Our Day at the Aquarium of the Pacific

 This past weekend we had the opportunity to go to the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific. The Aquarium of the Pacific is special because it is an AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) accredited Aquarium and works to save endangered species. Luke loves animals and I jump at any opportunity to expose him to a wide variety of experiences so we were very excited when Stonyfield joined with AZA to offer us this opportunity.

As Summer approaches consider checking out zoos and Aquariums in your area that are AZA accredited (LIST HERE). April 25thi is World Penguin Day and this year Stonyfield has joined together with AZA to save 10 animals from extinction including the African Penguin. In fact, to commemorate this partnership, the African Penguin will be featured prominently on Stonyfield YoKids packaging this year.

We loved our day at the Aquarium, here are some of the incredible things we saw and did!

Jelly fish always look so majestic gliding through the water in their beautiful tanks.

 Luke loved exploring the huge floor-to-ceiling tanks with his cousin. The sea lions were incredibly interactive and playful during our visit.

One Sea Lion even came over to my niece and let her "pet" it!

 Next we headed to the Lorikeet enclosure where we had the opportunity to purchase a small cup of nectar to feed the birds.

Beautiful in their rainbow colored plumage, the Lorikeets were enchanting to watch and exciting to feed.

Both kids and myself loved taking turns feeding the birds. I even had the treat of one landing on my hand for a snack!

 Outside we found several touch-tanks offering sting rays, and a selection of fish and small sharks. Luke was eager to get his hands in the water, but wasn't big enough to reach any of the sea life.

The Sea Otters are always a favorite of mine. They look so cute and playful as they swim and float in their tank.

With sea life organized by region, each tank had a different theme and composition.

You can help save the endangered species by shopping Stonyfield and visiting your local AZA zoos and aquariums.

Now through the end of September families who buy two specially-marked YoKids yogurt multipacks will receive a FREE kid's admission to their local AZA-accredited zoo or aquarium with purchase of an adult ticket. Stonyfield hopes that this early exposure to endangered species will help foster a lifelong appreciation of our planet and a commitment to animal preservation.

Unfortunately, many animals are on the endangered animals list, to educate young children about the struggle Stonyfield has created a video series called "Can a Cow save a..." LINK By saying no to toxic persistent pesticides, artificial hormones, antibiotics and GMOs, Stonyfield has been saying yes to delicious, healthy food for more then 30 years.

Before we knew it our day at the Aquarium was over, but we enjoyed our day as a family and I hope we will return again soon.

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Easter Basket Inspiration

With Easter around the corner you may be struggling to come up with items to put in your baby and toddler’s Easter baskets. This is the perfect time to think about items that your child will enjoy now as well as milestones coming in the near future. That is why I put together two different baskets containing some of my favorite baby brands!

From stuffed animals to instruments, I value items that my son will enjoy for years to come rather then a bunch of tiny toys that will get thrown away in a week. Additionally, instead of filling my baskets with fake grass that will inevitably end up all over my house, I grabbed a couple beautiful swaddles from Buttermilk Babies to add a special touch.

Baby Basket-

Slumberkins Peep- Babies love to cuddle, and what better way then with an ultra plush little chick. So soft and absolutely perfect for snuggles. slumberkins.com

Modern Burlap Swaddle- I adore wrapping my baby in scripture and I can see no better way to celebrate the significance of Easter. These beautiful swaddles are also perfect for on the nursery wall! modernburlap.com

Bebe Co Maracas- Easter is a time of celebration and music is a great way to do that. These maracas are the perfect size for tiny hands and make a great decoration for the nursery. Bebecoaustralia.com

Otherware Teether- A good quality teether, perfect for tiny hands, available in a variety of beautiful colors. Otherware is a favorite brand for teething toys in our home. otherware.ca

Toddler Basket-

Hazel Village Bunny- The perfect little friend for any toddler to spend their days with. With impeccable craftsmanship and long limbs, they are ideal for your toddler's hands to hold. hazelvillage.com

Kid-O Instruments- The perfect size for toddler hands, durable, and fun for hours of enjoyment. LINK

Lollacup Sippy Cup- Learning to drink from a straw cup is a big milestone for any toddler and these cups are an adorable addition to any Easter basket. LINK

Little Sapling Toys Rainbow Stacker- I LOVE wooden toys! And stackers are a favorite in my house. They improve fine motor coordination and can be used in imaginative play as tunnels or bridges! www.littlesaplingtoys.com

Loulou Lollipop Refinery Donut Teether- Cutting teeth is difficult, but there is no reason the tethers can't be fun designs and Loulou Lollipop makes absolutely delicious options! louloulollipop.com

Books- Gifting books at each holiday is a tradition for us. I love teaching my child the significance of the holiday and books help me do that. Plus reading helps to improve language development and stimulates the imagination. LINK

Snacks- Instead of candy, I recommend including some of your toddler’s favorite snacks such as puffs, yogurt bites, and squeeze pouches.

Small toys- A Kid-O wobble toy off Amazon LINK and a light-up bunny from the dollar section of Target.