Where we were: Government Camp, Oregon
Last week, my family was in a whirl of activity. We had the 2017 Mitsubishi Outlander all loaded with snow gear, swimming suits, and all the clothes, luggage, and gear a family of 5 requires. We were all heading out for a media trip in Hood River, Oregon when we got the bad news: our press trip was cancelled because the highways to Hood River were all closed. 
We debated for a bit on what we should do and whether we should just scrap the whole trip and head to work and school, but the kids were devastated that their "snow trip" was cancelled. Plus, it's a whole lot of work to pack for so many people and plan an adventure.
Parenting: when sick gets real
This post has been sponsored by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 
I’ve got three little kids, all of whom have independent schedules and loads of interaction with other kids. This basically means that cold and flu season is a constant struggle to stay healthy, and to minimize any illness that hits home. This year has been especially bad and there hasn’t even been one day that the kids’ classes were full or there weren’t a few last-minute playdate cancellations due to illness.
I can’t have them live in a bubble or sanitize every surface they *might* touch, so what’s a parent to do? I want to make sure they can see and play with their friends and not miss out on crucial lessons, but I definitely don’t want them bringing home every little sniffle that goes through their classes. 
To combat illness, we implement these basic rules for keeping healthy:
1) Wash hands frequently, and make sure kids know how to wash properly.
2) Staying home when we’re sick – no need to send the illness around the school, family, or playground.
3) Keep a good routine. With healthy amounts of activity, good diets, and plenty of sleep, we manage to avoid quite a few illnesses a year.
Gear up for an active year with the Brooks Cascadia 11 GTX trail-running shoes
Are you a runner? I really have never been a runner – unless you count running after kids, which I do a lot of. But, when my kids recently got interested in hiking and running, I knew I had to join them. I mean, it’s free, it gets us outside to enjoy nature, and it’s something we can all do together. 
DIY kids cape from an old prom dress
Have an old prom dress hanging around? Why not turn it into an awesome fancy cape for your little one {or for yourself, if you're looking to make a capelet}? I had honestly thought I purged all my old prom dresses when we moved into this house, but I discovered them tucked away in my daughter's walk-in closet while we were doing our winter cleaning. Since she has the only floor length hanging bars in the house, I remembered I had stashed a few of my nice dresses and my wedding dress in there, but I hadn't realized that there were some prom dresses mixed in.
I donated two of the prom dresses, but one of them was so out of date that it was just begging for a little DIY inspiration. I knew immediately that it would make the perfect dressy cape for my kiddos to play pretend in and the layers would add a level of drama that the kiddos would adore.
Of note: I don't claim to be the best seamstress around, and my sewing skills are basically limited to alterations and simple decor items, but even I could see the potential hidden in this 90's-style strappy number. While your DIY will depend a lot on what kind of material and length of gown you are working with, hopefully you can use this as a rough guide for a simple sewing project. 
Ready to get started? Great!
10 things you need to stop saying now
In looking back at my 2016, I see a trend starting that I would like to stop immediately. I am realizing that I have a hard time giving bad news, saying no, or asking for things, and I tend to add qualifiers or say things I don’t mean in order to soften a blow or decline an offer.
So, I'm writing myself this post that contains a list of things I will stop saying in 2017 as a reference for myself. Starting now, I will start approaching each interaction with confidence and/or honesty and stop diminishing myself or making excuses.
Microsoft Lumia 950 from AT&T makes it easier than ever to switch to Windows
If you’ve read any of my cell phone reviews, you already know that I’m a Windows gal through and through. It started back when I was switching from my business-issued Blackberry all those years ago and I debated whether I was going to go with an iPhone, the new Android device, or something else. It turns out “something else” is where my heart was, because I love my Windows phone.
I’ve already talked about why I love the Nokia Lumia 1520 from AT&T, but for those of you loved the features but who were worried about the Phablet size, the 5.2″ Microsoft® Lumia 950 with Windows® 10 from AT&T is definitely for you. Still not sure if Windows is the way to go? Here are just a few reasons why you should consider switching:
Happy Holidays from Rave & Review!
I hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing Christmas and are planning some fun while ringing in the New Year. This is my favorite time of year and I…
Lea Clark, American Girl’s 2016 Girl of the Year, says goodbye soon!
Remember how we were super excited to announce Lea Clark’s arrival this January as the 2016 Girl of the Year? This is just a gentle reminder that you only have…
Preserving memories made easy with Hammacher Schlemmer’s Photo Album Scanner
Every time I visit with my mom, I am given a stack of photo albums my mom has unearthed with the instruction to scan our old family images to share with my siblings. The problem is, I never have my computer with me, let alone my scanner/copier. So, I end up either taking the whole album with me in order to pull it apart to scan, or we take the album apart and I end up leaving with sandwich baggies full of pictures, some of which are ruined during the removal process. Obviously, neither of these methods is ideal.
Wouldn't it be cool if you could scan those old pictures while you're taking a walk down memory lane? Imagine flipping through an old photo album, finding a priceless gem, and then scanning it to save it electronically – all without ever taking it out of the photo album. Dream no more, because Hammacher Schlemmer has made it not only possible, but also a ton of fun. 
Their new Rapid Photo Album Scanner that is exclusive to Hammacher Schlemmer does just what I've always dreamed of and converts all those old photographs into digital images in just seconds,allowing you to reminisce and relive old memories while saving them easily for future use.
Seattle Premium Outlets last-minute gift guide
Are you worried there isn't enough time left to pick up thoughtful gifts for everyone on your list? Never fear, Seattle Premium Outlets is here to help and no one will ever have to know that you shopped last minute!
I'm sharing with you our gift guide for every age on your list. Every item was found at Seattle Premium Outlets this past week and is perfect for gifting this holiday season. 
Flannel: Eddie Bauer, Boot Cuffs and Socks: Timberland, Bracelet and Bag: Coach Outlet
Flannel: (r) Eddie Bauer (l) Timberland, Socks: Timberland
Pajama Pants for Women: Hanna, Pajamas for Baby: Hanna
Star Wars Shirt and Bow: Hot Topic