Family Camping - More Tips and Tricks (+ Giveaways)

Camping with young kids always takes a bit more thought and planning.  We've accepted the fact that the sleepless nights, dirty kids, bringing along a little potty and working hard to keep the mosquitoes at bay for our (apparently sweet) 3-year-old are just part of the game (which will change with time.)

To be perfectly honest, I dread the sleeping part of camping right now.

Laying awake I certainly spend some time daydreaming about years down the road where sleeping through the night is a possibility, even in a tent.  While it won't keep us from camping and getting out whenever we can, it certainly means built-in naps for Mama (because everyone else manages to sleep through the "struggles") in the hammock are a must if we want to do anything productive the following day(s).  I certainly won't claim to be an expert in everything, so this is my plea for anyone with tips to get a 1-year-old to be ok in a sleeping bag to send them on our way!

But, like I say often on here, the experiences are absolutely worth it and practice makes perfect.  While our summer adventures mean being open to the fact that they could be cancelled (very) last minute due to a wildfire (thanks to Mtn Papa's job) we are working hard to cram everything in we can (while still remaining sane!)  It's part of the "no excuses" motto we try to live by.

Yes, it takes more work.
Yes, it can be draining.
Yes, mistakes are made and lessons learned.
Yes, sometimes I want to bag it and head on home.
AND
Yes, it brings us closer as a family.
Yes, it is getting easier as our kids get older.
Yes, every kid is different (which means different perks AND struggles).
Yes, we will continue doing it (the big AND the little adventures.)

This past weekend we spent some time talking about our current favorite bring-alongs for camping.  The things we miss when we don't have them and may not have thought about previously.  This list is not comprehensive and is a bit random, but worth sharing.  It's the little extras (so does not cover the basics like tent and sleeping bags!)  Plus, read to the end for your chance to win some of them!

Mazama Bar Company Introduction + Giveaway

Energy bars are certainly something we depend on as a family (I don't go ANYWHERE without food or the kids rise up against me... :))  We have tried a bunch of them and I have to say this up-and-coming new company has something BIG going for them!  Created and perfected by Derek and Brittany Manwill, Mazama Bars are giving the "Big Guys" a run for their...bars....(or money!)??  I got a chance to taste them months ago and have been eagerly awaiting their site to get up and running to be able to introduce them to you all.

Just like they claim, they are fresh, tasty and nutrient-rich, and something I have to hide and save for the outdoor adventures (or we would eat them every day!)  They come in 3 different flavors (chocolate banana, wild berry and hazelnut mocha).  I personally detest the taste of coffee, and think the hazelnut mocha ones are my favorite (though they are all truly delicious.)  They go for $42 for a box of 12 or $22 for a variety box of 6 bars.  Yes, a bit more expensive, but their size and ingredients definitely warrant the cost.

I managed to corner Britt long enough to ask her a few questions - I really think sometimes this is the very best way to get to know a company, especially a new one!  Make sure you read all the way to the end for a chance to win some bars for yourself!

1. So excited for you to finally have Mazama Bar up and running.  I must say I am super impressed with what you guys have come up with.  The bars are excellent!  Tell me a little about you, why energy bars are a passion of yours and how Mazama Bar started.

It’s not really that energy bars are my passion. It’s more that living is a passion. I wasn’t satisfied with my job, and I really needed a change. I love being active, being outside, and eating good food, so I started a company that combined those things into something I’m way more excited about.

I always found backcountry trail food options lacking. Everything was either too heavy, unhealthy, inconvenient, or just plain gross. So, I set out to make the best tasting, compact, healthy, meal replacement for our adventures. Fast forward to now, and Mazama Bars are fueling all types of adventures all around the world! They’re headed to Everest next year!

Outfitting the Kids for Summer + iPlay giveaway

While it always takes longer that I expect it to, we have finally REALLY made it to summer around here. Days (entire days....) are spent outdoors and naps come easily (for all of us!)

Staying safe while playing outside is top priority for us, and we work hard to make sure we are protected from the sun.  Our higher elevation means skin burns come easier and quicker.  While there are plenty of incredible sun-protective clothing lines out there for kids, here are some of our must-have favorites:

Patagonia Sun-Lite Top ($29)

Available in sizes 3M - 5T in blue, green and pink

Both of our boys have these shirts and we wear them almost daily.  They are a quick alternative to sunscreen and comfortable for them!

What we love:

- Certainly light and cool

- They cover the back of their neck well

Not so crazy about:

- While they are not necessarily designed for water-use, the boys wear them for time in the kiddie pool. They DO dry fairly quickly, but not as quickly as I had hoped.  They also tend to stretch out when wet.  

- Like most Patagonia infant/baby/toddler clothing, they run big!  Plan on sizing down or buy their normal size (what we did) and know they will have room to grow.

Jackson Hole Packrafts and Rentals Review + Giveaway

Despite the fact that Mtn Papa and I both grew up on lakes, so far we have not been a boating family.  We both LOVE water and spent many hours growing up water skiing, boating, canoeing, paddle-boating and ice skating (on lakes, so it's relevent. :))  The simple truth right now is that we live in an area where water is just not easily accessible.  The wind (which I find myself mentioning often) is also a factor when you have children and white-caps are fairly common.


Long story short, when a friend of a friend contacted me about doing a review of her Packrafts, I was psyched!  (in case you missed it, Amy did a guest post last week.)   Located 70 miles away from us, Jackson Hole Packrafts and Rentals not only rents boats locally, but also has a program where they will send you a Packraft for rent and include a prepackaged return label and box.  The perks?  Not having to buy a raft with the ability to keep it long-term (the rates drop dramatically with time.) 


A great list from the Packraft Site about what the rafts are good for (besides the obvious):

A packraft can…

1. Easily fit into a backpack, small plane, boat, or the trunk of your car.
2. Be used to cross a river that would otherwise be impassable on foot
3. Provide shelter during a heavy down poor or during an all night rain
4. Serve as a heavenly, soft ground pad for an afternoon nap or full night’s sleep
5. Facilitate travel during endurance races
6. Get you to that hot fishing hole on the other side of the creek
7. Haul your bike or skis during a multisport adventure
8. Be paddled around a pristine alpine lake9. Carry your sheep or caribou as you float out from a seldom visited hunting spot
10. Be filled with water and let to sit in the warm sun – voila, your very own hot tub
11. Our addition: They are REALLY fun coming down a hill on snow! :)

*Guest Post* No Touch Plants + Giveaway

Please welcome Teresa of Mountain Mama: Expecting Adventure once again to the blog!  She wrote a guest post for us back in February about the joys of a post-baby body (and being proud of it!)  Today she is introducing a brand new, ingenious T-shirt for kids.  BUT, since we live in a place where poisonous plants are few and far between, I wanted her to tell all about them (since I am certainly no expert at all!)  As always, please feel free to leave her some love in the comments (and make sure you read all the way to the end for a chance to win!)

There are few things more rewarding for a mountain mama than watching their little ones take their first steps on a favorite trail. Even better are the many mountain milestones to follow. 

I beamed with pride the first time Fausto, now 4, rejected the kid-carrier backpack that was his perch on many trails over many months and insisted on walking on his own. He quickly accepted my rules: don't drink from the stream, pee away from water, sunblock is a must. One initiation I dreaded, though, was the first encounter with what we call the “no touch” plants. Where we hike, these include an abundance of stinging nettle and poison oak, though I'm sure it won't be long before we run into their cousins, sumac and ivy. 

Stinging nettle is pretty easy to spot, with it's almost fuzzy appearance and needle-like protrusions on the edges of the leaves. Poison oak is trickier. I still find myself ticking the traits off the list when I see a dead-ringer – leaves of three, oily appearance... But sometimes it's hard to be sure.

On one hike, while Fausto chanted “no touch, no touch” at every suspicious bit of flora, I thought, wouldn't it be great to have a cheat-sheet that he and I could both reference to make sure we were identifying these plants correctly. That's when inspiration struck, what could be better than having the littlest hikers be the cheat-sheet? 

Photo credit: Danielle Kaiser

Move Your Body + Gear Up Day 4!

Welcome to Day 4 of "Gearing Up Families to go Screen Free"!  If this is your first time hearing about the event, please check out our updated tab here.  Make sure you check out the giveaways at the end of this post (they are ONLY open for 24 hours- midnight to midnight EST!)


The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has standards for what adults (aged 18-64) and children (aged 6-17) need to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

For Children:
- 60 minutes a day of activity (most of this should be moderate to vigorous intensity)
- Include strength-building activities 3 days a week (push-ups, gymnastics, climbing, etc.)
- Include bone-strengthening activities 3 days a week (jumping rope, running, etc.)

For Adults:
- 2.5 hours of moderate activity every week OR 1.25 hours of vigorous activity every week
- AND muscle-strengthening on 2+ days a week that include all major muscle groups.

In my humble opinion, these minimum standards they are just that - minimums.  As a family, we work hard to get our hearts pumping hard daily (and hope to encourage others to do that too through this blog.)  We find it crucial for our health AND our peace of mind and good attitude.

Spring has sprung (mostly...) and it is a great time to get outdoors for exercise.  The fresh air has incredible benefits to add to the perks of exercise (including just happier people in general!)

Our "No Cotton" Philosophy + Gear-Up Day 1

We are so thrilled to welcome you to the first day of "Gearing Up Families to go Screen Free"!  If this is your first time hearing about the event, please check out our updated tab here.  Make sure you check out the giveaways at the end of this post (they are ONLY open for 24 hours (midnight to midnight EST!)

P post-ski stripped back down to his Icebreaker base layers (Merino Wool)

If you have spent much time outdoors or around "outdoorsy" people, you will hear a lot about the fact that cotton is really the worst thing you could wear.  But, naturally, people question the reasoning behind that (because MOST of us have wardrobes comprised of mostly cotton.)

Because today's focus is a lot about what to wear outdoors, I wanted to highlight a bunch of those reasons behind the "No Cotton" philosophy...even for family outings!

First of all, cotton is fine when in dry, hot weather.  It does a great job at keeping us cool and can easily be saturated with water and then worn to fight off hot temperatures.  The trouble starts when the temperatures start dropping (which can happen with just the sun going down or clouds rolling in.)

*Gear Review* Liberty Bottle Works + Giveaway

*Giveaway Closed!* Congrats to #34, Kristie S; #5, Susan S. and #24, Tiffany.  Please email me at mountainmamatales(at)gmail(dot)com with your first, second and third choices!  

Water bottles are exploding out of our cupboards more often than not.  Or our car.  Or the bike trailer.  


We use them constantly in an attempt to stay hydrated in the dry climate of Wyoming.  The benefits of water are abounding (we'll save that information for another day), and we know that running out of water (or just plain not drinking enough) can have disastrous results.


Our local gear shop, Wind River Gear, carries Liberty Bottles and they got my attention right away.  I simply loved that the lid only required 1/4 turn to close it (instead of turning and turning and turning...)


I looked into the company a little more and was thrilled to have a chance to try some out (and give some away.)  


We what love (and what makes Liberty Bottles different):
- BPA-free ("our coating insures no heavy metal leaching or porous surface for bacteria build up.")
- Made in the USA
- Made from recycled aluminum cans, and recyclable too.
- Food-grade coated interior prevents chips from the aluminum entering your drinking water.
- Varying designs from "everyday" artists.  AND you can make bottles with your own logo (if you order a minimum of 72 bottles)!!  One day, when I am rich, maybe there will be "Tales of a Mountain Mama" bottles ;)  Donations accepted ;) HA!
- They fit in "normal" spaces like cup holders (SO annoying when your bottles don't fit in those spaces!)

Inspiration to Get Out There! (+ Gear Giveaway)

*Contest closed, Congratulations to Tanya, lucky #5! Don't forget to check out the promo code if you didn't win!*

It is no secret that we are huge proponents of getting outside and being active.  That is what this blog is all about....and it is the reason we put so much energy into it.  We believe whole-heartedly in the benefits of fresh air, exercise, and trying new things!  We want to inspire and be inspired.

Inspiration comes in all forms: challenges from those we love, challenges from those we imitate and admire, and challenges from nature as our bodies learn to move in different ways.

As a family, we tend to like to switch things up a bit with the seasons and on a whim.  We are ok with biking in the winter (because we can around here) and Mtn Papa always loves to get a ski in in June just to say he did (again, because we can!)

We also love to challenge each other with new interests....which also tends to result in more gear around here, but we live with the consequences...  I taught Mtn Papa how to skate ski, and he taught me all I know about backcountry alpine skiing.  We encourage each other to get a run in (or get back into running and hiking after babies) and individually and collaboratively support hikes off the trail, training for fun races and trying new sports.

Keeping things fresh and being supportive between spouses, family members and friends is key to continuing to get outside and remaining active.  I, personally, love the backcountry because it is always offering a new perspective, new views, and new challenges (and it is for the opposite reasons that I loathe the treadmill!)

Snacks on the Hill + Go Go squeeZ Giveaway

*Congratulations to JLJMommy (#12), Blair(#2), and Connie(#4)!  Email me at mountainmamatales(at)gmail(dot)com to claim your samples!*

When you have kids and are outside and active, snacks are a must (for the sanity of all involved!)  A few weeks ago, I did a post about some of the food we regularly pack when we are out adventuring (which also includes a recipe for Homemade Pocket Sandwiches.)

As a general rule, we tend to stay away from a lot of the pre-packaged stuff.  If I had all the time and energy in the world, we would honestly eat completely from scratch.  However, reality sets in and the truth is that I would rather spend that time with my young boys and husband than in the kitchen all day long.

As a trade-off, I am picky about what we DO eat pre-packaged.  I try to limit sugar, unnecessary preservatives and waste from packaging.

A few months ago, I ran across GoGo squeeZ applesauce packets and they have turned into one packaged snack that we consistently use for the boys.  I believe in them enough to share them with you!

What we love about GoGo squeeZ:
- portioned out packets that result in no-mess (even when we are feeding them to P.)
- easy for on the trail, ski hill, car and general travel (we have to ration them out to J because he loves them that much - they are his "treat"...without all the sugar!)
- all natural and no added sugar
- gluton, dairy and nut free
- 100 % fruit
- resealable (J easily finishes a packet, but P usually is eating on it for a few feedings.)
- Plenty of applesauce-based flavors: apple, apple-stawberry, apple-peach, apple-banana, apple-cinnamon, and apple-berry.  We have only tried the regular apple, but would love to try the others!
- Their recycling system (see my corrections below!)

Staying Organized with all that GEAR! (Transpack Review + Giveaway)

With two young kids, a dog, our skis, our boots, our warm gear, extra layers, food, etc. etc. our car is bursting with stuff.

It drives me crazy (and I refuse to post a picture here of what it looks like in reality!)

We are usually pretty organized as we leave home, but by the time we are done with our adventure and heading back, a gear tornado has taken over our vehicle.

We usually finish our ski (or hike, etc.) and throw the kids into the car, quickly take off gloves and boots to make sure extremities are warm, and give them a snack (and dig through quickly-shed jackets to get there) before they start getting really fussy.  Two minutes of craziness means no organization what-so-ever.

However, we have gotten better, thanks to being more consistent about our packing and trying to enforce a system (despite the madness!)

What we do for the shorter trips (in the area):
- All P's clothing (hats, gloves, booties) are zipped into his snowsuit and then put into the community duffel bag.
- J wears his snow pants and boots to the trail.
- Mountain Papa and I also wear our ski pants and ski boots to the trail.
- All our extra gear is thrown into a big duffle.

When we're going a little further:
- Everyone's gear goes into separate bags (though for now the kids share one bag.)
- Mittens are paired and stuck into hats and then into coat sleeves.
- Boots have their own pockets in said bags (wait for it....) to keep them separate from other stuff (avoiding mud and snow/water on everything.)
- We bring a bag specifically for snacks and water bottles.  All empty containers and fruit peels return to that bag (we usually carry a reusable trash sack for the garbage.)
- The car does not move until all gear (wet or not) returns back to its spot.  Because we usually are going to need that stuff again (coats for dinner later or hats and gloves and snow pants for sledding, etc.) we want to know where it is.
- When we get home, our railing is full of the wet stuff to dry!

THE bag(s) that helps keep that organization a little better:

Transpack.

Edge Jr. and XTW in Gray/Lemongrass Multi Floral

Get Kids Moving (GeoPalz Review and Giveaway)

*Contest closed.  Winner were chosen randomly from their comments and pictures received.  Congratulations to Shawn (comment),  ChemoMom (comment), and Bec (picture)!  Please email me to claim your prize! mountainmamatales (at) gmail (dot) com*

**Check back in April for another chance to win from GeoPalz!**

It is no secret that kids are moving much less these days.  With the onset of video games, T.V., electronics, and plain laziness, obesity is at an all-time high.  Part of the goal of Tales of a Mountain Mama is to inspire families to get their kids outside and moving much more.  It is a mission we obviously believe in whole-heartedly and strive to make one of the top priorities of our own family.

Back in the fall, I was given a chance to test out a GeoPalz tracker that I won from the Outdoor Blogger Network.  It has taken me a while (which is good news because that just means a lot of testing to report back to you) but here is what we think of the company, the pedometer, the mission and the prizes.

About GeoPalz:
GeoPalz is a company aimed at getting kids moving through fun pedometers and prizes they can earn by basically being active.  The GeoPalz are $25 each, but you can also use your own pedometers if you already have one.  That being said, the GeoPalz have quite a few neat features (explanations below) that make me believe they are worth buying them from the site.  Kids (and parents) track their steps on the GeoPalz site (J likes tracking his and listening to the sound effects of lots of steps taken and cheering!)  You earn points that you can trade in for prizes.  The prizes range from frisbees to balls to gift certificates and you just pay the shipping to have them sent to you.  They also just started a program where parents can add their own prize to your child's "prize store" through Amazon.com and determine how many steps it will be worth.  These prizes are paid for by parents (they are NOT free) but it is a great way for kids to have to earn something they really have their eyes on.  Finally, there are milestones completely with printable certificates (and geo-tags you can collect - you just pay shipping on them.)

The Trackers...
...come in a bunch of different designs with the idea being that if the wearer likes the design, they will be more inclined to wear it.  There are definitely a variety ranging from cutesy to sports to nature-themed.

J has the "Tree of Life" tracker.

The stats:
- 98% accurate (we agree.)
- Tri-Axis Accelerometer
- Calibration (which is great for little steps like J's!)
- 21 Days of storage (no need to worry if you miss reporting a day.) You can check the steps for each day and it will flash the date at the same time.
- MVPA - intense play tracking

Hi-Tec Harmony Women's Boot Review + Giveaway!

*Contest closed! Lucky #14 (generated randomly) Princessliak - email me (and check your inbox to claim your boots!  Congratulations!*

I recently realized that I have only ever had two brands of hiking boots.  I have wide feet and can't stand shoes that bother me, so I guess I have stuck with what I know.  Unfortunately, that also means I didn't know what I was missing.  


That said, I also want to showcase a bunch of different gear on the blog because I know that different people have different needs and don't want hear about the same brands all the time. :) 


When Hi-Tec offered to send me a pair of their new Harmony Mid WP (Waterproof) hiking boots, I jumped at the chance (but also warned them I may not be the best subject to test them out because of my wide feet.)  They sent me a half size larger than my normal shoe size (which I actually usually lean towards in hiking boots anyway) and hoped for the best.

I have certainly put some miles on the boots and, as always, this post will be updated as I am given a chance to use them even more in different conditions.

Warm Stuff for Kids + Gear Giveaway

*Contest Closed!  Congratulations to Suzy! (lucky #7!)

Our struggle constantly when we are are outside is keeping the kids warm and making sure they are staying warm.  We invest in great gear for them because we know it will make everyone's day a whole lot better when we are all warm.

Around this past Christmas, I joined in some other bloggers for a holiday gift guide and did a post about some of the gear we really love and think does a good job for our boys.  I wanted to add just a couple more things:

Junior Polar Buff:
I have actually been a big fan of Buff Headwear for a long time now.  I have two of the original Buffs and I wear them nearly daily (for running, skiing, hiking, and bad hair days.)  I am wearing mine in most of the pictures in this post.

The polar buff (retailing for $24.99) is made up of basically a buff (which is a stretchy piece of tubular fabric) + a tubular piece of fleece.  You can fold them together, use them separately (fleece around the head and buff tied together over your hair for a hat), or even wear them inside out if you want.

J wears it as a neckwarmer, but Buff advertises a bunch of other uses:

YMX by Yellowman Review and *Giveaway*

I was contacted a few months back about reviewing a shirt from a company I had never heard of.  I decided to go for it (because I personally believe there is some GREAT gear out there from little-known sources!)  So glad I did....

YMX by Yellowman was launched in 2009 to bring athletic clothing donned with "tattoo-like" works of art to adventurers everywhere.  Quite honestly, I am not a tattoo-loving gal.  It's just not my style.  However, I tend to wear my athletic clothes on a daily basis and am always looking for something that has a little more style than the typical base layers.

YMX sent me a Winter Flower Sport Jersey to test out.  Retailing for $119, the jersey boasts a UPF of 50+ and has three back pockets for keeping things safe.  I personally didn't find that a water bottle was secure enough in the pockets, but keys and a cell phone would be held in easily with the elastic top.

I tested the jersey both XC skiing and running (and then would wear it the rest of the day....shhhhh - don't tell!)  I like the flower design and feel it adds a little bit to my normal active wear.

What I liked:
- The jersey is thin enough to provide an extra layer of warmth while still remaining light enough for warmer days.

- The zip top allows some flexibility with coverage.  I preferred to wear mine not zipped to the top, but I do think it is comfortable either way (especially depending on conditions.)

- It is nice to have pockets sometimes out on a run!

- It breathes well and wicks sweat.

Not so crazy about:
- It is nice to have a design on the shirt, but as it stretches, the design obviously fades a bit with the extension of the fibers and tends to not be as flattering.  I thought that fading made it look like it was less of a quality shirt than it actually is.

- I like that the top is thin, but find that I use it as a base layer and usually the design is hidden.  YMX does state that it is sized to be fitted, so if you want to wear it on top of other layers, sizing up is a must.

You can find YMX by Yellowman on their facebook page and on twitter.  They also sell their products in stores around the country (just not in WY!)

YMX has been generous in the fact that they have offered to send one of you a Winter Flower Sport Jersey of your own (keep it or pass it on to a friend/family member!)  Use the rafflecopter below to enter (if you can't see it, just refresh your page!)  As always, make sure you do the task and then click the button to show you have done it!  Questions?  Feel free to email me at mountainmamatales@gmail.com a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Guest Post* Recycled Wool Mittens

Giveaway closed.  Congrats, Jess B. (lucky #1!) on your win!


I would like to introduce you to a local here in our small town, Connie.   Connie is an amazing seamstress and crafter.  She believes in the warmth of wool (as do we!) and I think this is an awesome unique way to recycle products for warmth (and a great gift idea as the holidays approach!)

Winter is here. And in Wyoming it is here to stay for awhile. It’s no secret that I don’t like the cold. I like to spend the cold weekends in the house where it’s nice and warm. I enjoy sewing, my daughter has been making jewelry, my son loves to play cards and my husband watches football. It doesn’t get much better than that.


If we do venture outside on the coldest of days, I like to wear wool. I have this weird fascination with
wool. I love its textures, beautiful colors and warmth.


Last year a friend of mine from Wisconsin showed me a pair of mittens that had been made with wool
sweaters. It was love at first sight. I came up with my own pattern and went shopping. I hit all the
second hand stores I could find and bought up their 100% wool sweaters. Once they are washed and
dried (everything you’re not supposed to do with wool) they turn into a wonderful, soft piece of wool
felt that can be cut apart without unraveling. It’s just like a piece of craft felt you would buy at the store.
But, instead of buying another item, I am using a product and “upcycling” it. Upcycled means taking
something that served one purpose and redesigning it for another. A sweater’s purpose is to keep our
body warm, and now it can be repurposed to keep our hands warm.

Toddler Mittens

Kids Icebreaker Review and *Giveaway!*

*Contest Closed!* Betsy and Rebecca - check your inbox and congratulations!

We talk about it a lot on the blog, but in case you missed it: We are huge proponents of gear in our family.  Yep, most of it comes with a higher price tag, but the peace of mind knowing your family is safe and warm is absolutely worth it.  And gear starts from the base up.  Husband and I have both worn our fair share of long underwear over the years and know how important it is to have good stuff.  If your base layer isn't doing what it needs to do, the rest of your layers are compromised considerably.

Therefore, we were thrilled to have an opportunity to test out some incredible baselayers (plus some other goodies) from Icebreaker .  Made from Merino Wool taken from the Southern Alps of New Zealand, Icebreaker  boasts products that keep you warm in the cold, cool in the heat, and with a hard-to-beat no-stink factor (my very favorite feature!) + no itch!  And boast they may - this clothing is everything it says it is.

Great Kids Gear (Adventuring for Christmas!) + Baby Banz Giveaway

Our kids always benefit from some great gear for Christmas along with the "fun" stuff.  (Not that gear isn't fun, because it definitely means fun adventures!)  We are strong believers in the idea that great gear = happy kids and fun times!  It is absolutely worth the money for us.  We give each other gear for holidays, we give them gear.  And then we go play!  We thought it would be fun to make a list of the gear that we personally love to share with you.  And yes, we understand that this list does not exhaust all the possiblities and we would LOVE to hear your own opinions or suggestions in the comments!

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A bunch of other Outdoor Mamas are also doing holiday guide posts today!  Check them out:

*Family Holiday Gifts for Cyclists from Velo Mom

*A Wishlist for Cragbabies from Cragmama

*Christmas Gift Ideas - The 5 pieces of gear we take everywhere from Bring the Kids

*Gifts for Outdoor Families from Outside Mom

*Tis the Gift Giving Season - Suggestions for Skiing Families from Brave Ski Mom

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And since it is Cyber Monday, I am including links to most of the gear (because a ton of it is on sale so don't miss it!)

Molehill Mittens and Booties

We have quite honestly had some struggles finding warm enough mittens for J.  However, we are super impressed with Molehill.  We bought some mittens last year that were much too big for J, but used them to layer other smaller mittens under (and could even fit in a handwarmer between the mittens last year).  Molehill graciously sent us some thumb-less ones to review for P this year and we love them too.  They are warm, stay on and have a waterproof shell. P wears them layered under his snowsuit when it is colder out (and yep, plenty of room to grow!).  Molehill also makes some awesome booties that fit over shoes and add another layer of warmth.  P is still small for them, but we are able to put them over his shoes and under his snowsuit.  He is wearing them in the picture below and a better picture is above this paragraph.

Bear (or animal in general) Hat
I always thought animal hats for kids were silly.  They are kids, not animals.  But J LOVES this hat.  And I cannot tell you how many complements he gets on it (mostly from jealous adults, believe it or not!)  It covers his ears very well, keeps him warm and makes him growl.  We found the hat in Jackson at Skinny Skis (one of our favorite shops!)

J Wearing Bear Hat, Baby Banz Sunglasses, Patagonia Puff Coat and Molehill Mittens

Kid-Co PeaPod and PeaPod Plus Review plus *Giveaway!*

**Closed!  Congratulations, Nichole S. - you are the winner thanks to Mr. Random (lucky #4!) Email me to claim your prize!!!!**


Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!  Don't worry - I am far from the computer today running the Turkey Trot in Jackson and spending time with family, but wanted to share this excellent travel solution before Black Friday hit (just in case... :))

Yesterday Stephanie talked about a list of her go-to items for traveling with kids.  On the top of that list was the Kid-Co PeaPod.  After getting the opportunity to try one out ourselves (and a Peapod Plus too!) we whole-heartedly agree it is a must-have.

The purpose of both the PeaPod and the Peapod Plus is to provide an alternative to a bulky Pack 'n Play when you are traveling (or backpacking or camping).  We love this because quite honestly, our minivan (high five to all the mini-van families out there) is filled to the brim with other gear nearly every time we leave the house.  It is a bit embarrassing that with just two kids + a dog + kid carriers + Chariot + skis + coats, gloves, hats, and snowsuits +  cloth diapers + snacks = a VERY full load.  Not sure what we will do if we have any more kids...

We also love that kids feel like they are camping when they are in the tents (and sleeping bags are just the natural sleeping arrangement when you are in a tent.)  We usually give J a flashlight too just to add to the ambiance (plus, it's fun!)

Kid-Co generously sent us both a PeaPod and a PeaPod Plus so we could compare them.

Keeping warm when Babywearing... Kowalli Review and *Giveaway*

I am excited to do this post and believe it is perfect timing to do it in conjunction with my review on the Boba 3G (giveaway closes tomorrow!).  This fall, as P demanded being held more and more (and consequently I got better and better at this babywearing gig) I realized that going outside as the weather changed with a child attached to my front had its own set of challenges.  Coats wouldn't quite go around myself and P and sometimes getting both kids in snowsuits and hats and gloves, etc., etc. takes SO long for just a few minutes outside at home.  P also is often asleep when J and I want to go outside, and I hate having to wake him to get him in a snowsuit and warm clothes.

I started to look online for options and found Kowalli.  I quickly found myself having a conversation with Alizah (owner and inventor of the Kowalli) and had my own to try out within a week (yea!)

Side view