My time with the Samsung Galaxy S9+

This post has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #AdvanceWithSamsungGS9 #CollectiveBias

Mother’s Day is on its way here! A day for us mothers to be celebrated for all the hard work we do 365 days of the year.  I think deep down nobody can understand the extent of the hard work we do for our loved ones.  This is a great time for us to recognize all that greatness we deserve as well.  So to set an example for the rest of the mothers out there… I wanted to treat myself to something in the tech field that would help me make my blogging easier and provide a convenient way to take top of the line pictures! 

I picked up a Samsung Galaxy S9+ at Costco because this update has some things that are truly game changing.  As a blogger I’m taking pictures all the time of my girls at different times day and night.  I need something that is tough, and can take amazing pictures.  Also, I love the lilac purple color of the phone! The Samsung Galaxy S9+’s camera has dual aperture lens which adapts like the human eye, capturing incredibly clear photos with vivid real-life colors.  It’s like having a pocket sized professional camera!  It’s great in all kinds of light, whether bright sunlight or lowlight .  The photos are all displayed on a beautiful edge to edge screen and is truly a sight.

Some other great features include the Intelligent Scan and the Live Translation.  A new way of unlocking your phone uses both the facial recognition and iris scan together so you can unlock simply in low light.  With Live Translation, this new future can ready languages and instantly translate in real time for you.  It’s a great fun instant translate feature by simply pointing the phone at anything!   

My favorite feature of the Samsung Galaxy S9+ is the new AR Emoji.  But scanning your face, it uses augmented reality to create an ‘emoji’ version of yourself!  When I’m sending messages to my husband or friends I throw in these emojis and it makes a simple text MUCH more interesting.  My girls get a kick out of it too seeing their mom in cartoon emoji form!  Does that AR Emoji look like me? 

Everything about the  Samsung Galaxy S9+ is a great improvement.  With a stronger screen and water proofing, you get something that is tough for me who is constantly using it to type emails/blog and take photos.  But the camera is really the special thing here with it’s dual aperture lens, live translation, intelligent scan, and AR emoji features takes this to another level.  Make sure to stop by your local Costco to pick one up!

DisneyWorld for the first time with a preschooler (and an older one)!

This is our first time to Disney World with my two daughters, one which is a preschooler and I learned quite a whole lot of things.  Seeing their eyes go wide with amazement is true joy and exhilaration when they enter and see a real castle for the first time.  It’s best to be organized and prepare for smooth sailing without any unnecessary mishaps that might make the trip any less enjoyable. There are some things that I found to be really helpful to keep in mind that I’d like to share:

Firstly, let’s start with some packing tips. THE most important thing to pack, I believe, is a single stroller, and if not, get it at the park because although they are full of energy, preschoolers tire out really fast in a place as big as Disney. There’s tons of walking around involved and unless you want to be carrying around your tired preschooler around all day when they get hot and tired, stroller is a necessity! Always pack 2-3 outfits per day, just in case the weather does not go according to forecast (which we all know happens now more often than ever before).  Also, you never know if your preschooler might have some kind of accident or maybe make a mess in all the fun their having. There’s also lots of water splashing rides that maybe your child will want to stand by and get splashed, or even you and your entire family might unknowingly be in a splash zone (really… that happens).

Now if you're flying to Florida on a plane, sometimes toddlers need their afternoon nap and it’s best to find a flight sometime in the morning rather than in the middle of the day.  I would say between 9am-10am is your best bet. You don’t want it to be too early because you have to get them up and also allow yourself enough time to make it to the airport without any rush, because let’s be honest, rush = stress = everybody is upset. Then it’ll work out perfectly that by the time you’re on the plane, your kids can distract themselves with something like a movie or the iPad and then eventually fall asleep.  And the next thing you know, they’ve landed and you are trouble free for the duration of the flight plus they’ll be fresh and ready for the start to Disney World.

The flight on the way home we like to approach a little differently. I recommend finding flights in the later afternoon around 3pm-4pm, after their naptime. The reason I say this is that the timing will work out perfectly that when the flight arrives home, it’ll be just in time for dinner and then they’ll perfectly tire out from the flight (and the entire trip to say the least) just after, in time for bedtime. They’ll wake up back home the next morning, wide eyed and well rested,  with most magical memories of Walt Disney World!!

We had the pleasure of staying at the Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, which has the largest pool of the Disney World Resorts.  It is beautifully made with a Finding Nemo theme which was design for the kids to feel as if they were playing in the water as Nemo did with his friends. Though that was not the only theme there are also The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and Cars, which is the suite where we stayed. There were Cars animations all over the walls and hallways, as well as Cars models scattered around for the girls to pose cute pictures with. Disney really know how to integrate a theme in to all parts of to make the kids feel like they’re in the movies. Might I add, for the parents, they had great service and were sure to have our stay be as easy and convenient for us as possible. They have two location at which you can eat where the service was impeccable. One of them was by the pool for the adults and the other one is a dining hall which serves a delicious assortments of hot foods, all including the choice of pizza which is the favorite food to both my daughters… and I’m sure that stands true for many kids!!  We got to use these Disney Quick-Service Dine Cards which is a great option because these gift cards have more value that the price you pay for the card. You can using them at many dining locations around the park for your meals and snacks.  It’s so quick and easy and rids you of the burden of carrying around any money with you!

It’s really unbelievable how Disney World makes each park seem as if your stepping out of reality into another world! Unlike any other park, the Animal Kingdom was so full of green and nature everywhere you look. I was happy to see my kids enjoy a jungle like, natured theme park so much. We had gone on a few rides as a family such as the Triceratops Spin which is a perfect ride for preschoolers and small children. My youngest is in love with dinosaurs so she was definitely ecstatic about that one. But the most extraordinary ride was the Navi River Journey, located in Disney’s new (Avatar movie’s) Pandora themed area.

My goodness, it’s really something that has to be experienced for yourself and that words themselves could not do it justice! The Navi River Journey is calm boat ride, which can be done as a family even will small children, which takes you through the world of Pandora. Even if you’ve never watched the movie Avatar, this is something you’re going to want to experience… and then will probably end up wanting to watch the movie afterwards. You’re sitting in this boat that flows down the “Navi River” through this science fiction, luminescent jungle of glow lights, immersing you in the theme of the earth and animal, shining a light (literally) on the feeling of being one with nature. Everything is this area is very grand and colorful creating a very realistic environment as if you were really living in the Avatar movie.

We also experienced the River of Light which was a night show with these beautiful fixtures in the water, using tons of colorful lights and beautiful dancers dressed in marvelous costume designs. The show included some extravagantly designed animals and water structures that synchronizes to the music.  What a magical way to end the night!

As mother and parents, we are well aware of how tough it is to travel with young children.  Especially somewhere such as Disney World where they have many resorts and parks in which car travel between the destinations are unavoidable.  It’s always a concern of mine in the back of my mind that my girls won’t have car seats… We mothers just can’t help ourselves from worry for our most precious cargo!  But boy does Disney know how to allow you to enjoy your stay as worry-free and comfortable as possible!

They have this service called the “Minnie” Van Service where they partnered with LYFT.  Its an absolutely adorable van covered in Minnie Mouse polka-dots—which might I mention, our girls were freaking out about. It so incredibly convenient and most importantly cheap!  It's an easy thing to do, just order it off the LYFT app on you phone - you can just easily choose the 'Minnie Van" car.  For $25, the Minnie Van will pick you up from your resort and drive you to almost any of their parks and vice versa. I know you might now be thinking, “well I can just call my own car service and they would do the same” or “well I can just take the bus with my family instead.”  But firstly, let’s be honest with ourselves and think for a second… if you are a mother you know the difficulties of what it means to ride a crowded bus with your strollers, all your bags, and two little children.  The Minnie Van Service also provides two car seats for children and babies which was invaluable for us.  As I mentioned earlier, the girls were freaking out about the Minnie Mouse theme of the cars… to them it almost counted as an amusement park ride on its own!

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we had breakfast at Disney Junior Play ‘N Dine where we were able to dine with the characters my daughters grew up watching on tv!  Their favorite character is Sophia so for them to be able to wake up in the morning and first thing was to have breakfast with Sophia and friends was an absolute joy for them.  Even though at times, our youngest was upset because she wanted to go to the pool everyday (irrational children problems… helloooo we still have all of Disney World to see!).

One of the best things that Disney built for families with young ones and babies are the Baby Care Centers in all the parks.  These are air-conditioned lounges set up for families with infants or children who need assistance with feeding or changing or cleaning.  They also have on-site shops where you can buy formula, baby food, diapers, wipes, sunscreen, or any emergency over the counter medications.  This full service facility is definitely welcomed and shows Disney's true commitment to making helping families out along with providing all the fun in the world!  

Later that day, we went to see “First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing Along Celebration”, which you already know they had the time of their lives… ‘cause what child doesn’t love Frozen!  The girls were singing their heads off to “Let it Go” with the live characters. The show later even had really snow that came down which was impressive and made the girls feel like they were really in the movie with the characters as they’ve always wished to be.

Us moms got a presentation of the upcoming Toy Story Land that is coming to the park this summer in June! It’s be a world created based on the Pixar’s Toy Story films, making you feel like you have shrunk to the size of toys as Woody and Buzz and all the other toys had felt, bringing the character to life on scale that you could only imagine!

With all the excitement during the day we ended going back to relax for a bit before our next stop:  EPCOT and Magic Kingdom!

This post is sponsored by Disney.  The content and opinions expressed below are that of Inrachelshoes.

Spending a Nickelodeon Sunny Day creating fabulous hairstyles!

This post is sponsored by Nickelodeon.  The content and opinions expressed below are that of Inrachelshoes.

Talented 10-year-old Sunny Day is a master hairstylist and salon owner. With her friends Rox and Blair and a can-do attitude, Sunny is ready to save the day—one hairdo at a time! Their teamwork and exchange of ideas is such a great example for kids, tune in and watch Sunny Day weekdays on Nickelodeon! 

When picking shows for my girls to watch and enjoy I like shows that are fun, but they also need to teach a valuable lesson.  Following a role model, a child can learn a lot about themselves which will help them towards their future.  What kid wouldn’t learn life lessons taught by their FAVORITE character on TV!  Nickelodeon’s show “Sunny Day” for instance is one of the top on my list.

The thing about “Sunny Day” that my husband and I love for the girls are the messages that are being conveyed to the kids through the plots and characters of the show. Being that Sunny, the main character on the show is a hairstylist, she is always looking for inspiration and is constantly journeying through her creative process of coming up with new hairstyles.  I like that when my girls are watching the show on Nick Jr., they are learning what it means to be original and how ideas can come from the most trivial things that you would never expect.  I sometimes overhear the two of them coming up with creative projects and how they’ve been inspired by something in outdoors and on their tablets. 

Another key idea that “Sunny Day” hones in on is the significance of uniqueness by showing that being different or looking different can be a good thing.  In this day and age I think it’s very important for our kids to understand that there is beauty in everyone, no matter the color of your hair, skin, eyes, and clothes.  There is great diversity that’s exhibited in the show and my husband and I really enjoy that about the show.  And it’s a lot of fun too! As Sunny would say - “Keep Smiling, Keep Styling”!

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I wanted to have some fun and create some Sunny Day-inspired hairstyles and here’s some tutorials to help you put your daughter’s hair in an awesome and fun way!

Maddie’s Hair Tutorial :

Step 1: Split the hair into three sections, creating an upside down “V” with the middle section of the parted hair. Then tie up the middle section to keep it out of your way.

Step 2: French braid the right and left parted sections while you still have the middle section tied up out of your way. 

Step 3: Now you should have the two sides French braided and the middle section (that was tied)  flowing free—or if you prefer to keep it tied, you can do it that way as well—and then braid the two side braids and the middle section into ONE braid. 

Step 4: Add some pizazz! You can add some Sunny Day bow clips and clip them to the top of the left and right braid. For more color, add some Sunny Day colored extensions, and tuck the into the braid, or you can even braid them in! If you want some color without extensions, you can rub some colored hair chalk on the hair (thought it works better with lighter hair)

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 Olivia’s Hair Tutorial:

Step 1: Split hair into two equal sections, all the way. 

Step 2: French braid both sections as if you were going to braid French pigtails, but stop midway and tie them with small hairbands.

Step 3: Add some Sunny Day color extensions all around the already braided part of the hair. (I would recommend 6-8 extensions maximum cuteness.)

Step 4: Take out the hair band of one braid and finish braiding down to the end while braiding in the extensions. Repeat on the other side. 

Step 5 (optional): Twist up each braid up (as if you were twisting a bun) and use a small clip or bobby pin to hold it up. Repeat on the other side. 

**For more Sunny Day inspired styles, check out the Style Files on Nickjr.com/sunny-day

**For more Sunny Day content and episodes, check out http://nickjr.com/sunny-day! **

Final snowstorm of the winter...oop I mean first day of Spring!

Just when we thought we were ready for spring, mother nature sent us a quick reminder that just because we’re ready, doesn’t mean that she is! I had my fingers crossed that this week was going to be the first of the spring weather we’ve been expecting. I had just put away their Moncler and Canada goose jackets, ready to shift their wardrobes into spring; so ready to just take the girls out to the park without having to lug around extra scarves, gloves, and hats so they don’t get too cold. Lone and behold, we are hit with another big snowstorm!

 Though, as much as we all like to express how inconvenient a snow storm is for us adults, we can’t deny that a snow day for the kids is something they wait on all winter. To be honest, I felt like a child myself when I heard that of the severity of the storm.  Knowing the girls would have a snow day it gave me an excuse to take the day off as well to spend it with them. So my husband and I gave in to the weather, and cancelled all the plans we had for our day allowing our entire family a day of fun in the snow! And what a day it was, thanks to Toby. Our world had been blanketed with enough snow to all the snow things that our girls love. We had snowball fights, built forts, and even a snowman, which of course, the girls named Olaf (how original). It’s funny how kids never seem to realize how cold it is when they’re playing in the snow. They play and play until their cheeks are all rosy, and their snot is running down the little noses. Thankfully their coats were not put away too far, and we still had their Sorel boots in the closet, which assured me despite their looks, they were kept especially warm in their snow-ready clothes. How un-expectantly grateful I was to have this snow day with the entire family. It’s a great opportunity for us grown-ups to feel like kids again and roll around with our little ones; to remember what it’s like to have so much fun in the snow that you don’t even feel you’re cold until you come inside. And my most treasured part of a day like yesterday, is when everyone is back in their pajamas, dry from the icy snow, sipping Swiss Miss hot chocolate to warm our hearts while telling stories to my little snowbunnies!

Enjoying family time with my girls with Ivory

This post is sponsored by Ivory. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Inrachelshoes.

Like many of the women of our world today who are both working and being a mom and wife, it’s easy to find ourselves running around from one thing to another. Whether it be dropping the kids off at school, grocery shopping, or picking up the dry cleaning, I think it’s safe to say  as women, we have many responsibilities to fulfill leaving us ever so busy without us even realizing it! Through the strong love we have for those who are important in our lives, we have an intrinsic obligation to Go! Go! Go! and constantly strive and work so hard to keep those who are around us safe, happy and well. From the world looking in, we mothers can seem like superwomen, and yes, while we do have super hero qualities, we are worrywarts! Naturally, I want the best for my two girls; I am always trying make sure that whatever products we are using are pure and natural at best, to say the least. Though, when I find a brand I can trust and believe in, it leaves me a great deal less to be worrying and thinking about. It allows me the mental space in my mind to really enjoy the small moments.

One of the simplest most treasured moments in my day is when I get to spend the quality time of bathing my two girls. They both have very sensitive skin, especially my little one, and I used to always find myself worrying about the products I would use to bath them, that maybe the ingredients were too strong, or contained additives or scents that would irritate their skin. It was until I discovered Ivory for instance, a brand I can trust my girls with giving me the peace of mind whenever I was washing them. When I purchase any of their products, I know I will be bathing my girls with the most caring, gentle cleansers designed to seriously clean with sensitivity. Their ingredients are chosen carefully, reassuring me that I make the right decisions for my family.  Ivory’s products allow me to be invested in just spending a carefree quality bath time.  We’ve recently been using Ivory’s Original Body Wash and Original 3-bar, both are free of dyes and heavy perfumes, which is perfect for sensitive skin. I’ve also enjoyed using the Ivory Free & Gentle Body Wash with Pear & Sandalwood, as it smells amazing and includes the #1 Dermatologist-Recommended moisturizing ingredient.

We need to realize life for its simpler pleasures and Ivory makes it easy for me to fill my life with moments that really matter!

Eucerin Baby products for my daughter's Ezcema!

This post is sponsored by Eucerin Baby. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Inrachelshoes.

Living in New York City you always have to deal with the winter blues.  The winters feel very long and always very cold.  It also wreaks havoc on my daughter's skin.  They dry up extremely fast and once that happens, my daughter's start scratching.  With the scratching and the irriating itch, ezcema is no fun for them!  Being indoors in the winter causes dry skin from the increased dry air during the winter.  Using Eurcerin's Baby Line during the winter helps keep my duaghter's skin in check. It's the number one brand recommended by pediatricians for baby's skin during the wintertime.  Here's five tips I stick by when it comes to keeping my daughter's eczema in check:

I make sure my girls wear 100% organic cotton clothing because other types of clothing with chemicals end up making my daughters itchy and scratchy, which only makes their eczema worse.  Wearing 100% organic cotton helps prevent any flare-ups, but if it does come I make sure I have the Eurcerin Eczema Instant Therapy Creme in handy.  It instantly calms and relieves minor skin irrations and itching if there are any flare-ups whether it's wearing certain clothes that they're sensitive too or just constant scratching.

I only use detergents that are fragrance free, dye-free, and hypoallergenic.  I only use liquids over powder so there is less chance of residue (which might react with my daughter's sensitive skin) and I also do an extra rinse in the washing machine just to make sure all the detergent is gone.  This decreases the chance of any of my daughter's clothes causing any itchiness or sensitivity after being washed.

One of the things I like to do if my girls have to go out and play in the winter is I put lotion on their hands, face, and neck.  Those are the parts that are sometimes not covered and I want to make sure there is some sort of hydration and protection from the outside.  For that, I use Eurcerin's Baby Lotion which has Pro-Vitamin B5 & Natural Shea Butter which hydrates and soothes my girl's skin.  I put it on a few times a day just to make sure their skin is always protected from the outside.

I always have a humidifier in my daughters room.  In the winters, their room can get especially dry while they're sleeping because of the increased heat.  A humidifier helps in keeping their room higher in moisture levels reducing dryness and itchiness  

Most important for my girls is always after they take a bath or a shower in the winter (but works in all seasons too!) I would use Eucerin Baby Eczema Relief Body Creme on their skin right away, especially the areas where the eczema is strongest.  Usually after a shower, my girl's skin gets dry very fast and it's important to put the body creme right away.  It comes formulated with natural oatmeal which is clinically proven to significantly help hydrate and sooth any irritated skin.  It's fragrance, dye, and steroid free and the natural formula is what helps sooth any sensitive red skin.

It's important to rely on a brand that I know will do two things - protect and treat my daughter's ezcema flare-ups and itchy dry skin and is safe to use.  All Eucerin Baby products are hypoallergenic and free of paraben, dyes, drying alcohols, and fragrance.  I always trust them to be the solution to my daughters ezcema and the protector to my daughter's delicate skin.

Make sure to join our giveaway on Instagram!  I will be giving out some Eurcerin Baby products to 1 winner on Wednesday 2/28/2018!  Visit me on instagram @inrachelshoes to learn more!

Ivory, a trusted brand for generations!

This content is sponsored by Ivory. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Having two girls makes me more aware of the chemicals I put on their body, whether it's moisturizers or body wash.  Even my skin gets very sensitive, so I’m picky when it comes to what I use in the shower.  I put gentle cleansing at the top of my priority list.  I use Ivory, a soap and body wash that's been trusted for generations and use pure ingredients.  Ivory is a brand that only utilizes pure and gentle ingredients, making it trusted for many years.

If I want a rich, refreshing lather to hydrate our family’s skin, we choose Ivory original body wash.  The new, gentle formula is free of dyes and heavy perfumes.

With the Ivory Original 3-bar, there's no dyes or heavy perfumes and it's 99.44% pure.  Everybody knows what Ivory soap is, and it's been a trusted brand for 138 years!  That's a proven fact and simply the reason why me and my family use Ivory.  It works and is gentle on my skin.  

If I want a body wash with a nice scent, I use the Ivory Free & Gentle Body Wash with Pear & Sandalwood.  This body wash contains the #1 Dermatologist-recommended moisturizing ingredient and works great on my skin.  My daughters love the fresh smell and I love that it provides moisture for them, especially in this New York City weather.  It also does not contain any dyes or parabens and uses strictly pure ingredients. 

Click here to learn more about Ivory.

Using Neutrogena's Tried & True products!

This content is sponsored by Neutrogena. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As a working mom in the big city, my routine in the morning and at night is usually very short on time and spending it taking care of my face usually takes a backseat.  The weather this winter has been particularly brutal and my face always feels tired and dry.  I've been wanting to reset my morning (and night) routine and focus a little more effort into taking care of my face and hydrating it

I am working with Neutrogena and Rite Aid to try three of their tried & true products and see how they change my morning and night routines taking care of my face.  My skin sometimes breaks out in the morning and feels tired especially during the winter months. With the Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub, it deep cleans and washes off any roughness or blackheads without over-drying my face.  My face feels clean and I can see the acne go away after several washes.

After my scrub I’ll try the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel to keep my face from getting dry throughout the day if I’m out in the cold.  The moment I put it on, I feel it absorbed into the skin.  It’s not oily and my skin feels refreshed.  The best thing about the Hydro Boost is that I have this non oily fresh feeling throughout the day.  My face doesn’t get dry and it doesn’t feel as tired as it used to. 

Doing this routine morning and night has changed the way my face feels now.  When I go to work my face feels uplifted and not dry at all.  When I go to bed, my face actually feels fresh and smooth and best of all, hydrated giving me a great night's sleep.

Another great Neutrogena product that I use daily and is a must-have in my routine is the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes & wipes.  They are my go-to after my long day of work to help me remove the thickest and heaviest makeup.  They clean with ease but are also gentle on my skin.  I use this before cleaning my skin at night.

I purchased these items at Rite Aid and now there is a great deal on Neutrogena Skin Care.   It will be Buy 1, Get 1 at 50% off during the weeks of 2/4, 2/18 and 2/25. During the week of 2/4 when you use your Rite Aid Wellness+ Card, for every $40 you spend, you will receive $15 in Bonus Cash towards your next visit.  Check out this page for more and pick up these products at a great price!  What a great way to stock up on more Neutrogena skin products!

OLAY Whips Moisturizer

Picking a moisturizer is very hard for me.  It seems like I'm trying new moisturizers every few months because it's so hard to find the right one.  I have very sensitive skin so I am very picky with my moisturizers.  Some are too oily, some are too thick, and some have a smell that are too strong and I'm unable to use. 

Olay Luminous Whip solves all those issues.  Whip is a powerful moisturizer that has a light as air finish.  No more oily and thick creams.  With its Active Rush Technology, Olay Luminous Whip is able to transform from a cream to a liquid on the skin allowing for very fast absorption.  That's why when I put it on my hand or face, it feels incredibly smooth and absorbs right away without getting all oily.  

Within a week I felt the effects of smooth and soft skin from Olay Luminous Whip.  It's so light and my skin is breathable right after I put it on.  With the winter coming, I need this moisturizer more than ever to keep my hands and my face from drying and cracking.  It's a must have addition to my morning and bedtime routine.

I love that they have three kinds of Olay Whip moisturizers to fit your needs.  Olay Regenerist Whip helps with wrinkles without the heaviness.  Olay Total Effects Whip nourishes your face with fast absorption.  Olay Luminous Whip delivers a radiance to your face without the oily shine.

Make sure to order the amazing Olay Whip Moisturizer here and see for yourself how this light cream can change your opinions about moisturizers!

This content is sponsored by Olay.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Let's Look Beyond this Summer!

When one thinks of the oil and natural gas industry, what usually is the first thing that pops in your head? Cars, tires, energy, and fuel, right? But if you look beyond that and stop and think for a second you'll see that oil and natural gas makes a much bigger impact and affects every part of your normal day. Did you know that pillows, toothpaste, laptops, lipstick, aspirin, even antennas and receivers of streaming devices are all connected to the oil and natural gas industry? You'll be surprised to see that many things that help you live, play, and connect everything around you is all made possible because of oil and natural gas or materials made from a byproduct of petroleum.

I decided to go on a family day road trip to Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania and there were many things that need to be packed to make sure our trip has all the tech, safety, and travel care covered.

When it comes to electronics, I have to bring my cellphones, tablets for our daughters, and a laptop for any on-the- road office work. In order to charge all these devices, I have to make sure I have travel adaptors and car adaptors and long wires to connect them all. To make sure my girls don't get sick all of a sudden, it's always important to have extra allergy and fever medication for any signs of trouble. Bandages and antiseptic are required if there are any little trips and falls on the trip. Of course a trip to a water adventure park isn't complete without bathing suits, sunglasses, suntan lotion and water inflatables. Many of these things are made from plastic, rubber, synthetic fibers, nylon and polyester which are all created with the help of the oil and natural gas industry.

This trip reminds me of one of my favorite memories of taking my daughters to the beach when they were old enough to go to the water and play in the sand. Being able to see the joy and also the nervousness of their first time is one of the greatest memories I've ever had in my life. Looking back I realize that there are so many things I used and wore that were made from oil and natural gas. Her adorable bathing suit is made of polyester and the life jacket I put on her is made of nylon, all originating from the oil and natural gas. The bandages we bring for their safety and even the glasses they wear are all made possible with the help from the oil and natural gas industry.  To find out more information, check out the official website http://lookbeyond.org.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Look Beyond. The opinions and text are all mine.