Gift Guide

Fashion, Gift Guide
Gift Guide for Stylish Moms | Athleisure Wear She’ll Love
- 11:47 pm
- 0 comments
- by Adanna Dill
Whew! 2020 has been quite a year for all of us, and I think it’s safe to say we deserve the best gifts this holiday season. I don’t know about you, but I love gifts that I can use daily, especially clothes and shoes. I’m looking forward to upgrading my athleisure wardrobe this holiday season to look cute doing the things I do most regularly like go to the grocery store, take walks around the neighborhood, and lounge around our home. I’m happy to partner with Adidas for this post because I’ve been a fan of the brand for years, and they truly have some of the coolest athleisure wear for women. So, here is my 2020 Gift Guide for Stylish Moms, Athleisure She’ll Love:

Sneakers Ultraboost 20 Sneakers

Let’s start with the sneakers because sneakers always make fantastic gifts! My top pick from Adidas for this gift guide for stylish moms is the Adidas Ultraboost 20 Shoes. These running sneakers are sleek, gorgeous, lightweight, and look great beyond working out. You can style them with cute dresses, jeans, and athleisure outfits. The Adidas Ultraboost 20 Shoes is available in 19 different colorways, but I fell in love with the Cloud white/Core Black/Signal Pink because it’s a neutral color that would go with most of the things in my wardrobe.

The best thing about them, though, is how comfortable they are; they’re light, feel sock-like, and are perfect, especially if you’re going to be on your feet for hours.

Adidas COLD.RDY Training Jacket

It’s no secret that I’m not too fond of cold weather, I’ve shared that many times before so a warm jacket is the perfect gift. I’ve had it for a few weeks now, and I love wearing it because of how warm and comfortable it is. It also has a lined hoodie that you tuck into the zippered collar.

The Adidas COLD.RDY Training Jacket is warm, yet it’s lightweight and chic. I think most of us prefer jackets that aren’t bulky, especially for exercising or walking outdoors. This is an excellent gift for a mom who enjoys running or anyone who would appreciate a stylish jacket. I got it in black, but it also comes in a trendy green color (Legend Earth). I love how inclusive Adidas is, too, the COLD.RDY collection is also available in plus sizes. Buy the jacket here!

The Adidas Alphaskin COLD.RDY Tights

Also, part of the COLD.RDY collection is these long warm tights. I absolutely love how comfortable these are, and even though they’re insulated, they’re comfortable and don’t make me feel sweaty. The design is excellent; they’re very flattering even though I don’t have an athletic build. They’re also not too stretchy that you have to worry about them getting loose while you wear them. I thought the Power Berry color that I’m wearing is perfect for the holidays, but depending on who you’re shopping for, they prefer the Legacy Gold or the Black.

The Adidas Badge of Sport Pullover Fleece Hoodie

Raise your hand if you’re guilty of wearing just about any warm hoodie you can get your hands on. Whether it’s your kid’s, husband’s, BBF’s, we’ve all done it. Now that the holidays are here, we can gift ourselves our own warm hoodies. I’m in love with the Adidas Badge of Sport Pullover Fleece hoodies because it’s warm, cozy, and stylish. It’s a thick yet soft and sound quality that would last for a long time. My favorite is the white with the black logo, but I love it so much I plan to gift myself the black with white logo. It’s available in five colors in plus sizes.

Essentials Linear Pants

This is the perfect pair of fleece sweatpants for cold days. I love the tapered leg and how cute these pants look with the Sneakers Ultraboost 20 Sneakers and The Adidas Badge of Sport Pullover Fleece Hoodie. I wear them to go shopping, run errands with the kids, lounging and homeschooling. They’re also great when you don’t feel like getting dressed but want to look pulled together. I have them in black, but they’re also available in Noble Purple / Power Berry.

I hope you found the perfect gift for the stylish mom in your life for the holidays! Let me know your favorite pieces from my picks in the comments below.

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Gift Guide, Holiday, Product Reviews
Best Wooden Toys for Kids
- 9:18 am
- 0 comments
- by Adanna Dill
This Best Wooden Toys for Kids Gift Guide contains affiliate links!

As a mom, I’ve seen a lot of toys circulate in my home. I’ve noticed that some toys stand the test of time while others don’t. I’ve noticed that a lot of those are wooden toys. While wooden toys do not always have the same appeal as some of the holidays’ hottest toys, they’re usually made of better quality and are a good investment for families. As the holiday season nears, I wanted to share this gift guide with the best wooden toys for kids. I shared options from different online retailers so you can take advantage of any sales and deals within the upcoming weeks.

Click on the links and photos below to purchase or learn more about the products!

Wooden toys for Toddlers

Wooden Rainbow Stacking Game

If you look around any Montessori classroom, the chances of you finding this wooden rainbow stacking game are very high- and for a good reason. The vibrant colors will draw any child in for playing, and its unique shape helps kids’ imagination to soar and helps them develop their engineering skills through the hundreds of builds that this toy can create.
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Wooden Blocks Set

For generations, parents have been keeping toddlers engaged and happy with wooden blocks. I think we all have fond memories of creating with them during our childhood. These sets are fantastic for imaginative play as well as to encourage independent or collaborative play. Like the rainbow stacking game above, this set has bright, vibrant colors that make them even more fun and attractive to toddlers. Some of these wooden blocks sets are also magnetic.
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Wooden Shape Sorting & Stacking Toy

This shape sorting and stacking toy is the perfect educational gift for toddlers. They can learn color recognition and shapes and gain basic knowledge of geometry through play with this toy.
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Wooden toys for Preschoolers

Wooden Sensory Bin Tools

Sensory bins are great for open-ended play for preschoolers in the classroom or at home. They help preschoolers develop and perfect for learning through play. A wooden sensory bin tools set is a beautiful gift for kids. You can just about any container as a sensory bin, but it’s great to have the tools to facilitate play.

Montessori Screw Driver Board for Preschoolers

One of my kids’ past teachers suggested the Montessori Screw Driver Board as an excellent gift to strengthen kids’ hands for writing while they’re having fun. It’s such a cute toy yet very practical and useful for their developmental skills.
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Wooden Lacing Beads

Another classic that many of us played with as children! Wooden lacing beads are perfect for helping little hands develop fine motor skills and help your kids focus.
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Wooden Clocks for kids

My two older kids both learned to tell the time with these wooden clocks. They’re an excellent way for kids to learn and to play.

All About today

With many of us parents opting to delay preschool this year because of the pandemic, we can bring preschool home to our little ones by investing in a toy like the All About Today.

You can use it to help your preschooler learn about the days of the week, weather, seasons, and time.
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I hope you found some great gift ideas for the kids on your nice list this year. Check out other gift guides here.

You may also like:

https://adannadill.com/best-stem-toys-of-2020-for-kids-of-all-ages/

BEST STEM TOYS FOR KIDS 2020
Gift Guide, Holiday
Best STEM Toys of 2020 for Kids of All Ages
- 8:01 pm
- 0 comments
- by Adanna Dill
Gift Guide: Best STEM Toys of 2020 for Kids of All Ages.

As a parent and homeschool mom, I always have my eye out for educational toys for my children. I have to say that over the last decade of parenting, new toys keep getting more sophisticated, engaging, and fun. With the holidays approaching, I wanted to share the best stem toys of 2020 for kids of all ages. I know firsthand that finding the perfect toys can feel overwhelming, so I’m happy to curate this list of classic and new STEM toys your kids would be thrilled to receive.

Keep Reading for the Best Stem Toys of 2020 for kids of All Ages!

Brickyard Engineering Building Blocks – Ages 3-10

This set is great for kids; it’s the type of toy they can grow with. The colors are bright and engaging. You can create almost anything with this kit, and it’s going to be one of the most popular toys this holiday season. If you want your child to learn through play, this is one of the best toy sets to develop their early engineering skills!

LEGO STEM Toys

Since I started homeschooling my children, we’ve been using LEGOs more and more as part of our lessons. The great thing about LEGOs is that you can find sets for kids of all age groups.

LEGO for Toddlers/Preschoolers – Age 1 and above

My toddler loves building with her LEGO Duplo Classic Brick Box set. The great thing about this set is that there are many possibilities of things she can make, they’re simple, fun, and the best part is that it comes with a storage box, so it’s easy to store.

LEGO for elementary school aged kids – Age 7+

As I’ve mentioned before, my kids are enrolled in coding classes, and they absolutely love coding. The LEGO Boost Creative Toolbox Fun Robot Building Set and Educational Coding Kit for Kids is the perfect gift for them this holiday season. This kit is perfect for helping your kids develop their coding skills.

Fort Construction Kit – Ages 5+

What kid doesn’t love building forts? It’s the perfect activity to have fun and learn all about basic building concepts. This fort construction kit takes that to another level with the tools to be as creative as your child wants to be. This kit has over 85 pieces; your child can construct awesome forts, homes, ships, bridges, etc. the sky is the limit on what they can create. This Fort Construction kit is kids five and older, and you can purchase one HERE!

Building Disc Sets – Ages 3+

This kit of rainbow disc sets is perfect for preschoolers to help them learn basic STEM concepts. Through their fun shape and bright rainbow colors, kids will lose track of time playing with them. Watch as your child build their fine motor development, enhance cognitive color skills, and establish their creativity. You can get one here!

Magformers – Ages 3+

I’ve shared our love for Magformers in previous gift guides, and it makes it back to the list in 2020 because the quality of their products stands the test of time. You kids can build and create ways that will surprise you while they build up the engineering part of their brains. I love that they have sets for every budget and to fit different interests. My kids have the Magformers in Motion set, and it’s fun to watch all of the other things they make and see them figure out how to make it move. See all of the different Magformers sets here.

Fisher Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar Toy – Ages 3-6 years-

Get your preschoolers a jump start on coding with this toy, they can program it move however they want it to move. It’s perfect for preschoolers to learn through play and get their first exposure to coding. Check out the Code-a-Pillar here.

Wooden Fishing Game

This game is a classic, it’s been around for a while and that’s for a reason. It’s great for helping kids with number recognition and to improve their basic arithmetic skills. It’s one of my go-to gifts for preschoolers. Plus, since it’s made out of wood it more durable and the colors and shapes make it fun. These are all a win in my book!

I hope got some ideas for your holiday shopping from this STEM toys gift guide.
Children's Books, Gift Guide, halloween, Holiday, Motherhood, Product Reviews, Self-Care
Empowering Gifts for Tween Girls
- 11:09 am
- 0 comments
- by Adanna Dill
This Empowering Gifts for Tween Girls post includes affiliate links and some products were gifted to me. As always, all opinions are my own.

My older daughter is now nine years old, and it’s been so beautiful to watch her grow. I feel like this is the age where her personality is starting to shape. I listen to her as she makes decisions and watch as her interests evolve. I try my best to let her be her and to guide her into discovering what HER best self is, so I always let her lead. It’s important to me though, that she feels empowered; she’s still questioning why women aren’t in certain fields or even checks me when I use the term he instead of she. So this year, I wanted to her have gifts that would help her to grow in self-confidence, and I’m sure you want to do the same for your girls too, so here is my guide of empowering gifts for tween girls.

American Girl Smart Girl Guide Kits

My daughter has been obsessed with American Girl since she was four years old. I have to admit we’ve spoiled her, and she now has a collection of dolls. This year, I wanted to give her a gift that encompasses her love for American Girl, but it is perfect for her interests. She loves the American Girl books, so I knew she would be a fan of the American Girl Smart Girl Guide Kits. The kits are for girls age 8+ and are built around one of the Smart Girl Guide Books.

There are six different kits; Smart Girl Guide Kits: Worry, Smart Girl Guide Kit: Liking Herself, Smart Girl Guide Kit: Sports and Fitness, Smart Girl Guide Kit: Cooking, Smart Girl Guide Kit: Digital World and Smart Girl Guide Kit: Friendship Troubles. Each kit includes an adorable mini-doll, and when you order the kit, you can select a doll of your preference.

This is a really great wellness gift for young girls and a great way to start teaching them about self-care. American Girl was nice enough to send us two kits and I selected the Smart Girl Guide Kit: Liking Herself and Smart Girl Guide Kit: Sports and Fitness for my daughter.

Smart Girl Guide Kit: Sports and Fitness

Since she plays basketball and is in the middle of her first tournament, I thought that the Smart Girl Guide Kit: Sports and Fitness would be perfect for her. The book has excellent tips on everything from how to prepare for games, nutrition, stretching, team spirit to how to navigate the stress of game days. Besides the book, the box came with an American Girl water bottle, backpack, inspirational bracelets, and the mini-doll.

Smart Girl Guide to Liking Herself Kit

The Smart Girl Guide to Liking Herself Kit includes the Liking Herself book, of course, the most adorable smile journal, a “You Are Loved” heart bracelet, an iridescent pen, and a mini-doll.

Mantra necklaces

We can’t be with the tween girls in our lives every minute of the day to whisper encouraging messages, so I love the idea of motivational necklaces they can wear to keep our voice close to them. I remember my grandmother buying me a necklace that said I love you when I was nine and how much good that made me feel. I found some great options on Amazon for our girls.

You Are My Sunshine Locket Necklace

Sterling Silver Bar She Believed She Could So She Did Necklace

Affirmation Cards

If you’ve been around here for a while, you know that I’m a big fan of affirmations. I say affirmations with my kids every morning and encourage them to do power poses. I’m happy to gift my daughter affirmation cards this year so she can find ones that speak to her and her interests. Louis Hay is known for her amazing affirmations, so I thought her cards, although they’re not specifically for kids, would be perfect.

I am a Rebel Girl Journal

We’re huge fans of the Rebel Girl books and podcast! I’ve shared reviews of both books one and two before, so I’m glad to gift my daughter the third addition, the I am a Rebel Girl Journal. All three will be a great gift set if your daughter doesn’t have these incredibly inspiring books yet.

I hope this guide was helpful for you to find empowering gifts for tween girls in your life.
Gift Guide, Motherhood, Toddler
Best Gifts for Toddlers
- 11:14 am
- 0 comments
- by Adanna Dill
This post contains affiliate links.

It blows my mind that my last child, my baby is TWO. She’s in full toddler mode, excited to learn, and happy to play. There are so many fantastic toys that I want to buy her all the things, but of course, I know that less is more, and I want to be really intentional about what I bring into our home, so we don’t have clutter or unused toys. So here is my list of the best toys for toddlers.

An Easel

gifts for toddlers

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Double-Sided Tabletop Easel

I love this easel for toddlers because they could use it anywhere. We had the Ikea easel for years, and it’s excellent. Still, it recently broke after three kids, and I ordered this Melissa & Doug tabletop easel as a replacement mainly because of its flexibility. My toddler follows me around so she can use it while I worked, shower, clean, cook, work. She’s loves doodling, so it’s going to be perfect. It’s also easy to store and not as bulky as some easels.

Elephant Plush Nursery Rocker

My daughter loves her Potterybarn plush rocker elephant. This is a classic, and she’s had it for a year, we got it for her first birthday last year, and it took her about a month or two to start playing with it but she loves it now. She sometimes calls it a horsey when she’s riding it, which is hilarious. These Pottery Barn Kids rockers do come with different animals so you can choose your favorite. You can also get it personalized with your child’s name or your family name if you plan to extend your family and want to pass it along. It’s a beautiful gift, beautiful decor for your nursery and here’s a secret, buying in-store on the right day is all it takes to get it at a discounted price. I can’t recall how much we paid for ours, but we didn’t pay full price. We went to the store on a day there was a sale. If we love the store on the Upper East Side, I bought my oldest a Goetz doll at almost 70% off at that location.

VTech Mix and Match-a-Saurus

I always buy at least one educational toy for my kids for the holidays, and VTech toys still have fantastic options for toddlers. This year, we love both the Mix and Match-a-Saurus and VTech Treasure Seekers Pirate Ship. The Mix and Match-a-Saurus help kids to learn to sort, practice counting, and abc’s as well as learn about different emotions. The dinosaur can also move, but it took my toddler some time to warm up to the movement. We have the green, but it also comes in pink and purple.

VTech Treasure Seekers Pirate Ship

Playing with the VTech Treasure Seekers Pirate Ship gives little ones the chance to develop their fine motor skills and imagination. The ship can open into an island providing multiple options to play and explore. I love that other VTech toy characters can fit this toy, and it comes with a black character name Monty because representation matters.

Leapfrog Learning Friends 100 Words Book

At the toddler, stage kids are still developing their language skills, and this book helps them visually identify different things and learn how to pronounce the words correctly.

LEGO Duplo Set

LEGO Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Birthday Parade

This is the perfect gift for a toddler, their first LEGO set. I’ve loved Duplo with all of my kids; it’s super easy to build for toddlers and a great intro to legos.

Baby Shark Dancing Doll

Baby Shark isn’t going anywhere for a long time and all toddlers love the song and dance so the Baby Shark Dancing Doll will definitely be a hit.

Pretend Play Costume Sets

Pretend play is one of the ways that toddlers learn and explore; my kids have all loved dressing up as their favorite characters/professions when they were toddlers. I love the Disney Princess Dress Up Trunk, Born Toys Trunk Set and Jeowoqao Dress up Trunk Role Play Set for pretend play. My favorite is the . because of the astronaut suit

Fire HD Kids Edition Tablet

Fire HD Kids Edition Tablet

I have shared my love for the Amazon Fire HD Kids Edition Tablet many times on this blog (just do a search for it). It’s the best tablet for kids of all ages but especially toddlers. The case and warranty are toddler-friendly, with two years of the no-questions-asked returned policy. There are lots of games, shows, and books on this tablet for toddlers to enjoy, and I love the redesign of the case.

I hope this is helpful; let me know what gifts you’re planning to get your toddler.
Gift Guide, Motherhood, Self-Care
Self-Care Gift Ideas for Moms
- 4:47 pm
- 0 comments
- by Adanna Dill
Self-Care Gift Ideas for Moms

This post is sponsored by Babbleboxx. As always, all opinions are my own.

I’m an advocate for self-care for moms because I understand clearly how challenging motherhood is. Daily, we put our all into our families, and we must be replenishing, recharging, and restoring ourselves, so we have more of ourselves to offer. I partnered with my friends at Babbleboxx this holiday season for this self-care gift ideas for us moms. Whether you’re gifting the women in your life or spoiling yourself, Babbleboxx sent over some great products that I know would make you feel as good as you deserve to feel.

Lounge Wear

I am guilty of skipping shopping for comfy loungewear. I hate to admit it, but I wear old hoodies and t-shirts from my college days or my husband’s shirts. But I think it’s important to remind ourselves that we deserve to look great at home and that’s part of self-care.

Since I work from home, I want to do better so I can look and feel much better about myself. Ellen Tracy loungewear is perfect for my lifestyle. I love this pair of linen pajamas, they’re beautiful and feel really great against my skin. The Ellen Tracy shaggy cardigan is a soft-knit and my favorite for watching Netflix and hanging out with my family. It’s warm, cute, and very comfy. I also received the prettiest tops that I plan to gift my mom for the holidays. These Ellen Tracy tops are perfect for work or after-work and come in vibrant colors.

Beauty Products

I’ve never met another mama who wasn’t excited to receive beauty products as a gift. Good quality beauty products make us all feel good and allow us to indulge in pampering ourselves. I’ve meant to try out the Colleen Rothschild products for a long time. In my box, I received the Radiant Cleansing Balm, Extreme Recovery Cream, and Face Oil No 9. I’ve been using all three products for the last week and let me tell you; they’re glorious. I love the process of applying the Radiant Cleansing Balm. I warm it up in my hands and then add it to my dry skin and then add water, it leaves my skin feeling clean without stripping it and as a lover of all things moringa, and it’s anti-aging properties, I love that moringa oil is one of its ingredients.

The Collen Rothschild Extreme Recovery Cream is perfect for hydrating dry skin, especially this time of year. I love how thick it is without the greasiness of some products. Using all three products as part of my skincare routine is fantastic, and my skin feels like I got a facial each time. Check out all the Collen Rothchild beauty products here!

Notebook and pen

I love to write about just about everything, so I’m obsessed with beautiful planners, journals, notebooks, portfolios name it. It’s a big part of my self-care routine so I use notebokks and it’s important to me0 to use good quality beautiful notebooks I got my first leather portfolio when I was only 13, and I’m still obsessed. As a small business owner, I want to look professional in meetings, but I need something that’s still feminine and shows a bit of my personality. The Levenger softfolio is perfect for the modern mama. I’m obsessed with the pretty rose gold color, and the design is exquiste and functional with pockets for business cards and a zippered pocket for a tablet.

This will be the perfect gift for just about anyone on your list and go a step further and compliment the softfolio with the True Writer Create Metallic Ballpoint Pen, which is also in rose gold. This pen is crafted in solid brass and weighted for fine writing. Get 25% off no-min your holiday shopping at Levenger by using the code DAYTOEVE at checkout. This offer expires on December 20th so you have one month. Shop Levenger here!

Makeup

Last but definitely not least is makeup. Makeup is the perfect gift for women not because we need it, but because it’s a source of joy, a way for us to express ourselves creatively. As moms, I like to focus on makeup products that are perfect for life on the go. The Fold Out Face All-In-One Palette from Woosh Beauty is ideal for me to enjoy the beauty on the go. I can bring it on the train with me or use it in the mirror at an event. It’s convenient with everything thing you need for a full face of makeup in the palette. This makeup is also mineral-free and fragrance-free and easy to apply. Use the code Code WOOSHWITHM for 30% off your order until 2/1/2020. Shop here!

Besides a palette, I think it’s safe to say that most of us moms love lipgloss and could never have too much. I loved trying out the GrandeLIPS Plumping Liquid Lipstick, which I’m wearing in these photos. They plump your lips within minutes and, when used twice a day for thirty days, can increase the overall volume of your lips. They come in a variety of shades to match your skin tone and interest. Use the coupon code TINSEL10 to shop here for 10% now – 4/11/20

I hope you found some really cool self-care gift ideas for moms in your life in this guide.

You may also enjoy 13 Ways to Improve Your Wellness Routine as a Working Mom.
Gift Guide, Motherhood, Product Reviews, Tech
STEM Holiday Gift Guide for Kids
- 7:31 pm
- 0 comments
- by Adanna Dill
This STEM Holiday Gift Guide for Kids includes affiliate links and some products were provided for review.

I know that you want the best for your kids and the best for your money! I’ve put together this small gift guide to help you find the best options for your little ones this holiday season. Whenever I shop for my children during the holidays, I always focus on at least one quality STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) toy or product that they can use to learn, gain skills or express their creativity. This guide includes gifts that will do that for your little ones, gifts that will make their world bigger and more exciting.

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Parker: Your Augmented Reality Bear Learning Kit

If your little ones are curious about medicine and love to play doctor, Parker: Your Augmented Reality Bear Learning Kit will be the perfect gift. I had the chance to check out the new toys at Hamacher Schlemmer earlier this week and I fell in love with this toys as it’s clever use of technology. The app makes Parker come alive and makes the play really exciting and interactive. Parker is a healthy combination of technology and science to help kids learn, become more creative and learn. You can purchase Parker online, or at Hamacher Schlemmer store on the Upper East Side if you’re in New York City.

Lenovo Flip 14 Laptop

Are your little ones ready for their very first computer? Since the new school year started, it’s become really clear that the kids need their own computers. Their needs are mainly to practice coding and math, class projects and reports. The Lenovo Flip 14 laptop is a great choice for a first computer as it’s fast and functions as both a tablet and a laptop. It was easy for me to set up the parental controls and the kids have been using it to type-up reports (my 8-year-old) and practice coding on code.org. This is a touchscreen laptop and it’s really intuitive and user-friendly for my children. My five-year-old has been using this computer without any trouble, flipping between tablet and laptop mode.

I think my favorite features of the Lenovo Flip Laptop for kids is that is all of the creative artwork they’ve been doing using the Lenovo Active Pen to sketch and create art on Windows Ink. My kids have already been talking about creating their own cartoon series using this feature which makes me really excited.

This laptop is very thin, sleek and light enough for little ones to carry. While the kids will not be taking it to school yet, I know it would come in really handy when we’re traveling to keep them engaged.

As you can tell, I am really impressed with the laptop, you can buy it on Lenovo website or on Amazon.

Wonder Workshop Dash Coding Robot

I first discovered this robot in my son’s kindergarten classroom, he talks about it almost daily when he gets home from school so I started researching and learned that Dash could be used for much more than just coding. Kids can use it to collaborate and learn with others. I figured that all three kids could benefit from Dash plus it comes with extras like STEM apps so it may be worth the investment.

Magformers in Motion Power Set

I bought this set for my kids two years ago and they still play with it and still love it! The quality of the magnetic pieces is really impressive given that my kids have gone through tons of other toys over the time they had these. This particular set is great for kids who enjoy building and love to see things in motion. My kids create structures that can rotate and it even comes with a generator so they don’t have to rotate the structures manually. My only gripe with this set is that you would have to purchase a storage box like this one to store the Magformers.

I hope you find a gift idea in this guide for the kids in your life and be sure to let me know in the comments which of these you would purchase.
Dads, Gift Guide, Motherhood, Product Reviews, Sponsored
Father’s Day Gift Guide for the Modern Dad
- 4:35 pm
- 0 comments
- by Adanna Dill
This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com.

Back in September 2010, my first child was born and so was a father. I remember the moment that the nurse handed our newborn baby to my husband and told him that she looked just like him. The memory is in slow motion in my head; I can see him staring at the baby as if he was trying to photograph her new face in his mind. Almost eight years later, he’s now three kids into his fatherhood journey. Each year though, I struggle thinking about what gifts he would want for Father’s Day. Shopping for men is hard, and I’ve definitely had some gift fails in the past so I try to be cautious. Father’s Day is on Sunday, and I want to make sure that you don’t have gift fails, so I wanted to share this gift guide with products all approved by my husband.

119th US Open Golf Championship tickets

I am a big believer that experiences make the best gifts. The U.S. Open Golf Championships in Pebble Beach, California conducted by the United States Golf Association (USGA) is an experience to add to your bucket list if your husband is a golf fan. The tickets go fast and start at only $60 but the experience will bring memories for a lifetime plus a getaway to California is always a good idea, and you have enough time to plan the trip. You can buy tickets here.

MyHeritage DNA test kit

As I mentioned, a father was born the day that my daughter was born, but my husband never had the chance to get to know his dad. That means there is so much about his paternal family that remains a mystery so the MyHeritage DNA test kit is the perfect gift to give him on Father’s Day so he could learn about his heritage. It’s a gift that would also help our three children as they will have a better understanding of who they are. This kit can do DNA Matches as well as an ethnicity estimate. The DNA Matches lets you know of people with shared DNA who may be related to you through Smart Matches and Instant Discoveries. The Ethnicity Estimate feature determines which of the 42 supported DNA, your DNA matches closet to and you’re able to share the results. I think this is a gift, dads would appreciate. MyHeritage DNA is running a sale until June 17th, 2018 and kits are only $59, you can also use the coupon code BABBLEBOXX1 here to get free shipping.

Boxer Briefs and Undershirts

Even if he looks you in the face and says he wants nothing for Father’s Day, boxer briefs and undershirts would never be turned down. We’re traveling next month, so these will come in handy for our trip. The Hanes UltimateTM Men’s Comfort Flex Fit® Ultra Soft Boxer Briefs are not any regular briefs, they promise to be super comfortable with features like a no ride up leg and FreshIQ which is perfect for the dad who loves to workout. The Crew-Neck Hanes UltimateTM Men’s Comfort Fit White Crewneck Undershirt is really soft, it’s a cotton/modal been and has Cool Comfort wicking fabric. I may or may not be plotting to wear these too. I think the best part though is these undershirts have a Lay Flat Collar, so they keep their shape. You can get 50% off on the Hanes website by clicking here for boxers briefs and here for the undershirts.

Ties

My husband mentioned that he wants to start a tie collection so I thought the blue Jules tie from Ties.com would be a fun addition to show some personality. Everyone knows my husband LOVES plaid shirts, so a plaid tie matches his personality well and he’s never had one. I would take advantage of shopping on the Ties.com website and get him more for his collection. They’re offering 15% orders with the code TIESXBABBLE15.

Cold Brew Coffee Kit

It’s not just moms who survive parenthood with coffee; dads run on coffee too. The Grady’s Cold Brew – Bean Bag Cold Brew Kit takes all the complications of brewing away with a “Pour and Store” Pouch. All he has to do is add water these coffee beans, chicory and spices bags to soak overnight. This pouch makes 36 cups and coffee is fresh for two weeks. Oh and you can have fun with this coffee kit by making cocktails too by mixing Grady’s with vodka, a coffee soda by or adding sparkling water or pour it over ice cream for dessert. You can buy it for Grady’s Cold Brew is offering 20% off sitewide until June 30th, 2018.

A Hat

What dad doesn’t need a hat to run errands and for drop off and pick up. Any old hat wouldn’t work for the modern dad; the Black Clover Hat is excellent quality and very comfortable especially with the Live Lucky slogan on the side. Use code lucky15 for 15% off now through June 30th.

Which of these will you be gifting this Father’s Day?
Gift Guide, Holiday
10 Gifts That Will Wow The Modern Mom
- 1:57 pm
- 1 Comment
- by Adanna Dill
We’re a tough group to shop for and honestly, we sometimes don’t even know what we want when people ask so I put together a list of things that I know you would LOVE to receive this holiday season. This list is filled with goodies you wouldn’t find on in other gift guides like apps that going to make you look better, gifts to help you become a better person and sweet ways to give back.

1. Spafinder Wellness Gift Card

Did I see some glimmer of excitement in your eyes when you read that? Yep, I thought I did. This is one of the gifts you would probably enjoy the most. Spafinder is one of the best gifts you can receive as a mom, it’s a gift of self-care. You can use this wellness app for a day at the spa, a massage, manicure & pedicure, barre class, yoga or even travel. It’s the best gift for yourself and your mom friends who go, go, go and do, do, do for everyone but themselves.

2. Sugar Wish

This is the gift you can’t open in front of the kids because they would want it but it will definitely be one of your sweetest. I discovered Sugar Wish this fall at Beaches Moms and I absolutely love the concept and the candy. We all need a little sweetness in our day every so often so just imagine how sweet it would be to receive an email with a Sugar Wish eGift card.

3. Hello Adventure Leather Passport Cover

If you’re a jetsetting mom who loves to travel or you plan to you plan to travel more in 2017? T,his gorgeous Hello Adventure leather passport cover is perfect and inexpensive below $15. Grab it here on Amazon!

4. Spanx Pointe Velvet Leggings

Okay, so these leggings should be a the top of the list because when we look good everything else falls in place. I recently received these leggings and they feel amazing on, they tightened up everything from my mommy tummy to my bum and I feel so fabulous in them. Get them here!

5. HP Sprocket Portable Photo Printer

It’s no secret that we are the Mamarazzi generation and we can’t take enough photos of our children so I think it’s safe to say that we will all appreciate the HP Sprocket Portable Printer. It fit’s perfectly in your purse and you can use it collect memories, do crafts and enjoy all the perfect family moments. I received mine as an early gift when I went to Jamaica and after using it for two months, I can tell you it’s great to have especially for travel and special family times.

6. Sprocket Paper

Oh, and since you’re getting the Sprocket, stock up on extra paper because you’re going to burn right through it.

7. Kmart Giving Hat

If you follow me on social media, you know that last week, I posted photos of myself and the kids in our Kmart giving hat. As an ambassador for St. Jude’s Children’s research Hospital, I am really happy that Kmart is offering this really cute hat that not only encourages us to spread love this season but also at only $5 the hats are affordable, warm and we can all give them as a way to give donate the hospital. $1 from each purchase goes to St. Jude and Kmart have raised over $100 million to St. Jude which helps pay for treatment for kids with cancer.

8. Whose Shoes are you wearing transformational Planner

If one of your 2017 goals is to get your life organized then you may want to add this planner to on your list. I love sisters, Christine and Julian and earlier this year I had the chance to read their amazing book, Whose Shoes are You Wearing so I’m really grateful that they came out with this planner for 2017. Now, I follow them both on social media and as moms, I’m always impressed by how much they’re doing for their community and their businesses while flourishing in their family.

9. Toffee Fudge Cocoa Mix

There is nothing we love to do during the holidays than relax with hot cocoa and I’m slightly addicted to this Toffee Fudge Cocoa Mix that I got from St. Jude’s gift shop. Knowing you’re giving back will make you feel even warmer on the inside.

10. beGlammed

beGlammed is basically the Uber of the beauty world! This awesome app offers beauty on demand, you can have hair and makeup services wherever you are, whenever you want it.

If my makeup looks extra fancy above, it’s because last week I was beGlammed, see what I did there 😉 at their pop-up bar at Macy’s 34th Street and I chatted with the lovely owner Maile who created the app to make life easier for busy women. beGlammed is definitely the perfect gift for us moms who don’t always have the chance to get glammed up or a new mom who wants to feel fabulous again.
Gift Guide, Motherhood
Screen-Free Gift Guide For Kids
- 2:22 am
- 0 comments
- by Adanna Dill
[Tweet “2016 Screen-Free Gift Guide For Kids by A Mom”]

My kids LOVE their Amazon Kindle Fire Kids Edition and I believe it’s one of the best tablets for little ones especially the access to10,000 kid-friendly books if you have an avid reader. But I wanted to share 10 screen-free gifts for creative play time.

As a blogger, my kids are gifted many toys and I attend events where I check out the latest toys. Many of these toys either don’t live up to the hype or they’re made so poorly that I decide against posting about them because I wouldn’t ever want you to waste your money. But I wanted to share 10 toys that are well worth every dollar you would spend for them. Some of these I purchased with my own money and others were gifted to my kids but they are all really amazing and will help your kids grow, learn and get inspired.

So here is my screen-free toys picks:
1. Playskool Sesame Street Love2Learn Elmo
  Remember last month when I went to Jamaica for Beaches Moms? Well, we received the Love2Learn Elmo and we brought it back for The Super Knight who wasn’t too upset that his sister played with it first. We love Love2Learn Elmo because he knows my son’s name, sings along with him and my son is fascinated by the way that Elmo’s mouth moves so it looks like he’s really talking. I love that we can tackle just about any area that a preschooler may need help with like potty training. The app is really easy to use and my only gripe is that Elmo could have been a tad bit more plush but I would highly recommend this toy. I just love how much he lights my son up and I enjoy watching him talk so much with Elmo.
2. STEM toy Magformers Set Last holiday season we purchased the Magformers set for our kids and I can’t finish talking about how amazing it is. Although my little ones have lost track of some pieces (we plan to buy a few pieces this holiday) they’ve built so many cool things with this set I am really impressed. The set comes with a remote control and they can build structures that move, spin and about any shape you can think of. In the past year that my children have been using this set, not one piece have broken nor do they look worn. The quality is exceptional. We went with the big set with 144 pieces because we wanted our kids to be able to share the pieces and play at the same time. If you have only one child, you can go with a smaller set but I believe the big set is great because kids would be as imaginative as they want. Also, I don’t see my kids growing out of playing with Magformers anytime soon. They can build so much with them as they grow older and get more ideas. You can purchase Magformers at Amazon here.
3. Sew Cool Sewing Machine was a gift to my daughter from my mom who she likes to call Mimi. You know what’s so cool about the Sew Cool Machine? There is no needle so it’s really safe for kids her age. My daughter’s made so many beautiful things with this machine from handbags and headbands to wallets. I love how creative she can get and that she learns skills like measuring, cutting patterns and following directions. Now, you can’t use any material with this machine but it comes with lots of material and you can purchase extra and it’s inexpensive. You can purchase the Sew Cool Sewing Machine here.
4. American Girl Truly Me™ Doll: Dark Skin, Curly Dark Brown Hair, Brown Eyes #58 Most of you know that this year, my daughter celebrated her birthday at American Girl. She received a new doll to celebrate turning 6 years old and I wanted to share more about her doll with you. She part of the American Girl Truly Me™ collection. These dolls reflect the looks of real girls and I absolutely love the concept. My daughter was able to choose a gorgeous doll who really looks like her with a cute little afro like hers. My daughter loves playing with her and calls her a mini-version of herself and she loves her so much that when she had to choose only one doll to go to Jamaica with her, she choose her American Girl Truly Me™ Doll.
5. American Girl Melody Doll debuted this summer and was the perfect introduction to the topic of racism and this country’s history. I love Melody’s story because she empowers girls of power, showing how even as a little girl she was able to participate in changing the world around her for the better. Melody’s hair texture is beautiful and I love that it resembles the blown out or pressed naturally kinky hair.
6. Sky Paper Launcher was gifted to me at a toy expo I attended and it’s the only thing that I received there that I would recommend parents spending their money on. My son has used this launcher so many times since we got it and he gets to shoot airplanes really far with it. It was a bit hard to set up but once you get a hang of it, it’s great and reminds me of one of my favorite past times as a child flying paper planes around except my son’s can go further and faster.
7. LEGO Juniors Family House Building Kit Earlier this week, I shared our love for LEGO Juniors and these two sets definitely will make great gifts for the holidays. I’ve found that they’re both easy with a little challenge for my daughter. I love that LEGO helps kids to learn to follow instructions yet encourages creative play. My daughter’s become very focused by playing with LEGO Juniors and I appreciate the concentration it requires. She loves building the Family House and then playing with it.
8. She also loves playing with the LEGO Juniors Police Helicopter Chase which is a smaller set so takes less time to build.
9. We purchased Green Toys Airplane for my son two years ago and it’s one of the toys that’s stand the test of time and my son still loves playing with it. It’s a simple airplane with no lights or sounds but very fun to play with. We got it for him when he was only two so the materials it was made of was important. It’s made of recyclable material and is BPA free.
10. Bonus: Step 2 Lifestyle Dream Kitchen I added this kitchen as a bonus item because it’s the only item on the list that my kids do not own. I’m a firm believer in pretend play and I love all of the features of this particular kitchen which reflects the modern kitchen. Years ago we purchased a kitchen for my daughter which has a retro look that we still love but what I like about this kitchen is how functional and modern it is. Kids get to play with microwave, dishwasher, coffeemaker etc just about everything they see the grown-ups in their life using on a daily basis.
All of these wonderful gifts would enrich your little one’s lives, are made of great quality and will make wonderful holiday gifts for the little ones in your life.
Fashion, Gift Guide, Lifestyle, Mother's Day, Motherhood, Trends
5 Mother’s Day Gift Ideas For Millennial Moms
- 12:46 pm
- 2 Comments
- by Adanna Dill
This post contains a few affiliate links!

It’s almost Mother’s Day and if you’re anything like me your idea of a Mother’s Day gift is nothing like what your mom or grandma would want. I thought it would be cool to share a few ideas of things millennial moms would enjoy as Mother’s Day gifts or just as a nice gift idea period. I’m sharing 5 categories that I think will be a no fail as well as my personal suggestions for each one.

[Tweet “Get this for your favorite #millennialmom for #MothersDay “]

1. Technology

We love technology I can guarantee that an upgraded smartphone, smart watch or new camera will be a winner. Think about technology that will make parenting easier for her like a new iPad stand for the kitchen so she can watch videos of how to make new recipes or new smart watch to get he kids to school on time. You can’t go wrong with these portable speakers and I love these as they are waterproof which is always necessary for moms. Get them here!

2. Graphic Tees

Millennial moms are opinionated and not shy about it! We’re sassy and we don’t mind expressing ourselves. Graphic tees are the perfect way to do that. I created the Super Duper Magical Mama shirt just for Mother’s Day. Moms achieve the impossible on a daily basis and clearly there’s a mix of superpowers and magic needed for that. You can purchase them here at my shop.

Oh and if you really want to put a smile on her face, get her little ones the matching My mommy is a magician shirt. Get it here!

If the millennial mom you’re shopping for has a kid who is missing front teeth like my daughter, this fun Tooth Fairy’s Angel Investor shirt will be a cool gift.

All mom shirts also have maternity options so if you’re expecting you don’t have to miss out on the fun. Stock up here!

ps: Get Free standard shipping with the purchase of 2 or more items between April 25th – May 1st, 2016 at my shop. Use Coupon Code:TWOWOO)

3. Meaningful Jewelry

We’re very conscious and we love to have meaning and source good vibes and energy from everything including jewelry. My personal favorites are Pink Locket Amazon shop for female empowering pieces and Alex and Ani.

As I mentioned last year, I am a huge fan of The Pink Locket’s gorgeous handmade jewelry pieces. All of the pieces from The Pink Locker are designed for the woman who “….knows what she wants, she loves simplicity and complexity at times, she’s a career woman, she’s a mom, she’s a sister, daughter, wife.”

My Mother’s Day picks are these stackable copper rings because of their simple yet modern look…

and I’m also loving the two-tone personalized initial necklaces that you custom order with your kids initials.

I’ve been gifting all my girls Alex and Ani bracelets and they all love them! The ‘Constellation’ bangle is great for the mom who is obsessed with zodiac signs and astrology (I’m about 70% there). Get it here!

The “Hand of Fatima” expandable ring is great for that mom who is all about good vibes and energy. Although, positivity and abundance have become buzzwords of our day. We all need them especially us moms. You can get it here!

4. Stylish Flats

As Millennial moms, we want to hold on our cool edge, we don’t want to lose ourselves in parenting. Many times that means losing the heels but that doesn’t mean we have to lose our style. Lace-up flats are really on trend right now and I love this perforated style with scalloped edges. They are perfect as the weather transitions from spring to summer. You can get them here!

Another huge trend is metallic and these penny loafers speak softly to the heart. Chic, fashionable, and mommy approved. You can get them here!

5. Travel

Our generation is known to have the travel bug we love to explore and this will be the perfect Mother’s Day. Whether it’s a full-fledged international trip to a quick weekend getaway to a lovely day trip.You can find some ideas here! Anyone of these will make any millennial mom very happy.

Which of these gifts do you think you will appreciate most?

ps: Here’s a fun idea of something to do for a special mom in your life on Mother’s Day!
Children's Books, Gift Guide, Holiday
3 Ballet Dancers Gifts
- 11:05 am
- 0 comments
- by Adanna Dill
Last week was The Princess Fairy’s ballet class observation day. For those of you not familiar, observation day is exactly what it sounds like — a day that parents get to observe their child’s ballet class. During the rest of the semester, we usually hurdle in the waiting room and watch our kids over the monitor so this is a big deal and exciting day especially for the kids. I was really impressed by The Princess Fairy’s confidence in her dancing a big improvement from the summer. I want to reward her hard work with a gift so I came up with a few ballet dancers gifts ideas and I wanted to share them with you, I know many of you also have daughters who love ballet.

1. Tickets to the ballet.

I will admit that it’s been close to 6 years since I’ve been to the ballet. That’s a bit of a shame since I live here in NYC with the iconic NYC Ballet at Lincoln Center. I’m focused on enhancing my daughter’s life with experiences so I am going to surprise her with tickets to see George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker which opens up this weekend (November 28th) and runs until January 3rd.

2. Books about Ballet.

I recently shared my daughter’s love for the book Up on My Tippy Toes by Dr. Linda Sturrup on my Facebook page. We received this book about one month ago to review and my daughter can’t get enough of it. I know that it excites her because she sees herself in Natalie Jean, the main character.

It’s important to me that my daughter is exposed to images and stories that are like hers where she can see herself. I can tell that it’s powerful for her to see Natalie Jean a little brown girl like herself dancing and enjoying ballet. While ballet seems to come naturally to The Princess Fairy she’s as focused and determined as Natalie Jean is. I do wish I got my hands on this book before my daughter started ballet, but it’s a wonderful book to have in our collection and I will be giving it to other little ballerinas in my life of all backgrounds because I think all girls would benefit from the overall lesson to never quit.

The illustrations in the book are really wonderful and brings the story to life. My daughter who is a bit of an illustration nerd in addition to asking me “Who is the Author of the book?” asked about the illustrator and had me read both of their bios. Browse more about the book and pick up a copy for your ballerina here.

3. A Ballet Inspired Jewelry.

I remember the days when my daughter had absolutely no interest in jewelry and would rip them off of her the minute that I put them on. That’s changed and now she wants to wear all of my jewelry. I would love to get her own pieces that reflect her interest and I’ve seen some beautiful ballet inspired jewelry and jewelry boxes. One of my favorites is this ballerina dress necklace.

I can’t wait to see my littler ballerina’s face when she realizes that we encourage and support her in her love for ballet.

Which of these gifts would you get the ballerina in your life?