Little Tikes Christmas in July Sale Toddler Summer Toys

Toys

Image provided by Little Tikes

This post contains affiliate links

Mommy Blog Expert -- loyal readers know -- loves holding Little Tikes giveaways for products such as the darling Little Tikes 2-in-1 Flower Cart and Wheel Barrow that we gave away as well as reviewed earlier this spring on this blog.

Though my own 4 kids are now 14 and 15 (triplets, plus one more born within a year), they once enjoyed the Little Tikes Cozy Coupe, the company's very first product which is still very popular today.

We have also owned as well as purchased many other toys for gifts for other little ones from their line because this is a brand that evokes sturdy quality and fun that is also reasonably priced.

One of my toddling triplets just loved the Little Tikes Barn we had

Vintage family photo, MommyBlogExpert.com

So, when Little Tikes told me today about their upcoming special Christmas in July sales event, I had to write a post about it to share with my readers.  From June 30 through July 31 they have put about 150 items on sale.  Starting Thursday, there are some spectacular buys on kids items that you will appreciate knowing about if you have a little one to buy for.   

Check it out yourself  by visiting www.LittleTikes.com and typing in the phrase "Christmas in July" and you'll see the great deals to be had. 

BONUS Savings for MommyBlogExpert's Readers - June 30 - July 6 Only

It gets even better.  Just for the holiday weekend, Little Tikes is giving all their loyal customers (including this blog's readership) an extra 5% off including sale items. Just use the code: BANG at checkout to redeem the 5% savings (this excludes shipping and taxes), however many products come with Everyday Free Shipping.

 

FTC Disclosure:  This post contains affiliate links so if you make a purchase I'm able to receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every MBE post.

From the EvenFlo Savvy Parenting Video Series: Relishing the Little Moments

Tweet

Whether it's one at a time or four, parenting babies is never easy
With 4 kids born w/in a year, someone was always crying at our house

Vintage family photo, MommyBlogExpert.com

NEW EvenFlo Giveaway to be Announced Next Week!

As a mom of four, all born within a year including triplets, I once had four babies in diapers at the same time so my perspective is worth sharing with expectant young couples today.  Beginning in the last few months before my multiples were born, I remember both my obstetrician and perinatologist repeatedly telling me that I should enjoy it now because once those babies were born, my life would be forever changed.  

At the time, I hadn't a clue about what they were saying.  Hubbie and I soon found out how right those wise doctors and friends of ours who already had children were -- though -- when our babies arrived in triplicate.  

We were in a chronic state of semi-consciousness during that first year, for sure.  It's a good thing we took lots of Kodak moment photos of our children like the one below, because those first 12 months were a bit on the foggy side, to say the least.

Even when we just had our oldest son, Mom & Dad were always worn out

Vintage family photo, MommyBlogExpert.com

My kids are now 14 and 15 respectively -- born long before YouTube was even invented.  Definitely, today's parents and parents-to-be have a real advantage over the way we survived becoming a family back then.  So, my sage advice to the next generation of parents is that you should really take tap into all the resources that are now available for free, online.  A really good example is the inspiring and humorous YouTube shorts such as this one from the EvenFlo Savvy Parenting Video Series.  

If you are pregnant now or already have a baby, take a peek at this cute YouTube.  It'll make you smile and help you appreciate each other and your new and growing family a whole lot more.  Then come back to this post and leave a comment about the feelings this evokes in you.

About Evenflo

In addition to the very popular ExerSaucer line, Evenflo® helps solve life's little challenges through its expertly designed and tested range of feeding, carseat, gear, home safety and soft carrier products.  To view the complete collection of Evenflo products as well as a wide range of helpful advice resources on choosing a car seat and other safety topics, visit www.evenflo.com

Don't Miss Our Upcoming EvenFlo Giveaway!!!!
Be sure to subscribe to this blog now, so that you'll be the first to know when details about the EvenFlo giveaway are posted.  You'll be able to submit entries daily to win a prize package that every new parent will love, so you don't want to miss a single day of the contest period. 

Tell about your own baby experience, now.  When did you finally see the light as a new parent? What kind of advice do you have for new moms and dads to savor those special times?  Please share your memories as a comment  below.

FTC Disclosure:  I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this particular post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows-Part 2 Behind the Scenes CNN Tour w/ Larry King on July 10

Tweet

Movies

Larry King & Daniel Radcliffe on set of upcoming CNN Harry Potter Special

Image provided by CNN

Days before the last of the Harry Potter feature film series Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 is released in theaters worldwide, kids and adults will be treated to a unique one-hour special that includes never seen footage from the days leading up to the premiere.  A Larry King Special - Harry Potter: The Final Chapter is scheduled to air July 10 at 8 and 11 pm EST on CNN International.

The film, largely expected to be the movie to see this summer, concludes the most successful multiple film enterprise of all time.  Based on the best-selling seven book series by J.K. Rowling, the movies to date collectively have raked in $6 billion in ticket sales over the course of 10 years.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows- Part 2 Official Movie Trailer from Warner Bros.

According to CNN, King has the first advance interviews with Harry Potter's leading cast members including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Helena Bonham Carter, and Robbie Coltrane.  This show will also provide watchers with a behind the scenes view including the making of the final movie through the eyes of the special effects team.

Those who watch the special will also get to see an extended preview clip of the never before scene film that will be shown only on the CNN program.  In addition, says CNN, "James and Oliver Phelps, who play the Weasley twins, take viewers on a tour of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Universal Orlando Resort in Florida and interact with fans on the eve of the final Harry Potter movie."

Larry King of CNN Poses With Actual Wardrobe & Props from the Movie

Image Provided by CNN

Wendy Walker is executive producer of CNN's Larry King Specials including A Larry King Special - Harry Potter: The Final Chapter 

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, directed by David Yates, opens around the globe on July 15.  The film is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, A Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.  CNN Worldwide, a global news and information source, is a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company.  

FTC Disclosure:  I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Dwell on Design Expo this Weekend Succeeds At Reaching Out to Families

Tweet

Family Home Lifestyle

Kid-size Furnishings and Toys to Try Out
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, Mommyblogexpert.com

The annual Dwell on Design exhibition opened today at the Los Angeles Convention Center for a three-day run.  For sure, those that attend are in for a real feast of the eyes as some truly ultra modern design ideas from a range of large brands and local boutique businesses are on display. 

As I walked the floor I saw solutions for just about every room of the home represented.  From bathroom to kitchen to family and living rooms, to baby and kid-friendly toy rooms and bedrooms.  The show literally extends out into the backyard, too, with a variety of options for the patio and outdoor living.  

Something for Little Fido, Too
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

From technology to art to functional appliances and fixtures for the home, if you like futuristic lifestyle aesthetics you'll love this event.  There are even a few animal habitats such as high tech chicken coops with real chickens inside and several rather extraordinary beds for pet dogs and cats for you to see.  Most vendors are taking orders from designers and do it your selfers and some have product on site for cash and carrying home.

Modern Family is a special area just for kids that's new this year that was curated by InHabitots.  This ties in with Dwell's July/August issue focusing on family-friendly design that goes on newsstands on June 28th.  
This Bike is Actually a Human-Powered, Working Spin Art Maker
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

While parents look at the furnishings available for kids' rooms, the little ones have fun child-size furniture, blocks, and computers to keep them busy.  There's also some performance Heart Beat art and a bike-powered spin art booth to enhance your family's visit to the show.

This is a must-attend for Southern California families who will be (or are thinking about) remodeling their existing homes or will be building from the ground up. 

I look forward to returning again to this celebration of the modern lifestyle on Sunday.  Watch for future posts as I showcase some of my favorite family-friendly products and the companies behind them that I meet and learn about at this event.

FTC Disclosure:  MommyBlogExpert attended Dwell on Design today as a credentialed member of the media, however I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.    

Barely There No Slip Fit Bra by Hanes - Lingerie Review

Tweet

Intimate Fashion Review

I just love being a mommy blogger.  One of the best things of all that I truly appreciate is that I’ve had many opportunities to try and review big brands as well as boutique products that are either new on market and/or uniquely practical items that I may never have known about otherwise.

Such is the case with the Barely There No Slip Fit Bra that I received via a great mommy blogger’s social and professional network that I'm very active in called Mom Bloggers Club.

Barely There No Slip Fit Bra Website Screen Shot
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Over the years I’ve probably worn just about every major bra brand on the planet, but never found all things that I wished for in a single intimate garment.  Either the bra looked great, but the fit was poor or the bra felt wonderful but was a real fashion atrocity.  That is, until I tried on the Barely There No Slip Fit Bra for the first time that I received from Hanesbrands.

I’m a tag reader when it comes to shopping for clothes, whether in-store or online, so when this arrived in the mail I couldn’t find a tag sewn into the bra to check for how it should be washed and I sort of panicked.  Lo and behold, after a little sleuthing, I quickly learned on the product’s website that these bras are tagless on purpose: for comfort.  That makes a lot of sense, considering bras (along with panties and bathing suits) are among the few things girls and women wear directly against our bodies.

Barely There Care Tag is  Embedded into the Bra's Strap
iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

This may not be your  traditional tag but the Barely There bra I tried for this post actually had something a whole lot better – the brand had ingeniously printed the care instructions and universal symbols directly on the fabric back of the bra closure.

So you can rest assured that this bra not only has instructions that are actually built in to the garment with information about the fabric content, it is also easy to take care of: simply machine wash in warm water with like colors and line dry.  In fact, really pay attention to that last point which the manufacturer strongly recommends – line dry – because if you don’t, you could damage the elastic, causing this bra to lose its shape prematurely.

Now that I’ve been wearing this for about two months I’ve had enough of an opportunity to really test drive it.  I’ve worn it for all kinds of activities in all kinds of climates indoors and outside.  I’ve also washed it several times a week over during that time.

For sure, I now know first-hand why this style is called Barely There No Slip Fit, because that’s exactly what this bra feels like when you wear it.  First, one can easily forget that you are even wearing this, thanks to this garment’s brilliant styling and fabric composition that make it so form-fitting.  Second, to prevent any slippage this bra has tiny soft ridges under the straps in the shoulder area that you can barely feel with your finger tips yet you won’t notice them when you’re wearing this -- and guess what?  Just think of the prospects.  If you wear this you may never have to deal with slipping shoulder straps again.

Barely There No Slip Fit Bra in Taupe Worn by one of the Brand's Official Models
Image by Barely There Hanesbrands

Fit and function are equally important to us girls and women, right?  The Barely There designers have that covered, too, providing a special form that you can fill out on the website to make it easy to select the right bra. 

The Barely There No Slip Fit Bra is available in your choice of Underwire or Wirefree styles.  The Underwire type comes in sizes: 34-40 A, 34-40 B, 34-40 C, 34-40 D while the Wirefree style is available in sizes: 34-38 A, 34-40 B, 34-40 C, 34-38 D.

Choose from white, black, or soft taupe in either the Unwire or Wirefree No Slip Fit bra.  These retail for $33 and can be found in the lingerie section department stores such as Macy’s, Kohl's, and JC Penny as well as may be purchased online.

I only have a few comments about ways my overall experience with the Barely There No Slip Fit Bra would have been even better. For example, when I line dried this indoors overnight it took more than 10 hours to dry out completely because of the fabric so it was still damp when I put it on in the morning to go to a mommy blogging event today. Second, the No Slip Bra only is available in three shades and I really wish that these were available in some colors and prints too like some of the other bras the brand carries.

Barely There Display Wall at a Macys Store in Los Angeles

iPhone Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

The No Slip style bra is only one of the line’s products that are available.  Other Barely There items, based on the same principles of beauty, comfort, and function, include additional styles of bras plus panties and shapewear that are all ruffle, wrinkle, crinkle, line, tag and seam free.  For sure, the Barely There No Slip Fit beats having to wear a bra made of duck tape, LOL!

Check out the site BarelyThere.com to read more about this innovative product line.


Would love to hear from readers who try any products from the Barely There collection so feel free to leave a comment and share your own experiences.

FTC Disclosure:  I received the Barely There No Slip Fit Bra from Hanesbrands via Mom Bloggers Club to facilitate this review.  MommyBlogExpert did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.