Friday Favorites

It's hiking season which means getting a decent pack for your little monkeys, with my little 8 month old guy I love this one Once he gets bigger we will invest in something more legit looking for hiking trails. (if you have recommendations let me know!) 

When summer rolls around I am a hat junkie, partly because I am lazy and only wash my hair twice a week and partly for sun protection from those harsh sun rays, my go to hat shop, (they are having great sales now too). 

Im using more of this now that its getting warmer outside, Tomas Self Tanner This is my all time favorite self tanner; no smell, no mess, and great color!

We have made these cookies twice in the last week, the ultimate chocolate chip cookie recipe This will surely help your summer bod prep out!

Utah friends!!! Check out Battle Creek falls hike in PG for a fun family hike, easy for moms totting 22 lb. babies and tiny toddlers!!

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Lazy Lake Days with The Baby Cubby

If you don't know the two of us are both expecting babies this fall. Between the two of us it will be baby #4 and #5, which means we have been through our fair share of diaper bags. While on the hunt for new bags for the new babes The Baby Cubby asked us to review one of their bags and we love it. 

Diaper bags, in our minds must meet 3 main requirements:

• Multiple handles so it can be carried several different ways.
• Plenty of pockets and storage space for bit and small items.
• Every surface of the thing must be waterproof and/or wipeable.
• Its a nice added bonus if we like the way it looks. 

After spending a day at the lake with their bag we fell in love and are currently in the middle of an intense game of rock, paper, scissors to see who gets it. 

Why we love it:

• The large middle pocket easily holds diapers, wipes, a changing pad, snacks etc. 
• The front zips open and becomes your wallet should you choose to make it so. There are pockets for credit cards, museum memberships, and any other valuables you'd like to keep there. 
• A long shoulder strap lets you carry it across your body, or on your shoulder while two shorter handles let you carry it more like a purse.
• It comes with stroller straps to attach right to your stroller so you don't have to carry it at all. 
• All surfaces passed the wipe test as surprise surprise apple juice was spilled on it.
• Its well made and can take the use and abuse of being taken on our outdoor outings but still has style for trips around town and out with the girls.
• Two thumbs up for gender neutral. We are having boys, but this bag could easily be used for a girl which makes it usable for multiple children.

The Baby Cubby has given our readers at 10% discount. Use MEGYNJORDYN10 valid thru June 30!


IG: @MEGYNJORDYN

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Disneyland Survival Guide - Pregnant with Toddlers

It should go without saying but, make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to the park in the morning. We stayed a mile from the park, left early, and were still stuck in traffic getting there.

Comfy shoes are a definite obvious MUST for anyone walking the park and so is LOTS of water for pregnant mama. 

Buy Disney clothes BEFORE the trip: Oldnavy, H&M, and Target carry adorable clothes or the Walmart next to Disney is chalk full of cheap Disney paraphernalia. 

Take your big camera!! I will give it to ya and say it is a struggle trying to pull out the big camera vs the iPhone but my Canon shots turned out so much better than my iPhone. You won't regret having to haul it around. 

Pack for the entire day! It's not worth the hassle of leaving midday to hit the hotel for naps. Stroller naps all the way. 

Be sure to get good seats for the light parade and firework show...at least an hour before the start times of the parades. 

Pick a "cool weathered" time of year to go.....September or May is projected to be less busy and cooler temps! 

Pack games/stickers/candy/small dollars store for long wait lines. It will keep the littles from running out of line.

Save money and bring your own goodies and water. 

Park crowd projection website HERE 

Apps for ride wait times: 

MouseTime: http://bit.ly/17IGoGi

MouseWait:  http://bit.ly/13FNc1G

Best rides for toddlers: 

It's a Small World 

Dumbo the Flying Elephant 

Winnie the Pooh 

Teacups 

Alice in Wonderland 

Whale Ride 

The Jungle Cruise

Pirates (is dark and loud but our littles LOVED it) so enter at your own risk. 

Carousel aka Merry Go Round

Avoid these rides when Prego: 

Indian Jones 

Splash Mountain 

Mattahorn 

Space Mountain 

Thunder Mountain 

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Moab with Kids

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park

Our little family recently returned from Moab, Utah. We were craving warmer weather, sun on our skin, and a 3 hour drive with a toddler (yeah....not so much the latter). We hit Arches National Park , Dead Horse Point State Park , and Canyonlands National Park. It was a fun family filled vacation, I am sure we will be visiting again where we may have to try out some jeeping or white water rafting. 

Here are a few tips that I learned on our trip: 

We went in March the weather was right on point before the desert climate starts to heat up on those lovely red rocks usually reaching the 100+ degrees. 

We have the National Parks Pass which got us into Arches National Park and Canyon Lands National Park.....not essential but we didn't have to wait in the 30 minute line to get into the park. 

We didn't bring a pack for our toddler (which I don't know how much she would have ridden in it...she loved walking along the trails) but I wish we would have had the option for it especially on the long hikes and especially especially for  when she conked out on dad's shoulder half way onto the trail. 

We had so many comments from people telling us that they wish they would have started traveling with their littles when they were small....so get out there! Don't let your kids keep you from traveling!! 

You have very limited options of dining in Moab, it is your typical outfitter town so instead of hitting the select few chain restaurants hit the local restaurants. We went to Paradox Pizza....big thumbs up!! Thank you Yelp. 

We always try to get a souvenir on our trips (usually it is a Christmas tree ornament....if I can find one that matches my tree) and lets be honest it's always fun to do the touristy things like walk main and check out all the neat shops.

Make it an easy trip by packing light, especially when it was only a two day trip this will make you want to travel more often if it wasn't a pain in the butt to get ready for. We took 1 suitcase for all 3 of us (you can probably tell with all my wardrobe changes).

Take enough photos, whether that be on your phone or camera, looking back on my pictures I wish we would have brought our tripod...we have 1 family shot. You can get some breathtaking images along the red rocks with the snow crested La Sal Mountain range in the backdrop. 

The drive wasn't that bad, we made sure to load up the iPod,  had 1 or 2 new toys for the toddler which easily held her attention for awhile, and packed our cooler with drinks and snacks. 

Of course remember all the essentials, sunblock, hats, hiking shoes, snacks, packs, jackets, cameras, sunglasses, long sleeves for babies/toddlers for sun protection, plenty of water. It's not the end of the world if you forget these, there are markets along main. 

When we got back to the hotel we crashed but I wish we would have headed back out to the Arches to catch the sunset on the red rocks and stars coming out.

Hit up the Moab Information Center on main street, where you can load up on maps and ask questions.

North Window Arch, Arches National Park 

Double Arch, Arches National Park

Mesa Arch, Canyonlands National Park

Delicate Arch, Arches National Park

Dead Horse Point Park overlook 

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PLAY EVERYDAY: Snow Spraying with the Kids

 It's cold. It's colorless. It's January.  Its hard to get excited about going outside with the kids when it takes a year and a day to get everyone into warm clothes. But, the effort is well worth it once you are out and enjoying each others company.

Whether you are looking for new ideas to PLAY, or just want a break from pulling kids up the sledding hill try snowpainting/spraying for a different snow day activity you and the kids will enjoy.

We found cheap spray bottles at IKEA for .49 cents each. But, spray bottles can be found nearly everywhere. Simply, fill them up with water and a few drops of food coloring, shake, and you are good to go. Our one rule was "no spraying people" as that gets messy and cold really quick. Experiment with color. If the water is not dark enough the kids can't see it in the snow.

PLAY IDEAS

• Change the stream on the bottle to spray or just have a steady squirt to create drawings or patterns in the snow.

• Decorate your latest snowman or creation with different colors. They will end up blending and creating a fun tie died effect.

• For little ones practice drawing/spraying letters and/or numbers in the snow. Older kids can write their names or play a game of tic tac toe.

• Create a maze, spiderweb, or other obstacle type course that the kids and you have to go through superhero style. Jump into square shapes. Run around circle shapes. Etc.

• Make a scavenger hunt. Spray shapes and letters in the snow and then have the kids come out and see how many they can find. By spraying with their color they can show they have found it.

• Let the kids be kids and you be one too! Sometimes its fun to just walk around and spray. My bottle was gone before theirs as I tried to make different designs in the snow and help show them what and how they could spray. 

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