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Teen Gift Ideas

*This post contains sponsored content and affiliate links*

For me, August is the month of Birthdays. Throw in some Back to School and end of Summer stuff and it’s just pure insanity! So, in honor of having my first official teenager this year, I put together a fun gift guide for my Girl.

Soo’AE

Skincare is super important for every teen girl. And what better way to kick off her teen beauty routine than with these awesome natural, vegan, cruelty-free, eco-friendly products from Soo’AE!

The face wash, face cream, and face masks are gentle and made with clean & green ingredients. So, they’re good for my daughter’s skin and good for the environment as well. I especially love that the masks are 95% natural!

We had a fun at home spa night with the masks and enjoyed hanging out with each other for a little while.

Spooky America

My kids LOVE ghost stories! Just as much as they love s’mores around a campfire.  And while I have no issues with them hearing / reading ghost stories, I do my best to make sure that these stories are age appropriate for them.

My daughter doesn’t know yet that there are 32 of these books and not just 2 – as soon as she figures that out, her Christmas list will be 30 books long…

My girls actually swiped these the minute they arrived and I had to go hunt them down just to photograph them (while the girls supervised so I didn’t “loose” any in my bedroom).

They told me that the stories aren’t really scary, but they’re very fun. And they want more of them. They’re also unwilling to let me borrow their books because they’re afraid I’ll keep them for myself!

These are definitely on my “need to buy the whole series” list!

Hogwarts Cookbook for Kids

I may or may not have been more excited about this cookbook than my daughter was. Though, my kids have been all about Harry Potter this summer! They had a friend at summer camp ask them about it and they all realized that they’ve never seen it.

So, our Summer family movie nights were all about Harry Potter. She was super excited about her new cookbook and has handed me a grocery shopping list a mile long!

So far, we’ve tried one of the sandwich recipes and everyone was thrilled with it.

 

Fidgets

My daughter was given an Amazon gift card for her birthday and guess what she rushed to buy? Fidgets! I had not idea that these things could come in this many different shapes, but there really is a lot of variety here.

And these days, when in doubt, a fidget for someone’s Birthday is the way to go!

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Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

I received these products free to review.

Mixtiles

Looking for a fun Mother’s Day gift? Or, maybe you forgot a gift and want to give something after the day? Snap some pictures and give your mom some Mixtiles!

You simply upload your pictures, select your frame preference, and they show up all ready to hang a couple days later.

What I really love about these, is they have a sticky back, so you can just stick them to the wall – no nails needed! Which I will say my entire household appreciates because I can never get it right with the first nail! If you don’t like the way they look, want to rearrange, or want to swap in some new ones, they just pull right off the wall without damaging your wall and can be restuck in a different place.

So, pull out some favorite pics or snap a couple new pics with your mom and get her something fun and memorable!

Color my Cookie

I’d seen ads for Color my Cookie so I was super excited when offered the opportunity to try them out. And, they’re way better than I expected! I thought they were cool, but really, these are super cool and so fun!

Your cookies arrive in this little box. The box has your cookies, your paint pallet cookie, your paintbrush, sprinkles, and any extras. My box had this extra gold glitter that is super cool!

I highly recommend scanning the QR code and watching their super short how-to video before you start decorating. It answered all my questions about how to “paint” my cookies, how to get the sprinkles to stay on, etc.

I was having so much fun I even painted my paint pallet! Maybe get a couple kits so you can decorate with your mom, and so she doesn’t have to share her cookies with you, because not only do they look terrific, they also taste good and everyone is going to want one!

The Idle Free Box

This box is packed full of fun activities! They have a monthly subscription or just get one for your Mom. There are enough activities in a single box that I was able to share activities with my kids and keep a couple of my favorites (like the puzzle) for myself!

There’s more than just crafts. There’s also a home workout sheet with daily exercises – scan the QR code to access how to videos for these! There’s a free 15 minute session with a life coach. And they even included a brochure with a hotline for mental health assistance if you just need someone to talk to.

So far, the coloring sheets and pencils have been a favorite in my house. We’re still coloring. There were several fun pictures to color! I’ve been waiting for a non-rainy day to do the resin kit outside – and in the spring dry days are few and far between around here but I can’t wait to make my coasters! Scan the QR code for project instructions, they’re super easy to follow!

And I’m saving the puzzle for a post end of school year treat for myself. We’re in the middle of recitals and presentations and tests so there’s no puzzling time this week, but I’m looking forward to working it when summer gets here.

There’s so much fun stuff in this box and plenty to share so Mom can choose to do a fun activity with you or choose to do it on her own.

Happy Mother’s Day!

 

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Vooks Giveaway

Many thanks to Vooksfor providing this product/product information for review.  Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Try free for 30 days! Go to www.vooks.com to sign up!

What is Vooks?

  • Vooks is a streaming library of ad-free, kid-safe animated storybooks, trusted by teachers and enjoyed by millions of children around the world each week.
  • Vooks is an entire library of storybooks, brought to life, to help encourage the love of reading.
  • 100% kid-friendly and parent-approved!
  • Vooks strengthens literacy and vocabulary & promotes independent learning!
  • Vooks has free, fun and printable lesson plans!
  • Vooks lesson plans offer discussion topics, engaging activities, and more!

What do I like about Vooks?

  • The books are fun! Seriously, my kids have watched Ruckus on the Ranch a dozen times already.
  • So many books. We’ve been exploring Vooks for over a week now and haven’t seen them all yet.
  • Once you watch one you have to watch more. I love that it’s hard for my kids to stop at just one book.
  • It inspires play. My kids discovered that they can get our home speaker to play Ruckus on the Ranch and now we have a whole ranch / cowboy play that they’re planning for the backyard this summer!
  • It makes books fun. And now they want to read more books on Vooks and not on Vooks.
  • So many lesson plans! There might be a plan for every book, there’s a lot of them!

There are a lot of books on Vooks. And with 4 kids, it’s nice to have someone else read to my kids! The books on here are so cute and fun. There’s music, animation, and of course, all the words for the kids to follow along. There are 4 languages to choose from and from what I can see, it looks like all the books are available in all 4 languages. Which is pretty cool! There’s a Vooks app for devices and it works on an internet browser, so you have a variety of ways to view.

But, best of all, my kids love Vooks!

Want to check it out for yourself? Try free for 30 days! Go to www.vooks.com to sign up!

AND I get to give away a one year subscription to Vooks! Enter below and head over to my Instagram for a couple extra entries!

 

#VooksMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork #vooks #betterscreentime #vookspartner

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Easter Baskets for Kids

I’m always on the lookout for fun and unique Easter Basket gifts. So, I went to one of my favorite artisan stores, Women at Risk International. And they did not disappoint.

The favorite item, is the little blue bunny I gave to the 3yr old. I’ve actually had parents ask me where I got it. It’s the perfect size for little hands and it’s so cute!

My 7yr old son loves his “ribbeting” frog. Just rub the stick up its back and it ribbets. So much fun! Every 7yr old boy needs one of these.

And my girls love their new scrunchies! Actually, I loved scrunchies when I was a kid and I’m thrilled that they’re back in fashion. We cannot get enough of these in my house!

And I love that I’m supporting a ministry that helps Women and girls who are in need!

Misfits Market is one of my favorite subscription boxes! It’s a weekly box of organic produce.

One of my favorite features, I go in once a week and pick my produce, and they have an add ons shop with all these great organic brands at a discount. Just in time for Easter they had these Yum Earth candies. I’d not tried this brand yet, but I’m super happy with them!

My kids love them and they’re super flavorful – I wish I had gotten a bag for just myself.

If you want to check them out, use my code COOKWME-PJ0UPY for $10 off your first box (I get $10 off my next box too!!!).

*I received this item free to review*

My girls are obsessed with squishys. They love playing with them, and have even repainted some of their old ones. They were incredibly excited to test these out for Easter!

Paint your own Squishy is available on Amazon. And my girls loved these! So much so, that they made a fun youtube video of them making them.

The squishies were super easy to make, and so creative and fun! They’re already exploring amazon to see what other paint your own squishys might be available.

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Travel Products Review

*I received these items free for purposes of my review. All opinions are my own*

I love a good road trip, and last year I was planning this whole series on our traveling adventures. That definitely got put on hold, but, even if we’re still staying closer to home, I plan to get in a few road trips this year!

There’s so many things I miss about them. One of my favorite activities when I’m driving is trying to figure out what happened or is happening with the vehicles (and often people) that have pulled off on the side of a highway.

Without even leaving my city, I came across a fun one the other day. I passed a hearse parked on the side of the road. And now I have so many questions. There was no driver in it when I passed it, which means someone probably came by and picked him up (or he was napping in the back while waiting for the tow truck).

But, what I really want to know, is, were they carrying anything? Funeral processions generally tend to stay off the highway, but there are a lot of exits in this area, so, was he alone or was this a massive funeral mishap.

If he was alone, was there anything in the back? Like, did they have to send another hearse to pick up everyone in the hearse? Or did a buddy in a Honda Civic just drop by and give him a lift? I’d love to hear your theories in the comments!

Of course, with traveling, keeping things clean is always a challenge, so, the first item I’m adding to my car is this super handy automatic sanitizer dispenser from Eco Freaks.

First off, this jug is huge! So, I have plenty to go around. And with 80% alcohol and a great citrus smell, this stuff sanitizes and smells good!

Here’s the fun part, the coozie shaped item is actually a case that I put the automatic sanitizer dispenser in and then it sits in the cup holder in my car without rattling around. Super awesome! And the green funnel makes it easy to refill my dispenser without spilling sanitizer everywhere. Plus it collapses down flat for easy storage.

The only down side is that my kids think this dispenser is so awesome they want to use it constantly – lol.

Pure Sky Four Piece Car Cleaner

This is awesome! You can just use water to clean. You have your purple window cloth, inside dusting cloth, and then your towels for cleaning the outside of your car. One wet and one dry. After all this salt on our roads, I was so happy for warmer weather and a chance to wash my car!

And after our latest trip, the inside of my car definitely appreciated a quick cleaning! I mean, I am constantly amazed at how sticky kids can be.

I just keep these in the back of my car with my emergency blankets (or emergency towels in the summer) and they’re available for any planned or unplanned car cleaning events.

And, last but not least. Where would we be without our masks? Wherever you travel, as mask is needed, so I keep a supply in the car for all our adventures.

I love these antibacterial performance masks from hmnKIND. They have these in a variety of sizes. XS works for my 7 and 10 yr olds and S works well for my 12 year old. The S fits me as well but a M would be more comfortable – just to give you some size references if you’re looking to buy these.

They’re more breathable than cotton masks (but actually work just as well or better than a 3-layer cotton mask), very lightweight, and 99.9% antibacterial which should help if you’re experiencing breakouts from mask wearing.

And, yes, I have actually tried my cotton mask and then this one and this one is way easier to breathe in.

They have lots of fun colors to choose from, so it’s easy to get everyone their own color so you don’t mix up masks.

I’m looking forward to some fun family road trips this summer. What are your vacation plans? Or where is one place you really want to go?

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Dolphin Island

Many thanks to Entertainment Squad for providing this product/product information for review.  Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Dolphin Island is available for Digital Purchase March 2nd! I got to see a preview copy of this move and you don’t want to miss it! This is such a sweet tail of a girl, friendship (both human and animal friends), love, accountability, and facing a big life challenge.

This is a fun, colorful adventure for the whole family to enjoy! My kids watched the preview with me and we all LOVE the dolphin!

Dolphin Island is Dove-approved for all ages! and Winner of Best Feature Film – Christian Film Festival 2021.

Check out their website for a FREE downloadable Family Discussion Guide to spark meaningful conversations about Courage, Forgiveness, and Faith (coming soon!)

5 OUT OF 5 STARS. RECOMMENDED FOR AGES 7 TO 18, PLUS ADULTS. IT IS FAMILY FRIENDLY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF FAMILY -Kids First!

A HEARTWARMING TALE OF LOVE AND ACCOUNTABILITY, WILL BE ENTERTAINING FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY – Dove Foundation

Purchase Dolphin Island after its on-demand release on Tuesday, March 2nd, and watch from the comfort of your own home!

I have 2 giveaways to share! Click Here to enter the first one.

Enter below for a chance to win a digital copy of Dolphin Island!

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Valentine Gift Guide

I received products free for purposes of my review. All opinions are my own.

Pink Panda

With 2 grams of sugar and 90 calories I was worried that they wouldn’t taste very candy like. I was pleasantly surprised. I actually love the Astro Blasters (yellow bag), they’re sour, sweet, and chewy. And with less sugar than in my usual gummy snacks I feel a little better about eating them.

Pink Panda is cute, fun, and tasty. A terrific Valentine gift for anyone.

Well Told Design

These street map etched glasses are amazing! They sent me a mug and a pint glass to review with a map of one of my favorite cities. It’s so much fun to be able to look at the map and remember the fun things my Hubby and I experienced in this City all while drinking my morning coffee or enjoying an evening beverage.

I have a sister who collects coffee cups and this mug is the perfect Valentine gift for her! Honestly, these maps are so cool! You can give these to any Valentine.

Even my little guy had to try to steal the show!

Escape Mail

I enjoy a good mystery, and Escape Mail is super fun! The map and clues are so cool! And it took me a good amount of time to solve my envelope. It makes for a fun and unique Valentine gift for that person who is just so hard to find something unique for. And for anyone who loves a little mystery!

This is a great gift to just randomly mail directly to a friend and just let them have fun figuring it out!

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Family Friendly Holiday Activities

I received these items free for purposes of my review. All opinions are my own.

Elyptol

I know we’re all staying home for the holidays, but I still want my surfaces clean for all the fun family activities we’re doing. So, before we get started, these hard surface wipes from Elyptol are perfect for wiping down the table or counter.

With natural ingredients and a Eucalyptus clean scent, these wipes are perfect for any solid household surfaces.

Elyptol has hand sanitizer, sprays, wipes, and liquid soap. Even if I wasn’t being extra cautious about germs this year, my 3yr old son is still struggling to accurately hit the inside of the toilet, so, I’m doing a LOT of bathroom cleaning. It’s nice to do it with a product that doesn’t dry out my skin and that leaves my bathroom smelling amazing!

Use code: germ free for a 20% discount when you order.

Adventure Challenge

Now that we have a clean work surface, the first thing my kids wanted to try out was this Adventure Challenge book.

There’s a plethora of fun family activities, you scratch off one, and have to accomplish it before you can pick another one. We just finished the one where you create a sculpture out of something from your fridge. It was so much fun!

There’s tape strips by each challenge for sticking on a photo of your adventures. When we’re all done it’s going to be an awesome book full of fun memories!

It’s hard to beat having fun AND being able to look back easily and remember it.

I’m loving the randomness of the activities, this makes them so fun and unique. And I love that I have a fun activity literally at my fingertips for those days when we just can’t think of anything to do.

So much fun!!!

You’re Pulling My Leg Jr

This game is simple, you ask a question – like tell me about a time an animal tried to bite you – the answerer flips a coin and doesn’t let anyone else see it, heads is the truth and tails is a lie.

The Answerer then answers the question by telling a story with the designated truth or lie and the listeners have to guess if the story is true or not.

We started this the other night and the kids did not want to stop! It’s so much fun coming up with random stories (or true stories) and trying to trick your siblings (and parents).

We got many laughs out of this game and have plans to play it again tonight.

The best thing is, you can easily play this game with a large variety of ages and everyone can have fun tricking everyone else. I plan to pull it out for our next extended family zoom call.

Pando

So this game arrived all wrapped up, with this cool note. I liked the game before I even played it! Obviously, the creators of this game are super creative, which is everything I could hope for in a get to know you trivia game!

This game works as a couples game, a group party game, and even as a family game. It’s funny how my questions my husband and I did’t know the answers to for each other!

The kids thought it was so fun to learn random information about everyone, and there really are so hilarious questions/answers that happened while we were playing.

This is another game that is perfect for family or friend zoom calls as well as family game night.

With all these awesome activities, my kids are well entertained this holiday season, while still learning about each other, and staying safe!

 

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Santa in a Snow Globe

Santa in a Snow Globe by A.H. Edelman

NEW ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN’S BOOK HONESTLY EXPLAINS WHY THE HOLIDAYS WILL BE DIFFERENT THIS YEAR — AND HOW TO HOLD ONTO THE CHRISTMAS MAGIC

The holidays are typically a season of unbridled merriment and joy. However, this year’s celebrations are going to look a bit different. Recognizing the challenges this year’s holiday season will bring, New Jersey mom A.H. Edelman was inspired to write Santa in a Snow Globe, the first illustrated children’s book to offer parents, caregivers, and children a starting point to talk about life’s new realities—explained straightforwardly by Santa—complete with timeless advice, beautiful inclusive illustrations, and a big dose of Christmas cheer.

The mom of two was reading the business section of the Sunday New York Times when she saw a story about protecting Santas from COVID-19 this year. “The president of the International Brotherhood of the Real Bearded Santas—yes, it’s a real trade group—mentioned how they would explain to kids this year that Santa would need to sit behind some type of barrier,” Edelman says.

“Evidently Santa is in a high-risk group: many have diabetes, are overweight, and elderly.” Edelman thought about how, in 2020, children have had to adapt to new holiday traditions and celebrations nearly all year long. “Kids already couldn’t celebrate Easter, they sat out most of the summer and Halloween. They’re really going to want to see Santa for Christmas, or at least be assured he’s still coming,” she adds.

Going beyond mask-wearing and social distancing, Santa in a Snow Globe also touches on issues the world is facing today, including climate change and protests. However, Edelman’s Santa still shares a positive message of hope and the importance of appreciating the simpler things in life.

About the Author A.H. Edelman is the author of The Little Black Dress and Manless in Montclair. And, yes, she still believes in Santa. She lives in Montclair, NJ.

About the Illustrator Serge Srećko Gall, originally from Zagreb, Croatia, is a painter and illustrator whose work has appeared in publications including The New York Times, Esquire, and The New Yorker. He lives in Hillsdale, NY and is currently working on his autobiographical graphic novel.

My Review

This book is super cute, and I love the simple rhyme and how it explains to children in a lighthearted and easy to understand way why Christmas is going to be a bit different this year, and how that’s OK.

The pictures are so fun and the rhyme is easy to read, it’s a book that my children will enjoy over and over this season, and is a great segway into answering their questions about what’s happening this season.

“Because of Covid” is already a common phrase is my house, and while that makes me super sad as a parent to see my kids missing things that I had hoped for, it’s also helpful for us to talk about why things are different and how we can still have a great holiday.

I love how this book inspires parents and kids alike to talk about not just having fun for ourselves, but looking outside of ourselves and considering how we can encourage others this holiday season.

Plus, we love snow globes in my house, so seeing Santa in a Snow Globe in real life would actually be kind of awesome!!!

Question and Answer with the Author

QUESTION: Congratulations on Santa in a Snow Globe! Tell us about the book.

A.H. Edelman: Santa in a Snow Globe is the origin story of how and why St. Nick will be found sitting ‘in a place that is clear and quite round’ when families come to share their wish lists with him this holiday season. The book offers parents, caregivers, and children a starting point to talk about life’s new realities explained straightforwardly by Santa, complete with some timeless advice, beautiful and inclusive illustrations, and a big dose of Christmas cheer.

Q: What inspired you to write this book?

Edelman: I got the idea for the story after reading an article in the business section of The New York Times Sunday edition when the president of the International Brotherhood of the Real Bearded Santas mentioned how they would explain to kids this year that Santa would need to sit behind some type of barrier. Evidently Santa is in a high-risk group: many have diabetes, are overweight, and elderly. I thought about how, in 2020, kids already couldn’t celebrate Easter, they sat out most of the summer and Halloween. They’re really going to want to see Santa for Christmas—or at least be assured he’s still coming.

Q: You are a parent to two girls. Why do you think it’s important for parents to talk openly with their kids about the news and world events?

Edelman: As a parent, I can understand people asking whether this is the type of news we want to share with our children. And my answer is, ‘Yes, we have to.’ Kids are perceptive, and with pretty much everyone wearing masks these days, it’s hard not to know something is up. They stayed close to home most of the summer; some are still not physically back in school. Some have had relatives or friends die from COVID-19. Many have seen, or suffered from, smoke from numerous wildfires. It’s a tough world out there, but this wouldn’t be the first generation of kids to learn the hard lessons of needing to keep a stiff upper lip, thinking of others before themselves, being kind, and giving to those who have less.

Q: What do you want parents and kids to take with them after they read Santa in a Snow Globe?

Edelman: Many kids are already aware they are not living in a world solely consisting of sunshine and lollipops. But they also know—innately—that love is stronger than hate. Perhaps that is a lesson they can share with their parents. As the author of this book, I want to try to change the conversation that we as parents are having with our kids. I’ve learned that kids are resilient, which gives me hope. Our grandparents, or great-grandparents, lived through the depression. Some of my family survived the Holocaust. Our parents were taught to duck and cover in the 1950s—remember bomb shelters? And Bambi’s mom died. In fact, most of Hans Christian Andersen’s and Grimms’ fairy tales are pretty, well, grim. And really, it’s the older kids who are today leading the fight for gun control and climate change awareness—Greta Thunberg was 15 when she started to protest.

Q: You wrote this book with a lot of honesty. Why so?

Edelman: The book offers a starting point to talk and learn about life’s new realities. Some of the messages in the book may seem dark, but these are the times we’re living in. Kids are resilient and they deserve to learn about what’s going on, albeit by Santa. This generation of kids is not the first to have to deal with hardships and reality. Christmas is all about peace on earth and goodwill towards men and women. That’s a good message to send. All hope is not lost if we’re kind to each other and help those who need it most—and believe in science!

Q: You’re Jewish. Why did you write a Christmas book? Do you believe in Santa and the magic of Christmas?

Edelman: I’m an optimist. I’m also an adult Jewish woman who still believes in Santa Claus and happy endings. So, of course, Santa will show up on Christmas Eve, but before he does, he has a few words to say about what he sees happening in the world, how we—both parents and kids— can help change it and what matters most.

Santa in a Snow Globe is available now in hardcover, paperback and ebook at SantainaSnowGlobe.com, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and wherever books are sold.

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Fun with Back to School

*Sponsored Post*

I know it’s a different back to school than we’re all used to. So, this year I’ve been focusing on how I can make it fun for the kids and inspire their interests! I’ve got a few essentials on my list, but mostly, it’s important for them to engage and find something that they’re excited about or interested in doing every day.

First up, let’s talk about these cute masks from SwaddleDesigns. Typically, SwaddleDesigns makes swaddlers, blankets, and bedding for babies. These things are super cute and look so soft, but my littlest isn’t a baby any more. I was super excited to try out their masks! They sent 3 masks. 1 Adult and 2 Child masks.

The matching rose masks are both cotton masks. They are 100% cotton, 180 thread count, 3 layer cloth masks. There’s a pocket for a filter, the ear elastic is nice and soft, and even though this mask is 3 layers it’s still quite lightweight. My favorite part is the chin gusset. It’s a little tab shaped to go around your chin, this keeps the mask from riding up into my eyes and it keeps the bottom part of the mask from being super tight under my chin (like the straight rectangle masks seem to do). This is pretty much the only cotton mask that I’m comfortable in.

The child cotton mask is designed for kids 2 to preteen. It fits my 12 yr old daughter really well. So, if you’re concerned about sizing, it does actually fit a preteen. Depending on the actual cut, sometimes she needs the adult size and sometimes she needs the kid sizes, with these swaddle design masks, the kid size is perfect.

The polkadot mask is a 2 layer cotton mask of premium flannel. Because flannel is a little thicker the 2 layers work great. There’s no pocket in this one. The ear elastic is the same as the cotton masks so super soft and comfortable. Flannel is just a little bit warmer than the 180 count cotton so it’s super cute and fits great, and I can see her using it a lot more in about a month when the weather gets a little cooler. Right now, it’s just really hot on her face. They do have some super cute designs available in the flannel.

Between the 2, the 3 layer cotton is my favorite, but they’re both soft and comfortable, and cute.

Since I started with practical items, I’ll save the fun stuff for later. With all this everyone at home I’ve been teaching the girls how to do their laundry. And some new detergent doesn’t hurt! I do prefer the Biz Stain & Odor Eliminator Liquid to the powder. Mainly because with a HE washing machine, the liquid is just easier to use. My kids are a bit sensitive to detergents but they don’t have any trouble with Biz. Plus, with it’s odor eliminator it really helps reduce that odd smell that front load washers can tend to get.

I’m loving the OxiClean on the Go sticks. I keep one in my purse and they’re super handy with the reduced access to restrooms and such these days. Instead of having to wash something out of the kids clothes, I can just use my stain stick to go and take care of it.

And, I don’t know about you, but I very much dislike going to the drycleaner. So, unless it’s stained and I really have to have a professional, these Dryel at Home Dry Cleaner are awesome! It makes keeping up with my dry clean only clothing so much easier!

My last practical item here. This InnoGear Diffuser. With 4 timer settings and a color changing LED, my girls have been using it as a nightlight/room refresher at night. They also sent a set of 6 OnePure essential oils to go with the diffuser. I appreciate that these oils aren’t’ super strong. The girls are enjoying their nightlight and picking their evening scent.

I will say, Peppermint is my favorite scent for their room. It just smells so refreshing and almost clean. And my girls need all the help they can get with a clean room!

This diffuser is super easy to use, shuts off automatically if the water runs out, and with 3 diffusing settings you can pretty easily control how strong or mild your scent is just by turning it up or down. Plus, I’ve always loved the color changing night lights! I find the right scents super soothing, and this collection of scents is awesome!

My kids were so excited about this “A Family Guide to Terrariums for Kids“. I have the brownest thumb ever but my daughter wants to grow everything and I don’t know where to begin. This book has easy to follow instructions and suggestions for where to find the items to build your selected terrarium.

There are lots of awesome looking terrarium ideas to pick from, and lots of helpful hints including things like how to pick the right container, the best plants, and how to care for your terrarium. There’s a section on the different types of growing mixes and care instructions for individual plants.

This is a terrific project for homeschooling or just encouraging your kids to explore some different plants.

We’ve been using this “Kitchen Explorers” cookbook from America’s Test Kitchen for the baking segment of our homeschool this year. With all this extra time at home, and my kids already love cooking, we’ve been branching out and trying new recipes. The recipes in this book are tasty and easy enough for the kids to make.

I love how we can get some science, math, and tasty treats all at the same time! If you get this book, you definitely need to make the cake in a cup. It’s amazing!

My kids were super excited when their CrunchCup arrived! With no group snacks at events this year, we’re getting plenty of use out of these cups! You put the milk in the outside, the cereal in the inside, and then when you tip the cup they both come out at the same time, so you can have your cereal and milk (or snack and beverage) at the same time without needing a spoon!

The first thing I was worried about was leaking, but there’s a little seal between the color and the clear plastics that seals well. So far, we haven’t had any leaking. It did take everyone a few tries to get the hang of how far to tip the cup. None of us had any experience trying to drink a beverage and a snack at the same time so it does take a little practice to get milk and cereal without getting too much at once. Once they got the hang of it though, they now want cereal on the go all the time!

With the different color lids we always know who’s cup is who’s. Check out their youtub video for a demonstration!

And last but not least. Hasty Baker card game. We love baking so much, we’re even playing a card game about it! Actually, this game is pretty simple to play and it has some bonus/powerup cards that keep the game interesting and different every time we play. I can see why it won the 2020 Tillywig Best Family Fun Award. It’s simple enough for my 7yr old to play and fun enough that I even enjoy playing with the kids. A fun game that the entire family can enjoy.