Do you enjoy playing games with your family? We sure do! In fact, as a hip, homeschooling family, games are interwoven into our everyday lives. If they're fast-paced, educational games? Even better.

You see, I'm a firm believer that kids learn more efficiently when they're having fun doing it, so I'm always looking for ways to shake things up a little. Family game nights with a focus on educational games always fit the bill perfectly. Plus, quality time with the kids? Added bonus! 

So when RoosterFin Games reached out to me to introduce me to their amazing, teacher created family games, I was definitely excited! Teachers GET kids, man. They do. So I was excited to see that Joe, a former teacher, brought his expertise to the table to create fun, simple to learn games that also help fine tune skills kids need to thrive.

(Math. He sneaks math into these games, folks.) 

RoosterFin Games offers a great variety of games, so you're sure to find the perfect games to enjoy with your family, or for gifts this Holiday season! 

If I don't have my coffee in the mornings, I'm not pleasant to deal with. In fact, I'm like a grumpy, slightly incoherent, confuzzled lump that vaguely resembles a human being. 

Okay, so that's obviously a slight exaggeration. I'm still human, but I don't ever feel ready to tackle the day without my coffee, or as my kids call it, "Mommy Go Juice". I always prefer to wake up gently, while sipping away at my favorite coffee beverage. 

Lately, Cold Brew coffees have been all the rage, so when the awesome folks at JAVA HOUSE® contacted me about their Authentic Cold Brew Coffee, I couldn't wait to check it out!

With the Holiday season quickly approaching and Football season in full swing, there are about 5,395 reasons to get together with family and friends. After all, there's nothing better than sharing laughs, food, and drink with those we love, or screaming at the TV when your team loses. In Cleveland, we're used to losing. A LOT. Cleveland losses don't phase us here, one bit. 

Anyway, one way to help make your seasonal gatherings even more epic is by upgrading your home's sound system. Everything is more enjoyable with crystal clear, perfectly balanced sound, after all. 

When I think of superior sound, one name comes to mind: Bose. This trusted brand has some great new offerings, which you can find at your local Best Buy this season. 

You might recall that recently, I rocked my Organic Cotton prAna gear at my city's Oktoberfest celebrations. I wore an adorable dress and sweater coat, both in warm, fall tones and made with clean, Organic Cotton. Not only was my outfit seasonal and chic, it was also sustainably made, which happens to matter a lot to me.
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As an activist and a Mom, I care about the planet we leave behind for future generations. We've done a lot of damage to Mother Earth, but it's never a bad idea to try and turn it around with more eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyles. 

That's why I love prAna. Not only can I find fashion-forward, trendy clothing that's perfect for my busy lifestyle, I can also feel good knowing that by choosing environmentally conscious brands such as prAna, I am doing my part to help create a healthier environment in general. 

In addition to Organic Cotton, prAna also has a fantastic selection of Hemp clothing. Hemp is one of my absolute favorite materials, and I love how soft it is, and the way it keeps me cool in warmer weather. Hemp is moisture-wicking, and is also naturally anti-microbial, meaning it actually repels bacteria, which helps keep you cleaner. (This is one thing I loved when I was cloth diapering my kids. We always LOVED the Hemp inserts!) Hemp, a non-psychoactive cousin of the Cannabis plant, is super sustainable, taking weeks rather than years to replenish, too. It's really a miracle plant that can be used in so many ways, including in fashion! 

Check out the brief video below to learn more about why Hemp is the perfect choice when choosing your Fall fashions this season: 

It seems that nowadays, many families, including my own, are ditching cable and choosing more tech-savvy, money saving ways to access their favorite forms of entertainment. Many also choose to upgrade their televisions when cutting cable, as today's Smart TVs offer a variety of different streaming service options, such as YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, and more. 

What if I told you there's a way to cut cable while keeping your streaming services, without having to buy a newer TV? It's true! While a shiny, new TV is always great, it's not always possible to budget for.

This is where the Google Chromecast can help! Chromecast is designed to make the most of the apps and entertainment. Watch movies, shows, live TV, YouTube, and photos streaming on your TV from all your family's devices.¹

Plug Chromecast into the HDMI port on your TV and to power and stream your favorite entertainment right from your phone with just a tap. Watch shows, listen to playlists, and more. And while streaming, you can still use your phone as you normally do.

Google Chromecast works with the streaming apps you already know and love.
Enjoy TV shows, movies, videos, songs, games, sports and more from over 2000 apps like Netflix, YouTube, YouTube TV, and HBO NOW. Find more at g.co/chromecast/¹
 
Chromecast also allows you to start streaming with just your voice. Yep, this baby is voice powered, too! Just say what you want to watch from compatible apps and control your TV hands-free, with Chromecast and Google Home working seamlessly together.²
 
“Ok Google, play Stranger Things from Netflix on my living room TV.” ¹

Thanks so Chromecast's high speed, wireless connectivity, you can seamlessly stream all of your favorite music, movies, and more. Chromecast offers built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi connects to the Internet through your wireless home network. (wireless router required and sold separately).
 
Upgrade your TV for less
Expand your home entertainment without buying a new TV. It's so affordable you can get one for every TV in the house. No, for real. Google Chromecast is only around $35, so upgrading all of your existing TVs won't break the bank! 

Please note: Web-based services and content require existing, high-speed Internet service. Some services, such as Netflix or Hulu, may require a subscription. You're on your own for this, but once you're all set, Google Chromecast can stream them all flawlessly!
 
You can purchase Google Chromecast or learn more about this product at your local Best Buy store. This would make a fantastic Holiday gift! 

¹ Subscriptions are required to view some content.
 
² Google Home, Chromecast, and compatible content required to cast to a TV using Google Home.
 

We're coming up on one of the most important elections of our lifetimes this November. I won't go into my own personal, Political views right now, but I will say that I truly believe voting is a Civic Duty, and one that is so important, too. If not enough people vote and make their voices heard, disastrous things can happen. Things that can impact many generations to come, and not always in the most positive ways.

​By voting, and teaching our kids the importance of doing so, we can take our futures into our own hands by electing officials that have our best interests at heart, and will act accordingly.  

Just in time for election season, the voting process is brought to life for children of all ages when a charming underwater community comes together to illustrate the importance of participating in your community. 

Are you ready for Halloween? 

Here in Ohio, we're definitely gearing up for a spooky, good time! IF Mother Nature would stop giving us 90 degree days in October. Someone needs to make Elsa angry, STAT! Not TOO angry, though. I'm not quite ready for winter! 

Anyway, my kids are really excited about all things Halloween right now. They've already gotten their costumes, too. Xander is going as a favorite video game character, and Sophie will be a Unicorn. 

To help get into the Halloween spirit, we've been finding ways to celebrate all things ghoulish in our every day activities, from artwork to crafts, and even our snacks lately have had a seasonal, spooky theme! 

***Disclosure: This post is sponsored by the Center for Parent and Teen Communication.  All opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.***

No matter how much things may seem to change, the more they also stay the same. Welcome a beautiful, new chapter of parenthood. 

THEN: 
When you were small, you never fit in with the other little boys in the neighborhood. You wanted to dance and create beautiful works of art, while the other kids threw a ball, played with their action heroes, or frolicked in the mud. You wanted to bake apple pies, and the other kids made mud pies. You were Mommy's Shadow, following me while the other kids followed their Daddy's favorite sports teams. You were sweet and sensitive, and the light of my life. 

NOW: 
Now, you're a phenomenal artist whose pieces have been shown in galleries. You are still eccentric, colorful, and stand out in the crowd. You follow the beat of your own drum, never conforming or trying to be someone you're not. You've never allowed your uniqueness to hold you back, and you've never tried to dim your shine to appease others. You are brave. You are confident. You are wonderfully comfortable in your own skin. You've used your own challenges and experiences to be an advocate and ally to others who may not be so strong, or who may not have the support at home that  you've always had. You're still sweet. You're still sensitive. You're still the light of my life, even though you now tower over me rather than fit perfectly in my arms. 

​This goes hand-in-hand with this piece from Dr. Ken Ginsburg at the Center for Parent and Teen Communication.  It helps me recall all the sweetest moments of babyhood, but also to recognize that, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Be sure to check out this new resource because we could all use a guide during these confusing, yet exciting teen years! 

What are your favourite babyhood memories?  What inspiring things are your teens doing now?

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor....

That's a line we all know and love. I remember watching Mister Rogers' Neighborhood when I was a child, but what I didn't know at the time was that Fred Rogers was a true hero, in the most noble sense of the word. He fought for ALL of us, whether it be through subtle snubbing of racism, battling law-makers for public TV funding, or just by making sure every single child felt valued and special, no matter what. 

“MISTER ROGERS: IT’S YOU I LIKE,” is a celebrity-filled special that celebrates MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD, the pioneering PBS series that premiered nationally 50 years ago and became an iconic and enduring landmark in the world of children’s television and beyond. Cast members from the groundbreaking series share their personal perspectives and insights in this new program, which pays tribute to television’s longest-running children’s series, still broadcast on many PBS stations today. The program also features interviews with numerous celebrities who have been influenced and inspired by Fred Rogers, a modest man who always said, “I am not a teacher, I simply help children learn.”
 
“MISTER ROGERS: IT’S YOU I LIKE” is available on Digital and on DVD ($19.99 SRP) today! The program has a run time of approximately 60 minutes.
 
Michael Keaton, who worked as a stagehand and made appearances on the series in the 1970s, hosts the special. Judd Apatow, Joyce DiDonato,Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Kratt, John Lithgow, Yo-Yo Ma and son Nicholas Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Sarah Silverman, Esperanza Spalding and Caroll Spinney reveal their favorite memories from MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD, while Joe Negri (“Handyman Negri”), David Newell (“Mr. McFeely”) and Joanne Rogers, Fred’s widow, share their personal stories. Also featured are performances from the archives by Tony Bennett, The Empire Brass Quintet, Hillary Hahn, Margaret Hamilton, Yo-Yo Ma and Nicholas, Wynton Marsalis, and Perlman.
 
The nearly 900 episodes created by Fred Rogers encompass topics that resonate to this day with adults and children alike. Favorite segments, such as a visit with Koko the Gorilla, Big Bird’s appearance in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe as well as trips to the Crayola Factory and the Radio Flyer Wagon Company, are highlighted. 
 
“MISTER ROGERS: IT’S YOU I LIKE”  is produced by JoAnn Young (JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala, Oscar Hammerstein: Out of My Dreams) and John Paulson (JFK: The Lost Inaugural Gala and A Raisin in the Sun Revisited). Ellen Doherty and Kevin Morrison of Fred Rogers Productions are executive producers.

As a mom, a concert and food enthusiast, pet parent, and blogger, it seems I am always taking pictures. No, really. I take an absolutely ridiculous amount of photos....Sometimes, this causes my devices to slow down and even freeze. Or worse: I go to capture that perfect shot ang get the "Storage Full: Cannot Take Photo" error message. Poof! That perfect moment is gone forever, all because I take too many darn pictures. 

Thanks to Kwilt Shoebox Plus, this is all a thing of the past now. This app-powered device allows me to seamlessly transfer ALL of my photos, videos, and media to my very own private, personal cloud, otherwise known as my Kwilt "Shoebox". This means I can have access to my stuff any time from anywhere, as long as I can access my cloud. This frees up sooooo much space on my phone, and I never have to worry about missing out on capturing the perfect memories. The best part? There are absolutely NO MONTHLY FEES.