We are on day five of our “Multi-tasking Must-Haves” journey. And day 5 of some awesome giveaways! If you are just checking in, here is what you’ve missed: ENO hammocks, Hydroflask, Teton Sports Summit 1500 pack, and DucksDay Kid’s Outerwear. Today is the last day to enter the ENO Hammock giveaway too. Today, I want…

Hey friends! It has been a great week for giveaways! How could it not be? Today I get to introduce you to Ducksday Kid’s Outdoor Gear and their wind/snow/rain suit. What is a Ducksday rain suit? In short, it is a lightweight, one piece suit that is water and wind proof…and folds up into a…

Enter: My new favorite backpack. Talk about a multi-purpose pack. But I’ll get to that. Summit 1500 Specs: Volume: 1500 cubic inches/ 25 L Pack weight: 2.4 lbs. Waist belt 24″- 60″ Torso length: fixed 17″ Features: Hydration-ready (2 liters) with right and left ports and clips for the drinking tube 2 side mesh pouches with…

Welcome back to day two of our multi-tasking must-have giveaway week! If you haven’t already joined us on Facebook, please do. We are discussing other must-have outdoor items all week! What is a Hydroflask? Hydroflask makes a line of double wall, vacuum insulated, stainless steel water bottles and food storage containers. We’ve had a chance…

Happy Monday everyone!! It is going to be an awesome week because we are giving away some awesome outdoor gear EVERYDAY this week. This gear has been tried and tested for the last few months and we are excited to share it with you! Join us on Facebook for more conversation on must-have camping and…

Giddy. Excited. Inspired. Motivated. All might be feelings after plunking down several months of hard-earned cash (or credit, but hopefully not) on a piece of life-capturing electronic gadgetry. Your first (or second, or third, …) SLR camera. It is a sight to behold, or should at least help you capture some. In the box you find…

Every year Thanksgiving draws near and I start contemplating Christmas cards, gifts, foods…and that family photo. Often I procrastinate on the family photo…cause well, usually at least one kids is complaining and another is already in tears. In fact, this photo was taken just after my family-photo-attempt this year…all of us covered in prickers from…

Hi everyone! Expect[ing] to Thrive has had an awesome week, two weeks really and today I get to introduce to you our go-to piece of baby gear. If you know us, well…you’ve heard our spiel. If not, then know this: If there was only one piece of baby gear I could recommend, it would be…

Do you have a case of the Mondays? Even though we had a long-ish weekend, it still went too fast. But we have an action packed day around here for you! We have a winner from our first giveaway, another giveaway starting today AND an awesome park/anywhere workout that will bless your socks off. Or…

The balance bike phenomenon is gaining momentum, and it is hard to find a store that isn’t carrying at least some version of one for your toddler. But we are a bit biased around here, we love Strider Bikes…yes, better than any of the others. Maybe you are wondering, what does this have to do…

Oh, the clothing I WISH I had had during my pregnancy and nursing days… I am about to share a hilarious photo with you. Hilarious in the I-don’t-want-any-one-to-see-this type of way. But I love you guys, so I will… I am 8 months pregnant, attempting to snowshoe in Winter Park, CO and it is a…

  Hi, friends! Obviously we were thinking of all you on our last camping trip of the summer…cause I managed to snap some fun photos of the yellow tutu debuting near Moab! I don’t know about you, but this week is insanely busy! But enough about me… We are only one week out from our…

It is a little easy at Outdoor Retailer to get the glassy eyed, overwhelmed sort of look and go into autopilot. So much great outdoor great, flying at you from every angle. But as I was chasing my little ones around, something green caught my eye: The Edelrid Fraggle Kids Climbing Harness. Why? Other than…

Earlier in the year I introduced you to the cutest, most colorful, most fun cookbooks I’ve ever seen. And that is NOT an exaggeration. Lemon Poppy Inc. has some amazing recipes and books! But now I am going to introduce you to a new one! One with special meaning. And a special purpose. This cookbook…

I don’t really know how to start this review because it is SO subjective, and I really have no proof.  So instead I’ll tell you the story of how I stumbled upon the Amber Artisans and their teething necklaces for baby. At the beginning of January another attack of the teething monster erupted in the…

I am not a cook. But I like food . I am not a baker. But I love desserts! I am more comfortable belaying my kids while they rock climb than making their birthday cake!  I am not one of those moms with crazy creative food ideas for my family. But I want to be! And…

Here is the truth: My chalk bag is cooler than your chalk bag! OK, that isn’t exactly correct. My kids chalk bags are cooler than your kids chalk bags. But not for long. I want to introduce you to Practical Climbing today. Why? Because I am always looking for a chalk bag that isn’t like every…

And the winner is comment #3: Amanda Kelly! You will be contacted shortly. Congrats from our house to yours! -the Ericksons  

A few things about us: 1. we aren’t a stroller family 2. we are habitual “baby-wearers” when the kids are young but 3. I am a sceptic when it comes to baby slings. I learned this week, though, that the Seven Sling has a place in my baby gear repertoire! (FYI, my youngest child is…