San Diego County Fair Fun

Now that summer is off to a running start, I’d like to suggest taking your kids to the San Diego County Fair. If your kids are like my CarseatDancers, they ask, “Where are we going today?” every stinkin’ morning. 

We’d never been to the fair before and I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect. It took a good 30 minutes to park but made up for it by providing a people mover tram to the enterance. They were pretty efficient and had plenty of employees. TIP: Do not wash your car prior to going. 

We quickly walked up to the ticket stalls and were whisked through quickly. It helped that we found an opportunity to get the kid’s FREE admission through their summer reading program. 

Yes, read 10 books and come to the Fair free!Kids up to age 12 can get a free day at the San Diego County Fair if they read 10 age-appropriate books and have that verified by their teacher or librarian.

I even found a GROUPON for discounted adult tickets! 

Pig races. 

Carnival rides. 

Carnival games. 

Carnival prizes. 

Decadent foods. ​

​Wrangling wooden cattle + petting horses. 

+ Live music. 🎶

We wandered for hours and truly enjoyed ourselves. Bring sun screen. Drink water. Completely in awe over the sights, the sounds, the smells… 🐷👏🏻🎡🎢🎠💰🎉👧🏼🐵👱🏼‍♀️🦁🍡🍦🐂🐎🎶

Go!

Happy summer! 

xoox ❤️ Jen

2016 Kids! Holiday Gift Guide

This Christmas, I decided that it was important to not go overboard with spending. I picked a few items for my “Kids! Holiday Gift Guide” that your children will absolutely adore. Here is my rule of thumb, choose one thing in each category: start with something that they want, something that they need, something to wear, plenty to read, something that they take time to create or make, a treat to eat & a little something extra. From my Carseat Dancers to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas! 

Happy shopping!

❤️Jen

P.S. Please feel free to shop directly by clicking directly on each blue link.  

1. Coin Purse – $14.99

Relic Caraway Zip Penguin

My girls enjoy spending their own money on the items on their wish list. And when they are not spending, you’re  teaching them to SAVE. This cute little coin purse is the perfect gift for any child. Be sure to give it with a little bit of cash inside.

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2. Shopkins Snack – $ .47

Shopkins Shortbread Cookie Bites

Anything Shopkins is all the rage. Your  little cutie will love this snack. Santa could add a bag to their stocking. Yum!

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3. Usborne Books Set – $119.99

Shine-a-Light Series 

All kids enjoy books that are interactive. The books in this series allow children to shine a flashlight behind the page, or even hold it up to the light, to reveal what is hidden in and around different places. This series encourages children to READ & discover a world of great surprise all while learning along the way. So fun!

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4. Fairy Door- $24.99

Irish Fairy Door

A perfectly darling fairy door that comes with a magical key can be placed at the base of a wall indoors or outdoors against a tree as a sign of welcome for fairies—when the key disappears, the fairy has arrived! A charming gift for those who will forever believe in fairies. 

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5. Custom Dress- $52.00-ish

CourtneyCourtney Dress

Have you ever had the most comfortable concert T-shirt?  Or perfectly soft piece of clothing… something that you wish you could wear on the daily? Creator, seamstress, Courtney has hit the jackpot with the sweetest dresses EVER! My daughters and niece all have her birthday dresses & ADORE them! Check out her whole line. You will want them all! ❤️

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6. Kid’s t-Shirt – $21

Regulators Mount Up 

The T-shirts in the Saturday Morning Pancakes collection are hilarious. “Things that make you go hmmm…” and bring you back to those earlier years. 

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7. The Shrunks Trampoline Pool – $99

Trampoline

Say what!?! Two products in one! As a trampoline, the sturdy construction features a jumping area measuring 50 inches in diameter. To use it as a pool, simply flip it over! Great exercise and great fun. The best “babysitter” ever! LOL! 😂

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8. Lego Classic Set – $40

Legos

With this sweet Lego set your kids can be creative and build what they want. 

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9. Tsukihoshi Sneakers – $59.95

Rainbow Tennis Shoes

Cool breathable tennis shoes with barefoot comfort are all the rage. My kids love the idea of Velcro & no tie laces for easy on easy off. Every kid could use a pair of the perfect sneakers. 

 

Hudson Kids! : Denim for kids.

Do you ever find yourself dreaming about that one pair of cozy jeans? You know the ones, the “go-to” pair that not only feel great on but look fabulous too! Would you believe me if I told you that I found THAT pair in pint-size? They’re Hudson Kids! Jeans by Five Star Apparel – NYC 
So, immediately after being introduced to these jeans, I quickly found myself “Oohing and Ahhing” over the soft quality and exceptional stretch of the premium denim Hudson uses. They don’t overstretch and do maintain their shape throughout the entire day. I am SO loving these lightweight, fashionable jeans for kids. I mean, who wouldn’t want a pair of reasonably priced, designer jeans, for their child? These jeans are tailored to fit perfectly.

I knew that my daughters who are six and seven would love to LIVE in these jeans whether they be an everyday staple, for play or a even a key piece in their Back-to-School wardrobe. 

Here, my six-year-old is wearing:

• Repaired Jean – Five Pocket Rip & Repair Patch Skinny

• LOVE: They are sensory friendly for my super clothing-sensitive little fashionista.

• Color: Pool

• Retail for: $55

Skinny jeans are all the rage for school-age children these days . My daughters have tried boot cut, boyfriend and numerous other styles but I have found that the Hudson skinny jeans are much more comfortable for running around in. They don’t trip over any extra fabric in these jeans – a huge plus! The higher waist guarantees that no panties will accidentally show and they are totally easy to slip on and off… Yay; they love dressing themselves!

Here, my seven-year-old is wearing:

• Collin Skinny – Flap Pocket Skinny

• LOVE: It’s awesome that my seven-year-old can be so on trend & she especially loves the adjustable elastic waist band. 

• Color: Ripple Blue Wash

• Retail for: $49

This pair has the triangular pocket flaps that Hudson is known for. Fun. Classic. Functional. And oh so comfortable. Who knew that a pair of jeans would make her look so grown up? Seven going on 17. Wow! ❤️

Hudson Kids! has a number of amazing options for girls and boys, infant to size 16, coming this fall, just in time for back-to-school shopping. I’d like to highly encourage you to go instore to have your cutie pie try these on, they will immediately be drawn to how comfortable they are. However, you can order them online. Find Hudson Kids! at Nordstrom, amazon, Von Maur, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s. 

Happy shopping… you will be dancing in car seats all the way home. 

Cheers! 

❤️ Jen

Note: For this post I was provided with jeans for my daughters to try. I was not compensated for this post. All comments are my own. #SITCshoppingday

Summer in Saltwater Sandals

Summer in Saltwater Sandals

As a mommy of southern California girls I am always on the lookout for the best summer shoes… with the hope of avoiding burnt feet. 

This summer we took a family vacation to New York City. I wanted to get my girls a couple of pairs of durable shoes that could withstand getting wet and wouldn’t cause blisters… 

AND looked nothing like Crocs. Sorry. Not sorry. 😁
I picked up a pair of name-brand tennis shoes, figuring we would do a ton of walking, and a pair of Saltwater Sandals from my favorite children’s boutique: Kissui – Redlands, CA, recommended by a fellow mommy on the go. 

I presented my girls with their new sandals upon arriving to NYC. (I got my 3-yer-old niece a pair too.💕) Thrilled! They immediately put them on and we headed to a park. They ran, jumped, climbed, played hard… didn’t complain once about their feet. We walked a total of 8 miles on our first day there!

Each morning, I would announce that it was, “Time to get our shoes on.” And both girls obliged by strapping on their Saltwater Sandals. By the fourth day I was recommending switching to their name brand tennis shoes, to give the sandals a break, and my six-year-old responded with tears! “But Mommy, I just love these.” — Holding up her sandals. 

I chose not to argue & allowed her to wear what was most comfortable. After two weeks in New York City, wearing the same pair of sandals, I was happy to see that they were still firmly intact, not rusted or discolored after the numerous times playing in water & in the city heat. My girls had NOT complained of one blister or one sore foot for that matter. I am so impressed by these sandals. Honestly, they wore them EVERY DAY of our trip!


I recommend that everyone go out and buy a pair of Saltwater Sandals! The sizes range from the tiniest baby foot all the way up to Adult. Yes, ADULT! Both of my girls have told me that they would love, “These same sandals in other colors…” 

🔹They run big so I would suggest going down a size. 

🔹PRODUCT INFORMATION:

* Water-friendly leather upper since 1940!

* Breathable leather lining and footbed.

* Ankle strap with buckle closure ensures a secure fit.

* Hand stitched construction.

* Brass buckles won’t rust if you get them wet.

* Vulcanized rubber outsole.

* Measurements:

    * Weight: 6 oz

My CarseatDancers are always DANCING in Car Seats … from now on, I would be surprised if they weren’t also dancing in Saltwater Sandals.

 
❤️ Jen
Just so you know, I was not paid for this post. I was not given any sandals for free. Although, I’d LOVE some. I am writing this purely on factual occurrences that I HAD to share. 😍You’re welcome! 😉 I have never been more impressed by a shoe! 

Christmas Gift Guide >> for Boys

Snips and snails, and puppy dogs tails, That’s what little boys are made of.

Is there a little boy on your Christmas list who’s got it all? Well, we put together a Christmas Wish List sure to make every little guy swoon, even the one who has it all. We’ve picked items from Star Wars to Batman and everything in between.

1. Lego City Space Port Utility Shuttle 6007
Target
$23.99

2. Discovery Kids T-Rex Moving Figure
Kohl’s
$31.49

3. BATMAN™ Ride On Vehicle
Pottery Barn Kids
$119

4. BABIATORS Sunglasses
BABIATORS
$20

5. Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars
Zappos
$35

6. Star Wars Yoda Character Hugger And Throw Set
Kohl’s
$20

7. Book: The Little Boy Who Lost his Name
LostMy.Name
$30

8. Tucker + Tate
Fitted Two-Piece Pajamas
(Little Boys & Big Boys)
Nordstrom
$32

9. Hammond’s Candy Cane
Hammond’s Candies
$2.95

From my carseat dancers to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas…
Happy shopping!
❤️ Jen

Christmas Wishlist for Girls >> Gift Guide

Every little girl has sugar plum dreams about the goods on her list for Santa. Is the little girl in your life a girly-girl, crafter, sporty, bookworm or misfit… maybe? The “Christmas Wishlist for Girls” that my CarseatDancers and I have put together has something that every type of little girl would adore. Here’s our list of Christmas Must-Haves for girls from 5 to 12.

1. Book: The Little Girl Who Lost Her Name
A personalized gift is something that will be cherished forever. The creativity in this collection of books is phenomenal. Each story is different, as the main character searches for the letters to spell the name of the child who receives it.

2. Globe – Elenco 5″ Political Globe:
Kids who dream about adventure and love to explore will be filled with excitement with the World at their fingertips.

3. American Girl Doll:
“American Girl’s mission is to celebrate girls. We embrace who they are today and look forward to who they will become tomorrow.”
Since 1986, American Girl has inspired girls of ALL walks of life. Online & in store you will find an amazing selection of dolls, books, clothes, toys, and accessories. My CarseatDancers LOVE American Girl. ❤️
Here’s my sweet AKA7 with Grace. Grace is 2015’s Doll of the Year.

4. Penny Board
These cute little skateboards are the newest trend. We are absolutely loving that they have made these a little bit more girly but still PERFECT for the sporty girl in your life. Remember to pick up elbow & knee pads and a helmet if you decide to grab or customize one of these boards.

5. Seedling‘s – My Mini Masterpiece
“Our Kits + Your Imagination = Endless Play”
Painting is one of our favorite indoor craft activities. With this sweet little ARTIST kit your sweetie will create a masterpiece perfect for any wall.
KIT INCLUDES:
Wooden Easel
Canvas
Artist Quality Acrylic Paints
Paint Brush
Instructions

6. Hammond’s Candy Cane
Since 1920, Hammond’s has been creating the best Christmas treats. This JUMBO candy cane is a must-have stocking stuffer!

7. LEGO – Disney Princess – Rapunzel’s Tower
Your little one will build this cool Lego tower as Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, & Pascal the chameleon watch.

8. Justice- Fashions
The perfect Christmas outfit for my little firecracker came from Justice. They have a lovely selection of fashions for the girl in your life.

Happy Shopping & Merry Christmas!
❤️🎄🎅🏻
Jen & my Carseat Dancers

Tips & Tricks to Show Your DisneySide @ Home

Our family adores everything Disney and as a Disneyland Passport holder we are regularly displaying our Disney Side there. But why should you have to leave your Disney Side at the parks? Our celebration, as shown here, can easily be duplicated with just a few tips , tricks & Disney Magic.

When I heard that I could host a Disney Side @Home Celebration for family and friends my girls and I squealed with glee! Disney is more than just a place, it’s a magical feeling… one that you can share, at home.
I received an exclusive Disney Side Princess Party Kit filled with all of the necessary party planning tools needed to spread our Disney magic, at home. And with just a pinch of Pixie Dust and imagination our Valentine’s Day Disney Side Princess Party was a ROYAL success.

Photo Tip: Squat down at your child’s level for a better shot.

My girls were eager to open the box, get started with the guest list and create handmade invitations for their fellow princess friends.

Tip: Allow your kids to help decorate the invitation. I made a prototype that my five-year-old could easily copy.

Let’s Party!
Valentine’s Day 2015

10 little Princess were invited to join in the festivities. We had sweet plans for our Princess Brunch. Our dining table was covered with an array of princess decorations. We had Sophia the First snack bowls, napkins, placemats, cups and plates on the cutest Sophia the First tablecloth. The centerpieces were delightful… surrounding them, we placed our collection of princess toys.

Decorating Trick: It’s fun to incorporate the toys that you already have.

In the mix we displayed the prizes and party favors. Each girl went home with a little something special. Our Disney Side @Home Celebration Kit came chalk full of goods for the At-Home-Princess.

The Palace Pets were a huge hit!
& Lucky us, the owner of Pegatopia sent over some of her adorable, hand painted, peg Princess dolls as prizes too. Check out her adorable Etsy shop!
Our takeaway favors included a plastic princess cup (I bought the cups for $1 at Target.) overflowing with goodies! Complete with a lipgloss, nail polish & nail file, stickers, tiny Disney Princess themed heart-shaped-candy box, tiara, pencil and wand.

Party Favor Tip: Place take away items in something that guests can look at and remember over and over when used. i.e. Cup
We served breakfast treats for even the most picky of princesses.
On the Menu:
❤️ Pastries
❤️ Olaf Noses (Mini Carrots)
❤️ Fresh Fruit
❤️ Princess Punch

💛 Twinings Tea for the moms. My fave was “Nightly Clam.” Shhh… I had a second helping when the party was over. One lucky mom went home with a box of teas.

Guest Tip: Moms of partygoers love a little attention too!

Let the games begin!
With a slight amount of preparation, all of our guest princesses had a ball playing these games:
💛 PinThe Smile on Mickey
💛 Disney Parks BINGO
💛 Fortune Tellers
💛 FROZEN Bowling

Our day came to a close after a stroll through the wildflowers.

Trick: Add an element of the outdoors to your party and create a carefree full-circle ending to their magical day. Lastly, an Ode to the fabulous Sleeping Beauty. Clearly, my preschooler had a dreamy day.
Cheers to celebrating your Disney Side @Home!
❤️ Jen

Disclosure: I received complimentary products to facilitate a Disney Side @Home Celebration, with the expectation that I would share this experience with my readers. All expressed opinions are strictly mine.

Earning Kudos // Children

Receiving kudos can be extremely powerful especially when you are a child.
Our daughters are five and six, one is in kindergarten and the other in preschool, TK. I was thinking about the value of earning kudos and which quick ways to earn them, are important to teach children. This thought popped into my mind after my five-year-old ran into my bedroom, handed me her bowl of cereal and proceeded to skip to the bathroom. For a second I totally thought that I was getting breakfast in bed. Wishful thinking.
Then, I started to think even more about this concept, the concept of giving kudos. Even at preschool age, this list will come in handy. {Not only for the child but for you, the parent, as well.}

Teach your children these five {easy} tasks:
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1. Allow mommy and daddy to sleep in on a weekend day.
We keep very few toys in our daughters’ bedrooms. {We have a playroom downstairs for toys.} At an early age we taught our girls to wake-up-&-play-quietly with the few specialty toys that are kept in their room. The adorable peg dolls shown here can be ordered from: Pegatopia … Be sure to browse the vast array of adorable peg dolls, hand made, for girls & boys — Of every age. {I ordered a Star Wars – Princess Leia one for my friend Liz. Swoon.}
2. Bring mommy and daddy breakfast in bed.
This is the perfect opportunity to teach your child how to read a digital clock. After the clock reads 9:00, your little darling can bring up a bowl of dry cereal, banana or an apple. It’s the little things. {See cereal pic above. 😉}

3. Making your bed and tidying up your room without being asked to do so by mommy & daddy.
This task is simple and my girls find it fun. Teach your sweetie to straighten up the comforter and display their decorative pillows to their liking.
4. Giving someone a compliment.
I have taught my daughters to use kind words and to complement others. When I hear them demonstrate what I’ve taught them I go out of my way to praise them and give kudos. Something as simple as, “You’re funny.” Or “That’s a beautiful necklace.” A complement can go along way.

5. Getting along with your sister {Or brother in some cases.}
It warms my heart to hear our girls getting along and playing nicely together. Being sisters can be tough sometimes. Being a year apart can be even tougher. When I hear them using kind words and playing gently with one another I am sure to give them kudos.

Do you have any parenting tips regarding giving kudos?

Please share them in the comments below. ❤
Cheers!
❤ Jen

Children’s Fashion: The Dragon and the Rabbit // Giveaway

As a mother of two young girls, I appreciate fashion forward clothing that is visually pleasing, made well and feels comfortable. The icing on the cake is when my preschool age daughter’s fashion options mimic the style of fashion icons. Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ classic A-line silhouettes, Twiggy’s Peter~Pan Collar and Audrey Hepburn’s tailored breakfast at Tiffany’s style. All of these timeless attributes are featured in adorable pieces made by The Dragon and the Rabbit.

I was first introduced to The Dragon and the Rabbit via a contest that I won on Facebook, I chose the whimsical Tulip Dress for my four-year-old daughter and I became immediately fixated on the feel of the natural cotton fabric and the quality of the design. Swoon.

Their color pallet represents all seasons and has a array of on trend patterns. Stripes, plaids, florals and polkadots make for the most adorable outfits. This line has items for both boys and girls that coordinate beautifully. My sister, My Strange Family, and my handsome nephew are The Dragon and the Rabbit fans too! I just adore his Long Sleeve Skyline Polo Shirt seen below.

For the holidays, I decided to dress my family in red and navy blue. During our earliest years I had them in matching outfits… yes, I’m THAT mom. This year, I allowed them to choose their own dresses. (Unbeknownst to them, they will coordinate fabulously in their The Dragon and the Rabbit dresses.) I’m thrilled to pieces.

Thanks to The Dragon and the Rabbit, getting into the holiday spirit is going to be even more pleasurable. One lucky Dancing in Carseats reader will be able to choose one of the following pieces from their sweet collection: PETER PAN DRESS or BURNT ORANGE PLAID SHIRT

Cheers to Dancing In Carseats & Happy Holidays!
❤ Jen

Pssst… I was not compensated for this post, just provided with an item to giveaway to one of you. The Dragon and the Rabbit will be responsible for prize fulfillment.

All opinions expressed here are my own.

To enter this quick giveaway, all you need to do is click on… a Rafflecopter giveaway 👈 HERE.

Good luck! 🍀