Disney World is fun year-round (ok, maybe with the exception of July and August..lol) but visiting during the holidays is one of my favorite times.  The lights, the music, the decorations… just make it all more magical.  We recently went down for a night to get our holiday fix.  We stayed at the Copper Creek Villas, which is part of the Wilderness Lodge.   The Wildnerness Lodge is one of our favorite resorts, especially with their Christmas decorations this time of year.  I’m a big fan of staying at one of the Magic Kingdom resorts because there’s a lot to be said for being able to skip having to go to park the car, get the kids on the tram, get to the gate, then choose transportation to get to the park.  It saves on a lot of stress for us. I always look for a good deal though, which seems to become trickier as rooms get booked up faster.

Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

The Copper Creek Villas have a rustic-elegant atmosphere which is Disney’s nod to the rich pioneering heritage of the Pacific Northwest.  You are just around the river bend from the Magic Kingdom but in walking through parts of the resort you’d never know it.  It really has the Pacific Northwest feel.

Tree inside the Wilderness Lodge Studio Room in Copper Creek Villas part of Wilderness Lodge

When you’re staying at the Copper Creek Villas you enjoy the amenities and activities that are available to the Wilderness Lodge such as the pools and jogging trails.   When you arrive, you still come through the Wilderness Lodge for check-in.  I love the Wilderness Lodge lobby at Christmas time.  There’s a giant Christmas tree!

We had a studio villa, and it was really nice! We had a view of the pool area and a little sitting area outside the room.  There’s a little kitchen area with a microwave, refrigerator, coffee pot, sink, and dishes in the cabinet!

There was a bed and a sofa with a fold-out bed available.  The sofa bed was actually comfortable and the kids slept really well on it!

Studio Room at Copper Creek Villas (Disney’s Wilderness Lodge)

The shower was cool because there was a regular shower head and then a “rain” showerhead in middle.

Exploring The Resort

We went to the park but they were pretty busy so we went back to the resort to hang out for a little bit.

Buffalo at Canyon Creek Villas located at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Outside View of Peaceful Canyon Creek Villas at the Wilderness Lodge

The kids love the bush shaped buffalo! They thought it was awesome.  I had several people stop and ask me where we got my son’s boots from.  Target has them for $19.99 and they are adorable!

Inside the Disney Vacation Club Villas Building

The walk going toward the Disney Vacation Club Villas is a covered boardwalk type area.  During Christmas, it’s decorated and festive.

There’s a nice tree in the lobby of this building too!  It’s very cozy, and there were tables and chairs around as well as a fireplace for you to hang out around.

The Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

I want to stay in one of these cabins so bad!  It’s definitely on my goals list for the next year

It does not feel like you’re in Lake Buena Vista.  That’s for sure!  On the walkways, there are animal tracks that the kids were following trying to guess what animal they were from.

There were a lot more cabins that I initially realized.  They have a few different looks on the outside which is cool and makes it feel a little more authentic.

Whispering Canyon Cafe

For dinner, we went to one of our favorite Walt Disney World restaurants, the Whispering Canyon Cafe.  Whispering Canyon is a “themed” restaurant where the waiters are blunt (but not mean).  They are known for coming to the table and throwing a handful of straws at you.   One time we visited and my son was 2 and was whiney.  The waitress looks at him and says “Oh stop the whining! You’re at the happiest place on earth for heaven’s sake!”  he just stopped. I burst into laughter.  It was hilarious.

The tree inside the Whispering Canyon Cafe

We Need Ketchup!

Another fun thing about the Whispering Canyon is asking for ketchup.  They bring you all of it.  When someone else asks at another table, they yell as loud as they can “We need ketchup!” and you have to get up and get it to them quickly.

More Fun- The Ponies

The kids’ favorite part of the Whispering Canyon Cafe is the ponies! They have stick ponies that they kids do a loop on around the restaurant while music plays and everyone swings their napkins in the air.

The Food

Menu

We always get the “All You Can Eat Skillet” which is $29-32 per person.  It consists of family-style Mixed Greens tossed in an Apple Vinaigrette Dressing and Fresh-baked Cornbread. The skillet has  Slow-smoked Pork Ribs, Barbecued Pulled Pork, Roasted Chicken, Oak-roasted Beef Strip Loin, and Western-style Sausage served with Seasonal Farm Fresh Vegetables, Mashed Yukon Potatoes, Corn on the Cobb, and Cowboy-style Baked Beans.  We aren’t typically the kind to get “all you can eat” plates because we don’t ever finish it, but this… is so good! Most of the time we get a refill on at least a couple of the items.

The Magic Kingdom

After dinner, we headed back over to the Magic Kingdom via boat.  I cannot express how much easier it is to take two little kids back to the park via boat (or in some cases monorail) as opposed to the whole getting in the car process.

We had set up some fast passes on My Disney Experience for Buzz Light Year, the race cars, and Dumbo. We walked around the park and looked at the decorations.  I love the Magic Kingdom when it’s all decorated for the holiday season!

The park at night with the lights everywhere are pretty in general too.  Here’s the carousel at night-

While we were waiting on the boat to go back to the hotel we caught the light parade on the Seven Seas Lagoon

Water Parade

It was a fun time!  The next day we went over to Hollywood Studios to see the new Frozen show which was a little different for the holidays.  It’s one of my favorite shows and never disappoints.   We also checked out the Disney Junior Live On Stage and visited with Doc McStuffins, BB8, and Chewbacca.   It was just an overnight trip but still packed with lots of fun.

Walt Disney World is crazy around the holiday season.  It’s hard to guess whether they will be busy or not. Two years ago we went on December 23rd and 24th and it wasn’t bad at all.  I think it’s because most people who were planning to come and celebrate Christmas there were possibly coming in later on the 24th.  Typically early December isn’t too bad, but again it’s been a long time since I’ve seen “slow” Disney.

If you’re able to check it out during the holidays I definitely recommend it!

Here’s a picture by Candi from Magical Pix by Candi Clark to wish you a Merry Holiday Season!  If you are at Disney you have to check Candi out, she’s a fantastic photographer who has done our photos while we were down in the past.  She’s really awesome!

Pic by Magical Pix by Candi Clark

Have you checked out Walt Disney World During the holidays?

Visiting Kennedy Space Center

We were looking for a weekend out of town after a few stressful weeks of various activities, school and work going on and decided on Kennedy Space Center.  It wasn’t too far of a drive for us and we had never been.  Having two small kids we try not to be in the car too long for the sake of their comfort and our sanity.

The drive into the space center is beautiful.  The space center is not too far from Port Canaveral so if you’ve ever taken a cruise out of that port and want to take an extra day this is an excellent place to check out.

I’m sure that in it’s prime it was beyond amazing and busy.  Even now, there’s a lot to see and a lot of history to learn from.  This is somewhere that is a great trip for fun while being educational for kids of various ages.  There’s a great page from Kennedy Space Center official site explaining how to plan your visit.  There is so much to do and see here!

The Rocket Gardens

Here there are some of the initial rockets that were sent up along with a few replicas that you can actually get inside.  It is amazing and crazy to think that someone was sent into space in some of these.  When you read it, it doesn’t always register what it was truly like and the sacrifice made to take this journey. When you see in person the replicas of these rockets that were built as the United States made the journey towards space it is so incredible.  The career of an astronaut sounds like an incredible thing and then when you see what they actually had to go through and their cramped ride in space it will definitely make you rethink it however it also shows the determination they had to be part of this historic accomplishment.

The Rocket Garden Little Mr. H was not into pretending he was waiting to go up in the rocket…LOL

Bus Explore Tour Visit- Mission Control

You can take a bus tour as part of your general admission ticket to Kennedy Space Center.  It takes you around to the launch pads and to see Atlantis along with various other space museum features.  Some of the features feel like something from a sci-fi movie but in a really cool, fascinating way.  I highly recommend the bus tour as it will give you some time to sit and relax, and there are things that you’re able to see that otherwise, you’d miss out when exploring on foot.

Can’t forget the gators..

This was one of 5 different gators that we saw on the bus throughout our tour.  This is Florida after all 🙂 LOL!  We were also able to see a Bald Eagle and their nest during the bus tour as well.

Successful Mission

Pretending to fly the spaceship

This visit was a lot of fun.  I was worried about whether the kids would find it fun. They are 3 and 5 so it was if-y. I’m happy to say that (once I promised nobody was going to shoot us off into space) they were very excited and had a fun day.  They are already asking to go back for another visit.  I think this is something they’ll enjoy again when they are a little older as well.  Although they may not remember this visit later on, it is always something I’ll remember as they explored and looked around in amazement.

Kennedy Space Center is a great idea to visit with kids of all ages as well as just an adult visit.  There are so much history and education as well as fun that you can definitely spend a whole day.

Want more information? Kennedy Space Center Ticket Information

More on attractions at Kennedy Space Center

Have you been to Kennedy Space Center?  What are your thoughts?

More Things To Do Near Kennedy Space Center

Looking for some savings during this uncertain “self-isolation”/quarantine time?  Me too! Here are some helpful coupons for when you go grocery shopping this week.   We’ve been trying to make list so that we’re not making 3 grocery stores runs a week.  It’s been tough trying to stay at home.  Since I’m working from home and the kids are doing virtual school it has been one of the things to make sure we do but man, I’d love to just go walk around Target for a little bit.

 Food Coupons

Allergy Care Coupons

Cleaning Supply Coupons

I don’t know about you but we’ve been doing some deep cleaning recently.  These should come in handy for anyone who has been on teh same mission!

Personal Care Coupons

Are you roots showing like mine are?  This could come in handy!

Why Is It Important?

Exercise has been proven to have many benefits both physically and mentally.   According to children’s specialty health provider Nemours, some of the main benefits of exercise for kids include:

Need more benefits?  Check out 10 Benefits of Physical Activity for Kids from Parents Magazine.

As kids exercise they are working on endurance, strength, and flexibility.  It also plays a part in improving their mental health as well. Being fit and exercising doesn’t mean it has to be a rigorous, dreaded activity.  It is about moving and having fun.

17 Exercise Ideas That Aren’t Boring or Intimidating

Going on a Bear Hunt

Remember the song “I’m going on a Bear Hunt” from when you were a kid?  Have some fun and act out the motions as you sing!  Swim across the lake, climb up the tree, and stomp over the bridge! Kids will have a blast as they run and scurry from the bear at the end!  They’ll feel like they’re just having fun, singing, and acting it out while they are working their arms, lifting their legs, and running around doing cardio.

Hula Hooping

Kids love hula hoops!  Check out this Hula Hoop Challange for inspiration! Find Hula Hoops on Amazon

Follow the Leader

This is super simple and fun.  Throw in some jumping jacks, stomping, and squatting to make it fun and challenging.

Dance Party

Put on a playlist of your favorite songs and get moving!

Freeze Dance

Another option to a dance party to kick it up a notch is to play freeze dance and be ready to stop and start at a moment’s notice!  You can even get Alexa to play Freeze Dance!

Bubble Smash

Blow some bubbles and have the kids run and try to see who can smash them.

Pillow Fight.

You know how that works ;).  They’re getting in activity and movement and they run and swing that pillow, never realizing that it’s an exercise in motion.

HopScotch

This can be done inside or outside by using floor markers or tape inside or chalk outside.   While playing a game they will be jumping and practicing balance as well.

Balloon Ball

Don’t let the balloon touch the ground!  Each child can have their own balloon or it could be a game with just one where they continually move and hit it to keep it from hitting the ground.

Parachute

Using a parachute or a sheet at home, each kid will take an end of the parachute (or sheet) and fan it upward while one of you runs underneath.

Wheelbarrow Race

Have kids race from one end of the yard to another, or time a pair to see how long it takes them to wheelbarrow around the house three times. Check out this Kids Wheel Barrow Race on YouTube!  It’s sure to tire them out for the evening!

Clean Up Race

This is an activity we do a lot when I’m tired of fighting with the kids to get stuff done.  Set a timer and make it a competition for them and it seems to set off some inspiration!  Plus, things get done quickly!

Obstacle Course

You can use couch cushions, pots and pans, and plenty of other household objects to construct an engaging and challenging obstacle course!  Kids can climb under blankets stretched between the couch and coffee table, or they can somersault across the living room. This can be done inside or out!

Bubble Wrap Attack

What kid doesn’t love bubble wrap?  Put some on the floor and have them jump around until it’s all popped!

Headstands

This is a great way to work core muscles!  Many times kids catch on quickly.

Dinosaur Workout

This is one of our favorites.  The kids both LOVE dinosaurs!  You can make it up as you go, or use Fit Mom Go’s Dinosaur Theme Workout!

Speaking of Fit Mom Go, she has a great playlist of Mommy and Me workouts to check out.

Fun Yoga

Cosmic Yoga has fantastic videos for kids to get moving and practicing yoga with themed workouts such as Alice in Wonderland, Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog and so much more.

Check out At Home Activities- Movement!

If there’s something 2020 has definitely taught us; it’s the importance of life skills.  Due to the convenience of most things, we often take life skills for granted…that is until everything is closed, or supplies are limited.  Cooking is a vital life skill that even if you are someone who doesn’t prefer to do it, you still need to be capable of it which is why kids should learn how to cook.  Cooking involves critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.

“If you give a man a fish he is hungry again in an hour.  If you teach him to catch a fish you, and you feed him for a lifetime. -Unknown”

What Skills Does Cooking Involve?

• It is an activity that engages all the senses: smelling, tasting, touching, hearing, and seeing.
• Temperature- converting temperatures for a recipe
• Time- working on cooking times based on weight
• Measurements- measuring correct quantities or changing measurements based on quantities that are being made.
• Colors and Shapes
• Fractions
• Hand-eye coordination
• Reading

Cooking Helps Teach Kids About:

There are many things that teaching children to cook helps teach them that goes beyond just nutrition for their bodies.

• Family traditions with certain foods or meals
• Other cultures
• Combining flavors
• Presentation
• Science (what happens when certain ingredients are mixed together)
• Promotes healthy eating
• Promotes awareness about what you are eating
• Math

Dr. Nimali Fernando, MD, MPH, FAAP, a practicing pediatrician, joyful experiences involving food can help kids overcome the anxiety they may have around tasting the unfamiliar.  Over time, cooking with kids can help build confidence and provide rich sensory experiences.

Research has shown that cooking at home often leads to healthier meals.  According to research from John Hopkins, when cooking at home people consume less sugar and fat.

Empowering Children to Learn to Cook

Kids Are Great Cooks Subscription Box

So how do you help your kids learn to cook?  What if you aren’t all that experienced yourself in the kitchen?   I was recently able to try out a new subscription service called Kids Are Great Cooks.  It is a monthly cooking club for kids that teaches them to cook with step by step instructions, build kitchen skills, grow self-confidence, and increase their independence in the kitchen.  The box is aimed at kids from 7-14+.

The Difference in Kids Are Great Cooks

There are many subscription boxes out there, and there are websites that you can google recipes on, however, what makes Kids Are Great Cooks stand out is the video tutorials for each recipe.  The videos are taught by kids and give more details about how to prepare a dish.  The additional details include things such as what the consistency of something should look like, as well as kitchen tips which explain the different types of pots and pans as well as what types of tools you should use for them (wood, plastic, metal) depending on if it is a stainless-steel material or non-stick material.  One thing that really sets this subscription box apart from others is the kid led videos.

Kids are Great Cooks Subscription Box The apron that comes in the first box Game Board to enhance the fun

There are also bloopers and outtakes which are fun because they give a behind the scenes view to kids.

The Kids Are Great Cooks Blog has some fantastic information for kids (and adults!) where topics such as seasoning and flavorings, kitchen tools, herbs, kitchen how-to and more are covered.  If you need an indication of the expertise that will be provided in the subscription I recommend checking out the blog.  It’s detailed and there is a wealth of knowledge that is well laid out and authored by kids so that it isn’t overwhelming.

They offer three plans, a 3-month plan at $28/kit, a 6-month plan at $26/kit, or a 12-month Plan at $24/kit.  You can check out what the subscription plans include on the subscription page.

Additional resources on the benefits of kids learning to cook:

10 Benefits of Cooking with Kids

https://www.healthylittlefoodies.com/developing-early-mathematical-skills-through-cooking/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/learning-to-cook-and-cook_b_1099863?

Summer is a great time for a picnic. Whether it’s at a park, the beach or even your own backyard it is a great way to spend time together and make memories to last a lifetime!

Fried Chicken & Cole Slaw or Crispy Roasted Potatoes in a Basket –

You can fry/bake your own Fried chicken or pick up some from your favorite Chicken place! Publix has wings that a great idea to use for any picnic
Cole Slaw Recipe
Low Fat Oven Fried Chicken Recipe
Cripsy Roasted Potatoes Recipe

Pasta Salad 

A pasta salad is a great main dish – or side dish for hamburgers, Hotdogs, Chicken, and more.  Plus it’s so easy to do! 

Summer Pasta Salad Recipe

Option 2 – Pizza Pasta Salad Recipe 

Pizza 

This is always great delivery//Frozen// leftover or making an easy french bread pizza together and going out on the lawn for a picnic.

French Bread Pizza 

Classic – Sandwiches

Focaccia Sandwiches

BBQ Chicken Skewers! 

Parm Pesto Chicken

Dessert

Roasted Strawberry Sheet cake! 

Baked Apple Chips! 

What are your favorite picnic foods?

*This post contains affiliate links…meaning if you decide to check them out I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I have personally tried and love

Pete the Cat

If you haven’t met Pete… you are missing out.  Before I share some of my lessons learned from Pete the Cat, let me give you the story of how I found Pete.

My daughter started kindergarten this last year and shortly after she came home singing a song that went with a book they had read. She came home singing  “I was rockin’ in my school shoes, I was rockin’ in my school shoes”  I didn’t know much about it but she would repeat the chorus and bounce around while she played.

A couple days later we get home and she says “Mommy!! You HAVE to listen to this!” and with all the excitement of a 5 year old starts to explain the book they read that day…

“Pete the Cat had four groovy buttons…oh no! one fell off, did Pete cry? (she yells the answer) Goodness No!” she repeats counting down until she gets to zero and then says-“Pete looked down at his shirt and what did he saw? His belly button!  (at which point she totally starts to dance and sing to the tune of Fergi’s “My Humps” ) My buttons my buttons, still  got my belly button” and that leads to her breaking into a burst of hysterical laughter.   This…made me turn to Google to find out what all the entertainment was about.

This cat is a cool, groovy, laid back blue cat that teaches kids helpful lessons in a fun entertaining way.  I was able to download a few of the songs and they were on repeat.  Both my 5 and 3-year-old were obsessed, so much so the songs were stuck in my head.

Lessons I’ve Learned From Pete the Cat-

1. Stuff will come and stuff will go…but do we cry? Goodness No! (Four Groovy Buttons)

Your day will bring many situations. Do we get upset or stressed over it? Goodness no 🙂

2. Give it your all (Pete the Cat Saves Christmas)

No matter what you do or how big the job is, give it your all to get it accomplished.

Some days you just need the right accessory to boost your confidence. You’ll find though you had it inside you  all along ❤️

4. No matter what you step in, keep walking along and singing your song…because it’s all good. (Pete the Cat I Love My White Shoes)

Along the way you are bound to step in something you didn’t expect. Don’t let it stop you. Keep moving forward.

5. Do we worry? Goodness No! (Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes)

Like Pete, we often experience uncomfortable new environments that we are required to make it through. Do we worry? Goodness no! We do what we have to do- make that presentation, hold that meeting, whatever the situation calls for- and we rock it!

These books do a great job of helping build kids confidence and grit which is something I absolutely love about them.

Do you love Pete the Cat? What’s your child’s favorite Pete story?

This is our favorite Pete the Cat set! It comes with the songs!

Want more Pete? Here’s a free resource!

Fun Printable Activities!

We recently took a trip to Orlando (which we do quite often), but this time it wasn’t for Disney World. For my daughter’s 6th birthday we decided to get out of town for the weekend and she wanted to check out the American Girl Doll store. She has fallen in love with the Wellie Wisher series and has been begging for one. I figured her birthday was a great time to get it and while we were there we could have lunch at the café. Easy birthday weekend plan right? My only problem was finding a place to stay.  It’s rare to have a non Disney trip to Orlando but can be a nice change of pace.

Where to stay for a Non Disney Trip to Orlando

I wasn’t too familiar with the area surrounding the Florida Mall (where the store is located) other than knowing that at night you don’t want to be caught out there alone. The Disney resorts were a little further than I wanted to drive in relation to the mall so I went with a Universal Orlando Resort. I figured there would be a nice pool, we could always walk around City Walk and it was a short drive to the Florida Mall.

I booked the Lowes Sapphire Falls. It is a beautiful hotel and the staff was very friendly! My only complaint is that you are charged for resort parking which is just a big pet peeve of mine.

As we walked into check-in there was a young woman greeting everyone as they entered. My daughter says “It’s my birthday!” to which the young woman smiled and said “Happy Birthday!” The check-in process was smooth and my husband went back to park the car and get our bags while the kids and I headed up to the room. While waiting at the elevator the greeter came over with a “Happy Birthday” card and a shell necklace for my daughter. She was blown away and was convinced that this young woman had made the necklace herself. It was such a sweet, kind thing to do and I was blown away by the customer service of it all.

The room had a very beachy feel and the bool was gorgeous! Little Miss B (my daughter) even made friends with one of the lifeguards who would call to her by name. The pool at the resort is fantastic and there’s a fun slide as well. We spent a lot of time there!

Things to do and see…

We went to City Walk for dinner. I will say this is one area that is very different for a Disney fan. It’s more of a nightlife driven fun place rather than the family friendliness of Disney. It’s not bad, just different. I liked that we had the option of walking or taking a boat ride from the resort to City Walk. Each resort has its own boat so you don’t have to stop over at another resort for passengers. For dinner, we went to the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium which is an amazing restaurant. If you’re ever in Orlando I recommend checking it out!

American Girl Doll Store & Cafe

The next day we headed over to the mall to visit the American Girl store. Little Miss B knew which Wellie Wisher she wanted so that didn’t take long. She was able to pick out an extra outfit with a gift card she had been given as well. My son, Little Mr. H, is 3 and he was having fun pushing strollers around and playing with blankets. Soon it was time for lunch and we headed over to the café. The food was good and the prices weren’t crazy either. It was small, but both kids enjoyed it a lot.

The napkin has a hair tie you can keep

The supportive (but sleepy) brother

Also, in the mall is Carlos Bakery and they are in the process of finishing up a Shake Shack! Two of my NYC favorites! The mall itself is gigantic and included an M&M World as well as a Crayola Experience. The kids were pretty eager to get back to the pool so we didn’t check it all out, with the exception of the M&M World pit stop for green and blue M&M’s.

It was a nice weekend getaway. The resort is very relaxing and beautiful. The staff was incredibly nice. It’s also not too far away if you want to visit the Florida Mall or even the Mall of Millennia.

Have you visited Orlando for a non-Disney vacation? Where your favorite places to stay and visit?

Check out our Wellie Wisher Birthday Party!

Looking for other non-Disney things to do around Orlando?

Check out Legoland!

My kids love imaginative play. Pretending a section of the floor is lava that they must get around, saving a stuffed animal from ‘danger’, Princess Rapunzel fighting off an invading dinosaur are all things they come up with. Almost anything can be used in imaginative play, boxes, toys, rocks, dress up clothes…you name it.

They especially love being able to dress up. It’s not uncommon to see a superhero, princess, ballerina, or storm trooper walking around. The problem I’ve found is that costumes are expensive. They can be found on sale at Halloween but it’s gotten to where they are so picked through there’s not much of a selection or I can’t find the right size.

The kids are kind of funny when it comes to the material of costumes. My son will typically wear a costume for about 10 minutes max and then it’s itchy or annoying him.

I don’t know about you but, from what I have found a lot of Halloween costumes aren’t exactly quality material. I haven’t bought “cheap” ones either, these have come from well-known stores like the Disney Princess one I had to wash and then the bottom seam was all tattered and coming apart.

Both kids have gone through recent growth spurts and so a lot of their old costumes aren’t fitting anymore. They both asked for capes, the towels they were using weren’t staying on while they were trying to play. This not only annoyed them, but I had to stop every 3 minutes to try and re-adjust/fix it. I went online to do a search and see what I could find, initially thinking I would try and make it.

Little Adventures

I came across Little Adventures and fell in love with their selections, not to mention their affordability. They have the most adorable princess dresses! Including a Cinderella Day Dress that I have never seen anywhere else.

Cinderella Day Dress from Little Adventures

Selection

My favorite part though, was the selection of heroes and adventure. There are capes and tutu’s that will appeal to girls, as well as capes, knight costumes, and crusader costumes that boys will love. Did I mention dragon wings and capes with swords? They have those too!

Sword and Shield Set – Red

There’s also a wide variety of mask that you can purchase to mix and match.

Screen Shot of Mask available at littleadventures.com

I purchased two capes (they came with mask), one for each kid.

It didn’t take long at all for me to receive them. They kids were ecstatic!

Quality

The quality of them impressed me a lot. I sort of expected just a piece of material made into a cape. This was a finished product. There outside it a velvet type material but the inside lining is a smooth satin like material. There is velcro on the front to attach the sides. The fantastic thing about this is that a lot of times with capes that tie the kids wind up “choking” and that hasn’t happened. The velcro holds securely but comfortably.

So far, these have held up very well. They have been worn a lot! I have constantly had people stop me to tell me how cute they are or ask where I got it.

Discount& Give Away!

I’ve teamed with Little Adventures to be able to offer my readers a special discount! Use LMB15% (Good. Through 9-10-17) to get 15% off your purchase at Little Adventures.

Want to win a $30 credit to use at ?

Here’s how-

Go to Little Adventures, take a look around and comment on this post with what item you like best.

Bonus Entry if you share this post on social media  with friends!  The winner will be selected on August 31st!

Benefits of Imaginative Play

UPDATE: Winner of the $30 credit is Nickie! I will be emailing you the information! Congratulations!

Dont forget! The discount is through September 9th!!

My kids love imaginative play. Pretending a section of the floor is lava that they must get around, saving a stuffed animal from ‘danger’, Princess Rapunzel fighting off an invading dinosaur are all things they come up with. Almost anything can be used in imaginative play, boxes, toys, rocks, dress up clothes…you name it.

They especially love being able to dress up. It’s not uncommon to see a superhero, princess, ballerina, or storm trooper walking around. The problem I’ve found is that costumes are expensive. They can be found on sale at Halloween but it’s gotten to where they are so picked through there’s not much of a selection or I can’t find the right size.

The kids are kind of funny when it comes to the material of costumes. My son will typically wear a costume for about 10 minutes max and then it’s itchy or annoying him.

I don’t know about you but, from what I have found a lot of Halloween costumes aren’t exactly quality material. I haven’t bought “cheap” ones either, these have come from well-known stores like the Disney Princess one I had to wash and then the bottom seam was all tattered and coming apart.

Both kids have gone through recent growth spurts and so a lot of their old costumes aren’t fitting anymore. They both asked for capes, the towels they were using weren’t staying on while they were trying to play. This not only annoyed them, but I had to stop every 3 minutes to try and re-adjust/fix it. I went online to do a search and see what I could find, initially thinking I would try and make it.

Little Adventures

I came across Little Adventures and fell in love with their selections, not to mention their affordability. They have the most adorable princess dresses! Including a Cinderella Day Dress that I have never seen anywhere else.

Cinderella Day Dress from Little Adventures

Selection

My favorite part though, was the selection of heroes and adventure. There are capes and tutu’s that will appeal to girls, as well as capes, knight costumes, and crusader costumes that boys will love. Did I mention dragon wings and capes with swords? They have those too!

Sword and Shield Set – Red

There’s also a wide variety of mask that you can purchase to mix and match.

Screen Shot of Mask available at littleadventures.com

I purchased two capes (they came with mask), one for each kid.

It didn’t take long at all for me to receive them. They kids were ecstatic!

Quality

The quality of them impressed me a lot. I sort of expected just a piece of material made into a cape. This was a finished product. There outside it a velvet type material but the inside lining is a smooth satin like material. There is velcro on the front to attach the sides. The fantastic thing about this is that a lot of times with capes that tie the kids wind up “choking” and that hasn’t happened. The velcro holds securely but comfortably.

So far, these have held up very well. They have been worn a lot! I have constantly had people stop me to tell me how cute they are or ask where I got it.

Discount& Give Away!

I’ve teamed with Little Adventures to be able to offer my readers a special discount! Use LMB15% (Good. Through 9-10-17) to get 15% off your purchase at Little Adventures.

Want to win a $30 credit to use at ?

Here’s how-

Go to Little Adventures, take a look around and comment on this post with what item you like best.

Bonus Entry if you share this post on social media  with friends!  The winner will be selected on August 31st!

Benefits of Imaginative Play

UPDATE: Winner of the $30 credit is Nickie! I will be emailing you the information! Congratulations!

Dont forget! The discount is through September 9th!!