children – BurritoBuzz

My First Cubby from Little Partners {Review}

Published on February 20, 2017February 19, 2017 by Casey SehmLeave a comment

If 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 a 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 to 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.**

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

Published on January 30, 2017January 29, 2017 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!

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!

WHAT IS A FLYING SQUIRREL?

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!
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!!

How to enter:

Follow @burritobuzz on Instagram
Follow @zipadeezip
Like ORIGINAL POST
Comment on ORIGINAL POST with your child’s gender and size you want to win!
Extra entries: Tag a friend! (One tag per comment please!)
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 2^nd!

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.**

Akron Children’s Museum. Cabin Fever No More.

Published on January 14, 2017January 13, 2017 by AmandaLeave a comment

Here 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.

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 January 13, 2017January 12, 2017 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 always 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 . . .

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.

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

Book Review: Dreaming in Color {The Adventures of Oliver Poons}

Published on November 28, 2016November 28, 2016 by Megan Desiato - www.BurritoBuzz.comLeave a comment

Author, Lauryn Alyssa Wendus, is at it again with a new children’s book featuring her star character, Oliver Poons! You might remember my previous review about Lauryn’s first book, Oliver Poons and the Bright Yellow Hat. If not, you can read it here! My daughter was nearly 3 at the time, but she really enjoyed the first book, so I was not surprised that she was excited to read another Oliver Poons book. Not only that, my younger son (16 months) was excited about the new “kitty book” too!

Lauryn does a fabulous job telling a simple, rhyming bedtime story about Oliver Poons and his pals working together to bring colors back into Oliver’s dreams. It’s a perfect story for little ones, because the rhyming keeps them interested. Kids are introduced to new animals and colors throughout the story, which is great, too. The same characters are brought back from the first book of the series, so in our house, we often can’t read one book without the other. My oldest is into longer stories “with lots of pages, Mom!” nowadays, but she still remained interested in this book and I love that now my youngest can read along with us.

Lauryn’s mother, Lois Wendus, is the book’s illustrator and she does a beautiful job again in this second book. I just love the mother-daughter duo behind this series and their mission, “our products are designed to inspire a happy day and happy dreams for your child.” And it’s not only about their products bringing joy and smiles, but the Oliver Poons Children’s Company also supports children and animal rescue by donating a portion of their proceeds to organizations like Mission for Orphans, Inc. and No Kitten Left Behind. They also have a campaign right now (#YellowHatsforCats) where they donate a portion of their sales to various animal shelters to raise awareness about animal rescue.

You can find both books of the series online in hardcover, paperback, or an ebook version. You can purchase the hardcover book for $19.95 on the books’ site or here on Amazon. There are other items available on the Oliver Poons website, too. Workbook learning activities, an interactive floor game, Oliver Poons artwork, and even the floppy yellow hat itself are available for purchase on the website.

These books would make a wonderful Christmas gift for any little one, especially those who adore cats like mine! You can feel good about giving these books to a loved one because not only are they receiving a fun loving, adorable read, but somewhere else another little kiddo or kitty will also be a little happier too!

Follow Lauryn and learn more about the adventures of Oliver Poons on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

– Megan

GeoSphere from GeoSmart {Review + Giveaway}

Published on November 21, 2016November 20, 2016 by Casey Sehm1 Comment

My daughter loves to build (and demolish) things. She loves Legos, blocks, anything that she can stack on top of each other until it’s taller than her, she loves. My brother, cousins, and I would play Legos for hours, so I share her love of building, too. But there are so many new construction toys on the market today that I would have killed to have when I was younger. One of those toys is GeoSmart, a magnetic construction toy, that is out of this world! I recently got the chance to review one of the GeoSmart sets and the whole family is in love with this amazing toy!

GeoSmart is a magnetic construction toy for children ages 5 and older (my daughter is 4 and she had no problem building with them). Each piece contains magnets that are protected by a double safety system, so the magnets can’t fall off. A stainless steel covers the strong magnets and locked onto an ABS core, which is then covered by durable polycarbonate housing. This new patented system makes GeoSmart a safer and stronger toy that offers a long lifetime and are super easy to clean. GeoSmart offers several different shapes in 9 bright and colorful colors. You can use squares, triangles, diamonds, rectangles, isosceles triangles, and trapezoids to create endless combinations and let your imagination run wild. Some sets come with unique pieces like wheels, lights, or remote controls so playtime is limitless! Some of the special elements Geosmart offers are:

Spinner: add motion to a simple construction. The spinner easily clicks onto every square piece.
Wheels: use your imagination and build cars with 4 wheels or 6 wheels
Tracks: build trucks with tracks!
Train connectors: build trailers you can easily connect to your vehicle and drive it around.
LED-Lights: light up your construction with one of the 6 LED colors. The panels easily click onto the squares.
Remote Control: drive around with your vehicle or make your construction spin automatically.

We received the GeoSphere set that comes with 31 pieces, including one spinner, 12 triangles, and 18 squares. Each set also comes with a book with structures you can build or you can build something original. They’re incredibly easy to build with and fun for everyone. My husband and I like to help our little one build more complex structures to get her little brain thinking. GeoSmart helps with spatial insight, hand-eye coordination, concentration, logical thinking, and allows kids to be creative. There are a lot of awesome sets to chose from, make sure you check them all out here and they can be purchased here on Amazon! I give GeoSmart 5 out of 5 stars. The sets are so fun and keeps my little one engaged. I will definitely be buying more sets this coming holiday season. GeoSmart sets make a great gifts for all the kids in your life!

We love GeoSmart so much, we’ve teamed up for a giveaway! One lucky winner will win a Solar Spinner set from GeoSmart! Follow these quick and easy steps to enter:

Follow both @BurritoBuzz and @GeoSmartUSA on Instagram.
Like the Solar Spinner giveaway post.
Tag friends you think would like to win, too!
That’s it!

The giveaway begins Monday, November 21st at 12pm EST and ends Wednesday, November 23rd at 12pm EST. The winner will be announced on the original giveaway post within 24 hours. Goodluck! **This giveaway is not sponsored or endorsed by Instagram.**

Don’t forget to follow GeoSmart on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram to stay up to date on new products and sales!

– Casey

Malia’s House from Build & Imagine {Review}

Published on November 20, 2016November 19, 2016 by Casey SehmLeave a comment

Being the mom of a 4 year old and a new baby, my oldest spends way too much time on the iPad or in front of the TV. I know, I know. It’s not good and you’re supposed to limit screen time, but when I’m busy with the baby (it was much worse when she was first born), you have to do what you can to survive. I know she’s not the only one that’s constantly staring at a screen (TVs, tablets, smartphones, and computers are everywhere) and I know it’s hard to pull them away. But when you find a toy that does just that, gets them off of the tablet, away from the TV, and actually using their little brains to learn and play, you have to share it. I was recently given the opportunity to review an an absolutely amazing toy from Build & Imagine called Malia’s House and I can’t stress enough how awesome this product is. My daughter is obsessed and has been for about a week and a half now.

Build & Imagine StoryWalls are like building blocks meets dollhouse meets dress-up meets dolls for kids 4-8 years old. StoryWalls are magnetic playsets that contain colorfully illustrated scenes that can kids can build and decorate with magnetic accessories (like paperdolls) over and over again. They’re called StoryWalls because it’s like building a 3-D storybook setting, then jumping right into play! Each set include dolls to dress up, illustrated building panels that attach magnetically that create endless play! Dozens of magnetic accessories are also included to make your scene uniquely yours. With everything being magnetic, changing things up to create a new story is quick and easy! See Build & Imagine’s products in action below:

When we received Malia’s House, I honestly thought my daughter would play around with it for half an hour tops, as she seems to move on from activity to activity rather quickly (she takes after her father and can’t sit still for too long). So when I tell you she played at the kitchen table from 11AM until bathtime at 7PM (and did not watch the iPad once the entire time), I was completely and happily surprised. She absolutely loves Maila’s House! She loves building Malia and her friend Skylar a new house and creating different storylines for them based on the magnetic walls and adding decor. They’ll go to the beach together and forget the sunscreen, or they’ll plant fruits and veggies in the garden while drinking lemonade or put out the fire the cat started in the kitchen (these are actual storylines she has come up with). Her imagination literally runs wild and I love it! A four year old that wants to sit and play for hours on end and not want to look at a screen is priceless to me.

I give Malia’s House 5 out of 5 stars and I would recommend any one of the engaging playsets from Build & Imagine to anyone looking for a toy that’s different from the norm for their daughter or son. The panels are durable, even for the roughest of child, and easy for little hands to build with. And there are so many sets to choose from, check them all out here! With sets starting at $24.99 and an expansion packs starting at $8.99, there’s something for everyone’s budget!

Be sure to follow Build & Imagine on Facebook and Twitter!

– Casey

Bluebee Pals {Review + Giveaway}

Published on November 12, 2016November 12, 2016 by Casey SehmLeave a comment

Technology is everywhere and sadly unavoidable for the most part. With cell phones, tablets, computers, TV, and game systems at easily available at home and tablets and computers now apart of the curriculum at most schools, screens seem to always be in children’s’ faces. But what if a product that can be used with said technology can help help educate our little ones? I was recently given the opportunity to review an amazing product called Bluebee Pals from Kayle Concepts that combines state of the art technology and traditional plush toys.

Bluebee Pals come in 6 animal styles; Riley the Zebra, Leo the Lion, Hudson the Puppy, Lily the Lamb, Sammy the Bear, and Parker the Monkey so kids can pick their favorite animal to adopt. They are geared for children 3-8 years old but can of course be a lifetime pal to your child! Bluebee Pals use Bluetooth Technology to sync to any iOS and Android device. They can even be used a a hands-free phone with a built in microphone and speaker! Each of the plush stuffed animals has a mesmerizing feature – lip synchronization – that allows the pal’s lips to move as it sings or reads from various apps.

My daughter chose Riley the Zebra and she loves her! She’s incredibly soft, even though she has a rechargeable battery stuffed inside. Hooking Riley up to our iPad was quick and easy. I downloaded several learning and singing apps, but the ones that read stories are my daughter’s favorite. Riley’s mouth moves and “reads” to her, she thinks it’s so cool! Simply prop a phone, laptop, or tablet on the pal’s lap and tuck it into their plush arms. Pal’s work with any app that has sound, including foreign language apps! Check out this video to see one in action!

Bluebee Pals are so fun and innovative, that’s why thousands have been adopted into households, schools, and therapy sessions. Pals offer so many benefits, including auditory attention and processing, cause and effect, pre-literacy skills, and more. To date, the toy industry has given Bluebee Pals 6 awards, including Mom’s Choice, National Parenting Publications, Parent’s Choice, Creative Child Award, Academic Choice, and Tillywig, they were just listed as #1 on the list of products that impressed STEM Education at International Society for Technology in Education Conference 2016. I also think Bluebee Pals would be beneficial for children on the Autism spectrum, to help with language and communication. Get your little one his or her own award-winning Bluebee Pal here, at Target, or on Amazon for $64.99!

Here are a few links to recommended educational apps from the Bluebee Pals website, but be sure to visit their site to see all of the recommended apps:

Would you like to win a Bluebee pal of your own? You’re in luck! One winner will get to adopt a Bluebee Pal of his or her choice! Just follow these easy steps to enter:

Like @burritobuzz and @bluebeepals on Instagram
Like the giveaway post.
Tag friends (one per comment) that you think would like to win, too!
That’s it!

The giveaway will start Saturday, November 12th at 12pm and end Monday, November 14th at 12pm. The winner will be randomly chosen and announced within 24 hours. Goodluck! **This giveaway is no way sponsored or endorsed by Instagram.**

Don’t forget to follow Bluebee Pals on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for updates, new products, and sales!

– Casey

Magnutto Make a Mood {Review}

Published on November 10, 2016November 8, 2016 by Casey SehmLeave a comment

Kids don’t know how to deal with their emotions. That’s why they throw tantrums when they don’t get what they want or hit when they don’t get their way. Their little brains aren’t capable of knowing how to respond as an adult would and we all know how frustrating it can be for both the parents and child. My four year old can throw a tantrum with the best of them and she’s perfected her on-the-ground-kicking-and-screaming meltdown. We’ve been trying to work on talking through our feelings rather than just crying and screaming, and it’s been helping. So when I got the chance to review Neat-Oh! International’s Magnutto Make a Mood magnetic toy, I was so excited to see if it helped my little one learn emotions and moods and how to express them.

Magnutto Make a Mood is designed to help identify, express, and respond to feeling and emotions and so far, it’s doing a great job with my daughter. She uses the thick, foam magnets to create facial expressions. The sturdy box opens to a magnetic easel and closes to store all the magnets. Activity cards (in 3 languages – English, Spanish, and French) are included in the box to role play and a list of example facial expressions. I love that I can ask questions about emotions and really engage my daugher in conversation about how she’s feeling.

Features

Includes 100+ magnets, two activity cards, and easel box.
Sturdy easel box opens to a magnetic easel and closes to store all the magnets when play is done
Educational role play suggested activities included
Low strength, safe, thick foam magnets.
Fully Printed
Tested to the most stringent quality and safety standard
Product Dimensions: 10.5″ x 8″ x 1.75″

My daughter and I have been having lots of fun talking about our emotions and making expressions together. I’ll even make a face and ask her to make a face out of the magnets, it always comes out pretty silly! Make a Mood isn’t just about emotions, I like to think it’s like a “paper doll” but for the face. There are different eyes and eye color, hair colors, earrings, noses, mouths, glasses, and more, so you can make make lots of faces and expressions. Magnutto also offers Make a Pet and Make a Dino sets, so you can animals and dinosaurs! The quality is outstanding and the foam pieces will hold up even with the roughest of kids. Shop all Magnutto sets here. Your little ones will love these engaging and fun sets!

The Magnutto sets have also been given Oppenheim Toy Portfolio’s Platinum Seal, which is the highest honor given by the independent consumer organization! They were also honored with a SNAP award (Special Needs Adaptable Product), given to products that can be used by or easily adapted for children with special needs.

Be sure to follow Neat-Oh! on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter for new products and sales!

– Casey

Save Your Sanity with Color Wonder from Crayola {Review + Contest}

Published on October 28, 2016October 28, 2016 by Casey SehmLeave a comment

Coloring with my cousins is one of my favorite memories as a kid. Growing up, we would lay down a blanket (as to not color on Grandma’s white carpet) and we’d color for hours at family get togethers. Now that I have kids, I want to foster their love of coloring, too. My four year old loves to color but doesn’t seem to understand that markers and crayons are to be used only on paper, and not the walls, the floor, her toys, and herself. We can all agree that Crayola makes the best art supplies and there’s a new reason why I adore this company: Crayola Color Wonder Mess Free Coloring. All Magic, No Mess is their slogan and that’s exactly what Color Wonder is.

We received a package from Crayola filled to the brim with different Color Wonder products. I was explaining to my daughter that the markers only color on the magic paper and I told her that she could even color on the couch (meaning that she could take one of the coloring pads and sit on the couch to color), she of course took it as she could literally color on the couch. Thank goodness they’re magic and my couch is still intact with no marks! Each set comes with an 18-page coloring pad and 5 different color broadline markers that can only color on special Color Wonder paper. There are so many different Color Wonder products! They offer a ton of different character coloring book sets so little ones can pick their favorites, Paw Patrol and Frozen were a huge hit with my daughter! There are also finger paint sets, stamper sets, travel sets which are perfect for travelling and long car rides, art mats and totes, and much more. Check out all of the Color Wonder products here! If you spend over $30 on Color Wonder products, you automatically get 30% off your purchase, no code needed!

I am incredibly thankful for Color Wonder markers! I hardly ever let my daughter color with markers, well, because they’re markers. I have OCD and a baby, so I can’t spend all day scrubbing marker off everything she decides to color on. We stuck with crayons for so long but now I can feel confident about leaving her alone with Color Wonder markers because I know I won’t come back to her with her face colored pink and the table purple and blue polka dots (yes, it’s happened before). It doesn’t color on skin, fabric, or furniture, and sets start at just $7.99. What more could parents ask for?

Be sure to follow Crayola on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest for updates, new products, contests, and more!

Speaking of contests, Crayola is having an awesome contest on Instagram! It’s super easy to enter, just post a picture of your child’s messy moment that could have used a Color Wonder intervention on Instagram. Tag the photo #MessyKidsContest and tag @crayola in the comments to receive one entry! Winners will be chosen weekly until November 21, 2016 when one grand prize winner will be chosen. Learn more about the #MessyKidsContest here and read contest rules here.

(6) Weekly winners will win $250 in Color Wonder product.
One Grand Prize winner will win $1,000 in the form of a check.

What are you waiting for?! Head over to Instagram and enter to win now!

– Casey

Essential Oils for Allergies {Lavender, Peppermint & Lemon by Young Living}

Published on October 6, 2016October 4, 2016 by Amanda1 Comment

If you follow my posts, then you know that I am a pretty crunchy mom. When it comes to my life, and my children’s especially, I try to use the best products available. There are so many chemicals surrounding us on a daily basis, so I try to limit chemicals and artificial ingredients that we put into our bodies specifically.

I found essential oils when BK#1 was little. You can read about Tummy Gize and how I use it here. I also use oils for teething, you can read about that here. Last year, I found a blend that works wonders for our family’s allergies. I have some pretty rough seasonal allergies, my husband has seasonal allergies and some specific allergies, and our littles definitely inherited them unfortunately. Thankfully, right now, it just seems like the babies have seasonal allergies. Their pediatrician prescribed some over the counter allergy medication. They didn’t really help, so she then prescribed prescription strength medicine. After some time, I didn’t see much of a change in symptoms even though my one year old was taking medication every single day. I consulted with our pediatrician and we decided to start exploring some natural remedies for their allergies before extensive allergy testing and medications.

I started diffusing a blend of peppermint, lavender, and lemon and saw immediate results. Not only were the results immediate, but they were continuous. They are still working. Any time the kids are having any allergy symptoms, I diffuse the blend and their sniffles subside within minutes. As an adult, I not only notice my runny nose and sniffles disappear, but my sinuses are clear! If you have allergies, you know how amazing this feels.

***Before I go into how it works, I need to preface with the fact that I am not a Young Living rep, nor am I being paid to endorse Young Living***

I have done the research and tested multiple other brands. Young Living is the best quality and works the best. You can find many different brands at many different price points for your budget. But like most things, you get what you pay for. It is just that simple.

HOW TO USE

Apply:

Always dilute with a carrier oil (like coconut) for little ones.
Apply to base of neck.
Apply to bottom of feet and put on socks.
I apply Lavender alone on my cheekbones and bridge of my nose for sinus pressure relief.
You can also make a roller ball using equal parts of each oil for travel and to have the oil already mixed on hand.

Diffuse:

I diffuse for the kids 95% of the time.
I use this diffuser instead of an expensive one from Young Living and it works great and has never broken. (I have a Young Living diffuser that has died)
Fill diffuser to fill line with water then add 5 drops Lavender, 4 drops Lemon, and 3 drops Peppermint. I put the diffuser in whatever room we are in and it runs for around 6 hours before I need to refill.
Depending on the severity of their symptoms, I diffuse 24/7 or just in the morning when they wake with sniffles.

Ingest:

Add 1 drop of each oil to 1 teaspoon of local honey for children. For adults, use 2-3 drops of each oil.
It is an oil, so it will be a little rough on the pallet. Just use a chaser like a glass of water.

Peppermint and Children

Always be safe with your oils. Especially with peppermint. Peppermint is one of the most effective essential oils for respiratory infections and congestion, but it can be dangerous for young children. It can slow breathing, so be sure to always use a safe diluted amount. There are many different opinions and ages that are suggested. Some say don’t use under age 3, some say it’s safe as long as it’s diluted. Our pediatrician said that she felt it was safe if heavily diluted or diffused. I don’t apply blends with peppermint to my little ones, but there is plenty of research saying that if applied safely, it is okay to use. I just worry so much as it is, so I completely avoid applying it since diffusing the blend works so perfectly already. Please read more about oil safety here.

Fall is my favorite season, but our bodies don’t like the weather changes as much as I do. I am so glad to have found a natural solution! I hope this blend helps you as much as it helps my family.

– Amanda

Big Red Rooster Projection Alarm Clock {Review}

Published on September 29, 2016September 28, 2016 by Casey SehmLeave a comment

I don’t know about you, but waking my daughter on schools days just plain sucks. It’s not fun. She’s crabby with me and only me, because I’m the one that woke her up. I feel it starts our entire day on the wrong foot. She’s four and learning her numbers and always asking what time is it, so I thought now would be the perfect time to get her own alarm clock for her room. I wouldn’t be the one waking her so she wouldn’t be snotty with me and it can also help with her numbers and telling time. I got the opportunity to review an awesome interactive alarm clock from Big Red Rooster and I was eager to check it out.

There are four different interactive alarm clocks to choose from, a Rocket Ship Projection Alarm Clock, which was their first clock to hit the market, and three new animals, a Dog Projection Alarm Clock, a Cat Projection Alarm Clock, and a Dinosaur Projection Alarm Clock. What sets them apart is the time and images they project! Each clock has four different images that projects on your ceiling or wall and each image reaches up to 30 inches in diameter. The clocks stand about 8 inches tall and their heads rotate 340 degrees, so they’re interactive themselves. The timer can be set for 10 or 30 minutes so the images aren’t projected the entire night, or it can be set to project all night. You have the option to project just the time, the images and the time or just the images, so there’s options for everyone. They operate on an AC adaptor, which is included, or can be cordless with 3 C batteries.

My daughter picked the green dinosaur alarm clock because she loves dinosaurs and it’s a pretty cool dinosaur. The four dinosaur images are a Diabloceratops, Stegosaurus, Diplodocus, and Pterodactyl and Ampelosaurus. And while my daughter thinks they’re super cool, the graphics aren’t that great, especially if you have a high ceiling. But she likes it, and that’s all that matters to me. The clock is super easy to set, as is the alarm. And there are on and off buttons on the front for the projection clock and images on the front. And the set and snooze buttons are right on the front make it one-touch to set the alarm and to snooze if your little one is super stubborn in the mornings.

Overall, I’m thrilled with this alarm clock and I’m so glad I no longer have to wake my little sleeping bear in the mornings. She’s waking up really proud of herself for turning her alarm off and not having to be woken up. She’s happier, which of course makes me happy. The graphics could be better, but the clocks are really cute and it’s helping my little one learn how to tell time, too. Not much more I could ask for, except perhaps a lower price. The $29.99 price tag is a little high for my tight budget, so to see it at around $20 would make it a definite winner for me. The rocket ship, cat, and dog are super cute, so be sure to check out all of the alarm clocks here! Big Red Rooster also makes sound machines, so if you’re in the market for one, check out the children sound machines here and the adult sound machines here!

Don’t forget to follow Big Red Rooster on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest to stay in the loop with new releases and sales!

slideshow_1 — Four cute alarm clocks to choose from!

– Casey

BurritoBuzz is ONE & we’re having a HUGE GIVEAWAY to celebrate!

Published on September 26, 2016September 26, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

We are so incredibly thankful for our readers! If it weren’t for all of you, we would not be here today! We have grown so much in just one year and we cannot wait to see what the next year brings!

As a big thank you, we have put together a pretty amazing giveaway from some of our favorite companies that we have worked with this past year.

ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL WIN ALL OF THESE AWESOME PRIZES:

Finding Dory – Little Sound Book From: PI Kids

FunBites Food Cutter From: FunBites

Baby in Tow Spoon Cocoon in Grape From: Baby in TowFour in one Nursing Cover!

From: Covered Goods

NurturMe Gift Set From: NurturMeGift set includes:

1 bag organic quinoa baby cereal

1 pouch of NurturMeal blend + NurturMeal quinoa

1 Yum-A-Roo toddler snacks

1 reuseable eco-pouch

1 BPA free baby spoon

1 coupon

1 informative quinoa bookmark

MAM Feed & Soothe Set From: MAM

pediped Originals

pediped Originals come size 0-6, 6-12, 12-18, and 18-24 months. Winner picks boy or girl.

A pair will be in this giveaway and there will be one next month, too! Keep an eye out!

originals_lionelredpatent-pediped-spring-2016_0191

ergoPouch ergoCocoon Swaddle to Sleep Bag From: ergoPouch

Kacenda Silicone Placemat From: Kacenda

This amazing giveaway is valued over $180, all for one loyal follower!

How to enter to win it all:

Follow BurritoBuzz on Instagram here.
Like the giveaway post on Instagram.
Follow these 6 companies that are involved in our giveaway below:
1. FunBites
2. Covered Goods
3. NurturMe
4. MAM
5. pediped
6. ergoPouch
Tag a friend! One tag per comment please.

That’s it! We will be triple checking to make sure all rules are followed!

Giveaway begins Monday, September 26th at 8am and ends on Friday, September 30th at 8am. One winner will be announced shortly after giveaway ends. Goodluck and be sure to share with friends! **This giveaway is in no way sponsored by Instagram.**

Thanks for sticking with us for our first year!

– The BurritoBuzz Moms

mommy’s BLISS {Review}

Published on September 24, 2016September 24, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

When you are a new mom, there are a lot of facts and products being shoved in your face. You really don’t even know where to begin, what advice is legit, and what products you actually need v. the products that people just loved but would be useless to you. When my doctor prescribed vitamin D drops and suggested probiotic drops (I was EBF my daughter), I followed her advice. But I quickly learned that there are so many options, not only that, but there are so many opinions on your options.

Who knew life could be so complicated?

Mommy’s BLISS made my life a little easier two years ago when I had a colicy baby and they continue to make awesome products today! Their line takes the guessing out of choices. You don’t have to worry about additives or additional problems on top of the ones you are trying to treat with the medication.

All of mommy’s BLISS products have: no additives, chemicals or parabens, no artificial flavors or colors, no dairy, no gluten, and no soy. They are also 100% vegan and vegetarian.

Mommy’s BLISS actually contacted me and sent me their new products a few weeks ago and I have been waiting to write this post so I could be sure that I used them to their full potential! I have to say, I am very impressed with their new products and so excited to share some secrets with you!

VITAMIN D ORGANIC DROPS

Let’s start with why breastfed babies need vitamin D drops.

“The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all babies receive routine vitamin D supplementation (400 IU per day) due to decreased sunlight exposure and an increase in rickets-Vitamin D deficiency”

The babies who do need these supplements need them due to a lack of sufficient sunlight, which is the best way to get your vitamin D. For example, with my Ohio babies, it’s far too cold to go outside and play in the sun half of the year, so vitamin D drops are necessary. Also, if you are darker skinned, it takes more sun exposure to absorb vitamin D.

A formula fed baby most likely would not need any vitamin supplements because their formula is fortified with vitamin D. A breastfeeding mom is most likely deficient in vitamin D (unless you take a supplement yourself, you have a pretty good chance of being deficient), so doctors advise you to give your newborn a supplement every day.

Vitamin D helps with healthy growth and bone development. It is not something to take lightly. But neither are all the chemicals and additives that are in some drops. The products are made for newborns. You would think that it would be a requirement to be the best possible product. But it’s not, so parents are left staring at boxes and weighing the risks of the additives and chemicals for their tiny humans.

These vitamin D drops are USDA certified organic and free of any type of chemical or additive! You are giving your child only what they need. Even though I don’t have a newborn, I still give my 2 year old vitamin D drops (under her pediatrician’s guidance). BK#1 is extremely picky, going through the phase that most toddlers go through, and refuses to eat and drink most of the time. I worry about her getting proper nutrients and growing properly. So far so good, but as a parent, you worry. You can’t help it.

My favorite thing about these drops is the amount needed daily. Just one drop. You don’t have to struggle getting a full syringe into your newborn or toddler for that matter. I sneak a drop on the top of her sippy before she takes a drink and voila, no tantrum because I had to hold her down and give her meds. There is no scent or taste either!

Mommy’s Bliss Vitamin D Organic Drops, 0.11 Fluid Ounce

PROBIOTIC DROPS + VITAMIN D & 15 DAY BOOST

When BK#1 was an infant, this would have been a Godsend! My tiny little angel had colic like nobody’s business. I can’t even begin to explain how tired we were. I suppose I should write about that experience, but colic is not fun for anyone. It leaves you feeling like a zombie with literally zero brain cells because every parental instinct you have to comfort them just doesn’t work. She cried all the time and absolutely nothing we did helped. The evenings were the worst with no break at all. Finally, after trying every possible solution, we tried probiotics and we finally found some relief! She slept. She stopped crying. She was happy.

New parents, talk to your doctor! Save yourself and your baby and try probiotics.

If you want to learn more about how they work, read this amazing article.

“Probiotics are living microorganisms that scientific research has shown to benefit human health. Most commonly these are bacteria, but they may also be yeasts. In some cases they are similar to, or the same as, the microbes already found in a healthy digestive tract. Many probiotics were originally isolated from common fermented foods such as yogurt. Mommy’s Bliss Baby Probiotic Drops contain the live culture Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG, the most widely studied probiotic in the world with over 800 scientific publications attesting to the safety and healthfulness of these beneficial bacteria. Like all dietary supplements you should discuss the use of probiotics with your baby’s doctor.” source Mommy’s Bliss Probiotic Drops Plus Vitamin D, 0.34 Fluid Ounce

Mommy’s BLISS created an amazing probiotic and vitamin D blend to help parents skip a step! No need to keep track of two medications. Not only is it two medications in one, but it’s the same price of any other probiotic on the market! You are definitely getting the better deal with mommy’s BLISS.

If you don’t have a baby that has colic, you still might want to consider probiotic drops if your child gets sick, to help balance their immune and digestive system. The Mommy’s Bliss Probiotic Drops 15 Day Boost, 0.2 Fluid Ouncewas created to help replenish beneficial bacteria and may help with occasional diarrhea. Antibiotic use may cause occasional diarrhea* and digestive upset.*

Parents, it actually works! My littles were passing a tummy bug back and forth and this had them back to their normal selves and solid bowels much faster than anything ever has. It’s definitely something that I will be keeping in my medicine cabinet from now on.

Mommy’s BLISS is a great company! Learn more about them and why I think they are so great on there site here and be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram to get awesome tips and parenting advice.

– Amanda

Keep Germs Away with CleanSmart Toy Disinfectant

Published on September 23, 2016September 22, 2016 by Casey SehmLeave a comment

As you know, cold and flu season is unfortunately upon is. With the changing of the weather and the start of the school year, illness is something that we can’t really ignore. My four year old started her second year of preschool last week and was kind enough to bring a cold home. My family of four all got runny noses, we were sneezing like crazy, had awful sinus pressure, coughing, and had watery eyes, including my poor 6 month old. She got hit the worst and is starting to feel better minus the never ending runny nose. Over the weekend she had a pretty high fever and was overall miserable. When babies get sick, you heart breaks because there’s not much you can do for them. Lots of cuddles and some tylenol to bring down the fever is about all you can do when they’re really young. So what can you do to help prevent the spread of germs when little ones always have toys in their mouths? I have found an amazing toy disinfectant from CleanSmart and I love it so much! I knew I had to share it with our readers!

CleanSmart makes products that are not harmful to people. There are no chemicals or chemical residue, harsh fumes, and the products are 100% natural – just salt and water is left behind after cleaning! There is zero toxicity and can be sprayed around anyone (babies, too). There are no allergy or asthma triggers in any of the products, so you can feel safe knowing what you’re using to clean and disinfect and know the products work! You won’t see any first aid labels on CleanSmart products because there are no hazards. What more could you want in a cleaning product? Watch here to learn about the CleanSmart difference:

I was looking for something to clean my children’s toys, especially with having more than one kid, germs spread entirely way too easy. If one is sick, the other will be soon. It’s just a fact. But I wanted something to help prevent illness as much as I could. Babies put everything in their mouths as we know and germs linger. CleanSmart Toy Disinfectant kills 99.9% of germs and cold and flu viruses, E. coli, salmonella, listeria, strep and RSV. The best part, you just spray and play! You can literally clean toys without rinsing right in front of your child. I often clean my little one’s exersaucer while she’s in it. It’s so easy and I love not having to think twice about using it around my kids. No gloves needed and you don’t have to have a crazy ventilation system (or open all the windows/doors in your house to air it out). It’s perfect to use with teething babies and after sick kids.

I love this product and look forward to purchasing more awesome products from CleanSmart, including their household disinfectants, hand cleansers and more products for my little ones: Pacifier Sanitizer ($4.99) and Nursery & High Chair Cleaner ($4.99). Products for little ones are now available at Babies R Us, so they’re easy to find! You can purchase all CleanSmart products on Amazon. The price point is perfect, $5.99 for the Toy Disinfectant. I’ve had it for about to months now, and I have about ⅔ of the bottle left so it does last a while. Because it’s not harmful, that doesn’t mean it should be left around children. Keep out of reach of children to keep them safe.

Connect with CleanSmart on Facebook and Twitter!

– Casey

Why you need to stop judging parents in the public with their children

Published on September 21, 2016September 21, 2016 by Katie KuceyeskiLeave a comment

Life with little ones.

Unpredictable.

I’m the mom that’s out in public, sympathizing with the parents of screaming children. While my 19 month old son is exceptionally well-behaved in public, he’s had his moments like every child does. Having only one child, I’m able to be vigilant about damage control. One parent, one child. I can usually calm him down, entertain him, or get through our ventures a little faster to keep him content. If he’s really unhappy and going to go into full on tantrum mode, I promptly leave. But add more children in the equation? I’d certainly not be able to control the situation.

That being said, guess what world? Parents need to go out just like anyone else. We need groceries, stamps, we need to go to doctor’s appointments. Just like anyone else, going out is not optional. And why should we avoid going out? If anyone needs to avoid cabin fever, it’s those trapped talking with babies and toddlers 24/7, watching Minions endlessly, and cleaning up mashed Goldfish crackers from the carpet. We need to know that a world still exists outside of our life of parenting little ones.

Just a few weeks ago, I found myself in an odd situation. I was on my lunch break from my part-time job at one of my favorite local restaurants. The table in front of me consisted of two middle-aged working women, also on their lunch break I’d assume. Behind me, there were two moms and several little ones ranging from infant to 3 or 4 year olds. The children were restless, not sitting down, a toddler was taking her shoes off and joining other tables to see what other patrons were up to. My own parenting style wouldn’t allow my children to bother other paying customers, but I was not irritated, upset, or put-off by the children at the restaurant. The mothers there, were obviously outnumbered. One had a leg cast up to her hip. The two working women at the table in front of me were beyond irritated and made plenty of snarky comments. I suppose they were waiting for a reaction from me, as the one small child kept coming over and hanging out with me.

But they didn’t get a reaction from me.

Instead, I talked to the little girl and let her sit at our table for a few minutes.

Children do not come programmed with emotions. And parents aren’t perfect. While children should be taught how to act in public, it’s not an overnight process. This was a family-friendly restaurant, not a place where you should expect to dine quietly or without some small annoyance. I often find myself conflicted about going out in public, especially to restaurants, where I fear that my toddler’s unpredictable moods could impact the experience of other customers. More recently, I’ve gotten over the fear of judgement and just done it.

Our littles can’t learn how to act in public if they aren’t allowed in public.

I think that people forget what it’s like to have children or have simply not been around them a lot. The level of annoyance that I see on a daily basis caused by small children is astounding to me. Most parents, myself and my husband included, are doing the best we can to raise a responsible, kind, considerate little person. I’m guessing it will take around 20 years.

So, the next time you’re in public and annoyed by a child that isn’t perfectly well-behaved, do yourself a favor and choose kindness over judgement or harsh reaction.

Sometimes all a parent needs to get through the day is a smile from a stranger when their toddler is refusing to leave aisle 2 in Target.

Re-Think Mealtime with Re-Play {Review + Giveaway}

Published on September 20, 2016September 19, 2016 by Casey Sehm1 Comment

I was recently looking for new silverware for my toddler, something that was fun, easy to handle, and I wanted to stay away from metal. I found a really cute set of plastic forks and spoons made by Re-Play and they are perfect for little hands. They were exactly what I was looking for and I was pleasantly surprised at the price, just over $2.50 for a pack of 8! If you know me or have read any of my blog posts, you know I’m a cheapskate. The price point is perfect for those on a budget (I’ve learned that all Re-Play products are easy on the wallet). They’re super durable and my daughter loved them so I decided to reach out to Re-Play to collaborate on a blog review. They were kind enough to send a Complete Toddler Feeding Set (right) for my daughter to try. I soon started learned what an amazing company Re-Play is and I am so excited to share this company with our readers!

The moms at BurritoBuzz love products that are good for the planet, good for our families, and products that are made in the USA. This company hits all of those marks and more! Re-Play products are made from recycled milk jugs! How awesome is that? That means there are less milk jugs (we all know you go through gallons and gallons of milk when you have kids) ending up in landfills thanks to Re-Play, which is a family-owned and family-focused company. The brand looks to fulfill 5 Tenants of Responsibility: sustainability, safety, durability, functionality, and affordability. Re-Play is a brand you can feel really good about buying from. Their products are a better alternative for those looking to make the planet a better place for their children and future generations. Check out the Re-Play recycling process here:

I picked the white set for my daughter to try, but there are a ton of colors to choose from (they’re all dishwasher safe and they don’t fade)! Seriously, it probably took me a half an hour and asking my husband repeatedly what color I should pick (white was not one of his choices but I loved it and ultimately decided on it), it was not an easy choice. The Complete Toddler Feeding Set ($22) includes: 1 spoon and 1 fork, 1 divided plate, 1 spill proof cup, 1 drinking cup, 1 snack pod, and 1 bowl. I must say, Re-Play makes fantastic products! They’re so durable and the spill proof sippy is in fact spill proof. My daughter has used a popular brand of sippies with characters on them since ditching the bottle years ago, but they eventually leak and the spout gets cruddy as the plastic piece inside the mouthpiece, which is hard to clean. The Re-Play spill proof cup is only 3 parts: the cup, lid, and valve. It is so easy to clean, as are all of the products! They come in packs of 2 for only $8.99! Products range in price from $4.99 for 8 utensils to $5.99 for 3 bowls, $7.99 for 3 divided plates to $5.99 for a snack stack of 2, check out all of their products and prices here! The snack pod is perfect for on the go and it has allowed me to stop using plastic sandwich bags (there I go, helping to save the planet again). The prices are very affordable and there are several color combinations to chose from, like rainbow, sorbet, and bold to name a few. Re-Play also has kitchen essentials for grown ups and teethers and toys for little ones. Be sure to check out the product section on their website to see all of their goodies!

I have fallen in love with Re-Play! I love that the company is helping the earth and future generations by recycling what would be waste. I give their products a 5 out of 5 stars. I will definitely be purchasing more of their products, especially their spill proof cups for my girls! Re-Play is available on Amazon, through the Re-Play website, and in store at WalMart, Whole Foods, Kroger, HEB, Target, and at various specialty shops and grocers around the country. Give Re-Play a try and I can promise that you will fall in love, not only with their amazing and durable products, but the wonderful company!

We have an exclusive code for 15% off a $20+ purchase just for our readers! Use code BurritoBuzz2016 at checkout to save on your order! **Code is good through Tuesday, September 27th.**

Re-Play has offered to give away a Feeding Set to one of our lucky readers! You’ll definitely want to try to win and it’s super easy to enter:

Follow @burritobuzz and @replaymeals on Instagram
Like the giveaway post
Comment with your choice of color
Tag a friend

That’s it! The giveaway will run from Tuesday, September 20th at 12pm and will end Thursday, September 22nd at 12pm. We will announce the winner on the original post on Thursday, September 22nd shortly after 12pm. Good luck and share with your friends! **Instagram is in no way sponsoring this giveaway.**

Don’t forget to follow Re-Play on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter for updates and sales!

– Casey

Caron & Doucet Cutting Board Wax {Review}

Published on September 18, 2016September 17, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

As a parent, I don’t just love to save money, I need to save money. There are diapers to think about, clothes, college… the list is never ending. As a parent, you try to keep everything in your home in the best condition as possible so you don’t have to replace things as often, right? When it comes to my home, I like to keep things simple and natural, but it’s really hard to do that without going broke. It seems like everything that is good for you and natural is double the price of the things that are not so good for you. It’s sad really, but I have found a way to make something I use every day last longer.

My cutting board! I have both plastic and wood cutting boards, but I like the wood ones better, simply because they’re better for you. Plastic cutting boards can harbor bacteria and chemicals, and you don’t need that in your food. Wood can too, but you can’t gouge a wood cutting board as easily to create crevices that bacteria can grow in. There seems to be a lot of back and forth about this subject, but the simple fact is, wood boards last longer. You can read more about bacteria and cutting boards here.

Personally, I like wood kitchen accessories better anyways. With this fact, I have to take care of them. Wood doesn’t last forever if it’s not taken care of properly and many people don’t even know that you’re supposed to take care of your wood cutting boards and chopping blocks.

Why do they need special treatment? Wood cutting boards can be damaged if they are exposed to too much moisture or allowed to get very dry, so think like a chef and take care of those cooking accessories you spend so much money on and time using. Good cooking tools are not cheap, but if you take proper care of them, they can last you a lifetime and save you from replacing your plastic cutting board every 6 months (as recommended)! My parents have my grandmother’s huge chopping block that has to be at least 30 years old and it still looks new. How? She took very good care of it!

Simply by waxing and oiling your wood boards, they will last so much longer and look like new when you wax them! And Caron & Doucet Cutting Board Wax is the perfect product to have stashed under your sink.

It creates a “durable and easy to clean” finish on any wood and bamboo kitchenware.
Prevents liquids that can cause stains or water damage.
Can be used on wood and bamboo cutting boards, butcher blocks, countertops, knife handles, and whatever else you might have that needs protection.
Created using rice bran wax. Rice bran wax is one of the hardest of natural waxes, giving wood a remarkably durable protective finish. It has a higher boiling point than most waxes, such as bees wax, so you aren’t going to rub it off during washing or if you are using it on a bamboo spoon, etc.
The pure essential oils of lemon, rosemary, and lemongrass were chosen for this product to naturally help eliminate unwanted food odors from food preparation surfaces.

It’s a simple step after washing and drying! Apply a thin layer of the wax to the surface of your cutting board using a clean cloth. Polish to a matte sheen and re-apply when wood starts to appear dull. It takes 2 minutes and your hands will feel fabulous after! It’s like a mini spa trip!

This before and after of my personal board, it is so awesome!

burritobuzz-cutting-board — This photo has different lighting, but notice how all gouges are gone and how smooth it is!

The only bad thing I have to say is that it is a little pricey at $14.95 for a little 4 oz. tin. You can purchase it Here. But honestly, this tin could quite possibly last you an entire year, depending on how often you use it, so it’s totally worth the price!

I am off to go wax all of my bamboo spoons now! I found this product at 34Orange.com, be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram for tips, tricks, and inspiration in the kitchen!

– Amanda

pediped Kicks!

Published on September 17, 2016September 16, 2016 by Katie KuceyeskiLeave a comment

I have a very active 19 month old son. He runs, climbs, crawls around and because of that, he needs some sturdy, comfortable shoes. BurritoBuzz has reviewed pediped water sandals in the past. But as much as it pains me to say, fall and winter are quickly approaching in Ohio and it’s time to change out our sandals and flip flops for shoes and boots.

So here’s a recommendation!

pediped offers a wide variety of shoes. Their selection of sizes, colors and styles is vast. We decided to try out the Flex shoe for my son.

Some details about the Flex shoe:

Breathable mesh lining
Flexible rubber sole
Casual style with Velcro closure
Fit: Runs 1/2 size larger than normal size. I found them to be pretty true to size, but they have extra insoles as part of their Flex Fit System — see below).
Approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association for promoting healthy foot development (super important for little ones working on their walking/running skills).

Technology:

The Flex Fit System™ provides additional insoles that can be inserted for a snug fit then removed for room as your child’s foot grows. The insoles can reduce shoe size by almost half a size, extending the life of the shoe.

Machine Washable shoes can handle the playground and the washing machine, so they are easy to keep clean and smelling fresh.

Vegan shoes are made with no animal products or by-products.

The pediped Flex shoe exceeded my expectations. My son has a rather large foot and large in-step. The only shoes I’d found that were easy to get on his chunky feet were Keens, and Target’s new Cat + Jack brand. The pediped shoes are even easier to get on that the brands I had been using. There are two velcro straps, which both easily come loose. The nice thing about the straps, unlike other shoes that he has, is that there are tabs to keep you from pulling the strap all the way out and having to rethread it.

Though the shoes are new, they are loose around the sides similarly to a pair of shoes that has been broken in. This is definitely a plus, because those tiny toddler feet don’t handle new shoe blisters well that usually come from tight, new shoes.

The shoe is cushioned and form-fitting. The grips on the bottom are better than most, which is ideal to help little ones grip the floor more easily.

These washed well. I don’t typically dry my toddler’s shoes, because they shrink and when toddler shoes cost as much as a pair of adult shoes, I prefer to make them last.

These shoes are $57.00 on the pediped website. While I love the shoes immensely, I’d like to see a lower price point geared towards the typical American middle-class family. I typically spend $30 on a pair of shoes for my toddler and because he needs 3-4 pairs of shoes per year, I can’t justify spending nearly $60 on a regular basis. That being said, vegan shoes are typically quite a bit pricier than the average shoe and this is no average shoe.

Note the tab on the top that helps

BurritoBuzz gives pediped serious props. Their shoes are high quality and our littles love them. Make sure you follow them on social media, too! pediped will be apart of our huge 1st birthday giveaway coming up at the end of September. Get a jump start and head to their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages and show them some love!

– Katie

Delta DX Side by Side Stroller {Review}

Published on September 13, 2016September 8, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

I had been dragging my feet about getting a second double stroller. We have an awesome hand-me-down double jogger that has been well loved, but it’s perfect until it’s not. Almost all double strollers have three things in common:

THEY ARE HUGE, HEAVY AND EXPENSIVE.

Just about every single one on the market. I got to thinking, how long are they really going to tolerate sitting in a stroller? Is it worth spending $300 on the one I really want? In the end my answer was no, it was most definitely not worth it. Even though I didn’t see the value in a super expensive, but more compact double stroller, I also needed something to help me out.

You can’t baby wear all the time. I do a lot, but in some situations it’s just not the easiest. Don’t even get me started on tandem wearing toddlers. Good grief is it a hassle. When we were getting ready to go on vacation, I decided that we had to get something. Long walks, back and forth to the pool, shopping, going in and out of attractions, whatever vacation might bring, I didn’t want to be chasing my toddler and fighting my one year old to stay on my back. I asked some friends what they used and came across this gem of a stroller.

I always thought that umbrella strollers were cheap and not worth my money, but I was incredibly wrong!

Details:

Super compact fold for travel and storage. I can literally shove it under their seats behind my seat, it’s super small!
Two separate canopies
Soft and comfortable handles
360 degree shock absorbing, locking front wheels
Large 6”front and back wheels
Back wheel brakes
JPMA certified and exceeds all ASTM and applicable CPSC standards
Assembled Dimensions (in inches): 22.8 (width) by 36.8 (height) by 18.5 (depth)
Weight: 19.16 lbs
Each seat has a 35 lb weight limit
Fits through standard 30″ wide doorways
Cup holder with 2 attachment points and 2 hanging storage bags
Foot push to collapse and one lever to secure close

Pros:

Assembly was a breeze. All you had to do was pop the wheels on and take some plastic off. It literally took me two minutes.
Super easy to move! You can push it with one finger with the kids in it.
It fits through doors! I haven’t had a door that I couldn’t get through and because it is so compact, you don’t have to have anyone hold the door open for you to get through.
The 35 lb weight limit is great! I know I am going to get a lot of use out of this even though I have large toddlers.
It’s a very smooth ride. I can go in and out of stores, through door ways, over hills, up embankments and over gravel, and my kids stay asleep.
It’s not heavy! I can carry my one year old on one hip, fold the stroller and get it in the car. Thank you Stroller Gods!
Tiny, tiny, tiny. You can fit this stroller into any car and it’s great for travel when you have more than your stroller to put in your trunk. My big jogger literally takes up my entire cargo area.
Cup holder fits adult cups!
Reflective material. The white stripes are reflective, so if you take evening walks, you don’t have to worry about pushing a black stroller and no one seeing it.
It’s inexpensive but high quality. I’ve had this stroller for about a month and have used it almost daily. There is no sign of any wear and tear and nothing feels cheap or like it’s going to break. If I didn’t tell you that it was cheap, you wouldn’t know it!
Delta Children City Street Side by Side Stroller, Black

Cons:

The canopies are small and don’t really do a whole lot. I didn’t purchase it with a canopy in mind, but after a few times of walking directly into the sun, I wish I would have taken the very small canopy into consideration. I throw an Aden + Anais swaddle` over them and it’s fine, but that’s not always convenient.
The wheels are super small, making rough terrain difficult to navigate.
The description on their site and on Amazon says that it has a “Large Under-Frame Storage Bag” and it does not. I thought I would be able to slide a diaper bag under the seats or something and that is not the case. There are the two small hanging bags on the back of the seat that work nicely for a few diapers and wipes, but that is about all they can hold.
Advertised as a 5 point harness and it’s not.
The handles are short (as are most umbrella strollers). I am 5’4″ and I have no problem, but my 5’11” husband wasn’t too happy with them after a while.

Overall, this stroller is amazing! My complaints are small and I do not regret purchasing it at all. A few changes would make it a little better, but for the amazing price, it can’t be beat! If you have a second little one on the way, this is definitely a must have!

– Amanda

Momma’s Little Helper Day Planner {Review}

Published on September 12, 2016September 8, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

As parents, we know that time management is essential. So essential that we write things down, put alarms on our phones, put sticky notes throughout our homes, we sync our phone’s calendars with your spouse’s and if you’re like me, you also put everything into a physical planner.

Maybe it’s overkill, maybe I am crazy, but this mom-brain that I have going on is no joke. It starts out as pregnancy-brain because your tiny little human is sucking out your brain cells, and then it turns into exhaustion that I am pretty sure is never ending.

I couldn’t have been happier when Momma’s Little Helper contacted us! With the school year starting, I have zero time to forget things and my old planner was just about done.

This day planner is not like any other because it was made specifically with busy moms. From cover to cover, it is detailed and designed to make your life easier!

About this awesome day planner:

It comes in two styles, flowers and damask.
“Academic planner.” There is plenty of room to write down assignments and projects you have to help your kids with, as well as school functions, classmate info and much more.
Plenty of space for your agenda & notes
Pockets on the inside of front and back covers.
Notes pages for each month unlike most planners with just a small column or one page in the back.
August 2016 – July of 2017 and their 2017 January to December daily & weekly planners will be available in October 2016.
240 pages gives you plenty of space to write down to-do lists and whatever else you may need.
Inspirational quotes and tips on every page.
Awesome price! Currently it’s only $12.95.
For stay at home moms: my planner stays in my diaper bag or purse almost 100% of the time. I like to physically write things down to help me remember them. I like that there are pages for emergency numbers, household contacts and family medical information. If I leave my kids at the sitter’s or a sitter is at my house, I can simply show them where to find the info without having to worry if they know everything in case of an emergency.

It’s small! It is only 8.5″ x 6″, so it fits in most purses and diaper bags. The pockets are the perfect size for receipts, notes, coupons, whatever odds and ends you might not want floating around your bag.
Space for to-do lists and other lists right inside the planner
For working moms: (Katie here, your resident working mom, busy body) I utilize a planner every single day. Not only would I lose my mind without a physical planner, but I also love to look back at my old planners and be nostalgic (you know, about years when I was busy going to the movies and on dates instead of arranging child care and pediatric appointments). I plan my life months in advance, so it’s ideal to be able to have a paper planner in front of me so that I can quickly flip to a date to see what I already have planned.

Nice, long columns for all of the important stuff I need to keep track of!

Likes: the front pocket. The front pocket of my planner usually contains all kinds of chaos that has been paper-clipped in. Now, I have a nice little pocket to hoard all kinds of ridiculous things in. The detailed front pages are fantastic. While I personally will never utilize any of the cooking tip pages (trophy wife of the year, I know) I’m sure plenty of other moms will love these pages. The tips at the top are fabulous. I love random trivia anyway, so I really love seeing it on each page. The layout is great and leaves plenty of space for details, and the quality of the planner is also really good.

Dislikes: I wish this planner had tabs like my current one does. Each month in my current planner has an easy-to-find tab that makes flipping through really easy. While this isn’t a huge downfall, it’s a nice perk and would be great to see in the next edition of this planner. Also, I find that this product could easily be marketed towards dads, too. Stay at home dads, working dads, coaches and dads that just like to use planners would also find it very beneficial. I’d like to see a product geared towards parents putting us all on a level playing field (though, if I saw my husband using a planner I might actually die of shock. He isn’t exactly organized).

Old planner on the left (almost outdated) and new planner on the right. Comparable in size and quality!

If you’re looking for a way to organize your day to day activities, Momma’s Little Helper is definitely the way to go. Be sure to check them out on Facebook and Instagram!

Happy planning!

– Amanda and Katie

**BurritoBuzz received these products 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.**

27 Steps to Being an Awesome Stay-at- Home-Mom

Published on September 9, 2016September 9, 2016 by AmandaLeave a comment

Wake up before your kids.
Schedule your meals and cook ahead to save time.
Always plan time for your own physical activity.
Have a set routine.
Be sure to have naptime and meals at the same time every day.
Schedule your cleaning and only tackle one chore a day.
Don’t forget to have play dates.
This list is a bunch of crap… Sorry about the click bait.

If you’re a stay at home parent, you’re laughing hysterically at this list because 99% of the time all of those are virtually impossible.

I am so sick of seeing Mommy Blog posts about “How to be a Stay at Home Mom”

10 Things To Ensure You Are A Great Stay At Home Mom

6 Ways To Be A Productive Stay At Home Mom

How To Afford Being a Stay At Home Mom

Habits of an Effective Stay At Home Mom

It’s all a bunch of malarkey. You want to know why? Because it looks different for every single mom. Heck, sometimes it looks completely different and it’s a stay at home dad.**gasp** I’m guilty though, because yes, I do click on and read almost all of them. Hoping and praying that somehow this little circus that I got myself into can be more manageable. Honestly, I wish I had an answer for all of your stay at home mom questions, but I don’t. I have tips and tricks that have worked for me and my family, but I guarantee that they won’t work for everyone.

What will help is some brutal honesty.

You will never sleep. Like ever. It just doesn’t happen. We get the kids to bed, I try to get some chores done, spend time with my husband, get ready for bed and by the time I am in bed it is 11pm. In two or three hours, my 2 year old will be up wandering the halls asking for her soccer ball or something ridiculous. After getting her back to bed, I lay back down and generally get another 2 hours of sleep because one or both of my little ones are up at 5 AM every day. Every single day. Today it was 4:45…

3 or 4 hours of sleep at night on repeat. My husband works nights, so sleep is just out of the questions for like, ever. Getting up early for “me time” and to get ready for the day is hilarious.

I have some OCD tendencies but I despise housework. It’s not that I don’t do it. My house is almost always spotless. Especially if we are planning on having company over. I do it, but that doesn’t mean I like it. Your chores never go away. It is a constant stream of dishes, laundry, vacuuming, picking up, dusting, washing the floors, cleaning up outside, cleaning up after pets, picking up toys. Your house never gets a break. No one is at work and daycare all day. It is constantly getting filthy. It might not stay that way for long, but you never stop moving. Between chasing kids and picking up toys, you don’t sit down a whole lot. I never understand when people say they love doing dishes or laundry. I never used to hate it, but I do now. It’s a constant chore that never ends. Someone always has something dirty in their room or on them, and there is always a sippy cup or snack cup hidden away that needs washed.

I told my husband the other day that I am an awesome stay at home mom but I suck at being a housewife. There are many days when I am asked what’s for dinner and the answer is “whatever you can find and you better use paper products.”

It’s hard. Our job is never done.

Your coworkers like to touch you a lot, they are mean sometimes and they don’t do a whole lot of work. Quietly sitting at the computer typing this post and que the 2 year old that just jumped on my back requesting a “pony ride.” There is also a 1 year old over in the corner emptying a basket full of freshly folded clothes on top of the very hairy lab.

You’re never alone. There isn’t a lot of explanation for this. It’s simple. You are your children’s everything, so that means they have to be attached to you all day long. Good luck with your coffee break. I just warmed mine up for the 3rd time this morning.

People will ask you if you want help all the time. Believe it or not, I really can do this. I have two kids and taking them to the store with me is my job. Cleaning my house with kids at home is my job, among many other things.

I will let you spend time with my kids, and sometimes, yes you do need to get out, but I promise you can do chores and things without people helping you all the time. Help is nice. I have been getting better about letting people give me a hand, but just be warned. People have this attitude that because you didn’t wash your hair today that you must need help. It’s annoying and approaching disrespectful. If I was anyone else doing a hard job, would you offer to give me a break because I had a long day? This is a 24/7 job and I am well aware that I signed up for a crazy job.

When are you getting a real job? ……Please ask me that one more time, I dare you. People even say “I just could never stay home and not work, I would have to get a real job and provide for my child.” So when you are at your “real job”, do you hire a real person to watch your kids or a fake one? People are ignorant, say it to your face and want an actual answer, like what they said wasn’t the stupidest thing you’ve ever heard. I am warning you now, if you haven’t heard it already, you will.

Being a homebody isn’t a bad thing. I love being at home. Ever heard of yoga pants and leggings? An endless supply of coffee and baby breath? Keep it coming. I literally have to pump myself up to go out with friends. Don’t get me wrong, I love my friends. I love spending time with other adults. I know it is important. I just like my kids, my coffee, my Netflix and my blog more than dinner and drinks.

“Affording” to be a stay at home mom isn’t easy. Affording is in quotes because I am still trying to figure that out. I am not a couponer. I shop sales and I shop at Aldi. We don’t do a lot of extra stuff, we are a middle class suburban family and I am happy that way. We don’t always get all the new shiny things we want, and there are times that I look back at a month when we had extra expenses and wonder how we did it. But you make it. I promise that there is always a way that things work out. All we knew was that we could pay all of our bills and a little more on one income, that we wanted the kids to have me 24/7, until they were at least in school and that we were going to make it work.

You will never regret the decision to stay home and it is so much fun! I have always wanted to be a stay at home mom. Luckily, my dream came true. Such a simple dream. There is never a bad day when I say “if I could just clock out and go to work.” You will never regret getting extra time with your kids. Getting to see every single milestone unfold before your eyes. Teaching them everything and watching them learn from you. It really is a gift. Don’t take it lightly and don’t brag to your working mom friends about it either.

Not everyone can do it. Being a stay at home mom is not for everyone and there is nothing wrong with that. Working parents are beyond awesome! I have a friend who is an amazing mother but would lose her mind if she was surrounded by her kids all day. Not everyone can do it and that’s completely normal. If you are a working parent, don’t feel bad about working. You spend time and teach your children in your own way, and provide them with awesome caregivers.

Time is fleeting and whatever time we get with our tiny humans is a blessing.

Now that this written maybe I wrote it for myself, to make me feel better. I don’t know. I just hope that someone can relate and has days where they feel like this is the craziest job on the planet, too. ❤

– Amanda

When you stop bending your life…

Published on September 8, 2016August 28, 2016 by Katie KuceyeskiLeave a comment

I just saw Bad Moms this week, and I relate on so many levels it’s almost scary…

All of the BurritoBuzz moms know how busy I am. I know that everyone is busy, and that “busy” is just a state of being when you’re in your mid to late twenties. Life doesn’t stop. And if you let it stop, you’re either 1. Dead. 2. Homeless or 3. Eating Doritos on your couch binge watching Stranger Things (no judgement). If you read this blog, you know that I take busy to a whole new level. I work, own a business, write for BB, hike, am a gym rat when time allows and raise the most beautiful, amazing 18 month old (in addition to somehow keeping a clean home). And sometimes, when things come up, I inconvenience my entire daily routine to appease others. I like doing things. If you’ve heard people being termed “do-ers,” that’s me. I can’t sit still. And while I like doing things, because it makes me feel fulfilled, sometimes doing things means bringing unneeded chaos into my life, out of the fear of offending someone by not doing said things.

But here’s the thing: outside of the things I have to do, I shouldn’t be bending my life unless I want to. Things that used to take precedence in my life have been moved to the back burner.

Need a card for a birthday party but it’s nap time? Too bad, we’re going to color a card instead of going to the store. (Aren’t handmade cards better anyway?)

Impromptu friend get together at my toddler’s bedtime? #WholeLottaNope Changing that tiny human’s sleep schedule makes everyone miserable. Want me to go out past 10pm? Also, a big fat no. With a toddler that gets up at 5am-6am, this mama requires sleep.

Want to have a huge family gathering, but it’s hot as shit and there’s nothing he’s going to want to do outside of ripping your breakables from your shelves? Hard pass.

My once feelings of guilt for not always saying “yes” have subsided. Because let’s face it, the sanity of my family is infinitely more important. And while I firmly believe that life shouldn’t stop when you have a baby and that you should integrate them into your typical life happenings, some things are just more hassle than what they’re worth. When life is a constantly revolving door of work, unpaid Uber driving for my toddler and trying to make sure that I at least have enough food in the fridge to feed him, the last thing I should be worrying about is the impression I’m leaving on others when I do or do not participate in events.

So, my guilt? Gone.Thankfully, most of my friends and family remember the days of having small children and understand fully that we do what we can, when we can. We try to see everyone and participate in life, but they understand that life happens and that tiny humans are unpredictable. But to the occasional person that forgets these things, or just doesn’t realize how truly exhausting and long the days are, please forgive us. Our lives are ruled by tiny dictators and sometimes a nap for a grumpy toddler trumps the party that we missed.

– Katie

FunBites: Making Mealtime Fun

Published on September 7, 2016September 1, 2016 by Casey Sehm1 Comment

Toddlers are picky. I think it’s just ingrained in our DNA that when we’re between the ages of 1 and 5, we’re picky little turds. My almost four year old is beyond picky. The one and only food that she is guaranteed to eat is potatoes: french fries, mashed potatoes, tater tots, potato-filled pierogies and hash browns. That’s it. It’s really hard getting her to try
new foods or to eat anything other than potatoes. I’m guessing (hoping) it’s a normal toddler thing. I set out to find something to help me get her to eat different kinds of foods and found FunBites. I reached out to FunBites and they were awesome enough to send me one of their Bite-Sized Food Cutter Sets.

FunBites is the first and only food cutter set that creates bite-sized fun for little ones! Each set included a patented curved, little finger safe blade cutter with matching popper (to easily pop the food out). It’s BPA free, dishwasher safe and made in the USA (which we love)! It’s CPSC children’s product compliant, making it safe for little ones 18 months and older. You might have seen FunBites on Shark Tank in 2015, too! I now remember seeing their pitch and thought it was genius!

We were sent Jackie the Dreamer, the orange triangle set. There are several designs available: squares in green or yellow, hearts in pink or red, triangles in orange or blue and limited edition Minions goggles! Once I got the cutter out of the box, I explained to my daugher what exactly it was. I said it cuts food, like sandwiches and fruit, into triangles. She immediately asked for a peanut butter sandwich and I happily obliged (remember, she doesn’t eat much of anything). I washed the cutter and made the sandwich then put the cutter directly onto the sandwich and rocked it back and forth, to make sure each part is cut all the way through. Once rocked enough, Iined up the popper, pushed it down and popped out the triangles. It was so easy! I placed the triangles on a plate and my little one devoured them. She actually asked for two more triangle sandwiches! What?! She ate every single piece! I will be ordering the other shapes as well to make more creative dishes for her and her little sister once she’s old enough.

If you’re looking to spice up mealtime and get your picky eater to actually want to eat, try FunBites and get creative! They’re perfect for kids, parents, grandparents, schools and daycares, anyone who wants to add some fun to mealtime! You can even get your kids to help you in the kitchen and have them create a little masterpiece to eat. I give FunBites a 5 out of 5 stars. The price is right at $9.99, although I think a bundle of two or three cutters at a discounted price would be great to offer. It’s easy and gets kids to eat. What more could a mom ask for?

Follow FunBites on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on sales and new designs!

– Casey