An Afternoon in Cozey7 + Giveaway! (CLOSED)

I've got my hands full these days. My 19-month-old son Everett is busy. Busier than ever. He's exclamatory, opinionated, hilarious, and recently - he's slightly frenzied about the next time we're going outside. He always, always, always wants to play outside. With the polarizing weather that's come to our little town this winter, it's been an interesting experience, teetering between making my son happy and staying comfortable. Because I don't necessarily always want to be outside. It's been cold! But he always wants to be outside - playing on his swing set, running around the yard with his football and especially his new favorite - making mommy play basketball. Because he can't dunk (yet). My game has actually gotten pretty good.

This new season of frolicking outside for hours a day has left me with the curious task of attempting to properly dress Everett to keep him warm enough for all the 40-degree weather play. When Cozey7 reached out to me about trying out the Trailhopper, I pretty much looked to Heaven and gave thanks. After browsing the Cozey7 site for just a few minutes, I had a dumbfounding feeling that this product was the answer to so many of the problems that we have encountered with our little guy. For example, when he was a baby, he would gladly sit cozy in his stroller with a blanket wrapped snug around him while I jogged (okay, walked) outside to get some fresh air. However, as he has grown into the toddler stage, his signature move is to strip off the blankets (and hats, mittens, even shoes!) in his stroller. One day I felt like passersby were looking at me like, "What a bad mom, taking her son outside and so under dressed!" That may or may not have been true - but he has been under dressed all too often. Because he's getting opinionated about what he wants to wear and not wear.

Until now, that is. The Cozey7 Trailhopper has been the answer to our cold-weather problems. Not only does Everett love putting it on (because he knows it means he gets to play outside!) but it's extremely thick and durable, so he can be as rough and tumble as he likes and I don't have to worry about his clothing. It's made of a performance-grade Polartec fleece, and the feet fold up and down to adjust the size, allowing him to wear it for as long as possible before switching to the next size. Surprisingly enough, I did a little research and there is almost nothing like this on the market - unless you want to dress your kid in a full-on snow suit. I love that my son can wear this as a final layer over his normal clothes and enjoy the toddler life most abundantly - he's worn it camping, during the Snowpocalypse, and even riding around on the golf cart (because in our town, there is more golf cart path mileage than actual road mileage). We've been testing this product for months now, and I must say - I'm a believer. I wouldn't share this with you if I weren't. If you're an outdoorsy family (or if you aspire to be!), this outwear layer will be just as important as shoes and a hat. Check out a few pics of our little guy in his Trailhopper - and scroll below for a promo code and to enter a giveaway to win one for your kiddo!

Everett is wearing the Trailhopper, C/O Cozey7 in frost blue.

Check out the Cozey7 site to learn more about the mission to educate parents on getting outside with their children, browse the product line and economical subscription box options, and learn more about the amazing mother-son duo that run this Colorado-based startup. When placing an order, make sure to use the code oykristen to get $5 off! And follow the instructions below to enter to win a Trailhopper in your choice of size/color for your little one! The giveaway will run for a week and the winner will be notified via email on Tuesday, March 8, 2016. Good luck, friends! And happy adventures to you :)

Many thanks to Cozey7 for hosting the giveaway. Other than being gifted this product to try/use, I was not compensated for this review. The opinions represented are entirely my own. See my Advertising Disclosure for more information on my product collaboration policy.

Best Birthday Gifts for a 1-Year-Old

1. Baby Lit Don Quixote // 2. VTech Chomp and Count Dino // 3. Alphablock // 4. Nike Sneaks // 5. Radio Flyer Fold 2 Go Trike // 6. Babiator Sunglasses // 7. Mega Blocks First Wagon // 8. Kidoozie Water Table // 9. Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site //

Last month my son Everett turned 1 year old. We had so much fun throwing his first smashing party (pirate-style!) and of course, indulging in some present buying. I still tease that we bought him a house for his birthday, although it's not too far off from the truth. But Everett was gifted some really amazing toys and books, and I wanted to share a few of them in case you have a birthday party for a 1-year-old in your future!

1. Baby Lit Don Quixote
I'm just gonna go ahead and say that HANDS DOWN, this is his favorite item. Like ever. He has never been attached to a stuffed animal, a "lovey" or any other object, but for some reason, he loves this Baby Lit Don Quixote book. Who would have thought?!  We read it to him probably 10 times a day and I've been sending it with him when he goes to mothers morning out as if its his blankie. I don't know what to think, but I swear it's teaching him how to say "Hola". Seriously. He says it!

2. VTech Chomp and Count Dino
This VTech Chomp and Count Dino is probably as fun for me as it is for him. The music is not annoying (which is saying a lot for a kiddo toy) and it's truly a fun, interactive toy! We feed the dino different foods and he sings about them. I love it.

3. Alphablock
This is another book that is getting a lot of airtime in our world. The Alphablock is big, beautiful, and fun to read because it's not really reading at all. It's a book that goes through the letter of the alphabet in a quaint picture format. A really great gift!

4. Nike Sneaks
My sister got Everett a pair of kicks that look so similar to these, and he has suddenly become a big boy in them! He is walking (more like stomping) in these adorable, chunky athletic shoes and I feel like he is about to conquer the world in them. Plus, I think he likes looking like his daddy in big boy shoes. So stinkin' cute, guys. Seriously.

5. Radio Flyer Fold 2 Go Trike
We haven't really quite mastered the technique it takes to get him riding on this Radio Flyer Fold 2 Go Trike quite yet, but I feel like it's coming in the next few months. But it's such a timeless, fun gift; I am excited to see him scoot around on this baby trike!

6. Babiator Sunglasses
Okay, these little Babiator Sunglasses are the jam. Everett doesn't keep them on his face for too long (he likes to pull them off and chew on them), but they are TO DIE FOR cute. They're perfectly designed for babies, too, because he has bent them every which way and they refuse to break. So fun! And it feels good to know that these will actually protect his baby blues in the sun :)

7. Mega Blocks First Wagon
Haha okay my little boy has turned into a WORKER with this Mega Blocks First Wagon. He drags it all over our new house, from room to room, picking up random household items and piling them in his wagon. I think he feels like he's being useful while we unpack. It's hilarious. And actually, pretty counterproductive, since he keeps moving things around and I can't find them in this new space. Ah!

8. Kidoozie Water Table
Okay, so we didn't actually get a water table like this one, but we played with them at several other friends' birthday parties this summer, and oh! What an amazing invention! With summer beginning to wrap up, I think I will hold off on snagging one of these for him until next year, but truly, he is at the perfect age for it now. It's such a fun toy for, especially for the outdoors.

9. Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
Going along with the theme of my baby transitioning into a little boy (literally, right before my eyes), my little sneaker-wearing, wagon-dragging babe has loved the book Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site. It's such a sweet story and introduces all the cool construction trucks that boys grow up to love. It's a good one.

Any fun gifts for 1-year-olds that I haven't experienced yet? I would love to hear about them!

Happy Father's Day. Which Means SPORTS!

Fathers.
I hope you all had a happy Father's Day weekend. We celebrated Stevie big time for his first Father's Day, not by doing anything super extravagant, but just doing all the things that make him happy. Which means we did A LOT, and even though I am tired today, it was such a fun weekend!

My husband is a go-go-go kind of person. I've probably become more that way since we've been together, and while he can thoroughly exhaust me with his energizer-bunny routine, it can also be super duper fun! This weekend we biked, swam, played, watched the rain storms roll in, enjoyed lunch out at our favorite Farm, played golf (him, not me!), and even did a bit of car shopping. All good, delicious MAN FUN. It was an absolute joy to celebrate my husband and the gorgeous father-role that he has transitioned into this past year. I believe with absolute certainty that having a present, involved father paints the best kind of future for his family, and I am so glad that Stevie & I are on the same page when it comes to that kind of family involvement. He takes his role as a dad so seriously, and makes it a priority to be around for Everett's bath time, bed time, reading time, feeding time, etc. as much as he possibly can. He never makes me feel like the parenthood experience is just "my thing", and I am so grateful for that. I believe that if me and Stevie are doing well and taking care of our marriage, that same love, appreciation and respect for one another will flow down onto Everett. I may be biased, but he is the best daddy I know!

Fathers All Around.
We also celebrated my dad this weekend, which was the sweetest. I am so lucky and blessed to be surrounded by such strong, sensitive and loving men in my life. Everett has so many wonderful people to look up to for leadership, counsel, and sports guidance. Ha, which Stevie thinks is VERY IMPORTANT.

All the Athletics.
I got a lot of comments on instagram about where you can find this bike seat for a baby. We got ours here here and Everett's helmet here. These items have worked out beautifully for our little family! We love love love biking together.

We have spent a lot of Mother's Day lunches at the Serenbe Farmhouse, but this was our first time as a family celebrating Father's Day there. The fried chicken and southern-infused cocktails are second to none. After lunch we wandered around a bit and even played a pick up game of basketball. Though Stevie and my dad were both champion high school basketballers, I was most impressed with myself, my mom and my sis, because we managed to play in heels. #winning

Fathers and Daughters.
Thanks to my dad, for displaying an overwhelming amount of love and support towards his family all the years of my life. In some ways, I feel like I lean on him more these days, in different ways than I did when I was a kid. I am so grateful that he hasn't checked out, thinking that his job as a dad is done just because his kids are all grown now. He is a continuous source of truth, safety, humor and a most sensitive well of love. Thanks for being both a superhero and a real human. A girl really needs both, and you live both so well.

Many Men.
Many many MANY thanks to my sweetheart, who unfailingly supports our family every day with his time, efforts, prayers, love, concentration, passion and devotion. You are the greatest man I know, and I am proud and humbled by the discipline by which you live and love. You are the greatest dad for our little rascal!

Sorry for the mush fest. Welllllll actually, not sorry. We need awesome dads in the world, so I will continue to praise mine and hopefully raise up more amazing little men! XOX