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.
Reviews
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.
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.
Give back with Lea Clark, the 2016 Girl of the Year from American Girl
It’s hard saying goodbye to beloved friends. In the past few weeks I have heard plenty from my kids about how sad they are that American Girl ever retires dolls and how much they miss McKenna, Caroline, Molly, Ruthie, Ivy, and Grace. But, I always remind them that American Girl plans these retirements so that … Read more
Enjoy the moment while capturing memories with the LUMIX G7
I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Influence Central for Panasonic. I received product samples as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.
Every year after CES the emails and messages start rolling in asking me the same question. That question: what kind of camera should I buy? Most years, I will go back and forth with the person asking whether they want a large DSLR or a compact purse camera and then ticking off features and benefits of both. Typically, it is 10-15 messages or so before I give my recommendation based on their answers.
But, this year, it’s really easy on me because the camera I recommend whether you are looking for a small, compact camera or you want a DSLR is the same camera, the Panasonic LUMIX G7. It’s just that versatile. 
Pocket-sized ZINK Zero-Ink photo printing with the Polaroid ZIP
Oh teenagers these days. They just don’t even understand how good they have it with their smartphones and digital world. Do they even know what it was like waiting for our film to come back all those years ago? I’m guessing probably not.
But, while the teens of today take thousands of pictures, selfies, shots of shoes on sidewalks, and photos of creatively arranged food, they also don’t know what they are missing out on. They are missing out on the joy that comes from having an actual photograph of good times shared with family and friends.
Granted, they might own picture frames, but you certainly won’t find many that have been updated this decade with new pictures. In this an era of instant digital photos hidden away on smartphones, teenagers these days don’t have anything tangible that they can hang up and make them smile every time they see it.
What they need is an introduction to Polaroid. No, not the Polaroid film cameras of my youth, the Polaroid ZIP Instant Photoprinter is the newest technology – a pocket-sized photo printer that makes inkless prints utilizing your smartphone pictures.
Scan your old slides and negatives easily with the Portable Digital Image Copier Deluxe
I have found the coolest new tool that every photographer of the 90s and early 2000s needs. Introducing the Portable Digital Slide and Film Converter from Hammacher Schlemmer that allows you to bring all those pictures you snapped on film into the digital era. 
If you know me, you know that I have been my family’s photographer since the nineties. This means that I got my start well before the digital age and I have a ton of pictures in boxes stored in random rooms and closets in my house… just in case.
Amazing sound, indoors or out with the JBL Xtreme Portable Bluetooth Speaker
You can find speakers just about anywhere these days – at discount stores, gas stations, even in packages of chips {true story}. But, where do you turn when you want an amazing speaker that will blow you away with amazing sound quality? Hint: it’s not the dollar store.
No, if you want amazing sound, you are going to want to look to a company that is known for audio excellence, like JBL. They’ve always been known for big, full sound, and their newest speakers definitely keep up with that tradition. 
We got to test out the JBL Xtreme Portable Bluetooth Speaker this month, and it has been adored since the day it arrived. Initially, I was sold on the fact that it is splashproof and rugged, which means it is as adventure-ready as we are. From camping to days at the beach, we needed a speaker that could keep up with us and keep the party going, and it’s been confirmed that the JBL Xtreme is the ultimate portable Bluetooth speaker for all of our needs.
The HP Envy 5540 All-in-One printer with 6mos FREE HP Instant Ink!
Do you have tons of pictures you wish you would get around to printing out? How about pictures you are meaning to scan? If so, I’ve got the perfect solution for you in the HP Envy 5540 all-in-one printer.
This all-purpose all-in-one HP printer is a great compact solution for your home and office printing, scanning and copying needs. With scanning and printing resolutions up to 1200×1200 dpi, this machine handles even complex photo-quality projects with ease, and fast printing up to 10 ppm ensures jobs get done quickly. 
Because it is wireless, the HP Envy 5540 can be used by several people without complex networking, and can even be used from another room so you’re not stuck to your office for printing. Set it up as the printing hub for your busy family, or place it in a central office location for several co-workers to share.
Prepare for anything with The Beast from Rayovac
Want to know what can ruin a productive day in mere seconds? The answer is the power going out. When I was a kid, the power going out was kind of fun. It was pretty rare of an occurrence, and I think that added to the excitement of home camping.
But, now that I'm an adult, the power going out is just one big pain after another, as well as being costly for someone that is under deadlines and who has a stocked fridge of food that will go bad without proper cooling.
Even though I like to think that we're prepped for most disasters, that does not mean that it’s fun going without modern conveniences, especially during my work week. And, once the sun goes down and your house is plunged into the kind of dark you almost never experience in a city where you literally cannot see a foot in front of you, the power outage gets old really quick.
So, when a fall storm knocked out our power nearly all day last week, I wasn't a happy blogger or mom. Ask anyone who has ever changed a diaper by candlelight and they will tell you how amazing electricity really is.
Thankfully, I was ready with this little Beast of a flashlight. 