Mountain Garfield, Colorado (picture credit http://www.scenicusa.net/031610.html)

This is one of those (for me, rare) chit-chat kind of blog posts, since there were a few things I felt like telling you guys.  I’ve used headings for your quick perusal, in case only part of that title interested you…

An Apology

At it’s heart, I like to believe the soul of my blog is my love of writing and sharing some of the fun things in life.  I’m sure you’ve noticed I’ve been sucked over to the “other side” (dare I call it the dark side) of writing reviews.  And here lately, it’s lots and lots of reviews.

But I always tried to balance it.  I had this little unwritten rule for my blog:  For every review, I’ll post a completely non-business-affiliated article.

Then I get these greedy streaks, where I pitch a bunch of companies for cool stuff I’d like to try… all at once.  I just went through one of those waves.  And I kick myself every time I do it.  Then blogging turns into a chore, with assumed deadlines I know I should meet.   Definitely can take the fun out of it.

So right now I’m working through one of those gear review gluts, and I apologize for how many reviews, and only reviews, I’ve been posting lately.  Please bear with me.   (And if you are in the market for any of that outdoor type gear, I actually have stumbled across some really quality stuff – especially for kids.)

While I plan to wind down on the gear reviews, I’ll warn you that you’ll continue to see sponsored posts.   Cause that money has started going directly into the “Disney World in 2014 or Bust” fund!  The first trip we’ll be purchasing 4 plane tickets, instead of just 3.   Ouch.  So yes, I’m willing to pimp my blog out for a good cause like that!

A Makeover

A friend I met at the Conversations With Coca-Cola conference I went to in Atlanta last Fall has decided to fire her blog design business back up.    So she’s tackled giving my site a makeover.  I’ve been wanting to do this for awhile now.  It’s been a fun and really interesting process (ever wondered how they know how to design something you will love?), and I’m about to reveal the newly made over Colorado Mountain Mom!

It’s unique and fun – she’s doing an amazing job.  I’m really, really excited to show it to you and to start using it.  Coming very soon.

A Mountain I’m About to Climb

About a month ago I heard that Grape-Nuts was going to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Sir Edmund Hillary’s historical climb of Mt. Everest (during which he ate Grape Nuts) by paying 60 hikers across the country to summit the mountain of their choice.

Handing out Grape Nuts Fit  samples (their new granola type cereal) along the trail, of course.

And I now know, wearing a really bright purple t-shirt that says “Grape Nuts” on it.

So anywhoo…. I applied, and was selected.  I’ll be climbing Mt. Garfield in Western Colorado on Memorial Day with my little brother (a.k.a., my “Sherpa”) and if the babysitter pans out, hopefully my husband.  I haven’t had the opportunity to tackle something like this in quite some time.  I’m a little nervous, since I’ve heard it’s an incredibly steep climb.  Ready or not, here we gooooo!  I have to summit and get that money shot, to receive my $500 Grape Nuts Summit Sampler check.

I’m pretty sure I can do it.  After all, that too is going in the “Disney World in 2014 or Bust” fund. 

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The post An Apology, A Makeover, and a Mountain I’m About to Climb appeared first on Colorado Mountain Mom.

“For the first time, running shoe technology was utilized to supercharge a true hiking boot.  Light, cool, and athletically-inclined”… did you know that Vasque actually pioneered this hybrid style of hiking boot?  Here’s what I thought of how the Breeze 2.0 GTX fit and performed.

Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX Hiking Boots

Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX, in Slate Brown/Blue Fish

I’ve definitely noticed Vasque when shopping for hiking boots in the past, but at the time I felt they were a little out of my price range.  Well, three pairs of (still spendy) hiking boots later, I finally got a chance to try out some these signature women’s Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX… and I realized I should have just invested in this one fantastic boot in the first place.

The first version of the “Breeze” came about in 2004, with the BREEZE XCR.  With this innovative design, Vasque was continuing to push hiking footwear in an athletic direction.  “Running shoe inspired sole construction reduces weight, making the Breeze ridiculously agile.  One of the first boots on the market to meet Gore standards for breathability, allowing the use of GORE-TEX® XCR.”

Since that time, they have continued to reconfigure the Breeze to be lighter, tougher, and more breathable than the original.

Women’s Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX, in Gargoyle/African Violet

I took them out of the box, and instantly noticed the substantial and impressive sole and tread.  Although this gives them the appearance of having some heft to them, my first impression once I tried them on is how incredibly light they are.  The sole is made of  Vibram® rubber compounds – designed to deliver superior grip, traction and durability.

You want your hiking boots to be substantial and give you sufficient foot and ankle support, but don’t want to weigh your feet down unnecessarily, adding to how quickly you will potentially tire on the trail.  The Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX offers an excellent balance in this area.   Beefy in support, yet you don’t have to sacrifice in agility.

In fact, after my first trail in my Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX’s it hit me afterwards that my feet had become an afterthought during our hike.  The boots were so comfortable, and helped me navigate the terrain we ran into so effortlessly, that I didn’t even notice them.  Which I think is ideal in a hiking boot.

After cinching and lacing them up once at the onset, I have found that I do not have to mess with re-tying the laces again.  The laces stay tightly tied.  This should be a given with all hiking boots, but it’s not.  So that’s another thumbs up, in my book.

Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX ~ Sizing & Gore-Tex

A word about sizing.  You can get the women’s Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX in either regular width or wide.  Vasque feels strongly about offering this option, to make sure you receive an optimal fit.

I will warn you that the regular width seems a bit narrow to me, which is fine… since you have a wider sizing option to chose from.  My foot is actually narrow, and I rarely purchase wide width shoes/boots.  But I am starting to have bunions (which I hate admitting, it sounds like something a little old lady has) and that joint bone sticks out at the widest part of my foot.  The regulars squeezed that portion of my foot too tightly.  Once I switched to the wide width, they worked like a dream.

Other than that, I think length wise these boots run very true to size.

The difference between the Vasque Breeze 2.0 and Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX is that the latter have Gore-Tex, so will keep your feet dry during any stream crossings or wet foliage you encounter.   Any time you have Gore-Tex in your boot, you sacrifice a tiny bit in temperature regulation (keeping your feet cool), but it’s typically worth it and a very nice thing to have.  It’s so dry here that I haven’t tested out the water proof aspect of the Vasque Breeze.

However, I did get to chat with an REI Salesgirl (an avid hiker) about these boots, and she was very enthusiastic in relaying to me that Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX hiking boots are her favorite pair she owns.  They were her choice on a recent 6 day backpacking trip, which included hiking a “14er” (mountain over 14,000 feet in altitude).  She said they crossed multiple streams during that trek, and her feet stayed completely dry.

Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX Hiking Boots ~ Where to Find Them

You can find women’s Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX Hiking Boots either directly on Vasque’s site, at your local REI store (ours is small, yet this appears to be a style they carry in stock – a nice option to be able to try them on), or at other online outdoor retailers.

I strongly recommend Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX as a high quality, super agile, and very comfortable hiking boot that will deliver performance for hundreds of miles of hiking adventures.  I dearly love these boots!

Happy trails. 

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I received a pair of Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX Hiking Boots at no cost, for the purposes of performing this gear review.  All opinions are my own.

The post Gear Review ~ Vasque Breeze 2.0 GTX Hiking Boots appeared first on Colorado Mountain Mom.

Image courtesy of dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

When you are raised in a rural state, driving long distances doesn’t faze you.  It’s a given.  And once you reach the age where you are trusted to leave home for the weekend, then the road trip adventures really begin.

For a good portion of my life, I was a road trip warrior.  I lived smack dab in the middle of South Dakota.  We were perfectly willing to drive 3 hours one way to go to a Fair, to go snow or water skiing, or just to visit someone.  And then back again, on the same day.  No problem.

The possibilities of where we could drive in one day’s time were exciting.  (Well, maybe “exciting” is a strong word.  It was the Midwest, after all.)   I felt no reservations whatsoever when making road trip plans.  Hey, let’s go wherever we want!  We can drive there!

Granted, this was a time back when gas prices were a non-issue.  And before a thrown-from-a-horse injury left me with permanent hip pain.  But let’s face it.  At my age, horse injury or no… my body would very likely still ache after too much time spent in the car nowadays.

Add in the daunting tasks of feeding, watering, entertaining, and stopping for potty breaks for your multiple children who now tag along for the ride – and you’ve got yourself some serious second thoughts before heading out in the car for that nice long road trip.

Currently I’m faced with a dilemma of wanting to visit my parents one last time, at their lovely and relaxing log house in the forest, before they move away (to here in Colorado).  Forever leaving my home state behind.  Last call.

But this would mean heading out with my 2 little ones by myself, since my husband and I’s work vacation schedules aren’t going to collide for this trip.  That journey averages us 13 hours.  And I keep wavering between Go for it!, and *Heavy sigh*  Sooo not gonna happen.

Truth be told, one of my concerns for that scenario is safety.   My years of road trips were not without a few perils and their own brand of excitement, including car breakdowns in poor weather, and multiple flat tire incidents.

True Story:   Single-girl road tripping alone across the South Dakota interstate, and my Ford Explorer gets a flat tire.  By this time, I knew how to change a flat tire by myself, but it was nice of some people who stopped to try and help, so I accepted the husband’s assistance.   Within minutes, he had crushed my running board, by the incorrect placement of the tire jack.

To add to the chaos, I’m trying to contain my energetic Siberian Husky on a leash, by keeping us in the relative safety of the ditch next to the road… which is somewhat tying my hands from trying to oversee the task/damage at hand.  As he struggles to loosen the lug nuts, the guy begins to rock in place.   (Yes I said the guy, not the car.)  And to chant incoherently.

I ain’t gonna lie, it was seriously creepy.    Plus he was getting no where with the job, other than causing disturbing body damage to my vehicle.

So here’s the rub.  He was able to get my FLAT tire off, but couldn’t get the vehicle (with improperly placed jack) high enough to get the inflated, spare tire on.  My rescue had seriously stalled out.

Mercifully, a third vehicle pulled over and held an intervention.   Driving a big rig work truck, a no-nonsense kinda man jumps out, well equipped to change my tire.  He took one look at our fiasco and just shook his head, like “What the heck is going on here?!“  Brushed my first “helper” aside, and wrapped the job up in under 3 minutes.  I was so relieved and grateful, I almost cried.

Oh, and the best part.  Once the whole unnerving scenario was finally concluded, Chanting Guys’ wife starts dancing around, leaping through the air and repeatedly shouting “Praise The Lord!!“.  Umm, yeah – what you said.   Praise the Lord that the 2nd guy stopped to help, since your husband was doing much more harm, than good.

Oh, I could tell you some stories.  This kind of thing used to happen to me on a semi-regular basis.  But I digress.

As you can see, I have a bit of road trip “baggage” – Ha.  Back to my hesitancy to tackle road trips in our present day…

It’s a shame, really.  Because I feel like it’s cast a shadow over some of our otherwise incredible destination options now that we are located closer to the Southwest part of the country.  We are only 9 hours from California.  NINE HOURS from DISNEYLAND, yo!  Have we gone?  No.

My husband’s never been to California in his life (East Coast boy).  California rocks.  I mean, I wouldn’t want to live there.  But it’s got fabulous vacation options.  And here we sit.  NOT road tripping to California.

So I ask myself in puzzlement and self-disappointment:  When did I become such a road trip wuss?

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Do you struggle with being a road trip wuss, now that you’re all grown up?  (And what’s your vote… should I suck it up and drive with the kids to South Dakota by myself for one last visit?)

The post When Did I Become Such a Road Trip Wuss? appeared first on Colorado Mountain Mom.

In the specifications for the Deuter Junior Backpack it says ‘ages 3 and up’.  Personally, I think the Deuter Kids would work best for any toddler, up through about age 5 or 6.  Once they pass that age, I think they would do even better with a Deuter Junior Backpack.  While still a reasonable size for a child, it also features a small back system but offers additional space.

I’ve not seen a better backpack designed with such great features for a child to use while hiking.  Take a look at what we experienced with the Deuter Junior Backpack.

Deuter Junior Backpack Features

Deuter Junior backpack in Raspberry Check

Deuter backpacks are of excellent quality, made of nylon fabric with ripstop threads.   The Deuter Junior Backpack is lightweight, and the buckles are sturdy but still easily opened by young hands.

There are two side mesh pockets for water bottle (or wild flowers) storage and easy retrieval.  The top of the pack features a dome cap closure, which offers a nice wide opening to the central portion of the pack.

The sternum strap is fantastic (we love this on the even smaller Deuter “kids” backpack, too) as it adds comfort, better weight distribution, and just plain helps them keep the pack straps from sliding down their shoulders when they are climbing, running, or being rowdy in general!

The top of the pack has 4 “D-rings” where a light, rolled up object could be cinched to the pack (shown above).  There’s a cool reflective loop on the front of the pack, for added safety in reduced light.

We hike in a very warm weather climate, so the fact that even this kids sized backpack has features like a breathable foam back is welcome indeed.  Combine this with the Aircomfort Ventilation System construction, and your child will have a very comfortable pack to carry.  Meaning they’ll actually wear it, and enjoy doing so.

Deuter Junior Backpack ~ Review Summary

“Wait… my child can carry their own water on hikes?  And their own extra layer of clothing?  SNACKS, TOO!?”

Are you picking up what I’m laying down here?

Being the mom that has, up until now, typically packed 4-6 large, full water bottles on every hike, 3 hoodies or jackets (I draw the line at carrying an extra for my husband) and a good 5 pounds worth of chow for the “snack break”… this is an exciting development indeed.   No more Pack Horse Mom!

An added bonus?  My daughter gets more excited about the hike now.  Packing and hauling their own “gear” definitely adds to the interest and makes them feel more like they are participating in this adventure.

Weight on your child’s small body frame is obviously something to be mindful of.   We are in the early stages of figuring out everyone’s limits.  My 2 1/2 year old just gets a granola bar, small water bottle, and glow stick (his sister’s idea) in his Deuter Kids backpack, and he is thrilled to be wearing one just like his big sister does.

Pack light, especially at first, and be prepared to adjust some weight into your own backpack if they start to tire (or feel any pain) on the trail.  We’ve been careful, and haven’t experienced any problems – both of my kids love wearing their backpacks!  Honestly, they are so well designed, and fit so well… I can’t imagine them experiencing any back pain whatsoever.

I think the price points are very reasonable.  I don’t believe you can purchase them directly from Deuter, but I’ve seen the Junior selling online for $39, the Kids for around $27.

Deuter Junior Backpack & Deuter Kids backpack

Between the quality construction, and the comfort due to the well thought out design – I would highly recommend Deuter Junior Backpack, or even a Deuter Kids Backpack.

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We received a Deuter Junior Backpack at no cost, for the purposes of performing this review.  All opinions are my own.

The post Kids Gear: Deuter Junior Backpack appeared first on Colorado Mountain Mom.

In my search for some quality kids sunglasses, I wanted to find:

• a “better than normal” fit
• use of good lenses, and
• the ability to stand up to some wear and tear

Throughout this quest, the name Julbo popped up repeatedly.  Julbo Kids Sunglasses receive consistently excellent reviews for their children’s specialty line, and for good reason.

Julbo Bubble for hiking

Every parent with kids who play outside has likely experienced this problem.  You want your child to wear sunglasses when in the sun, to protect their eyes.  You buy a cheap pair at the grocery store.  They’re cute.  But your child just won’t keep them on.  (Or they break after a couple of rough-n-rowdy use play sessions.)  And frankly, the cheap lens probably aren’t blocking out all the UVA rays anyways… which is kindof the whole point.

We recently tried out two different styles, for two different ages:  a 2 year old, and an 8 year old.  Here’s what we thought of Julbo Kids Sunglasses.

Julbo Kids Sunglasses

Julbo Kids Sunglasses offer top notch protection for toddler through teen sizes.  Their goal is to design sunglasses which are extremely comfortable for your child, function durably for many activities, and deliver excellent protection.  They use “optical class 1″ lenses – no cheaper version lens, these are the same as the grown ups get and they do block all UVA (both B & C rays)

The fit and high quality frames are what really sells me on these sunglasses. They are wrap around style, to keep as many of those UV rays out as possible.   The temples are curved.  And they absorb shock, for those occasional wipeouts and wild play.

Julbo Bubble

Julbo Bubble sunglasses, ages 2-5

The Julbo Bubble is for ages 3-5, and comes in four color combinations.   They are light, flexible, and the frames are pliable yet sturdy.  I was extremely impressed with the fit.  They come with a soft case that can be used both to protect the lenses and also clean them.

My son is age 2, but has a very big noggin.   (It’s to hold his big brain.)  Smaller toddler sized glasses pinch his head and are uncomfortable, so he won’t wear them.  But when I try a larger kid sized pair of sunglasses, they are much too wide to properly fit his face.

The Julbo Bubble solved this problem perfectly.  When I first took them out of the box, I thought, “Oh, bummer.  These look tiny, there’s no way they’ll fit him.”  Slipped them on, and my jaw dropped.  PERFECT.  They actually fit his face very nicely, and the sides are able to flex and bend outwards in order to wrap around that cute grande cabeza of his!

Julbo Bubble for swimming

You can see from the curved ends how gently they hug your toddlers head, keeping them securely in place.  His nose isn’t very big, but because of the stellar design of the Julbo Bubble… they don’t slide down his face.

They are so comfortable, my son forgets they are on.  The first night we received them, he wanted to keep wearing them, even after we went indoors.   Partly due to us telling him what a “cool dude” he was, but also because they fit so great that he doesn’t mind wearing them at all.  Mission accomplished!

Since the initial excitement has died down, we do have to encourage him to put them on and wear them.  He’s never worn sunglasses before, though, and I think this is just something that takes them a little getting used to.  It’s exactly why I wanted to get him started at age 2, so he’d be “trained” to protect his eyes and wear sunglasses from now on.

Julbo Piccolo

Julbo Piccolo sunglasses, ages 8-12

The Julbo Piccolo is for ages 8-12, and comes in four color/lens options.  And they are oh, so sweet.  I was surprised at the color when they arrived.  On the website photo these appeared red and white.  But they are white and a very pretty coral color (so I’d say this particular color is for more girls).

These too have a temple flex system built in, adding both comfort and durability.  I had no trouble getting my 8 year old daughter to wear these, she was excited when she saw them.   She plays sports outside, so they will fit that purpose well.

But as she likes to remind me, “I’m interested in fashion, mom.”  Well, the Julbo Piccolo’s apparently jives nicely with her 2nd grade sense of fashion, as well.  She finds them very stylish, so we’ll be seeing alot of the Piccolos.

They come with a hard case, and between wanting to keep the lenses in great shape, and being careful not lose these nice sunglasses… we definitely use the case for storage.

Julbo Kids Sunglasses

My family is happy we found Julbo kids sunglasses, and are very pleased with the fit and quality.  As a mom, I’m thrilled my kids will both wear these sunglasses – with lenses that will truly deliver sun protection, wrapped up in a durable frame which will last for a long time.

There are many other great styles of Julbo Sunglasses available for babies, kids, and adults.  You can check them out on their website.

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I received the Julbo kids sunglasses described here at no cost, for the purposes of this review.  All opinions are my own.

The post Kids Gear: Julbo Kids Sunglasses appeared first on Colorado Mountain Mom.

Having a rather low tolerance for hot and humid weather, and loving the lower crowds which accompany Disney World’s winter season, we really don’t have a vast amount of experience with needing to try and keep cool at Disney.  But we’ve definitely had a few warm days spent at the parks, so here are a few things that worked for my family to keep cool.

Let’s start with the obvious solution:  jumping onto a water ride!   My family’s favorite is Animal Kingdom’s Kali River Rapids, since it delivers some exciting splashes while not being “too scary” for the timid rider in our group.   Of course, if you end up being the person in *that seat*… you will be left with soggy bottom syndrome for a fair part of the day.  Interesting note from our behind the scenes DVD:  Disney can (and does) adjust the turbines to control just how high those waves will be, and how wet riders will get, during hotter days!

I’ve always thought the EPCOT splash fountains were an excellent idea to cool down, and the kids always have a lot of fun escaping the heat for a bit at this spot.

You can always head back to your resort’s pool for a swim during the hottest part of the afternoon.  If your children are like mine, they continually beg to do so…

Don’t forget to work some ice cream treats into your Disney day to keep cool!  We love the homemade waffle cones at EPCOT’s Fountainview Ice Cream (although they may be closed right now, for the Starbucks conversion).

And my last HOT TIP is of a “Rumorhazit” nature, but definitely worth seeking out if you are needing to keep cool on a hot day at Magic Kingdom.  A frequent summer Disney-goer told me their family always seeks out a spot for the afternoon parade in Frontierland in front of an air conditioned shop or restaurant, sitting right in front of their propped open doors.  I can neither confirm, nor deny, if this really pans out as described to me… but it sounded worth investigating!

Thank you for joining me today. Your next stop on the Magical Blogorail Loop is A World View.

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Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail should you happen to have to make a stop along the way and want to reboard:

• 1st Stop ~ My Dreams Of Disney
• 2nd Stop ~ Disney Donna Kay
• 3rd Stop ~ Colorado Mountain Mom (you are here)
• 4th Stop ~ A World View
• Final Stop ~ The Magical Mouse Pad

The post Magical Blogorail ~ Ways to Keep Cool at Disney appeared first on Colorado Mountain Mom.

This is an ongoing work in progress around our household.  Aside from that obvious but expensive swingset purchase, here are a few of the more affordable things we’ve come up with to encourage outdoor play at our house.

Summer Outdoor Play Ideas for Your Kids

Garage Bins of Outdoor Toys – “That is NOT for indoor play!“, mom emphatically declared.  Then stick in in the garage bin!  We keep two huge plastic tubs with balls, bats, gloves, roller blades, knee and elbow pads… really anything they play outdoors with.  Easy access.  Easy pick up.

Tire Swing – If you’ve got a large enough tree, this is an inexpensive thing you can add to your kids personal playground right in their own yard.

Plant Something – Can your kids have a spot in the yard to plant seeds for a garden, or some flowers?  Of course, letting them water these proves to be daily fun they’ll enjoy probably even more than the planting.

Plant a boy. Watch him grow.

Sidewalk Chalk – So cheap!  But so fun!  Whether it’s for a game of hopscotch, artistic expression, or drawing roads for trucks and cars to drive on – both of my kids enjoy this.  Can be a little messy, but washes out of clothes easily, and the rain takes care of the outside cleanup eventually.

Sandbox – We got a plastic, turtle shaped sandbox with a lid for around $30 last year.  Sand can be purchased and easily transported in bags.  This has turned out to be very worth the cost, and again – both our 2 and 8 year old play in this for long periods of time.  Let them use some water, too?  They’ll play even longer!

Basketball – While we are fortunate enough to have a hoop, purchased by Nanna and Grandpa… there are many things kids can play with just a basketball alone, too.  Try showing them some ball handling skills, dribbling, and types of passes they can practice.  That’s 3/4 of the game, and boy will they be ready when they hit an actual court to play!

Basketball ball handling drills at my daughter’s gradeschool. The kids LOVED this, no hoops involved.

Painting Rocks - We bought a cheap little strip of acrylic paints at Walmart, and my daughter absolutely loves painting smooth landscaping rocks.  This has produced a rainbow of cute, decorative rocks that we add to our yard landscaping here and there… as our rock-art garden.  If they’re hand sized and flat, a keyboard and screen are typically applied and they become rock phones.  Heavy ones.

Water!  For whatever reason, kids don’t seem to run through sprinklers anymore?  (I totally don’t get that, since we loved doing so when we were kids.)  We found a nice, slightly larger plastic pool at a garage sale that my kids love to cool down in.  But even letting them play with the hose awhile, some squirt guns, or water balloons always goes over amazingly well.  Heck, have them wash your car!

These were my family’s ideas, but for even more… I recently reviewed an excellent book called Kids Outdoor Adventure Book which is awesome, and packed with many ideas for outdoor play (“448 great things to do in nature“, to be precise).  I believe it was on sale at Amazon for less than $14, and I highly recommend it.

Outdoor Kids Gear

It never hurts to equip your kids with some good gear items, both for outdoor play around the home or any adventures you are able to take.

As for apparel, we’ve had some success with a few outdoor brands in particular.  Anything kid’s North Face apparel or Patagonia gear (we LOVE this “Go Play in the Rain” coat) that we’ve tried seems to be of good and lasting quality.  I like to buy gender neutral styles and colors, so that eventually both  my daughter and my son can get some use from them.

Watch for my upcoming series on kids gear reviews I have currently in the works.  We’ve been testing out some sunglasses, bike helmets, hiking boots, kids sized backpacks and more.  Those recommendations coming soon.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy that summer break with your kids!

Please share:  What is your child’s favorite thing to play outside in summer?

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This post contains a sponsored link.

The post Summer Outdoor Play Ideas for Your Kids appeared first on Colorado Mountain Mom.

And I’m always interested in finding new quality sunscreen options to protect myself and my family.  Especially this time of year, when it becomes more crucial because we all head outside to play!

The Rocky Mountain Sunscreen mission?   “…to provide the highest quality sun protection products available, in easy-to-use, convenient packaging. Through education and marketing, Rocky Mountain Sunscreen is advancing skin protection for the purpose of helping people maintain healthy skin throughout their life.”

What You Should Know About Your Sunscreen

Did you know there are 3 different types of sunscreen formulas: Wax-Based (most sunscreens), Film-Based, and Bonding-Based (Rocky Mountain Sunscreen)?  The “base”, or lotion in which the UV protectants are mixed, are very important because it will ultimately determine how well the sunscreen will work.

Bonding-based formulas, like Rocky Mountain Sunscreen, work the best for people who are active while they are in the sun, because they enable the UV absorbers to interlock with the skin – making them less prone to sweat off, wash off during water activity, or rub off on clothing or towels.

Also, did you know there are new 2012 FDA sunscreen regulations?  I found this very interesting, as it affects the quality of product ingredients being used, or at least the claims they can make about their product… and thus the amount of protection you are truly receiving.

You should no longer see the terms “sweatproof”, “all day protection”, or “waterproof” used on your sunscreen labeling.

Here’s a snapshot of the new regulations.  (If you have trouble reading this graphic, you can see it larger and more clearly on their website here.)

 Rocky Mountain Sunscreen Products

Rocky Mountain Sunscreen products are not tested on animals, are gluten-free, soy-free, and peanut oil free.  This keeps their products safe for use by a wider range of people.

We loved the Family Value 8-pack of travel sized SPF30 Rocky Mountain Sunscreen that my family and I tested.  It’s creamy and somewhat thick, non-greasy, and soaks in nicely – which is a big help, when you are trying to apply sunscreen to a wiggly 2 year old.

And having small sizes to distribute to your vehicles, backpacks, diaper/tote bags, and purses is wonderful.   Now we are virtually guaranteed to have sunscreen along when we need it.   Somewhere.  (It’s gotta be here somewhere in this chaos…)

The more I learn about the quality of ingredients which they use for Rocky Mountain Sunscreen, the more I’ve become convinced that it is some of the best sun protection available.  And again, theirs is a bonding-based formula, so it’s going to work great for those of you who are active in the sun.

I also tried out some of their special products lip balm.  The Mountain Berry SPF 30 Lip Balm will definitely go in my hiking backpack.  It has a great smell and light taste, and more importantly prevents those painful sunburned and chapped lips.  They have a variety of flavors to chose from, and they sell for only $1.95 each.

If you do have severe chapped lips or are looking for cold sore relief – try out the Medicated Lip Repair.  This has a very pleasant tingling sensation, and contains some healing ingredients like camphor, menthol, lanolin, aloe, Vitamin E, Beeswax, & Cocoa Butter.  What a great combination!  I was impressed with this, as well.

Rocky Mountain Sunscreen ~ Where to Find Them

You can order Rocky Mountain Sunscreen products in travel size, in refillable bottles, by the quart, or even gallon (think daycare!) direct from their website.

You can also find out more by following Rocky Mountain Sunscreen here:

The post Rocky Mountain Sunscreen ~ What You Should Know About Your Sunscreen appeared first on Colorado Mountain Mom.

I’ve reviewed Avon’s Bug Guard Plus in the past, and my family has had success with this product line.   You can read about our experience with it and our favorites here.

I frequently receive inquiries on the Avon Bug Guard Plus products, from concerned moms who want to protect their little ones from bug bites (and the sun!) but in a gentle way.

So today I’ve got a guest post written by Avon representative Mary Bertsch.  She put the following article together to let you know a little more about Avon’s Bug Guard line, let you know that it’s currently on sale for 50% off, and to offer a great giveaway.

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Summer time means fun with your family outdoors. You don’t want to leave home without protection from sun and the nasty mosquitoes and bugs.

You probably have heard that Avon has a great insect/bug repellent. When you look at the assortment of Avon Bug Guard products, you probably don’t know which one to choose from for your family’s needs. I will inform you about the Avon Bug Guard Plus products and which one is best for you.

You might want to stock up on the Avon Bug Guard Plus now as Avon has them all on sale for half price.

Avon Bug Guard Plus Expedition

Going hiking or camping in the woods or mountains? Protect your family from mosquitoes, deer ticks, gnats, no-seeums, sand flies, and biting midges with Avon Bug Guard Plus Expedition.

It protects your family also from the sun with SPF 30. All Deet-Free and doesn’t need to be washed off. Wow! Two protections in one!  Also available are the new 2 oz travel size which is perfect for your carry-on airplane luggage.

Avon Bug Guard Picaridin

Use Avon Bug Guard Picaridin at dusk or dawn when mosquitoes are most active. Protects your family from mosquitoes that may transmit West Nile Virus and deer ticks that may transmit Lyme Disease. Deet-Free!  No SPF protection with this one.

Have you tried the Towelettes? So easy and convenient! Also available are the new 2 oz travel size which is perfect for your carryon airplane luggage.

Avon Bug Guard Lotion

Avon Bug Guard Plus comes in Gentle Breeze SPF 30 Lotion and in the Bug Guard Plus Disappearing Color Lotion with SPF 30.

These lotions effectively repel mosquitoes, deer ticks, black flies, sand flies, gnats, no-seeums and biting midges. They are Deet-Free, non-greasy, and enriched with vitamin E and aloe. These are great for kids!

Avon Bug Guard Sale ~ 50% Off

Buy any of the Avon Bug Guard products now, at the half price sale!  Take advantage of 50% off this great line, and stock up for the upcoming outdoor season.

The Giveaway

Mary is going to send one of my winning readers any 3 Avon Bug Guard products of their choice!

Open to US residents.  Enter using form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Avon’s Bug Guard Plus ~ 50% Off Sale [Giveaway] appeared first on Colorado Mountain Mom.

I chose the Disney Moderate Port Orleans Riverside Resort.  My husband and I stayed here last winter, when we had the chance to sneak away together, first time sans kids, for our 10th anniversary.  (Yes, I made him take me to Disney… of course I did!)

Needless to say, I fell in love!  You know, with Port Orleans Riverside.  I already love my husband.

Compared to the delightful and festive chaos that are the All-Star Resorts, where we typically stay as a family – I found Port Orleans Riverside extremely relaxing.  Here are just a few of the things I loved…

Having a boat taxi, that we could ride from our resort.

Lovely Southern style architecture and pristine landscaping.

The walking trails.  And trees.

The marina, and having some additional recreation options right at the resort.

And it just wouldn’t be Port Orleans “Riverside” with the RIVER!

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Thanks for joining me today.  Thanks to Deb at Focused On the Magic for hosting this fun weekly photo hop!  Click the button below to see more great Disney “Resorts & Relaxation” pictures from this week.

The post Disney Wordless Wednesday ~ Port Orleans Riverside Resort appeared first on Colorado Mountain Mom.