Gymboree Play & Music classes are a hit {free class thru 8/31!}


Gymboree play and music class
Everyone who has ever said “throw like a girl” was probably referring to me.  I’ve never actually seen myself throw a ball, but I imagine it looks somewhat like this Volkswagen commercial that makes me laugh hysterically every time it comes on. 

Since my lack of athletic prowess is something I hope to not pass on to my kids, I took the first preventative step this summer and signed them up for sports classes at our local Gymboree Play and Music center with a complimentary month-long membership.  While they aren’t in the big leagues, or even in Little League for that matter, I love that they are learning the basics of different sports in a cooperative and fun environment with other little kids. 


Gymboree classes room
The class is a little over 45 minutes one day a week, but even in that short amount of time I have seen a huge improvements over the past three weeks.  Not just with athletic ability, but also with confidence and a desire to be more active. 

Gymboree fun

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Disney Social Media Moms Seattle Event

During every school break, my Facebook stream is full of friends taking their kids to Disney parks.  I can’t help but be a teeny bit jealous because it really hasn’t been possible for us to do a Disney vacation.  Of course, I know I will eventually make it there with the kiddos, it just might not be as soon as I would like. 

And, then I saw a little blurb on one of my friend’s Facebook feed who was at the Disney Social Media Moms event last year.  It was something to the effect of how you only have 18 summers to take your kids to Disney, and it made me panic a bit.   

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Picture taken from DisneyParksBlog.com

My parents took all of us kids to Disneyland when I was 6 months old.  I’m sure it was a blast, but I don’t remember a single thing from the trip.  My husband has a similar story as first his family was waiting for him and his sister to be able to ride on the rides, and then their younger cousins.  Long story short, they never made it to any of the Disney parks.

In 1999, we finally made it to Walt Disney World together, and we still talk about how magical the trip was.  We went on every rollercoaster together, indulged in all the Disney treats and goodies, and spent our evenings at Pleasure Island doing what we could since I was underage at the time. 


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Circa 1999 in Disney World. I'm second from the left and hubby is on the right. Those two beautiful girls with us are my sisters.  Aren't we adorable?

But, it’s been 14 years since that Disney trip and I’m very ready to go again, this time with our kiddos. I am so excited to be able to share that magic with the kids and experience it again through their eyes, as well as all the new attractions that have gone in since 1999 {which, apparently, is A LOT}. 

While I can appreciate the idea of waiting until the kids are older and can go on all the rides, I also think there's something really special about a kid growing up Disney.  It's like they say, "there's something for everyone" and I don't want to miss taking them in the stage of awe and wonder just because they might not be able to do every single thing at the parks. 

And, I’m looking forward to it all: pictures with the princesses, the obligatory Mickey/Minnie ears, kid’s rides and grownup coasters and the magic that happens when the sun goes down and the castle comes alive for the evening.  Every. Single. Thing.  I don't want to try and find that magical "perfect age" for Disney parks that you hear so much about and instead want to see it as a great excuse to go as many times as we can while the kids are still under our roof.


Kerri, Cristi and me
Last week I got a chance to get in on the Disney action, albeit briefly, when Disney Social Media Moms came to the Seattle area as part of their Disney on the Road tour and now I’m even more excited to get to the Disney parks… any of them… all of them… or even a Disney cruise.  I'm not picky. 

Disney Seattle

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Ditching the grocery store with Zaycon Foods

Back when I was pregnant with my youngest, I began to detest grocery shopping.  It wasn’t that I was too lazy to go to the grocery store; it had to do more with time than anything else.  Whenever I did have time in my already busy days of hospitals, doctors, preschool, and work, the last thing I wanted to do was take my almost 2 year old to the grocery store {which always took way longer than it should}.

I was thinking of trying grocery delivery services but was worried about what kind of prices I would be forced to pay as well as quality with someone else picking my food.  I was incredibly worried I would be paying premium prices and getting the items they couldn’t push in retail, Zayconfoodsmaking delivery not worth it in the end. 

Even though I’m not pregnant now, I still don’t get excited about loading both kids into the car and spending an hour grocery shopping, so I was really excited when I first heard of Zaycon Foods on Good Morning America. 

 Zaycon Foods is a fairly new company started here in Washington State two years ago as a means of offering natural, hormone free meats at bulk prices all across the US.  Instead of traditional delivery services, Zaycon calls itself a “drive thru” meat market that allows you to order online and then pick up during one of their many events across the US in a matter of minutes – no unloading kids or searching through the grocery store to find the best deals.


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Avocados make everything better {recipes & more}

Anyone who knows my son also knows that he can be a picky eater.  Happy to eat only carbs and pureed foods, I have to beg him to try new things at each meal unless I make one of his "approved" foods. But, one item on the approved list that might be a surprise to … Read more

Traveling Light with the Samsung WB200 Smart Camera

Before I was a mom, I hauled around a SLR with me wherever I went – first the film variety, then a DSLR – and made good use of my photography degree.  In those years I took amazing pictures of our adventures while traveling, around our house with family and friends, and exploring the many … Read more

Our week as the cool kids {KIA Soul review}

by Tyler, editor and reviewer Like everyone under the age of 20, my daughter loves the KIA Soul.  The dancing hamsters, the toasters, the “you can go with this or you can go with that” commercials, and most of all, the car itself. Have no idea what I’m talking about?  This YouTube video should help … Read more

Our Week of Adventure {KIA Sportage Review}

by Tyler, editor and reviewer After having so much fun trying out the KIA Optima last fall, we jumped at the chance to try out the KIA Sportage CUV {compact utility vehicle} earlier this month through STI – The Drive Experience Company.  Since we don’t have an SUV or CUV in our family, we were … Read more

Celebrating National Poetry Month with Starbucks #DeliciousPairings

I used to write poetry.  Really, really awful poetry that ranged from flower-y preteen stuff to angst-y teenage poems that were written in the margins of my term papers.  I have since come to my senses and admitted that writing poetry is not my forte.  Don’t get me wrong, I still like reading poetry and … Read more

#SeattleBaby Blogger Event at Northgate Mall

Were you following along on Twitter and Facebook a few weeks ago as I hosted the #SeattleBaby shower for new and expecting mom bloggers in the Seattle area?  I was so grateful so many local bloggers turned out at the event to welcome all the new little babies and thrilled that so many of you … Read more