 MANSCAPED, The Final Front/Rear By: Brian I was gifted the MANSCAPED Lawn Mower 3.0 groomer by my wife, who asked me to write an honest review of this product for a blog she was involved with. This isn’t the kind of writing I normally do, so first let me explain why I agreed to this. The Lawn Mower 3.0 is a groin groomer, and I happen to be a gentleman who keeps his hedges well-trimmed year-round. Sometimes, trimmed isn’t enough and this guy requires things downstairs to be baby-seal smooth. Groin groomers weren’t something I was familiar with, as most of my previous grooming was done with nothing more than some basic WAHL clippers and a disposable razor. I’ve mastered that art at this point, but am always reminded of an incident eleven years ago during a cross-country road trip with my brother. Preparing to hit the town one night in Memphis, TN, I was shearing my sheep in the hotel shower using the above method (let’s be honest, I didn’t want to wake up the next morning and see some lovely Southern belle I had met the night before on the local morning news claiming she had seen Sasquatch, and in Tennessee of all places). I had wrapped it up with the clippers, and had moved on the the straight-razor stropping; i.e., the "finishing touches". Well, one quick slip of the BIC and I had nicked my Nesmonds bad enough that I was, um, genuinely concerned for my well-being. I remember thinking at that moment that there had to be a better way, or maybe I should have just been more careful, but mostly, there had to be a better way. Then my wife and her blog and this Lawn Mower groomer came along, and I took it into my hand and dared it to do better. I was already digging this thing after just opening the box. Simplicity! A groomer, a brush, a single attachment, an adapter and charging wire, and a charging dock. One button on the groomer with the universal “Power” symbol on it. One single streamlined light to let you know it’s charging (or charged). The Lawn Mower felt great in my hand. It was just the right size, and had a surface that provided a very secure grip, which was a huge plus because you can use this thing in the shower too. I began my “haircut” utilizing the attachment on the trimmer. There was no pulling, no yanking of hair; only smooth movement up and down my skin with no threat of cutting or damaging my skin. The groomer felt comfortable, and safe. I would imagine the hair length achieved with the attachment on would be plenty short enough for most, but not me. I wanted to push this thing, to really see what it could do. I hesitated for a moment and removed the attachment, grimacing a little as I surveyed the elephantine skin of my lower, lower region, swallowing my anxiety and diving face first into the inevitable heads or tails of what was about to happen, or not happen, next. I lowered the trimmer, bare blades exposed, and thought of Memphis. There was no pain! No cutting, no nicking, no bleeding, no pinching, just trimming. I was also extremely careful to keep the head of the trimmer angled properly, but was able to get to many difficult-to-reach spots and make them hairless. Without the attachment, the trimmer will get almost as close to your skin as a straight razor would. Like, really close. I decided to test the Lawn Mower in the shower and got it really, really wet, and as advertised, it works fine. I still prefer to do my grooming sin agua, but for those who don’t, this might be your jam. Anyway, as I write this review, I am happy, healthy, and hairless. I’m pretty stoked to have the Lawn Mower 3.0 in my shaving bag now, and I plan on using it regularly. Indeed, this old dog learned a new trick. But don’t tell my clippers that. I haven’t yet.  This Valentines Day SAVE 20% at MANSCAPED.com, the first and leading men's below-the-waist grooming and hygiene brand, offers a full line of products that have quickly become a staple and daily ritual of more than 1,000,000 consumers in the U.S., plus thousands more in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Our intelligently designed and developed product range includes precision-engineered tools, unique formulations and accessories that ensure a simple and effective male grooming routine. Click on the web site link to automatically save 20% Off your order.
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 Crawligator Review
By: Rebecca Romo My daughter has developmental delays and we are always looking for ways to prop her up to make tummy time easier and encourage the use of her hands and arms. In addition, we are always looking for ways to promote the positioning of her knees underneath her...the Crawligator does both. In the past we rolled up blankets, used my leg or a couch cushion but none of these promote movement in the way the Crawligator does. We see physical therapy twice a week and I showed our PT the product and she agreed that it does the things we are trying to promote. As a bonus the product is so fun looking that my toddler is very interested in it. Having him involved always increases enthusiasm and duration of tummy time, so it's a win win that he loves the look of the Crawligator. At the moment she isn't able to make it move, we're solely using it to provide support under her chest so that she can explore with her hands and learn to put weight on her hands. It positions her knees perfectly to give her the feel of what's to come and I'm excited to see her discover the movement aspect as well. Self Care for Mom: Look Good, Feeling Good By: Amy A few weeks back I had the awesome opportunity to visit my friend Erin, owner of Upper Cape Med Aesthetics in Falmouth, for a LIVE micro-needling session. Anyone who has met me knows that I don't often put my own self care first like I am sure many of you reading also do. I often forgo purchasing new clothes or doing any type of self body care opting instead to put my kids and family first. It is easy to get in the habit of doing this to the point where the only new clothes, get a haircut or self care I get a chance for is when someone gets me it as a gift. My friend Erin recently reminded me that even Mom has to sometimes put herself first and she is totally right. Studies show that if Mom is happy then often times the family is happier and more productive. So when Erin reached out to me about doing a LIVE micro-needling procedure and told me how good my face would feel and look after I jumped at the chance especially after staring at the creased lines in my forehead for the millionth time. Micro-needling is a dermaroller procedure that uses small needles to prick the skin. The purpose of treatment is to generate new collagen and skin tissue for smoother, firmer, more toned skin. Micro-needling is mostly used on the face and may treat various scars, wrinkles, and large pores. I was a little nervous and hesitant because just like my oldest child I am super sensitive to just about anything I put in my body or on it. Seriously I react to EVERYTHING, it is such a bummer sometimes! So to brave this LIVE for all of you was a major leap of faith. But I wholeheartedly dove right in to Erin's professional and capable hands and her results did not disappoint! Upper Cape Med Aesthetics believes their patients and their individual needs and concerns come first. In an industry flooded with new facial skin care products and procedures, they make sure that health, appearance and safety are never compromised, always opting for the safest and best aesthetic outcome.  Erin applied a sauve to my face prior to starting. This had to sit on my face for a little bit of time to help numb everything. The entire procedure takes about an hour to do between preparation, numbing and then after care. Once everything began I was pleasantly surprised as it did not really bother me while she did the procedure. Erin was very gentle and put me at ease throughout the whole procedure. Once we had finished she also applied some product to help sooth and stimulate new collagen growth. Once home I did notice that my face was slightly red and throbbed very slightly but by the next morning it did not bother me at all and I could begin to see the results. Micro-needling Procedure
The next few days I saw the redness and slight swelling subside and I was ECSTATIC to discover that all my acne had disappeared and the lines in my forehead were almost gone! By 3 days post procedure my face was glowing and healthy and tight! Erin continued to check on me for the next few days to ensure I was feeling great and any concerns etc I may have.
I was thrilled with the results and got many compliments over the holidays about how great my skin looked which of course gave me a nice boost to my emotional health. Upon reflection I realized that Erin was right and Mom does have to take care of herself and do small things when she can to make herself happy. We should not have to wait a year to do a little self care, we really need to reward ourselves with whatever type of self care makes us happy more often. Maybe it is a new pair of pants, a haircut, maybe a massage, maybe botox and micro-needling... whatever it is treat yourself every once in a while because self care is really important. This is going to be my New Year's Resolution this year-to do more self care whatever it may be and not feel judged or guilty for it. Not only did my face look and feel positively amazing after but mentally it did wonders for me and made me feel fresh and gorgeous. It truly was the best gift for the holiday season and for the new year!
Be sure to visit our friend Erin at Upper Cape Med Aesthetics in Falmouth and tell her we sent you! She is amazing and will treat you just like family!  Gardens Aglow 2019 By Molly Gardens Aglow is a huge holiday light display with lots of hands on holiday experiences throughout the lights. My family and I had the pleasure of a complimentary visit to Gardens Aglow this past Saturday in return for an unbiased post. Gardens Aglow is a yearly event that Heritage Gardens in Sandwich puts on Fridays, Saturdays, & Sundays this year from November 29 – December 29; 4:30pm-8:30pm. Pricing is as follows $20 Adult $17 Adult Member $10 Youth (Ages 3-17) $8 Member Youth (Ages 3-17) Free for children 2 or younger. If you are a member they also are having a special members night on 12/15 “As part of our thanks for your generosity, please join us on Sunday, December 15 at Gardens Aglow to enjoy cookies and treats on us while you experience Cape Cod's favorite holiday tradition at 50% off the regular price.” you must register by 12/9 here! We started our 2019 Gardens Aglow adventure by arriving right at 4:30 and the two main parking lots were already filled; I would highly recommend getting there by 4:15 for a good parking spot or you can reserve parking for $20. After bundling up for the chilly evening we headed into the gardens and picked up the reindeer hunt cards which my 7 and 9 year old love doing (it also helps to get the kids to see all the beautiful light displays). The Automotive Gallery is all decked out for the holidays. You can visit Santa in the Ford Model T, see a performance down stairs and checkout all the cool old cars. We let the kids lead us along to find the reindeer we passed by Nickerson field where you can roast marshmallows (we saved that for the end) then by Magnolia Cafe where hot drinks and snacks are available for purchase over to the Old East Mill that is all lit up and there is ice craving on Saturday nights. Then down the hill to see the flume “light” fall and my favorite the fountain garden with the glowing ball display. From the fountain garden you can look down on the Outdoor Concert Stage field and see yet another amazing light display.
As we headed toward the Special Exhibitions Gallery we passed the Labyrinth (where a reindeer is hiding) and Parade Field where there are more snacks and drinks to buy and giant foam building pieces for the kids. In the Special Exhibitions Gallery you can visit Mrs. Claus, see a giant model train setup, help make a light bright display and the kids can build their own train setup which is where my two year old would have been content to stay all night! The Carousel is all ready to celebrate the holidays as well. The horses look so festive at night in the glow of all the lights and decorations. As you take a spin on a horse of your choice you can take in the decorations from a different perspective. While at the Carousel you can also visit the Hundred Acre School and the American Art Gallery. At the end of a wonderful night after enjoying marshmallows (a great way to motivate my cold and tired kids back towards the entrance) you can turn in the reindeer hunt card for a prize; the kids each chose an old fashioned candy stick. I highly recommend visiting Gardens Aglow this holiday season! Have you been or plan on going? What is your favorite part?  Molly, her husband, and their 1, 6 and 8 year split their time between their little piece of the cape in Orleans and Cambridge. She was a kindergarten teacher before her oldest was born then became a SAHM. She loves running, books, supporting literacy, nature walks, arts, craft, knitting and sewing as well as being outside and on the beach!
This week Cape Kids Cast Explores their Top 3 favorite places to go for ice cream in Sandwich: Twin Acres Ice Cream Shoppe, Shipwreck Ice Cream, & Sweet Caroline's Ice Cream and More Inc. . Find out more about why these 3 businesses are huge hits for #CapeCodKids Be sure to check out our Summer Edition sponsors, Sea Crest Beach Hotel in beautiful North Falmouth, one of the best places to go for family fun ALL day long! Leave us a LIKE, COMMENT or SHARE and let us know what you think of our summer edition series! For advertising information or to invite the cast to your event or family friendly business, email us at info@capecodmoms.com #icecream #summer #CapeCod #summervacation #family #shoplocal  Escape YOUR reality at King Richard’s Faire, New England’s largest and longest-running Renaissance festival! Open Labor Day Weekend Each year since 2012 we have been lucky enough to be granted admission to King Richard's realm as guests for his annual faire as well as offer giveaways to our fans & readers. This year we are giving away 3-Family 4 Packs for Opening Weekend to people who attend our upcoming Parent Night Out at the Cape Cod Children's Museum. We’ve always had such great times while attending. Some of our favorite parts of the Faire are seeing the Prince & Princess Contest and the joust, eating turkey legs, attending the fabulous music and shows and much more. We love visiting the vendors as well and in prior years have purchased a piece for our outfit to attend in! Each year we find something fantastic and something new! We cannot wait to see what is going to be at the Faire this year! Below are some of our blogs, tips and tricks on King Richard's Faire over the years: King Richard’s Faire 2012 King Richard’s Faire 2013 2nd Review Blog 2013 by Meghan King Richard’s Faire 2014 King Richard's Faire Meghan's 2014 Experience King Richard's Faire 2015 Meghan's Review of the Shows & Interviews with the Kids for 2015 King Richard's Faire 2016 King Richard's Faire 2017 Giveaway King Richard's Faire 2018 by Charissa-1st time visit King Richard's Faire 2018 Giveaway Visit the Faire weekends and Monday holidays from August 31-October 20, 2019, where entertainment, exciting rides and skilled games abound on the Faire’s enchanting 80-acre wooded site (235 Main Street, Carver, Mass. 02330). You’ll be dazzled by acrobats, aerialists, and jugglers! Be captivated by minstrels, dancers and puppeteers and enthralled by fire-eaters, magicians and exotic tigers. See our website for new acts and special events for the 2019 season! On Saturday August 31st, opening day, Carver residents are welcomed with free admission with valid photo ID. On Sunday, September 1st, the Faire holds a "Salute to Safety" with free admission to first responders with valid photo ID - see website for details. Hundreds of talented performers perform non-stop for you throughout the day on any one of our eight vibrant stages. The King’s handsome knights battle on horseback as bawdy beggars compete in mud. Wacky wenches will leave you in stitches while happy villagers engage you in the lanes. Frolicking faeries can be seen dancing through the forest, where you can try your skill in his majesty’s Gaming Glen. Afterward, epicurean pleasures suited for royalty, will tantalize even the pickiest of taste buds. Satiate thy palate with giant spit-roasted turkey legs, ringlets of fryes, and boules of chowder or stew, and quench thy thirst with specialty cocktails, champagne, wine and brew. Many of the King’s talented artisans journey from around the globe and have much to offer all who enter the gates of Carvershire. Discover beautiful handspun pottery, fabulous jewelry, and incredible face painting. Delight in period clothing, leather, armor, and moccasins. Be amazed by our blacksmith and forged weaponry, jewelry making, and other works of art. Revel in scented oils, perfumes, handmade crafts and psychic readings as you make memories to last a lifetime. Visit kingrichardsfaire.net for a site map, event schedules, and ticket sales. 235 Main Street, Carver MA 02330 adult: $34 child 4-11 $17 children 3 years of age and younger are free Website link: http://kingrichardsfaire.net Ticket link: https://kingrichardsfaire.net/ticket-admissions-faqs/ Group discounts (25+ guests): 952-238-9915 (November-July) and the Faire site office @ 508-866-5391 (August-October) or via email by contacting info@kingrichardsfaire.net. Group Discounted Pricing – $28 Adult/$16 Child  This week Cape Kids Cast Explores their Top 3 favorite places to go for ice cream in Falmouth: Smitty's, Ghelfi's, & Ben & Bill's. Find out more about why these 3 businesses are huge hits for #CapeCodKids Be sure to check out our Summer Edition sponsors, Sea Crest Beach Hotel in beautiful North Falmouth, one of the best places to go for family fun ALL day long! Leave us a LIKE, COMMENT or SHARE and let us know what you think of our summer edition series! For advertising information or to invite the cast to your event or family friendly business, email us at info@capecodmoms.com #icecream #summer #CapeCod #summervacation #family #shoplocal This week Cape Kids Cast Explores 3 of their favorite places to go for ice cream in Bourne: Somerset Creamery, Whistle stop Ice Cream, & The Seafood Shanty. Find out more about why these 3 businesses are huge hits for #CapeCodKids Be sure to check out our Summer Edition sponsors, Sea Crest Beach Hotel in beautiful North Falmouth, one of the best places to go for family fun ALL day long! Leave us a LIKE, COMMENT or SHARE and let us know what you think of our summer edition series! For advertising information or to invite the cast to your event or family friendly business, email us at info@capecodmoms.com #icecream #summer #CapeCod #summervacation #family #shoplocal  Regional Family Vacation to Double Tree by Hilton North Shore a Success By: Amy, Kelly & Melissa Recently the Cape Kids Cast kids and some moms from our blogging team were invited up to visit the Double Tree by Hilton North Shore and Coco Key Water Park in Danvers. As you know many times people have differing points of views when it comes to experiences. For our review this time we decided it would be better to get the viewpoints of the 3 mothers on the trip as well as get their feedback on traveling and vacationing with the kids via a podcast! You can listen to our podcast focusing on traveling locally with the family below or visit our Parenting Podcast page here. Be sure to also check out Amy, Kelly and Melissa's other suggestions, feedback and tips below! Amy's ReviewHaving been to Double Tree by Hilton North Shore before I knew what to expect for the weekend and how much fun the kids would have. We had stayed in the family rooms previously but this time we were treated to the King over sized room with a sofa bed. I loved the size of the room overall because it gave us room to spread out affording us some additional comfort as well as have a specific place to eat. It gives the allusion of having almost separate space which was useful during our times we took a break from the water park to decompress or before bed. I loved having the fridge in our room which was the perfect place to store juice boxes (and the delicious secret tray of brownies with caramel sauce we brought for the parents). Breakfast was included with our stay and the buffet offered a plentiful assortment of options. I was partial to the homemade Belgian waffles that you could make yourself however the kid in me wished for chocolate chips as an option to put on top. Our server for both mornings was excellent and very friendly. She handled our large party with ease even with the dining room being packed. We opted to order from room service our second night for dinner which looking back on it was a SMART decision on our part. The kids were exhausted after such a fun filled day. The water park was a lot of fun and because I had purchased a waterproof case for my phone, the kids were able to take it down slides and in the pools so we could capture some really funny moments. We were able to utilize a cabana the first night we were there which did make it easy to condense all of our things together plus gave the kids a quiet place to take a break. The safe in the cabana was an added bonus so that valuables could be locked up. Overall we had a fantastic time. We discuss our trip in more length on the podcast but I have also included some Parent Tips below that we discuss that may make your life a little easier! Parent Tips
Kelly's ReviewWe were lucky enough to stay and “play” at the Doubletree Hilton North Shore and Coco Keys Water Park and I can gladly say we had a fabulous time. The hotel was great and upon checking in the kids were thrilled to receive their homemade cookies!! What a great treat for them. We had a great room which was spacious and comfortable and right across the hall from our friends. We would have preferred a room with 2 double beds because the mattress on the pull-out sofa was very thin and uncomfortable. Of course, the kids were more than excited to get their bathing suits on and get to the waterpark!! We were lucky enough to have a cabana reserved for us which was perfect. We got there Friday evening, so the park was quite full and without the cabana we wouldn’t have had a table or chairs because they were all taken. The kids loved the fact that there was a TV in the cabana, however, it wasn’t connected or working which was a little disappointing. The kids played in the water and on the slides and had a great time while we waited for our dinner. The following day we planned to spend at the waterpark and although we were there as soon as it opened there were no towels. The kids continued to have fun in the water and on the slides but were very disappointed that the lazy river still hadn’t been opened. Luckily, we were able to use it later that afternoon and it was one of their favorite parts despite having to wait in line for over 30 minutes. We had a great day, but I suggest having more than 1 register open to order food or have a section where pre-made salads are available to “grab and go”. I waited in line for 45 minutes for a Caesar salad…which was delicious but frustrating having to wait that long. The arcade was fun but overpriced compared to other arcades and quite a few prizes were out of stock when the kids went to redeem their tickets. For dinner that night we decided to order room service. The menu offered some great items and the food was great however, quite a few items had been forgotten but delivered shortly after. The kids had a great time and the kids are already asking when we can go back.
Melissa's ReviewWe had a great escape from the doldrums of winter and home life last weekend visiting the Coco Key Water Park in Danvers. The kids all had smiles on their faces the whole time. Even us adults had a blast! I think we were so focused on the kids having a great time that we didn't realize how much enjoyment us big kids would have too! For instance, screaming the entire way down those giant blue slides that wind their way outside of the building, or just relaxing in the lazy river. It was busiest Saturday as they were sold out, so there were long lines for food or towels. To be on the safe side I'd recommend bringing snacks, including water, and your own towels from home. The Double Tree by Hilton North Shore was comfortable and so convenient to the water park! They were all booked for the weekend so, we didn't get to see the themed rooms, but the rooms we stayed in were nice. I believe they mentioned to us during our stay that all the rooms are going through a renovation process. We can't wait to see it upon completion at a future visit! The breakfast buffet was so easy to feed everyone a good amount of food before hitting the water park for the day. They provide a nice selection to choose from, even if you have picky eaters. Room service was a great option Saturday night. We got to have some much needed down time after an exhausting day of playing. Then we ventured out to check out the hotel's arcade located just outside the water park. It goes without saying that the kids had fun playing the games and winning a few prizes too! Sunday we managed to score a late checkout and were then able to spend just enough time in the water park again, until the kids - if you can believe this - were all done and tired out! We had just enough time for everyone to shower, pack up and then checkout. I would highly recommend a later check-out time if you can arrange it. Stopping for an early dinner on the way home was another great idea. Everyone was fed before getting home, so we could focus on a relaxing evening before putting the kids to bed. The giant amount of laundry was saved for the next day! We really had a fantastic weekend together, and as a bonus it was a great way to exhaust the kids! Thank you so much to both the Double Tree by Hilton North Shore and Coco Key Water Park for having us! We are looking forward to a future visit!
Share with us your experiences at Doubletree Hilton North Shore and Coco Key Water Park as well as any travel tips below!  Amy is the founder of the Cape cod Moms blog, a member of the Parent Podcast Team and working mom of two children, Ethan & Olivia, both members of the Cape Kids Cast team. A native Cape Codder she is extremely passionate about her community residing in Falmouth with her husband and extended family. She works full time in the accounting & financial industry for Gary DellaPosta, CPA as well as is an expert travel agent with InTouch Vacations specializing in Disney, Caribbean travel and more. She can be emailed at Amy@intouchvacations.com for vacation planning needs. In addition Amy is a current director, Co-Chair of the Youth Committees, and former Treasurer of the Falmouth Rotary Club; co-founder of the former Falmouth Young Professionals and volunteers actively in the community. Amy has a background in elementary education, special education and was a former competitive swimmer for 15 years.  Full time Catering Sales Manager for PF Chang’s covering the Northeast territory. Proven success in establishing long term business partnerships. Mother of 2 girls. Madeline 11 (5th grade) Charley 7 (2nd grade) who are reporters on the Cape Kids Cast Broadcast Team. Lives in West Falmouth with her husband and 2 children. Developing strong relationships is the foundation of everything I do both professionally and personally. Kelly is also a member of the Parent Podcast Team.  A Cape Cod native who returned in 2013 to open a children's store and raise her now 8 year old daughter, Izzy who is a member of the Cape Kids Cast Broadcast Team. Always in search of a healthy work/life balance she enjoys getting out into nature with her daughter, playing at the beach, yoga, baking, art, crafting, and reading. She is so grateful for the amazing circle of mom friends she has formed on the Cape - it takes a village! Melissa is also a member of the Parent Podcast team.
This week on Cape Kids Cast with Easter approaching, the kids visit the Hot Chocolate Sparrow in Orleans, a local #CapeCod favorite! They explore all the delectable treats as well as how to become a chocolatier. Check out this very tasty interview with Larasa the candy manager! |
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