Tag Archives: summer

Swimming is the #FunnestSport

17 Jun

IMG_0057

Summer is finally here.  In two weeks my girls and I will head down south to spend the summer with my parents.  They live on a lake, are a short drive to the beach, have a  pool at their house and a wonderful neighborhood pool not far.  My girls enjoy spending countless hours in the pool, taking dips in the ocean, and fishing on the dock by the lake.  At a recent event with SwimToday and Momtrends, I started asking myself why haven’t I signed my girls up for regular swim lessons, not only for fun but for water safety especially now that we spend summers surrounded by water.

IMG_0053

I recently attended a Momtrends event with Olympic Swimmer, Dara Torres and the SwimToday organization.  At the event we talked about the reasons for not signing up.  Some reasons were time and cost.  I was talking with a few of the moms and it was mentioned when is a good age to get your child swimming.   Is there a right age? I started talking about my 5-year-old daughter. I wish I had started her at a much earlier age.   I took her to her first swim lesson when she was two.  I thought having her older sister who was anxious to learn would help ease her fear of getting into the pool.  It didn’t, she screamed and refused.  She hasn’t been interested in learning.  She has gotten too comfortable with her pink water wings.  This summer there is no question she has to learn.

IMG_2590

Image from Momtrends

IMG_2591

Image from Momtrends

SwimToday, is a campaign to showcase swimming as the Funnest Sport that can take kids from learning to swim and continuing on to join a competitive swim team.  I have been able to locate facilities nationwide that offer lessons and teams for kids. I even found a facility not far from my parents house.  It was reassuring to hear from Dana Torres, that although she learned to swim early she didn’t join a team until 7 or 8.   Listening to Dana and parents of children who swim brought back many fond childhood memories on the summer swim team and swimming on my high school team. Not only is the comradery incredible, the encouragement and cheers can fill a room. After learning nearly 80 percent of parents don’t consider swimming as a competitive sport for their kids after completing swim lessons, I would love to encourage my girls to join a team as they gain confidence in the water.

IMG_2592

Image from Momtrends

Not only is swimming “fun”, there are many benefits. The top ten benefits to swimming are:

· It’s closer than you think – 62 percent of families live within 10 minutes of a pool; 52 percent of households with combined income of $50,000 or less report they have access to a pool nearby.  
· Everyone participates – Swimming is inclusive, there are no benchwarmers (nor benches)
· Swimming is a team sport – Only 16 percent of non-swimming parents view swimming as a team sport but parents of swimmers associate the sport with teamwork more than any other sport
· Suit up and go – Only a swimsuit, cap and goggles are necessary to get started
· Life skills – Swimming increases self-confidence, self-esteem, time management, goal-setting and social development
· Easy to learn – 76 percent of parents said the ease of learning to swim was high
· Low risk of injury – No contact makes for a safer environment
· Swimming = total body fitness – Burn 650 calories in an hour – more than walking, biking or team sports
· Sport for life – Once you learn to swim, you can enjoy no matter your age
· Swimming is FUN – Parents confirm that swimming is the #FunnestSport

Learn more at http://www.swimtoday.org.  Check out this  Q&A with Dara Torres  about her journey.

Do your kids plan on taking lessons or joining a team this summer?  What do you think about swimming as a team sport?

Disclaimer: I received swim lessons and a starter kit for attending the event.  I can’t wait to share our experiences with SwimToday.  Thank you to everyone who made the event possible.  Information in italics is from http://www.swimtoday.org.

Tags: , , , ,

Summer GIVEAWAY: Escape The Heat With A Trip To LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester

11 Jul

DSC_0178

We recently took a family adventure to the LEGOLAND Discovery Center in Westchester, read my review here of our family outing.  We had such a wonderful time and would love to offer a family the opportunity to escape the summer heat with an adventure of their own.  One lucky reader has the opportunity to WIN A FAMILY 4-PACK OF TICKETS (valid for 90 days after I receive your information).  GIVEAWAY Ends July 24, 2014 at 12 a.m est. Enter HERE!

You might also be interested in:

Don’t want just one day of fun and adventures?  Check out the Annual Pass SALE!  Save on individual and family 4-packs of annual passes to LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester. Sale is valid from July 7 – 31. Individual passes will be $55 and family 4-packs are $190. Annual pass holders receive the following perks:

    • Unlimited entry to the LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Westchester for 12 months.
    • 10% off purchases in the LEGO® Shop
    • 20% discount on food and beverages in the café
    • 10% discount on birthday parties
    • Subscription to the LEGO® Club magazine
    • Invitation to sneak preview event days

It All Starts with One Brick. Have a LEGO builder in your family?  LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester is offering fans to build their dream creation with new Master Model Builder Veronica Watson. Create a sign that says “I want to build ______” and include what object you want to create in the blank space and pose next to it in your picture. Upload to social media using #IWantToBuild and #LDCWestchester. Entry deadline is August 29 and you can enter as many times as you want!

 

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Summer Shopping at P.S. from Aeropostale

16 May

My girls love to shop and they love to pick their own outfits.  The change of seasons means new clothes and switching out their closets.  Last weekend my youngest and I headed to an Epic Shopping event at P.S. from Aeropostale hosted by Brianne, founder of Stroller in the City.  It was a warm day so we had summer clothes and open toes on our mind.

aeropostale

When we arrived my daughter started coloring with friends and had a snack from Treathouse while I checked out the latest styles.   Once she was ready to shop, she headed straight to the bright, shiny, and colorful sandals (naturally since she is a little girl who LOVES her shoes).   The sandals were so cute, I had to grab a pair for my girls.    Then she went on to find her “favorite” summer outfit (with a little styling help from Brianne) and chose a tiered tank in white with the high-waisted paisley woven shorts in summer citrus.  On our way to the checkout, she noticed the accessories and hair coloring sticks.  After, we checked out, we were able to hit the photo booth to capture our fun, Mother-Daughter Epic Shopping adventure.

aeropostal

It was a wonderful morning, and I was excited to learn about P.S. from Aeropostale.  I had never shopped there for my girls and found so many great styles for summer.  Not to mention the sales were great too.

 

Disclaimer:  I received a gift card for attending the event.  As always, all opinions expressed are my own.

Tags: , , , ,

ValMax: The Perfect Party Dress

3 Jan

Picture 2

20121231-201644.jpgMy girls love every excuse to get dressed up in their best dresses.  They hear party and they run to their closet to pick out their fanciest attire.  The Holidays are usually their favorite time of year because they get to dress their best for family gatherings and parties.  This Holiday Season the girls dressed in dresses from ValMax, a luxury Italian children’s label that has been around for 53 years.  Their handmade clothing for girls 3-14 is simple, elegant, chic, and comfortable for little girls who love to dance the day away like mine do.  I was taken aback by the superb quality of the materials used and the beautiful styles of ValMax.  The dresses were true to size.  The purple dress was a size 6 and had a lot of room for my daughter to grow into it. The other dress was a size 4 (their actual size) and both my girls fit it perfectly.

ValMax is trying to enter a new era of the 21st century by implementing the trends while preserving their original vision, quality, creativity, style, and most of all their great tradition of Italian craftmanship. The inspiration for their collection comes from the lands of  Southern Italy, the love for color and the taste for richness in textures. The Autumn/ Winter 2012 collection features three themes:

  • Wishful Days combines pastels with hints of sage green, winter mocha and black and white Chanel-esque vintage tweeds.
  • First Bloom is everyday wear that makes a statement of individuality by using colors and prints to evoke the first blossoms of early spring.
  • Wonderland Blossom incorporates elegant occasion wear that features ultra light techno-silk combined with cashmere dresses and pleated shift dresses. 

Picture 9  Picture 10

Just because the holidays are over, 2013 brings weddings and other special occasions that will need the perfect party dress from ValMax! Be on the lookout for the stunning Spring/Summer 2013 line for girls and a newly added line for boys.

Picture 11 Picture 15Picture 12    Picture 14

To purchase visit these online retailers: http://www.monpetitchild.com, http://www.lavishkids.com or click here to find a store near you that carries ValMax.

Disclaimer: I received two dresses to see the quality of the label.  All opinions expressed are my own.  The information in italics came from a press release received and from the  ValMax website.  The bottom images came from ValMax. 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Braving The Streets of NYC In A Miraclesuit {Review and Giveaway}

23 Jun

Hosted by MomTrends, Miraclesuit and Wilhelmina model Roshumba Willliams

Image from MomTrends

A few weeks ago I received an e-mail from MomTrends looking for mom bloggers to volunteer to wear Miraclesuits® during their event withMiraclesuits®.   I was hesitant because the e-mail said there was a possible appearance on the TODAY show. I was with my mom when I got the e-mail, told her about it and she told me I should do it.  I impulsively replied back that I would, not knowing all the details. I am usually pretty shy and it takes a glass of wine or two for me to come out of my shell, so this was a BIG challenge for me.  Once I started finding out more and more details I had thought about backing out but decided I needed that challenge.  I can now say I braved NYC on a SWELTERING HOT day in a Miraclesuit® with Wilhelmina model Roshumba Williams and eighteen other women to celebrate the first day of summer.

Prior to the event I went into the Miraclesuit® office to try on different suits to find one that fit me best for the big day.  Miraclesuit®  designer swimwear will make you Look 10 Lbs Lighter in 10 Seconds, the time it takes to slip one on. Miraclesuit® swimsuits are constructed from a proprietary blend of control fabric called Miratex. This fabric slims and slenderizes without relying on constrictive control panels or inner linings. The high concentration of Lycra spandex means that Miraclesuit’s keep their shape… and yours.(from Miraclesuit.com) I don’t usually wear a one piece and I usually do strapless but I loved the suit I ended up with.  It was comfortable and slimming, sometimes one pieces aren’t very flattering but this suit was.  I even loved the low V neck line.  I felt great in it and will definitely be wearing it again poolside with my two girls.

Sonatina Swimwear $142, similar to the style I was wearing.

At the TODAY show. Image from Miraclesuit

The Miraclesuit Celebrates Summer Event took place on Thursday, June 20 in NYC.  On the morning of the event all the women in swimsuits, myself included, met at Rockefeller center in our heels and suits.  We walked around Rockefeller Center wishing everyone a happy first day of summer and passed out flyers about the promo for free shipping all day.  After we headed into the NBC store to be in the audience of the questions asked during the panel of “Guys Tell All” (click and watch video to see if you can find Miraclesuit® women) during Kathie Lee and Hoda on the TODAY show.  After taking over Rockefeller Center we joined Roshumba Williams and fellow bloggers on a NYC double-decker sightseeing bus and made stops around Manhattan handing out Miraclesuit Giveaway Bags. In about 100 bags there were “golden tickets”, redeemable for a FREE Miraclesuit® valued at $150.  Despite the heat, everyone was energetic and pumped to celebrate the start of “summer in the city”.

Giveaway Bags- Image from MomTrends

If you didn’t  make it to one of the stops, you still have the chance to win a Miraclesuit® for a “sexy summer”.  Miraclesuit® is providing me with a swimsuit to give to ONE reader/ follower.  All entries must be recieved before 6pm on Tuesday, June 26th. To enter:

Leave me a comment telling me your favorite Miraclesuit® style (comment for every entry you do)
“Like” Miraclesuit on facebook

“Follow” Miraclesuit on twitter

“Like” Tastefully Childish on facebook

“Follow” @TastefulyChldsh on twitter

Disclaimer: I received compensation and a swimsuit for myself and for a giveaway for participating in the event.  They did not alter my opinions.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Tags: , , , , , , ,