Category: gear

Camp Warner Bros. Super Hero Training + DC LEGO: Shazam! Magic and Monsters

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

For week 1 of Camp Warner Bros., we were super busy with Super Hero Training. In honor of LEGO DC: Shazam! Magic and Monsters, we were tasked with super hero training. Guys, it’s like we’ve been training for this our whole lives!

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Since we were traveling and visiting family this week, we were still able to squeak in our training and then some. We loved the way Batman led the training and kept us excited about becoming superheroes. Josh is well versed in superhero training since he’s always “on guard” with his super hero imagination, he absolutely loved this task! And what a perfect task it was to get us pumped for LEGO DC: Shazam! Magic and Monsters. We can’t wait to watch this one! Check out the description below!

 

About LEGO® DC: Shazam! Magic and Monsters:

10-year-old Billy Batson shouts a single word and, with lightning bolts flashing, he transforms into Shazam!, a full-fledged adult Super Hero. It doesn’t take long for Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman and the rest of the Justice League to take notice and invite the earnest do-gooder to join the team. But to become a member, Billy must reveal his true identity. While fighting off the evil Mr. Mind and Black Adam, Billy learns that he must trust others – and that nothing creates trust like helping those in need. Join the good fight with this giant-sized LEGO DC adventure!

Happy Summer + Camp Warner Bros, Here We Come!

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Happy summer, friends! I’m sure you guys are just as thrilled for the summer as we are! After all that distance learning and pandemic teaching, I’m so excited to let loose and enjoy these carefree summer days.

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Since most of our camps and activities for the summer have been canceled, we’ve been on the hunt for fun activities. Well, lucky us, we were invited to participate in Camp Warner Bros! With Camp Warner Bros, we’ll be doing various activities and checking out several Warner Bros movies and shows over the next few weeks.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be checking out LEGO DC, Steven Universe, We Bare Bears: The Movie and so much more. With each movie or show, we’ll be sharing a fun activity with you! I plan to share our shenanigans over on TikTok, so be on the look out over there!

Our first activity was a super fun tie die kit with our camp shirts. I love how they turned out—so much so, we did a TikTok to show them off! Be sure to follow along on the #CampWarnerBros hashtag.

 

 

Happy Last Day of School + Free Last Day of School Quarantine Printables

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

What a school year, huh?

Like most of you, I’ve been busy trying to stay afloat with distance learning and navigating this chaotic normal. I won’t even call it “new” because it’s not really new after 3 months now. After being home this long, we have our routines down. And thank goodness, the regular school year is o-v-e-r. We barely made it, but we did it.

I was never really worried about my middle schooler because, thank goodness, he’s adapted well to his study habits. Now, that’s not to say, he’s perfect. He missed quite a few assignments as he got so complacent with the virtual school, but a few nudges, and he was ok.

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It was my younger guy who needed a lot of hugs and literal hand-holding. Little man went from having a team of special education teachers and aides to…me. Like so many kids in his predicament, he got the short end of the stick. Kids with different learning needs just can’t adapt as easily as other students when it comes to distance learning and curriculum shifts. With his different processing delays, my boys thrived with in-person instruction and one-on-one assistance. Sadly, we didn’t see any of that during quarantine until we hired a tutor at the end.

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Nevertheless, we prevailed. Since my work situation has gone through its own upheaval, as has so many others, I am able to devote my time to helping my little guy with ESY and regrouping after this chaotic last few months!

I’ve focused on toys and entertainment over the years, but I’m hoping to hop back into blogging with some printable and fun summer activities since it looks like summer is taking us down a different path this year!

So, to start, here’s a free quick printable for the last day of school, in case you’re still finishing up this week like we did! I just made K-6th grade, so if you need a different grade let me know! There’s no watermark on the downloads.

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Tag me on Insta (@jenrab) if you decide to print out and use it.

New York Baby Show Set for May 18 and 19 + Ticket Giveaway

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

It’s the time of year again when all things spring and all things baby start to permeate in my world! With several friends just having given birth or recently announcing that they’re expecting, the baby love is something fierce these days.

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I always love covering baby gear and baby news here on NKT. After all, the latest and greatest in baby gear is what got me started in the blogging realm.

And speaking of babies, The New York Baby Show is once again setting up camp at Pier 94. I hope you can join us for all the awesome new baby gear and fun!

 

The 2019 New York Baby Show, on May 18 & 19 at Pier 94 will once again be the largest show for new and expectant parents in the country. Now in its 9th year, no other event provides a better experience for thousands of expectant and new families from New York and neighboring counties, seeking a family-friendly jamboree of top brands, great speakers and seminars, big giveaways, and lots of learning, support, bonding, and fun as you make your way into parenthood. We are giving away tickets for you and your family to experience the show. See below for details… etc. Normal ticket price is $30 per family (for 2 adults and up to 4 children), and $20 per individual. Now, just for NKT readers, I have 25 free tickets to giveaway! This is first come, first served. Once all the tickets are gone, the code will no longer work. To grab your FREE New York Baby Show Tickets, go HERE!

Did you miss the free tickets? You can still grab 50% off for family or single tickets Here!

Full disclosure: This is a sponsored post. As always, thank you for supporting The Next Kid Thing

What to Buy: vineyard vines for Target + NYC Pop Up

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Get ready to celebrate summer with the season’s most awaited collab: vineyard vines for Target. Set to launch in stores and online on May 18, vineyard vines for Target is getting a head start with a summery reveal and pop up at Brookfield Place.

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Boasting more than 300 items in this collaboration, this line features the clean-cut, classic and fun designs that vineyard vines fans already love. What makes this collaboration so appealing is the accessibility and desirable price tags. With items as inexpensive as $10, and most items under $35, vineyard vines for Target could be another sell-out hit.

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Ranging from diaper bags to beach towels to ladies’ sundresses to men’s pullovers, vv for Target has something for every member of the family. This collaboration not only features clothing, but also housewares and travel accessories, perfect for beach outings and vacations.

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I had the chance to shop the collection at the launch party last night in NYC. The event had a fun Nantucket vibe, complete with oyster shuckers, a lobster shack and a summery photo opp. Word on the street is that there were quite a few celebs onhand. I was too busy shopping and oggling at all the fun vineyard vines clothes that I finally don’t have to feel guilty about buying!

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In contrast to the sweatshirts in vineyard vines boutiques, the pullovers in this line are right around $35—And don’t forget to use your Redcard for that 5% discount! Other items that I love in this collection include that wagon, all those amazing bags, coordinating shorts, $10 t-shirts and the versatile throws and blankets.

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I’m so ready for this gray weather to be done so we can have a picnic in all of our vineyard vines gear. 😉

For now, check out what I found at the NYC pop up. The vineyard vines pop up at Brookfield Place is open May 10-12, where you can shop and enjoy fun activities. 

vineyard vines for Target drops in stores and online on May 18.

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard Launch Affordable, Accessible Baby Care Line Called Hello Bello

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

As if we didn’t love them enough, Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard have launched a new line of baby products called Hello Bello. The brand, which is as adorable as it sounds, is geared to be an affordable line of premium products. Exclusive to Walmart, Hello Bello’s line of plant-based products are intended to be accessible to anyone.

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A few months ago, I attended a media event to celebrate the launch of Hello Bello. Because they’re everyone’s favorite mom and dad, it was a packed house. It was great to hear them speak so candidly about parenthood, their marriage and the impetus behind their latest endeavor.

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As a celebrity couple, they acknowledged that they have access to so much. Growing up in the midwest with limited resources, Bell and Shepard acknowledge that their friends, family and many others don’t always have access to affordable, high quality items. With sustainability and price consciousness in mind, the couple embarked on creating a product line that anyone can afford and also feel good about using on their baby’s skin.

Hello Bello will launch with 10 products across multiple SKUs, ranging in price from $1.88 to $23.94, with the majority under $8. Parents can expect products formulated with safe and effective ingredients, including organic botanicals when possible; delivering greater comfort and performance including Diapers, Wipes, Shampoo & Body Wash, Bubble Bath, Baby Lotion, Diaper Rash Cream, Hand Sanitizer, Mineral Sunscreen, Bug Spray and Laundry Detergent.

“We know parenting is hard enough as it is,” shared co-founder Dax Shepard. “Parents shouldn’t have to choose between what’s good for their baby and good for their budget. That’s why we couldn’t ask for a better exclusive retail partner than Walmart, who is making it possible for us to offer premium products at a non-premium price.”

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At the event, we were gifted a collection of some of the products. I’ve since shared them with some fellow baby mamas who are praising the quality Hello Bello. Of note, I’m completely obsessed with the diaper prints and the poop slogan. How can you not?

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I’ve been using the lotion after my shower. The natural smell of the lotion is pleasant and not overpowering. It has a very thick consistency, which is great for babes, but almost too thick for my personal liking.

Bell and Shepard have become quite the powerhouse in relatable endorsements, specifically in the parenting category, so it’s interesting that they’ve launched their own brand alongside of their business partners. I can’t wait to see this brand flourish.

Hello Bello is available at Walmart stores and online.

 

Full Disclosure: I received a gift bag at the event. As always opinions on NKT are my own.

Winter Fun at Liberty Science Center with Doc McStuffins and Sherlock Holmes Exhibits

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

When it comes to educational winter fun, Liberty Science Center has it covered! The other week, Josh and I were invited to a blogger event to experience a few new exhibits at the Liberty Science Center, as well as enjoy some cool science experiments.

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The super fun and interactive exhibit, Doc McStuffins focuses on the popular Disney Junior series. This imaginative exhibit allows kids to put on a doctor’s coat and stethoscope to examine toys, just like Doc McStuffins would. Kids of all ages can hang with Lambie, Hallie and Doc to examine, treat, wash and care for their animals at the Pet Vet. CD0831D5-AA96-4DF9-8859-EB6E1524E4A1

Josh’s favorite part of this exhibit was definitely using the X-ray to make sure things were A-ok! The Doc McStuffins exhibit will run through January 27, 2019.

 

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Another very cool exhibit that we got to explore was the International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes. 

 

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This interesting exhibit allows future detectives to examine clues such as footprints, splatters and other observations through and interactive journey of solving a case. This exhibit does a great job of combining science, history and culture to bring Sherlock Holmes’ stories to life. 

422DCBE7-6D8C-439C-8FFD-C7173D4E4414 19946F3C-6F61-49E5-A9DC-7EC29BA6F7B1Even though some of the concepts were way over my 6 year old’s head, we thought this exhibit was so well done. It was definitely an immersive experience that older kids, teens and adults can enjoy unlocking clues together. I’d say some parts were borderline suspenseful and creepy! This exhibit is a Premium Exhibition and can be enjoyed as part of a combination pass ($29.95 for adults and $24.95 for kids.)

 

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Beyond the cool new exhibits, as always LSC has other fun happenings. In particular, LSC has the 12 Days of Science  that starts in December 26th and runs through New Year’s Day. Among the fun happenings of this event include Slapshot Hockey, TP Blizzard, Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Show, Owls: Hunters of the Sky and Penguin Pointers. 

1948B936-FEB8-45D8-A8CC-47982A69D74EAs part of the media event, we were treated to a taste of the Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream Show, where the presenters made ice cream out of liquid nitrogen, vanilla and cream. 

After carefully mixing the ingredients and stirring diligently, the kids were amazed to see the results of fresh ice cream. And, as if fresh ice cream wasn’t enough, the kids were treated to a quick blast of a taste of Bernoulli’s Principle and an ample TP Bizzard. You haven’t seen happy kids until you’ve seen kids showered with rolls and rolls of toilet paper!

 

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LSC will always be one of our family’s favorite places to go, especially in the winter months. We can spend hours upon hours exploring exhibits and indulging in the different shows. There’s truly something for everyone in the family at LSC!

 

 

 

84B8910C-5B72-44D0-A447-39E4F5BE92A3A treat for me was getting to see some of my best blogging buddies! A big thanks to LSC and Momtrends for hosting us and showing us a great time! 

Full disclosure: this is a sponsored post. We were hosted at this event and received a stipend to share about this news. As always, opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting NKT.

Starlink: Battle of Atlas Gameplay and Review

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

 Several weeks ago, we had the chance to check out the new game, Starlink: Battle of Atlas at the Nintendo Store in NYC.

 

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As avid gamers, the boys were onboard to check things out at the Nintendo Store and to learn all about the ins and outs of Starlink from one of the producers.

 

A little primer on Starlink: Battle of Atlas: this game is an action-adventure game where players assemble a custom  Starship mounted to your game controller to launch into an interplanetary expedition. 

 

 

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The beauty of this game is that it fills the void between kiddie video games and violence-based games. The adventures are enough to keep kids entertained for an engaging gameplay. Starlink was designed by parents of tweens so that their own children had an option for video games. 

 

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As a mom with a tween who is beginning to explore the online presence of gaming, I appreciate that Starlink has a closed environment that offers a sense of security while giving my kid a game that has depth. Thank goodness that I don’t have to worry about my guy chatting with strangers online as he plays. That’s just something we’re not ready for quite yet.

Above all, Starlink is a game that can keep tweens engaged and interested in a challenging game while on an interplanetary expedition. It evokes a bit of Guardians of the Galaxy meets Star Wars. Unlike other adventure games with proprietary pieces, you don’t need to buy more than the starter kit to have extended play without investing more. 


Check out the gameplay we did at the Nintendo Store with lots of insider info from one of the producers of the game:

While this game was a bit over my 6 year old’s head, this game is an ideal fit for my 11 year old who plays Fortnite and other games. Starlink: Battle of Atlas is a great adventure game for kids who crave battle, yet don’t need violence or complicated subject matters.

 

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On the hun for a cool new game for your tween and up? Be sure to check out Starlink: Battle of Atlas from Ubisoft. Starlink: Battle of Atlas is available for Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One. The starter kit retails for $39.99.

 

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Full disclosure: This is a sponsored post, and I received this game to review. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting NKT.

 

 

Delivering Smiles: Donate to Toys for Tots with Alexa

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Amazon has done it again. The online retailer has made shopping for daily items, including holiday purchases, as easy as clicking a button. Taking their #DeliveringSmiles movement to the next level, Amazon is now helping families give gifts to charity with the ease of asking Alexa. Customers can now donate to Toys for Tots with Alexa, with a simple command: “Donate to Toys for Tots.” 

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Amazon kicked off Giving Tuesday by launching a new, easy way for customers to donate a toy to a child in need. Customers can now donate a toy to Toys for Tots via Alexa by simply saying, “Alexa, donate to Toys for Tots.” This is the first time that customers can donate a product to a charity via voice shopping and better yet, Amazon will be matching customer donations throughout the end of the year – toy for toy – doubling customers’ contributions!

As a family who volunteers regularly, including giving back to our community and donating to organizations such as Toys to Tots every holiday, I love that Amazon is leveraging Alexa to help families give to those in need. We consistently use the Smile program to give back to organizations that are important to us, so the Toys for Tots and Alexa initiative makes our love for Amazon that much greater.

More Ways to Use Alexa to Be Charitable

Amazon shared more ways that you can support a cause this holiday season:

  • Alexa Donations: Customers who wish to make a monetary donation to the charity of their choice outside of Toys for Tots are still able to do so. Simply say, “Alexa, I want to make a donation” to get started.
  • Charity Lists: New this holiday season, customers can shop Charity Lists and donate an item to their favorite charity. Charity Lists is a new feature that provides non-profits an easy way to create lists while providing a convenient way for customers to donate needed items to the charity of their choice with the reassurance the curated list is managed by the charity. Customers can shop Charity Lists from hundreds of charities by visiting smile.amazon.com/charitylists.
  • AmazonSmile: AmazonSmile is a way for customers to support their favorite charity every time they shop with Amazon, at no extra cost. Customers who start their shopping at smile.amazon.com will find the same Amazon they know, the added extra is that AmazonSmile will donate a portion of the purchase price of eligible items to the charity they choose.

Be sure to check out this out on Amazon. We’ll be making our donations this weekend! Let me know if you guys donate to Toys for Tot with Alexa!

Full disclosure: this is a sponsored post. As always, opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting NKT.

DIY Files: Free Father’s Day Printable Card

by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Looking for a last minute card for Dad? We’ve got you covered! This free printable Father’s Day card saves you a trip to the store and is ready with just a couple of clicks.

In the mad dash to wrap everything up for school, somehow once again, Father’s Day crept up on us. We don’t do major gifts for Father’s Day or Mother’s Day, but rather, we try to enjoy experiences together. To go along with these experiences, I try to get the kids to do a DIY craft or something or another. So, in honor of Father’s Day, I created this super simple free printable card. 

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Quick Printable

I have a pack of blank cards from Michael’s that I try to keep onhand. By the way, this pack of 50 blank cards from Recollections is a must-have in my craft arsenal. Handwritten notes are not dead, and it’s a quick and inexpensive way to send something truly personal. I bought this pack when it was on sale for just $4.99. People, that’s 10 cents a card! For the first file, I included this awesome Dad Legend file that I bought from Design Bundles. I love their work and use it for a lot of my crafting projects. I had to make these cards for myself, so I wanted to share the love with you guys! So, enjoy! If you download this file, please remember that this is for personal use only. This card file makes a 5x 6.5 card. After you print, just fold the card in half. The image will be on the front of the card. Just click the image below to head to the file.

 

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I created another quick card that can be printed out on a regular 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper. This graphic is also from Design Bundles and evokes a fun feel. My dad is definitely my hero, and I’m sure many of your kids feel the same about their dads! This file also appears flush right and will appear on the front of the card once it’s printed and folded in half. This file is for personal use only. Thanks for sharing and pinning these fun and free printables!

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Dad, the Man, the Myth, the Legend card can be found here.

Daddy is my hero card can be found here.