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With NYC banning styrofoam and plastic bags, and the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change's recent special report, the time is now to step up and do our part to, for lack of a better phrase, reduce - reuse - recycle. I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on the topic, and I'll admit to often making choices based more on convenience and budget than sustainability and carbon footprint. But I need to do better, and thankfully such is the growing mindset out there!
There are simple choices we can all make, that are healthier for us and the planet, and sometimes even for our wallets! And the impact, when we all make these choices, can really add up! Reducing our usage of plastics and single-use items is one of those choices we all need to be focusing on, and I'm happy to share with you why and how silicone can help you do this! 
Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Hilary Abbot Communications on behalf of GoSili, but all thoughts and opinions are my own and unbiased. This post also contains affiliate links - you won't pay more but this blog will earn a small commission from any sales made.
Why Silicone?
According to GoSili, silicone is:
Ditch the Disposables!!
All those single-use snack bags, beverage containers, straws, and lunch and grocery bags add up to a LOT of waste. Some of them may end up being recycled, but most end up in a landfill or even worse, in the ocean. Did you know there are amazing reusable products out there for just about everything? Glass, stainless steel, bamboo, and silicone are just a few of the more eco-friendly sustainable materials to choose from, and below are a few of our favorite silicone products that can replace common plastics and disposables you're used to using.
Silicone Straws
Plastic straws - why oh why are these still being distributed!? According to GoSili, 500 million plastic straws are thrown away every day in the US!! No more, we say!! But that doesn't mean you have to give up straws completely! These Reusable Silicone Straws by GoSili come in pretty colors, are easy to use and clean, and they fold up nicely, too! Get 1 in a travel case for $2.50 - 2.99 or a 6-pack for $6.95 on Amazon (affiliate link). While you're at it, grab some silicone straw tops (affiliate link) to make any glass, mug, or cup spill proof! 
Silicone Coffee Cups / Travel Mugs
Sure, walking into the coffee shop and grabbing a to-go cup is easy. Too easy. According to GoSili, 100 billion disposable cups go to land fills each year. Stop the insanity! Bring your own cup, and do it in style! These Reusable 16oz Silicone Coffee Cups / Travel Mugs by GoSili are brilliant - the entire cup and lid are made of silicone, and include an internal stainless steel ring so they won't collapse under your grasp! Amazing, right!? Grab them for $14.95 on Amazon (affiliate link), they're also available in 8oz! Do note they're not spill proof as there is no plug for the little sippy hole. Hey GoSili, there's your next product to work on - the coffee cup plug! 
Silicone Sippy Cups for Kids
Want to have a laugh at your toddlers, big kids, or even your spouse trying to figure out how to drink from a cup? Get them a 12oz Silicone OH! Cup "Drink From Anywhere" Cup by GoSili! At first glance, you can't figure out how to take a sip - there are no holes! But there are actually teeny slits across the entire top ring of the lid (see my image below), hence the "drink from anywhere" part of its name! So, when you tip it back and suck, out comes your drink! But when you flip it over, no spills! It's amazing!! Once you explain it to your kids, they'll pick it up no problem, but first be sure to get their no-explanation first attempt on video! 
Some of these products might be tough to find at local retailers, but you can grab them on Amazon here (affiliate links):
So, what do you think!? Are you already using some of these silicone products? Have others you love? Any tips for reducing, reusing, recycling!? Shopping at zero waste bulk stores yet? Leave a comment below!!
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Here's our roundup of the kids' activities and family-friendly events going on in the Greater Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn for the week of May 23 - 29, 2019!
Don't forget to sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the loop of all the local goings on!! All the events and ads below are linked, so click away for more details and to double check before heading out for an event (time changes, cancellations, and mistakes do happen on occasion). Click here to submit your Bay Ridge area family-friendly event or program for a complimentary listing in an upcoming events roundup! Businesses are invited to read more about advertising with us and to sign up for our advertisers' newsletter to receive occasional ad specials and upcoming deadlines.
ONGOING:
THURSDAY, MAY 30:
FRIDAY, MAY 31:
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Girl moms and mini fashionistas, this one is for you!! We recently did a review of kidpik basics (budget-friendly and super cute a la carte girls' clothing), and now we're back with a (sponsored) unboxing and review of kidpik subscription box! Keep reading and don't miss our fun unboxing and fashion show video embedded at the bottom of the post!!!
There is no stylist fee, no subscription fee, no shipping or return fee. Basically, there's no risk when ordering your kidpik subscription box!!! You take the stylist quiz (see some of the questions in the carousel below), select the sizes and frequency to receive your box (every 4, 6, or 12 weeks) and bam, your girl's box is on the way!
Available for girls ages 3-12 years (sizes 4-16), each box includes 7 items (clothing, accessories, and shoes, or you can select not to include shoes), with an average cost of $13.50 per item or $95 per box. You only pay for the items you don't send back within a week, but if you keep ALL the items, you get a 30% off "keep all" discount! And because each box is personally stylized for your girl's preferences, it's quite likely you'll want to keep them all! We sure did! But just in case, they include a pre-paid return envelope, to make returns super easy.
One thing I find very unique about this particular subscription box is that it's not a mish mosh of brands. Every item is kidpik brand - high quality, super cute, and not available in stores! Knowing every item was hand picked by a stylist for your daughter feels pretty special, too! Fast forward a few years, I can totally see my girls signing up, taking the stylist quiz, and handling all of this for themselves (with minimal supervision)! Such a fun system for your lil' fashionistas - no driver's license necessary! HA!
So what are you waiting for?! Go ahead and sign up for your no risk box of girl's clothing here!! And get 40% off your whole box + free shipping with code USJF40, valid 5/31/19 thru 6/13/19 
Safety first guys. Kids should be in an age and weight appropriate carseat or booster when in the car, and wearing a good helmet when riding bikes, scooters, or roller skates. But helmets don't have to come with a "Come on mommmmmm, do I have toooooo!?!?" battle of wills. Helmets can be COOL! Adorable! A fun fashion statement!! I ran across the Mini Hornit LIDS line of helmets at Toy Fair New York and reached out to them immediately when realizing my kiddos had outgrown their previous helmets. They sent us 3 to review, and we are LOVING them!!! Watch our quick video below unboxing and modeling them (there may even be a little "Baby Shark" ditty belted out by yours truly LOL! And keep reading for more about the helmets!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links - you don't pay more but we will earn a small commission for purchases made.
The fun kid-friendly designs are definitely the first thing that'll grab your attention, but there are some other features we are loving as well:
You can find Mini Hornit LIDS for about $45 on US.TheHornit.com and Amazon (affiliate link). Here's the current lineup, which one are you loving most? I was hoping my kids would pick my own favorites: The Aviator, Commander, and Wayfarerer haha, but of course, they had their own preferences, which I love, too!!
And if you can wait, here are the 4 new designs coming out in June 2019:
And here are some recent related product reviews we think you might find helpful:
Here's our roundup of the kids' activities and family-friendly events going on in the Greater Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn for the week of May 23 - 29, 2019!
Don't forget to sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the loop of all the local goings on!! All the events and ads below are linked, so click away for more details and to double check before heading out for an event (time changes, cancellations, and mistakes do happen on occasion). Click here to submit your Bay Ridge area family-friendly event or program for a complimentary listing in an upcoming events roundup! Businesses are invited to read more about advertising with us and to sign up for our advertisers' newsletter to receive occasional ad specials and upcoming deadlines. 
ONGOING:
THURSDAY, MAY 23:
FRIDAY, MAY 24:
SATURDAY, MAY 25:
SUNDAY, MAY 26:
MONDAY, MAY 27:
TUESDAY, MAY 28:
WEDNESDAY, MAY 29:
Here's our roundup of the kids' activities and family-friendly events going on in the Greater Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn for the week of May 9 - 15, 2019!
Don't forget to sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the loop of all the local goings on!! All the events and ads below are linked, so click away for more details and to double check before heading out for an event (time changes, cancellations, and mistakes do happen on occasion). Click here to submit your Bay Ridge area family-friendly event or program for a complimentary listing in an upcoming events roundup! Businesses are invited to read more about advertising with us and to sign up for our advertisers' newsletter to receive occasional ad specials and upcoming deadlines. 
ONGOING:
Watch our Apollo 11 Edition Plus-Plus demo video below, andenter to win a set here!
THURSDAY, MAY 9:
FRIDAY, MAY 10:
SATURDAY, MAY 11:
SUNDAY, MAY 12:
MONDAY, MAY 13:
TUESDAY, MAY 14:
WEDNESDAY, MAY 15:
We just discovered an adorable new Japanese show on Netflix, stop motion Rilakkuma and Kaoru! You can watch it in English or Japanese (or a few other languages), and as it takes place in Japan, you'll notice tons of places and customs you recognize if you've ever been to Japan or happen to be a Japanophile, fan of Japanese Anime / Manga fan, etc.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links - you don't pay more but we earn a little commission on products you purchase to help fund the blog
Trailer in English:
Trailer in Japanese:
Official website by creators San-X (in Japanese).
SHOPPING!!
You can load up on adorable Rilakkuma wears over at shopkutame.com (affiliate link)!
Love all things Japan?
Don't miss the Japan Playlist on our YouTube Channel - featuring our Japanese product reviews and unboxings, our travels to Japan, cooking Japanese food with our kids, and more!! 
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links - you don't pay more but we earn a little commission on products you purchase to help fund the blog.
Join us on the countertop exploration part of our budget-friendly galley kitchen makeover - testing quartz vs. solid surface vs. ultra compact countertops!
We've already upgraded our appliances (from old black holes to these stainless steel smudge-proof Whirlpool fridge, range, and dishwasher), and now are in the process of replacing kitchen countertops (from current not-my-taste brown granite countertops to possibly white or grey). I got samples from Home Depot (free in-store, or about $9 a pop if ordering online) and broke out the big guns at home - scratching them with stainless steel utensils to test which countertop is most scratch-resistant, letting smashed frozen blueberries sit for 24 hours to test which countertop is most stain-resistant, and finally smacking the Dekton with a pot repeatedly to see if it would chip! HA! Be sure to watch my video below all the way through for a closeup of each sample, and to see how quartz vs. solid surface vs. ultra compact countertops performed - I very unscientifically tested:
I hope this helps you in your decision making if you're currently considering replacing your kitchen countertops and are wondering what the best material for kitchen countertops is!
If you have a comment about which style you think would look best in our kitchen, or a type you highly recommend or advise against, please comment below!!!
Here's our roundup of the kids' activities and family-friendly events going on in the Greater Bay Ridge area of Brooklyn for the week of May 2 - 8, 2019!
Don't forget to sign up for our e-newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay in the loop of all the local goings on!! All the events and ads below are linked, so click away for more details and to double check before heading out for an event (time changes, cancellations, and mistakes do happen on occasion). Click here to submit your Bay Ridge area family-friendly event or program for a complimentary listing in an upcoming events roundup! Businesses are invited to read more about advertising with us and to sign up for our advertisers' newsletter to receive occasional ad specials and upcoming deadlines. 
ONGOING:
THURSDAY, MAY 2:
FRIDAY, MAY 3:
SATURDAY, MAY 4:
SUNDAY, MAY 5:
MONDAY, MAY 6:
TUESDAY, MAY 7:
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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 + 1), focusing on fun and honest product and travel reviews, helping busy parents find the best for their families! Find what you need in the menu bar or search section above! 
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