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Nike Young Athletes Innovation Summit – Coming Soon! #NikeKids

After just returning from an amazing conference in Texas earlier this month – we’re off on another adventure again this week! I’ve been invited to attend the first ever Nike Young Athletes Innovation Summit, at the Nike World Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. Since this event is all about young athletes, I’m bringing my nephew with me too. This is such an amazing opportunity for him, and I can’t wait to meet the Nike crew and see what they have in store for us.

Young Athletes Innovation Summit with Nike

“The only one who can tell you ‘you can’t’ is you. And you don’t have to listen.” – Nike Running Ad

Nike is such an amazingly powerful brand. Not only are they known worldwide as the best in athletic gear, they’re also such a motivating and inspiring company. From the great products, to the ads that encourage you to strive for success – when you think Nike, you think awesome. To be hand-selected by Nike to attend this event is a pretty big honor.

Nike Worldwide Headquarters

“Just Do It.” – Nike

This is a preview of what we will be seeing soon – We head to this amazing Nike HQ on Thursday morning. It’s my nephew’s first time flying, and he’s excited about it… But not even close to the level of excitement he has about checking out the Nike campus! A few of the things he has to look forward to – and Innovation session with the Nike design team, a meet and greet with an Olympic athlete, some sports sessions, and a dip in the Lance Armstrong Center Pool with the other kids. Um, can you say “Dream come true??” He is going to have a total blast.

Super high kick on soccer field

“My better is better than your better.” – My Favorite Nike Ad Quote

My two nephews live with me part time – this is the older little guy. He’s 8, and a total sports super star. Me? I was NEVER good at sports. Ever. I don’t just have two left feet – I might even have three! Lol. I was always in awe of people who had the ability to jump into a sport and rock it – and I’ve been so proud to see the drive, determination, and excitement that my nephew shows as part of his many competitive teams. He’s awesome.

kids kick on the soccer field

“There is no finish line.” – Nike Ad Quote

I love that Nike has planned this event to focus on innovation in kids sports. There is so much focus on adults in sports – developing the perfect gear to optimize performance – but not always as much attention paid to what kids need. And a kids body is not just a smaller version of an adult – they can have very different needs, and those needs change quickly as they grow. {Ever tried keeping a growing boy in pants that fit? Yep. They change overnight sometimes!} I’m really excited to learn what Nike is doing, and what cool products they have on the horizon!

Kids Nike FREE Run: If your feet flex, shouldn’t your shoes flex too? Must-have flexibility for young feet.

We head out on our trip this Thursday, April 26th – and spend a fun day relaxing and meeting the other families at The Nines, in Downtown Portland. Then we spend the whole day Friday at the Nike HQ! And while you can’t come with me – I’m still going to include you in all of the fun! I’ll be tweeting from @sunandsipcups about the event – you can follow everyone’s tweets with #NikeKids. And I’ll be posting TONS of photos and updates to Facebook and Instagram too!! {Find me on Instagram at @sunandsipcups.}

{Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Nike via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Nike.}

 

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Are Your Kids Old Enough for a Motorcycle?

Momma on a motorcycle

We’re a motorcycle family…

Does that surprise you? Do you picture people who ride Harley’s to be the rough ‘n tough type? Fueled by drugs and alcohol, chased by the law and their own bad reputations? Well think again – most motorcycle riders are the law abiding type, with families and good jobs – who just love to have a little bit of fun! This is me at an event we go to every year – it’s a big celebration, full of motorcycle lovers, and totally family-friendly. Good times.

motorcycles and kids

Kids and motorcycles – safety first

This is my nephew – going for a super slow, and totally safe, ride around the park with a friend of mine, who’s one of the best riders that I know. {Yes, this was just a pose for the camera – they both put helmets on to ride!} My nephews LOVE motorcycles, and are always so excited to check them all out. They’re always super impressed during the “bike games” – where the riders show off their skills in some fun challenges. And of course, being little boys – they want motorcycles too, just like their daddy has! So…. What do you do when the kids in your life want a motorcycle, but are still too young to ride their own?

Kool Rider

The Kool Rider – Makes your bike sound like a motorcycle!

Remember when we were kids, {you know, back in the old days…. with dinosaurs…} and we would use playing cards in the spokes of our bikes to make them sound louder? Well, the Kool Rider builds on that idea – but totally takes it up a notch!! It is incredibly simple to install, and they are seriously cool. My nephews are ages 5 and 8, and the older one can be hard to impress. We put this on his bike – and one of the neighbor kids came over to the fence, and told him that it sounded almost like his dad’s motorcycle. Oh man, was that a priceless moment!

Kool Riders in Action!

Isn’t this such a fun idea? They are incredibly simple to put on – my 8 year old nephew did it all by himself. The package comes with a piece of velcro that you attach around the bike’s fork, and then there’s the body of the Kool Rider that just attaches right onto that. Kids get to customize it with their choice of stickers, then pop it on and go! They’re super durable, super fun, and super affordable at only $9.95 each. {They recommend using two Kool Riders per bike – which does TOTALLY upgrade the noise level, to the total delight of the boys in our house.} This is such an awesome way to get kids up off of the couch, and into the outdoors for some active play and exercise this summer. Love it, right?

Buy the Kool Rider today on KoolRider.com! And make sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter, to stay updated on cool new products and promotions – included a Kool Rider version for toddler and beginner bikes coming soon!

Love it? Share it!

{Disclaimer: I received two complimentary Kool Riders to try out with my family, so that I could give you some honest feedback. All pictures, opinions, and thoughts are my own. We love this – and know your family will too!}

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Family Movie Night Ideas – Feed Your Zoo! #iLovemyK9

Movie release of We Bought a Zoo

Family Movie Night Idea – “We Bought a Zoo”

We love family nights – every Friday night we have a movie or game night. We usually rent something from Redbox, but this week we were excited to buy a new movie – the kids love, love, LOVE animals, so after we watched the trailer for the new release We Bought a Zoo, I knew that it would be perfect for us. I headed out to Walmart to see if I could find it, and grab fun snack stuff too – we always do themed foods and treats to go along with our movies or games. Makes things a little more fun – and it leads to some pretty silly family nights, like our recent Super Mario Bros Wii party night! Good times.

making a family movie night to feed my zoo

Family Movie Night – Feeding MY Zoo!

I sure feel like I have a zoo around here – my goodness! I’ve got two incredibly wild little nephews, 5 & 8. I have a super spunky little toddler – she turns 2 this summer. Then my Mister, my younger brother, and grandma all live here too – Plus the 5 dogs! Whew. That’s a lot of super hungry tummies to keep full! To feed the kiddo’s, I bought fun animal-themed snacks – Goldfish Chocolate Crackers, Teddy Grahams, and frosted Animal Cookies. We mixed ’em up in a big bowl, and let every scoop a few handfuls of zoo animals into their own little bowls. I also made some super fun dipped peeps, little bunnies, to keep with the animal theme. {You can see our full Walmart Shopping Trip in my Google+ album, for more ideas and info.}

dog on pillow

Family Movie Night – Dogs are invited too!

No, this is not a zebra dog. This is my little four-legged baby – his name is Deuce, and he’s a Shih-Tzu, not a swiffer mop. It’s easy to confuse the two, lol. He loves cuddling up on his pillow to watch movies with us – which is why I made sure to pick up some great snacks for him to share with grandma’s dogs. We got a couple of boxes of Milk Bones, since those are his favorite, and a couple packages of Milo’s Kitchen snacks too. It was an awesome time to purchase them – right now at Walmart, selected packs have a coupon on them – If you buy 2 participating Del Monte pet products {which includes Meow Mix, Kibbles ‘n Bits, Milo’s Kitchen, Milk Bone, and PupPeroni} – you’ll save $4 bucks when you purchase We Bought a Zoo on DVD. Awesome, right? You can also find some cool features on Del Monte Pet Products in Women’s World magazine and Parade magazine this month.

Del Monte Fruit Cup snacks

Family Movie Night – Healthy Treats!

One of our favorite treats are these little Del Monte mandarin orange cups, partially frozen, with a little dab of whip cream on top. The kids LOVE it, and it’s so much healthier than ice cream. If you’re a big fan too, check out the new First for Women magazine to find a .50 cents off coupon. {And, some of my spring gardening tips will be featured in an article there soon – watch for that too!}

we bought a zoo family movie night

I hope you enjoy these tips & ideas – and have a great family movie night of your own!!

Remember – Watch for the great Del Monte coupons to see some sweet savings on snacks for everyone in the family, even the furry ones – plus use them to save $4 bucks off of We Bought a Zoo for your own family movie night. And – let me tell you – this movie is a must-see. It was so sweet, but without being sappy. Even my Mister enjoyed it fully, which means it’s super good, lol. The kids loved all of the fun scenes with the wild animals – and Abby played scared where the lion came on, and hid under the blankets. I loved the emotions in it, and am now totally excited to read the book, too. I don’t want to give too much away – so make sure to buy this one yourself, to see how great it is!

{Disclaimer: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias. All opinions, ideas, and photos are my own.}

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Ariel left the ocean, it was too current – Disney Hipster Humor

If Hipsters Ran Disney…

My brother is a bit of a Hipster. He has a beard. Rides a motorcycle. Plays guitar in a band. Wears a lot of black hoodies. Burns his tongue when he drinks coffee, because he has to drink it before it’s cool…. {Hahaha, get it? Lame joke that cracks me up every time.} So a little Hipster-humor always entertains me.

What is a hipster?

You might not know about this breed of cool cat. If so, I totally understand. Kids change so fast these days. My Mister is still confused by the whole “Emo” phase, and calls them Ewoks. {That also cracks me up every time.} According to The Hipster Handbook, “The Hipster walks among the masses in daily life but is not a part of them and shuns or reduces to kitsch anything held dear by the mainstream. A Hipster ideally possesses no more than 2% body fat.” So now you know what a Hipster is. And knowing is half the battle….. :)

 Find more funny stuff on Pinterest – Things that Make Me Laugh, and Mom Humor.

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Behind the Scenes of ‘Chimpanzee’ from Disneynature

Chimpanzee by Disney

CHIMPANZEE hits theaters everywhere on April 20th!

I already knew that I wanted to see this movie. I love animals. I love nature. I love Disney. And Abby gets so excited when she sees the previews for this come on the TV. I hadn’t paid too much attention to the TV previews, since I very seldom watch television. So when I found the trailer for this movie in my email today, I wanted to take a minute and check it out. And now – It is a TOTAL must-see for me. Check it out yourself in this behind-the-scenes video….

True-Life Adventure

Disneynature takes moviegoers deep into the forests of Africa with “Chimpanzee,” a new True-Life Adventure introducing an adorable young chimp named Oscar and his entertaining approach to life in a remarkable story of family bonds and individual triumph. Oscar’s playful curiosity and zest for discovery showcase the intelligence and ingenuity of some of the most extraordinary personalities in the animal kingdom. Working together, Oscar’s chimpanzee family—including his mom, Isha, and the group’s savvy leader, Freddy — navigates the complex territory of the forest.

Disneynature

“Chimpanzee” is the fourth release for Disneynature, the first new Disney-branded film label from The Walt Disney Studios in more than 60 years. The label was launched in April 2008 to bring the world’s top nature filmmakers together to capture a variety of wildlife subjects and stories.

Coming Soon

In theaters Earth Day 2012, Disneynature’s newest True-Life Adventure introduces Oscar, a young chimp whose playful curiosity and zest for discovery light up the African forest until a twist of fate leaves Oscar to fend for himself with a little help from an unexpected ally.

“Like” CHIMPANZEE on Facebook: Facebook.com/Disneynature

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Sneak Peek at The Lone Ranger – with Johnny Depp!

Lone Ranger with Johnny Depp

Sneak Peek at the new Lone Ranger movie – with Johnny Depp!

Yep, you read that right – that guy on the left is Johnny Depp, in his new role in the pretty epic looking film update – The Lone Ranger. I have very few details, but it looks pretty awesome…

From producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Gore Verbinski comes Disney/Bruckheimer Films’ THE LONE RANGER. Tonto (Johnny Depp), a spirit warrior on a personal quest, joins forces in a fight for justice with John Reid (Armie Hammer), a lawman who has become a masked avenger.

THE LONE RANGER will be released in May 2013 – How are we gonna wait that long??

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Kids Change Everything! – #FriendsWithKids

Friends with Kids

I got an email about this movie this morning – and it looks SO good! How is it that I had never even heard of this? I just watched the trailer – and it looks so super funny. I figured, if I hadn’t heard of it – Maybe you hadn’t either? And since it comes to theaters this Friday, March 9th – I don’t want you to miss it!

How it all gets started…

Friends With Kids is a daring and poignant ensemble comedy about a close-knit circle of friends at that moment in life when children arrive and everything changes. The last two singles in the group observe the effect that kids have had on their friends’ relationships and wonder if there’s a better way. They decide to have a kid together – and date other people. {Admit it – you wonder if maybe that isn’t such a bad idea, lol.}

Where it gets funny…

Jennifer Westfeldt wrote, directed, and stars in the romantic comedy Friends
with Kids. She plays Julie, a Manhattanite whose biological clock is about to run out, so she convinces her longtime platonic best friend, Jason (Adam Scott) to father a child with her. They seem to have a much easier time juggling the responsibilities of new parenthood without the complication of being in a relationship with each other, which is in contrast to the two couples they are closest to. As their friends’ marriages implode, Julie and Jason’s happy equilibrium topples over as well when he falls for a hot young artist (Megan Fox) and she begins dating a successful businessman (Edward Burns).

The Happy Ending…

There are big laughs and unexpected emotional truths as this unconventional
‘experiment’ leads everyone in the group to question the nature of friendship, family and, finally, true love.

Learn More:

  • Friends With Kids stars some of my FAVORITE people – Adam Scott (“Parks and Recreation”), Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Chris O’Dowd, Megan Fox and Edward Burns.
  • Written and directed by Jennifer Westfeldt (Kissing Jessica Stein).
  • Lionsgate and Roadside Attractions will release Friends With Kids on
  • March 9, 2012.


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