Go Mama Go Designs

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Go Mama Go seeks to provide comfort and protection to each child as they sleep. With all their products created for use in baby’s room they really want parents to remain worry free as their child sleeps. Wonder bumpers, teething guards, swaddling blankets, and other nursery accessories are available from Go Mama Go designs. I’ll focus on wonder bumpers for this review.

Wonder bumpers ensure safety and security for your child as they sleep. This new alternative bumper design takes worries away as your child not only stays protected but has the ability to receive the optimal air flow they need. Different than your average crib liner, Go Mama Go wonder bumpers fit vertically around each individual crib rail – removing suffocation risks.

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With a downward zip motion you don’t have to worry about your child taking the bumper off. If you install correctly the zipper will be hidden between the mattress and rail, and out of reach for your child. The bumpers fit all most any crib rail; flat or round. Just be sure your rails aren’t any wider than 3 inches. Created for a safe, snug fit, they are very stretchable and compress well. You can even zip two bumpers together to fit over corners and wider rails.

 

Wonder bumpers are such a fun alternative to your traditional crib liner. You can choose from an array of colors and create any pattern you wish. Each bumper is reversible with a color on one side and white on the other. Install them all white, all one color, every other color, or any pattern you want; it’s easy to have fun with these bumpers! Go Mama Go offers single bumpers in order to create whatever style you desire.

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Go Mama Go even has an organic line. Offering organic materials for their wonder bumpers, teething guards, and select changing pad covers; you can go the extra mile to ensure safety to your child. The 100% certified organic cotton is so soft to the touch and very much worth the extra price. The organic cotton gives you one less thing to worry about for your child’s health too.

 

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My experience with the wonder bumpers has been great so far. When I received them in the mail I pulled them out right away to take a look them. I was pleased with how soft and cushy they were at first touch. The foam inside is not certified organic but the foam padding is lined with hypo-allergenic material which is encased in the organic cotton. This takes away the worries of my son chewing on the bumpers.

 

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The bumpers are super easy to put on your child’s crib. It took me about ten minutes to zip each bumper on. The toughest part of putting the bumpers on was that I had to squeeze them around the bars between the mattress. Not until after I was finished did I think about taking the mattress out in order to zip the bumpers on. With all that being said, I recommend taking the mattress out of your baby’s crib before zipping on all the bumpers. Be sure to zip the bumpers down on the crib rails. Doing this ensures that your baby won’t grab at the zipper and try to take the bumpers off.

 

I also love that the bumpers wrap individually around each crib rail. I was always nervous about putting a bumper in my sons crib because I was worried of him suffocating with his mouth against the bumper. These wonder bumpers take all those worries away. Baby’s sleeping environment is safe, comfortable, and he’s protected.

Connect with Go Mama Go Designs

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Go Mama Go wonder bumpers are doctor approved, created under patented technology, and have a life-time warranty. The company seeks to provide comfort and protection to each child, ensuring no more worries for mommies and daddies.

 

 

Finn & Emma – Organic Clothing for Children

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Children need quality clothing. While kids grown like weeds, they too need comfort and this really counts when it comes to a good night of sleep. My children are not the best sleepers…okay they stink at sleeping. I have learned after years of fighting with them at bedtime is that if they are comfortable, really truley comfortable, they are able to fall asleep much faster. Being in pajamas that are soft and don’t ‘rub they wrong way’ is way more meaningful than you may realize.

We have tried more brands and styles than you can shake a stick at. While we have found some that we love, we didn’t know such comfort until we used Finn & Emma. I love organic clothing for a ton of reasons. Primarily because it’s safer for my children due to there not being chemicals or pesticides in the materials used. It is way better for the environment and our planet as a whole. Finn & Emma boast of a “buttery soft” material and I think that is a perfect description. When you see the clothing in the package you can tell it looks soft. When you touch it you quickly fall in love. If they made adults sizes, I would totally buy a pair!

Finn + Emma®’s garments are made with buttery soft, G.O.T.S. certified organic cotton and non-toxic, eco-friendly dyes. Garment snaps are lead/nickel free and feature real coconut inserts. Our garments have a generous fit—allowing them to be worn for longer—and accommodate cloth as well as disposable diapers.

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Connect with Finn & Emma

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As  a parent who cloth diapers, I can say that these pajama’s are super for fluff butts! So many times the pants on the pajamas of my son, who wears cloth diapers, give him the old fashion ‘plumbers crack’ – this is where the pants fall down and show the butt crack region. While I love to see my little fluff butts diapers, we don’t need clothing that won’t fit around his butt and hips properly. The ways the pants are cut and sewn together gives them a fit that stretches yet holds in all the perfect places. This is also one of the reasons why these pajamas make bedtime that much easier. Who needs pants that keep falling and moving around while you are just about to find the ‘right’ position to fall asleep in?

Finn & Emma are G.O.T.S. certified. “To be G.O.T.S. certified, textile products must contain a minimum of 95% organic fibers. All inks, dyes and process chemicals used in manufacture must meet basic toxicity and biodegradability requirements. Heavy metals, formaldehyde, nickel, and PVC are prohibited from the manufacture process.” Finn & Emma’s Website

Finn & Emma doesn’t just have pajama’s. They also carry a huge selection of clothing, accessories, play mats, toys, muslin swaddles. Check out all they have to offer over at their website found here.

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Empower – 12 Rounds Boxing Boot Camp

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Empower, just like the name says, seeks to empower women day to day. The company wants women to feel comfortable and confident in their own skin – inside and out. They offer products and services that allow women to be [and feel] happy, healthy, and strong.

Their website is filled with many products, services, and resources that motivate and inspire women to keep active and not give up on their goals. Fun products that actually get results will keep you fit and energized; just what every mom needs! Check out their Inspiration page for many tips, resources, and even recipes that will help you stay fit and reach the health you desire.

“The spirit of Empower lies within the Hummingbird. She’s resilient and powerful, joyful and beautiful, playful, independent and strong. The hummingbird may be tiny but she’s mighty and she never gives up. So don’t let this tiny bird fool you!”

All of the Empower workout programs can be done at home – or anywhere! I have heard that people like to use free-standing punching bags as part of their extended exercise program that they have covered here at Review Loft if you’re interested in expanding your knowledge on the subject. But I digress. For the busy mom who is running around all day and doesn’t have time to go exercise at the gym, their programs are for you. Do them in the living room, outside, or in your child’s playroom; working out just got a whole lot easier. So, cancel your gym membership and check out Empower’s line of products and programs. All of the workout programs and products they offer are unique, fun ways to exercise, so take a look!

12 Rounds Boxing Bootcamp

The 12 Rounds Boxing Bootcamp is a fun, alternative way to get a great workout during your week. This full – body cardio workout is boxing inspired and will get you toned with every punch you make. Challenge yourself and relieve stress as you box with professional female boxer Jaime “the Hurricane” Clampitt. Empower teamed up with Striking Beauties to create this fitness system that gets you in the zone. Being in the zone and getting motivated to participate in a boxing workout is such a good mindset to have, fitness success is impressive and it is also good for your health, relieving the stress of both your mind and body.

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I have never done a boxing workout before so this was a completely new experience for me. Before getting started I read all the material and watched all the videos on the DVD to have a better idea of what I was getting myself into. Doing this stretched my workout to about one hour, but after you watch the videos and get thorough one workout you can finish the whole system in just 30 minutes. Isn’t that great?!

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The DVD has an instructional video that teaches its users all the boxing moves that will be used throughout the workout. This was my favorite aspect of the system. I am glad that they took the time to create this portion because this was all new to me. I wanted to understand and practice the boxing moves before doing the whole workout so I didn’t hurt myself. I recommend that everyone watches this instructional video. It’s important when doing any workout that you understand the exercises and do them correctly to prevent any future injuries.

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The System includes:

(1) comfort jump rope

(1) sand filled 6 pound toning ball

(2) weighted gloves (1 pound each)

(1) 12 Rounds DVD

(1) workout guide

Click Here to buy the 12 Rounds Boxing Bootcamp

Use the discount code – 25EMPBBC – for 50% off!

The 12 rounds system is perfect for people of all boxing levels. Their convenient levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced allow for anyone to use the system. There are three women in the video, each at a different boxing level. If you are more intermediate, watch the woman on the right; if you’re a beginner (like me) then you watch the woman on the left. The system also shows the difference between a right handed and left handed person when boxing.

After doing the workout I felt great. The results are fast but for anyone worried about the possibility of excess skin which is often left behind when you lose weight quickly, there is always the option of tummy tuck surgery to help you enjoy your new figure. So, don’t let this be a reason not to make the most of such an effective weight loss solution. You can tell that it works because after this workout my body was completely sore and I really felt like every muscle was used. I felt the most sore in my arms which makes perfect sense because I was boxing! The different rounds are almost like 12 different workouts. Some rounds are fast, and some are slow, but you use your whole body for each of them. The full workout really pushed me and allowed me to challenge myself. Now when I do the workout I try and go one step further and beat how many punches I did the last time I used the system. It’s great to set small goals for yourself and try to reach them with each time you use the system.

I really can attest to how great this 12 Rounds Boxing Bootcamp is. The full – body workout in just 30 minutes is so perfect for my busy days. I love that I can accomplish my exercising in my living room with my son playing or sleeping. It saves time by not needing to drive to the gym which is something I really enjoy about the system. Try the Boxing Bootcamp, you will not be disappointed!

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Lalabu Soothe Shirt Review

I am so excited to review this product, because I just love it! My husband and I both tried out the Lalabu Soothe Shirt and are quite impressed with how awesome they are! It almost feels like you have a third arm helping carry the weight of your babe, which is amazing! My very long baby boy (25.25 inches!) is growing so fast that I probably won’t get to use it for babywearing for too much longer, but the amazing part is it doubles as a nursing shirt!

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More about the Lalabu Soothe Shirt

Lalabu’s soothe shirt is truly babywearing made simple. No buckles, snaps, or awkward ties. Simply just slip your baby into the built in pouch and TADAA!! I feel like a momma kangaroo snuggling my babe and it is awesome!

Shirt Features:

  • Easy-to-use pouch calms newborns
  • Built-in nursing bra makes breastfeeding convenient
  • Inner mesh panel provides cool breathability
  • Pouch extender grows with baby
  • Made in the USA
  • No need to wear a separate bra
  • Two fabric layers for extra coverage
  • Soft elastic band provides support
  • Shirt covers stomach while nursing

Not only is the Lalabu shirt an incredibly made product, this company even gives 2% of every purchase to moms in Africa, supporting mom entrepreneurs through micro-finance.

I don’t know about you, but I just love supporting businesses that make giving back an important part of their business model.

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The Lalabu Story

Okay, so you can clearly tell I love this shirt. I mean it is a genius idea. So how in the world did they come up with this idea you might ask? This husband and wife team took a trip to Africa to visit their aunt and noticed that many of the mothers there all babywear their infants. Babywearing is known to have amazing benefits for baby and their mommy. This led them to question, ” If babywearing is so incredible for both parent and baby, why aren’t more parents in our country doing it?” Then the Lalabu shirt was born. They sought out to create a shirt to make babywearing more simple for all of us Mamas out there. Oh and for all of you men, they didn’t leave you out! Lalabu has a Daddy shirt, too! If your babe is like mine, he just loves snuggling with his daddy! It gives me a nice break to blog, have two free hands, eat a bowl of ice cream, or shower, while daddy can snuggle our baby and still be productive as well.lalabu2

 

My Overall Impression

LOVE! Have I mentioned I love this product?! I must admit when I first put it on I felt a bit self-conscious with my mombod. It is a snug fit, so don’t be alarmed. The snug fit is necessary, however, so that your baby is safe in your shirt pouch.

 

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My husband sort of felt the same way about the fit. He said that he would like one size bigger, but again, with a smaller baby a snug fit would definitely be necessary.

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Even when I can no longer fit my big boy in the pouch, the nursing function is also fantastic and the shirt looks cute enough to wear solo! Guess what else…you can also ditch the bra in this one! Totally enough support built in–wahoo!

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My husband and I both give these shirts two thumbs up!! With Christmas just around the corner, the Lalabu Soothe Shirt would be a super awesome gift for any mommy or daddy-to-be!

Want to know more? Connect with Lalabu!

Instagram: Lalabubaby

Facebook: @simplebabying

Twitter: @lalabu

Pinterest: lalabubaby

Website: https://www.lalabu.com/

 

 

Lalabu Babywearing Giveaway

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Welcome to the Our Little Pumpkin Giveaway Hop hosted by MamatheFox! At each stop in this hop you can find a fun prize that would make a perfect gift for a child this holiday season. Be sure to come back for your daily entries to increase you chances of winning! Good Luck

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Momsense,The Smart Breastfeeding Meter- Review

Let me start off by saying, where was this little gadget when my baby boy was a newborn???!!!img_5208

As a first time mom, who is exclusively breastfeeding, I was constantly worried about pretty much every part of breastfeedingf. Was he getting enough milk? How much will my nipples hurt? How can I stop this from happening? The worries go on. And I know a lot of first time mamas feel the same way! Thankfully, sites like Best For Parents are helpful when it comes to finding products that can help to make breastfeeding easier – plus I had a lot of support from my family. But this didn’t stop me from worrying! In the beginning weeks, the thing I was worried most about was whether or not my son was getting enough milk. Again, I know I’m not alone in this because it tends to be a frequent topic in just about every mom group I’m in. Thanks be to God, we were doing just fine and my son was getting more than enough. In fact, I ended up getting an oversupply for a little bit there, because I was worried I was undersupplying and started doing all sorts of things to boost supply. In those crazy days, I could have really used the reassurance of Momsense to give me some insight in just how much was my son taking in per nursing session.

 

Momsense is a smart breastfeeding meter that can inform mom’s with the use of a smartphone app how much milk your baby is taking in. I received this little package and was amazed at how simple the design actually is.img_5210 It is essentially a pair of earbuds with an extra little sensor attached that is placed just under your baby’s ear. The Momsense comes with sticky pads to stick on to the meter, which is what you will safely place on your baby. Not to worry, the adhesive is baby safe!img_5211

The directions explain that each sticky pad should last multiple uses; however, I found that it actually lost its stickiness quickly at first, because I was putting it on and off so many times to get the right positioning. Once you get the hang of finding the right placement on the first try, the sticky pads should get many uses. The head phones plug into your phone and you download the Momsense smartphone app. With this app, it will measure your baby’s milk intake, you will be able to listen to your baby’s swallows (and it records it!), and you will be able to keep an ongoing timeline to keep track of their feeding habits. How cool is that?!

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In my personal experience, my active 4 month old is getting quite squirmy and kicks and wants to grab at my hair, necklace, shirt or whatever he can reach all while nursing. So this was very difficult for me to use with him. HOWEVER, like I said, in the beginning I was SO WORRIED about whether or not he was getting enough! I mean let’s be honest, breastfeeding is hard work! For a first time mom, there is a major learning curve! I feel like Momsense in those beginning stages would have given me so much peace of mind! Newborns also don’t squirm the way a 4 month old does, so it would be MUCH easier to use in those younger stages. Despite my squirmy boy making it a little more difficult, I must admit I loved that the app stores and records the precious noises and swallow sounds he makes while he nurses. As I’m writing this review, I was just browsing through the app and was listening to some of the recordings and it just warmed my heart to hear him. 🙂 So for me, it is not a tool I will use every day; however, as we continue on our journey I think it will be fun and informative to break out once a week or so to document his breastfeeding habits, inform me about his intake, and record those precious noises, of course! If I had this when he was a newborn, it likely would have been my BFF. The app also has some other fun features like coupons for different products and breastfeeding tips.

Side Note: For those of you who snagged the newest iPhone with no headphone jack, you will need to purchase the adapter! #Applebringbackthejack

So there you have it! From one mommy to another, just doing the best I can each and every day! If you have a little one on the way and plan to breastfeed, you will love this product! If your baby is older and your breastfeeding habits and routines are well-established and your baby is growing and thriving, you just keep up the good work-no gadget necessary! 😉

Want to learn more about Momsense?

For more information about the Momsense, check out their website or connect with them via social media!

Facebook: @mymomsense

Google+: Momsense

Instagram: mymomsense

Pinterest: mymomsense

Twitter: @my_momsense

Youtube: Momsense

 

Chibebe – Snuggle Pod and Rocker

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Chibebe creates comfy, cute grow-with-me beanbag seats for children. The snuggle pod allows your child to sit comfortably and safely in a resting position. Most families buy [or are gifted] a baby bouncer and child seat (of some sort); Chibebe takes one step away from that process. With the snuggle pod families have the freedom to buy one chair and use it for multiple purposes. Because it’s a grow with me seat – your child can use the chair as a newborn, toddler, and as a pre teen.

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The Chibebe brand was built on a single principle- a dedication to creating quality, safe products for babies and children.

The snuggle pod is a great alternative to your average baby bouncer. Two major benefits come from using a snuggle pod – reflux relief and prevention of flathead. The shape of the beanbag is designed to be flexible and allow for different positions to be used based on baby’s specific needs. You have the ability to change the shape of the pod and position of the beans based on the circumstance (post-feeding, nap, play). The super soft seat helps to protect the back of baby’s head. Pressure is kept off the head because of the flexible surface and the way the head is elevated on the seat.

 

Chibebe offers a few different accessories for purchase that you can use with the snuggle pod. The pod rocker (details and review below), just like it sounds, converts the seat into a rocker. This is especially useful with younger children. The pod warmer is a blanket that connects to the snuggle pod allowing baby to stay warm and cozy.

When receiving the snuggle pod you will find in the box a multitude of goodies. Wrapped up nice and pretty in a cute reusable bag is: the snuggle pod – in your choice of fabric print, the baby seat with harness, the toddler seat, and the removable inner filling bag (where the beans go).

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Snuggle Pod

The Chibebe snuggle pod [beanbag] is the perfect baby bouncer, toddler chair, and pre-teen seat. Its versatility is reason enough to invest in one. There are not many products  your child can use as a newborn and also as a pre-teen; this is a huge reason I love the snuggle pod.

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Chibebe offers many different prints for their snuggle pod beanbags. I absolutely love the print of our snuggle pod, it fits our home perfectly (I like it when things match). Most of their prints are gender neutral, so you can use the same pod with multiple children. When choosing a snuggle pod you pick the print of the pod and the color of the seats.

The snuggle pod is created so that the seats are interchangeable. There is a zip mechanism on the top of the pod where you zip the seat on. It zips completely around the pod and is hidden by the tag on the very top. When the seat is dirty you can unzip it and throw it in the wash! Change it from the newborn seat to the toddler seat or vise versa when baby gets older or you have a new one. Created just the same, the only difference between the two seats are that the newborn seat has a buckle harness to keep baby from rolling or falling off the pod. The baby and toddler seats are created with the same stretch lycra blend and soft padding. The seats are water resistant too, so messes are easy to clean up.

The removable inner filling bag is a thin bag that gets filled with the bean bag beans. You can buy the beans from any large retailer or order them from the Chibebe website. It’s probably best to have two people when stuffing the filling bag with beans; you’ll need someone to hold the bag open and someone pouring the beans. Chibebe [and I] recommend filling the bag in the bathtub. Close the drain and make sure it’s dry and start pouring; this makes for a very easy clean up. Put about 60-65 liters of the bean filling in the bag.

My favorite aspect of the snuggle pod is the changeable seats. When you order a pod it comes with a newborn and toddler seat so you really are set from birth to pre teen. I love how soft the seats are; they are so cozy and flexible. I feel very comfortable when my child is in the seat and he is buckled in because I trust the material. The water resistant feature is super appealing to me because lets face it, babies can be messy sometimes. I look forward to using the seat with the pod for my future kids when they are newborns. The fact that the seat gives reflux relief is a huge plus for me. My baby had some major reflux when he was younger, so if this seat gives any sort of relief for future kids, I’m willing to give it a try!

Pod Rocker

This pod rocker is such a cool, unique concept. Simply order it on the Chibebe website with your snuggle pod and convert the seat into a rocker! This is great because not only do you have a product that can last until your child is a preteen. You also have a product that has multiple use for babies. I believe that this makes it the best swing for older babies as it’s so versatile. good-pod-pic2

One downside I experienced with the pod rocker was constructing it; I had a really hard time putting it together. After reading the directions I felt ready to clip it together and see how it looked. But it took me at least half an hour to click the bars together. The rocker is all metal and the locking mechanism which pops up through the holes to keep it in place are metal as well. This was part of my problem. My fingers could not with hold the pressure of the locks; I was forced to use pliers. The metal pieces fit very snuggly into each other so taking the rocker apart is next to impossible; I’ll just leave it intact forever!

When it was all said and done and I finally got the pod rocker together and working I can truly say that I am pleased with it. Now that I put the snuggle pod into the rocker and my son uses it, I am grateful for the security and snug fit of the metal bars. I feel comfortable placing my son into it; and I don’t have to worry about it collapsing. The pod rocker is a great accessory to use with the snuggle pod.

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Kuhn Rikon Colori Titanium Knife Giveaway

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It’s that time of year again! Fall is officially in full swing and the holidays are right around the corner. That means that it’s time for the second annual Gobbling Up the Giveaways giveaway hop hosted by The Anti-June Cleaver and Our Piece of Earth!

We have teamed up with an amazing group of bloggers to bring you a lot of fantastic of prizes to kick off the holiday season. After you have entered my giveaway, be sure to visit the linky below for more great prizes.

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The Anti-June Cleaver, Our Piece of Earth, and the rest of the bloggers participating in the Gobbling Up the Giveaways giveaway hop are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations

LEGO KidsFest

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Does your family love LEGO’s? We are obsessed with them at my house. We play with Duplo’s and LEGO’s literally every day. My son, who is only 2.5, wants to be a big kid and play with the standard LEGO’s but my husband and I have not broken down to buy the tiny pieces yet. We are trying to stick with Duplo’s (which are easier to clean up and for tiny hands to use) for now. Our local library has a monthly LEGO play date. They provide buckets of LEGO’s for us to play with and make our very own creations with. My kids love playing with all the tiny pieces, figuring out how they connect and learning though their play. They watch the older kids and see how they design their creations and try to copy how they click and piece them together. I am a huge advocate for using LEGO’s as a learning toy. Allowing them to play without a screen, using their minds and hands, its such a healthy way to play. Little engineers in the making.

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The Foxes were blessed with the chance to attend LEGO KidsFest when it traveled to Cleveland, Ohio. We were amazed at the huge set up and all the play places that were set up. Some of the stations set up were:

  • LEGO Build Areas
  • LEGO Model Museum
  • Race Ramps
  • Creation Nation
  • Challenge Zoe
  • LEGO Friends
  • Create Your Own Fairy Tale
  • LEGO Retail Store
  • DK Reading Zone
  • Mixels Station
  • Star Wars Station
  • Big Brick Pile
  • and much more!

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My kids and I went to every station, and some we stayed at longer than others. We loved the Big Brick Pile so much. They were able to roll around and bury themselves in LEGO’s like you would at the beach with sand. It was so fun to watch. The Mixels Station was a fun part too. My kids love this station because there are eyeball pieces to make your own monster creation. My daughter loved the Disney section and the Friends section. Seeing all the pink and purple bricks and how to make beautiful houses. But when you first walk in you are greeted by TONS of huge, and I mean huge, models of heroes and famous characters that you can take your photos with. These pieces all travel in their own custom crate and cost many bucks (some the cost of a mid size car)! There were also many huge, flashy digital signs showcasing the latest developments in LEGO world, no doubt to entice both children and adults alike. The whole set-up probably involved vast amounts of collaborative effort from companies like Platon Graphics (https://platongraphics.com/retail-signage/) and others to make the space and the event as successful as it was. It was a privilege to see and experience this years LEGO KidsFest. When this event comes to your town buy your tickets fast, because they sell out fast and ware worth every penny. Your kids will have LEGO dreams for weeks.

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