Sidekix - The Toy You Take On-The-Go

Every kid needs a buddy. Someone they can play with, imagine and explore, and get creative. It helps when that buddy is less than a foot long and rolls up into a nice ball that makes it easy to carry around!

Sidekix are the solution to every kid's need for a buddy on-the-go. From cool ball that can snap onto a backpack, belt loop or lunch sack to a plush, soft, fun animal who's ready for an adventure, each Sidekix has it's own unique personality and is ready to play with the little one who's lucky enough to be paired with them.

We received Inferno in the mail last week and as soon as my daughter saw the ball she squealed and yelled, "Bah, bah, bah!"

Then I showed her what it really was:

And she immediately started loving on it. Kissing, petting, playing.

It was like she and Inferno had always been buddies and she was so excited to have a Sidekix of her own. Until her brother woke up from his nap. And wondered where his Sidekix was. Oops! Guess we'll be ordering a few more in the very near future.

Potty training rewards? Perfect!

Each loveable plush comes with their own identifying mark letting you know who they are. There are 5 total and include Mojo the Dog, Click-A-Dee-Chick-A-Dee the Chick, Savannah the Zebra (whom my son wants), Bamboo the Panda, and our little Inferno the dragon.

They can be used as a ball to kick and tossed around, or flip them inside out to play with as a stuffed animal would. My kids have attached our Inferno to their back pack, balance bike, wagon, jean belt loop, and my purse. I absolutely love how portable this little guy is!

Mealtime at restaurants are a heck of a lot smoother with Inferno around as well. Because he compactly fits into my diaper bag or purse, we can bring him around for pre-dinner play as we wait for our food.

My kids have quickly fallen in love with this little guy and we can't wait to adopt a few more to join our family. Interested in purchasing one of your own or want to find out more? 

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Boon Animal Bag - Making Toy Organization Fun!

When I first started thinking of what I wanted in the kids bedroom, the one thing that kept coming to mind was toy storage. I mean, we have a playroom that can contain many of the toys we have, but we had nothing to contain all of the stuffed animals my son and daughter have collected.

The only thing I could think of getting was the stuffed animal hammock I had when I was growing up. And when looking at the layout of my kids room I just couldn't do it. Not only would the hammoc either block a window, closet door, or doorway, it just wouldn't be easy for the kids to access their animals without getting myself or their father to get what they wanted.

We prefer a more self sufficient child.

So when I was perusing Amazon for a solution I was pleasantly surprised to find an amazing product that not only stored my kids stuffed animals, it also served as a chair or cushion for the kids after it was stuffed.

Multipurpose storage? Yes please!

The Boon Animal Bag not only stores stuffed animals, it stores a LOT of stuffed animals.

Here's a look at about 1/2 of the stuffed animals in our home:

And here's a look at 1/2 of those in the boon. See how there's still room in there? Yeah, all of those stuffed animals fit in that little Animal Bag. SO awesome!

The Boon Animal Bag easily zips open and shut to allow your child easy access to any of their favorite stuffed creatures. And the cover is a breathable mesh! So the stuffed animals wont suffocate! No having to explain anything to little Billy or Suzy.

And as I said before, after the Animal Bag is stuffed, your child can use it to sit on and enjoy a book or two. Or you can use it to prop other larger stuffed animals.

We love to use our Animal Bag for story time before naps and bedtime. Our kids curl up on it and get all comfy before we dive into the book we're reading. And they love leaping from their beds onto the bag. All that cushion makes mama a little less anxious (but still keeping a watchful eye!).

The Boon Animal Bag is a soft, easy-to-use storage solution for those toys that get scattered all across your house. And with the simple zippered pouch, the kids can get involved in clean up to help pick their own toys up and store them away.

Interested in purchasing a Boon Animal Bag for your home?

You can head on over to the Boon website or check out Amazon.com.

And don't forget to head on over to visit Boon on Facebook or follow them on Twitter! There's always something new in the works and you wouldn't want to miss out on hearing about an awesome product. I know we have quite a few Boon items in our home and we absolutely love them!

Want to WIN a Boon Animal Bag? 

The Noise Girls have yet again put together an amazing giveaway event just for your family! And Boon has joined in on the fun to offer one lucky reader a Boon Animal Bag of your very own in this giveaway.

The For the Family giveaway event starts on September 1st so please remember to hurry back and enter for your chance to win. You won't want to miss what we have to offer!



Disclaimer: I received a Boon Animal Bag for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.

Dreaming in Style with @Wayfair

Isn't this a sign that all is right with the world?

My adorable toddler spending her first nap in her new toddler bed from Wayfair. When we first started talking about putting my son and daughter in the same room together there was much discussion about if we should purchase another twin bed or go with a toddler bed.

We purchased a twin with my son but there was also only one bed in the room. And when we weighed all of our options we decided that a toddler bed would be best for our daughter and the space we had. Adding another twin bed into the room would be too crowding. Plus my husband has had his heart set on a bunk bed for when they are old enough.

When shopping for beds we came across a great home goods site called Wayfair. They seriously have just about anything you'd need for your home and more. They even have a whole home improvement session that we will be taking full advantage of soon!

As I perused the site I looked for beds that were similar in style to my son's twin bed. I found the perfect one, a Dream on Me Contemporary Design bed.Within two days of ordering our bed it arrived and we were ready to get started!

Silly me thought I would be able to build the bed myself but once I got all of the pieces out I realized that some of the holes were not pre-drilled so I laid everything out and waited for my dear husband to get home. I didn't want to be responsible for breaking the bed before my daughter even got to use it.

Father and daughter put the bed together side by side. I'm always in awe when I watch my husband interact with my kids. He is so kind and patient when teaching them. Just as he did when my son's bed came home, he let her screw in a few screws, hold his tools, and play with the various parts.

She's now quite handy with an allen wrench. I'm so glad my children are picking up on all of these great skills! Maybe she'll be able to change a tire and the oil the next time my husband's out of town.

The bed was very easy for him to put together. And while I would have loved for it to come pre-drilled for the screws, we were able to assemble it in less than 1/2 an hour. 

After some complaining from my husband about the fact that the long part of the bed was two pieces that had to be screwed together and that the bed didn't seem as sturdy as he thought it should, we were done. And he realized that the bed was perfect. It not only upholds well to my daughter and son playing on it but I can even fit on it too (but not very comfortably!).

I absolutely love how it looks in the room and cannot wait to show off the final toddler bedroom makeover pictures when we're done putting the finishing touches on the room. We still have to buy some replacement blinds for the ones our kids painted, and find some good window treatments, but I can happily say that we are almost done with this project!

Wayfair has been great to work with. Their selection is expansive, shipping was quick, and their prices are very competitive.  I'm already making a list of everything I want to order from them for Christmas! How easy will it be if I can just purchase everything from one site and have it shipped to the recipients?

Definitely check out their Facebook page to keep up with new products, specials, discounts and more! 

And that's not all!

Wayfair has been kind enough to offer one lucky winner a Dream on Me toddler bed of their own (the very same one we have!) in the Noise Girls' Around The House giveaway event.

The giveaway event will be held from June 25th to July 16th and will include multiple packages valued at over $3,500! Make sure to head back and enter to WIN one of these amazing prize packages.


Disclaimer: I received a toddler bed for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.  

Mini Breakdowns A Plenty #NaBloPoMo

The past week or so I've been going through a change. I've started re-decorating my kids room and am changing things up a bit. That includes a few fresh coats of paint on the walls. Covering up the nursery stripes we added shortly before we had our first child.

I recently received forest friends wall decals from My Wonderful Walls and wanted to make sure I made the most of them in creating a great landscape for the decals to go on. I started painting a blue sky and rolling green hills so that the forest creatures would feel right at home.

As I finished up the last coat of green paint on the hills I put the lid on the paint can, closed the bedroom door, and went to check the decals website for any tips and tricks to putting them up.

The kids were happily playing in the playroom together so I didn't think anything of the silence that interrupted my time perusing the site. Until it became deafening. Then I started to worry...

I knew the kids were no longer in the playroom and had no idea where they had gone.

So I went off to find them. I walked down the hall, past the empty playroom to my son's bedroom door. And what I saw inside made my heart leap.

Paint. Green paint. Everywhere!

Click on photo to enlarge and REALLY see the damage

Oh.my.word. If ever there was a time for me to lose it, this was it. I quickly rushed into action commanding the kids to stop what they were doing and put down the brushes (my daughter found hte sponge brush I had on my son's bed for touch ups later). After the brushes were down I had to make sure they knew they were NOT to put their hands back in the gallon of paint.

From there I whisked both kids in my arms as carefully as I could and raced to the bathroom. I started the water, stripped off their clothes, and plopped them in. I didn't waste time and hurried to grab baby wipes, towels, and warm soapy water. From there I grabbed the phone, called the husband to tell him to drop everything and come home, and got to work.

For the most part the only real damage is the paint on the carpets and blinds and my mini breakdown.  And we needed to replace the carpet and blinds soon anyway.

The kids were cleaned up, although my daughter still has a little paint on her scalp, and it could have been a LOT worse than it was. I even added another set of hills in a different shade of green we had in the garage without the kids help this time. And the walls are just about ready for those decals!

I'm sure that more of these fun adventures are in our future. With kids as crazy fun as mine, it's bound to happen. I can laugh about it now and appreciate their creative genius and excitement to help me paint.  They really were, and still are, proud of their artwork.

What makes your heart leap?

Zipit Bedding {Toddler Bedroom Makeover}

We're in the process of giving my son's room a makeover. We're moving things around, adding a few pieces of furniture, and making it a room for both my son and my daughter. In an effort to update the room we're making a change with the theme. Instead of his beloved dinos of last year he's upgrading to some pretty cool bedding!

Stay tuned for future posts about the fun renovation we have in store for the kids' bedroom.

Zipit Bedding is a new and revolutionary bedding set that is full of fun and surprises. The set comes with a fitted sheet and comforter that attach to one another by two zippers, and a pillow case that also zips up. The pieces can zip apart for washing and are easily put back together when you put them on the bed.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT: For a limited time, my readers can get Zipit Bedding at a special DISCOUNT PRICE of only $39.99! That's $20 off the already discounted web price. For only $39.99, you can experience this great new product. Don't miss this opportunity! Click HERE to order (www.zipitbedding.com) and use this code at checkout to receive your discount: SIMM10.

I tried putting the bedding on with the comforter already attached to the bedding and with it unzipped and both ways were equally as easy. The zippers slide on and off quickly and are simple enough for my children to use effortlessly.

This bedding set makes changing beds easy and simple! I was able to change my son's bed within 3 minutes and had no tucking or fussing to deal with. And when I can save time anywhere in my day I'm a happy camper.

The fitted sheet also has two pockets attached to each side. These pockets are the perfect place to store flashlights, toys, and small books. My son loved that he was able to store his favorite monster and flashlight right next to him. He now finds other small toys to put in the pockets to hide from his sister.

I love how the Zipit bedding zips up just like a sleeping bag. It makes tucking my son in very easy and he enjoys the cozyness of the covers around him. The comforter is also very easy to unzip as well. Almost as easy as throwing the comforter off when it's unzipped. This makes night time visits to our bed effortless for my son.

One of my son's favorite features, besides the side pockets, is the pillow case. Zipit creators didn't leave the pillowcase out of the zipper fun! The case can be zipped and unzipped together and is just as fun as the bedding.

Another great thing about this bedding is the fact that it doesn't just fit one theme. From aliens to robots to cars to dinos, the print on the underside of the comforter and on the fitted sheet match my son's personality perfectly.

The only thing I don't like? That it doesn't come in more colors! Currently the Zipit Bedding comes in navy (like my son's) and pink. I would love to get this set for my daughter but the pink just won't fit the feel of our room. Once they come out with a purple set I'll be the first in line to buy it!

The makers of Zipit Bedding are kind enough to offer my readers a special discount! 

Feeling LUCKY??? It's a WIN WIN for EVERYONE!

Win 2 Tickets to Disney Resort in California! AND get $20 off each Zipit Bedding set you order.
There are 2 TICKETS TO DISNEYLAND CALIFORNIA hidden in the pocket of 1 Zipit Bedding set! Will you be the lucky winner?

If you use SIMM10 at checkout you can purchase this bedding for only $39.99! That's $20 off the already discount web price of $59.99. AND get the chance to win 2 tickets to Disney Resort in California!!

Tell your friends, quantities are limited! And make sure to follow Zipit Bedding on Facebook for more awesome offers and deals. 

Disclaimer: I received a set of Zipit Bedding for review purposes only. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.     

Disneyland with Infants and Toddlers

After being asked a few times for tips and tricks to visiting Disneyland with an infant and toddler I thought I'd finally just write everything down in a post. My husband and I have been annual passholders since before we were married. He actually proposed right next to Snow White's wishing well. So Disneyland has always held a special place in our hearts. And it comes as no surprise to those who know us that we would frequently take our little ones to visit the park. Both kids have been going since they were newborns and we've never felt limited or held back because of them!

Here's what we do: 

Bring a small umbrella stroller -
Both kids use it and switch when the other is walking (or the youngest is in the Boba carrier). Invest in a swivel hook like these if you don't already have one. It makes carrying bags around so much easier. We have one on each side of the stroller. If you really don't want to bring your own stroller then you can easily rent one from Disneyland starting at $15 a day. Just remember you can't take it with you outside of the park (and that includes Downtown Disney).

We choose not to bring our double stroller because 1. we've heard of others getting stolen and 2. it's just too bulky to lug on and off the tram and/or busses. If you bring your double please make sure to bring a stroller or bike lock with you just in case.

Pack snacks in a lunch bag & bring a reusable water bottle or two -
That way you can snack as you go and fill up the water bottle at any restaurant or food line (just ask them to fill it up and take off the lid... we do this to save money and never buy sodas). These don't need to be stored in lockers if you don't want to. You can just hang it from your umbrella stroller or put it in the basket underneath.

Buy meals to split -
Lets face it... most places serve meals that can easily count as 2-3 servings. Why not take advantage of the big portion sizes and split your meals amongst each other? We usually buy two meals and split it between the four of us. Sometimes we get a kids meal for the kids to split (they also have toddler meals most places... just ask!)  and a meal for us to split or we get two adult entrees and share. In the end we pay about $15 for the whole meal when it could easily be $30+.

For breakfast we always get a parfait and a cinnamon twist inside the bakery to share. It's more than enough food for all of us. And I get my coffee from the coffee & tea place on the right hand side of Main Street next to the snack cart because they give you free refills all day with your receipt. If you want a nice place to sit down and eat for dinner check out Downtown Disney before you head back. Or you can eat outside the park at one of the restaurants around Anaheim.

And since we pack snacks we usually allow our children one or two treats inside the park. One of our son's favorite treats is a fresh popped box of popcorn. The whole family can enjoy it and there's more than enough to satisfy everyone. When we're leaving the park we can't help but stop for a sweet treat in the bakery or candy store. We usually buy a box of cookies for the road and a small chocolate or sucker for the kids. 

Take advantage of the baby care center -
It's located at the end of Main Street has quite a few amenities for their smallest guests. Here's what they have to offer:

• Diaper Changing Stations - these are not your hard surfaced, bathroom changing stations. Each station is a padded, comfortable area with more than enough room for a squirming baby and your diaper bag. They have disposable liners to put under baby to insure each change is germ free. 
• Small Toilets - right next to the changing stations there are two small toddler-friendly toilets to make going to the restroom a lot easier for our little ones. These are potties that the kids can actually touch the ground while sitting down. Makes potty training a LOT easier. 
• Feeding Station - Need a quiet place to nurse or feed your child a bottle or are you away from baby and need to pump? This is the perfect place to do so in peace. There are comfy chairs to sit in and there's even a curtained off area for more privacy. There are also high chairs available for the babies on solids!
• Diapers/Accessories - if you've forgotten anything at home have no fear, the Baby Center has diapers, formula, wipes, baby food and much more for sale at a reasonable price. I remember having a horrific morning at the park and going through every single diaper we had in the bag. Thank goodness for the Baby Center! No need to turn home (or to the Target down the street).

Make sure to get commemorative pins - First time at the park? Celebrating a birthday or other celebration? You can go to City Hall on Main Street when you first get in the park OR if there's a line at City Hall just ask any cashier in the stores on Main Street for a special button to make your toddler's day.

Packing Extra - We always bring a sweater or jacket for each kid but store an extra set of clothes in the back pack just in case. These are lightweight, easy to store outfits that won't take a lot of room in the bag. It does get chilly in the evenings so we always keep a pair of warm clothes in the car in case we're coming back for the evening.

Rides! -
Just about every ride at Disneyland (save for a few "big kid" rides) is toddler and infant friendly. And you'll find a ride for every age in every land. That's the magic of Disney! Some of our family favorites are the Disneyland Railroad, Casey Jr., It's a Small World, The Haunted Mansion and Astro Blasters. So don't hesitate to jump in line and enjoy the excitement!

I suggest going to Fantasyland either right when you get to the park or in the late afternoon because there'll be a lot of people rushing to the "big" rides first and it's less busy. Also, a great time to ride without lines is parade time. Everyone's lined up to get a great spot on Main Street and the lines for the rides are near non-existant.

And if you want to catch a parade, don't worry about sitting to save a spot to watch it. There's always room for more people right as the parade starts.We actually don't even look at the parade times and more likely than not we "run into" them as we're going from one attraction to the other. We also usually stumble onto other forms of entertainment around the park. There's always something exciting in the form of music, laughter and dance going on in every land.

Whether it be the Billy Hill and the Hillbillies at the Golden Horseshoe, the marching band on Main Street (with Conductor Mickey) or the Jazz Band in New Orleans Square, there's never an end to the awesome entertainment found at Disneyland.

If you have any questions about your upcoming trip to Disneyland I'd be happy to answer them! Email me at simmworksfamily (at) gmail.com and I'll answer as best I can.

Starbucks Shirts

A snippet of the conversation I had with my 2.5 year old son this morning: 

"I have Starbucks on my shirt"
"Starbucks?"
"Yeah, see the light sabers?"

He's wearing his starWARS t-shirt. This is what gets me through my day. Seriously.

Body Parts: Call It Like It Is

Along with parenting comes a lot of choices. Choices on whether to cloth diaper or use disposables, to buy an organic crib mattress or a regular one, whether to try out breastfeeding or go with formula, whether to go for a pack-n-play or a bassinet (or both!). There are MANY choices a new parent has to make. Sometimes these choices are made for us, but others are all our own.

Photo Source

When it comes to body parts, it is the parent's choice on what to call them. Because the parent (or caretaker) is the most involved in diaper changing and potty training, whatever the parent starts to call a baby or toddler's body parts is most likely what the baby or toddler will start using themselves. So when I started thinking about what I wanted to call my son's (and in turn my daughter's) private parts I wanted to make sure I made the right decision. I don't mind if they start to call their body parts by other names later on down the road as long as they know what they're really called that's all that matters.

And while this may seem like no big deal to most, I've watched a lot of Oprah  and I know that if a child is having issues "down there" then the correct terminology will make it much easier to figure out what your child is talking about. I recently read that while 95 percent of three year old boys know the word penis, only 52% of girls the same age have been given a specific name for their own genitals. And now that I have one of each I am so happy that I decided early on to call my children's body parts by their real name. I might not be saying the same thing when my 2.5 year old asks again (in a very loud voice while we're in a public restroom) if I have a penis or vagina (because he forgets) but that's a whole other post.

Here are 3 great reasons why a child should know the correct terminology for their body parts: 

1. Reduces Cases of Molestation
Teaching children the proper names to body parts can greatly reduce cases of molestation. Often times predators use cutesy names to gain access to personal and private space, however children who have been taught to name their private parts are less likely to be led astray.

2. Helps Locate a Problem /Hurt Body Part
It also allows children to own their bodies because they can name when and where something hurts or has been hurt. This helps parents and doctors to locate exactly where their child might be hurting in order to come up with a treatment/solution. My son recently came to me complaining that his penis was hurting. Turns out he had a UTI. I'm so glad he came to me right away so we could get it treated ASAP.

3. Teaches Confidence and Respect
Teaching them the proper name also teaches them to not be ashamed so that they can be open with their parents about uncomfortable issues. Hopefully by starting young we can build up that comfort with our kids so that when they have questions later on they come to us first instead of their peers.

Do you have more reasons to share? Or do you disagree with this post? I'd love to hear your feedback!