Whether you like to coordinate your multiples like me, or you have a daughter who likes a multitude of solid color options to mix and match, you're going to love basics by kidpik (who provided us with some clothes in exchange for this review.) Offering the best in cute & fashionable basics for girls sized 4T - 16 - no logos, prints, or graphics - you can mix and match and let your girls show off their own style (without breaking the bank)!

We're talking buttery soft and comfy materials, in a rainbow of colors, at a price point that will make your wallet do a happy dance! As a mom of twins, their "Buy 2 get 30% off" deal for nearly every item is right up my alley, but their regular rates are great, too! For example, seamless tank tops (in 20 colors!!) for $7.50 (2 for $10), long sleeve layering tees for $10.50 (2 for $15), super soft skinny jeans for $22.50 (2 for $34), t-shirt dress for $14.50 (2 for $22), fun fringe denim shorts for $17.50 (2 for $25), and glitter sandals for $25 (all shown in the above image).

Check out my girls modeling the Coco Swing Top in Provence Blue ($10.50, 2 for $18) and Tie Front Skort in Pink Peacock ($15.50, 2 for $22). I love the skort - fun like a skirt and practical like shorts! I think it looks best with a fitted shirt tucked in (so you can see the adorable tie front), but I was happily surprised that the swing top actually works well in or out! Both are super duper soft, especially the skort, made of rayon spandex jersey. They're adorable and welcome additions to my girls' spring and summer wardrobe! The sizing was spot on, as well, my girls are in between 3T and 4T so we went with size 4 and it'll definitely fit through summer and probably even next year (now that's a great bang for your buck, am I right!?)

Before you shop basics by kidpik, make sure you have Rakuten (previously Ebates) plug-in installed on your browser - they're currently offering 6% cash back on kidpik purchases!! If you don't already have Rakuten, sign up with my affiliate link and get $10 toward your first purchase! 

Kidpik also has a great subscription box, check it out here! Each month you get 3 stylish mix and match outfits (7 pieces total). There's no stylist fee, you just pay for what you keep (and there's a 30% off discount if you choose the "keep all" option). Shipping, returns, and exchanges are FREE!

So, what do you think!? Let us know what fashion trends your daughters are loving these days!

Disclaimer: We received product free in exchange for our review and hosting of this giveaway. This post contains some affiliate links, you don't pay more but we will receive a small commission from any purchases made.

I recently posted about my concerns over the typical (quite revealing) swimwear options available for young girls these days (read more here) and my hunt for more conservative and sun safe options for my toddlers. I did find a few options, one of them being UV Skinz, who sent us some great children's sets for review, and will be giving away a full children's swim set (hat, top, bottom) to one lucky reader!! Watch our fun unboxing and swimwear fashion show, keep reading the rest of our review, and enter to win in the app at the bottom of this post!

Founded by Rhonda Sparks after losing her 32-year old husband to Skin Cancer in 2001, UV Skinz produces UPF 50+ sunwear for babies through adults, aiming to provide families with "peace-of-mind in the sun". You'll find great styles in everything from swim suits and rash guards to sun hats and cover ups to dresses and hoodies!

Our 3 year old twins received adorable swim sets from UV Skinz Girls' Seaside Breeze Collection. Emi got the purple-hued Hibiscus Floral Stripe design and Mia got the Pink Flamingo Stripe design in: Swim Shirt ($28.95), Swim Skirt ($29.95), and Sun Hat ($24.95). The skirts have built in bikini bottoms and an adjustable tie on the inside. The skirt provides extra coverage (from the sun, etc), as well as the "fun" skirt factor that some little girls (like my Mia) can't get enough of! We haven't had a chance to wear them in the sun or water yet, but they're absolutely in love with their new outfits and demanded wearing them around the house for 3 days straight, I kid you not, you can even see them donning their swimwear in our latest cooking video LOL!! That's definitely one perk of these modest swimwear - you can wear them in the water, on the beach, and once dried off, even straight into the shops and restaurants - no cover up needed! 

Our 6 year old son received a set from the Boys' Seaside Breeze Collection - the Jaspe Royal Turtle Sport Sun & Swim Shirt ($31.95), Board Shorts ($26.95), and Snap Back Hat ($19.95). The board shorts have velcro and tie, are nice and long (knee-length) for maximum sun coverage, and are adjustable inside so you can make them snugger or looser, which is not something I've seen in swim shorts before and is great!! They also have built in mesh underwear which I know some people don't like (inspect before each use to make sure there are no holes that could entrap anything, or cut them if super paranoid), but they're required in NYC public pools so I was grateful to see it! The hat is adjustable in the back, and has a moisture-wicking terry cloth sweat band.

The designs and the quality are top notch, and the sizing seems to be correct as well. The shirts are a great length, we've had some rash guard shirts that were a bit short, leading to their bellies hanging out, but these are perfect! The only negative is that the necks are cut pretty small, meaning my kids aren't able to get them on and off over their heads by themselves, but on the bright side, they're fitted and tall, meaning more sun protection (without need for regular sunblock applications) for those delicate little necks!

​You can purchase UV Skinz on uvskinz.com and Amazon (affiliate link), but you can also win some in our giveaway here!! Open to US residents ages 18 and over, one lucky winner will receive a hat, swim top, and swim bottom set for boy or girl in their choice of size. Don't forget, the more actions you take in the below app, the more chances you earn to win! Good luck!! Giveaway ends at 11:59PM EST on Thursday, April 11.

In a nutshell, I want to better protect my girls from the sun, and the creeps. Watch my short video, then keep reading and be sure to comment with your thoughts on girls' swimwear, the YouTube "adpocalypse" / "commentpocalypse", or your take on clothing gender norms!

Why are 95% of girls' swimwear options teeny one-pieces and bikinis? Sure, many styles are adorable. Seeing a toddler wearing a little retro-style bikini, I mean, come on, SO CUTE! But... they are not being protected, from the sun or the creeps out there. It's not 1980. In this day of social media, we're sharing photos and videos like crazy. We're sharing our own, and perhaps strangers are snapping away and sharing them without you even knowing it!

Have you heard about the latest YouTube drama? Not Momo, that's a different type of terrifying. No, I'm talking about the pedophile wormhole ring that was discovered. Apparently they're commenting with time stamps of their favorite moments and sharing videos of girls doing gymnastics, toddlers at the water park, you name it. Innocent videos. Of kids. It's sickening.

​So, YouTube, to protect children, or advertisers, or both, all of a sudden slammed on channels featuring kids. Demonetizing videos that show a bit too much skin, or touch on certain topics. And turning off comments on millions of channels, mine included. It's annoying, but they did it for a good reason. And it's eye opening. One of our vacation videos had about 30 seconds of me holding our baby twins in swim diapers. Demonetized. I hadn't had any odd time stamp comments, but does this mean it'd been targeted by the creepers? Or is it something Advertisers might not want to be associated with? Who knows... But it got me thinking.

Hoping to protect my girls from both the sun and creeps (online and in real life), I went looking for a cute tankini - board short type set. Couldn't find ANYTHING out there. Ended up getting the cute rash guard and shorts set shown in our title banner (affiliate link - only $15, great deal!!), and below are some other pretty good options that friends shared with me, but frankly, I'm still hunting for a great "girly" belly-covering tankini & board short option!! If you know of one, please comment below!! And if you're a clothing manufacturer, get on it, this is a niche that needs to be filled!!!

Here are some brands I've found with more conservative / skin covering options for girls:

• SWIMZIP (affiliate link) - has great zip up short and long sleeve rash guards for baby through adult, as well as zip-up body suits for babies and toddlers.
• UV SKINZ (affiliate link) - cute UPF options for babies through adults, and some really great skirt swim bottoms for girls!
• Lands End (affiliate link) - some cute swim short options, though these seem to be in bigger girl sizes rather than toddler, which is a general issue I'm seeing when looking for "board shorts / swim shorts"
• Nozone (affiliate link) - UPF options for baby through adult, made in Canada

A couple of weeks ago I spent the day at Toy Fair New York 2019 and phew, it was a BIG day! This was my 3rd year in a row attending Toy Fair New York, which is only open to toy makers & distributers, buyers, and media. Since it's not open for you guys, the consumers, I always feel responsible and excited to walk the expo floor, booth by booth, hours on end, to find the new, exciting, and mind blowing products new to the market or coming soon. Many of these will be the hottest toys for Christmas 2019, and will be on all of your kids' wish lists! For the kids at heart out there, there are some great toys for you, too, as well as some non-toy products!! So, watch my Toy Fair New York highlights video below featuring my picks for the BEST TOYS OF 2019, and keep reading below that for some photos and details of a select few items from the video (some affiliate links are included, which provide our blog with a small comission from items you purchase - thank you)!

BEST ACTIVE TOYS:

• Brightz CosmicBrightz - LED lights for your bike frame and wheels, $13 on Amazon (affiliate link)
• Easy Rollerz Heel Wheels - for toddler through adult, turn any sneaker into a roller skate! $25 - $50 on Amazon (affiliate link).
• Dexster Ezy Roller - stay tuned we have a personal review / video coming soon on this one!! You sit down on it, low to the ground, and move it with your feet (not pedals though). hard to explain, but so fun!! $120 on Amazon (affiliate link).
• Flybar My First Foam Pogo - a foam squeaking pogo for ages 3 and up, $17 on Amazon (affiliate link)
• Monkey Moves Card Game - play alone, with a partner, or on teams, using cards that show various yoga / acro yoga poses to make. $15 on monkeymovesgame.com
• My Buddy Wheels by Yvolution - cute plushie covers for balance bikes! Coming soon, stay tuned on their Facebook page!
• Pulse Lightup Skates - rechargeable light pulsing roller skates. Need I say more!?  $80 on Amazon (affiliate link)
• Wipeout Dry Erase Protective Gear - helmets, elbow and knee pads, and more - kids draw on them with dry erase markers and wipe off! $20 - $50 on Amazon (affiliate link)

BEST ARTS & CRAFTS TOYS:

• PixPerfect - create art gallery worthy creations with sequins! $50 for a kit on Amazon (affiliate link).
• Spyrocity by Quill On - make very cool 3D pictures using wound-up strips of paper! $27.99 on Amazon (affiliate link).
• TreeMendous Christmas Tree Ornament Decorator Kit - by the makers of the EggMazing Easter Egg Decorator Kit, it spins your ornament while you color, so fun, and comes out great!! $30 on Amazon (affiliate link) but on sale now for $16!!

BEST BABY & TODDLER TOYS:

• HenBea Light Table - light up activity table that acts as a white board - use stencils, get creative putting colors together, etc! Not available in the US... yet... see it on henbeastore.com
• Trail Master Wagon by Simplay3 - a 1 or 2 seater wagon, rickshaw style - fun for the kids, easy for the parent. The  handle comes off and flips over for more compact storage. 2-seater for $130, single-seater for $110 on Amazon (affiliate link).
• Vertiplay Wall Toys - stick these to the wall, little ones can play, make music, and more! $20 - $40 on Amazon (affiliate link).

BEST BOOKS & READING TOYS:

• Ditty Bird Song Books - great board books with popular children's songs at the push of a button! $16 on Amazon (affiliate link)
• Mark My Time Digital Bookmark - digital book marks with have timers, lights, and more! $10 - $20 on Amazon (affiliate link)
• Quiet Books by Piqipi - great soft books for little ones with quiet activities on each page! A couple are listed for $55 on Amazon (affiliate link) but seems like the price will be lower once the line is released. You can see them on piqipi.com

BEST COMPOUND TOYS:

• ORB Slimi Cafe - create desserts with reusable slime, squishies and other fun compounds.  Hitting the US market on March 7, 2019!! See more on orbslimicafe.com.
• SloFlo - a very cool new compound similar to kinetic sand and Mad Mattr, yet different. Very cool and worth checking out, hitting the market soon but get more info on playvisions.com

BEST COOKING TOYS:

• Hapinest by Island Genius - created by a mom and dad team, this adorable baking set comes with a cute apron, easy cook book, cookie cutters, frosting bags and reusable coupler, and a patented rolling pin that makes cookies of the perfect thickness, and dough won't stick to it! $35 atislandgenius.com/collections/hapinest.

BEST PRETEND PLAY TOYS:

• Densters Build Your Own Fort at Home - a set of clips that easily allows you to attach blankets to any chairs, doors, corners, you name it. $30 on Amazon (affiliate link).
• Little Medical School Kits - how to be a pediatrician, veterinarian, etc! Great for aspiring professionals, or imaginative kids! $50 on littlemedicalschool.com
• Pop-Oh-Ver Pretend Play - these canvas sets go over your chair to make a stove, ice cream parlor, or kitchen counter! $40 on Amazon (affiliate link)

BEST PLUSHY TOYS:

• Cubcoats​ - an adorable hoodie that folds into a stuffed animal!! How cute AND practical!!  $45 - $50 on Amazon (affiliate link).
• WowWee Pink Fong Baby Shark Singing Puppet - the faster you move your hand, the faster it sings Baby Shark! HA!!! Not on the market yet, but it should pop up here on Amazon (affiliate link) when for sale.

BEST TRAVEL TOYS & PRODUCTS:

• ClypX Car Seat Belt Positioner - an alternative to the booster, this brings the seat belt to a safe position for your child. $40 on Amazon (affiliate link)
• KidsEmbrace Character Car Seats​ - these are frankly the coolest car seats I have ever seen!!! WOW!!! From superheros to cartoon characters, $119 - $165 on Amazon (affiliate link)
• Micro Luggage Easy - luggage with a built in seat so your child (or an adult!) can sit on it as you pull it through the airport - leave the stroller at home! $180 on Amazon (affiliate link).

BEST VIDEO GAME & TECH TOYS:

• Artie 3000 by Educational Insights - a coding robot for ages 7 - 12, you create the code and Artie draws. Not yet available but you can buy him soon on Amazon (affiliate link).
• My Arcade Micro Player Arcades - the classic arcade games you know and love, for your desktop! $18 on Amazon (affiliate link)
• Shifu Orboot Globe - augmented reality globe that lets you learn about the world with a handy app. $60 (on sale for $50) on Amazon (affiliate link)

OTHER HOT ITEMS (not toys):

• iDecoz Phone Mirrors and Decals - hold your train pass, credit cards, check your makeup, you name it! $4~ on Amazon (affiliate link)
• Para'kito - refillable mosquito repellant bands, $19 on Amazon (affiliate link)
• Sunshine & Glitter Mermaid Sunscreen - 50+ SPF, biodegradeable (reef-safe), 80 mintue water resistant, non-nano zinc oxide sunscreen!! Your skin will glitter and be protected from the sun, SO AWESOME!! $19 on Amazon (affiliate link)

In case you missed my Best Toys for 2018 video from Toy Fair New York last year, watch it below, LOTS of gooooooood stuff!

Disclaimer: This post includes affiliate links, we receive a small commission from purchase made after clicking.

When my daughter and I both needed our first glasses recently, I quickly became aware of how expensive eye care and corrective eyewear can be. Even if you have vision insurance, it's not likely to completely cover the designer frames at your local optician, not to mention the added expense of lenses and exams! But don't worry, I'm here to share with you some tips I've come up with for getting glasses for cheap, or even FREE!! Watch this adorable video of my daughter unboxing and trying on her first glasses, and then read on!

1. Eye Exam Options & Tips

Ophthalmologist
Check with your insurance to see what they'll cover. Most medical insurances should cover a full exam with an ophthalmologist for the price of a visit to a specialist. In our case, it's a $30 co-pay. Our doctor warned us that many insurances do not cover the cost of refraction, however, so call ahead to your eye doctor for their price for what they'll charge you out of pocket if not covered, ask them for the insurance code for the procedure and then call your insurance company to ask if it's covered.

Optometrist
An optometrist is not a medical doctor, but they are trained post-doctorate professionals at local vision centers and optical shops. Double check when making your appointment that they will provide you with a thorough exam, not just to determine your prescription, but also to dilate your eyes and check for signs of glaucoma. Since treatment in the early stages of glaucoma (when you have no idea you have it) can literally save your vision, it's highly recommended to get regular exams once you pass the age of 35!! Yeah, I didn't know this either, but you can be sure I'm going to add it to my list of annual exams to have now! Anyway, back to optometrists... these exams will likely not be covered by medical insurance, but if you have supplemental vision coverage they'll usually cover or reimburse you a set amount. Mine, for example, required me having the optometrist fill out the claim form, which I send in and can be reimbursed up to $50. So, I called around, finding some places charging as much as $75 for an exam!! I went with a highly recommended place that charged $45 and would do a full exam (yes, checked me for glaucoma, which I don't have, phew!!). If you're near Bay Ridge Brooklyn, check out Oasis Vision Center (7411 5th Ave, Brooklyn), they were great, and they were extremely respectful when I told them I was purchasing glasses online - not a single sales pitch!!

Children's Eye Exams
Our pediatrician does a really easy test using PediaVision, a camera that takes a quick photo of the child's eye. It measures all sorts of things and can determine certain abnormalities that need to be checked by a vision specialist. Our 3 year old daughter failed this, and our 6 year old son failed his school's exam. So we took both for a full exam at a highly recommended local Pediatric Ophthalmologist (Dr. Caryn Pearlstein in Bay Ridge, Staten Island, or NJ). Their vision charts varied depending on if the child knew letters or needed pictures, as you can see Mia demonstrating in the photo below. With 2 kids getting examined, we were there a while, and eventually every image she saw was "poopy". Gah. Kids...

Make sure your prescription, whether filled out by an ophthalmologist or optometrist, includes the PD or pupillary distance. This is required for ordering glasses online, and while you can measure it yourself, a trained professional will be able to do it much more accurately.

2. Buying Affordable Prescription Glasses

You may be able to find affordable frames at your local vision center, however more often than not you'll find labels upward of $200+ and that doesn't even include the lenses!! Check with your insurance to see what they'll cover before deciding on your budget. My insurance, for example, will cover $100 per frame every 2 years, and $50 per lenses once a year. It was not enough to cover the child-proof MiraFlex frames (no hinges!!) everyone recommended for my 3 year old, so my search continued online, and this is where it gets interesting!! 

There are numerous websites where you can find very budget-friendly glasses online. I ended up finding the cheapest Miraflex glasses on discountglasses.com (affiliate link) - Just $100 for the glasses, including the frames, meaning they would be 100% covered by our insurance and save me about $150 extra out of pocket that our local optician wanted to charge me!! It also meant I still have my $50 in lens credit to use later in the year if/when her prescription changes! For myself, I got a pair of glasses for $117 included lenses and a pair of prescription sunglasses for $60 including lenses (though my 2 pair were complimentary as part of an Instagram campaign I worked with them on; side note, this blog post is not sponsored by or in cooperation with them or any brand).

Not only do they have glasses and sunglasses (prescription and non-prescription) for adults and children for about $20 - $150 a pair (with lenses, so cheap!!), discountglasses.com (affiliate link) also has a really cool app on their website that allows you to virtually try on most of their frames! You line up your face, it takes a picture, you turn left, turn right, hold a credit card to your forehead and boom, you're ready to roll!! Check out a couple pairs that I "tried on" from the comfort of my own desk!

Ordering glasses online can save you tons of money, but it's not a perfect system. They may not fit quite right (our nose bridges are different shapes and sizes, our face/head widths vary, our cheeks might not be comfortable under certain frames - these are not taken into account by our prescriptions), there could be a mistake in the order, etc. But for me, it was worth the risk, and thankfully we didn't have any issues. Discountglasses.com (affiliate link) does have free returns though, and if it's a small issue such as the ear pieces needing to be loosened, you should be able to visit any local optician to fix quickly and cheaply (or for free if it's the same place you got your exam, maybe?).

So, what do you think? Will you buy your next pair of glasses online? Leave a comment below with any tips I missed (I'm a newbie to this eyewear thing!!).

We were recently sent some new sneakers from a company I suspect many of you may be unaware of, despite the fact that they are one of the best selling children's shoe companies in Japan! Syunsoku, founded in 2003, has sold more than 60 million pairs of shoes, and they are guaranteed to be your child's next favorite pair of sneakers!

The name Syunsoku means "flash feet," which is a nod to the speed and power their sneakers are designed to provide. Developed to support the feet of sports-minded kids, and designed to perfectly suit each age group's changing shape of feet - allowing ample space for toes and appropriate height for toes and heels.

Now, their sizes are not standard US sizes, so you'll have to review their size chart (available on each product page), but it's not too hard to figure out - I got my 3 kids' sizes right on first try, woohoo!! For our 5 year old, we got the RS2 Boys Sports Shoes in "Yellow", though it's more of a lime green and we LOVE THEM!!! So cute and unique! He mentioned they felt snug on the sides when first wearing them, and the product page does say this style is perfect for boys with extra narrow feet (which Kenzo does not have), but at the end of his first full day wearing them he said they felt great, so maybe you have to settle into them and stretch them out a bit. This style retails for $49 but is currently on sale for $24.50 on syunsokuusa.com. It's also available in "black" and blue".

For the girls we got these super cute Cream Girls Sports Shoes in "Black". The girls are obsessed with the shiny little pink bow atop the velcro strap, and frankly, so am I! HA! The sole is very thick (so not super flexible, but flexible enough) but they're very lightweight with "enhanced cushioning." These retail for $64 but are currently on sale for $32 on syunsokuusa.com.

Looking to get some new sneakers for your kids? Go check out Syunsoku! Available on their website (offering free shipping, 100% satisfaction guarantee, and free 30 day returns) and also Amazon (affiliate link).

Whether coordinating outfits with your significant other or family makes your heart happy or it's just a fun and cheesy whim for a party, this post is for you!! Shinesty recently reached out to us to review their coordinating holiday outfits for families, and I was SO game!

I'd never heard of Shinesty before, but was really wow'd when scrolling through their site. They have TONS of themed wear for singles and couples, from jumpsuits and dresses to swimsuits and bathrobes. Do yourself a favor and check out their IG feed for some good laughs, their "mediocre memes" are a hoot! While most of their outfits claim to be "how babies are made" (omg did they really go there! HA!), they do have a few coordinating family holiday outfits to choose from.

We were sent the non-religious but still festive Millennial Snowflake design - a suit with a tie for hubby, a boys' suit for our 5 year old, toddler dresses for the girls, and a long sleeve wrap dress for myself. For some good laughs, be sure to watch our unboxing video, featuring our very first family fashion show (we ham it up big time) and even a bit of acro in there) - just click below!

The kids LOVE LOVE LOVE their outfits. The girls couldn't stop twirling around, so adorable. Kenzo felt like such a man, donning his first suit! Though, the buttons were super stiff, and he needed some help at first. His pants have elastic on the back making them a perfect fit, and easy to maneuver in the bathroom since he could skip the button and zipper.

Hubby and I were a wee bit embarrassed to wear our outfits out publicly. For me, who usually wears black with a pop of color via statement necklace, this light colored dress (with snowflakes on it no less!!!) was totally out of my comfort zone, but it fit pretty well and was really comfortable. It ended up actually being really fun to get all dressed up matchy matchy with the whole fam. We ended up wearing them to the Cirque Dreams Holidaze Christmas show - even daddy wore his snowflake blazer!! We lost count of how many people stopped us to comment about how adorable we were in our outfits, it was hilarious!! Some even took photos! Long story short, Shinesty clothes are not for wallflowers - you WILL get noticed, and you WILL have a good laugh and lots of fun!

You can shop for fun threads on shinesty.com and Amazon (affiliate links).

Looking for clothing & accessories for babies, children, and adults from small to well-known designers? One-of-a-kind gifts and fabulous home decor? Unique toys, jewelry, and birthday gifts?  All while supporting a mother-owned and run business? Then you've come to the right place, because you can check off every single one of those boxes by shopping at Picket Fence, a small brick and mortar boutique in Pittsburgh, offering personal shopping assistance in shop, and an easy online experience as well with free nationwide shipping on orders over $40. And you're in luck because we are going to be giving away $50 store credit - be sure to enter to win in the Rafflecopter app at the bottom of this post!!

At Picket Fence you'll find unique, trendy, and classic items for your children, yourself and your home!  Browsing through the baby and kids sections, you'll find great brands such as APPAMAN, Freshly Picked, Kickee Pants, Tea Collection, and more. ​

​In the home section, you'll find everything from holiday decor to towels, cutlery, tumblers, tote bags, and candles! Look at this fun stuff:

The women's section features made-in-America clothing and accessories by small designers and well-known brands, such as Kate Spade and Chloe.

It's not the best place to go when needing duplicates for twins, since there is only 1 available in each size for most of the items, though I did find some great coordinating items, for siblings or twins:

Looking for a fabulous deal? Don't miss their sale section!! Check out some of these great deals I found:

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

And now that you've seen what amazing goods Picket Fence has, it's time for the giveaway!! YAY!! Enter to win a $50 store credit to PicketFenceShadySide.Com below - you must leave a blog comment to enter, and once you do that and click the button in the app, it'll open up a whole bunch of other entry options that will earn you more chances to win. Open to US residents over the age of 18 only. GOOD LUCK!!!

One of the greatest things about being a "mom blogger" is learning about the latest and greatest products, trends, and innovations, and getting to share them with all of you! Momtrends has been such an amazing resource for me, both as a mom and as a blogger. Their influencer events are always a blast, helping us connect with brands and learn about them in fun and creative ways. This year's 3rd Annual Moms' Night Out was no different, and I couldn't be more excited to tell you guys all about it!! Read on for a glimpse of the event and the wonderful brands and products that were represented there!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, but all thoughts and opinions are my own and completely unbiased. Amazon links below are "affiliate links" - you don't pay more, but I may get a small commission to help fund the blog, it's a win win!

The event was hosted by Parents Magazine at the Meredith Publications HQ in downtown Manhattan. There couldn't be a better match than Momtrends and Meredith, they totally run the parenting market in print with Parents and Parents Latina magazine (even if you're not receiving them at home, you're certainly reading them at your pediatrician's waiting room like I did yesterday), and digital on momtrends.com and parents.com (the latter did a piece on my twin pregnancy stop motion video that went viral 3 years ago!).

The night included fashion, food, massage, drinks, toys, giveaways, friends, and... being "moms' night out and all... no kids! YASSSSSS!

Now let me get down to the sponsoring brands, the great products they have, and the fun ways we got to learn about them!

Culturelle
The Culturelle booth was my first of the night, they had a selection of great diaper bags to chose from and asked us to fill one as we would for a family trip! Lucky for me I don't have to bother with diapers anymore, but with kids in tow you still have plenty to think about - snacks, entertainment, illness, etc! They had amazing must-haves to throw in there! I ended up going with some KIND bars and Happy Family Happy Tot Fiber & Protein bars, Aquaphor Baby lotion, Babyganics sunblock, Johnson & Johnson mini first aid kit, sippy cups, and of course, Culturelle Baby Calm + Comfort Probiotics and Culturelle Baby Grow + Thrive Probiotics!

​Culturelle has probiotics for the whole family - for digestive health, wellness, and even an entire line focusing on building a strong foundation for your baby's healthy growth and development. It's actually the #1 Pediatrician recommended brand (based on a 2016 survey among pediatricians recommending a kids probiotic brand). Culturelle® Baby Calm + Comfort Probiotic + Chamomile Drops help reduce crying and fussiness due to occasional digestive upset. Culturelle® Baby Grow + Thrive Probiotics + Vitamin D Drops promote the development of a healthy digestive and immune system, and ​help them build strong bones. You can shop for Culturelle products on culturelle.com, Amazon (affiliate link), and your local drug store. Read more about Culturelle in my blog post here!

Boiron USA
The next booth was deeeeeee-licious! Boiron USA wanted to provided a healthy and Instagrammable booth for us to enjoy, and they sure did, with a full smoothie bar!

Boiron USA is a world leader in homeopathic medicines, providing family-friendly products that work without causing drowsiness or drug interaction, and is best known for their top-selling flu medicine Oscillococcinum. Their baby & children's line features Children's Coldcalm Liquid Doses (multi-symptom cold relief for children 6 months and up) and Children's Chestal Honey Syrup (relieves all types of coughs). Boiron's homeopathic medicines have no risk overdose, won't interact with other medications, herbs, or supplements, and don't contain any of the ingredients questioned by the FDA for use in children under age 4. Amazing right!? You can purchase Boiron USA homeopathic medicines on boironusa.com and Amazon (affiliate link).

JCPenney's Peyton & Parker Collection
Now, I wouldn't call myself fashion forward or at all fashionably inclined. I struggle with this big time, so I was a wee bit intimidated upon hearing JCPenny's booth involved styling a mannequin family with items from their new exclusive Peyton & Parker Collection. They had a couple of racks lined up, and once I started flipping through, it was actually fun!! They have super cute stuff that coordinate quite easily! Check out me and my little mock-family below!

JCPenney's new lifestyle brand, Peyton & Parker, launched TODAY (October 19) and will be sold exclusively in select JCPenny stores and online.  Designed entirely by their in-house Design Team, ​Peyton & Parker is a collection of classic womens, mens, kids and home looks that mix & match to create effortless, yet put-together style for the family. The pieces are classic and versatile - fresh, approachable trends that work for every family’s lifestyle, no matter the occasion.

VTech
​Am I saving the best for last? Perhaps... VTech wanted to demonstrate that their toys will keep your children entertained and engaged enough to provide you with some much needed "me time". So what did they offer at their booth? Well, tons of great toys for us to play around with. But also, MASSAGES!!!

​VTech is a world leader in developing high-quality, innovative educational products that enrich children's development and make learning fun! From Kidizoom smart watch (that I'm playing with above) to  digital cameras, musical instruments, activity walkers, and more! Be sure to check out their Holiday Guide (sorted by age group) to make your shopping this year easy peasy! You can purchase at vtechkids.com, on Amazon (affiliate link), and at local stores.

Great stuff, am I right!? Are you already a using and loving any products mentioned above? Have you just added some to your shopping carts? Lemme know in a comment below!!

If you're searching for a unique Halloween Costume, or an easy Cosplay idea for your next Comic Con, I've got a suggestion for ya! Kigurumi hooded onesie costumes from Kutame! From dragons and sharks to unicorns and pandas, they have a massive selection of costumes! You'll even find some Japanese ones such as Gudetama, Korilakkuma, Rilakkuma, Mega Man, Shiba Inu, and Pink Gloomy Bear. Not only does Kutame have tons of Kigurumi, they also have Pusheen, blind boxes, mugs and other great gifts.

And are you ready for this?! We're giving away a $150 store credit (US residents only; good for 2 - 3 Kigurumi costumes), and have a 20% off coupon code for everyone else!! Just read on and enter to win at the bottom of this blog post!! (giveaway ended)

They are SUPER soft, and warm (made of 100% polyester, SAZAC's signature soft fleece), machine washable (just turn them inside out), and because they're so loose fitting they allow for plenty of layering underneath which makes them the perfect choice for Trick-or-Treating in chilly locations! Another thing that makes Kigurumi so great is there's no guessing game when choosing your size. They're meant to be loose fitting, and only come in 2 size options for adults: "regular one size" (what hubby and I got, we're both about 5'8") and "extra tall size" (for those over 6') and 2 size options for kids: 3-5 years old (what we got for our just turned 3 year old twins) and 5-9 years old (what we got for my small almost 6 year old son). 

You can see that they're quite big on my kids, but the elastic wrists and ankles are great. Kind of harem pant style. Loose, comfy, and lots of fun to "monkey around in" as my son mentions in our HILARIOUS unboxing video, watch it here!! I can see them being a great costume during pregnancy and postpartum, as well, since they're so roomy!

Here are my husband and I modeling our "regular one size" Kigurumi. I got the "colorful skeleton" (only available in regular size) and he got the "skeleton" (available in regular & extra tall size), both have pockets and retail for $59 on shopkutame.com (don't forget to use code "USJAPANFAM" for your 25% off!!)

Here's our son in his  Japanese monkey costume, with pockets, retailing for $45. He's almost 6 years old and about 43 inches tall, wearing the "5-9 year old size", it's also available in 3-5 year old size. I'm so happy he chose this costume, not only is it adorable and kinda hilarious with the red butt, but about 10 years ago his father and I actually drove out from our home in Yokohama to see the Japanese snow monkeys in the mountains of Nagano, lounging in the steamy natural hot springs! It was quite an amazing experience!!

Here are our twins modeling the pink unicorn and blue unicorn costumes. They just turned 3 and are about 36" tall, wearing the size 3-5 years (also available in 5-9 years). Both have pockets and retail for $45. The hoods were a bit difficult for them to manage at first, but after playing around in them for a while they figured them out. It's fun to pull them forward and be totally in character, but do make sure you and your kids can see well when necessary, or know to take their hoods down when crossing the road! Safety first!!

Suffice it to say, we are all totally in love with our new Kigurumi onesie character costumes, and think you will be too!!! US Residents can get 20% off their orders with code USJAPANFAM at shopkutame.com and can also enter to win $150 credit in the Rafflecopter box below. Don't forget you can earn more points daily with certain actions such as tweeting, watching our videos, and commenting on blog posts! The giveaway will end at 11:59 PM EST on Monday, October 15. Good luck to all, and be sure to comment below with your thoughts on these costumes, Japanese culture, or a fun Halloween/Costume-related story!!