Category Archives: Age 7-10

Talk To Your Kids About Bullying Please! Inspiring Jennifer Livingston Video #StopTheBullying

Age 5-7, Age 7-10, Ages 10-13

As you might know, I am not feeling well as I am recovering from two surgeries, one unexpected. Despite that I have no energy and do not feel great, I felt compelled to write this post from bed today after watching Jennifer Livingston’s video. Please take a minute to read it and comment. If you don’t have time to read it now, bookmark it and read it later. Please share this post with friends, family, your child’s teachers, and neighbors. For your children.

National Bullying Prevention month

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying doesn’t just happen to children and CBS WKBT news anchor in Wisconsin, Jennifer Livingston, shares her story with the world, on air. Jennifer Livingston is standing up for herself and victims of bullying everywhere by taking air time to discuss an email she received from a male viewer who criticizes her weight.

If you don’t have time to read this post, please watch the video.

The email reads: “Hi Jennifer, It’s unusual that I see your morning show, but I did so for a very short time today. I was surprised indeed to witness that your physical condition hasn’t improved for many years. Surely you don’t consider yourself a suitable example for this community’s young people, girls in particular. Obesity is one of the worst choices a person can make and one of the most dangerous habits to maintain. I leave you this note hoping that you’ll reconsider your responsibility as a local public personality to present and promote a healthy lifestyle.”

After reading the email on-air, Livingston responds: “Now those of us in the media, we get a healthy dose of critiques from our viewers throughout the year, and we realize that it comes with having a job in the public eye,” she adds, “But this email was more than that.”

“The truth is: I am overweight. You could call me fat and, yes, even obese on a doctor’s chart, but to the person who wrote me that letter – do you think I don’t know that? That your cruel words are pointing out something that I don’t see? You don’t know me. You are not a friend of mine. You are not a part of my family. And you have admitted that you don’t watch this show,” she says. “So you know nothing about me but what you see on the outside. And I am much more than a number on the scale.”

Jennifer Livingston is a mom of three and points out that emails like this one are teaching children it’s okay to bully.

Watch Jennifer Livingston talk about the email and respond directly to the viewer in this video.

Here’s something to think about:

Kids see their parents bully each other or their adult friends and they see that adult handle it with grace and dignity on the outside. But children don’t know how to handle bullying with grace and dignity and we should NOT expect our kids to know how to gracefully react when they are called fat, zit-face, gay, or retarded.

Here are a few starting points for a conversation about bullying:

  • 1. What is bullying?
      • Physical, verbal, and emotional/mental
  • 2. Why shouldn’t we bully?
  • 3. What should you do if you are bullied?
      • Who should you go to?
  • 4. How to be compassionate towards others

Children’s brains are not developed enough to process and spit out nasty comments like the garbage they are. Adults are better able to let words go in one ear and out the other.

We say children can’t drink until 21. Why would we think they are emotionally and mentally equipped enough to handle the harsh words of a bully at 6, 8, or even 15 years old, then? They aren’t! unless we TEACH them how to deal with it and to not be a bully themseleves.

YOUR child may be one who says "Mom, she knows I was just teasing". .

And you shrug it off.

Not true. Your child and my child don’t KNOW what the other child is thinking or feeling. It’s impossible. Harsh comments are UNACCEPTABLE. Tell your child that. Please.

Jennifer goes on to say, “If you are at home and talking about the fat news lady, guess what: Your children are probably going to go to school and call someone fat”.

Ms. Livingston ends with this statement:

“Learn from my experience that the cruel words of one are nothing compared to the shouts of many”.

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Please talk to your kids about the questions and statements above and about National Bullying Prevention Month. Whether it’s while you’re in the car, at the grocery store, or eating dinner doesn’t matter. Anytime is better than no time. Then, if you feel so compelled, let me know if you were surprised by your child’s answers or remarks.

– Alicia

Back-To-School Style With Tea Collection – Nordic Line Review

Age 3-5, Age 5-7, Age 7-10, Ages 10-13, Clothes - mom & dad, , , ,

We love travelling.. with Tea Collection.  So far we’ve experienced Bali and now we’re experiencing the fresh, clean, and modern look of Finland, Sweden, and Denmark through Tea Collection’s new Nordic Line.  You can learn more about Tea Collection’s destinations here.

My daughter started school this week and Tea Collection dominated her back-to-school wardrobe.  She loves her Tea Collection dresses of which she has several (because she loves them so much!) and now she has a couple of adorable t-shirts to pair with Tea’s whimsical Twirly Skirt and Skinny Stretch Leggings.

Tea Collection’s new Nordic line is made up of pieces with clean yet ‘fun-funky’ (a word my daughter made up) patterns.  My daughter’s favorite dress from the Noric Line is the Moderni Banded Dress while my favorite on her is the Life in the Trees Banded Dress.  I love the banded look on my daughter, although I think the Mod Colorblock a-line dress is very cute too.

Tea Collection Nordic Line
Top row: Mod Colorblock dress. Second row: Moderni Banded Dress

Her favorite play outfit is the Bluetail Robin Tee paired with the Twirly Skirt.  I could just go on and on with the pairings.  She wears the Mod Colorblock dress and the Moderni dress with the bouquet Skinny Stretch Leggings and the Bluetail Robin tee with the Twirly skirt, French Terry shorts, and Safari Paperback shorts.  There are so many possibilities with Tea Collection. The Nordic line is made up of pieces from the same color pallet so pieces are easily paired.

Fit and Comfort

Like most young kids, my daughter doesn’t like to wear anything snug around her waist.  No jeans or cordiroys yet.  I hope she’ll  get there sometime soon though.  That’s why Tea Collection’s peices are so great for kids. Most of their skirts, pants, and shorts are made of at least 70% cotton making them very soft and flexible which is exactly what kids love!

Tea Collection women's clothes
Tea Collection - Hassu Floral Exposed Zip Back blouse

Tea Collections offers clothes for boys and girls up to size 12 and they even have a women’s line!  We can’t leave out the moms!  Take a look at this beautiful blouse.  >

Follow Tea Collection on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest to get inspired and get great deals!

I received product from Tea Collection to facilitate this review.  All opinions are 100% my own. I was not told what or when to write.

SIGG Kid’s Water Bottle and Aluminum Lunch Box Giveaway! #BackToSchool with @SIGG_NA

Age 3-5, Age 5-7, Age 7-10, Ages 10-13, Contests, New posts, School, , , ,

 

SIGG water bottles
SIGG water bottles

I haven’t been very excited about shopping this back-to-school season. It was when my daughter, who’s entering first grade this year, told me that she wants a new backpack and my son mentioned that he needs a new USB stick that I finally got interested in the idea of back-to-school shopping. Is shopping for 3-ring binders, printer paper, and colored pencils really fun? Not so much.

Something that my kids use every day and need for school is a water bottle. Much more exciting to shop for than paper and pencils right?

We have dozens of water bottles between the four of us. Our SIGG water bottles are what we call our ‘special bottles’. We each have our ‘special bottles’ that we do not share. Both of my kids have a special SIGG water bottle that they’ve used for at least two years and my husband and I have several that we’ve used for that long. I use them for road trips and when I attend conferences. I even have a couple of personalized SIGG water bottles. My son uses his SIGG water bottles on camping trips, hikes and at school, my husband uses them for every day drinking (not that kind of drinking silly), and my daughter takes her SIGG to school with her in her lunch box.

SIGG’s new Rainbox collection offers kids a colorful way to enjoy water or their favorite juice while at school. The new collection features 12 vibrant hues inspired by the rainbow. Running the spectrum from neon yellow to cool coral to royal blue, you will undoubtedly find a shade that catches your child’s eye. The sleek, loop top style bottles are manufactured and quality checked in Switzerland and are BPA and phthalate free. Like all SIGG bottles, they are completely taste and odor neutral and are 100% recyclable at the end of their long lives. The nonporous interior lining in the bottles ensures that it remains taste and odor neutral so you can have juice on Monday, milk on Tuesday and water on Wednesday and there won’t be any residual taste. How great is that?

SIGG water bottles are sturdy. My son’s SIGGs have been dropped from trees and have rolled down the street plenty of times and boy will a SIGG bottle roll far and fast! My son has put SIGG water bottles to the test and they can withstand just about anything.

Who knows, maybe getting a new SIGG water bottle will become an annual back to school tradition? I can see it now..my son will have a line of SIGG water bottles on a bookshelf in his college dorm. That’s a few years from now but hey, they’ll last that long!

SIGG Aluminum Box Maxi Metallic Purple
SIGG Aluminum Box Metallic Purple

I also love SIGG’s metallic lunch/storage boxes. Available in colors fit for boys and girls, this lunch box is perfect for a snack or a sandwich. SIGG sleek boxes are available in fun bold colors and are perfect for containing your child’s lunch or snack items or for toting school or art supplies. Offered in hues of green, blue, fuchsia and silver, these boxes ward off moisture and mold with their aluminum composition and for that reason are also odor resistant. Light, durable with a slick appearance, this a multi-functional box your child will be excited to take to school. They also make for an easy canvas for children to decorate with stickers or puffy paint so they can customize their container.

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Win a SIGG ABC water bottle and aluminum lunch/storage box!

SIGG water bottle and lunch storage box giveawayOpen to U.S. residents ages 18+ only. No P.O. Boxes.

Entries accepted through 11:59pm EST August 22nd, 2012. Read our official contest rules here.

Follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

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Alicia Hagan, Editor

I am being compensated via product from SIGG, for this review. All opinions are 100% my own and were not influenced in any way. I really do have and love SIGG water bottles!

Tea Collection Review and $150 Giveaway – There’s Fun in Every Playful Piece!

Age 1-3, Age 3-5, Age 5-7, Age 7-10, Baby & Kids Clothing, Contests, Giveaways,

Tea Collection Bali Spring CollectionWe love Tea Collection.  My daughter has several pieces from Tea Collection that she has been wearing for about a year and two things that I as a mom appreciate about Tea Collection clothing is how well the pieces hold up and they are machine washable. My daughter loves the “colorfulness” (that’s her word not mine) and she chooses her Tea Collection dresses over many because they are very soft and comfortable.

She recently received a few pieces from Tea Collection’s Bali collection.

Bali is Tea Collection’s inspiration this Spring season due to its rich immersion in the arts.  From small mountain villages to surf worthy coasts, inspiration abounds in Bali.   Surrounded by natural beauty, vibrant people, and intoxicating music, the family became engrossed in Bali’s rich culture and history resulting in their beautiful Bali collection.

Tea Collection - Bali Collection
#1 Artisan Lotus Dress, #2 Jaya Peak Playdress, #3 Flutter Fun Romper, #4 Moon Orchid Trapeze Dress
Tea Collection brought all the creativity that they had amassed and poured it into their new, vibrant collection of children’s clothing, the Bali Collection.
Starting with the Moon Orchid Trapeze Dress (#4 in photo above). Its watercolor design of one of Bali’s most beautiful flowers stands out against its crisp backdrop. Made of 100% cotton, this dress playfully swings and twirls which makes my daughter very happy.  This is a great stand-alone piece, but it also looks adorable with a pair of leggings like Tea Collection’s peacock pedal pushers.
Tea Collection Moon Orchid Trapeze Dress
Tea Collection - Moon Orchid Trapeze Dress
We love the vibrant colors and dual print design of the Artisan Lotus Dress (#1 in photo above).  Covered in Bali’s ikat print with a band of lotus blossoms around the waist, this modern twist on a traditional print is sure to be a crowd pleaser. If your daughter is like my five year old, this fun dress will be one your little darling cannot wait to wear.
A dress from another collection holding true to the Bali theme is the Jaya Peak Playdress (#2 in photo above).  Mountain peaks and butterflies border this whimsical dress, named after the tallest mountain in Indonesia.
PAZITOS FLOWER BUNCH SANDALSDoes your daughter need shoes to complete all the charming looks in this collection? Check out Tea Collection’s adorable Pazitos Flower Bunch Sandals in Kiwi for an extra pop of color. These comfy leather sandals are perfect whether your little one is going dressy or casual.  As you can see in the photographs above, my daughter wears these with everything!
Tea Collection, has a distinctive outlook on fashion. By using destinations as inspiration, Tea Collection brings playfulness to their children’s clothes. They have styles and designs to fit the personality of little girls and little boys everywhere.
From Japan and Korea to West Africa and Norway, Catalonia, Mexico, Hungary, and Brazil Tea Collection has traveled the globe to share and create. Their brightly colored clothes are machine washable making them as easy to care for as they are to wear.

Who wants to win a $150 Gift Card for Tea Collection?

To enter to win, tell us what your favorite Tea Collection piece is, in the comments below then complete the Rafflecopter form.


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Alicia Hagan, Editor
Disclosure: My daughter received Tea Collection pieces for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own and were not influenced in any way.

Ralph Lauren Youth Active Wear, Not Just for Summer

Age 5-7, Age 7-10, Ages 10-13, New posts, , ,

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren Youth Active Wear lets boys traverse the transition between early childhood and adolescence with style, with the quality fabrics, cuts and fashions that are emblematic of Ralph Lauren’s lifestyle brand. For 40 years, Lauren has been successfully spreading his vision of classic American designs through fashion with an upscale look, offered at highly affordable prices.

All the shirts, jackets, hoodies, pants and shorts of Lauren’s sports wear line bear his characteristic attention to detail and style. The Oxford shirts, T-shirts, sweatshirts, rugby shirts, pullover hoodies and signature polo shirts are constructed with both style and function in mind, with durable fabrics and timeless colors.

Ralph Lauren Youth Active Wear

Ralph Lauren’s line for kids has a year-round style as well. While the line does include holiday sweaters, the bulk of the line can be worn at any time. Lauren’s classic, largely primary color palette adapts to any season. Whether it’s a jacket or hoodie pulled on during a summer storm, or a pair of shorts worn for indoor exercise during the winter, kids will be sure to enjoy the clothing all through the year.

Ralph Lauren’s Active Fleece Zip Hoodie takes a fresh look at zip hoodies, with thoughtful details like long raglan sleeves and ribbed cuffs and hem for ease of movement and a secure fit. Constructed with in machine-washable stretch fleece, the fabric is smooth on the outside and soft on the inside. Available in the classic Ralph Lauren colors Injection Red, Black mask and Sapphire Star, the hoodie features a large center stripe, side pockets and the line’s signature polo player screen-printed below the collar in back.

The line’s Active Short features a relaxed shape, an elasticized waist, drawstring, side pockets and exposed seaming. Made with machine-washable mesh microfiber, the shorts are soft and silky, yet light and breathable. Available in Injection Red or Norfolk grey, the shorts bear the brand’s polo player trademark emblem.

Ralph Lauren’s fashions capture the life style of those who see sports and physical activity as an essential component of a quality, pleasurable life, with designs that effortlessly combine style and functionality. Lauren brings the same focus and attention to his youth active wear line as he does to any of his numerous lines of clothing and household products that are enjoyed all over the world, all the year round.

Connect with Ralph Lauren:

Disclosure: I was provided with Ralph Lauren Active Wear samples for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own and were not influenced in any way.

Alicia Hagan, Editor