This year I decided to unplug a bit over the Thanksgiving holiday. But, here are two of my favorite brands and their Cyber Monday Deals!

Parent-loved brand, KeaBabies, is offering some fantastic Black Friday deals now through December 2nd. From organic hooded towels to burp cloths, bibs, crib sheets and baby wrap carriers, check out some of our favorites on sale for little ones! 

KeaBabies Baby Wrap Carrier (Trendy Black)

Discount 18% off on Amazon.com

2-Pack Soothe Fitted Mini Crib Sheets

Discount 15% off on Amazon.com

Organic Baby Hooded Towel (Lamb) 

Discount 15% off on Amazon.com

Organic Baby Bandana Drool Bibs

Discount 15% off on Amazon.com

5-Pack Urban Burp Cloths (Sweet Charm)

Discount 15% off on Amazon.com

Learn more at www.KeaBabies.com. All deals are available on Amazon.com. 

STEEPED Coffee delivers single-serve, gourmet coffee in its oversized COFFEE BAGS without the need for pods or plugs. Completely compostable, these bags are filled with the best coffee using a proprietary method to keep it fresh & delicious.

Monthly Gift coffee subscriptions and related coffee gear are also available for coffee lovers. Great for the office, camping, RV’s, traveling and outdoor living, too.

Seasonal Offer (now through 12/31/24) – Get a free holiday mug with an order of $75 or more with code HMUG24.

Holiday Gifting Sale (12/6-12/12) – 15% off all coffee with code COFFEEGIFT15 and Buy One, Get One 50% off bundles and gear with code BOGO50GEAR (these codes can be combined)

Chances are you have someone in your life who’s a serious coffee drinker. Wouldn’t it be nice to gift them with eco-friendly gourmet coffee delivered to their door?  Whether it’s a variety pack, monthly subscription, or cool coffee gear, look no further than to  Steeped Coffee (www.SteepedCoffee.com).

What sets Steeped Coffee apart is its proprietary brewing method that does not require machines or brewing equipment, made much like tea. The coffee comes in single-serve bags that are nitro-sealed to ensure absolute freshness. It’s a uniquely “unplugged” coffee experience, from the award-winning packaging made using compostable and renewable materials to the non-GMO filters. All it takes to brew a perfect cup is hot water and a few minutes, and at the end of the day, there are no wasteful plastic pods accumulating in waterways or landfills.

Best of all, each Steeped Pack contains hand-roasted, ethically sourced, Direct Trade coffee that’s precision ground to showcase the distinctive flavor profile of every crafted blend. Whether you’re looking for light, medium, dark, French roast, or even decaf, there’s something for you.

The innovative coffee company  is committed to premium coffee, convenience, and environmental stewardship in equal measure.  So, when you introduce the coffee lovers in your life to Steeped, it’s a win-win for them and the planet.

So instead of racking your brain for the perfect gift, visit the Steeped website and make someone’s day while also being eco-conscious!  Here are 8 gift ideas for the coffee lover in your life.

I have tried it and I recommend this brand highly! 🙂 Self Disclosure: I received free samples of Steeped Coffee.

Happy Holidays!

Looking for a fun way for the kids to count down to Christmas? This is not the traditional chocolate advent calendar and so much more fun!

The PLAYMOBIL Trip to the Christmas Market advent calendar is perfectly on theme for the holidays! The calendar contains twenty-four surprise items for each day leading up to Christmas, including four figures, ice skating rink, and plenty of colorful decorations for a picturesque holiday experience. On Christmas morning a complete playset is revealed!

I love this brand and their advent calendars are so much fun for kids! I love the ice skating rink and how bright and colorful it is! It will last longer than chocolate too!

Self Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate this holiday featured post. Images were also provided.

Old World Christmas, the leader in glass blown ornaments, is branching out this year and is excited to introduce a new line of candles.  They have some really wonderful holiday fragrances too! I received the Vanilla Christmas Cookie Candle and love how it smells like freshly baked Christmas cookies!

Vanilla Christmas Cookie Candle

The perfect combination of almond, apricot, and spicy middle notes, along with the creamy caramel and vanilla base notes, creates a well-rounded and inviting aroma.

Fragrance Notes:

Top: Almond, Apricot, Vanilla

Middle: Cinnamon, Ginger, Cream

Base: Sugar, Caramel, Vanilla, Crust

Essential Oil: Cassia

I love that I can really smell the vanilla and caramel!

Frosted Cranberry Mandarin Candle

This fragrance opens with the tart aroma of cranberries and sweet raspberries leading into cooling notes of mint leaf softened with delicate rose petals settling into a creamy foundation of vanilla.

Fragrance Notes:

Top: Cranberries, Raspberries,

Lemon, Mandarin

Middle: Mint, Rose Petals, Cassis

Base: Vanilla, Caramel

Essential Oil: Citral

Spiced Pumpkin Creme Candle

A wonderful olfactory experience that captures the essence of fall featuring notes of warm vanilla blended with pumpkin puree whipped with all spice and anise.

Fragrance Notes:

Top: Vanilla, Pumpkin

Middle: Cinnamon, Nutmeg

Base: Anise, Clove

Essential Oil: Clove

Fresh Balsam Fir Candle

This fragrance is perfect for bringing the outdoors inside and creating a fresh and uplifting ambiance during the holiday season featuring green pineapple, pine, and balsam sur-rounded by an evergreen musk.

Fragrance Notes:

Top: Green Pineapple, Cedar

Middle: Fir Needle, Pine, Fir Balsam

Base: Musk

Essential Oil: Siberian Fir Needle

Sparkling Apple Cider Candle

A captivating olfactory experience that combines the freshness of apples with the richness of honey and caramel, creating a delightful and comforting scent that is perfect for the fall and winter seasons.

Fragrance Notes:

Top: Crisp Green Apple, Cedar, Soul Aire

Middle: Honey, Caramel

Base: Vanilla, Oakmoss, Musk

Essential Oil: Cedarwood

These would also make a wonderful gift for Thanksgiving!

Self Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate this post. Images were also provided.

Jams World Clothes: At school when everyone starts looking the same, be the one who stands out thanks to Jams World. This is a clothing line like no other since the creators believe in comfort, color, freedom, difference, and love. From girls’ dresses and graphic tees to comfy tropical themed button up shirts, there’s sure to be something for every kid on this year’s back-to-school list. Jams World kids live through a rainbow of colors!  I really like the bright colors! For more information please visit: https://www.jamsworld.com/pages/kids 

Are you looking for healthy back-to-school snacks that your kids will love and won’t want to trade? Check out Whoa Dough Cookie Dough snack bars. They are plant-based, allergen-friendly, and made without gluten, dairy, soy, or eggs. Additionally, they are non-GMO, vegan, and kosher certified (OU). Whoa Dough offers a nutritious alternative to high-sugar snacks with 4–5 grams of protein and less than 10 grams of sugar. These bars are individually wrapped for convenience and freshness. They capture the yummy taste of raw cookie dough using 100% plant-based, wholesome ingredients. Parents can confidently pack Whoa Dough in lunch boxes or toss them into backpacks, knowing they make a delicious, healthy, and convenient choice. The bars are available in chocolate chip, sugar, sugar sprinkles, peanut butter, peanut butter chocolate chips, brownie batter, oatmeal, and a variety pack. Available at www.whoadough.com, Amazon, and retailers nationwide. 

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate his post, Images and information were also provided.

As Halloween creeps up like that weird neighbor who always “forgets” to wear pants, it’s time to inject some fur-tastic fun into the spooky season. Meet Predicto Cat—your sassy, slightly unhinged companion for surviving the thrills, chills, and potential sugar comas of Halloween night. Whether you’re frantically YouTubing “last-minute costumes that don’t scream ‘I tried’,” or just looking to add a touch of magic to your trick-or-treating strategy (AKA how to avoid the house giving out toothbrushes), Predicto Cat is here to make Halloween more de-fright-ful!

Meet Predicto Cat (No Catnip Required)

Predicto Cat isn’t your grandma’s crystal ball; it’s a whimsical, interactive toy that brings mystical meows and enough flashing lights to trigger an impromptu rave. Simply ask a question, wave your hand over or pet your Predicto Cat (consent is key, folks), and watch as it lights up faster than your neighbor’s electricity bill in December. With over 40 responses, it’s like having a Magic 8 Ball that went to finishing school and decided to identify as a feline. Compact enough to fit in your trick-or-treat bag, it’s the perfect companion for those moments when you need a dash of enchantment or just want to blame your poor life choices on a toy.

Fun Halloween Activities with Predicto Cat (Because Why Adult When You Can Cat?)

1. Costume Roulette Can’t decide between being a vampire or a burrito? Let Predicto Cat make the choice! Ask it, “Should I be a sexy tax auditor for Halloween?” and let its whimsical wisdom guide you to sartorial greatness (or hilarious disaster).
2. Pumpkin Carving Roulette Struggling with what to carve into your pumpkin? Ask Predicto Cat: “Should I attempt to carve the entire U.S. Constitution?” Let it help you create a jack-o’-lantern that’s either a masterpiece or a cry for help.
3. Trick-or-Treat Treasure Map Unsure which houses give out the good stuff? Predicto Cat’s got your back! Ask, “Will I score full-size candy bars on Elm Street?” and let the magical moggy guide you to the sugar motherlode.
4. Party Game Russian Roulette Need help deciding on Halloween party games? Use Predicto Cat to choose between “Pin the Tail on the Werewolf” or “Competitive Candy Corn Stacking.” It’s a fun way to ensure your party is either legendary or a glorious trainwreck.
5. Scary Story Generator Not sure if your ghost story is scary enough? Give Predicto Cat a shake and ask, “Is my tale about the haunted sock drawer terrifying?” Let it help you fine-tune your stories for maximum “I might have just wet myself” factor.

Remember, with Predicto Cat by your side, you’re just one paw away from turning your Halloween from “meh” to “meow-nificent”! Who needs adulting when you’ve got feline prophecies, right?

I love that Predicto Cat is not only for kids but is so much fun for adults too!

Predicto Cat can be found on Amazon.com

Happy Halloween!

Self Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate this post. Images and info were also provided.

Why Freeze-Dried Fruit?

Freeze-dried fruit is a fantastic alternative to traditional sugary snacks and treats. It retains most of the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in fresh fruit, making it a guilt-free option for Halloween celebrations. Its crunchy texture and vibrant flavors make it an enticing snack that kids will adore. By incorporating freeze-dried fruit into your Halloween festivities, you can create delicious, nutritious snacks that everyone will enjoy!

Three Unique Ideas to Inspire Your Halloween Celebrations:

1. Spooky Snack Trays: Create a colorful Halloween-themed snack tray featuring a variety of freeze-dried fruits like strawberries, apples, and mangoes. Arrange them into fun shapes—think ghostly figures, pumpkins, or bats! Pair them with yogurt dips or nut butter for added flavor and nutrition. This encourages healthy snacking and makes for a visually appealing centerpiece at any Halloween party.

2. Monster Trail Mix: Mix freeze-dried fruits with nuts, seeds, and a sprinkle of dark chocolate chips to create a “Monster Trail Mix.” Package it in Halloween-themed containers or bags as treats for trick-or-treaters or party favors. This delicious and satisfying snack also provides essential nutrients to keep kids energized during their Halloween festivities.

3. Fruity Halloween Treats: Get creative in the kitchen by using freeze-dried fruit to whip up spooky treats! Blend freeze-dried strawberries into a smoothie and freeze them in ice cube trays for “blood-red” smoothie pops. Alternatively, crush freeze-dried banana slices to create a dusting for healthy Halloween-themed cupcakes or cookies, adding a fruity twist without all the sugar.

Health Benefits to Celebrate:

Freeze-dried fruits are packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals, making them an excellent source of nutrition. They are lightweight, convenient, and have a long shelf life, ensuring parents can easily stock up for last-minute celebrations. Plus, they contain no added sugars or preservatives, allowing families to indulge in sweet treats without the guilt.

By embracing freeze-dried fruit, we can create a Halloween that is not only fun and festive but also healthy and nourishing. This approach ensures that kids can enjoy the treats they love while parents can feel good about what they’re serving.

My family had the opportunity to try the delicious Crispy Green’s freeze-dried fruit snacks and they were a hit! I personally liked the Apple the best! Pineapple is really good too!

For more information about Crispy Green’s freeze-dried fruit snacks, go to crispygreen.com.

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this holiday featured post. Images and information were also provided.

Wooden name puzzles have become a popular educational toy for young children, and for good reason. These custom puzzles, often featuring brightly colored letters that spell out a child’s name, offer much more than entertainment. They provide a variety of developmental benefits that support learning, growth, and play in meaningful ways. In this article, we’ll explore the best benefits of wooden name puzzles for children on the website https://voopuzzle.com/, from cognitive development to fostering creativity.

1. Enhancing Fine Motor Skills

One of the most immediate and observable benefits of wooden name puzzles is their ability to enhance fine motor skills. As children manipulate the puzzle pieces, picking them up, fitting them into the correct slots, and turning them if needed, they exercise their hand muscles. This repetitive action helps strengthen the small muscles in their hands and fingers, which are critical for later tasks like writing, using scissors, and performing other fine motor activities.

For toddlers, the development of hand-eye coordination is also significant. The act of aligning a puzzle piece with its corresponding slot requires them to use their visual perception in tandem with their motor skills, boosting both areas simultaneously.

2. Personalized Learning

A unique advantage of wooden name puzzles is the personalized nature of the toy. The puzzle typically spells out the child’s name, which can be a powerful learning tool in itself. Children begin to recognize the letters of their name at an early age, and this recognition forms the foundation of early literacy. Not only are they learning the letters, but they’re also learning how these letters come together to form their own name.

The personalized aspect of the puzzle helps foster a sense of ownership and pride in learning. This emotional connection with the puzzle may encourage children to engage with it more frequently, reinforcing the learning process.

3. Promoting Cognitive Development

Wooden name puzzles can also have a profound impact on cognitive development. Puzzles encourage problem-solving, critical thinking, and spatial awareness. As children work to fit the pieces into their correct places, they engage in trial-and-error thinking. They learn to analyze the shape of the pieces and determine which slot each piece belongs to, a process that boosts their cognitive abilities.

This problem-solving process helps children understand the concept of persistence and patience. They are learning that even if they don’t succeed at first, with continued effort, they can eventually solve the puzzle. This valuable lesson can extend beyond puzzles and into everyday challenges they face as they grow.

4. Building Self-Esteem and Confidence

Mastering a puzzle, especially one as personal as a name puzzle, can significantly boost a child’s confidence. When children successfully place the puzzle pieces in the right order, they experience a sense of accomplishment. The feeling of “I did it!” can build self-esteem, encouraging them to take on more complex challenges in the future.

The sense of ownership and familiarity with the letters in their name reinforces their ability to learn and succeed. This sense of confidence is crucial in helping children become resilient learners who aren’t afraid to make mistakes and try again.

5. Supporting Early Literacy

Wooden name puzzles offer a fantastic way to support early literacy in young children. By regularly engaging with the letters in their name, children begin to associate these symbols with sounds, forming a critical link in the development of reading skills. The repetitive exposure to their name’s letters helps reinforce letter recognition, a key pre-reading skill.

As children get older, name puzzles can be a stepping stone for more complex literacy skills. They may start recognizing the letters in their puzzle in books or signs, helping them understand that these symbols represent sounds and words in the world around them.

6. Fostering Color and Shape Recognition

Most wooden name puzzles are designed with bright, bold colors, making them excellent tools for teaching children about color recognition. As they play, children can learn to identify and name different colors. This type of play is especially beneficial for toddlers who are just starting to grasp the concept of colors.

Additionally, wooden name puzzles often feature uniquely shaped pieces, reinforcing the child’s understanding of shapes. By handling the differently shaped letters, children develop spatial awareness, which helps them in other areas such as math and geometry in the future.

7. Developing Patience and Concentration

Children can sometimes get frustrated when they struggle to fit puzzle pieces in the correct places, but this provides an opportunity to develop patience. Wooden name puzzles are excellent for teaching kids that it’s okay to take their time and focus on the task at hand.

The process of completing a puzzle requires sustained attention, which helps build their concentration skills. Over time, they will learn to approach challenges methodically rather than giving up at the first sign of difficulty. The ability to concentrate on a task, particularly one that requires careful thinking, will benefit them in school and other areas of life.

8. Encouraging Creative Play

Puzzles don’t always have to be about solving problems—they can also be a gateway to creative play. Children often use the pieces from their name puzzle in imaginative ways, such as using them as pretend objects in a game or arranging them to form new patterns. This kind of open-ended play encourages creativity and problem-solving in non-linear ways.

For instance, a child might stack the letters to form a tower, or use the letters to tell a story, combining creativity with literacy skills. The versatile nature of wooden name puzzles makes them a multi-functional toy that can be used in a variety of playful scenarios.

9. Eco-Friendly and Durable

Wooden name puzzles are made from natural, non-toxic materials, making them a safer option for young children who might still be prone to putting objects in their mouths. Unlike plastic toys, which can be harmful to the environment, wooden toys are biodegradable and sustainable. This eco-friendly aspect of wooden name puzzles aligns with the growing trend of parents seeking environmentally conscious products for their children.

Moreover, wooden puzzles are highly durable. They can withstand years of play, passed down from sibling to sibling, and still remain intact. This durability makes them an excellent long-term investment for parents, offering educational value for years to come.

10. Strengthening Family Bonds

Wooden name puzzles can also serve as a way for parents and children to bond. Parents can engage in puzzle-solving activities with their children, offering guidance and encouragement as the child works through challenges. This shared activity not only supports the child’s learning but also provides quality bonding time.

Spending time together on educational activities helps reinforce the child’s learning while deepening the parent-child connection. This kind of interactive play encourages communication and collaboration, important skills that will serve the child well throughout their life.

11. Customizable and Personal Gifts

Wooden name puzzles are not only a great educational tool but also make for a thoughtful and personalized gift. Whether for a birthday, a holiday, or a milestone, gifting a child a wooden name puzzle creates a lasting keepsake that they can cherish. The ability to customize the puzzle with a child’s name adds a special touch that sets it apart from more generic toys.

This personalized aspect of the puzzle makes it more than just a learning tool—it becomes a treasured item that is both functional and sentimental. Parents and children alike often appreciate the effort that goes into creating such a unique gift.

12. Encouraging Independence

As children become more familiar with their wooden name puzzle, they start to play with it independently. This fosters a sense of independence as they learn to complete the puzzle without the help of an adult. Giving children the opportunity to solve puzzles on their own supports self-reliance, as well as problem-solving skills.

Independent play is an essential part of a child’s development. Wooden name puzzles offer just the right balance of challenge and fun, allowing children to feel confident as they explore and learn on their own.

Conclusion

Wooden name puzzles offer a wide range of developmental benefits for children. From improving fine motor skills and early literacy to fostering creativity and independence, these personalized toys are a powerful tool for early learning. Their eco-friendly nature, durability, and ability to be a cherished keepsake make them a perfect addition to any child’s toy collection. Whether used for education or play, wooden name puzzles provide endless opportunities for growth, fun, and learning.

Sweet Chaos Fall Flavors

Mix it up this Fall! Sweet Chaos is the perfect blend of your favorite sweet & salty snacks… especially their Fall-inspired offerings that include Pumpkin Spice, Candy Corn, Maple Brown Sugar, and Vanilla Chai. Sweet Chaos Drizzles are Gluten Free, made with Non-GMO popcorn, and have no artificial colors or flavors. Non-GMO popcorn is popped in Coconut Oil, with just the right amount of Cane Sugar and Sea Salt, and then sprinkled with delicious drizzles! Learn more at https://sweetchaos.com/. The Candy Corn flavor was a hit with my family!

Wiley Wallaby Minis

Grab and go! Wiley Wallaby Licorice has debuted new Minis just in time for Fall fun! The soft and chewy licorice bursting with terrific taste is now squeezed into a MINI bite! Wiley Minis are packed full of the classic fruit flavors you know and love. Pop in your favorites by the handful, or savor them one-by-one. Wiley Minis might be small but sometimes, bite-sized is the right size! Perfect for classroom parties, passing out to trick-or-treaters, enjoying on road trips to go leaf peeping – anywhere you need a sweet treat! Plant-based, fat-free and made without high fructose corn syrup, the treat-sized Minis from Wiley Wallaby are available in three delicious flavors, including Classic Red, Watermelon and Sourrageous Drops. My favorite is the Classic Red! Learn more at www.WileyWallaby.com. 

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this post. Images were also provided.