CrateFull of Maine Gift Box Review

Good Food

MBE partnered with CrateFull of Maine for this review

Tastes of Maine in a Box - A Novel All-Occasion Gift 

   

Lighthouses, craggy rock shores, Acadia National Park and the rustic beauty of both the sea and the forest. These are just a few of the charming images that come to mind when thinking about the northern most state in the USA. Here's your chance to gift the foodie in your life or even yourself something truly wonderful: join me on a virtual culinary roadtrip around the Great State of Maine. Along the way, you'll get a peek at what's inside just one of the assorted jam-packed food and food-related boxes available from CrateFull of Maine, each filled with a variety of delicious and unique edible items, all from locally-owned Maine companies and shipped directly to you.

Ready for a Delicious Tasting Adventure? 

What's in this particular crate featured in this post will give you an idea of the wide variety and quality of novelty items you might expect to find in a CrateFull of Maine gift boxed set.

Now, allow me to be your personal tour guide as we head out on an imaginary drive to visit some Maine cities, towns, and tiny hamlets to learn about all the innovative goodies in the brand's CrateFull of Maine Breakfast Box I received to sample. 

A Guided Maine Foodie Road Trip

Starting in southern Maine not far from the Atlantic Ocean, our first stop is York, home of Stonewall Kitchen, makers of the Cocoa Sea Salt Caramel Dutch Waffle Cookie. A bit further north along the coast, our next pit stop is Kennebunk, near Kennebunkport, where Jarva Cakes bakes their scrumptious Dark Velvet Molten Lava Chocolate Cake.

As we turn northward following the eastern shores of the state, we come to the Maine Needham Company in Saco. This is where they've been mixing up fresh candy for 150 years made with pure Maine maple syrup like indulgent squares enrobed in chocolate. 

The city of Portland, Maine, is next. Coffee by Design the entrepreneurs behind Casco Bay Blend Ground Coffee; REDD Bar, makers of the Chocolate REDD Radiant Energy Bar; and Dean's Sweets, purveyors of Double Dark Hot Chocolate Mix, are all located here. Continuing up the eastern side of Maine you'll find the town of Rockland, where the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter and Maine Sea Salt candy bar is made by Bixby & Company. 

Now we'll head across the state going northwest toward the New Hampshire border until we reach our next stop, the town of Hiram, where Grandy Organics makes their wholesome Gluten-Free Oatmeal With Fruit. 

Then, we'll turn around and head back toward coastal Maine where we eventually reach the tiny hamlet of Northport (population 1,575), where The Scone Goddess mixes and packages their Mocha Chip Scone Mix. Just a short drive further north is world-famous Bar Harbor where the Bar Harbor Jam Company produces Maine Man Flavahs Blueberry Habanero Sauce.

Traveling inland next, we'll encounter the tiny town of Albion (Population 2,041), home to Swain's Honey which bottles their fresh Wild Blueberry Honey that is harvested in Downeast Maine, as the locals call it. Continuing west and driving deep into the woods is Maine Maple Products which produces Pure Maine Maple Syrup. 

After such a sweet natural treat, we again head east back to the coast, culiminating our tasting journey together in Eastport with something savory, slightly spicy, and good: Raye's Mustard where all-nautral Raye's Mustard Top Dog is crafted in small batches.

Sweet or salty, but always an adventure for the taste buds, The CrateFull of Maine Breakfast Box featured in this post is just one of the many Maine-inspired gift boxes available. 

Save 20% off your 

CrateFull of Maine

At Checkout use code MBE20

About CrateFull of Maine

Supporting creative independent businesses owned by Maine residents, CrateFull of Maine curates an ever-changing imaginative collection of themed food crates, delivering Maine-made food and food-inspired goods and gift items for Maine lovers. These gift boxes make an affordable and thoughtful gift for Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduation, Birthdays and any other special occasion you can think of.  

In addition to visiting the company's official website, also stay in the know about new goodies coming out by following the brand on their social channels including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and Instagram and by searching the hashtags #MaineCrates and #ILoveMaine on your preferred social media.

My Little Pony Skating Party Family Event

Family Fun

MBE partnered with My Little Pony for this review, Post contains affiliate links

My Little Pony Weekend Outing Celebrates New Series 

Families with kids in the Tri-State area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) who are fans of My Little Pony and wholesome family entertainment -- and who enjoy roller skating together -- are in for a real treat this spring. Throughout April, you're invited to join the fun while getting some mask-safe indoor spring exercise, every Saturday from 10am - Noon at the My Little Pony Party.

That's right: United Skates of America and My Little Pony are collaborating to offer the public the ultimate My Little Pony Party. Celebrating the new My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale series  which just launched on YouTube there will be skating to the MLP soundtrack, lots of fun and games with the chance to win some Pony Prizes at this special event on Long Island.

Saturdays in April

Event Details

What: My Little Pony Family Skating Party

When: Consecutive Saturdays April 9, 16, 23 and 30, 2022

             From 10 am - Noon

Where: United Skates of America, 1276 Hicksville Road, Seaford, NY

Tickets: Admission $14, Skate Rentals $6, Spectators $6

About the New Series & the My Little Pony Enterprise

The new series My Little Pony: Tell Your Tale just launched on YouTube with a new 5-minute free episode released every week introducing young fans to the next generation of 2D animated characters. The My Little Pony's YouTube presence now includes 35 channels in 33 different languages offering wholesome entertainment for boys and girls.

The beloved My Little Pony toy brand from Hasbro launched in 1983 and has since entertained several generations of fans, with no sign of slowing down. Today the iconic toy is comprised of a worldwide entertainment universe including toys and games, licensed consumer products, publishing, music, You Tube. My Little Pony has aired around the world with more than 350 episodes and three feature films being produced to date. Learn more about My Little Pony

DISCLOSURE: We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. This allows our site to earn a bit of compensation -- without any extra cost to consumers -- for including referral links within our posts to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. 

Animal Slipper Gifts Celebrate Spring Holidays

Style

MBE partnered with BunnySlippers.com for this post

All Occasion Spring Gift Inspo for Kids & Adults

*** GIVEAWAY details at bottom of this post ***

It looks like Mr. Groundhog's prediction was right: this year was a longer winter than usual in many parts of the US. Luckily spring finally has arrived, hopefully bringing along with it brighter days ahead to celebrate all the upcoming festive spring gift giving occasions:  Easter (Sunday, April 17), Passover (April 15-23), Mother's Day (Sunday, May 8), Father's Day (June 19), birthdays, graduations and more.

Animal Slippers from Bunny Slippers

Speaking of all those spring celebrations, I'm excited to share with you a thoughtful, novel family-friendly gift idea I recently discovered. Just about anyone will appreciate this: the many cute critter bedroom footwear styles available from BunnySlippers for children and us big kids-at-heart. 

Pictured at the top of this story is me at home in California lounging in the Classic White Bunny style (which comes in both adult and kids sizes). These are not only comfortable and well-made, each pair features the same sweet design details: standup pink-lined bunny ears, shining black eyes, a soft pink nose and smiling bunny face, and realistic whiskers, along with a white pom pom bunny tail on the heel of each slipper.

Imaginative Spring Slipper Styles

And here's my millennial Hedgehog-loving daughter Sarah, who lives in New York, wearing the adorable pair of Hedgehog slippers the company sent her. Wondering what my eldest triplet daughter's reaction was upon arrival of these hedgehog cuties? 

"Wow, just wow, " Sarah says. "I never thought I'd find something so comfortable and adorable. These are very good quality slippers, have thick cushiony soles and feel like I'm walking on clouds.  I just love how they keep my toes toasty warm in the cold New York winter and spring. Our Manhattan apartment building is not well heated, so these have been a major game changer for me when working remotely from home.  No wonder the Hedgehog style is so popular and is currently sold out." 

The good news is that there are still many fun styles for men, women, and children. In addition to the Classic Bunny style I received for this review, there are an assortment of other bunny and spring-inspired animal slipper styles in stock now to choose from in a variety of kids and/or adult sizes, depending on the style. From foxes, lambs, pigs and llamas, to an array of breeds of cats, and dogs, and lots of others, there's an animal slipper here to suit each individual animal lovers personality, gender and age group.

Like Mom, Like Daughter

Here we are styling our favorite new bedroom footwear from Bunny Slippers: Sarah cuddling up with the Hedgehog Slippers in New York, while on the West Coast in Los Angeles, I'm  snuggling with the Classic Bunny Slippers.  

Cute Critter Slippers for the Whole Family

From the West to East Coasts, both my daughter and I are loving these oh-so-comfy, cozy, and cute slipper styles we each picked out. I know for sure, I'm enjoying mine so much and am so glad I decided to bring them along on our island hopping adventure around French Polynesia in the South Pacific. 

In fact as this review goes live, I'm wearing those Bunny Slippers right now in Tahiti while my hubbie and I wait out the last days of our COVID quarantine until we have negative test results so we can fly back to the States.

More About Bunny Slippers

Check out the Bunny Slippers site to see the entire assortment of dozens of cute creature slipper styles currently available. Whether you're buying these for yourself or as a gift, these would make a wonderful addition to Easter Baskets or if you celebrate Passover, would be wonderful afikomen prizes for the kids. They'd also be a well-received gift for Mother's Day or Father's Day, too.

If you're like me you may find a hard time deciding since there's likely to be more than one style you'll want for yourself and/or to give to friends and family this spring. Keep up on all the brand's news about these fun and adorable slippers by following them on Facebook and Pinterest.

Plus enter MBE's exclusive BunnySlippers Giveaway on Instagram NOW!

Home Bathroom Spa Makeover Ideas for Mom

At Home

MBE partnered with Bathroom Butler who provided content for this post

Creating a Spa Vibe to Help Mom Escape, Relax

There can be no denying it: modern moms are busier than ever, spending nearly all their waking hours taking care of loved ones. Today's mothers frequently juggle it all -- from caring for children and working full-time, to potentially homeschooling and/or simultaneously caring for elderly parents.

So How Hard Do Today's Moms Work?

• Women spend an average of 21 hours per week doing household chores, while men spend fewer than 7 hours, on average

• Working women spend nearly twice as much time as men caring for children or other household members

• Almost half (49%) of employed women in the US, including 42% of working mothers, say they are the family's primary breadwinner

• Women are eight times more likely than men to look after sick children or manage their children's schedules

Clearly, it leaves no time for rest and relaxation. Actually, in this mad rush of never-ending responsibilities and obligations, it's no wonder that many moms feel burnt-out and find themselves craving an escape from their endless daily duties. It's time for moms to stop neglecting themselves and start practicing some badly needed self-care. After all, how can these busy mothers do a good job of looking after everyone else, when they're feeling tired, stressed and depleted?

While it may be tempting to dream of a far-away escape and luxurious vacation, that's simply not a realistic option for most modern moms. Instead of taking off on an actual getaway, what if they could -- with far less effort -- simply turn a bathroom at home into a place where mom can pamper herself, de-stress and relax? 

Bathroom Spa Upgrade Inspiration & Trends

Check out these ideas to uplift mom's spirits and revive her energy level by adding a touch of luxury that transforms your bathroom into a spa-like resort  

Heated Towel Racks

A heated towel rack (like the one you see pictured above) is a great way to create a spa vibe in a residential bathroom. After all, following a relaxing long bath, what could be better than stepping out of the tub and wrapping yourself in a warm towel? Not only does a heated towel rack elevate the body's enjoyment after bathing, it also provides the added benefit of killing bacteria commonly found on towels, even clean ones. This heated towel rail technology is a good way to combat germs and enhance your level of comfort. Besides, what mom wouldn't appreciate a feature that also keeps her home cleaner, right?

Elegant Bathroom Accessories

There is no denying it, bathroom remodels are expensive, averaging a cost of around $20,000. That price tag alone might even tempt  you to cut corners and do things cheaply. Before cutting expenses, though, remember high-end bathroom accessories can ultimately deliver a higher return on your investment not only because of the more luxurious look created but because these accessories usually last longer, too. From well-chosen faucet fixtures to towel bars, soap dishes, toilet paper roll holders and other luxe functional and decorative bath accessories, there are a multitude of ways to achieve a bathroom that feels like a spa.

Heating Flooring or Tiles

Few things are worse than getting out of a warm bath and stepping onto a cold floor that quickly can  make the rest of your body feel cold. That's why heated flooring is a popular solution with modern consumers. Not only is this an excellent way to maintain comfort and body warmth. If combined with slip resistant features, it can also make your floor safer to walk on, even when exposed to excess moisture or steam.

Upgraded Shower Heads

With so many jumping on the bath remodeling bandwagon in 2022, converting a home bathroom into a wet room is a good option to consider. After all, the wet room look is inspired by spas and is easier to clean than a traditional bathroom. Even if you don't want to completely transform your bathroom into a wet room, you might still like to upgrade the showerheads or add dual showers to your space.

Organization and Accents

Just as a spa embraces minimalism, a clean look with a clutter-free environment, and is often inspired by nature intended to relax the mind and body, you can easily translate that sort of vibe into a bathroom. With a little thought to enhance your space with a better organized spa-like area which includes out-of-view storage, that busy mom in your family can enjoy a luxurious bathroom experience without ever leaving home.

The Choice Is Yours

It's all up to you, the options are endless to suit your family's lifestyle. Depending on the time and budget you have available, you might decide to undertake a complete bathroom rennovation, a more moderate bath remodeling project, or simply add a few luxurious features. Whichever route you choose, it is possible to carve out the perfect at-home mom spa spot for her to escape, recharge and enjoy some badly needed me-time.

About Bathroom Butler

A family-owned business founded 35 years ago, Bathroom Butler manufactures top of line luxury bathroom accessories and heated towel rails to meet the changing demands of  contemporary designers and trend conscious consumers. For more information and to find a retailer near you, visit the official Bathroom Butler website. Learn more about the brand by also following them on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Blaze Monster Machines: Dino Derby DVD

Movies

MBE partnered with Paramount Pictures; post contains affiliate links

Nickelodeon Kids Movie Review + Giveaway 

Guess what? The popular Nickelodeon kids series Blaze And The Monster Machines is back with another new family-friendly DVD for kids to enjoy at home. This time around, it's Blaze And The Monster Machines: Dino Derby (2022, US: Not Rated, CAN: Rated G).

The Storyline

Boys and girls are invited to rev up their engines and climb on board for an exhilarating ride like no other in the newest animated movie release. In this installment, Blaze, AJ, and their prehistoric bud Pal Zeg -- and the rest of the always-on-the-go gang -- set out on four exciting dinosaur adventures. 

ROAR!!! From the Dino Derby to a dinosaur parade, to a rip roaring ride on the Dino Coaster, children will be treated to non-stop action. It's fun, thrills and shenanigans. Most definitely it's a jungle out there! 

4 Episodes Included on the DVD

• Dino Derby
• Dinosaur Parade
• Dino Coaster
• Dino Dash

Now... keep reading  for your chance to WIN this new home entertainment release for your kids and the whole family to watch together.

 

GIVEAWAY

 

Blaze and the Monster Machines:

Dino Derby DVD

Exclusive MBE Giveaway

on Instagram

How to Enter MBE's Giveaway

Thanks to Paramount Home Entertainment, ONE (1) lucky MBE giveaway participant will win the new Blaze and the Monster Machines: Dino Derby DVD. To enter this exclusive movie giveaway Mommy Blog Expert is hosting, visit this MBE Instagram post. Contest is open to US residents only and qualifying winner will be selected at random.

Hurry, this giveaway ends February 27, 2022 at 11:59 pm EST. This contest is not affiliated with Instagram in any way. Paramount is providing the prize and is responsible for delivery to winner.

More About Blaze and the Monster Machines

The new Blaze And The Monster Machines: Dino Derby DVD (2022) is available now.  Learn more about Nickelodeon's Blaze and the Monster Machines, the popular CGI-animated children's TV series focused on teaching STEM skills (science, tech, engineering, and math) which premiered on Nickelodeon in 2014. For more fun and activities, visit the brand on Facebook to stay up on all the news about this fun series.

DISCLOSURE: We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. This allows our site to earn a bit of compensation -- without any extra cost to consumers -- for including referral links within our posts to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.