Scrapboxing: First Ballet Shoes

I knew I wanted to do something special with ER's first pair of ballet shoes and immediately thought of an article I'd seen on scrapboxing from who else, but the queen of crafts Martha Stewart.

The hardest part of the whole project was finding some dance themed paper (Karen Foster Designs). It took three stores to find just one sheet! The frame is a Ribba from Ikea and I bought a second to make a set to hang together on the wall.

My glue dots came in handy and were a great way to adhere the shoes and even though they weren't point shoes, I did attach a little ribbon to "hang" them, also with glue dots. I like how they are transparent so you can't see them at all. You just press in and then take off the backing.

My favorite picture of ER in her recital costume went with the shoes perfectly and all that I added was a little epoxy sticker (creative imaginations).

Disclaimer: The Glue Dots used in this project were provided to me for the TwitterMoms and Glue Dots blogging contest but is not my official Summer Bonding Project. While the Glue Dots used in this project were provided to me, I have and continue to use and purchase them myself.

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Backyard Safari Adventures

We love spending as much time out of doors as possible, we run around to all the local parks and enjoy hiking and biking on their trails. But it's not alway necessary to leave the backyard to for an adventure. Backyard Safari Outfitters from Summit Toys sent us the perfect equipment to explore our local wildlife from the insects buzzing around our plants on the deck to the birds that like to torment our kitties through the windows.

The collection includes over 30 different essentials and ER's favorite out of the three components we were sent was by far the Cargo Vest, she is seen wearing above. It's still a bit big on her, but that doesn't stop her from wanting to wear it outside on her play structure. She really likes all the pockets for stashing stuff, like a juice box, snack, and a small baby. She'll stand up on the top deck of her structure and call out, "I'm exploring," to passer bys on the walking path behind our house. We also got a Bug Wrangler's Extreme Suction Bug Vacuum, which has a very cool concept. It enables you to catch bugs without having to touch them, so that you can either examine them close up with built in magnifying glass or easily transfer them into a bug habitat. It looked a little too much like a gun for my taste, and ER thought it was used to "zap" bugs not to catch them.

We haven't used it too much or had a lot of luck with it. Almost four year old aren't known for their stealth, and the bugs have been able to keep pretty much away from her whenever she's wielding it. It's kind of big and she can only manage one extra gear item besides the vest and she always picks the periscope, discussed below, over the vacuum. I do think it's the kind of gear that she'll begin to really enjoy as she gets a little older. It's meant for kids ages 5 and up, so it's a bit premature for her to be using it.

The Land & Water Mega View Periscope is fairly big and cumbersome, but its full-view periscope for stealth viewing over boulders, high bushes, backyard fences, and around corners went over well. Three rugged, light-weight sections telescope for a reach over 4 feet high to let you see all those out-of-reach views and we've enjoyed the somewhat comical sight of seeing her holding it like binoculars and walking around. You can also use it look underwater, and I think it'd be really neat to bring along to a trip to the lake. Daddy has also been having fun with this one.

I really liked how all the Backyard Safari Outfitters products came with a pop up essential field guide, ER loves pulling that out and looking at her "map". Over all the Backyard Safari Adventures line is great idea with a wide variety of choices for gear. I feel that other products would've been a better match for us, like the binoculars, 6-IN-1 Field Tools, or magnifying glass but I could tell from the review products we were sent that these would make really great gifts for many of our little friends.

It's great that they encourage kids to spend time observing and spending time outdoors. Items from this line are definitely things we'd purchase for our daughter. We'll have fun picking out some items for ER to carry around in the pockets of her vest.



Disclaimer: I received the gear from Backyard Safari Outfitters via Team Mom to review, and this post relates my own personal and unbiased opinion and experiences with the products. Yours may differ.

Tots Travel Too Marriott Intl. Program & Giveaway

Thank you to everyone who entered; it was great getting so many tips for traveling! Congratulations to Stephanie, comment #16 who submitted suggestion: Another travel tip I've learned is to have a running list for every trip. We have a list saved on our computer that we print out before every trip and we go over it several times before heading out the door to make sure we don't forget anything. We write everything on the list from our toddler's favorite stuffed animal to diapers and wipes.
We've been traveling all over with ER since she was a baby. She's quite the expert at hotel stays, starting with our cross country road trip from NM to MI when she was four months old. We've spent many hours in the car, eaten at many rest stops, and stayed at countless hotels. Having a young child has never stopped us from getting out and about. We love to travel, and with a few a adjustments we've found its possible to do as much and have just as much fun with a little one too.

Now traveling is even easier for parents traveling with young children! Marriott International, Inc. has got you covered! Their new Tots Travel Too program is available at more than 2,500 Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites hotels in the continental U.S. and Canada.

The complimentary program provides guests, upon request, with a travel crib and laundered COVERPLAY® removable crib slipcover to ensure their “traveler-in-training” can rest comfortably. For a bit of bath time fun, a complimentary gift comes with the COVERPLAY, an animal squirtie toy. In addition, parents who have forgotten to pack their tot's essentials can contact the front desk for complimentary items, including outlet covers, nightlights, baby shampoo, and baby lotion, plus disposable bibs will be available in the breakfast areas. Having disposable bibs would be one of my biggest traveling tips, so it's great that Marriott has already thought of that!

Peggy Fang Roe, Vice President, Global Brand Management, TownePlace Suites & Marriott Executive Apartments, Marriott International, Inc. said, “We’ve developed the Tots Travel Too program to meet the unique needs of families traveling with very young children. By helping reassure parents, the Tots Travel Too program helps them to relax, enjoy their trip and create long-lasting and happy memories with their families.”
Giveaway!

You could win a Tots Travel Too Gift Pack, like the one shown above.

This would make a awesome baby gift! So be sure to enter, even if your family is out of the tot stage, I know you've all got at least one great tip to pass along! Plus entering could get your blog some extra expsoure, see below for more details!

Included in the Tots Travel Too Gift Pack (retail value approximately $78):

• Play Yard crib slipcover/liner and matching fitted sheet by CoverPlay in a sophisticated, Marriott-exclusive polka dot pattern. Cover/liner is fabricated from a resilient cotton blend with polyester mesh; fitted sheet is butter-soft, 100% cotton Jersey knit. Both items are sea green with chocolate brown dots.
• Bibs to Go Book by Dwell, a waterproof pad of 20 full-color illustrations, each of which tears off to become a disposable, tab-closure bib (book measures 13.5” x 9.3”).
• Animal Party Tub Squirties by ElegantBaby, a set of eight, brightly-colored squirt toys that make bath time a winner. Squirties use non-toxic paint and phthalate-free PVC and are packaged in a vinyl zip bag with drainage holes.

Additionally, the winner's tip will be included on a Marriott site along with the name of the winner’s blog (if applicable). That's a great way to get your blog's name out there! Plus everyone's tips will be shared on Tots Travel Too circle at The Motherhood.

To Enter:

Leave me your best tip for traveling with a tot. You can leave up to three separate tips, just make sure you leave each one in it's own comment, for three entries!

(Don't forget to leave your blog's name so it can be included along with your tip, if you win!)

Extra Entries:

(You MUST leave at least ONE travel tip BEFORE doing these and make sure you leave an additional comment for each)

• Publically follow my blog.
• Subscribe to my blog via EMAIL.
• Add my Facebook Page to your "Likes"
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet this giveaway, can be done once daily, and include @KTnestingspot in your tweet.
• Follow Marriott International on Twitter.
• Post about or text link to this post.

Giveaway open to US residents through Saturday June 26th, midnight EST. Please make sure I have an email address to contact you by, if you win. I'll be picking my favorite travel tip as the winner.

Twitter Party!

Join us on July 1st from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. ET, we'll be sharing tips from The Motherhood circle, the Tots Travel Too program will be discussed, and over $2,000 in prizes will be awarded to participants. The hashtag for the program is #TotsTravel2. See you there!

Disclosure: I am working in partnership with Marriott and Global Influence – a Resourceful Mommy Media network – to cover the Marriott Tots Travel Too program and have received a stipend