Protect Your Eyes from Water

    One of Liam's sensory aversions is water in his eyes. So it's imperative that he can protect his eyes from water.

Protect Your Eyes from Water

I don't personally care for water in my eyes, especially if it's highly chlorinated. However, for my son, it's a sensory nightmare. So having quality goggles on hand is a must. I just got Liam two pairs. (He's kind of in between, so i got him a child's pair and then an adult pair. I have to cover my bases. ;) )

Free to Fly Kids Goggles

    I love this set. It not only comes with goggles, but also a nose plug and ear plugs. Liam won't swim without a nose plug either, so this was a big selling point for me. The goggles are made from hypoallergenic silicone. They're latex and PVC free so they're safe for your kids.

    The lenses are electroplated and have a mirrored coating. This helps to filter out harmful rays. So not only will these goggles keep water out of their eyes, but they will offer some protection from the sun as well. The strap is easily adjustable so you won't have to fight with it to get them to fit your child.

Free to Fly Adult Goggles

    Liam is a growing tween. We're at the stage where he's not only in between a child and adult emotionally, but size wise as well. So I also grabbed him a pair of Free to Fly's Adult Goggles. These sleek goggles are pretty cool. So much so, that my husband snagged them until Liam grows into them. (Guess I will be ordering another pair!)

    The adult goggles from Free to Fly feature a double layer silicone seal to keep water out of the eyes. The gasket is made to accommodate different facial sizes, nose sizes, and even hair length and thickness. Assuring that anyone whom wears these goggles won't have water in their eyes. These goggles even have a buckle on the strap making them super easy to put on and take off.

    Anti fog goggles means you won't have to worry that air temperature and water temp will be fogging up your lenses and making seeing harder. These goggles have a mirrored coating to protect from UVA and UVB rays. The polycarbonate lenses are panoramic, offering you more viewing area.

Perfect Holiday Gift for Water, Beach and Yoga Lovers

     I love to give practical holiday gifts. That's not to say that I don't enjoy giving fun presents too. However, I was raised that something useful is an amazing gift too. So if you have a water, beach or yoga lover on your holiday list, then this post is for you!

Perfect Holiday Gift for Water, Beach, and Yoga Lovers

    These Quick Dry Water Shoes make a wonderful gift! They're super comfortable, lightweight, and feel like second skin. Whether you or someone you love needs a pair of shoes for the pool, or for yoga class, these fit the bill! They're durable, yet cover your feet well. The non skid bottoms will help loved ones from slipping on wet floors, or when maneuvering those different yoga positions. They can easily be rolled up and slipped into a purse, backpack, or gym bag.

Beach Combing Must Have

    We finally followed our dreams, and bought a beach home. We're now walking and a short driving distance from area beaches. This means we do a LOT of beach combing. Liam has been asking for a pair of "beach shoes," but not just any shoe will do. He's autistic with sensory issues, so he's super specific about what he needs. They can't be too heavy, scratchy, or make any kind of squeaking noise. The shoes must also be easy to get on or off, with no laces. So when I saw these Quick Dry Water Shoes, I knew I had to check them out.

    As soon as they arrived, I slipped them on. I wanted to test them out myself, since I'll be putting them away to give him as a Christmas gift. I was super impressed. They easily slipped on my feet, and we were very comfy. I walked around the house, and even put a bit of water on the floor. There was no squeaking sound, and they kept me from slipping on the floor. The bottoms are great because they will protect Liam's feet from hot sand and any sharp shells we may come across on the beach.

Let's Talk Specifics: These shoes are 

• Made of breathable, lightweight fabric, so don't worry about sweaty feet
• Have sturdy soles made of synthetic material
• Made with quick dry material so shoes won't stay wet long
• Perfect for gripping when walking

Watermelons Aren't Just for Eating.

    One of my son's favorite fruits is watermelon. This time of year they're everywhere. But they aren't just for eating. They're for playing too.

Watermelons Aren't Just for Eating

    Have you ever put a watermelon in water? Did you know that they are neutrally buoyant? If you were to put a watermelon in water, it would first sink to the bottom, then slowly, float upwards. That's because they are made up primarily of water. As a matter of fact, a watermelon weighing one hundred grams contains ninety-one grams of water. But, they aren't just for eating.....

    They're for playing! Watermelon Ball Jr. by PlaSmart, takes the concept of a real watermelon, and turns it into a super fun water game, for kids, teens, and adults alike. With this ball you can kick, dribble, bounce, and pass it through water, for an interactive game like you've never played before!

Fancy Foot Work

    Watermelon Ball Jr. looks like a real round watermelon, except that PlaSmart has added some brighter colors to make it more visible in water. You simply fill it with water, and toss it into the pool. You can even play with it in the creek or lake like we do! Gather the kids and adults for a game of water soccer or basketball. You can pass Watermelon Ball Jr. back and forth with your feet. You can dribble it underwater too!

    This ball takes playing in the water to a whole new level. Encourage exercise and fun, while teaching good sportsmanship, and keeping cool on hot days. I use ours to help my son fine motor skills and hand eye coordination. The water makes it a little trickier, but it helps him work on the areas that he needs help with due to autism. 

Dive In!

    Another fun way to play with Watermelon Ball Jr. is to toss it into the pool. Then have kids dive in after it, and try to get it before it leaves the floor of the pool. At about eight inches around it's the perfect size for everyone to enjoy. The brighter colors also make it more visible which is a plus if like us, you use it in a creek or a lake. 

Get Yours Here!!

Follow PlaSmart via  /  Facebook  /  Twitter  /  Instagram  /  YouTube  /

Staycation Autism Style

     We're sick of winter! Feeling cooped up because of sub zero temps is getting old. So we decided to take a little staycation.

Staycation Autism Style

    As autism parents, we know autism doesn't take a vacation. But that's okay. We're accustomed to this lifestyle. However, if you're looking to break up the monotony of the mundane parts of life that we do have control over, then I suggest a staycation.

    Choose a family friendly hotel not far from home, prepare your kiddo, pack some bags and get ready to relax. Well kind of....because we know our kids are always go, go, go!

Best Western Fun

     We chose the Best Western Grand Victorian Inn in Sayre Pa. We've stayed there before for mini staycations and we know it's a great place for families.

    First and foremost the rooms are spotless. I'm picky when it comes to a hotel room, but my autie has worse OCD than I do, so he's even more picky. Liam even went so far as to combing the room with a black light. (I kid you not!) And he gives their rooms "two thumbs up!" Our housekeeper Tammie certainly rocks at her job!

Shout out to Tammie! You rock!!

    Also, let me add that the rooms are virtually sound proof. You can NOT hear your neighbors which is great for two reasons. One being our kids tend to be very loud and not get "inside voice." The other being when they need a sensory escape, the room is quiet so they can chill.

Pick One with a Pool

    Autistics are drawn to water. It calls to us and soothes us in ways that not many other things can. So when we're choosing a place to stay, a pool is a must. The Best Western we chose happens to have an indoor, heated pool, which is necessary in frigid Northeastern Pa. 

As you can see, a lot of time was spent in the pool! Even some toys came along for their autism line up.

    Bonus, it even has a jacuzzi! Holy relaxation! Play in the pool, then chill in the jacuzzi. Repeat. All day! It was just what we needed to spice up the mundane days of winter!

Free Breakfast? Yes please!

    The Best Western Grand Victorian (and all of their other hotels,) offer a free breakfast buffet. Autistics are prone to picky eating, but their buffet has so many options, that it isn't a problem. I wish I had thought to get some pictures, but Liam's plates (more than one because food doesn't touch,) were full! He chose two mini boxes of cereal (they had many of his favorites,) a cinnamon doughnut, and even a "sour" (granny smith) apple.

    I had a Belgian waffle I made myself with some yummy toppings, it was amazing! Even my picky hubby had a large plate of fluffy scrambled eggs, sausage and an English muffin. That wasn't even all of the food they had to offer!

image via Trip Advisor

Good TV's (per Liam)

    Liam goes nowhere without his Xbox One. Thankfully The Best Western has "good tv's." He knew he could take his precious gaming system and actually be able to use it. Plus, it gave us a little break when our skin couldn't possibly prune up any more from the pool and hot tub! (Liam insisted I let you all know about how great their tv's are!)

Friendly Staff

    The staff was fantastic as well. They were so friendly and welcoming. Always smiling when we would pass them at the front desk, pool desk, or in the halls. This was huge for me. It seems that lately so many people are miserable which is a real downer. I loved being surrounded by others that were in a happy mood!

Thank You Best Western!

    We had a great time, and even though we rushed home to avoid winter storm Liam, we are more relaxed and rejuvenated. So what are YOU waiting for? Take a staycation! Just be prepared to spend a lot of time in the pool! :)