Keep the Kids Entertained and Learning this Summer with @NGKids Almanac 2020 Review and Giveaway #NatGeoKidsAlmanac

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Wondering what your children are going to do all summer break? Or maybe how will they stay busy on your long road trip or vacation that you have planned this summer??

Well let National Geographic Kids help you because they just released a very special 10th anniversary edition of its New York Times best-selling almanac for kids: National Geographic Kids Almanac 2020 (Ages 8-12; 352 pages).

Hailed by School Library Journal as “one of the leaders in the world of almanacs” this year’s edition features all-new content, interviews with renowned National Geographic explorers in each chapter, a special look at what was going on in the world when the first National Geographic Kids Almanac came out 10 years ago, plus the results of the 2019 Almanac Challenge — Lions Forever Poster Contest — and a new challenge for kids who want to get involved with helping our planet.

The best-selling kids’ almanac ON THE PLANET is packed with hundreds of photos and facts, crafts and fascinating features about animals, science, nature, technology, conservation and more. For book lovers and reluctant readers alike, the National Geographic Kids Almanac 2020 is a compelling and balanced combination of:

* Fun and games, including activities, jokes, quizzes and comics

* Practical resources, including homework help and fast facts and maps of every country

* Exciting sections on pop culture, cool technology, extreme exploration and more

* Lighthearted favorites like the “Cutest Animals of 2020!”

However, in addition to not only being fun and educational, the National Geographic Kids Almanac is also designed to inspire young readers to be the change they want to see in the world around them, encouraging them to become more involved environmentally, socially and in other ways. In this year’s edition, National Geographic Kids launches the 20/20 Visionary Challenge, asking readers to imagine the world 10 years from now and to picture a positive change, invention or discovery they’d like to see become reality, in whatever area interests them: animals, people, places, science, technology or beyond — the sky’s the limit! Kids will be able to read some of their great ideas in next year’s Almanac 2021.

My children are going to have a blast reading all the facts and looking at all the photos! It will definitely help pass time this summer AND help them learn about the world around them!

Enter TWO Giveaways below for a chance to win!

1) Summer on the Go Prize Pack (ARV $65) which includes all the essentials to keep kids (and you!) organized, entertained and going strong this summer, including:
* A copy of the National Geographic Kids Almanac 2020
* An insulated stainless steel 17 oz water bottle
* A set of gel pens for the Puzzles and Games section in the Almanac
* A drawstring backpack for easy “grab and go” and to hold the almanac pens and water bottle
* A handy, durable and smartly designed backseat car organizer that holds books, snacks and toys, a water bottle, a tablet and even has a hanging tissue box (it’s got it all!).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2) Nat Geo is hosting a Summer on the Go Almanac 2020 Grand Prize Giveaway — a GO-PRO!

Enter for a chance to win below:

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Disclosure: A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Must-Have for All Summer Road Trips: @finditgames #Giveaway

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Can you spot the red cape, red fur or red & white shirt? That’s the challenge for kids this season as they venture on a treasure hunt to search for loveable characters from Captain Underpants, Sesame Street Jr. and Where’s Waldo? They needn’t go very far as everything is contained in the hand-held adventure game.

Parent company Identity Games is pleased to announce its 2017 collection of Find It® Games (starting at $19.99) have just arrived on store shelves. These puzzling adventures in a tall clear tube follow the hottest licenses including Captain Underpants, now an animated summer blockbuster from DreamWorks. Based on the children’s books series, this Find It game is filled with items from the whimsical storyline about two fourth graders, Harold and George.

I love that they offer these Find It Games for all ages! I got the Where's Waldo for my older children and my preschooler LOVES the Sesame Street Jr. Find It game!

Big Bird, Elmo and Ernie star in this Sesame Street Jr. Find It game that boasts larger-than-usual pieces. It makes spotting a yellow rubber duckie just a little easier! Cookie Monster, Bert and the rest of the gang are hiding in plain sight. Go find them!

My LOVES Elmo and he likes to find things so I knew this Find It game would be perfect for him. He instantly started finding everything in the game and I like that they list everything in the game right on the top so my son can know what he is looking for!

This was great for keeping him occupied in the car on our many trips to the cabin!

And for my older school-aged children, I got the Where's Waldo game. They love the different games they can play with this and it also keeps them busy in the car and at home!

Where’s Waldo? already had a reputation for blending into the scenery. Spotting him takes a keen eye. Waldo sports a distinctive red-and-white-striped shirt, knit cap and black glasses. In the newest edition of Find It, search for 40 Waldo items in a sea of colored pellets.

If you’re looking for summer toys, travel toys, or educational products, Find  It is for you! They really promote concentration and focus and can keep children content and occupied in the car on all your summer road trips!

Buy It:

You can purchase all Find It games from their website.

Win It:

Find It Games is generously offering (1) of the three Find Its to a lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win:

(1) Find It Game
(choose from Where's Waldo, Sesame Street Jr or Captain Underpants)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Thank you to Find It Games for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Healthy Summer Snacking & Celebrate Finding Dory in Theaters with @piratesbooty

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

I have raved many times before about how much my family (and I!) LOVE Pirate's Booty! It really is the perfect snack for healthy summer snacking this summer, especially with their individual 1/2 oz packages! It is great to throw in the beach bag, travel bag or eat on-the-go wherever and whatever you are doing this summer!

But your children will love Pirate's Booty even more this summer because each package features limited-edition Finding Dory packaging. From April to June, Dory, Nemo and their new friend—Hank the Octopus—will join Pirate and his first mate, Crunchy the Parrot, to bring adventurous snacking to kids of all ages. The limited-edition packaging comes in a variety of sizes, including seven ounces, 10 ounces and a 12-pack of half-ounce bags of Pirate’s Booty Aged White Cheddar.

I personally CAN'T WAIT to see Finding Dory! I loved Finding Nemo and this sequel looks just as good! Every time I grab a bag of Pirate's Booty with the cute Finding Dory characters, I get excited all over again for a family movie night watching Finding Dory!

So this summer snack healthy and join Pirate’s Booty as they celebrate Disney·Pixar's Finding Dory. Set sail for a new adventure in the deep blue sea with baked to perfection puffs made with real, simple ingredients.

Buy It:

You can purchase Pirate's Booty with limited-edition Finding Dory packaging at your local retailer. 

* Thank you to Pirate's Booty for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Stay Cool & Refreshed This Summer with @BarefootWine Refresh Spritzers!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Drinking wine is a ritual that many people enjoy – involving the bottle, corkscrew, glass, food pairings and more. But what about those rooftop parties, cookouts, and lazy days by the pool where everyone is in search of drinks that are quick, easy and refreshing?

I think, especially during the summer, adults are looking for easy to drink, easy to throw in the beach bag, cooler, or cup holder, drinks that you don't need a bunch of accessories for! Wine is usually not that beverage...until NOW!

Great news! Barefoot Wine & Bubbly has you covered with the national release of Barefoot Refresh Spritzers…in a can! These flavorful, light and lively spritzers are now in single-serving cans that can go where glass and bottles aren’t always welcome.

With two refreshing flavors, Crisp White and Summer Red, Barefoot Refresh Spritzers are best enjoyed when chilled – straight from the can, poured over ice or mixed in a delicious summer cocktail.

Crisp White Spritzer

Featuring aromas of peach, lemon-lime, and crisp apple. Chenin Blanc and Riesling make a perfect pair in this standout sipper.

Summer Red Spritzer

Featuring aromas of raspberries, oranges and ripe berries. Moscato, Zinfandel and Pinot Noir join forces to make one deliciously fruity spritzer.

I really enjoyed both flavors and they are both so good, I don't think I can choose a favorite! I absolutely LOVED the fact that I could throw these in the cooler, back of the car, in the bags for the cabin or in the boat for a refreshing, light, cool drink on a hot summer day! No worry about breaking bottles, carrying a corkscrew or glasses, or having to store a big bottle of wine!! This may be one of the greatest developments in wine drinking yet!!! :)

Buy It:

You can purchase these Barefoot Refresh Spritzers in stores nationwide as 4-packs for $8.99 or individually for $2.49.

* Thank you to Barefoot for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Must-Haves Products for Summer Travels with Kids

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Summer break is quickly approaching and that means that family vacations are on the horizon!! But whether you’re traveling by plane, train, or automobile, kids can turn travel into a trial of your sanity. I am the first to admit I absolutely HATE car rides and having three children under 6 in the car for long hours is one of the most trying experiences out there! However, I am also a firm believer in family vacations and making memories so away we go in the car each summer as a family!

But luckily, over the years, I have learned a few tricks to making vacations easier for the whole family and I have learned about some great products that help out too!

Check out some of my top products to make summer vacations more fun and less stressful:

4Kids Trolley Suitcase

It all starts with a fun suitcase that gets children excited for the trip and helpful in packing! I love to travel in style with the 4Kids Trolley Suitcases by Lassig. Not only does it feature cute designs and fun colors - it is really fun and easy for our children to pull around and makes my load lighter.

The trolley features a large main section, inside elastic straps to secure items, additional bag for dirty clothes or shoes, height adjustable handle and outer pocket. This is a must have for the little traveler. I love the extra bag for shoes or dirty clothes - we ALWAYS need that when traveling! My children love this new suitcase and can't wait to travel with it this summer!

MSRP: $95.49. Available online at www.Amazon.com

Claessens' Kid’Sleep Globetrotter

Nothing makes traveling harder than lack of sleep! We LOVE our sleep clocks at home for helping the children know when to wake up but we have never had one to travel with....until NOW!

We have been a fan and user of the Claessens' Kid'Sleep clock for years and now everyone is so excited to use the Claessens’ Kid’Sleep Globetrotter when traveling! It is the perfect travel companion that can be used as a night light and sleep trainer for young children and an alarm clock for older children.

If the sleeping sheep is lit, kids know to stay in bed. When the awake sheep is illuminated, it is okay to get out of bed and start the day. It is super compact and fits nicely in a suitcase and my children have the original Kid'Sleep so they love that they have one they can travel with now! AND, we, as parents, are so happy to not be woken up early in the morning when traveling anymore!!

For ages 2-7 years. 
$24.99 online at www.Amazon.com 

Play Wrap Happy Trails

And for entertaining the traveling baby, HABA’s Play Wrap Happy Trails offers plenty of stimulating sounds and textures!

It easily attaches to car seats and cribs to offer endless entertainment and the little car shape includes squeaker. I love that it can move from bed to carseat to wherever your child likes to play! It makes lots of fun noises and will become your baby's new favorite traveling buddy! For ages Birth-1 year.

MSRP: $19.99. Available online at www.HABAusa.com

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Coming Soon To Theaters: ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE ROAD CHIP #AlvinMovie

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Some of my favorite memories growing up were our yearly summer vacations and road trips. It was always a little stressful, but the bonding, laughter and memories has stuck with me over many, many years! Now, I am making my own family memories with my family of five on our yearly summer road trips!

That is why I am so excited for the newest Alvin and The Chipmunks movie: The Road Trip! Sounds like a lot of fun and laughter!

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: THE ROAD CHIP

20th Century Fox

In theaters December 18

Through a series of misunderstandings, Alvin, Simon and Theodore come to believe that Dave is going to propose to his new girlfriend in Miami…and dump them. They have three days to get to him and stop the proposal, saving themselves not only from losing Dave but possibly from gaining a terrible stepbrother.

Starring: Jason Lee, Tony Hale, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Josh Green, Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler, Jesse McCartney, Kaley Cuoco, Anna Faris, Christina Applegate

Official Websites

Visit the Official Website

Like ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip’ on Facebook

Follow on Twitter

#AlvinMovie

*Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Travel This Summer with Hedgren Bags

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Where are you headed on vacation this summer???

Wherever you are going it is always important to have a great and durable suitcase or bag to carry your clothing and accessories. I don't know how many times in the past things in my suitcase have gotten ruined because I used cheap, badly made and broken suitcases!

Never again because I now have an awesome overnight bag from Hedgren. Hedgren is a popular European bag company that is now available in the U.S. They have a variety of fabulous totes,
colorful handbags, backpacks, laptop/tech bags and travel gear.

Hedgren bags come in a variety of stylish designs and are incredibly functional. They are made of a signature nylon material that comes in different colors and styles so they are easy to wipe down and keep clean.

I received the Capital Trolley bag and it especially perfect for my husband's frequent overnight business trips and perfect as a carry on!

The Capital is a handy overnight trolley with durable structure & organizational features. It has 2 separate compartments, fits a 15" laptop, A4 sized documents, had plenty of pockets to store pens, cards and your phone and it has a removable toilet bag.

It also features:

• Top zip closure
• Double handles and adjustable luggage handle with a 23.5" max drop
• Front features two exterior zippered pockets, including an organizer panel
• Two main compartments; one serves as a clothing compartment and the other features a padded laptop compartment (15" laptop)
• Includes two packing cubes and a lock to keep your laptop safe

I love the super soft laptop section. It is the softest material but thick to protect any laptop. I also love the luggage handle for easy pulling and my favorite part are the included packing cubes perfect for toiletries, dirty clothes or shoes while traveling!

If you are looking for a durable carry on or traveling bag for short trips, this this Capital Trolley bag is perfect for you! Whether you are looking to keep a laptop safe on the trip or just your clothes, the Capital Trolley will do that for you!

Buy It: 

You can purchase the Capital Trolley Bag for $229 from eBags.com

* Thank you to Hedgren for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Head Out On Summer Vacation with FlipStir Puzzle!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

With summer just around the corner, parents are searching for those great items that provide fun and education for hours of entertainment, especially for those summer road trips!

We are taking our first family vacation this summer and heading to Chicago. So I am constantly searching for fun things for my kids to do in the car on the long trip especially alternatives to the never ending tech craze and something that limits screen time.

FlipStir is a great option and provides fun and education…it’s Puzzle Fun…All-in-One! It is a perfect game for my son to do in the car this summer because HE LOVES PUZZLES! And this one won't make a mess in the car, you can't lose the pieces and it will keep him entertained for hours!!

The award winning FlipStir is a new twist in 3D puzzle gaming; this patented design captivates young and young-at-heart! Simply pull the wand back, shake the puzzle to scramble the pieces; then just use the wand, gravity and your own ingenuity to solve the puzzle and reveal the artwork. And since FlipStir is self-contained, it makes it easy for parents to clean up without searching for any lost pieces.

FlipStir also aids in the development of hand-eye coordination and motor skill development, which makes it a great gift for children with special needs, as well.

FlipStir comes in two levels of difficulty. Level 1 has simple puzzle images and rectangular pieces. Level 2 is slightly more difficult with more complex images and curvy pieces.

Check out this short video on FlipStir:

Adding to its many previous awards and recognition, FlipStir just received the 2015 Family Choice Award from Family Magazines Group and the National Parenting Center Seal of Approval!

FlipStir is currently available in four unique designs: Rainbow Pencils (Level 1), Tyrannosaurus Rex(Level 1), Solar System(Level 2), and Statue of Liberty(Level 2).

We received the Tyrannosaurus Rex FlipStir Puzzle and my son has enjoyed doing it over and over! My husband has even done it several times! :)

Every time we head out in the car, he asks to bring his FlipStir puzzle and I happily say YES!

He did it!!!

Buy It: 

You can purchase FlipStir Puzzles at select specialty retail locations and online for $24.95 at: http://enlivenze.com/3-flipstir-puzzles

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

I LOVE Summer & Family Vacations! #LittleMercies

This post is sponsored by Harlequin. All opinions are mine. 

Summer is one of my favorite seasons because it is one of the best times of the year to spend time with family, enjoy time outside and read books on the deck in the shade or on the beach! The book I am currently reading is perfect for summer and all the family time we have been enjoying: LITTLE MERCIES by Heather Gudenkauf, which became available in stores June 24, 2014.

I grew up looking forward to summer because of our annual summer vacations and road trips we would take in our big conversion van with all my siblings (some times more than TEN PEOPLE TOTAL!). We would travel all around the country, visiting different historical sites and beautiful locations like the Grand Canyon, Washington D.C., and many, many state parks. On our long road trips, a good book (or many!) were essentials to be packed. It got me through the long car rides and helped me fall asleep at night.

One of our many BIG family vacations!!!

We would camp in tents and eventually a pop up camper. The memories we made and the sights we saw will forever be remembered as some of my most cherished times!

Now that I have my own family, I can't wait to start making summer family vacation memories with my kids and husband like I did growing up.

Reading Little Mercies this summer really made me remember all those great family memories and cherish the great family I have. It is an unbelievably touching story that made me cherish my family and remember how blessed I am to be a mother and wife that is loved and that I can love back!

Find Out More About the Book:

• Visit Heather Gudenkauf’s Official Site
• Follow Heather Gudenkauf on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest
• Visit Little Mercies page on Goodreads
• Read an Excerpt from the Book

Check Out The Trailer:

* This post is sponsored by Harlequin. All opinions are mine.*