mom vlogger – Page 2

HAILEY’S YOUNG 5 GRADUATION! 2016

June 1, 2016 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Today our Hailey Doll graduated from her Pre-K/Young 5 program! I can’t believe it! Stephan and I were able to take her out bowling afterwards (thank you to my in-laws for the help!) and had the best time! I can’t believe that my baby is starting Kindergarten in the fall! Excuse me while I go look at baby pictures and become a blubbering mess!

Hailey,

We are so proud of you! You make us proud every single day by being exactly who you are! You are kind to everyone and always do your best! And, you have the best imagination! Never stop being wonderful you!

We love you so,

Mommy (Daddy, Connor, and Logan)

Be sure to watch our vlogs to see all the cuteness! Have a wonderful weekend : )

BABIATORS SUNGLASSES REVIEW & GIVEAWAY!

May 25, 2016 & 15 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Memorial Day weekend is THIS weekend! How did that happen already? It’s blowing my mind that we are about to kick off the summer season, but I am so happy to get outside with my family! Summer means sunshine (hopefully! Here in Michigan you never really can tell) which means lathering the kids up in sunscreen, but we also can’t forget about protecting their eyes! I will totally admit that while I never skip shades myself because it drives me CRAZY when I forget them, I have skipped sunglasses for the kids in the past because they never seem to keep them on anyways. So, when Babiators reached out to me I was thrilled to try them out! It’s always full disclosure here, and I was provided a pair of sunglasses for consideration and review but all opinions are my own. I will not be paid if you purchase Babiators. Babiators also sent information for this blog post. Babiators agreed to send a pair of shades to one of my readers! Yay! Keep reading to hear my thoughts and enter to win!

A Little Bit About Babiators:

-Babitators have UV 400 lenses that offer 100% UVA and UVB protection

-Babiators undergo rigerous testing to ensure they’re safe for your child whether on their face OR in their mouth

-Babiators are durable! They are made of a flexible rubber frames, and shatter-resistant lenses

– Babiators are guaranteed, so if you break OR lose them in the first year, Babiators will replace them and all you pay is shipping.

-And my favorite part? The fit is incredible! They’re made of a soft material that is comfortable and lightweight. They don’t pinch the temples or the nose. I wish I had sunglasses made from this stuff! It is seriously awesome!

Babiators Sizing:

Junior Babiator sunglasses for babies 6 months-3 years

Classic Babiator sunglasses for kids 3-7 years

Information About Sun Safety:

-UV damage is cumulative and irreversible

-Kids receive about three times more annual UV exposure than adults each year, yet less than 30% of parents are currently protecting their children’s eyes with sunglasses

-Children’s eyes are more susceptible to sun damage because they have larger pupils and clearer lenses, allowing more UV to penetrate and reach the back of the eyes

When getting sunglasses look for 100% UVA/UVB protection with a high quality frame and comfortable style that kids will actually wear and keep on!

My Thoughts:

I absolutely LOVE these shades! Logan, who is 16 months old, loves these and keeps them on! I love that they don’t squeeze his precious face. These are by far the nicest kids sunglasses we have ever tried. Logan is a pretty tough little guy, so it makes me happy that when he holds onto these I know they can bend instead of snapping in two. Logan also puts everything in his mouth, so I love knowing that they’re safe even when he does that. Logan is an above average little guy, and I think that he will be in the Classic Babiators by the time he is two years old.

Logan Modeling “You’re The Palm” Polarized Babiators:

Check Out All the Adorable Options Here!

Giveaway:

If you would like to win a pair of classic black babiators for your little one, enter this giveaway!

Entering is EASY!

To Enter:

Subscribe to LeahTackles.com (that’s this blog!)

Comment on this post who you would like to win a pair for!

“Like” LeahTackles on Facebook

“Like” Babitators Sunglasses on Facebook

Extra Entry Opportunitys:

Follow LeahTackles on Twitter

Follow Babitators Sunglasses on Twitter

Tweet @Babitators that you entered @LeahTackles giveaway for #Babiators

Follow LeahTackles on Instagram

Follow Babitators Sunglasses on Instagram

“Pin” this post on Pinterest (*Note: It’s easy! Hover over any picture of use the share buttons at the bottom of this post!0

Follow LeahTackles on Pinterest

Follow Babiators Sunglasses on Pinterest

Rules:

-Must be 18 years old or have parental permission

-Must live in the United States

-Giveaway ends 3 weeks from today on June 15th at 12:00p.m Eastern Standard Time

-Winner will be randomly selected

-Winner will have 48 hours to respond before I go onto the next person

I hope that each of you have a fun and safe holiday weekend! If you have any questions, please ask! xx

Too Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly Palette Review! Do you need it?

May 9, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that all of you had a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend! I got lots of extra special hugs and love from my little loves and my husband : ) My kids somehow managed to buy me a little something from Ulta (thanks Stephan!) and I am so excited to share it with you today! At the end of February Too Faced Cosmetics released the Peanut Butter and Jelly palette and even though I wanted it I wondered if it was really something I *needed*. Do you *need* the Peanut Butter and Jelly palette? Keep reading and you can decide.

The Packaging:

This palette comes in the cute tin packaging that the nine shadow palettes from Too Faced typically come in. The packaging is OH SO ADORABLE! I can’t even handle the cuteness! I mean, the piece of bread on the tin has lashes and jelly colored lips…hello cuteness overload! I also think these tins are perfect for traveling and putting into your makeup bag.

The Basics:

This palette has three shadows that are 2.0 grams each and six shadows that are 0.9 grams each. There are three matte shades and six shimmer shades, though one of the shimmer shades is almost matte but has just the tinniest bit of shimmer. And this product does not contain actual nuts but does have the ever so faint peanut butter scent mixed with the yummy cocoa powder scent we know and love from other Too Faced products.

The Shadows:

The shadows swatch beautifully! They are all super pigmented and a little shadow goes a long way! I have only used this twice so far, but both times I was tapping off my brush because the pigmentation was so great that I didn’t need much product at all. This palette was inspired by the shadow Peanut Butter that gained a cult following from the Too Faced Semi Sweet palette. I love putting Peanut Butter or Nuts About U in the crease and smudging Jelly on my lower lash line.

Do You Need It?

You might have dupes for these if you own a lot of eye shadow palettes, but I really love having smaller palette like this filled with gorgeous warm toned shadows that I know will get me lots of fun looks. I think this is a great too because you can do a lot of quick looks with this and the How-To Glamour Guide it comes with is helpful too. If you don’t like warm toned eye shadows, definitely pass because this eye shadow palette is very warm toned! Think peanut butter, jelly, and nutty red colors!

Buy It:

You can buy the Peanut Butter and Jelly palette at Ulta Beauty or on TooFaced.com

Pictures:

toofacedcosmetics-peanutbutterandjellypalette-leahtackles.jpeg

Do you have this palette? What is your favorite Too Faced palette? If you want to see more be sure to check out my What’s New At Too Faced Video!

Have a great week! Thank you for reading! Please subscribe : ) It makes my day!

HAILEY’S 5th BIRTHDAY IN PICTURES!

April 27, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Yesterday our oldest, Hailey, turned 5! Today I want to share a picture post of her special day : ) If you want to see her birthday video, you can check it out here! Let me know in the comments if you enjoy these types of lifestyle posts.

Hailey,

You light up our life! We are so proud of you! You make every day magical and fun! Never stop being you!

We love you so,

Mommy (and Daddy, Connor, and Logan)

Thank you all for reading! Have a wonderful weekend! : )

MOM LIFE PERCEPTION VS. MOM LIFE REALITY | Sick just got real.™| VISA GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY!

April 11, 2016 & 38 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend! If you follow me on Instagram, or ANY blogger on Instagram for that matter, you know that Instagram is a place full of beautiful, too-perfect-to-be-completely-true pictures. I am not saying that my pictures are “fake”, they aren’t, but they are carefully chosen snaps of my life. I also have a YouTube channel where I’m always wearing makeup, rocking a cute outfit, or chatting happily…again, it isn’t fake but it’s also sharing the good without the bad and the ugly. That is a BIG reason why I encourage you to check out our Daily Vlogs, because there you see us laughing, crying, no makeup, sweatshirts, and more just real life living. Today, I want to share a story I experienced as a mother earlier this year.

It was 3 O’clock on a weekday afternoon, which is always a time full of chaos in the Kwapis house! Connor, our three year old, and Logan, our toddler, had just woken up from their nap. Stephan was dropping Hailey, our oldest, off after Pre-K. I had just re-heated my mug full of old coffee, and was dreaming of sneaking off into the bathroom to eat some leftover Christmas candy and to have a minute of peace to scroll through Facebook. Connor was still groggy from his nap, and when Stephan had to leave to head back to work poor Connor threw a huge fit ending in him throwing himself on our hardwood floors. It was loud, I saw blood and thought he had bit his lip but quickly realized that he had split open his chin. I started panicking because Stephan had just drove out of the driveway and I was alone with 3 kids and no car. CRAP! I called Stephan and he was going to come home again to help but he had a lot to do at work so I told him I would call his mom. Thankfully, my mother in-law was able to come over to watch the other two while I took Connor to the E.R. Oh how quickly I was wide awake without my coffee, and holding back tears so I could get Connor the help he needed. I was in full on MOM MODE and just wanted my baby to be okay. Thankfully, he didn’t need stitches and was able to have his split chin glued instead. PHEW! I ended up going home with a grateful heart and cuddling my babies all a little closer that night. You can watch that day unfold here on KwapisFamilyTackles.

I was reminded of this story when I saw this video from the #SickJustGotReal campaign from Pfizer Consumer Healthcare:

http://bit.ly/1Rykxnq

That video made me so emotional and I can absolutely relate! I went from cracking up while watching the mom celebrate the victory of peeing alone (it is seriously a victory! I treasure going to the bathroom alone!) to tearing up watching the momma cuddle her sweet sick baby. I think this is a motivating and honest video that any parent can relate to. Be sure to also check out the Sick just got real.™ website for more real life relating and information on their products. I always have Children’s Advil® with me and on hand in our home because when it comes down to the nitty gritty I just want my babies to get some relief. The video and gift card for the giveaway have been provided by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. All thoughts and reviews are my own.

GIVEAWAY:

If YOU would like to win a $25 Visa Gift Card you need to enter this giveaway! It is easy!

TO ENTER:

1. Subscribe to LeahTackles.com

2. “Like” LeahTackles on Facebook

3. “Like” Sick just got real.™ Facebook Page

4. Leave a comment telling me about a time when you or your kiddo were sick or hurt and life “got real” : )

RULES:

1. Must be in the United States of America (sorry to my international loves!)

2. Must be 18+ years old

3. Complete your entry by May 2nd which is 3 weeks from today

4. Giveaway winner will be contacted by me via email and will have 48 hours to respond before I pick another winner

Extra Entry Opportunity:

1. ) “Follow” LeahTackles on Instagram

2. Subscribe to our Daily Vlog Channel

GOOD LUCK!!!

As always, thank you for supporting me and reading my blog! I appreciate each of you. Have a great week and don’t forget to come back on Wednesday for another post from me : ) xx

VTECH FLIPSIE DOLL REVIEW & GIVEAWAY!!

December 2, 2015 & 3 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

VTech contacted me again to see if I would be interested in getting a Flipsie Doll for consideration and review. I jumped at the chance because Hailey loves the other Flipsie Dolls she has. A few months ago I reviewed the VTech Sit-to-Stand Ultimate Alphabet Train and I’m happy to report that it is still Connor’s favorite toy.

*Note: I know some may be concerned about the recent VTech hack. My kiddos love so many VTech toys that were not part of this. VTech responded to FAQ here.

*Note: Any links shared are NOT affiliate links which means no, I don’t get paid if you purchase : )

FLIPSIE DOLL LINE OVERVIEW:

-Interchangeable toys that encourage girls to dream big and use their imagination!

-Each doll changes from her everyday look into her dream look

-Flipsies use MagicPoint technology, so they can interact with their playsets, and they even talk to each other!

-The product collection has 18 different offerings, and they range in price from $9.99-$39.99

VTECH CARINA MINI GOLF & CHECK-UP TABLE PLAYSET:

-This set transforms from a mini golf course to a doctor’s check-up table

-Carina works on all other Flipsie Doll playsets & responds when placed on any Magic Point on the other Flipsie playset with phrases that match her personality

-Carina comes with 10 fun doll acessories including wigs, clothes, glasses, and more

-Carina uses 3 LR44 batteries (doll comes with demo batteries that aren’t mean for regular use)

-Doll is intended for girls ages 4-9

HAILEY ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT HER FLIPSIE DOLLS AND IMAGINATIVE PLAY:

PROS:

-Encourage imaginative play

-It’s like getting multiple toys in one

-Priced reasonably

-Very easy to put together

-My 4 year old will play with these for hours! She loves using her other small dolls with them, too.

CONS:

-Tiny pieces to look after (*Tip: I immediately bought a plastic shoe box sized bin to store this in!)

-A little paint from the doll came off in the package, but we did open it after it was sitting outside overnight by accident

FINAL THOUGHTS:

We absolutely LOVE the Flipsie Doll line by VTech! Hailey picked one of these out to give her friend for a birthday gift, and I happily spent my own money buying it. I think that these are much cuter in person than I imagined when I first saw a picture! I am so impressed with these dolls. I love the aspirational message it sends to young girls, and I think it’s SO cool that the dolls can work on any of the Flipsie Doll sets. I think these would make a fantastic Christmas gift for any young girl on your list.

HELPFUL LINKS TO LEARN MORE:

GIVEAWAY:

Would YOU like to win the Carina Mini Golf and Check-Up Table Playset?

I will pick a winner on December 12th! The winner will be contacted by email and have 48 hours to respond before I select a new winner.

RULES:

-Must be in the United States

-Must be 18+ or have parental permission

-“Like” VTech on Facebook

-Comment who you know who would love to get a Flipsie Doll as a gift

-Be subscribed to this blog

BONUS ENTRY OPPORTUNITY:

You can get 1 bonus entry for liking my Facebook Page or Following me on Instagram or Twitter!

You can get 2 bonus entries if you Subscribe to my YouTube channel!

You can get 2 bonus entries if you Subscribe to my Daily Vlog channel!

That means you could get 7 extra entries!!

The next post you see from me will be when we are in FLORIDA at WALT DISNEY WORLD!!!! Be sure to follow me on social media for magic and cuteness overload ; )

October 21, 2015 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Thank you for being here : ) Halloween is in 10 days, and like ir or not it is time to start seriously thinking about your holiday shopping! I want to share some gift guides with you, but would like to ask what you would like to see! So if there is a certain demographic you’re wanting ideas for, please comment and let me know! I love comments ; ) Today I decided to start by sharing one gift idea for each person in my immediate family, but I have a lot more ideas to share. If you enjoy this, please tell me and I will make it a weekly or bi-weekly series as we enter the holiday season.

Tarte Greatest Glitz Collector’s Set & Portable Palettes

$49

How gorgeous as this?! Any women in your life from teens on up would adore this! I love that you could even gift the palettes seperately as stocking stuffers or small gifts, or give the whole set for a fabulous gift for one lucky lady. This set has great pigmentation, and I love that it’s seperated into palettes that have colors that you would use together instead of a giant palette, because I think it’s less intimidating for those who may not be as comfortable with makeup.

Mantry Box

$75 for one box

Stephan got a 3 month subscription of this from my parents back in 2012, and we haven’t got it since because it *is* pretty pricy, but if you have a guy who is hard to shop for I think this is a fun idea! Both Steph and I loved these boxes, and we found our favorite pepperoni EVER, and some incredible fudge sauce that we have re-ordered. My only issue with this box is that the only really discount I’ve seen offered is they offer free shipping if you order a 3 or 6 month subscription. Still, very yummy and something different.

Sophie & Lili Handmade Mermaid Dolls

$20 for the mini

Hailey, who is almost 4 1/2, got a custom Sophie & Lili doll year and it’s so special! She calls her Hailey doll, and one of Santa’s elves worked very hard on her. This year I am hoping Santa will have that same elf make her a mermaid ; ) I love that they offer a mini one that’s half the price of the bigger one! She has adorable custom dolls, watercolors, and super hero boys! I just wish the boys could be custom and not only custom super heros. These are so well made, and she was great to work with!

ALEX Toys Little Hands String a Farm

$15

My 2 almost 3 year old, Connor, is really working on things that need lots of hand-eye coordination and finally I found a stringing toy that has a wood piece for the “needle” to make it a bit easier than floppy string. *Tip: Pipe cleaners from the craft section are also a great way to practice this and kids love it!

ALEX Toys ALEX Jr. My Busy Town Cube

$72

No, this post is not sponsored by ALEX Toys! I just have been loving their toys lately. We have so many big toys, but our baby, Logan, has Christmas and his first birthday coming up, and this is on our list for him. It gets great reviews, and has lots of activities in one. And how cute would this look under the tree!? I think the kids would all want to play with this! Zulily has stuff like this a lot, so I need to keep checking back!

Be sure to let me know what items are on YOUR list in the comments!! Have a great weekend!

https://www.leahtackles.com/2015/10/21/2704/

VTech Sit-to-Stand Ultimate Alphabet Train Toy Review

September 9, 2015 & 3 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I can’t believe I’m about to type this, but Christmas shopping is right around the corner! So, today I want to share the Sit-to-Stand Ultimate Alphabet Train with you because we have been enjoying it SO much in our house. Hailey is 4, Connor is 2, and Logan is 7 months old and all of them have been able to use it.

*Note: I was contacted by VTech and asked if I would like to review a few of their toys. I recieved four toys for consideration for honest reviews and was not paid to review any of them. Links are NOT affiliate links and are provided solely for your conveinence! A.K.A I do not get any money if you purchase ; ) Also, I apologize for the poor picture quality, but these are action shots!

PRODUCT OVERVIEW:

-10 Activities that help teach letters, numbers, and colors

-Helps with fine motor skills with the storybook, clock, gears, and 13 double-sided letters that can snap into the side of the train to learn letters.

-The “caboose” converts into a wagon that can be filled up with toys and used as a pull toy

-Helps with gross motor skills when using as a ride on toy, push walker, or pull toy

-Target age is 12-36 months

$49.99

HOW MY KIDS USE IT:

Hailey, age 4, likes to use the letter blocks to work on letter sounds, and word formation. She also is interested in the clock and now wants to learn how to tell time!

Connor, age 2, LOVES to ride his train! He immediately claimed this as his (he is the only one of my kids who fits into the targeted age right now) and uses it all day long! I love that he practices his fine motor skills while not even knowing it, because he is a go-go-go little guy who usually gets bored pretty fast.

Logan, 7 months, likes to sit by the train and work on cause-and-effect as the lights and sounds go at the touch of a button. I know soon he will be walking behind it and riding on it!

PROS:

-Appeals to all 3 of my kids!

-So many toys in one! This is such a multi-purpose toy

-Easy to assemble and very sturdy

CONS:

-This is a large toy, so consider storage (I rotate our toys so the kids never get bored and my house isn’t overtaken!)

-It’s a somewhat pricy toy

FINAL THOUGHTS:

I really do love this toy! We already have the VTech Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker (which I purchased long before I was blogging with my own money!), so I hadn’t planned on purchasing a new one for Logan, but I am THRILLED we recieved this! Connor especially absolutely adores this thing! Each one of the kids uses this daily and I love that it engages them all together! That isn’t an easy task! And like I said it *is* a little bulky, but how cute would it look as the “big gift” for a birthday or under ther tree? I think VTech does a great job because the kids seem to really love the toys, and because of that use them enough to learn with them.

Please let me know some of your favorite gifts for kids or what you have on your holiday shopping lists! If you found this helpful please feel free to share! Thank you all for your support!

My Family Pictures 2015!!

July 15, 2015 & 4 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

We are lucky enough to have the hugely talented Brooke of Brooke Ashley Snow Photography take pictures for our family once or twice most years. Recently she snapped a few quick pictures for us as a family of five, our 5 year wedding anniversary and for Lo’s 6 month birthday. If you’re in Michigan and need photos done, CHECK HER OUT! She is awesome to work with, makes you feel so comfortable, and takes amazing pictures! Also, she can make any kid smile! She will do all sorts of *crazy* stuff to get a great picture…and she’s my friend AND family, so I’m allowed to say that ; ) Love you lots girl, thank you again! Your photography is on *fleek* ; )

FullSizeRender (19)

Have a beautiful weekend! I appreciate each of you!! xoxo

Thank you, dads!

June 17, 2015 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Happy (Early) Father’s Day!!

A friend of mine, and leahtackles.com reader, mentioned that she would love to see a shout out to single moms, and I agreed that single moms deserve TONS of accolades! However, because I grew up with both a mother and a father in a nuclear household, and because my children live in a house with both their mother me!) and their father (my hubster), I didn’t feel comfortable doing too much writing on subject. However, my respect for any single parent is HUGE! I DID find this video that I think sums up single moms incredible strength. Sarah, this is for you!

Watch the video:

Happy Father’s Day, Mom!
I also want to thank all the dads, grandfathers, uncles, and male role models who do their crutial part to be positive figures in children’s lives. I think we often forget that there are single dads out there, too.

I want to thank the three most important dads in my life:

To My Father In-Law:

Thank you for all that you do for us! The kids love their “Papa!” 🙂 Can’t wait to create some magical Disney memories soon!

To My Dad:

Thank you for all of the fun things you did while we were growing up…think mom forgives you for all the hours you spent on the ice rink yet? Haha! 😉

To Stephan:

You’re the dad every kid wants and our kids are so lucky to have you! Thank you for never being embarrassed to have fun with your kids. Coolest. Dad. Ever.

Thank you for reading!!

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