Disclaimer: Sponsored by Mabel's Labels but all our thoughts and opinions are our own and 100% unbiased :) Affiliate links included below - you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.
Whether your kids are in day care, in school, going off to camp, or you just like to label everything in your home from water bottles and phone cases to garbage cans and scooters, Mabel's Labels has got your back with customizable water-safe labels in gazillions of sizes, shapes, and designs!
Check out my unboxing and review video (below left video; the other video is our previous Mabel's Label review), read on for more details about the fun labeling haul we just got, and don't forget to enter to win $50 credit to Mabel's Labels in our $1,000 value jackpot giveaway (at the bottom of this post)!
Plant + Garden Markers
We're excited to be in a house finally after leaving our NYC co-op for the country this past summer. When I saw Mabel's Labels had an adorable plant + garden marker set, I decided I had to get it and I had to make a little herb and vegetable garden with my kids!! This set includes 15 wooden sticks and pre-printed labels for peppers, garlic, lettuce, carrots, onions, cucumber, tomatoes, peas, basil, parsley, rosemary, dill, mint, chives, and thyme! With cute images so even your toddlers and pre-readers can understand them! We haven't used them yet, so can't attest to how well they hold up but the website says they're waterproof and durable, so you should be able to clean, store, and re-use each year! It's not quite warm enough to get started, but we have the markers and a few bags of various seeds and are ready as soon as hard frosts finish! I'd love to hear any first-timer gardening tips you may have in a comment below!!
Round Glitter Labels:
Who doesn't love glitter, especially glitter that doesn't come off and make a hot mess!? These labels are so fun, when the light hits right it's sparkle city!! These are waterproof, dishwasher & microwave safe, durable, and you can customize these with first and last name, 8 fonts, 10 colors, and 49 adorable design characters like butterfly or baseball (or go without a character as I did).
Heart Shape Name Labels:
Hearts aren't just for Valentine's Day, they're a year-round shape in our house and I'm simply in LOVE with these labels, as are my twin girls, who will be labeling the heck out of their school supplies come September (we just registered them for Kindergarten, eeeeek!!). These labels are waterproof, dishwasher-safe, durable, and you can customize with first and last name, 8 fonts, and your choice of 8 solid colors and 8 multicolor designs.
Such great stuff, am I right!? You simply can't go wrong with Mabel's Labels! We've been using them on our kids' water bottles for years now and they seriously live up to the claim that they're "durable and dishwasher safe" - we've never had one peel off!! So, head over to customize your own labels, and don't forget you can...
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Disclaimer: we received these shoes in exchange for our review, but all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased! There are affiliate links below, you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.
Kids grow like weeds, it is a fact. But you simply cannot scrimp when it comes to children's shoes. When you find a brand that protects those precious tootsies, nurtures their development, comes in tons of styles and colors, and is still in great shape for hand-me-downs, you stick with it. I've found this in pediped shoes, and if you've tried them, I'm pretty sure you've been sticking with them as well! Keep reading for our review of a few new pairs we just got and enter to win a pair of pediped shoes in my $1,000 value jackpot giveaway at the end of this post!!
When I say pediped is great for your kids' feet, you don't have to take my word for it. They have actually been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance for the promotion of healthy foot development! Most of their shoes have an incredibly flexible sole and vegan, many are water-safe or machine washable, and they come in sizes from baby's crib shoe through 6Y (about 10 years old). One thing I love is that they have several color options in each design, which is GREAT for moms like me who kind of obsess over coordinating her twins' outfits LOL!
The first pair we're going to review are the pediped Flex Sahara sandals, which are water-safe with quick-dry EVA footbeds, are machine-washable, vegan and eco-friendly (made without any solvents during the manufacturing process i.e. less carbon dioxide emission and less use of water and energy!).
We actually love these as summer shoes SO much, this is our 2nd round with them - click here for the most adorable flashback of our 2017 review of these shoes for our 3 kids, in different colors! This year, our girls chose the Berry (kind of a magenta) and Ocean (beautiful bright blue). The soles are super flexible but also grippy - great for your little runners, scooterers, and splash pad adventurers!
My girls threw me a curveball with their next order. They didn't choose the same design! They're not matching or coordinating and my heart broke a little, but the shoes they chose are so darn cute I just couldn't argue!
Mia, on the left, is wearing the pediped Flex Estella Silver, and Emi is in the Flex Dani Blossom sneakers. Both of these are a bit stiffer than the Sahara sandals, but as you can see below they are still pretty flexible. Both of these also feature a simple velcro strap, no frustrations with laces to worry about!
Mia is loving the glitter and bows on her shoes, and I am, too! These Flex Estella shoes are vegan, come in 2 colors (silver or pink) in sizes 22 - 36 with a canvas upper, breathable canvas lining, and a rubber sole. 
Emi got the Flex Dani Blossom sneakers which come in 6 colors in sizes 22 - 36, are vegan, machine-washable, with a mesh upper and flexible rubber sole. She's been running around in them non-stop and also balancing on her tippy tip toes "like a ballerina" ha!
Both the Dani and Estella shoes feature pediped's unique "Flex Fit System" (see above right image) which provides you with a 2mm insert that allows you to customize the shoe's fit a bit, basically allowing you to buy half a size bigger and get a bit more time out of the shoes! Insert for a snugger fit, then take out and use the original insole when the feet have grown a bit!
SUPER CUTE, comfy, great quality shoes - am I right!? And now it's your chance to...
WIN A PAIR!!!!!
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Affiliate links may be included below - you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.
We're all juggling a million things at once - the house, the kids, a job, our sanity! A good life hack here and there can save you lots of time and energy, and I've got a pretty major one for you. Are you ready for this!?
With the Black+Decker Steam N' Vac, you can steam mop and vacuum AT THE SAME TIME!!! That's right!!! Let the steam mop scrub and sanitize your floors while the vacuum picks up all the crumbs and dust bunnies. 2 birds 1 stone! Huge time saver and game changer - I couldn't love mine more!! Watch my unboxing and demo of the Black+Decker Steam Mop & Vacuum combo, read below for more details, then enter to win one in my $1000 value jackpot giveaway at the bottom of this post!!
Here's a break down of the 2-in-1 Black+Decker Steam N' Vac's features and why I'm loving it:
STEAM MOP:
VACUUM:
Buy yours at Walmart or Bed Bath & Beyond.
Enter to win one in my $1,000 value jackpot giveaway, ending 4/7/2021!
We've done it! We've made it through a full year of lockdowns and pandemic pandemonium. It's not over, yet, but can we just take a moment to appreciate everything you've done to take care of yourselves and your families through all of this!? Well freaking done!!! You deserve a treat, parents, and I've got one for you in the form of another HUGE and fa-bu-lous group giveaway!!! Read on for more about the participating brands and $1,000 worth of prizes for kids and adults in the jackpot that will go to 1 lucky winner (US resident over 18)! Enter to win in the Rafflecopter app at the bottom!!
DISCLAIMER: Sponsored by participating brands but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Affiliate links included below - you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking. 
At-Home Summer Camp with
The Rabbit Hole Children's Theater You may not be able to or be comfortable sending your children to in-person summer camps this year, but no worries, The Rabbit Hole Children's Theater in San Francisco has developed an AH-MAY-ZING, super creative, and incredibly engaging LIVE theater camp experience, heading into its second year! Each week will have students visiting a different land in Rabbit Hole Queendom, and a corresponding Theater-in-a-Box kit is mailed to each camper with everything needed to bring a magical show to life at home! Students will attend live classes virtually from home with Rabbit Hole teachers and enjoy character meet and greets, theatrical play, puppet shows, art activities, and audio tales! Nurturing imaginary play and building creative confidence, camp is offered from 9AM - 3PM in two time zones (PST & EST), and will have your child creating and performing their own play!
Black+Decker 2-in-1 Steam Mop + Vacuum Combo
When you're a parent, you have to learn to multitask, and you need products that can multitask, as well! This 2-in-1 Steam Mop and Vacuum by Black+Decker does just that! You can steam mop your sealed surface floors (removing built-up dirt and killing 99% of germs with no chemicals - just water!!), vacuum (includes a large dust bin with a washable HEPA filter), or do BOTH AT THE SAME TIME!!! It blew me away, quite literally!! Check out my full blog review here (unboxing & demo video is below)!! Better yet, save yourself time and just go ahead and buy one at Walmart or Bed Bath and Beyond!!
$100 Credit from DiscountGlasses.com
Whether looking for sunglasses (with or without prescription) or regular glasses, DiscountGlasses.com has an amazing selection of styles for toddlers through adults, at great prices!! Their "20 for $20" monthly picks are a steal, a fun and budget-friendly way to spice up your eyewear collection regularly! If you're nervous about ordering glasses online, don't be! They have free shipping, 365 day free returns, virtual try on for most frames, and you can even renew your prescription with their free online vision test! Check out my latest review of some super cute "mommy and me" / "daddy and me" sunglasses we just got, read an older review of mine here, and watch Mia's adorable "first glasses" unboxing below (we originally ordered her the famously toddler-friendly Miraflex on DiscountGlasses.com but have since realized DG has their own brand, Picklez, with a kids' hinge-free line that is MUCH cheaper and equally amazing)!!
Beleev Skateboard or Scooter
Your whole family can be rolling around in style together this spring and summer with Beleev, producing a great lineup of skateboards and scooters!! Their 3-wheel scooters are good for ages 3 - 10 years (up to 110 pounds), with a handlebar height of 26"-34" and flashing LED light up wheels! Next up we have their 2-wheel kids scooters for ages 4 - 12 years (up to 141 pounds), which folds, has a handlebar height range of 30-34", and features LED lighting wheels. Then we have their 2-wheel scooter for teens and adults, recommended for ages 8+ and up to 220 pounds, which folds, has a kickstand and a handlebar height of 31"-41". They also have 27" & 31" long classic maple skateboards with really great designs to choose from, and 22" long cruiser skateboards with light up LED wheels. Skateboards hold up to 220 pounds.
pediped Children's Shoes
Whether running around at school or your own backyard, your children deserve to be in pediped, high quality fashionable shoes that have been awarded the American Podiatric Medical Association Seal of Acceptance for the promotion of healthy foot development! With everything from water-safe sandals to washable sneakers to cute and cozy boots, pediped will take your little one from baby's first crib shoe to size 6Y (about 10 years old). See our latest review of pediped summer water-safe sandals and 2 other cute pairs of shoes here, and don't miss our 2020 review of pediped sneakers and Mary Janes here!
mifold Comfort Compact Backless Booster
Whether you need to squeeze 3 kids across in the car, need to send a booster with your child to school (this will easily fit in their backpack!), have some taxi travel ahead, or you just want to be totally prepared for carpool duty (this will fit in your glove compartment), mifold has you covered. Their itty bitty booster seat brings the seat belt down to the child rather than boosting them up. In fact, it's the worlds most compact carseat booster, 10x more compact than traditional boosters, but just as safe. Designed for kids ages 4 and up (40 - 100 pounds, 40 - 59" tall), mifold meets or exceeds NHTSA standard FMVSS 213 in the USA and is regulated for use in every country except Australia. Check out our review of the new mifold comfort vs. original mifold, and see our kids using them 3-across in our car! Super excited to test out this new design, which features a more comfortable cushioned seat and anti slip pads underneath! mifold has another incredibly revolutionary product you're not going to want to miss: hifold, the world's most adjustable high back booster seat! Check it out here!!
YoRo Naturals Organic Manuka Honey Skin Soothing Cream
The healthiest and most effective skin cream in the world? Hands down, YoRo Naturals Organic Manuka Honey Skin Soothing Cream. Made with only 6 ingredients, all of them 100% natural, this creamy soothing buttery balm is dermatologist tested and approved, rated 1 (best) on EWG Skin Deep database and safe for babies through adults! Featuring active 16+ Manuka honey and Manuka oil, which is potent in battling bacteria and fungus! There are zero added preservatives or fragrances, it's nut-free, gluten-free, GMO-free, and not gamma radiation treated. Whether you suffer from eczema, psoriasis, sun burn, dry and sensitive skin, razor burn, rosacea, diaper rash, you name it - you need this in your life!
$50 Credit from Mabel's Labels
Whether you have a baby or a big kid, Mabel's Labels has what you need to make sure everything is labeled beautifully - from clothes and bags to shoes and bottles! Heck, you can even label your grownup gear!! Mabel's Labels products are super durable, waterproof, and customizable with names, fonts, and cute designs! Check out our latest Mabel's Labels haul, including Plant & Garden Markers, as well as some adorable heart and glitter labels!! You can also see one of our previous reviews here, including their silicone ID bracelets, Little Kid School Combo label set (with shoe inserts to help little kids know left from right!), silicone bottle bands, and emergency contact labels!
Little GF Chefs Unicorn Donuts Kit
Little GF Chefs' seriously unique monthly baking kits are designed to build confidence, educate, and empower kids! Created by a mom raising children with celiac disease and food allergies, all kits are gluten-free, free from the top 8 most common allergens, contain no artificial dyes, and yet are seriously delicious and creative! Each month's kit is shipped out including dry ingredients, decorating supplies, and a baking tool for a fun new recipe!
Squeasy Gear Silicone Food Pouch
Say hello to the world's best food pouch! Squeasy Gear's Squeasy Snackers are seriously amazing - with a removable spill-proof insert (that totally works!!), these are great for pureed baby food, yogurt, applesauce, and even liquids!! They're dishwasher & freezer safe, made of 100% food-grade eco-friendly bacteria-resistant silicone self-standing for easy filling, and turn inside out (handy when for cleaning flax seed and other tricky items in your smoothies!). You can see my review here - yes, it's from 6 years ago and we are STILL using the same pouches, they seriously never die!!
ENTER TO WIN IT ALL!!!
Did I tell you or did I tell you!??! This is quite possibly the most amazing giveaway I've organized in my many years of doing so! This is going to be one very lucky winner, and it could be you!!! All you have to do is enter to win below: leaving a comment on this blog post and telling the Rafflecopter app that you did so will be your entry!! But wait, you can gain more entry points with every action you take, and some you can take daily!! US residents ages 18+ only. Winner will be chosen randomly, emailed, and given 48 hours to respond so make sure to be checking those spam filters please!! If you have twitter I usually tag you to give you a heads up over there as well! 
Disclaimer: We received these masks free for review but all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased! There are also some affiliate links included - you don't pay more but we'll receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.
Life in the time of COVID, I feel like I'm always on the lookout for the perfect face mask - adjustable with a great fit, washable & reusable, breathable, effective, cute design options... and you know what? I was able to check off every box with these amazing Happy Masks (we received ours free in exchange for promotion, but they didn't reach out to me, it was vice versa cuz I was so impressed!!).
Watch our YouTube video here for a fun unboxing and demo of the various features, and read on for more details as well as to grab your code for free shipping!!
SUPERB FILTRATION:
Made with a 3 layer nanofiber membrane filter, Happy Masks have been tested by Nelson Labs to show they filter out over 99% of airborne particles as tiny as .3 microns!! That includes allergens (pollen!!), dust, and smog. And they factually filter out 99.9% of bacteria, and viruses (including COVID-19 / coronavirus)! On top of that, the filter is not removable, so there's no concern about losing it or having to replace it. 
UNIQUE "BEAK" DESIGN:
Happy Masks have a soft fabric with a unique "parrot beak" design which means they don't suck into your nose and mouth when breathing and talking! Your kids won't suck on them! And they don't feel like they're suffocating you! 
ADUSTABLE EAR LOOPS:
Our faces are not one size so face masks shouldn't be one size fits all, am I right? Happy Masks come in Medium and Large for Adults, and one size for kids, but feature super easy-to-use adjustable ear straps! They also feature a metal wire over the nose for added adjustability, and provide a great snug and comfy fit all around the nose, cheeks, and under the chin! They also sell a protective pouch, and a lanyard that easily snaps onto the ear loops, so you can put it on and off without touching the mask itself, and not worry about your kids dropping it onto the bathroom floor (or... into the toilet!). 
WASHABILITY & DURABILITY:
Happy Masks' efficacy have been tested for a minimum of 50 hand washes and 250 hours of wear. The trim is hand sewn for increased durability and snugger fit. Washing instructions: soak in cold water with a drop of dish detergent for 10 minutes (use a drop of dish detergent on a soft toothbrush to remove makeup or sweat), gently rinse (do not rub or wring), air dry. For added disinfection and deodorization, spray with 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol after each wash and place in the sun.
You can buy these great face masks for kids and adults at happymasks.com and use code USJAPANFAM for free shipping!
 
Disclaimer: We were provided our stay free in exchange for sharing our experience with you. However, below are our honest experiences and unbiased opinions - we TRULY love love love Crystal Springs!!
Crystal Springs Resort in New Jersey is one of my all time favorite family-friendly vacation spots in the Tri-State area! I've been there twice before: as a family in the summer of 2019 and as a #momcation with one of my best mom friends in February 2020 (just before Covid came to town). Put simply, this place NEVER disappoints. From the tropical indoor Biosphere pool to the delicious dining options to unique activities like puppy and goat yoga!!
So, when we were invited back recently for a hosted stay in exchange for sharing with you all what it's like to vacation at Crystal Springs during the pandemic, I jumped at the chance! Well, I put on my mask and jumped from a socially safe distance, that is! Ha! Check out our highlights videos from our 1-night mini getaway at Crystal Springs, including our outing to nearby Mountain Creek for Snow Tubing, and keep reading for more details and photos of our time at Crystal Springs and what you can expect regarding pandemic safety!!
Crystal Springs is definitely making safety a priority, while still providing top notch service, activities, and dining experiences! If you've been before, you'll notice subtle changes related to pandemic safety, which are outlined in their COVID-19 Statement, and I'll go over the ones that stood out to me below:
Watch the highlights videos from our previous two vacations at Crystal Springs, pre-pandemic:
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About Me ^_^I'm a NYC metro area mom blogger living in NJ with my Japanese husband & our 3 kids (twins plus 1). This blog is chock full of product reviews, family travel guides, and giveaways galore! It's also home to Bay Ridge Families, and several guides focused on kid-friendly activities and guides to South Brooklyn, Hudson Valley, and New Jersey, as well as family-friendly destinations beyond the NYC area (check the menu bar!)  
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