My First Cubby from Little Partners {Review}

Published on by Casey SehmLeave a comment

d34b7eacde8e85faf23a8b18f840ae53If you’re a new or expecting parent, I’m going to let you in on a little secret. SPOIL ALERT! That tiny squishy baby will soon be an independent almost 5 year old faster than you can ever imagine. Time flies (I’m not at all exaggerating) and soon your little angel will be a wanting to do everything for him or herself with zero help from mom and dad. In my case, that new found independence is so welcomed. I gave birth to my youngest daughter 11 months ago (how is she almost one? *insert crying emoji) so my oldest wanting to do things for herself is a huge help. Whether it’s getting herself dressed, brushing her teeth by herself, going to the bathroom alone, or simply getting herself alp_cubby_lifestyle-800x800 snack, it’s one less thing that I have to do. So I jumped at the opportunity to review My First Cubby ($159.99) from Little Partners!

We have worked with Little Partners in the past and we love their products! You can check out the Tri-Side Learn & Play Art Center review here. I was excited to see how the Little Cubby could make our lives easier and help my daughter grow even more independently. First of all, the construction is solid. It was rather easy tcubo put together, the instructions are very easy to read, and it was put together rather quickly (my husband builds furniture for a living so he may have had an advantage). Once built, I noticed the amazing quality. It’s sturdy and looks very classy in our hallway, it’s a piece of furniture you can be happy to put on display. After a quick screw in the wall for the tether to prevent it from falling, it was ready to go!

There are 2 sides, which is perfect for us so each kid can have their own side. There’s a top cubby that we use for hats. Below that is a section with 4 hooks on each side to hang coats and bags. On the bottom is a little cubby for a 2-3 pairs of shoes. My girls have so many shoes but I put the ones out that they were most often. I seriously love being able to ask my daughter to her jacket, shoes, and school bag and she knows to hang her stuff up when she gets home. It’s so nice! I love that it’s also teaching her to be responsible for her own things and she also knows where she can find her school bag or coat, it’s always in the same spot that she put it. The great thing is multiple cubbies can be pushed together for more children and for day cares or schools!

I’m beyond impressed with Little Partners. The My First Cubby will complete any bedroom, foyer, or playroom! I give My First Cubby a 5 out of 5 stars, it’s been such a help in our house and while the cubby is available in two beautiful wood finishes, I would love to see options available in colors. Soon enough my youngest will be able to hang her coat and bag on her side, but for now, my oldest is happy to lend me a helping hand!

Be sure to check out all of Little Partners fabulous products here and don’t forget to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest to stay up-to-date with sales and new products!

– Casey

**BurritoBuzz received these products at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences and we never guarantee a positive review.**

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A Day In The Life Of Twins.{Guest Blogger}

Published on by AmandaLeave a comment

16736705_10104229509146770_729079791_nWhen someone asks you to tell you what a day in the life having twins is like, the first word that comes to mind is deja vu! So, imagine everyday is groundhog day, except what you just did starts over 5 minutes later. Is there such thing as groundhog minute? As much as my twins are alike, they are completly different. First and foremost, my twins are fraternal twins. One boy. One girl.  L&N.  The love between them is something to witness. They love each other but are jealous of each other as well!

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We have a rough schedule for these two.

  • They wake up (later than most children because of the schedule we put them on 🙂 ), eat breakfast, play for about two hours
  • take a 2 hour nap
  • get up
  • eat lunch
  • play for another hour or two
  • shorter nap, get up
  • play until dinner
  • then play until “bottle,”
  • then finally bed.  

Sounds about a normal toddler kind of day right? I’ll get into a little more detail for you now…

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N wakes up at 5:45am, wants to cuddle, bring to bed until he is back to sleep then take him back to crib.

N wakes up at 9:30-9:45am, time for breakfast.

When we go in to get N, L is up as well and is giggling to get up and eat too. Pick up N, put him in his seat, go back pick up L, put her in her seat, make breakfast times two, cut up to their size and put on their trays.

Start to make my breakfast after theirs is on their plate. Get mine in the toaster or blender, turn around to N telling me “more” (baby sign language is AMAZING). L is only a couple bite behind him.

Pause my breakfast to make some more for them, cut it up, put on their trays.

Finally finish making my breakfast to see the “more” sign. Ok, milk time. Make two sippys of milk, sit down to eat and drink my coffee. 3.png

After I finish my breakfast/coffee, I get them cleaned up and out of their seats to go change their diapers.

Now it is play time. They usually let me know they are tired when they are playing when start laying with the blankets and rubbing their eyes. With one question, “Are you ready for your nap?,” we march our way back to their cribs, where they stand in front of theirs designated cribs waiting for binkie and “up.”

Naptime is GLORIOUS! Two to three hours of work time. Whether it’s my small business work or getting some things done around the house. Hubs would say I do nothing. Don’t listen to that man! Haha! During this time, I get to eat a warm lunch. Some general peace and quiet. Maybe even shower and put normal clothes on.

Around 3:00-3:30pm, N&L wake up. This wake up is the easiest as they are usually giggling and talking to each other in their room. 4.png

So, N&L are up and it is time for lunch.  Here is where they can be different.  Two out of three meal times can end up with multiple meals being made. L has a texture thing. She might like the food, but if she doesn’t like the texture she won’t eat it unless you give her a fork and put the food on the fork for her.  N is a garbage disposal.  He eats almost anything and everything.  But N also has a little reflux so right now spaghetti is out of the question until we determine if he is just overeating it or if it irritates him.

Mealtime is usually over when they start throwing the food on the floor. They are like cats about it! You tell them no and they will stare you in the eyes and just hold their hand over the edge of their tray then drop it on the floor.  N gets cleaned up, then L, change N’s diaper and then L’s. N will probably buck around this time with poop on his butt or L will have a dirty diaper and try to grab what’s on her bum before i get the wipe to it. Do they make squeegees for baby bums? If not someone get on that!

L loves books, music, princess, and dollies.  N likes music, balls or anything he can throw, and anything he can try to take away from his sister. This play time usually ends up in a “fight.” N likes to throw his arms around, usually smacking L in the head. But don’t fear L may be small, but she is mighty and will knock N on his tush.

Most days, these two will get grumpy about 5pm and it’ll be time for nap number two.  If not, while Mama is making dinner, they will be right behind me pulling out everything in any lower cabinet. The favorite thing to play with this week is the bag of unopened pepperoni. But don’t worry, when you try to get it, N will more than like run away with it then throw it over his head at you and L will be a doll and HOPEFULLY pick it up for you for you get there and put it away.

Dinner is served. Same deal except this time L is loving the green beans you put on her tray and N is throwing them on the floor with force!  Clean up after meals is twice the fun because you have two trays to clean up, an entire dining room to sweep, two faces and four hands to wipe down plus if they had plates.

N and L are usually a little grumpy after dinner but Mama and Daddy might just think that because we had been going all day with no nap like they got! They will play, watch some toons, dance, Change N’s diaper whose is again kicking his legs, knocking things off the changing table. Then L’s diaper who is actually being a peach reading a book this time. Their other favorite sign during this time of night is “cookie.”  I usually end up with “more cookie” instead of just “cookie.” I blame that on Daddy, his nickname is Cookie Monster.

Come about 9:45-10:00pm, they are getting super grouchy.  “Babies, you want your baba?” Both squeal, march off to the kitchen where we make their bottles, and don’t leave our side until we are ready to go back to the living room where they climb into their spots for their last small “meal” of the day.

When they are done, both will get up when you ask if they are ready for bed, waddle their way back to their room.  Change L’s diaper. Change N’s diaper. Turn the music on because N won’t sleep without it. If we forget, 30 minutes later, N is screaming for it.

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Finally, they are in their cribs and time for relaxation. NOPE! Two times the toys to pick up, still need to finish putting dirty dishes in the dishwasher, and oops I forgot to include someone in all of this… BIG GIRL!!

I didn’t forget her! Typing our day out without including her actually proved to be quite difficult! Ha! BG is very similar to N but she is 4 years old and usually starts all off all of these events, not N. BG loves her brother and sister very much but also loves her alone time, too! She shares a lot and is learning what she is and isn’t allowed to share.  Which is great for us because instead of trying to keep those little food themed toys away from one toddler mouth, we have two mouths. Our fingers have plenty of bite marks to prove. Those 1 year old molars really do hurt!
I love my twins! We were only going to have one more kid after BG. I always joked with my husband that we were going to be the ones in his family who end up having twins because they run in his family. Even two days before the ultrasound that told us we were having twins, I asked “what are you going to do if there is two in there?” He didn’t find it as funny as I did, even two days later.  Life wouldn’t be the same without those two.  I catch even try to imagine what it would be like without one or the other because they are both so amazing! They truly do make our little family complete.

~Mama of Twins ❤

Baby Dam {Product Review}

Published on by AmandaLeave a comment

babydam12

Who else despises baby bath tubs? I know I couldn’t stand them when my  toddlers were tiny. They take up so much room, I never felt like they were safe enough, and they were such a waste of money since you only use them for a few months. Thankfully my kids were close together and BK#2 starting sitting fairly early so the need for a baby tub/seat was virtually not needed. Now we just use way too many gallons of water and fill up the tub for both of them. Scratch that!  We USED to use too much water. That is until Baby Dam sent us their awesome product.

The Baby Dam The BabyDam bathtub divider is a unique patented product that allows you to customize the size of your bathtub to fit your need and to conserve the amount of water that you fill up your tub with.

Below: Without the BabyDam® barrier
(Using 100% of tub & 30 gallons of water)

 

Below: With the BabyDam® barrier
(Using 50% of tub & 15 gallons of water)

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It is made with the highest quality materials that exceed the European and United States safety standards!  There are two different styles you can choose from depending on the way that your tub is made.

If the inside width of your bath tub is between 22.5 inches & 26.5 inches, order the BabyDam® in US & Canada size.

If the inside width of your bath tub is LESS THAN 22.5 inches wide, order the BabyDam® in European size.

The tub divider makes a secure and tight seal on a CLEAN and dry tub. I found that if there was any soap residue left from a previous shower or bath that I hard a very hard time getting the divider to suction properly. I never had an instance that it wouldn’t stick, but it would let a little water through to the other side. It was easily remedied by following the given directions specifically!

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Notice the little bit of water on the other side of the dam

 

 

It takes only a minute to install on your tub, and you can use suction cups to hang it on the back of your shower wall to save room. No storing a big bulky baby tub anymore!

Buy yours here!  And be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram!

I am beyond excited about this new product!  It is a money saver, a time saver, and more importantly safe!  It give me such an amazing peace of mind that my littles ones have much less room to slide around in. I cant wait for more of my friends have babies, because I know what I will be gifting them!

~Amanda

 

 

VertiPlay™ Wall Toys from Oribel {Toy Review}

Published on by Casey SehmLeave a comment

It’s been over a month since Christmas and I don’t know about you, but I’m still feeling the overwhelming wrath of my kids’ new toys. Each year, I clean out and donate toys that they no longer play with to make room for the new stuff, but it’s still not enough. Their play room in the basement is littered with toys. I’ve stepped on so many little fullsizerendertoys, at times I was positive I broke my foot. So when I was asked to review toy from Oribel, I was obviously hesitant. But but VertiPlay™ is unlike any game or toy children own, and the best part? They don’t add extra clutter on the floor and won’t be stepping on little pieces!

VertiPlay™ Wall Toys from Oribel are fun, whimsical toys that hang on the wall or door, allowing for free space on the floor but offering tons of fun! It’s a win-win for both mom and children! No more asking over and over for your kids to pick up their toys! Another plus? You won’t mind them on your wall! They’re visually appealing and simply add to your child’s bedroom or playroom decor. VertiPlay™ also gets your little ones up and gets their blood flowing as they stand at the wall to play and run around.

The designs are simple, engaging, and fun my little one loves her Busy Woodpecker ($19.90)! It was really easy to attach to the wall, I just wiped the spot clean, removed the back of the sticker, and attached it to the wall. Easy peasy. My little one loves tapping the the woodpecker’s tail (sometimes a little too much) to light up the the little bird’s house in the tree. The wooden windmills help with dexterity through fun play! There are many different designs and styles for a range of ages, from 9+ months to 3+ years, verti1you can see them all here! The quality is superb, I would expect nothing less from Oribel! I adore their products. And while I haven’t removed our wall toy, it leaves no damage to the wall and is easy to peal off.

VertiPlay™ gets a 5 out of 5 stars from me. The price point of each set is just right and my daughter really loves playing with her woodpecker toy. If you’re ready to shop for your own VertiPlay™ Wall Toy, you can head to your local Babies R Us or shop online at Amazon and diapers.com. I will definitely be adding a few more wall toys to our playroom, as my oldest is a little jealous she didn’t get one! If you have an older child, I think the Goofy Moose is perfect for them! Be sure to follow Oribel on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new products and more, you won’t be disappointed with this fabulous company!

– Casey

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences with a product and we never guarantee a positive review.**

Flying Squirrel. A New Kind Of Sleep Sack by Sleeping Baby. *GIVEAWAY!*

Published on by AmandaLeave a comment
sleepingbabyburritobuzz
…notice blanket all the way at the end of his bed!

Every night I sneak into our baby’s room to re-tuck him back in and ensure his room is warm enough. Some nights I used to even turn the heat up in the house just to make sure he was warm. The winter months are brutal here in Ohio and our little one makes it worse by NEVER staying covered up. I always thought sleep sacks, and ‘toddler sleeping bags’ were unnecessary and ridiculous looking. A cozy fuzzy blanket is MUCH cuter. We are well past the stage of not being allowed to have extra bedding in his bed, so swaddles and sacks shouldn’t be needed, right? WRONG. BK#2 HATES being covered. He appeases us, snuggles up with his lovey, lets us cover him with an adorable Aden & Anias dream blanket, and then the second that we walk out of his room he pushes it to the opposite end of his crib. Really kid?!?!

Thus, began the search for the perfect toddler sleeping solution. I really wanted a way to help my baby sleep without waking, because he was cold, but he is much too old for traditional swaddles. I found some awesome sleep sacks, but the fact that they are a sack makes him pretty mad. He was getting used to it, but I kept on searching to find something to keep him warm AND happy.

I FOUND THE BEST SOLUTION FOR ALL AGES!our-brands-zipadeezip.jpg

Sleeping Baby has the perfect products for infants transitioning out of swaddles, for toddlers like mine refusing to stay covered and warm at night, for preschoolers needing a sleep solution for nap time at school, even teethers,  and necklaces for mom!

Sleeping Baby is AMAZING COMPANY with an even better story. They truly have a heart for their customers and LOVE what they do! They started their company making something to transition their daughter out of the traditional swaddle and created the revolutionary Zipadee-Zip, that was discovered and aired on Shark Tank! I could go on and on about this couple, because they are truly an inspiration to all parents to follow your dreams and to do what is best for you and your family, but I really want to talk about the FLYING SQUIRREL so I encourage you to read all about it here!Sleeping-Baby-522x348.jpg

WHAT IS A FLYING SQUIRREL?FS_Woodlands_Blue_Front_large.png

  • They are an extension of the Zippy because they’re the same basic shape, but have option openings/covers for the hands and feet.
  • The convertible hand and foot covers (like a new born onsie’s optional mitten flip overs )are to  to keep your little one extra cozy and warm without the need for socks. Seriously, ADORABLE! BK#2 hated the mitten option on his hands, but it gave me all the feels remembering  the itty bitty baby onsies. I am going to keep trying and maybe he will indulge me and let me cover his hands!
  • It comes in sizes 2T-5T.
  • Fleece or SUPER soft cotton option. We received the cotton material. – I suggest the cotton for spring and the fleece for winter months. (I put a set of PJ’s under the cotton material, because it wasn’t as heavy for winter as I normally would use.)
  • At LEAST a dozen prints for each gender, and many are gender neutral!sleepingbabyburritobuzzzippersleepingbabyburritobuzzzipper2
  • Zipper coverings! The top of the zipper is always enclosed and there is a layer of fabric covering the zipper on the inside to ensure you don’t snag your baby or their clothes.
  • They run big and look at little baggy on your child. That is how they are supposed to be! Don’t worry! You want your baby to be able to move around freely in their bed AND if gives the product more longevity! All parents know that baby gear lasts for no time at all.
  • They wash up wonderfully! They stay super soft and buttery, and the print doesn’t fade one bit!
  • Fairly priced at $36.95 . This might sound a little high for “pj’s”, but for sleepers and sleep sacks its just right and around the same price as SIMILAR products on the market. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE LIKE THIS DESIGN AVAILABLE!

WE LOVE THE FLYING SQUIRREL SO MUCH WE ARE GIVING ONE AWAY!!

flyingsquirrelgiveawayburritobuzz

How to enter:

  1. Follow @burritobuzz on Instagram
  2. Follow @zipadeezip
  3. Like ORIGINAL POST
  4. Comment on ORIGINAL POST with your child’s gender and size you want to win!
  5. Extra entries: Tag a friend! (One tag per comment please!)
  6. Giveaway will start January 30,2017 at 8:00am EST and will end at 8:00pm EST on February 1, 2017. We will announce winner February 2nd!

GOOD LUCK!

To stay up to date on all their new products be sure to follow Sleeping Baby on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube! They have giveaways every week and are always sharing useful information!

~Amanda

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences with a product and we never guarantee a positive review.**

 

 

Adorable Emoji Valentines {Free Printable}

Published on by Casey SehmLeave a comment

Now that my four year old is in school, I look forward to her little holiday class parties. I volunteer to bring things in for each one and volunteer to help in class for at least one party throughout the year (this year I’ll be helping with their Easter party, last year was for the Thanksgiving party). And even though she’s only in preschool, the parties are still super cute, and I totally turn in to a PTA, Pinterest-obsessed mom when a holiday rolls around.

I know it’s early, about 2.5 weeks away, but I couldn’t help myself and started thinking about her Valentines. Scrolling through Pinterest, I saw an adorable Emoji valentine that I knew my daughter would love (she’s newly obsessed with “mumojis” as she calls them). I showed her the picture and she gave me the biggest smile and declared those were her valentines! So I went to work and made my own:image2-4I used my HP printer to print the valentines on 110lb white cardstock so they wouldn’t be flimsy when the chocolate heart eyes were attached. My paper trimmer helped so much to cut them, as I am horrible at cutting with scissors. I cannot cut a straight line for the life of me. I used Hershey hearts for the heart eyes. They’re the perfect size, not to mention absolutely delicious! I used double-sided tape to attach them which holds them on really well. Lastly, I helped my little one sign her name and that was it! They’re simple, really cute homemade valentines! She’s super excited about them and she can’t wait to hand them out to all of her friends at her Valentine’s Day party!

Supplies

  • Printer
  • Cardstock
  • Paper trimmer or scissors
  • Chocolate hearts
  • Double-sided tape
  • Pen

Print your own Emoji Valentines for FREE here!

– Casey

**I saw similar emoji valentines on Pinterest, but I made these myself.**

Sassy Baby. Grow up Cups and More Favorites.

Published on by Amanda2 Comments

BurritoBuzzSassyGrowUpCups.jpgIt is no secret that BurritoBuzz moms are always on the lookout for new sippy cups. We generally don’t like them. They are always leaking, or molding, or even better yet breaking. Its so annoying!  I really wish companies made made baby products better, but alas they are made to last for a short time. I have been introduced to my new favorite sippy cups and  I am already throwing out others to replace them with the NEW Sassy Baby Grow Up Cups! Sassy Baby has a whole new line of products and I am excited to share some of my favorites with you!

GROW UP CUPS 

The best way to transition to an open cup with no lid is a cup that doesn’t have a spout at all. Sassy has created a cup my little girl calls her “big girl – no lid cup” and gives me the ease of actually having a lid to keep all those messes trapped. BK#2 was so intrigued that he actually started giving up his bottle! YESSSSS!!

About the Grow Up Cups.

  • Revolutionary 360° design – sip 360° around the rim with no spout or straw!
  • Available in 7 oz., 9 oz. and 12 oz. sizes
    • Both the 7 oz. and 12 oz. sizes are available in a single pack
    • 9 oz. cup is available in convenient double packs
  • Easy grip handles (sold with 7 oz. cups) can be removed and used with each cup size! > I wasn’t super impressed with the handles because they didn’t snap in or stay on the cups very well. They are adorable and work great, but made the cup a toy because BK#2 spent his entire time with the handle just playing with it.img_2998
  • BPA Free & Phthalate Compliant
  • Pediatric dentist preferred over spouted cup
  • The lid is easily taken apart into three pieces to make cleaning easy!
  • Lids are interchangeable within cup sizes! I love that you don’t have to even look to see if they match or anything. Snap the membrane on the lid, twist, and off they can go! img_2996
  • Silicon valve automatically seals when your child stops drinking to eliminate messes
  • Slender enough for toddlers to grip with one hand.
  • Grow Up Cups come in MANY different colors and prints, slogan cups, and even a fruit infuser cup with a little carrying handle!
    • The Infuser Cup is a natural way to flavor water. About 1/4 cup of fruit can put placed in the removable fruit infuser.
  • Price – A 9oz or 7oz  2 pack retails for $10.99 (Currently on sale on Amazon for $7.17!)  and one 12oz cup retails for $5.99.

These cups are awesome and super functional! Although they aren’t completely leak proof they definitely are leak resistant! If your child drops them and leaves them laying they might drip a little, or if they shake them up-side-down, yes they will leak, but sitting in their chair drinking at a normal they did not leak on them! The only real time i had an issue with the Grow UP Cups leaking was when BK#2 shook it playing. Really, most “sippy cups” leak when shook.

 

FIRST SOLIDS FEEDING BOWL WITH SPOONIMG_2965.jpg

  • Ergonomic shaped bowl offers a variety of single-handed grips for the caregiver
  • 2 divided compartments keep foods separate.
  • Snap-on lid for portability. – I wish the lid fit better. I trust it to keep foods cold in the fridge, but I would not put it in the diaper bag for travel out of fear it would pop off.
  • Includes  soft silocon-like Sassy Transitional Feeding Spoon
  • Assorted boy/girl colors
  • Price- $5.99IMG_2972.jpg

I cant express how much I wish I would have had this when BK#1 was an infant! The little spot for the spoon to sit is an amazing way to hold it when you’re feeding a child of any age! When BK#1 was a baby I lost track of how many times she would knock the baby food out of my hand! With this bowl you can hold it more securely. Its seriously the best design for a bowl that I have seen in a LONG TIME!

 

ON-THE-GO FORK AND SPOON SETIMG_2961.jpg

  • Travel case keeps child-sized utensils clean in diaper bag!
  • Properly sized for little hands. The curved handles make it so easy for little hands to get the food in their mouth without dumping it first. IMG_2973.jpg
  • Assorted blue and pink cases available
  • Price – $4.99 for the set. 

My little ones did great with these utensils and the spoon is my favorite specifically, because it is so easy for babies to use on their own. The fork is very rounded and doesn’t stab tougher food that well.

 

 

BATHTIME PALS & PULL&GO BOATBurritoBuzzSassyBathToys.jpg

  •  The bathtime pals are a set of 5 squirt and float characters
  • Characters offer a variety of colors and textures
  • Sized for little hands to grasp and squirt
  • Unlike some squirty bath toys theses are almost a soft silicon material!
  • The pull&go boat has a silicon character as well with a plastic and string pull to make the 2 paddles zip through the water.
    • Available in pelican or penguin characters
    • No batteries required
  • Price- Bathtime pals are on sale for $6.54 and the Pull & Go boat is $7.33

My littles LOVE bath toys. When I told them that I had new ones for them they were SO EXCITED! These toys inspires imagination and works with their fine motor development. Win-win in my book!

We are so happy with Sassy Baby and cannot wait to see what else they come out with. Sassy Baby products are a must have for any baby registry!  This company is coming out with new products all the time and they really do have your family in mind when they are creating! Be sure to visit them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Youtube. They will have a new shop open on their website very soon at www.sassybaby.com. Be sure to check it out for some awesome new product. I will be sure to share when it is up!

~Amanda

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences with a product and we never guarantee a positive review.**

Li’l Woodzeez {Toy Review}

Published on by Casey SehmLeave a comment

My four year old is heading into my favorite stage of childhood. When I was her age, I really got into imaginative play. I was obsessed with my Little Tikes dollhouse and would play for hours on end every day. While my daughter has a few dolls and dollhouses, her favorite dolls aren’t dolls at all. They’re actually squirrels, skunks, and owls. They’re one of many animal families from the world of Li’l Woodzeez. I, I mean my daughter, was luckwoodzeez_logoy enough to receive these awesome animal dolls to review and we both could not love them more!

Li’l Woodzeez is designed and manufactured by Battat, a family-owned business that’s been in business for almost 120 years and has been operating in North America for the last 45+ years. Home of so many award-winning toys, all Battat toys have an educational value, whether it’s didactic, nurturing, or collecting and creating worlds for children. This amazing company is also a proud supporter of the WE Villages program, an organization that is admired for its integrity and initiatives to make the world a better place for kids. You can find all of their exceptional and high quality toy brands here! Check out this video to see Li’l Woodzeez animal families and play sets in action:

We received our Li’l Woodzeez package about a week and a half before Christmas and my daughter was positive Santa had sent it for her! When we opened it, her eyes lit up when she saw the utterly adorable animal families that we were sent. They are all so cute! Each family of 4 came with a little book that told a story about each family which my daughter loves, we read them often. She also loved learning each of their first names (each family has an adorable last name as well, like the Whiffpuff Skunk family and the Whooswhoo Owl family). She loves that each family has a little baby that wears a diaper, she loves acting like their mama! The animals have whiskers too, and are really life-like with their velvety little bodies, these are quality critters!

We were also sent the incredible Honeysuckle Sweets & Treats Food Truck. I was blown away by this truck and all of it’s storage, it even has a trap door in the floor! It’s also packed with so many accessories and tiny little foods to play with, 89 pieces in all! From little tacos and slices of pizza, to little bottles of water and fries, to spatulas and plates. But when I say tiny, these things are tiny! You have be careful with little ones. My ten month old can’t be around when my oldest plays with her Li’l Woodzeez, there is just too much of a risk with her putting a piece in her mouth and choking. But that doesn’t prevent her big sister from having fun! 6152d-dp-fWe usually play together in the playroom during nap time. It gives us one on one time, and gives me the opportunity to relive my childhood with my big girl! **Not for children under 3 years.**

If your child has a favorite animal, I can almost guarantee that it has a Li’l Woodzeez family! There are literally so many animal families, it’s hard to decide which to add to our collection! Check them all out here to find your little one’s favorite! Once you decide on a family (or two), head over here to pick out a house for them to call home and here to add some accessories in the mix, like an airplane or one of many themed play sets. The detail that is put into these toys is unbelievable. You and your little one will not be disappointed by the craftsmanship, I can promise you that. My daughter already has a long list of what families, accessories, and houses she wants next! The complete Li’l Woodzeez collection is available at your local Target store or online!

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The Honeysuckle Sweets & Treats Food Truck is a multi-award winner for good reason!

Don’t forget to follow Li’l Woodzeez Instagram for new releases and updates!

– Casey

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences with a product and we never guarantee a positive review.**

Bookroo Monthly Children’s Books

Published on by AmandaLeave a comment

burritobuzzbookrooOn a cold rainy day full of child activities and errands pulling into my drive and seeing this adorable little box propped up against my door was so exciting. I knew even though I was exhausted and wanted to crash coming home wouldn’t be stressful, and we would have a blast opening up our package!

BK#1 absolutely LOVED opening up her package. She got even more excited when she saw that it was wrapped up like presents. Christmas made our little threenager a PRO at opening gifts and very much aware of “presents” and meaningful gift giving! After we opened the box she exclaimed “Oh mommy, you got me a gift!  I love it”, and she didn’t even know what was inside! BurritoBuzzBookRoogift.jpg

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Bookroo is a monthly subscription box for you children. It is unlike any other subscripton box on the market right now. Not only is it a fabulous deal, but it is a company with a purpose. Bookroo helps the world at with their recycled (and recyclable!) packaging and their commitment to giving back through donating children’s books to children in need through Reach Out And Read!

The moms and owners at Bookroo’s mission is to enable and empower parents to build their children’s book collections in an affordable and exciting way through curated monthly book deliveries. They believe in the power and impact of the written word in the life of a child, and believe it’s never too early to start reading to children!30-minutes

According to the US department of Education reading to/with your child 30 minutes a day improves their intelligence greatly. Reading improves (future) academic performance. One of my new year resolutions was to read to my children more, and Bookroo is just another way to make sure that happens in a new and exciting way once a month!

Reading is an investment in your child’s future. Reading makes for smart, emotionally healthy, and confident kids. Bookroo makes reading easy.

There two types of boxes: Picture book boxes and Board book boxes. And there are 4 different packages and pricing rates. If you have children in two age groups you can simple tell Bookroo and they will alternate your boxes so you get something for each child every other month. screenshot-4

YOU CAN’T BUY BOOKS AT THE STORE THIS CHEAP! Even if you only do it one month at a time you are getting at least two hardback picture books for $8.95 a piece. I am seriously thinking about doing the year long subscription getting 24 book for $7.99 a piece. Not only are you getting books delivered to your door, but you are giving your child a reason to be excited about books and reading! I am 26 and I know I love getting packages, my toddlers love it 100 x’s more!

Each box contains either 3 board books or 2 picture books and the combined retail value of the books always exceeds the subscription price!

The books are always a surprise and hidden gems. The books they send out are extensively reviewed by a panel of 12 families attending Stanford University and their combined 22 kids. They rate each book on a 7 point scale and on its re-readability. Books that emerge as clear winners are sent out in the Bookroo boxes.

We received Sleepytime Me by Edith Hope Fine and Penguin Cha-Cha by Kristi Valiant.

Sleepytime Me – A sweet little nighttime book with easy- to- learn phrases and gorgeous pictures to relax and get ready for bed!

Penguin Cha-Cha – ADORABLE and entertaining book for all ages. You follow a little girl around the zoo who is trying to understand the dancing penguins. Beautifully written and illustrated! his 

If I had to rate Bookroo on a scale of 1-5 stars they would 100% receive 5 stars! This subscription and company is amazing!  I cant wait till February’s box!

IF YOU WANT A DEAL USE THE CODE : AMANVELA  to get $10 OFF! 

Be sure to follow Bookroo on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest to stay up to date on everything they are up to.

~Amanda

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences with a product and we never guarantee a positive review.**

Akron Children’s Museum. Cabin Fever No More.

Published on by AmandaLeave a comment

1017541_582065261846428_877869030_nHere in Ohio its winter. Well, I think? It’s currently 50 and raining, so not the normal -15 F and a snowstorm, but still pretty gross. My kids are bouncing off the walls lately and I have been searching for something new for them to do! I know not everyone is close to Akron, Ohio, but if you are or ever find yourself near here,  this place is the solution! Akron Children’s Museum is more like a huge discovery playhouse than a “museum”. Don’t let their name fool you.

IT’S AWESOME!! So much thought was put into this and they aren’t even done yet. Some of you might have seen me try and go live Thursday morning, but Facebook/Verizon was NOT cooperating. You can see the general lay-out though ,and get an idea of what it looks like, even though  Facebook kept cutting in and out a lot.

Akron Children’s Museum’s mission is to be a gathering place for children and families, where play inspires exploration, discovery, and problem solving. ACM envisions a community shaped by lifelong learners, who provide innovative leadership inspired by creativity and diverse perspectives.

Beyond the museums exhibits  they have a calendar of events and activities booked full of fun things to get involved in! Things like little kids yoga, theater games, art studio and much more.

Not only are there awesome and educational exhibits, but they really went above and beyond to think about parents and families. There is a whole area to park strollers and hang coats. If you are a nursing mom or have a child that needs some quiet time there is a quiet room that has dim lighting and a few comfy chairs! 

The museum is located at 216 S. Main St. in downtown Akron, Ohio next to Lock 3 Park.
You can park in the State Street Parking Deck located at 52 W. State St. (behind Barley House). Take the elevator to the ground level, take a right to go outside, and doors to the museum are straight ahead. Out of the elevators you will be right inside of Lock 3. There are plenty of signs showing you the way to the entrance.img_2622

Open Tuesdays- Sundays 10am-6pm

$5 for kids and adults (infants 12-months and under free)

Annual memberships start at just $55 and include free parking.

If you have a family of 4 all requiring admission, the annual membership would pay for itself in 2.5 visits! With the ever changing calendar of events and their additions and continuing to build, it would be well worth it!

My kids and I LOVED Akron Children’s Museum! We will be returning! The only suggestion I have is a little more security. I was very thankful to have someone with me, but if I was alone with two children I would have been very concerned. It is a very open layout and a child could run off or be misplaced fairly quickly. I would love to see a few staff people just walking the floor with the sole purpose of keeping an eye out. The staffers that were around were cleaning and then running back into closets and to the desk to fulfill other duties.  The museum is  wesome, and we were very excited to return, but definitely with daddy or a grandparent to help wrangle those quick toddlers!

Be sure to Check out their website here for more information and to follow them on Facebook to stay up to date on all the awesome things they are doing for the community!   ~Amanda

After an hour our little 18 mo old was getting sleepy!
There are awesome bird costumes too!
All of the fruit has velcro attached so the kids can put them on the HUGE trees!
There are these little benches for parents everywhere….BK#2 LOVED how cushy and fun they were!

Minivan Mama

Published on by Megan Desiato - www.BurritoBuzz.comLeave a comment

I officially gained my “soccer mom” status this summer when we traded in my little blue SUV for a MINIVAN. And let me tell you, it was one of the best decisions I have ever made!! It’s true love. I knew I 17194_600always wanted a minivan someday, because I grew up with my parents always having one, and it always just seemed like the most practical with kiddos. What I didn’t know is how much I would not miss my old car and absolutely love this van!

My husband I had been talking about them for a while and finally buckled down and started researching them after we had our second child. We were tired of not having a lot of room in the car especially if we needed to take any extra people anywhere. Two car seats take up a lot of space. We looked at several minivans on the market, but narrowed it down to the Toyota and Honda. We did have a rental Chrysler that we were happy with as well. After test driving, we were actually surprised at how easy the decision was with the Honda Odyssey. The vans were priced roughly the same, but the Honda just felt like it was made better. We didn’t dislike the Toyota (my hubby drives a Toyota Tundra), but the Honda was just better.

 

 

We waited several weeks for the specific model and color to come in that we wanted, but once it arrived, it was love at first sight. I was so anxious and excited that Saturday morning we were able to go and pick it up with the kids. Our 3 year old was excited for the “new van!” too. It was bittersweet leaving our old SUV, but there are new reasons every day why I am so thankful to be a minivan mama now . . .

Here’s a few of them . . .

1.       The automatic sliding side doors… need I say more?! I don’t have to worry about my kids or I banging any cars parked next to us with our doors. You know how loading and unloading our kiddos goes, these door make it a dream come true!! Because of the sliding doors, the opening is so much bigger than an average car door – WONDERFUL! The doors also open and close by the simple push of a button from either the key fob, by the driver’s seat, or on the inside of the sliding doors themselves.

 

2.       Not only is there more room in the doorways, there’s more room EVERYWHERE in this car. I can honestly say I’ve been a passenger in every seat and never once did I feel like I had no space to move. And if you need more room . . . You can MAKE more room . . .

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3.       . . . You can make that extra space because of the movable seats. I know this is typical with most minivans and vehicles with a third row of seats, but the way the Honda was set up was another big selling point for me. Our Odyssey has the option to have an eighth seat. All of the seats are removable (except the front), but with the Odyssey you can have an eighth seat in the middle of the second row. You can easily remove that middle seat of the second row to have 2 captains chairs and an aisle way to the back row, or you can leave it in place to complete the row and have an extra seat. The seat also folds down as an arm rest if it’s left in place. The third row of seats EASILY folds down into the trunk of the van. When we drove to the beach this summer, we opted to fold the third row down so we had TONS of room for luggage and could still see out the back window.

 

4.       Handles on the high way – We drove the minivan on the West Virginia turnpike on our way to Myrtle Beach this past summer, and it handled so much better than my husband’s truck the year before. We could set the cruise control and not have to waver and hit the brake on those winding highway turns.

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5.       Good on gas – I know the gas tank in the minivan is bigger than my tank was in my SUV, but I swear still that the van gets better gas mileage. According to Honda, the Odyssey gets 19 mpg on city streets and 27 mpg highway. Either way, its way better on gas than a huge SUV would be!

 

6.        Does NOT ride like a bus – I traded in a small SUV for my minivan. I had driven it for 5 years. I will say that I was the most anxious that the minivan was going to feel like I was driving a bus after driving my little SUV. I was so wrong. The van does not feel any bigger to me. I would say it sits up off the road the same height as my old car. Even though the van is significantly longer, I really haven’t noticed other than making sure I pull in the garage far enough. The back-up camera has made this easier as well!

 

7.       Bang for the Buck – I’m telling you, you cannot beat a minivan. Even if you have a small family like we do, it is worth considering. For some reason, they get a bad rap, but I can’t think of one negative thing to say about mine. Maybe I don’t look the “coolest” driving the minivan around, but that is the last thing I’m worried about. Most companies offer all the bells and whistles you can find in luxury cars and SUVs, so don’t think those options aren’t available in a van. It’s convenient, affordable, and I know my kids are safe – that’s what matters to me.

If you’re thinking about getting a new vehicle for your new family, growing family, or just want more seats/space, take a look at a minivan. Check out all the options. Take them for a test drive. I think you’ll love it! And if you take the plunge like we did and buy one, you won’t regret it!

-Megan

 

Fostering from the Eye of the Parent

Published on by KirstynVelez- www.BurritoBuzz.com1 Comment

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Fostering.  What  does fostering mean to me?

Can I start out by being 100% brutally honest and say that I can throw everything I thought about fostering/adopting out the window! Why do I say that?  I don’t say it to scare anyone,  but if we don’t have a healthy fear of the things in life then are we really living? How did I know I wanted to foster/adopt? When did I finally begin fostering, and when did fostering become an adoption? I hope to answer some questions that anyone thinking of fostering a child might have.

I had always known since I was a young girl that I wanted a large family. I wanted to make a difference, I wanted a huge challenge, but did I realize then  what that challenge was.  I can truly say that  I had zero clue. Let’s be real,  who truly understands much at that age? We all know we believe in something, but don’t really have purpose for it yet. So, you start doing little things to try figure life out.

Around the age of  11 I remember babysitting neighborhood kids for extra money. During high school I began working in daycares, working at amusement parks, and tutoring special education children. I spent the majority of my summers as a camp counselor for 4H camps and bible camps. I wanted to ensure that all children (especially those with special needs) could enjoy as much normalcy as possible.

Straight out of high school I got pregnant with my daughter. My pregnancy was hectic and problem ridden, and nothing less than stressful. I got married shortly after and surprisingly found out I was pregnant again. Sadly, at the same appointment I found out I was pregnant, I found out that we had lost our baby we never even knew I was carrying. Given the already troubling times this devastated us. After much discussion, time and healing, we together carefully planned to try again and I got pregnant with my son.1125321382-foster-care-adoption-quote

Following the birth of our son and some unforeseen troublesome times, military lifestyle, unrecognizable  differences  and overall stress of life, my husband and I decided to divorce.

A few years later I met my second husband, we had talked from the beginning of wanting to have a family together, he was a wonderful role model to my two biologic
al children. We discussed adopting, fostering, and even the potential of having our own; he was always supportive. About 2-3 years into our marriage, we decided that with the help of doctors we were ready to try for our own. We were heartbroken to hear that instead of trying to conceive, that I should get a hysterectomy due to unforeseen medical issues. So here I am… here we are… newly married, extremely excited to have a large family and have our own child together and in in a single moment you get news that you have to have a hysterectomy…at the age of 26. I would never be able to experience the ups and downs of pregnancy, the feeling of a child kick, or the rewarding feelings of birthing a child ever again. This changed me completely. My husband who had no children of his own, although  great to my biological children, wanted the joy and experience of parenthood with his own children. Something I couldn’t give him any longer. Needless to say, my marriage suffered greatly and we divorced.

Fast forward.

I met a guy who had 7 children. 3 of his own, 2 placed with him through the state, 1 through marriage and 1 he called his son although it was his friends son, he spent more than 50% of his time in his care. I fell in love with not only him but the children I had, at this point, only heard about. To see a man single handily take care of and call 7 children his.What woman wouldn’t fall knowing he could so unselfishly commit to that kind of lifestyle? Then we added in my two and we had 9 kids total. WOW! 9 kids and my heart was as full as ever! I was ecstatic to even have the opportunity to be a part of something so special. It tested me in every way possible but I felt love for 7 beautiful children that weren’t mine and loved them as equally as my own. This chapter of my life ended just as the others did. Surprise. However, I got to spend 2-3 year assisting with and raising such amazing children and have been blessed to get to continue being their lives as much as possible.

In 2013 I ventured back into single mom life and decided to spend time focused on MY life. I poured myself into my children, my sanity and began to find myself. I became stronger and focused on building a solid future. I spent roughly two years soul searching, finding my callings, my drive, narrowing my goals and figuring out who and what I was supposed to be.

What I  was destined to do really sunk when one night we were unloading the car from a trip and I noticed someone pull up to the house. A child got out, crying, ran up to the house and asked for my daughter. I immediately recognized this sweet girl as a close friend to my daughter. She frantically began explaining that she was in state custody and was needing a placement. I immediately lost control of my emotions, looked up at the sky and remembering mouthing “Nice joke Sir!”. I spent so much time bouncing back and forth with my thoughts of whether or not I could foster, should I foster, what would this mean for me and my family? 4328b5418297920ef569e2647f883d8d

I spent 3 long months in classes, gaining certifications, getting background checks, my life was dissected but it was worth it when I became a TN State Licenses Resource Parent/Foster Parent.

I began receiving the first of many, many, babies and children who would rest their heads in our home. They would find peace, safety, warmth, and nothing but love. My home was a home where they would and could make mistakes and not be judged or punished. They were met with patience and understanding. The now lived in a home where someone truly wanted to be a part of their lives, where their journey and experience meant something, where they would be set up for success an pushed to follow their dreams.

Never in a million years could I even begin to scratch the surface of the emotions that followed through. I never even knew these emotions existed. The abundance of love and the type of love I developed was unlike anything else I have experience before. I have been called every name under the sun, some bring pain with their calling, but the thanks and appreciation received would melt hearts in 150 different ways. The heart melting is sometimes met with heartache, sadness, and fear. These are the emotions that you would never know existed unless you’ve been there. I’ve had many babies come and an equal number go. I’ve spent many nights questioning myself as to if I am a failure, I’ve felt like these kids who I have grown to love were just ripped out of my loving safe home. I’ve stayed up for countless hours wondering if they are safe, loved and warm as they were here. I’ve cried countless tears for the same reasons.

Fostering is NOTHING like I imagined. I knew I would have to give up my free-time, the partying days were over, my time was no longer my time and it sure as heck wasn’t close to being manageable. I’ve spent more nights in hospitals, talking to the police, dealing with a DCS case workers, therapy, education classes and family visits that I ever thought was possible.

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Why do I do it? I’ve heard words come out of 9 & 10 year old mouths that they should never even have to hear, I’ve seen the anger expressed from them that they can’t even begin to understand what that feeling is they are expressing, I’ve seen kids so upset because they just want to be understood and feel wanted by someone. My calling was to be that “someone”.

Is it worth it? Absolutely! I get asked constantly why I do what I do and the effects it has on not only my life but the lives of my children.

What have I learned? I’ve learned to be a better parent. I’ve learned to be a different parent. I’ve learned to see things through the eyes of the children. I’ve learned that relationships will come and go but the love of the children remains.

So, do you think you have what it takes? 

Bring your “A” game because there are plenty of people ready to challenge you and you will quickly find out that you need them more then they need you. You’ll feel a different type of completion that compares to nothing else in life we can accomplish and fills our hearts in a sense we can’t even explain…

Learning to love children of many lives we learn to be better parents, better partners, mothers, friends, sisters, daughters…we learn to be overall better people. The reward and benefits of learning to love someone else’s child as your own cannot compare to anything else experience in life. Period.

~Amber

 

 

 

 

Finn + Emma {Review}

Published on by Casey SehmLeave a comment

www-finnandemma-com

Pajamas are a huge deal in our house. My girls love their pajamas. It’s not easy to get them changed into regular clothes in the morning to start their day. They’d live in them if they could, but honestly, who wouldn’t? I know I would if I could. Jammies are so warm, cozy, and comfortable, pretty much everything I look for in everyday clothes! I recently had the opportunity to review an amazing modern organic children’s clothing brand, Finn + Emma. These are some of the coziest jams ever and they just keep getting softer with every wash!

While Finn + Emma offers a lot more than just pajamas, I had to try them first! All of their products are made of the finest organic cotton, with eco friendly dyes, and natural wood. As if Finn + Emma isn’t awesome enough, already, all of their garments and accessories are produced in fair trade settings that focus on social and economic pajamas-fairytale_grandeindependence for local people. I love companies that offer people fair wages and helps them provide a life for themselves and their families. Finn + Emma is a balance of stylish and sustainability and I love it!

The jams I picked out for my girls not only matched, but the print and colors went together perfectly! I’m not usually one for matching my 9 month old and my 4 year old, but when the clothes are this cute, I couldn’t deny my twin-mom fantasy any longer and had to get them to match! The Fairytale print is adorable and not only available in footies for littles and 2 piece sets for older kids, but a ton of matching clothing pieces, accessories, play gyms, and toys are available to complete this beautiful collection! See the Fairytale collection in action here:

I have to give Finn + Emma jams 5 out of 5 stars! They’re so incredibly soft and luxurious, I’m kind of jealous! I really hope adult jammies will be available in the future, I will definitely buy a few pairs for myself! Check out all of the awesome products, like fairytale-coverall-closeup-495x495clothing and toys, Finn + Emma have to offer here. There’s something for everyone, on any budget. I can’t wait to buy more of their adorable clothes for my girls and gift some of their wooden toys to my expecting friends!

Be sure to follow Finn + Emma on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for new releases, sales, and more!

– Casey

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences with a product and we never guarantee a positive review.**

Chore Wars

Published on by KirstynVelez- www.BurritoBuzz.comLeave a comment

Let’s talk chores…

I’ve polled this. I’ve asked other parents. I’ve googled the heck out of it…and it boils down to 50/50. I’ll start by saying my kids do chores. My (almost) 4 yr old dusted my cold-air intake the other day. It looked like garbage when he was done, and I re-did it, but he was so damn excited about it. img_4303

Parents who are for it said things like:

“It teaches them to work in a family”
“Chores raise kids to be better adults”
“Chores help kids understand important life skills”
“Children gain a sense of accomplishment”
“Don’t you have kids for free labor?”
“You have to teach them responsibility”

Now flip the tables:

“Chores annoy me as an adult, so I’m sure my kids would be annoyed and that’s emotionally damaging”
“They already have enough to do between sleepovers, playing outside with friends and homework”
“Kids aren’t adults. Housework is for adults”
“Kids need fun and fresh air. Not housework”
“Chores should be considered child cruelty”
“If kids do chores in their free time, all they will do it grow up to be housekeepers”

You ready for these two? These are by far the best most ridiculous answers…. brace yourselves:

“Parents who have their children do chores are just lazy and shouldn’t have to rely on their kids to do their jobs”
“Forcing someone to do work is considered slavery. Individuals should be allowed to choose what they do in life for their own gain. Kids are kids. Not slaves”

I can’t. I just can’t even entertain those.

915497.jpgAlright. So like I said, it’s clearly an equally debatable topic between us lazy slave drivers and the others. Just kidding. We’re not lazy slave drivers and I’m still baffled that someone even used that as a comparison.

Studies has shown and proven that children need chores. A professor from University of Minnesota, Dr. Rossmann, did a pretty extensive study on this whole topic. “Giving children household chores at an early age helps to build a lasting sense of mastery, responsibility and self-reliance…”

She “analyzed data from a longitudinal study that followed 84 children across four periods in their lives—in preschool, around ages 10 and 15, and in their mid-20s. She found that young adults who began chores at ages 3 and 4 were more likely to have good relationships with family and friends, to achieve academic and early career success and to be self-sufficient, as compared with those who didn’t have chores or who started them as teens”.
So it seems that her study was pretty conclusive to the fact that us who enforce chores are in fact not slave drivers, we’re just raising a generation more likely to be responsible and successful. Now, I’m not saying that kids that don’t do chores aren’t responsible and won’t be successful…what I am saying… well not even what I am saying…what the studies are saying is there is a correlation between success and chores. 17787369286_0c5db0b3a5

Now, no one is saying to make your toddler scrub toilets and go outside and clean up dog poop… the key here is age-appropriate chores. This list is all
of the things that your child within that age range should be perfectly capable of doing… will it be perfect? no. will you probably have to re-do it the first few times? yes. Is it for their own good? Absolutely.

So trust me. You’re not a slave driver and your kids won’t be emotionally scarred from having to put their laundry in the hamper by themselves. Handling spoons and forks won’t kill them and dumping dog food into a bowl isn’t the end of the world.

Teach your kids to contribute. Studies have shown, it’s worth it in the end.

-Kirstyn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DockATot Grand {Product Review}

Published on by AmandaLeave a comment

img_0042.jpgSleep. Please give me all the sleep. It’s the thing that all parents are seriously lacking in. How toddlers run on so little sleep has to be some sort of miracle. Sleeping when they sleep doesn’t constitute to enough sleep most of the time. It’s a cruel joke, really. I know I know….”Cherish these days while you have them, they don’t last. You will wish you were up at 3 am snuggling in 6 years”. Blah blah blah. No I wont. I will never wish that I was up at 3 am watching Curious George praying that MAYBE it will make her settle long enough for me to snag a few more snoozes.

Until the day that my kids are teenagers and sleeping like I wanted them to when they were two, I will just funnel coffee directly down my throat, and work out at 5 am in hopes that I can make it till bedtime.

DockATot sent us their Grand dock and I gladly accepted. Promises of happier babies and more sleep. Yes please. Take all my money.

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What is a DockATot?

Quite literally it is a safe pillow to nest your child in for a cozier sleep environment. It comes in two sizes the Deluxe and the Grand. Deluxe is made for 0-8months and Grand  is made for 9-36 months.

The Grand is perfect for cuddling, playing, lounging, resting and everything in between. It’s ideal for travel—either from room to room, grandma’s house or on vacation. It’s also ideal for bed transitioning, thanks to built-in, air permeable bumpers that act as bed rails, allowing young children to settle more easily in a bigger bed.  It  gives little ones a snug sense of security in their newer, bigger beds.

The dock is BREATHABLE, MACHINE WASHABLE, OEKO-TEX CERTIFIED,HYPO ALLERGENIC, FREE OF CHEMICALS, AND NATURALLY COOLING. safety-chart-dat.jpg

The dock comes in many different patterns and they also have many cover options that you can purchase separately.

The pad and bumpers are very breathable. I shoved my face in and could definitely take a deep breath and breath comfortably. That made me feel good about my one year old using it.  I wish I would have had this months ago when my little man was still co-sleeping because of nursing. I am sure this would have given him more hours of sleep in the pack n play next to my bed.

I have to admit that I was skeptical. It’s HUGE. And basically a big body pillow for toddlers. Both BK#1 and BK#2 are HUGE fans of it. BK#1 ended up with it permanently in her bed though. BK#2 is my sleeper and will sleep 12 hours at night and a good 2 hour nap during the day.  BK#1 on the other hand is almost 3 and fights sleep with everything in her being. We recently moved her into a twin bed, and I think the large surface area might be messing with her sleep pattern. After I saw how much that she loved playing in it, and then dozing off in it, I decided to put it in her bed to see what would happen. DockATtotBurritoBuzz .jpg

The past 3 days she has gone to bed without a fuss and stays up until her clock tells her that she can get out of bed. Which hasn’t happened in a few weeks! I am actually going to push the time up a little bit for her because I think it is actually waking her! She is definitely more comfortable and not tossing and turning as much. She hasn’t came in my room asking to be covered back up or arriving at my bedside at 4am saying she is up for the day. WIN!

BK#1 LOVED it in his crib. He is 1.5 and can have things in his crib, but the FAQs say that’s not what it is made for without observation. I put it in there for a nap time and a photo, because dang it …its adorable!1483753072005.jpg

What I don’t love:

The price?!?! I get that its made of some awesome breathable fabric, its gone through some pretty strict testing, and the design is awesome…but really almost $300 is a little steep. That is NOT in the average person’s budget. The company is limiting their market by quite a bit with the price. If I knew that some pillow bumpers would have made my toddler happy then I would have put two body pillows in her bed!

Its HUGE. Yes it would be great to have at a grandparents house, or on a vacation for unfamiliar beds, but getting it there is the problem. You can purchase a carrying bag but its still the size of a large suitcase. Lord knows that parents have to take way too much as it is when we travel with children, add on carrying a huge pillow? Yeah that would be a big NO in my book. The car seat for the airplane is enough to lug around.

I give the DockATot a 3 out of 5 stars. Its awesome and definitely gets the job done, but the price is way too high and its definitely not something you have to have as a parent. Adorable and super popular right now? yes. Practical 100% of the time? No.

~Amanda

 

 

Shēdo Lane UV Apparel // SwimZip’s Sister Company {Product Review}

Published on by AmandaLeave a comment

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I know summer clothing might not be on our minds, but the warm weather is certainly on mine! I am currently staring outside at a few inches of snow and a temperature that is well below my age. I do much better with the warmer months. If some sunset-beach-chairs-stock-footage.jpgof you are thinking about taking a weekend to the beach, I want to introduce you to some butter soft kids’ clothes! 

We aren’t planning a trip to the beach any time soon, but these polos are making some adorable layering pieces for my little man this winter.

Shēdo Lane is a brand new sister company of SwimZip (as seen on ABC’s Shark Tank), and I am so excited to be introducing and sharing them with our readers! logo.png

Shēdo Lane is a luxury sun protection apparel brand. Utilizing the highest rated, UPF 50+, UV sun protective fabric in complimenting styles, they bring sun protection clothing to its highest form.  Whether it is a morning walk on the beach, a playdate at a favorite playground, an afternoon cup of tea on the patio, or drinks with friends around the pool, Shēdo Lane keeps you covered from the sun’s rays – and looking your best. Shēdo Lane sun protective apparel brings together the function and fashion – so you can indulge in the sun and get on with living your dreams!image2_grande.jpg

We received a toddler 2T polo and found that it runs a little larger than a Carter’s 2T. It fits my little linebacker just fine because he’s so stalky, but on a slender taller toddler, it would be a little baggy.

The material is made from bamboo and it is soft as butter! I seriously wish all kids’ clothes were made this soft and supple. Perfect for snuggling, but stylish enough to wear on a night out! IPhoto087_300dpi.jpg have washed them multiple times and they don’t shrink or lose their shape in any way!

Not only do they offer toddler clothes, but they have clothes for adults!  Who doesn’t want to match their little one? I know I think it’s adorable! I have been eying the cardigan for woman and I will probably be putting it on some sort of wish list for my hubby! I have a feeling I will never want to buy any other brand of shirts!

My only complaint is that the clothes are priced a little high for babies and little ones. One polo is $25. For an adult, I would definitely pay that, but not for a simple toddler shirt. The adult clothes are priced well though. The cardigan I was talkingphoto41_300dpi about is only $40 which is pretty average for a woman’s shirt.

Overall, I have to give Shēdo Lane a 4 out of 5 stars! I can’t stop scrolling through their website, looking at all their comfy clothes! Baby clothes are seriously my weakness.

Have fun shopping!

Be sure to check out this awesome, family-owned company on Facebook and Instagram!

– Amanda

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences with a product and we never guarantee a positive review.**

10 New Year Resolutions Every Parent Should Have

Published on by Amanda1 Comment

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Do you make a New Year’s Resolution every year and then falter when February 15th hits, and all the Valentine’s Day chocolate is 75% off? I know I do. I like to have goals that are measureable. Goals that I can make a list for and then a month or so down the road, I can see the progress that I have made. This year, I am making a new resolution.

I want to be a more mentally present and attentive parent.

There are many, many ways that I can do this, but I wanted to share my top 10 that I will be focusing on this year.oneI am way worse about this than I really like to admit.snapchatburritobuzz.jpg But if you sit back and think about it, how often do you actually turn your phone off? How often are you sitting on the floor with your kids and scrolling through Facebook? Or while they’re watching a movie and you’re reading through emails? Better yet, instead of playing, we are snap chatting with them? Gosh, I do this way too much. So much time is wasted playing with stupid filters. Technology is important this day and age, but we have to learn to limit ourselves as much as we limit our children. How often do you say “okay, that’s enough cartoons for the day” and five minutes later, you’re checking Facebook. Guilty!twoI plan on doing this outside of bedtime with my little ones. Not a book here and there, but sit down on the couch after dinner and deliberately focus on extended reading time. Reading is brain food. I hope that by enforcing consistent reading habits for my children that they will learn to love reading and their brains will flourish. You can read more about how important reading daily is here.three5c4135bdfa4c16b5878d7b7d04084dd1.jpgMy littles love being outside, as most children do. No matter how cold, wet, snowy, hot, muggy, or windy, I plan to get them outside to enjoy and experience the outdoors and encourage their love for nature, before they’re teenagers and I am begging them to go outside and do something!fourIhappiness-gratitude-jar.jpg want my children to have favorite memories and activities that we did during their childhood to carry on to their adult life. I am not sure what that will be for sure yet, but I know that we are going to start a “Happy Moments Jar,” planting flowers in the spring, and seeing fireworks in the summer.fiveSometimes we just get in our funks with life and forget that our tiny humans are watching us. Do more of what makes you happy and include your littles when doing it. Let them help you with your hobbies, involve them with things that you normally wouldn’t. As crazy as my OCD might be, I plan on letting my littles bang on the piano a little more when I am at it, having helpers when I bake more often, and maybe even letting them play with my yarn, that’s a big maybe. I wrote a post about choosing to be happy last year. Check it out here.sixNo matter what your religion or what you believe, it is important for children to have strong core values. Here at BurritoBuzz, we respect everyone and don’t really talk about our religions, but I encourage you to focus on what you believe in and what you want to instill into your children as they grow up.
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I have to admit, we have a pretty large family and our “village” for our children is pretty big, but my goal is to embrace it a little more and to lean on those who love us. Even more so to clean up oFind-Your-Tribe-Project-Bond-Laporte.pngur village. Focus on those who focus on us and try not to worry about things that I can’t control. I have learned that I can’t make family behave the way they should. Adulthood and parenthood made it easy for me to realize that friends come and go sometimes, and that’s okay.

eight.pngThis is a big thing for me. Marriage is not always easy and it is so important for our children to have a constant strong foundation to lean on. The only way that our relationship is going to grow, is to make each other a priority daily. It is fairly easy now. We are really happy and life is awesome, but life isn’t always awesome. I want to start having more regular dates and doing more things just daddy and I.nine.pngThe constant worry about the dishes, the laundry, cleaning the bathrooms, sweeping up the dog hair… it just never ends. The sooner that I give up and admit that fact, the happier I will be! I don’t want my kids to look back and say “yeah, mom always cleaned in her free time.” Uh, how about a reading a book or working on a craft? Or going for a walk? The chores aren’t going anywhere. Period.

il_fullxfull-229582580ten.jpgI mean really, just hop off of Facebook and Instagram for a hot minute and relax. Who cares when Johnny started walking or that your kid drinks mama’s milk and Sally’s kid drinks formula and cloth vs. disposable diapers. Fit and healthy vs. surviving on 2 hours of sleep. Top of the line baby gear vs.being a single parent with barely one income. Organic backyard farm raised vs. pop tarts and McDonalds. Working parent vs. Stay at home parent.facafd0804849d464c46d2c11eb8f2ea.jpg

Give it up. Being a parent is hard enough just from reading the pamphlets they send home with you from the hospital, much less if you are making a list in the back of your head about whatever everyone else is doing, what you think you should be doing. I do it, I’ll admit it. We all do it and we don’t even think about it. I’m taking a step back and focusing on how perfect our parenting style is and how my kids are thriving, smart, and healthy. That is all that matters in the end.

Happy New Year! I hope your goal is to focus on what you have and not what you need to do in the New Year!

– Amanda

 

 

Edible Won’t-Give-You-Salmonella Cookie Dough

Published on by KirstynVelez- www.BurritoBuzz.comLeave a comment

I’m turning the BurritoBuzz table real quick and focusing on us adults for a second and not the children. Not that the kids couldn’t indulge too, but this was so good, I didn’t even want to share. There is no shame in that right?

I got this hankering tonight to make cookies. Although we LOVE cookies, we love cookie dough even more. Danny tried to convince me to whip up a batch of regular cookie dough, eggs and all, and he would be satisfied eating that. The only thing running through my mind was “salmonella” and that isn’t something that we need to contract ever, let alone right before Christmas, so I opted to figure out an egg-less cookie dough that we could legitimately eat right out of the bowl. Which we did.

What’s even better about this recipe is it took like 6 minutes  of my life to make and it requires ZERO baking

Ingredients:

1/2 c. of softened butter (thats 1 regular sized stick)
1 c. of sugar
1 c. of flour
2 tbsp. milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. almond extract
1/4 tsp. baking soda
Sprinkles…as many as your glutenous little heart desires.Directions:

Combine the butter, sugar, vanilla, almond extract and milk; mix well. Add flour and baking soda and mix until combined. Fold in sprinkle. Hide in closet away from children and enjoy!

img_4380Do it. Seriously. Like get up right after you’re done reading this (and sharing it with all your friends who will love you for it) and make some. My husband and I seriously ate the WHOLE bowl, watching a movie on the couch (C was asleep), in our PJ’s.

Let me know how you like it or any add-ins you choose!

-Kirstyn

Milestone™ Mini Cards {Review}

Published on by Casey SehmLeave a comment

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If you ask my husband what my most prized possessions are (besides my children), the only two things I would make sure to grab in case of a fire – he would even go as far to say I would try to run back into the burning house for them, would be my daughters’ baby books. I write down everything; measurements, doctor visits, trips, every single milestone and first you can think of, I add lots of pictures and little notes, it’s all written down. Everyone said my 2nd daughter’s baby book would be blank, but I’ve made sure that wasn’t the case just because she’s the youngest. I make sure to write card5everything down for my girls so they know everything from when they were little in case anything happens to me. My mom passed away when I was 23, before I ever got pregnant, and I don’t have her here to ask when I got my first tooth or what day I started walking (my dad doesn’t have any idea). So when I find a company and products that make it easier for me to keep track of things for my kids (I love organization) and make it more convenient for me to write down the memories, I have to share it!

I recently had the opportunity to try out the cutest cards from the awesome company Milestone. Milestone makes sets of photo cards to capture and remember those special moments that made you smile. The first sets of Baby Cards by Milestone were printed in May 2012. Today, they’re sold in 22 languages in over 40 countries with new parents enjoying them every day, all over the card2world. Milestone offers several different cards, Baby’s First Year – Original and Limited Edition, Twins First  Year, Pregnancy and First Weeks, Fun Activities, The Early Years (0-4), Mini Cards – First Words and Quotes and even a Wedding Set to capture your big day! All of the cards are of great quality and are beautifully illustrated with adorable little animals and patterns. They’re designed in Holland and printed in Belgium.

Milestone is kind enough to offer free printable cards from their website! There are holiday cards for baby’s first Christmas or Hanukkah, Back to School cards, and even a card for My First Trip to the Grocery Store! Check them all out here and to print your own. Another amazing printable set Milestone offers is their free Premature Cards, available in 8 languages. With milestones like “I weigh 2.2lbs” and “I stopped using the ventilator,” these are huge milestones for8_5-milestone_product_mtc_packshotsmall little babies and need documented and celebrated! Download and print yours here.

I chose to try the Milestone Mini Cards ($19), which can be used to write down just about anything. First words and quotes, 100 small cards that I can use to write down all of the silly things my 4 year old daughter says. I had been writing down things (that I can remember) in her baby book, but this is much more convenient! On the inside of the box, you can right your child’s name and each child can have his or her own box of cards. I will be getting my youngest her own box once she’s older! You can put the cards in the box, in scrapbooks or take pictures of your little one holding the card, too. I jutwinsmainpicst keep her box on her top shelf in her closet and anytime she says something funny or something I want to remember, I just grab a card, jot it down, and I’m done. These cards are a game changer for me. I just wish I found them sooner! Check out all of the Milestone products to document your little one growing up here and visit Milestone’s global shop here!

Follow Milestone on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter to stay updated on new products and sales! Make sure you tag your photos using Milestone cards with #milestonebaby and #milestonewedding on social media.

– Casey
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**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences with a product and we never guarantee a positive review.**

Lorena Canals Washable Rugs {Review}

Published on by Casey SehmLeave a comment

img_3897When I was pregnant, one of my favorite things to do to prepare for baby was designing the nursery! I love interior design and putting together ideas for a room (I wish my bank account gave me more freedom) and had so much fun getting my oldest daughter’s nursery together. My poor youngest, she’s still bunking in mom and dad’s room. There’s just enough room for her crib, a big dresser and our queen sized bed. But now that the baby is getting older, we’re really looking forward to our girls sharing a room (and getting ours back). When our oldest moved from her crib to a big girl bed, I gave her room a little makeover, new bedding of course, new pictures on the walls, a banner that says her name above her bed, curtains, and other little decorative pieces. But I’ve always wanted a nice sized rug in her room and wanted one even more with her sister always in there and because they’ll soon be sharing a room. I came across the coolest washable rugs from Lorena img_5863Canals for nurseries and for kids’ rooms (for any room, really) and I couldn’t wait to share them with you!

Lorena Canals is an amazing company that started specializing in children’s rugs 12 years ago to offer their customers all of the essentials to enjoy elegant and cozy spaces with all the requirements that moms need for little ones. The rugs undergo an extensive elaboration handmade process based on the selection of the best raw materials, the use of natural dyes, the control of non-child labor (so awesome!) in the production process, and the compliance of quality and safety regulations for children. Literally every tiny detail is purposely thought out. Watch the video below to see how Lorena Canals rugs are made, starting from the very beginning:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/143355327

As I mentioned above, these rugs are washable! Not only are the styles awesome and the quality is top notch, but you can  wash them! I hesitated spending money on a rug for my daughter’s room when I first gave it a mini makeover, because let’s face it, kids are gross and often make crazy messes and a regular rug would be ruined fast. But a rug that I could just throw in the washing machine when my oldest drops pudding on it (even though she’s not allowed to have food in her room, I still find the evidence) and bluemy youngest happens to find a tube of diaper rash cream and empties the entire thing on it. Is there any better way to wash something? Just roll it up and toss it in the washer! Easy peasy.

I picked the Stars Navy – White ($200) design for my daughter’s room and it is absolutely perfect! The 4’x5’x3’ is the perfect size for the room and it’s honestly like a cloud! It’s so soft, I can only imagine that it gets softer with every wash. My youngest loves to rest her little head on the rug when she needs a break from crawling all over the house. It’s handmade and made for natural dyes and 100% natural cotton. I am in love with this rug and give Lorena Canals a 5 out o5 5 stars. These rugs are incredible and would be in every room in my house if I could afford it! There are so many different designs, shapes and sizes, and prices, the options are endless! You canimg_3898 check out all of the gorgeous Lorena Canals rugs and purchase here!

Make sure you like Lorena Canals on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter for product updates and sales!

– Casey

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences with a product and we never guarantee a positive review.**

Last Minute Christmas Shopping. Ideas For All Ages.

Published on by AmandaLeave a comment

last-minutI am usually the procrastinator. I like to try and get little things throughout the year for close family members, if I see things I think that they would like, but most years I wait till around the 20th to do the bulk of my shopping. So stupid. So so so STUPID, but I do it almost every single year. This year was different. I am not sure how or when I got it all tackled, but I have been done shopping for about a week now! It is seriously a fabulous feeling. I go to Target to get diapers and I am surrounded by frantic chaos and I am not phased, because I am not eagerly figuring out what else I need to get. Since I have a little bit of extra time I thought that I would compile a list of  ideas if you are struggling with deciding what to get a friend, their kids, your family, or whomever you weren’t handed a list a mile – long for!

I tried to make sure that these ideas where below $50 for budget’s sake. That doesn’t mean there aren’t A LOT of awesome gear on the market right now that is above that, but I know that most people have many people to shop for. Also, most links are for Amazon or a store that they are currently in stock at, for easy shipping and ease of shopping. Be sure to check out your local boutiques for some items also. This time of year shopping local really is helping your community’s friends and family.

KIDS

INFANT: 

Janod shape sorter. – Any shape sorter is a classic and awesome for little ones. janodshapesorter .jpg

pipSquigz sensory toys.pipsquigz1

Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Match and Build Soft Blocks Set61oghm4MqmL._SL1200_.jpg

AGES 1-3 BOY:

Xylo Roller by Janod.

Janod_Xylo_Roller.jpg

Fisher Price Mega Box. – These are awesome for any age or gender but it’s always my go- to gift for younger kids. If you don’t get the one with a carrying bag, then I strongly suggest that you wrap it in a inexpensive plastic bin to save the parent’s sanity. 81rlkhendvl-_sl1500_

Oombee Cube for tactile exploration. Screenshot_2016-06-24_12.08.27.png

 

–  ANY gender…or age really…-   Magnatab doodle pad by kid O – My kiddos ADORE these! Magnatab-front---non-glowing-710-0x0x4800x3200_grande.jpg

AGES 1-3 GIRL:

VTech Touch and Swipe Baby Phone – What toddler doesn’t love a phone? I haven’t met one yet!71dzfwfsmxl-_sl1500_Melissa & Doug Jenna 12″ Doll Bundle81h0gs1wxil-_sl1500_

 VTech Go! Go! Smart Friends Twinkle the Magical Unicorn– This thing is even more  ADORABLE in person and so much fun! 7143hFPBFnL._SL1500_.jpg

AGES 3-5 BOY:

Think & Learn Code-a-pillar by Fisher Price. – This is an awesome way to keep little kids boys thinking and busy! 71eysXEDxuL._SL1132_.jpg

Little Tikes 3′ Trampoline81jiamxqfjl-_sl1500_

 Little Tikes Attach ‘n Play Basketball Set- This is the first over the door hoop that I have seen that can adjust for shorter children as well as taller. 81ak2fk5hml-_sl1500_

AGES 3-5 GIRL:

Play-Doh My Little Pony Rainbow Dash Style Salon Playset71wqmjtilql-_sl1500_

Enchanted Princess Palace  by VTech Go! Go! Smart Friends 71QdIXA7bzL._SL1500_.jpgSlice and Bake Wooden Cookie Play Food Set by Melissa & Doug 61nwpeyzrll-_sl1200_

AGES 5-7 BOY:

Osmo Coding Game- Teaches logic and problem solving skills

71x3yoe4tpl-_sy500_Telescope with Tripod by Balance and Living. 411+gL1snjL._SY450_.jpgSpy Gear – Video WalkieTalkies91d6tlgi85l-_sl1500_

AGES 5-7 GIRL:

Cleverkeet by Little Live Pets 81ociowenrl-_sl1500_ Furby Connect 91buZjiS9nL._SL1500_.jpg

My First Sewing Kit by ALEX Toys Craft 91py07rordl-_sl1500_

AGES 8-13 BOY:

LEGO STAR WARS AT-ST WalkerA1LrwPLhi0L._SL1500_.jpg

4M Crystal Growing Experiment 91ZWRgwjg-L._SL1500_.jpgNerf N-Strike Elite HyperFire Blaster 50697293.jpg

AGES 8-13 GIRL:

Easy-Bake Ultimate Oven Baking Star Edition Bonus Pack 48637847_alt06Pottery Cool Studio by Spin Master50517502_alt02Beginners Acoustic Guitar With Guitar Case, Strap, Tuner and Pick. c1dc3d4a-b4ae-428d-b2a2-f71f792256d5_1.a01353ec77e006cd32539beec103cb92.jpg

AGES 14 + BOY:

Helicopter Drone 71q4lj5gh2l-_sl1500_Mouthguard Challenge Game 51si5dlyl-_sx300_Follow Me Robot Kit by Elenco41skdbwxk-l-_sy445_

AGES 14+ GIRL:

All-Natural Soaps Science Kit by SmartLab Toy. 91sjmvddkxl-_sl1500_Karaoke Player by Singing Machine. 61ccbj04zhl-_sl1000_

 My Super Knot-A-Quilt by Alex toys. 10909094

*** With all age groups I encourage you to get books too! It’s always a great option and children can’t learn to love reading unless we teach them how ***

ADULTS

MALE YOUNG ADULT:

Philips Norelco BeardTrimmer Series 7200 with Vacuum. 15073719_alt02Madden NFL 16 (Xbox One)17397821Cordless Drill 14818202

FEMALE YOUNG ADULT :

Blanket Scarf by Steve Madden.blanket-scarves

Bluetooth Beanie with Wireless Microphone Dark Grey – Tenergy 51328146Daisy by Marc Jacobs Eau de Toilette Spray 14604411

MALE PARENT:

Car track  massage shirt. img_2237

 Customizable Engraved Wood Handle Steel Hammer716zxnvxdpl-_sl1500_.

 18PCS BBQ Grill Accessories Tool Set 81is7k3zil-_sl1500_

FEMALE PARENT :

Black Picture Frame Set (set of 7) 81ar2xx-xgl-_sx425_

Conair Waterfall Footbath 50943588_alt03Netflix gift card. – So momma can binge on whatever show she pleases without having to pay a dime.  content-mainimg.png

MALE GRANDPARENT :

Keep Calm and Papa Will Fix It T-Shirt 51wdk6-hdtl-_ux342_Willow Tree Grandfather71B8nuIRXEL._SL1500_.jpg

The Grandparent Gift Life Story Frame– Grandpa9151g3xt7l-_sx522_

FEMALE GRANDPARENT:

Family Tree Picture Frame 51mcpvr3fhl-_sx425_

 

 Grandchildren Date Print 51d7xyKM1cL.jpg

What I Love About Grandma Fill in the Love Journal by Knock Knock. 819mttjg4jl-_sl1500_

You should have more than enough ideas for you last minute shopping now!
Merry Christmas!
~Amanda

Getting My Toddler To Sleep. {OK to Wake! Clock Review}

Published on by Amanda1 Comment

sleep6My almost- 3 year old has never been a great sleeper. As an infant she had colic, cluster fed all night long, and refused to nap unless held. To this day I am really not sure how she survived on so little sleep, or how we did for that matter. From around 1- 2 years old she had mild bouts of waking in the middle of the night, but for the most part she slept through the night. When 2 years hit a switch flipped. She FOUGHT FIGHTS going to bed, she wakes all the time, we started using a sound machine/projector just to distract her from not wanting to sleep long enough to pass out, and worst of all she started waking at FIVE AM or earlier. Every single day. We tried every tactic in the book, but absolutely nothing worked. Finally 6 months later we have her sleeping till at least 5:30-5:45am and staying in her room if she wakes before her clock is green. I will come back to that in a bit.51cbf905d67908ae96a60368d3914de5

WHAT DID We DO?….not all at one time

  • Extremely strict bedtime routine. –  Warm bath, lavender oil lotion, 2 books, turn on twinkle twinkle(After her 18 mo sleep regressions we got rid of the projector feature of her sound machine and just let the music play), snuggle up with baby doll, kisses, and good night.
  • New bedtime- only books.
  • Warm milk and a small snack if she wanted before bedtime routine.
  • Quiet time and winding down 30 min prior to bathtime.
  • Returning to her room only once for bedtime fussing and requests. (Hugs, cup, different stuffed animal etc. )
  • Cutting any type of sugar out, especially in the afternoon. – No juice, fruit, cereals etc
  • Allowing her to have a few fun books and quiet toys to play with when she wakes, instead of waking the entire house at the crack of dawn. – At this point we just gave in to the fact that some kids just aren’t sleepers. Our pediatrician said she was getting ENOUGH sleep, just not our desired amount.sleepchart
  • Pushing bed time a little, thinking maybe she would sleep in a little later. – We made bedtime at 8:30pm consistently for a little over a week and 4:30- 5 am was her wake up time. Every day. So, that obviously didn’t work.
  • Fresh air every day,  and focusing on a good amount of physical activity after dinner time. – Just to make sure she got all of her wiggles out and she was good and tired.  
  • Lavender Essential oils. – I will link here for some information about how this works for ALOT of children for sleep problems!images4vh1sx1d
  • Parenting to sleep/stay asleep. – I wasn’t fond of this, but some Dr’s do recommend it, other do not. I personally am a very gentle parent and I believe that bedtime as any other situation with a child  should be a teaching and learning experience rather than discipline. I didn’t want any type of punishments related to nighttime, mostly out of fear that it would make it worse, but laying down the law a little bit did help some. Things like this helped a little :”We don’t scream and yell, and if that’s what you choose to do then you will go down and sit in time out until you can use your words”, “If you go wake your brother instead of coming to mommy then you’re going straight to time out”, “If we don’t get our sleep at bedtime/naptime then we don’t get to go ….” I don’t think it helped the amount of sleep that either of us were getting, but the attitude definitely shifted.
  • Last but NOT LEAST. We tried the OK! To Wake alarm clock and I am beyond happy with the daily results.mnv-002_2z

If you are struggling with all of the above solutions not working, then hopefully this will help you and your little ones like it has helped us!

I found it while googling in the middle of the night. It was definitely a last resort, but WELL WORTH THE MONEY. I have seen it retailed at $22-$29. The link above is for Amazon with the cheapest  price that I have found at $22. IMG_3478-001.jpg

It is a  clock with a night light that  glows green when it’s OK for your child to get out of bed.  It has a constant night light if you choose to use it, but turns off with a  button.

For toddlers who can’t tell time it is there is a cute little robotic face option instead of the time. When your toddler is older and needs a clock it is a regular alarm clock with a snooze, and a nap timer.

The main feature of this clock is obviously the light up at wake time feature. The back of the clock has a great little concealed program pad in the back. untitled2 It was extremely easy to set up, and the directions were very clear and descriptive. You set a time like you would for an alarm, but instead of a noise going off the back light lights up green.  The light is pretty dim, so if your child is still sleeping then it wont wake them.   It is easy for parents to program; grows with families by helping them get more sleep, and then teaching children growing  independence with the alarm clock!

When BK#1 wakes up at the crack of dawn she knows to wait in her room till her clock  turns green, and sometimes she even falls back asleep while waiting. It took her a week or so to really understand what was going on and after a few weeks we have slowly changed the time that it turns green to a desired time for us!  {We started with a time close to when she had been waking and pushed it up by 5 minutes every few days.}  She gets the feeling of accomplishment that comes with completing a job well done. And, Ok to Wake! is something that can be completed successfully every day!x2_50f52d3b3d2bd00c5799353ee4429a5e

It comes with a USB cord and has battery backup, and a second interchangeable face plate.

The only thing that I don’t  like is that the wall adapter is not included. You can use any  USB wall adapter you already own for phones, tablets, etc. though. It wasn’t a huge deal, but just something I wish I would have  paid more attention to. I recommend having it plugged in because if not then it is free standing and your toddler might just build a book tower to

I 100% give this awesome clock a 5 out of 5 stars and it is most definitely something that every family needs!

I would love for my daughter to be a sleeper, but I don’t think that is going to happen anytime soon. Ok to Wake!  has definitely given me some more sleep!  I hope everything we tried can help you too!

~Amanda

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences with a product and we never guarantee a positive review.**

Grippies: STEM Toys for Toddlers

Published on by Katie Kuceyeski1 Comment

g8311_6-1200x1200BurritoBuzz has talked about STEM teaching before, so elaborating on STEM, we’re bringing you a review on Guidecraft Grippies. I had not heard of Grippies prior to being introduced to them, but I was fascinated by the concept.

The toddler STEM building toy, Grippies® Builders, combines tactile exploration, magnetic play and an introduction to the basic principles of engineering and geometry. Grippies® use a unique, magnetic rod and ball configuration to provide a secure, frustration-free set of construction option as children first discover the joy of building. Unique in concept and design, Grippies® provide a fun, safe, and exploratory experience for toddlers. The 30 piece set features 4 soft matte textures in exciting bright colors. Suggested age: 18 months+

  • Open-ended magnetic STEM building toy for toddlers
  • Combines tactile exploration with magnetic play
  • Provides introduction to engineering
  • 30 piece set in exciting bright colors for $59.99 or a 20 piece for $39.99
  • Over-sized ABS Plastic rod encapsulates magnets
  • Accompanying metal balls are overmolded with soft plastic, with seamless texture for secure construction
  • Exterior features 4 soft matte textures
  • Winner of the Tillywig Brain Child Award, the National Parenting Center’s Seal of –Approval, Parents’ Choice Awards Silver Honor, and the Oppenheim Gold and Special Needs Adaptable Product (SNAP) Awards

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My son is 22 months old and really fine-tuning his motor skills at this point. Upon opening up Grippies, not only was my son fully engaged, but my husband and I were enthralled with building all kinds of structures with him. He quickly caught on to the concept of magnetism, so much so that he discovered that he could stick them to theg8311_lifestyle3-1200x1200 fridge, dishwasher, and cold air return grates. And while the structures he’s building now are fairly basic, I have no doubt that he’ll be engaged with Grippies for years to come and build much more advanced structures!

I was concerned about the magnets in these products, because magnets can cause serious damage (and death) if swallowed. I’ve been cautious throughout my son’s infancy and toddler years to ensure that small magnets are always out of his reach. Thankfully, the magnets in the Grippies are firmly stuck on the rods. While I tell my son to not chew on toys, he still does at times. Thankfully, the Grippies’ magnets have not budged. He is still always supervised when playing with them, thanks to my momma paranoia.

Grippies have proven to be a fun, educational activity for my tiny human. They keep him busy for decent lengths of time. My only true complaint is the price; they are overpriced for what you get. I’d love to see them have a lower price-point so all families could affordstem-logo-salsify-1200x1200 them. Check out all of Guidecraft’s awesome and educational toys here and Guidecraft’s STEM toys here! They will make great holiday and birthday gifts for any little one in your life!

Don’t forget to follow Guidecraft on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest to stay up to date on all thing Guidecraft!

– Katie

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences with a product and we never guarantee a positive review.**

Tray Haven {Review}

Published on by Casey Sehm1 Comment

trayhavenNow that my youngest is almost 9 months old, she’s hell bent on feeding herself. If a spoon or fork goes anywhere near her face, she swipes at whatever’s on it so she can shovel it in her mouth with her own two hands. Because of her new found independence, we just cut food into small bits and put it on her high chair tray so she can go to town on her own. Most of the food ends up on the floor rather than in her mouth though. She thinks it’s funny to throw it all on the floor (I think she wants to give our dog a snack) along with her sippy cup of water. After going through this with my oldest, I pink5-500x500decided to find something so don’t have to keep picking her cup and pieces of food up and constantly cleaning the floor. I stumbled upon Tray Haven and I’m so glad I did! I reached out and the company was kind enough to send me one to try out.

I received our Tray Haven just in time for Thanksgiving and it was a life saver! It’s made to work with most high chairs, booster seats, and wheelchairs with removable trays and seat backs. It’s designed to keep food and objects on the tray, and not on the floor. It’s made from durable mesh and strong straps so it can withstand a lot. It also collapses really easy and can be taken anywhere. We’ve been using it for a few weeks now, and I am so happy with how well it keeps everything where it should be! It’s super simple to attach it to a high chair (or even a stroller). Here’s a video that perfectly shows and explains how to use the Tray Haven:

Tray Haven has made mealtime with my baby so much easier, not to mention there is less to clean up! No more bending over to pick things up over and over and over (because it always turns into a game) and no more constant cleaning of the floor. I wish I would have had one when my oldest was a baby, she was always throwing her food and cups! I give Tray Haven a 5 out of 5 stars. It’s made of quality materials, it’s easy to use, and it works! At $34.99 and available in pink and blue, they make great gifts for birthdays, holidays, and baby showers. Parents and caregivers will be so grateful! Purchase yours here!

If you want to win Tray Haven of your own, you’re in luck! We’re giving away a blue Tray Haven to one lucky winner! All you have to do is follow these easy steps to enter:

  1. Like both @burritobuzz and @trayhaven on Instagram.
  2. Like the original giveaway post.tray2
  3. Tag friends you think are in need of a Tray Haven, too!
  4. That’s it!

The giveaway will begin Friday December, 9th at 12pm and will end Monday December, 12th at 12pm. A winner will be randomly chosen and announced on the original giveaway post within 24 hours of the giveaway ending. Goodluck! **This giveaway is in no way sponsored or endorsed by Instagram.**

Don’t forget to like Tray Haven on Facebook and Twitter, too, for product updates!

– Casey

**Burrito Buzz received this product at low or no cost for the purpose of review or testing. No compensation for a positive review was provided. All product reviews are based 100% off of our personal experiences with a product and we never guarantee a positive review.**