Wellness

GIVEAWAY: Baby Magic Products to Keep Baby Fresh & Clean

September 12, 2016

There are scents that just stay with you. New car, fresh baked cookies and newborn babies are the first to come to mind. For many, the latter is a smell that we moms wish could linger forever. Unfortunately, infants grow up and no longer possess that unique scent.

Until then, we can slather them in Baby Magic’s “Original Baby Scent” lotion – my favorite for after bath time. Somehow the legacy brand managed to bottle the elusive smell we moms crave and sold it to the masses. In fact, they’ve been in the business of making babies smell heavenly and clean since 1951! Oh, and course they accomplish this by infusing that fresh scent into many of their products including cleansers, shampoos and moisturizers.

Baby Magic Gentle Baby Lotion available here,

Baby Magic No-Rinse Wash click here for where to buy.

Baby Magic Hair & Baby Wash click here for where to buy.

The heritage brand has been in homes for generations and has definitely been a part of my son’s life. Not only do the products have an addictive aroma, but they also get the job done—without causing any skin irritations.

There’s a reason why it’s been around so long, quality products and that fresh baby scent keeps families coming back!

In celebration of the brand’s 65th anniversary, I’m partnering with them for a giveaway. I’ll be giving away three of my all-time favorite products to a lucky winner.

Simply leave a comment below or tweet me @BrownGirlGumbo letting me know how you make bath time fun. The contest ends on 9/19/16 at 11:59 EST. The winner will be randomly selected and notified via email by 9/21/16.

How do you make bath time fun?

Category: Baby, Giveaway, Giveaways, Parenting, Travel & Lifestyle, Wellness | 42 Comments

Giving Back this Back-to-School Season

August 30, 2016

If your child hasn’t already returned to class, the countdown to back-to-school is now in full swing.

Shopping for crayons, Post-It notes, pocket folders and everything else in between can be a fun experience for kids and parents alike. Unfortunately, not every family can afford to provide their child with the proper supplies needed to succeed at school.

That’s why for the past 16 years, the Office Depot Foundation has been giving back-to-school sackpacks to those in need. Through the company’s National Backpack Program, colorful drawstrings bags are filled with basic essentials to ensure that all students have a thriving school year. Each one includes a zippered pouch containing a pen, pencil, pencil sharpener, eraser, six-inch ruler and four crayons. Plus, none of the sackpacks have any of the company’s branding or logos—an added bonus!

Since 2001, the program has donated over 4 million backpacks and sackpacks to children across the country. And they couldn’t be successful without other organizations’ assistance with getting the bags into the hands of students. This year, they’ve donated 200,000 sackpacks to nonprofit organizations, schools and agencies across the United States and internationally.

When it comes to shopping for school and office supplies, we have many choices – but when we can support a business that gives back, it makes that choice less difficult.

Disclosure: I was given several sackpacks, which I plan to donate to my daughter’s school—hopefully helping a child in need.

For more information about the National Backpack Program, please visit the Office Depot Foundation’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/officedepotfoundation.

How do you give back during back-to-school season?

Category: Gumbo Mix, Misc., Parenting, Travel & Lifestyle, Wellness | Leave a Comment

On the Hook: Family Fishing with Macy’s + Prospect Park Alliance

August 29, 2016

Growing up in Chicago, fishing wasn’t something that my family did.

Amusement parks, zoos and backyard BBQs were our summer activities of choice. But, even for a city girl like me, I’ve always wanted to go fishing.

Thanks to Macy’s, a couple of weeks ago I was able to cross the leisure sport off my bucket list!

The brand invited my family and me to an afternoon of fishing at The Lake Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. The pop-up catch-and-release class was a media-only event to celebrate the company’s partnership with the Prospect Park Alliance.

Since my husband had never gone fishing either, it was the perfect opportunity for us to learn the ins and outs of fishing as a family. The instructor showed us how to bait and hook, as well as provided us with tips on the best ways to catch an unsuspecting pumpkinseed sunfish or largemouth bass. My 6-year-old daughter and nearly 3-year-old son were excited because in their minds, they were going to catch “Nemo” and release him back into the ocean. After an hour or so of applying all of the tips and tricks the instructor gave us, we eventually decided to call it quits.

Although we were unsuccessful in finding “Nemo,” it was a wonderful family bonding moment that I’ll forever cherish. And now that I know that Prospect Park Alliance offers fishing, we’ll be sure to flex our fishing skills again next summer!

If you’re in the Brooklyn area, click here to see if they’re offering classes before summer’s end.

Have you and your family ever gone fishing? If so, please share any strategic tips!

Category: Gumbo Mix, Misc., Parenting, Travel & Lifestyle, Wellness | Leave a Comment

The Moodsters: Teaching Preschoolers All About Emotions

August 24, 2016

Dealing with everyday emotions as adults can be difficult, but for children and toddlers, it can be even trickier.

Thankfully The Moodsters, an educational line of toys and books designed to teach preschoolers about emotional intelligence makes learning about their feelings fun.

Through engaging storytelling—love, fear, sadness, anger and happiness are all personified via friendly characters that go on a quest to help discover and navigate the ups and downs of emotions.

Founded by Denise Daniels, an award-winning broadcast journalist and parenting and child development expert, The Moodsters are the perfect back-to-school gifts for your preschooler.

My almost 3-year-old son adores these books and accompanying toys. He enjoys pointing to each character and muttering their roles: “scary, happy, angry…” The books are really helping him understand the range of his emotions—and we moms know that their moods can change in a millisecond!

Available at Target and Amazon, these books will be a great addition to your little one’s library and toy chest!

How do you help your child understand and communicate his feelings?

Category: Featured, Features, Gumbo Mix, Misc., Parenting, Travel & Lifestyle, Wellness | Leave a Comment

Get SUN-day Schooled with Summer Skincare Tips from Dr. Jen

June 28, 2016

Now that summer is officially underway, it’s time to get SUN-day schooled. Taking the proper measures to prevent sun damage should be implemented year-round, but especially during the summer months. With longer, hotter days – protecting your skin from UV-rays is crucial. And for us moms, protecting our little ones is even more important.

I recently caught up with New York pediatrician and Dove ambassador Dr. Jen Trachtenberg to get the 411 on the best ways to ensure that our children are covered—literally. From the most effective sunscreens to easy ways to keep skin soft and smooth, we chatted about all things summer skincare.

So, before your family heads to the beach or park, be sure to keep the following tips in mind for a safe day out.

*Keep your kids cool and comfy by dressing them in loose-fitting, breathable clothing.

*Outfit your tot with sunglasses. They’re not just for fashion statements, but they actually help prevent sun damage to the eyes.

*Buy sunscreen with a physical barrier and one that’s broad spectrum and protects against UVA and UVB rays.

*Apply, apply and reapply sunscreen! Yep, Dr. Jen recommends slathering or spraying sunscreen on your children at least once every 3 hours, and always after they’ve been in the water.

*After a day out, cleanse your child with a mild cleanser such as the Dove Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar because it will keep her soft and smooth all summer long. Plus, it’s hypoallergenic and unscented.

How do you keep your kids’ skin protected during the summer?

Category: Parenting, Travel & Lifestyle, Wellness | Leave a Comment

Event Recap: GoGo squeeZ YogurtZ Launch Party

June 22, 2016

In celebration of GoGo squeeZ’s YogurtZ launch, my family and I were invited to attend a super cool event to kick off the new offering.

First, I was giddy with excitement at the mere fact that the popular squeezable fruit brand was expanding into the yogurt realm. My daughter, Ava, has been enjoying the applesauce packets for years and is also huge yogurt fan—so, having a trusted brand include another family staple to their lineup was awesome!

Throughout the event, all attendees were treated to tasty bites and of course yogurt—which my kids couldn’t stop eating it. Available in three delicious flavors: Strawberry, Banana, and Berry, the yogurt is the perfect healthy snack for school-age children. Free of artificial flavors and colors, parents don’t have to worry fake ingredients and harmful dyes. Plus, it doesn’t require refrigeration making it an ideal grab-and-go treat. Hence their clever tagline, “So cool, it doesn’t have to be cold.” Wondering how that’s possible? It’s simple: the yogurt goes through a heating step that ensures that the product can be stored at room temperature.

From create-your-own yogurt smiley face stations to dance contests to “ice” skating, the launch party was packed with fun activities for kids.

Overall, we had a wonderful time and can’t wait to see what else GoGo squeeZ comes up with next!

Is your family a fan of GoGo squeeZ products? What’s your kids’ favorite on-the-go snack?

Category: Parenting, Travel & Lifestyle, Wellness | Leave a Comment

The Period Shop: A Place to Celebrate Our Cycles

May 13, 2016

Periods. We women all have them. It’s something that unites us in femininity, yet it’s still a rather taboo topic. Well, that’s about to change! Thanks to U by Kotex, this weekend women in New York City can celebrate their menstrual cycles by shopping for kitschy and practical items that will get them through that special time of the month.

Inspired by Sarah M., an NYC-based college student’s Tumblr page denouncing the stigma attached to shopping for feminine products, she dreamed of having a place where women could get items without feeling ashamed of this ‘unmentionable’ natural occurrence that we all experience. Enter U by Kotex. Through their #PeriodProjects initiative, the Kimberly-Clark brand brought her vision to life in a gorgeous girly space filled with products that would probably make your great-grandmother blush.

I got a sneak peek of The Period Shop during a media preview and it is out-of-this-world cute. The ultra-feminine setting is inviting and comfy.

From tampon-emblazoned sweatshirts and pins to walls filled with chocolate bars, you can buy ultra-feminine merchandise including attire, accessories, home goods, beauty products, food and snacks, and of course U by Kotex products too! Plus, female DJs and musicians will be providing the soundtrack to this one-of-a-kind experience. The best part is that all proceeds from The Period Shop will be donated to Susan’s Place, a transitional residence that provides homeless women with housing support and a safe, supportive environment.

This pop-up shop is such an awesome concept and sends a great message. We shouldn’t be embarrassed by our bodies and what they do. Remember, without periods none of us would be here!