Little Toby and his Little Watch!

BabysWatch is a cotton bracelet that's gentle and cute!

Add this to the list of things that Toby doesn't need but Mommy can't live without: a small fabric bracelet made to look like a wristwatch to fit an infant or toddler's tiny wrist.

It's called Baby'sWatch and it's too darn cute to pass up if you have a little one!

When I put it on Toby for the first time, my son had a smile that I won't soon forget. 

He was thrilled!

It wasn't long before my rascally child tried yanking it off his wrist (he was extremely curious about it). His desire to explore the BabysWatch and take it off was just a sign that he loved it!

Babyswatch offers a lineup of designs for boys and girls.

It's a cotton bracelet made of 100% organic and chemical-free long fiber balanced weave cotton fabric that is ultra soft, breathable and nonirritating against your baby's skin.

The graphics are printed with a non-toxic dye that doesn't fade, rub off or rinse out. 

The company says it has served over a million customers so far. 

"We’re all about the spreading of goodwill, humor and innovation, because we want the world to stay awesome," their website states.

Currently, the BabysWatch designs retail for $14.99 and can be purchased online. You can even buy the product wholesale.

They're totally adorable.
Your kid will love BabysWatch unless they're anything like my 15-month old Toby, who was intrigued at first and eventually figured out how to unsnap it!

BabysWatch is available here.

I received a free product for a review on my blog.

Happy Thursday!

Win a Chance to See Marvel Universe Live! Age of Heroes

I've got a pair of tickets for you and your Super Hero loving kid....yay! Plus, an opportunity to dress up the kids and get them free tickets in Anaheim!

Attention parents looking for ways to enjoy the first full week of July with their kids: the Staples Center in Downtown Los Angeles; the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario and the Honda Center in Anaheim will present the all-new Marvel Universe Live! Age of Heroes, beginning July 7.

And I've got a pair of opening night tickets for a lucky winner.

For a chance to win these tickets, please answer the following question in the comments:

1. Who is your favorite Marvel Super Hero and why?

2. Include your name and email address 

I will select and email the winner on Friday, June 23 by 5:00pm. 

ALSO!

On Friday, June 23, KABC7 will be promoting Marvel Universe Live! at Pavilion's in Anaheim.

They are looking for kids 14 and younger to wear their favorite MARVEL Superhero costumes on Live TV. 

Every child that participates wearing their favorite MARVEL full costume (not just a mask or hat) will receive one opening night performance voucher, valued at $45!

Who:

Kids 14 and younger

What:

Dress up in your favorite MARVEL full costume for a free ticket to MARVEL Universe Live!

Where:

Pavilions 8010 E. Santa Ana Canyon Rd. | Anaheim, CA 92808

When:

Friday, June 23. Arrive by 10:30am

Good luck!

Marvel Universe Live! Announces "Age of Heroes" featuring Guardians of the Galaxy

The Epic Marvel Super Hero Experience Premieres in Los Angeles on July 7. Tickets on sale now!

With everything we've heard about Guardians of the Galaxy at Disney California Adventure, I've been wondering how to give Benny some Drax, Rocket Racoon and Groot action. My son is still too young to ride the high-speed attraction, but he's not too young for a Marvel-themed live-action show at the Staples Center this summer....yay!

Super hero action, thrills and drama will soar, smash and burst into arenas across the country starting with the debut of the all-new action-packed adventure Marvel Universe LIVE! Age of Heroes.  The iconic Marvel Super Heroes Spider-Man and The Avengers are joined by the Guardians of the Galaxy, including Star-Lord, Gamora, Groot, Rocket and Drax, in a legendary battle to defend the universe from evil.  

The newest production from Feld Entertainment, the world’s leading producer of live touring family entertainment, will make it’s world premiere in Los Angeles at STAPLES Center on July 7, 2017.  Tickets are on sale now and you can purchases yours by visiting:  MarvelUniverseLIVE

Hope to see you there! 

UNICEF KID POWER to Celebrate Kid Power Month next Saturday!

UNICEF USA is hosting an fun afternoon on Saturday, May 13 to encourage children and families to get active!

Only one in four American kids gets enough exercise, according to the United Nations' Children's Fund, UNICEF. 
On the other hand, nearly one in four children globally, is malnourished. 
The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports the organization's work through fundraising, advocacy and education, working together for a common goal: to reach a time when no children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. 
As a mom of two little boys, I love this idea. I support this cause and I hope you do too!
This month, UNICEF Kid Power, a growing movement of kids and families activating their inner heroes, to end global malnutrition, is asking families around the country to Show the World Your Kid Power. 
Specifically, next Saturday, May 13th UNICEF USA will host an activity packed afternoon of games and entertainment in Downtown LA, to encourage children and families to get active and save lives!  
Saturday's event will feature a Star Wars inspired activity, a Target crazy maze, a main stage entertainment line-up and much more.

When: Saturday, May 13, 2017
Where: Microsoft Square at LA Live
Address: 800 W. Olympic Blvd. / Los Angeles, CA 90015
Time: 11:00am - 4:00pm

In 2015, UNICEF launched UNICEF Kid Power fitness bands, which display the number of steps taken by kids as well as the number of points earned. Program supporters convert students’ points into monetary donations toward the purchase of therapeutic food. A full day of physical activity—12,000 steps—translates into five Kid Power Points. Every five Kid Power Points earned results in one packet of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food for children with severe acute malnutrition.
I encourage parents to purchase a Kid Power fitness band and bring it along to Saturday's event!

When: Saturday, May 13, 2017

Where: Microsoft Square at LA Live

Address: 800 W. Olympic Blvd. / Los Angeles, CA 90015

Time: 11:00am - 4:00pm

Hope to see you there!

Family Outing to Celebrate 35 Years of Caring!

Did you know the Care Bears turn 35 this year? We're excited to share fun facts about these lovable & huggable characters! #35YearsofCaring

Who would've thought that a series of toys and American Greetings cards with cute, colorful and thoughtful bears would lead to one of the world's most popular children's properties!?
The Care Bears highlight the importance of caring and sharing and 2017 marks the 35th anniversary of this endearing group of bears.
On Sunday we spent the day at Giggles N' Hugs celebrating with a play date and screening of Care Bears & Cousins, a Netflix Original Series launched in Fall 2015. Giggles N Hugs was converted into a Care-A-Lot and Benny and Toby were among several children who got to participate in really fun Care Bears-themed activities.

Michelle Steinberg of dOMAIN Integrated, the firm that coordinated Sunday's Care Bears Anniversary event said The Care Bears allow families to integrate because they're unisex and allow for parents and children to express themselves. "For Care Bears it's a story of emotions," she said. "We're celebrating 35 years [of caring] and it's important to care. First and foremost you have to care about yourself, respect yourself...and then care for others."

As a little girl, Funshine Bear was my favorite but these days as a boy mom, it's all about Grumpy Bear!

Care Bears fans can enjoy a robust portfolio of thousands of Care Bears licensed products at retailers globally

 Additional Care Bear Facts:
*Each Care Bear comes in a different color and features a special insignia on its belly representing its personality.
*The Care Bears are no strangers to television screens. They first appeared in their own television specials in 1983 and 1984 and then made the leap to the big screen between 1985-1987 with "The Care Bears Movie" trilogy.
*There were 10 original Care Bears including: Bedtime Bear, Birthday Bear, Cheer Bear, Friend Bear, Funshine Bear, Good Luck Bear, Grumpy Bear, Love-A-Lot Bear, Tenderheart Bear and Wish Bear.

Did you know there's a new Care Bears Movie in the works?
Sounds like we'll be enjoying these adorable characters for many years to come...
Happy 35th Birthday, Care Bears!

The Powerpuff Girls are Back and We're Feeling the Girl Power!

The Powerpuff Girls Cartoon about three brave & adventurous sisters arrives on Hulu on March 24!

It’s time for “Girl Power” with Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup!

On March 24, the newly, reimagined animated 2016 Powerpuff Girls series will make its exclusive streaming debut on Hulu.

If you’re not familiar with the cartoon, it’s about the adventures of three sisters with special powers. They use those powers to defend their town from monsters and bad people. However, because they’re sisters, the series also touches on normal everyday issues such as sibling rivalry, going to school, personal hygiene and many other topics children can relate to.

For the launch of the Hulu streaming debut, a call was made to enter a “Real Life Powerpuff” girl contest. 

As many of you know by now, I am a boy mom. I don't have any daughters to share the excitement with.

But my neighbor’s daughter, Josslyn Villareal comes over our house frequently to hang out with Benny and Toby and we've all grown really fond of her.

Josslyn is a sweet little girl who loves shiny lip gloss as much as she loves Rubiks cubes and video games. She's a bit shy but always demonstrates strength and confidence, even if she's the only girl among a group of boys.

On this particular occasion, I encouraged Josslyn to demonstrate her Powerpuff Girl spirit by wearing a cape and creating some “buzz” around the show!

We used a few printouts and markers to make this happen and ended the day very happily!

More about Josslyn:
Favorite Powerpuff Girl: Bubbles (the blue one) because she's nice but "gets really angry and beats up monsters," she says.

Favorite color: Neon Pink

Favorite food: Pizza and Cheeseburgers

Favorite hobby: Taking a swim in her backyard pool, planning birthday parties, drawing and coloring.

Best advice to other little girls: "Be happy and smile"

There are 6 seasons available of The Powerpuff Girls on Hulu. If you don’t have a Hulu subscription yet, you can sign up for a Free Trial.

Enjoy!

The Perfect Car Seat for Toby!

New in 2016: Britax presents the Advocate Clicktight, a state-of-the-art addition to its' collection of highly rated & dependable car seats

A few weekends ago, my husband Paul and I had the honor of becoming little Ricky's godparents (story here).

The baptism mass was held at 10am about an hour away from home, in Long Beach, CA. 

Paul and I knew from the get go that we'd have a very busy morning so we split up parental responsibilities in order to make it to the mass on time. 

My tasks were to bathe and dress the boys and get them seated and buckled up for the road trip to Long Beach.

Paul would pick up his suit at the dry cleaners, make breakfast and pack the diaper bag.

Well, I impressed myself because I was able to get everything done, including my own hair and make-up, without Paul reminding me that I "take too long"! We arrived at the church with plenty of time before the baptism mass started.

My fast & efficient morning performance (lol) was due in part to the ease of installing our new car seat, the Britax Advocate Clicktight with Anti-Rebound Bar. I first learned about it here.

It's a big car seat. It's a bit heavy too but it's incredibly easy to install. Once you have it secured in place, this seat does not move. Period. It's also very comfortable. I say this because Toby has fallen asleep every time we've buckled him in (something that didn't quite happen with his old car seat).

Other cool things about the Advocate ClickTight:

3 layers of side impact protection, an impact-absorbing base, steel frame, and an anti-rebound bar for maximum safety.

• The Anti-Rebound Bar (ARB) minimizes forces associated with crashes by stabilizing the car seat when installed rear-facing.
• Rest assured your child’s harness is within range of proper tightness thanks to the Click & Safe Snug Harness Indicator.
• Premium padding and fabrics wrap your child in comfort.

- See more at: https://us.britax.com/car-seats/advocate-clicktight-arb/#sthash.ka0le5N6.dpuf

* It offers 3 layers of side impact protection

* The Anti-Rebound Bar (ARB) minimizes forces associated with crashes by stabilizing the car when installed rear-facing. 

* It has an impact absorbing base which compresses to reduce the rough force of a collision

* Features a 7-position recline which makes for easy angle adjustment

* Proudly engineered, tested and made in the USA

Need I say more? Well, there is plenty more to be said about this car seat! You can read all about it & watch demo videos on the Britax Website.

The Britax Advocate ClicktTight retails for about $439 and it's worth every single penny. 

I'm just thrilled to own this super sturdy and reliable car seat that can be installed so easily. So proud to have my Toby finally enjoy the comfort and ease of a Britax product, just like big brother Benny did.

By the way, the trips to and from the baptism and proceeding reception were very smooth. Conclusion: a comfy car seat means a happy baby.  A safe and sturdy car seat means happy parents. And when baby and parents are happy inside the car, we've reached success. 

Britax ClickTight Knowledge Center

User guides & Instructional Videos

Thank you, Britax!

*This is a sponsored post. I received a Britax ClickTight Advocate Car Seat in exchange for a review on this blog.

Ways to Repurpose Halloween Costumes-- Part I

This is the first of 3 posts showing how we're re-using our Halloween costumes (and keeping the kids entertained while we're at it!)

Halloween is so much fun, isn't it? But it's over in a blink of an eye!
In 2016, it was reported by the National Retail Federation that people spent over $8 billion dollars on Halloween, with the most amount of money ($3.5 Billion) going to Halloween costumes.
I know I'm guilty of buying my boys more than one costume...
How could I not?
With so many adorable options and the boys growing so fast, I couldn't help myself.
But then I started thinking--
Is it possible that their costumes will only be good for one month of the year?
What can I do to maximize their costume fun outside of trick-or-treating?
And, what's a creative way to justify the expense that will almost certainly be acquired again next year?
So I decided it was time to get creative and schedule some play dates.

I bought a few large, neon project boards at the dollar store and created planets and stars and dizzy circles out of them. This was done to make a planet scene and get the boys and their guests in full Space Ranger mode...

It all took place in a planet far, far away named...my backyard!  And all the space heroes going around made this morning too fun for us mommies who were standing by in case of a meteor meltdown! I placed all the Buzz Lightyears from around the house in different areas of the yard and their mission, among others was to escape the "asteroid ghosts".

The pretend spaceship skeleton was from Benny's 2nd birthday and was made out of PVC pipe.
I also turned a regular dart board into a space target, trying to mimic scenes from the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters ride at Disneyland.

You should try this at home... It's not too complicated and it's the kind of stuff memories are made of!
The Buzz Lightyear costumes will probably come out of the box a few more times...and they'll be transported to Infinity and Beyond!
Thanks for reading!

Celebrating Toby's 1/2 Birthday with Britax!

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. #BritaxHalfBday #BritaxSafety #ClickTight #RaisingtheBar

Toby will turn 8 months old tomorrow.
The other morning I walked to his room before heading out to work and I had a moment.
He looked SO. BIG.
Like, when did he grow out of size "0" diapers!?
And when did he go from a dark haired, tiny newborn to a chubby, happy, blondie??
All these feelings of nostalgia started kicking in.

Sometimes we're so caught up with life, work and social media that the speed at which our kids are growing doesn't really set in...
Luckily for me, I was invited to an event hosted by Britax, Tubby Todd and Gathre where a dozen mommy bloggers with young babies had an opportunity to meet, mingle and most importantly take time to celebrate our babies' half birthdays.
It may seem funny to say this but taking a day off to go on a "mommy date" with Toby and watch him play, roll, kick, smile and pose for adorable pictures with other babies, was priceless.
It was all so endearing!

A great thing about this 1/2 birthday celebration was the opportunity to check out the new Advocate ClickTight ARB (Anti Rebound Bar) car seat by Britax.
Because who doesn't want a mega safe and comfortable car seat for their beloved child?
Consider the following:

* Typically up to 75 percent of car seats are installed incorrectly
* Britax' revolutionary ClickTight installation system is the safest and easiest technology on the market.
* Just open the front of the car seat, buckle the seat belt across and click the seat shut. It's all you need to do for rock solid installation!

Photo courtesy: Maile Mason Photography

I will soon offer a detailed review of the Britax Advocate ClickTight ARB car seat with pictures of my Little Toby so you can see what a wonderful investment this product is!

Meanwhile, don't forget to take a moment, away from your busy home and work environment to spend time with your baby. And if you want a suggestion-- check out the Southern California Children's Museum in Pasadena.

Hugs,

Fall Inspo: Pumpkin Patches & Swedish Forests!

Fall activities have taken a new meaning for my husband and I.
Only five years ago, we were attending as many Oktoberfest events in Southern Cali as we could find and planning outrageous costumes to attend booze-filled Halloween parties. The following mornings came with headaches and promises to never drink again...ha!
Those days are long gone.
But I say that proudly because parenthood has given every season of the year a new meaning and Fall is no exception.
For the past few years, when October comes around, we've looked for unique pumpkin patches where Benny can play, pick out pumpkins and pose for the yearly must-do pumpkin patch photo.
This year my husband couldn't join us but we visited Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch in Culver City and got a preview of Baby Bjorn's autumn product line, the Woods Collection.
If you've read my blog, then you know I'm a fan of Baby Bjorn.
The Woods collection is inspired by colors representing the moss green calm, the deep red luster of lingonberries and pine trees of the Swedish Forests. More here. 
This pumpkin patch trip though--
It was one of the few places I've taken both boys without a helper but I'm getting better at managing my boys on my own (don't ask how).
Here are some of my favorite memories from our outing:

Mr. Bones Pumpkin Patch has been around since 1987. A father-daughter duo designed this interactive kids experience, after working on projects such as the Back to the Future attraction at Universal Studios.

 

Baby Bjorn's Baby Carrier One features ergonomic leg position with wide seat area for the child. The Woods Collection brings the carrier in blackberry red and denim blue, among other bold colors.

Benny tries to peak at the other kids running around the pumpkin patch, a perfect opportunity to debut his "Fire(eye)ball" face painting,

Toby as Mike Wasowski while brother Benny jumped inside the bouncy house.

In this photo by Maile Mason Photography, Toby tests Baby Bjorn's Bouncer Balance.

A special thanks to Rachel Pitzel for organizing this fun event. It's so refreshing to meet other like-minded mommies, especially at a pumpkin patch!

En español

Las actividades de otoño han tomado un nuevo significado para mi marido y yo.
Hace sólo cinco años, buscábamos y asistíamos a los mejores eventos de Oktoberfest y dedicábamos un buen de tiempo planeando disfraces extravagantes para ir a las fiestas de Halloween donde el alcohol nunca faltaba. Al día siguiente, crudos y con dolor de cabeza jurábamos nunca volver a beber ... ja!

Esos días ya se quedaron atrás.
Pero lo digo con orgullo porque ser padres de familia significa que celebramos con otro propósito las estaciones del año y el otoño no es excepción.
En los últimos años, cuando llega octubre, buscamos un huerto de calabazas nuevo donde Benny pueda jugar, recoger calabazas y posar para la foto anual que hay que hacer.
Este año, mi marido no pudo acompañarnos, pero llevé a los niños al huerto de calabazas llamado Mr. Bones en Culver City y a la vez, pudimos darle un vistazo a la línea de productos de otoño de Baby Bjorn, titulada Woods Collection.
Si has leído mi blog, entonces ya sabes que me fascina la marca de productos infantiles, Baby Bjorn.
La colección de otoño se inspira en los colores que representan la verde calma de los musgos, el profundo brillo rojo de los arándanos y los pinos de los bosques suecos.
Por lo tanto, el viaje al huerto de calabazas, Mr. Bones, valió la pena.
Fue uno de los pocos lugares a donde he llevado a los niños sin alguien que me ayudara, pero tal parece que me estoy adaptando a manejar la tranquilidad de Toby con el alboroto de Benny (no me pregunten cómo).
Aquí les comparto algunos recuerdos favoritos de nuestra excursión.

Toby's 1st Membership-- The Little Foodie Club!

*Product Review*

I first discovered The Little Foodie Club on Instagram.
I was captivated by the company's description:
"A baby food delivery company committed to shaping the next generation of foodies." 
Then I read about their purees and their philosophy on palate training and I became very curious, especially as Toby was reaching 6 months and it was going to be time to introduce him to solids.  

Little Foodie Club was the creation of an international food writer mommy who decided to embrace the concept of palate-training babies when she had her daughter.
And if you think about it, palate-training a young child is not something pretentious or unheard of. 
How many of us who were raised in a Mexican household have been encouraged to give our kids a taste of salsa or chili peppers? lol.
Little Foodie Club offers all-natural, organic, wholesome and unique purees.
Their menu was too tempting to ignore, especially in this day and age when mommies like myself work full-time, multi-task and tend to gravitate toward the easier option like, a jar of plum and apple Gerber, because really, who has time to boil, peel, grate, and liquefy your baby's food when you have a million other things to attend to before going to bed!?

We received a 6-9 month taster kit from Little Foodie Club, which was conveniently delivered at home, frozen. I thawed each meal for at least 12 hours, as suggested, before feeding and did so on separate occasions to see if Toby would take the purees well.  
Here's how things went: 

 

Banana, Strawberry and Mint for Breakfast

 

We're familiar with the concept of "Strawberry Banana" everything, but how refreshing to add mint to this equation for a deliciously sweet and fresh breakfast meal!?
Toby didn't want to stop eating. He loved it. My older son Benny thought it was delicious too. Again, no preservatives, no bad stuff, just pure, organic, locally-sourced fruit & mint leaves.

 

Carrot and Potato with Turmeric for Lunch 

 

Toby immediately set his eyes on the bright color of this meal. This carrot puree is not like any old carrot puree. They slow cook sweet baby carrots and potatoes in chicken bone broth and add a hint of turmeric. This one offers a unique texture. It wasn't as smudgy as the Strawberry Banana Mint puree but soft enough to be handled well by a teething baby. Toby kept trying to reach for the food with his fingers! By the way, once you open the product you can freeze it again once to use at a later time, which makes sense since each puree comes inside a generous 8 oz. container.

It feels so good to feed your baby something you know is healthy, organic and different!

 

Cauliflower and Pear with Tarragon for Dinner

Tarragon is an herb in the sunflower family and it mixes very well with pears and cauliflower, as we recently learned during this dinnertime feeding adventure. Toby was all smiles with the cauliflower and pear with tarragon puree. He kept squeaking every time the spoon didn't return to his mouth soon enough! Then he grabbed a hold of the lid and tried eating as much as he could get. I should mention that yes, I tried each one of the products too and this particular concoction tasted good enough to spread over a saltine and enjoy as an appetizer...so good!

In summary--
Little Foodie Club is a unique home delivery service that your child deserves to try.
Is it affordable? Well, that's a matter of opinion. The smallest meal plan begins at $60/month, but when you're a working parent without extra time to make amazing meals from scratch for your most beloved treasure, the convenience of counting on a top-notch menu for the baby is truly priceless.
Plus, when it comes to your children, how could you not invest in great, quality ingredients meshed together for a healthy and tasty meal?
Sure, we're going to continue feeding our baby our traditional caldito de frijol (bean broth) and sopita de pollo (chicken stew) but Little Foodie Club offers a different set of flavors and textures that may just resound well with our child and serve as a gateway to culinary openness later in life.
We just signed him up for Little Foodie Club and I absolutely recommend you check out their website and give it a try too!

Website: Little Foodie Club

It's certainly worth it.

Thanks for reading!

I received a sample pack of Little Foodie Club purees for a review on this blog. My review is honest and all opinions are my own.