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Mommy Scene's Baby Registry Essentials Giveaway

8/26/2016

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Are you expecting a new baby? Moms know babies come with lots of stuff, but how do you decide which items are most needed? We are excited to feature some of Mommy Scene's Baby Registry Essentials and a wonderful giveaway filled with beautiful AND essential products for moms with babies! Listed below are all of the awesome items in the jackpot, enter in the Rafflecopter box at the bottom of this post!
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Babee Talk offers organic crib bedding and plush toys designed with health, safety and style in mind. Proudly made in the USA with soft organic cotton, this cozy bedding collection includes a patented organic crib rail cover, fitted crib sheet, matching crib skirt, and two Eco-Buds Take-Along Pals. (crib and side rail covers not included)

The Yummy Mitt is the first patented glow-in-the-dark teething mitten for newborns and infants 3-12 months. It secures to baby's hand allowing them to provide teething relief while simultaneously preventing gagging, need for constant parental assistance and dropping of the teether. Made with 100% food grade silicone and 100% cotton, the Yummy Mitt is BPA, latex, PVC, lead and phthalates-free.

Revelae Kids makes innovative solutions for playtime, snack time, and nap time. Yummi Pouch reusable food pouches are ideal for holding homemade baby food and allow older kids to easily take healthy snacks to the playground. Cozy Sleeper swaddle transition blankets and Cozy Blanket Pouches keep babies snug and warm within a safe and secure sleep space, perfect for slumber and lounging. Cozy Sleepers and Blanket Pouches also fit in a car seat or stroller!

Surround your child with comfort and luxury! More than a floor pillow: Designed with both parents and baby in mind, the Dakota Aqua Pello Luxe Floor Pillow is the ultimate multi-use floor pillow and play mat to keep a baby comforted, safe and secure. The unique design and materials make this a perfect resting spot for baby and ideal for your child's ever-changing needs.

Buttons Diapers 100% cotton muslin burp cloths & bibs are the perfect baby essential. Works as a contoured over-the-shoulder burp cloth for baby, an large coverage bib during meals, and a handy cloth to wipe up messes. Muslin is a soft, breathable, absorbent, natural material that gets even softer & fluffier each time you wash it. The burp cloth easily converts to a bib by using the sewn-in snap. Set of 2.

Margaux & May is proud to use GOTS 100% certified organic cotton with all their swaddle blankets. These luxuriously soft muslin blankets are decorated with unique stunning prints, perfect for nursery sets and baby gifts. Set of 2.
Click here to get more details on the prizes and brands participating in this giveaway.
This giveaway is coordinated by Mommy Scene, sponsored by the participating brands, and is open to US entries ages 18 and older. No purchase required to enter. One winner will be randomly chosen and displayed on the giveaway widget after the giveaway ends on Sept. 7, 2016. Mommy Scene and participating blogs are not responsible for fulfilling brand-sponsored prizes. Prizes will be shipped directly from each brand.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Triple Stroller Love:  Joovy Big Caboose

8/10/2016

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When you have one or two small children, finding a great stroller is a fairly easy task. You make a list of priorities (see my post with 15 things to consider when stroller shopping), maybe take a few for a test drive around the store, and bish bash bosh you're done. But when you have 3 children needing a stroller, there are less options but things are more complicated with important considerations such as double wide or tandem, and seats for all or combo of seats / baby wearing / ride-on board.
When you're talking triple strollers, or even double strollers with an add-on for the third child, you can't avoid the fact that it is going to be an absolute beast: huge, heavy, and a major head turner! But for parents of twins, triplets, or Irish twins/triplets, it's just something you have to come to terms with.
Thankfully there are a few decent options out there and I am thrilled to be working with Joovy to introduce you to their Big Caboose triple stroller, which my crew and I have seriously fallen in love with!
US Japan Fam loves Joovy's Big Caboose triple stroller

What I Love about the Joovy Big Caboose
The Seats:  The 2 full seats are much more upright than many stroller seats (actually, more than any stroller I have used!), which gives the kids a great view, so they're not struggling to pull themselves upright with the belly bar. The 2 seats are also "stadium seating" as I like to call them, so the kid in the 2nd row can see over the first, and you can see both of them (the backs of their heads anyway) while pushing. It's functional and adorable!
US Japan Fam loves Joovy's Big Caboose triple stroller
The Under Basket:  The basket is huge!!! It has a max load of 10 pounds which means you can't load it up with a weeks' worth of groceries (though you may be able to create some kind of hack here to give it more support), and there's no one giant space to access it from so you can't stuff your humongous double diaper bag down there, but it holds a LOT!! I've been packing 3 smaller bags of stuff that i can access from between each seat - one bag for diapers / wipes / extra clothes, one for snacks, and one for toys. That way, we just pull out one bag at a time, much simpler!
3rd Child Flexibility: At the back of the stroller, there's a built in bench (with 3-point lap belt) and ride on board. A toddler or older child (45 pounds max) has great flexibility to sit or stand here without being in the way of the stroller pusher's stride (which is my big pet peeve with the sit/stand ride on boards that attach separately - they're always in my way!!!!). When the back seat is reclined, it'll leave the child sitting in the back a bit hunched over, but it's not a huge deal. There's also a 3rd option which is great when you have triplets - you can purchase the Caboose Rear Seat and install on the back bench seat, giving the Big Caboose 3 fully functioning forward facing seats!!
The Spectacle: Let's face it, this stroller is an eye turner! If you have 3 small children (especially twins or triplets), you're probably used to hearing "You've sure got your hands full!!!" 10 times a day. You will not be incognito pushing this stroller. There is no flying under the radar with the Big Caboose. But you know what? Personally, I love it! I love the comments, the smiles, the "WOW, SUPER MOM!!!" shout outs!
The Canopies:  While not the largest on the market, they are pretty big and each of the 2 regular seats has an independent canopy that can be opened, closed, and pulled forward or backward, which is great because you can move them to block the sun no matter what angle it's coming in from! They also snap in and out easily, so if you don't need them just pull them out and give your kids an even better view!!
US Japan Fam loves Joovy's Big Caboose triple stroller

But, let's not kid ourselves. There is no PERFECT stroller. They all have their pros and cons and we have to decide for ourselves what our priorities and deal breakers are. The Joovy Big Caboose is narrow (21.5" wide), which is a great selling point, but it is also LONG (55" in use, 63" when folded). This means it's a bit of a beast to maneuver. Corners are a full body workout and pushing on slightly tilted surfaces will have your triceps cut like a mother (pun intended!!!) in no time. Popping up and over curbs and steps is a no-no (but it actually does really well with large door lips, side walk cracks, etc etc). If you're an itty bitty 4'10" 80 pound mama, this might not be the best stroller for you, but it's still worth taking it for a test drive to be sure! For me, it's not the best push, but it's no big deal. Let's get real. It's a 34 pound stroller (similar weight to all the doubles), so with my 3 kids and our stuff in there we're talking pushing 100 pounds or so around. Ain't no stroller out there that's gonna have a dream push with this kind of weight. There's no double or triple (that I've seen) allowing you a luxurious one-handed push while you sip a latte or hold an umbrella. If you disagree, well, you know how to reach me - I'm more than happy to do a review of your magical unicorn of a stroller LOL!!

Another semi-negative aspect of the stroller is that the seats only have 2 position recline and they don't lay back very far. My 10 month old twins have been napping just fine in them, but they get in that head-tilted-over kind of position that freaks me out. But I do love how upright they are in their most vertical position for awake time, which trumps sleeping position in my book!
US Japan Fam loves Joovy's Big Caboose triple stroller
I was nervous that the Big Caboose wouldn't fit into my building's tiny elevator, or through the very tight turn in my apartment's entry way. Surprisingly, it fit just fine!! It's been kicking ass strollering through the mean streets of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn - I've had it for a couple of weeks so far and haven't had to do the "turn of shame" for not being able to fit somewhere (it's happened with my double-wide on numerous occasions). I know the nabe, so I know which cross streets to avoid (the ones with no curb cutout). Yes, it does well in the city, I can attest to that! The front wheels can lock, helping you out a bit if pushing on grass or gravel, but I imagine it's still be quite difficult. If you're a suburban mama looking for a stroller to take to the mall, this is perfect - space for the kids and the shopping bags, it'll have a fabulous push on those beautifully level department store floors, and it'll be narrow enough to navigate through racks and what not! Just measure your trunk carefully to make sure this bad boy will fit! It does collapse in one piece, which is nice!
US Japan Fam loves Joovy's Big Caboose triple stroller
For ultimate sun protection, I throw some sun shades over the canopies and hook under the leg rests!

In a nutshell, the Joovy Big Caboose is an AMAZING triple stroller that accommodates 3 children (front and middle seats are good for ages 6 months up to 40 pounds, or from birth with the included car seat adaptors; back seat is good up to 45 pounds). It also has great accessories - coming with 2 trays, and extras available for purchase: parent console, rain cover, and rear seat (as mentioned above). It retails for $399.99 on Joovy's website, Amazon, and plenty of baby stores (call ahead to check if they have available for test driving). The optional rear seat goes for about $60.

​Disclaimer: Although I did receive these products free of charge, I was not compensated in any other way to do this product review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased - I'm no sellout!
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Top Picks from ENK Childrens Club

8/4/2016

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Thanks to an invite by the lovely mama behind Stroller in the City, I was recently lucky enough to attend ENK Childrens Club, an international exhibition featuring hundreds of brands in children's fashion, accessories, and more. Held at the Javits Center in New York, it was huge... HUGE!!!
US Japan Fam's top picks from ENK Children's Club Summer 2016
It took me a good FOUR HOURS to meander through the aisles, stopping and chatting with the reps when a certain item caught my eye. After a brief pumping session in the bathroom, I finished the day at a blogger & brand meet and greet, another awesome opportunity to hear about the latest trends in children's fashion and make some great connections (which means plenty of product reviews and giveaways coming soon for YOU, my loyal and fabulous readers).

OK, without further ado, I'm happy to present you with some of the brands and products that blew me away!!

US Japan Fam loves Chiggy & N kids' anti-allergy sunglasses!
Chiggy & N Sunglasses
My three-year-old son was recently diagnosed with terrible Fall and Spring seasonal allergies (thanks to my hubby), so when I ran across these full coverage sunglasses my immediate reaction was "NO WAY!!! Are these anti-allergy sunglasses?!?!?!" And you know what? THEY ARE!! Not only do they help keep the pollen out of kids' eyes, they're super cute, extremely durable, and have UV 400 protection. They go for $30 a pop on their website and Amazon - in black, blue, or pink - one size fits all (ages 4-10).

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Watchitude Slap Watches 
Do you remember those slap bracelets we used to love in grade school, that became illegal because it turned out they were dangerous? Well, Watchitude figured out how to make them safe again, using silicone, and turned them into a very very cool "slap watches". They have a bazillion designs, and retail for about $22 on their website and Amazon.
US Japan Fam loves Watchitude's slap watches!

Hoonana Kids' Elastic Waist Pants
I will be the first to admit I love maternity pants. So freaking comfortable!! Baby pants also feature this uber awesome elastic waist, but once toddlers graduate to bigger sizes you are stuck with the annoying side elastic button thingy, or have to use a belt (which can be frustrating for younger kids to get on and off by themselves). So, when I saw Hoonana Kids' pants featuring the elastic waist in sizes 12 months through 8 I was like helllllll yes!!!! Not only practical, but super cute! They retail for $46 on their website.
US Japan Fam loves Hoonana Kids elastic waist pants!

Keenz Stroller Wagon
This one had all the bloggers talking at the show, and for good reason. We've never seen anything like it and we all WANT ONE!!! As a mother of 3 kids under 4, this thing was begging for me to take it home. This 29-pound stroller wagon features two 5-point seat belts (one on each end), a 110 pound weight limit, 1-step on/off brake, removable fabric, adjustable simulated leather handles on each end, built-in storage, retractable roof (hello - convertible!), and a fairly compact fold. Offered in green, purple, or gray, it retails for $450 on their website.
US Japan Fam loves Keenz Stroller Wagon.

Fasten Swimsuits
You know how annoying it is to change your baby's swim diaper when they're wearing a swimsuit? Fasten does and they've solved the problem by making diapers easily accessible in their baby swimsuits which open at the waistline via magnetic snaps!! Can't get much easier than that! They retail for about $35 on their website and Amazon.
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Meiya & Alvin Teether Toys
Created by our Canadian friends over at Great Pretenders (see our review of my son's amazing superhero cape here), Meiya & Alvin feature adorable books, teethers, and toys made from natural, sustainable, and recycled products. I especially fell in love with their super cute plush toys which are like little stuffed animals with heads made of natural rubber - perfect for teething! They retail for $22 on their website and Amazon.
US Japan Fam loves Meiya & Alvin's teether toys!

Blade & Rose Baby Leggings
I mean, come on, just look at the photo. I want these on my girls!!! I can just picture them toddling around falling on their adorably decorated bums! Available in sizes infant through 4 years, in tons of designs (matching bandana, sock, and body suit available!!), they retail for $16 on their website and Amazon.
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Silly Souls Baby Shoes
Baby moccasins and crib shoes are all the rage these days, but I've never seen anyone with fun quotes and designs like Silly Souls! In love with these!! They retail for $20 on their website and Amazon, in sizes 0 - 24 months.
US Japan Fam loves Silly Souls baby shoes!

Troy James Boys Wear
I'm not sure how I got in and out of this booth without a million pictures, actually not even one (SMH), but they have pretty much the cutest boys clothes I have ever seen. Like, SO COOL, basically how your hubby dresses (or how you wish he would dress), but in miniature. LOVE LOVE LOVE their stuff - high quality and super fashionable! Boy moms (and dads), definitely check them out!

Tick Talk Wearable Phone & Locator
Track your kid, talk to them (one or two-way), send a voice message, and even turn the watch off remotely (like when they're in school and shouldn't be using it). Pretty cool way to ease the minds of both parents and younger children in the absence of their parents. It requires a data plan, and retails for $150 on Amazon.
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So there you have it, my top picks in childrens' fashion and accessories from the Summer 2016 ENK Childrens Club!! There were SOOOOOO many amazing brands, I just can't mention them all, but I did want to take a second to mention a few trends I noticed popping up again and again:
  • organic
  • made in America
  • slogan tees / onesies / shoes
  • baby moccasins
  • UPF swimwear and clothing
  • baby swimsuits with easy diaper access
So, what do you think? Are you pumped about any of the above items?? Are you already a die hard fan of one of these brands? Share in a comment below!!
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Bay Ridge Families' Events Roundup for August 3-9

8/2/2016

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Bay Ridge Families' latest events roundup is up, for the week of August 3-9! Download here:

bay_ridge_weekly_kids_events_-_8.3-9.pdf
File Size: 2612 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


Some highlights include a LuLaRoe pop up at The Coop, Big Playdate at Bay Ridge Library, and SummerStroll of course!!

You'll also find a few deals thrown in there: $35 off Hello Fresh meal delivery, and discounts for The BookMark Shoppe, e-vitamins and Blue Man Group!
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Feel free to reply or e-mail me questions or comments, or if you'd like to advertise! Our first two BIG publications (“Classes & Activities for Toddlers & Babies” and “Fall Classes for Kids”) will be released this month - e-mail me ASAP to get your ad space!!

​You can also subscribe to receive these newsletters and publications by email!

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Freshly Picked Review & Giveaway

8/1/2016

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Whether you're looking for adorable crib shoes or stylish footwear for a new walker, I can't recommend Freshly Picked moccasins highly enough!! While they do come with a fairly steep price point, you should know that in the world of baby shoes you do get what you pay for, and with Freshly Picked you're getting top quality - we're talking durable 100% genuine cow hide leather with elastic that comfortably keeps them on little one's feet, and a company that was literally founded by a mom at her kitchen table! We're also talking a bazillion amazingly adorable designs!!! I mean, come on, get a load of these:
US Japan Fam loves Freshly Picked Moccasins
And for those who want to get their little one's into the spirit for the Games in Rio this summer...
US Japan Fam loves Freshly Picked Moccasins
The biggest problem with Freshly Picked? Picking out just one pair... I mean, talk about a dilemma!!!! I must have spent at least an hour trying to pick out a set for my 9 month old twins. Since I was only getting one style, it needed to be something that could go with any outfit, right? I eventually went with Platinum, and I'm seriously loving them! More silver in some lighting and more gold in other lighting, they're shiny and simply spectacular!!
US Japan Fam loves Freshly Picked Moccasins
Freshly Picked moccasins are super soft, and it seems my girls might add "pretty tasty" as well - ha!! The elastic makes them easy to get on and off even the chubbiest of baby feet.

​Ordering and opening up my girls' first pair got me all nostalgic for when their big bro got his first FP moccasins 2 years ago!! That time around I measured and rounded WAY too far up (I was seriously at least 2 or 3 sizes off, which is surprising since they make it pretty easy with this sizing chart!). I did much better this time - I got probably a size too large but that means they'll fit my girls for that much longer! I call it a win :)
US Japan Fam loves Freshly Picked Moccasins
The bottoms are just as soft and smooth as the tops of the shoes, which means they're not especially grippy and not padded at all. This can be seen as a good or bad thing. They're definitely not the shoes to send your toddler running around on gravel in, to be sure. But the thin bottoms mean that they are great for new walkers learning how to maneuver around and keep their balance.

​Freshly Picked has also recently come out with a "Hard Sole" line (sizes 7-13) which is the next step for kids needing more of a proper shoe with support and protection rather than the slipper-esque soft soled moccasin.
US Japan Fam loves Freshly Picked Hard Sole Moccasins
So, to recap, they're absolutely adorable, comfortable, practical, and one of the hottest and most sought after brand of footwear for babies and toddlers. The soft-sole line comes in sizes 0 (about 0-3 months) - 9 (about 4.5 years) and a TON of designs and colors for boys and girls alike! And now, for the moment you've all been waiting for, here is your chance to...
WIN A PAIR OF FRESHLY PICKED MOCCASINS!!!!!
That's right! Enter in the Rafflecopter Box below to enter your choice of size and color of soft sole Freshly Picked Moccasins!! Open to US Residents ages 18 and over, the giveaway will end at 11:59 PM EST on Monday, August 15. A winner will be e-mailed on August 16 and have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen. Good luck to you all!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Enter US Japan Fam's Freshly Picked Giveaway running August 1-15, winner chooses size & design!

Disclaimer: Although I did receive these products free of charge, I was not compensated in any other way to do this product review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased.
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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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