2019 Spring Essentials Guide

Products are received in order for us to facilitate our review and inclusion of products on the list. However, all thoughts and opinions are our own. We do not include any products on the list that we would not use ourselves. 

2019 Spring Essentials Guide

I am super excited that Spring is finally here and we are loving the extra sunlight each day. As Spring wakes up the world around us with new flower buds, trees blooming, and birds singing, we celebrate all Spring has to offer with another great guide filled with amazing products, gift ideas, and fabulous books for you to enjoy. Take a moment to discover all these great items we have curated in one place for you and make celebrating all the special moments of Spring easier with our product suggestions and recommendations.

Spring Cleaning & Renovation

Wallsauce Wallpaper Wall Murals – Looking to freshen up your room or want to make a statement wall? Skip the paint can and opt for amazing wallpaper wall murals from Wallsauce. These wall murals are custom printed and there are over 1 million images to choose from on top of the wall murals listed on their site. you can also use an image of your own and have it turned into a wall size piece of art. Not sure where to begin, I suggest the GCC Artworks Wall Mural Collection. See how easy it is to shop, order, and install wallpaper murals from Wallsauce. 

SoapStandle – Say good-bye to sliperry soap covered in goo & soap marks left on the edge of the tub or sink with the SoapStandle. This nifty, small, and inconspicious stand sinks its “teeth” right into any size or type of bar of soap. The stand allows the soap to be elevated above the surface it sits on allowing the air to circulate around the bar for it to dry properly. This also prevents “goo” build-up and extends the life of the bar of soap by 30 percent. See how you can get a grip, eliminate the goo, all while getting the best value when you shop for your SoapStandle. 

Kid’s Gift Ideas

 

Highlights Hidden Pictures: 101 Activity Books –  Everyone’s favorite children’s magazine is back with an fun new activity book series to keep your children occupied at home or on the go. The 101 Toothbrushes, 101 Socks, and 101 Bananas are an entertaining new series that make a perfect gift for fans of Hidden Pictures® puzzles with a unique thematic twist. The books will make every parent remember the fun of discovering the hidden items inside each magazine. With a portable size ideal for taking the fun on the go, these Hidden Pictures® books feature 101 toothbrushes, socks, or bananas hidden among 1,500+ objects. Kids will love the full-color bonus puzzles and activities that include toothbrush jokes, riddles, mazes, drawing activities, and more! To get your copy of these fun 101 Activity Books shop online at Highlights.com 

Lights and Stripes Zebra – Dance all day with the Lights & Stripes Zebra™. Upbeat music and playful sing-along songs encourage your baby to move and groove. This zippy plush zebra features bold black and white stripes, colorful patterned fabric and a variety of textures to enhance tactile awareness. The friendly zebra’s tummy plays endearing phrases and introduces colors through catchy songs while glowing in five different colors. The plush zebra has a washable surface with removable electronics. This snuggly striped sidekick is perfectly sized for your little one to hug and bring on the go! This is available at major retailers and online at Amazon.com. 

Butterfly Counting Pal – Enjoy a flutter of color with the Butterfly Counting Pal™ plush learning toy. Five colorful number buttons play a variety of songs to teach colors and numbers. A kaleidoscope of color, Butterfly’s light-up wing shows the colors of the rainbow. She also helps your baby fall asleep with soft, classical melodies. Each segment of this on-the-go toy features a dangling toy that rattles, squeaks, turns or crinkles to help develop fine motor skills. Learn at home or on the fly by using the included straps to secure the butterfly to infant carriers and strollers. Requires two AA batteries. This interactive toy is available at major retailers and online at Amazon.com. 

PAW Patrol Marshall, Chase, or Skye Learning Watch™ –  Perfect for those aged 3 and up, the PAW Patrol interactive learning watch comes with four exciting games that allow the user to play games to recognize patterns, identify animal tracks, and pick the right tool for the job with the PAW Patrol. The will love hearing Ryder call the pups into action, cool sound effects and popular phrases from the show. The watch is available in Red for Marshall, Blue for Chase, and Pink for Skye. Each watch includes a clock, timer, stopwatch and alarm. Help your little one learn to tell time and keep them occupied when you surprise them with one in their Easter Basket. Purchase yours by clicking on the appropriate link -> MARSHALL – SKYE – CHASE

Sparkle Magic™ – Tweens will love adding some sparkle to their world when they discover the fun of Sparkle Magic. This fun DIY set allows them to select an art style and add gems to make it sparkle. To make these amazing gem art works, they simply peel off the clear sheet to reveal the adhesive areas and start gemming. For extra fun, our daughter took some glitter to the open areas for extra shimmer and shine. The kits are available in fun themes including Mermazing, Ruff Life, Hangry, and Unicone! Pick up a set or two for their basket this Easter at Michael’s, Barnes & Noble, and A.C.Moore. 

Jiggle Digs™  – Kids love gross things and surprises. Jiggle Digs are the perfect way to discover a surprise squishy reveal! Dig through a squishy jelly mold in a fun shape like a Wiggle Poo or a Sweetasaurus Cupcake to excavate two collectible figurines. Each theme includes a different shaped dig and surprise toys inside! Squeeze, poke, prod and shake the mold to make it jiggle and wiggle for a fun sensory experience. Jiggle Digs are available in a variety of fun and exciting themes including: Squishy Shell, Sweetsaurus, Jelly Brains, Gummi Galaxy, jell-i-cor and Wiggle Poo. Discover their new, favorite surprise toys at Target and Michael’s. 

Dolce Sports Car – The Dolce Sports car clips to any stroller so you little one can explore and laugh. It features high quality fabric with rattle, mirror, crinkle, teether and ribbons for tactile fun. Dolce stands for Develop, Observe, Learn, Create, Educate. Let your baby DEVELOP their sensory skills with the wide variety of high quality textured fabrics. Your little one will love to OBSERVE the fun colorful fabrics and LEARN to understand cause and effect through the many interesting activities in our toys. CREATE fun, learning and role-play with your favorite Dolce friend. Let the beautiful, interesting and activity rich Dolce toys EDUCATE through play. Purchase the Dolce Sports Car and other Dolce plush toys for the little ones in your life. 

Wild Republic Rubber Ducks – The world of rubber ducks has been taken to new extremes with the new collectible line of Rubber Ducks from Wild Republic. The line features 31 wildly unique and highly detailed ducks including a zombie duck, mermaid duck and even a unicorn duck. All of their ducks are mold-free due to a special hole-less design. Plus these fun and innovative ducks do float. Purchase them right now directly from Wild Republic and take advantage of their special Buy 4, Get 1 Free Sale. 

 

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

DIY Face Mask Gift Set – Pamper your mom this Mother’s Day with this amazing DIY organic face masks gift set. The hands-on approach is streamlined into a two-ingredient capsule; just a few steps and the mask is ready. You can customize a mask for your complexion and there is enough fresh, all natural goodness in this set to mix up 15 skin-pleasing masks. Available in two types – Detox and Rejuvenating. Plus at only $24.95, you can afford to add some flowers to make your mom feel even more special. Discover this amazing DIY Face Mask Gift Set and other great gift ideas for mom this Mother’s Day at Grommet.com. 

State Scented Candles – Treat your mom to memories of her home state or even her favorite vacation destination with these long-lasting state scented candles. Each state candle has a special fragrance specific to the state. These soy wax candles are crafted in Oregon and are clean-burning. Each candle comes ready for gift giving with gold foil, “Love” matchbook, and scent description card.  Find the candle from your favorite state and other great ideas for mom this Mother’s Day at Grommet.com. 

Father’s Day Gift Ideas

Nashville Sound: An Illustrated Timeline – Explore Nashville’s rich history in music that encompasses not only country music but also gospel music, contemporary Christian music, rhythm and blues, rock n roll, and classical music. Nashville is a gold mind and this hard cover book follows the development of music and the music industry in Nashville from the nineteenth century until today. With beautiful illustrated pictures, interesting trivia facts, artist information and more, music buffs will love delving into this book. Its exquisite cover and design also makes it a book that you won’t mind leaving out for company to enjoy. Treat dad this father’s day to his own copy and purchase a copy of Nashville Sound online at Amazon.com and wherever books are sold. 

Outdoor Fun

Smarty Clear Backpacks –  With more and more venues requiring clear bags and backpacks for events, it is important to find one that is durable and will stand up to repeated use. SmartCo has the answer to your clear backpack needs with a backpack that uses durable materials, reinforced stitching, and a military grade nylon bottom. The bag is available in different trim colors and in two sizes. The double padded S-curved straps make it comfortable to carry and with multiple pockets (zippered and mesh) there is room for everything you need. It also boasts a compartment area that will hold a laptop up to 15″. Shop for your clear backpack at TheSmartyCo.Com. 

Aero Safety Gear – In our 2018 Holiday Gift Guide we shared with you the fantastic scooters, pogo sticks, and outdoor toys from Flybar. Today, we want to share their new Aero Safety Gear that includes elbow pads, knee pads, and wrist guards. These safety sets are available in sizes X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, and X-Large which means that they have one for everyone in the family from ages 4 to adult. The safety gear features adjustable straps, breathable, impact resistant neoprene material, and multi-sport protection. The safety gear is rated and safe for skateboarding, roller skating, biking, pogoing, etc. Keep them safe and comfortable while they play when you shop the full line of Aero Safety Gear online at Flybar.com. 

Flybar Sports Safety Helmets – Protect their growing skulls and brains from impact when engaging in activities including biking, roller skating, pogoing, skateboarding and more with a safety helmet from Flybar. This Flybar Junior Safety Helmet is available in five colors: green, pink, orange, blue, and black and has vents to keep their heads cool while it stays protected. It is available in three sizes that work for children ages 3 and up. The helmet is also equipped with adjustable dial to help insure a proper fit. These helmets pair perfectly with the Aero Safety Gear featured above and you can shop the full line of safety helmets online at Flybar.com.

PARA’KITO Refillable Bands & Clips –  With a unique blend of essential oils, patented slow-release technology and super-smart product design, PARA’KITO™ products offer the ultimate protection in a stylish way. PARA’KITO™ is sold in more than 35 markets all over the world. All products work in any climate, including temperate and tropical zones, for buzz-free bliss in any activity. Each pellet provides up to 15 days of constant protection. Bands and clips are waterproof, easily adjustable and can be worn around the wrist or ankle or hung on a backpack, belt or stroller. Kids’ bands come with a special ID label for name and contact details! Sports Bands are offered in a Lycra material and feature reflective material and an ID tag. The new Party Edition bands come in Lycra material and feature fun, flirty designs for stylish protection. Enjoy the outdoors without fear of mosquito bites when you pick up these bands for the whole family at retailers including Amazon, Walmart, Target and Whole Foods, as well as www.ParaKito.com.

 

Health & Wellness

Cold Bee Gone – This homeopathic remedy is swabbed inside your nose and is a unique blend of homeopathic ingredients, a honey blend including Raw Active Manuka honey and essential oils. Targeting Cold Bee Gone to the nose allows it to be exactly where most cold and flu replicate. It smells pleasant, is gentle, natural and easy to use. Cold Bee Gone helps support your body’s fight against the, cold, flu and allergies. Cold Bee Gone is available at CVS , online at Amazon, or you can shop direct form their website at https://www.coldbeegone.com/

Reading List

Audible – At home or on the go enjoy the newest book with Audible. Their collection has over 445,000 titles including those from the biggest celebrities, authors, and performers in every imaginable genre and length, and on May 7^th, just in time for Mother’s Day, Audible is releasing the first-ever digital audio versions of What to Expect When You’re Expecting, What to Expect the First Year,and What to Expect Before You’re Expecting. They’re the perfect resource for the new moms and moms-to-be in your life to get these important pearls of wisdom on-the-go! Gift yourself or a someone special in your life an Audible subscription or download. New users can get a FREE 30 day Audible trial which includes 2 FREE downloads by clicking HERE! 

 

The Girl He Used to Know – Annika (rhymes with Monica) Rose is an English major at the University of Illinois. Anxious in social situations where she finds most people’s behavior confusing, she’d rather be surrounded by the order and discipline of books or the quiet solitude of playing chess.Jonathan Hoffman joined the chess club and lost his first game—and his heart—to the shy and awkward, yet brilliant and beautiful Annika. He admires her ability to be true to herself, quirks and all, and accepts the challenges involved in pursuing a relationship with her. Jonathan and Annika bring out the best in each other, finding the confidence and courage within themselves to plan a future together. What follows is a tumultuous yet tender love affair that withstands everything except the unforeseen tragedy that forces them apart, shattering their connection and leaving them to navigate their lives alone.Now, a decade later, fate reunites Annika and Jonathan in Chicago. She’s living the life she wanted as a librarian. He’s a Wall Street whiz, recovering from a divorce and seeking a fresh start. The attraction and strong feelings they once shared are instantly rekindled, but until they confront the fears and anxieties that drove them apart, their second chance will end before it truly begins. Purchase your copy online at at Amazon.com. 

The Helicopter Heist – On September 23, 2009, the world was captivated as four Swedish armed men robbed a highly secure cash depot in Sweden, using a helicopter to break through the roof and flying off with an enormous sum of money. Based on his extensive interviews with the robbers – who up until now have refused to speak publicly on the matter – screenwriter and journalist Jonas Bonnier brings a delightful, ripped-from-reality novelization of one of the biggest heists in Swedish history. Bonnier’s novel will keep you riveted until the end and has delighted audiences across the world. Netflix is planning a film adaptation which will star Jake Gyllenhaal and Oscar-nominated Steven Knight is writing the script. . Purchase your copy online at Amazon.com .

Chibi Art Class – If you love anime and chibi, you’ve got to try Chibi Art Class: A Complete Course in Drawing Chibi Cuties and Beasties by Instagram sensation and anime artist Yoai. Chibi Art Class teaches how to draw and color charming chibi people and their signature features and props. You’ll find step-by-step instruction on drawing, coloring, and shading these vertically challenged, baby-faced characters and their kawaii little companions.

Ultimate Soap Carving – Soap carving has gained huge popularity online, but while most online videos are of cutting or carving soap bars into shavings, Ultimate Soap Carving offers instruction on creating cool and adorable designs, as well as how to use shavings to make new bars and other simple body care products – author Makiko Sone (aka Mizutama Soap) even shows fun ways to gift your carvings once you’re done!

Draw 62 Animals and Make Them Cute – If you like to draw and are drawn to all things adorable, you’ll love Draw 62 Animals and Make Them Cute by Heegyum Kim! Kim leads us step-by-step in sketching dozens of charming creatures from bees to whales. Each project begins with easy-to-follow visual steps to build the animal, ending with variations you can try as you practice. Perfect for beginning artists or those looking to shake up their routine with a blast of cuteness.

Food & Drink Products

Steeped Coffee –   A new way to enjoy a single serving of coffee without the waste of unrecyclable pods is on the market. The single size serve bags, are brewed similar to a tea bag. The full immersion filter bags are made of renewable and compostable material so there is no need for additional items in the landfill. Steeped Coffee uses specialty coffee directly sourced from farmers and is available in five roasts. Choose from light, medium, dark, French roast, and a single-origin Swiss Water Process decaf. Enjoy a delicious cup of coffee at home or on the go without the waste thanks to Steeped Coffee. Learn more about this company and shop online at Steeped Coffee today. 

Pecorino Cheese – The 3 Pecorini US wants to let you know that their 3 step process makes Pecorino Romano PDO, Pecorino Sardo PDO and Fiore Sardo PDO so unique. Each of the cheeses has a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) label that certifies their highest quality and guarantee their territory of origin. Real Pecorino PDO cheese rinds have a label designed by the Consortium so make sure to look for the European PDO red and yellow logo and the specific logo of Consortium. These decadent cheeses are a favorite in our house for topping on our favorite dishes like lasagna, spaghetti, and scrambled eggs but are also fabulous on a charcuterie board with your favorite sides for sharing. Discover fabulous, delicious recipes & learn more about the initiative by visiting 3 Pecorini. You can also check out their 3 step process by checking out their Infographic HERE! 

True Made Foods – Tired of the large amounts of sugar and empty calories found in popular condiments, Abe Kamarck jumped at the chance to create a better for you option. True Made Foods has remastered classic American staples, Ketchup, BBQ Sauce and Sriracha, and made them better for you without sacrificing flavor. The corn syrup is taken out and real vegetables like spinach, tomatoes, carrots, and butternut squash are added –  naturally sweetening these sauces for the same delicious flavor while adding a much-needed nutritional punch of nutrient dense, plant-based superfoods. These condiments are Paleo-friendly, perfect Keto-friendly, Gluten Free, and Vegan making them healthier than even the most pretentious gourmet brands, but with that American flavor you know and love. Check out all the varieties that True Made Foods offer and where to buy them in your area by visiting online. 

 

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