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Best Gadgets from the 2018 New York Baby Show

May 30, 2018May 30, 2018 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Last week, the boys and I went to the New York Baby Show in NYC to check out the latest and greatest for babies and families. As one of my favorite events that covers the juvenile and baby market, I love getting a chance to spot the newest products and services at such an expansive venue.

In the past, I’ve loved spotting cool strollers and the big ticket items. This time around, I opted to go the goodie and gadget route. As it turns out, the New York Baby Show was loaded with goodies and gadgets that can help the whole parenting thing go a little smoother.

Here are just a handful of our favorites from the show:

Travel Tray

The Travel Tray is a really cool concept, and one I can’t believe hasn’t been invented yet. When we heard about this cool gadget from friends at the show, I
had to check it out myself!

The Travel Tray pops into any cup holder and becomes an instant tray to hold small snacks and food. I love that it comes in a variety of colors, is BPA, PVC and PHT-free. This cool gadget is great for the beach, sporting events, road trips and beyond.

Stuck on You Bento Box

I’ve been into the bento box lunches even before I became a parent. Needless to say, I love bento boxes, which is why I was drawn to Stuck on You’s Bento Box.

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This bento box has a cool feature that can be personalized on the front. The interior features labeled sections for each type of food. These compartments not only help with portion control, but also promote variety and keep everything from touching! Be sure to check out Stuck on You’s other cool products!

Baby Tripster

This cool container is great for baby food on the go, fresh veggies or fruit and all kinds of snacks. I love that it has a gasket to ensure that it stays sealed. It’s small enough to pop into the diaper bag or cooler bag. It’s these cool new gadgets that make parenting so much easier.

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And, when we weren’t scouting out all the new finds on the showroom floor, we had a great time catching up with friends in the Blogger Lounge. The Blogger Lounge had a lovely lunch provided by Boston Market. I don’t get to eat out at Boston Market that often, but when I do, I’m always reminded how it’s such a filling family meal. As I chatted with friends, the boys had a great time playing in the play area—even the bigger dude!

Once again, we had a great time exploring the New York Baby Show. After taking all the photos and shooting video along the way, the best part is always seeing how baby products continue to evolve, and now, my babies, who were the inspiration for this site, are helping me find and share cool new products.

Full disclosure: this post is sponsored, but as always, all opinions on NKT are my own. Thank you for supporting NKT.

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!

New York Baby Show Set for May 19 & 20 + Ticket Giveaway

April 1, 2018 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Happy Spring, friends! It’s that wonderful time of year that’s filled with renewals and rebirth. And when you cover baby and kid goodies, it also means lots of fun baby shows in NYC! For the past few years, I’ve enjoyed attending and covering the New York Baby Show highlighting the latest and greatest new baby gear and goodies. This year, we’re headed there once again!

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2018 New York Baby Show, on May 19 & 20 at Pier 94 will once again be the largest show for new and expectant parents in the country. Now in its 8th 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. Normal ticket price is $30 per family (for 2 adults and up to 4 children), and $20 per individual.

Ticket Giveaway

We have 10 free tickets (family or single) to giveaway. Head to this link to grab your tickets!

Once the free tickets are gone, we have unlimited ticket discounts to the New York Baby Show.

Enjoy 50% off any tickets (family or single)
Get 50% off tickets to the New York Baby Show here

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

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.

Free Holiday Target Giftcard Printables

December 3, 2017December 3, 2017 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

It’s that time of year when Target has fun sales with the holidays in mind. For today only, 12/3, Target giftcards are an extra 10% off!

As we all know, teachers, aides, bus drivers and everyone beyond seem to like gift cards vs. random tchotchkes. While a personalized note of gratitude ranks up there, I’ve learned from my many teacher friends and relatives that gift cards are the best gifts.

And, thanks to Target, they have a little discount that comes in handy when you’re buying giftcards in bulk. The gift cards are varied in design and increments starting at $10. The discount applies to the gift cards in store and online, but I personally like ordering them online. I save money by ordering online and not buying $189 worth of stuff in the store that I didn’t know that I needed!

Free Target Giftcard Printables

I love Target beyond measure, so I’m all about sharing this love! Because of that, I created a free printable for the Target Giftcards!

I made them four to a page so you can print them up for all the people in your life!

After printing out the printable on your desired paper (card stock worked well for me), cut out the cards on the gray lines. Take an Xacto knife or scissors and cut slits on the dotted lines to slide the giftcard through. I slid the card under the card so that the ends are sticking out. You can dress it up with a cute ribbon or some baking twine. Please note that some cards may be larger than the slit, so be sure to measure to avoid over cutting. In case you do over cut the slits or want to secure the card, be sure to tape the giftcard on the back of the printable.

You can download the free Target Giftcard Printable here.

Enjoy and Happy Shopping!

Full disclosure: this post includes affiliate links. Affiliates and sponsored content help pay the bills, so thank you for your continued support.

TTPM Unveils 2017’s Hot Toys

October 5, 2017 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Last week, my big guy and I woke up bright and early to head to the city for TTPM’s Holiday Showcase. Always one of my favorite events of the season, TTPM named the 20 toys that they consider to be the hottest toys of the holiday season.

From products featuring notable entertainment characters and the latest advancements in tech to standout classic toys and innovative preschool playthings, the TTPM Most Wanted List reflects the current trends dominating the toy aisles.

TTPM named so many of our favorites as hot toys, and even included a few that are new to us! As much as we love learning about TTPM’s hot list, we love getting our hands on all of these cool new toys at the event.

We’ll be sure to share our thoughts on the hot list, but without further ado, here is TTPM’s Most Wanted List:

Fingerlings by WowWee
Hatchimals Surprise by Spin Master
Barbie Dreamhorse by Mattel
Doc McStuffins Baby All-in-One Nursery by Just Play
Teddy Ruxpin by Wicked Cool Toys
Hot Wheels Super Ultimate Garage by Mattel
Imaginext DC Super Friends Batbot Xtreme from Fisher-Price
Lego Boost Nerf Nitro Paw Patrol My Size Lookout Tower
DropMix by Hasbro
KidBuzz by VTech
LOL Surprise by MGA Entertainment
LuvaBella and LuvaBeau by Spin Master
Nintendo Switch by Nintendo Pikmi Pops
Oonies by Moose Toys
Little Bits’ Star Wars Droid Inventor
Star Wars Hero Droid BB-8 Interactive Droid from Spin Master
Star Wars Force FX Lightsaber from Hasbro

Due to the early buzz, so many of these were no surprise! We’ll share our video and thoughts on these toys soon!

Playing Smarter Football with Riddell

August 12, 2017 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

This is a sponsored conversation with Riddell and SheSpeaks.

Just before August, the lines get painted on the football field down the road from us. Since we live so close to the practice field, with every yard line that’s measured and painted, my son gets even more excited.

We just wrapped up our swim season last week, and now, we’re suiting up for football. And just as my older son is suiting up in pads once again for DBA, I’m so proud that our organization has a strong fundraising program which helps to fund the best equipment for our kids. This year, the boys received new helmets and pads with top-notch safety technology. Unfortunately, not every team is so lucky, which is why I’m so proud to share about Riddell’s Smarter Football grant.

Youth sports are very much a part of the fabric of our lives. Of all the sports that are played, my kids have a true love for football. As a mother of a child who has an ongoing medical condition, safety is paramount for my kids, especially when it comes to youth sports.

Because my husband coaches multiple sports, I know and understand that the leaders and directors of our town’s youth sports make our boys’ well being a top priority. Our coaches must take safety classes to be certified to coach in our town. Most of the coaching tactics implemented in our league, such as Head’s Up, are intended to diminish concussions and other injuries. With safer equipment, such as that from Riddell, I feel comfortable knowing that my son has a better chance at being protected.

Trust me, I’d much rather see him in a pool or any other non-contact sport. But, when your kid lives and breathes for football, I feel a little better knowing that his equipment protects him and keeps the bumps to a minimum.

Riddell, the innovator of football gear, is offering a generous grant for a lucky team to be awarded Smarter Equipment.

The Smarter Football program is a grassroots campaign that recognizes and rewards teams across the country for implementing ‘smarter’ tactics on and off the field. About 1,700 football programs across North America, from the youth level all the way up to semi-pro, have applied for an equipment grant through the initiative in its first two seasons.

Smarter Football tactics can mean anything from practicing smarter with safer techniques, to implementing new equipment to better protect players.

Riddell aims to produce equipment with advanced protective technologies.

This year, the company launched Riddell Precision-Fit, a 3D head scanning process used to build a custom-fitting, player-specific helmet liner system that provides personalized protection. Riddell also introduced enhanced player management software for its InSite Impact Response System, which summarizes players’ on-field alerts and identifies training opportunities for athletes based on their impact profile.

And because of their intent to keep players safe with Smarter Football, Riddell’s Smarter Football Program will continue to recognize and reward those at all levels of play who have taken steps towards improving and advancing the sport of football, especially when it comes to player safety and protection.

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Does you’re team have what it takes to play Smarter Football? If so, apply for the Smarter Football grant, visit Riddell.com/SmarterFootball. The deadline for entries is August 31, 2017.

Full disclosure: This is a sponsored post in conjunction with Riddell and SheSpeaks. All opinions on NKT are my own.

Best in Show: Finds from the New York Baby Show

May 30, 2017May 30, 2017 by Jen Rabulan-Bertram

The other week, Josh and I spent the afternoon at the New York Baby Show at Pier 94 scouring the booths for the latest and greatest in baby gear. From well trusted names in car seats to gadgets helping to create smart nurseries, there were so many new products featured at the New York Baby Show.

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We searched high and low, snapped tons of pics, peeked into many booths and found a really great selection of gear from baby brands that we love, as well as products from new and upcoming companies!

Here are just a few of the many great products we spotted at this year’s New York Baby Show:

Pello

With is gorgeous textiles and poufy circular shape, Pello is described as a luxury newborn lounger. This new take on a pillow can be used for feeding or for a convenient way to help baby sit somewhat upright during his/her waking hours. When baby outgrows the newborn phase, this pillow looks ideal for helping to support during the sitting up and standing phases. IMG 2941 JPG

Pello has a great selection of colors and fabrics. It can be found on Amazon and retails for $120.

Sage Spoonfuls

A longtime fan of Sage Spoonfuls, I love watching this baby feeding brand flourish. I’m so excited about the Happy Foodie stainless steel divided plate and lid. Plastic plates and feeding ware are among the first items to go in my house because they are the most used and abused. Our stainless steel lunchboxes have lasted 5+ years.

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So, I can only imagine how well the Sage Spoonfuls Happy Foodie product line will do. Safe, non-toxic, BPA, lead and phthalate-free and easy to clean!

Britax Frontier

Since we first shopped for carseats 10 years ago, Britax has been one of my all time favorite baby brands. This is, yet, another brand that I’ve loved watching flourish and working with over the years. I was so excited to see the various new strollers and carseats on display, but what truly caught my eye was the Frontier booster.

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We are solidly in the booster phase with my preschooler, so boosters have been on the brain. This new fabric is chic and unique; combining safety with style is something that Britax does so well. And speaking of safety, the Britax Frontier’s Click Tight Technology makes car seat installation as easy as buckling a seatbelt. This technology is designed to be seamless, especially for families who travel frequently or need to switch seats regularly. Click Tight is a game changer!

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Volvo

And speaking of traveling, I loved that my dream car brand was at the New York Baby Show. I’ve been eyeing Volvo’s SUVs for quite some time. Sadly, the price tag hasn’t been in the budget.

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We decided that this specific Volvo was too small for our needs, what with our year-round sports, lake gear and coaching equipment. Nevertheless, it’s fun getting a peek at my dream car at the Baby Show. Josh loved sitting in the driver’s seat and checking out the trunk.

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With thanks to Momtrends, we enjoyed meeting up with fellow bloggers in the Blogger Lounge, as well as livestreamed our favorite finds from the show. My little guy loved having the chance to play!

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Above all, we loved checking out all the awesome goodies and gear at the New York Baby Show. Stay tuned for more fun finds!

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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!

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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.

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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?

Category: gear