big kids – The Next Kid Thing

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

May 10, 2019 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.

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.

VineyardvinesforTarget

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.

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!

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.

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.

DIY Files: Free Father’s Day Printable Card

June 14, 2018 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.

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.

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!

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

Daddy is my hero card can be found here.

Royal Wedding Crafts: DIY Fascinator for Kids

May 18, 2018May 19, 2018 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

The Royal Wedding of Harry and Meghan Markle is upon us, and amidst all the solemn happenings in the world today, this real-life fairy tale is a welcomed diversion.

In honor of the wedding, we came up with a quick, easy and fun DIY fascinator for kids. We wanted to be dressed for the occasion, even if we’ll be in PJs.

DIYFascinator

Fascinators are fabulous accessories that are not quite a hat, but more a clip with fancy flair. Fascinators date back to the Renaissance and were typically worn by women. These accessories are often adorned with feathers, netting, tulle and other exquisite textiles. Hats and fascinators are staples at the Royal Wedding, so we wanted to dress the part at home. Josh is aware that fascinators are for ladies, but he obliged me with this fun project.

Supplies

And because we’re fancy, we’ve created fascinators with supplies that we already had at home. No trip to the milliner for these fancy accessories!

For supplies, you’ll need a round base, either a small plate or coffee filters. The rest of the supplies should be what you’ll decorate your fascinator with: tulle, fabric, jewels, stickers. You should also have a pair of scissors, glue, hole puncher and ribbon or string.

There’s no right or wrong way to create your fascinator. Josh went the paper plate route, while I went the coffee filter route. The paper plate was a bit harder to work with since it doesn’t conform a well to your head.

I chose the coffee filter since it was light and easy to decorate. Before decorating the fascinator, you should make the holes on either side of the plate or coffee filter. These holes should be directly across from each other and somewhat even. This is where the ribbon or string will go.

Next, take the scissor and make several smaller slits, big enough to poke fabric ro tull through, but small enough so that it can’t fully fit. After you’ve made the slits, just tuck the tulle into the slits. Tulle was the best to work with since it’s light, yet stiff. Once the tulle is positioned to how you like it, it’s time to bedazzle and decorate.

Josh wanted some ribbons, I wanted more gems. Go to town until the fascinator is as basic or extra as you wish! This craft is meant to be easy enough for little kids to do, so there’s no need to make it more complicated than it has to be; trust me, I’m good at complicating crafts!

Once things are in place, it’s time to feed the ribbons through the holes. Once you feed the ribbon through the holes, tie it into a knot on both sides. Once you complete the finishing touches, try on the fascinator. Many people choose to wear their fascinators on a tilt on the side of their head. It’s your fascinator, so you choose! And there you have it! You can dress up for the royal wedding with your unique fascinator in just minutes!

I’m especially excited for this wedding because I’ve always admired Harry’s candor and the way the couple are both champions for charitable causes. I love what Meghan symbolizes; she’s an American actress who has paved her way with her intelligence and style, and who happens to be biracial. We can’t wait to watch the wedding!

If you check out the wedding, don’t forget to check out all the great hats and fascinators!

Thomas and Friends Birthday Fun

February 13, 2018 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

My little guy recently celebrated his sixth birthday and we had a fun time celebrating. He’s been obsessed with Thomas and Friends for quite some time, but this year, he was especially excited about having a Thomas birthday.

Since we were also celebrating my brother’s wedding on the same weekend, we did our best to make Little’s birthday extra special. In addition to fun Thomas books and special Thomas trains, he was gifted with quite a few fun Thomas playsets.

The highlight of his birthday, however, were his birthday cakes! Yup, plural cakes! He had a Thomas cake in the evening of the rehearsal dinner, as well as a special cake at his party, which was a custom made by a company in Va called Diana’s Sweets.

We got him several brand new tracks that are compatible with Thomas and Friends sets, as well some track accessories from Learning Resources. Thomas and Friends Minis has been a longtime favorite for my train aficionado, especially for its collectibility factor. My cousin gave him the Boost N’ Blast Mini set, which was an immediate hit with all the kids. It was so fun watching the kids blast the Minis into the tubes.

One of the best things I love about the Thomas has is how it encourages STEM learning and discovery. As much as I love my guy growing and flourishing, I want to savor these sweet, innocent days forever—including all the trains and tracks ALL over my house!

Review: Super Heroic Shoes are Super Cool

January 16, 2018 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

We’re slowly but surely getting back into the swing of things after the holidays. With the new year, we like to freshen up our wardrobe, including our sneaker game. My guys have not surprisingly become wanna-be sneaker heads, so we were so excited to have a chance to check out this new line of awesome kicks called Super Heroic.

The brand comes from Jason Mayden, former Nike Senior Global Design Director, with the support of NBA Legend, Magic Johnson, Playground Ventures, and Accel Partners. Super Heroic is designed to provide balance, stability and comfort for children growing and playing. It’s not just the pro version of a sneaker in mini form! Also it comes in super cool silo packing that makes fun noises – equipped with a backpack that morphs into a cape, and even includes stickers and other giveaways bringing out the superhero in every child.

First impressions are key, especially when it comes to kids. Super Heroic definitely got it right when it comes to packaging and creating an awesome first impression. Taking a cue from their superhero theme, Super Heroic’s shoes come in a capsule that twists open, complete with jaw dropping sound effects. My guys were so impressed as soon as they opened the shoes!

The shoes, at first look, are comfortable, sleek and streamlined. There are no flashy lights on the shoes, but instead, they boast a unique fit and closure. I appreciate that the shoes were designed more for function than just aesthetics. They are said to fit more like a sock, so they were snug upon first try. Once my boys got moving, though, they felt the difference in design. The bright blue and green color of Super Heroics make them stand out without being overly flashy like other kids’ shoes.

My younger son has been wearing the shoes daily since we received them for review. I love that they’re versatile and comfortable for him. Since he’s at the age where he’s learning how to tie his shoes, but can’t quite put shoes on by himself all the time, it did takes some time getting used to the tighter fit. Once he broke them in, though, they are his go-to shoes for play and school. Since my son has hypotonia, he is a bit uncoordinated, so shoe fit does matter when it comes to playtime. The shoes provide stability and balance as they suggest, which I absolutely appreciate.

As if the shoes themselves weren’t cool enough, Super Heroic comes with a backpack/cape and stickers. The accessories, though cool, are an added extra. Super Heroic shoes are definitely one of my sons’ favorite shoes, and I can’t wait until they’re a household name and become more accessible. For now, Super Heroic can be found online.

The TMBLR v1 is available at superheroic.com for $79 in sizes 12C-7Y

Full disclosure: we were sent Super Heroic Shoes to review for this post. As always, all opinions on NKT are my own.

Lunch Box Essentials: Best Snacks for Kids at Aldi

May 16, 2017May 17, 2017 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Since I just got back from grocery shopping at Aldi, I have snacks for kids and lunch box essentials on the brain. As we round the bases to the end of the year, lunchbox duties, at least in our house, start to get a bit routine. Always looking to jazz up the lunch box and snacks, I thought I’d round up some of our favorite snacks from our favorite grocery store.

BestSnacksforKidsfromAldi

If you’re not familiar with Aldi, they’re a thriving grocer that’s has been a long standing favorite in Europe. We love Aldi for their small footprint—typically 5 aisles—making grocery shopping a quick in-and-out errand. They’ve committed to refreshing their overall look and selection:

which includes an expanded selection of fresh and organic produce, rolling out Healthier Checklanes that offer smarter options at checkout, and continuing to grow its product lines to offer better-for-you options for families to enjoy, including more gluten-free options and a range of products free of additives, antibiotics and added hormones.

Here are just a few of the many snacks from Aldi that are currently on our lunch box and after school snack rotation:

White Cheddar Puffs

Aldi’s White Cheddar Puffs are a great cheesy snack that isn’t too filling. The fun flavor of the Simply Nature White Cheddar Puffs won the Product of the Year Awards, solidifying them as a favorite pick for lunch boxes. If you’re familiar with that ubiquitous “pirate snack,” then you’re familiar with this style of puff. No dyes or other artificial ingredients, you seriously can’t go wrong with Simply Nature’s White Cheddar Puffs.

Fresh Fruit

I love the inexpensive fresh fruit options at Aldi. From the $2 bananas to the $2 blueberries to the $3 organic apples, there’s always a colorful selection of fresh fruit that are perfect for snacks. Fresh fruit are the original snacks on the go, so you can’t go wrong when grabbing a bag of ripe tangerines!

ALDI Organic Produce

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Mini Bear Grahams

Some of our absolute favorite items from Aldi are the great selection of pre-packaged snacks for lunch boxes. The Mini Bear Graham Snack Packs in honey are a great size for 2 kids’ lunch boxes for the week, with a few to spare for me to pop in my bag for when we’re on the go. The flavor is sweet, but not too sugary sweet. These mini crackers are perfectly sized for littles and bigs’ lunch boxes!

012115 R 5943 HP CheeseSnack ColbyJack

Happy Farms Cheese Snacks

We’re huge cheese eaters in our house, so I love knowing that our cheese from Aldi is free of unnecessary additives and hormones. The prepackaged cheese snacks are super easy to pop into lunch boxes for a quick bite. I love that there are several flavors beyond the usual mozzarella string cheese.

2015 R 44409 SPN ExoticVegetableChips

Vegetable Chips

Vegetable Chips is another staple in my weekly grocery trip. This blend of chips includes sweet potato, taro, batata and parsnips. A healthier alternative to regular potato chips, vegetable chips satisfy the crunchy salty cravings. As part of the Simply Nature brand, the vegetable chips are free from artificial ingredients and preservatives.

There are so many other awesome snacks and treats that are suitable for kids, so these are just a few from our favorites list. If you shop at Aldi, what are your favorites?

Full disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. We love sharing the things we love. Thanks for supporting NKT!

Yowie Chocolate and Toy Surprises

April 10, 2017April 10, 2017 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

If your kids spend any time on YouTube, then you must know that surprise eggs are quite the phenomenon. Actually, anything with a reveal effect is pretty significant for the kiddie YouTube viewers.

Yowie, which makes chocolate toy surprises, has a different take on this fun treat. Yowie are like egg-like chocolate surprises, but instead, they’re monster-shaped chocolates with toys instead. The difference with these toys is that they’re educational toys that teach kids about interesting animals, and in some cases how to help species who may be endangered. To boot, the chocolate is delicious!

Yowie will be at the Think and Fun’s Easter Egg Hunt & Bunny Fun on April 15. YOWIE aims to “Save The Natural World” by promoting wildlife conservation and educating children about ecology and endangered species. More info here: http://www.yowiegroup.com

If you’re looking for a fun treat to include in your Easter baskets, be on the look out for Yowie treats!

Yowie was kind of enough to send us a pack of surprises and my guys had a fun time devouring them! All in a day’s work.

Full disclosure: Samples were provided to facilitate this review. No compensation was received. As always, all opinions are my own.

Watch PBS Kids 24/7

January 30, 2017 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Earlier this month, PBS Kids, the pioneers in children’s programming, introduced a new TV channel and a live stream on digital platforms. PBS stations across the nation are able to broadcast PBS Kids shows like Curious George and Wild Kratts 24 hours a day on an additional television channel and offer a live stream. Kids will have their favorite PBS Kids shows during primetime and after school, or really, whenever they might need it!

Nielsen data demonstrates that live TV is the dominant way children access video, accounting for 68% of the time children spend watching video content. And most of kids’ TV viewing takes place on weeknights and weekend afternoons and evenings – especially within low-income families, underscoring PBS’ mission to reach all children with high quality, educational content.

PBS KIDS 24 7 Infographic

Families will be able to access the new channel on-the-go with the digital live stream which complements on-demand clips and full episodes. Viewers will be able to watch the station-branded live stream through pbskids.org and on the PBS KIDS Video App, which is available on a variety of mobile devices, tablets and over-the-top platforms such as Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Xbox One and Chromecast.

DanielTigersNeighborhoodBugged

PBS Kids is a staple in our home. Since we’re constantly on the go, I love that my little guy can access his favorite shows while he’s waiting for big bro to finish up his sports. For a kiddo with speech delays and unique needs, I’m so grateful that we have access to such excellent programming at home and on the go, regardless of the time of day. Bravo PBS Kids!

New Year, New Toys, New Toy Storage

January 9, 2017 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Hi everyone! I hope your the New Year has been kind and generous to you thus far! I’m still reeling from the Holidays and our trip back home.

To be honest, we’ve been home a week and I’m still wrapping my brain around purging BEFORE I can unpack completely. I’ve been pinning playroom storage, office organization and overall de-cluttering. I’ve bought several new containers to organize, but the fact of the matter is, I need to sit and figure out what we’re keeping, what I’m selling and what we’re donating.

Since I’m writing about it, it’s GOING to happen. ha! We’ll see about that! But, before I get to it, I wanted to post some of the ideas I’ve had about playroom organization.

IKEA Cubbies and Bins

I think the cubby and bin storage system is a popular one for many playrooms, possibly because it’s easy to maintain and affordable. We have something similar to Kallax from IKEA and I’ve put various Threshold bins to store toys.

Kallax shelf unit with inserts white 0480267 PE618835 S4

I’ve found that with this system, however, that my kids tend to “forget” about toys if they can’t see them. That said, I’m going to start labeling the bins with words and images or pictures. I’m going to try stock logos and images first to see how Josh does with this. Since he doesn’t read yet, and is the biggest mess offender, finding what works for him is the most important.

Nerf Peg Board Wall

As you may know, we are huge Nerf fans at our house. We had a big Nerf party and of course, these guns continue to be among the most played-with toys. Even though storage is limited, I still got Jack a giant Nerf gun for Christmas. Y’know, to add to the 30 other giant guns that litter our living room and playroom.

Nerf Imgur

Source: Imgur
I decided a few ago to get the gun madness into control. I want Jack to enjoy the guns and invite him to play whenever he wants, but I don’t want to step all over them and continue finding rogue bullets in my kitchen cabinets.

I’ve seen various ways of Nerf gun storage, but the peg wall is byfar my favorite. The above photo isn’t mine, but it was shared on Imgur. It looks accessible and streamlined. As with any organization method however, I’m sure it only works well if it’s actually implemented. I’ll report back when we finally put our gun storage together!

Closet Rack for Games

I’ve written about this before, but I like keeping our board games in the closet in a fabric organizer. I have to help with this storage method, but for the most part it works. Playroom I try to keep the older games up high and the younger games and puzzles down low so Josh can access those. Without fail, though, it gets messed up over time. But, when I do keep up with it, this system seems to work. I’m going to comb through the games today actually to donate and purge games that have missing pieces or haven’t been played with in awhile. We get so many games to review that I have to do this regularly.

Do you have any playroom organization hacks? What storage systems do you use? I want to hear ‘em!

It’s my hope that the kids can actually play in here again, rather than this being a storage room. In a perfect world, we’d have enough room to film videos for our toy reviews! Fingers crossed. I’m going to tackle the madness, so wish me luck!

Best STEM Toys and Kits

December 21, 2016December 21, 2016 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

With a kid who is obsessed with computers and coding, STEM toys and kits are at the top of our list this year. We’ve had the chance to tinker with various STEM toys. Here are just a few of the many fun toys and kits that have piqued our interest. As of today, these great gifts are still available at select major retailers.

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1. LittleBits

Rule Your Room Kit

It’s no secret that the Maker Movement has been trending and gaining popularity with our budding coders and programmers. LittleBits has created several unique and award-winning STEM kits where kids can create tangible items for themselves. The Rule Your Room Kit contains various bits where kids can create unique inventions like a moving collage for their room. These kits teach coding, electricity, engineering, as well as encourage creativity and confidence. LittleBits has several other kits worth looking into, too! These are among my favorite STEM kits in the very big toy space right now!

2. BoseBuild Speaker

The BoseBuild Speaker is an incredible kit that allows kids to build and create their own Bose Bluetooth speaker. With this kit, they learn the basic fundamentals of sound, magnets, electromagnetivity and technology. Bose is well known in the sound space, so this kit fits their durable and reputable product line. This kit is a great parent-kid bonding activity, and one that delivers a really incredible product and usable tween staple.

3. HexBugs Vex Robotics Snap Shot

This is another really great kit that embraces building, creativity, engineering and math. HexBug Vex Robotics allows kids to create a functioning Snap Shot Shooter with easy to connect snapping pieces. My older guy who is HUGE into Nerf absolutely loves this kit. It took him a bit to get started, but once he got going, he loved the end product. We’re looking forward to creating more cool creations!

4. SnapCircuits

SnapCircuits is a classic toy that teaches kids the ins and outs of electricity and conductiviy. I believe my older brother had a toy similar to this from Radio Shack. The best thing these kits have going for them are the fact that they’re timeless toys that teach the fundatmentals of building and electricity.

5. Kano

Kano is a cool computer kit that the kids learn how to build. Perfect for budding techies, this kit allows kids to get their hands on the parts and pieces that make computers work. The kit includes Raspberry Pi 3, case, speaker, wireless keyboard, memory, HDMI and power cables, coding challenges, stickers and lots of appsKano has kits for the computers and a kit for the screen, both of which are in the $150 range.

6. Magformers

Magformers are among the most played-with toys in my home. They’re great for learning the fundamentals of building and creating objects with shapes. My little guy loves to create houses with squares and triangles or little jails for the Joker with triangles. Some of the best aspects of Magformers is that they’re compact, easy to clean because they stick together and they provide hours of open-ended play.

7. LakeShore Survive the Quake Engineering Kit

My kids love the premise behind this kit. It’s another great toy for kids who are interested in building, and for those who love a little bit of element of surprise. Lakeshore Learning always gets it right when it comes to fun and engaging toys that incorporate learning—even when the kids don’t realize it!