- Travel cosmetic pouch: Made of waterproof, durable Oxford nylon, it measures 8×3.5×4 inches. Available in 6 colors for $13.99
- Large make-up bag: Made of waterproof, durable Oxford nylon, it measures 13×7.5×4 inches. Available in 4 colors for $16.99
Our Kinzd bags are sturdy and durable and hold their shape well. The nylon outer is easy to wipe clean.
The travel pouch is a nice little make-up bag that is perfect for short trips, or for keeping a small amount of cosmetics in. The larger case can serve as your everyday make-up bag, or as a travel case for bigger items like shampoo, lotion, hairspray, etc.
One of my favorite features is the heavy duty zipper, which operates smoothly and flawlessly. These bags aren’t loud or flashy; the sleek design is classic and understated.
Besides bags and accessory cases, Kinzd is best known for affordable men’s and women’s genuine leather wallets. Slim, practical and stylish, they feature RFID blocking technology and a 6-month warranty.
You can shop Kinzd directly at their website or on Amazon.
Giveaway: Three of my readers in the US/Canada will receive their choice of product from Kinzd (wallet or one of cosmetic bags I reviewed). Enter using the form below. Good luck!
Online Guitar Lessons for Teens That Really Work
Thank you Fender for sponsoring this post. Learn guitar at home with Fender Play.
Learning to play a musical instrument can transform your life in so many wonderful ways. I know because I’m a self-taught guitarist and took piano for 9 years. Over the years, I have enjoyed using these skills to perform both in public and private, and the joy that music gives me and others is well worth the time it takes to learn.
Already, I can see that my children have musical gifts, but traditional lessons can cost a lot of money, require a regular commute, and having the right teacher can make or break the whole experience. When my eldest son, 14-year-old Joseph, expressed interest in learning guitar, I was faced with two problems. As a busy mother of 8 children, I didn’t have the time or necessary skills to teach him, and we didn’t have the means necessary to procure and commit to lessons locally. Around this time, we were given the opportunity to try Fender Play free for 6 months, along with a complimentary guitar and AMP. Problem solved!
Fender let Joseph pick out his very own acoustic-electric guitar. Yes, I was slightly jealous, and yes, I have asked Joseph “Can I play your guitar for a minute?” many times over!
Joseph chose the Sonoran SCE Acoustic-Electric dreadnought in classic black with a white pick guard. What sold him on this particular model was the maple Stratocaster neck with a “C” profile (top right photo), which delivers the cool look and feel of an electric guitar, but on an acoustic body. Joseph’s Sonoran features a polished spruce top, mahogany back and sides, maple neck and headstock and a rosewood fingerboard.
And because this is an acoustic-electric guitar, he’s got Fender’s quality onboard Fishman electronics with preamp, tuner, volume and tone controls.
After signing up for Fender Play, you choose your path – Rock, Pop, Country, Blues or Folk. This will customize your content, drills and songs to your musical preferences. You can also set your account to Acoustic or Electric. Fender Play is designed to get new guitarists, even those with zero experience, picking and playing within minutes. The curriculum includes hundreds of exercises, drills and instructional videos that are at your fingertips 24/7.
For over a month now, Joseph has been taking advantage of his Fender Play access, with me occasionally looking over his shoulder. The Fender Play video lessons are really well done. The instructor’s voice is clear and well-paced. Each lesson focuses on a bite-sized skill, so it’s not too overwhelming. There’s always some review and practice at the end. With Fender’s online guitar instruction, you get an effective duo of curriculum experts paired with a leading, acclaimed brand.
The Fender Play interface is straightforward, with an easy-to-use menu so you can find exactly what you need with a few clicks. Choose what you want to do each time you log in – Songs, Skills, Articles, etc. Or just click My Path, and Fender will show where you left off last time. Students can also see at a glance what progress they are making with the tracker at the top of the home screen. When I took this screenshot, Joseph had learned 3 new chords, 5 skills, 3 songs and completed 26 lessons. He was at Level 2.
I did notice one omission in the lesson that teaches you to tune the instrument. The “Tune Up!” acoustic lesson instructs the student to use Fender’s tuning app, but neither my son nor I have a smartphone, and I’m sure this might be an issue for others as well. As a musician, I would have preferred that the instructor devote a full lesson to tuning the guitar in the traditional way – by ear, or using harmonics. We don’t always have access to technology, and talents like having a “good ear” for music should be developed.
I did hunt around the Fender website, and found a separate video on tuning with harmonics, but ideally I think there should be instruction for tuning by ear built into the video lessons for beginners. It’s one of the first skills I learned as a fledgling guitar player.
Just this week, Joseph practiced the E minor and open A chords, and we put them together for a rendition of Donald, Where’s Your Trousers? (a comic Scottish tune).
It has been wonderful to hear Joseph say “Can I do a few guitar lesson?” this summer instead of “I’m bored,” or “Can I play a video game?” Nearly every day he asks to sign in so he can learn another chord. He’s been putting in his favorite folk CD’s and trying to play along using the skills he’s learned.
Start a FREE 30-day trial of Fender Play today, and see how quickly your teenager could be playing his first song!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
How to Be an Enchanting Fairy in 3 Easy Steps + a Giveaway
I saw her as t’was yesterday,
The bloom upon her cheek still glowing;
And round her play’d a golden ray,
And on her brows were gay flowers blowing.
With angel-hand she swept a lyre,
A garland red with roses bound it;
Its strings were wreath’d with lambent fire
And amaranth was woven round it. – Alfred Lord Tennyson
The beauty and mystery of the fairy world has captivated me since childhood. I had everything from picture books to coloring books to handmade paper dolls. It was thrilling to imagine that, in a world where things were often difficult (like going to school, being sick or losing a friend), you could simply wave a sparkling wand and make good things happen instantly. As a mother, I love watching my little girls trying to recreate the same magic as they play dress up. Today’s post, sponsored by Great Pretenders, is a “how to” for aspiring fairies everywhere.
Great Pretenders makes beautiful costumes and pretend play accessories for children. It was founded in 1989 by Canadian Joyce Keelan because she was disappointed in the selection of imaginative toys available for her own children. Twenty-seven creative years later, Great Pretenders continues to inspire boys and girls everywhere with a dazzling collection of sparkling gowns, dramatic capes for heroes, pirate garb, color-in costumes, and more!
Ingrid and Susanna are going to walk us through the basics of being a fairy.
#1 Choose Your Identity
There are flower fairies, sea fairies, tree fairies and tooth fairies. Which will you be? The first step is to choose and identity what fits your personality. Ingrid and Susanna wanted to be garden fairies who encourage flowers to grow with one touch of a magic wand.
#2 Choose Your Name
Tinkerbell, Titania, Queen Lurline…try to capture your fairy personality in a memorable name. Today, Susanna is calling herself Rosa Lia; for Ingrid, the name Violetta is perfection.
#3 Choose Your Dress
A lovely costume is undeniably one of the best perks of being a fairy!
Susanna’s Fairy Blossom Gown, with rich hues of magenta, blue and teal, evoke both mystery and enchantment. Tulle petals that float in light layers above the skirt and gossamer wings that your little fairy can hook to her fingers and “fly” away with complete this gorgeous gown. It retails for $35 USD.
The sleeveless lilac fairy tunic allows Ingrid – I mean Violetta – to flit freely about the garden. She’s a vision of purple and silver with pretty flower and ribbon accents around her waist and a plush and stretchy violet-colored bodice. The beautiful forest fairy tunic is available in either pink or lilac and is only $30 USD.
Playing pretend is an important part of every child’s development; it builds social skills, enhances communication, offers practice in problem-solving and can even be a teaching tool for personal and civic virtues. More simply put, children learn while they play, and thank goodness for that, because pretend play is soooo much fun!
The fairy gowns we received from Great Pretenders are beautiful and well made! My only suggestion would be to expand the size offerings beyond 5/6, because older children still love to dress-up, too.
Where to Buy: Great Pretenders costumes and accessories are made in Canada with high quality textiles and embellishments. The online collection includes fairies, princesses, pirates, heroes, mermaids, ballerinas and a special “career” section. And don’t forget the accoutrements – swords, wands, gloves, shields and tiaras. Shipping is free to both the US and Canada with orders over $30!
Giveaway: One of my readers will win a $30 gift card to spend at Great Pretenders. This promotion is open to readers in the US and Canada. Enter using the form below, and good luck!
4 Easy, Healthy Snacks That Toddlers Love
It can be really hard to get your toddler to sit through and finish a whole meal. That’s probably why so many mothers like to offer small snacks throughout the day. It’s an easy and quick way to give your child some energy and nutrition.
I received some product samples from The First Years to provide inspiration for today’s post. These toddler-friendly meal helpers are all available for purchase at your local Walmart or Walmart.com: the Double Duty Plate, Stackable Sippy Cup, and Inside Scoop Dip Plate.
Double Duty plates have two sections for food and a middle section for flatware. You can turn a second plate upside-down and it serves as a sealable lid. So you get two products in one!
While I was writing up this blog post, 4-year-old Erik saw the food pictures and said “When are you going to make me those snacks again?” Hahaha!
Here are the snacks he was talking about…
Waffle Bites: Cut prepared whole wheat waffles into four equal pieces and serve with Greek yogurt for dipping. You can use homemade or frozen waffles. The BPA-free Inside Scoop Dip Plate is ideal for a snack like this. It’s about 7.5 inches in diameter, has a suction base for stability, and a removable rim for thorough cleaning.
Most toddlers love dipping their food into something; this clever little plate from The First Years make it easy to serve up.
Banana Mini Muffins: This snack happened by accident, when I completely forgot to put sugar in a recipe. Surprisingly, the muffins turned out fine, with three very ripe bananas adding just enough natural sweetness. I immediately thought “This is a perfect low-sugar snack for children!” Make these muffins in a mini pan so they are just right for little hands. Here’s a printable 4×6 card of the recipe.
String Cheese Wraps: Roll up your child’s favorite variety of string cheese in a slice of deli turkey, chicken or ham for a tasty, high-protein snack.
Pretzel Pops: Cut a variety of soft fruits (or cheese) into pieces and spear on pretzel sticks.
Most everyone gets thirsty after a good snack, and that’s where sippy cups come in. The First Years Stackable Hard Spout Cups are BPA-free and have a built-in valve so clean up is a breeze. I like not having to worry about sanitizing and keeping up with a lot of small parts. Ingrid likes the cute dinosaurs on the outside!
I’d love to hear your toddler snack ideas, too, so please share in a comment. And don’t forget to follow The First Years on social media for news, updates and promotions.
HALO Luxe Bassinest Swivel Sleeper
Although my home delivery of Mary Kate was fast and pretty straightforward, the recovery was harder this time around. I’m 39 years old now and this was my 9th pregnancy. Add to that 7 other children to care for and it’s no surprise that bouncing back quickly is a thing of the past now. 🙂
Which is why I’m very grateful for being given a chance to try a complimentary HALO Luxe BassinestTM Swivel Sleeper (along with the Newborn Cuddle Insert and a HALO SleepSack Swaddle) in exchange for an honest review. We chose the newly released Medallion print. It arrived in the mail when I was 38 weeks pregnant and was assembled in about 10 minutes. I didn’t even have to ask my oldest son for help (he’s the mechanical genius).
The bassinet features breathable, semi-transparent mesh sides, padded rails and an included pad and (washable) fitted sheet. There are also 3 storage compartments which are attached to the side rails and very handy for diapers, wipes and other small baby essentials.
Unlike other sleepers, this one is freestanding, so you don’t have to attach it to your bed. Yet you still get that same closeness. It doesn’t roll around on a tiny set of wheels and the base is heavy and evenly distributed, making the whole unit very stable.
It’s been a lifesaver during these postpartum days. I needed extra bed rest that first week, and our demanding little newborn was comfortably just inches away. The sleeping area is just the right size for newborns and young infants who aren’t rolling over or pushing up.
During week two we got hit with influenza A, so it was back to bed again! I was incredibly tired and drained, and once again thankful for the ingenious design of this bedside bassinet. I can swivel my little girl right up next to me for comforting and feeding, and swivel her away from the bed when I need to get up. In fact, the Bassinest can do a complete 360 so you can position it exactly where you want. The mechanism is smooth and blissfully quiet so the movement doesn’t disturb your baby’s slumber.
And there’s more! An electronic unit on the front lets you choose from among 3 lullabies, 3 soothing sounds, 2 levels of vibration and a nursing timer. There’s also a night light which is great for nighttime feedings (and bathroom trips!). The Soothing Center requires three AA batteries.
When you lay your tiny newborn in the Bassinest sleeper it may look like more space than she needs. HALO has a specially designed white mesh Cuddle Insert which attaches in just seconds to the Bassinest with hooks. It surrounds your baby more closely, giving newborns the comfort they thrive on. The flat surface rests on top of the Bassinest mattress underneath, so that means the Cuddle Insert stays put and does not “hang,” like a hammock. It aligns with AAP guidelines for safe sleep.
It has breathable fabric for optimal airflow around your sleeping child. You can also throw your Cuddle Insert into the washing machine for easy cleanup. We used it just the first three weeks and then removed it when Mary Kate was a little bigger and was more accustomed to her sleeping quarters.
HALO also sent a SleepSack Swaddle to keep Mary Kate cozy and warm without the need for blankets in the bassinet, which can pose a safety risk (you can find more safe sleep tips here at HALO’s website). SleepSack Swaddles come in a variety of fabrics (cotton, muslin, fleece, etc.) and feature a wide flap across the front which wraps your baby up and closes with hook and loop. It helps your baby feel secure and prevents startling. The SleepSack zips down the middle for easy changes. I also like using the SleepSack Swaddle for nursing, because it keeps Mary Kate’s hands out of the way during latch on. Your baby can also wear the Swaddle with arms out. It didn’t take Mary Kate very long to figure out how to get her arms out anyway, so when she’s asleep I don’t wrap her up with arms in.
One of my favorite features of the HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper is the collapsible side wall, which I highlight in this video clip. Getting your baby in and out of the sleeper is really simple, and your chance of waking the little one up while making the transition is greatly minimized. The sidewall can be locked, if you don’t want to use this feature.
I like the height of the walls, too. They are high enough to keep your baby safe from curious little siblings!
Are there any drawbacks? I mentioned above how sturdy this bassinet is. The flip side is that it’s heavy and clumsy to move around without help. It was too much for me to handle postpartum, so my husband or son did the honors. Also, a bassinet with a flat sleeping surface is not ideal for babies with issues like reflux or frequent spitting up. Mary Kate has had problems with gas and spitting up in her first month, and so she hasn’t slept for long stretches (i.e. more than 2 hours) in the Bassinest.
The HALO Bassinest Swivel Sleeper series starts at $199 and up at Amazon and other retailers. HALO is a company I have been proud to work with over the years, thanks to their great service and commitment to safer sleep for babies (and peace of mind for parents). Follow HALO on social media for updates, news and promos!
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What features do you look for in a baby bed? Do you have any tips to share for getting a newborn to sleep better?
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