One Step Ahead Family Beach Cabana Tent Review and GIVEAWAY!!

You all know One Step Ahead. They send out those amazing catalogs filled with items for kids and families that make you drool. Yeah, now you remember! I have been getting their catalog for sometime now and there are always at least 10-15 items in there that I would love to have!

One of those items is the Sun Smarties Family Beach Cabana Tent. This tent is so awesome. OMG and I so excited that I got to review it and I am even more excited that one of my readers will have the chance to win one for their family!!

The Sun Smarties Family Beach Cabana Tent is the perfect accessory for a family to take to the beach. It not only is super easy to open and set up but it is even easier to collapse. What I really like about the Family Beach Cabana Tent is the fact that you can anchor it down with the provided anchors or you can fill the side "pockets" with sand to weigh it down.

The tent itself folds up into a small circle (think windshield protector) that fits into the accompanying carrying case.


In this picture you can see the bright colors and the nice Hawaiian print.


The back of the carrying case has straps that allow you to carry it like a backpack. It also has a top strap for easy carrying. (Like my toes? The color is My Chihuahua Bites by Opi)


It probably took me a total of about 4-5 minutes to open the tent up, stake it down, open the zippers and tie the doors and windows back. It is super easy. I wouldn't do it alone with Dexter because he would be jumping all over him so it would be important to have another adult or older child with you if you have an infant.

I set the tent up in my yard because my husband is at work and Dexter was napping (peaceful!) Look at how it looks all shut up. This creates privacy that would allow children and adults to change into/out of swimsuits.


In this side view you can see the canopy on the front. It zips so it looks like it does in the picture and it also unzips so you can fold the tent up with ease.


Next, I unzipped the front and the back so you could see right through it. Another thing I really like about this tent is the fact that there is no bottom on it. This allows babies and small children to be protected by the sun (thanks to the tent's unbeatable UPF 50+ rating) and play in the sand at the same time.


Next, I opened the side windows and tied them up for better ventilation. When the windows are shut, they stay shut thanks for two velcro tabs.


Here is a view of the windows from the inside. The mesh is nice because it allows for air flow but it also keeps debris and bugs out!


Finally, I laid down inside my retreat, I mean tent. As I laid there, I looked up and noticed some more ventilation.


Sitting in my tent, alone, was a glorious way to spend some much-needed Mommy quiet time. I would have left it up all day but then I figured I would have to take it down later tonight and that wasn't very appealing. Here are a few pictures that I took while inside the Sun Smarties Family Beach Cabana Tent. We have a gorgeous view of Lake Michigan on this side on my house but my neighbor's house does a nice job of blocking it from where I was laying!



The Sun Smarties Family Beach Cabana Tent measures 86½"L x 49¼"D x 47¼"H and it retails for $79.95 plus shipping. That is an incredible deal seeing as you can use with with or without the kids at the beach. Think how nice it would be to take your favorite somebody to the beach, alone, and you could set up your cooler and accessories in the tent and zip it up before heading in the water. After your swim you can relax in (or out) of the tent. One thing is for sure. Your possessions remain in the tent and out of other people's view and your cooler stays cold :)

One lucky winner will be able to win this gorgeous Sun Smarties Family Beach Cabana Tent thanks to the super generous people at One Step Ahead.

In order to win, please head over to One Step Ahead and do two things (this is one heck of a prize so a little work is worth it!)
*Pick out your favorite Sun Smarties product they carry and tell me what it is and why.
*Pick your other favorite products and come back here and let me know what they are.
*YOU MUST LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR ENTRY OR IT WON'T COUNT!

Would you like extra entries?
*Follow me on Twitter and tweet this contest
*Tweet everyday for more chances but make separate tweets for each entry
*Follow me on Blogger
*Put my button on your blog and leave a link in your comment
*Sign up for One Step Ahead's Email and Birthday Club

In order to give you plenty of time to enjoy your tent this summer, I am going to run this contest until July 1st at NOON EST. That way you can go out on my birthday, July 11th and use your new tent!!!