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How Much Acetaminophen Should You Be Taking? + Printable Dosing Chart for Kids

The Mama Maven — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 16:13:17 +0000

This post is brought to you by Know Your Dose and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.

Are you aware of the dosage of medicines you’re taking? Especially acetaminophen? I know that sometimes I don’t pay attention and I’ve given myself too much. This winter, with the flu spreading – along with the virus that causes COVID-19, it is essential to take acetaminophen safely as you search for the right medicine to try to ease you or your family’s cold and flu symptoms, to reduce fevers. The Acetaminophen Awareness Coalition (AAC) is urging Americans to double check their medicine labels when treating cold and flu symptoms to avoid doubling up on medicines with acetaminophen. And if you’re aged 60+, there is a greater risk of taking too much acetaminophen. So, how much Acetaminophen should you be taking? You also have to watch how you dose your kids. We’ve got a printable you can download! Keep reading to learn more. How Much Acetaminophen Should You Be Taking? + Printable Dosing Chart for Kids

Every year, Americans catch millions of colds, and 7 in 10 people will use over-the-counter medicines to treat their cold and flu symptoms. However, many of the multi-symptom cold and flu medicines contain acetaminophen. .

It’s one of the most common drug ingredients in the U.S., found in more than 600 different over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medicines, including many cold and flu medicines. It’s safe and effective when used as directed, but there’s a limit to how much you can take in one day.

The FDA has set a maximum daily dose of 4,000 mg of acetaminophen in a 24-hour period for adults. And if you look at the directions, it will tell you how many tablets/capsules/gelcaps to take per day. Don’t exceed the dosage.

Here’s a list of all the cold and flu medicines that contain acetaminophen.

Over-the-Counter

Actifed®
Alka-Seltzer Plus®
Cepacol®
Contac®
Coricidin®
DayQuil®
Dimetapp®
Dristan®
Excedrin®
Feverall®
Formula 44®
Goody’s® Powders
Liquiprin®
Midol®
Mucinex®
NyQuil®
Panadol®
Robitussin®
Saint Joseph® Aspirin-Free
Singlet®
Sinutab®
Sudafed®
Theraflu®
Triaminic®
TYLENOL® Brand Products
Vanquish®
Vicks®
*And store brands

*Many OTC and Rx medicines have store-brand or generic versions. For example, there are many store-brand products that are similar to brands like TYLENOL®, NyQuil®, and Robitussin®. Prescription medicines that come in generic form may list the ingredients in place of a drug name. For example, the generic version of “Vicodin” has “hydrocodone and acetaminophen” written on its label. Your prescription label may list the ingredients, the brand name, or both. Always read and follow the label and ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about the ingredients in your medicine.

Keep Track of Acetaminophen Dosing

When you aren’t feeling well, its easy to not remember what dose of acetaminophen you’ve taken, so what I do is make a note in my iPhone Notes App. I mark the time and how much I took (usually 2 capsules).
You can also mark it on an index card or post-it note, which is what I used to do when my kids were small. I was afraid that I would give them too much, so this way my husband and I knew what time and dose we gave to our children.

Steps to use Acetaminophen Safely
– Always read and follow the medicine label
– Know if your medicines contain acetaminophen
– Take only one medicine at a time that contains acetaminophen
– Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have questions. Most health insurance companies will have a telehealth or nurse on demand that you can call.

Of those who exceed the maximum daily dose, most do so by taking the next dose too soon, using multiple products containing acetaminophen, or taking too much at one time. Recent data shows that older adults (ages 60+) are at risk of taking too much acetaminophen. Teens and young adults ages 12-29 are also at the greatest risk of taking too much acetaminophen. It’s important to teach your teens to check their medicine labels before taking cold or pain medicines, since accidentally taking too much acetaminophen could damage their liver. This would include kids going off to college where they won’t have your watchful eye.

By knowing how much you’re dosing, you can stop that.

How to Dose Your Children Safely with Acetaminophen

Most of us are so careful when it comes to our children and dosing acetaminophen is included with that. However, when you’re giving a dose in the middle of the night or the wee hours in the morning, it’s hard to keep track of what you’ve already given them. Here’s as handy graphic (and a printable copy) so you can make sure you’re dosing your children properly with acetaminophen Go here for infant and child dosing (or to print this chart out in Spanish).

Get a downloadable version of this chart here: http://bit.ly/KYDcoldflu (look for downloadable materials)

Make sure to double check your medicine labels so you don’t accidentally double up on acetaminophen. Check out http://bit.ly/KYDcoldflu for more information.

Photo credits:

Pin 1 Image: by Mojpe from Pixabay
Pin 2 Image by press and from Pixabay

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Our Biggest Health Advocate is Ourselves (+ Stand Strong For Men’s Health)

The Mama Maven — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 12:54:00 +0000

This post is sponsored by Depend. As always, all opinions are my own.

It’s almost the end of the year and while 2020 has been tough, there’s something I bet you’re not doing. Besides taking care of others, are you taking charge of your own health? Have you had routine doctor checkups in the last 6 months? Have you been putting off appointments because of Covid? Please, make sure you do, because issues may come up and you may not catch things in time. My own mother had a serious medical issue in June and another close relative is going through something big right now. Last month, I shared about how to help someone that is struggling right now and this is why I wrote this – someone in my life is struggling. If that beloved relative had not gone for their checkup, they would be even worse off now (it was that serious). I am proud to team up with Depend to work with them on their Stand Strong for Men’s Health program. Did you know that there is a link between incontinence and prostate cancer? Incontinence is actually one of the leading side effects for prostate cancer survivors.

We spoke to Dr. Jennifer Caudle, Depend partner and board-certified family physician about prostate cancer.

What are the signs of Prostate Cancer?

“According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer; as a result, many of these men may develop incontinence. This is why Depend is committed to improving men’s health and conquering one of the most common cancers through the Stand Strong for Men’s Health program in partnership with the Prostate Cancer Foundation. It is very important to recognize the signs of prostate cancer and talk to your doctor if you are having any of the symptoms such as a weak flow of urine or frequent urination. Some will have the sudden urge to urinate or trouble starting to urinate. Others are unable to completely empty their bladder or have pain with urination. It’s important to remember, however, that some of these symptoms can be caused by other conditions and some men may have no symptoms at all.”

When should someone call their doctor?

“According to a recent study by Cleveland Clinic, 72 percent of men would rather do household chores than go to the doctor! But It’s important to have those honest conversations and call your doctor whenever you have symptoms that are unusual, troubling or unexplained. It’s also important to make sure to get regular check-ups to support early detection and learn what your normal is. Together, we can help create awareness about prostate cancer, destigmatize male incontinence and culturally change the way men approach their health.”

What is the typical age men should be concerned about Prostate Cancer?

“When a man should be screened for prostate cancer depends on a number of factors such as his age, family and personal history, his underlying conditions, race and other factors etc. The decision to undergo screening for prostate cancer should be a decision the patient and his doctor make together based on the current guidelines, available data and his risk factors.”

Image by

What does treatment for Prostate Cancer look like?

“The treatment for prostate cancer greatly depends on the stage of the cancer and other factors. Treatment could include surgery, radiation, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and other modalities.”

What are the risk factors of Prostate Cancer?

“Some prostate cancer risk factors include the following:

Age. Prostate cancer incidence increases over the age of 50
Race. Prostate cancer develops more often in African American men and in Caribbean men of African ancestry than other men
Family History
Genetics”

For every purchase of Depend® Guards and Shields made in November. Depend will donate ($1) to the Prostate Cancer Foundation†. This helps to fund the world’s most promising research to improve the prevention, detection, and treatment of prostate cancer.

Please make sure you are getting regular checkups. Early detection could really save your life.

Take charge of your own health – waiting will not help. Learn more about Depend’s Stand Strong for Men’s Health program here: https://www.depend.com/en-us/stand-strong

LEGAL: †Between 11/1/20 – 11/30/20 Depend shall donate to Prostate Cancer Foundation $1.00 for each Depend Shields or Guards purchased in the United States. Minimum Donation $150,000/Maximum Donation $200,000. Void in MS. For more information, PCF.org

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Get Started on Your New Year’s Resolutions By Getting 40% off Select Nike Styles at Macy’s

The Mama Maven — Sun, 22 Dec 2019 11:54:27 +0000

This post is sponsored by Savings.com and contains affiliate links.

I’m trying to make sure I make my new year as active as I can. Having the right sneakers to exercise in is definitely part of that. While I’m sure you’ve started your resolution list, have you done anything to get started on it? I’ve got a solution! Get started on your New Year’s resolutions by getting 40% off Select Nike Styles from Finish Line at Macy’s from December 22 to December 28. Because they are having such great deals on Nike’s at Macys, make sure to snap up a pair or two (or three). This includes many different Nike styles for men, women, and kids. You’ll thank me when you’re ready to start your new routines and have the perfect kicks to do them with.

One of the styles I’m look at is the Women’s Air Max Torch 4 Running Sneakers from Finish Line. It’s great for anything from training to everyday where. These sneakers deliver foot cushioning and lots of support. The visible Max Air unit in the heel absorbs shock and there’s a breathable upper design which ventilates your feet. I love the bright color and the rubble sole with a waffle traction pattern – makes it so grippy on a variety of surfaces and terrains.

Features include:

Breathable mesh upper design with TPU overlays for added support
Visible Max Air unit in the heel for maximum cushioning and shock absorption
Phylon foam midsole in the forefoot offers added cushioning without bulk
Rubble sole with waffle traction pattern for stellar grip over a variety of surfaces
Enhanced visibility thanks to reflective details

Another sneaker I’m crushing on is the Nike Women’s Roshe One Casual Sneakers from Finish Line. I love the cherry color and the thick sole. The Roshe is a must for running around town, travel, and casual exercising. And who couldn’t use a stylish reason to get their step count up, right?

Features include:

Breathable synthetic and textile upper
Minimal aesthetic for a bulk-free feel
Phylon and EVA foam underfoot for cushioning without added bulk
Waffle pattern on the sole for traction on a variety of surfaces

I’m also crushing on these Women’s Gold Explore Strada Running Sneakers from Finish Line. The color is so on trend and I’ll wear them everywhere. I love the thick sole, which can handle a run on the hard streets of my town.

Features include:

Woven dual-tone fabric upper is dimensional for a classic look
Foam midsole and outsole for cushioned comfort
Multilayer eye stay construction locks you in for a secure fit
Comfort sockliner is lightweight and breathable
Padded tongue and collar for comfort
Patterned outsole offers traction and grip

So, which ones are you going to pick up? I plan to get all three! Get 40% off Nike Styles from Finish Line at Macy’s!

#FinishLineAtMacys

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Amwell: A Doctor Visit is Just a Quick Video Chat Away + Special Discount Code

The Mama Maven — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 02:58:57 +0000

Compensation was provided by Amwell via Momtrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Amwell or Momtrends.

My daughter has a big event this week at her school. Trouble is, she’s not feeling that great and I’m afraid if she doesn’t get better she’s going to miss it. We’re not sure if it’s just a cold or something more serious. She stayed home from school earlier in the week and then felt sick again. She commutes to school and by the time she gets home, it’s too late to make it to her pediatrician. Plus the last thing she wants to do is run and wait to be seen at an Urgent Care. So, what’s a modern parent to do? They use Amwell, the nation’s largest telehealth company.

Amwell which connects patients to board-certified, licensed doctors for immediate and live, online visits—day or night, on either mobile or desktop. And yes, this is perfect to also use with kids — stay out of those germy doctor waiting rooms! Keep reading- we’ve got an exclusive discount for Amwell!

With Amwell, patients can speak to doctors about minor illnesses or injuries, general questions, prescription refills, chronic condition management — anything that they would normally talk to a doctor about. On Amwell’s site, you can connect with primary care and specialist physicians, as well as licensed behavioral therapists and registered dietitians.

And the best part, Amwell doctors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are dedicated to keeping you healthy — all from the comfort of your home. It’s a smart thing to do in this day and age.

So what I did to help my daughter is I got on Amwell’s website (there’s also an app if you prefer to use your smartphone or tablet) and logged in. I chose a pediatric urgent care setting and connected to a doctor. My daughter didn’t have a fever, but her throat hurt and she felt very run down. After I put in her vitals (weight) and health info, we were connected with an emergency room physician for a video chat. The Doctor asked us questions and discussed my daughter’s symptoms with her and I. I felt that she was really being taken care of, right in the warmth and privacy of our own home.

As a parent, I am famous for neglecting my own health because things are just too busy for me to stop and take care of myself. I know I’m not alone in this right? Amwell is also good for me. I haven’t always taken care of myself in the past.mwell: A Doctor Visit is Just a Quick Video Chat Away

I remember that one time I had to beg my child’s pediatrician to give me antibiotics because we were at his office and I knew that I wouldn’t get a chance to go see my own doctor. Another time I had to choose between my eardrums popping or taking care of my then 7-month daughter, who had a very different reaction to a cold — her cheek massively swelled up. Of course, I chose her and sure enough, my eardrums popped. Ouch. But using Amwell is a much smarter idea.

Ease of use

It’s very easy to use Amwell. In fact, I was able to register and get set up really quickly and painlessly. Just go to their website, register for an account, select any health issues you would like to let the doctor know about, check your video settings, and then pick from a list of doctors that are available to chat with. Video chatting a doctor – isn’t technology amazing?

How It Works

Even though I have a fairly new laptop, Amwell’s site had me update my software so I could use their video chat platform. It was really easy and walked me through the quick steps.

After you select your doctor (they have profiles so you can see their qualifications), you go into a waiting queue and wait to talk to them. If you don’t want to wait, you can get a text sent when that doctor is ready to see you! What a great idea! Though my wait time was minimal). Then you connect with a doctor and start chatting. Note, make sure your wifi connection is a good one. It can affect video settings.

A chat window will open and then the doctor pops up in a video chat. It was so cool!

I would definitely use Amwell again — it was so amazing to be able to video chat with a doctor from the comfort of my own home. No waiting rooms with someone sneezing all over me or having to get a babysitter so I can go to the doctor!

#getwellwithamwell

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When You Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea & A CPAP Machine is Not An Option

The Mama Maven — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 21:42:03 +0000

Did you know that roughly 18 million adults in the U.S. have sleep apnea? That’s a pretty scary number. I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea several years ago. It’s really affected my life — I always wake up exhausted and it’s affected my quality of life and my marriage. However, a CPAP Machine is not for me. I’ve tried it and I was not able to make it successful for me. So, what other options are there? Do I just snore forever? Have my husband throw a pillow at me
every time I wake him up? Or wait for even more serious complications? I finally have some hope. I’m considering something and I want to tell you about it — Inspire. No mask. No hose. Just sleep. Sounds amazing, right? Read on. When You Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea & A CPAP Machine is Not An Option

If you haven’t heard about it, Inspire is an innovative treatment for people like me who have moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and who are unable or cannot use a CPAP.

Here’s my reason for not being able to handle wearing the CPAP mask – I went for my sleep trial and was diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Then I went to the same center to sleep for a night with the CPAP Machine and Mask. I didn’t think I was an anxious or claustrophobic person, until I put the mask on.

CPAP Machine and Mask

Suddenly I felt major panic. I tried and tried and finally at 3AM (after being totally wide awake), I ripped the mask off and left the facility. The CPAP was not for me! So I kept on snoring and my husband would sleep with two pillows covering his face so he didn’t hear me. Sometimes I’ve felt so bad that I end up sleeping on the couch. So, my next try to eliminate my Obstructive Sleep Apnea was a dental device, but I had trouble getting used to that also and would take it off at 2 AM every night. My husband has been wonderful, but I feel very guilty snoring so loud. I’d been looking for a better option and I’m hoping Inspire is the one!

Note: To be considered for Inspire, you will have to make an appointment with an Inspire-trained physician to see if Inspire is right for you. Everyone is not eligible and there are no guarantees that it will work. It is covered by most major insurance providers and Inspire will help you with the approval process.

Find a doctor and get more info at: http://gofyi.ly/E13A387D

#NoMaskNoHoseJustSleep #InspireSleep When You Have Obstructive Sleep Apnea & A CPAP Machine is Not An Option

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Theater Review – Lear: That Old Man I Used to Know

Maytal — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 02:39:34 +0000

Woody Allen has a brilliant short story called The Kugelmass Episode, in which a man gets into the novel Emma Bovary and becomes a part of the story. The Smith Street Stage play Lear: That Old Man I Used to Know is very similar in concept: a thirteen-year-old girl is reading Shakespeare’s King Lear in an attic when suddenly the characters appear and she joins in and becomes one of the characters in the story.

I read King Lear in high school many many years ago and to be perfectly honest I haven’t re-read it since. Yet as soon as the play began everything started coming back to me and Shakespeare’s immortal dialogue and timeless story immediately came back, as if it never left me!

The story – for anyone who needs a quick refresher – is about a king who divides his kingdom among his three daughters but when his youngest daughter refuses to flatter him his disowns her and banishes her from the kingdom. He learns that his older daughters don’t love him as he thought. Meanwhile, the illegitimate son of the Earl of Gloucester deceives his father into thinking that his real son is plotting against him. Like Lear, Gloucester also learns the truth in the end.

I liked the clever idea of having the young girl be a part of the play. To show that she is viewing the play from a girls’ perspective, Beth Ann Hopkins, who adapted and directed this version, has made some alterations to the text: she included throughout the dialogue writings from famous works by Lewis Carroll, Emily Dickinson, Alfred Lord Tennyson and Dylan Thomas. As an English major I was, of course, delighted but you don’t need to have extensive knowledge of literature to get the references, as most are famous quotes from very famous works. In a sense, the play is a “love letter” to English Literature.

As director, Hopkins was also very inventive and made good use of a seemingly simple set design and cleverly-used props to create unforgettable visuals. The cast is led by Louis Butelli as the tragic Lear who was phenomenal. Other notable performances were Sarah Dacey, Charles and Venessa Butler who played men’s roles (Gloucester and Cornwall, respectively) and Noelle Franco, who stole the show with her charming rendition of the fool (also a male character coincidentally).

The performance is two and a half hours, plus two short intermissions. I would recommend it for kids 13 and older.

When: Through September 22, 2019

Where: A.R.T./New York Theaters
Gural Theatre (3rd floor)
502 W. 53rd St. (btwn 10th & 11th Ave.)

Price: $15-$30 per person

To purchase tickets click here.

Photos by Evan Felts

I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets.

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for nineteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids, ages 12, 10 and 6.

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Catch Mambo Italiano the Musical at Westchester Broadway Theatre

Maytal — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 16:05:26 +0000

One of Westchester’s best-kept secrets is that its proximity to New York means it’s not uncommon to see Broadway performers showcasing their talents at local venues. To those who live nearby this means avoiding the hassle of getting into the city, pushing through crowds and spending money on parking, food and expensive performances. The Westchester Broadway Theatre hosts Broadway and off-Broadway performers on a regular basis at affordable prices and the fact that it’s also a dinner theater seals the deal: you’ve got everything you need in one place. This past weekend I got to see the world premiere of Mambo Italiano the Musical, right before it might go to Broadway. Catch the World Premiere of Mambo Italiano the Musical at Westchester Broadway Theatre, Mambo Italiano the Musical at Westchester Broadway Theatre, the World Premiere of Mambo Italiano the Musical at Westchester Broadway Theatre

Mambo Italiano is a musical which is based on a movie which is based on a play. Try saying that three times. Basically, what this means is that it’s a compelling story and people across the board can relate to its theme: what happens when an older generation has to learn to accept a younger generation. This theme can be applied to almost every family’s personal history; it’s a part of life; and it’s incredibly funny to watch it happen to a warm Italian family, with all its quirks and shenanigans.

The story revolves around the Barbieri family which consists of aging grandparents and their two grandchildren, who all work in the family’s Italian restaurant. Similarly to My Big Fat Greek Wedding, one of the grandchildren wants to quit the family business. The other follows and the grandparents eventually find out something about their grandchild that turns their world upside-down.

Mambo Italiano is a hysterical broad comedy, with some slapstick humor and ethnic jokes – book written by Jean Cheever and Tom Polum (Polum also directed). I would recommend it for kids ages 14 and older as there are some pretty raunchy lyrics by Omri Schein (“he put his prosciutto in Rita the Puto”). Music by James Olmstead is perfect for the show – upbeat in the first act and more melodramatic in the second act when the show takes a more dramatic turn and the songs are more heartfelt and emotional.

The cast of fourteen, spearheaded by Broadway veterans Bill Nolte and Joy Hermalyn as Gino and Maria, the grandparents, was superb, as was the live band. Nolte was the perfect “ethnic grandfather” and his operatic voice was an absolute pleasure to listen to. I wish he had more solos. Hermalyn brought the house down with her powerhouse voice, especially when she sang “Family” in the second act.

The first act had Diana DiMarzio as Lina who stole the show with her incredible vocal skills and theatrics in “Mama’s Cannelloni”. The second act was just as funny but much more sentimental with some unforgettable moments, such as “Family”, mentioned above, Gino telling his grandchildren about their mother and of course the finale song – Mambo Italiano, which had the cast dancing around in the aisles and was a huge crowd-pleaser. No doubt, it would have made Rosemary Clooney proud.

I love the concept of dinner theater: you come in, eat, watch a show. One and done. Boom. No need to look for a place to eat, make sure you get the food on time not to miss the show, etc. I can’t tell you how many times I was in the theater district and had to ask our server to rush our food because we were running late to a show, scarf down a pizza right outside the theater and, in one case, go on an empty stomach. Dinner theater solves so many problems and at an affordable price.

The menu is prix-fixe and changes according to the show. For Mambo Italiano there was an emphasis on Italian food, of course. We started out with a fresh Caesar salad (plus delicious roll and cornbread) and then chose from a variety of entrees. There’s always at least one vegetarian dish (my husband had the Eggplant Parm; I had a filet of sole in lemon butter sauce – both were good) and there’s a dessert (peach melba, which was heavenly, especially the vanilla ice cream). For an extra fee you can opt for an appetizer, an extra dessert or a drink. Coffee and tea are always included. The servers were very courteous, quick and efficient and everyone was done with their meal before the show started so there was no unnecessary movement or noise. I loved the stadium seating – you get a great view from anywhere!

Dinner and a show are $61-91, plus tax, per person which is a really good deal as the show alone is likely worth as much, considering the quality of the performance. I personally loved the comfort and convenience of having everything at one place and not running around and it was just a really fun and stress-free experience.

Mambo Italiano is playing through September 29th. Click here to learn more and to purchase tickets.

Photos of performers courtesy of John Vecchiolla

I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for eighteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 12, 10 and 6) and loves finding great products for her family.

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Where To Find a Bathroom While You’re Exploring New York City

The Mama Maven — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 18:21:16 +0000

This post is sponsored by Depend® Brand. All opinions and statements are my own.

New York City in the summer is a treat. The whirling bustle of the city actually slows down to a dull roar and people stop their frenetic place. Catching a drink or a meal al fresco is a must, and everyone just seems to be more relax. New Yorkers relaxed? Yes, it actually happens! We let the kids stay up late and we all sleep in a little. Summer in the city can be so much fun too! But there’s one thing that doesn’t exactly take time off — my bladder leakage issue. So, while I’m enjoying myself this summer, I always make sure that I am protected with Depend and that I’ve scoped out the bathroom facilities ahead of time.
Here’s my list of fun summertime NYC activities you can do either with your friends or your family, all while keeping yourself ahead of any bladder leakage issues. Where To Find a Bathroom While You’re Exploring New York CityMy Favorite NYC Summer Activities & Tips on Easily Finding a Restroom Around NYC Where To Find a Bathroom While You’re Exploring NYC

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Broadway Shows

I love seeing Broadway musical any time of the year, but in the summer, when things are more relaxed, I try to see more shows. And yes, the cheaper seats are just as good! As long as I get to see a show, I’m happy! When I walk into the theatre, I immediately ask where the closest bathroom to my seat is and I go before the show and right after the show (everyone is using the restroom during the intermission and I hate to wait on long lines). Also, if you have to use the bathroom as you are on the way to your show, find a nice restaurant and then walk in confidently and scoot right into the restroom — I’ve done this many times. Check out my BEETLEJUICE review, The Play That Goes Wrong review (totally great for kids), BEAUTIFUL The Carole King Musical, and Pretty Woman the Musical Review. BEETLEJUICE and Pretty Woman are not skewed for kids, just keep that in mind. For BEETLEJUICE, if you are on the Orchestra level, there’s a handicapped bathroom right near the drinks cart on the back left. Pretty Woman, which is unfortunately closing in August won’t let you in early to use the bathroom, there’s a cute restaurant right to the left of the theatre that you can sneak into. If it’s possible, I try to grab dinner in the Theatre District first. Try to eat around 2 – 2 ½ hours before your show starts, you may have to wait for your table! There are so many great places to eat! Favorites in the area are Nizza, Trattoria Daniela, and John’s Pizza. Bring your appetite!

Central Park

I love Central Park! I try to go in by either by the Plaza or by Columbus Circle. I always stop near one of the fast-casual restaurants near either the Plaza or the Time Warner Center to use the facilities and then I’ll hit the park for an hour. If I’m with my family, then we’ll let the kids run around on the grass or if I’m with a friend, we’ll stroll and people watch. There are bathrooms around the park, but I usually prefer to go before I get to the park and then when I leave.

Street Fairs

Street Fairs are so much fun! There are street fairs in NYC just around every weekend. I love strolling along and looking at all the fun things for sale. There’s always a restaurant or a coffee shop that I can use the restrooms at. I’ll try to time my visits with getting a snack or an iced beverage.

Cruises to Nowhere

Sometimes it’s just fun to get on a boat and ride around The Big Apple.We love the Hornblower Dinner Cruises because they are just one big party! The food is always delicious and the dancing is a blast!. Plus, there are easily accessible and spotless restrooms! Read our review here and here.

Bronx Zoo

I’ve been a fan of the Bronx Zoo since I was a kid and my grandfather used to take me there. Now, I love to take my family or a friend and spend the day. There are TONS of clean bathrooms, so I keep a map on me and note where the bathrooms are as we stroll. I make it a point not to have a set itinerary at the Bronx Zoo – we simple pick a few animals, pull out the map and just start walking. Read my Family Guide to the Bronx Zoo.

THE RIDE Interactive NYC Experience

Riding a Tourist Bus in NYC is a real treat, but The Ride takes it to the next level with it’s interactive experience. However, it’s only around an hour and leaves from Times Square. There’s no bathroom on board, but there’s a Starbucks and a bunch of restaurants right near where it leaves from. Duck in one of those places to use the restroom! Check out my review with video!

I hope you get to check out some of the fun NYC activities on my list! Nearly 65 million Americans experience bladder leakage in one form or another, but bladder leakage doesn’t have to get in the way of living a confident, uninterrupted life.

If you experience incontinence, join The Incontinence Community on Facebook to connect with others, get advice and even share your own tips: http://bit.ly/InconCommunity.

Photo credit for NYC Photo Where To Find a Bathroom While You’re Exploring New York City

Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

More New York City Content

King Kong on Broadway: It’s Not a Show, It’s an Experience! (+ Discount Code)

The Downtown Experience: An Unforgettable Multi-Media Experience of Lower Manhattan

Gulliver’s Gate: A Magical Land of Miniatures in Times Square

https://www.themamamaven.com/the-tour/

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An Easier Way to Manage Your Prescriptions

The Mama Maven — Sun, 26 May 2019 19:57:01 +0000

This is a sponsored post. As always, all opinions are my own.

As a parent of a child with two chronic conditions and having several chronic conditions myself, I manage a lot of prescriptions and health information. I always have to know what’s going on health-wise with my son and myself and how our conditions can be affected by daily life and things that go on (ie. colds, stressful situations, long days). When we go on trips, I have to make sure we are fully stocked with our medications. It’s a lot to manage. But with our chronic conditions, both my son and I can really be adversely affected if we don’t take our medications. I’m going to let you know how I can make things easier and how you can too.

Scary stat – nearly 100 million Americans do not follow their prescription requirements correctly – either because of forgetfulness, inconvenience or lack of education. Plus 33% of prescriptions are never filled. Drug adherence is really important – I actually got another health condition several years ago because I didn’t follow the rules in taking a medication for a chronic condition (it was awful). So when I heard that the Walgreens App can help drug adherence, I downloaded it immediately. I think you should download it too – this wake up call is an important one.

If you’re ever confused about medication, you don’t have to wait until morning to get answers. The Walgreens 24/7 Pharmacy Chat (on the app) is always available to help. I know that when I have a question, I want an answer immediately.

If you have more than one prescription, it’s important to remember what you have to take and when you need to take it. Create a routine. I take my medications with my breakfast as a habit. The Walgreens app offers a pill reminder feature to keep you on track (which is a terrific things).

Another great feature of the app – you can get your refills! Either use the “Save a Trip Refill” and/or “Walgreens Express TM” help make medication refills quick and easy. I can add my prescriptions and my son’s prescriptions in my account on the app, as well as the rest of our family members. I also have my insurance info on the app. It makes my life a lot easier and things are hard enough with our chronic conditions!
Plus, you can even connect your Apple Watch to it!

So, take this as a wakeup call! Using the Walgreens app is an easier way to manage your prescriptions. Find out more by visiting your local Walgreens pharmacist or downloading the Walgreens App.

Let me know how you manage you and your family’s chronic conditions and prescriptions (you don’t have to say what medications you take or what the conditions are).

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Be Prepared for Any Emergency With Rescue Guard Survival Pack

Maytal — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 18:40:40 +0000

In my part of the country, winter has been particularly harsh on us last year, bringing devastating snow storms. We lost power for a week and for us, losing power means no running water and no use of toilet, so we can’t really stay at our house. Some of our neighbors also had trees fall in their yard and on their roof and many roads were blocked. With the way climate has been changing, you never know what’s going to happen weather-wise, so it’s crucial to be as prepared as you can. The simple, most organized way to be prepared for this type of emergency, such as a snowstorm, a hurricane or an earthquake is to have on hand a Rescue Guard Survival Pack. Be Prepared for Any Emergency With Rescue Guard Survival Pack

The Rescue Guard Survival Pack (which is also great for taking with you on your camping trip) is a backpack filled with supplies for an emergency. There are supply kits from four categories: first aid, survival shelter, food & water, and tools.

First Aid – 61 pieces for all of your first-aid needs, such as burn cream, scissors, antiseptic swabs.

Survival Shelter – Sleeping bags, thermal blankets, an actual survival shelter and rain ponchos.

Food & Water – Freeze-fried food and a dozen packets of 4-oz. water.

Tools – rope, light, survival compass, fires starter, duct tape, work gloves, ax, and knife.

There are three sizes to choose from: Basic ($49.95) Intermediate ($99.95) and Advanced ($169.95)

The Intermediate Kit can supply a family of four for 72 hours, two people for six days or one person for 12 days.

The Rescue Guard Survival Pack is available on Amazon.

I was not compensated for this post. I received a sample. This post contains affiliate links. This does not affect your purchase price, but gives a small amount for running this blog.

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for eighteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 11, 9 and 6) and loves finding great products for her family.

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A Fun Weekend Getaway to Myrtle Beach: Perfect for Couples and Familes

Maytal — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 19:49:35 +0000

My husband and I recently went on a press trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and discovered a little area of our country that has summer-like temperatures even in the fall and a myriad of activities for couples, as well as the entire family. I love traveling during the off-season; I appreciate not having to wait in lines for great restaurants and attractions, being able to find parking easily and avoiding 100-degree weather. Coming from New York, I was amazed at how affordable everything was in Myrtle Beach – from airfare to accommodations to food to souvenirs – you can stretch your dollar much more in this part of the country. And can you believe it’s only two hours by plane!? A Fun Weekend Getaway to Myrtle Beach

We landed at Myrtle Beach International Airport in the early afternoon. The airport is very small and we got our luggage within minutes. Car rental is across the street and we picked up our car pretty quickly as well. We drove to The Caravelle Resort, our hotel, and checked into our room. We had a stunning oceanfront room which had this view:

The room was spacious, comfortable and clean. It turns out that all of the rooms at The Caravelle Resort had been renovated recently and all the furniture and appliances are brand-new. The hotel is currently undergoing renovations to the main areas and hallways.

This is how close we were to the beach:

I loved that the room had a mini kitchen, fully equipped, so you can make your own meals if you like.

The Caravelle Resort has several properties nearby; although we stayed in the main one, there are other hotels with different room sizes and different price points. During the autumn, which is considered the off-season, Caravelle is holding a special promotion until November 1st that allows you to extend your summer and enjoy the warm weather at the beach, across the street from the properties, as well at the many pools. This promotion, called “60 More Days of Summer” gives you a 35% discount on the room plus other extras, such as free breakfast at The Caravelle’s own Santa Maria restaurant (pictured below), winner of Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence.

Around dinnertime, we headed out to River City Cafe. My husband had a veggie burger while I had the Blackened Grouper Rueben, which came with sauerkraut and melted swiss. Absolutely delicious. We also loved the relaxed, beachy vibe of the place.

After dinner, we went to the Carolina Opry to see Time Warp, which showcases hits from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

There were about 8-10 singers, plus several dancers, as well as musicians. (Some singers also played instruments.) We’re used to New York shows with the immense talent so we weren’t expecting much. Suffice it to say we were blown away by the talent on stage. Each song was better than the first. It’s as if the performers kept trying to out-do each other; the show just kept getting better and better.

I loved how all the singers had very special voices and were able to sing a variety of hits. The addition of lights and lasers added to create an unforgettable performance. It was pure fun with a bit of nostalgia.

We especially loved Brad Long – he brought the house down with each one of his songs. The 7pm performance had lots of kids in the audience and is very family-friendly. (There are also booster seats.)

The next morning we woke up especially early and got to see this spectacular sunrise:

We had some time to kill so we walked around the hotel and got to see some of the amenities.

The pool and kids’ water park area:

Lazy river: (there’s also a smaller one for toddlers, not pictured)

Indoor pool:

Picnic area:

There are rooms with larger patios:

We left the hotel and grabbed delicious chocolate croissants at Croissants Bakery and Bistro. We then drove to Murrells Inlet and went kayaking at the saltwater marshes. We booked the tour through Black River Outdoors, a family-owned business. Our guide, Paul, turned out to be much more than a tour guide: he was a historian, a naturalist and an eco-tourism expert all rolled into one. Plus he was funny to boot. He answered all of our questions in detail and was happy to share his vast knowledge and point out all of the wildlife we saw on the way. Paul does eco-tours in Costa Rica in the off-season but in the fall, the marshes are abundant with wildlife; We got to see lots of different types of birds, a bald eagle in its nest and Paul even scooped up a jellyfish for us to hold (it’s a type of jellyfish whose sting doesn’t go through the skin, so we didn’t feel anything).

Paddling the kayak was easy and required very little effort. School-aged kids can kayak alone in a small youth-sized kayak and younger kids can go in a larger kayak with a parent. It was a quiet and relaxing experience. The highlight of the excursion was when a dolphin came up to our kayaks to splash around.

After the kayak tour, it was time for lunch. We drove to Brookgreen Gardens, just down the road from the inlet and had lunch at the Pavillion Restaurant in the gardens.

We had a delicious sandwich and quesadilla and then walked around the gardens looking at the stunning sculptures. Brookgreen Gardens contains the largest and most comprehensive collection of American figurative sculpture in the country.

We strolled through the gardens, went to the zoo and had a little fun at Enchanted Storybook Forest. We strolled through the Lowcountry Trail where we got to walk by what used to be an active rice plantation. The walk has signs with descriptions of the rice plantation, as well as audio recordings which describe what life was like for the slaves. Archeological digs that have taken place about twenty years ago show parts of the slaves’ housing. The Lowcountry Trail is an homage and tribute to the slaves working on the plantation and I believe that learning about the history of a place is important even if it is at times unpleasant.

Getting a closer look at the former rice plantation:

Walking around the gardens was relaxing but the weather started getting hot. The high was 80 degrees in mid-October but with the humidity rising it was time to get back to our air-conditioned room at the hotel.

We rested a little and then went out to dinner at Pier House, a restaurant with a pretty view of the beach.

There were lots of seafood choices and I’m glad I ordered the lobster roll. It was delicious and a very generous portion for the price ($25). My husband had a pasta dish and a frozen mango daiquiri, which was to die for.

After dinner we went to see another multi-talented man: James Stephens III was performing his one-man show, at the Asher Theatre. This guy is so extremely talented, he can sing, play the piano, tell jokes, impersonate a celebrity and often he does all four things at once. He’s a natural entertainer and we especially loved his impersonations of Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, Lionel Richie and Elvis. Adopted as a child after his father’s death, Stephens went to law school and then moved to LA to become an actor. He now continues to perform while raising money for underserved kids. His positive energy was contagious and we had a blast at his show!

We woke up Sunday morning and headed over to Johnny D’s for a hearty and delicious breakfast. I had the salmon benedict and loved the house-cured salmon. It reminded me of the lox I get in New York.

My husband treated himself to a banana split waffle, which was also delicious. In fact, Johhny D’s was voted by the Food Network as the best waffles in South Carolina. Not surprising.

When breakfast was over we decided to do a little shopping. After visiting some stores on the main strips we drove to Market Common. A former air force base, it is now a residential and shopping area with a movie theater and other entertainment venues.

I especially loved shopping at Southern Living and browsing the unique and elegant gifts.

There are about a dozen or so restaurants at Market Common and we ended up at Nacho Hippo. This cute, beach-themed eatery has awesome Mexican food and really yummy margaritas. We had delicious chips & guac and I loved my shrimp tacos. My husband enjoyed veggie tacos with a peach margarita.

After lunch, we wanted to see a little culture. The Myrtle Beach Art Museum is one of the few museums in the country which boast an ocean view.

The museum is small and admission is free. We happened to come during an opening of an art exhibit called Roots Run Deep by Sherry Strickland Martin. Martin creates watercolor paintings and mixed media works in very bright, vivid colors.

It’s a sweet little museum and we enjoyed seeing the permanent exhibits as well.

Around 2pm the weather started getting really hot and humid again. We were hoping to take a dip in the ocean or the pool but ended up taking a nap instead. We woke up refreshed and went to dinner at Art Burger & Sushi. This place is right by the beach and it was fun to just sit, relax and enjoy our meal while looking at the water. I had sushi while my husband had a falafel burger and sangria.

Everything was delicious and after dinner, we took off our shoes and went for a walk on the beach during sunset. By that time the weather had cooled down considerably and there was a nice breeze.

We walked up to the Skywheel, a huge Ferris wheel that’s right on the beach, and took a ride.

Afterward, we walked by the water a little longer and then decided to end our evening with one of the things Myrtle Beach is known for: miniature golf. Apparently, Myrtle Beach is the miniature golf capital of the world, with over 50 courses. We went to Captain Hook’s Miniature Golf Course and had a blast! I haven’t played in years and it took a few tries but I did have some beginner’s luck. This golf course was particularly great for kids as it has scenery from Peter Pan, complete with caves, The Lost Boys’ dwellings and audio recordings of various characters.

The next morning we walked on the beach before heading to the airport to catch our flight back home.

Our hotel:

It was the perfect ending to an incredible getaway!

Thank you to www.VisitMyrtle Beach.com for providing me with airfare, accommodations, tickets to attractions and a gift card for expenses.

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for eighteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 11, 9 and 6) and loves finding great products for her family.

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Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on Broadway – Filled with Upbeat Music and High Emotions

Maytal — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 11:47:43 +0000

We all have a soundtrack to our lives; there are songs that resonate with us and make us feel as if they were written specifically for us. Carole King, the subject of the Broadway musical Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, has the gift of doing just that – writing songs that people can identify with. I recently saw the show and loved the catchy songs, the immense talent on stage and the feel-good story that, although bittersweet at times, has heart. Beautiful the Musical on Broadway: Filled with Upbeat Music and High Emotions

Photo by Joan Marcus

The show revolves around Carole King, her rise to stardom and her relationship with her then-husband Gerry Goffin. It’s about how the songs that Carole wrote together with Gerry reflected various periods in her life. One of the main themes in the story is going after your dreams, having them change a few times along the way and finding new dreams. The show ends with Carole finding her own voice (literally and figuratively) and coming out with Tapestry, an album that proved to the world what she is capable of.

Photo by Joan Marcus

The performance that I attended had understudy Sara Sheperd portraying Carole; it was spectacular and so was Sara. Her voice had an incredible range and it was such a pleasure to listen to her belt out the nonstop hits. She physically also seemed to embody Carole King. It’s a funny thing about Broadway: even if you get the understudy, you still get a world-class performer. You can’t find this anywhere else in the world, it is truly a phenomenon.

Photo by Zachary Maxwell Sterz

There’s a number of musicals that are about musicians and how they became famous. I have seen a few, including Jersey Boys, which is about Frankie Valli and On Your Feet, about the life of Gloria Estefan. Both shows were excellent in their own way; what sets Beautiful apart is that there’s an added dimension which allows the audience to get a glimpse of Carole King’s inner feelings and what drives her. For example, the part where she’s watching a performance of a song that she wrote – One Fine Day, performed by a singer named Janelle – Carole is suddenly singing the song on her own. When we realize that she is singing about her own life and how the song relates to her – this is Broadway at its finest. Simply put, the show has heart. Miles ‘n miles ‘n miles of heart.

Beautiful is playing at the Stephen Sondheim Theater, 124 West 43rd St, NYC. For tickets you can call Telecharge (212) 239-6200 or click here. It’s appropriate for kids ages 11 and up.

Photo by Zachary Maxwell Sterz

I was not compensated for this post. I received tickets to the show.

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for eighteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 11, 9 and 6) and loves finding great products for her family.

The post Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on Broadway – Filled with Upbeat Music and High Emotions appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Date Night Idea: Drunk Shakespeare

Maytal — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 13:17:47 +0000

There are so many different types of Shakespeare-related shows in New York; there’s Shakespeare in the Park and Shakespeare for kids, but did you know there’s also Drunk Shakespeare? This adult-only Off-Broadway play has five actors performing a Shakespeare play when one of them starts drinking, which leads to an improv-style performance. As you can imagine, each performance is unique and hysterically funny in its own way – you just never know what will happen (and neither do the actors!) We have a giveaway for a pair of tickets to the show, plus we have a discount to share! Date Night Idea: Drunk Shakespeare (+ Giveaway and Discount)

The stage is set at The Lounge, a hidden library on 47th and 8th with over 15,000 real books and craft cocktails. 5 professional NY actors meet as members of “The Drunk Shakespeare Society”. One of them has at least 5 shots of whiskey and then overconfidently attempts to perform a major role in a Shakespearean play. Hilarity and mayhem ensue while the four sober actors try and keep the script on track. Every show is different depending on who is drinking… and what they’re drinking!

The show is 90 minutes long and for age 21 and older (photo ID required). Craft cocktails are available for purchase during the show.

When: Until September 29th, 2018. Click here for showtimes.

Where: The Lounge at 777 Theatre
777 8th Avenue, 2nd floor

Price: $29-$45 with discount below:

To purchase tickets click here and use code: DRUNKSHAKES

We are excited to be giving away a pair of tickets to the show!

I was not compensated for this post. I received tickets to the show.

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman is a freelance writer and has written for several blogs, including The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for eighteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 11, 9 and 5) and loves finding great products for her family.

The post Date Night Idea: Drunk Shakespeare appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Amazon Prime Day 2018 – Score Some Big Deals for the Next 36 Hours

The Mama Maven — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 17:38:46 +0000

If you’re a savvy shopper, chances are you’re waiting for Amazon Prime Day! but you’ll need to be a member to catch these savvy deals! There’s something for everyone – from tech enthusiasts to home chefs to fashion lovers. Prime Day will feature double the deals on Amazon devices, which start now – 12 hours early – and offer the biggest savings yet on Alexa-enabled products like Echo, Fire TV, and Fire tablets, in addition to new categories from home security to Echo devices with screens. Anyone can shop and save this Prime Day by joining Prime or starting a free trial at amazon.com/primeday. Amazon Prime Day 2018 – Score Some Big Deals for the Next 36 Hours

Keep in mind that some of these deals will not last the whole time.

Find Shopping Inspiration and Shop Anywhere

To find what they love even faster, members can explore Prime Day deals organized by more than 40 of the most-shopped-for interests – from style and fashion to electronics, cooking, travel, and more. Prime members can shop for deals online, on the go via the Amazon App, or in person at Whole Foods Market, Amazon Books, Amazon Pop-Up locations, and Treasure Truck. Plus, members can watch live Prime Day programming at amazon.com/primeday where hosts will reveal top deals, shopping tips, and trends during peak shopping times. In fact, members can shop featured products right there, as they’re watching.

Prime Day Deals Preview

Amazon continues to add more and more deals. This year, members will find more than one million deals worldwide – up from more than 100,000 just two years ago. In addition to limited-time Lightning Deals throughout the 36-hour event, Prime members in the U.S. will find more than 140 highly curated Spotlight Deals, which offer our deepest discounts on top brands and the most popular products. Below is a selection of deals members can expect to find on Prime Day.

Amazon Devices:

Prime members new to Amazon Music Unlimited can get the best deal in Amazon Music history: Six months free of the premium music streaming service with purchase of select Amazon Echo devices during Prime Day
Save $20 on Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote, only $19.99
Save $110 on Toshiba 50-inch 4K Ultra HD Fire TV Edition, only $289.99
Save $30 on Echo Spot, only $99.99
Save $30 on Echo (Second Generation), only $69.99
Save $20 on Echo Dot Kids Edition, only $59.99
Save $100 on Echo Look, only $99.99
Save $60 on Amazon Cloud Cam, only $59.99
Save $75 on Ring Video Doorbell Pro, only $174
Save $30 on Fire HD8 tablet with Alexa, only $49.99
Save $30 on Fire HD 8 tablet and new Show Mode Charging Dock bundle, only $79.99
Eligible Prime members get 10% back on select Amazon devices, including Echo, Fire TV, and Kindle, when they shop on Prime Day using the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card or Amazon Prime Store Card

Amazon Brands:

Save 30% on everyday essentials from AmazonFresh, Presto!, and Solimo
Save up to 50% on apparel for the whole family, including Amazon Essentials, Goodthreads, Daily Ritual, and more
Save up to 30% on AmazonBasics items such as bedding, office products, cookware, and electronics accessories
Save up to 30% on furniture and home décor from Rivet and Stone & Beam

Fashion:

Save up to 50% on athleisure shoes for men and women from top-selling brands, including adidas, New Balance, and Puma
Save up to 50% on activewear from top-selling brands, including Champion, Lacoste, Russell, and Puma
Save up to 40% on select denim styles for kids from Levi’s and The Children’s Place
Save up to 40% on select jeans for men and women from Hudson, NYDJ, and Lucky

Electronics:

Premium brand 49-inch 4K Smart TV, only $438
Premium brand 55-inch 4K Smart TV, only $478
Premium brand 65-inch 4K Smart TV, only $649
Save $300 on LG V35 ThinQ, a Prime Exclusive phone, only $599.99
Save up to 30% on the Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth speaker
Save on Bose QuietComfort 25 Headphones, only $125
Save on Sony WH-CH700N Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones, only $98
Save 50% on Sennheiser HD 4.50 SE Wireless Noise-Canceling Headphones
Save 25% on Nura Headphones
Save up to 40% on select Micro SD/SD Cards and USBs
Save up to 35% on select monitors, laptops, and routers
Save up to 35% on PC gaming laptops, desktops, and accessories
Save up to 30% on 3D printers
Save $400 on the Jibo Robot
Eligible Prime members get 15% back on select Samsung TVs, audio, and more on Prime Day when shopping with the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card or Amazon Prime Store Card

Smart Home:

Save up to 40% on select Smart Home products
Save 40% or more on select Noon Home Smart Lighting products
Save 30% or more on a smart sprinkler controller
Save on Etekcity Wi-Fi Smart Plugs – works with Alexa

Home & Kitchen:

Save up to 30% on select furniture, mattresses, and rugs
Save 30% on select Kenmore refrigerators, ranges, washers, and dryers
Save on wine fridges from Kalamera
Save $100 on Opal Nugget Ice Maker
Save 30% or more on Anova Sous Vides
Save 30% on Coffee Gator
Save over 30% on the Cricut Explore Air 2 Rose bundle
Save up to 40% on select cat treats and supplies

Video Games:

Save 25% on Microsoft Xbox One S 1TB Starter Bundle + Rare Replay, only $229.99
Save on Nintendo New 3DS XL – Super NES Edition with Super Mario Kart, only $149.99
Save on Nintendo Switch Gaming Bundle, only $299.99

Toys, Books & Baby:

Save up to 40% on select outdoor toys, including select Nerf, Green Toys, and Radio Flyer products
Save up to 40% on select indoor toys, puzzles, and games, including select Play-Doh, Ravensburger, and Crayola products
Save 30% on select products from Melissa and Doug
Save 30% on select STEM toys, including select Anki, Osmo, and Sphero products
Save up to 50% on select children’s books
Save up to 30% on select Fisher-Price baby products

Sports & Outdoor:

Save 30% or more on select Coleman camping gear
Save 30% on the Traeger Renegade Elite Grill
Save 30% on Blackstone 36” 4-Burner Outdoor Griddle Station
Save on the Lifestraw Personal Water Filter

Additional Deals from Across Amazon:

IMDbPro: Save 60% on a new annual membership to IMDbPro, only $95 – the lowest price ever
Virtual Dash Buttons: Prime members receive an additional 15% off their first virtual Dash Button order
Subscribe & Save: Prime members receive an additional 30% off their first Subscribe & Save subscription

Shop Deals from Small and Medium-Sized Businesses on Amazon

This Prime Day, members around the world can shop hundreds of thousands of deals from small and medium-sized businesses selling on Amazon. From Amazon Launchpad to Amazon Exclusives and Amazon Handmade, small and medium-sized businesses on Amazon are offering more deals than ever before. Some of these deals include:

Save up to 50% on Tea Forte summer teas and accessories
Save 50% on 23andMe Health + Ancestry Personal Genetic Service Kit
Save on the AncestryDNA Genetic Testing Kit, only $54.99
Save up to 40% on Petcube Bites Pet Camera & Treat Dispenser
Save on Anker Powercore Power Banks
Save up to 40% on toys and games from Mama Moon Boutique
Save 20% or more on office products and furniture from Stand Steady
Save 20% on select Amazon Handmade products from local artisans
Save 20% on select Amazon Launchpad startup products

More Ways to Shop and Save this Prime Day

Amazon App: Members can shop anytime, anywhere with the Amazon App and set Watch a Deal alerts to start watching deals up to 6 hours before they are live. Prime members can also use the Amazon App to unlock additional discounts on select Prime Day deals. Simply open the app, tap on the camera icon, and try the AR View, Product Search, Barcode Scanner, or Package X-Ray feature to get an additional $5 off select Prime Day deals purchased through the app. Use these features every 6 hours throughout Prime Day for multiple $5 discounts.
Alexa Shopping: Alexa makes it easy to find the best Prime Day deals. Just ask, “Alexa, what are my Prime Day deals?” Track your Prime Day orders with Alexa. Just ask, “Alexa, where’s my stuff?” or set up Alexa delivery notifications in the Alexa app.
AmazonFresh: Prime members shopping AmazonFresh can stay cool this summer by stocking up on frozen treats, up to 30% off. Prime members can also take advantage of up to 30% off everyday groceries and household supplies, and free Honey Nut Cheerios, while supplies last. Plus, new and existing AmazonFresh customers can get $30 off their order of $100 or more.
Whole Foods Market: Through July 17, Prime members who spend $10 in a single transaction in store and scan their Prime Code or provide their linked phone number at checkout will receive a $10 credit that can be used on Amazon during Prime Day. Plus, eligible Amazon Prime Rewards Visa cardmembers will enjoy double the rewards – 10% back – when shopping at Whole Foods Market on up to a total of $400 in purchases. Prime members will also enjoy exclusive offers on select seasonal items like organic strawberries and Icelandic cod, and can shop Amazon device deals at select Whole Foods Market stores. Download the Whole Foods Market app and scan the Prime Code to start saving.
Prime Now: Prime members can shop hundreds of Prime Day deals through Prime Now for delivery in as little as an hour. Save on home essentials, snacks, beverages, and more with exclusive deals. New to Prime Now? Prime members who have not yet tried Prime Now will receive $10 off their order before July 17 and get $10 to use towards a future order.
Treasure Truck: Now available in 25 select cities, Treasure Truck is a new way for customers to shop this Prime Day. Customers can opt-in at amazon.com/TreasureTruck to receive notifications for special offers, order the item, and pick up at the truck on Prime Day. Look for the truck at various locations this Prime Day.
Amazon Books and Amazon Pop-Up: Prime members can take advantage of Prime Day deals at 82 Amazon Books and Amazon Pop-Up locations in 21 states across the U.S. To find locations and hours, visit amazon.com/stores.
Amazon.com in Spanish: Customers can shop Prime Day deals, view their shopping cart, and place orders in Spanish. Preferred language settings can be updated in the Amazon App and on Amazon.com by clicking the ‘globe’ button located in the navigation bar at the top of the Amazon home screen. To date, millions of customers have chosen Spanish as their preferred language to shop on Amazon.com and in the Amazon App.
Amazon Prime Credit Cards: Cardmembers can enjoy 5% back on all their Prime Day purchases when shopping with the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Card or the Amazon Prime Store Card.

Every Day Made Better with Prime

Prime was designed to make your life better every single day. Over 100 million paid members around the world enjoy the many benefits of Prime, including shopping and entertainment. In the U.S. that includes unlimited access to award-winning movies and TV episodes with Prime Video; unlimited access to Prime Music, Audible Channels for Prime, Prime Reading, Prime Photos, Twitch Prime; early access to select Lightning Deals, one free pre-released book a month with Amazon First Reads, and more. Prime members can also get deep discounts on select popular products at Whole Foods Market plus an additional 10 percent off hundreds of sale items. Prime was built on the foundation of unlimited fast, free shipping and members receive Prime FREE One-Day Shipping and Prime FREE Same-Day Delivery in more than 8,000 cities and towns, two-hour delivery with Prime Now in more than 30 major cities and unlimited Free Two-Day Shipping on more than 100 million items. Start a free trial of Amazon Prime at amazon.com/prime.

For a really big deal — check out Instant Pot here (after it launches) – https://amzn.to/2ml0AtN

Starts: July 16, 2018, 3:00 PM EST and 12:00 PM PST and will last for 36 hours. The quantities will be available while supplies last. Multiple units per customer will be available.

This post contains affiliate links which means I get a wee percentage of your purchase price, at no additional cost to you. This post will be updated through the day.

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10 Tips for Talking to Kids about Sex (The AMAZE Parent Playlist Can Help)

The Mama Maven — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 16:18:31 +0000

This is a sponsored post, thank you for supporting The Mama Maven Blog. As always, all opinions are my own.

As a parent, a lot of things don’t come easy. And talking about sex (even if you call it the birds and the bees or “The Talk”) is something that’s hard for most people to discuss. My youngest child is going to be 8 in mid-August and very curious about his body. He also had a couple of incidents at school. In one of those incidents, a girl was calling him a dinosaur and he had to “prove that he was a boy” — and that included “dropping trou” (which he promptly got suspended for). I want to teach him to be aware of his body, but not to expose himself to his classmates. I also want to find a way to teach him about sex ed in a way that he will understand. My mom was pretty open to me about how babies were made, even though to me, it was the world’s most boring conversation. However, we have to talk about it – here are 10 Tips for Talking to Kids about Sex (The AMAZE Parent Playlist can help)! 10 Tips for Talking to Kids about Sexuality (Start with the AMAZE Parent Playlist)

AMAZE launched in September 2016 and is dedicated to providing accurate and inclusive sex ed videos to 10-14-year-olds. The project is backed by Advocates for Youth, Answer and Youth Tech Health, leaders in the sexual health space. AMAZE takes a fresh look at both the basics and some of the more complicated aspects of sex ed, like gender expression, sexual orientation, gender identity, and puberty through a series of short animated videos geared towards younger teens. In this day and age, AMAZE is a great resource for helping parents broach this tough topic.

Check out one of the videos on the AMAZE Parent Playlist:

AMAZE wants to empower parents to be the primary sexuality educators of their kids – the goal of their videos and resources is to inform and spark conversations.

I’m pleased to let you know about the launch of the AMAZE Parent Playlist — videos for parents of 4-9 years old. AMAZE partnered with sexual health expert and author Deborah Roffman. The Parent Playlist helps parents engage young children (ages 4-9) in open, honest conversations in a fun, engaging, and age-appropriate way.There are titles ranging from “How Do You Talk to Young Kids About Sex” to “Where Do Babies Come From” to “Is Playing Doctor OK?” the 10 animated videos in the AMAZE Parent Playlist are designed specifically to train parents on how best to talk with their children about sex, healthy relationships, and growing up.

Because of some of my youngest son’s behaviors, I felt that I needed to start earlier to discuss sex ed. But it’s not easy and with the AMAZE resources, I’ve found it a little easier.

Here are some excellent conversation starters:

Start checking out the AMAZE Parent Playlist here.

Follow @AMAZEParents on Facebook

Follow @AMAZEorg on Pinterest

Don’t forget to share the AMAZE Parent Playlist with a friend – believe me, it will be appreciated!

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6 Ways to Protect Your Digital Footprint To Keep You and Your Family Safe Online

The Mama Maven — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 16:41:06 +0000

This is part of a sponsored conversation by Allstate.

Did you know that June is Internet Safety Month? The internet has become such an integrated part of our lives, that we don’t always stop to think about our digital footprint and how we may be compromising our own safety as well as our family’s safety. 6 Ways to Protect Your Digital Footprint To Keep You and Your Family Safe Online

Leaving a digital footprint is something that happens when you’re least aware of it. For example, when you click on a website or when you buy something online, that’s leaving a digital footprint. Your activity on social media is especially vulnerable. You’re also leaving a digital footprint when you leave a comment on a social media platform like Facebook, when you check into a restaurant or when you post a photo from your vacation. The more activity you do online and the more information you share online, the more active your footprint. An active digital footprint can potentially require more protection.

Here’s how you can protect yourself:

The easiest thing you can do is simply to periodically look up your name on search engines. You may find old tweets or blog posts that you do not want current friends, co-workers or even potential employers to see. If you “liked” an article on LinkedIn, for example, make sure it showcases your current professional and industry-related interests.

When it comes to social media, be careful not to overshare information. Don’t use your full name, avoid sharing your birthday and stick to the rule of thumb that the less information you share – the better. It’s always smart to set your social media to “friends only”, as opposed to sharing with the public. Potential employers do sometimes look at your social media if it’s available to the public, so you may want to either be careful what information you reveal online or keep social media accounts private.

If you tend to download lots of apps, using an antivirus app is a good idea, as it can protect you from potential viruses that come in the form of texts and emails that you never sent, or even apps that somehow end up on your phone.

Creating a password that’s not easy to hack is important. Use upper and lower case letters, as well as symbols and numbers. Even better – use an entire sentence as your password. Changing your password often is always a smart move. Finally, be sure to use different passwords for different accounts.

If you shop online you might consider installing an anti-spyware software in order to protect your payment information and avoid identity theft.

Unfortunately, kids can fall prey to online scams and may leave a larger digital footprint than you – without even knowing! If you have a child who is active online be sure to speak to them and explain consequences that may result in being active online, especially on social platforms, which are very popular among teens and even younger children. Kids should think twice before posting or commenting, as people can keep the post forever using screenshots, even though the post can later be deleted. They also need to be very careful about which photos they are sharing. It’s always a good idea for parents to know who their kids are communicating with online and the type of information they are sharing.

For more tips on protecting your online safety visit: Hidden World of Data

Want to find out the size of your digital footprint? Take this six-question quiz.

This post was written as part of the Allstate Influencer Program and sponsored by Allstate. All opinions are mine. As the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, Allstate is dedicated not only to protecting what matters most–but to guiding people to live the Good Life, every day.

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Take Gorgeous Photos with the Kodak PIXPRO AZ421 Camera

Maytal — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 03:06:18 +0000

Ever since I became a mom taking photos of my kids and of pretty much anything else has become really fun. I especially love taking photos of people and getting that priceless expression on their face. I received a Kodak PIXPRO AZ421 for review and absolutely loved how beautiful the pictures came out and how easy it was to use it!Take Gorgeous Photos with the Kodak PIXPRO AZ421 Camera

The Kodak PIXPRO AZ421 is really easy to use: simply point and click. For most of the photos that I took in this post, I simply used the basic setting (auto mode) and didn’t bother with flash. The camera, however, has many modes, such as videos, panoramic photo, and more. It also has a mode called SCN that allows you to choose from 12 scenes, such as a sunset setting, which I discussed below, that gives the photo a much more dramatic look.

The camera itself is pretty heavy, probably due to the big lens, so I suggest you put the strap on it right away. I also recommend downloading the user manual and saving it somewhere on your computer so you can refer to it when you want to use some of the special features.The camera comes with its own battery and charger (super easy, just hook it up to any outlet).

I went with my family to the Stamford Thanksgiving Parade, which was held several days before Thanksgiving. The Kodak PIXPRO delivered! I had such a blast taking photos of everyone participating in the parade and was amazed at how vivid the pictures came out!

Here are my favorite photos from the day, taken with the Kodak PIXPRO. Every single photo in this post is unedited. This is exactly how the photos came out. (The only change I made was that I cropped a few of the photos.)

I decided to try the Kodak PIXPRO in a late afternoon setting and took some shots at the Holiday Market at Bryant Park in NYC.

As I mentioned, the camera has a sunset feature. Here’s a photo without the sunset feature turned on:

Here’s a photo with the sunset feature:

You can purchase the Kodak PIXPRO AZ421 at Amazon or Walmart.

I was not compensated for this post. I received a sample.

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman writes for Little Spoon and has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for seventeen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 10, 8 and 5) and loves finding great products for her family.

The post Take Gorgeous Photos with the Kodak PIXPRO AZ421 Camera appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

2017 Holiday Gift Guide: For Kids, Men, and Women

Maytal — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 02:26:26 +0000

It’s here! The Mama Maven’s 2017 Holiday Gift Guide! We have the coolest, most unique gifts for kids of all ages, and adults! The Mama Maven’s 2017 Holiday Gift Guide: For Kids, Men, and Women

For Baby

Elmo’s World Hide & Seek – $19.99, Ages 6 months-4 years

This super-adorable and inventive game requires two players or more. One player hides Elmo somewhere around the house, using cards that have photos of places to place Elmo around the house. The other player uses the enclosed cards to find him. There are 24 location cards with ideas for where to hide, such as the couch, a backpack, even a fruit bowl. Elmo is pretty small so he can hide easily. Every 10 seconds Elmo calls the player(s) to help them figure out where he is so you can just follow the sound of his voice to find him. Once Elmo is found he calls out “Yay! You found Elmo!” You can also give your child several cards to choose from as clues. This game can also be used with a baby as young as size months – simply place Elmo under a blanket or stuffed animal and allow the baby to try and find him based on the sounds Elmo makes.

For Toddler

SnowWhite, $26.99 ages 4-7

This is a really great starter game for toddlers who love a good brain challenge and logical thinking games. In the game, which is for a single player, you have a house with 7 dwarves, Snow White and the Evil Queen figurines and a book of 48 challenges (plus solutions), from easy to hard. You place all the figurines inside the house based on pictures in the challenge book (there are special grooves that they can fit in). Once you place them you have to find the missing spot – and that’s where you put Snow White. Figuring out where to put her gets harder with each challenge and you have to use deduction and logic. When you’re finished, you open the windows and door to see if they match the picture in the challenge. The game also comes with a bonus picture book that’s formatted like a comics book.

For Elementary-school-aged kids:

STEM Gift Idea:

My First Lab WowScope, $69.99, ages 7 and up

Got a scientist-in-training? This microscope allows 3D viewing of objects up close and is a winner of the 2016 Creative Child Product of the Year Award. It’s from the makers of medical-grade scientific equipment and has real glass optics that provide crystal-clear viewing. The kit includes interchangeable 10x and 25x eyepieces for 20x or 50x total magnification. Your budding scientist can use any object in or outside the house, or experiment with the two prepared slides (5 total specimen). It’s very lightweight and can be taken anywhere, including outdoors.

Craft Gift Idea:

Blendy Pens Jumbo kit, $24.99, age 4 and up

Artistic kid can now take their creativity to a whole new level! Blendy Pens are markers that can be fused together to create a different, mixed color. You simply take two Blendy Pens and put them in a fusion chamber. The two colors will create a new, unique color. With the 24 Bendy Pens included, you can create 276 color combinations! The kit also comes with 12 fusion chambers, 10 posters, 2 stencils, 1 art portfolio and a bonus airbrush. This is the perfect gift for a kid who loves to decorate diaries and greeting cards, or make posters and any other art they like.

Brain Challenge gift Idea:

Jump’in, $14.99, ages 7 to adult

In this game, a single player has to help the rabbits jump to safety. It comes with 60 challenges (with solutions), ranging from easy to expert. Once you select a challenge, you place the pieces on the game board as indicated in the picture. There are 3 rabbits, 2 foxes and 3 mushrooms. The object of the game is to move the rabbits by having them jump until all three are safe in their brown holes. The rabbits can jump over other rabbits, the foxes and the mushrooms; The foxes can only slide. The game requires planning, problem-solving, spatial insight, concentration and logic. It’s small and portable and comes with a carrying case – perfect for travel!

For Teen Boy/Girl

Stamp Map, $38

Encourage your teen to become a world traveler with this cool world map. One brass stamp marks an “X” on places where you want to go to create a customized bucket list. The other stamp marks “visited” to stamp over the “X”. Also included are black and red ink pads.

For Teen Girl

Hard Candy So Scentsational Bath & Body Collection, $14.88

This kit is has everything you need to relax in a bath and pamper yourself. It’s available in Pink Peony &and Lemon Verbena, as well as in Carribean Fresh Citrus & Tea Leaf scents. It comes with a gel mask, bath fizzers, hand soap, hand lotion, body mist, fragrance diffuser , nd reeds. Not tested on animals.

For Man

36-in-1 Deluxe Multi-Tool, $49.95

You literally can’t get a better deal – no less than 36 items inside this little gadget! Instead of rummaging the drawers for various items, you have them all in one tool – all you have to do is designate a special spot for it (and make sure you put it back in its place). From measuring tape, to bottle opener to screwdriver – this tool has it all! Even a level, a hammer and 26 bits! What more can you ask for!? It’s super-affordable so you can keep one in your house and one in the car (for camping and for when you can’t find the one that’s in the house…) Even if the man in your life is not handy, he’d still appreciate having so many tools in one compact item.

For Woman

Leading the Parade Earrings, $27

This exquisite pair of earrings is 10k gold plated and adds sparkle and movement. The crystals give the earrings an antique look that’s perfect for a dressy occasion. Wear with trendy layers of gold chains for a combination of classic with a twist.

To give you a brighter start to the holiday season, we’re giving you a chance to win $25 Paypal Cash. You must live in the US and have a Paypal account to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received samples or monetary compensation for some items in this post. This post contains affiliate links — that means we may make a few dollars if you buy from this post, but it doesnt affect what you pay.

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in the New York City area for seventeen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 10, 8 and 5) and loves finding great products for her family.

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Valpak: Incredible Savings are Waiting in Your Mailbox!

Maytal — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 01:54:09 +0000

This is a sponsored post. My opinion is, as always, my own.

I pay most of my bills online and with the accessibility of email, letters seem to be a thing of the past. These days, when I check my mailbox almost everything goes to the recycling bin – but I always look for my Valpak envelope. Over the years I have found not only cool savings at local stores and vendors I was planning to visit or use anyway, but I was also introduced to new companies and even got my Sam’s Club membership through it last year. Valpak: Incredible Savings are Waiting in Your Mailbox!

Valpak is a free envelope you get in the mail that is filled with freebies, coupons, and discounts. From free appetizers at restaurants to a free oil change to huge discount for household services, there’s something for everyone and those deals do add up! There are also savings on groceries and coupons for household items that you are likely going to buy anyway so it’s a win-win.

Open this month’s Valpak to find out what freebies and discounts are waiting for you! As an added bonus, you’ll find out about new vendors and restaurants in your area!

Here are sample coupons you will find in this month’s envelope:

$10 off Dr. Scholl’s Custom Fit Orthotic Inserts at Walmart
Free $20 gift card with purchase of $49 Sam’s Club membership
$1 off one Vermont Creamery Fresh Goat Cheese Log at Mambo Sprouts
$1 off one Perfect Bar at Mambo Sprouts

Have you ever gotten a Valpak envelope?

— Published 9/13/2017

Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for fourteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 10, 8 and 4) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

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HICKIES Lacing System for Kids and Adults: Never Tie Laces Again

The Mama Maven — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 04:16:16 +0000

This post is sponsored by HICKIES. As always, all opinions are my own.

When you’re a bigger kid like my almost 12-year-old is, you need to look cool. Going around with untied or horribly knotted shoe laces isn’t that attractive. Plus, certain kids (like my son) have a hard time tying their laces. So, what’s a modern mom to do? She gets HICKIES for her kid and then realizing how amazing they are, uses the adult version for herself.

You may remember we teamed up last year with HICKIES for a fun giveaway, but we actually didn’t try them out. Big mistake — they are amazing! You may think — why is it amazing? While my kid does tie his sneakers, it’s hard for him. He has hand issues and receives occupational therapy. We still taught him how to tie his laces, is it really so important that he needs to keep struggling?

But more frankly, he’s a kid — and there are times when I have to step in and untangle his laces so he can actually re-tie them again. I’d rather put the time and effort into something else and relax on the shoelaces issue. With HICKIES, I can do just that. This gave him the confidence he needed and let me worry about many other things. Plus, they look cool!

HICKIES Elastic Lacing System can turn any pair of sneakers into convenient, comfortable, and stylish slip ons that are perfect for any activity from recess play to Mom and Dad’s triathlons. For me, I usually tie my sneaker laces and then double knot them so I can slip them on and off. Which means that I’m not getting the proper support that I need since they are sometimes too loose.

HICKIES sent my son his first pair of Converse Sneakers and he played with HICKIES to see if he understood how they worked.

Here’s a video on how HICKIES works that we made recently. My son tells you how to put HICKIES on sneakers.

I liked HICKIES so much after my son tried them that I asked him to put the adult HICKIES on my sneakers.

Features:

Works in any shoe with eyelets.
One size fits all.
Elastic material keeps shoes secure and comfortable.
Never tie again! Play uninterrupted.
Fun look, without messy knots and bows.
Adjustable tightness. See How >>
Quick and easy—simply slip on and off.

Watch the video above to see how to put HICKIES on your sneakers!

Giveaway: 1 pair of converse + 4 packs of Hickies

We’re giving away a 1 pair of kids converse (your choice of color and size) + 4 packs of Hickies. Good luck and enter below. Ends 8/14 at 11:59PM.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Cars.Com will Match You with the Perfect Car for You!

Maytal — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 02:30:01 +0000

We recently purchased a new car for my husband to take to work. He’s been driving a car from 2007 and we thought it was time to upgrade to something a little nicer and safer, especially for driving at night and in the winter. It’s not easy when there are so many options and doing research is inevitable. Luckily, Cars.Com can guide you in the right direction and help you eliminate lots of options so that you end up with the perfect car.

Cars.Com has a comprehensive set of research tools that allow you to pinpoint what it is you really want and need in a car. Even if you have no idea where to start, you can just log onto Cars.com and scroll to where it says “browse new models”. There you can look into the body style of a car, for example, whether you want an SUV, a sedan or a convertible. Let’s say you picked “sedan”. Now, to your left, you will see other options, such as price, make and MPG.

Selecting the make of a car can be tricky because there are several dozens of companies that make cars. How do you know which one to choose? This is where expert content in Cars.Com comes in. If you click on “price” just to narrow it down a little, you will then get a list of different makes and models. Now you can go to reviews and find expert reviews for a specific car.

In addition, Cars.Com also provides the largest database of consumer reviews in the industry so you can find out what people really think. Once you know what you want you can look through new and used car listings and be connected to dealers. You can also use Cars.Com to sell your car and to find service for it.

Visit Cars.Com to learn more and to find the perfect car for you!

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3 Fun Workbooks to Inspire Creativity in Kids

Maytal — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 02:44:15 +0000

My daughter is in fourth grade and learned cursive this year. She loves writing in cursive and has been experimenting with various fonts. While some educators view writing in general and cursive in particular as a “waste of time” since everything is done online these days, I believe that when you write there’s an undeniable connection to the brain that cannot happen with typing. I’m happy my daughter is having fun so I’m a big supporter of her and found some really great books that help her cultivate this hobby. 3 Fun Workbooks to Inspire Creativity in Kids

Hand Lettering A to Z, A World of Creative Ideas for Writing and Designing Alphabets by Abbey Sy, $15.17

This book is great for teaching how to create letters in various shapes, styles, and fonts. The workbook walks you through a large variety of styles with colorful pictures and detailed instructions. You don’t have to be a particularly good artist or have great penmanship to be able to create the fonts, all you need is patience. There are also several projects to make, such as creating an art journal or a notebook cover. My daughter was naturally drawn to the script writing and had fun trying out the script font. This is great for making posters, handmade cards and even simply writing in a journal.

Mom and Me: An Art Journal to Share by Lacy Mucklow and Bethany Robertson, $9.10

Communicating with kids is not always easy. Although I make a point of asking my kids about their day, I know there’s a lot of things that fall through the cracks that I would not only like to know about, but that are also crucial in order to learn more about kids and their lives. This book contains 50 journaling activities that are meant to be done side by side, parent, and child. Although it has the word “mom” in the title, dads and grandparents can join in on the fun and learn to communicate through art. Lacy Mucklow is a licensed art therapist and came up with a variety of prompts, such as drawing a memory of a day in your life when you experienced something you will never forget, or drawing a place where you would most like to be right now.

The Art of Drawing Dangles: Creating Decorative Letters and Art With Charms by Olivia A. Kneibler, $9.24

Who doesn’t love to doodle? Now you can up your game by learning how to add sophisticated embellishments to the letters of the alphabet, plus create charms, dangles, even mandalas to decorate hand-written notes or create artwork for framing. There are 50 projects, such as decorating gift tags, creating a bookmark, or simply embellishing a letter of the alphabet.

I was not compensated for this post. I received samples.

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NY Day Trip Idea: A Tour of the Rockefeller Estate in Westchester

Maytal — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 17:40:50 +0000

The mansions of the Gilded Age in New York City were certainly something to behold, but where did the uber-wealthy people of that time go when they wanted to be surrounded by nature? The Rockefellers, for instance, went to Kykuit, an incredibly stunning estate in Pocantico Hills in lower Westchester. I recently toured the estate and the gardens with my family and was impressed by the informative tour and the lush outdoors, which included an unforgettable view of the Hudson River. NY Day Trip Idea: A Tour of the Rockefeller Estate in Westchester

Kykuit (pronounced Kai-kit) is Dutch for “lookout” or “high place” and is very fitting for the estate as it is high up in Pocantico Hills near Sleepy Hollow. It was built by oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller and had 4 generations of the Rockefellers living there. JDR wanted a place in the country where he could work in peace on his philanthropic work. He purchased 400 acres which grew into 4,000 acres. The 40-room house is 6 stories high (two of them being underground).

JDR died in 1937 and his son, JDR jr. also lived there until his death in 1960. JDR Jr. had six children. One of which was NY Governor and Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, who lived in Kykuit with his second wife and their two boys, Nelson Jr. and Mark.

The Music room:

JDR’s desk:

The basement houses a gallery dedicated to modern art. Here is artwork by Andy Warhol of Nelson Rockefeller and his second wife, Happy Rockefeller:

Our tour guide, Carole, was informative, interesting and charismatic. She’s a great storyteller and each room had its own story and tidbits. I felt like I had first-access to what was going on behind the scenes. She was very patient with my kids and even got them involved by helping her hold photographs of the family.

Four generations: Left to right: JDR Jr., JDR Sr., Nelson Rockefeller’s oldest son from his first marriage, Rodman, and Nelson.

JDR Jr’s six children. Nelson is fourth from right:

Nelson Rockefeller was a big fan of modern art (his mother, Abby, founded the MOMA) and brought many modern pieces to the estate, especially to the gardens. There are over 100 works of modern art inside the estate and over 70 pieces of modern sculptures outdoors.

View from the front of the house:

As mentioned, there are numerous modern sculptures in and outside the estate.

And a not-so-modern sculpture:

A good part of the gardens was designed with English and Italian landscaping in mind:

Whimsical dragon fountain:

Side view of the estate:

Stunning views of the Hudson River:

The gardens were very peaceful.

The tour also included the coach barn which houses carriages, stables and antique cars that were used by the family. It is now a conference center for non-profit organizations but still has the cars and carriages on display.

Tips: You cannot arrive at Kykuit by car. You first have to pick up tickets at the visitor center and then take a shuttle. It’s recommended to arrive at the visitor center 30 minutes prior to the tour. Leave any backpacks and diaper bags in your car or a locker at the visitor center, as you will not be able to take anything with you. The shuttle will leave right before the tour begins (they will tell you when to take it) so you don’t want to be late and miss it because the tour starts right away. The tour is recommended for age 10 and up but all my kids really liked it.

Click here for more information on tours and to purchase tickets.

Interior photos courtesy of Jaime Martorano.

I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets to the Classic Tour.

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Family Activity: We Did the Hoodwinked Escape the Room Challenge!

Maytal — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 01:22:50 +0000

My ten-year-old daughter is an avid fan of suspense and mysteries – she loves reading Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys books. I wanted to challenge her problem-solving skills by having her play detective and found the perfect place: Hoodwinked Escape – an Escape the Room venue.

For those of you who have never heard of an “escape room”, basically you get locked in a room and use clues to solve puzzles and riddles in order to figure out how to escape it. We recently visited Hoodwinked Escape and had the time of our lives trying to escape the room!

I want to keep the challenges a secret so this is one of those rare posts on The Mama Maven where I can’t really describe much of what I did. Here’s what I can tell you: I took my daughter and friends to Hoodwinked Escape and we went into one of the rooms: Spy Academy. A woman greeted us and explained a few rules – it was as if we were students in a spy academy and had a mission. We were referred to as “agents”. Once the woman left and locked the door we had about an hour to escape the room – there were locked drawers and a variety of challenging riddles and puzzles that we had to solve.

There were different clues around the room that we had to put together to try and figure out how to get out of the room. Each time we solved a challenge it led up to another which led to anther, so it was very rewarding to solve all of the puzzles. My daughter and her friend turned out to be very resourceful and really surprised us with their out-of-the-box thinking and ideas!

At the end we were not able to complete the mission but we were very, very close. It felt like we got a workout for our brains and the entire time I felt like I was in a Mission Impossible movie – many of the puzzles were high-tech and very clever and it really felt good to know that I helped figure them out. We worked as a team and helped each other solve the challenges – each person had their own talents and skills and the girls, ages 9 and 10, worked really hard and more than put in their fair share. They were so thrilled with their experience, they’re already planning to come back!

Hoodwinked Escape is mainly for adults but kids ages 10 and older will be able to solve many of the challenges (you can also ask to modify some challenges and make them a little easier). You have about an hour in the room and you can ask for 3 clues. There is a camera in the room so the employees can monitor you at all times so you’re not really alone. There are 2-8 people in a room so unless you book all tickets you may be in the room with people you don’t know.

Aside from Spy Academy (the challenge level is hard), there are three more rooms to escape from: Spirit of Harlem (which is perfect for multi-generations, challenge level is easy), the Hangover room (which is more for young adults and gets altered to make it appropriate for kids, challenge level is easy) and The Experiment (for all ages, challenge level is medium). Hoodwinked Escape is perfect for date night, birthday celebrations and family gatherings.

Visit Hoodwinked Escape to learn more and to book a room.

I was not compensated for this post. I received complimentary tickets.

The post Family Activity: We Did the Hoodwinked Escape the Room Challenge! appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

Improve Your Life and Broaden Your Horizons With the Click of a Button

Maytal — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 02:24:26 +0000

As a busy mom with three active kids, I am constantly in a struggle to manage my time better, get more things done in the day and try to keep up with everything from kids’ homework to household chores to extracurricular activities. I’m a big procrastinator, especially when it comes to housework, and now that spring is here and our schedule is becoming more and more hectic I am starting to feel the anxiety of having to juggle everything at once. I know with my procrastination I won’t be able to keep up with all of the never-ending household chores and the result will be more anxiety and constant guilt. I recently came across a fantastic website calls The Great Courses Plus – online learning courses where you can learn anything you want – history, languages, art, just to name a few. Under the Science category I found an incredible course called Outsmart Yourself: Brain-Based Strategies to a Better You and after watching several lectures, I am here to say: you can change your life just by watching something online.

Outsmart Yourself: Brain-Based Strategies to a Better You is a 24-lecture course on controlling bad habits and boosting your well-being, with each lecture being about 30 minutes long. It is given by Professor Peter M. Vishton, PhD, a Cornell University graduate who is now Associate Professor of Psychology at The College of William and Mary.

I watched the first two lectures: Take Control of Your Automatic Brain and Beat Procrastination by Doing Nothing. The first lecture was an introduction to the course and provided insight about achieving your goals in a way that may sound counter-intuitive, but Dr. Vishton provides a scientific explanation for why it will work.

In the second lecture, Dr. Vishton gives three tips on how to overcome procrastination. Again, the tips seem counter-intuitive, but Dr. Vishton gives such a compelling scientific explanation that I couldn’t help but try them out. One of the tips is to break up a project into small tasks that take about 20 minutes each to complete. I have known about this trick but I never really understood why. It turns out that our brains are wired to give us pleasure not when we work towards a goal, but only when we achieve a goal. This is why whenever we complete a small task our brains can give us a sense of satisfaction and the more tasks we complete towards our goals, the better we will feel, even if we don’t end up completing the project. I tried this with piles of laundry and it worked! It’s amazing how once there’s a scientific reason to doing something I’m more inclined to doing it!

The Great Courses Plus is a boon of information – you can learn about specific countries in the travel section and plan your next trip; under Hobby & Leisure you can learn tricks on how to solve Sudoku puzzles; you can also learn money management skills, the history of music and a million other things. It’s all just a click away.

The Great Courses Plus is offering a FREE trial month. After the first month payment is $19.99 each month. Plans start as low as $14.99/month.
There are 8,000 lectures to choose from.
Some of the partners are National Geographic, The Culinary Institute of America and the Smithsonian so don’t be surprised if your teachers are top-notch chefs, famous photographer and world-renowned scientists, such as Neil deGrasse Tyson. In fact, many of the lecturers are award-winning Ivy-league professors.
There are no homework or tests and you can watch on your own time as many courses as you want. You can watch any lectures, in any order you please and skip anything you want.
Each course also has a guidebook that you can read before or after the course to either introduce yourself to the material or to reinforce what you’ve just learned.
You can stream Great Courses Plus to watch on your TV, tablet, smartphone, laptop or PC.

Visit The Great Courses Plus to learn more. Be sure to sign up for your FREE one-month trial to experience the courses yourself.

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A Chance to Grow Your Family with Growing Generations

Maytal — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 14:43:47 +0000

Did you know that 12% of American women, ages 15-44, have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a baby to term? That is a high percentage but luckily we live in a society where modern medicine is available to us to help us overcome infertility. There is a substantial amount of different types of treatments and approaches and there are countless of happy parents who were lucky enough to try the various methods successfully and experience the joy of having a child of their own. Growing Generations is a company that helps people struggling with infertility by assisting them with gestational surrogacy, egg donation and parental education.

Growing Generations, founded in 1996, was the first surrogacy and egg donation agency that was devoted to serving the gay and lesbian community and now are working with families regardless of marital status and sexual orientation. Aside from surrogacy and egg donation, there is a variety of fertility treatments that are worth looking into, such as artificial insemination, surgery, fertility drugs and intrafallopian transfers.

For a closer look, Growing Generation has created a user-friendly infographic that illustrates the various treatments and provides answers to questions you may have. In the interactive infographic, you can click on several rooms and learn about the various types of treatments. Each room describes a different treatment and includes a timeline of how long it’s estimated for it to work (i.e. how long until you conceive). Also included are success rates, costs and more information. The rooms also have clickable “question mark” icons that give facts and tidbits about the specific treatment. This chart organizes all treatments in a way that allows you to get a clear idea of what would be right for you

Click here for information on the various fertility treatments and here for what to know before starting fertility treatments.

Follow Growing Generations on Facebook and Twitter.

To learn more about your options when it comes to surrogacy and egg donation visit Growing Generations.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for fourteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 10, 7 and 4) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

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Coping With Loss

The Mama Maven — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 18:49:04 +0000

Losing loved ones can be an amazingly difficult part of life. The lawyers at Christensen & Hymas reached out to over 100 grief counselors and asked them to share with us their thoughts on losing a loved one.

The article below is a compilation of their responses.

Remember that Grieving is Completely Natural

“Once we can accept that the pain of loss is a natural hurt based on our love, it’s not just a meaningless pain. Grief is a deeply meaningful experience, that shows us how we feel about those we love.”

-Ammon Fawson, LMFT

“The first most important thing to do is to understand that the unique and indescribable pain of grieving is a normal reaction to the loss of someone we love dearly. We grieve because we love them, and the more we love them the greater the pain will be, and we may never stop grieving.”

-Cecilia H. Leggett

Understand that Everyone Experiences Loss Differently

“Often well-meaning loved ones encourage those that are grieving to jump directly to acceptance, wanting to spare them the other seemingly negative and painful stages.

But what we know is that each of these stages are vital to healing the seemingly unhealable heart. So it is just as important to feel anger and denial as it is to feel acceptance. Additionally, anyone who has experienced grief and loss understands that these stages are not necessarily in order and acceptance is not always a complete end to pain. Grieving may involve jumping from one stage to the other for example finding partial acceptance but then re-experiences depression or anger.”

-Lorii Hubbard

“…remember that most people grieve in multi-dimensional ways – emotionally, cognitively, physically, spiritually and, sometimes, existentially. If you lack tears it doesn’t mean you are not grieving.”

-Lothair W. Pendleton

Know That You Can Do This

“It is a trauma I would never wish on anyone! However, I am living proof that life can be good again. Suicidal thoughts are common after a trauma or the death of a loved one. My family and friends were a strong support for me. When I struggled with death wishes, loved ones wouldn’t leave me alone. I never gave up, even when I wanted to and couldn’t imagine seeing another day…”

-Aimee Francom

“Yet it is true – I am very much stronger in who I am as a person now. My life views have changed. My spirituality has changed. I am more myself. I would never wish this on anyone, yet it happened and human beings are nothing if not resilient – my work as a therapist has shown me the absolute truth of this resiliency. But I could not have done it on my own. Reach out for help. Reach out, tell others what you need. Find a therapist. Find solace when and where you can. Know it will take time, be gentle on yourself, and allow yourself to grieve. I wish you peace if you grieve, as you grieve.”

-Liz Hunter, MA, LMFTA

To read the full article go to: https://christensenhymas.com/dealing-with-loss-loved-one/

Coping With Loss

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Bootler: Your Go-To Source for Food Delivery!

Maytal — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 16:28:07 +0000

I think most moms of school-aged kids would agree with me: there are just those days when you’re running around all afternoon and by dinner time you’re kind of stuck. You can always stop somewhere and grab takeout but some days there’s no time even for that. Food delivery can be a lifesaver and when you’re crunched for time (and often, money, too) you want to use your time wisely and get the most bang out of your buck. Bootler is the way to go when you want to order food in the most efficient way.

Bootler is a search engine that allows you to search all food delivery sites at once. It works with six different delivery services allowing the user to pick a restaurant and compare price, availability and delivery time. So you can save time and money and make the entire ordering experience much more quick and efficient. For example, you can order from Smoque BBQ and compare delivery services. You can also order alcohol from Bootler (it comes from a delivery service called ‘Saucy’). Bootler is currently only in Chicago but is expanding to New York and other major cities soon.

Here’s a video that explains how Bootler works:

Follow Bootler on Facebook and on Twitter.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for fourteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 10, 7 and 4) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post Bootler: Your Go-To Source for Food Delivery! appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.

How To Get Your Kids to Go to Bed on New Year’s Eve (Netflix Can Help)

The Mama Maven — Fri, 30 Dec 2016 17:14:45 +0000

The countdown is on and we’re busy getting our party hats ready to count down to 2017.

We usually celebrate at home, but a few years ago we made the mistake of letting our kids stay up to watch the ball drop. They were tired and whiny and so exhausted the next day. So, a couple of years ago, when Netflix came out with their on demand New Year’s Eve countdowns, I was thrilled. We were able to have the new year start at 9pm, as opposed to 12am. Big difference! We rang in the new year together and celebrated together and then sent the kids to bed, so Mr. Maven and I could have alone time to ring in the new year!

Now, you could look at this as tricking kids, but they do know that this isn’t the Times Square Ball dropping and seeing their fave King Julien countdown to the new year is pretty appealing. Staying up to midnight isn’t up for discussion – even for my oldest, who is 11. Next year we may have to give in, but not this year!

This year, the most famous 10 seconds of the year are back on Netflix with 10 new countdowns based on some of your kids’ favorite shows: Word Party, Puffin Rock, Luna Petunia, Beat Bugs, All Hail King Julien, Skylanders Academy, DreamWorks Trollhunters, Project Mc2, Fuller House and Chasing Cameron.

So, celebrate New Year’s Eve with your kids and then set the countdown any time you want (you can even show all 10 countdowns!)

The next morning, here’s some ideas of Netflix shows your kids can watch while you get some more zzz’s.

1. Ask the StoryBots

2. Best Friends Whenever

3. Dragons: Race to the Edge

4. Ever After High

5. LEGO Friends: The Power of Friendship

6. Mako Mermaids

7. My Babysitter’s a Vampire

8. Pokemon: Indigo League

9. Project Mc2

10. Skylanders Academy

11. The Adventures of Puss in Boots

12. The Batman

13. The Deep

14. DreamWorks Trollhunters

15. Voltron: Legendary Defender

Sing in the new year with Puffin Rock.

For a limited time only, the Puffin Rock Music! app is now available for a discounted price in the Apple and Google Play stores now through January 7. Just search ‘Puffin Rock Music’ in your app store and join the Puffin Rock ensemble!

And sssh!

Need a doorhanger to convince the kids to let you sleep in? Download the one below!

Netflix_ NYE_DoorHanger

Disclosure: I am a Netflix Stream Team Member. I am given product, certain opportunities, and I receive a free Netflix subscription in exchange for posting about Netflix. As always, all opinions are my own. W

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There’s Something for Everyone in Our Holiday Gift Guide!

Maytal — Sun, 11 Dec 2016 03:43:58 +0000

The people in my life are an eclectic mix of personalities and I love them all but when it comes to getting them holiday gifts I’m stumped. Do you have a group of people in your life that are as different as can be? Here’s my Holiday Gift Guide for people of various interests and likes.

For the Low-Maintenance Stylish Man

Whether or not we want to admit it, beards, no matter how long, need to be maintained. Just as a man would wear a cologne, he needs to take care of his beard and Lovely Beards offers two types of 100% organic beard grooming products: the Beard Balm comes in five scents (plus unscented). It keeps the beard neat, conditions the facial hair and helps stop itching. Beard Oil comes in six scents (plus unscented). It makes hair softer and healthier and prevents flaking. Here’s an amazon link if you prefer to shop on Amazon.

For the Creative Kid

Young kids love pretend play but who says tweens can’t try their hand in grownup activities? The Future Architect’s Tool Kit, By Barbara Beck, offers kids ages 8-12 a unique opportunity to learn about architecture. It is a hands-on introduction to what an architect does and why buildings look and function the way they do. Kids can learn how to create their own drawings and build a model. At the end of the book there are exercises to design various homes for “clients”. Find it on Amazon.

For the Woman Who Loves Elegant Jewelry

Make a statement with these “classic with a twist” earrings by Mabel Chong. The Keshi Pearl Earrings are unique in shape and are perfect women who are tired of the run-of-the-mill perfectly round pearls but still want the classy, elegant look. These earrings come in a silver or gold setting. Available at Gifts.com – an incredible site for finding cool gifts – check out their personality quiz to find customized gift recommendations.

For the Health-Conscious Home Chef

Avocados have been known to be a superfood for quite some time but the new trend in cooking is avocado oil and CalPure Foods makes Extra-Virgin Avocado Oil that is absolutely delicious and chock-full of vitamins and minerals. Add it to your salad or use in dips or your favorite stir-fry dish. It contains mostly monounsaturated fats which help reduce harmful levels of inflammation in the body and may lower cholesterol. Buy on Amazon.

For the Avid Traveler

I tend to pack somewhat lightly for vacation but I pack smart: I like to keep things organized in bags and unfortunately I sometimes have to resort to ziplocs. Tartan & Twine is a company devoted to making gorgeous beauty and travel storage bags. The Tawney Steppe 4-Piece Train Case Set is a clear case that contains inside it 3 other cases so you can store your toiletries, makeup and medicine/first aid separately but keep them all together in a handy clear pouch.

For the Beauty-Obsessed

Spin for Perfect Skin is a brush that can be used on both your face and body as it includes several facial and body brushes. It’s battery-operated and allows for the removal of dead facial and body skin cells. Naturally, it also promotes cellular rejuvenation at the same time. This brush helps your skin look younger and brighter by removing bacteria and reducing pores.

For the Tween/Teen Who Loves Bling Everywhere

Sticker Beans are little patches of glitter made of bright rhinestones that can be used to decorate your phone case, laptop, iPad and really anything you want to add glitz to! They come in two-inch, five-inch and two feet sizes if you want to decorate your bedroom wall. From cupcakes to unicorns, to soccer balls and smiley faces – there is a huge selection of the expanding line. You can also collect them in a sticker book that’s available for purchase (pictured above).

For the Baseball Fan

Lovers of baseball rejoice! This is literally and figuratively a game-changer. The SwerveBall with its unique geometric design uses the power of torque and airflow to allow pitchers to throw curve balls, sliders, sinkers and breaking balls. It has twice the curves of a normal baseball – just place your fingers on special marks on the ball and throw.

I was not compensated for this post. I received samples.

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Senior Reviewer Maytal Wichman has also written for The Huffington Post. She has been living in New York City for fourteen years and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but blogging is her true passion. Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to three kids (ages 9, 7 and 4) and loves finding great products that make her family’s life easier.

The post There’s Something for Everyone in Our Holiday Gift Guide! appeared first on The Mama Maven Blog.