Miki House children's clothing comes to Florida -- win a Bloomingdale's gift card!

Finding fun clothes and accessories for children that are also unique is something I like doing for my boys or for friends who are having birthday parties or showers -- and a visit to the new Miki House store in South Florida is a great place to shop for them!

Miki House has super cute, high-quality clothing for children 6 months to 6 years. The company started in Japan 40 years ago and now has stores all over the world. South Florida is lucky to have the only Miki House store in the state -- at Aventura Mall in Bloomingdale's.

Miki House has great accessories, too. I bought a sippy cup and the cutest chopstick, fork and spoon boxed set. The backpacks are just the right size for little backs to carry and are huggable too:




The Miki House clothes for little ones are made from supima cotton, so they are extra-super soft and hold up wash after wash. I like that the infant clothes have stitching on the outside, so babies' tender skin won't be irritated by rough edges or seams. There are lots of little details like that in the Miki House clothes, which are colorful and easy to mix and match.

One thing about being a mother of boys is you realize the shopping experience really is made for girls. Stores usually reserve more than 50% of their space for girl clothes and accessories, and the boy items don't seem nearly as cute. The Miki House boy clothes really are just as cute as the girl's, though. Shoes that look like cars? A reversible jacket with removable hood that has bear ears? Adorable stuff.

Speaking of shoes, I love the Miki House shoes! The designers have taken special care creating shoes that are truly just for kids (and the parents who have to put them on tiny feet). The shoes open wide so they're easy to slip on, then they close easily with Velcro. The toes of the shoes spread out and angle up to make it easier for new walkers to keep their balance -- and prevent falls. If you ask me (mom of two boys whose shins are often covered in bruises), that feature alone is worth the $60-$90 price tag.

If you'd like to get shopping and want a chance to win a $20 Bloomingdale's gift card, please leave a comment below with something cute you saw at the Miki House Facebook page. I will pick a winner next Friday so someone can hit the mall next weekend!

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Miki House invited me to attend a special presentation at its new location. They gave me some stationery items, their signature children's washcloth and a pair of spats. Bloomingdale's provided me with the gift card to give away. Opinions and silliness are my own.

Walt Disney World Vacation Field Guides books for families and kids

As much as my family loves Disney World and as often as we've been there, I have never experienced Disney World with an adventurer or explorer's mind. Now that I have two excellent books by Tracie A. Cook, though, my family's next vacation in Disney World is going to be more interesting and exciting!

Cook, a former teacher and perennial Disney enthusiast, has written Walt Disney World Adventure: A Field Guide and Activity Book for Explorers and Kid Tips for Walt Disney World: Touring Advice by Kids for Kids.

Walt Disney World Adventure is a unique guide book to the four theme parks because it also includes educational learning activities for kids. Try decoding the hieroglyphic secret message related to Epcot's Spaceship Earth ride, the Animal Kingdom Kali River Rapids fractions, a Magic Kingdom Haunted Mansion addition problem chart or the Hollywood Studios Studio Backlot Tour crossword puzzle. There are fun facts and tips for each attraction or ride. (Did you know that in the Germany pavilion in Epcot, the statue there depicts Saint George on a horse, slaying a dragon -- because almost every German village has such a statue?)

Although my two- and four-year-old boys are too young for many of the book's activities, we can do some of them together as a family. I like the list of ideas to choose from for making our visit more environmentally friendly, the "scavenger hunt" for pictures to spot while walking around Fantasyland and Adventureland, and the challenge to list animals that are in the following four categories: spots or stripes, migrate, water and herds. My family can also use all the good tips throughout the book, like which lines are shorter, where to sit for certain attractions and what kids typically enjoy about each attraction.

Kid Tips for Walt Disney World is another great resource for families because it's full of tips from a kid's point of view -- it's written by kids. Boys and girls 7-15 tell it like it is for not only theme park attractions, but also the Disney water parks, resorts, character meals and more. Kids who are old enough to read well should enjoy this book to prepare for an upcoming vacation, while parents and group chaperones can use this guide to know what will be the most fun.

Some sample kid tips:

- Go on a Kim Possible mission the Epcot World Showcase to hunt down bad guys!

- Stitch's Great Escape in the Magic Kingdom might be scary to some little kids.

- Take time to watch the Hollywood Studios street performers -- they are fun and sometimes make kids part of the show!

- Visit the water parks while it's raining to avoid crowds.

- Get a Hidden Mickey sheet from the front desk at the Polynesian Resort.

Kids give other great general tips about visiting Disney World.

For families looking to get more out of a Disney World trip than just time spent standing in line, a sunburn and some family photos, Walt Disney World Adventure and Kid Tips are good resources to have.

Vacation Field Guides provided me these two books for review. Opinions and silliness are my own.

Win a Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush and flossers

What's more fun than a toothbrush that looks like a Crayola crayon? How about a toothbrush that also lights up?

The GUM Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush helps kids brush for a full minute by flashing a light that signals to them when to stop. Kids push a button in the bottom of the toothbrush to start the light flashing, and they start brushing their teeth. When the light stops flashing, kids know they have brushed for a full minute -- and they can stop brushing.

It's fun!

GUM sent my family a Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush to review, and my preschooler couldn't wait to try it out. Mostly, he wanted to play with the flashing light, but eventually he settled down to brushing his teeth. See that nice glow around his mouth from the toothbrush?



Yeah. And when he was done brushing, the "toothbrush light" was still fun.



GUM also sent me a package of 40 Crayola-colorful kids' flossers, which have a nifty handle that helps kids hold onto the floss while they are cleaning their teeth.

Visit gumbrand.com and receive 30% off any order of $10 of more, using the promo code CR30. This code expires July 15.

If you'd like to win a GUM Crayola Timer Light Toothbrush and a package of flossers for your family, please leave a comment about your child's dental habits. GUM sent me five of each to give away, so there will be five winners! I'll pick a winner next Tuesday.

Helpful guidelines for kids’ oral care can be found on the GUM Crayola YouTube Channel and in this tip sheet (PDF).

Thomas & Friends Adventures on Misty Island MEGA Bloks train set

Look what I won at a Twitter party recently: a Thomas & Friends Adventures on Misty Island MEGA Bloks set. My preschooler was so happy when I surprised him with it! (Whoever thinks Twitter is a waste of time doesn't know how you can form friendships and connections with people -- and sometimes win something cool!)

I just happened to see the Thomas & Friends Twitter party going on one night and joined in because my sons are completely indoctrinated in the cult of Thomas. We have several bins full of the Thomas Wooden Railway, Trackmaster and the Take Along lines of toy trains. And now, the boys can play with their new Thomas MEGA Bloks track.

My son wanted to play with the set immediately, and I took everything out of the box. I was a little intimidated setting it up because I'm just not used to putting together 101 pieces of anything while following directions in a booklet. I think it took me 20 minutes to put the set together.



I did a fine job, no?

My preschooler excitedly played with it (he had the set to himself because his little brother was taking a nap), but after about 40 minutes, he had dismantled most of it and wanted me to help him put it all back together again. I told him he should try to do it himself, and he found new ways of putting the set together. He got frustrated, but he did it.

So while a train set with lots of little blocks may be intimidating at first, the great thing is the MEGA Bloks set can be put together several ways. In fact, the layout shown on the outside of the box it came in is different from the way the booklet shows how to put it together. The downside is the little blocks come apart with play, but the upside is unlike some other train sets, kids can build and rebuild the track however they want.

It's a new world of trains -- and creative play -- for my preschooler.

Sand and water play table

My sons love their new Sandy Lagoon Water Park sand and water play table.

My preschooler loves to play in the tables at school that are filled with grains of rice to scoop, pour and run your fingers through. I thought it would be great to find a rice table he could have at home.

When Toys R Us recently had a sale on sand and water tables, we went shopping.

My son had already been given a sandbox (which looks like a frog), but I never liked that he could sit right in the sand. Sand would be stuck to him all over. And then he'd bring it inside. Ugh. (And I don't want to mention how many times as a toddler he would try to eat the sand.)



A sand table, however, means that he would mostly avoid getting sand down his shorts! And because I plan to fill the table with rice anyway, I hope nothing will be stuck to him.

The table is divided into two sections so kids can play with the sand (rice) or the water. I have a feeling sand and water end up in both sides, though.... And little characters come with the Sandy Lagoon Water Park so I kids can pretend they are at Typhoon Lagoon in Disney World.



The table was so easy to put together, even I was able to do it.

Now I've just got to get rid of that frog sandbox!

Easter baskets for kids with food allergies

As the mom of a kid with food allergies and intolerances, it's hard enough to figure out daily meals for him -- and then holidays come along, and my job gets harder. Holidays like Easter, Valentine's Day and Halloween are especially difficult because candy is a big part of the celebrations, but candy that my son can eat isn't easy to find.

For both of my sons' Easter baskets this year, I found a few fun things to add that won't be a problem, allergy-wise. (Even though, as I posted yesterday, most of the Easter baskets are non-food items.)

First, I love Annie's Bunny Fruit Snacks. My family eats these all year, but hey -- they're rabbits and it's Easter, so these are perfect!



Bunny Fruit Snacks are organic, have no artificial ingredients and provide 100% of your daily Vitamin C. And they're addicting. One time, my son ate the whole box! I have found them at my local supermarket as well as Target and Whole Foods.

Also at Whole Foods, I recently discovered Sweet & Sara vegan marshmallows.



My preschooler loooooves marshmallows, and I had been buying him a bag of organic marshmallows from the baking aisle. (Regular marshmallows are made with artificial food dye.) But those marshmallows tasted nasty. The Sweet & Sara marshmallows taste like heaven! And I'm not even a marshmallow person.

The kids are also getting some Yummy Earth organic lollipops ("pop!" as my baby calls them) and gummy bears. These are available in lots of places too.

Other places to get Easter basket goodies are no-nuts/no-eggs/no-dairy Divvies (which we've had at Disney World and SeaWorld -- the caramel corn is great!), Vermont Nut Free Chocolates and Peanut Free Planet.

If I have time -- and I probably won't -- I might even make some chocolate candies myself by melting dairy-free chocolate chips and using candy molds. DIY is another great way to go with allergy-free treats!

Alternatives to candy for Easter baskets

For most kids, one of the highlights of Easter is unpacking an Easter basket full of treats -- mostly, candy like jelly beans and chocolate rabbits. Because my preschooler has several food allergies and intolerances, though, he can't eat most candy. And my one-year-old definitely doesn't need a lot of junk food, anyway.

For my sons' Easter baskets this year, I shopped mainly for cute toys I know they'll love. Toys and books are good basket fillers -- they take up more room than most candy so you don't have to buy as much -- and they last longer!

I found these Easter basket goodies at Target: Hot Wheels cars inside plastic eggs, bug catchers, Thomas train Easter sets, sunglasses and books. I plan to divide the Hot Wheels eggs between the boys.



I know some girls like these things, too -- but if not, then little plush animals, Zhu Zhu pets, hair clippies and dolls are nice.

At Toys R Us/Babies R Us, I found some magnetic letters that will replace some of the ones that have gotten lost under the refrigerator (and likely sticking to the metal under side of the fridge, which is why I can't find them, ugh!).



My little guy is crazy for stickers.



And my preschooler, who between the two boys is the most obsessed with trains, will be surprised with an engineer's cap (also from Target).



Other ideas: coloring books and crayons (or my favorite, the Crayola Color Wonder markers and coloring pads), small containers of Play-Doh, jewelry, fun socks, trading cards, DVDs or even a rolled-up T-shirt.

What other non-food things have you put into a kid's Easter basket?

Get a National Geographic Little Kids subscription for $7!

Social media/group buying sites have become so popular that I can name four or five of them, and I get daily e-mails from several. Mamapedia (a great site where moms share advice and post content) has its Mamapedia Sweet Deals with some bargain finds for families.

The best deal I've seen yet: a full year of National Geographic Little Kids magazine for $7! The regular price for the subscription is $24, the Mamapedia Sweet Deals price is $10 -- and if you're a first-time Mamapedia Sweet Deals buyer, you can use the code NATGEO3 to further knock the price down to $7! (If you've already purchased from there before, you can use the code EASTER10 to get 10% off the deal -- and that's still a great price.)

Like most group buying sites, this deal ends in just a few days, so you have to scoop it up now. If you miss it, though, sign up for Mamapedia Sweet Deals for some nice discounts.

My kids love wildlife (I'm a National Wildlife Federation Be Out There Founding Mother), and I've always meant to get the National Geographic Little Kids magazine for them. Now I am going to do it for sure!

Take the GoGo SqueeZ Challenge at Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival

Sometimes things are perfect, and then someone comes along and makes them even better.

I've had to turn down a lot of food reviews or food-related social media opportunities lately because of my son's food allergies and because my family eats all-natural with no artificial ingredients. So it was great to learn about GoGo SqueeZ, which is a fruit snack that is 100% fruit, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free and made with no artificial flavors or preservatives.

GoGo SqueeZ is basically applesauce that comes in fun pouches that let you squeeze the fruit into your mouth. The pouches are portable and resealable, and you don't need a spoon. GoGo SqueeZ comes in lots of flavors, so you can have plenty of variety. How about apple-peach? Yum!

My kids thought it tasted great and had fun squeezing the pouches.

We actually saw GoGo SqueeZ when we went to Disney World last month. GoGo SqueeZ sponsors the GoGo on the Go Challenge at Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival, which is going on in the park through May 15 (and it's totally fun for the whole family!). Kids can test their skills at hula hoops and jump ropes while learning about fruits and flowers, healthy snacks and active play.


My baby playing on the playground at the GoGo on the Go Challenge.

On the weekends of April 22 and May 13, you can sample GoGo SqueeZ at the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival. Find them near the gardens close to the entrance of the World Showcase.

The GoGo on the Go Challenge continues online with fun facts and sweepstakes. Log into Facebook to complete the three-question “Go Challenge Quiz” for a chance to win free GoGo squeeZ products as well as the grand prize: a year's supply of GoGo squeeZ. (Your lunchbox dilemmas could be solved for a whole year!)

You can find GoGo SqueeZ at Whole Foods, Costco, Wal-Mart, Publix and other stores.

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GoGo SqueeZ provided me with three sample pouches of its product for this review. Opinions and silliness are my own.

Project: Slipcover a children's couch

Want to see my kids' new couch?



Yeah, don't you love it? Bet you're wondering where you can get a couch like this.



Well, I'll tell you. You can pick it up for free at a local swap or yard sale! What a deal!

Then the fun begins.

Add something cushy for the tushies.



Some foam from the local fabric/craft store works great. Two packages, then you cut to fit.

The next part is tricky. You take some newspaper and trace the different sections of the couch: the back, the seat, the seat back, the sides, the skirt, the arms. Transfer to fun fabric. Cut and sew. Put it back on the couch. Sew some more. Put it back on the couch. Make faces. Swearing is optional. Sew some more. You get the idea.

Eventually, you get this:



The arms are challenging. I left the front open, basted around the edge, and pulled it tightly to make a gathering and close up the hole. Then I sewed on a button like my life depended on it.



Like the button? It belonged to my husband's late grandmother. I think she would like to know I used two of her buttons to make something for her great-grandchildren.

My two sons like having their own little couch, and when it gets dirty, I can take the slipcover off and wash it.



My big couches were a little jealous, but I'm sure eventually they will need to be slipcovered too.