Once September arrived, the weather here in the Midwest began to change. It's cooler and signs of winter are just around the corner. This time of year I still like to get the kids outside to be active as much as possible. But when it's rainy or bitter cold, we're usually confined to the house. I still like to find toys and activities that allow us to be active indoors as well which is why I'm thankful for Step2 and their large selection of toys that keep kids active, spark their curiosity, and allow them to engage in imaginative play both indoors and outdoors! 

Founded in 1991 on the simple philosophy of quality, value, and service backed by commitment to customer satisfaction, the Step2® Company was born. What began as a company with just 5 employees has grown tremendously over the last 20 years..becoming the nation's largest toddler toy manufacturer offering a huge selection of high quality children's products that build imaginations and enrich the family's celebration of childhood. In their quest to become the leader in developing innovative products for family and home, Step2 strives to go 'A Step Beyond'.

With three children, we've owned several Step2 products over the years. We've always been impressed with the quality and have found that they are made to last for years. My youngest is still able to play with all of the Step2 toys that my oldest played with 5 years ago!  Whether it's kids furniture, ride-ons and wagons, or something else...Step2 makes it easy to find something that suits the age level and interest of each of our kids.


I always love to learn about the new products at Step2, and as a Step2 Test Drive Mom couldn't have been happier to learn we were going to have the opportunity to review a couple - the Whisper Ride II in blue and pink.

 

Features/Benefits:

• Sleek automotive design
• Two cup holders for the child and one for mom or dad
• Smooth Quiet Ride™ wheels
• Handle folds under for transport
• Storage under hood and seat belt included
• Honking horn for riding fun
• Maximum child’s weight: 50 lbs. (22,7 kg)
• Adult assembly required

As with any toy, when the two Whisper Ride II ride-on toys arrived, I wondered if there would be a lot of assembly. Thankfully there was very little, and in about 20-25 minutes we had the wheels and accessories put on, the decals in place and the cars ready to use!

Right off the bat I was thrilled with the durable and high quality materials used. These are not only something that will withstand use outdoors, but also a lot of use in general. I'm comforted to know that these will be toys that my youngest will be able to use and have just as much fun with as my older kids.

 

Each hold's a maximum child's weight of 50 lbs, so it's also something they will be able to use for quite some time!

I also love the sleek automotive design. They are realistic looking, which is what my kids were drawn to right away. There's even a honking horn...and what kid doesn't love that?! 

 

Of course, the kids were just as excited as I was to check them out. We have used them outdoors (when the weather is warm enough) and indoors as well. In the times we've used them, I've been really happy with the safety features that ensure my kids are safe and secure when riding in them...primarily the seat belt! Even my youngest rides in them belted in and I don't have to worry about him falling out. As a mom, safety is my top priority, so this was definitely appreciated!

In the times we've used these cars, we've also found them to be very roomy which is nice for the kids. There's even a storage compartment under the hood, which Kaden likes to use as his "trunk" and keep all of the toys he likes to ride around with him.

When we've been outdoors with the Whisper Ride II ride-on toys, both kids have wanted to be sure and have their water bottles with them. There are actually two cup holders for the child within in reach while they're "driving" around. I love this feature, as my kids almost always have a drink (and sometimes snack) with them.

There's also a cup holder for the parent right on the handle which I think is great as well!

We have enjoyed pushing the kids around in their Whisper Ride II and have found that it really does live up to its name. It's extremely quiet when pushing and a very smooth ride for the kids as well. They love it because it's more fun than a stroller since they are actually feeling like they're driving a car, and I enjoy it because it's easy to push and manuever without being loud thanks to the smooth QuietRide wheels.

My parents live pretty close, and we like to take things along for the kids to do at their house as well. So one of my favorite features on the Whisper Ride II is the fact that they both have a handle which easily folds under for easy transport. It also allows for us to store them better in the garage or house when the handle is folded under as well.

We have absolutely loved both the pink and blue Whisper Ride II! The quality is fantastic and the features really make it fun for the kids to ride in and engage in creative and imaginative play. Even when we're not outside pushing them around, they enjoy pretending that they are using these cars to go to the grocery store...even the drive-in movies! :)

Here's a quick clip showing the Whisper Ride II in action!


For families with young children, I would definitely recommend the Whisper Ride II! They are the quality you would expect from Step2, not to mention a lot of fun for kids both indoors and outdoors! With the holidays just around the corner, these would make a great gift for any boy or girl. And, while you're over at Step2.com, be sure to check out their other new toys as well!

 

You can connect with Step2 on Twitter and Facebook.

Buy It: You can purchase the Whisper Ride II for $59.99 at Step.com.

**The products for this review were provided for free by Step2. All opinions found here are my own and were not influenced in any way. The opinions of others may differ from my own.** 

With three kids 4 and under, we have a diaper bag with us almost everywhere we go. Between bibs, diapers, wipes, extra clothes, etc...it's definitely a must! Since I have it with me more than I do my own purse, I like for the diaper bag I carry to be stylish, as well as functional. Thankfully, I've found that with our new JJ Cole Collections diaper bag!

JJ Cole Collections continues to innovate and design products with parents in mind. Products that make today simpler and tomorrow more memorable. Their products are known for their quality and great features that make them stand out from the rest. That's why I couldn't have been more excited when asked if I'd like to review the JJ Cole Collections Satchel Bag!

The JJ Cole Satchel Bag allows busy parents to keep track of all baby's necessities in style. Isn't it cute?!

When it arrived, it couldn't have come at a better time. We were just getting ready to leave for a family vacation and it was the perfect time to test it out. I was impressed right away with the superior quality! I know this is something that will last us a long time, which is great since we use almost daily!

Of course, I also LOVE the stylish look and print. As I said, I rarely carry a purse, so the diaper bag I carry almost doubles as one. That's why I like for the diaper bag to be stylish, and this JJ Cole Satchel Bag definitely is! I love to carry it, and even when I no longer need to carry a diaper bag once my kids are older I can still use it for other things.

I also appreciate the very spacious interior. It includes multiple organizational compartments which make it easy to keep everything organized and easy to find. Now I can carry all our necessities and not worry about them getting lost in the bottom of the bag. It's perfect for times when we're away from home for a day or a weekend. I love it!

The exterior also offers extra easily-accessible open and zippered pockets. This is where I like to keep any cash I might be carrying, my keys, even an extra pacifier. I can easily access it when necessary. Overall there are 11 pockets throughout the bag - 7 exterior and 4 interior (including one for a bottle) so you really do have a place for everything you could possibly need to carry with you!

There's a coordinating diaper pad, and also a removeable padded shoulder strap if I decide I want to carry it by the handles, as well as grips stroller attachments to easily attach to a stroller. We used this feature when we were at the Mall of America and found it to be very handy. Rather than stuffing the bag in the basket under the stroller, it hung nicely from the handles so I could access the diapers, etc.

I have owned several different diaper bags, but this one is by far my favorite. The quality is fantastic, it makes it easy to carry all of our things with us, keeps me organized, and one of my favorite things is that I still feel stylish when carrying it!

Whether you're looking for a new bag for yourself, or a great baby shower gift, I would highly recommend checking out the JJ Cole Collections Satchel Bag! I have already shared about it with many of my family members and friends, as well as others who ask me where they can find one when we're out and about. We just love it!

For more information, you can watch this video.

Buy It: You can purchase the JJ Cole Collections Satchel Bag for $69.95, available in canvas and faux leather and a variety of prints!

Win It: One VERY lucky reader is going to win a JJ Cole Collections Satchel Bag of their own. Simply enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below. If you don't see the form, click here.

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This giveaway is open to US Only and ends 10/24

**The products for this review and giveaway were provided by JJ Cole Collections. All opinions are my own.

Can you believe it's October already?! Halloween will be here before we know it, which is why many of us are busy looking for cute costumes for our kids to wear. And, one place I've found has a great selection to choose from is Halloween Express!

Since 1990, Halloween Express has been one of the most aggressive and dynamic Halloween costume and costume accessory chains in the US. They are able to offer the largest selection of Halloween costumes and accessories you'll find anywhere online due to their year-round internet operation and seasonal Halloween costume store retail locations.

I first came across Halloween Express a couple of years ago and have since enjoyed browsing through their large selection of products. With something for every age range, you're sure to find something that suits your style and needs perfectly!

I was thrilled to learn we were going to have the opportunity to review a few of their products and began looking through all of the adorable options for infant and toddler costumes! After quite a bit of time looking through all of the costumes, I decided to go with the Spiderman Costume, Mischievous Monkey Costume, and Belle Costume.

I was amazed with how quickly the costumes arrived after placing the order.

In no time they were on our doorstep waiting to be tried on! Of course, when the kids caught sight of these three costumes, they were begging to try them on. I was just as excited to see what they were like so we got them out to see each one.

First we got the Spiderman Costume out. I have to admit, I was not sure what the quality would be like on this costume, but it really impressed me. The one thing I love most is that it's a one piece costume (other than the mask of course). This makes it easy for Kaden to get in and out of.

The other part which really makes the costume in my opinion is the muscle torso. It's adorable!  You can tell Kaden feels like a muscle man in it! Not only is it super-hero looking, but it will definitely help keep him warm on Halloween as well! I was also happy with the mask. It really completes the whole look.

Kaelyn, being the girly girl that she is, wanted to be a princess. We had looked over the princess costumes, and this one stood out to us not only because it's beautiful, but because the dress would cover her legs. Here in the Midwest, Halloween is usually very cold...making it hard to dress up with layering. Having a longer dress covering her legs will make it easier for her to withstand the cold while she trick or treats.

Of course, what we really love about this Belle Costume is that it's absolutely beautiful! 

I absolutely love the detail on the dress, as well as the unique style. The top is a little big on Kaelyn, but she will most likely need to wear something under it anyways to keep her arms warm so this should not be a problem.

There is a hoop in the skirt which helps it keep its form, giving it a more formal and dressy look. An added touch that I think is very nice. It's not as full as I had expected it to be, but this helps a lot. Once we get the wrinkles out, I think it will lay even nicer.

Kaelyn asks to wear this almost daily. I know once Halloween is over with, she and Kaden will both be wearing their costumes for pretend-play which I think is great!

Of course, I can't forget my little guy and his Mischievous Monkey Costume. 

I was happy with the quality of this costume when it arrived. It's soft, not to mention very warm which will be perfect for a cold evening trick or treating with his brother and sister. It also has skid resistant feet and buttons up the legs for easy diaper changes. Perfect for my little guy!

The head piece is also very nice. Caysen isn't a fan though, and kept pulling it off. I'm hoping the night we take them out trick or treating he will leave it on, as it really completes this adorable costume. One thing I do wish, is that the head piece was attached to the jumpsuit. This would make it a little less tempting for him to keep pulling off I think. 

Overall we've been very impressed and happy with all three costumes and can't wait to see the kids all dressed up and ready to go trick or treating. They are already super excited now that they have their costume of choice!

Of course, these are just a few of the many items Halloween Express has! If you're still hunting for the perfect Halloween costume (whether it be for your child or yourself) and/or accessories. Halloween Express offers a great selection of everything you could need at affordable prices.

Win It: One very lucky reader is going to win a $75 GC to Halloween Express! Just enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below. If you don't see the form, click here.

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Open to US Only and ends 10/16!

**The products for this review were provided for free. However all opinions are my own. 

Like all kids, mine get bored from time to time throughout the day. That's why I like to have a variety of educational and fun activities, games, and toys for them to play with and use. They love to explore, discover and learn new things which is why I always turn to companies like Learning Resources for things of this nature.

Learning Resources is the leading manufacturer of innovative, hands-on educational products for classrooms and the home. They have been a trusted source for teachers and parents for more than 25 years and continue to grow and impress with their diverse product line of now over 1300 products!

I love the variety of hands-on activities offered through Learning Resources and always seem to find something new when browsing their user-friendly site. One that stuck out to me right away was the Measuring Motors Math Activity Set! This is right up Kaelyn's alley (as well as Kaden's!).

Features/Benefits:

• Compare and estimate cars of varying sizes
• Great for counting, sorting, patterning, number stories, problems solving, etc
• Includes 88 cars in 4 colors and 3 sizes
• Tracks are marked in 1" increments - allows for transition to standard measurement
• Geared toward grades PreK+

When the Measuring Motors toy arrived, both Kaelyn and Kaden were excited to check it out. Kaelyn new it was a fun "learning activity" and Kaden saw the cars and was thrilled about that!!

Upon opening the box, I was really happy to find the quality to be so great. The cars and tracks are very well made which is great, because my kids have been playing with them a lot. I appreciate knowing it will withstand and hold up to a lot of use! 

The cars come in 4 bright colors and 3 sizes. Without telling the kids the different things they could do with them, I just sat back and watched as they explored to begin with. They each grabbed tracks and started lining up cars on them. Kaden was pretending he was driving the cars on them for a while which I thought was neat. Not only are these educational, but they also encourage imaginative play.

Once he saw Kaelyn lining hers up, he began to do the same. Without any prompting she was eager to make patterns with the different colors and sizes. Kaden then began to follow suit. I love how he watches and learns from her!

 

As we played together more and more, Kaelyn started comparing the cars figuring out how many small ones made up a big one, etc. Kaden was busy sorting them by color.

I love that this activity is one that both my 4 year old and 2 year old can do - working on skills that are valuable for both ages. Neither one gets bored and could play with this for hours on end. I've been really happy with the quality, fun and educational value it provides and would definitely recommend it to others. And, with Christmas not far off, it would make a great gift idea as well!

Buy It: You can purchase Measuring Motors for $29.99.

Win It: One very lucky reader is going to win a Measuring Motors set of their own! Simply enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below. If you don't see it, click here.

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**The products for this review were provided for free. All opinions are my own.