This post on Summer Entertaining Essentials is sponsored by Babbleboxx and Toro. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Summer is right around the corner and our family is getting our backyard summer ready so we can enjoy the great weather. Whether you like to entertain your immediate family, invite a few friends over, or have a ton of people over, having a beautiful backyard can make everyone’s experience fun and relaxing. As our family preps for summer barbecues and hang outs, I thought I’d share my summer entertaining essentials with you all!
Make Your Lawn Look Fabulous
I don’t know about you, but when I tell my husband we’re having company over, he sprints to pull out the mower and starts working on the lawn. If you’re looking for a great lawn mower, don’t miss the Toro 60V Max Stripe™ Mower. This battery powered mower allows for pro-level striping to create a statement-making, neighbor-envying lawn. It also runs for over an hour and you’ll never stink like gasoline! When getting ready to have guests over, you can zoom through mowing time by customizing speed with an easily adjustable speed control knob. There’s even a max power mode that can be activated with the push of a button! If you want to look fancy, consider making fun striping designs. They’re so much easier than you think with the Toro 60V Max Stripe™ Mower.
Pick A Fun Theme
There’s something so fun about inviting friends over with a fun theme. Choose a luau, fiesta, or even just cute picnic theme to add some additional fun! Pull out a blanket, table, a colorful tablescape, and comfortable pillows for everyone to enjoy. My favorite part about this summer entertaining essential? Walking around barefoot and feeling the lush grass between my toes! It just makes everyone feel more cozy and right at home! Don’t forget to ask your guests to dress up to add to the fun!
Bring Out Fun Games
If you plan on having guests over this summer, don’t miss this summer entertaining essential! I love having no-pressure games or activities for our guests to do when we have them over. It can be hard to coordinate the food, guests arriving at separate times, and more, but having games like a large Jenga, cornhole, giant dominoes, or Connect Four. Games can help ease the tension among guests that don’t know each other and create less stress on you while you get last minute things ready!
Plan A Delicious Meal
One of my favorite things to do when guests come over is cook them a meal. Making a meal for someone takes time, effort, and thoughtfulness. I aim to impress, and even a simple menu can seem incredible. Want a fun secret to elevate your guests’ experience? Use a branding tool on steaks! Your guests will find it fancy and it is easy to do. Also- don’t use this time to decide to create a brand new recipe. Use a foolproof recipe you’ve made many times before so it’s effortless as well as delicious. You’ll all be grateful for it!
Do A Quick Refresh
Having friends or family over for summer entertaining also means keeping everything looking extra pristine. The Toro 60V Max 605 CFM / 120 MPH Brushless Leaf Blower is a great way to add extra oomph to your curb appeal. The Brushless Leaf Blower has more power, more run time, and longer life so you can clean up after mowing quickly and efficiently. We love how powerful it is! Use it for grass after mowing, leaves in the yard, or to quickly clean up your back porch for your guests. Finish it off with a quick scrub of your porch, and this quick refresh will make a huge difference in a small amount of time.
Toro Summer of Stripes Giveaway
Make your summer entertaining dreams happen with so many incredible products from Toro! Get $20 off select Toro 60V handheld tools through 5/31. Plus, enter Toro’s sweepstakes for a chance to win a suite of Toro 60V tools. If you use my referral code STEPHANIE when entering, it doubles your chances! (Sweepstakes will be live through 5/25 after which a winner will be chosen.) You could win this amazing Toro prize pack that includes:Toro 60V Portable Portable package and a 60V Max Stripe Mower : 21623 – 60V Max Stripe Mower51822 – Leaf Blower51836 – Attachment Capable String Trimmer 88710 – Attachment Stick edger88715 – Attachment Cultivator88714 – Attachment Pole Saw51850T – Chainsaw51840T – Hedge Trimmer1 Toro branded Babbleboxx with all contents Enter the Toro Sweepstakes here!
This post on New Bluey Toys for Preschoolers is sponsored by Moose Toys.
Where are our Disney Junior fans? It’s no secret that our family is big on Disney, and we adore the Disney Junior show, Bluey. Each Bluey episode is 7 minutes long and follows the adventures of the cutest Blue Heeler dog, Bluey, her little sister Bingo, and parents, Bandit and Chilli. Bluey is a loveable and playful character that loves fun, elaborate games that entwine herfamily and neighborhood into her world of fun.
Today, I’m sharing a fun line of new Bluey toys from our friends at Moose Toys- perfect for kids to be just like Bluey, and expand their creativity. If you’re on the hunt for Bluey toys for preschoolers, don’t miss this fun collection!
Bluey's Tree Playset
Every Bluey fan will love all the fun ways to play with the Bluey’s Tree Playset. This fun playset includes small Flower Crown Bluey and Fairy figurines, adorable mushroom table and chairs, and stickers along with a 2-sided playset. The Bluey’s Tree Playset has a swing, climbing ladder, fairy hideaway with a secret door, and a relaxing hammock! There are 7 play areas in all and it’s one of the most fun Bluey Toys for preschoolers we’ve seen yet! Kids can play with it by itself or in addition to the Ultimate Lights and Sounds Playhouse for added fun.
Talking Chilli (Mum)
Bluey’s lovable mom, Chilli, comes in a new Talking Chilli plush! After having the kids, Chilli’s recently gone back to her job working at Airport Security and juggles this with raising her two little pups. Mum often has a wry comment about the kids’ antics or a kind word for an overwrought child, but she’s equally at home throwing herself into a game and always able to see the funny side. Press Chilli’s tummy to hear her say 9 different phrases. Kids can even sing the Bluey theme song with her! Add Talking Chilli to your Bluey toys collection for lots of cuddles and fun.
Bluey & Bandit (Dad) Dress Up Figure 2 Pack
Perfect for little hands, don’t miss these new Bluey toys from Moose Toys. The Bluey & Bandit Dress Up Figure 2 Pack includes Bluey and Bandit figurines, silly antler ears for Bandit, and a gnome hat for Bluey! Preschoolers can play with the figurines by themselves, with other Bluey figurine sets, or use them alongside the Bluey’s Tree Playset. Any way they choose, they’ll make magic with this Bluey figurine set.
Bob Bilby & Chattermax Plushes
Bob Bilby is known as a puppet that Bingo brings home from school one day in Season 1, Episode 12. Bob stays with the family for a week and they take photos of all the adventures they do with him. The photos then went inside of a book with others from various classmates. We love this toy because preschoolers can create their very own fun photo adventure book with this soft Bob Bilby puppet just like Bingo! It’s one of our favorite creative new Bluey toys, and sure to be a hit with any Bluey fan. Bluey fans will recognize this other new Bluey toy, Chattermax! Chattermax is known as Bluey’s toy. Chattermax is a loud, moving toy, combining the most obnoxious features of many toys. Thankfully, this particular Chattermax is solely a colorful plush toy, without any lights or sounds. Preschoolers can pretend they are Bluey, mimic Chattermax with this bright plush toy, or simply cuddle with it. Either way, it’s a fun way to bring the Bluey world into any home.
Looking for more fun for kids? Don’t miss the Kids Archives for more great ideas!
This past year we’ve done so many fun things as a family. We’ve had a foreign exchange student living with us and we’ve had a blast showing her all the different things to do in Texas. We’ve gone all over the state: Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, and as of most recent, Houston! As a family with a disabled child, we are always searching for things to do in Texas that are not only fun, but accessible. We found just that at Space Center Houston!
Space Center Houston features more than 400 space artifacts, permanent and traveling exhibits, experiences and theaters related to the exciting future and remarkable past of America’s human space-flight program. We were so excited to take a visit, and decided to attend their Sensory Friendly Event. It was the best decision for our family, and if you have a family member that prefers or requires a sensory-reduced environment, this will be perfect for you, too! Space Center Houston invites people of all ages diagnosed with conditions such as, but not limited to, autism spectrum disorder and sensory processing disorder, to explore science and space exploration in a reduced sensory environment. They provide modified lighting, music and sound effects, as well as fun activities for the family. The activities are educational and operated by special instructors who are trained to accommodate guests with sensory sensitivities.
Space Center Houston Sensory Friendly Event
Our family had an amazing time at Space Center Houston, and the Sensory Friendly event was the perfect way to start off our day. The event starts 2 hours before opening to the public, and we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. We were greeted by some helpful staff, given a map that shared where all the activities were, and were told to come back before the event ended to get a prize. The kids were so excited. Interactive activities like Mail a Postcard to Space, Astronaut Training Challenge, Rocketry, and more were set up, and were so much fun. We even had a wonderful staff member stop and tell us all about the Artemis project, which was fascinating! We got to do 3 activities out of the 5, and then the kids collected their prizes.
The dimmed lighting, quieter sounds, and incredibly kind staff made the Sensory Friendly experience so great. We all were highly impressed with how much thought was put into helping families like ours have an enjoyable time. We raved about it all day. I need to mention- there is also a Quiet Room available for families that need it. Our family didn’t need to utilize it, but I think it is a great resource for those that do!
Space Center Houston Exhibits
Once the Sensory Friendly Event was over, Space Center Houston opened up to the public and got busy, fast. Even still, exhibits are spread out thoughtfully with lots of room for maneuvering wheelchairs. It’s rare for us to visit a museum and not feel squished, so this was a treat for us! The kids enjoyed watching videos, riding interactive rides, looking at cool space memorabilia, and touching as many things as possible.
Space Center Houston is incredibly accessible- about 95% accessibly for our family (just a couple stairs on the interactive rides, one exhibit inside, and one partial exhibit outside made Addie unable to do them fully in her wheelchair). Everything was so enjoyable for everyone in our family and it was fascinating to see everything Space Center Houston had to offer. If you’re an ambulatory wheelchair user, you’ll likely find everything 100% accessible, though! It was very apparent how much thought was put into accessibility for each exhibit (height, use of buttons, space around the exhibit) and we greatly appreciated that. For more on Space Center Houston’s impressive eye on accessibility, check out their info on Accessibility Options.
Space Center Houston Tram Tours
As part of our itinerary at Space Center Houston, we thought it would be fun to check out their tram tours. Let me tell you- do not miss these because they are INCREDIBLE! When you purchase your general admission tickers, you can purchase a tram tour to visit the Historic Mission Control Center, or you can do the “Blue Tour” that includes an Astronaut Training Facility tour and the George W.S. Abbey Rocket Park tour. The Blue Tour is free with admission, but spots fill up quickly so either grab them first thing when you come in, or book them in the Space Center Houston app. We showed up 10 minutes before each tram tour, as directed, and were extremely pleased with how helpful the staff was regarding Addie. Addie was boarded first literally every tram ride! Every tram has a spot for wheelchair users, and Addie and her wheelchair were safely strapped in by Space Center Houston staff. We were so taken aback by everyone’s genuine kindness and joy while they helped us that Mathew even thanked them for their extra attention to Addie, and they told us they really enjoy helping!
Each tram tour takes you on a drive a few minutes away to different facilities around the Johnson Space Center. Our first tour was to the iconic Christopher C. Kraft Mission Control building, where we got to see the Historic Mission Control which NASA led Gemini and Apollo missions. We got to see how Mission Control was used for the momentous first lunar landing mission. It was such a cool experience! We also learned that if you have 6 or more photos on your phone, you have more technology in your phone than they did for that first lunar landing mission. Isn’t that wild?! This tour has 80-something stairs to climb, but there are elevators for those that need. We were so grateful that Addie had no issue participating here!
After heading back from the Mission Control Tour, we made sure to get spots for the Astronaut Training Facility tour and the George W.S. Abbey Rocket Park tour. On this tour we went on an elevated path through the Astronaut Training Facility where NASA astronauts train for current missions and where scientists and engineers are developing the next generation of space exploration vehicles. We all thought this was SO cool! I’d love to come back on a weekday and actually see people working. I think that would be incredibly fun too! Then they took us to where one of only three of the remaining actual Saturn V rockets is displayed, along with other rockets that propelled space exploration. Whichever tour you decide (or both!) just know you’ll be wildly entertained. There’s so much to see and learn! Truly an awesome experience for the whole family.
Our tram dropped us off at Independence Plaza and we took some time to explore the shuttle replica Independence, mounted on top of the historic and original NASA 905 shuttle carrier aircraft. It is the world’s only shuttle mounted on an SCA and the only one allowing the public to enter both. This exhibit has stairs to take you 4 floors up, or you can take an elevator if you need.The first stop at the top of this exhibit is the flight deck, where you will see how the astronauts piloted the orbiter during missions. One floor down, you can experience how cramped living conditions were on the mid-deck and walk out into the payload bay to see an actual flown artifact from STS-49, a satellite rescue mission in which three people from the same spacecraft walked in space at the same time. Down on the last floor, walk inside the NASA 905 shuttle carrier aircraft, and see so any fascinating exhibits with lots of interactive options. We loved this whole exhibit, but recommend going first thing in the morning if you’d like it less crowded. It gets really busy because it’s so cool, but remember, it’s a shuttle and an airplane, so it can get packed quickly.
All in all, we had an incredible time at Space Center Houston and absolutely recommend it as one of our favorite things to do in Texas for not only fun, but incredible accessibility. Take a drive to Houston and explore all that this leading science and space exploration learning center have to offer. You’ll be so glad you went, and I think you’ll find a whole new side of loving STEM than before!
Want more ideas on things to do in Texas? Don’t miss the Travel Archives!
This post on Spring Activities for Kids is sponsored by Babbleboxx.
Spring is here and it’s time to enjoy all that Spring has to offer! Whether you’ve got a nice, sunny day, or a chilly rainy day- we’ve got some great Spring activities for kids of all ages to do.
Baking Day with the Bunny Hop Mixer
Kids love to bake with family members. There’s something so fun about getting dirty while making something delicious. Baking can teach children about math, science, and so much more, and that’s why it’s one of our top Spring activities for kids!Find something fun to bake with your child and while it bakes, let them play with the Manhattan Toy Bunny Hop Mixer! A dash of joy, a pinch of imagination, sprinkle in a little laughter, and you have the perfect recipe for play! The ten-piece wood and fabric set adds fun to any budding chef’s play kitchen. Pull back on the handle between the bunny ears to lift the wooden mixer blades and turn the mushroom to make them spin. Want a fun Easter basket idea? Fill your child’s basket with the Bunny Hop Mixer, a box of cake mix, fun sprinkles, and frosting! They’ll be so excited to have a pretend AND real baking day with you! Save 20% sitewide on Easter gifts at manhattantoy.com through March 30! No code required.
Spa Day with Baby Magic
Kids are often so busy. Whether they have school, a soccer game, church activities, or something else, there’s not often a lot of time to slow down. Our family loves at-home spa days and it’s why it’s one of our favorite Spring activities for kids!Before anything, have your child take a relaxing bath with Baby Magic Soothing Hair and Body Wash in Vanilla & Oat scent. It’s specially formulated to leave skin feeling soft and it’s hypoallergenic. It’s made with colloidal oat, shea butter, vanilla, aloe and vitamins B5, and E for soft skin. Your child will come out of the bath relaxed, smelling great, and their skin will feel so nourished!Lay a yoga mat or blanket on the floor, pull out a diffuser with your favorite essential oils, stream calming music, and don’t forget the Baby Magic Creamy Whipped Butter in Vanilla & Oat. Massage their arms, legs, and shoulders with the Creamy Whipped Butter for light and airy moisturizing with lots of relaxation.
An Afternoon at Build-A-Bear
Want to get out of the house? Some Spring activities days call for an afternoon at Build-A-Bear! Whether you want to hop into a Build-A-Bear Workshop for one-of-a-kind Easter basket stuffers, or just want to take the kids to enjoy their new spring collection, there’s always fun to be had!Never been to a Build-A-Bear Workshop? They’re so much fun! Choose the plush toy of your choice (we chose the Vanilla Swirls Lamb) and make it as firm or soft as you like. The Vanilla Swirls Lamb has ultra soft white fur with cream colored hands and feet. It’s adorable!Kids will also get to put a plush heart inside, and choose a scent for their plush if they’d like. Then choose some adorable accessories. We chose the Spring Flowers PJ Set and love how perfect it is for Easter! This two-piece PJ set features a bright all-over pattern of pink, yellow and purple flowers. Kids can even match with corresponding children’s sizes available in the Build-A-Bear Pajama Shop.
Visit Your Favorite Playground with French Toast
Find yourself wanting to get the kids out of the house? Visit your favorite playground (bonus if it’s an inclusive one!) When the sun is shining, don’t miss the opportunity to get out and play, especially with French Toast apparel! Playing outside is always on our list of fun Spring activities and we hope it’s one of yours, too!French Toast is on a mission to help ALL kids shine, whatever their passion, no matter the dress code, wherever they live or go to school. I love the French Toast Short Sleeve Peter Pan Blouse with its cute cap sleeves and old-school collar. The cotton-blend poplin Wrinkle No More™ fabric is made of the highest quality products at the best possible price. The French Toast Two-Tab Pleated Skort is perfect for Spring with adjustable waist for a fantastic fit and lots of fun. It’s great for dress up days, but perfect on park days too, thanks to the built-in shorts. It’s made with smooth Wrinkle No More™ suit fabric so no matter where kids go, they always look put together. 20% OFF sales consistently throughout March – no code needed!
Learn Magic Tricks with Magic Mixies
Kids love all things magical. Whether they learn a fun card trick, experiment with baking soda and vinegar, or pretend to “disappear”- it’s always exciting to them. Our family is no stranger to magical fun with Magic Mixies, and it’s the last on our Spring activities list for a fun time.The Magic Mixies Color Surprise Magic is new and we absolutely love it! Sprinkle the Bubble ‘N’ Fizz Dust, name your Mixie, and add water to magically reveal the cutest Mixie Plushie and other magical surprises inside. There are 6 different Mixie Plushies to collect and they each have mystical color changing magic! There are 6 color change surprises to enjoy, including the Mixie’s Gem, Belly and Tail as well as a color changing Wand, Magical Elixir and Cauldron Gem!
Which of the Spring activities for kids is your favorite? Will you be adding some to your Easter baskets this year?
This post on Interactive Easter Basket Ideas for Kids is sponsored by Moose Toys in partnership with Babbleboxx.
Easter is just around the corner and I’ve been scouting around stores looking to see what goodies I can put in the kids’ Easter baskets. I love finding fun, interactive Easter basket ideas for the kids to play with. I recently found some great Easter basket ideas at all major retailers from Moose Toys and wanted to share them with you all! I hope this helps make your Easter basket shopping a little easier this year.
Shopkins Real Littles – Snack Time Refresh
Does the kid in your life love all things micro? Don’t miss adding the Shopkins Real Littles- Snack Time collection to their Easter basket. I love this as one of the interactive Easter basket ideas for kids because there’s a whole new range of snacks and over 55 new Real Littles figures to collect in series 17. Kids can play with micro desserts, candy, savory snacks, frozen foods, drinks, and slushies! They’re so cute, so little, and so much fun.
Treasure X Dino Gold Armored Egg
Parents of dinosaur fans, don’t miss the interactive Treasure X Dino Gold Armored Egg as one of your Easter basket ideas for kids! This gold egg has fun ooze, a fossil ready to be smashed, and dinosaur parts waiting to be put together. We love that this toy has multiple components so kids can play with it again and again. There are 12 different dinos to collect in series 4, and once they try one, they’ll want them all!
Real Littles Micro Crafts
If your kid loves Real Littles, they’re going to be so excited about the Micro Craft projects! These adorably small craft kits come in cute Cases and are filled with mini surprises! Each one allows kids to create a fun craft activity in micro form. The best part? When kids are done with 1 of 6 crafts (that actually work), they can turn the Case into a keychain! This is one interactive Easter basket ideas for kids every crafty kid needs.
Little Live Pets Surprise Chick
Some people buy their kids real chicks for Easter, but we recommend Little Live Pets Surprise Chick instead. If you’re looking for fun, interactive Easter basket ideas for kids, Surprise Chick is a great one! Kids will get to see their very own chick hatch and hop out of its’ egg. Once the chick has been hatched, they react to touch. The chick even sings a cute song when it’s been played with more and more! There are so many different chicks to discover – Lil’ Angel Chick, Lil’ Berry Chick, Lil’ Bubblegum Chick & and a chance to find a limited edition golden chick. For any kid that loves animals of all kinds, Little Live Pets Surprise Chick is a great Easter basket filler!
HGJZ Glow Shifters
This interactive Easter basket idea for kids is for any kid that loves goo, glow-in-the-dark fun, and fun heroes! Heroes of Goo Jit Zu Glow Shifters ask kids to crush the core to activate the glowing “Goo-formation” and release their inner power. The goo inside their bodies transforms right before their eyes! These Heroes stretch up to 3 times their size, and will be a blast to play with in light or dark.
With so many fun, interactive Easter basket ideas for kids, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. You can find any of these toys at Target or Walmart from our friends at Moose Toys. Grab them now and get ahead in your Easter basket shopping!
Want more gift ideas? Don’t miss the gift archives for more gifts for kids!
