Games on Twitter and Facebook to keep up with all the latest news.


Friday, May 22, 2015

An Afternoon at The New York Baby Show + MomTrends Blogger Lounge

MomTrends

Note: This is a sponsored post and opinions expressed are 100% my own

Expecting a baby is an exciting time in the lives of new parents to be and while watching that beautiful bump grow and anxiously counting down to baby's arrival, there's tons of planning and shopping to do. And let's admit it, it can all be a little nerve racking when you don't have a clue about the tons of products out there! How do you know which car-seat's the safest, which stroller's the lightest what's organic or BPA free and which app will be an absolute life-saver?  

Last weekend I joined thousands of new and expecting parents and my fellow blogger babes at Pier 92 for The New York Baby Show which was hosted by New York Family Magazine & presenting sponsor Canon. My first time attending was two years ago when my youngest Tristan was 2 1/2 and although there are no babies in our home now, I'm always excited to see what must haves are out there for the teeniest lil' monsters. 

MomTrends
photo credit: MomTrends

Before diving into all the fun, functional and innovative new products, Nicole Feliciano of MomTrends and her team set up an amazing blogger lounge which was a welcomed treat. Being pampered by GlamSquad with manicures, blowouts and makeovers was a great way to start the morning before meeting with brands. An added bonus was that the Nanny League was on hand to watch the kids while mom + dad bloggers worked. Throughout the day we were able to head upstairs to kick up our feet and enjoy lunch while catching up with our colleagues. 


MomTrends

MomTrends

With 150 eye-catching vendors, attending The New York Baby Show is the best way to discover the latest and greatest in baby gear, technology and services from the most well known and up and coming brands. My best advice to you would be to wear comfy shoes, either bring snacks/ lunch or purchase goodies on sight and to ask lots of questions and enter the raffles because there are lots of great items up for grabs!

While I walked from table to table I scouted out a few Must Haves for Lil' Monsters I thought you guys needed to know about:

Baby Gear:

MomTrends

I - Angel Hipseat Carrier is an ergonomically superior multi -function + multi-position carrier which can be worn on the front or the back with baby facing inward or outward. It's extremely versatile and can be used as a nursing sling, stand-alone hipseat of hipseat carrier

MomTrends

Quinny Zapp Xtra: This stylish stroller from the South Beach collection folds compactly with seat attached, has 3 forward and 2 rearward positions, and is the only compact buggy that's compatible with a baby car-seat by Maxi-Cosi to use from birth. I love that it's a statement maker that's bold and fun and shows off personal style.

Eco-Friendly :
  
MomTrends


Kids Play Home - I literally stopped in my tracks when I saw this line because it was just too cute & offers a variety of eco-friendly and organic products that help kids explore their imagination.
MomTrends

Seraphic Organics is a line of beautiful, durable and affordable organic baby clothes and blankets that uses only 100% GOTS certified fair trade organic cotton and non-toxic dye.

Momtrends

Primary: You have to appreciate a brand that keeps it simple by providing a line of modern classics, that's simple, made of sturdy fabrics at a great price point. Gone are the days of searching for that plain white tee, or sending the babies clothes off with the dry cleaning.
 Basic pieces + Bold primary colors = perfection 

Problem solvers:

MomTrends

Sure Shop: So you're probably asking yourself what's so special about a tote bag right? Well the sureshop tote is pure genius. Just one of those things that have you plam smack yourself in the head because you wish you would have thought of it. Babies have tons of stuff loaded into their diaper bags, throw that on the stroller and a bag or two of groceries and your wheels instantly topple backwards. Sureshop is great because it's designed to prevent that from happening by redistributing the weight.

Coldsnap: Is a universal coat extender that keeps both mom and baby warm with body heat and an optional thermal insert.


Momtrends

My Carry Potty: Potty training can definitely be an inconvenience and seems daunting but with this special potty it seams easier to accomplish at home or while traveling. It's lightweight and leak proof and comes in fun designs that kids will love!

Technology:

MomTrends

Vipose Baby Guard: Allows you to stop worrying by protecting both mommy and baby from dangerous electromagnetic radiation by detecting it early on and alerting the mom with lights and vibration.
MomTrends


MomTrends

Snuza Hero: I remember many a night, randomly waking up to see if my baby boys were breathing. Worrying about SIDS is a pretty scary thing. With the Snuza Hero clipped on to your babies diaper you can monitor for weak, or decreased movements{less than 8 movements per minute}. If no movement is detected after 15 seconds, a light vibration can be felt by baby. After doing this consecutively for 3 times, the parent will be alerted with an alarm.



MomTrends

MomTrends

With opportunities to demo and sample products, sit in on expert speakers & entertainers and to meet other new parents, if you get the chance to attend The New York Baby Show it's really worth your time and it's great to visit with the whole family. Don't miss it next year!

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Delicious NEW Line of Healthy Starkist Tuna Flavors Launching Fall 2015


Disclosure: This is a sponsored post I was invited by StarKist to get a sneak peek of their new fall flavors. Opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Without hesitation my kids will readily admit that I am not the cook in our house. If I walk into the kitchen at any given moment my one dimpled - smirking 4 year old will turn to me and say "Mommy why are you in daddy's kitchen? You don't know how to cook, you only cook coffee!" 

He's exaggerating just a bit. In my head I'm a millennial aged Julia Child but in reality I'm only good at making meatloaf, homemade pizza and pasta dishes. When left to my own devices in the kitchen, I try to prepare meals that are light, filling and won't cause food poisoning.

As a kid I grew up eating tuna, especially in the spring and summertime because meat just seemed too heavy to digest. My mom knew how to make it just how I liked it, a little salt and pepper, diced onions and add a hard boiled egg.YUM!



Recently I attended a press preview for Starkist Tuna and I was in heaven.. three words "Sassy Deviled Eggs", wait I meant to say "Brand New Flavors". While mingling and taste testing we learned all about the new &affordable, easy to make product line.

All Products Are:

·         A natural source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
·         Already pre-seasoned and comes in the easy tear-open pouch design.
·         No mixing or draining required.

StarKist Hot Buffalo Creations:
·         Tuna to fulfill your spicy cravings with the new hot buffalo flavor.
o   70 calories
o   15g of protein
·         Looking at food trends, StarKist discovered that hot sauce is the fastest growing condiment in the U.S. , with an average annual revenue growth that surpasses BBQ, ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard combined.

StarKist Kid’s Creations:
·         A better-for-you meal that tastes great and kids will want to eat.
·         Available in two kid-friendly flavors – Bacon Ranch and Honey BBQ
o   100 calories or less
o   14g of protein to keep kids full
o   95-110mg of DHA Omgea-3 Fatty Acids to help with brain development
·         With child obesity still on the rise StarKist new moms were looking for healthier options for their kids, something that they could serve their kids at home and could be taken to school for lunch or snack time.

StarKist Salmon Creations:
·         Using premium skinless, boneless and 100 percent wild caught salmon.
·         Available in Lemon Dill and Mango Chipotle flavors.
o   90 calories or less
o   14g of protein or less
·         While tunas popularity continues to grow, salmon is growing even faster. Consumers were looking for an convenient to enjoy salmon that still has a fresh taste. StarKist Salmon Creations line provides a healthy and delicious meal option for salmon lovers with busy lifestyles 



We were presented really fun and out of the box creative dishes, with Starkist Tuna in sliders, on top of pretzels, in mini tacos and my favorite: a deviled egg! The unique new line was really tasty and flavorful but definitely not overbearing. 

Guests really enjoyed themselves with a pretty amazing digital caricature "Cartuna" station, DIY station and pictures with Charlie.
 




The Hungry Girl, Lisa Lillien who's a best selling author and Food Network star was on hand to give us a sneak peak of her new book The Hungry Girl Diet Cookbook: Healthy Recipes for Mix-n-Match Meals & Snacks.



As soon I got home I decided to add the Herb and Garlic Starkist Tuna Creations to a pasta salad I had already made to kick it up a notch. I don't have a recipe or anything for the dish above, because that just isn't my style but I swear to you if you can boil water then this can't get any easier. 

  • Bring water to a boil, add salt, olive oil and pasta of choice, after it's cooked then drain.
  • Cut up black olives, cherry tomatoes and mozzarella and mix with pasta
  • Add Italian dressing and then salt and pepper to taste
  •  Finally mix in your Tuna Creations flavor of choice.
How do you like your tuna?Bon Appetite & keep an eye out for the new line of flavors from Starkist! 







Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Must Haves For Lil' Monsters: Fabkids Style for April

Must Haves for Lil' Monsters
Disclosure: Opinions expressed are 100% my own. We were provided one outfit (top & bottom) to review no other compensation was provided. 

Everything is awesome when you're 4 years old and don't have a care in the world. Now that the weather has warmed up and it finally feels like spring lil' monsters everywhere can enjoy hours of play outdoors. It seems this age is also a great time for self discovery and even style discovery and it's cute to see how different Tristan's taste in fashion varies from his big brothers.

We're EXCITED to tell you that we've  teamed up with FabKids to show you our fave stylish looks each month. This e-commerce children's line was started by parents who wanted to help children express their own style through their personalized fashion choices & to make life easier for Mom and Dad with a trendy 2 piece outfit that's high quality at affordable prices {First outfit $15, membership $29.95/month}. 

Must Haves for Lil' Monsters





Must Haves for Lil' Monsters

Must Haves for Lil' Monsters

Graphic Tee's are perfect for kids with lots of personality and as a big wrestling fan, I wasn't surprised that Tristan picked out this tee with colorful Luchador Masks printed on it. As a fearless & active preschooler, I have to make sure that anything he wears is comfortable and will allow him to easily move around the playground. The Tan Twill shorts were a great pairing with the shirt because they feel durable and can even be dressed up with a button down shirt or polo. Isn't this outfit awesome? Stay Tuned for our May look for Memorial Day weekend!

Monday, May 4, 2015

Spring Has Sprung! Take A Stroll with the Latest from Stokke #StokkeStroll #MomTrends

MomTrends


Shopping for baby gear was always such an ordeal for me while pregnant with each of my boys, especially since they're 5 1/2 years apart and there are just a wide range of products out there. During my last two trimesters you'd find me flipping through magazines, searching online, reading reviews & asking the few mommy friends I had their expert opinions. With questions like: What will it cost? how much does it weigh? Is it safe? Will it match our style? Any expecting or new parent might feel overwhelmed by the decisions to be made when there are so many choices. 

The best advice I can give you while shopping around for strollers is: If possible test it out! If you were buying a car you'd give it a test drive right? Head to your nearest retailer and give the floor samples a push around, lift it up to see how heavy it is and ask a sales associate about it's features and a demo if at all possible.

Nicole Feliciano the founder of MomTrends invited a group of top NYC bloggers and digital influencers out to preview exceptional new strollers from Stokke that appeal to the needs on every parents wishlist. Stokke has an amazing lineup of strollers that are not only safe & functional but they are stylish as well. Throughout the evening we were able to push the strollers around and watched demos of how easily they could be assembled and collapsed while swooning over the bold colors, adorable prints and must have accessories.  
MomTrends

Available in 6 stylish colors, the Stokke Xplory brings parents and baby closer together and promotes interaction. With adjustable height seating it can be placed forward or rear facing as you go on your daily adventures. The stroller we were gifted didn't have forward facing seating which was something I wanted when the boys were just weeks old. I would have preferred to see their cute little faces while we were on the move. Early on I think it puts you at ease by being able to see their movements and facial expressions, especially if you are a first time mommy. It's great to have the option to be able to easily turn the baby towards you if he or she is upset and teary eyed, it may just take you holding their little finger or them seeing your face to soothe them.

Comfort is key when shopping around for the perfect stroller for your little one, especially if you plan to spend a lot of time out and about now that the weather is warmer. The Stokke Crusi has a high carry cot and seat position that enables baby to be closer to mom & dad and extra soft and luxurious cushioning that reduces seat depth for smaller babies. Imagine how excited I was when I won this beautiful stroller in a raffle that evening! My younger sister worked at Buy Buy Baby for years and is secretly wishing I give it to her for when she decides to have her first child because she used to refer it to all of her customers. One feature that had me sold on this stroller was the large shopping basket, which trust me is an amazing bonus for the days you have to stock up on diapers and wipes.

MomTrends

When we hit the busy streets of NYC we usually get to our destinations via public transportation so most likely you would not have seen us without our lightweight stroller. Through winter slush and up numerous flights of stairs in the humid summer heat & with so many things to carry: diaper bag, toys, blankets and don't forget baby! A lightweight and functional stroller like the Stokke Scoot is your saving grace. This smart stroller has a compact folding design, two way reclining seats, is easy to maneuver and has large foam filled rubber tires with built in suspension which are a must if you live in more urban neighborhoods with bumpy streets. It's also a great choice for spring and summer because it has an oversized canopy with SPF 5O+ for protection, harness protector and comes with a rain cover and mosquito net. 
{Photos below courtesy of MomTrends}

MomTrends

MomTrends

MomTrends


It seems like Stokke has thought of everything by creating stylish, quality strollers that have lots of accessories and make your day to day easier  while keeping baby safe & comfortable. What more could a parent ask for? Which of these strollers would be your top choice?  

Thank you Nicole/ The MomTrends Team & Stokke for having us!
Disclosure: The opinions expressed are 100% my own, I received a giftbag for attending and no other compensation was received.


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