Author: KirstynVelez- www.BurritoBuzz.com

A new way to grocery shop: Walmart Grocery Pickup

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Grocery shopping is the errand that all parents dread (I do at least). It never seems to go smoothly, there are always crying children (sometimes mine), and it’s just overall stressful. It’s like there are set scenarios that always play out: the toddler falls asleep one red light from the store parking lot, a diaper explodes in aisle 9, or there is a choir performance from the older kids full of repetition of “I’m bored”, “can I get this?”, “can I go to the toy section?” or “are we almost done?” It can never be a simple, quick trip to the grocery store. Until now.

I saw a posting about Walmart and their new online grocery pickup on Facebook and had no feelings toward it either way. I didn’t see myself grocery shopping online and then have someone else load my groceries into my car for me. I don’t even let the baggers at Publix or the Commissary take my bags to my car, so why would I let someone else do my grocery shopping, bag all of my stuff and bring it out and load them in my car? It seemed like the lazy easy way out. But then it clicked. It’s not lazy, it’s convenient. I work 40 hours a week, get off at 5:30pm and have a 40 minute drive home every single day during the week. If I stop to grab groceries on my way home, I typically don’t get home until almost 7:45 – 8:00pm on a good day.

They don’t offer online pick up at the store in my town yet, but they do in the town where I work and where my mother-in-law lives. We just so happened to be heading to her house on a Sunday and I happened to need groceries, so why not give it a try?

Let me start by saving you $10 off your first order. Use promo code RCMUR0YA (that’s a zero not an “o”) at checkout on your purchase of $50 or more and you will automatically save $10! 1

It was a rather simple process. I went to Walmart Grocery online, put in my zip code, signed into my walmart.com account and viola! It allowed me to choose my store, secure a time slot to pick up and then add items to my cart. You can search through the “store” by department,

2 or search for the items you know you need by name. I quickly added items to my cart (it shows the total in the corner and there is a $30 minimum) and when you’re ready to check out, you simply put in a credit or debit card number, check out and then you receive a detailed list of your order and pick-up instructions via email.

The instructions were quite simple. In short, “Go to the grocery pickup location. We will call you 15 minutes prior. Call us back 10 minutes prior to your arrival and again when you get here.” It even showed me a cute little map of the store and where the parking locations were in the parking lot which were marked as well.15469435 It was that simple.

So I called 10 minutes before and again when I got there. Not even 5 minutes later, two sweet young ladies brought me my groceries and I never even had to get my kids out of the vehicle. I received a “Welcome” bag containing some grocery and health care full size samples such as After-Sun Aloe wipes, Sea Salt Covered Raisins, Cucumber Ranch and some other goodies. They loaded the items into my car, I signed the delivery receipt and I was quickly on my way. I hesitantly added produce and eggs to my list and surprisingly had no issues. They showed me my eggs before placing them in my car and my bananas were handled with care and not bruised.

I did figure out that if the store is out of stock with the item you want, they will offer you a substitution at no extra cost, if available. I wanted a 1lb bag of Gala Apples, but since they were out of stock, they gave me a 3lb bag of Gala Apples for no additional cost. Also, if they don’t have the item or a substitution, they immediately issue you a refund for that item.

Overall, if I had to give a star rating, it would be a 5 out of 5. Quick, easy, convenient and so worth it. I would definitely recommend it to busy moms if it’s available at your local Walmart!

– Kirstyn

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PlaSmart Wonky Wheels {Review}

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More than a toy car!

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We try to focus on non-electronic play frequently because C will literally sit and do the shape sorter game on his iPad all day if I let him. So anything that moves, makes noise, helps his motor skills, hand eye coordination or just stimulates his little toddler brain, is okay by me!

I received the Wonky Wheels from PlaSmart and it took C less than 30 seconds to figure it out! I told him to put his finger in the indention on top and then drive it around! He laughed and giggled the entire time while the car twisted and turned all over the kitchen floor. He was thrilled that it drove in circles and whichever way he pushed, it did something completely different. He got quite upset when it wouldn’t follow the roads on his car mat, but we quickly explained to him that it’s not supposed to!

The construction is very solid and well put together. He carries it with him almost everywhere and we have had no issues with it being dropped and breaking or paint chipping or peeling off.wonky wheels.png

It runs about $9.99, which seems like an ideal price point. Overall, Wonky Wheels are fabulous little toys. They would make a good addition to any little boy or girl’s birthday or holiday wish list!

Buy yours here: Finger Car Wonky Wheels, Red with White Stripe

– Kirstyn

 **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 and we never guarantee a positive review.**

Playground Etiquette 101

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2009-04-21_Hampton_Forest_Apartment_Homes_playgroundTrust me, it’s a real thing and no one seems to know about it. It’s like a list of silent rules to abide by in order to not make other moms and dads despise you (and your child) on the playground. With warm weather becoming more steady, and playgrounds being a great way to socialize and wear out your stir-crazy toddler, I figured it couldn’t hurt to share the (unspoken) playground rules.

  1. It’s a jungle gym, not a babysitter. I know “gym” sounds like “Jim” and it can be confusing for some, but I assure you “gym” won’t take very good care of your child. Under no circumstance is it okay to leave your child, no matter the age, at the playground. Please do not try to give me your phone number and ask me to text or call you if there is an emergency. I don’t know you. You don’t know me. See Rule #4.
  2. Don’t let your kid be a punk. I know, I know, name calling isn’t nice and I would never tell your kid he’s a punk to his face, but I would have no problem letting you know. If your kid pushes, hits, kicks, spits on or throws a handful of mulch at my kid, the playground drama will be redirected between you and I. I mean seriously, its a park. It’s full of fun things, let’s keep it fun.
  3. Stay off your phone. This is my biggest pet peeve and I’m sure everyone else would agree. Pay attention to your child, and not whatever time consuming electronic you brought with you to the park. This kind of goes hand in hand with Rule #1 and #4. Multiple times I have seen parents show up to the park, release their children and find a shady bench under a tree and sit down and scroll through what I’m assuming is Facebook. It only takes a second for your kid to put themselves in a potentially dangerous situation and I’m sure your Facebook feed isn’t nearly as important as the safety of your child. I can’t make this up… 2015 Mom of the Year shows up to the park with her 3 kids. Kids run to the play area, mom sits on a picnic table in the shade 100+ yards away and digs out her phone and throws on some headphones. I’m paying attention to my child and chit chatting with the other parents whose child is playing nicely with mine. Fast forward 10 minutes… Mom of the Year hastily runs over in a panic to me and another mom, and asks if we have seen her son and how she doesn’t know “how this happened” and that she was “checking her email and listening to Spotify”.  Turns out this kid is severely non-verbal autistic and he wandered over 400 yards from the play ground and was on the walking path through the wooded area by himself. SEVERELY NON-VERBAL AUTISTIC CHILD. FOUR HUNDRED YARDS AWAY… on a WALKING PATH THROUGH THE WOODS all because his mother wanted to sit in the shade and rock out to the Biebs. What irks me even more is when I hear a kid yell “Mom look at this!” and the poor kid gets an “uh huh” while their mom scrolls through her phone not even glancing up. Come on lady, your kid is begging for your attention. Who cares if you’ve seen them go down the slide backward 99 times before, they obviously think the 100th time is just as cool and important as the first 99. The little moments go by in the blink of an eye, and the next thing you know the “Mom look at this” comment is when they’re handing you their college acceptance letter.
  4. Your child is not my responsibility. Attach this to Rules #1 and #3. If little Tommy wants to climb to the very top of the highest piece of playground equipment, I will most likely belt out a friendly “oh no don’t fall” and then proceed to tell my child that if he ever thinks that’s a good idea, to unthink it. If your child falls face first in a pile of mulch and you’re not paying attention, please DO NOT get an attitude with me because YOUR child fell while YOU weren’t paying attention. My child is my responsibility and your child is yours. It’s that simple. Maybe I should make it a habit to get non attentive mother’s cell phone numbers so when their child is in a situation where they will  have splinters of mulch in their face, I can just shoot them a text to advise her.
  5. Unless your child is “5 or under”, they shouldn’t be in the “5 and under” area. This is pretty self-explanatory. If the sign says “5 and under” then keep it that way. Us toddler parents use it as a safe haven from the oblivious-to-others older kids who run around playing God knows what and trampling our toddlers. Yes, I will tell your child nicely to watch out for the little ones and that “this area is for smaller kids”. Why would I correct someone else’s child? Because clearly their parents haven’t told them.

It’s really not that hard. It’s very basic concepts but the lack of common sense when on the playground makes it miserable for everyone involved. My kid cries because your kid is being mean, your kid cries because you’re not paying attention, you’re crying because your child wandered away. It’s a playground, let’s keep it fun.

-Kirstyn

Naughty Monkey Sleeper {Review}

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When C walked into my room one morning at 6 am with a nonchalant “I just get out mommy”, I knew I was in trouble. I was actually in so much disbelief that I put him back IN his crib and told him to show me… and seriously, he just climbed out like he had been doing it his whole life. So now what?

“I could bungee cord baby gates to the top of his crib?”
“I could bungee cord HIM to his crib?”
“Duct tape?”

Panic set in and I had no ideas that wouldn’t constitute child abuse, a friend of mine put me in contact with The Naughty Monkey.

How ingenuous! Kids typically escape their cribs by kicking one leg over and then doing some crazy toddler ninja moves to escape. The Naught Monkey sleeper stops it before it starts. With a triangle shaped piece of fabric sewn between the legs, it still allows for movement but doesn’t allow for the “kick over” motion.

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The Naughty Monkey uses top of the line brands and materials and the strength of the stitching is absolutely phenomenal! They have products for both boys and girls and in some cute and unique patterns.

Their price point is a little high. It sells for $35 (plus shipping), although still high, they offer an “up-cycled” option selling for $30.

Overall, I’d give this 4 out of 5 stars, with the fifth star well within reach if the price point dropped slightly.

-Kirstyn

Have an Egg-celent Easter-How to Easter Egg Hunt with Toddlers

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So unless your kid is some sort of sharing, not greedy breed of child then an Easter egg hunt involving anyone but him/herself is going to be tremendously disastrous! 

We opt out of city functions when it comes to Easter because I don’t want to have to explain to Cayden why kids twice his age have 50+ eggs, and well, he has 2. So we set it up at my mother in laws house for the 4 grandchildren and it’s phenomenal. 

  
1. Color coded eggs- when you have more than 1 child varying in ages participating, this is a life saver. Last year was semi-disastrous as E (who was 11) was able to find the eggs more effeciently than C (who was 2) therefore creating a huge ordeal. So this year, color coded. E has his own color and is only allowed to pick up his color, K has her own color…and so on and so forth. 

2. Make the eggs visible- Your toddler is not going to think to look half way under the birdhouse on top of the post in the back yard. He just won’t. Kids don’t care where they are, they just care that they’re there.

3. Make them reachable- again, logical. If your kid is only 38.75″ tall, placing an egg in the “Y” of an oak tree isn’t feasible. 

4. Count-For once, count your chickens before they hatch…or at least your eggs. Knowing how many are out there keeps you from having any piles in your backyard in a few weeks or flinging a plastic egg full of Jelly Beans through the car window the next time you mow. 

5. Edibles- Do NOT…I repeat, do NOT fill all of your toddlers eggs with candy. It’s easier to avoid the meltdown rather then calm it down. Your toddler will want every single candy item and they will want it now. So if you fill the eggs with other edible things such as dried cranberries, goldfish crackers, popcorn, grapes…you get the jist, you can allow your toddler to eat it all and they won’t go into a sugar induced coma. 

Last but not least, 

6. Just stop stressing-Grab your camera, make little Susie poses for a picture with bunny ears on and then relax…let them have fun. Your child is a child, not a professional egg hunter. 
Happy Easter

-Kirstyn

From the Sidelines

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C rushes up the stairs every morning to wake up my husband which subsequently wakes me up, too. I often lay there and listen to their super adorable conversations about life while they share a cup of “coffee” at the breakfast table and C warns my husband about how hot his cup is and offers to blow and cool it off. Not only do I stay in bed because I love the self time, I stay in bed because I don’t want to interrupt the them time.

It seems as if the little things tend to get lost in day to day life due to being stuck in life-is-boring-and-monotonous routine (If you want to break that too, here is a bit of advice) but what you need to focus on is the cute-little-moments-that-they-will-grow-out-of-soon routine and cherish them. Especially when you’re not involved. I find things so much cuter and a lot more memorable when I’m watching from the sidelines in my own house.

Cherish the moment for yourself as well. Let your DH do his thing with the kids, listen, observe and have some self time. Catch up on the load of laundry. Re-warm your coffee and sit down and drink it. Run to the bathroom, hop in the shower, something! I often find myself wanting to sit and watch my husband and son play Paw Patrol together and its not until they’re done that I realize I could have swept the floors, went pee, started dinner and still had time to relax.

Whether it be reading a book together before bed, making smushy faces on glass together before your DH heads off to work, drumming, playing guitar or just sitting with each other on the couch sharing popcorn, snap a picture. The cutesy moments all end to soon.

-Kirstyn

 

Stuck in a Rut

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Monday: Wake up. Go to work. Cook dinner. Go to bed.

Tuesday: Wake up. Go to work. Cook dinner. Go to bed.

Wednesday: Wake up. Go to work. Cook dinner. Go to bed.

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You’re smart. I’m sure you can depict how the rest of the week goes. Somewhere in there you find time to snuggle with you kiddos, kiss your husband and find something fun to do.

Routine in itself is seriously a fun sucker. Routine paired with a boredom rut that you unknowingly were digging day by day is the demise of every (insert your age)- something year old person out there.

When the weekend rolls around, you’re so exhausted from the week, that you’re just excited to get to (hopefully) sleep in past 6am and not have to deal with rush hour morning traffic -or- your weekend is thrown right down the drain as you try to grocery shop, clean, pay bills and handle the rest of those awesome adult things that didn’t happen Monday-Friday. By the time you realize it, it is 9pm on Sunday night and you have to be at work in 12 hours.

So how do you start filling in your boredom rut?

Mix it up: Drive a different route, go out to eat to lunch instead of packing, try a new coffee shop, order something different for breakfast. It’s all about breaking the typical routine.

Take a class or lesson: Have you always wanted to play the violin? Learn to weave baskets? Make cakes? Most craft stores (Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, etc) offer classes for a minimal cost. Sign yourself up and have at it. Since the class wouldn’t be everyday, it doesn’t become a monotonous task. It will actually help to break up the monotony of the day to day.

Schedule it: Wether it is going to dinner with the girls, or an hour to read your favorite book at night, write it down on the planner and stick to it. Give your mind the well-deserved break.

Re-Boot: If you have to, remove yourself from everything and regroup. Sit under a tree and write a list of your goals, diary day to day life, surf the web, something…anything.

Focus on you and what you need to be happy and do it!

-Kirstyn

 

Finding Mary Poppins

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fecsw3ihprcwbtbqpeln.jpgAt some point in our crazy journey of parenthood we’ve all needed a babysitter… Which means we’ve all realized just how virtually impossible it is to find someone who is the perfect fit, and who won’t break the bank.

After over a year as a SAHM, this momma has rejoined the workforce…which also means, I’ve rejoined the someone-else-has-to-watch-my-kiddo-force too.

So, how exactly do you pick the perfect sitter? Note: I have not personally used every resource listed in this post, so please do your own homework and research.

Try sites such as care.com or sittercity.com.  They require tons of information from people soliciting their sitter services, and most have background checks available to.

You can even turn to Facebook to the local buy, sell, trade pages as they often contain a vast amount of information. Do your research. Ask for references. Meet with the sitter prior to dropping your child off, and go with your gut.

Your best place to start would be writing down just exactly what you want in a sitter so you can narrow your search down.

  • CPR/SIDS/First Aid Certified

If you’re going to have someone with your child during the day, unless you’re going to wrap your kid in a bubble, it’s good to find someone who has been trained for the worst. Things happen. Even under the best care and watchful eye, things happen. If someone is prepared to deal with said “things” then it makes it all the better.

  • Cost

I have found that home childcare ranges from $50-$200/week. I always shoot for somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. It needs to be worth while for you to work. If you’re working just enough to pay for childcare, then what is the point of working? But also remember, you get what you pay for, typically.

  • Availability

Will the sitter be available when you  need them to be? Do they offer drop in care or last minute care? Nights? Weekends?

  • Meal Plans

Maybe it’s just me but this is a big one. If someone is going to feed my kid junk food all day and sugary juice, I won’t even entertain it. I’m not asking for free range chicken and bacon wrapped filets, but at least hit some different food groups other than “highly processed” and “full of sugar”

  • Experience with food allergies

If the potential sitter has no clue what gluten is, and your child has a gluten allergy, this is probably not a good match. I prefer someone who knows the warning signs of a real, true allergy attack and knows when action is needed.

  • Punishment tactics

This is a touchy subject. I am not so picky on who punishes my child…but better yet how they punish him. I had a potential sitter tell me that she has spanked children before. She has SPANKED a child that did NOT belong to her. I was baffled. I mean, I can deal with an age appropriate time out,  removal from the situation,  or even a stern “no”,  but lord help the person who lays their hand on my child.

  • Activity plan

Coloring? ABCs? Macaroni pictures? Something other than a TV on a constant repeat of a DVRd Peppa Pig? Ask. Seriously.

  • Duties

Are you expecting the potential sitter to come to your home and clean? Take the child to appointments, or play dates? Are you wanting them to help with bottle weaning, or potty training? This all needs to be conveyed and explained.

It’s hard enough to find child care. It’s even harder to find someone you trust.

Do your research. Don’t be scared to ask for references and follow your gut.

Your Mary Poppins is out there.

-Kirstyn

Product Review: Olie-The Minkey

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“Where are your gloves?”
“Put your hat back on!”
“Quit swinging your scarf around like a helicopter!”
“No, you can’t take your gloves off”
“You’re going to freeze”

If that sounds like your day-to-day during winter months, keep reading… if not, then you’re blessed but keep reading anyways because this product is a god-send.

We ran across Olie scouring the Internet for our typical “useful, ethical, helpful products” and I couldn’t be more excited.

Christina (the founder) was nice enough to send us a wide array of clothing from her super cute shop to review. With winter approaching, I personally was very interested in her innovative, one of a kind product The Minkey.

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Olie ©

The Minkey is exactly what I hoped it would be and is exactly as advertised. It is seriously a hat, gloves, and a scarf in 1 fantastic little bundle. It’s soft, it’s warm and it’s absolutely adorable! Best thing of all is it is not bulky so that you can still put a coat on over it and your child can still move around freely.

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C has a green Dino Minkey so not only is he warm and snuggly, he looks absolutely adorable. I would have a picture but he wouldn’t stop running around screaming “rawr” long enough for me to snag one.

Quality wise, The Minkey (and all other clothes included) are fantastically made. Fabric quality is top-notch and so is design! The stitching quality is great as well. I have had no problems with seams coming undone or Dino spots or spikes tearing or coming off.

Price wise, you’re looking at $25-30 dollars depending on the design but let me tell you it is absolutely worth it!

My one and only con is the face area seems really tight. I understand the reasoning but I would recommend maybe an adjustable velcro tab on the chin to allow for a looser fit. C had a brief freak-out session about this.

I would absolutely have to give a 5 out of 5 and it is a must-have for any parent!

You can check out The Minkey and the rest of the Olie Shop here!

-Kirstyn

*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.**

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Product Review: Melissa and Doug Latch Board

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I don’t think I have ever read a review about Melissa & Doug products that was negative, and trust me, we’re not going to start here. Right off the bat, 5 out of 5, and let me explain why.

We love Melissa and Doug! We love how educational and intellectual their products are along with how fantastically they’re crafted; for the quality of the product, the price tag isn’t (too too) bad.

This specific Melissa & Doug Puzzle, retails for $24.99 and is 3+. I figured why not try it for C, and he loves it! He wakes up and asks for his puzzle and consistently plays with it off and on throughout the day. The puzzle is also great for self time and quiet time since there are no pieces to get lost, nothing he can choke on, no batteries to replace, and no loud noises so I am completely comfortable letting him sit in his room by himself and play with this.

All of the houses are different colors, have different latch systems, different door styles, different animals and the quanity of animals under the door matches the number of the door.  So not only does it teach fine motor skills, it teaches colors, numbers and animals.

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My only complaint is door #2. It’s hard to open even for an adult. So needless to say, the 3 yr old can’t get it open either (and clearly neither could the photographer for the picture, just kidding) but no really, its tough. I’m not sure why, it’s not the mechanism itself but the friction between the two pieces that makes it so difficult.

Overall, another Melissa & Doug win!

-Kirstyn

Product Review: GentleGiants Co. Muslin Blanket

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C is a blanket baby. He has snuggled with the same blanket since the day he was born and absolutely will not sleep without it. It’s cute and annoying at the same time. God forbid this thing has to go in the washing machine and isn’t dry by the time he needs to take a nap; it’s like World War 3 broke out. I’ve tried tricking him with other blue blankets with no avail. So for that reason, I am going to leave out C’s feelings for the blanket in order to make things a little more fair.

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Muslin is the “in” thing nowadays. GentleGiants Co. was nice enough to send us their muslin blanket to test out. Cutting straight to the chase the blanket is huge, fairly thin, white, but reasonably priced for the type of blanket it is.

The blanket is huge! It stretched out to almost 4ftx4ft. This makes it very versatile but not very transportable. I typically carry C’s blanket in my backpack diaper bag when we are out, and found that this blanket, even rolled up or folded, took up over 1/2 of the bag. At home, it was great… on the go, not so much.

The blanket is advertised as being 4-layers thick, but I have to say it does not seem that way at all. It is very, very thin and I was able to separate the fabric into 2 separate layers, not 4. I expected a little more thickness out of the blanket, but it would definitely be good for covering up while breastfeeding, covering a carseat or stroller or as a “safe” area while non-mobile babies during tummy-time.

I wasn’t impressed with the color. Now don’t get me wrong, the elephants are adorable and I love the unisex-ish colors and their cute little patterned ears but I don’t think white was a wise choice. I also, however, despise everything white when it comes to the kiddos, so take my opinion on the color lightly.

Price wise you’re looking at $24.99, over $30.00 with standard shipping. Compared to other muslin blankets I found that this is the median price for this size of a patterned muslin blanket.

The blanket itself is of good quality. After a washing, the edges stayed in tact and there are no holes or tears in the blanket. I was quite impressed due to how thin the fabric is. Oh, and it gets even softer after each washing.

I would rate a 4 out of 5 stars. I was expecting something a little thicker, and I would change the white to something that would conceal stains a little more.

-Kirstyn

 

 

**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.**

 

Surviving School Breaks

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You don’t. Kidding. It takes lots of coffee, patience, and lots of planning. I’ve noticed the kids go completely stir crazy 3.7 seconds after they wake up on Day 1. Now, I love my kids, don’t get me wrong. What I don’t love, however, is the craziness that ensues the second they realize they’re on a long break from school.

My kids started winter break on Dec 18 and were off school until January 4th. So how did we survive?

  • Extended electronic time

Basically the IPads are fair game-to a point. They’re still regulated but there is a lot of time the kids spend playing games, watching shows on their iPads, or putting on dance shows for us.

  • Hobby Lobby 40% off coupon

No seriously, this thing is like the golden ticket to having kids. If the product is not already on sale, just the fact it’s 40% cheaper makes it A-OK in my book. We did crafts, made bracelets, painted, colored, etc. There are plenty of crafty things at Hobby Lobby (or any craft store, I’m sure) to keep younger kids occupied.

  • Sleepovers/time with Omi and friends

The kids LOVE staying with their Omi (grandma.) The fact she lives less than 5 min away definitely helps! She took the kids to movies, they slept over and spent some quality time with her over their recent break.

  • Scheduled “quiet time”

Typically during C’s nap time, is our scheduled quiet time. This is when all the jumping, dancing, loud fun is paused for some downtime. The kids generally play in the play room or upstairs in their rooms with their Legos, dolls, magic kit, etc. If they don’t want to do that, we find a family movie, grab blankets and pillows and lounge around in the living room.

All-in-all, if you can combat the stir crazy, you can survive. We had numerous family outings scheduled, christmas shopping to complete, and other winter fun things to do as well. There was leeway in the day but it was also structured. If kids can predict what is going on or what is going to happen, it great reduces the stress and hyper-ness in them. Just plan it out and you’ll survive!

Kirstyn

 

 

Product Review: The Story Box

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The Story Box is a monthly book subscription that delivers new, age appropriate books to your doorstep every month…

Holly and her husband Clint, of The Story Box, were kind enough to send a free box to C for review. Holly is a speech-language pathologist and reading is a very important part of her life and job. However, as parents, reading with our children not only gives a boost to the learning process but it also allows for some bonding time.

Holly and Clint also use a portion of each subscription fee ($21.99) to donate books or other materials to benefit at-risk children or children with literacy disorders.

So  I…or should I say C, received this awesome little box and he loved it! The box contained 2 books (1 paperback and 1 hardback) and a handy-dandy parents guide. He loved the books! (He begged me to let him take “his cow book” to Sam’s Club on Tuesday.)


Downfalls are few and far between, because face it, it’s a box…of books…how could you not love it? However, what I didn’t love was the paper-ziggy-zag-frilly-makes-more-of-a-mess-than-it-is-worth confetti in the bottom of the box. Definitely not conducive to a 2.5 year old. I also wasn’t thrilled with the box design itself. I honestly expected to see brighter colors or more design to the box to intrigue children or get them excited from the start, essentially it get’s thrown away so it’s not a terribly big deal, but C wasn’t even interested in the box initially.

On top of donating books to those in need, The Story Box was kind enough to offer a coupon to all of our BurritoBuzz followers! When you subscribe use coupon code BURRITOBUZZ for $10 off! This coupon will be good on December 20th, 2015 and, like most, cannot be combined with any other offers and cannot be used by the same individual more than once.

Definitely a 5 out of 5 and I will sneak in an extra star for giving back to the community!

-Kirstyn

**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.**

Product Review: Imaginarium Mountain Rock Train Table

Published on by KirstynVelez- www.BurritoBuzz.com6 Comments


Let me start off by saying that if you don’t have 3-4 hours of your life to put together a train table, then this isn’t the one for you. However, if you can find a few hours, which I’m sure you can, it is well worth the time (and money) spent.

We bought the Imaginarium Mountain Rock Train Table for C last Christmas on sale, but for the quality, I would absolutely have paid the full price of $149.99.

The table itself is quite heavy, made of real wood, sturdy with a storage drawer. What I like about this is after the “train phase22711866-imaginarium-mountain-rock-train-table-05_updates” is up, the bottom platform flips over to a plain green so the table can be utilized for something other than trains. (We plan on attaching Lego boards to it and turning it into a Lego table).

The track itself and all of the components are of great quality as well. I was worried at first that C would end up breaking some of the moving parts (the working crane, doors, and destination board) but honestly they’ve he0ld up fantastic. The crane spins around, has a magnetic piece on the end to “pick up the cargo” and is able to be raised and lowered. There is also a bridge that makes train sounds as the trains are pushed across it. C loves making the trains say “choo choo” and gets extremely excited about the flashing lights. maxresdefault

So included with the train table is “eight trains, two vehicles, three traffic signs, a fueling station, five cargo bundles, four street lights, five wooden figures, four rock trestles, two viaducts, four trees, a crossing gate, two trestles, two construction zone cones, four rocks and over 55 pieces of wooden track and accessories”. There is A LOT of pieces. Almost too many. We bought this for C when he was right around 2 years old knowing that the recommended age is 3. C has always been ahead of the learning curve so I figured why not?  I kept a lot of the pieces put up initially as no one in their right mind would give a child this many items. Over the past year, C has free choosing of what pieces of his train table he would like to play with. However, I still have a huge problem with the “two construction cones” and the “four rocks”.  

 C has never been one to put things in his mouth however, I feel that even for a 3 year old (the recommended age) these pieces are far too small.  If a child would happen to put these in their mouth, they would surely choke. The rocks are roughly 1″ in diameter and honestly, they scare the heck out of me! I can safely say that they will be going in the trash. The traffic cones are on the smaller side as well (about the same size as the rock) so for safety, I put those up as well.

Another thing I like about this train table is that it is compatible with Thomas the Train, Chuggington, and Brio trains. We still had some Thomas trains from when E was younger that we were able to pass down to C and they work and fit perfectly. They even have the same sensor to allow the bridge to make noise when its pushed across.

Assembly wise. My gracious. Overwhelming to say the least. The instructions are semi-helpful in letting you know which boxes to open and what is contained in those boxes. They also instruct you on how to put together the accessories such as the Train GarageUntitledMy problem came with track assembly. None of the pieces are actually labeled leaving it up to you to figure out which piece is a “L” and which piece is a “J”.  It was definitely a pain in the butt and took about an hour just for the track. After it is all assembled, KEEP YOUR INSTRUCTIONS! I threw mine away thinking I wouldn’t need them again. I almost had a full blown panic attack when C walked up to me with a piece of the track and said “it’s broken Momma.” I had a vague image in my head of how it was supposed to look… and since I threw the paper instructions away, I had to look them up online but it would have been way easier if I had the instructions handy.

Overall, 5 out of 5 stars. Hours of fun for the whole family and definitely versatile. Just keep the rocks and cones (They’re in Box B) out of little hands until you personally feel comfortable giving them to your child.

-Kirstyn

GIVEAWAY: HoneyBee Baby Boutique 

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Are you ready for a giveaway? We are! 

HoneyBee Baby Boutique was not only gracious enough to send us an amazing product to review, they were also gracious enough to offer to giveaway a set of red ChewBeads Military Tags to one of our readers just in time for the for the holidays! image

Even better news? You can get up to 4 entries per day!

All you have to do it head over to our social media sites (linked below) and follow the instructions on the original post. It’s that easy! One winner will be drawn on Monday, November 30th at 9pm EST. Good Luck!!

Facebook 
Twitter 
Instagram
Pinterest

Gobble Gobble. 

Published on by KirstynVelez- www.BurritoBuzz.com5 Comments

I’m a fan of Thanksgiving for the sole reason that I get to spend an entire day with people I love…and craft…I absolutely love crafts. What I love more than regular crafts is Thanksgiving crafts. Who doesn’t love hand print turkeys?!

Every holiday (and all other days that end in “y”) I find myself scrolling through Pinterest looking for the next crafty item to do that I can use to decorate the house with. Since Thanksgiving is approaching, I decided I would share some of my personal favorite things to do to keep the kiddos busy during their break.

1. Thanksgiving Apron found on Education.com


2. A Paper Fan Turkey from A Girl and a Glue Gun.


3. This simple Tissue Paper Turkey from CraftyMorning

All three crafts are cheap, simple, and virtually mess free. The paper fan turkey makes a really adorable centerpiece and the apron, a fantastic gift for the cook.

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Kirstyn

Product Review: Easie Eaters Fork and Spoon

Published on by KirstynVelez- www.BurritoBuzz.com1 Comment


C is a lefty. It’s very apparent, especially when he’s eating. He was having a rough time initially with hand to mouth coordination using a straight spoon and couldn’t grasp the “turn your wrist” concept. This resulted in more food messes along with him getting frustrated that he kept dropping his food.  I decided to look into left-handed utensils and found these.

Pros:

  • Thick, textured handle-wonderful for tiny hands
  • Lightweight
  • Dishwasher Safe
  • Bright color
  • Fork actually stabs into food (unlike most children’s plastic forks)
  • Angle is perfect.

Cons:

  • Spoon is shallow compared to the My Spoon Left Handed Spoon
  • Price ($6.25+$5.25 S&H) is a little steep, although this is sold as a set.

Overall I would give the Easie Eater Fork and Spoon a 4 out of 5 stars with my main concern being the depth of the spoon. Definitely worth the purchase as we have significantly less mess and less frustration during meal times.

-Kirstyn

Product Review: Tooth Fairy Tykes

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I received this adorable doll from Tooth Fairy Tykes and couldn’t wait to give it to K as she recently discovered she had a wiggly tooth!

I think her exact words when I gave the doll to her were “It’s so amazing, I’m going to go pull my tooth out right now!” and boy did she sure try with no success.

But then one day…

 She was so happy to finally be able to utilize the doll. Under her pillow, the little doll slept with her tooth in its tiny little pocket.

Speaking of the tiny little pocket…that is one of the 2 things I would change. The pocket is tiny, and I mean tiny. I was actually concerned about the tooth falling out in the middle of the night. I think a fantastic upgrade would be to make the pocket about twice the size with some sort of velcro closure or a way to keep it shut.

The other thing I would change would be to line the pocket with some sort of wipeable material. I would have loved to be able to wipe it out after use since there was a recently pulled tooth in there. Instead, I went ahead and washed the whole doll. Oh well, that worked too!

The doll also comes with an app timer to help children brush their teeth for an appropriate amount of time and also an e-book download. This doll definitely beats those cheap plastic treasure chests I had for my teeth when I was K’s age, but would I truthfully purchase a doll for $14.99 for a tooth? Not so sure. However, I do believe in supporting companies with heart. Tooth Fairy Tykes regularly donates their dolls to children’s hospitals to help bring a smile to every child. In my opinion, supporting a company that gives back is worth a couple extra bucks.

This would definitely make a cute gift from Grandma or a special bribe if your LO is particularly scared to lose a tooth!

-Kirstyn

 

**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.**

Week On. Week Off. 

Published on by KirstynVelez- www.BurritoBuzz.com2 Comments


I feel obligated to tell people I meet about the fact that we have week on, week off custody of all three children. The reasoning is so when they try to make plans and I reply with “if we have the kids”, they don’t give me the crazy stare and wonder where I would be stashing my children for the night-and “their mom (or Dad in C’s case)” is not an acceptable response to “whose watching your kids?”

Divorce is ugly. Divorce with children is even uglier. Essentially, the only people who lose are the children. Our parenting plans are set to up to maximize visitation to the benefit of the children. Week on, week off. Sunday to Sunday. Holidays are split up as well. So breaking it down in a non-legal fashion, we have all of the kids one week and 0 kids the next. Holidays are dictated by a piece of paper.

At first, we had C full-time, so although E and K got picked up at 6pm, C kept us in “parent” mode per se. Then things changed. The first Sunday exchange with C was terrible.  He was a little over a year old and had no idea what was going on. I shut the door, turned around and burst into tears. An eerie silence flooded the house. It was unnatural to be away from him. My DH, who had been doing this for 5 years, knew the feeling all to well and explained that it never gets easier.

You’re probably thinking how awesome the break is and yes, while it’s nice sometimes, deep down it sucks. It allows for the scheduling of the doctors appointments without having to find a babysitter, it allows for me to get my house clean and laundry caught up and it allows ample travel time (which we do often), but it also allows me to miss milestones, school projects, football practices and school dances. It allows me to be secretly (and sometimes not so secretly) judged by the gaggle of moms at the park who want to set up a play date, for “next week”…

So having only have 182.5 days a year with your children, how can you maximize the time?

  • Plan accordingly

 I have it on my calendar in my phone when we pick up the kids. It allows for me to easily see when to schedule appointments, family vacations, and sleepovers. It definitely helps me keep track of everything and when to plan things.

  • Don’t waste valuable time 

When the kids are home, we don’t like to sit in the house. School nights are slightly different, but we at least try to play family games or watch a movie together. Weekends are a different story though. We plan fun things the kids will remember that get us out of the house and active.

  • Be involved

We go to (almost) all school programs, events, and class parties whether the kids are with us or not. We also try to go once a week to eat lunch with the kiddos at school. They love it and so do we. That extra 30 min on a random Tuesday definitely helps break up the week.

  • Be flexible

At some point in time you will have to celebrate a birthday the week before, do thanksgiving dinner 4 days before, or move Christmas until the next day. Don’t worry, it will be okay. It’s not so much about the date, but the memories and meaning behind it.

My husband was right, it never gets easier. As a parent, being away from your child for any reason is unnatural. However, making up for lost time is quite possible with proper planning and a positive attitude.

-Kirstyn

From Pregnancy to Preschool- Bluum Box

Published on by KirstynVelez- www.BurritoBuzz.com1 Comment

Click here to starting bluuming today!

Who wouldn’t love a monthly subscription box of baby (and mommy) items delivered every month to your doorstep featuring some of the best reviewed products out there? This is where Bluum Box comes into play!

Bluum is a monthly subscription box (starting at $19/month) that not only will deliver mom & baby products directly to your doorstep- They will deliver relevant, customized, full-sized mom & baby products to your home- with FREE shipping!

When you subscribe to Bluum, one of the questions they ask is for your child’s birth date or due date and gender. This information is then used to select the best age appropriate products. You can even chose their “customize box” feature and input your child’s developmental milestones and routines so the products that are sent will be even more relevant to your child and not just the general age group. They also offer a “Pick a Product” feature which allows you to choose exactly what you want inside your box each month.

Bluum also offers special member benefits to include a free app, the opportunity to shop exclusive products at member-only prices, and their Bluum rewards program. You can earn points (which are redeemable for as monetary equivalent) for making purchases, registering on their site, subscribing to their newsletter, submitting reviews and numerous other actions.

If you would like to learn more about the Bluum Box Subscription service please head on over to their site, here or watch this short video explaining their service:

-Kirstyn

BurritoBuzz is a paid affiliate of Bluum, Inc. 

Who Doesn’t Love Grocery Shopping?!

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I never knew food was so expensive until I became the SAHM who takes care of all groceries. (I also never knew packing lunches was the most miserable “mom” task ever).

We have a family of 5. I shop only at  big name stores (Publix and Kroger) and we have a $500/month grocery budget. If we break that down, that is $100/person…it seems like a lot of money but to some it will seem impossible. However,  I stay at or under my given budget most of the time. Have there been months where I have spent $800 on food? Absolutely. But there has also been months where we’re barely touching $350. But trust me, if I can do it, you can do it.

The question is how?

  • Planning-both trips and meals

I typically spend Sunday’s planning my meals for the week (Yes, I grocery shop every week). While I’m planning my meals, I also write my grocery list. Going to the store without a list is asking for trouble. You’ll most likely wind up in the candy aisle trying to decide which chocolate wrapper will be quieter when you’re trying to sneak it from your children. But no really, a list is necessary. I don’t make a fancy list with aisle numbers on where everything is but I do try to keep it organized and grouped together by food group. Also, there is an amazing app Grocery IQ that allows you to input your grocery list either via typing, barcode scanning, or voice. The app also lets you put in the quantity you need, and the aisle category it in is. It also keeps a history of past items so if you’re like me and buy most of the same stuff every month, it saves you a little bit of time. Best perk of them all, it’s free!

Now back to the meal planning, I only plan dinners. Breakfasts are usually cereal or something quick and easy for the kids before school. Lunches are typical as well so it’s easy. A typical week in our house goes something along the lines of cook, cook, leftovers, cook, out to eat, cook, cook. I also plan quick, easy (healthy) meals that I know my kids will eat. Meatloaf, homemade pizza, tacos, quiche, spaghetti, chicken fajitas, sausage and rice, and chicken fried rice are just some of our daily meals.

  • Skip the prepackaged items

Just because it’s prepackaged doesn’t mean it’s the best way to go. Companies typically hike up their prices (and preservatives) for prepackaged food because it’s convenient. People pay for convenience. When you break it down, you can roughly get more than twice as much product for generally the same price and it’s typically healthier.

For example, you can buy a box of (4) Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches for $5.44  -or- you can buy (12) English muffins for $2.28, (12) eggs for $1.98, and (12) sausage patties for $3.96. So for $8.92, you can get 12 sandwiches (that freeze and defrost perfectly)

  • Stock up on non-perishables

Especially when they’re on sale! I have enough cans of green beans in my house to survive the end of the world…twice. Seriously, there is a lot. If something is on sale, and it won’t go bad, save yourself some money (and time) and buy it. I recently just purchased 5 containers of juice as they were on sale from $3.98 to $2.00. So not only did I save myself almost $10, I saved time on shopping trips because I have juice for at least 4 weeks. Most items that you keep in your pantry, won’t go bad for quite sometime as long as they’re closed and sealed properly.

  • Buy in Bulk when practical

We have a Sams Club Membership and it’s fantastic. I typically buy bulk items there. It is definitely worth the money we spend on the membership and keep an eye out because sometimes they do free memberships or passes.

Buying in bulk is initially more expensive. Calculating it out however is more cost effective and beneficial. We typically buy non-perishables or foods we go through quickly from Sams. Buying in bulk again helps save time and money.

Believe it or not, it is cheaper to buy (1) 3lb container or peanut butter than it would be to buy the equivalent in single jars.

  • Coupons

I was the crazy coupon lady for a little while. I was getting shampoo and conditioner for $.33, toilet paper for $.10 and free toothpaste. It was fantastic! I then realized that companies rarely put out coupons for everyday food items. They’re typically for paper goods. Sure, you can find some ones for food and absolutely use the ones you find. Because essentially, cents leads to dollars.

Saving $.35 on cottage cheese two times per month is a yearly savings of $8.40…that’s almost enough to make homemade breakfast sandwiches!

I know grocery shopping isn’t the most fun thing in the world, but it’s a necessity. With a few tips and tricks you can make it almost, almost pain free.

-Kirstyn

Spooktacular and Safe

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Halloween is just around the corner and between the candy, costumes, and children it is a fun-filled time for both kids and adults. I love handing out candy to the neighborhood kids and looking at their costumes, but as a mom, I can’t help but to cringe when I see a costume clad kid dart across the street without looking both ways in order to score some free candy. It scares me to death.

So here are some tips for both parents and kids in order to keep your Halloween experience a treat:

Kids

  • Never go to a strangers door alone. Always make sure you can see the adult you’re with and the adult can see you.
  • Never go inside of anyone’s house.
  • Don’t approach any cars, occupied or not.
  • Look both ways when crossing the street and always cross at a corner or a crosswalk.
  • Don’t eat any treats until they have been inspected and gone through by an adult.

Parents

  • Make sure your child’s costume is visible in the dark. Attach reflective tape to the costume if necessary.
  • Make sure the child’s costume fits properly. Make sure it is big enough to be able to wear long layers underneath if necessary but small enough as to where it doesn’t pose a tripping hazard.
  • Skip the masks. They often obstruct the child’s visual field which can pose a hazard when crossing the street. Use kid-friendly face paint/makeup instead.
  • Provide each child with a bright flashlight or LED Trick-or-Treat bag.
  • Check their candy. I know it sounds silly but it’s the truth. The chances of your child tripping over their shoes and getting hurt are greater than them receiving tainted candy, but why take the risk?

Halloween can absolutely be a fun-filled night for both parents and children. Take the extra 5 minutes to ensure your child knows the “rules” for having a safe time.

-Kirstyn

Bear Slippers

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Let’s take a moment and reminisce about those cute little matching outfits that your opinion-less child once wore. You know which ones I am talking about: those cute outfits with the matching pants (they even let you dress them in cute little themed outfits, like a train conductor and didn’t say a word about it.)

Oh no, Mommy. Not anymore. The days of your LO being a tiny fashion model are over. Your child now has an opinion. 

We’ve slipped into the “no Mommy, I wear (insert item that doesn’t match anything) today”.

Exhibit 1: 

His pajamas matched until he realized it, at which point he decided to change out the previously matching Cars bottoms for Minions. I tried to explain to him that you can’t mix Disney and Pixar. He didn’t believe me. So for the remainder of the day, he looked like a child’s movie cabinet threw up on him. Oh well.

Exhibit 2:  

I would like to direct your attention to the bear slippers. I tirelessly attempted to convince him that his bear slippers needed a nap and that he needed to put on his flip flops, to which he replied “they wake. See Momma, wake on my feet. Flop (flip flops) napping”…and we proceeded to go pick up his older siblings from school with him sporting fuzzy bear slippers.

So what do you do? You let them. Let them use their tiny new found opinions and independence as much as they want.  These moments won’t last and will be a story of the past just like their cute matching outfits are.

Self-dressing is an important fact of life, because let’s face it… as much as we want to wear our pajamas to work, it’s just not an option. When your child becomes a toddler their brain is developing at such a rapid speed, and part of this new neurological function is motor skills! So yes, your once baby has now developed into a tiny human that can grab, choose favorites, and dress themselves! Here is a great article about those new skills.

Getting dressed takes practice. Thankfully, most of that practice occurs when our children are young and not being mocked by their peers yet for wearing slippers around. (Though, anyone with a teenager will tell you that they aren’t sure that taste is really “developed”.)

-Kirstyn

“Oh, You’re a Private School Mom”

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Uhm well, I’m just a regular mom whose kids happen to attend a private school. No need to be rude.

I always dread that simple question.

“What school do your kids go to?”

It’s like a staple for any conversation when it comes to moms of school aged kids…it’s also the question that I blame for the demise of my adult friend life. I never realized that there was such friction between private school and public school moms until I experienced it first hand.

There is one day I remember so vividly because it was my very first run in with the hatred. I was at the park, carrying on a  conversation with another mom, we’ll call her “Random Mom.” Our booger faced toddlers were running around, throwing mulch at each other, getting along just fine. Somehow it was brought up that I have 2 older kids as well. I’m sure you can guess the next question out of Random Mom’s mouth…”Oh neat, what school do your kids go to?”. I replied like any polite person would, and by the look on her face, people passing by would have thought I just pushed her child down a slide. I was a little caught off guard by the wide-eyed look, but what happened was next was just baffling.

She said in the snarkiest tone ever, “Oh. You’re one of those. You’re a private school mom”. She then proceeded to get up off the bench, summon her spawn and told him that they had to leave and he could no longer play with C because they don’t talk to people like us. 

Wait a minute. Our kids can’t play together because my kids go to private school? What sense does that make? Oh, it makes no sense at all? Exactly.

But it didn’t stop there, she then proceeded to go on a rant about how private school is the reason for the downfall of the public school system. How I should send my children to public school and make a charitable donation to the school system every year instead of paying their tuition. She honestly made me feel bad. But why?! Why did I have to feel bad for choosing an educational system that suits my family?

I will start off by saying that in no way, shape, or form am I badmouthing public school systems. There are some fantastic public schools out there but unfortunately, they’re not for my kids. I would never look down on a parent (or their child) for going to any school whether it be public, private, or in-home. My entire family and DH graduated from a public school. I didn’t have any problems with it. However, my school aged children attend a highly rated private school. They attended private preschools as well and their younger brother will follow in their footsteps. Does that make me any different from the moms of public school children? No. Does it make me a bad person? No.

Many would do great in a public school environment, however, my children, more specifically E, is not one of them. He has ADHD and needs the extra attention and focus that his private school can provide. His entire school (PK-12) has less than 600 kids. He needs that. He needs the consistency, the attention, and the communication that is provided. Depending on your child’s specific needs, here are some benefits for each school type that I’ve experienced:

Benefits of Public School:School house

  • Teachers tend to be more qualified
  • Higher focus on core subjects (up to 3 hours per week)
  • More diverse population
  • Typically offer more sponsored clubs and activities.
  • Offer disability services

Benefits of Private School:

  • Smaller classes
  • Less time spent on federally mandated paperwork and more time spent on instructing
  • Strong parental involvement
  • Most teach foreign languages starting in Kindergarten
  • More focus on individual success and not school wide ratings.

So now what’s my point?

Ignore the “Random Moms” and do what is right for your family. 

People may judge you. There will always be someone who isn’t happy but, unless that person is directly effected by the decision, their opinion doesn’t matter. Do your homework and research the schools in your area. Decide what your child needs and what is overall best for your household.

-Kirstyn