Ciao Baby. Cool Baby Kid’s Final Post.

The Cool Baby Kid story dates back to pre-blogging when I created a website for my classroom using Netscape. No teacher I knew managed a website, and I had limited knowledge of creating one. After finding out my first child was coming into our family July 2006, my focus online became a site for the new baby. Shopping habits turned quickly from the latest lipgloss to finding the ultimate stroller. With some time off of work, all of the above converged as I turned my wiki of cool baby finds into a blog while somewhat unsure of exactly what blogging was all about. Cool Baby Kid was born in 2007 and has seen at least four major re-designs all with a singular focus…brining cool picks and tips to families. From baby products to educational ones, naturally over the years CBK evolved with my own interests. For instance, always a Disney lover, in 2011 when our family joined Disney Vacation Club (DVC), I began to infuse the site with weekly doses of the mouse.

 

Along the way, as with all bloggers who have been in the business of sharing their thoughts online, life happened. In 2009 I met Bridgette (Experimental Mommy) at BlogHer and together we realized bloggers who balance other life tasks–motherhood, careers, fitness–were truly Double Duty Divas.  A network of women bloggers to support each other, eventually adding post opportunities as it grew to over 1,000 members, the Divas became a springboard to Reviewers Retreat, the first blog conference geared 100% to blog/brand relationships.

 

Needless to say, double became triple duty and while relinquishing my blog was once unfathomable, the time came to streamline so many tasks and so, with a heavy heart but an excited one too, I leave Cool Bavy Kid begins to managing the Double Duty Diva blog. Together with the Diva team including Angie at My Four Monkeys and Jena from Ramblings of a Healthy Chic, I can now be found in my new Diva home.

 

Ironically this final CBK post is being finished on the morning of BlogHer12. Three years ago at BlogHer09 the new chapter of my blogging career was set in motion when I walked the streets of Chicago in slippers with two fabulous ladies from New Orleans that I hardly knew, Bridgette and Renee from What Mommies Need. Now, they’ve become close friends, business partners and an integral reason while I’m completely comfortable moving on from Cool Baby Kid to my new role. I will miss cool picks and tips but hope you’ll join me at DoubleDutyDivas.com.blog. The Divas can also be found on Facebook and Twitter although I will be blogging and tweeting as Cool Baby Kid keeping my CBK Twitter handle.
Ciao Cool Baby.

Shoemees: Kids’ Shoes? Toy? Both! {Coupon Code}

Offering cool picks and tips since 2007, it’s rare to come across a completely unique product that forges it’s own path. And while cute kids shoes were one of the first reviews I ever conducted and continue to be a favorite find of mine, none are exactly like Shomees. Part kids’ shoe and part toy, the box it arrives in transforms into a habitat for the plush “Aqua” or “Blaze” which arrive with the shoes. Stickers to decorate along with well-designed graphics a box made from recycled materials, Shoemees make a fun gift which I can’t usually say about shoes since we want the kids’ to be as excited as their parents about a present.

Shoemees, made from a leather/suede combo, are breathable and look super comfortable (although I haven’t tried them on myself). Ranging in size from 10-1 they are ideal for children 4-9 years old and continue to expand their offerings. Shoemees retail for $39.9 and we have a coupon code (see below) and do make a special gift for lucky little ones.

See the Shoemees box transformation for yourself in this short video. I can guarantee you haven’t seen anything quite like it before hence garnering a top pick designation from us!

Cool Tip

Use code “shee1″ for $5.95 (shipping) off your Shoomees order and be sure to follow Shoemees on Twitter and Facebook too.

How To Train Your Dragon LIVE Spectacular {Coupon}

How often does a family favorite movie come to life? I keep asking the kids, “Are you excited to see the real dragons?” to which my husband reminds me they are, in actuality, extinct.

DreamWorks How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular brought to audiences by HP and Vizio may be coming to an arena near you. We’re so excited to be heading to Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza next week. The movie was fantastic but I doubt will compare to 23 flying, fire-shooting, smoke-breathing dragons.

Animatronic technology and world class performers (I counted 38 Vikings and Creative team members!) combine for what looks like a show like none other.  And if you’re lucky enough to live in (or near) NEPA, we have a deal for you. Save 25% on $62 seats to any weekday performance including Friday night with the code MOM online at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (800) 745-3000.

Follow on Twitter @DWDragonsLive and Facebook once you get your tickets for insider peeks and cool facts. Enjoy the code and let us know what you think of the show!

Disclaimer: Our family will receive complimentary tickets for promotional and review purposes.

Engaging with Pampers at Reviewer’s Retreat

 

Cool Tip

Browse the new Pampers website by age group (Newborn, Baby, Toddler, Pre-school) and easily read real stories, parenting tips, and other videos to help parents through every stage of development.

Ultimate Guide to Princesses at Walt Disney World Resort

*Photo Credits, WDWNews

Dining

  • Cinderella’s Royal Table at Magic Kingdom includes multiple princesses for either breakfast, lunch or dinner but booked quickly so call 407-WDW-DINE exactly 180 days before your reservation. (Cost: $36-$59.99)
  • Princess Storybook Dining at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall in Norway Pavillon, Epcot for breakfast, lunch or dinner. (Cost: $36-$59.99)
  • Try Cinderella’s Happily Ever After Dinner in  1900Park Fare at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is hosted by Disney princess Cinderella, Prince Charming and their Storybook Friends. (Cost: $36-$59.99)
  • Kids age 4-12 can join Disney friends from Wonderland, like Alice and the Mad Hatter, for a Wonderland Tea Party at 1900 Park Fare restaurant at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. (Cost: $36-$59.99)
  • Perfectly Princess Tea Party is the ultimate princess experience! A Sleeping Beauty meet and greet with kids age 3-11 who receive their own “My Disney Girl” doll, princess bracelet, scrapbook page, “best friend” certificate, fresh rose and ribbon tiara. ICost: $175.88 child, $89.68 adult)

Accomodations

Character Greetings & Sightings

Shows

Special Experiences

Cool Tip

Opening in phases beginning March 2012, the new Fantasyland will include all sorts of princess experiences including Fantasyland Forest inspired by The Little Mermaid and Beauty & the Beast, plus castles, Belle’s library, Gaston’s Tavern, Seven Dwarfs Mine train and more.

How Alter Ego Affected My Enchilada Dinner {Giveaway}

True stoy. I was on my way back from North Carolina planning a blog conference, Reviewer’s Retreat, sitting in a Mexican restaurant at the airport when my waitress made a bit of a scene. I didn’t necessarily mind except that my food had just come out, and nothing stands in the way of me and an enchilada.

“How cool is that phone cover color?”" she asked.
“Neat, right?” I answered as the smell of Mexican wafted through the air.
I qualified, “It actually glows in the dark.”
“No WAY!” the waitress replied, leaving for the moment.
As I lifted the fork I was surprised to see her right back at the table with a friend.
“Look at that phone cover…it GLOWS in the dark!” she told her.

Alter Ego in Glow Lime (my color)

And on the conversation went with both ladies until I had supplied the brand name (M-Edge), phone cover details (Alter Ego), website (medgestore.com) and evidence that it did indeed glow as one young woman held it up into her cupped “dark-inducing” hands. I’m used to the commotion an M-Edge cover creates and am considering getting a seperate business card to hand out (after I work out a deal with the company of course) since EVERY time we go out to eat and bring the iPad for the kids someone asks where we got our SuperShell iPad cover.

I’m no marketing pro and have only been blogging since 2007, but I’m pretty sure a good strategy for M-Edge might be to give parents the Alter Ego, SuperShell and other top sellers for families (and cool kids) and ask them go out to dinner. 

On a totally different and unrelated topic, I plan to get my mother an M-Edge Design Your Own e-reader cover with a picture of the grandkids in case you’re looking for a fun Mom’s Day gift.

Cool Giveaway

Enter to win an M-Edge Alter Ego in your choice of colors by commenting on this post. For extra entries:

Determined to win? Check out even more entry possibilities. Contest ends 4/25/12.

A sample product was provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% our own.

New Top Pick: Bigjigs Wooden Playsets & Railway *Contest*

With two preschoolers and a review blog since 2007, that I’ve tested and spotlighted a nunber of toys is a bit of an understatement. Every once in a while something blows me away and stands out from the crowd. Such as the case with the Bigjigs King Arthur’s Castle playset (pictured). We put it together quickly; the process was fairly simple with the exception of one piece which still hanging out with the knights, horses and Merlin included with the set.

Explaining the castle to a friend, I said simply, “It’s just made really well.” Obvious quality construction and materials, the wooden playset, like other Bigjigs products such as their wooden puzzles and Bigjigs Rail train set, will withstand busy fingers and hard play from our preschoolers. No cheap plastic here!

I always like a “shop by age” feature when looking for gifts since I may be looking outside my kids age ranges or have a hard time remembering exatly what they were into at a certain stage. For a special gift or maybe one from a grandparet, the Rail Name Collection offers personalized letter rails to spell a child’s name or evena  ”Happy Birthday” message. This personalized collection and the wooden playsets like our or the cottage, barn, glacier or others are my top Bigjigs picks.

 

 

Cool Tip

Enter to win a Bigjigs Fairytale Train set on their Facebook page! Be sure to follow them on Twitter and Pinterest as well to stay up to date.

Product samples were provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% my own.

Toy Craze Prediction: Pinypon {plus coupon}

Our friends across the pond are familiar with Pinypon, and now American girls will be delighted with a world that includes mermaids, travellers and sweethearts. Mini dolls (this is a great starter set) who swap clothes and accessories invite endless possibilities. I like how easily they snap on and off, making it simple to mix and match. My five year old daughter loves mini-toys and bright, colorful Pinypons were an instant hit. The Caravan is as adorable as it gets. Opening up to a swimming pool complete with surf board, lounge chair and more, it also comes with a Pinypon girl and pet making a perfect gift since the line is fairly new in the US. Total immersion into the world on Pinypon can be accomplished with a visit to their website which includes games, puzzles and printables like the one pictured here. 

Pinyponm is available at Toys R’ Us exclusivly both in stories and online. Keep up with the world of Pinypon by following them on the following social medis sites:

Cool Tip

Use one of two current Pinypon coupons like the one below or buy two get one free.

Sample products were provided for review purposes; all opinions are 100% my own.

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