Must Haves for Back to School

July 16, 2018July 15, 2018Amber 1 Comment

As far as consumable school supplies, I have it relatively easy. The kids’ school sells classroom supply kits, which I order online and have delivered directly to the classrooms. The supply packs aren’t overpriced and it saves me the hassle of searching all over town for specific items like red pocket folders with brads. However, in addition to school supplies, last year we invested in well made personal supplies. Everything I bought last summer for kindergarten lasted all year and will be used for first grade if not longer. If you’re on the hunt for school supplies, check out our list:

Pottery Barn Fairfax Back Pack & Lunch Bag

During a 60% off sale, I snagged each child a Fairfax backpack and lunch bag for about $30, which rivaled even Target’s prices. Pottery Barn is currently running the same sale with different patterns. I ordered the kids size small backpacks and they were big enough for their daily folder, library books, and lunch bags to fit inside. Anything bigger would’ve been too large for their tiny bodies. Mid way through the year, I learned that both backpacks and lunch bags are machine washable and they came out of the wash looking new.

2. Ty Clip on Mini Beanie Baby

The kids loved choosing their own mini beanie baby to clip onto their backpacks to personalize them. These are all the rage in elementary school! Throughout the year, the kids collected a few more of these little cuties.

3. Easy Lunchboxes, 3 compartment container

While the kids thought it was really cool to buy tray lunches, and it was sure easy, it was also costly for us. I packed lunches most of the time and found easy lunchboxes were perfect for dividing food, not wasting baggies, and for the kids to quickly/ easily open during their short lunch break. Silicone baking cups helped further divide the larger compartment, and made everything look festive.

4. Thermos Funtainer water bottle and food jar

It’s H-O-T in Texas most of the year, especially when school starts in August. I knew our old favorite Contigo water bottles wouldn’t keep water cold so I replaced them with Thermos stainless steel water bottles. The kids were allowed to keep them in the classroom for hydration and refill from the water fountain, which was great. They kept ice cold during the school day and were sturdy. A few times, the kids chewed the silicone straw too much, but I was able to easily replace them. The kids also liked an occasional hot lunch (e.g. macaroni and cheese, chicken nuggets, fried rice) in the Thermos food jar.

5. Bentgo Ice Packs

To keep lunches cold, we used Bentgo ice packs, which fit right under the easy lunchboxes. These were still cool even at dismissal.

6. Mabel’s Labels Mabel’s Labels

Before the kids were born, I ordered each of them a set of skinny labels from Mabel’s labels to keep bottles sorted. Guess what- We still have them! These labels were perfect for labeling water bottles, lunchboxes, containers, etc. as they are waterproof, dishwasher, and microwave safe. The kids’ school has a massive lost and found, which is often stocked with Thermos water bottles among other items. If students or parents don’t find their own things, the student council returns labeled items to classrooms at the end of every six weeks (cool service project!!)

Happy back to school shopping!

Amber

Back to School

September 17, 2017September 21, 2017Amber 1 Comment

When I was growing up, back to school shopping always helped ease the sting of summer’s end. As I prepared to send my own kids off to school for the first time, back to school shopping helped spark enthusiasm for all of us. Of course, things are different than when I was a kid. We did very little traditional shopping and instead went online for almost everything, including school supplies. In fact, the kids’ school supplies were delivered directly to their school. It was a cinch!

Shopping for back to school clothes in Texas can be a bit tricky given our weather. It can still be rather hot until Halloween, but classrooms can be chilly and school dress codes aren’t conducive to summer clothing. The girls and I had fun perusing the DollBaby Back to School collection at La Bella Flora Children’s Boutique. Considering a transition to fall, we chose the Back to School Floral Top with Leggings for Girls in Navy. These pieces are ideal for fall weather in Texas. The 3/4 length sleeves are perfect for a crisp walk to school, but aren’t too warm for the afternoon or during recess.

Both pieces are available in sizes 2T to 10 girls. I love that the entire Back to School line features the same on trend floral pattern with pops of burgundy and olive. The pieces within the collection are easy to coordinate for different looks or for multiples who don’t want to be matchy matchy.

Whenever I buy new clothes for Sydney, I hold my breath, hoping and praying she will approve of the fabric texture and fit. She’s extremely sensitive to anything she deems “not right”, which typically means slightly scratchy or too stiff. Despite having lace embellishments and buttons, the fabric is extremely soft and comfortable, which earned Sydney’s stamp of approval even prior to washing. Speaking of washing, these outfits are no fuss. I washed them with the kids’ normal laundry and tumble dried them on medium. The dark hues did not bleed onto other light colored clothing. They came out looking exactly the way they did beforehand. There was no fading, pilling, and they were wrinkle free.

The girls were comfortable for a day at the Cowgirl Museum, which included plenty of walking and exploration. The clothes fit true to size when compared to other high end children’s clothing and boutique brands. Rylin is wearing a 4T (she’s about 39″ tall and 32 pounds) and Sydney is wearing a 3T (she’s 38″ tall and 26 pounds). Both girls have some growing room, but the waist band still fit comfortably.

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Does back to school shopping help you bid summer farewell?

Disclaimer: I would like extend a special thanks to La Bella Flora Children’s Boutique for providing product samples for us to try for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received, and all thoughts/ opinions are 100% my own.

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Feeling Blissful

March 3, 2016Amber 1 Comment

This Easter the quads will be well dressed in pieces from the Bliss & Brahm spring collection. Bliss and Brahm is a toddler clothing company created by Heather Hinkle, mother of boy/ girl twins. Heather once struggled to find coordinating outfits for her twins and wanted the next generation of moms to have better options. Though the original intent of Bliss & Brahm was for boy/ girl twins, you can easily mix and match outfits for kids of different ages, girl/ girl and boy/ boy twins, triplets, or more. If you prefer matching outfits, no worries! You can order two or more of the same outfit. All items are handmade in the United States and come in sizes 12 months to 3T. All outfits are about $25 each, which is quite affordable for boutique clothing.

I’ll be honest, the majority of the kid’s wardrobe is made up of hand me downs, sale items, and consignment finds so I don’t typically “splurge”, even $25 per child on an outfit since it costs me $100 plus accessories. However, a few times per year for a special occasion or family photographs I’ll invest a little more than usual on their clothes. Bliss & Brahm is perfect for these types of purchases.

Outfits shown from left to right: Two in Blue: Bliss Bouquet Dress $25, Azure Shorts & Crisp White Shirt $25, Gingham & Grace: Boy’s Button Down & Roll Ups $25

Right now, Rylin, Sydney and Mason all wear size 2T/3T, and Harper is in 3T/4T. I ordered 3T for everyone, hoping there’d be growing room for the smaller three kiddos, and I was right. Everything seems to fit true to size. Harper’s fit him perfectly, and there is a bit of growing room for the other kids. I suspect the smaller three kids will even be able to wear their outfits for two seasons.

I chose the roll ups for Mason since he’s thin and the waistband is adjustable as is the length of the pants. I was impressed with the thick cotton fabrics used on all of the pieces because I know it can handle plenty of washings and wear. In fact, Harper’s white shirt was put through the wash test after he got a huge pizza stain on the front of it, which resulted in numerous washings. Even with all of these washings, it still looks crisp and fresh for Easter Sunday!

The kids clearly felt comfortable and cute in their new threads too. They hammed it up for the camera and had no trouble using our playset or jaunting around the yard. Who wouldn’t feel joyous in these cheerful, spring fabrics? They won’t be allowed to wear these outfits again until Easter, but afterwards they’ll wear them for less formal occasions (e.g. out to dinner, play dates, birthday parties) and I know the outfits can withstand that wear.

If you’d like to shop Bliss & Brahm yourself, follow this link: Bliss & Brahm Etsy.

You can also connect with them via Facebook here:Bliss & Brahm Facebook.

Happy Shopping!

Amber

Disclaimer: I would like extend a special thanks to Bliss & Brahm for providing product samples for us to try for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received, and all thoughts/ opinions are 100% my own.

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19 Practical Gifts for Kids

AsideNovember 22, 2015November 29, 2015Amber 2 Comments

When birthdays and Christmas approach, our family and friends often ask for gift ideas for the kids. Having four kids generally means four of each thing and it’s easy to become overwhelmed with “stuff”. I’m not against them receiving new toys, but there are also many non-toy options that are practical and loved by the kids. I also try to keep budget in mind when others ask for suggestions. As with anything, a favorite character or color always sweetens the deal. At this time, our girls are interested in anything princess while the boys like superheroes, pirates, and vehicles. If you are the parent of a toddler or preschooler, or are shopping for one this season, consider some of our favorites.

RAIN GEAR

Earlier this season, we invested in rain boots and rain coats for the kids and they were worth every penny. Their new gear has been practical on the many soggy days we experienced this fall, and I think they will work for the few snow days we’ll see. The kids are also really proud of their gear and how easy it is for them to put on and take off themselves. They often choose to wear rain boots even on sunny dry days, which is fine by me since they don’t need any help.

Rain Boots

Rain Coats

Umbrellas

BEDTIME

Our kids are experts at stalling bedtime, but they have a few creature comforts that seem to help. Right now, the girls prefer wearing “dressy” nightgowns that look more like dress up clothes than pajamas. When our friends babysat one night, they thought the girls were trying to bamboozle them into allowing dresses for bed rather than pajamas. The boys aren’t as picky, but they have pajamas with capes attached that are super cute. Since we have a lot of tile in our house, the kids also like wearing slippers to keep their tootsies cozy.

Each of our kids sleeps with a dream lite pet that projects stars onto the ceiling at night. It helps them drift off to sleep, and is also comforting to them if they wake up in the night. The kids haven’t slept in sleeping bags overnight yet, but we’ve found them handy for family movie night, sick days, and time with the grandparents. We are also practicing sleeping on them for the day we finally take our first road trip.

Pajamas (Dressy Nightgown or Superhero Pajamas)
Slippers
Pillow Pets Dream Lites
Fleece Throw Blankets
Sleeping Bags

HYGIENE

The quads enjoy bath time and don’t mind brushing their teeth, but they prefer hooded bath towels and brush their teeth longer with power toothbrushes. They also enjoy wearing plush bath robes before and after bath, or anytime they feel chilled in the house. I have been surprised by how often they ask to wear their robes.

DINING

The kids are only allowed to eat in the living room for family movie night, and for those occasions, they use a lap tray to keep things tidy. Their lap trays are also handy for art projects and table top tasks such as puzzles or magnets. Since they share almost everything, the kids like having their own personal character dishes and cups that are not shared. Since the kids are getting too big to use our favorite sippy cups, we have replaced them with lidded, insulated cups with a straw they cannot easily remove.

SUPPLIES

Last Christmas a family friend gave the quads money to put towards activities. We enrolled them in summer recreational dance classes and purchased the necessary attire for it with the money. If your child will be attending preschool or participating in an activity, either the supplies or money to pay for the activity itself could be on the wish list.

Backpacks

EXPERIENCES

Our kids benefit from getting out of the house to explore the world, but taking four kids out for something simple like ice cream can be expensive. We have greatly appreciated gift cards to local eateries and memberships to local attractions. Our kids also enjoy checking the mail everyday to see if their monthly magazine subscription has arrived. I often toss their magazines in my purse for waiting rooms, the car, or when we visit others. They are full of stories and activities to occupy them.

Memberships or tickets for local theme parks, zoos, or museums
Gift cards to restaurants with play areas
Movie Tickets
Magazine Subscriptions

When it comes to shopping for young children, gifts don’t have to be expensive or extravagant. With the exception of memberships, all of the items on our list are under $30, with most in the $10-$15 range. Sometimes it’s the little things kids appreciate most. And, more importantly, we set the example for giving and receiving gifts with our children. Happy Shopping!

Hugs,

Amber

Disclaimer: For your shopping convenience, you can click on any of the items, which will take you to Amazon for additional information. Should you choose to make a purchase via an Amazon link, Four to Adore will receive a small commission. We appreciate support for this website!

Hands Healed, Odors Obliterated {Cindy’s Suds Product Review & GIVEAWAY ended 9/29/15}

September 22, 2015September 29, 2015Amber 27 Comments

Congratulations to Becca Ramirez, Cindy’s Suds Giveaway winner!

While I was expecting quadruplets, I connected with Becky who was also expecting quads. She and I shared the many joys and woes of a quadruplet pregnancy. Her babies were delivered three short days before mine, and we’ve shared a special bond since. During the dog days of caring for preemie infants, Becky sent me a ~~lovely care package~~ first time mom survival kit which included Cindy’s Suds Healing Salve (hand made by her sister, Cindy). At the time I was HAND WASHING about 200 bottle parts daily and bathing in hand sanitizer to keep germs off my fragile babies. My hands took a toll and easily could have been mistaken for hands of a 90 year old woman. After the skin began splitting on my knuckles and hands, I applied the healing salve to them a few times daily. My hands not only smelled divine, they started healing and feeling soft again. Since a little salve goes a long way, I had salve in my medicine cabinet for almost two years.

This year on our Quad Mom Trip; I was elated when Becky brought another care package that included Healing Salve. Becky mentioned applying the salve to her kids’ eczema as well as other boo boos. When I got home, I began using it on Harper’s patchy cheeks, arms and legs. Guess what? His skin has never been better. He’s still a little dry, but MUCH better!

Over the years, Cindy expanded her online shop to include a variety of products for home and body all of which are hand crafted using naturally derived materials. Because Cindy is a Physician’s Assistant she’s able to utilize her medical background to develop products that are not only safe, but also beneficial to the skin. After reading an article penned by Cindy, I realized that Harper has a skin condition called Keratosis Pilaris, which causes bumps on the backs of arms, legs, cheeks, and buttocks. KP can be treated with a variety lifestyle changes and products, including Healing Salve.

Thanks to Becky’s introduction, I knew I was a fan of Cindy’s Suds and was therefore honored to provide a product review/ giveaway. Cindy sent samples of Healing Salve, Germ Guard, and Lavendar Calendula Soap. These samples could not have arrived at a more opportune time than potty training with quadrplets. I may not be washing bottle parts anymore, but whilst potty training quads, I’m back to hand scrubbing and sanitizing making my hands take a haggard appearance again. Plus, potty training led to numerous accidents and potty mischief, which created unsavory odors in our home. At one point I thought someone was using an “ewwww de toilette” home fragrance bar in our house. It was horrific. On several occasions, I resorted to wearing a surgical mask to clean messes made with training pants and naughty hands (no pictures to spare your eyes, but it was Hazmat worthy). After a few of these disgusting clean ups I decided to give Germ Guard a whirl and I was astounded at it’s ability to obliterate foul odors and leave a pleasant spicy scent behind.

GERM GUARD

In addition to bathroom odors, Germ Guard works as a hand sanitizer, surface cleaner, and will zap stench from about anything imaginable including sneakers. This pair of Nike shoes almost got chucked they smelled so bad, but Cindy’s Suds spared them. After a few applications the funk was banished for good.

HEALING SALVE

After days of too much hand sanitizer and repeated washing, the skin on my knuckles cracked and split.

After two days of applying Healing Salve, my hands were much smoother.

Finally after about 5-7 days of applying salve my hands were fully healed and looking normal again. To prevent cracking from re-occurring, I’ve been applying salve when I wash dishes and after I shower. I haven’t had cracks since.

LAVENDER CALENDULA SOAP

After reading about KP and taking our pediatrician’s advice to use bar soap, I started using Cindy’s soap on the kids. It has a fantastic lather and nice, light scent that’s not overpowering for children. Along with Healing Salve, Harper’s skin is maintaining a much smoother appearance and softer texture.

I was thoroughly impressed with each of the products we tried in Cindy’s lineup. At first I thought the bottle of Germ Guard was a bit too small, but soon realized you don’t need to spray much for effective odor busting. This bottle should last us a while and then I’ll have to replenish. I believe Germ Guard is now a household staple.

hugs,

Amber

To enter to win your own Healing Salve and Germ Guard, please visit Cindy’s Suds to decide what products peak your interest. Then, visit a Rafflecopter giveaway to cast your entries. The contest is open to U.S. residents only. The giveaway closes at 12:00 am CST, Tuesday, September 29 and the winner will be selected using rafflecopter.com and announced on Wednesday, September 30. The winner will have 48 hours to reply to email notification or another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I would like extend a special thanks to Cindy’s Suds for providing product samples for us to try for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received, and all thoughts/ opinions are 100% my own.

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Board Games {Summer Bucket List}

July 19, 2015July 24, 2015Amber 2 Comments

As part of our summer bucket list, we’ve been introducing preschool board games. They are ideal for teaching social skills such as turn taking, winning and losing appropriately, problem solving, and following directions/ rules. Our favorite preschool games include:

Hungry Hungry Hippos
Tea Party Game
Curious George – Discovery Beach
Hi Ho Cherry-O
Candy Land
Chutes and Ladders
Original Memory
Uno (we play Uno with modifications since the quads are too young to understand the traditional rules).

Four player games such as Hungry Hungry Hippos are absolutely perfect for quads.

Yippee! We accomplished another of our bucket list items.

~~Movies~~
Sea Life Aquarium
Train ride
~~Fire station tour~~
~~Library story time~~
~~Sprayground~~
Zoo
~~Bahama Buck’s~~
~~Frozen yogurt~~
Community pool
Grill dinner outside
Water Table
~~Inflatable Pool~~
Sprinklers
Ice Cream
Indoor playgrounds
~~Lee’s Grilled Cheese~~
Blow bubbles
Chalk drawings
~~Board games~~
Play dates
Summer Reading Club
~~Dance classes~~
~~Fireworks~~
~~Sleep over with grandparents~~
Nature Walks
Bounce house
~~Popsicles~~
~~S’mores~~
~~Sparklers~~
~~Water pistol duels~~

hugs,

Amber

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Lee’s Grilled Cheese {Summer Bucket List}

July 18, 2015July 18, 2015Amber 2 Comments

Grilled cheese is among my favorite meals, and it has been since I was a child. George prefers a more sophisticated panini, but never complains when we have grilled cheese for dinner, especially when we have tomato soup for dipping. Several years ago Dallas Fort Worth locals started raving about Lee’s Grilled Cheese. It originally opened as a food truck, and later expanded into a brick and motar establishment as well. Recently, I spotted Lee’s Grilled Cheese lists of restaurants to try: Movato’s 15 Best Restaurants in Fort Worth, Best Places for Grilled Cheese in DFW, and 15 Best Places for Grilled Cheese in Fort Worth. At that point, a visit to Lee’s Grilled Cheese made our summer bucket list.

Lee’s was perfect for a little summer nostalgia with its kitschy decor and Ms. Pac Man arcade game. It just so happens that Ms. Pac Man is George’s all time favorite arcade game and he’s a champion player. He spent a few minutes teaching a few kids tricks to playing the game.

Though grilled cheese is a family favorite meal, Rylin is does not like cheese. At all. I sometimes question her allegiance to the family being a cheese hater…. Luckily for her, grilled peanut butter and jelly was on the menu. I went for a grilled ham and havarti, the other kids had American grilled cheese, and George a loaded grilled cheese paired with fresh-cut French fries. Every bite was delicious!

We had fun sampling Lee’s three signature drinks: Lee-mondade, Strawberry Lemonade, and Pirate’s Punch. The Pirate’s Punch was a bit sweet for me, but Harper thought the blue stuff was divine. Both versions of lemonade paired perfectly with our meal, and the kids were great about sharing sips so that everyone got to try each flavor.

Sydney apparently decided crust is not for her and she preferred eating the insides out of her sandwiches.

Cheers for finally trying the cheesiest restaurant around!

~~Movies~~
Sea Life Aquarium
Train ride
~~Fire station tour~~
~~Library story time~~
~~Sprayground~~
Zoo
~~Bahama Buck’s~~
~~Frozen yogurt~~
Community pool
Grill dinner outside
Water Table
~~Inflatable Pool~~
Sprinklers
Ice Cream
Indoor playgrounds
~~Lee’s Grilled Cheese~~
Blow bubbles
Chalk drawings
Board games
Play dates
Summer Reading Club
~~Dance classes~~
~~Fireworks~~
~~Sleep over with grandparents~~
Nature Walks
Bounce house
~~Popsicles~~
~~S’mores~~
~~Sparklers~~
~~Water pistol duels~~

hugs,

Amber

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Summer Tunes {SpeakStick Product Review}

July 13, 2015July 13, 2015Amber Leave a comment

With gorgeous summer weather, we are spending loads of time outdoors. Thanks to our SpeakStick® Bluetooth Speaker, we’ve been streaming Amazon Prime music while outside. I’ve noticed that music lifts everyone’s spirits, and I’m loving how the quads are interested in knowing the names of artists and song titles. At the moment, their favorite jams are by Taylor Swift, Echosmith, and Three Days. There’s nothing sweeter than hearing children sing together and seeing their faces light up as a favorite song plays.

The SpeakStick is a tiny, unassuming speaker, but delivers excellent sound quality. As a mom to preschool aged quadruplets, I appreciate the fact that the SpeakStick is waterproof, suctions to the windows out of kid’s reach, and plays music while our expensive devices are safe inside. It’s also incredibly simple to use. After charging the speaker, you hold down the power button until a light illuminates and then sync with any Bluetooth enabled device. I prefer to sync the SpeakStick with our ipad rather than a smartphone. However, it can sync with a smartphone and you can use the mic to hold conversations (this might be handy for someone who wants to chat while showering!) If you aren’t keen on the current song, you can easily skip it and go to another. It’s not intuitive, but you can adjust the volume with the SpeakStick as well. I’ve found that the volume is loud enough for us to enjoy while quads chatter and even scream, but our neighbors aren’t disturbed. There are short video clips on the SpeakStick website, which quickly show you how to use the features.

Can you spot our SpeakStick affixed to the window?

This Little People bath station occupied the quads for a solid two hours and we enjoyed some of our favorite summer tunes the entire time. SpeakStick plays for up to six hours and takes about two hours for the battery to recharge.

I prefer to keep the speaker out of the quads reach, but found that it is durable since it is designed for use in the shower.

We primarily use the SpeakStick outside, but I was pleased with the sound quality in the shower, and the suction cup. It is easy to move and stays put with a minimal amount of moisture. I usually swipe it under a running faucet once and it’s good to go.

I was thoroughly impressed with SpeakStick, but they offer a no questions asked money back guarantee and a lifetime warranty, which is always a peace of mind for me.

hugs!

Amber

Disclaimer: I would like extend a special thanks to Smart Mixture, LLC for providing a SpeakStick® Bluetooth Speaker for us to try for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received, and all thoughts/ opinions are 100% my own.

I have provided Amazon affiliate links should you choose to make purchases via Four to Adore. Please visit my disclaimer page for further information regarding affiliate links.

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QMBFF Christmas Morning

May 13, 2015September 21, 2015Amber 2 Comments

I am grateful for the time I recently spent in Lake Tahoe with four of the most incredible mothers I know. The bond between us is unique and unparalleled. Now that we are back home, I’m really appreciating the gift exchange we had while in Tahoe. After we settled into the cabin, we used the dining room table to splay out piles of gifts for each other. We only see each other once each year so I suppose it’s like Christmas/ Birthday/ Thinking of You gifts all rolled into one. And, we were like a gaggle of children on Christmas morning as we ripped through tissue and proudly displayed our goodies.

Amber created beautiful hand stamped necklaces reading “QMBFF”, which is the acronym we created for our little group (e.g. “Quad Mom Best Friends Forever). We proudly wore our necklaces the entire trip, and I wear mine almost daily now. She has a knack for jewelery making and sells customized pieces in her Etsy Shop,Texas Take. In fact, the girls proudly wear the bubble gum Minnie Mouse necklaces I ordered as stocking stuffers. She also ordered an assortment of personalized cookies made by a mother of triplets at Sugar Coma Cookies. Mary, the cookier, has been crafting gorgeous cookies for only about a year and I’m always blown away by not only the art involved, but the fact that they are delicious. I often find that pretty cookies don’t necessarily taste great, but hers are buttery and thick with a hint of citrus.

Ashley embroidered custom t-shirts that read “Raising Quads. #neveradullmoment #qmbffs get it”, which we wore on our Treetop Adventure. Other custom items can be purchased from her shop, Sweet Dumpling Boutique.

Becky packaged a trifecta of goodies including a book she’s raved about, No More Perfect Moms. I haven’t cracked it yet, but “No more perfect moms” has become a bit of a mantra for us. Amongst our group, we are totally open with each other about our day to day struggles, misgivings, and frustrations. We accept each other for who we are, and inspire each other to be strong mothers and wives without having unrealistic expectations. When one of us feels down, another will restate, “No more perfect moms!!!” In addition to the book, she gifted us healing salve (I later learned works wonders on ezcema and my uuber dry hands) and body butter from her sister’s shop, Cindy’s Suds.

Krista’s gift bag consisted of some of her favorite items including a Norwex baby microfiber wash cloth, Signature Soy Island Coconut candle, eos Organic Lip Balm, and Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish. I’m admittedly impressed by the wash cloth. It’s a microfiber cloth that with warm water alone removes water soluble make up while gently exfoliating. It was serendipity for me since I didn’t have space in my quart size bag for face wash. I used my cloth the entire trip. Apparently it’s also antimicrobial so it doesn’t get that funk rags usually harbor. I should really order a set for the quads.

We burned one of the candles during the trip and the aroma is now nostalgic of our trip for me. I’ve burned mine daily so only about half remains…I’ll be hitting Target for another soon. Please note, if you put such a candle in your carry on luggage, TSA will search your bag and riffle through your dirty laundry. Not cool. Not cool at all.

I’ve been a huge fan of the insta dri nail polish since the girls were about a year old and I started painting their toe nails. Rylin was ecstatic to find we had a new color in our collection. In fact, I’ve already painted her finger and toe nails twice. Rylin also loves using my special lip balm from Krista. She often requests to use “that lipstick from Krista”. I can’t blame her though, the strawberry scent is divine and it’s really smooth.

Of course, my gift to the girls was a picture frame decorated with our respective states that read, “Distance meas so little when friendship means so much.” They displayed their picture frames on the window sill behind the dining room table during the trip, and it made things seem cozy.

Don’t forget to pop by the girls’ blogs for their versions of the trip:

Texas Tales by Amber

Our Multiples Journey by Becky

The Littlest Lesnaus by Krista

hugs!

Amber

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Psst…Included links to the products mentioned in case you’d like to snag something for yourself or as a gift. Please see our affiliates page for further information about links.

Quaddler Approved! {Casdon Toy Dyson Vacuum Review}

December 17, 2014June 7, 2015Amber 7 Comments

When choosing toys for the quads, my favorites inspire imaginative play, problem solving, and creativity. Consequently, I was pleased when they received a Dust, Sweep and Mop set from a friend for their second birthday. At first, they seemed to think this toy was best suited for swashbuckling so I safely tucked it away, and temporarily forgot about it. A couple of weeks ago, I rediscovered this toy and demonstrated how to use it. In fact, the crew happily “helped” me tidy up for a party we were hosting. Later in the week, my heart exploded with joy when Mason independently pulled all of the chairs from our kitchen table to sweep the crumbs below. This particular not only inspired imaginative play, it encouraged chore completion, a major win in my book!

I was delighted when Casdon’s Toy Dyson Ball Vacuum arrived for the quads to test drive since it is exactly the type of toy I prefer. It encourages imaginative play while also helping the quads learn a valuable life skill. I planned to surprise the quads with it after bath time, but they spied it prematurely and squealed “It’s a vacuum!!!” I couldn’t squelch their desire to clean so we immediately opened the box and loaded the batteries. It only took about a minute to assemble and load the batteries, which was good because the quads were chomping at the bit. The biggest problem? There was one vacuum and four eager toddlers awaiting a turn. Toddlers are notoriously impatient, especially with new toys, but everyone got a turn before bath.

Seriously, who can resist this face? He was ecstatic about a vacuum

The quads easily learned to operate switches and didn’t mind the realistic sounds. Thankfully, the toy is much quieter than my Dyson because when they hear me vacuuming, they cover their ears and whine. In addition to a colorful spinning cyclone, it also provides real suction from the base, which can pick up small bits of debris and dust. (Don’t get too excited though…remember, it’s just a toy so it won’t replace your vacuum.) The quads are a little young for to operate the removable dustbin independently, but they will learn in time. They did, however, try to remove the clear container on the front since that’s how I unload the dust from our actual Dyson. Toddlers really watch every single thing we do, which is good reason to model what we desire for them. The quads didn’t seem to notice, but I appreciated the gender neutral color since our boys and girls will be playing with this toy.

Though the age range suggested on the box is three to eight, I think kids about 2.5 to 5 or 6 would be better suited for this toy. My kids aren’t quite three and adore it, and I suspect most eight year olds would find it a bit immature (or too small) for them. In fact, I’d be inclined to teach an eight year old how to operate our real Dyson as part of a chore chart. If you’re looking for a last-minute gift for a toddler or preschooler this year, consider the Casdon Toy Dyson, it’s quaddler approved!

hugs!

Amber

Disclaimer: I would like extend a special thanks Casdon for providing a Toy Dyson Ball Vacuum for us to try for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received, and all thoughts/ opinions are 100% my own.

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