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Lifestyle, Motherhood, Sponsored
10 Videos to Download and Watch Offline on Amazon FreeTime Unlimited
- 1:48 pm
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- by Adanna Dill
Thank you, Amazon for sponsoring this post! All opinions shared are my own.

It’s no secret on this blog that I am a HUGE fan of the Amazon Fire Kids Edition Tablets! I’ve shared my love for the Amazon Freetime Unlimited parent dashboard, great age-appropriate curated content for kids, Learn First, Bedtime, Discussion Cards among other features so I’m excited to share that it’s even better now. Yep, with the new software update that rolled out in November, we can now download videos for our kids to watch while they’re offline, a total game changer. That means our little ones are going to be merry all day, every day this holiday season. I don’t know about y’all but I really enjoy spending quality time with my extended family members during the holidays and this year is extra special because I get to introduce them to the new baby. I can’t allow my older kids to disturb that precious bonding time by begging to leave because they’re supposedly bored. Now that they can download and watch videos offline on Amazon FreeTime that’s not going to be a problem. My daughter even took a head start and downloaded some of her favorite videos to her Fire HD 8 Kids Edition tablet already.

If you’re planning to travel or you’re spending time with family like me, I wanted to share how to download videos on the Amazon Freetime as well as 10 videos that were recently added for the holidays.

Here’s how to download FreeTime offline videos:

It’s really simple and fast to download the videos! Just long-press the video tile and voila!

Amazon Freetime videos to download that would keep your kids merry all day:
Kitten TV

Charlie Brown: Mayflower Voyagers

If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, Season

Wishenpoof!, Season 2 (includes special “A Wish World Christmas” double episode)

Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, Season 1

The Stinky & Dirty Show, Season 2 (includes special holiday episode)

Bubble Guppies, Season 2

Click Clack Moo: Christmas at the Farm (coming soon—Nov. 28)

WellieWishers, Season 1

Bubble Guppies, Season 2

If you’re planning to gift these tablets for the holidays, they’re currently on sale. You can choose between the Fire HD 8 Kids Edition tablet or the Fire 7 Kids Edition tablet that my son is pictured using below (it’s a tad bit smaller). Both tablets come with a two-year worry-free guarantee and a kid-proof case that we all know is necessary. They also come with a one-year subscription to Amazon FreeTime Unlimited.
If you get one of these tablets for your kids be sure to set it and download the videos before wrapping as a gift if you want them to take advantage of the new download feature for travel or visiting family and friends.

Are the Amazon Fire Kids Edition tablets on your holiday shopping list for your kids?
Children's Books, Motherhood, Sponsored
3 Ways to Encourage Kids Friendships
- 4:35 pm
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- by Adanna Dill
New picture books from our sponsor Disney-Hyperion are helping us talk about friendship!

Recently, I was having a conversation with my two older kids about my friendships. My daughter asked me about my friends when I was her age and that made me think about my the quality of my childhood friendships. As a child, I loved drawing and I remember having a hard time with friends who would rather spend recess outside playing than inside drawing with me. At that age, I was really bothered by that and there were so many times that I wished that my friends were just like me so I wouldn’t be alone. I didn’t embrace our differences. I shared this with the kids because I want them to have wonderful friendships and I understand that they need learn to be good friends from childhood. I don’t want them to think that their friends must look, behave or have all the exact interests that they do. Actually, I want them to see the beauty in differences and to seek them out.

At their age, I know that books are best to convey this message. Fortunately, earlier this month, we were sent Mo Willems new book Sam, the Most Scaredy-cat Kid in the Whole World which was released on September 5th, 2017 and Leonardo, the Terrible Monster the first book in the series. Here are 3 ways I encourage my kids to make new friends reinforcing my advice with both books:
1. Stress the importance of being themselves.
When we read the first book in the series Leonardo, the Terrible Monster for the first time, we all laughed at the fact that Leonardo was an awful monster because couldn’t scare anyone, not even the most scaredy-cat kid in the world (a kid named Sam). Leonardo didn’t stop trying to scare everyone though, he was determined until he realized that he wasn’t meant to be a scary monster but instead a wonderful friend to Sam. I’m happy that the book showed the kids how frustrating it was for Leonardo to be a scary monster because that just isn’t who he is.
1. Teach them how to push past fear to get to know other kids.
My kids have really different personalities, my daughter loves meeting new friends while my son can be a little fearful of introducing himself to new kids. I’ve been encouraging him to push past that fear. I’m happy that in the new book Sam, the Most Scaredy-cat Kid in the Whole World he saw a friendship blossom that started with fear. Sam and another kid, Kerry, were scared of each other but soon discovered that they had a lot in common and became good friends. Using our Leonardo the Terrible Monster puppet I pretended to be a new friend and had the kids introduce themselves to me to get them accustomed to approaching other kids.
1. Show them that even with different interests they can still be friends with others.
We all have very different interests and that’s what makes our relationships more interesting. Thanks to the Sam, the Most Scaredy-cat Kid in the Whole World book, the kids got to see that with Sam and Kerry. They had many things in common but they also had some major differences. Friends do not need to be carbon copies of each other, as a matter of fact, it’s their differences that make the friendships richer.

I love how much joy my little ones friendships bring them and I want them to continue experiencing that feeling not just with their current friends but also with the new friends they will make as they grow up. My hope is that these lessons they learn as kids from these children’s books would stay with them forever.

How do you encourage your kids to make new friends?
Motherhood, Pregnancy, Sponsored
THINGS TO DO WHILE WAITING FOR BABY TO ARRIVE
- 5:54 pm
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- by Adanna Dill
Thank you to Dr. Oetker USA LLC for sponsoring this post. Visit the store locator to find Virtuoso Pizza by Dr. Oetker in a retailer near you!

Gosh, I remember how excited I was towards the end of my very first pregnancy. I wanted to meet my daughter so bad that I spent my days obsessing about when she would come. It didn’t help that friends and family kept calling to find out if I had the baby and sharing their disappointment that I hadn’t gone into labor yet. As I look back at that time, I cringe the poor use I made of my time and I feel sad that I didn’t relax and enjoy my last days before becoming a mother. I was a little bit more relaxed with my son yet still excited, but now with my third, I am very patient. Actually, I’m reclaiming my time while I wait and I’m loving every moment of it. If you ever find yourself impatiently waiting for the baby to arrive here are three things to do:

Spend time with your partner.

My husband and I have lots of memories walking and talking during fall seasons past. Actually, we met in September and we would walk all through the streets of Manhattan getting to know each other until the weather got too cold. The fall is our time, and since we haven’t had the chance to have a date night these last few weeks, getting away to the park to walk around, enjoy pizza and chat while the kids are at school is our version of a date lately. Sure, we will be able to do that when the baby gets here but the focus will be on making sure she’s comfy and happy, so it’s nice to just hang out – just us. As I mentioned before, Virtuoso Pizza by Dr. Oetker is our favorite brand because they have so many delicious varieties that we can enjoy when the kids are not around. Their carefully crafted recipes that combine wholesome ingredients like a unique blend of cheeses, fresh-picked vegetables, and flavorful meats make it our number one choice. We keep both their Classic Crust and Crispy + Thin crusts frozen pizzas in stock so we can simply pop one in the oven, slice it and then head out to enjoy the lovely weather.

Spend special time with your older kids.

This past weekend, laid in bed and snuggled with my older children as we watched the Trolls movie. We laughed out LOUDLY, sang along to the soundtrack and I made no fuss when they raced each other around. I know that in a few weeks, they will have to be quiet when the baby is sleeping. Things will be a little restricted at times and movie time will change so with each of them snuggled under each arm, I kissed their foreheads and took in the moment.

Do something for yourself.

Making “me” time is already challenging with two children and I can just imagine with three it wouldn’t get any easier, especially a newborn that I plan to breastfeed. So, I’ve been really serious about doing something for myself lately. My favorite things to do during the past few weeks have been getting manicures and pedicures and I’m looking forward to my appointment to get my hair braided next week. It’s important that I do things just for myself now as I will have to care for all the needs of the new baby soon.

Check the Virtuoso store locator to see where you can find Virtuoso near you. For the latest updates, follow Virtuoso on Facebook or Instagram.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Dr. Oetker USA LLC. I received compensation for this post, however, all opinions stated are my own.

What did you do while you waited for your baby to arrive?