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With Spring and Summer comes family vacations...my favorite! Next week, Mike, Lucas and I are actually headed to Los Angeles for a business trip, but we're turning it into a mini-vacation as well. Lucas is so excited to get on a plane and do some traveling! Thanks to Lands' End, he even got his own suitcase for the trip. The Boys' 18" Wheeled First ClassMate is honestly better quality than my luggage. I am a little bit jealous LOL. As all Lands' End products, this suitcase is rugged and durable made with tough fabric and zippers. It comes in several patterns and colors--for both boys and girls. It can even be monogrammed or embroidered with your child's name.


Check out the features:

• Fits all standard overhead storage
• Large main compartment has two zippered interior pockets for organizing
• Two quick-release straps stabilize the load in the main compartment
• One large, zippered exterior pocket, plus one small for keeping extras handy
• Telescoping dual-pole handle design is stable and easy to maneuver
• In-line skate wheels roll smoothly
• Tough, lightweight 600-denier polyester
• Comes with a handy Travel Kit that meets all TSA guidelines

I think what surprised me the most is that while this is a kid's suitcase, it is actually very roomy and has lots of pockets. There are two front pockets--one of those being large--perfect for coloring books or travel activities that can easily be accessed on a plane. The suitcase is also easily maneuverable by a child. Lucas has no problem extending the telescoping handle and wheeling the suitcase around.


What it fits: 5 pair underwear, 3 pants/shorts, 2 polos, 3 tees/turtlenecks, 1 oxford shirt, fleece/rain jacket, swim trunks, hooded sweatshirt, pajamas, shoes. Travel Kit is a clear zippered bag holding unbreakable flip-top bottles, spray bottles and more for shampoo, lotion, etc. (Bag is sized at 1 quart and bottles are all 3 oz. or less, meeting TSA guidelines.) The kit also comes with a toothbrush holder.




Buy it at Lands' End for $99.50.



The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or pr company representing the company. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

Link up your giveaways!

Please make sure to link directly to the giveaway and list the name of the giveaway along with the expiration date. Don't forget to stop by Go Graham Go to link up over there as well!

With Mother's Day being right around the corner, it's time to start thinking about what special gift we want to get the special mom's in our own lives. You can't go wrong with jewelry and you can't go wrong with JC Jewelry Design. They specialize in personalized hand stamped jewelry, mommy necklaces, peas in a pod jewelry, as well as personalized guitar picks, and unique gifts for men. They really have something for everyone!

JC Jewerly Design sent me the Two Names Charm with Birthstones Keepsake Necklace to review and it is stunning. Here's a picture of it...


It comes with two 5/8 inch round sterling silver discs, which are hand stamped with the names of your choice. Of course, mine say Lucas and Mike. The pendants themselves have a great look. They are brushed and hand polished...very chic. This particular necklace also comes with your choice of two birthstones giving it a more feminine look. Love it!

JC Jewelry Design has so many great options though! For instance, I love the All My Family Necklace. It is perfect for grandmothers since it can be engraved with up up to 50 charaters or ten names.


The Circle of Love Necklace w/ a heart charm and a pearl is very elegant and would be perfect for moms, sisters, and grandmothers.


If you know a new mom you'd like to honor this Mother's Day, you can't go wrong with the New Mommy Necklace, which is hand stamped with the baby's name and baby feet with a birthstone. So cute!


Another of my favorites is the Peas in a Pod line...aren't they adorable?!

Lucas and I got the opportunity to visit the new Disney Store at Perimeter Mall here in Atlanta for yesterday's Media Day. The store is so magical with its Pixie Dust Lane and translucent lit up trees. Lucas' eyes lit up when we walked in--even I felt like a kid again!


There are several interactive stations set up for kids. The one Lucas loved the most was the CARS branded Ridemakerz where kids can make and build their own vehicle from the CARS movie. This is basically like a Build-A-Bear, but for CARS. Super cool! Kids pick out the vehicle body, chassiz, treadz, wheelz, and then cool accessories. Plus, these vehicles can be turned into remote control cars.


Little girls will flip over the Magic Mirror, which actually recognizes the various Disney princesses. For instance, if your little girl wants to try on Cinderella's gown...then she would put it on and stand in front of the mirror and the mirror comes to life and speaks to the child.


All kids will love the Disney Store Theatre featuring the latest Disney entertainment and crayons and coloring sheets for kids to use while in the store.


Today is the official opening and they have lots of fun stuff planned for this week and weekend. The first 250 guests today will get a special gift and Jodi Benson, the legendary voice of Ariel from Disney’s "Little Mermaid” will be at the store. Mickey and Minnie will also be making an appearance, of course! More info about today's grand opening below.




The Disney Store provided me with a gift bag and gift card to thank me for my time . All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

The weather is really heating up here in Atlanta. We've already had several 80 degree days and we are loving it! In fact, last week...Mike, Lucas, Aries {our dog}, and I went camping for a few days. Spring is definitely here and kids will love to play with the new Vacation playsets by Playmobil. These are seriously adorable and FUN! We received the Pool with Water Slide Set and to say that Lucas loves it...well that would be a major understatement.


This pool can actually be filled with water and even has a working outdoor shower. Yes. It actually works. Gotta love Playmobil. Their attention to detail is amazing! The set comes with six figures and tons of accessories, including a towel, flip flops that can be worn, sunscreen, beach bag, beach ball, and much more. Lucas loves to send the figures racing down the slide and he has brought ALL of his Playmobil figures and animals into the pool party LOL. This is a really fun set--great for a rainy day or to take outside for some water play this Spring and Summer.





Get it at Toys R Us for $39.99.





The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or pr company representing the company. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

If you're a contact lens wearer, you should consider trying a new contact solution called Biotrue by Bausch + Lomb. It is formulated to work just like your eyes by containing a lubricant found naturally in eyes, matching the pH of healthy tears, and by keeping certain beneficial tear proteins active. I actually don't wear contacts, but Mike does so I had him try out Biotrue. Watch the video below to hear about Mike's opinion of Biotrue and make sure to visit BioTrue.com for more information about the product.





I wrote this review while participating in a Mom Central Consulting blog tour on behalf of Bausch + Lomb Biotrue. I received a Biotrue sample and a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

If you follow me on Facebook, then you probably know that last week Mike, Lucas, Aries {our chocolate lab}, and I packed up the car and went camping for 4 days and 3 nights. It was our first time taking Lucas camping and it was also the longest we'd ever been camping. We got to spend so much quality time together...away from the stress of the daily grind, computers, and TV. It was wonderful spending time outdoors and reconnecting not only with each other, but with nature. We had an amazing time and made the most amazing memories. Memories that we will never forget.


Before our trip, I was worried about taking a 3 year old camping. I mean, in the past, Mike and I would relax, read, or do whatever we wanted. Now that we're parents, we know that this is not possible with kids. You really do need to have a plan. Here are some of the things we did on our camping trip that Lucas really enjoyed...

1. Collect firewood, twigs, and branches together.


2. Go on a nature walk or hike. You can even have a scavenger hunt.


3. Go fishing. Lucas loved this!


4. No camping trip is complete without a campfire, roasted marshmallows, and s'mores!


5. Use items from nature to make art. We made pet rocks and monsters. The whole process was fun! From collecting and cleaning the rocks to painting them and adding googly eyes and pom pom tails. You can also do art projects using leaves or pine cones.



Whatever you do, just enjoy being together. Prep and cook dinner together, read stories, snuggle up by the fire and talk for hours, play games, and tell silly jokes. Have fun and make memories that will last a lifetime!

Ladies, if you've been dying to try some new P&G beauty products...now is the time! From now until Thursday {3/31}, select e-Retailers are offering big discounts on products by Olay, CoverGirl, Herbal Essences, Clairol, and Secret. e-Retailers participating in the promotion are the following:

P&G eStore (www.pgestore.com)
Amazon (www.amazon.com)
Soap (www.soap.com)
Drugstore.com (www.drugstore.com)

Here’s just a few of P&G’s new, innovative beauty products that are now available in stores or online:


* Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System – provides comparable cleansing and exfoliating effect as professional cleansing systems that cost up to $200 or more. The System gently exfoliates to reveal brighter, smoother skin with each use. The Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System includes:
o Olay Professional Pro-X Two-Speed Facial Cleansing Brush – lightweight handheld two-speed, rotating brush that delivers daily deep cleansing and gentle exfoliation
o Olay Professional Pro-X Exfoliating Renewal Cleanser – fragrance-free lathering microbead formula designed to purify and renew skin’s texture for refreshed, smooth skin



* Olay Body Collection – bring the Spa experience right into your own bathroom with a body collection packed with high performance ingredients and infused with fragrances that will indulge your senses at a fraction of the price of leading specialty brands. The Olay Body Collection features a Cleansing Body Wash with Microbeads, a Moisturizing Body Wash, a Body Lotion (available in two sizes) and a Body Bar with a Massaging Design. The body collection comes in the following scents:
o Luscious Embrace (enriched with crushed orchid and jojoba butter)
o Silk Whimsy (contains rose extract and an almond oil blend)
o Purely Pristine (infused with seaweed extract and mineral crystals)


* COVERGIRL Lip Perfection Lipstick – the perfect purse accessory to complement date night. Provides rich color that moisturizes lips – with regular use you’ll see smoother, more luscious lips in just seven days. So, say hello to lip perfection with 44 beautiful, transforming shades coordinated within four shade families:
o Browns
o Nudes/corals/reds
o Lilacs/mauves/burgundies
o Pinks to roses



* Herbal Essences – shampoos and conditioners that contain water activated silkening ingredients to give you the fresh salon look you crave – after just one wash. Get soft and shiny results while transforming your shower into paradise. The revitalized formulas are available in the following collections:
o Hello Hydration
o Long-Term Relationship
o Totally Twisted
o Body Envy
o None of Your Frizzness
o Touchably Smooth



* Clairol Nice ‘n Easy Color Blend Foam – eases the burden associated with at-home hair color with a mess-free, no drip formula that allows you to roam-free around your house during the color process. The multi-tasking possibilities are endless! Nice ‘n Easy Color Blend Foam is available in 18 shades.



* Secret Natural Mineral – effectively fights wetness and provides naturally derived odor protection. This natural mineral deodorant contains odor fighting capsules that are instantly activated by body heat or water – so when your kids are pushing you over the edge, you’ll be dry and smelling lovely! Secret Natural Mineral is available in the following formulas:
o Eucalyptus Blossom
o Lemongrass Mint
o Unscented



The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or pr company representing the company. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

Center for Puppetry Arts brings back its popular modern adaptation of the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast, artfully presented in a bilingual blend of Spanish and English. Artistic Director Jon Ludwig’s interpretation has the same spunk and sass from years past, full of toe-tapping music, lots of laughs, and a poignant message.


The Center’s distinctive production takes place in an urban environment where Beauty and her mother run a beauty salon, owned by the tyrannical Doña Arruga. During a business deal gone awry, Beauty’s mother stumbles upon the Beast’s “lair”, a fantasy forest in the midst of the city. Obeying the Beast’s demands, Beauty goes to him in return for her mother’s safety. Although afraid of the creature she expects to find, Beauty realizes that beneath the Beast’s shaggy exterior, there is a loveable and lonely friend.

Representing the urban world in which they live, mops, rakes, pipes, wrenches and other “found” objects, make up the cast of characters. Innocent Beauty, fiery Mama, power-hungry Doña Arruga, and the surprisingly sweet Beast embody their most identifiable characteristics from the objects of which they are made. For those who have always wanted to see a cat boogie, a book rap, and two mops fall in love, then this is the perfect show!

Beauty and the Beast will be presented in the Mainstage Theater. Show times are as follows:
April 7-10, 2011: Tuesday-Friday @ 10am & 11:30am; Saturday @ 12pm and 2pm; Sunday @ 2pm
April 12-May 29, 2011: Tuesday-Friday @ 10am & 11:30am; Saturday @ 11am, 1pm and 3pm; Sunday @ 1pm and 3pm.

CREATE-A-PUPPET WORKSHOP AND MUSEUM TOUR
Included in the ticket cost is admission to the Create-A-Puppet Workshop, where visitors can experience the thrill of puppetry by creating their own Cool Cat Hand Puppet or pick up a Create-A-Puppet To-Go Kit to continue the fun at home!

TICKETING
Tickets for patrons two and older are $16.00 ($14.82 + tax) and include admission to the performance, Create-A-Puppet Workshop (or Create-A-Puppet To-Go Kit), and all museum exhibits. Membership and group rates are available. ORDER TICKETS ONLINE AT WWW.PUPPET.ORG OR CALL THE TICKET SALES OFFICE AT: 404-873-3391 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            404-873-3391      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

Thank you to Lori from Moms by Heart for compiling the best deals at CVS this week! For the full list, please make sure you stop by Moms By Heart!

Honk your horns! If you have a little Chuggington fan at home, but you haven't wanted to invest in the new toy trains because they weren't compatible with your existing train sets...I have great news for you! Learning Curve has just launched new wooden Chuggington train sets that are indeed compatible with other wooden train sets and die cast trains. Check them out...


Double-Decker Roundhouse with Elevating Turntable


This double-decker roundhouse has a unique 2-in-1 design for more ways to play! Stack for two levels or unstack for two separate roundhouses! Includes elevating turntable, tower tunnel and bonus switch track adaptor. 2-in-1 design creates more ways to play

• Real wood construction
• Compatible with other wooden track systems

Over & Under Starter Set

• This 22-piece set features a 2-in-1 Clock Tower: stack for tower or unstack for two separate tunnels! Includes Wilson, Koko, and Vee.2-in-1 design creates more ways to play
• Real wood construction
• Exclusive Chuggington Track
• Compatible with other wooden track systems

There are also additional track packs available so that your kids can expand their train tracks or even multi-level packs to create elevated tracks.

I think it is wonderful that Learning Curve came out with these new sets because parents don't want to have to go out and buy every new train set that comes out. Not only is it expensive, but they also take up a lot of space. Space that is at a premium at most of our homes. Now with these new wooden sets, kids can use them interchangeably with their their other die cast trains and wooden train tracks. That's definitely something to honk your horns about!