US Japan Fam

Best Toys 2021 - Sweet Suite Swag Unboxing!

7/23/2021

We were thrilled to attend our first ever Sweet Suite by The Toy Insider this year - typically held annually in person but this year virtually from home - it's a massive press & influencer event with hundreds of brands sharing their latest and greatest toys!! My kids and I had a blast playing games and exploring the virtual event online, and then we got our swag box in the mail and WOW!!!

So now I'm here to share WITH YOU our Sweet Suite Swag unboxing, with some of the best toys 2021 - seriously, get out your birthday & Christmas wish lists, cuz you're gonna wanna add many of these to them!!

Watch our super fun unboxing video here, with links to products below (though some aren't released yet!):

BUY THEM!
(Affiliate links below, you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking)

Exploding Minions Card Game from Exploding Kittens
Oddly Satisfying Sensory FX ASMR from Just Play (not yet released?)
Pokemon Trading Card Game (x2)
Snap Ships by Play Monster
Beat That! The Bonkers Battle Battle of Wacky Challenges from Gutter Games
LOL BTW Be Tweens (not yet released? shop other LOL Surprise here)
LOL Surprise Color Changing Surprise Doll
Nerf Super Soaker Fortnite Fishstick from Hasbro / Epic Games (not yet released but you can see other fortnite super soakers here)
5 Surprise Toy Mini Brands by Zuru
Kodak 1000 piece puzzle
Ryan’s World Mystery Egg Galaxy Explorers
Glam Crush It Dolls from Jazwares
Pixicade
Vibe Girls by Jay Play
Snapsies by Funko
Resoftables
Little Dimpl from Fat Brain Toy Company
Cats vs Pickles from Cepia
Crayola Twistables Colored Pencils
Care Bears
Lalaloopsy (new ones released in August, see my review here!!)

For more toy inspiration, see my highlights videos from past years at Toy Fair New York!

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Lalaloopsy is Back and So SEW Cute!

7/22/2021

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Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by MGAE but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Who doesn’t love a good come back, am I right? Well, if you’re a fan of cutie patootie dolls and cartoons then this one is for you. After an incredibly successful #BringBackLalaloopsy campaign, Lalaloopsy will be coming back to the shelves with a brand new line of dolls on August 3!!!

If you haven’t heard of Lalaloopsy, let me catch you up quickly so you can jump on board with our excitement! Lalaloopsy are rag dolls who magically come to life when the last stitch is sewn. They’re SEW CUTE, wholesome, and their whimsical world of characters inspire kids to develop their own creativity and imagination!

Their last doll release was back in 2018, and we are SEW excited for our favorite Lalaloopsy characters and a whole batch of new friends to be available at Walmart, Amazon, Target, and other toy retailers in just a couple of weeks!!

The two dolls we received are fully plastic, not fabric as you might expect of a “rag doll”, but it’s a relief for me because they seem incredibly durable (my kiddos get pretty rough with their toys!!)!

US Japan Fam reviews Lalaloopsy - twins love their dolls

With black button eyes, a “stitched on” sweet little smile, a circle of rosie cheeks, simple ragdoll-esque bodies, and fingerless hands - they are not realistic dolls, and they’re not glammed up like many of the dolls out there these days. They’re cute and innocent and help your kids explore their creativity and imagination! Lalaloopsy are truly a refreshing and incredibly unique doll and we’re SEW psyched to welcome them into our family!!

Each doll has a unique personality and look, with pets and accessories to match! Designed for ages 3+, each package includes a reusable house playset, uniquely expressing the personality of each doll. With the box becoming the playset, we’re talking practically zero waste, we LOVE that!!! We did find the house a tad difficult to set up, but it’s part of the fun - you have to read the instructions, fold, insert and build their homes!

I love how each character has a very specific personality and interest, so any child can find one that they can connect with! For example, Storm E. Sky is a punk rocker chick with a cool electric guitar, while Mittens Fluff ’N’ Stuff is into knitting, Dot Starlight is a science buff, and Crumbs Sugar Cookie loves baking!

US Japan Fam reviews Lalaloopsy - Sweetie Candy Ribbon Doll

We got the full sized Sweetie Candy Ribbon, with bright neon pink and orange hair, wearing a matching tutu dress (made of tulle), and an adorable yellow dog with coordinating neon pink and orange ears and bow! Sweetie is too floppy to stand (they’re supposed to be rag dolls, after all) but does sit nicely and I love the way her legs flop around when you carry and play with her! Her house is super bright and exciting, filled with candy decorations of course that’ll have your mouth watering, if you have a sweet tooth that is! There’s even an extra cardboard set that you fold and insert into the side of the house that turns into a cute little doggy door!!

US Japan Fam reviews Lalaloopsy - Sprinkle Spice Cookies Lalaloopsy Littles Doll

We also got the "Littles" smaller sized Sprinkle Spice Cookie. The first thing my kids noticed was the little smudge of chocolate on her cheek! HA! Little details like this are so special, am I right!? She’s got a fabric bib that says “yum” on it, and itty bitty bloomers under her dress. What a cutie!! Her accessory is a cookie, of course, with a bite taken out of it. And her hair, with thick bangs and tiny pigtails, reminds me of my twins when they were toddlers!!!

Both Sweetie and Sprinkle have removable clothes and shoes, which is a fun touch!

US Japan Fam reviews Lalaloopsy - collect all 25 dolls

There will be a total of 25 characters available, both full size and minis, and you can even connect their fences to create Lalaloopsy Land in your own home!!

There are some fun collections as well, such as 3 Silly Hair dolls with, you guessed it, silly hair you can bend and style, 4 Sew Royal Princess Party dolls, and 2 Celebration dolls, each one coming with a pet, of course!

Lalaloopsy’s adorable cartoon premiered in 2017 on Netflix, where you can still stream the original 13 episodes, and they’ll be releasing a new “We’re Lalaloopsy” original series soon! You can also get excited for new goodies over on their YouTube channel, including ”We’re Lalaloopsy” animated shorts (3 minute versions of the Netflix episodes - new every Friday at 1PM), a new “Lalaloopsy Girls” sing-a-long video (embedded below - beware, it's SUPER catchy!), and starting July 24th, the new original show “Lalaloopsy: Let’s Create” with real kids cooking and doing crafts! Over on Amazon Prime & kidoodle.tv you will be able to stream “Lalaloopsy: Band Together” movie!

Sewwwww which doll(s) will you be buying first!?? Let us know in a comment below!!

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Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit in New York (WITH KIDS)!

7/13/2021

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US Japan Fam reviews IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH NYC with kids

As soon as I started seeing advertisements pop up for the new Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit in New York, I knew we had to go. It looked AMAZING!! However, I dunno about your kids, but mine... they're not exactly into art museums and galleries, so I decided to get creative with some pre-activities to get them more involved and excited! Watch our video (embedded just below) for the full experience from our educational pre-activities to exploring Chinatown to the Van Gogh exhibit itself, and read on for all the details!!

Learning about Van Gogh at Home:
My kids had already done Starry Night based art work at school (2 years ago), but I decided to print out some coloring pages for them from JustColor.net. We didn't look at the real Starry Night beforehand, because I didn't want it to bias our color choices :) I let them choose from crayons, colored pencils, and markers (no paint because I wasn't feeling like a big set up / clean up, but you certainly could do it!). You'll see (in the video above) we all ended up with very different masterpieces, which was fun to talk about!

US Japan Fam - Day in Chinatown for Immersive Van Gogh NYC - learning about Van Gogh at home with coloring

Next we found a short kid-friendly biography on Van Gogh (embedded below). I was SHOCKED to learn that he died at 37, and had only ever sold 1 painting! How famous and priceless his works are now, it's just unbelievable (and sad)!!

Family Fun in Chinatown!
Now that we learned about Van Gogh, we were ready for the exhibit! But we don't live in Brooklyn anymore, remember? Heading into NYC from Hudson Valley is quite a trek - a 90 minute drive! So, I planned out a nice full afternoon for us to explore the area of the Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit in New York's Lower East Side aka CHINATOWN! We hadn't walked around Manhattan with our kids since pre-pandemic, so it was an incredibly special and fun adventure! Our first "Sunday in the City" went so well we plan to do it on the regular (stay tuned, and comment below which activities and neighborhoods we should explore next)!

US Japan Fam - Day in Chinatown for Immersive Van Gogh NYC - Dim Sum at Golden Unicorn

First, we luckily found free street parking near Pier 36, where the exhibit is held (you can pay $$$ at the pier for valet parking if you're not so lucky, or feel nervous with street parking). Then took off on foot to explore NYC's Chinatown, which included stops at:

Dim Sum at The Golden Unicorn (18 E. Broadway), has indoor & outdoor dining
Doyers Street (very cool "crooked" pedestrian street that is painted with outdoor dining)
Mahayana Buddhist Temple (64 Mott Street) - free, just go inside to see the beautiful 16 foot tall golden Buddha!
Hester Street Playground

US Japan Fam - Day in Chinatown for Immersive Van Gogh NYC - buddha doyers street

Other things nearby you may want to check out that we didn't have time for:

Seward Park Playground
Taiyaki NYC (119 Baxter Street) - yummy insta-worthy ice cream inside Japanese Taiyaki (fish shaped soft waffle cone)
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (65 Bayard Street)
Dim Sum at Nom Wah Tea Parlor (13-15 Doyers Street)

PicturUS Japan Fam - Day in Chinatown for Immersive Van Gogh NYC - pier 36e

IMMERSIVE VAN GOGH EXHIBIT
OK, so first let me make sure you are clear that there are currently TWO Van Gogh exhibits in NYC! I didn't realize this til I started planning our day IN THE WRONG NEIGHBORHOOD! Ooooops!!!

This one is THE ORIGINAL and it's "Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit New York" at Pier 36 in Lower East Side, created by Massimiliano Siccardi with Hamilton's David Korins as Creative Director! It's the largest Van Gogh exhibit in the world!!!

In a nutshell, it's 3 massive rooms of art installations like you've never seen before. 500,000 cubic feet of projections. 60,600 frames of video. They move, they surround you, the music hits deep in your SOUL! It was just breathtaking!! I could have sat there all day... were it not for our kids...

Chinatown for Immersive Van Gogh NYC - starry night

In first room, which has some big silver inflatable balls and large mirrored towers, we sat down and watched the entire full video which was wayyyyyyyy too long for our kids (maybe 20 minutes? I'm really not sure). They were really into it and sat nicely for the first 5 minutes and gradually got more and more antsy til they were rolling around and being totally crazy by the end of it. Looking back we probably shouldn't have made them sit through the whole thing but I'm glad us adults didn't miss anything.

US Japan Fam - Day in Chinatown for Immersive Van Gogh NYC - Room 2

The second room had some really cool reflective structures which stunning the way the lights and videos bounced off them. We walked around but didn't spend a lot of time in here.

US Japan Fam - Day in Chinatown for Immersive Van Gogh NYC - Room 3

The third room was breathtaking! The art was projected onto the walls and floor and you were just immersed and surrounded by it. Just beautiful!!! Walk around, take photos, take a seat, go upstairs for the overview. Enjoy!!

US Japan Fam - Day in Chinatown for Immersive Van Gogh NYC - costumes

After that you go through a hallway with some costumes before returning to the lobby where you can buy (really pricey but amazing) merch, like a Starry Night tumbler for $46. You'll exit to a stunning view of the Hudson and Manhattan Bridge!

All in all we spent about an hour in there and I highly highly recommend it! If you live nearby and have a sitter I would say consider leaving the kids at home and make it an incredibly unique (stress free) date. Then you can relax and spend way more time there soaking it all in. With the kids it's a different experience but still we all had a great time and I don't regret taking them!

US Japan Fam - Day in Chinatown for Immersive Van Gogh NYC - Room 3 family

MY TIPS:

Go to the bathroom after entering the building but before going into the exhibit as there are no bathrooms inside inside
Pre-hydrate, big time!!! It was a comfortable temperature inside but with our masks on, man, I was sweating under there, and you cannot bring food and drink inside.
Keep little wanders safe. If you can keep them in a stroller, do it. Otherwise consider a leash or a strict hand holding policy. Ours are old enough I wasn't too concerned but a couple of years ago it would have been super stressful for me. The rooms get VERY dark at times, pitch black for a second here and there. There are a lot of people. The music is loud. Have fun and enjoy but keep your kiddos safe!
Backpacks are prohibited, so we left ours and our water bottles in the car. I'm not sure about diaper bags, best to contact them. You can see a list of other prohibited items in their FAQ here.

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!
Tickets prices vary (off peak / peak / prime) for $40 - $70 and the show is running through September 6 (though Aug 30 - Sep 6 are already sold out).

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New Sunnies & Other Summer Must-Haves

6/24/2021

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Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by DiscountGlasses.com but all thoughts and opinions are my own. There are affiliate links included below, you won't pay more but we'll receive a small commission made from purchases after clicking.

Over the past year and a half, we've learned alot about protecting ourselves from germs. This summer, make an effort to protect yourself from the sun! We're talking sunglasses, sunblock, and UPF50+ clothing. But don't worry, you can be sun safe AND be cool - literally and figuratively LOL! With that in mind, here is my quick list of 2021 Summer Must Haves!!

US Japan Fam loves DiscountGlasses.com for 2021 summer sunglasses

Sunglasses
Proper sunglasses not only protect your eyes but also the delicate skin around your eyes. I went way too many years without wearing any, and you know what? My crows feet have crows feet. But it's never too late to start taking care of yourself, so I always wear sunglasses outside now, year round! Having a few fun pairs to choose from helps, that's why I love DiscountGlasses.com - they have an amazing selection of glasses and sunglasses for kids and adults, some for as low as $20!! What's more, they have virtual try-on, you can update your prescription online for free, and they have free 365 day returns!

My latest pair (above photo) are the Lunettos Jean, which feature an oversized but super lightweight matte black plastic frame that is so fun and flirty! I upgraded to prescription lenses since I can't see anything past my nose these days LOL! With 100% UVA/UVB protection, you'll see me rocking these poolside, in the yard, at the park, pretty much everywhere this summer!

UPF 50+ Clothing & Swimwear
I grew up thinking tanned skin made me more beautiful. *cringe* Now, I understand tanned skin is actually DAMAGED skin, and while I still long for a tan I'm doing my best to keep my kids' and my own skin protected from the sun. When I can avoid sunblock, I do, with UPF 50+ protective clothing. I've been putting my kids in long or short sleeve rash guards since their very first time at the pool as babies! But I just got MY very first rash guard (from UV Skinz - see our 2 youtube reviews below) and wore it while we were at the waterpark for 7 hours last weekend. I was worried it'd be hot and annoying but actually, it had the opposite effect - if I kept it damp it kept me comfortably cool!! Not to mention I didn't have to worry about my shoulders, chest, and back burning like they almost always do, even if I put on sunblock! So, yeah, that's it, rash guards for life!

Waterproof Phone Case
Protect your phone from water but still use it to take calls, photos, and videos in a CaliCase! These waterproof phone cases are padded, float, and are simply amazing. Check out my full review here (with video demo to show you how great your photos and videos come out!) and get 20% off yours here with code: japanfam
(No, I'm not wearing my rash guard in the above photo, I took it off at 4pm LOL)

Sunblock
When you can't cover up, you gotta lather up - in UVA/UVB water resistant SPF 50+ mineral sunblock! I always refer to the EWG Skin Deep Database to make sure any products I'm buying are "safe" and our favorite, is ThinkBaby / ThinkSport (same product, just different packaging). It's vegan, reef-friendly, zinc oxide 20% (non-nano), is creamy (easy to apply), and smells SO GOOD! Free from PABA, parabens, phthalates, BPA, oxybenzone, avobenzone, petroleum, gluten, dairy, and toxic chemicals! We love this stuff! We always get the regular cream but they also make a sunscreen stick. While sunscreen sprays look easy, I avoid it because I don't want me, my kids, or nearby folks inhaling that stuff!!

Javy Liquid Microdose Coffee for Cold Brew, Iced Coffee & DIY Frapuccino

Blended & Iced Coffee Drinks
Coffee and caffeine is a yearround need for me (and most), but in summer, it's gotta be cold brew, iced coffee, or blended like a DIY frapuccino, am I right?! I've recently fallen in love with Javy liquid microdose coffee - no brewing, you just add 1-2 tsp to your drink and boom - ready to enjoy! It's delicious, and effective LOL!

Insulated Travel Mug / Water Bottle
We are huge Contigo fans here, our kids grew up on their straw and sippy cup plastic bottles and now they've graduated to the huge insulated stainless steel water bottles my husband and I use, too! Throw some ice water in there in the morning, leave it in the hot car, and at the end of the day it's still icy!! They keep drinks hot up to 7 hours and cold up to 18 hours! They are amazing, a must have all summer, and quite frankly, all year. You can get the auto-seal kind where you squeeze it to drink (great for kids since you can't spill!!), or get a snap top, in 16 - 24oz sizes!

Sun Hats & Headbands
Sun hats help keep your face shaded - you'll stay cooler and avoid sun damage. You may want to opt for one that is adjustable size or has a chin strap if using in windy location (ex. beach), and finding one with good ventilation is key to avoid major sweat. Speaking of sweat... if you have bangs, like me, ugh. Summer sweaty forehead and bangs do NOT mix. I have a newfound love for headbands!! I'm loving this 6-pack of boho headbands I found on Amazon! Many colors to choose from, they're comfy, and bonus, they fit both me and my 5 year old girls! Sharing is caring!!

Sundresses
Nothing says staying cool like an easy breezy sundress! From tank and tee swing dresses to minis and maxis, even some have POCKETS (yes, now that song is in my head...) There are SO many to choose from and you can find them for cheap, I'm talking $10-30 a pop!!

So, what do you think? Have I inspired you to up your game this summer? What is on your must-have for summer list??

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How to Waterproof your Phone with CaliCase

6/22/2021

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US Japan Fam reviews CaliCase Waterproof Phone Pouch

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by CaliCase but all thoughts are my own and completely unbiased. In fact, I reached out to them because I was so interested in the product, which is often the case for our reviews. I'm no sell out :) I got you! That said, affiliate links follow - we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking, cuz ya girl gotta eat!

Remember back in they day, those little single use Kodak underwater cameras?? They still exist, and most of you probably believe to take photos or videos in the water you need that or a $500 GoPro. But what if I told you that you could just use your own cell phone. We pay a lot of money for these phones that have amazing cameras, so why not use them!? But how to protect our phones while at the beach, pool, lake, or waterpark?? I'll tell ya how - CaliCase Waterproof Phone Pouch (it floats, too)!!!

Watch my full unboxing, demo, and review video here and read on for more details:

In a nutshell, I LOVE our CaliCase waterproof phone cases! They're an amazing bang for your buck and allow you to safely use your phone in and around the water - you can make calls, send texts, take photos and video, everything!! I'll go into more detail about the phone by answering some of the burning questions I had going into this, which you probably are wondering about as well:

Are they really waterproof?

Yes. Yes they are!! To 100 feet! They do recommend testing with a paper towel before using with your phone, just to be sure. Also, please do make sure all data is backed up, regularly. You never know when an accident can happen, related to the case or not! This is coming from a girl who has had TWO phones and a camera stolen...

US Japan Fam reviews CaliCase Waterproof Phone Pouch - under water

How's the sound and camera quality?

Far better than I anticipated, quite honestly!!
Audio output is great, mic pickupup is great - both are a tad muffled but not nearly as bad as I thought they'd be. Still perfectly fine for taking phone calls and recording videos with sound. Actually in a windy situation it's probably better than your phone on its own which would probably pick up terrible wind sound more. Also, take care not to hold your phone near the mic or it'll pick up the rubbing sound which is quite irritating.
If you keep it clean, photos and video will be great - same quality as without the case in my experience. I was shocked even going in and out of the water, getting splashed etc, I didn't have water marks or drops of water on my footage. It was fabulous!

Any other standout features?

They come with a neck lanyard that has a safety lock so it won't accidentally come unhooked.
They FLOAT!
Some are glow in the dark.
They're padded to help protect your phone.
There's clear plastic on the front and back so all your cameras work.
The front plastic allows your screen to still be sensitive to your fingers i.e. you can use all the features.

US Japan Fam reviews CaliCase Waterproof Phone Pouch - glow in the dark

Any problems?

I found the water often triggered the record or shoot button, so if I started filming out of the water and then dunked my phone into the pool, it turned itself off, and vice versa coming out of the water. It's frustrating, and if you don't realize, you could end up with zero footage for the day! The hack I found was simply to not go in and out of the water while recording. If I wanted to shoot my kids swimming under water, I'd go underwater with the camera and then hit record. Really not an issue except on the waterslides where you are face down on the mat in the water. I couldn't figure out a way to shoot there cuz the splashing water was endless LOL! I guess a GoPro strapped to your head is the only solution there.
It's a bit hard to access side buttons on the side since there are no indicators for where they are and you can't feel them through the padding. Just know where the key ones are like power, etc.
My photos and videos from the end of the day were super fuzzy. I thought maybe it had fogged up but when I took a closer look at the case, it had a gross film on it... Turns out I got my case super dirty from my sunscreened hands!! Oops!! So take care to make sure your plastic is clear or else your data will not be.

US Japan Fam reviews CaliCase Waterproof Phone Pouch - sunscreen dirt

My takeaway: Get it. Get it today! You can have your phone close by without having to worry about it getting splashed or dunked. You can even throw a credit card in there, which is what we did at the water park so we had everything we needed right on us! The universal size fit my phone (Motorola G Stylus) and my husband's (iPhone 11) only if we took our regular cases off, the extra large size fit them with cases on, which is easier, so I recommend that bigger size.

BUY YOUR CALICASE on CaliCase.com (affiliate link) - use code "japanfam" to get 20% off!!

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SplashDown Beach Water Park - 2021 Review

6/21/2021

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US Japan Fam reviews SplashDown Beach Waterpark in Fishkill NY - 2021 Summer

Disclaimer: We were provided tickets in exchange for sharing our experience, but all thoughts and opinions are our own.

We moved from Brooklyn to Hudson Valley a year ago, but last summer was pretty much a wash for any kind of theme park experiences. Thankfully everything is opened back up now and we are HERE. FOR. IT!!! Yesterday we ventured half an hour up to Fishkill, NY to spend the day at SplashDown Beach Water Park and had the best day everrrrrr!!! Be sure to watch our highlights video here, and read on for details!!

We arrived at 11AM, got our bags checked, tickets scanned, rented our locker for the day (you get a handy wrist band you simply scan to open the locker), and rented our Cabana, which is an extra splurge but I highly recommend it - it was so nice to have a quiet shaded spot to come back to for a break. There's a buzzer so you can easily call your waiter and order food and drinks to be brought to you. You need a special wrist band to enter the private cabana area, so we felt safe leaving our clothes and water bottles and sunblock and other non-valuables there with no worries, just putting wallets and keys in a locker (in another area). We had a cheese pizza delivered for lunch and it was delicious!!!!

US Japan Fam reviews SplashDown Beach Waterpark in Fishkill NY - renting a cabana

Those 48" and above can do all the rides, though 42" and above can do pretty much do everything, sometimes solo and sometimes needing to pair up with an adult. There are some HUGE and terrifying slides (like Humunga Halfpipe and Megalodon), some medium thrill ones (like Bullet Bowl and Arctic Plunge), and some super chill ones safe for babies and babies at heart (like the lazy river, regular pool, and wave pool), and even some areas just for smaller kids.

US Japan Fam reviews SplashDown Beach Waterpark in Fishkill NY - kiddie pool area

One of our 5 year old twins was too scared to do a solo ride at the start of the day, but after doing several rides with a partner she was ready to try again at the end of the day and SUCCESS! She loved it and begged to ride again and again!!! So, my tip, if you have a more nervous kid like her, do parter or group rides first to get their confidence up a bit, and avoid any potential tears and inner conflict!

US Japan Fam reviews SplashDown Beach Waterpark in Fishkill NY - tube water slides and thrill rides

They have complimentary coastguard certified lifejackets available throughout the park - for adults (over 90 pounds), youth (55-88 pounds), child (33-55 pounds), and infant. Our kids can't swim yet so having them wear these helped me feel more reassured.

US Japan Fam reviews SplashDown Beach Waterpark in Fishkill NY - life jackets

I was really impressed with the lifeguards, too. At the pool, you can see them scanning in very strict grid patterns - each line up and down the pool from one side to the other, the perimeter, and back to start - they obviously have very detailed training and when one of my kids had trouble exiting from a water slide at one point that lifeguard did not hesitate to blow her whistle, jump in, and rescue my little one who had been sucked back to the corner by the current (you can see the action in our video). While she luckily hadn't been in any real danger, it was amazing to see how confident the lifeguards are in knowing exactly what to do. So so so important at any water park, and this was the first time I ever got to see their training in action!

US Japan Fam reviews SplashDown Beach Waterpark in Fishkill NY - water slides

They have changing rooms, bathrooms, lots of dining options inside and outside. We left when they closed at 6pm, after a full 7 hours there, and honestly, still hadn't had enough LMAO!!! It is a SUPER FUN day out and I can't recommend it highly enough!!

US Japan Fam reviews SplashDown Beach Waterpark in Fishkill NY - fun in the sun

LOCATION: 16 Old Route 9 W, Fishkill, NY

TICKETS: from $29.99 - $49.99 per day (half day, weekday, weekend/holiday rates vary), infants 2 and under free (but first visit you must purchase their reusable swim diaper cover for $9.99), $129.99 season's pass.

Quick shoutout to some items that made our day in the sun even better:
(affiliate links):

CaliCase floating waterproof phone cases (review coming soon)
UV Skinz UPF 50+ rash guard shirts (my kids always wear, but it was my first time and WOW it was such a relief not to have to worry about my shoulders and chest/back burning!!!)
Contigo Insulated Spill-Proof Water Bottles - kept our water ice cold all day!
ThinkSport SPF50+ Water Resistant Mineral Sunblock - we applied at 11am and 2pm and were in the sun and water for 7 hours. Our twins got a tiny "sunkiss" on their cheeks but no one got burned - this stuff is amazing!

For more NY / NJ area reviews and recommendations, be sure to check out our roundups:

Family-Friendly Day Trips & Weekend Getaways from NYC

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2021 Prime Day Guide for Families

6/8/2021

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Disclaimer: Affiliate links included below - you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.

Prime Day 2021 is almost here! Epic sales are set to run June 21 - 22, 2021 but some early sales will be hitting as early as June 11! We'll be updating this page as we hear of great products for families - for babies, big kids, and parents! You can expect amazing deals on Ring Video Doorbells, Alexa & Echo smart home gear, and much much more!!! Personally, I'm hoping to score a deal on a GoPro, new Fire Tablet (any edition but need that 32gb),

But to get in on the Prime Day deals, you have to be a prime member. It costs $12.99 per month but you can sign up for a 30 day free trial here!

Amazon Prime membership includes:

Get unlimited FREE same-day, one-day and two-day delivery (no minimum order size), even have deliveries made in your secure location via remote keyless access with Key by Amazon
Exclusive Prime Day deals
Stream thousands of movies, TV episodes, and games (extra fee for premium channels)
Stream 2 million songs ad free (get 20% off "music unlimited) subscription for 70 million songs)
Borrow Kindle books
Unlimited full-resolution photo storage

THE DEALS:
PRIME DAY HUB on AMAZON - get the most up to date deals here, or log onto your app and have it notify you of upcoming deals.

AMAZON DEVICES:

50% off Fire HD 8 Tablet - get it for $44.99
50% off Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet - get it for $69.99
50% off Echo Dot - get it for $19.99
40% off Echo Show 8 - get it for $69.99
43% off Amazon Fire TV Stick - get it for $22.99

KIDS DEALS:

63% off Kids Protective Gear - get it for $18.38
50% off Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet - get it for $69.99
40% off Fire 7 Kids Tablet - get it for $59.99
40% off Fire HD 10 Kids Tablet - get it for $119.99
25-40% off Orgain Protein Powders and Shakes

OTHER DEALS:

69% off Norton 360 Platinum Antivirus - get it for $39.99
40% off Contigo 24oz Insulated Water Bottle - get it for $8.95
25-40% off Orgain Protein Powders and Shakes
20% off GoPro Hero 8 Black Bundle - get it for $279
20% off Instant Tent - get it for $249

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Sue the T.Rex Experience at Liberty Science Center

6/6/2021

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US Japan Fam reviews Sue the T.Rex Experience at Liberty Science Center

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post but all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased :)

We just got back from a full (hosted) day at the Liberty Science Center and had THE. BEST. TIME! For the full experience of the new dinosaur exhibit and see what the entire center has to offer from the largest planetarium in the western hemisphere to hot wheels exhibit and and so so soooo much fun for the kids (and adults!), be sure to watch our highlights video here, then keep reading for details on their latest exhibition, Sue the T-Rex Experience!

I've always been into dinosaurs, I mean, who isn't!? I've seen my fair share of fossils and full-size replicas but honestly, Sue the T.Rex Experience at Liberty Science Center is a completely different ball game and you will LOVE. IT!

US Japan Fam reviews Sue the T.Rex Experience at Liberty Science Center - large Tyrannosaurus rex fossil

Upon entering the exhibit, you immediately find yourself face to face with the huge and menacing Sue, named after the paleontologist who discovered the fossils during a commercial excavation trip in South Dakota in 1990. Standing at 40 feet long and 13 feet tall at the hip, she is the most complete and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex ever found and has helped scientists learn more about T. rex than ever before... and now we can learn about her at Liberty Science Center!

US Japan Fam reviews Sue the T.Rex Experience at Liberty Science Center - dinosaur movie

They do a great light show on Sue, which is beautiful and educational - they highlight different bones as they talk about what each finding has revealed about her life, and death! This was fascinating, as well as the large movies they play on the opposite side of the room where you can watch daily life for her and other dinosaurs at the time, including some pretty action-packed fight scenes which my kids found especially captivating (me, too)!

US Japan Fam reviews Sue the T.Rex Experience at Liberty Science Center - replica

Another highlight was the life-size replica of Sue enjoying a tasty meal (see above right image) - you can see the bloody tooth marks on her prey, you can touch the skin, it's just really breath-taking and makes it feel so incredibly real! Just next to it you can even take a whiff of what they think her breath smelled like. WARNING: it's revolting!!!! Watch our video to see our hilarious reactions! But as with everything at LSC, it's a fun learning experience - we learn her breath would have smelled horrible, of rotting meat, because they had small gaps between the teeth where meat would get trapped, and obviously, they couldn't brush and floss LOL!

US Japan Fam reviews Sue the T.Rex Experience at Liberty Science Center - tricerotops

While large and in charge Sue dominates the exhibit, there are some other fossils and replicas to see and learn about, like the life-sized Triceratops (above right)! Give yourself at least a few hours (if not a full day) to explore this exhibit and the rest of the museum. It's a great family-friendly trip!!

TICKETS:

Adult General Admission $29.99 (buy online to save $2)
Child General Admission $22.99 (age 2-12), (buy online to save $2)

Planetarium shows and special exhibits like Sue the T. Rex Experience require an additional $8 ticket per add-on.
Parking $7 per car or van.

US Japan Fam reviews Sue the T.Rex Experience at Liberty Science Center - our kids

PANDEMIC SAFETY:
We hadn't been to Liberty Science Center (or any indoor activities like it) since the time I now refer to as #PrePandemic, so I was very curious to see how things would be handled. Rest assured, we felt completely safe! They took the kids' temperatures upon entry to the science center, masks are required for ages 2+ (regardless of vaccination status), they kept exhibits to a low capacity with short lines outside so they could maintain safety without crowds, and the cafe is closed, however they do have limited spaced out indoor dining seating (outdoor as well) and if you find yourself in a pinch they also have some vending machines with drinks and snacks.

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Out of the Box Father's Day Gift Guide

6/2/2021

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You can have your kids make dad breakfast in bed, give him a handmade card covered in their little hand prints, and give him the rest of the day off to play golf and drink beer with his buddies... OR you can think totally outside of the box and get him something from our Unique Father's Day Gift Guide!

US Japan Fam's Unique Father's Day Gift Guide 2021

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking.

Thank you, Dad, we know we're EXHAUSTING!
Fatherhood is exhausting, so a coffee-related gift is always a win! If dad is too busy to brew or wants to cut back on wasteful pods, how about some liquid microdose Javy coffee!? You just add 1 teaspoon to water for a quick and delicious coffee!! Learn more about it and get 10% off by clicking this affiliate link!

liquid microdose Javy coffee for the perfect father's day gift

Hey Dad, you're a cut above the rest!
Chef's Vision makes really unique and beautiful knife sets (as well as blade covers, magnetic knife holders, cutting boards, blade sharpeners), so whether he's the king of the kitchen, loves fishing or hunting, or is into some other knife-involving hobby, this could be a fab father's day gift!

I love you so much, Dad, keep me with you always!
Surprise Dad with some bling this year! Like this beautiful braided leather bracelet with each of his kids' names, perhaps! That's what we will be gifting my husband, check out all the options over at oNecklace.com!

Dad, thank you for putting up with our sh!t
It's no secret that dads spend more than their fair share of time on the toilet. With an easy-to-install Whisper Bidet, they can enjoy that quality me-time even more LOL! And hey, with a bidet in the house, that's less butts to wipe and no worries over another toilet paper outage!

You couldn't be a better dad... so we got you better teeth!
Who has time for things like orthodontist appointments or wants to be rocking braces for a couple of years? Certainly not Dad! Candid aligners can be done 100% from home - from taking dental impressions to regular scans on your smart phone to communicating with your orthodontist! Great deals found here!

Personally, I'm almost halfway through my 8 month treatment with Candid and it truly couldn't be easier!

Spark that joy, Dad!
Many dads love grilling and all things FIREEEEE! But maybe you live in an apartment where barbecuing is just out of the question. How about one of these little City Bonfires? Basically a 4" portable bonfire that burns for 3-5 hours, you can even use it inside! Wanna go for something bigger? Solo Stove is all the rage recently - it's a portable fire pit (in many sizes) with a unique design that creates an efficient secondary burn with minimal smoke. Their smallest, The Ranger, is only 15 pounds, great for the backyard and camping.

Photo Credit: Solo Stove Amazon Store

Time flies, Dad - now you can look back anytime!
From photo books and calendars to glass-like acrylic, metal, and canvas prints, MixBook can turn photos into meaningful gifts and long lasting home decor! Photo gifts can make great traditions, gifting an updated photo of dad and the kids each year to collect and cherish forever!

And if you still need more ideas, check out the Amazon Father's Day Gift Shop!

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Checklist for First Time Family Camping

5/27/2021

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US Japan Fam's Checklist for First Time Family Camping

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links - you don't pay more but we receive a small commission from purchases made after clicking. We haven't tried any of these products personally... yet...

Over the past year and a half, we've had to adapt our daily lives and how we do things - hello remote working and learning!! Regarding tourism, while many were afraid to fly or use hotels, RV sales and rentals shot through the roof! Things are starting to head back to normal, but if camping hadn't been on your radar before, it probably is now!

I know I've been itching to give camping a try, but I'm so nervous if we'll actually like it! Not really sure "roughing it" is really for me, and there seems to be quite a long list of things to buy for your first camping trip, especially if you want to go more for "glamping" which I think I do LOL!

Keep reading for our "Check List for First Time Family Camping" and be sure to comment if you're an experienced camper with any tips! Lucky for us, online shopping is easier than ever - you can find most of these quickly on Amazon!

FOR SLEEPING:

Tent: Switch Back Travel has a great post going over tent features and their top picks in several categories - one key recommendation is to get a tent larger than the number in your party (ex. A family of 5 like us should probably get a tent for 8 people). The "instant" tent that sets up in one minute (poles are already in it) really speaks to me, I'm leaning toward this Core 9 Person Instant Cabin Tent which is an "Amazon Pick" with over 3,000 ratings and 4.5 stars!
Waterproof Pad for Under Tent: how about this REDCAMP Waterproof Camping Tarp, #1 best seller on Amazon, for just $26 (though we'd need 2 if getting a super big tent)!
Sleeping pads or air mattresses: comfort is king, especially for you glampers! This POWERLIX sleeping pad is Amazon's #1 best seller, packs to the size of a water bottle and is just 1.3 pounds! At $39 a piece, it adds up quickly though, I'm thinking just for my husband and myself.
Sleeping bags: this is a tough one since they're temperature rated, you have to know what is the coldest you might be out camping in... you can get single sleeping bag, or a double if you wanna get cozy with your partner! This Tuphen sleeping bag is an Amazon Choice, rated down to 40*F, has a 2-way zipper, packs super small, and comes in 5 great colors.
Pillows: Honestly, I may just bring my regular memory foam pillow... but this Wise Owl inflatable pillow is a top seller on Amazon.

FOR EATING:

Heating mechanism (grill & charcoal, stove & propane gas)
Cookware: this 17 piece set by Gold Armour is Amazon's top pick under $30.
Recipes and food for easy campfire or barbecue cooking - I don't know how these Mountain HouseAdventure Meals taste but they look fun (and easy)!
Drinks and snacks / food that don't require cooking, just don't forget necessary bottle or can openers
Plates, bowls, cups, cutlery, napkins: call me old fashioned but it's probably easiest to go with disposable items, of course better for the environment if you bring reusable stuff made of stainless steel or another eco-friendly material)
Cleaning supplies, collapsible sink, and means of food storage & garbage disposal (like this pop up garbage can) to avoid attracting avoid bears and animals.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Lighting (flashlights, head lamps, or torches for inside the tent, getting to the bathroom, etc): check out this best selling 2-pack of LED lanterns or this 2-pack of headlamps.
Portable chairs and table: this portable chair by Coleman and this folding aluminum table are Amazon best seller
First Aid Kit: like this299 piece emergency kit
Bug spray / repellent, sun block, and bare minimum toiletries

ACTIVITIES:
Obviously sky's the limit with camping activities - anything meant to do outdoors, especially with no gear or small portable travel-sized options work great! But you can think out of the box too. Look at some of these fun ideas!

BOOKING YOUR TRIP:

Once you have all the gear, you're ready to go!! Obviously we haven't been camping yet but I've heard families RAVING about KOA campgrounds & Campsites. With pools, bounce pads, and tons of kid-friendly amenities, they make a really fun camping experience for families! Bring your tent or RV or book one of their cabins.

Not ready to load up on all the camping gear? Give glamping a go at a campsite already set up with the necessities! You can find great unique options here such as tents, teepees, tiny houses, RVs, barns, and more:

Petite Retreats, Glamping Hub, and Airbnb have great lists of unique stays including tiny homes, yurts, cottages, glamping tents, and more.
Harvest Hosts - if you have an RV, these 2k+ wineries, breweries, farms etc will let you camp for free!