Every year we celebrate the arrival of spring with two big events: the purchase of new rain boots and then a visit to the tulip fields. 
This year was extra exciting for me because it was my turn for new boots. I was realizing that it had been nearly 7 years since my last new rain boots, so it seemed like kismet when I got an email from one of my very favorite boot brands, Washington Shoe Company {known to consumers as Western Chief and Chooka Boots} offered to send me a pair specifically for visiting the tulips this spring.
They sent me these little cuties, which I have found are not only awesome for tulip visits, but also are great for gardening, pressure washing, and even backyard spring parties. I love that they are the perfect height for wearing in mud and water, but more shoe-like so I could potentially wear them all day long. Oh, and did I mention how comfortable they are? 
Leanne
Find your keys, purse or phone with a Tile tracker from AT&T
Sometimes, things just happen for a reason. Earlier this month, when AT&T offered to send me a new Tile, I thought, “That’d probably be nice to have just in case”. I had no idea just how nice it would be to have.
I was literally waiting on shipment of the Tile when I truly lost my car keys for the first time in my adult life. It took over a half hour of all of us running around the house looking before I realized where they were – they were locked INSIDE my trunk sitting atop the stroller console where I had left them after shopping the previous day.
Thankfully, I have a husband who drives for work and he was able to swing by and unlock my trunk for me, because I would have had some super sad spring breakers missing a day at the Children’s Museum as a result of my forgetfulness. As it was, we had already wasted much of our day looking for keys and then waiting to be rescued.
But, what if we could have located the keys in an instant and immediately called my husband to help us out? That’s where the Tile Bluetooth Tracker comes in. The tiny Tile is the size of keychain, but it can do so much more. How much more, you ask? 
Educational fun with the SmartMax Mega Ball Run
I can’t even tell you how many times I have refused or returned a self-contained pre-made ball run that has been given to my kids. It’s not that I’m against kids learning about gravity and momentum by way of a ball run, it’s just that I can’t justify the space that they require for the momentary fun of dropping a ball down a chute a few times before the kids get bored.
But, when I was told about the SmartMax Mega Ball Run, I realized that someone finally got it. By adding in the fun of a construction toy and the power of magnets, SmartMax allows you to build your own ball run over and over again to enhance the play value and keep the kids busy for hours.
Labyrinthitis: taking it easy, even if it kills me
It’s been this kind of week. Anyone who knows me knows how stir crazy I go staying home for long periods of time. Give me an order to stay in bed to recuperate, and I will fight you to regain my independence, even at the cost of my health. I just can’t do “take it … Read more
Let your little one follow their heart with Aeromax
We tell kids to dream big all the time. We say that they can be whatever they want to be… when they are older. But, what about now? What if we gave them the tools to follow their hearts today?
You won't even mind that what they want to be changes by the hour when following your heart is as easy as slipping on a new costume from Aeromax Toys. If you’re unfamiliar with Aeromax, I highly suggest you check them out. I was first introduced to their line of dress up gear at our local children’s museum, and even though the costumes had likely been worn and washed hundreds of times, it was clear to me that Aeromax Get Real Gear was special from first glance.
How to pack the perfect carry-on for baby
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SkinCareForBaby #CollectiveBias 
Our kids go just about everywhere with us, and that includes when our adventures take us out of state by plane, train, and automobile. This go-anywhere, do-anything lifestyle started with our first baby when she was just days old. Even back then we’d have parents come up to us incredulous that we were able to travel with baby and now that our family size has increased their curiosity has only grown.
And I always tell them that traveling with babies was one of the best things we ever did. Not only did it make them more adaptable and flexible, it also made it easier to keep our adventurous side, which makes us all happier. The kids are growing up seeing things others only dream of and we’re spending some really awesome quality time together starting from day one.
My first tip for traveling with baby is that preparation goes a long way. Before we ever set off with baby, we read a ton and played out all of our worst-case scenarios. There were a few missteps along the way but for the most part we were prepared for just about everything that has come up, and even when we weren't, we were able to approach it with a roll-with-it kind of attitude knowing that you can't account for every emergency.
If you are a new parent wondering about the logistics of traveling with baby, you can relax because we are giving you a peek into our carry-on for baby. This is exactly what we'll be packing for our cross-country trip with kiddos this month, and has worked well for us on all of our adventures. 
Are you ready to start? Great, let's break down our packing list by category: food & snacks, soothing & comfort, playtime, clothing, changing, and just for parents.
Where cute meets comfort – introducing the Rocky 4EurSole sandals
Disclosure: I am part of the PTPA Brand Ambassador Program with Rocky 4EurSole and I received compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
A wise person once told me that life was too short to wear uncomfortable footwear. Never has that been more true than when you are caring for and chasing after kiddos. Ever try and take care of toddlers in stilettos? No thank you. I’ll take a pair of sneakers or sandals any day. 
But, that doesn’t mean you have to wear ugly orthopedic shoes. In fact, you can even wear cute, fashionable footwear in comfort with Rocky 4EurSole. With so many cute options to choose from, they make practical footwear actually lust-worthy.
When I was thinking about my needs over the next few months, I decided pretty quickly that I wanted to spend as much time outdoors as possible. Spring and summer in the Pacific Northwest is truly the best with waterparks, lakes, rivers, ocean, and pools in just about every town, so starting in spring break we spend most of our time in and around water. Clearly, I needed a good, comfortable sandal that would look and feel great for all of our adventures with kids, and I knew Rocky 4Eur Sole was the perfect place to turn.
Two-ingredient no-churn ice cream without an ice cream machine {perfect for leftover candy mix-ins}
Do you have a ton of leftover holiday candy lying around that you don’t know what to do with? We literally JUST threw away our old Easter, Valentine’s Day and Halloween candy and now we have a huge bag full of Easter candy to get rid of. 
What’s a girl to do? She finds a way to use it in other recipes, of course.
Specifically, she uses it in two-ingredient no-machine ice cream. The ice cream is delicious all on its own, but when you add candy to it, it becomes absolute perfection. And, then she throws the rest of the candy away, because no one needs that much candy. 
Oribel introduces 2 new PortaPlay items {pre-order and save 15% off}
Do you remember my review of the awesome PortaPlay from Oribel that I posted last year? It’s still one of my most favorite “baby” items we’ve ever had, and I love it even more now than I did when it first arrived. See that tree NOT getting mauled by my 10 month old? Thank you, … Read more
Seattle: Macy’s Alderwood prom fashion show and shopping party – Saturday, April 2nd
“This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency on behalf of Macy’s; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.“ It was almost a year ago that I was talking with my teenage niece and I realized I was old. Not just a little old, but straight-up OLD. So, what made me feel so old? … Read more