Thanks, Mail Carrier

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 {Review}

2019-08-05T13:48:00.000-05:00

These days, I try to appreciate the advancements that have made my life so much easier and more convenient. And, one thing that I know I have never once missed? Wires.

There are so many cords running to and from just about every device that they make me crazy. They're always tangled, being yanked on, catching on things, and, in general, just in the way. Can't every single thing be wireless?

Although that time hasn't quite yet been reached, at least I have now found the absolute perfect way to enjoy unparalleled music in top-of-the-line comfort, incredible clarity, and the utmost in cord-free convenience thanks to the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700.

Known for being passionate about inventing new technologies that truly benefit people, Bose's Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 were designed to deliver everything you expect — and things you never imagined possible.

Along with removing the hassle of wires (ugh!), these amazing headphones have a sophisticated, comfortable design, extended battery life, easy voice control, access to your choice of voice assistant, incredible noise cancellation, and much more. In short, they're able to turn every moment into an extraordinary experience by making your music come alive and your life more convenient and connected. There's nothing more that I could ask for!

Considering that everything I read about the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 made them sound like a spectacular pair of wireless headphones, I was excited to see them in person to give them a try.

Even before I had them out, the Bose Headphones 700 were making a great impression simply from the stylish and impressive box and inner case. I love companies that create packaging that not only keeps their products safe and secure, but also make users excited just from the way they look!

As soon as I removed these headphones, however, it was clear that Bose went much further than a snazzy box. The Bose Headphones 700 are all clean lines and classic design with the wireless, modernized, lightweight, stainless-steel headband and angled earcups to provide a comfortable fit for all-day listening.

My next step included downloading the Bose Music App and, in a matter of seconds, I had my headphones activated, connected, and was taking a virtual tour of their many amazing features.

Bose really couldn't have made these headphones any easier to use!

I adore that they came already charged and truly, I had my music playing within a minute or two. All that is left to do is simply adjust to your size and start wearing! The large L and R make it a no-brainer which direction is front and back...

...and the controls for volume, answering calls, talking to your voice assistant, skipping tracks, and more are, quite literally, right at your fingertips. Just intuitively swipe left, right, up or down on the right earcup and your music responds immediately.

Not to mention that the three dedicated buttons provide direct access to some of the headphones' most important features. Whether you are selecting just the right noise cancellation level for your environment (there are 11 so that you can maximize it to eliminate distractions, minimize it so you can hear everything around you or just choose from nine other levels in between) or jumping into Conversation Mode to pause the music and let surrounding noise in (perfect to order coffee, chat with a coworker or listen for your boarding call at the airport), the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 allow you to do it all with ease.

As well as features that one would expect with high quality headphones, Bose took things a step further by including their unique Bose AR. This new audio augmented reality technology and platform uses a combination of motion sensors built right in to superimpose sound on top of the real world.

So, while most AR efforts are focused on overlaying simulated visual information (virtual roller coaster, anyone?) Bose's AR products detect your head orientation and body movement while you wear them. Then, Bose AR-enhanced apps use this information along with location data from your mobile device to offer you audio content tailored to where you are and what you're doing. There is a whole slew of Bose AR apps available for iOS users to experience this coolness!

Overall, I love the power, sound, and comfort that the Bose Headphones 700 provide and I couldn't be happier not having to deal with the hassle of wires getting caught, twisted, knotted, pulled, and more. Add to that having the ability to wear these just about anytime, anywhere due to their lightweight feel and it's easy to see why these can go from work to play to sport with ease!

I have especially been enjoying the ease of controlling the noise cancellation technology, as a tap or two allows me to move from complete isolation to full awareness of my surroundings all without having to remove these comfortable headphones from my ears.

Plus, Bose didn't only include a single microphone into these headphones, there is an adaptive four-microphone system that automatically adjusts to the environment to isolate your voice from competing noises. No more yelling or wondering if the person on the other end can understand what you are saying!

Really, my only complaint is that everyone else in my household keeps trying to borrow these from me far too often!

After having had the chance to thoroughly try out the Bose Headphones 700, I'm clearly impressed with the comfort, fit and feel, as well as the convenience that they provide for all aspects of a busy life and the overall amazing clarity, sound and removal of distractions that they provide. No matter if I am relaxing at home, outdoors mowing the lawn, boarding a plane or just living day to day, these are likely coming along as well!

Whether you are shopping for an athlete, a commuter, a traveler, a music-lover or more, the Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 would make an absolutely amazing gift. Your recipient is sure to love the sleek look, custom fit, perfect balance of function and design, and all-around great sound no matter if they're going for a run, rocking out, flying across the country or jumping onto a conference call.

The Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are available now for $399.99. For more information and to find out more about all of Bose's innovative and award-winning products, visit Bose.com and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

I was provided Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 and compensation in order to facilitate my review. This post is solely my honest opinion about this product.

Disney•Pixar's Coco is Available Today on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital!

2018-02-27T09:50:00.000-06:00

As I've gotten older, I find that my attention span for movies has shortened. Whether my mind can't stop wandering or my body fidgets in the seats (which are, admittedly, much more comfortable than they ever were in years past), I somehow spend the majority of my time in movie theaters checking the time in anticipation of the final credits.

Therefore, for me to return to the theater to see a movie multiple times, it has to be more than just special. It has to be filled with incredible animation, beautiful music, an inspiring tale, an overall engrossing message and much more... which are the perfection descriptors for the critically-acclaimed, award-winning Coco from Disney•Pixar.

Celebrating the importance of family, honoring your ancestors and following your dreams, Coco, Pixar Animation Studios' 19th feature film, brings viewers into the story of a 12-year-old aspiring musician's extraordinary journey to the magical land of his ancestors.

Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz, despite his family's baffling generations-old ban on music. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Héctor, and together they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel's family history.

If you have somehow not yet seen Coco, it's a MUST! Plus, viewing this vibrant tale is even easier than returning to the theater multiple times like me, as Coco is now available digitally in HD, 4K Ultra HD and Movies Anywhere, as well as on DVD and Blu-ray today, February 27!

I couldn't be much more excited to add Coco to our home library and love that the Multi-screen Edition (formerly known as the Blu-ray Combo Pack) includes a Blu-ray, a DVD and a Digital copy, giving viewers the flexibility to watch the film on different devices.

That simply means more options and opportunities to bring the rich color, textures and sounds of Coco to life as you are immersed in two fantastically animated worlds. Not to mention all of the great bonus material included in this set that provide the opportunity to delve even deeper into the inspiration and creation of this beautiful film.

Bonus features included on Blu-ray and Digital include:

Deleted Scenes with Introductions - Director Lee Unkrich and co-director Adrian Molina talk about the deleted scenes and the part they played in the development of Coco.

Día de los Muertos - In this musical extravaganza, the colors and excitement of Día de los Muertos come to life as we meet superstar Ernesto de la Cruz.

The Way of the Riveras - A musical number in which Abuelita and Miguel prepare their Día de los Muertos celebration while she teaches him Rivera family history and traditions.

Celebrity Tour - Héctor, a Land of the Dead tour bus guide, agrees to help Miguel, revealed to be a living boy, on his quest to find de la Cruz.

The Bus Escape - The Rivera family catches up to Miguel and Héctor and attempts to halt their mission to find de la Cruz.

Alebrije Attack - Miguel and Héctor are interrupted on their journey to find de la Cruz by a fierce alebrije.

The Family Fix - After de la Cruz reveals his true colors, the Rivera family puts their dismay aside and comes together to repair the smashed guitar needed to send Miguel home.

To the Bridge - As the Land of the Dead counts down to the end of Día de los Muertos, Miguel and de la Cruz come head-to-head on the marigold bridge.

Filmmaker Commentary – Presented by Lee Unkrich (director), Adrian Molina (co-director) and Darla K. Anderson (producer).

The Music of Coco - Collaborating with musicians of Mexico and some unique instrumentation, this documentary explores the beautiful fusion of music essential to the story of Coco.

Paths to Pixar: Coco - Explore how the film crew's personal stories resonate with the themes of the movie itself.

Welcome to the Fiesta - A musical exploration of the skeletons that make the Land of the Dead in Coco so wondrous and intriguing.

How to Draw a Skeleton - Pixar artist Daniel Arriaga gives a lesson on the quick and easy way to draw skeletons using simple shapes.

A Thousand Pictures a Day - Join the Coco crew on an immersive travelogue through Mexico, visiting families, artisans, cemeteries, and small villages during the Día de los Muertos holiday.

Mi Familia - Developing the Riveras was a labor of love that took the cast and crew on a deep dive into the meaning of family.

Land of Our Ancestors – Watch Pixar artists lovingly construct layer upon layer of architecture from many eras of Mexican history, bringing the Land of the Dead to life.

Fashion Through the Ages – The cast of characters in Coco are from many different eras, making for some magnificent costuming opportunities.

The Real Guitar – The majestic guitar that spurs Miguel on his journey through the Land of the Dead is a unique creation. Watch as it is initially designed by a Pixar artist and ultimately realized as a real instrument by a master luthier in this poetic ode to craftsmanship.

Dante - How the crew fell in love with the uniquely Mexican breed of Xoloitzcuintli (or “Xolo”) dogs that inspired Dante.

How to Make Papel Picado - Join Pixar artist Ana Ramírez González as we learn how papel picado is made traditionally, and then try your own approach to this beautiful art form.

Un Poco Coco - A montage of original animated pieces used to promote Coco.

Coco Trailers - Trailers include “Feeling,” “Dante’s Lunch,” “Destiny,” “Journey” and “Belong.”

From beginning to end, Coco is beautifully complicated while being artfully simple. This movie is stunning to watch, delightful to hear and, without a doubt, deserving of the widespread praise it has received since its debut. Filled with love and laughter (and a few tears that I shed each and every time I have watched it), Disney•Pixar’s Coco is both moving and entertaining and sure to be a family favorite for years to come.

Find out more and connect with all things Coco on Disney's website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and be sure to pick up your Multi-screen Edition today at retailers everywhere and on Amazon.

Other than a copy of Coco that I was provided in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about this product.

Skullduggery Max Traxxx Tracer Racers Remote Control Infinity Loop Set {Review}

2017-12-14T11:33:00.000-06:00

Although there have been a lot of parenting surprises over the years, one that I did not anticipate was the increasing difficulty that comes with buying gifts as my children have gotten older. Back when they were younger they seemed to have more focused interests, but these days? It's like pulling teeth to get them to name anything in particular or come up with something that actually elicits excitement.

Therefore, after spending far too long looking at online suggestions (all of which I did not purchase) and aimlessly wandering the aisles in big box stores (which also left me empty-handed), I was thrilled to be introduced to an award-winning toy that I instantly knew would be a hit for both of my kids this holiday season.

More unique than traditional cars and much more entertaining than other remote control toys that I've seen, I had no doubt that Max Traxxx Tracer Racers from Skullduggery would create a stir as soon as they were out of the box. In all honesty, I couldn't wait to dig into the Max Traxxx Tracer Racers Remote Control Infinity Loop Set myself!

As a leading toy manufacturer for 30 years, Skullduggery's vast product lines appeal to toy-lovers of all ages throughout the world. But while their craft kits and fossil replicas do look interesting, the Max Traxxx Tracer Racer car line has had my attention from the beginning. Who can resist an adjustable, customizable, glow-in-the-dark racing system?

I couldn't wait to see these Tracer Racers and the Infinity Loop Track Set in person!

Right out of the box it was clear that Skullduggery had included just about everything needed in order for young (or, ahem, young-at-heart) racing enthusiasts to start putting together the endless racing circuit of their dreams.

Including more than 46 feet of glow-in-the-dark track, two Tracer Racers and remote controls, 26 X-BLOX construction brix, and more, the only thing that this set needs to get started are the batteries.

After opening up each of the remotes and setting the four AA's into place, I simply plugged the cars right into the cord on the top and flipped the switch to 'charge.' I love that the remote controls are the actual chargers instead of needing to keep track of a separate cable or plug (which would immediately get lost into the abyss of my house).

While the Tracer Racers charged up, it was time to construct the unique Infinity Loop Track Set. I adore that Max Traxxx parts are able to be mixed and matched and snapped together and constructed in just about an endless number of ways. Talk about a workout for the imagination!

To begin, however, I opted to build the original figure eight shape to check out just why these loops, corners, and straightaways had won multiple awards. Could it really be all that cool?

Don't let the angle of this photo fool you. This set is BIG!

In a matter of minutes, the full track was together (each piece simply slides/snaps into the next) and it was time to rev up our engines. Hint: there is an on/off switch on the remote control AND on the bottom of the car itself. Make sure you have both turned to on for racing to begin!

Oh, man!

While Skullduggery had pointed out that the Tracer Racer Cars have a top to-scale speed of 500 miles per hour, I still wasn't prepared for how quickly they truly zip! Each little car can go forwards or backwards depending on the direction that users move the lever on the remote control and boy, oh boy, they can go fast!

In fact, we found there to be a small learning curve when it comes to driving, as putting the pedal to the metal can lead to Tracer Racers flipping off the track as they come shooting around the corners. At the same time, driving too slow doesn't give enough speed to make it up and around the loop, so finding the sweet spot in the variable speed takes a little skill.

But that sure didn't mean that Little Sister B was any less excited to race again and again and again and again!

Although my young speedster was already having a blast simply zooming both Max Traxxx Tracer Racers around the track, as soon as I said, Now watch THIS and turned off the lights, her mind was officially blown.

Even better, not only does the glow-in-the-dark track light up (which is cool), but the Tracer Racers themselves utilize Light Trail Technology and blaze streaks of light as they go (which is REALLY cool)! Each car has two small lights on the bottom that, when combined with the glowing track, leave a glowing path that slowly fades long after the Racer has passed.

These really couldn't be much more amazing to see racing, twisting, and turning in a dimly lit room!

Even a crash or wipe out looks incredible when all lit up in the dark!

From the first day that we opened the Max Traxxx box, Little Sister B and I have spent endless afternoons cheering on our Tracer Racers as we send them flying around the track. There have been more times than one that we've only stopped playing because the cars begin to slow and the lights on the bottom don't shine, meaning it's time to let them stop and recharge. Fortunately, it's just so easy to plug them right into the remote controls and set them down until next time!

Plus, while Little Sister B is happy to keep the Infinity Loop as is, but I have no doubt that in the future we will construct and reconstruct the various parts into our own creative layouts. By using the existing X-BLOX construction brix (and including our own compatible bricks of another brand), the sky is the limit on forming a track that goes up, down, and around in any number of ways!

Whether you have a beginning or advanced race fan in your life, Max Traxxx Tracer Racers can provide hours of entertainment for all ages. This set is recommended for ages 6+ and I agree — it is easy enough to slide the pieces together and use the remote that younger children can do it on their own, yet the fantastic wow factor will keep older kids coming back for more.

I dare you to spend less than a minute watching this video and not want to start playing with these yourself!

The complete Max Traxxx Tracer Racers Remote Control Infinity Loop Set retails for $119.97 and can be purchased directly from Skullduggery.com (with free shipping!) or on Amazon.com (where one of their sellers, 4% Change for Children, not only offers a $20 off coupon on certain days but also does amazing work donating to non-profit organizations that help children and families).

There is still time to order this incredibly unique remote control track set in time for the holidays, so be sure to visit Skullduggery's website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest pages to find out more about this and all of their creative and fun products.

Other than the Max Traxxx Tracer Racers Remote Control Infinity Loop Set that I was provided by Skullduggery in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This post is solely my honest opinion about this product.

Keep Your Internet Safe with the CUJO Smart Firewall from Best Buy {Review}

2017-09-14T16:46:00.000-05:00

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

A few decades ago, the phrase home security would likely have conjured up images of cameras and motion detectors and signs indicating that an alarm would silently ring if a window was forced open.

These days, there's no question that we're all still careful to lock the doors to our houses. However, home security means so much more now that there are virtual entrances to our lives that also need to be protected. After all, the plethora of connected devices in our homes — TVs, game consoles, phones, computers, tablets, printers, cameras, baby monitors, thermostats, vacuums, and much more — are really only as secure as the networks that they access, right?

Therefore, until our tech gadgets begin to be created with built-in security, it is up to us to provide it — to not only block malicious sites, viruses, and hacks, but to give peace of mind that you and your family are safe online.

That's where CUJO comes in!

A firewall for the connected home that is designed to bring business-level security to a home network, CUJO is the one device needed to secure any and all technology that connects through your internet. Just plug it in, set it up, and this simple yet sophisticated gadget monitors the activity on all of your connected devices for anything unusual. When that occurs, it immediately blocks the threats before they have a chance to compromise your online safety or private information.

Pretty great, right?

As I don't consider myself a technology expert, I was looking forward to seeing just how user-friendly CUJO would be and if I would be able to get it up and running all on my own.

Right out of the box and it was clear that CUJO is just about as close to "plug and play" as possible. All that I needed to do was take the device, the power cord, and the Ethernet cable, plug it all in (to a power source as well as to my router), and I was good to go.

Registering my CUJO and going through the setup process couldn't have been much easier, as I simply downloaded the app (available from the App Store as well as Google Play) and followed the instructions one by one.

In less than 10 minutes, our home was protected and CUJO was already at work identifying our devices.

From that day forward, CUJO has been amazing for keeping all of our technology safe and secure. I love the way that it was designed to automatically block any threats it detects (users then have the option to leave the block or to unblock), as this proactive method ensures that I won't have to deal with problems after they occur. I've spent too many hours stressing over computer viruses to ever want to go down that path again!

Instead CUJO keeps our entire network and every single device we own protected and it lets me know in two different ways. The unit itself has "eyes" (that my kids adore) that indicate if the device is in standby mode (full eyes), protection mode (smiling eyes) or that it has detected unwanted activity (sad eyes).

At the same time, I can receive immediate notifications on my phone and/or simply open the app to stay informed. I was amazed when CUJO detected and blocked a threat within the first 24 hours of installation — and it had at least half a dozen more within the first week of use! Where has this been all my life?!

Beyond just being a watchdog for all of our connected devices (which I love), CUJO takes things one step further for parents by including an abundance of parental control features. We all know that kids of every age seem to want to spend every waking minute online, but we also know that there is a great deal of the internet that isn't appropriate for children.

Therefore, being able to have control over access to the internet provides me the perfect solution, as I'm not going to keep my kids off of it entirely. CUJO allows me to not only have an internet filter, but I can set time limits and pause the internet for specific devices, monitor social media sites, receive alerts and reports, and more.

How great is it that CUJO allows me to safeguard my children and what they access online all while it protects our household overall!

I have to admit that prior to the arrival of CUJO, I hadn't put a great deal of thought into our household's internet security. But now that it is here, I couldn't be happier knowing that my entire home, all of our devices, and even my kids are safer!

CUJO is available in three different options ($99 for the device with an $8.99 monthly service fee; $158 for the device with a $59 annual service fee; $249 for the device and a free lifetime subscription/service) and can truly provide the peace of mind you need or didn't know you need in your home.

Find out much more about all that CUJO can do and how much money you can save on it when you purchase from Best Buy today.

Back to School with the Inspire Imagination Box Top Program at Costco

2017-08-16T12:22:00.000-05:00

This post is in partnership with General Mills and Box Tops for Education. All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

Did you know that there's a way to ensure that our schools are receiving much-needed funding while also benefiting your own family at the same time? It's the nation's largest school fundraising program, Box Tops for Education!

A General Mills program, Box Tops for Education began as an experiment on boxes of Cheerios in California with first year earnings of $1 million. Since then, it has grown to include hundreds of participating brands (along with General Mills, others include Ziploc, Kleenex, Lysol, Finish, and more) providing $840 million to more than 70,000 enrolled K-8 schools.

Pretty amazing, right? We make sure to clip each and every single Box Top that we can on our General Mills products (I have found that having a designated Box Tops baggie makes it so that my husband and kids know exactly where to put them) and I absolutely love knowing that such a simple act can have such positive results. We hand our baggie in to the PTO Box Top Coordinator at our school, she mails them in, the school gets a check. What could be better?!

Actually, we were excited to hear that right now there is another reason to be pumped up about Box Tops: the Inspire Imagination Box Top program!

I have no doubt that Box Tops are already helping inspire children all across the country, as what school couldn't use a little extra money? That funding may go to field trips, gym equipment, technology, books, art supplies, musical instruments, enrichment programs, game days... the list goes on and on!

Therefore, I love that the Inspire Imagination program is highlighting just that and giving Costco members the chance to win even more Box Tops for their school. It's so simple to enter (*see official rules below)! Here's how:

Take a photo of how Box Tops for Education inspires imagination in your child(ren).

Share your photo on Twitter or Instagram using #InspireContest and be sure to follow @BTFE as this is how the winners will be notified.

Sit back and hope to be one of the 3,000 Costco members that each will win 100 Box Tops for their school!

Easy peasy, right?

The combination of Box Tops and Costco is a perfect match, as not only do families such as mine shop at Costco every week to stock up on the products and brands that we trust and use regularly, but we score even more Box Tops with our purchases.

For instance, instead of picking up a single box of Kleenex at the store and being able to clip one single Box Top, we can buy a bulk pack at Costco and end up with 10 Box Tops instead!

With preparations for back to school underway, there's no doubt that I have been shopping at Costco even more than usual lately. There is nowhere else that has everything that I need for all of our lunch-packing supplies at such great prices!

Along with picking up the food items that my daughters love in their school lunches (as well as to have for breakfast, dinner, snack, and pretty much anytime, as they are constantly eating), on my recent Costco visit I also stocked up on a few of the supplies that are necessary to keep our kitchen running.

Now I can rest easy knowing that I won't open the baggie drawer to find it empty or, even worse, prepare to run our dishwasher and have no detergent for it. Instead, we'll head into September ready to go... and with tons of extra Box Tops in our stash as well!

If you aren't already collecting Box Tops for Education, now is the perfect time to start — particularly with the great selection of products at Costco! Whether you have children attending one of the participating locations or not, schools can never have too much money to improve their classrooms and programs and our kids can never be too inspired. All it takes is a pair of scissors to snip the Box Tops and make a difference!

To learn more about Box Tops visit BTFE.com and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Be sure to also visit CostcoBTFE.com for more information on the Inspire Imagination Box Top Program and enter your photo today!

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.) 18 years or older. Ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on 9/30/17. To enter and for Official Rules, including odds, and prize descriptions visit www.costcobtfe.com. Void where prohibited by law. Use of “#InspireContest” when posting entry constitutes entrant’s agreement to Official Rules. Sponsor: General Mills.

Each box top is worth 10 cents to redeeming school when clipped from box tops products and sent to the redeeming school. Only BTFE registered schools can redeem box tops. Limit $20,000 per school per year for box tops redeemed through the clip program. See www.boxtopsforeducation.com for program details.

The Villain Kids are Back in Descendants 2! {Available on DVD Today}

2017-08-15T11:11:00.001-05:00

While I consider myself to be pretty in-the-know on all things kid-movie related, it wasn't until Little Sister B attended a slumber party more than a year ago that I was introduced to a completely new cast of characters. Mal? Uma? Gil? Who are these people?

Although it initially took a little deciphering to understand Little Sister B's stream of excited storytelling, it all began to fall into place when she got to the they're the kids of the bad guys part. Disney villains moved on with their lives and had children? Sure enough they had!

From that day forward, it was Descendants this and Descendants that as my young fan was officially obsessed. Everything from the plot to the soundtrack was brought up over and over again with glee – only to be enhanced 1000% when we heard the best news Little Sister B could have dreamed up: the villain kids were coming back in a highly anticipated sequel.

It was time to prepare for yet another music-driven smash in Descendants 2 (available on DVD today, August 15th)!

Overflowing with more action, more catchy music, unforgettable dance numbers, and new Villain Kids, Descendants 2 brings viewers into a deeper story line as the teenage sons and daughters of Disney's most infamous villains try to find their place in idyllic Auradon.

When the pressure to be royally perfect becomes too much for Mal (daughter of Maleficent), she returns to her rotten roots on the Isle of the Lost where her archenemy Uma, the daughter of Ursula, has taken her spot as self-proclaimed queen of the run-down town. Hoping to retrieve Mal, Evie (daughter of The Evil Queen) brings along help and sneaks onto the Isle as well.

But Uma, still resentful over not being selected by Ben (Belle and Beast's son) to go to Auradon Prep with the other Villain Kids, stirs up her pirate gang including Captain Hook's son Harry and Gaston's son Gil, to break the barrier between the Isle of the Lost and Auradon, and unleash all the villains imprisoned on the Isle, once and for all.

The result is swashbuckling action and incredible song and dance numbers that Descendants fans are sure to love!

As well as the 90 minutes of mischief and music included in this fun film, the Descendants 2 DVD also includes fun bonus features to take the enjoyment even further:

Cast Secrets – Personal secrets are revealed by cast members Dove Cameron (Mal), Cameron Boyce (Carlos), Sofia Carson (Evie), Booboo Stewart (Jay) and China Anne McClain (Uma) during the filming of the movie.

Bloopers – The cast cracks up on set during some crazy takes.

Deleted Song and More – Includes an extended song ("The Space Between"), a deleted song ("If Only"), and two alternate endings.

Descendants: Wicked World – An ultimate collection of all the animated shorts from Season One.

If you have a young fan of Descendants in your life, you're going to want to bring home a copy of Descendants 2 on DVD today (available on Amazon as well as from retailers nationwide) to continue the singing, dancing, and villainous fun.

As a special bonus, inside the case you'll find a free necklace with five interchangeable villain icons so your little one can show off their Descendants love even further!

To find out more about Descendants 2, listen to clips, play games, meet the cast, get party planning tips and recipes, see news, and much, much more, head over to the Disney website.

Other than the copy of of Descendants 2 that I was provided, I was not compensated or enticed to do this review in any way. This post is solely my honest opinion about this product.

BigBoxPlay Life Sized Cardboard Fort Play System - On Kickstarter Now!

2017-05-09T08:25:00.000-05:00

If there is an age that children reach when they stop being overly amazed and thrilled by cardboard boxes, my girls haven't gotten there yet. I, for one, don't see a box and feel the extreme desire to examine it, push it around, color it, climb inside and hide, and then attempt to come up with new ways to play with it. But maybe that's just me?

As for my kids, cardboard is fantastic. It's wonderful! It's the best thing ever! Forget whatever toy that came inside, they just want to play with the box.

Inevitably though, the excitement is always fairly short-lived. The flimsy cardboard rips or the bottom falls out or the girls realize that, in fact, they can put their creativity towards something that isn't just a box... that is, if they happen to put down their tech devices for a minute and actually use their creativity.

But... what if a cardboard box could be taken to the next level? What happens when a company that is frustrated with all the digital toys dominating the market decides to turn cardboard into something captivating, durable, dependable, and amazingly fun? The result is a life-sized cardboard fort (strong enough for your children to stand on!) that is big enough for kids to create their own endless adventures inside (and atop). It's BigBoxPlay!

Developed by founder and chairman Pete Moffett, BigBoxPlay started as a special way to connect with his grandson by taking fort-building to the next level.

Unlike any other product on the market, this innovative play system takes children's iconic love for cardboard structures and building forts and offers a durable yet modular system that is anything but ordinary. With personalized play systems featuring different themes, activity kits, and Adventure Guides, BigBoxPlay has the ability to empower a child to build anything they can imagine time and time again!

Even better, this play and learning system not only sparks imagination and creativity, it is also designed to teach kids important skills such as communication, storytelling, collaboration, problem-solving, and empathy. Who wouldn't want their kids gaining those abilities all while building anything that they can imagine in the coolest fortress of fun around?

BigBoxPlay systems come in two options, a 3 Box Set (great for smaller rooms) and a 5 Box Set. Both are extremely strong and feature child-friendly assembly, durable double-wall cardboard, quick set up and disassembly for easy storage, and are available in different themes such as castles, spaceships or cubes.

There's just no way that kids wouldn't have fun with these!

Ready to find out more and exactly why your kids will love it? Well, you're in luck! Today, May 9th, marks the kickoff of their Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign that will run for the next 31 days where supporters and fans can take advantage of exclusive pre-order pricing of $75-$135 with free shipping!

Once the Kickstarter campaign comes to an end, BigBoxPlay will be available nationwide at BigBoxPlay.com.

BigBoxPlay truly is playtime reimagined, so head over and check them out today!

This post is in partnership with BigBoxPlay but all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

Stylish Durability and Quality On the Go: Machir Bags, Backpacks and Briefcases {Review}

2017-05-03T10:27:00.000-05:00

Similar to selecting just the right pair of shoes to provide style as well as comfort, I've always felt that having a different backpack or bag depending on who I'm with, where I'm going, and what I'm doing is equally as important.

I'm talking about the optimal bag for the right occasion. One that will allow me to go hands-free, won't dig into my shoulder(s), provide versatile functionality, hold up to anything and everything, and more. Therefore, just being able to hike it up on my shoulder isn't enough. No matter if I'm in a store shopping, heading to a business meeting or trekking through the zoo, I want my belongings to be comfortably (and stylishly) held out of the way.

Picky? Yes. Yes, I am.

With all of my requirements, it goes without saying that finding a company that can provide my ideal bags can be extremely difficult. Am I destined to hem and haw at every photo after photo when the style, quality, size, and more just isn't striking my fancy?

And then I was introduced to Machir.

Born out of a desire for rugged, stylish, and durable backpacks, briefcases, and luggage-type bags, Machir bags and accessories feature premium quality fabrics, leather, and trims while keeping comfort in mind. These gorgeous bags were made for those with an active and adventurous spirit and provide comfort, quality, and functionality while not compromising style or price.

High quality construction, beautiful fabric choices, and immediate evidence that quality and care is put into all of their product lines? What more could you (or even someone as fussy as me) ask for?

Deciding which of Machir's amazing bags from their stylish collections were my favorite was no easy feat. But when they arrived? Swoon.

Depending on where life is going to take us, my family was now prepared for work, travel, and life without ever needing to think about what bag would come along again.

First up, the Executive Slim Briefcase in Walnut.

As I spend the majority of my days away from the business world, this incredible briefcase was my husband's choice and I couldn't have agreed more. No offense to anyone who carries a stereotypical briefcase, but I can't help but see that old fashioned rectangular design with those flip open clasps and just think that it screams boring and old.

Instead, Machir made the Executive Slim Briefcase the perfect size that it can easily carry a laptop and/or tablet, papers, and other office essentials without being too bulky. The modern design includes the two carry handles as well as a removable, adjustable leather shoulder strap for ease of use and I love the addition of the exterior and interior pockets (and removable padded laptop case) for full function and versatility.

Machir even lined this briefcase with a gorgeous plaid fabric that gives the whole thing an extra pop of youthful sophistication that appeals to men and women of all ages!

However, when he's heading out of town for a work trip and the Executive Slim Briefcase Executive doesn't provide quite enough space, the Flap-Over Backpack in Midnight steps in and provides my husband organization, room, and sleek styling instead.

There's something about business travelers lugging a bulky suitcase or toting along a ragged backpack that doesn't add up in my mind. Instead, the chic Executive Flap-Over Backpack incorporates all the features of a traditional backpack style, but taken to the next level of executive elegance.

The strong and durable nylon is accented with classic leather and silver hardware, while the contrasting lining is easy on the eyes. Along with the large interior compartment, this backpack includes padded compartments to hold a laptop and a tablet on the inside and four different zippered pockets for plenty of storage (and easy access) on the outside.

It really all comes together in such a professional, sophisticated way that is perfect for travel, a student, or simply in place of a briefcase. If you've never thought about carrying a backpack to work, this one just might change your mind!

Lest you think that Machir is all about business, let me introduce you to their Signature Small Duffle in Midnight.

I have yet to come up with a daily activity that the Signature Small Duffle does not work for.

Heading to the gym? The large main compartment has plenty of room for your tennis shoes and a sweatshirt and the waterproof interior pocket is just the place for a wet swimsuit or sweaty clothes afterward. Packing for an overnight? The combination of the large and (many) small compartments ensures that you not only have space for everything, but that it can stay well organized as well.

On our recent family vacation to Central America, Big Sister E confiscated this duffle as her own and adored the convenience of it as her carry-on (she altered between carrying it on one shoulder using the included padded shoulder strap and using both handles as backpack straps) as well as for keeping her belongings all contained in a new location.

As we have since returned from our trip, Big Sister E has yet to give Signature Small Duffle back, so I'm either going to have to sneak it from her room or order another one if I ever want to use it!

However, I can't complain too much about losing access to Machir's great duffle, as I have been more than happy with my own versatile, high quality bag, the Signature Military Backpack in Avian Millennium Dusk.

If you're thinking something along the lines of If you've seen one backpack, you've seen 'em all, then know that originally I was, too.

However, of the many, many backpacks that I've used in my lifetime, the Signature Military Backpack has out-performed them all. From the wide, comfortable straps to the extremely padded back panel to the huge interior compartments (with plenty of smaller pockets to stay organized and keep your tech gear protected), Machir has thought of everything.

It even has a built-in waterproof rain cover so that if you get caught in the elements, your belongings won't get soaked through!

Not to mention that any other backpack that I have used started to show signs of wear and tear by having the bottom corners chip away or a zipper begin to fail... but no matter what I have put the Signature Military Backpack through, it has proven its quality, durability, and thoughtful function without problem.

I carried this backpack nearly daily throughout our vacation and no matter what it went though, it stayed comfortable on my back and shoulders and kept all of my essentials safe and within reach. I couldn't have asked for more and have continued to use it since we have been back and love it just as much!

Whether you are headed on a weekend trip, leaving for another day at the office, going camping, hitting the gym or more, Machir has the bag that will prove to be the epitome of comfort, convenience, and durability just for you.

While their collections do retail a bit higher than what you might pay in a big box store, their products truly are your soon-to-be favorite travel/daily companion. Every piece is long-lasting, high quality, easy to use, simple to adjust, and designed with luxury and versatility in mind. No matter where your next adventure is taking you, Machir will effortlessly come along for the journey!

To find out more about these and all of Machir's fantastic items, visit Machir.com and see their drool-worthy photos on Instagram. You'll also want to connect with this innovative company on Facebook and their blog so that you never miss a new product release, travel talk, fashion trends, and more.

Other than the bags that I was provided by Machir in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about these products.

Make Safety Fun with Wipeout Dry Erase Protective Gear {Review}

2017-03-15T13:35:00.000-05:00

This post is part of a sponsored campaign for Wipeout Dry Erase Productive Gear. I received compensation for my participation, but my review and opinions are my own.

It's no secret that the words 'safety' and 'fun' aren't exactly synonymous. However, for parents everywhere there have never been any viable alternatives when it comes to the benefits of, for instance, removing cords from window coverings, keeping cleaning supplies out of reach, covering outlets, having their child wear a seat belt in the car and a helmet on their bike, etc.

Or so I thought.

Recently I was introduced to an extremely unique and individualized way to let kids customize safety helmets and pads with their own designs, making them actually want to wear each piece again and again. Genius!

That's the creativity and innovation behind Wipeout Dry Erase Protective Gear!

Made by Triple Eight — a trusted company known for safety as a leading producer of action sports protective gear since 1995 — Wipeout was created to protect children on their bikes, scooters, skateboards, roller skates, sleds, and snowboards with a creative twist.

Instead of yet another standard helmet or set of pads, Wipeout products are designed for endless customization with their included dry erase markers and stencils. Why wear a plain helmet or one that looks just like those of everyone else when kids can easily draw, wipe the designs off, create new ones, and repeat over and over again?

Imagination has no limits and that can now be applied in the world of safety gear!

Right out of the box Little Sister B was thrilled to see the the neon pink colors and the dry erase markers and could barely contain her excitement as I removed the packaging.

The Wipeout Dry Erase Helmet package includes the helmet itself, five dry erase markers in assorted neon colors, and eight stencil designs, so kids are able to start being creative immediately.

What could be better than decorating your helmet completely to your own liking? Maybe one day cover it in peace signs and flowers and the next day switch to rockets and skull-and-crossbones!

Needless to say, Little Sister B and Big Sister E got right to work on putting their own designs on our Wipeout Dry Erase Helmet and have returned to erase, draw, erase, stencil, erase, and draw some more just about every day since!

What kid would rather wear a plain helmet when they could rock something cool and awesome like this instead?

At the same time, Triple Eight didn't just create Wipeout for the fun factor, as this sturdy and stylish helmet is made of ABS hard-shell construction with an EPS liner for durability. It is certified for safety protection for all sorts of activities (e.g. biking, skateboarding, rollerskating, scooters, etc.) for kids ages 3 to 14.

As Little Sister B loves her Dry Erase Helmet, I am just as happy sending her off on her bike or scooter and knowing that she is completely safe while showing off her hip style!

As much as my little fashionista enjoys her Wipeout Dry Erase Helmet, she has been over-the-top crazy about the Wipeout Dry Erase Protective 3-Pack we also received. This set of kneepads, wrist guards, elbow pads, and two markers has been worn inside, outside, in the car... she would have worn it all day at school if I had let her (and, considering she is a bit accident-prone, that wouldn't be all that bad of an idea).

Although these three sets of pads don't provide nearly as large of a canvas in which to showcase her designs, Little Sister B has still had a great time adding smaller artwork onto just about every possible dry erase surface provided.

Wipeout makes safety fun! I can't think of a better way to make kids want to wear their helmets and safety pads than by appealing to their creative, imaginative side and providing a way for complete uniqueness. From biking to skateboarding to rollerblading (there is even a winter version of the Dry Erase Helmet that includes ear flaps and a goggle clip for sledding and snow sports!), this gear can't be beat.

Plus, to further encourage kids' creativity or simply give their artistic side a boost, Wipeout has developed a series of step-by-step photo and video tutorials as well as design printouts to inspire kids to get the most out of their Wipeout products. Talk about cool!

The Wipeout Dry Erase Helmet retails for $29.99 and is available in three sizes for ages 3+, 5+, and 8+ in black, teal, neon pink, neon yellow-green, and more. The Wipeout Dry Erase Protective 3-Pack also comes in a variety of great color options and retails for $24.99. Keep an eye out for them at your leading retailer as well as on Amazon.

Whether you are looking for a useful birthday or holiday gift or simply want to encourage your child to love their safety gear so much that they never take it off, be sure to head over to iWipeout.com (and connect with them on Facebook and Instagram) to find out much more about this incredible line of unique products.

Disney's Moana is Available Now on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand!

2017-03-07T07:39:00.000-06:00

Although I have always supported Little Sister B's love for anything and everything princess-related, I would be lying if I didn't say that there has been a tiny voice in the back of my mind that wished that the underlying message wasn't a little more modern for young girls.

While more recent years have brought changes to the typical damsel in distress who must be saved by her strapping love interest theme, when a film can instead feature a heroine on a journey of self-discovery who is empowered to find her own identity, I take notice. She's independent, progressive, ready for a challenge, cares about the environment, and not afraid to stand up for what she believes?

No wonder I was ready to welcome Moana into our lives with open arms!

The sweeping story of a spirited teenager who sets sail on a daring adventure to save her people, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Moana has received rave reviews from the moment it hit the big screen.

According to directors Ron Clements and John Musker, the story of Moana was inspired by the great explorers who masterfully navigated the vast Pacific, discovering the many islands of Oceania. "Voyaging is a real source of pride for many Pacific Islanders, a part of their identity," says Clements. Many experts believe that about 3,000 years ago, those deep-sea exploratory voyages halted for about a millennium before resuming.

This rebirth of exploration sparked the filmmakers' imaginations, and the heroine at the heart of the story. "The idea of a teenage girl who dreamed of becoming a navigator—considering the abilities of her ancestors—was so appealing," explains Musker. Moana's quest to become a wayfinder also serves as a journey of self-discovery, empowering her to find her own identity, a beautiful and powerful message for audiences of all ages and genders.

Families near and far can now continue the fun-filled adventure with brave and tenacious Moana and larger-than-life demigod Maui, as Moana is available today, March 7th, on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand!

Inspired by her grandmother, Moana is on a mission to restore the Heart of Te Fiti, a magical stone stolen years ago by Maui... but why not also enjoy hours of extensive and entertaining bonus offerings while watching her do so?

Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D bonus features include:

Theatrical Short Film: Inner Workings – With an introduction by the filmmakers, this story tells the internal struggle between a man's pragmatic, logical side and his free-spirited, adventurous half. Created by a small team at Walt Disney Animation Studios in a unique, fast-paced style that blends CG and traditional hand-drawn animation, the short explores the importance of finding balance in daily life.

Maui Mini-Movie: Gone Fishing – When Maui decides it's time to take charge of the ocean and catch his next meal, Moana must show him the error of his ways... with a little help from her friends!

Voice of the Islands – An in-depth look at how Pacific Island people and cultures inspired the filmmakers to create the story of Moana.

Meet the stars of Moana – a dynamic Q&A featuring Dwayne Johnson, newcomer Auli‘i Cravalho, and famed animation directors Ron and John.

Meet the musical team behind Moana – a fascinating Q&A featuring Opetaia Foa‘i, Mark Mancina, and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Island Fashion – Find out how costume designer Neysa Bové took on the unique challenge of creating costumes using materials and techniques native to the islands of Oceania.

They Know the Way: Making the Music of Moana – Musicians Opetaia Foa‘I, Marc Mancina, and Lin-Manuel Miranda take viewers on a personal journey through their involvement in the movie and how it changed their lives.

Fishing for Easter Eggs – Dive deep into the ocean and fish for the Easter Eggs hidden by the animators at Walt Disney Animation Studios.

The Elements of... – This series of four mini-docs explores the technical achievements behind some of the ground-breaking effects used in the film.

Mini Maui – Meet "Mini Maui," Maui's tattoo sidekick. Animated by legendary hand-drawn animator Eric Goldberg, we explore how the 2D world collides with CG animation to bring the demigod’s tattoos to life.
Water – In the movie, the ocean is a character. This piece explores how the water is given a personality, along with the technical feats of creating a believable ocean landscape farther than the eye can see.
Lava – Te Kā is a creature made of lava, smoke and fire. This piece dives into the challenges of making an animated creature of massive scale brought to fiery life by character, technical, and effects animators.
Hair – One of the greatest technical achievements of the film was the animation of the beautiful, curly hair on Moana and Maui. Take a look at the hair-raising detail that goes into animating each strand, adding performance to the movie that has never been seen before.

Deleted Song: Warrior Face – With introduction by songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Deleted Scenes – Ron and John introduce the following deleted scenes: Race the Wind/Ties that Bind; Discussing Moana’s Future; Under the Sea; Grandmother’s Warning/Legend of Maui; Education of Moana; Father, Daughter, Boat; and Canoe Race.

Music Video: How Far I’ll Go – Performed by Alessia Cara.

How Far I’ll Go Around the World – Multi-language reel of the song How Far I’ll Go.

Audio Commentary – With directors Ron and John.

Whether you enjoyed Moana in theaters and have been playing the soundtrack over and over ever since (my hand is raised!) or have simply been waiting for this movie to be available to watch at home whenever you please, now is the time to add this film to your collection. It is available today on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD and On-Demand and can also be found on Digital HD/3D and Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA).

With a feature running time of approximately 90 minutes, keep an eye out for Moana in stores near you, from Disney or on Amazon. You can also keep up with all things Moana by connecting with the film on Facebook and Disney Animation on Twitter and Instagram.

Want to celebrate the release of Moana even more? Check out these fun (free!) crafts and activities!

Other than a copy of Moana that I was provided in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about this product.

Enter the Folgers Jingle Contest for a Chance to Win $25,000!

2017-02-09T09:32:00.001-06:00

This post was sponsored by Folgers as part of an Influencer Activation for Influencer Central. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines concerning the use of endorsement and testimonials in advertising. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.

While I typically understand the message behind a commercial or at least the direction the marketing team must have been going for, there are also plenty of times that I find myself watching a television ad in complete and utter confusion. Did that make sense to you? I don't get it. What was that even for?

On the opposite end of the spectrum, however, are the times when an ad is right on the money. You know the ones. Whether they elicit an Oooh, I like this commercial! or you simply find yourself laughing, nodding or humming along, they're the ones that flow smoothly right along with your show.

And there's no better example than the iconic Folgers jingle! Generation after generation has heard the Best Part of Wakin' Up tune and sings right along with it (and immediately imagines a delicious cup of coffee, if they're anything like me). It's far more than just a background song, it's a piece of pop culture!

Therefore, I love that Folgers has taken their classic jingle a step further by inviting any and all aspiring musicians to embrace this well-known tune and make it their own in the Folgers Jingle Contest.

How cool is this?

It's no secret that Folgers has a long-standing tradition of inspiring musicians to follow their dreams, so it just makes sense that this year they teamed up with country music singer-songwriter Chris Young to encourage aspiring musicians to create their own version of the Best Part of Wakin' Up Jingle for this great contest.

Here's Chris telling you about it himself!

Are you pulling out your guitar, keyboard, harmonica or ukulele yet? Here's what you need to know:

Submit a video of your best version of the jingle on the Folgers Jingle Contest site by February 27th. Your version of the Jingle must include the complete melody and complete lyrics of "The Best Part of Wakin' Up is Folgers in Your Cup."

From February 27th to March 19th, Folgers will choose five semi-finalists and each will have a mentor session with Chris Young before the online vote.

From March 27th to April 24th, fans around the country will get the chance to vote daily for their favorite jingle. You're definitely going to want to vote, as each one automatically enters you to win prizes up to $10,000.

Finally, in May, one winner will be selected to win the grand prize of $25,000!

If you've got musical talent, you can't miss this opportunity to make history with Folgers — head over and get ready to submit your jingle today!

Remember, even if you feel as though you aren't musically inclined enough to create and submit your own jingle, you're going to want to take part in the daily voting (March 27th to April 24th) to not only support your favorite, but to enter to win amazing prizes up to $10,000!

Find out much more about Folgers and this innovative contest by visiting FolgersCoffee.com and connecting with them on Facebook and Twitter. Then head over to the Folgers Jingle Contest and get singing!

Surviving a Sick Day with Pfizer Pediatric Products and 20th Century Fox Films {$25 Target Gift Card Prize Pack Giveaway!}

2017-02-08T08:34:00.000-06:00

This post has been sponsored by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare and 20th Century Fox. All thoughts and reviews are my own.

There are quite a few reasons why I'm not a huge fan of winter around here, but one that is extremely high up there on the list is germs.

It seems as though no matter how much we wash our hands or how many times I sanitize the house, once the cold weather is here, the coughing, sneezing, and sniffling isn't far behind.

While it's one thing for me to be annoyed at my own runny nose or sore throat, seeing my children under the weather manages to pull at my heartstrings time and time again. If there is a mom that can look at her offspring when they are ill and not want to do everything remotely possible to take away their suffering, then I haven't met her yet.

Therefore, when Sick just got real.™ and my kiddos are under the weather, it's a no-brainer that I'm going to do all I can to get them feeling better as fast as possible.

Ultimately, the best that we can do is be by their side to comfort and love them. Hold their hand reassuringly, rub their back soothingly, give the biggest and tightest hugs whenever needed (and sometimes even when they're not).

But why let cold symptoms make things worse when there are companies and products available that make it easy to give more than just sympathy? Around here, I go directly to the medicine cabinet (or to Target to restock) and reach for the high quality Pfizer Pediatric products that I know I can trust: Children’s Advil®, Children’s Robitussin®, and Children’s Dimetapp®.

Ease those aches and pains while reducing a child's fever fast with Children's Advil, a great solution for kids ages 2 to 11. Children's Advil comes in several great-tasting flavors, including Sugar-free Dye-free Berry, Bubble Gum, Grape, Blue Raspberry, Fruit and Dye-Free White Grape.

(Similarly, for the younger crowd, Infants' Advil White Grape provides unsurpassed fever relief among OTC pain relievers with a syringe for easy dosing for children 6-23 months.)

Formulated just for kids, Children’s Robitussin Cough & Chest Congestion non-drowsy daytime formula helps break up chest congestion, while the long-acting nighttime formula relieves coughs and runny noses to help kids get the rest they need.

Finally, Children’s Dimetapp Cold & Cough tackles a child's most bothersome stuffy and runny noses, all while working to relieve cough, sneezing, and itchy, watery eyes for ages 6+.

Along with my arsenal of Pfizer Pediatric products, the one thing that my girls most look forward to from my sick day survival kit has to be a fun, entertaining movie from 20th Century Fox films. There's no better way to stay relaxed and resting than by wrapping up in a blanket on the couch with an adorable movie on the television to take your mind away from your sniffles!

Most recently, my kids have been loving every minute of the newest installment in the Ice Age films, Ice Age Collision Course.

All of our favorite prehistoric heroes are back and cooler than ever in this all-new animated adventure that's mammoth-sized fun for the whole family. The entire herd — including Buck, Manny, Ellie, Sid, and Diego — work together on a hilarious journey filled with nonstop action and colorful new characters, in order to survive the global Scrat-tastrophe!

What are your best tips for surviving a sick day? You can find out much more about finding relief for your child's next illness at the Sick just got real.™ website as well as on Facebook.

You'll also want to take advantage of some great Cartwheel coupon codes that will provide 10% off Pfizer Pediatric products and select 20th Century Fox DVDs at Target through February 20, 2017: Children's Robitussin, Children's Dimetapp, Children's Advil, and Ice Age Collision Course.

This cold and flu season and beyond, be prepared by keeping your medicine cabinet stocked with Pfizer Pediatric products and your DVD case filled with 20th Century Fox DVDs. The sooner your child can be rid of their coughing and sniffling, the sooner you can go back to disinfecting to keep the next round of germs away!

One person will be even more prepared to do just that, because...

One lucky person will win a Sick Day Survival Kit*!

*Survival Kit includes (1) $25 Target gift card, (3) Pfizer Pediatric products (Children's Advil® Suspension, Children’s Robitussin® Cough & Chest Congestion, Children’s Dimetapp® Cough & Cold) and (1) 20th Century Fox DVD (Ice Age: Collision Course, The Sandlot or The Peanuts Movie).

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Eliminate the Drama of Being Sick with Advil Cold & Sinus {$25 Visa Gift Card Giveaway!}

2017-01-06T08:33:00.000-06:00

This post has been sponsored by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare.

Confession time: I don't get a flu shot.

Every year I make sure that my daughters each get one and I pat my husband on the back when he gets his and I nod agreeably with my mother and my friends and everyone else who does... but, me? No, thank you. I know that it's supposedly completely false that getting the shot is what makes me sick the following day, but that was my experience for so many years in a row that I've just stopped. It is what it is.

I'm knocking on wood that now that I've written this it doesn't mean that I'm going to spend much of 2017 sick with the flu.

In the event that we do get sick, however, it's best to be prepared. Whether it's a cold, sinus pressure, a sore throat, or more, the drama of not feeling your best can lead to all sorts of disruptions in daily life. It's hard enough missing school or work, but no one wants to have to cancel on an evening out with friends, date night with your significant other, a weekend getaway, and more.

Therefore, here are my top five tips for cold prevention as well as feeling better and relieving the drama of an illness as quick as possible...

1. De-stress.

Easier said than done, of course, but when you are stressed out, you are more likely to get a cold (and it makes getting rid of one more difficult). Too much stress elevates the cortisol levels in your body, which hurts your immune system, and also cuts down on the cells that work to defend your body from illness.

Whether you are fighting off an oncoming sickness or trying to find relief from one that has hit, try to find the time to relax!

2. Rest.

This is a no-brainer, right? Unfortunately, many of us try to stick to our regular routine and "tough it out" when we're sick, but that can just make your body even more rundown. Instead, when at all possible, curl up in bed, pull up the covers, and sleep, sleep, sleep so that your body can do it's thing fighting off the illness.

3. Stay hydrated.

Water is always the best choice, but if you aren't a fan of plain H₂O, try yours warmed up with lemon and/or honey. The average adult human body is made up of around 65% water, so don't deny yours what it needs!

4. Add moisture to the air.

If your home doesn't have a built-in humidifier (or even if it does), turning on a vaporizer or humidifier in the bedroom can help loosen congestion and make it easier to breathe. Just make sure you do a better job than I do of remembering to keep your machine clean or else you'll just be circulating dirty water into your air!

5. Advil Cold & Sinus.

When your cold or flu symptoms become too much, why would you turn to anything but the #1 pharmacist recommended brand for cough, cold and flu combinations? Advil Cold & Sinus is the number-one selling pain reliever combined with a powerful nasal decongestant to provide fast relief so you can continue on with your day.

There is definitely no reason to be more miserable than you have to be when you're sick, so I like to be prepared with Advil Cold & Sinus on hand to stop those crummy symptoms in their tracks. And clearly I'm not the only one, as people have been trusting Advil Cold & Sinus for powerful, non-drowsy relief of their tough cold and sinus symptoms for over 20 years!

Ask for it at your local pharmacy counter and find out more on the Advil Respiratory website and on Facebook.

This cold season and beyond, take care of yourself as best you can to hopefully avoid as many sicknesses and illnesses (and the dreaded flu) as possible. Your body is counting on you!

Thanks to the generosity of Advil Cold & Sinus, one person will be prepared to head to their favorite drugstore and fill up their medicine cabinet just in case, because...

One lucky person will win a $25 Visa prepaid gift card!

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See the World with edlee Bamboo and Wooden Polarized Sunglasses {Review}

2016-12-21T09:18:00.000-06:00

When it comes to sunglasses, I always had two rules to live by.

One, unless I'm staring directly into the sun, I always remove my shades when I'm talking to someone and hope that everyone else does the same. I find it awkward and strange to be carrying on a conversation with a person and not be able to see their eyes. How do I know where to look?

Two, in the past I never found a pair that I really loved and, truthfully, was okay with that. Considering that it required me to put in my contact lenses in order to be able to use them (something that I was often lazy about), I wasn't going to spend any considerable amount of time or thought into finding a pair of sunglasses that I cared that much about.

But now things have changed.

I still abide by my first rule as much as possible, but as for the second? It's out the window. Due in part to first getting laser eye surgery and eagerly ditching my thick prescription as well as any and all eyeglasses and contacts. And second? I've been introduced to edlee.

Created by an ex-mechanical engineer, the edlee brand represents far more than just another generic pair of sunglasses. Instead, their signature lightweight, stylish, and sustainable frames are constructed with the highest quality in mind and include features that easily take these shades to the next level.

As well as making their eyewear out of good-for-the-environment bamboo and wood, each of the 13 styles have flex hinges to ensure they fit any face shape and have polarized lenses to help reduce glare and lessen the harmful effects of UV light. The result is that these sunglasses slip on like a dream, provide wearers with a clear, crisp view, and manage to make you feel like you're relaxing on a sunny beach even when you're in fact just shading your eyes from the reflection off of the cold winter snow.

I have to admit that I was a bit hooked on edlee even before their sleek bamboo boxes arrived at my door!

Although I was enamored with the look and convenience of the box itself, cracking it open and seeing edlee sunglasses waiting inside was just that much better.

First up, the Waves Series and their classic, simple design that appeals to just about anyone and everyone. Is there a way to go wrong with a pair that look this chic?

I have to admit that prior to edlee, I hadn't realized the difference that flexible hinges make on eyewear.

But these high quality hinges really do make it so that these easily adapt to your face — not to mention give the frames a feeling that they won't snap into pieces when you pull them open!

As much as I enjoyed wearing my Waves, Big Sister E was also quick to claim them for herself and wore them just about every moment that she wasn't in the water during our beach vacation!

Fortunately, my eyes weren't left to fend for themselves, as the edlee 10Ks in an amazing shade of light grey have had them protected and happy right from the start.

With frames and temples made entirely of edlee's signature and sustainable bamboo, these sunglasses are the lightest that I have ever worn and I have loved being able to adorn them for long periods of time and barely remember that they are there (nor do they leave any sort of mark from weighing down on the bridge of my nose).

I also hadn't realized what a difference polarized lenses make in sunglasses, but edlee has changed that for me in these 10Ks. The view —of the ocean, of my children playing, while reading, and much more— is always free from glare and any sort of squint that I had been used to!

Added bonus? These frames are so light that if they fall into the water, they float! This unique quality was a main focus of the edlee brand when they first launched on Kickstarter and was a clear hit, as they raised $50,000 in a matter of five weeks and gained adoring fans by the thousands.

These days, edlee is back on Kickstarter to not only share their amazing eyewear with more of the world, but to promote their Shared Experiences campaign. This generous initiative allows backers to not only pick a pair of edlee sunglasses for themselves, but they are given the opportunity to send a pair to anyone they want, anywhere in the world at no added cost. The campaign launched November 10th, and they surpassed their funding goal within five hours!

As much as I was excited to receive my own edlee sunglasses, having the chance to send a pair to a friend made them infinitely better! I loved knowing that the person I chose was going to be surprised to receive a bamboo box in the first place, but that she would then also get to share in the edlee experience with me! How very cool is that!

(Spoiler alert: she was thrilled and I felt even more awesome!)

As if edlee hadn't already included enough reasons for me to be completely impressed with their quality and the Buy One Share One campaign, they put things over the top by including their No Questions Asked and Lifetime Guarantee policies.

It's simple. Once you receive your edlees, simply register them online. If ever damaged, lost or stolen, they will send you a one-time-replacement pair of your exact sunglasses, no questions asked.

Now that is what I call flawless, unbeatable customer service. Who hasn't broken a pair of sunglasses in the bottom of their bag, left a pair behind when they were buried in the sand, or simply set them down to never see them again?

If you're ready to see the world through a pair of edlee lenses with me, head over to their Buy One, Share One Kickstarter campaign to find out more and join in this special shared experiences initiative. It ends January 9th, so be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to not only treat yourself to an incredible pair of sunglasses (at a great discount), but a lucky person in your life as well!

You can also find out much more about edlee, their beach culture, and their full collection of high quality eyewear by visiting edlee.com and connecting with them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

Other than the sunglasses that I was provided by edlee in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about these products and this company.

A Dream-Come-True Mermaid Transformation: Fin Fun Mermaid Tails {Review}

2016-12-15T18:42:00.001-06:00

As Little Sister B's birthday began drawing near, I was met with my usual struggle as to what gift I could give her. Toys? Clothes? Accessories? Stuffed animals?

Well, sure. But...

What about something a little more unique? Something that I knew would make her eyes open wide and her jaw drop to the floor? Something that would hold her attention long past when her taste in one type of toy has changed or has long been outgrown?

That's why I was so excited to be introduced to the huge selection of high-quality mermaid tail designs from Fin Fun!

As I mentioned last month, Fin Fun offer a vast selection of mermaid tails to choose from, making it easy to shop simply by selecting one of the categories. For instance, the Fin Fun Mermaidens collection features tails based on the beloved Mermaiden Princess characters, each with a unique personality and story, which can be found on the kid-friendly FinFriends.com site.

Or, for a brighter, more eye-catching option, the Limited Edition collection combines fantasy with nature's beauty in spectacular designs that have a shimmery, shiny look and feel. I found that no matter which category I browsed, each of Fin Fun's tails were even more incredible than the next!

Which is why I couldn't wait for one to arrive and for Little Sister B to be just as excited!

Does anything warm a mother's heart more than seeing her child so happy?

Right away we were elated to see the Bali Breeze Mermaid Tail and accompanying Fin Fun Swim Monofin in their stylish packaging...

...and I appreciated that both pieces were ready to use right out of the box.

The Mermaid Tail itself is, quite simply, gorgeous. The colors are bright and shiny as they gradually change from yellow to green to blue scales down its full length and the whole overall effect is a shimmery, sparkly texture.

As the fabric is made from a high-quality, breathable, 4-way stretch poly spandex swimsuit material, there is no problem pulling this lightweight, stretchy tail right on!

At the same time, the tail is open at the bottom so that it not only aids in getting it on and off and makes it so young mermaids can shuffle/walk, but it also makes it possible for the Monofin to be pulled on and off with ease.

Simply pull the mermaid tail up enough to pop your feet into the Monofin holes and then stretch the tail down and around to complete the full effect!

Is it any wonder that Little Sister B is so enamored with her Fin Fun Mermaid Tail and Monofin that she hasn't worn it once without a HUGE grin on her face? When we were packing for our beach vacation she questioned me time and again as to whether I had packed it because she just had to have it with her!

I really don't know if she could love this any more than she does, both for the incredible, attention-grabbing, realistic way that it looks as well as for the fact that it allows her to glide effortlessly through the water when swimming with it!

From top to bottom, Fin Fun has impressed us from the start!

I appreciate the attention to detail that goes into their products as well as their focus on comfort, performance, and safety. I don't have to worry that Little Sister B cannot get the Bali Breeze Mermaid Tail or Monofin on or off on her own, and the tail itself can even be machine washed on gentle to keep it clean and ready for the next use.

It really isn't any wonder that Fin Fun's award-winning products have become a celebrity favorite, as well as the best-selling mermaid tail brand in the world!

Do you have a mermaid fan in your life? Fin Fun offers amazing options in sizes for kids through adults, so you're going to want to head over to FinFun.com and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram to see their full lineup of incredible mermaid products.

While a complete mermaid transformation is a little on the expensive side (the Bali Breeze Mermaid Tail and Monofin retail for $54.95 each), I am quite positive that Little Sister B will be using these gorgeous pieces for years to come!

But, wait! Why not save a little on your purchase? If you have a young mermaid fan in your life that would love Fin Fun products just as much as mine does, enter the coupon code USFAMILY16 to save $5 off of your order today.

Other than the Mermaid Tail and Monofin I received from Fin Fun in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about these products.

Construct, Ride, Climb, Imagine, and More at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago {Review}

2016-12-12T08:45:00.001-06:00

During our recent visit to Chicago, my family was looking forward to a wide variety of sights, attractions, shopping, restaurants, and more. After all, this is one city that has something for just about everyone, right?

However, I have to admit that we were all especially anticipating our time visiting The Windy City because of one particular destination that we were finally going to get to experience and check off of our bucket list.

Because truly, if you're in the Midwest and have young children, you've got to make time for the unique, original, creative, constructing fun that is to be had at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago!

One of ten LEGOLAND Discovery Center locations across North America (with even more throughout the rest of the world), LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago opened in 2008, 50 years after the LEGO Brick as we know it was invented and patented in 1958.

After having visited LEGOLAND Florida as well as LEGOLAND California and having a blast at both, it wasn't at all a surprise that we couldn't wait to step inside our first Discovery Center to see the exhibits, life-size models, 4D Theater, rides, building opportunities, and more.

First up, Miniland!

I find it incredibly fascinating that builders are able to turn LEGO bricks into miniature replicas of just about anywhere in the world — and seeing famous Chicago landmarks built from almost 2 million LEGO bricks was no exception!

From Willis Tower to Navy Pier to the Wrigley Building, I could have examined Miniland Chicago for hours to take in all of the intricate details included on each and every structure. There was even a group of LEGO minifigures taking a segway tour of the Chicago scenery, something my husband and I did in real life years ago!

Plus, as Miniland is updated seasonally, Big Sister E and Little Sister B had a great time pointing out when they found a tiny Santa Claus or decorated tree. I would love to come back and see the changes that occur throughout the other seasons!

After oohing and ahhing over Miniland, we stepped into Jungle Expedition and continued to be amazed at all that can be built from LEGO bricks.

As well as pointing out the extraordinary tigers, monkeys, hippos, and more, we had a great time guessing at the answers to the various quizzes posted around the room. I found out a lot of fun facts about jungle animals that I previously hadn't known (or even thought about)!

The remainder of our time on the first floor of LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago was spent in the interactive LEGO City Builder room, riding the Kingdom Quest Laser Ride, peeking in at a Master Builder hard at work, and marveling at some familiar faces portrayed as astounding life-size LEGO characters!

Both of my girls could have spent hours making their own creative pieces in the LEGO City Builder zone (we did return to this room multiple times throughout the visit), because who doesn't love the open-ended creativity that comes with sitting down with unlimited LEGO bricks? Not to mention being inspired by the LEGO City and LEGO Friends skyscrapers, police and fire stations, cafes, suburban streets, beaches, and more!

As well as wanting to build over and over, my girls happily rode the Kingdom Quest Laser Ride time and time again (if there was ever a line at all it was very short, which made Mom happy, too)! This is one ride that is very appealing to all ages, as my husband and I got into the action of zapping the skeletons, trolls, spiders, boulders, and more in an effort to rack up more points. It was definitely a favorite for all four of us (and, ahem, I believe I'm the undefeated champion in the family)!

While we had already had a blast on the first floor of LEGO Discovery Center Chicago, once we went upstairs we found an entire second level of entertainment awaited!

After eyeballing the tasty options for sale in the Cafe; marveling at the idea of having a party here in the Birthday Rooms (Little Sister B immediately declared LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago as her upcoming birthday party location of choice); and discussing how neat it was that the LEGO Master Builder Academy allowed kids to learn building tips from the LEGOLAND Discovery Center model building team; we headed in to experience Pirate Adventure Island.

This HUGE climbing structure spans multiple rooms and offers all sorts of active, free play! Climbing, constructing, sliding — there is even a DUPLO Village section for the younger crowd and a giant water table where kids can construct their own LEGO boat and see how smoothly it can sail through a variety of obstacles.

For older kids, or simply when taking a break from Pirate Adventure Island, Merlin's Apprentice Ride and the LEGO Racers: Build & Test area were both big hits with my girls!

I lost count of how many times Big Sister E and Little Sister B rode Merlin's Apprentice Ride, as they would hop off when the ride stopped, hurry back to the entrance, and get right back on again! But considering that it was not only fun, but also good exercise in that riders have to keep pedaling for their seats to stay up in the air, I was happy to see them love it over and over again.

When they weren't biking their way through the sky, the girls also spent quite a bit of time building large and small vehicles to race down the ramps in the Build and Test zone. Their creations ranged from very basic to fairly complicated and it was great to see what LEGO bricks and wheels they picked out to work with next!

To complete our visit to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago, we were sure to also visit the LEGO 4D Theater and take a tour of the LEGO Factory.

In all prior 4D shows (the 4th dimension is an added experience such as wind or bubbles) Little Sister B has never enjoyed the experience and ended up removing her 3D glasses and/or hiding her face in my arm.

However, whether it was because she was already having such a great time at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago or because she was so excited to see familiar LEGO Movie and LEGO Chima characters on the screen, she ended up loving the shows — we went in multiple times to see the different movies being played throughout the time we were there!

For our final experience, our tour of the LEGO Factory was a short presentation of the entire LEGO brick creation and all of the kids involved were riveted hearing about each step of the process. How cool that the tiny plastic granulate turn into such a beloved toy! And, as an added bonus, everyone on the tour left with a special souvenir LEGO brick and who wouldn't be excited about that?

With unlimited access to all 11 different attractions, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago has more than enough to keep kids entertained for hours. We never once felt rushed and the kids loved the ability to be able to go back and forth (upstairs and downstairs) whenever they felt like it!

The Discovery Center does a great job regulating the number of people who are visiting at any given time, meaning little to no lines, and the entire place isn't so massively monstrous that it becomes overwhelming. Every staff member we interacted with was extremely gracious and friendly and even the restrooms were spotlessly clean and LEGO-themed!

All in all, our entire family had a great time and the whole visit was a welcome change from 'typical' museums or attractions that we know. I'd love to visit again in the future to take part in some of the special events that they host throughout the year!

To find out much, much more about LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago and all of the Discovery Center locations, visit their website and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter. If you live in or are visiting the Chicago area, be sure to add this must-see attraction to your list!

I was provided complimentary tickets for LEGOLAND Discovery Center Chicago in order to help facilitate this review, but they in no way affected the amazing time that we had and my honest opinions in this post.

An Experience Like No Other: Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament {Review}

2016-12-06T12:42:00.000-06:00

Although I'm not a huge fan of living in the Midwest when winter rolls around, I do love our little city and have a difficult time imagining living anywhere else.

Plus, along with having just about everything that we could ask for right here in the 'burbs, we also have the added benefit of being within driving distance to larger cities for whenever we are looking to head over for a visit.

Case in point, our recent jaunt to Chicago to check out the fun and excitement of Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament!

As I mentioned last month, there are 11 Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament locations throughout North America that provide far more than a simple meal and show for their visitors.

Instead, guests are transported back in time to the age of heroic knights on spirited horses, thrilling swordplay, a master falconer and his gorgeous flying companion, javelins being thrown, a "hands-on" feast (who needs silverware?), and much more.

It definitely didn't take any convincing for the entire family to be excited for our own visit to the Medieval Times castle in Chicago!

After we arrived and were checked in, we marveled at the wide array of items and beverages for sale before being invited in to the arena. It was time to head in and get ready to cheer on the Yellow Knight (when you receive your tickets, guests are assigned to one of the six different color areas and the corresponding knight)!

While we had discussed what the evening would ensue, Little Sister B still had lots of questions pertaining to the horses, knights, and more. What was going to happen? Would people get hurt? Would there be real horses? Were they real knights? When was the food going to be served?

Fortunately, not long after we were seated our friendly server appeared and the night was underway. I couldn't get enough of seeing the looks on both of my girls' faces as they took everything in in complete amazement!

I have to admit that as much as I chuckled at Little Sister B's incredulous looks, I too had a difficult time tearing my eyes away from the showmanship and performance that is Medieval Times from start to finish.

The king and princess, the falconer, the knights' authentic armor and real metal weapons... when jousting, they charge at speeds of approximately 15 to 20 miles per hour and reach an impact velocity speed of about 30 to 40 miles per hour! Where else are you going to see something like that?

Not to mention that while all of this incredible performance is happening, we were served course after course (each quite a large portion) of delicious foods. I was thrilled that Medieval Times also caters to vegetarians, as our plates were far from empty.

Definitely plan your visit to the castle when you are hungry, because there is a lot of eating to be done!

By the time the night was coming to an end, both Big Sister E and Little Sister B had eaten their fill and were fully into the action of cheering on our Yellow Knight as he worked to defeat his enemies — not only did they love him because we were assigned to his section, he had thrown each of them a carnation at various times during the show!

Besides, just as Big Sister E said when she turned to me partway through with a glint in her eye, where else would they be encouraged to scream and yell as loud as they could while indoors and in public?!

For a completely unique experience that your family is sure to be talking about for quite some time to come (we still like to randomly pull out our yellow flags and towels and cheer for the Yellow Knight while at home!) check out Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament at MedievalTimes.com.

Plus, now is a great time to buy tickets with this money-saving promotional offer! Right now you can purchase adult tickets for $36.95 and child tickets (12 and under) for $29.95 by using the coupon code MT3629 through February 28, 2017. Simply click here to take advantage of this great offer!

Other than the tickets I was provided for my family to experience Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament, I was not compensated or enticed to do this review in any way. This post is solely my honest opinion about our experience.

Wireless Freedom with the JBL Everest 700 Headphones {Review}

2016-12-05T11:31:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I like to make myself feel old by thinking back to all of the outdated products and technology from my childhood. The VCR that had a remote that needed to be plugged in, the telephone with the rotary dial... heck, I remember being so proud to have saved up money to buy a cassette tape with my favorite music.

These days, even though we've come a long way, I'm certain that many of the items we use now will someday also be obsolete dinosaurs. Will my own kids look back and scoff at having had a plain old toaster? A television that is simply flat? A car that doesn't hover?

For me, one thing that I already know I won't miss as more advancements are made is wires. There are so many cords running to and from just about every device that they make me crazy. They're always tangled, being yanked on, catching on things, and, in general, just in the way. Can't everything be wireless?

Although that time hasn't yet been reached, at least I have now found the absolute perfect way to enjoy music in unmatched comfort, incredible clarity, and the utmost in cord-free convenience thanks to the JBL Everest 700 around-ear wireless headphones.

Known for turning every moment into an extraordinary experience by making your music come alive, JBL's Everest 700 headphones are the perfect holiday gift for music lovers and iPhone 7 owners everywhere. Why deal with the hassle of wires (or wonder why Apple removed the headphone port) when you don't have to?

Instead the Everest 700 connect instantly to Bluetooth, deliver spectacular sound, are ergonomically designed to fit the unique contour of your ears, include a built-in microphone, and even feature Share Me 2.0 technology (enabling multiple pairs of Bluetooth headphones to connect to each other to share music, videos, and games). There's nothing more that I could ask for!

Considering that everything I read about the Everest 700 made them sound like a spectacular pair of wireless headphones, I knew that I needed to see them in person to give them a try.

Even before I had them out, the Everest 700 were making a great impression simply from the stylish and impressive box. I love companies that create packaging that not only keeps their products safe and secure, but also make users excited just from the way they look!

As soon as I removed these headphones, however, it was clear that JBL went much further than a snazzy box. The clean lines and classic design of the Everest 700 are highlighted perfectly by the crisp black all-over coloring (these are also available in a sleek gray) and the sculpted ear cushions are the softest that I have ever felt.

All that was left to do was charge these up (they have a 25 hour rechargeable battery, so one charge is all you need for quite a while!) and they would be ready to deliver my tunes.

JBL really couldn't have made these headphones any easier to use!

Once charged, it took less than 10 seconds for me to have them paired with my phone's Bluetooth — there are even simple voice instructions that come through to help out just in case.

Then simply adjust to your size and start wearing! The large L and R make it a no-brainer which direction is front and back...

...and the controls for power, volume, answering calls, skipping tracks, and more are right at your fingertips.

Although we don't own another pair of Bluetooth-enabled headphones to test out the ShareMe 2.0 option, I also love that the Everest 700 have the ability to connect wirelessly this way. I have no doubt that at some point in the future we will be using these to share audio with another set of headphones (of any brand) so that multiple people can listen in to music, movies, and more!

Overall, I love the power, sound, and comfort that the JBL Everest 700 headphones provide and I couldn't be happier not having to deal with the hassle of wires getting caught, twisted, knotted, pulled, and more. Add to that having the ability to wear these just about anytime, anywhere due to their lightweight feel and it's easy to see why these can go from work to play to sport with ease!

In fact, the only issue that I initially had problem with was the one second delay in the sound when watching movies or videos. No one likes it when the actors' lips don't match up with their words, right? Well, a simple visit to the JBL website to download an update to the firmware and install that to my Everest 700 and these now match the audio perfectly. I'm 100% thrilled!

Clearly, I've been extremely impressed with the comfort, fit, and feel of the JBL Everest 700, the convenience that they provide for all aspects of a busy life, and the overall amazing clarity and sound that they provide. I will never travel, work out or pump up the bass without them!

This holiday season, whether you are shopping for an athlete, a workaholic, a commuter, a music-lover, an iPhone 7 owner or more, the JBL Everest 700 around-ear wireless headphones would make an absolutely amazing gift. Your recipient is sure to love the sleek look, custom fit, and great sound no matter if they're going for a run, rocking out or jumping onto a conference call!

JBL Everest 700 headphones are available now for $199.95 directly from JBL or on Amazon. For more information and to find out more about all of JBL's innovative and award-winning products, visit JBL.com and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

Other than the JBL Everest 700 headphones that I was provided in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about this product.

Affordable, Stylish, High Quality Prescription Glasses and Sunglasses from GlassesUSA.com {Review}

2016-11-30T15:19:00.000-06:00

Unfortunately for both Big Sister E and Little Sister B, their genetics has ensured that poor eyesight is almost guaranteed for their future. Along both sides of our family, just about every single person is dependent on glasses or contact lenses for clear vision and it seems as though only a limited amount of time before one or both girls starts squinting to see into the distance.

Fortunately for them, the huge array of styles, colors, and overall coolness of glasses these days has turned them into a hip, trendy, fashionable accessory for all ages. The only problem? The price tag. The glasses in the stores aren't cheap, so the thought of buying more than one or possibly two frames isn't something that's as often considered as, say, purchasing a new scarf.

Which is why finding glasses online makes so much more sense... selection, style, delivery right to your door and, best of all, huge savings! And it's all there at GlassesUSA.com.

Launched in 2008, GlassesUSA.com is an online optical store run by a dedicated team of optical experts, craftsmen, and production workers that provides a large quantity of high-quality and fashionable eyewear at the most affordable prices. Not only does this site offer prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses of all kinds to choose from, GlassesUSA is built first and foremost on incredible customer service by committed, passionate staff located right here in the United States.

By selling high quality glasses and sunglasses at affordable prices to customers right from their computer, GlassesUSA.com has truly changed the way that we shop for eyewear. Whether you're looking for a new pair of glasses to complement your wardrobe or replace older ones that are broken, not your current prescription or just out-of-date, the process is fast, fun, and easy.

Simple, right?

I found that truly the most difficult part about shopping at GlassesUSA.com was trying to pick a favorite from their extremely large selection (brand names, private brands, sports frames, computer glasses, multifocal, and more)! However, I love the way that the site gives multiple options for narrowing down their wide variety of choices. You can limit the frames shown by gender, color, frame material, shape, type, price, and more, making it easy to find just what you're looking for.

Even better, once you've found the size, shape, and style frames that you prefer, GlassesUSA even gives you the option of trying their frames on online... which sounds impossible at first, but their virtual mirror feature makes it quite simple. Just upload a photograph of yourself (or take one on the spot with your webcam) and start "trying on" whichever frames you like — how convenient!

After my husband finally selected his favorite pair of prescription sunglasses (something he has been wanting for quite a while), it was time to sit back and wait for his stylish new glasses to arrive!

Not having seen them in person prior to ordering, it would be easy to have a few reservations about the quality and overall look of glasses purchased online. However, as soon as I began to examine the Revel Rene from GlassesUSA.com, I found that they were nearly identical to those that we have looked at in stores... that cost at least twice or three times as much!

How fun are these? I love the way that the Revel Rene have the added pop of red on the side of the frames so that they have just a little something extra. Contrasted with the classic black and the crisp lines of the rectangular frame, they have been just the thing for my husband to head out into the sunshine and not have to squint!

With prescription glasses and sunglasses available for the whole family at rock bottom prices, the days of having to spend a fortune on glasses are a thing of the past. Instead, the experts at GlassesUSA make sure your eyes are taken care of 100%!

These days, if you're looking for a complete pair of lenses and frames at low prices, incredibly fast shipping, the convenience of shopping whenever and wherever for your schedule, and customer service that will work with you to ensure you are completely satisfied with your order, head over to GlassesUSA.com to find it all and more.

You can also connect with this innovative company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for the latest and greatest information.

Other than the Revel Rene glasses that I received from GlassesUSA.com in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion of this site and their products.

Give the Gift of Positivity and Style: prAna Clothing and Accessories {Coupon Code}

2016-11-28T18:23:00.000-06:00

Wouldn't it be nice if, when arriving at a website, there was a little meter that could answer the questions that you're really thinking?

How many times have you browsed online and wondered things like: Is this furniture going to fall apart after one month? Are these sheets going to turn out to be scratchy and rough? Are these toys truly safe for my children? Is that gadget going to be out of date by the time it arrives here?

I just want to know that a company cares — about their products, about the environment, about their customers, and about giving back. I want to know that they love what they do and are passionate about sharing that with the world. On top of that, I want their products to be well-made, high quality, and ones that I'm going to look at every day and be happy that they're in my home.

Is that all too much to ask? For a lot of sites, yes. But for prAna, that's exactly what you'll find in their stylish, comfortable, and gorgeous apparel, accessories, and gifts.

Focused on creating versatile, stylish, and sustainable clothing and accessories that you can wear during every activity, every adventure, and for every day, prAna makes clothing that looks good and plays hard. Plus, along with combining classic and urban style with sustainable materials, they are always mindful of where and how their creations are made.

Pretty great, right? I love that prAna offers sustainable, recycled, fair trade certified, and hemp items so this holiday season you can gift your friends and family (or yourself) something amazing that also shows love for our planet.

But not only that, prAna also makes it a top priority to give back to communities all over the world. From making a difference locally in their own community to sending aid to international charities and areas affected by natural disasters, it is easy to feel good about your purchase actually helping make a difference.

So even though I was already impressed with prAna and completely smitten with the look of the Annexi Pant and Stacia Sweater just from their pictures, seeing and feeling them in person still left me in complete amazement.

Crafted from 54% hemp (an incredibly sustainable and eco-friendly product), the Annexi Pant is lightweight, comfortable, and perfect from morning until night. Going to yoga? They'll take you there. Throwing on a pair of tennis shoes and running errand after errand? You'll look chic and modern while staying cozy. Curling up on the couch with a good book? You're all set.

Everything from the elastic leg cuffs to the relaxed fit to the addition of the back elastic waistband makes the Annexi the most versatile pair of pants that I own. They can easily be dressed up, worn to work, donned for a hike in the wild outdoors, and more. Each time I have reached for them I feel ready for anything and everything that life may throw at me that day!

But as much as I like the Annexi Pant, prAna's Stacia Sweater has easily been my new go-to sweater to keep me warm as winter has set in here in the Midwest.

This Fair Trade Certified sweater is made from extremely soft organic cotton and features Dolman style sleeves and an intricate stitching design down the front. I love the added detail that gives the Stacia just a little something extra!

While I wish that it were just a few inches longer, the relaxed fit has made this perfect for layering over just about any tank or top and this sweater looks great with leggings, pants, skirts, and more.

Overall, I couldn't be happier with prAna as a company and with their amazing apparel. They clearly care about the environment as well as with providing their customers high quality items that are safe from any unwanted, harmful ingredients... and that will surely provide style, comfort, and luxury for any age no matter what sort of adventure you may be going on.

Although the prices on prAna items are a little higher than I might normally pay (the Annexi Pant retails for $85 but is currently on sale for $59.50 while the Stacia Sweater sells for $89 but is on sale for $62.30), these are definitely items that feel sumptuously worth it. Not to mention that each time you reach into your closet and pull a prAna item out to wear, the feeling of having made a positive impact on the planet makes it feel just that much better!

This holiday season and beyond, head over to prAna.com (and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest) to see their full collection of organic, hemp, sustainable, and fair trade items that would make fantastic gifts.

But, wait! Who doesn't want a good deal? Simply enter the promo code TMHF16TMC at checkout and you'll receive a 15% discount off of your entire prAna order!

Other than the prAna clothing samples that I received in order facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about these products and this company.

Girls Design and Create a New World Every Time They Play with Build & Imagine! {Review}

2016-11-23T11:08:00.002-06:00

I often tell my girls that they can grow up to be anything that they want to be.

Whether that is more realistic (Big Sister E's continued desire to be a teacher) or slightly less likely to happen (Little Sister B's ever-changing ideas about being a rock star), I will stand behind them and support their dreams 100%. Athletes, doctors, race car drivers, engineers, mechanics — I'm going to encourage them no matter if their chosen path is stereotypical for a male or female.

But as much as we all want our little girls to grow up believing in themselves in this manner, why is it that the toys they play with are not encouraging the next generation of females to continue on in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) as much as those for boys? When will the day come that blocks and construction toys don't feel as though they were designed with males in mind?

Fortunately, there are companies that realize the importance of encouraging and inspiring the future of female innovators and engineers and are working to keep girls from losing interest in STEM subjects. Instead of simply sitting back and hoping that girls will decide to play with traditionally "boy" toys on their own, it's time to continue to revolutionize the way that we motivate girls to look at the world with Build & Imagine.

Founded by a female award-winning toy designer, Build & Imagine was formed when Laurie Peterson wanted to close the gap in the girls' section of most toy stores and include more experiences involving building, creativity and experimentation.

The result is an award-winning line of whimsically illustrated magnetic building sets (which include leading female characters, of course) filled with rich colors and endless details that ensure users are always discovering something new. What girl wouldn't be amazed by the combination of the fun of a dollhouse and the enrichment of a construction toy?

Even better, while each set contains a variety of the illustrated panels, the fact that there is no wrong way to join them together is an instant inspiration for the creativity of young builders.

Instead, girls create scenes both big and small and are then able to bring them to life with the enclosed dress-up dolls, costume pieces, animals, objects, foods, and more. In essence, Build & Imagine puts girls into the role of architect, engineer, builder, designer, storyteller and more!

Unsurprisingly, my girls couldn't wait to get to work imagining, creating, and building as soon as they saw three sets from Build & Imagine arrive. It was time to reinvent the classic dollhouse with Malia's House!

From the moment we started removing the pieces from the box, it was already easy to see how this one toy could help encourage my girls' STEM skills. These parts are just asking to be assembled, disassembled, built, and rebuilt time and again!

From the swimming pool to the kitchen to the outfits, accessories, pets, moving door, two characters, and more, Malia's House includes a total of 58 pieces that provide endless creativity in the numerous ways and possibilities that they can be constructed, mixed, and matched. Who themselves hasn't thought about how amazing it would be to design their dream house?

I'm telling you, the details on these dual-sided building panels, wooden dolls, and magnetic accessories are just so eye-catching and fun!

Considering that my two young architect storytellers had such a great time constructing all sorts of home variations with Malia's House, there was no doubt that they wanted to delve further into the world of Build & Imagine.

It took all of zero convincing to get them excited about the Draw & Build Dollhouse and Career Dolls!

As if simply having the ability to full create your own dollhouse with movable walls and pieces wasn't enough, Build & Imagine took things to a whole new level with the Draw & Build Dollhouse.

Using the four included markers, builders can draw their own decorations and scenes right on the walls (as well as hair and clothes on the doll) to truly make them unique. Want outer space themed wallpaper? Polka dots? Zigzags on the roof?

Whatever your heart and imagination desires, draw it on and then combine the panels to make a house, store, building, and more! Plus, if you own other Build & Imagine sets, the Draw & Build Dollhouse pieces are easily worked right in — in our case, they have made Malia's House even more innovative and special!

As much as I have loved seeing my kids' imaginations working overtime illustrating and creating their Build & Imagine modular pieces, the Career Dolls instantly made me swoon with all of their possibilities.

The 75 colorfully illustrated magnetic clothes, props, and two wooden dolls (as well as the dual-sided background scene) are the perfect extension of me telling my girls that they can grow up and follow whatever career path they choose. These magnetic outfits pop on and off so easily and can be put together in full — a complete police detective, chemist or fire fighter, for example — or can be mixed and matched for all sorts of interesting combinations!

Although it can be argued that just about any toy has benefits and encourages kids to practice a variety of skills (e.g. small motor, creativity, reading, etc), there is a smaller number that truly manage to inspire... and Build & Imagine is one of them! Each of their sets are just right to inspire the next generation of innovators and help girls think beyond only the toys that are princess and pink.

My kids not only love these sets and accessories on their own, but immediately realized that all of the pieces from each of the individual sets can easily be combined and used for just about any sort of other creation. Girls simply have to use their imagination and the sky is the limit in building and constructing!

Even better, I adore the way that Build & Imagine has not only inspired Big Sister E and Little Sister B individually, but that they will often sit down together to collaborate on their next construction — discussing various building ideas and trying out one option after another. I love when a toy is not only educational and entertaining but one that encourages my kids to happily work together!

Malia's House (MSRP $59.99), Draw & Build Dollhouse (MSRP $22.99), and Career Dolls (MSRP $14.99) are designed for ages 4+ and can be purchased in select retail locations (look for them making a recent splash on the shelves of your nearest Target!), directly from Build & Imagine, on Amazon, and more.

You're also going to want to head over to BuildandImagine.com (and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube) to find out more and see the full line of imaginative play possibilities that Build & Imagine has to offer. Remember that all of the sets work together for all sorts of delightful, crazy, mixed-up stories that kids can invent when combining them!

This holiday season and beyond, Build & Imagine is the perfect way to encourage all kids to see their world in a different way as they collect, build, interchange, design, cooperate, and come up with endless storytelling possibilities to go along with them.

Other than the three sets that I was provided by Build & Imagine in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about this product.

K'NEX Revolution Ferris Wheel Building Set {Review & Giveaway}

2016-11-21T08:57:00.000-06:00

There are certain brands of toys that you mention the name and people just nod knowingly, fully understanding how much fun kids have with them without you having to explain. These are the items that inspire creativity, boost a child's imagination and lead to an all-around fun time whenever they are brought out... which is time and time again.

And parents everywhere can agree that one name that is universally-loved by both boys and girls of all ages is the always-inventive and original K'NEX. Is there a child around that doesn't love building and imagining with these unique small connectors? Or a parent that doesn't appreciate the way that K'NEX provide the strong educational aspects of building, balance and critical thinking in with the fun and entertainment? I think not.

Needless to say, we were excited to take K'NEX to a whole new (motorized) level with the arrival of the Revolution Ferris Wheel Building Set.

While we have played with a wide variety of amazing K'NEX products in the past, I wasn't familiar with their Thrill Rides line of products. But as soon as I saw that these innovative sets provide the ability to have a working amusement park right in your own home, I knew that my theme-park-loving daughters would be excited.

It was time to see the Revolution Ferris Wheel Building Set in person so that they could start building their own miniature carnival!

Upon opening the box, I began to feel apprehensive about the 344 K'NEX parts and pieces included in this set until I remembered two things. First, my kid love K'NEX. So the more pieces, the better!

Second, K'NEX always includes large, clear, colorful step-by-step instructions that show exactly where every last piece is to go for their creations. No worries!

Together, Big Sister E, Little Sister B, and I took our time snapping these small, colorful, uniquely-shaped pieces into place and, before we knew it, began to see a ferris wheel take shape right before our eyes.

As we snapped the last rod and connector into place and sat back, all three of us were a bit in awe that there was a 2-foot tall ferris wheel right in our living room!

All that was left to do was move the switch on the motor (hint: insert the two AA batteries, not included, before the construction process. We were a little too excited to get started building and then found it a little tricky to access and open the motor to put in the batteries after the fact) to start the ferris wheel turning.

My kids were amazed that this motorized, rail-driven rotating ferris wheel can spin both clockwise and counterclockwise at two different speeds at the flip of a switch. Just take a look at this set in motion!

As we have found in our past experiences with K'NEX, the details included in this set really come together perfectly! I'm sure that the Revolution Ferris Wheel Building Set could have been a bit less complex and more simple to construct, but that that would have been so much less fun!

My girls love that there are little seats throughout (that are just the right size for the people from other building sets to fit on) and that the intricate design truly looks like a real ferris wheel. They have continued to have a great time playing theme park each time they sit down with this set and I have no doubt that this ferris wheel will be taken apart and rebuilt time and again in the future.

Recommended for builders ages 7+, the Revolution Ferris Wheel Building Set has a suggested retail price of $34.99 and can be found at your favorite retailer, directly from K'NEX, on Amazon, and more. You can also find out more about this and the full line of amazing K'NEX products by visiting KNEX.com and connecting with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube.

Thanks to the generosity of K'NEX, one person will also get to enjoy seeing their child imagine, build, and create their own carnival as well, because...

One lucky person will win a Revolution Ferris Wheel Building Set
from K'NEX!

Entry -Form

A big thank you to K'NEX for providing a Revolution Ferris Wheel Building Set for me to review as well as for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

Make Your Young Mermaid's Dreams Come True with Fin Fun Mermaid Tails {Coupon Code}

2016-11-18T15:36:00.000-06:00

Although sometimes I find it difficult to shop for my kids with their ever-changing interests and attention spans, there are other instances where an item or brand catches their eye and I know it is a clear winner.

For Little Sister B, that has always been a mermaid tail. First spotted at a swimming pool one or two summers back, she has since always longed to be able to slip on a stylish, eye-catching tail of her own and dive into the water to swim away.

Fortunately, I was recently introduced to the company that does an amazing job catering to mermaids who desire an entire wardrobe of stylish, eye-catching tails. It's time to check out Fin Fun and their huge selection of high-quality mermaid tail designs inspired by the beauty of the sea and nature!

Offering a vast selection of mermaid tails to choose from, Fin Fun's website makes it easy to shop simply by selecting one of the categories. For instance, the Fin Fun Mermaidens collection features tails based on the beloved Mermaiden Princess characters, each with a unique personality and story, which can be found on the kid-friendly FinFriends.com site.

Or, for a brighter, more eye-catching option, the Limited Edition collection combines fantasy with nature's beauty in spectacular designs that have a shimmery, shiny look and feel. I find that no matter which category I browse, each of Fin Fun's tails are even more incredible than the next!

But more than simply looking the part of a mermaid, I love that Fin Fun offers their patented Fin Fun Monofin (available for separate purchase) to provide natural mermaid motion for smooth swimming at the pool, lake or beach.

Users' feet are not strapped in, making removal of the Monofin easy, with just one tug and a kick. The open tail bottom makes it easy to insert and remove the Monofin (required for swimming), while also avoiding trapped air and allowing mermaids to walk on land. It all comes together to make it a snap for kids to use, wear, swim, remove, and more!

Fin Fun has it all! Their award-winning products are designed for a realistic mermaid experience that also provides maximum safety, comfort, and performance. The premium quality and attention to detail has made them a celebrity favorite, as well as the best-selling mermaid tail brand in the world!

Stay tuned for our upcoming review and, in the meantime, visit FinFun.com and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

But, wait! If you have a young mermaid fan in your life that would love one Fin Fun products just as much as mine, be sure to save some money on your purchase! Simply enter the coupon code USFAMILY16 to save $5 off of your order today.

This post is part of a collaboration with Fin Fun and I will be receiving a Mermaid Tail and Monofin in order to facilitate a review. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed are 100% honest and my own.

Wow Your Guests with PercyVites Personalized Video Invitations!

2016-11-16T10:58:00.000-06:00

I love birthday parties. Whether they are for the very young and feature a lot of cake smushing or for those of us a little more "seasoned" and only include a few friends meeting up for drinks, there is something about having a celebration to mark another year of our lives that makes me happy.

When it comes to my children, we have had a variety of parties over the years ranging from large to small. And, while coming up with a theme or a cake flavor doesn't always prove to be too difficult, I find that we have gotten stumped more than once figuring out invitations. Do we mail cards? Send an email? Do an e-vite?

With Little Sister B's eighth birthday right around the corner, I'm thrilled that we've now found a better way. From now on we're going to wow our young guests with a unique, personalized video invitation from PercyVites!

Founded in 2010, PercyVites is the most personalized interactive video tool in the party product and planning category, offering quick, convenient, and efficient party planning all with a click of a button. The personalized video invitations are perfect for people of all ages, with licensed favorites for kids and a variety of chic creations for adults.

Users can insert their own pictures, party details, and messages directly in various fun clips and personally address them to each friend and family member. Even better, PercyVites includes their Percy Party Dashboard, allowing for easy organization of party details and RSVPs, simplifying the entire party planning process from start to finish.

Pretty cool, right?

I already thought that the idea of sending an animated, custom video invitation was innovative and fun, but then I found out that PercyVites has added new licensed characters to their lineup making the selection even better. But as much as Little Sister B would enjoy Little Charmers or Lalaloopsy, I knew that she would flip over the addition of Shopkins!

I have yet to meet a young girl who doesn't love Shopkins, the miniature grocery store-themed characters that kids can collect, share, and trade. So what could be better than seeing them come to life in PercyVites' creative and colorful video invitation?

Simply click through PercyVites' user friendly interface to add your event details such as the guest of honor, date, time, location, and any special messages that invitees need to know. Then include a photo (how fun!), add guests' contact info, and select a date for the invitations to be automatically sent out.

Just check out the adorable finished results!

Once you have all of the steps personalized, you're even able to see a full preview of your video to ensure that it is exactly the way that you want it — something I especially appreciate. No worries that it will be sent through cyberspace with the wrong date or a misspelling!

In all, I love that PercyVites makes it so simple to have all of the party information in one spot so that the planning is convenient and easy. At the same time, how excited would a girl be to receive one of these invitations? I know that my little birthday girl can't wait to send them out and get ready to be a star on her big day!

All that we have left is to head to Cakes.com to pick up some extremely cute cake decorating tools (e.g. candles, edible cake toppers, cupcake rings, and more) and it's Shopkins party time!

Retailing for 79¢ per invitation, including PercyVites as part of your party planning process is such an innovative, entertaining way to get kids (or adults) looking forward to your event even more. The entire process takes only minutes to complete from start to finish and with so many themes and characters to choose from, you're sure to find one to kick off your next gathering with pizzazz.

Find out more about these unique party invitations (you can also send thank you's after your party just as easily!) by visiting PercyVites.com and connecting with them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

I received information, a PercyVites promo code, Shopkins product, and Cakes.com decor items in order to help facilitate this review. However, opinions shared are 100% honest and my own.

Disney•Pixar's Finding Dory is Now Available on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital HD, Disney Movies Anywhere, and On-Demand!

2016-11-15T12:20:00.004-06:00

My kids are an advertising company's dream. They see a commercial for a new toy and they immediately think it looks amazing (even if it really doesn't). A new, brightly colored cereal hits the grocery store shelves and they're dying to try it. A brand new television series is debuting and they're ready to watch it (even if it is designed for children much younger).

So when yet another children's movie makes its way to the big screen, there's a good chance that I'm going to opt out of going to see it with them, no matter how many times they bring up the name. I don't know these characters, the plot doesn't make any sense, and my attention span has me tapping my fingers in anticipation of the end.

On the flip side, however, there are times that I get just as excited as they do about a movie's upcoming release. If it involves charming characters that we already know and love taking part in a hilarious and heartwarming tale of family and friendship, then I'm not going to miss it.

Which is why the whole family was so excited to see Finding Dory together!

The wildly-anticipated sequel to 2003's smash hit, Finding Nemo, Disney•Pixar's Finding Dory was a summer blockbuster this year before it had even debuted. Audiences everywhere couldn't wait to tune back in to see their favorite forgetful blue tang and how Dory's short-term memory loss had affected her in the past 13 years.

The result is an incredible undersea adventure starring Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres), Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks), and Nemo (voiced by 12-year-old Hayden Rolence) on a larger than life quest to find Dory's long lost family, who may be looking for her. Along the way, the trio receives help from Hank, a cantankerous octopus; Bailey, a beluga whale who's convinced his biological sonar skills don't work; and Destiny, a nearsighted whale shark. Not to mention the slew of other humorous characters that pop on and off of the screen!

You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll cheer on these brave sea creatures from start to finish. This tale is completely full of imagination, humor, and heart. And now you can watch it anytime, anywhere as Finding Dory has arrived on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD, On-Demand, Digital HD, and Disney Movies Anywhere!

Along with having the ability to watch this fun film at your leisure, there is a whole slew of bonus offerings that make the blu-ray combo pack even better. These include:

Theatrical short — Piper, the theatrical short film starring an irresistible sandpiper hatchling digging for food in the sand and encountering scary waves.

Interviews — An all-new mini short featuring interviews with Dory's pals from the Marine Life Institute.

Deleted scenes — never-before-seen scenes, including a digital exclusive featuring the Tank Gang from Finding Nemo who make it their mission to get Marlin and Nemo to the Marine Life Institute.

Deep in the kelp — See how far the crew went to make Dory's world believable.

The octopus that nearly broke Pixar — A behind-the-scenes look at the most technically challenging character Pixar has ever created.

And more!

I especially love the fun information about Hank, Finding Dory's cranky octopus, as it always amazes me to see the immense amount of work that can go into making one single scene or character by the talented Disney•Pixar crew.

For instance, when the designers were working on Hank, they created tapered tentacles that were modeled separately from the body. However, when they tried to attach them, only seven would fit! Filmmakers later decided that it made sense that Hank would have an affliction, so they worked it into the script.

Hank also has 350 total suckers on his body; required 11,041 rigging prims for his simulation (the average character requires around 20); took 118 weeks of work by the team of technical directors responsible for building and articulating him; and took 22 weeks for shading to give him extra texture and color, as well as making it possible for him to camouflage himself (an average character takes less than eight weeks). That's a whole lot of work for one grumpy octopus!

As well as fun facts about the film, I love finding out about the hidden gems that Disney•Pixar is known for including in their movies. I never catch any of them myself while watching, but love going back to see where they were tucked away right in plain sight.

Among those that appear in Finding Dory, my favorite is that Riley from 2015's Inside Out appears in a group of kids touring the Marine Life Institute and is featured in a frame with Dory. Two great movies coming together in one!

Filled with laughter, heart, adventure and thrills, Finding Dory has a running time of 97 minutes and is available now. Be sure to keep an eye out for this magical film at your local retailers as well as from Amazon (where the Blu-ray Combo Pack currently retails for $19.99).

You can also find out much more about this great movie from Disney as well as on Facebook and Twitter.

Other than a copy of Finding Dory that I was provided in order to facilitate my review, I was not compensated or enticed to do this post in any way. This review is solely my honest opinion about this product.