Afraid of the Dark

 I had a really hard time with darkness when I was a little girl, and it really isn't a surprise to me that Zion also gets scared in the dark.  We've tried a couple of different items that have helped but most recently we had the opportunity to try an adorable new product called Flashlight Friends.  We were sent a complimentary blue puppy dog Flashlight Friend for the purpose of this review.

 I think this is a really cute product.  Battery operated, this snuggly plush flashlight goes on with a double-tap of the light on the chest.  After ten minutes the flashlight automatically turns off.  It is powered by 3 AAA batteries which are enclosed in a tamper-proof screw-on panel in the back.  The back closes with velcro to prevent the battery pack from showing.  The light also stays cool to the touch.

You can purchase a Flashlight Friend for $19.99 plus shipping/handling.  They come in a variety of characters to choose from, including a penguin, unicorn and dragon.  Zion not only loves to snuggle her Flashlight Friend at bedtime, she likes to take him on adventures around the house, using his light to shine in dark rooms.  Flashlight friends are recommended for ages 4 and up.

      

Hawaiian Islands Vacation: Oahu Day 4Part 2: Sea Life Park

 After exploring Hanauma Bay, we headed to Oahu's Sea Life Park.  Zion had requested to see the sea turtles as well as see dolphins while we were in Hawaii, so this part of the trip was specifically for her.  We arrived at the park in the peak of the day with plenty of time to explore before the Dolphin Show began.  I wouldn't add this park to your must-do list, in fact, if it weren't for Zion wanting to see the Dolphins we would have skipped it all together.

Although it was a cool experience for her to feed the sea turtles and watch the dolphins, the park itself is in a depressing condition.  It seems like it is not well maintained and the animals seemed to be sequestered in tiny spaces.  It was hard to feel okay with it.  It seemed to me that the main motivation of the park is to make money at the expense of the animals.  With how much money is charged for entry, along with concessions, you would think that they could do a better job of maintaining the park and creating attractive living spaces for the animals there.

Possibly two of the best things about the park are the giant playground structure in the center of it and the story of the only "Whalfin" that exists in the world.  Yep, after a whale and dolphin mated while at the park, a "whalfin" was born.  It has a very interesting look and definitely unlike anything I've ever seen before.

Though we had mixed feelings about the park overall, we know Zion loved seeing the dolphin show and feeding the sea turtles.  She was pretty excited about the dolphin shaped trash receptacles as well.

More of our Hawaii Vacation:

Oahu Day 4 / Part 1

Oahu Day 3

Oahu Day 2

Oahu Day 1

A Tour of Our Ko Olina Resort

Trip Itinerary

      

6 Steps to Making the Most Out of Black Friday Sales

We have all seen our share of holiday chaos on Black Friday where people push, scream and trample over each other in order to get the "best" deals. The holiday event has even made it to the big screen. "Jingle All the Way" is a holiday comedy starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad as two fathers frantically shopping for one special toy both of their sons desperately want for Christmas. What ensues is approximately two hours of Christmas shopping madness.

The reality is, this film is surprisingly close to the real-life experiences of Black Friday for millions of Americans. Black Friday has become synonymous with holiday chaos, as thousands of shoppers actually camp out the night before in front of their favorite department store. In a single day, consumer spending on Black Friday reached $52.4 billion in 2011, CNN reports. Follow these six tips to avoid Black Friday chaos and get the gifts you want for the holidays.

1. Scout out the Deals

Most of the deals this year will be released weeks before Black Friday in a media explosion. For instance, the deals on Black Friday at JC Penney will be displayed weeks before on their Twitter and Facebook accounts. Research where the sales are and list your priorities, compare prices and draw up an action plan. Build up your coupon arsenal before you step into the retail store. Keep everything organized neatly in a binder.

2. Get You Reward Cards Ready

Having a reward card is a big advantage on Black Friday. Since you are going to be spending money anyway, why not get some of that money back into your pocket? Be sure to check with each credit card to see if there are special awards or points to be won if you use your card on Black Friday.

3. Look for QR Codes

In case you don't know, QR codes are black and white patches of randomly patterned squares. QR stands for quick response, and these codes were developed for print and online ads. For the purpose of Black Friday, these codes will let you know special offers and BBB Business reviews. You will need to install a QR reader app on your smartphone so your phone will be able to read the codes. After that, it is pretty simple: you fit the code into the lens of your phone, let the red line run up and down, and in a few seconds, you will be able to view your special Black Friday deal.

4 Check Exchange and Return Policies

The rules can change for Black Friday deals, and returns should not be taken for granted. Make sure you know what the return and exchange policy is on your Black Friday deal. Some deals are final sales, have a very short return window or offer in-store credit only, so do your homework.

5. Shop Safely

Remember what happened to Arnold and Sinbad's characters once they forgot the meaning of Christmas? Bad things. Getting a big deal is important, but it is not worth putting yourself at financial or physical risk. Shop safely by taking your time, and formulate an attack plan with a maximum number of hours. Be sure to get plenty of breaks when you need them, and drink lots of water. Also, a great way to ease the stress of Black Friday is to:

• Make a priority list, including which stores you plan to visit and in what order.
• Brings friends along for the ride, possibly taking two different cars to cover more ground.
• Keep the receipts, and keep them organized in case you need to return things.

6. Don't Neglect the Internet on Cyber Monday

Don't neglect online deals for Black Friday or Cyber Monday. As much as 50 percent of today's gifts are bought online, The Washington Post reports. Make a list, and stick to it, keep an eye out for coupons and get on early for the best deals on Monday.

      

New from Our Generation

 Zion has a mini-me now!  How cute is this doll from Our Generation?  When a representative of Our Generation reached out a couple of weeks ago to see if I'd be interested in reviewing some of their newest items, I couldn't wait to see Zion's reaction when she opened the box.  I honestly hadn't really discovered Our Generation dolls and accessories before this.  Kind of shocking considering how much I love Target!

In case you've missed out as well, let me just tell you how awesome these dolls are!  They come in a a huge variety - so it is very likely you can find one that looks very similar to your little girl.  The outfits and accessories are so cute, modern and fun - also a huge variety available.  They even have these fantastic playsets like an RV camper set, laundry room set and horse barn.  I was amazed when I started browsing the Our Generation collection on Target.com.

Our Generation just launched a few new items for the Holiday season.  Me & You Outfit Sets ($29.99) feature beautiful matching attire for your little girl and her doll to wear.  As you can see in the pictures above, it really brings out the similarities of the doll and Zion.  I was impressed that these outfits are made so well.  The dress set we received could easily be worn out to a Holiday party.  The new Me & You Outfit sets come in six different styles, shown below.

Our Generation Me & You Outfit Sets by baxtronlife on Polyvore

Our Generation has also created a couple of new interactive accessory kits: Me & You Jewellery Set and Me & You Tutu Set ($15.00/ea).  Each set provides instructions and materials to create fun accessories for both your child and their Our Generation doll.  We played around with the jewelry set, which comes with 5 wooden rounds and plenty of different ribbons to make these creative wrap bracelets.

The bracelets were very easy to make, though will require some help from a parent for oversight.  Even though the kit came with embroidery thread as well as ribbon, I did find that it was very difficult to untie the embroidery thread to be able to use it for the bracelets.  Other than that, I felt the kit was a lot of fun for Zion and I to do together.

Now that we've discovered the Our Generation doll collection at Target, I know we will be browsing the selection frequently.  We already picked up a new ballet outfit this past week and a cute little pug puppy dog for her doll.  Thankfully, the prices are really good, most outfits are between $10-$20 depending on how many accessories are included.  The dolls are usually right around $20!

Are you familiar with the Our Generation brand at Target?  What doll would you choose for your little girl?