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Gymboree Fall Fashions Shopping

It has unofficially turned into fall in our home.  Back to school time doesn’t immediately mean the kids are sporting jeans, sweaters and warmer clothing but since we are seeing cool temps in the morning they are scrambling to keep off the chill.  We did Shae’s back to school shopping at Gymboree using a $100 GC they provided.  I’ve been enjoying this store more lately, picking up things here and there that catch my eye.

This year’s collections capture the sweetness and innocence of kids.  Gymboree stays trendy and stylish without losing its audience. You won’t find midriff baring tops, too short skirts or inappropriate sayings on graphic tees.  Florals, plaids and bright colors make your children stand out.

Shae picked out a few pieces all on her own on this shopping trip. These Gem Dot Cuff jeans and Playing in the Rain tee is a perfect outfit of a rainy school day.  She picked these jeans because of the embellished polka dots and loose fit. She’s not a fan of tight jeans.

Gymboree for Girls #fashion

The Gem Safari Flower Caftan was a huge hit.  It was bought with fitted black pants but this pink skirt already in her wardrobe is a perfect match.  I think it was the gems that attracted Shae in the first place.

Gymboree for Girls #fashion

Shop Gymboree for boys and girls when you want to keep the kids looking their age. They specialize in the clothes and accessories that show off kid’s best features.




2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE AWC

This is a sponsored post but all opinions are our own!!!!

In the last two years I have tried seven or eight cars and I must admit that I love the feel of a new car and a few weeks ago I got the opportunity to drive the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE AWC for a week.

Overall I was super happy with the vehicle and the overall performance.  The one and only thing that I didn’t like was the pick up of the vehicle.  In my opinion the 2.0L DOHC engine doesn’t provide enough punch to get that Outlander moving like I would have liked.  Other than that I must admit the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE AWC was a really fun vehicle to drive.  One of my favorite features was the panoramic glass roof with LED illumination.  I loved that the whole roof was open to the outside and that the sun could just shine right in.  When the kids first got into the Outlander the glass roof is something Shaun noticed and he asked if it opened up like a moon roof, nope.  That would be awesome if it did but from a logistics point of view I am sure putting that entire piece of glass somewhere when open would be a total nightmare.

The Outlander is LOADED with a TON of great features so here they are so that I don’t any:

Every 2013 Outlander Sport includes these standard features:

  • 148-hp, 2.0-liter MIVEC engine
  • Color LCD multi-information display
  • 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with P225/55R18 all-season tires
  • Electric Power Steering (EPS)
  • FUSE Hands-free Link System™ with USB Port
  • Seven airbag¹ safety system including a driver’s knee airbag
  • Tilt and telescopic adjustable steering column
  • Active Stability Control (ASC)² with Hill Start Assist

Includes all standard features plus:

Exterior

  • Super-wide range High-Intensity Discharge (S-HID) headlamps
  • Auto off/on headlamp control
  • Halogen fog lights with chrome bezel
  • Chrome grille surround
  • Body-colored outer door handles
  • Heated power side view mirrors
  • Side fender turn signal indicators
  • Rear wiper with intermittent feature
  • Electric rear window defroster with timer
  • Rear privacy glass
  • Rear LED combination tail lights
  • Roof-mounted radio antenna
  • Single exhaust outlet with chrome tip
  • Rain-sensing windshield wipers
  • Flat-type wiper blades
  • Roof carrier plug-in accommodation

Wheels and Tires

  • P225/55R18 all-season radial tires
  • 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels
  • Space saver temporary spare tire

Comfort and Convenience

  • Automatic climate control with pollen air filter
  • One-touch Start/Stop (OSS) engine switch
  • Rear heater floor ducts
  • Visor vanity mirrors with illumination
  • Rear seat center armrest with cup holders (x2)
  • Tilt and telescopic steering wheel
  • Cruise control with steering-wheel-mounted controls
  • Power windows with driver one-touch down/up feature
  • Power door locks with two-stage unlocking
  • Heated front seats
  • Height-adjustable front shoulder belt anchors
  • FAST-Key electronic start system with panic feature
  • 12-volt power outlet (x2)
  • Front map lights
  • Rear dome light (not available with premium package)
  • Rear cargo light
  • Retractable assist grips (x4)
  • Manual day/night rearview mirror

Storage

  • Glove box with pen holder
  • Front-door storage pockets with bottle holders
  • Cargo tie-down utility hooks (x4)
  • Center console box with cup holders (x2)
  • Center slide-adjustable armrest
  • Instrument panel lower compartment
  • Pocket tissue holder
  • Seatback pocket (driver’s side)
  • Rear cargo compartments

Seating and Trim

  • 5-passenger seating
  • Sport-fabric-trimmed seating
  • 6-way manually adjustable driver’s seat
  • 4-way manually adjustable passenger’s seat
  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
  • Soft-touch upper instrument panel and door trim
  • Chrome interior door levers
  • Rear seat adjustable head restraints (x3)
  • Door scuff plate (front & rear)
  • 60/40 split fold-down rear seatback
  • Adjustable return seatback
  • Carpeted floor mats

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Audio

  • 140-watt AM/FM/CD/MP3-compatible audio system with 6 speakers, Digital Signal Processor (DSP), equalization control and speed-compensated volume
  • SiriusXM™ Satellite Radio with free 3-month subscription
  • FUSE Hands-free Link System™ with USB port
  • Steering-wheel-mounted audio controls

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Instrumentation

  • Steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters
  • High-contrast meters
  • Color LCD multi-information display, including trip computer, maintenance reminder, ambient temperature and audio system information
  • Rheostat
  • Dual trip odometers

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Safety and Security

  • Advanced front airbags¹ with seatbelt-use, passenger-weight and driver’s seat-position sensors
  • Front side-impact airbags¹ and side-impact curtain airbags¹ with rollover protection
  • Driver’s knee airbag¹
  • Electronically controlled 4WD system
  • Drive mode selector (2WD / 4WD Auto / 4WD Lock)
  • Active Stability Control (ASC)²
  • Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)² with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist
  • Hill Start Assist
  • Traction Control Logic (TCL)
  • Tire pressure monitoring system
  • 3-point seatbelts for all 5 seating positions
  • Engine immobilizer and anti-theft alarm system
  • Child-safety rear door locks
  • LATCH child-safety-seat anchors & upper tethers
  • Remote fuel lid opener
  • Front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters
  • Collapsible steering column and foldaway brake pedal assembly
  • Side-impact door beams

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ECO Friendly Features

  • ECO driver indicator light
  • Brake energy regeneration system
  • Recyclable plastic bumpers, instrument panel, door trim and radiator grille
  • Plastic polymer front fender panels
  • Electric Power Steering (EPS)

I am glad that I got the opportunity to drive the 2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport SE AWC for a week and test out all of its features.  It was loaded with a lot of nice features for sure but like I said it was just a tad under powered.  It was a fun and easy vehicle to drive that was pretty good on gas (which is a huge plus) that looked really cool which is always a added bonus!




New Way To Pick Gifts With pickURgift

**This post is brought to you by PickURGift on behalf of Brandfluential.  All opinions stated are my own.

Today there is a gift registry for everything from bridal gifts to house warming gifts to even birthday gifts.  I understand the point of gift registries because people want what they want and what easier way to let everyone know what they really want.

Recently I was approached by Brandfluential to do a review of a site called pickURgift.  When I first looked over the site the first thing I thought was reverse wish list.  The concept behind pickURgift is you create an account, set up a gift page, select a bunch of gifts for a certain person, send the list over to the person for them to select what gifts they want then you go and purchase the gift or gifts the person selected.

Bradfluential paired us with another awesome blogger and I was paired with Andrew Kardon from Mom’s Busy…Go Ask Dad.  My first task was to figure out what Andrew was interested in.  I read somewhere in the past that he loved video games and comics.  I must admit that selecting gifts for other people especially for people that you don’t know very well isn’t as easy as you would think.  I did had to contact Andrew via Facebook and dig a little further into what his interests were so that I could have a nice selection of gifts for him to choose from.  When it was all said and done I feel like I chose a nice array of gifts for Andrew to select from and in the end he selected Injustice for Xbox 360 and an awesome set of headphones for the Xbox 360 and computer.

The process wasn’t to bad once I actually read how the process works.

First I signed up for a free account:

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Then I added Andrew and set up a gift page for him:

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Added the UR button which you use when you go to any site like Amazon, Macy’s, etc.  All you do once you find the gift you are looking for is hit the UR button that you will have installed on your tool bar and the gift is added on your gift page.

Once you are finished shopping you can then send your gift page over to the recipient for them to select what gift or gifts they would like to receive.

pug

Once they have selected everything they want you will get a notification letting you know they are done and then you can go to the site where you found the gift and purchase it and have it sent right to the recipient.

In the end after I went back and looked at everything it’s a pretty easy process.  Just in case you were wondering what Andrew selected for me he picked a Tennessee Titans BBQ set, Tattoo Bible Book for my Kindle, rapid charger for my Kindle and an awesome set of Rubik cube coasters.

If you are looking for a new way to give gifts head over to pickURgifts.

 

 

 




belVita for Breakfast

Mom Central belVita DisclosureBreakfast for me is most time non-existent. I make sure the kids get fed a balanced meal with their vitamins but when it comes to making something for myself I quickly lose interest. I like grab and go; things like coffee are my go to. I realize coffee isn’t breakfast but that’s usually what I get until 11am.

By that time my stomach is growling and I’m looking for something that I can eat with one hand so I don’t have to interrupt what I’m doing. Yogurt and cereal require a spoon so that is too much work most busy days. belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuits is something I can enjoy quickly and conveniently.

belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuits will join the five flavors of crunchy belVita Breakfast Biscuits, which launched in the United States in February 2012. belVita Soft Baked are delicious biscuits made with whole grains to provide nutritious morning energy at breakfast. The NEW belVita Soft Baked are available in two flavors, Mixed Berry and Oats & Chocolate.

belVita Soft Biscuits

Last week I had an especially busy day getting ready for a weekend getaway and knew I had to fuel up for the day and grabbed a Mixed Berry belVita Soft Baked Biscuit. I paired it with a yogurt, glass of orange juice and coffee and was able to last till lunch.

I found the belVita Mixed Berry Soft Baked Biscuits to be on the dry side but I’m guessing that is because it’s just 7 grams of fat. Any more butter or oil would make it moister but also defeat the purpose of making it a wholesome option. The texture is a cross between a cereal bar and a cookie. But the Oats and Chocolate Soft Baked Biscuit was definitely a soft more pleasant experience. Both varieties pack a lot of flavor in a small package.

With Back to School on our heels how do you keep your stress level down while keeping up with the high demands of parenting, school schedules and activities. These tips from Lifestyle Mom, Dana Hilmer could be a great help to get you ready:

  1. It’s important to schedule down time for you and your family. Before signing your kids up for this year’s after-school activities, think about your family’s priorities and the impact each activity will have on your schedules.
  2. It’s just as important for you to have a tasty, healthy breakfast as it is for your kids. Perfect for eating on the go, belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuits come in two varieties, Mixed Berry and Oats & Chocolate, grab a banana and a latte and you’re good to go with nutritious morning energy.
  3. Take a little time each night to get organized for the following morning. By making lunches and selecting outfits before bed each night, you’ll free time each morning for other things.
  4. Be sure to keep healthy snacks in the kitchen for after-school snacking. Nuts, crackers and fruit are great to give kids right when they walk in the door to keep them from grazing on unhealthy snacks, or spoiling their appetites for dinner.
  5. Moms often complain about not having enough time for themselves, but when life gets busy, it’s even more important to carve out that time. Treat “me time” as a priority.
  6. Start a to-do list with three sections: the priority of the day for yourself, the priority of the day for your family and the priority of the day for your work. Start with these items, and only move on to other less important items once they’re done.
  7. Use Sunday nights to plan your dinners each week. If you take a few minutes to think about how you can creatively use the leftovers from one night to the next, you can create a full week’s worth of healthy, tasty dinners that your family will enjoy.
  8. Give yourself the freedom to say no without guilt. Activities or commitments that may not be right for your family are okay to decline. Saying NO gives you the permission to say YES to things that are important to you.
  9. Back-to-school season is also cold and flu season. You can keep your entire family healthy with these simple habits: eating well, getting enough rest and washing hands regularly.
  10. Create a network of support for yourself. This network looks different for everyone. Consider asking your partner and kids for support. They can be a great help with tasks you feel comfortable handing over.

belVita wants you and your family to start off the day right no matter what breakfast options you choose. If belVita sounds like they would be a good fit you can find these in your local grocery store in the cookie and cracker aisle for just about $3.69 for a 5-count box.




HP 15.6″ Laptop Recap

We were provided a laptop for review but all opinions are our own!!!

Back to school in our house means more than new sneakers and pencils. With one entering her senior year of high school we’re also thinking about technology.  Sabreena is looking at a career in Architectural Engineering so she’s going into her 3rd year of Computer Aided Design, software that helps with creation and modification in manufacturing or industrial design.

This year she’s going to be bringing the software home to work on projects outside the classroom and needs the right PC/laptop to be successful.  Staples has stepped in with this HP laptop.

Here are some stats on the HP 2000-2c32nr 15.6 Laptop:

  • AMD E1-1500 1.48GHz 1MB L2 Cache Accelerated Processor
  • 4GB DDR3 SDRAM (1 DIMM), expandable to 8GB
  • 320GB 5400RPM Hard Drive
  • 15.6″ diagonal HD BrightView LED-backlit display (1366 x 768)
  • Windows 8

For a full list of spec click HERE.

Upon receiving we expanded the RAM to 8 GB. That’s an easy task especially when you already have memory sticks on hand because of a technology obsession in the family.  Other then the memory upgrade all I needed to do was turn on the laptop and run through a bunch of normal setup items.  I’m even using the free trial of Norton Antivirus that was provided on the laptop and so far I have had zero problems.  As a blogger I am always writing a post, surfing the web or browsing social media so I need a laptop that is able to multitask along with me.  It’s been a challenge learning Windows 8 because of all of the new features but I feel like I am holding my own so far.  I know there are so many features of the laptop that I am not using but I know in time I will learn them and use them just like I do with the current features that I do know.

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Overall I am very impressed with the HP 2000-2c32nr and for it only costing $320.00 this laptop is a steal.




Woozworld, virtual world and social networking for tweens

Blog Post Disclosure
Finding safe places for my kids to play online is important. With Shaun getting older and more curious I can’t always trust he’s not clicking on the inappropriate content.
WoozWorld Virtual World and Social Networking for Tweens
We’ve recently been introduced to Woozworld. Woozworld is an virtual online gaming and social site geared towards tweens and teens. You child is introduced into a world where their limits are their creativity and their personality. By becoming an active member in Woozworld your child can make friends, create worlds and have fun in a safe and monitored environment.
Shopping in Woozworld
Creating their own world and visiting others is the best part of Woozworld. I’ve listened to Shaun play and laugh and say how cool it is. It’s a nice change of pace from his Minecraft and Call of Duty screaming and groaning through is headset to his friends.
Worlds in WoozWorld
Finding sites that you trust to keep your kids safe and their interactions private can be difficult. Woozworld is fully COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protecting Act) compliant. Something not all gaming and social networking sites can say. best of all WoozWorld is free. There are upgrade options to shop for clothes, furniture, cars and other accessories but basic play is free.
Check out WoozWorld for yourself to see the fun in person.




Comcast Xfinity #summerofkids on the go programming

Mom Central Disclosure

This summer has been lots of fun with trips to the beach, museums, pool and parks but my kids enjoy their downtime with their favorite shows in between the field trips.

We’ve been Comcast customers for several years so I always knew Comcast Xfinity On Demand was a great option for us grownups. We often spend our eveings trying to catch up on favorite shows and new movies but I never realized how many kid friendly shows were available.  With a huge variety of networks like Cartoon Network, HUB, Nick Jr. and NatGeo Wild my kids always have great entertainment right at their fingertips.

Comast Xfinity Family Shows #summerofkids

PLUS the fact that everyone has their own personal device we aren’t limited to just watching what one person wants to watch.

Comcast Xfinity #summerofkids

 

Shae can watch Strawberry Shortcake on my phone and Shaun and Sabreena can watch Adventure Time on their iPods and we can watch Nat Geo Wild as a family on rainy days at the beach on the laptop.  Having this much connectivity can be a curse sometimes too but having built in parental controls and access limits can put our mind at ease.  Using your device or laptop updating settings for the programs you do not want your children to watch are simple. Each family member can have their own account with their own favorites ready to watch without having to maneuver around the temptation of inappropriate content.

Comcast Xfinity #summerofkids

The #summerofkids program is all about giving kids what they want when they want it.  Say goodbye to “Are we there yet”, “What can I do”, “I’m bored” and “I don’t like this show” bothers of long car trips, rainy days or days at the grandparents.

Are you using Comcast Xfinity’s features the best way you can?  Find out about XfinityStreampix, Xfinity TV Player app and Xfinity On Demand all within your current Comcast account.




2013 Kia Optima SX Limited

This is a sponsored post but all opinions are our own!!!!

Last weekend was me and Melinda’s 12th wedding anniversary and we got a chance to get a kid-free weekend away with a nice trip to the beach in OCean City, NJ and we got to travel in style in the 2013 Kia Optima SX Limited.  This car to me is what I call luxury as it had all the bells and whistles like leather seats, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats,  panoramic sunroof and so many more options.

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For all the car enthusiasts out there like myself below is the full list of features:

2013 Kia Optima SX Limited

ENGINE:

  • 2.0-liter DOHC turbocharged I-4
  • Horsepower: 274hp @ 6000rpm
  • Torque: 269lb-ft@ 4500rpm

TRANSMISSION:

  • 6-speed automatic

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DRIVE:

  • Front-wheel

WHEELS AND TIRES:

  • 18-inch aluminum wheels
  • 225/45VR-18 HankookOptimo H431 tires

FUEL ECONOMY (city/highway/combined):

  • 22/34/26mpg

CURB WEIGHT:

  • 3385lb

CAPACITIES:

  • Doors/Passengers: 4/5
  • Cargo: 15.4cu ft
  • Legroom (front/rear): 45.5/34.7 in
  • Headroom (front/rear): 40.0/37.6 in
  • Towing: N/A

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STANDARD FEATURES:

  • 18-inch chromed aluminum wheels
  • Red brake calipers
  • Lower door chrome accents
  • Nappa leather seat and interior trim
  • Black cloth headliner
  • Electronic parking brake
  • Chrome-accented rear spoiler
  • First aid kit
  • Automatic dual-zone climate control
  • SiriusXM satellite radio w/3-month trial subscription
  • USB port
  • Auxiliary audio jack
  • Bluetooth
  • Keyless ignition
  • Cruise control
  • HID headlights
  • LED taillights
  • Fog lights

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OPTIONS ON THIS VEHICLE:

  • Panoramic sunroof
  • Power-folding exterior mirrors
  • Infinity audio system
  • Rearview camera
  • Power front passenger’s seat
  • Driver’s seat memory function
  • Heated and ventilated front seats
  • Heated outboard rear seats
  • Navigation w/real-time traffic

The 2013 Kia Optima SX Limited was super fun to drive.  The pickup was incredible and that was because of the turbocharged engine.  Melinda and I would go out for drives just to get the Kia on the road and that is saying a lot because I hate driving most of the time, LOL.  I really liked the size of the Optima from front to back.  The leg room was great which I look for due to me being 6’3.  The truck was another thing I was impressed with.  We loaded it with a trip to the grocery store as well as BJ’s Wholesale and had plenty of room in the trunk.

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Some of my favorite features of the Kia Optima SX Limited were the rear view camera, cooled leather seats, navigation system and satellite radio. When it comes to cars I am very hard to please but I will say that this car had so many features that it was feature overload for me.  Like I mentioned to me this car yells luxury  but if you want to find out for yourself head to your local Kia dealer and see for yourself.




A Visit with #MightyMike Adventure Aquarium

Finding things to do for the entire family is sometimes hard.  With the kids being such a wide range of ages I’m bound to have a bored one on my hands at some point during an outing.  There are always exceptions to the rule though.  Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ always gets the kids excited head out the door.

With two million gallons of fun, seven different touch exhibits, the countries only aquarium wtih a Great Hammerhead Sharks,  40-foot suspended Shark Tunnel,  a 4D Theater and free live shows and up-close animal experiences daily, and it’s clear to see why a trip to Adventure Aquarium promises to deliver family memories that will last a lifetime.

Adventure Aquarium

We made our way over the Adventure Aquarium to visit Mighty Mike, a 14 foot, 800lb alligator.  Mighty Mike is said to be the BIGGEST alligator on display outside of their home state of Florida.  His exhibit allows visitors to get right up close, almost eye to eye while remaining safe behind the glass.

Mighty Mike Alligator Adventure Aquarium

The Stingray Beach Club was the most popular exhibit for this visit. The last time we went to Adventure Aquarium Shae and Shaun were scared to touch the stingrays.  This time around I couldn’t get them out of the area to see the rest of the sea creatures.  Honestly I couldn’t keep their hands out of all the touch exhibits.

Shark Tunnel Adventure AquariumSea Creatures Adventure Aquarium Touching Sharks Adventure Aquarium Touching Stingrays Adventure Aquarium

As my kids get older I’m finding that they appreciate these outings and events more. The educational tips  and facts they learn along the way are tucked away for use later on like a quiz for dad or mom-mom and pop-pop.

If you happen to be in the Philadelphia/South Jersey area Adventure Aquarium is a definite family friendly stop you don’t want to miss.




Despicable Me 2 Recapitulation

Since the worldwide blockbuster Despicable Me entertained audiences around the globe in 2010, grossing more than $540 million Gru has ben a doting dad to his girls, Margo, Edith and Agnes and an aspiring entrepreneur. Life has been calm and actually quite boring that is until he is visited by Lucy Wilde, a secret agent who overpower’s Gru’s infamous “freeze ray” and kidnaps him.

This entire experience puts Gru back in the game just on a different team.. As a new member of the Anti-Villain League (AVL) Gru and his new partner Lucy work to bring down a super-villain called El Macho that not only wants to the take over the world but also tear apart Gru’s extended family.  The minions are in trouble and Gru along with the help of the girls and loyal Dr Nefario.

Rob, Shaun, Shae and I got the chance to see an early screening of Despicable Me 2 in White Marsh, MD (our old stomping grounds) and we loved it. Rob and I sat on opposite ends of the kids and I heard him chuckling throughout the entire film. Despicable Me 2 was written for ALL audiences. From Gru’s dating catastrophes to the soulful music of Pharrell Williams this movie is definitely going to be a family favorite no matter who is in your family.
Shaun and Shae getting ready for Despicable Me 2

I dare you NOT to dance to this song, HAPPY. The guy that was sitting next to me almost jumped out of his chair he was moving so much!