The Polaroid POP is my Favorite Digital and Instant Camera Combo

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Instant cameras have made a huge comeback. I see them at school events, and two of my grown kids have them too. I love them, but the size of the pictures had got smaller for awhile...until now!! Back to the generous size that's similar to days of old, this brand new Polaroid Pop offers up 3.5 x 4.25" prints instantly, or you can use the digital option with the SD card to save and print later. In addition to that, it's sleek looking and I can't get enough of it. I just love to look at it! The features make it fun to play with, and the touchscreen makes it very easy to learn and maneuver. In the photo above, the print is just finishing up...completing it's roll out of the camera. You can watch the picture forming, as it moves towards the top, which is a new feature I've never seen before. Both me and cutie patootie up there liked that one.

Baby's Book: Teddy Bear from Peter Pauper Press

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

There are so many varieties of products and places that sell them that you can usually find a good substitute for something, if you can't find the original, for what it is you are trying to buy. Every once in awhile though, there is an item that you want to find, and no substitute takes its place very well at all. That's how I feel about this particular baby book sold by Peter Pauper Press. I wrote about it way back in 2012 (you can access that article here if you would like) and now that my daughter is expecting it's the only one I want for her because a). it was adorable b). it was sturdy c). it was thorough, allowing for so many entries to take place between pre-birth and the age of (5). 

Winner Announcement

Congratulations to the following giveaway winners:
Tamra: Gurunanada Essential Oil roll-ons
Heather: Lego Super Villains Deluxe XBox One Game

I Finally Met THAT Baksetball Mom

He's always got a basketball in his hand. ;)

Just so you know, for the most part, I am not a confrontational person. I tend to address things quietly if they need attention, go directly to the source, and do it when no one is around, hoping to get a better understanding of what is going on, or find a peaceful remedy. So when I found myself ready to argue publicly with a woman, at my son's basketball game, I had to find the strength to be the better person, and not be 'that parent.'

HueTrition is Wishing You a Very Healthy New Year: $25 Paypal Giveaway

This information is brought to you by HueTrition. 

Nutritionist Lisa Underwood is going to have a Live Webinar, and if you're looking for a healthier new year, you don't want to miss it! Have you made a resolution to eat better as your New Year's Resolution? One of the hottest diet fads right now is the Keto diet. You may have started to follow it and use recipes you have found around the internet. Or maybe you have thought about it and done some research but you aren't sure if it's right for you. I honestly haven't tried it but am looking forward to learning more about it, right alongside those of you who do that here as well.

HueTrition is here to help you understand it better!

One Puzzle Piece at a Time

...that's my new mantra, or maybe my old mantra, but I've just recognized it, because in practicality it doesn't seem all that foreign of a concept to applications I've been doing for years.

As I was putting together a jigsaw puzzle, a luxury I don't often get to do because of time constraints, it kept coming to my mind that life is like a puzzle and you just have to work at it, one piece at a time. How?

Sposie Booster Pads for Diapers Giveaway

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

What we spent some time doing over here just before Christmas was getting a surprise baby shower ready for my daughter. I know you're supposed to do it closer to the due date (she's due later in March) but she mentioned that she wished it could be earlier, so I thought a great holiday gift idea would be to surprise her on Christmas Eve with a baby shower she had no idea was coming.

Winner Announcement

Congratulations to the following winners whose names were randomly selected by Rafflecopter: Sandee won the Child Safety Kit and Maria won the Private Reserve Holiday Jazz Community Coffee giveaway.

The LifeJacket Mini Jolt Speaker is Worth the Price

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

When I ask my grown kids what they want for Christmas, I don't get a list like I did when they were little. In fact, sometimes they say something along the lines of, 'don't worry about me, just buy for the kids.' 🙄 Well, even though they are grown, they are my kids, so they still qualify as it being a given that they're going to get a gift. I'd just like some suggestions on what it is they might really like to have under the tree, instead of me having to guess. Last year, my second oldest did say he's like a LifeJacket Bluetooth speaker and he got it. He used and loved it all year long and so this year, not knowing what he wanted (outside of a good trip, since he started traveling right after the big day), I instinctively knew he'd appreciate another LifeJacket speaker, so... I got him the next size up (from the one he got last year) and he was surprised and delighted. He instantly used it to get the Christmas tunes rolling, and that set the tone for the rest of the day.

Singsation Karaoke All-in-One SOLO Giveaway

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Thank goodness for Bloglovin' where I recaptured this post. I'm not sure why it deleted (if you tried to access it from the holiday gift guide, I apologize, and thank you for the e-mails to alert me, I have no idea what happened), it even had giveaway entrants... so weird!! In any case, reposting it now. Please feel free to enter the giveaway.

Record Your Child's Heartbeat while you are Expecting!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

What makes the stuffed animal in this elegant holiday box so special? It is a My Baby's Heartbeat, which makes it a once-in-a-lifetime kind of stuffed animal because it allows you to permanently record your baby's heartbeat, while you are still expecting! Not much beats the excitement of hearing your little one's heartbeat while you're on the table with the sonogram machine hooked up to you. It always sounds so fast, and to me it always sounded like horses galloping in a movie scene, lol. I remember that excited and very appreciative feeling of hearing my children's heartbeat though, every.single.time.

Finally Made it to Toy Story Land! Another Disney World Favorite!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

There are two things we have been wanting to see in the Disney World theme parks. One is the Avatar Flight of Passage ride (we've been in line for it, but left because the line is soooo long) at Animal Kingdom. The other is Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios. We recently went to Orlando and went to 2 parks: Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom, so we got to see the latter, woohoo! As we walked into Hollywood Studios, we were met with scenes from Fantasia in the topiary display at the entrance. Disney always does such a great job with their displays, but this one was an instant favorite. I love that movie, and can't wait for it to come back out of the vault (I had it on VHS, never on DVD).

Stay Hydrated and Choose Healthy Drinks: Multi-Flask Solution for People on the Go!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

You know the kids are getting older when one of the gifts you get, that you know will thrill them is a Precido Multi-flask 7-in-1 drink container. The truth is though, that I know this is going to be a very welcome gift for my 2nd oldest who likes to have a drink with him at work all of the time, but has trouble with his bottles.  Glass keeps water cold and tasting the best, but on their own, they are too fragile. His plastic ones don't hold up either. And stainless steel was next on his list, but I told him, it alters the flavor of the water, or at least it does for me. This child, my youngest, is helping me wrap gifts today and he isn't overly excited about my giving his brother a 'drinking glass' but trust me, that's because he's young and doesn't need to know the value of such things yet. ;) His brother on the other hand, is going to appreciate that I've found the perfect solution for his dilemma.

Best Buy has the Stylish LG-Watch W7 Smartwatch on Sale!

Disclosure: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy gift card and/or received the product.

LG has really combined fashionable design and function with their LG-Watch W7 Smartwatch 44.5mm Stainless Steel, on sale right now at Best Buy. With a classic stainless and black color scheme that goes well with casual or dress, and a look that mimics a traditional analog watch (but is really a smartwatch) this selection is the perfect gift for anyone into fitness, technology, or just plain style.

Fin Fun Mermaid Items: got the Lip Gloss for my Daughter!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

After the kids fall asleep (even the grown ones, since this year we are all staying over at my oldest son's house to bring in the morning together, in large part to watch my grandbabe open all of her gifts), Santa likes to sneak in and put items in the stockings (that inquiring minds won't know is there until Christmas morning, because Santa was patient and waited). This year one of the items that was headed to my daughter's stocking is Mermaid Lip Gloss. This is just the kind of thing I like to give her so she can have a little bit of pampering throughout her day. This is especially true now that she's going to have her first child. If I could pamper her all day long, I would. Of course I cannot because a). She is grown now b). We live in different cities But that's okay! Every time she puts on a bit of shimmer and shine with these lovely flavors like blueberry, vanilla, and grape, she'll remember her mama loves to spoil her just a bit. :)

Introducing Fin Fun’s first-ever lip gloss set designed just for beauty fanatics. The Mermaid Lip Gloss comes in a 3-pack set featuring vanilla, blueberry, and grape flavors with a hint of shimmer—just for the mermaids who love to look pretty out of water!

This is just one of many fun mermaid items you will find on the Fun Fin website (and yes they sell the popular tails!). Head on over and see what you can get for the (child or adult) mermaid in your life too!

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Awesome New Tula Baby Carrier plus Enter to win a $75 Visa Gift Card

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Photo Source: Baby Tula

My daughter is earnestly looking for products that she wants to have to welcome her little bundle of joy that will arrive in March. She is being selective, and very thorough with her research. After going through descriptions, reviews and personal preference she noted there was no other baby carrier she wanted than Tula. "Baby Tula" she calls it, with a sing-song voice that indicates her endearment. She makes me laugh, but I am impressed she's going all out to ensure she's not just collecting items, but is truly creating an inventory for baby that she will appreciate, use and enjoy.

Learning Resources: Tock the Learning Clock with Giveaway!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

One thing we are going to be working on over the holiday break, is teaching my granddaughter how to tell time! She is in kindergarten now, and she is a very smart little girl, so I know this isn't going to be overly difficult for her, yet I do still want it to be fun. What better way to do both (teach and have it be fun) than with a great learning toy, which is the specialty over at Learning Resources where you can find so many items that are helpful and enjoyable to the kids, such as Tock, the Learning Clock (which comes in pink and blue).

Bring in the New Year with Hammacher Schlemmer plus $100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway

Disclosure: this is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

 

Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas without Hammacher Schlemmer, a company that is celebrating their milestone 170th year in business. Some of you can relate to going through the big Christmas catalogs that used to come in the mail this time of year from department stores. Oh how I would pour over those...hoping Santa would bring me the things I just had to have (that I'd never seen or heard of until I opened those glossy, beautiful pages). I'd even circle things I wanted, for good measure. Now as an adult, I am the same way but in a more practical and applied sense, and I do it online instead, with Hammacher Schlemmer. This is a company that has so many gorgeous, unique and fun items. They make it easy to shop for anyone that is on my holiday shopping list, both now and at any time of the year. At the moment, I'm looking to them for holiday selections, and for items to bring us into the new year. Let me note too, that I am also offering one lucky reader the chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, so they too can apply it towards something they find and love on their website as well. They offer so many items that are special. I think you will be very content to browse until you find the items you'd like to buy.

Disney The Nutcracker and the Four Realms: A Center Stage Pop-Up Book

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

I really wanted to get to the movies to see The Nutcracker when it came out, but I have a boy in the house, and while I sometimes take him to movies he might not otherwise select on his own (and he usually ends up liking), we didn't get around to the theater before this one had come and gone. Still a little bummed about that one. Perhaps if my granddaughter had been here visiting while it was on, I would have had a chance to get in there and see it. I did, however, get to help celebrate the release of the movie, by picking up this fabulous pop-up book from Disney: Disney The Nutcracker and the Four Realms: A Center Stage Pop-Up Book

Lake Buena Vista Resort Village and Spa: Huge Suites for Very Reasonable Prices

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All opinions stated are genuine and my own.

Photo: Courtesy of Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa

A lot of friends, family and co-workers here are planning trips to Orlando over the holiday break, and why not? It's the ultimate place to go, with so many theme parks and different shows/activities to visit, and it's the perfect time to go, with the kids out of school, and the weather being absolutely perfect for exploring places that may be outside (like the Disney World theme parks, which is where we went on this particular trip!). When we go to Orlando, we always check availability with Sky Hotel & Resorts. Though we have thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of their sites we have stayed at, The Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa is 100% our absolute favorite. I suppose because it is where a very special event took place for our family (we stayed in a family suite when my 2nd oldest proposed to his girl on Valentine's Day a couple of years ago), but also because you can get a VERY spacious 2-bedroom suite, for a price comparable to that of what you would pay for a standard room elsewhere. Plus, the location there is everything!!