Taking a day to 'just' be a mom

Today was a rare occasion when I got to “just” be a mom. My only priority was momming. I wasn’t checking emails, I wasn’t thinking about obligations, I wasn’t even cleaning the house. I wanted the day to just be about having a good time with BabyCakes.

Parenting is the hardest when you’re pulled in 5 directions while also trying to parent. I’m so thankful for the times I get to/allow myself to enjoy her and push everything else to the back burner.

Today we had an awesome time at our first visit to Sister Cities Park in Philadelphia. This place is truly a hidden gem.

They have a splash pad and a really awesome Children’s Discovery Garden that has a pond, rocks the kids can climb, and a stream. You can send a boat down from the top of the stream and watch it go throughout the park to the pond. There is also a Library in the Park Book Cart that has books from the library out that you can read while you're there. We read two books while we waited for the garden to open.

Next time we visit I'm definitely going to bring some water toys and pack us a blanket and picnic lunch so we can eat there in the grassy area. If you have never been, definitely take the kids. I recommend getting there around 9:30am-ish so the kids can play in the splash pad for a while before the garden opens up at 10am. By noon it gets pretty packed so we headed out around then.

When is the last time you slowed down and just focused on ONE aspect of your life for a day?

Summer Savings on Fresh Cut Fruit

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FreshCutSavings #CollectiveBias

Summer is right around the corner and I couldn’t be more excited for warmer weather and all the flavors that accompany the season, especially all the fresh fruit!

Summer doesn’t exactly mean things are winding down, which is why Odwalla and ZICO products are the perfect staple to fit into your busy lifestyle.

Whether they are part of a breakfast, or a pre/post workout snack, these products are a perfect on-the-go solution to those that are trying to make a “better-for-you” choice.

For a limited time at Albertsons and Safeway you can Save $1 when you buy any (2) Odwalla 15.2 fl. oz. or ZICO 13.5 fl. oz. and (1) Fresh Cut Fruit. Offer valid with digital coupon.

Click here to load your card to offer

Enjoy all the flavors of Fresh Cut Fruit without the hassle - ready for snacking or to add to your own fruit smoothie or smoothie bowl!

Don’t pass up these #FreshCutSavings - available for a limited time!

*Participating products:

• Odwalla 15.2 oz bottles
• ZICO 400mL

Offer valid 5/16 - 6/12 and while supplies last. Purchase must be made in a single transaction. Digital coupons are not valid unless downloaded to your Loyalty Account. Retailers include: Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Tom Thumb, Randalls, Shaws, Star Market, ACME, Pavillions, Carrs, and Jewel-Osco retailers.

Bed Upgrade for Less than $600

This post contains affiliate links. For more information read my full disclosure policy. 

Ya'll. I have a confession. Up until recently I was sleeping on a bed frame that my grandparents gave me for my first COLLEGE APARTMENT. I'll save you doing the math, that was 13 years ago!

Hubs and I haven't been sleeping well because of a number of inefficiencies in our bed situation. Besides the 13 year old bed frame we were also dealing with a box spring that was actually two box springs put together, and they slipped apart every time we sat down. On top of those two precarious box springs was a spring mattress over seven years old that you could visibly see the indentations of our bodies in. Needless to say, we desperately needed an upgrade. After a bunch of research, review reading, and price comparisons we have completely upgraded our bed and I am so happy with it.

Mattress

For our mattress we opted for one of the foam mattresses that come in a box. Yes, the same type you probably hear advertised on your favorite podcast. But we didn't want to spend thousands of dollars so we chose the Zinus Memory Foam 12 Inch Green Tea Mattress. It came rolled up on a box and it was pretty cool to see it expand. It was like magic. I really love having a memory foam mattress. It's such a different sensation from having a spring mattress. It doesn't have much give, it just absorbs your weight to support your body in just the right way. It also absorbs movement so we don't feel each other moving around in the bed nearly as much. 

I will note, BabyCakes was not happy with the new mattress. She thought it was "broken" because it doesn't offer the same bed jumping ability as the spring mattress did lol. 

King sized mattress all rolled up.

Platform

I knew going into our search that I wanted anything but dual box springs. I wanted one solid piece to support the mattress. We ended up ditching box springs all together and opted for the Zinus Upholstered Diamond Stitched Platform Bed. It's been so nice to have a headboard again. It's nice to be able to sit up in the bed when watching TV or using my laptop and not have my pillows slip down between the mattress and the wall. 

Pillows

I was sent Overfilled Down Alternative Pillows complimentary from Wikibuy. We really like how firm they are and will probably buy a couple more. They have the feel I always like in hotel pillows. 

We are really happy with our new bed setup. The rest of the changes to the bedroom we'd like in the future are more cosmetic. I'd love to get a triptych to hang above the bed, and I'd really like to re-paint the room in the future. 

How are you sleeping?

One Product, Many Uses - Thaumaturgic Bio Mist

 I was given the opportunity by Theralight, Inc. to review this product. All opinions are my own. 

I love a multipurpose product. I'm trying to actively declutter our home, and products that can be used for multiple things, and on the whole family, are super convenient. My most recent product find is Thaumaturgic Bio Mist.

BabyCakes and Hubs both have sensitive skin and eczema so I have to be very careful about what I purchase for them. Thaumaturgic Bio Mist is a cosmeceutical-grade, pure and stable product designed to support the skin's natural defenses against many skin conditions and is formulated for all skin types. It doesn't have any of the bad ingredients: sodium sulfates, parabens, fragrances, or artificial colors.

For myself I've used it on my face when it is particularly inflamed because of acne. I've also used it on shaving bumps to reduce irritation and on chub rub! For BabyCakes I've used it on her itchy skin from eczema, on her scratches that comes from eczema irritation and on the scrapes she gets while playing.

The mist is also recommended for:

• sunburns
• scar reduction
• bug bites
• redness
• scrapes
• and more

It's really great to have products around that I can use on all of us, for multiple purposes, and I don't have to worry about the ingredients. HOCl is the magic ingredient that makes Thaumaturgic Bio Mist special. It mimics the natural molecules that work as part of our body’s defense mechanism. Check out Thaumaturgic Bio Mist for your family today!

Connecting with my Preschooler with Dough Dots!

I was sent these products complimentary from the creators of Dough Dots!™ All opinions are my own. 

I just came home from being away for five days for work. I could not wait to get home and play with my daughter! I missed her. I missed interacting with her. It probably didn't help that I was away at a Children's Museums conference, seeing all kinds of fun exhibits and activities for kids. When I got home I laid out some new play items for us.

I was recently sent products from Dough Dots!™to try out with BabyCakes. She loves creating with clay so I knew they would be a hit. We love creative toys that allow her to use her imagination. What makes Dough Dots!™special is the ball packaging. The balls make it super easy for her to open the dough herself, and the package itself is creative, featuring various animals. The balls hold the dough and are toys within themselves.

Designed for ages 2 to 6 Dough Dots!™come in four different vibrant colors, and you can get various cutters and molds to kick start play. Even though the balls are easy to open, they close air tight to preserve the quality of the dough.

I am so excited to be back home with my BabyCakes and to have a new activity to play with together.  We're currently working on letters and sounds, so we incorporated the Dough Dots!™in helping her learn the letters in her name. Some of her other favorite Dough Dots!™activities:

• Making "pizza"
• Rolling the balls off the table intentionally (so I have to go chase them lol)
• Recalling what primary colors can be put together to make other colors, and mixing pieces of dough
• Making snake families

 Check out Dough Dots!™today for your child.

What Moms REALLY Want for Mother's Day

*This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here. 

If you're trying to figure out what to do for the mothers in your life for Mother's Day I'm here to share some real world recommendations. You will not find flowers or Edible Arrangements in this list.

She wants to feel like she doesn't exist. 

What I mean is, she would like some time where everything around her functions the way she keeps it functioning, but without her having to do anything. Handle the kids, clean the house, do all the things she usually does at home. Bonus points if you can send her away from home while you do all this. If you can't send her somewhere allow her to have her own space and time away from the family on Mother's Day.

Self-care is great, but she'd love someone to care for her for a change. 

She'd like you to care for her like she'd care for herself. Anticipate her needs. Don’t do the things you know drive her crazy. Give her the care and attention that she gives her kids, just for one day. Cook her favorite meals. Clean the bathtub and draw her a bath. Bring her whatever she would like throughout the day.

She still wants gifts. 

Even if she says she doesn't want you to buy her anything, she'd love it if you did. She's not over gifts, she's just over un-thoughtful gifts. Here are some gift ideas that I'll admit come completely from my own desires.

Get her some underwear. No, not lingerie. Get her every day underwear sets that are more expensive than she'd allow herself to purchase. Pieces that she can wear regularly. These briefs are cute and comfortable. This bra offers support and style.

Get her a subscription box. She works hard all year round. Buy her a year subscription to a subscription box so she can receive a gift every month. There's something so awesome about receiving a surprise delivery. Here are some subscription boxes I recommend:

• Play! By Sephora
• Birchbox
• Ipsy
• Oreo Cookie Club
• Amazon Beauty Box

Get her jewelry that means something. Sparkly things are great, but they mean even more when they have a message behind them. I'm eyeing this necklace. Since she was born I've felt so connected to BabyCakes when I hold her little hands, so when I saw this necklace I thought it was perfect. Other good jewelry choices are items with her or your children's birthstones, or engraved items. Make her feels special with something custom. 

The most important part of selecting a gift for the moms in your life is to really think about them. Think about their true wants. Think about what they often talk about. Think about what they often wish for. 

Happy Mother's Day Gift Hunting!

Moms, what do YOU really want for Mother's Day?

Bubble Guppies Live Review

One night about a month and a half ago I was doing some work for my theater company, posting information about our upcoming production to various listings websites. While I was working I came across a listing for Bubble Guppies Live in our city and I got SO excited. I'm definitely that mom. The mom that gets really excited about kid activities. BabyCakes was watching Bubble Guppies occasionally at this time. I bought us three tickets and started to incorporate more Bubble Guppies into her TV time so she'd be ready for the show!

If you're not familiar with the Bubble Guppies it's a really cute cartoon about a group of fish-tailed preschoolers. It's fun, interactive, and educational. They teach science, math, literacy, and problem solving through the stories. Each episode also has a series of songs and movements which BabyCakes loves to do along with the show.

After a month and a half of build-up the day was finally here, we were headed to Bubble Guppies Live! We had a really great time.

The production quality of the show was really great. The sets and costumes did a great job of creating the underwater world on stage. The actors and puppeteers also did a great job of creating the characters from the cartoon. Even though the costumes didn't have moving mouths the actors did an excellent job with their bodies and gestures to ensure the audience knew who was talking when. The story-line was very cute and they incorporated lessons, songs, and dances from the animated show.

If you have a little Bubble Guppies fan and you're considering seeing the tour in your city I highly recommend it. It was a great choice for BabyCakes first live show. Kids were dancing and singing in the aisles. The show runs about an hour and 15 minutes with the intermission, which was a great length for our toddler/pre-schooler.

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