The Photographer's Wife Parenting, Disney, Travel, Reviews & Other Randomness

Kids are expensive. Their stuff is even more expensive. amiright?

So when your child has something, you definitely don’t want them to lose it…or have it accidentally taken. Toys, clothes, school supplies, lunch boxes, etc. The last time we went to the beach with family, we spent a few minutes trying to determine whose sand toys belonged to whom before we could leave. My quick response was to just write a big S on most of the toys with a permanent marker so we knew they were ours, but for most other items, I don’t want to take a permanent marker to them…I wondered if there was a better way we could label Trent’s items and even help them get returned to us if they were lost.

Enter Kidecals!

Kidecals specializes in waterproof name labels and other products including keyboard labels, chalkboard labels, pantry labels, canning labels, and gift labels. Here are some of my favorite selections!

As you can see, they have a wide range of options. You can use their labels to make return address stickers. You can also place allergy info on items, letting others know what your child can’t eat.

They also offer popular monogram labels and even stickers to place on your front door asking people not to ring the doorbell and wake your sleeping baby inside! Their website allows you to easily search their entire selection by gender, use, age, style, best sellers, etc.

We chose a waterproof label with a firetruck on it and we customized it to include Trent’s name and Brett’s phone number. The phone # below isn’t ours, but it has been marked out on the rest of the photos in this post But keep in mind, you can put other information there too, as long as it will fit!

We chose the Mega Set, which includes 24 two inch labels and 48 one inch labels = 72 total.

All their products include the most durable waterproof laminate on the market. They’re virtually indestructible! The adhesive is highly aggressive and long-lasting but it won’t damage surfaces. They guarantee your labels will stay securely fixed to any surface without peeling; and your pretty design will always remain scratch free. Their labels are dishwasher, washing machine and dryer proof and are water, heat and cold repellant.

These labels are so cute! I had to resist the urge to label ALL THE THINGS! and just focus on items that could leave the house or get mixed up while playing with other kids. Here are some ways we used the labels…

On Trent’s fireman backpack - how appropriate!

Art supplies, like packs of crayons and markers.

Books are also good items to label…we wouldn’t want him to lose his current favorite book!

I can think of so many uses for Kidecals labels. Sending your kids to camp this summer? Use Kidecals to make sure they come back with everything they left with! That long list of required back-to-school items? Label it all so you don’t have to buy things twice!

Buy: http://kidecals.com/

Kidecals is also currently holding a giveaway for $500 worth of decals! Go here to enter!

What will you be labeling?!

I received this product in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own and honest…especially the one about me losing everything. Thanks for reading!

Two summers ago, over the course of several weeks, we often found ourselves unusually hot or cold, even though we had the temperature set to the same degree we always do. This was right after Trent was born, so we needed to constantly adjust the thermostat to keep it at a comfortable level for our new baby. After seeing a higher than average electricity bill, we decided that something wasn’t right. Since the main unit was fairly new, we figured there was a problem with our thermostat not being able to accurately detect the temperature of the house.

We purchased a replacement, but just as it arrived in the mail, our local electric co-operative announced that they were giving away Nest thermostats to the first 1,000 people in our area to sign up for one in order to improve efficiency and reduce usage. Free stuff - Woot!

We signed up and returned the thermostat we had just received (Thank you AMAZING Amazon return policy!). Within a couple of weeks, someone came out to install the thermostat (even though most people could probably install it themselves relatively easily, they just wanted to make sure everyone’s units were properly connected).

We absolutely love it. Not only does it look sleek and modern, but we haven’t had any issues with temperatures in the house ever since we got it, other than the occasional disparities between the first and second floor, which is typical for a 2-story house anyway. It’s easy to program and offers some pretty neat features.

-It learns your habits. Over time, the Nest learns what temperatures you like at what time and will adjust itself automatically. For example, if you turn the temperature to 70 degrees around 10pm before you go to sleep every night, the Nest will learn that and turn to that temperature automatically. You can adjust what the Nest has learned if you want it to do something different (like if you wanted it to change at 9:30pm instead of 10pm). You can also pause the learning if you are going on vacation or changing your habits temporarily so that it doesn’t learn a random schedule.

-It senses when you walk by and the screen turns on so you can see the temperature and current settings without having to press a button. Yep, I’m lazy.

-You can set a range of temperatures, not just cool or heat. Florida temperatures are super wonky, especially in the winter. One day it’s 55 and the next it’s 80, I love it and hate it at the same time. You can set the temperature to a range, such as 69-75, so that the heat kicks on if it goes below the range and the cool kicks on if it goes above the range. You don’t have to flip the switch from one type to another. Score another point for us lazy people!

-You can set an Away temperature. We like to use less heat or a/c when we aren’t in the house, whether it be a trip to the grocery store or a week-long vacation, we set an away temperature that we are comfortable with given that time of year. You can either set the Nest to Away, or it will set itself to Away if it hasn’t sensed any movement in some time. You can turn this feature off if needed.

-You can view everything and adjust anything from your Apple or Android device. This is one of our favorite features. If we forgot to set it to Away and we don’t want to wait for it to set itself, we can go onto the app and set it to Away, or we can change the temperature when we know we’ll be home soon. We are extremely forgetful, so the app gets used quite a bit, and this saves us money because we would have otherwise had to let the temperature remain where it was instead of using less while we’re gone. And yes, we have changed the temperature from our phones on the couch or in bed with the thermostat just a few feet away. Don’t judge me.

-You get emails detailing your monthly usage and efficiency. Instead of just relying on what the electricity bill says, we get to see what the Nest reported, including reasons for why we might have used more or less than usual, as well as suggestions for improving usage next month. They use a “leaf” to signify if you are being efficient given the outside temperature.

We have definitely noticed a difference since the Nest was installed. We feel like the temperature is what it says it is and not unnecessarily turning on or off like our old one. Of course, with Brett home all day instead of away at work, our bill has stayed slightly increased, but has decreased from us being able to utilize the extra features, like the automatic adjustments and away feature.

Also, since I have been extremely hot this pregnancy, I want to reiterate how much I love being able to turn the air down from my phone while laying in bed at 2 in the morning.

Here’s their official video which gives you a preview of what it has to offer:

Buy a Nest Learning Thermostat on Amazon!

I was not paid or perked for writing this review. I did receive the product for free, but as part of a local resident efficiency program. I just wanted to share our honest take on a product we personally have and love.

It’s time to share my newest Vox Box that I’ve received from Influenster! This one is called the Vow Vox Box and before you wonder if I’m somehow becoming a female polygamist and getting married again, let me stop you and tell you that I probably got this box because during a recent survey they sent out, I checked that I would be attending a wedding within the next 6 months…which I am for my cousin-in-law in November!

All of the goodies in the Vow Vox Box were chosen with the future bride and her special day in mind…and while all of these items would be perfect for the bride, any gal can benefit from them. So let’s get reviewing, shall we?

The first item in the box is one you’ve definitely seen or used before…Tide to go Instant Stain Remover!

Sure a bride in a nice, beautiful, new WHITE dress would most certainly have a little piece of mind with this little stick with her to defend against stains (why are stains attracted to white clothing?!), but this is also perfect for moms with messy toddlers, working moms that inevitably spill their lunch on their suit right before a big meeting, or anyone messy (Brett??). It’s so convenient and fits right in your purse!

The next item would be the perfect “something blue” without being too overwhelming…a nice light blue nail polish from Sally Hansen.

The color is Barracuda and it would go great on your toes on your special day (I prefer a French Manicure on my fingernails…if I had fingernails).

The next item was the one item in the box that I was truly hesitant to try…ecotools Pure Complexion Facial Sponge. I shy away from new facial products at the fear of breaking out, but the past few things I’ve tried, I’ve loved, so I really need to get over it. Anyway, this was definitely no exception to that…I LOVED it!

The reason I was really hesitant was because out of the box, this “sponge” is actually hard like a pumice stone.

“I have to rub my face with a pumice stone?”

But alas, add some water and magic! It turns into a squishy little sponge! It has an almost gel-like texture and is nice and soft. Add some of your favorite cleanser and wipe all over your wet face and neck and it removes dirt and makeup and leaves your skin silky smooth. It was basically a gentle way of exfoliating your skin that can be used on a daily basis. This item combined with the next item in the box left my face silky soft….and no breakouts in sight!

Next up was Olay Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream.

I have some acne scars and dark spots, so I was pretty excited to give this cream a try. I haven’t used it for the full length of time they suggest before you start seeing the most results, but at first use I immediately loved how it left my skin silky smooth. I really hope it helps with the scars and dark spots!

Next up was Pure Silk Rich & Luxurious Shave Cream.

There’s not much to really say about a shave cream except the scent is amazing (kind of reminds me of Raspberries and Cream from Bath & Body Works back in the 90′s) and left my legs soft and smooth.

The last item in the box was a coupon to create a free Riley & Grey wedding website!

I won’t be needing this, but check out the great features:

• Custom domain name
• Limited-edition designs
• Change designs at any time
• Mobile & Table & Desktop
• Organize guests’ addresses
• Collect RSVPS
• Amazing customer service

This was a fun Vox Box to try, but I love trying everything I get from Influenster!

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes. Any review or sharing is at my own will and in my honest opinion. Thanks for reading!

Wow, I am excited to sharing this giveaway with you guys today! Of course, we are preparing for the upcoming arrival of our little miss and today’s giveaway is the Little Miss Giveaway, full of cute and useful items for your little miss! Check out each of the amazing prizes you could win below and then enter using the Rafflecopter form at the end of the post! Contest ends July 18th and is open to residents of both the US and Canada. Good luck!

Summer is the perfect time to celebrate little girls! These girlie Summer Essentials featured by Green Scene Mom are made by companies who offer eco-friendly, quality, and innovative product solutions that incorporate adorable styles too!

pediped’s adorable shoes are perfect for going on summer adventures! These stylish shoes fit comfortably and ensure healthy foot development. They are available in more than 140 designs for boys and girls.

Exceptional quality, unsurpassed comfort and distinctive styling have made pediped the fastest growing children’s footwear brand in the United States. pediped footwear is sold in over 2,500 stores in the United States and 40 countries worldwide. pediped has also received many awards for their innovative footwear designs. For more information, visit pediped.com.

Pacific Baby thermal bottles keep liquids hot or cold for up to ten hours. These high quality bottles are versatile to use from birth to 5 years old and make feeding and drinking simple during outings and while traveling. Featuring vacuum insulated 304 stainless steel, they’re also BPA-, PVC- and phthalate-free.

The wide neck offers greater visibility and the inner scale simplifies measuring out formula. The bottle nipples come in three speeds and are shaped similar to a mother’s breast. Just add handles and a spout to transform this bottle into a sippy cup for older kids. For more information, visit pacificbabyworld.com.

Bobee elephant wall decals are a cute and fun way to decorate your little girl’s room. Easy to apply and easy to remove, these elephant wall decals come in four colors to dress up the little spaces.

Bobee makes all their products in the USA. Owned by a mom-entrepreneur, her own children are the inspiration for the fun decal designs. Elephants, whales, giraffes, and wall quotes are among the new fun decor Bobee is creating. For more information, visit bobeeinc.com.

Yummi Pouch makes eco-friendly snack solutions that encourage healthy snacks for active kids. Their reusable food pouches are freezer safe, dishwasher safe, BPA-free, Phthalate-free, and can be filled with healthy blended snacks and easily taken on-the-go, no spoon required.

Yummi Pouch also recently introduced cloth snack and sandwich bags, each lined with a water resistant interior and decorated with colorful prints. They’re perfect for crackers, chips, and sandwiches and also make great little storage bags for hair accessories and cosmetics. For more information, visit yummipouch.com.

FunBites is the first state of the art kitchen tool that instantly cuts kids’ food into bite-sized, fun shaped pieces. FunBites is 100% made in the USA and BPA free. They are perfect to get even the pickiest eaters to try something new and eat healthier.

FunBites was designed by a mom who was inspired by her own daughters to create kid-friendly snacks with one easy cutter. FunBites encourages kids to try new foods and eat better, and makes mealtime less stressful and more fun. For more information, visit funbites.com.

Your little princess will love Kushies new soft & oh so comfy pajamas! Each set consists of premium quality, 100% cotton to keep her warm and cozy all night long.

Trusted by moms since 1987, Kushies offers more than 350 superior baby products including stylish layette and playwear, washable diapers, the award-winning Kushies Zolo toy collection and a broad range of baby essentials. The worldwide market leader in reusable cloth diapers and accessories, Kushies takes great pride in operating as a responsible company and as an environmentally concerned member of our planet. For more information, visit kushiesonline.com.

Babalu Baby is a mom owned and operated online store that wants to give back to children’s causes in whatever ways they can. Babalu’s “One to Wear, One to Share” cloth diaper campaign gives a cloth diaper and insert to Jakes Diapers for every one diaper sold, to be distributed to orphanages around the world. Babalu also believes wholeheartedly in positive, encouraging messages for children such as hope, love, kindness and giving. Babalu hopes to encourage the children’s retail industry to promote positive values on every level so kids can feel and give love, be hopeful, dream big and care for those around them.

For more information, visit babalubabyshop.com.

Enter to Win this amazing gift set!

pediped pair of shoes
Kushies pair of pajamas
Pacific Baby 3-in-1 combo bottle set
FunBites food cutter
Bobee elephant wall decals
Babalu “Inspire” 4T lavender ruffle shirt
Yummi Pouch Brights reusable food pouches + snack bag set

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is being shared as part of my involvement as a Green Scene Mom. Thanks for reading and good luck with the contest!

So far, I’ve been good about not buying an outrageous amount of girly clothing and accessories for little miss baby girl on the way. Well, part of it could be because I’ve been avoiding Target knowing that I would be in trouble if I even walked in the direction of baby clothes, but also because I know once it starts, I may just go overboard! Although I also enjoy buying cute boy clothes with little skulls and puppies on them, a girl is a different story with all the little accessories they have available…like the cute little toddler purses from megexpressions!

megexpressions is an Etsy store owned by the wonderful Meg, who has been sewing and creating beautiful items for over 10 years! She creates fabric organizer wallets, little girl and toddler purses, checkbook pouches, coin purses and more! All purses and fabric wallets are designed by her and hand sewn from recycled denim, clothing, and other repurposed fabrics. What a neat idea…and with over 1200 sales and 400+ positive reviews, plenty of other people think so too!

This cute little toddler purse has so many colors and patterns. It’s small enough for a little toddler girl to carry around and feel like a little grown-up…of course, instead of credit cards and car keys, this purse is more likely to carry crayons, little toys and a snack!

Little girls tend to see mommy carrying around a purse and want one too…now you can give her one her own size!

Our little girl isn’t here yet to see it, but it’s ready for her once she decides she wants an adorable little purse of her own!

Meg also surprised me with a little cardholder made out of the cutest patterns. This could hold business cards, hair pins, gum, lipstick or any other tiny necessity!

With a business card as creatively cute as hers, you know you’ll be getting an amazing product…she has plenty of unique items to choose from! Just check out her store to see! Little girl purses are offered between $10-$25, with other items similarly affordably priced. You can also like her shop on Facebook to stay updated on new designs and deals!

Meg has also offered to give one lucky reader their very own toddler purse!

***GIVEAWAY!***

Prize: 1 megexpressions girls toddler purse

Eligibility: Worldwide

Ends: Monday July 21, 2025 at 11:59 pm EST

How to enter: Use the Rafflecopter form below! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received this product in exchange for a review and giveaway. All opinions are mu own and honest. Thanks for reading!