Tag Archives: bellingFAM Approved

bellingFAM Approved: Kidstir Cooking Kits (Giveaway)

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Over the years, we’ve tried a lot of subscription services at our house. You already know how I feel about my beloved Stitch Fix. And, I’ve been a Birchbox subscriber on-and-off over the years (I jump back on the bandwagon when my beauty supply stash runs low!). There have been a few kid-subsciptions that we’ve fallen in love with too, including the ill-fated Wittlebee for kids’ clothing and kid activity boxes that have provided a lot of crafty fun.

Kidstir Cookbook

So, when I heard about Kidstir via a friend (hugs to you A.), it peeked my interest. Kidstir is a kids’ cooking kit subscription that delivers a box of hand-picked, kid-friendly recipes, ingredients, cooking tools and related activities to your doorstep on a monthly basis. With each month you subscribe, your kids will continue to build their own cookbook binder, which will be filled with recipes they’ve made themselves.

Kidstir Kit

Right off of the bat, I fell in love with Kidstir because it came so nicely packaged and when I opened the box, I felt a little bit of glee. It was cute and thoughtfully put together and it screamed out to be a great gift to send to cousins or friends who live far away. The wow factor was immediate… and it lasted.

Kidstir sent us the Bake Me Happy Kit to try and besides all of the cute goodies that came in the box and that yummy chocolate from Soom Foods, what I thought was so special about Kidstir was that it got all three of my kids in the kitchen, working together to create the recipes. Janie, who is 10, took charge (of course), reading the recipes out-loud to the littler kids and calling out instructions. Meg, age seven, took on the task of gathering the ingredients we needed from around the kitchen and pantry. And, 4-year-old Everett went to work with the mixing… and the test-tasting. While they went to work with Kidstir, I sat back, jumped in when needed and simply enjoyed letting them take the reigns… until it came to clean-up time, naturally! Funny how quickly they disappear when I start filling the sink with hot, soapy water.

Kidstir Cooking Kits

We’re thrilled to partner with Kidstir for the holidays to bring you a fun holiday giveaway that will get you in the holiday spirit. One bellingFAM reader will win a Kidstir Winter Wonderland Kit and the personalizable Cookbook Binder to keep all of your Kidstir recipes and activities organized.

To enter to win the KIDSTIR WINTER WONDERLAND KIT & COOKBOOK BINDER, please click below to visit the giveaway on Rafflecopter:

// This giveaway has ended. Please click below, to see the winner! //

Giveaway Button

 (If you’ve never used Rafflecopter before, I promise that it’s easy and the BEST and safest way to enter a giveaway on a blog, as well as for me to run a giveaways on bellingFAM. No registration necessary. All of your information provided is kept private. Must be 18 or older to enter and win. All entries will be verified. U.S. residents only, please.)

Giveaway provided by Kidstir.
Products were provided for review.
No additional compensation was received.
All opinions are my own.

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bellingFAM Approved: Strider Bikes (Giveaway)

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Strider Giveaway

We don’t spend much money on toys at our house. Books? For sure. Craft supplies? Yes. Things that get our kids outside as much as possible? Definitely.

I know you recognize this brand and I’m here to tell you how much we love our Strider Bike. LOVE. All caps.

Not only does it get the bellingFAM Approved stamp of approval from Everett, who just upgraded to one of Strider’s XL Seatposts to give his growing legs a little more room to stride, but it’s a favorite for Josh and me, too. We love it when he rides and we can tell that he’ll be ready to jump over to a peddle-bike with confidence, thanks to his time on his Strider Bike.

Strider Bike Review

 (Paul Frank helmet available from Bell Helmets)

Ev got his Strider for Christmas, just after he turned two and now, at nearly five, he’s still riding it and I suspect he will be for another year… or until his legs get too long, whichever comes first! When he was just a little guy, he totted around on his Strider often, up-and-down the sidewalk in front of our house mostly, getting used to how it feels to balance a bike underneath himself. Now, he’s more confident, cruising along much quicker and mastering how to steer and stride at the same time, a skill that often seems to be lost when kids are focusing on trying to peddle a traditional bike.

Strider Bike bellingFAM

We’re excited to team up with Strider Bikes for a giveaway that’s perfect for kicking off your holiday shopping. Just be sure to let Santa know that you’ve got him covered this year!

Want to check out a Strider Bike in Bellingham? Authorized dealers include Earl’s Bike Shop, Lenny’s Bike Shop (Ferndale), Mt. Baker Moto-Sports, Second Shot Sports (Lynden) and Wee Ones Reruns.

To enter to win a STRIDER 12″ SPORT BIKE, please click the Rafflecopter link below:

Giveaway Button

(If you’ve never used Rafflecopter before, I promise that it’s easy and the BEST and safest way to enter a giveaway on a blog, as well as for me to run a giveaways on bellingFAM. No registration necessary. All of your information provided is kept private. U.S. residents only, please.)

Giveaway provided by Strider Bikes
Products were provided for review.
No other compensation was provided for this post.
All opinions are our own.

bellingFAM Approved: KaHootie Co. Notepads (Giveaway)

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// This giveaway has ended. Please visit Rafflecopter to see the winner. //

Here’s the truth…

Getting organized is easy. Some might even say it’s fun. (Me.)

Staying organized is the hard part.

I don’t know about you, but I always have the best intentions to stay organized, especially at the beginning of each school year, each week, each DAY. And, I feel so much better when things are in order and life just runs much smoother, for everyone, when I get my to-dos and our family schedule and all of the other mom-things out of my head and onto a calendar or into a list. I know it’s weird, but it makes me feel calm.

Even though I spend my work-life online, I am completely old-fashioned when it comes to my calendar. I still use a paper calendar and love writing things down.

KaHootie Co. Notepads

When Kristen, creator of KaHootie Co., a line of organizing tools for moms, got in touch, I was thrilled. Their products are exactly what I use in my everyday life to keep organized and I couldn’t wait to put them to use. Plus, I loved what Kristen had to say about why she designed these products, “One of the biggest challenges for moms and dads is organization, as they constantly juggle the demands of caring for their kids, themselves, and their home. If parents were more organized, they would have less stress, greater productivity, and enjoy more free time to spend with their family.”

Yes. Just, yes.

Here are some of my favorites from KaHootie Co.

KaHootie Co. Daily Calendar

Daily Schedule Notepad, $13

I literally use this pad every day. I try to make my list in the evening, just after I get the kiddos tucked into bed and wrap up emails. Feeling organized before tomorrow even hits makes me happy. I’ve used other daily notepads before, but I especially love this one from KaHootie Co. because it’s an all-in-one — calendar with blank times to write in appointments, quick to-dos for the most-pressing items on your list, a daily meal planner, and even a spot to check off how much water you’re drinking.

KaHootie Co. Monthly Calendar

Monthly Calendar Notepad, $13

This is the KaHootie Co. notepad that I use to keep our family on the same page. I fill out a new sheet at the beginning of each month and hang it on the front of the fridge for everyone to see. It’s filled with big things, like upcoming birthday parties and appointments, as well as little things, like reminders about which day the girls have library at school.

KaHootie Co. Chore Chart

Kids Chore Chart Notepad, $13

Lastly, grabbing the fan favorite award from my kids, is the Kids Chore Chart Notepad. Not only are these great for helping your kids feel accomplished for helping around the house, but they’re also fantastic to use for keeping track of daily reading and homework, especially for your school-aged kiddos. In the past, we’ve used chore charts like these to help us through the more challenging seasons of parenthood, keeping track of tear-free drop-offs at school or mornings that they wake up dry. Complete lifesaver for parents and the perfect visual tool for kids of all ages.

You can pick up your own KaHootie Co. products on their website, as well as online at Bed, Bath and Beyond and buybuy Baby. Before you buy, know that each notepad is super-thick.

The team at KaHootie Co. is giving away a set of their notepads for one lucky, soon-to-be very organized bellingFAM reader and we’re happy to be their host for the giveaway!

To enter to win a SET OF KAHOOTIE CO. NOTEPADS, please click the Rafflecopter link below:

// This giveaway has ended. Please visit Rafflecopter to see the winner. //

Giveaway Button

(If you’ve never used Rafflecopter before, I promise that it’s easy and the BEST and safest way to enter a giveaway on a blog, as well as for me to run a giveaways on bellingFAM. No registration necessary. All of your information provided is kept private. U.S. residents only, please.)

Giveaway provided by KaHootie Co.
Products were provided for review.
No other compensation was provided for this post.
All opinions are our own.

bellingFAM Approved: Toyota Highlander Hybrid

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Toyota Highlander Hybrid

A really fun (and really unexpected!) part of my job is that sometimes, car companies get in touch and they want us to give one of their cars a try. I mean, they obviously haven’t reviewed my teenage driving record. Let’s just say I’m a better driver. Now. Kind of.

Most recently, the nice people at Toyota asked if we’d like to test out their Highlander Hybrid. We took them up on it, spending a week running the Highlander around Seattle this summer. And, to be honest, I didn’t want to give it back.

Check out my full review of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid on Savvy Sassy Moms, where I reveal how I really feel about driving a hybrid.

bellingFAM approved: Rio Beach Total Sun Block Umbrella (Giveaway)

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Rio Beach Umbrella

// This giveaway has ended. Please visit Rafflecopter to see the winner. //

Our new house has a backyard that we’ve always dreamed about. One where our kids can run straight outside from the living space to play, one that has a kitchen window that overlooks it and one that is flat, spacious and green for as much outside time as possible. While we still have some work to do back there, and it will likely take us a good five years to complete everything, right now, it’s perfect. Perfectly perfect.

Rio Beach Umbrella

Our kids play outside a lot. But, as much as they love to run and kick the soccer ball and have the Slip N’ Slide set up, one of their favorite things to do outside is downtime activities, like coloring, reading, or getting out their doll house furniture and critters to play on a blanket.

Rio Beach Umbrella

While our backyard is surrounded by trees (big trees!), it’s mostly open and during the high of the afternoon, there can be a lack of shade for playing. My kids are Northwest natives, after all, and prefer their sunshine with a bit of shade.

Rio Beach Umbrella

When Rio Beach offered to send me one of their Total Sun Block Umbrellas (Rio Brand, $70) I knew that it would be a hit for our family, not just for our backyard play sessions or for shady lunch breaks in the shade, but also for the countless adventures we go on as we check items off of our Bellingham Bucket List.

Rio Beach Umbrella

Here’s what I love about it already:

  • It’s easy to put up… even by myself and with three excited kids underfoot. You just take it out of the bag, pop it open, and screw it into the ground. Done. Seriously, if I can do it, you can.
  • It’s big enough to provide some good shade, but not so big that you feel like you have a tent.
  • Everything fits into an easy to carry bag and it’s pretty light for hauling on adventures. You could easily keep it in your car for the summer and not even worry about it taking up too much space.
  • The sun coverage is serious business. It blocks 99.8 percent of UVA and UVB rays and is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation.
  • It’s breathable. We’ve had umbrellas like this in the past when the kids were younger, babies in particular, and they were awesome, except that on the inside of the umbrella, it was terribly stuffy. Breathable panels? Check!

Rio Beach Umbrella

The team at Rio Beach was kind enough to send us an umbrella to try out and to offer as a giveaway to bellingFAM readers. Please note that this giveaway is for LOCAL PICK-UP IN BELLINGHAM ONLY. Or, for our Seattle-area readers, I can bring it to you the week of August 1, if you happen to win. I have the actual giveaway umbrella with me, so it’s not shipping directly from the company, like most giveaway. I promise not to hug you when we meet to hand it over. Really. (Maybe.)

To enter to win a RIO BEACH TOTAL SUN BLOCK 7′ UMBRELLA, please click the Rafflecopter link below:

// This giveaway has ended. Please click the Rafflecopter link below to see the winner. //

bellingFAM giveaway for a Rio Beach Umbrella

(If you’ve never used Rafflecopter before, I promise that it’s easy and the BEST and safest way to enter a giveaway on a blog, as well as for me to run a giveaways on bellingFAM. No registration necessary. All of your information provided is kept private. U.S. residents only, please.)

Giveaway provided by the team at Rio Beach.
No other compensation was provided for this post.
All opinions are our own.

Skip Hop Slot Machine

bellingFAM Approved: Skip Hop Baby’s First Slot Machine

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When the team at Skip Hop sent us a sneak peek at their newest product, I just knew that I had to post about it.

Introducing Baby’s First Slot Machine.

I mean, how cute is that tag line? “Baby needs a new pair of shoes!”

Pick this up to keep your little one reminded of Mommy and Daddy when you book that next kid-free jaunt off to Sin City or while you pop up to the good old Silver Reef for a date night. By the time he turns 21, he’ll be a pro at the slots!

(happy april fool’s day, from your friends at bellingFAM and Skip Hop.)