What's On My Travel Bucket List

I've been fortunate enough to have done my fair share of traveling in my time.  I've been up and down the east coast and have visited the Bahamas, Mexico, Canada, and plenty of Caribbean islands.

Since Scarlett's been born, we've curtailed the traveling since it's not as feasible anymore.  In her short 2.5 year old life, she's been to North Carolina, Florida, Cape Cod, NYC, and several other places.  I'd love to travel with her more as she gets older to see and experience what this world has to offer.

In my lifetime these are the top places I'd like to see:

England:

I've wanted to visit London for as long as I can remember.  Who can resist english accents? I know I can't.  The shopping, tourist attractions, scenery, and plenty of fish and chips have always drew me in.  

Italy:

One word, Italian food.  I'm a huge Italian food lover and would be in pasta heaven if I were to ever visit.  The gorgeous countryside combined with plenty of Prosecco would be a dream.

France:

I know a lot of people who have been to France, but I can't say I have.  The high fashion there ranks high in my book.  I'm all for pain au chocolate any time of day.

Switzerland:

The beautiful swiss mountains combined with endless swiss chocolate, what more could you want?

Hopefully I can give my passport a workout in the coming years.  What cities are you on your bucket list? 

Make Playtime Fun with Cubbie Lee Toys

As Scarlett gets older, the types of toys she has interest in has certainly changed.  Gone are the days of shape sorters, baby rattles, and stacking rings.  Nowadays, my girl loves pretend play and is most happy pushing a fake vacuum or dressing up in princess costumes.  Since I stay at home with her, we spend a lot of the day playing with fake makeup or putting on pretend costume jewelry. Scarlett is very girly and enjoys all things meant for little girls!

Cubbie Lee Toys offers adorable quality made classic wooden toys that are built to last.  If you're a parent who enjoys battery-free toys for your little one, you've come to the right place.  Your child can dive into puzzles, train sets, building blocks and more starting from 6 months all the way up to 5 years old.  

Your daughter will be delighted to play with a tea set or fruit chopping set, while your son can enjoy a pull along alligator or wooden Noah's Ark.  The toys feature bright, eye-catching colors that will offer hours of fun and entertainment.  Any toy from Cubbie Lee makes a fabulous baby gift or present for any occasion for a lucky boy or girl.  Keep the brand in mind for any of your future gift giving needs. 

Our third floor loft has been Scarlett's playroom since she was born.  When you walk into the playroom, you'll instantly notice that it's any child's toy dream come true.  We have lots of fun toys that are electronic and play music, and any child who comes over to play gravitates towards them. Although we have a lot of battery operated toys, what we lack is wooden toys.  There's something so simplistic and interesting about wooden toys, and I know our playroom could benefit from them.  On the plus side, it gives my ears a break! 

Scarlett was lucky enough to receive the Afternoon Tea Set and Animal Truck.  The tea set is for 3 years and up and the truck is meant for ages 18m+.  Both toys are adorable and Scarlett was instantly drawn to them.  

The tea set offers a tray, three cakes, two tea cups, a teapot, and a set of cutlery.  You'll notice that it's made from durable and sustainable wood with long-lasting velcro to secure the cake pieces together.  Not only is this tea set perfect for improving hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, it's ideal for children who love imaginative play.  You'll love the pretty pink color that it comes in and it would surely make any little girl happy.

As soon as we opened the box, Scarlett wanted to play right away.  I told her we were going to have a tea party and she was very excited.  I set up the set on our play table and she pointed to the fake desserts and smiled.  She's just like her mom and enjoys sweets, what can I say! For our pretend tea party, Scarlett had peppermint tea in her cup while I sipped on chamomile.  She enjoyed stirring her tea with the included spoon, but she thought I should stir mine with a fork.  I did have to remind her that the desserts were fake and we could only pretend to eat them! Next time, I should include a few real cookies to make her happy.

We spent about 45 minutes playing with the tea set which is a long time for a 2 year old! I'm happy that Scarlett enjoyed it so much and I know she will love to have a tea party with her friends when they come over soon.

Over the past few months, Scarlett has become a huge animal lover.  She loves our dog Lynnie and constantly wants to hug and pet her, as well as excitedly pointing to dogs who are out for a walk when we're out.  I'm passionate about animals myself, so it makes me happy that we share that connection.  When I found out Cubbie Lee makes an Animal Truck, I knew it would be perfect for her.  Your child will enjoy the beautifully crafted truck complete with a chunky zebra, hippo, crocodile and giraffe, each perfectly sized for little hands to grab.  The truck is made from durable and sustainable wood, with smooth edges and wheel motion.

What I like most about this truck is that it's gender neutral, since all children like animals.  The flatbed holds the four animals securely when they are driven and Scarlett enjoys driving them all around the playroom.  There was a pitstop at one point where she thought each animal was hungry and tried to give it crackers and water.  I love how caring she is! 

Since the animals are large, even the smallest of hands can hold them with ease.  Their chunky size is ideal for hours of fun.  

Wooden toys allow children to use their imagination and creativity to come up with their own fun, instead of pushing buttons which preprogram them with entertainment.  It's a nice change to see how Scarlett plays with a toy without batteries.  

Thanks to Cubbie Lee Toys, we'll have hours of fun and memories that are sure to come! 

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Cubbie Lee Toys for providing product samples in order to facilitate this review, all thoughts are strictly my own.  

Graco's DreamGlider Is a Perfect Choice For All Babies

If you're pregnant and due to have a baby in the next few months, I'm sure you've been getting everything ready for your newest addition.  Once the nursery is done and you have all of the finishing touches completed, it's time to think about the baby gear.  You'll want a stroller that is lightweight and compact, yet stylish and easy to fold when on the go.  As for your baby's swing, you'll want something that is safe, reliable, and comfortable for your little one.  This is where Graco steps in.

Graco is the headquarters for everything and anything you could need for baby.  This brand is surely one of the few that instantly come to mind when I think of baby products.  Graco's product line-up includes strollers, high chairs, pack 'n plays, car seats, swings, and more. The best part about Graco is that their products transition with your child as they age and grow, so you really get many years of use from them.  If you're attending a baby shower in the next few months or know someone who has recently given birth, a Graco product makes the perfect present. 

The brand that starts with G has been a favorite in our household for a long time now.  All of Scarlett's baby gear was Graco and we wouldn't have it any other way! I trust the brand immensely and would highly recommend it to anyone.

When Scarlett was a newborn, our Graco swing was a lifesaver.  It would calm her down when she was fussy and crying, plus she loved to hang out in it.  It was used day and night for a solid 6 months and was truly a workhorse.

When I heard about Graco's DreamGlider, I knew it would be the ideal swing for when I have a second child very soon.  It comes unassembled, but can be easily assembled in no time.  The unit comes in a few different color patterns, depending on your preference.

The Dream Glider is the only swing that easily converts from playtime to nap time.  Baby will love the gliding swing seat that doubles as a sleeper.  They will be soothed with the same gentle motion of a nursery glider, the seat will easily recline into a sleeper with a pull of a lever.  You can use batteries or plug the glider in depending on your choice.  With a toy mobile bar, 10 melodies and 5 nature songs, what's not to love about this swing? Parents will be able to choose from 6 gliding speeds that allow you to find the right pace for baby's needs.

You can securely strap your baby into the glider with the 3 point harness for a nap, or they can sit up and watch you.  Since the glider doesn't take up much room and is lightweight, you can easily transport it from room to room when needed.

The DreamGlider is fantastic and hopefully my second child will enjoy it just as much as my first.  I'm sure seeing the glider in my living room will bring back memories!

If you're on the fence about what glider to buy or register for, this should be at the top of your list.  You'll be recommending it to other parents in no time!

*DISCLOSURE* Thank you to Graco for providing a product sample in order to facilitate this post.  All thoughts are strictly my own