3 MUST HAVE ITEMS for Back to School!

Back to school prep can be so stressful! There are so many products available and so much on the market, it can be tough to figure out where to start and what products are the best! I hope these 3 simple tips help you get your kids ready for their first day at school quickly and easily so that you can get back to enjoying your summer.

My oldest son will be going into his second year at school and my youngest is starting pre-k so it’s not the first time (or the last) that I’ll be preparing them for their first big day and lucky for you, if you’re reading this, I can let you in on a few secrets that I’ve learned (mostly through trial and error)!

1. COLLE À MOI SCHOOL LABELS are a MUST. I’ve tried other brands, and nothing compares (I’ve unfortunately had to find out the hard way that not all brands are the same quality when it comes to school labels)! Colle à Moi labels stay stuck and will outlive most of the school supplies you stick them on! They’re dishwasher safe, self-adhesive, washer and dryer safe and are super easy to apply to just about anything (we use them on markers, crayons, pencil cases, shoes, clothes, backpacks, water bottles and more!).

The fun designs will have your kids begging to help you label everything which is a win for me because it means I have helpers to label school supplies. This year I chose the Dino theme for my youngest, since he’s currently in a T-rex obsessed phase and chose the Cool theme for my oldest! Colle à Moi also makes it easy to figure out how many stickers to order thanks to their School Combo packs! It will give you more than enough labels to cover everything you need, but if for some reason you need more, Colle à Moi always offers free shipping in Canada which I obviously love! 

Use code TOVAH10 to save on your order!

2. A LIGHT AND COMFORTABLE BAG is next on my list of must have items for back to school! Kids will come home with snow pants, lunch boxes, water bottles, rocks that they’ve collected and more so the lighter the bag, the better the chance that it will end up on their back instead of dragged behind them on the floor because it’s too heavy. 

My tip is to find a bag that your kids love but that is light weight and can be easily carried. Once you’ve found that bag, don’t forget to label it! Nothing is worse than trying to replace your kid’s favourite bag halfway through the school year when they lose it! We love the Colle à Moi bag tags – they’re a thick durable plastic that can be easily seen in case the bag gets lost and left behind somewhere.

3. DURABLE BENTO BOXES & WATER BOTTLES is the last of my recommendations! I can’t think of any items that get used, thrown, dropped, washed and dried more than my kids’ food containers and water bottles. I generally search for a metal water bottle and have found that they’re much more durable than the plastic ones for my kids so although they can be a bit more expensive, they are worth the investment and with Colle à Moi labels on them, they’ll always find their way home (or to the lost and found) if my kids leave them at school. 

For food containers, I always search for ones that close securely because the last thing any of us want is to open our kid’s bag and to find leaking food all over! A must have feature for me is also being dishwasher safe so that I can easily clean them every day. We always label our food containers for school with Colle à Moi labels because they’re dishwasher safe and I was pleasantly surprised when last school year, every single label was still perfectly stuck by the end of the year!

If your containers come apart (like a thermos), don’t forget to label the top and the bottom!

I hope my tips help you feel better prepared for back-to-school prep and guide you in the right direction! You can use my code TOVAH10 to save on your order at Colle à Moi!

If you have any other tips that you think I should add, leave your suggestions in the comments! 

Must-Have Amazon Toys for Kids!

Where are my Amazon Prime mamas at? Here are the must have toys this season from Kidzlane to keep your kids happy, entertained and give you a few hours of quiet! The best part? They won’t break the bank! You’re welcome :)

1. Laser Tag Set

The most fun and exciting Laser Tag set that you can use at home! It comes with 4 guys, 4 chest pieces and even a moving target for your kids to practice with. Click here to shop.

2. Pull Back Cars

Perfect for 18months +, they’ll love the sound of the pull back cars and it will help them with their fine motor skills and dexterity. Click here to shop.

3. Color Changing Tea Set

Just add water and watch the magic happen with this fun and amazing color changing tea set! Perfect for hours of pretend play! Click here to shop.

4. Shark Bath Toy

These fun shark bath toys jingle when you shake them and will never tip over! Your kids will be amazed! Click here to shop.

5. Karaoke Machine

Hours of fun is guaranteed with this awesome portable karaoke machine! Complete with a microphone, speakers and pre-programmed songs! Click here to shop.

6. Kids Tool Set

The perfect toy for a little builder! They’ll love the battery operated drill and will feel like a real handy man (or woman)! Click here to shop.

7. My Body Puzzle

The perfect educational puzzle that won’t make your kids feel like they’re learning! Puzzles are available with girl and boy anatomy and are made from study wood. Click here to shop.

5 Awesome Crafts for Kids Using Dixie® Cups!

Thank you Dixie® Cups for sponsoring this post. Check out how versatile these 5 oz. multi-purpose cups are!

Thank you Dixie® Cups for sponsoring this post. Check out how versatile these 5 oz. multi-purpose cups are!

With the kids home more often, so many parents are looking for ways to keep their kids entertained and busy! I’m sharing 5 fun arts & crafts activities that you can easily do with kids using Dixie® multi-purpose 5 oz. cups! We always have them in our home and I love how versatile they are. We use them as snack cups for the kids, water cups while we’re at the park, we make popsicles with them in the summer, and they can also be used for arts & crafts! They’re an easy way to prevent the spread of germs and, especially now, that’s definitely a priority for every parent! 

They’re designed to last and perform, which comes as no surprise since they’ve been around for over 100 years, so they’re the perfect cup to use with kids! They’ll hold their shape, are the perfect size for their hands, they easily stack inside of each other to pack on-the-go, they won’t break when your toddler drops them on the floor, and they come in the most stylish colors and patterns!

I rounded up our 5 favorite crafts for kids using Dixie® multi-purpose 5 oz. cups that will promote fine motor skills, dexterity, counting, letter recognition, and more! 

Counting Caterpillar

What you’ll need: 

• Pipe cleaner for the antennas

• Eyes and a nose, or markers to draw them on

• Long piece of string

Start by making the face of your caterpillar on a Dixie® cup with markers or pompoms, or any other items you have! With a pair of scissors, make 2 holes on the top and loop the antenna pipe cleaner through! Take a piece of tape and secure the thread inside the caterpillar’s head.

Now for the body! Take a marker and draw a number on the side of each Dixie® cup. We did numbers 1-10, but if your child is older, you can add more! With a pair of scissors, pierce a hole in the bottom of each Dixie® cup.

My son is only 3, so I did a lot of the prep work myself, but if your child is older, they can help write out the numbers and make the face on the caterpillar!

Now, it’s time for your child to practice their numbers! Give them the caterpillar’s head and string and ask them to add the cups in order, starting at #1, by pulling the string through the hole on the bottom of each Dixie® cup! This is an activity you can do over and over again. When they finish adding all the cups to the caterpillar’s body, you can take them off and store them away for another day.

Classic Telephone

This is one that I’m sure you all remember from when you were younger! Your kids will love decorating the cup and will be amazed that they can hear your voice through the Dixie® cup.

What you’ll need: 

• 2 Dixie® multi-purpose 5 oz. cups

• A long piece of string

• Art supplies to decorate the Dixie® cups

• Dixie® multi-purpose 5 oz. cups

Decorate your Dixie® cups to start. Pierce a hole in the bottom of each cup and insert your string through the hole and knot it so it won’t slip out. That’s it!

Music Shaker

What you’ll need: 

• 2 Dixie® multi-purpose 5 oz. cups

• Uncooked macaroni or penne

• Tape

• Art supplies to decorate the Dixie® cups

Decorate both cups with the art supplies that you have! Fill up one cup halfway with the uncooked macaroni. You can turn this into a counting game by asking your child to count how many they are putting in. 

Tape another cup on top of the one with the macaroni and make sure they are well secured together. 

Add some final decor to your shaker and you’re ready to dance!

Flower Pot

This craft is great for dexterity and fine motor skills. It seems like such a simple craft, but it will keep your kids busy and entertained! 

What you’ll need: 

• Dixie® multi-purpose 5 oz. cups

• Pipe cleaners

• Art supplies to decorate the Dixie® cups

Start by making holes in the Dixie® multi-purpose 5 oz. cups with scissors or with a hole punch. You can do them only along the rim or all over the cup. 

Decorate the Dixie® cup and then ask your child to take the pipe cleaners and weave them in and out of the holes that you made on the cup. This is a really great activity that will have them concentrating and practicing so many different skills. Once they’ve finished, you can make some flowers with pipe cleaners, or you can go outside and pick some real ones!

Alphabet Tower

What you’ll need: 

• Dixie® multi-purpose 5 oz. cups

• Markers or paint for the letters

Start by asking your child to draw or paint a letter on each of the Dixie® multi-purpose 5 oz. cups. If they’re too young to write, then you can draw the letter! You can also decorate the cups if you’d like, but I find them so nice looking as is!

Next is the fun part. Build a tower, build a fort, or stack them one on top of the other — as long as they’re doing it in the order of the alphabet! This is a great way to make practicing the alphabet fun. You can do it with upper or lowercase letters, or a mix of both. 

I hope your children love these crafts as much as mine do! We always make sure to have Dixie® multi-purpose 5 oz. cups at home for all our daily needs! Whether you’re doing a craft or using it to give snacks to your kids, they’re a simple and easy way to prevent germs from spreading so you can focus more on your family and worry less about keeping them safe. They will really give you peace of mind, which is something that we could all use a little more of. 

Trunk or Treat Superhero Style!

My favorite time of year is just around the corner and with so many of my friends wanting to keep their circle small, we’ve decided to do a Trunk or Treat this year! If you’ve never heard of it, let me fill you in! Find a group of friends, coworkers, daycare moms etc. and find a parking lot! You all decorate your trunks with your favorite Halloween decor (you can get SUPER creative) and your kids go from trunk to trunk getting candy! It’s a great alternative to going door to door but still allows your kids to enjoy the Halloween fun.

Creating the ultimate Trunk or Treat experience starts with choosing a fun theme and then buying your supplies at Party City! They not only have a huge selection of themes but they always have the best value so there’s no need to shop around at different stores because you can go to Party City and get it all! They have Halloween costumes, decorations, party utensils and more at a price you can’t beat; I was able to decorate my trunk for under $33! I decided to shop for all my Trunk and Treat decor online and take advantage of their Free Delivery, but you can also go in store or shop online with Curbside Pick Up. For the ultimate Trunk or Treat decor, follow the easy steps below, and I’ve linked the whole list of supplies used at the bottom of this blog post:

Pick a Theme & Centre Piece

With both my kids loving superheroes, it was a no brainer that we were going to shop for Marvel themed Trunk or Treat decor. My son is going to be dressing up as Spider-Man this year so we went all out for our decor! I found an awesome Life-Size Giant Gliding Spider-Man Webbed Wonder Balloon for the centre piece in my trunk! It’s a foil balloon, easy to inflate and it’s reusable so we can keep it for next year or for another party. It literally takes up half my trunk and really makes a fun first impression! I filled up the rest of my trunk with Blue and Red Balloons to keep with the Spider-Man color theme. Party City sells them in packs or individually so you can get the perfect amount to fill your trunk! I used 10 ballons (5 red and 5 blue). You could also cover the bottom of your trunk with a Table Cover if you prefer. Get creative!

Make It Spooky

It is Halloween after all, so whatever theme you choose, don’t forget to add some fun and spooky Halloween props as well! I ordered a Red Plastic Table Cover to drape over the corners of my trunk and I simply cut the Table Cover in half and it was more than big enough for both sides of my car (I drive a large SUV). I ordered some fun White Stretch Spider Web to drape over the corners of the Table Cover and even had some left over to use on my front door! 1 pack, which only costs $0.99, stretches to over 40 square feet! I covered the Spider Web in Clip On Spiders to really add a fun touch. They come in packs of 24 so 1 package is more than enough for your whole trunk.

Don't Forget Your Costume!

No Trunk or Treat is complete without a costume! Party City is the only place we shop every year for costumes for our whole family. They have costumes for babies, toddlers, children, adults and even your pets! Click here to check out Party City’s Halloween Store!

Spider-Man Shopping List

Giant Gliding Spider-Man Webbed Wonder Balloon ($24.99)

Red & Blue Balloons ($2.99/15 balloons or $0.30 each)

Red Plastic Table Cover ($1.49)

White Stretch Spider Web ($0.99)

Plastic Spiders ($2.00/pack of 24)

The Ultimate Baby Registry Item!

With so many pacifiers on the market, it can be overwhelming to find one that is just right for your new baby but, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. The Philips Avent Soothie snuggle is the ultimate plush toy and pacifier all in one! It’s the only pacifier you need on your registry and will quickly become your baby’s best friend!

There are definitely a few features that sets it apart from the rest! For starters, it comes with the same pacifier used by healthcare professionals to calm newborns in the hospital so you know it’s a brand that’s trusted! It’s made with flexible silicone that is BPA free so you can rest assured that it’s great quality for your baby. Second, the plush toy is compatible with all Philips Avent Soothies and pacifiers which means you don’t have to replace the plush toy as your baby gets older. Philips Avent Soothies are designed for babies 0-3 months and 3+ months, and other Philips Avent pacifiers are designed for babies 0-6m, 6-18m and 18+ months, so as your baby grows and needs a different pacifier, you can just swap it out! Lastly, because the Soothie and the plush toy come apart, they can both be cleaned and sanitized! It’s super easy to do too! Don’t believe me? I’m going to show you how!

To clean your Soothie snuggle, you simply detach the Soothie pacifier from the Snuggle and either sterilize the Soothie in a Philips Avent Steam Sterilizer bag or in boiling water for 5 minutes. I love the Steam Sterilizer bags because they’re reusable, take less time than boiling water and are great for when I’m visiting family or travelling! After sterilizing, don’t forget to let the Soothie cool for at least 5 minutes and squeeze out any trapped water.

Did you know that you’re supposed to replace your baby’s pacifier after four weeks of use? I didn’t!

Washing the plush toy is just as simple! You simply put it in a mesh laundry bag and wash it on a normal cycle! Let it air dry, connect the soother back to the toy and you’re done! Your baby may not want to wait for it to air dry so I always keep a few on hand and switch them out while I’m washing one!

We’re so obsessed that we actually have a few Soothie snuggles and I recommend you do the same. You’ll thank me later because a good pacifier can make all the difference in keeping your baby happy and soothed! The best part is that as your baby eventually outgrows pacifiers, you can detach his plush toy friend from his pacifier put it on a stroller, diaper bag or backpack!

If you’re getting the Philips Avent Soothie snuggle as a gift for someone else or if you’re creating your own registry, don’t forget to add the Philips Avent Steam Sterilizer Bags to your list as well!

The Perfect Bath Routine with The Honest Company

This post was sponsored by Honest but all opinions, as always, are my own.

As a mom, the hardest thing is finding a balance between finding products for our kids that work and choosing products that are good for them. It’s often a compromise and such a struggle to choose which direction to go in! Thanks to The Honest Company’s Truly Calming Shampoo + Body Wash (available at Costco.com), you no longer need to worry about finding a bath time product that is gentle AND that works! But what’s even better, is that although it was formulated with your baby’s sensitive skin in mind, it can be used on the whole family!

I’ve always loved shopping at Costco, but especially with everything that’s been happening, I really value the opportunity to buy products in bulk for a better value, to save money where I can and to shop online. I was so happy to discover that I could order The Honest Company’s Truly Calming Shampoo + Body Wash on Costco.com along with my other weekly groceries! It’s sold in a box with 2 large bottles and each lasts me well over 2 months, even when using it on both kids every night! The fact that my husband and I can use it too makes it an even better buy because I don’t need to buy multiple products anymore when I shop for the whole family. 

Finding bath time products that work for my kids has been a struggle because both my kids have sensitive skin and this has been one of the few products that we’ve tried that do not cause over-drying! It’s hypoallergenic, dermatologist-tested, and gently cleanses the skin without drying it out. It’s also perfect for bedtime because of its blend of lavender essential oils and chamomile. It helps to calm my kids and get them ready for bed.

I love that I can buy my new favorite bath time product at Costco.com because I know I’m getting a great value, I don’t have to go into a store to buy it, it works to clean my kids after fun-filled days outside and keeps their skin soft- plus it’s formulated with naturally-derived ingredients. If you’ve never tried The Honest Company’s Truly Calming Shampoo + Body Wash then you’re missing out! Click here to learn more.

Ricky Zoom and His Friends Make Chores FUN!

This post was sponsored by eOne but all opinions, as always, are my own.

Just in time for National Clean Your Room Day, on May 10th, which also happens to be Mother’s Day, get your kids to start helping out around the house with a smile on their face thanks to Ricky Zoom’s chore chart!

If you haven’t heard of Ricky Zoom, then you can thank me after your kids fall in love with the show and start learning about teamwork, responsibility, friendship, community and helping others – all the core elements of Ricky Zoom! You can watch Ricky Zoom on Nick Jr - http://www.nickjr.com/ricky-zoom/ and catch all-new episodes May 18 to May 29th, from Monday to Friday at 5pm.

The Ricky Zoom chore chart is much different than the ones we’ve seen in the past. For starters, you can print it out at home and customize it or you can use one of their pre-colored ones. Because they’re easy to print and double as an arts & crafts activity, we printed a few and put them all over our home. In the basement, for example, we put up a Ricky Zoom chore chart that included: Put away your cars, turn off your iPad and wash your hands. In Zane’s room we have: make your bed, brush your teeth and put away your books.

Click here to download the Ricky Zoom chore chart!

The Ricky Zoom chore chart comes with some chore recommendations but also comes with blank tags so you can write in your own. We’re trying to teach our older son, Zane, to share with his younger brother so although “sharing” isn’t really a chore, we put it on the chart to remind him that it’s important and to encourage him to do it. My son is 3 years old and extremely motivated by reward, so we’ve found that having this chore chart has really made him enjoy helping out! He loves feeling grown up, he loves the praise that we give him when he’s completed a chore and he loves sticking the lightening bolts on the chart when he’s completed a chore!

For kids that are a little older, you can use the blank tags as a way to encourage them to make the decision about what chores they’ll do every week. And because it’s a printable, you can switch up the chores too every once and a while to keep things exciting!

I love Ricky Zoom for my kids because the show teaches him such important life lessons and values and with my son being out of school until at least September, I want to make sure he doesn’t forget all the valuable lessons that he’s learned at school about playing and sharing with others. Because of Ricky Zoom’s chore chart, my son feels like one of his bike buddies every time he finishes a chore and so it’s helped make the average boring chore (such a putting away his sippy cup) super exciting! Ricky Zoom offers so many amazing fun activities for your kids on their site such as toys, apps and free printables! Head to Rickyzoom.com to check them all out. 

PAW Patrol to the Rescue this Easter!

This post was sponsored by PAW Patrol as part of an Integrated Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

With Easter approaching, I knew I had to find a super special toy to keep a smile on my son’s face. I love setting up a hunt for eggs that the Easter bunny left behind and the trail always leads to a big surprise at the end!

Like every child his age, my son’s world revolves around PAW Patrol and the Mighty Meteor Track Set was the perfect big surprise I was looking for (and the best part is you can order it online from Target or Amazon and have it delivered before Easter). PAW Patrol also has 2 other awesome toys that I think would make great Easter basket gifts as well: the Mighty Pups Charged Up Chase Transforming Vehicle and Charged Up Deluxe Vehicles.

For the ultimate Easter egg surprise hunt, I started by filling up a bunch of plastic eggs with chocolate and candy! These treat-filled eggs will lead my son right to his PAW Patrol surprise! I also used rabbit foot prints to lead the way and make it that much more exciting.

Now let's talk about this PAW Patrol Mighty Meteor Track Set. I’ll start out by saying that it is just insanely fun. The story behind the toy is that Harold Humdinger has taken the mighty meteor with his robot and it’s up to you to launch Chase in his charged up vehicle to save the day! It’s a SUPER interactive toy which my son loves and keeps him busy for hours! To help Chase save the day, you load him and his vehicle on the Team Jet Launcher, you push down on the back of the aircraft and Mighty Chase propels in the air and flies around the Lookout Tower! He pushes the meteor out of the robot’s hand before safely landing on the ground and saving the day. It’s such a blast and I guarantee your kids will freak out when they figure out that Chase flies!

My son was thrilled when he first saw his gift, but when I showed him how it worked, he squealed in delight. I haven't seen him this excited about a toy in long time. It also comes with a Mighty Chase car and a detachable Team Jet Launcher that he can play with separately as he pretends Chase is flying through our home!

Order your PAW Patrol products now so that they arrive in time for Easter! They're available at Target and Amazon.  Click here to shop!

If you're looking for other PAW Patrol gifts to put in your Easter basket, the Mighty Pups Charged Up Chase Transforming Vehicle is just as fun! It transforms from a car to a hovercraft so your kids can have hours of fun being heroes and keeping Adventure Bay safe! The Transforming Vehicle has lights and sounds and a projectile launcher for even more fun! Your kids will be running around and laughing while they help Chase glide through the air in this awesome and fun toy! It’s great for kids ages 3 and up and the lights and sounds will make them feel as though they’re on a real mission!

The Charged Up Deluxe Vehicles are great Easter Basket Stuffers as well! With lights and sounds and a removable Chase figurine, the smiles and laughs will be endless. And don’t worry! They have Rubble, Skye, Marshall, Zuma and Rocky too so make sure to get them all so that the whole PAW Patrol gang can save Adventure Bay together because, as Ryder says: no job is to big and no pup is too small! 

The Baby Food Maker That Can Do It All!

Finding baby items that simplify a mama’s life are like finding gold and I always have my eyes open for them. I was so excited to try the Baby Brezza Food Maker Complete, available at Elfe Juvenile Products. They’re having a site-wide sale until April 17th and you can get the Baby Brezza Food Maker Complete for 15% off! the It’s everything you need to make baby food in minutes! But it doesn’t stop there. You can make soups, smoothies (for the kids or yourself) and even steam veggies! It’s so practical and so easy to use! You can steam, blend or do both! There’s an easy to use digital display and my favorite part, is that it’s not complicated to clean.

I wasn’t sure how easy it would be to use, so I started off simple: Applesauce. You cube 2 medium apples, add them to the Baby Brezza Food Maker Complete, select the steam/blend setting, set the timer for 15 minutes and then wait!

Is it possible that this magical machine has made baby food making fun? Unlike the other baby food makers I’ve tried, you don’t need to measure out how much water you add to the machine because of the timer. You also don’t have a ton of parts. The other machines I’ve tried have blades, steamer baskets, lids, tongs and the list goes on. By the time you’ve made the food, you have a sink full of dirty items. The Baby Brezza Food Maker Complete has a detachable blade, a lid and the main container. That’s it! 3 parts to clean.

It also comes with 3 reusable feeding and storage pouches and 3 funnels to help get the baby food in the pouches! This is another thing that the competitors don’t offer. The funnels are game changers! The reusable food pouches are so practical when you’re on the go but if you have a smaller baby who eats less, you can also store the food in ice cube trays and then defrost only what you need to feed them that meal!

The Baby Brezza Food Maker Complete is such a game changer for moms, and with 15% off until April 17th at Elfe Juvenile Products, there has never been a better time to buy one! I’ve included a few of my favourite recipes from the Baby Brezza Website! Let me know if you’ve tried any of them or if you have another one that I should make!

Cherry Banana Quinoa

Ingredients:

½ cup of cooked quinoa

½ banana

1 cup of cherries, washed with pits removed and cut in half

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in the bowl of your baby food maker. Blend until smooth and serve.

Minty Pea Puree

Ingredients:

2 cups of sweet peas (fresh or frozen)

1 sprig of mint

Veggie broth, breast milk, or formula – if needed

Directions:

Combine the peas and mint into the bowl of your baby food maker. Set to steam & blend for 20 minutes, then let the machine automatically blend it into a super smooth puree.

If the texture is too thick, you can add broth, breast milk, or formula to achieve a thinner consistency.

Carrot Ginger Soup

Ingredients:

1 lb carrots, sliced
1 tsp olive oil
1 tsp unsalted butter
1 onion, chopped
1 to 2 tbsp fresh grated ginger (start with 1tbsp and increase to taste)
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup whole milk or light cream
1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

Directions:

1. Heat the oil and butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.

2. Add the onions and cook until tender and translucent.

3. Add carrots and ginger to the pan and stir.

4. Pour in 1 cup of chicken broth, and bring to a boil. Then, lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.

5. Add the remaining 1 cup of broth, and simmer an additional 10 minutes. Then, remove cover and bring to a boil.

6. Remove from heat and blend with One Step Baby Food Maker.

7. Before serving, add milk and stir, then add parsley.

Very Veggie: Baby Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients:

1 cup green beans, steamed

1 cup cooked brown rice

½ cup of water, formula, or milk

¼ tsp dried sage

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients in One Step Baby Food Maker, food processor bowl, or blender.

2. Puree and serve.

Recipe Note: For babies just transitioning to solid foods, be sure to strain out any stringy green bean remnants.

The Sleep Program You've Been Searching For!

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual, but thankfully getting your baby to sleep now does! I shared a few weeks ago that my son, Boston, had decided he no longer needed sleep, which ultimately meant that no one in our home was sleeping! I turned to Little Ones, an online tool that offers incredible sleep programs to help parents learn how to get their baby and toddlers sleep schedules back on track! After 3 weeks of using the program, Boston is back to napping twice a day and is sleeping through the entire night! From 6pm - 7am.

Use code: TOVAH for 15% off!

What I love about their programs is that they adapt to you. They’re not super rigid and don’t make you turn your life around in order to get your kids to sleep, but they do give you all the tools necessary to ensure success. There are sleep programs for every stage of your baby’s life - from Birth Sleep to Toddler Sleep so I’ll be able to keep turning to Little Ones for help as my son grows up! For the first time ever, getting your baby or toddler to sleep doesn’t need to be stressful or hard.

There were 3 features of the program that definitely stood out! The first was the detailed information that they provide you about sleep and your baby. They give you all the info to not only know what to expect, but also to understand your baby’s behavior. They prepare you for regressions, sicknesses, when to stop swaddling, early wakings (and the list goes on). You know what’s coming so you’re never surprised and you’re able to stay on track.

The second feature that I loved was the easy to follow sleeping and feeding schedules. Little Ones helps you succeed from the get go by giving you all the tools to plan your day so that you know when your baby should sleep and eat, and they even adjust it for you as your baby grows! They also understand that you have a life and won’t always be home to adhere to such a strict schedule so they also give you tools for the days when a schedule just doesn’t work.

Click here to learn more and use code TOVAH for 15% off!

The final feature that really stood out to me were their settling and self-settling methods to help you transition your baby to sleeping alone when you decide the time is right. They give you choices and options for methods so it’s not a “one size fits all approach”. You really are able to choose what makes you most comfortable. In my experience, sleep training methods generally tell you what do you, and rarely give you options which can leave some parents struggling and feeling guilty if the method doesn’t align with what they’re comfortable with. This program gives you choices and then solutions. So whether you want to rock your baby to sleep or whether you want to put them down in their crib and leave the room, the choice is always yours and it won’t affect your success with their program.

Little Ones goes ever further than what I’ve described so far and covers EVERY topic you can think of: reflux, having multiple kids, baby’s being under vs. over tired, pacifiers, naps, morning feeds, sickness, sleep regressions, and the list goes on. If there’s something you’re experiencing, they have a section in their program to help you. This is by far, the most detailed, insightful and all encompassing approach I’ve ever tried.

The most unique aspect of their programs, however, is their support groups. They say it takes a village and Little Ones give you just that - the Little One™ Village. When you use any of their programs, you get access to support from thousands of other families all over the world and they’re there to help you through those tough days of being a parent. You also get access to their certified sleep consultants that can help you through any step of your sleep journey! So whether you have a baby that doesn’t like to nap or a sleep boycotting baby like my son was, I can’t say enough good things about the Little Ones Sleep Programs!

Click here to learn more and don’t forget to use code TOVAH for 15% off!

Planning A Superhero Birthday Party!

My son, Zane, recently celebrated his 3rd birthday and we threw him the coolest superhero birthday party and I can’t wait to share all the amazing vendors that made it possible! If you don’t know where to start, use my party as inspo and start from there. Confession: I don’t actually enjoy planning parties but I do loveseeing my son’s face light up, so I promise everything I did is super simple and can easily be replicated! Whether you’re planning a superhero birthday or a Frozen themed one, the vendors I used were INCREDIBLE, professional, reliable and understood exactly what I was looking for. I’ve linked them all in this blog post!

For custom invites, loot bag tags, cupcake toppers, centre piece accessories and candy bag stickers, there’s no one better than Julia from Funkissd. She has a shop on Etsy with a ton of options, but can also make something custom for you. I’m not even exaggerating when I tell you that I sent her a few pictures from Pinterest for inspiration and let her do the rest. What she created was absolutely perfect (and so affordable)!

Click here to shop FUNKISSD.

Loot bags can be so tricky! Often kids aren’t all the same age and finding something adorable can be tough. I opted for TY beanie ballz! They’re soft and plush (so perfect for the younger kids) and are fun to throw around indoors (which the older kids love) without damaging walls or furniture (which the parents love)! They come in so many different characters. The TY site makes it a bit hard to find them, so I recommend finding the character you want (in my case, the regular spider man), click on it and then scroll down - it will show you all the other formats of that character, including beanie ballz!

Click here to shop TY Spiderman Beanie Ballz

For the table decor, I kept it simple and stuck to primary colors. Red and blue table cloths with red and blue cutlery, napkins and plates! I picked up awesome toddler capes, masks and snap bracelets and set them up at the table so that every kid could be a superhero! I wavered back and forth on whether I should get “girl” version of the super heroes, like Wonder Woman and Catwoman, but ultimately decided that the point was for the kids to dress up and have fun and to be honest, the kids didn’t mind one bit. In fact, I’m not even sure half of them even knew who they were dressing up as! They just LOVED putting on the cap and mask! Amazon Prime came to the rescue for all of this decor!

Click here for CAPES & MASKS

My favorite part was definitely the sweet table. I ordered a super cheap superhero backdrop from Amazon ($22 shipped prime) and decorated it with THE MOST gorgeous balloon garland from Balloonia. They were such a pleasure to deal with, again, completely understood what I was looking for without me having to spend hours sending pictures. They showed up early (that NEVER happens!), were super competitive with their price (in my opinion, for the amount of balloons and for how large it was, I think they actually offer a better value than their competitors) and they were a pleasure to deal with.

Click here for Backdrop on Amazon
Click here to visit BALLOONIA on Instagram or email Melissa for info: info@balloonia.ca

For the desserts, I worked with Laura, from Yum Creations. It was my first time but definitely not my last. She’s the original creator of the Cakesicle but she made us so much more. Instead of a typical fondant cake, we opted for a large number 3 decorated with custom superhero items and candy! It was SO delicious. We also got cake pops, mini cakesicles (perfect for little hands) and custom cookies. Each dessert was more delicious than the next.

Click here to visit YUM Creations on Instagram or email Laura at: info@yumcreations.com

Finally, we finished off the dessert table with a candy bar! This was probably the biggest headache. I didn’t properly gauge how much candy to buy to fill up the containers so I made multiple trips to the candy store and then when I finally had enough, I ate half of it one night and had to go back yet again for more! I stuck to the same colors as the party for the candy and used my custom stickers from Funkissd to decorate the candy bags! I recommend choosing your containers and brining them with you to the store!

Zane LOVES to dance so it was a no brainer to contact Tania from Funtastik Boogie. She literally does it all. Sings, dances, brings a bubble machine, a disco light machine, can bring in mascots and can literally plan any party under the sun for you. Our little superheroes in capes had a blast playing and dancing with her!

Click here to check out Funtastik Boogie on Instagram or email Tania at tania@funtastikboogie.ca

For the location, we had the party at Le Rinque. It has full catering on-site, a bar area if you want to have alchol and we were able to rent one of their indoor arenas for a sporting activity first, followed by music in the party room and then food! They have a vast menu with a ton of options for any budget!

Click here to check out Le Rinque

For the sporting activity, we used Sport Ball! Zane already takes classes with them every week and the coaches are just phenomenal. They bring the equipment (depending on which sport you want your kids to play) and the coaches keep them entertained for a full hour! They specialize in coaching kids of all ages so they were able to adapt the activity to ensure that all the kids had fun!

Click here to check out everything Sportball offers
(choose your location at the top right of the site to find activities near you)

Any other questions? Drop them below and I’ll do my best to answer them!!!

Colic and Baby’s Gut Health: What I've Learned

This post is sponsored by Evivo, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Receive $10 off your Evivo starter kit of 4 weeks with code BLOG7W9433, or receive $20 off your Evivo starter kit of 8 weeks or more with code BLOG98643H!

Did you know that bad bacteria in your baby’s gut can be linked to colic, fussiness, eczema, diaper rash, allergies, diabetes and even obesity? Neither did I, until I had a baby with colic and eczema and was desperate to find a solution. It can be so hard to find resources and information that you can trust online, so I’m super happy to be able to share with you my personal experience with Evivo, the first and only clinically proven infant probiotic.

Evivo has B. infantis EVC001, a proprietary strain that helps to restore good bacteria to baby’s gut! Without B. infantis, bad bacteria can thrive in your baby’s gut and lead to horrible symptoms. I remember the nights with colic. I remember my baby crying, me crying from frustration, trying every vibrating chair, bouncy toy, swaddle, white noise machine and the list goes on without anything working. It’s so hard as a parent to know that your baby is not happy and in pain and to not have the tools to help them. Evivo came to my rescue and when it worked and helped relieve my son’s colic, I kept wondering: how many other parents are going through this same thing and haven’t discovered Evivo yet?

Evivo helps to restore B. infantis in a baby’s gut and provides the gut protection that babies need from day 1. An infant gut that doesn’t have good bacteria, especially in the first 6 months, has been linked to inflammation and a higher risk of autoimmune and metabolic issues. Inflammation can cause gassy discomfort, a bloated tummy and colic. For any parent that has had a baby with colic, you know how horrible it is to watch your baby scream and cry and to not be able to do anything to help them. Giving your baby Evivo starting at birth, can help to restore the good bacteria, B. infantis, in your baby’s gut and end colic! Yes, you read that right! It can help to end colic. It’s not a surprise, I’m sure, that Evivo is not only recommended by me, but also by top paediatricians and lactation consultants! Don’t be shy! Ask your paediatrician about Evivo the next time you bring your baby in.

I was shocked to learn that despite there being a solution like Evivo available to parents, 9 out of 10 babies are experiencing a disruption in their gut causing more bad bacteria to thrive. Simply using Evivo from day 1 you can eliminate bad bacteria in your baby’s gut! 65% of moms who used Evivo reported a decrease in colic symptoms after giving it to baby and 52% noticed that baby’s nighttime sleep was longer and more consistent. If you’ve been considering using a probiotic for your newborn, I can’t recommend Evivo enough!

I used to think that probiotics were only necessary when symptoms appeared, but in fact, Evivo is the only probiotic clinically proven to repopulate baby's gut with the good bacteria they are missing 100% of the time, every time. Decades of research and clinical studies support the importance of B. infantis in the gut and the many benefits it provides to baby's gut health. Not all probiotics are the same, so take the time, learn more about Evivo and discover why it’s proprietary strain of B. infantis makes a difference. It’s the ONLY clinically proven strain to be 100% effective in restoring B. infantis to baby’s gut.

Don’t miss out on your chance to get $10 off your Evivo starter kit of 4 weeks with code BLOG7W9433, or receive $20 off your Evivo starter kit of 8 weeks or more with code BLOG98643H!

Colic and Baby’s Gut Health: What I've Learned (Copy)

This post is sponsored by Evivo, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Receive $10 off your Evivo starter kit of 4 weeks with code BLOG7W9433, or receive $20 off your Evivo starter kit of 8 weeks or more with code BLOG98643H!

Did you know that bad bacteria in your baby’s gut can be linked to colic, fussiness, eczema, diaper rash, allergies, diabetes and even obesity? Neither did I, until I had a baby with colic and eczema and was desperate to find a solution. It can be so hard to find resources and information that you can trust online, so I’m super happy to be able to share with you my personal experience with Evivo, the first and only clinically proven infant probiotic.

Evivo has B. infantis EVC001, a proprietary strain that helps to restore good bacteria to baby’s gut! Without B. infantis, bad bacteria can thrive in your baby’s gut and lead to horrible symptoms. I remember the nights with colic. I remember my baby crying, me crying from frustration, trying every vibrating chair, bouncy toy, swaddle, white noise machine and the list goes on without anything working. It’s so hard as a parent to know that your baby is not happy and in pain and to not have the tools to help them. Evivo came to my rescue and when it worked and helped relieve my son’s colic, I kept wondering: how many other parents are going through this same thing and haven’t discovered Evivo yet?

Evivo helps to restore B. infantis in a baby’s gut and provides the gut protection that babies need from day 1. An infant gut that doesn’t have good bacteria, especially in the first 6 months, has been linked to inflammation and a higher risk of autoimmune and metabolic issues. Inflammation can cause gassy discomfort, a bloated tummy and colic. For any parent that has had a baby with colic, you know how horrible it is to watch your baby scream and cry and to not be able to do anything to help them. Giving your baby Evivo starting at birth, can help to restore the good bacteria, B. infantis, in your baby’s gut and end colic! Yes, you read that right! It can help to end colic. It’s not a surprise, I’m sure, that Evivo is not only recommended by me, but also by top paediatricians and lactation consultants! Don’t be shy! Ask your paediatrician about Evivo the next time you bring your baby in.

I was shocked to learn that despite there being a solution like Evivo available to parents, 9 out of 10 babies are experiencing a disruption in their gut causing more bad bacteria to thrive. Simply using Evivo from day 1 you can eliminate bad bacteria in your baby’s gut! 65% of moms who used Evivo reported a decrease in colic symptoms after giving it to baby and 52% noticed that baby’s nighttime sleep was longer and more consistent. If you’ve been considering using a probiotic for your newborn, I can’t recommend Evivo enough!

I used to think that probiotics were only necessary when symptoms appeared, but in fact, Evivo is the only probiotic clinically proven to repopulate baby's gut with the good bacteria they are missing 100% of the time, every time. Decades of research and clinical studies support the importance of B. infantis in the gut and the many benefits it provides to baby's gut health. Not all probiotics are the same, so take the time, learn more about Evivo and discover why it’s proprietary strain of B. infantis makes a difference. It’s the ONLY clinically proven strain to be 100% effective in restoring B. infantis to baby’s gut.

Don’t miss out on your chance to get $10 off your Evivo starter kit of 4 weeks with code BLOG7W9433, or receive $20 off your Evivo starter kit of 8 weeks or more with code BLOG98643H!

Kid Craved, Mom-Approved Sun-Maid® Sour Raisin Snacks

This post is sponsored by Sun-Maid, but all opinions are my own. 

There’s no better feeling than your child asking you for a snack that’s made with whole fruits, no added sugar, that’s non-GMO, gluten-free, and has no synthetic colors! And that’s exactly what my son begs me for since I started bringing home Sun-Maid® Sour Raisin Snacks. They’re not only a great and healthy snack option, but they’re helping me keep my new year's resolution to snack and eat healthier. They’re a snack that not only is perfect for my son but that my husband and I enjoy too! 

We take our Sun-Maid® Sour Raisin Snacks with us everywhere on the go and because they’re allergen-friendly, they’re an awesome snack for school too! The ready to serve individual packages make it so easy to pack them as school lunches, toss them in my purse, diaper bag and car and my son is always thrilled to snack on them on the go. It was no surprise to me that when I asked him what he wanted to give his friends at school for Valentine’s Day this year, he begged to give them Sun-Maid® Sour Raisin Snacks! I find it so hard to find snacks that my son loves but that are also healthy and allowed at school (allergy-friendly) so I was so happy to hear him ask for these! We decided to put a fun twist on our favorite go-to snack by making mini Valentine’s Day themed mason jars filled with Sun-Maid® Sour Raisin Snacks! We added a bit of extra fun by dipping some in chocolate as well and the sour taste makes them extra delicious! Below I’m sharing our easy chocolate covered Sun-Maid® Sour Raisin Snacks recipe.

Ingredients

1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate

1/4 cup white chocolate

Red food coloring

1 tbs of oil (coconut oil is preferred)

2 boxes of Sun-Maid® Sour Raisin Snacks (we used the Strawberry flavor)*

*Your child will likely be unable to resist the temptation of tasting them so it’s perhaps wise to have an extra box of Sun-Maid® Sour Raisin Snacks on hand! And who am I kidding? You’ll definitely be sneaking in a few too!

You can find these delicious snacks at Walmart and Target in the dried fruit section! They’re snacks the whole family will love and because they’re from a brand you trust - Sun-Maid, you can feel great about giving them to your family.

Directions

1. Cover baking sheet in parchment paper or waxed paper and set aside

2. Place chopped semi-sweet chocolate in microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted (approx. 1 minute). Stir every 45 seconds to avoid it burning.

3. Once chocolate is melted, add in 1/2 cup of Sun-Maid® Sour Raisin Snacks and stir until well coated

4. Spread out the chocolate covered raisin snacks on parchment paper and place in fridge for 15 minutes

5. Repeat steps 2-4 with white chocolate. You can add in 3 drops of red food coloring once the chocolate is melted before adding in your raisins if you want to make pink chocolate covered Sun-Maid® Sour Raisin Snacks. They’re perfect for Valentine’s Day!

6. Mix up the different assortment of raisins and add to Valentine’s Day themed containers! We chose to use mason jars.

If you're looking for a healthy snack that you can feel good about keeping on hand, then Sun-Maid® Sour Raisin Snacks are your answer! You'll love them as much as your kids, they make amazing snacks for school and when you're on the go and your kids will always be begging you for more! They also make great treats for your child's friends for any special occasion!

Add an adorable special touch to the mini mason jars by including the attached printable cards below!

We're Saying Bye to Diapers With the Help of CVS Pharmacy

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of CVS. All opinions are 100% mine.

With the new year finally here, we're leaving diapers behind with the help of CVS Pharmacy! CVS carries an array of products for every stage of parenting and so it was a no brainer to turn to them for all our potty training needs! I also love that they have an ExtraBucks program that helps you save big on all your baby care essentials so there really is no reason to shop anywhere else!

Moms to the Rescue! I asked you on Instagram about your potty training experience and the feedback was overwhelming. Your advice was so appreciated and it was so exciting to hear that so many of you are at this exact stage as well! So here is how we’ll be setting up our son for potty training success and making our experience as easy as possible!

Stock Up On The Essentials

We picked up everything we need from CVS Pharmacy and I love that they’re a one-stop shop. With 2 kids, I’m busy and always on the go so I don’t have time to go to multiple stores to search for the items I need. They have everything you can imagine for baby care and even have CVS Health Brand products, which if you haven’t tried are a must. And don’t worry, if you get home and realize that you forgot something, you can also go to CVS.com and have them delivered right to your door!

These are the items we started with: Your Assigned Brand/Products

1. Pampers Sensitive Wipes & CVS Brand Wipes: I keep Pampers Sensitive Wipes and CVS Brand Wipes stocked at home already for my younger son who is only 8 months old and will now have the wipes in every room for the inevitable potty training accidents. Nothing is worse than your child having an accident, your floor being a mess, you leave for an instant to go clean up your child and while you’re out of the room your dog, husband or other child walks through it (true story). With Pampers Sensitive Wipes, I can quickly clean up my son, wipe up the mess and leave the room to go change him without worrying. We also keep CVS Brand Wipes in our diaper bags, in my purse and in our cars because accidents will happen everywhere, not only at home. They’re also super practical for quickly cleaning up your kids after a snack in the car or wiping them down after daycare pick-up (daycare germs are the worst)!

2. CVS Brand Training Pants: For nighttime and during the day (depending on the potty training method you use), these are the only training pants we trust. They’re affordable, they fit my son perfectly and are covered in fun patterns so they’re a great transition between diapers and “big boy underwear”!

3. Desitin Maximum Strength: This is perhaps the most important product that most parents forget about when potty training. Diaper rash is super common, even in potty trained kids because when they have accidents, they no longer have diapers to absorb all the moisture away from their skin and lets face it, kids don’t always wipe themselves properly either. Make sure to always have some Desitin Maximum Strength on hand!

4. CVS Brand Sheet Protectors: Now, the game changer: CVS Brand Sheet Protectors. These Sheet Protectors are perfect for cribs and youth beds and keep your sheets and mattress dry! They’re reusable, thick and quilted so I recommend having 2 on hand so if there is an accident in the middle of the night, you simply toss it in the wash, put on a new one and go right back to bed. No more having to deal with stained and wet mattresses and needing to change sheets when accidents happen! Amazing, right?

Whether you choose to use the “3 day potty training method” or a slower and more gradual approach, the essentials I listed above are must haves! Having the right products on hand will help you and your child succeed at potty training, but don’t worry! If you forgot one of the items and can’t make it out to the store, you can always visit CVS.com and have the items shipped right to your home!

Reward Reward Reward

The next step to a successful potty training experience is to find a reward and use positive reinforcement to encourage your child to use the washroom! We created a sticker chart and every time Zane uses the toilet, he gets one sticker and after 25 stickers he gets to pick out a toy from CVS! The reward doesn’t need to be big or expensive, but something to incentivize them will really make the experience easier. CVS really has everything, so I love that I can reward Zane by letting him pick out a toy while I shop in store for more of our baby care needs!

Make Sure Everyone Is Equipped

The key to success is definitely consistency. So whether your child is at home, at grandma’s house, at a friend’s house or at daycare, everyone has to be on the same page. Make sure everywhere you go is equipped to deal with accidents, rewards and training pant changes! Yet another reason to love CVS. With their ExtraBucks program, you’ll save money while stocking up on all the products you need!

Patience

As hard as it may be, be patient. Don’t compare your child’s potty training experience to anyone else’s and don’t expect it to happen over night. It may, but it also may not. Just as every child is different, they will react to potty training differently as well. Good luck! And feel free to drop me any questions below in the comments.

Gifting STEM Toys This Holiday Season (Copy)

This year I’m making a conscious effort to gift smart! You might be wondering what I’m talking about. I recently discovered the world of STEM toys and was a bit disappointed that I hadn’t learned about them before. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math but STEM toys focus on so much more. Although they look just as fun as regular toys, they’re actually tools that help kids develop their abilities while they have fun and learn. STEM toys generally consist of board games, building blocks and science kits and are available for children as young as toddlers all the way to teens!

We tried out and are sharing 3 STEM toys that can all be found in the GIFT WHIZ tool that was created by Learning Resources and we loved the toys so much that we’ll be using it to make informed and personalized choices for gifts for all the kids on my holiday shopping list this season!

Click here to check out the GIFT WHIZ.

Counting Surprise Party

This toy is the gift that keeps giving! Your little ones will be thrilled to discover presents that are filled with surprises! This gift will help them learn their colors, to count and to identify objects such as robots, cats, guitars and even a plane! It’s priced at under $20 so it’s the perfect gift for any 3 year old on your list!

Click here to check out the Counting Surprise Party

Hoot the Fine Motor Owl

Hoot the Fine Motor Owl helps your kids strengthen hand-eye coordination as well as an introduction to colors, shapes and number recognition skills. Your children will drop the coins in a slot on the owl’s head and use scissor skills to flap the wings and the coins come tumbling out!

Click here to check out Hoot the Fine Motor Owl.

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1-2-3 Build It!™ Construction Crew

There are 3 different ways your little engineers can put this toy together! They can build a digger, a dump truck and a bulldozer with easy and big snap together pieces. This toy helps to develop and strengthen fine motor skills, hand strength, coordination and other skills that help prepare them for preschool! Your kids imaginations will run wild while they learn and have fun playing with the 1-2-3 Build It! Construction Crew.

Click here to check out the 1-2-3 Build It! Construction Crew.

The GIFT WHIZ will guide you and help you choose the best gift for the children in your life! It takes all the guesswork out of holiday shopping! Click here to check out the GIFT WHIZ by Learning Resources.

Gifting STEM Toys This Holiday Season

This year I’m making a conscious effort to gift smart! You might be wondering what I’m talking about. I recently discovered the world of STEM toys and was a bit disappointed that I hadn’t learned about them before. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math but STEM toys focus on so much more. Although they look just as fun as regular toys, they’re actually tools that help kids develop their abilities while they have fun and learn. STEM toys generally consist of board games, building blocks and science kits and are available for children as young as toddlers all the way to teens!

We tried out and are sharing 3 STEM toys that can all be found in the GIFT WHIZ tool that was created by Learning Resources and we loved the toys so much that we’ll be using it to make informed and personalized choices for gifts for all the kids on my holiday shopping list this season!

Click here to check out the GIFT WHIZ.

Counting Surprise Party

This toy is the gift that keeps giving! Your little ones will be thrilled to discover presents that are filled with surprises! This gift will help them learn their colors, to count and to identify objects such as robots, cats, guitars and even a plane! It’s priced at under $20 so it’s the perfect gift for any 3 year old on your list!

Click here to check out the Counting Surprise Party

Hoot the Fine Motor Owl

Hoot the Fine Motor Owl helps your kids strengthen hand-eye coordination as well as an introduction to colors, shapes and number recognition skills. Your children will drop the coins in a slot on the owl’s head and use scissor skills to flap the wings and the coins come tumbling out!

Click here to check out Hoot the Fine Motor Owl.

---

1-2-3 Build It!™ Construction Crew

There are 3 different ways your little engineers can put this toy together! They can build a digger, a dump truck and a bulldozer with easy and big snap together pieces. This toy helps to develop and strengthen fine motor skills, hand strength, coordination and other skills that help prepare them for preschool! Your kids imaginations will run wild while they learn and have fun playing with the 1-2-3 Build It! Construction Crew.

Click here to check out the 1-2-3 Build It! Construction Crew.

The GIFT WHIZ will guide you and help you choose the best gift for the children in your life! It takes all the guesswork out of holiday shopping! Click here to check out the GIFT WHIZ by Learning Resources.

7 Toys Under $30 from Amazon!

Buying your children educational, good quality and fun toys doesn’t have to break the bank with Kidzlane! The holidays are expensive enough, between holiday outfits, the food, the cost of travel - don’t make toys one of them! I’ve rounded up a bunch of my faves that will have your child smiling from ear to ear without you needing to spend hundreds of dollars! And the added bonus - most of them can be shipped Amazon Prime!

Magnetic Fishing Game for Kids (ages +3)

This game is fun, simple and a classic. The inside of the box becomes an underwater adventure and your child gets to practice hand-eye coordination, colors, numbers and matching! This is definitely a toy can can grow with your child as they learn more and more.

Kidzlane only uses high-quality wood and non-toxic paint. This toy is sure to please a toddler on your list and at $12.99, how can you not smile about it too?

Click here to shop

Wooden Building Blocks (Construction & City) (ages +3)

This will be a favorite in your home, I can promise you that! We got Zane the Construction Site Building Blocks and the Wooden City Building Blocks! He spends hours building a little city and playing pretend school bus driver and dump truck driver! These pieces from Kidzlane are made from durable high-quality wood with non-toxic, BPA and lead-free paint and come with adorable containers to store the pieces in when they aren’t being used. I am obsessed with not only the quality of these blocks, but the detail on them as well! The cement truck spins, the dump truck can dump, the wheels turn - it’s never ending imaginative play that helps your kids develop motor skills, coordination and confidence while learning about colors and shapes! For $24.99, it’s a STEAL!

Click here for the Wooden City Building Blocks

Click here for the Construction Site Building Blocks

Gear Head Wooden Building Toys (ages +18 months)

My love for wooden toys and Kidzlane continues! This is an amazing gift for preschoolers and toddlers 18 months +. It will encourage them to use their imagination, to learn design, STEM engineering and there are so many different ways to assemble it, they won’t get bored. The colors are bright and vibrant and it’s made with real wood! I was surprised to see a price tag of only $16.99 on this!

Click here to shop!

Kids Doctor Kit with Electronic Stethoscope

Does anyone else have a child that loves to play pretend? This Doctor Kit from Kidzlane takes pretend to the next level! With Electronic Stethoscopes and a thermometer with moving numbers, your children will get lost in a world of imaginative play! For only $23.99, watch you child laugh and be entertained with a cell phone that beeps and a stethoscope that makes a real-life heartbeat and coughing sound! And don’t worry - the pieces are easy to clean and store away in a convenient little briefcase!

Click here to shop!

Pretend Veterinarian Doctor Kit (ages +3)

The perfect gift for the animal loving child is here! It’s a 17 piece veterinarian kit from Kidzlane that includes a plush dog, carrier, phone, clip board, dog house, exam table, stethoscope, glasses and more! This is one of the cutest sets I have seen after playing with this, my son keeps chasing my dog around trying to take care of him too! For $29.99 you won’t regret getting your hands on this!

Click here to shop!

Binoculars for Kids (ages +6)

This is the ultimate stocking stuffer! It’s priced at $16.99 and can be used all year round: Adjustable Binoculars! Your outdoor loving child will love taking this to the park and playing outside with it in the summer and your indoor loving imaginative child will love using it in your home to play pretend. It’s perfect for so many different age groups and can be used at sports games, on road trips and even on vacation! It has rubber around the eye cups to protect your child’s eyes and it was designed with your child’s size hands in mind. They’ll be able to adjust the focus and hold it perfectly! The best part? It’s damage resistant and comes with a carrying case so your little explorer will be able to continue enjoying it day after day!

Click here to shop and to see other toys from Kidzlane!

Sorting & Matching Educational Egg Toy (ages +18 months)

The cutest gift in the funnest packaging! It looks like an egg carton filled with plastic eggs, but when you open it, the eggs come apart and it becomes an educational matching game that teaches your children about colors and shapes. The eggs are the perfect size for their little hands (but large enough to not be a choking hazard) and it doubles as pretend food for playing groceries! It’s priced at $17.99 so it’s perfect for any toddler on your list!

Click here to shop!

Bonus!

Floor Piano Mat: Jumbo 6 Foot Musical Keyboard

So this one didn’t fit the Under $30 list, but it is honestly the coolest gift I’ve seen in a while so I had to include it! It’s a new release from Kidzlane and it will get your kids moving and singing! It’s a perfect gift to help them get out all their energy during the cold months when they’re often stuck inside and it will be a favorite in your home for years to come! It’s a 6 foot long piano mat with touch-sensitive keys and 8 different instrumental sounds that they’ll be able to skip and hop on! It includes 10 classical songs and comes with cards that can teach your kids how to play the songs! Is there anything better? They’re learning music, being active and having fun. It’s made from toxin-free material that can easily be wiped clean and is durable enough to withstand all the fun your kids will have with it! It’s $49.99, so VERY reasonably priced and I guarantee you will have as much fun playing on it as your kids will!

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