Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Time to Play! #toys

A few weeks ago, I was contacted and invited to attend a Bloggers lunch for a toy review. I immediately agreed. How fun would it be! 

Being a new Momma I am not much of an up-to-date toy expert. My kids have received a lot of toys in the last 3 years as gifts and we have shopped for very few, when we have, we thought we were doing very careful child age appropriate research, oh boy was I wrong! 

{The picture below has a smudge in the middle of it..because my lens was dirty and I didn't realize it!}


Feb 2013 Pics Connie 012


Our lunch took place on a very sunny Friday afternoon, we met at a little Italian restaurant here in Houston and that meeting has changed my perspective on "toys". I met a new parent Blogger who also changed the way I look at toys when it comes to children's development and motor skills. I also got to personally meet a Facebook friend and Blogger who I am in awe of...she has a Full-time outside the home job, 2 children, a Hubby and an amazing Blog! She talked about how she organized game night with friends and I don't know how she does it all....

We met with Jim from Time to Play, to hear him speak about his work and the amount of dedication that he has for the industry was so inspiring. He explained their website and it's resources such as their price comparison tool, which is so convenient! As a Dad he talk to us about his favorite reviews and shared picture of his beautiful daughters! I am always so inspired by parents who have turned their passions into their everyday career! 


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It was a great experience for me and I enjoyed not only the great food but the very knowledgeable company! I thought that Jim was very informative and I loved hearing him speak about toys on a whole new level! As a fairly new Momma his passion for toys and their function as well as safety really opened my eyes as to what I have sitting in my home and to what I will consider buying or spending money on in the future! 

Needless to say, I am very Thankful for the opportunity and am happy to have been able to attend! 

We had a fun afternoon and I can't wait to do it again! 

Oh and did I mention. We got a Time to Play tote FULL of great...TOYS! I have decided that I will personally gift some of these toys to our friends and family! My children have too many toys but we might keep one or 2 for a review later. 


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{Momma Disclosure: The above statements are both my true and honest opinion.It is not a compensated post. However, I did receive complimentary merchandise from TIME TO PLAY as a Thank You for attending the luncheon/meeting. And, I was not required to post about my experience.}



Tuesday, February 12, 2013

{February} #BLOGLUV





BLOGLUV




I know that I say this often. But, it's true. Blogging has not only opened new doors and opportunities for me but also created long lasting and outstanding friendships.

When I first started Blogging my Hubby didn't believe that I had met local Bloggers with extraordinary stories or that I knew a Blogger from Hawaii who I talk to on a daily basis about everyday things.

I think we have always regarded "the internet" as a bad place to meet the wrong people but Blogging has helped me meet some pretty amazing women who not only have the same goals as me but who are also eager and excited to share their stories and open up their hearts! And, some have been ever so great to share their pointers and guide a "new" Blogger like myself!

With Valentine's Day around the corner a group of us got together and organized by our friends Xenia of Raised by Culture  and Ruby of G.U.B., we participated in a Valentine's Day Exchange! #BLOGLUV It helped us learn more about our friends who literally live all over the U.S.. My exchange package came from New Jersey all the way to Texas. I was so excited just to see our mail carrier come to the door with it!

The best surprise was that my Valentine was RUBY from G.U.B.! From the day I met Ruby something just clicked! {I know I sound like a total stalker!} But seriously... if you EVER get the chance to meet Ruby you know...it's an instant cheerful smile with a genuine shine and brightness about it and then it's her welcoming hugs and her ever so graceful ability to speak to the world with her purpose and goals, you can see them happening before your eyes! Her awesome-ness makes you feel like you belong. It was so important to me because I felt so undeserving and out of place at my first ever Bloggers Conference last year here in Houston but Ruby took me and a fellow local Blogger under her wing and didn't hesitate at all to clue us in on the specifics and Blogger Conference 101!

Thank you again Ruby, you have no idea what it has all meant to me! 

Again, my Hubby didn't believe that I knew a Blogger from Jersey much less a well known Blogger! But, it's true my Amiga Ruby has been a great friend to me!

And, my Valentine's Day gift was perfect, THANK YOU RUBY! You made my day, once more!!! I know we told each other what we wanted but it was so great to get a little something for myself on such a gloomy day here in Houston...it's been raining all weekend...

Here is what was inside my package:

Feb 2013 Pics Connie 442



Feb 2013 Pics Connie 436


By the way, I got a new "fancy" camera for Christmas and I am still learning to use it. But, I love it. Hope you enjoyed this gift exchange as much as I did!

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone from Momma of Dos to your loved ones!!!!

Now off to enjoy some tea in my new cup!!!!! FROM NEW JERSEY!!!! Mmmhmmm!

BLOGLUV