I’m a huge lover of soft and cuddly things and teddy bears or stuffed animals are no exception. As a child, I still remember my stuffed dog I called “Dukie Dog” and I had him until I was 18 (it was a gift to me on my first Christmas) and my very big (bigger than me) stuffed teddy bear I got from my husband on our first Christmas we had together, almost 20 years ago. There is something comforting about a stuffed animal or teddy bear and you can’t help but smile when you hold one in your arms. Having children, I instilled in them that having a stuffed animal buddy is a great way to grow up – my eldest son still has his Wicket and Horse we got on a trip to Disney World when he was just 6 months old… I have patched them both on many occasions, stuffed them with fluff and even added more hair to the bald spots – lol. The twins have their own set of stuffed friends as well and they have take them and their blankies cross country and to even visit President Obama in the White House. My sons love their cuddly friends.
Recently I was introduced to a brand new company that makes gift giving sweet. They offer these fun and adorable teddy bears in a unique gifting way. Teddy Canz offer cute, very plush and soft teddy bears that come in really cool designed cans. Each bear comes with a theme and today I’m going to be sharing our new friend with all of you.
A New Spin on an Old Favorite!
There are at least 10 different designs available to choose from Teddy Canz. The boys received “Bear and the City” who they have named Teddy. He is a sweet little friend dressed denim shorts and a cool looking hoodie that go perfectly with the theme of his can which is the city streets. This is the perfect little guy for the boys and they have been absolutely loving him since he arrived.
Don’t worry about your teddy bear being stuffed or hurt while inside of his can. They fit well inside and fluff up nicely once they come out. Our can was bent a little in shipping, but Teddy was well cared for and nice and safe on the inside. He wasn’t mashed at all while in his container. The Bear and the City that we received is really really well made. If I had to commend the company on the quality of the bear, I definitely think it’s stellar. His stitching was well in tact when we took him out of the can and he is absolutely soft and perfect for cuddling. The twins noticed immediately how soft he was and they couldn’t wait to snuggle up with him.
The twins have absolutely loved Teddy Canz since he arrived and have been taking turns sleeping with him and carrying him around each day. The can can be used to store your new friend if you would like, but the boys chose to keep it on their shelf to hold some of their toys. Honestly, he’s so cute, I don’t know who would want to store him away – unless they were using him to collect.
Teddy Canz would make an awesome gift for anyone, child or adult alike. The company offers custom designs should you be interested in doing something fun for your company or for an event and if you decide to choose the styles available, there are at least 10 to choose from. Teddy Canz retails for $24.99 each and shipping is also reasonably priced (about $6.50 for USPS Priority Shipping).
Designs available from Teddy Canz include:
Birthday
Story Time
Comfy Spa
Princess
Police
Fire
It’s a Boy
It’s a Girl
Get Well Soon
Love
Story Time
Dog Gone It
Hazard
To get your own Teddy Canz or to check out the selection and get more information, visit Teddy Canz at TeddyCanz.com. You can also follow the brand on Instagram and check out all the children and adults that have found new friends from Teddy Canz.
So – whether a parent or a child or someone who just absolutely loves adorable things… Teddy Canz offers you a variety of new friends to take home. Do you like this fun idea of Teddy Canz? Are there any styles you think you may want to pick up for yourself or as a gift? Comment below and let me know.
I want to thank Teddy Canz for making two twinnies happy with their new buddy!
Disclaimer: The product featured in this post was sent for review consideration and feature. All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased and I was not paid to provide my thoughts on this item. Affiliate links are posted through out.
Let’s face it, raising a child at any age can be a challenge – but the first few years of a child’s life are a learning curve. As my children grow each and every day, I’m reminded of how different they are – all three of them have their own personalities. My eldest, well – as a baby and a toddler, he was very easy going and after he was a month old, he pretty much slept through the night allowing me to get rest and still go to work full time while caring for him. The twins… well, that’s a whole different story. They were up at all hours of the day and night and at different times. They nursed differently – though they did everything together and still do – they have consistently kept me on my toes, well – they still do that too. But, one things for sure… as a parent, while all advice may not be specifically geared to be a “fix all” for each child, they are great stepping stones for you to develop a pattern and a solution to fit your needs. Today I share with you a really cool and interesting read called The Natural Baby Sleep Solution by Polly Moore, Ph. D. This book has been a great addition to my library and I’m going to share a few of my thoughts with you on it today.
If you are a mother… then you know that we have all been there… a time when we are feeling a heavy dysfunction and disarray that plagues our daily thoughts. The lack of sleep due to a crying or fussy baby or the stress of feeling like we have failed. Mothers (fathers too) often experience these times within the first year of their child’s life or right around the age when your baby starts teething. It’s natural but no matter how many times I tell you that we’ve all been there, it doesn’t make the situation any better. The Natural Baby Sleep Solution literally is the answer to many parents’ prayers. This book is written by a scientist whose mind is naturally geared towards scientific research and connection, but also by a mother who an relate to how we as mothers are feeling. Polly Moore understands the ins and outs of being a parent and this book is a great approach at working a little bit of experience, science and research and love into an equation that parents have struggled with for years.
By utilizing the N.A.P.S. Plan in the book – Polly Moore explains that this simple plan will help in encouraging longer sleep periods. It’s basically a mother’s natural instinct in science form. The plan is relatively simple: When your baby wakes up – keep a clock for 80 minutes and then start winding your baby down for a nap when it hits that time point. By the 90 minute mark, get your child to bed. Even if the naps are short, back to sleep at 90 minutes to establish not only a routine but a cycle.
When my twins were younger, they NEVER took a nap. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not because I wanted to keep them up – but because they just wouldn’t fall asleep. Later in the day when they were beyond exhausted, they either fell asleep unable to keep their eyes open or they were so wired from the lack of a nap, they stayed up all night. The Natural Baby Sleep Solution allows you to use a few tips in guiding your child into sleeping so that they know what it feels like to be tired and want a nap – therefore giving your child the skills needed to stay asleep longer at night. The concept is genius and one I wish I had known about prior to having my children. Should I have any more kids in the future, I’m glad that I was able to read this book and hope to incorporate the teachings in this book for later.
By reading this book, I think it’s a great asset in teaching a parent to watch for the signs of when a child is ready to rest. It’s not a sleep training type of book but instead gives you the tools to be able to better see the cues from your child to help with that type of situation. It also helps in you guiding your child to be able to sleep easily – “goodnight” and close the door, etc. Like with anything else you read that are “baby help” books, you must have an open mind and know that what might work for you and your child may not work for others and vice versa. Again, each person is an individual – as are their children and books like these should be used as a guide and a tool – not a strong arm.
I enjoyed reading through The Natural Baby Sleep Solution by Polly Moore, Ph.D. and I am glad I was able to experience this book and the N.A.P.S. Plan. I look forward to including this book for other mothers at baby showers or baby gifts as I think it would make for a great read for anyone with a new born or little one. I look forward to trying out some of this technique should I have any more children or nieces/nephews in the future.
Have you read or heard of this book before? If so – what are your thoughts, if not – is this something you could utilize or incorporate into your mommy guide library?
Disclaimer: The product mentioned in this post was sent to me for review consideration. All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased – as with anything on this site. I was not paid to provide my thoughts on this product or to feature it. Affiliate links listed thorugh out.
Christmas is my favorite time of year and quite frankly, my favorite Holiday. As a child I saved up my money all year round so I could buy the perfect gift for my family members and I still find myself excited for gift giving till this day. One of my favorite things to shop for are stocking stuffers. These tiny little gifts are fun and interesting and they don’t need to be large or come in big over-sized packaging. While jewelry definitely is a nice stocking stuffer to get, there are a lot of options available on the market for the whole family. Today I’m going to share with you some of my picks for the perfect little stocking stuffer treats. These are some suggestions of products I have been enjoying lately or ones that I wouldn’t mind receiving myself. Let’s get started.
Beauty Junkees 8 piece Pro Series Brush Set $39.97 – I just had to include this brush set in this guide. My husband has bought me brushes each year for the last few years as Holiday gifts and I always love them. This brush set includes all the eye brushes you need to complete a stunning holiday makeup look. From blending to packing on color and smoking out a look – the beauty lover in your life will be thrilled to receive this very well made brush set. What’s so great is that it also comes with a gorgeous black zipper brush pouch that you can use for travel.
Get 25% off your order with code: HONEYGW1 at check out and purchase this brush set and so much more here. One redemption per customer. Expires January 15, 2016.
Zaya Oils for Hair and Body– Zaya Hair Oil Blend $49.00 includes some of my favorite hair oils like Organic Jojoba Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Organic Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil, Organic Patchouli Essential Oil and Lavender Essential Oil. This beautiful feeling hair oil smells wonderful and has been an essential part of my hair care routine lately – helping to keep my frizzies at bay and nourishing my very curly hair during the cold winter months. With 50 mL/1.7 fl.oz., you get a generous amount of product and a little goes a long way. You only need use this two to three times per week as a treatment for the hair. If you have a long hair or curly hair loved one – this would make a fabulous treat for them.
The Zaya Body Oil Blend$46.00 feels like invisible lingerie – smoothing out the trouble areas and accentuating your natural assets. This oil is composed of a blend that helps to keep the skin hydrated and balanced, giving your body a boost of nutritive energy. Helping to promote a firm and smooth appearance of your skin and a bright scent – this would make a great gift for anyone. Blend of oils include: Sweet almond oil, wheat germ oil, pink grapefruit essential oil, castor oil and organic rosemary essential oil.
Lucie + Pompette Lip Batter 3 in 1 Balm, Gloss & Treatment $16.50 (0.16 fl.oz.) is not only adorable but makes the absolute perfect stocking stuffer for any beauty lover. Available in 5 different colors that are universal for most – the Lucie + Pompette Lip Batters are the longest wearing plumping lip gloss. With a revolutionary formula that plumps, fill and hydrates your lips instantly, you get a gloss like product that acts like a treatment and plumps the lips without irritation. The unique smoothing cushion envelops the lips for a more voluptuous appearance. The packaging is absolutely adorable and would make a great gift for any age of beauty lover.
The Lucie Bag $18.50 is a cosmetic clutch also from Lucie + Pompette and is absolutely adorable. 3.5″ x 7.5″ this cute little bag is perfect for travel or to carry all of your favorite beauty essentials. French-inspired, the Lucie bag features a glossy white exterior printed with the signature illustrations from Lucie+Pompette and a lined interior. Details include a chic Eiffel Tower Charm.
Savannah Bee Royal Jelly Body Butter – Tupelo Honey$12.90 (1.56 oz. / 48g) is the perfect size for a stocking stuffer. These little tubs of greatness smell wonderful and come in a gorgeous box that is ready for holiday gifting – simply add a little bow to the top. When it comes to honey – well, it’s obvious that I’m all over it in a heartbeat and this product has easily become one of my favorite body butters.
A royal treatment in a jar, this super rich formula combines royal jelly and other hive treasures as well as skin quenching butters and essential oils. It’s also available in the large 6.7 oz jar if you want to give that special person the larger jar.
Lisa Hoffman Beauty Holiday Serenity Travel Trio Fragrances $49.00. This beautiful set of fragrances include a unique trio of signature scents. Gorgeous and ready to be gifted this holiday season – the trio includes the fresh and crisp green French Clary Sage, zesty Japanese Agarwood and warm and cozy Tuscan Fig in 15mL eau de parfum sizes. If you have a fragrance lover in your life, they will love this set.
It’s packaged and ready for gifting in a white gift box and ribbon and each fragrance can be worn separately or layered to create a signature fragrance all your own. The Tuscan Fig is my favorite, but I enjoy them all.
Hope In The Box Coffee Mug If you don’t have a beauty lover in your life – don’t worry, I got you covered. Coffee addict anyone? This mug is perfect for the person who loves church or prayer and the coffee or tea (even cocoa) lover in your life. For the father or mother (or grandparents) who start their day with a cup of joe, this is the perfect gift to give them to have them start their day with HOPE. “Hang On Pray Everyday” is a company founded by a husband and wife team who persevered through difficult times through prayer. The company is dedicated to creating gifts that act as simple but beautiful reminders of love and inspiration. Besides mugs they offer keychains, blankets & other unique items to give to a loved one.
Shoeps Elastic Laces $10.00 – This is the perfect stocking stuffer for anyone who wears laced shoes. I have a set and just ordered a set for each person in my house to give as stocking stuffers. These handy dandy rubber laces have made such a difference in how easy it is to put on my shoes. You never have to tie your shoes again with these flexible shoelace bands. These bands conform to both your shoe and the motion of your feet making them so comfy to use. They are great for casual wear and perfect for kids. I use them to the gym or for running and make a great gift to anyone that has difficulty tying their shoes or taking them on and off. Each package contains 14 bands and you can use these to match your favorite outfit, support your favorite sports team or school or a seasonal event. I got mine in pink to match my Under Armour shoes. They come in many different colors as well as a set of rainbow ones.
I love how easy my Shoeps were to put on and how they make putting on my tennis or running shoes a breeze. I totally suggest these for anyone and they would make a great gift for the little munchkins in your life.
Lace Locks Shoe Accessories $9.99+ Since we are talking about shoe accessories, I also want to suggest Lace Locks. My gosh these are so fun – you can’t help but want to collect them all. These awesome shoe accessories attach to your laces to add a little flare to your already cool shoes. These make the perfect stocking stuffer for the little person in your life because they are a fun fashion trend that will be show stopping. I have them here in Marvel characters but there are a ton of designs for both boys and girls. They can also be used for adults too.
Lace Locks come in a number of different colors and designs including Marvel, Peanuts and so much more. They even have jeweled and blinged ones for those that love a little sparkle.
LATHER Soap Candle Stocking Stuffer $16 – Well, let me just say if you are a fan of sweet things you or the person you are buying this for will absolutely love this set. The Lemon Vanilla Aromatherapy Candle and Vanilla Bean Shea Soap from LATHER makes for one awesome gift. An aromatherapy set with naturally scented delights to use for the home and bath. The soap is moisturizing with olive oil and paired with a 100% soy wax candle infused with essential oils. It smells wonderful and feels so good against the skin (the soap). This would make a great gift for anyone and I have picked up a few as stocking stuffers for family and friends.
– lemon vanilla candle 4 oz
– vanilla bean & shea soap 4 oz
Dokibook Small Zip Planner $31.50 As many know – I’m a planner addict and have quite a selection of various planner types in all different sizes. My recent planner haul included the Dokibook in the size small from Dokibook.com. If you have a planner lover in your life or want to get a gift for someone who likes to stay organized – check out this site. The Love Doki books are well made and this particular one is the perfect size for me to organize everything that goes into my wallet. If it is not what you are looking for – you can find a variety of different planners at places like Target and Walmart and craft stores like Hobby Lobby and Michael’s also carry The Happy Planner which is a great customizable planner for the planner and organizer in your life.
CREATE Book by Jamie Dorobek $11.83 Creating Really Awesome Free Things Book is a wonderful Stocking Stuffer or a great gift year round but especially for the holidays. This awesome book includes 100 really fun and super easy projects you can do with kids utilizing most of the items you already have in your home. I love to give books as gifts and this one is fun for the whole family. You can purchase this via Amazon and get free shipping if you have Prime. The boys and I have loved doing art projects from this book and I totally recommend it as a gift for any mom, dad or teacher.
There are so many other things I can mention in this list but it would be a lifetime long. I selected the products in this list specifically because they are items that I or my family have been loving and items that I have purchased this year for loved one. These items are not only reasonably priced make great gifts and perfect sized for the stocking. I hope you are all enjoying your holiday shopping. If I should come across more stocking stuffer ideas, I’ll be sure to post a revised and updated one. Happy Holidays!
Today in Microfashion… A few weeks ago, Luke & Isaiah’s school celebrated Spirit Week and included Book Character Day for the students. Each child was to work…
Woohoo for Halloween. While it is not our favorite Holiday, Halloween certainly ranks top in my family’s list of days in the year. With Halloween approaching just a few short days away, my family has been on a binge watching our favorite Halloween movies and shows to get in the spirit of the holiday. Today we wanted to share with you some of our favorites both Family and Kid Friendly. It’s been years since I have watched anything really gory so most of what you will see listed here can be watched by all ages, a few are more for adults and some kid choices too. Happy Halloween to all and have a fun and safe night!
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The movies listed through out are in no particular order. We love them all!
Halloween Town – All the Movies (1998)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Beetlejuice (1988)
Edward Scissorhands
Hotel Transylvania
Addams Family / Addams Family Values
People Under the Stairs (there are some bad words in this show – my eldest can watch it, but not the twins)
Beetlejuice
Lady in White
ParaNorman (2012)
Harry Potter Series (my family can literally have a marathon of Harry Potter movies year round)
It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)
Labyrinth (1986)
The Witches (1990)
Monster’s University
Practical Magic
Casper (1995)
The Haunted Mansion
Alvin & The Chipmunks Halloween Specials (especially Alvin & The Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman)
Little Monsters
Teen Witch
Now keep in mind that some of these are totally kid friendly and some movies you may need to determine if your children can watch them. Overall these are jut a few we enjoy and pull out during Halloween to have a fun family movie watching adventure. If we continued our list… well, we would be here another 365 days.
Regardless of whether or not you are celebrating Halloween or just staying home with a cup of cocoa – from my family to yours, we wish you a wonderful day! We hope you enjoy our list of movies as much as we do!
Summertime in Hawaii is a dream come true for many and for my family, we love it and enjoy our paradise home year round. As a family, we love to get outdoors and experience all that our beautiful islands offer us from the ocean and streams to hiking, climbing and all around fun. But with the high island heat, deep ocean water and so much to do around us, we must be prepared for anything and everything and planning for a safe summer ahead of time is a must. Having worked in the tourism industry for years, I have seen many injuries occur and today I want to share some simple tips that will make your summer time here in Hawaii or anywhere a blast and hopefully – accident free. Here are a few personal summer safety tips that I think every parent should know.
Summer Safety Tips:
Stay Hydrated – Drink plenty of water! While we are out and about having fun and enjoying our summer, often times we don’t realize that we haven’t been hydrating our bodies until it is too late. Make sure to have consume/drink the daily intake of water or increase the amount depending on your level of activity/fun. Drinking water not only helps to keep your body hydrated and healthy, but it will also keep you feeling cooler while you are out and about. Don’t forget about this important tip.
SPF/Sunblock are Essential – Use it! Let’s face it, many of us forget to apply sunblock before it’s too late so the key is to be prepared and have it ready and handy before you plan your summer adventures. SPF or even coverups like hats, etc. can be essential in not only protecting your skin from sunburn, aging, etc – but also cancer. Make sure to have an SPF you are comfortable using and apply 20 minutes before you get out in the sun. Reapply every two hours as needed or if you are in the water. Sunblock is so important to our family that I always carry a small travel size in my purse year round and my sons always wear a hat year round if we are gonna be exposed to the sun and elements.
Update that First Aid Kit! Since I have very active boys, we have a First Aid kit in each vehicle, a small kit in my purse and a large one in the house to be prepared at a moment’s notice. Cuts, scrapes, thorns – all things ouch can occur at any time and it’s always best to be prepared. My son has played basketball for years and each year one of his teammates get hurt on the court, needless to say – Mommy is always to the rescue.
Water Safety is a MUST! Obviously, we live in Hawaii and are surrounded by water so it is important that we teach our children water safety. My husband and I are both CPR Certified and have years of water training both in the pool and ocean so it is imperative that you teach your children the dangers of water and how to protect themselves. While working in the hotel industry, I have seen many tourists drown due to lack of knowledge of the ocean current, waves and tides so it is important that no matter where you go – that you familiarize yourself with the ocean conditions and know that the ocean is unpredictable. Check signs, posted flag warnings and speak with a life guard on duty when available and make sure to supervise your children at all times. When swimming in a pool, make sure you are supervising your children and have nice clean fun. One important thing to also remember… if your child has been taking in water while swimming or gulping water while playing – monitor your child several hours after water play as that can result in Secondary Drowning – this goes for adults too.
Know Limitations! Teach your kids to listen to their bodies. This may not seem like a big deal, but it can turn into a disaster if not taken into consideration. Teach your children that if at any point they feel pain or discomfort while playing, they should notify their coach and get out of the game or tell a parent or adult while playing. While sitting on the sidelines is one of the most difficult situations a player can face, pushing through injuries increases their severity and keeps you out of action longer. This goes for regular outdoor play, swimming, etc – not just during a game or game play.
Be prepared with accidental & supplemental insurance coverageand Plan for unexpected expenses! Let’s face it, accidents happen and while children are still learning and growing, things can always happen at a moments notice without warning. If you keep busy during the summer months, whether a vacation trip or just lounging at the beach or pool, it is always best to be one step ahead of it all and get that extra insurance to help with expenses. Between sports (which occur often during the summer for my boys) or outdoor play and activities, it’s best to be prepared. Accidents happen. When unexpected injuries happen, make sure you’re prepared with supplemental insurance like Aflac’s accident policy to help cover out-of-pocket expenses.
Should the need arise where you need that extra insurance benefit you’ll have it ready. Submitting health insurance claims isn’t something people necessarily look forward to doing – with claim denials and waiting up to a month for payment, it can be a long and difficult process. And while 30 days may not seem like a long time, for families struggling to pay medical expenses, it can feel like a lifetime. Therefore, Aflac recently introduced One Day PaySM – an initiative that allows Aflac to process, approve and pay eligible claims in just a day. By being prepared, you’ll have a back up plan should you need it.
Last but not least, the most important tip for Summer is to Enjoy life and have lots of fun. Children grow up too quickly so make sure you cherish every moment and make lots of memories!
Happy Summer!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
