Category Archives: Holiday

Fourth of July Kids Safety Tips

Fourth of July Sparkler Safety Tips + Free Fourth of July Safety Printable

Holiday, Safety, ,

Out of all the injuries and burns sustained on Fourth of July, children suffer an estimated 30 percent of them.  Sparklers, likely your child’s favorite do-it-yourself firecracker, are the culprit of most of the unfortunate injuries.

Fourth of July Kids Safety Tips

Teach your kids these do-it-yourself firecracker safety tips before heading out to play this July 4th!

  1. Never light a firecracker or sparkler without an adult nearby
  2. Only hold one sparkler at a time!
  3. Hold the sparkler at arm’s length – not close to your body.
  4. Running, throwing or jabbing a friend while holding a sparkler is a no-no!
  5. Dump used sparklers in a bucket of water to cool them off – they’re still hot even after going out.
  6. Stand at least 10 feet away from friends when playing with sparklers and firecrackers
  7. Got dry grass or pine straw in your yard?   Don’t light sparklers and firecrackers near these areas!
  8. Keep your pet indoors.  Loud noises can frighten your pet!
  9. Clean up after the fun!  Sparklers and other do-it-yourself firecrackers can leave messes and hazards your parents and neighbors shouldn’t have to deal with!
  10. Enjoy your Fourth of July!

Download and print our free Fourth of July Safety Printable!
Fourth of July Kids Safety Tips Printable

Keep the fun going after Fourth of July with 2-3 crafts projects, including supplies, delivered to your mailbox every month, from Kiwi Crate!
Go to bit.ly/kiwicratejuly4 and use code FIREWORK40 to get 40% off your first box!

20 unique gifts for techie parents

20 Unique Gadget Products For Techie Parents

Gifts, Holiday,

Kids aren’t the only ones who love gadgets.  Parents enjoy a good gadget too.   I want the newest gadget as soon as it’s announced but I, unfortunately, learned that money doesn’t grow on trees and I can’t buy ALL the gadgets I want.  Bummer.  In this gift guide, I compiled a list of gadgets that every parent could use and will probably love having including one of my favorite products EVER, the iRobot Roomba 880 vacuum cleaning robot, a foot massager, wireless activity wristbands, and smartphone battery case.

I suppose these gadgets would be great gifts for teens too but I was feeling a little selfish when I put this list together and want everything for me, not my 15 year old son.  🙂

Most of these items are avialable on Amazon.com and Brookstone.com.  I highly recommend signing up for Amazon Prime NOW if you aren’t already a Prime member.  You’ll get free 2-day shipping as well as access to instant videos on Amazon Prime, something you might appreciate as you’re cooking that holiday ham and don’t want to be interrupted.

#GIVEHAPPY With OshKosh B’gosh + 25% Off Coupon

Fashion & Style, Holiday,

OshKosh B'goshThe holidays are quickly approaching.  What does that mean for me?  It means chaos.   Thankfully, that chaos culminates in fun times and happiness.  The process of getting to the joy of the holidays can be daunting but it’s worth it every year.   I don’t go through chaos just because it’s a holiday and I feel like I have to.   I do it because it’s one time of the year that I know when certain things are happening and can have some kind of plan and strategy.  Otherwise it’s life as usual which is – buy clothes as the kids need them, – go to the grocery as we need groceries, – work, – clean the house when we can, etc.   You get it.

This time of year is when I make plans. I plan what the kids, or my 8-year-old daughter at least, is going to wear to family get together’s and school parties.  I make an official grocery list with things like brown sugar, chocolate chips, and turkey, on it.   Organization is what I appreciate about the holidays, besides spending time with my family.

What Madelyn appreciates about the holidays might be a little different but OshKosh B’gosh’s #GIVEHAPPY campaign has helped us appreciate the little things more, this holiday season.  You can read more on that below.

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Madelyn has been growing faster than a weed this year.  It’s like her body is mocking me.  I bought her a new wardrobe in the Spring and she’s already outgrown most of the pieces.  OshKosh B’gosh is one of my favorite places to shop for clothes for her.  The classic styles, bright colors, and comfortable materials are the perfect combination for her.. and I!   I love that almost every piece at OshKosh B’gosh can be machine washed and dried but they are super comfortable and wonderfully fitting pieces that you’d think were only available at high-end stores where a sweater for a child runs upward of $100.  The cute little ensemble Madelyn’s wearing in the photo above cost less than $25!  She’s wearing coral Stretch Twill pants paired with their Ski Lodge sweater which reminds me of the fox from the annoyingly famous song kids love.. you know the one. 😉

OshKosh B'gosh

Her second favorite piece, after the fox sweater, is this red striped french terry pullover.  Oh my gosh.. if they made one for adults I’d have grabbed one for myself.  Too cute.. and comfy!  As you can see, Madelyn prefers casual clothes.  OshKosh B’gosh is our go-to store for casual, cute, comfy items that aren’t too expensive but have that classic look.. not so ‘grown-up girl’ as many of the department stores have these days.  OshKosh B’gosh is great at keeping up with current trends without the short-cut, odd-fabrics that parents tend to find in other kids clothing stores.  I appreciate that they offer cute, stylish clothes that keep Madelyn covered and let her personality shine!

OshKosh B'gosh Store

OshKosh B’gosh is known for their classic denim and World’s Best Overalls but they’ve also got a whole assortment of fashionable looks for holidays and year-round that your kids are sure to love!  OshKosh offers quality products for boys and girls size 0-12 at an outstanding value.

OshKosh B’gosh’s #GIVEHAPPY campaign is helping shoppers remember the importance of celebrating the holidays and delighting in the simple joys of childhood.

OshKosh B'gosh

OshKosh B’gosh wants shoppers to #GIVEHAPPY this holiday season and I’m doing that just by celebrating the little moments with my kids like encouraging Madelyn to hang from trees, skip stones in the stream near our house, read books about Thanksgiving and Christmas together and decorate the house together.  Some ways you can #GIVEHAPPY this season are by giving praise, giving hugs, giving time, and giving laughs!

Shop at OshKosh B’gosh at OshKosh.com and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter!

Print this 25% off coupon to bring with you when you shop at your local OshKosh B’gosh store or redeem it online!  Find the nearest OshKosh B’gosh store here.

OshKosh B'gosh 25% off coupon

Holiday dressing just got easier! Get into the Christmas spirit and visit OshKosh B’gosh and #GIVEHAPPY!

Best Buy Lunar New Year Gift Card

Best Buy Celebrates Lunar New Year With A Lunar New Year Inspired Gift Card

Gifts, Holiday,

Best Buy GoPro camerasIn the spirit of diversity and company values, Best Buy supports events that are important to their employees, customers, and communities.  The upcoming Lunar New Year is one of those important celebrations.

For Asians all around the world, including Asian-Americans, Lunar New Year not only celebrates the beginning of the year but also the ending of winter and the anticipated arrival of spring.  It is one of the most important holidays celebrated in Asian countries.  

Best Buy Lunar New Year Gift CardTraditions of those who celebrate Lunar New Year often participate in include writing a wish for the new year on red paper, setting off firecrackers to send out the old year and welcome in the new, children receive gifts and families clean the home together, ahead of the big celebration.  I’d like to implement that tradition please! 🙂  The 14th day is spent getting ready for the Lantern Festival which takes place on the 15th night. On the fifteenth day, the Lantern Festival is held during which children carry lanterns in a nighttime parade.  How beautiful would that be to see?

This upcoming year, Lunar New Year, which is based on the phases of the moon, falls on February 19th, 2015 of our Gregorian calendar.  Best Buy is helping celebrate the event with Asian-inspired Giftcard and eGiftcard, available for purchase or gifting from BestBuy.com through February 22nd, 2015.

To have a gift card shipped to your or a friend’s address, follow this link.  To purchase an eGiftcard, one that can be sent via email and used at Best Buy and online, scroll to the right of the following link until you see the red giftcard with the two Koi fish: http:///www.bestbuy.com/egiftcard.

The physical Lunar New Year gift card and the eGiftcard will be available online at Best Buy from November 1, 2014 to February 22, 2015.

Frasier Fir – A Fresh, Clean, Winter Scent for your Home

Holiday, ,

disclosure

Imagine walking into a home and immediately noticing the unmistakable, invigorating, uniquely Christmasy smell of Frasier fir. But then you may realize that Christmas has come and gone or there’s nothing like a beautiful and majestic Frasier fir in the house. What’s happened is you’ve just entered a home where Thymes’ Frasier Fir candles are merrily alight or the hostess could have added a spritz of Thymes’ home fragrance into the air just before you arrived.

Thymes.com Frasier Fir

There’s more than one type of Frasier Fir candle on offer from Thymes, so a homemaker can group one type together or mix them for variety. The three wick candle has a lovely, deep pine green wax and is far more than just a Yuletide holiday tradition. At 17 ounces, it fills a space with delectable notes of Siberian fir, cedarwood sandalwood and musk and costs $50.00 per candle. The one wick candle has those same fragrance notes but sells for $28.00. There’s also a set of two candles. These are 3.75 ounce, white wax candles which sell for $34.00 a set.

Along with these candles is the Frasier Fir Pine Needle Candle, which is one candle that comes in a clear glass holde rwith a pattern of evocative pine needles. It’s 6.5 ounces, sells for $28.00 and lasts up to 50 hours. Other candles are the Frasier Fir Pine Cone Candle. This candle actually comes in a holder fashioned into a ceramic pine cone. Take the top off and light the wick for that irresistible smell. This candle sells for $30.00 and can come in a gift-wrapped box topped by a grosgrain bow. The Frasier Fir Votive Candles come in a set of three for $18.00. Another 6.5 ounce candle comes in its own reusable tin for $18.50.

Along with candles, Thymes.com also offers Frasier Fir Home Fragrance mist. This three ounce bottle has the look of brushed copper and gives a room the same unforgettable fragrance as the candles. It sells for $18.00.

For Christmas or those other winter holidays, Thymes Frasier Fir candles and mist are a must have!