Affordable Spring Fashion for Kids at OshKosh B'Gosh #ImagineSpring #IC

“I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for OshKosh B’Gosh. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”

The first day of Spring has come and gone and despite the fact that there is still a foot of snow on the ground here, we are so excited for a warmer season! And warmer weather means it is time to get short sleeves and shorts in the closets. Now with four boys, I am thankfully able to hand down a lot of clothes to the younger ones, which saves me a considerable amount of money. We do need to purchase some new clothes every season for not just the oldest, but the whole lot as well because let's face it, boys destroy clothes. We are by no means fashion gurus in this house, but we do like to keep somewhat in style but within a reasonable budget. OshKosh B'gosh is a store I have shopped at since they were all teeny tiny things because I know I am getting good quality without breaking the bank.

While we have a Carter's store nearby, we sadly don't have an OshKosh one. But I am a heavy online shopper and OshKosh.com is a very easy use site that had me finding what I needed and placing my order in just minutes. The first section I always hit up is the clearance section. Here you can find already reasonably priced clothes at considerable savings. I found t-shirts for my boys for just $5.99 which is pretty amazing. And I know that I will get at least two to three seasons out of them because OshKosh apparel always holds up well for us.

In addition to the clearance items, even the new Spring items were marked down, up to 50% off! Everything I purchased was at least half off which led to an awesome bottom line for me. I ended up with 8 shirts and 3 pairs of shorts for under $90 when I used the coupon down below.

As you can see, one of the 7 year old's was excited to model his new ninja shirt. I knew that one was going to be a big hit.

Overall I was extremely pleased with my shopping experience and the items that I purchased. I will say that the size 12 shirts that I ordered for my 10 year old were a bit on the small side (a little short) which was a surprise to me because he wears a 10/12 in most brands and in past experience OshKosh runs on the bigger side for us. However with 3 younger brothers, they will get plenty of use so I am not worried about it.

Do you need to outfit your kids for Spring? Oshkosh has everything you could possible need for your boy or girl! Most new items are still on sale for up to 50% and the coupon below will give you an extra 25% off! It would be silly to pass up on this savings opportunity. Visit the Oshkosh Store Locator to find one near you or shop online at OshKosh.com.  

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Fellowes M-12C Shredder for Spring Gifting #GiftFellowes #IC

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Fellowes Brands. I received a product sample to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. Some links in this post contain affiliate links and I will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my link.

The clocks have been set an hour forward; the temperature outside is going to be slightly above freezing for a few days.... it seems that Spring is just around the corner. Or at least I hope it is because I can tell you that this New England lady is really sick of zero temps and snow. With Spring often comes weddings and showers and house warming parties and the Fellowes M-12C Shredder will make a sensible gift for any of those occasions.

Fellowes M-12C Shredder Features: Cross-Cut blades that shreds up to 12 sheets of paper at a time Each sheet is shred into approximately 302 particles SafeSense® Technology automatically disables the shredder when hands touch the paper opening Shreds credit cards, paper clips, staples and junk mail Shreds for 5 minutes before automatic cool down

I've had this shredder for a few months now and it is definitely the best one I have ever owned. (Read my Fellowes M-12C Shredder review). It is powerful enough to shred multiple pages at a time (up to 12), including staples, which makes the shredding process so much faster and less tedious. No longer do I let my shredding pile build when I can quickly zip pages through whenever necessary.

But why would you want to give this as a gift to someone? I know it is not really a fun gift but it is very practical and in my opinion necessary, which overrides fun or cute any day. I certainly would rather have a shredder I will use often over those crystal candlesticks that will just collect dust for the next 25 years. (Seriously, why did I register for those candlesticks? I don't even burn candles.) In this day and age, sadly we can't trust very many people. Identity theft doesn't just happen through online means, but it can be achieved by merely going through one's trash. Using a shredder to destroy any information sensitive documents gives you another layer of protection and I feel it is something many young couples probably overlook.

In addition to all of its capabilities, the Fellowes M-12C Shredder also has built in safety features to keep not only little hands safe but your own as well. When skin makes contact with the silver metal around the paper opening, it immediately stops. I also like to keep mine unplugged when not in use for an added safeguard. So if the couple you're gifting this to has little ones running around, or plans to soon, they know that those tiny fingers are safe. 

Do you have any weddings, showers or housewarming events to attend this Spring? We have one wedding coming up in May that I am looking forward to.

Buy
Fellowes M-12C Shredder is available at Target with a suggested retail price of $99.99


 Connect with Fellowes:


Website: www.fellowes.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Fellowes
Twitter: @FellowesInc
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/fellowes
Google+: plus.google.com/+Fellowesinc/posts
Instagram: instagram.com/fellowes_inc

#LittleRemedies Twitter Party 2-10-15 at 1:00pm EST

Join us on Today, Tuesday, February 10th for the Little Remedies Twitter Party from 1-2pm EST! There will be a discussion about the changing seasons and the best ways we keep your family comfortable when it comes to their health. We will also be chatting about the Little Remedies line of natural products.

Details
What: #LittleRemedies Twitter Party
When: Tuesday, February 10, 2015 from 1:00-2:00PM EST
Hashtag: #LittleRemedies
Moderator: @MomCentral
Brand Team: @LittleRemedies
Prizes: Two pre-party winners and six party winners will be randomly selected to receive a $50 Amazon Gift Code.

★☆★ Pre-Tweet to Win! ★☆★

Anyone who TWEETS THIS from now until the #LittleRemedies Twitter Party will be entered to win one of two $50 gift codes.

Protect your Identity with the Fellowes M-12C Shredder #IC #GiftFellowes

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Fellowes Brands. I received a product sample to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. This post contains an affiliate link.

In this day and age where identity theft is a huge issue, one can never be too safe when it comes to their personal information. That's why we really have to be diligent when disposing of paperwork that someone could use to get access to our lives. Tearing up your mail and tossing it in the garbage or recycling bin is no longer a good option. I am a firm believe in "better safe than sorry" so when it comes to papers, receipts, mail, etc. that contain our information on them, they go in the shredder pile.

Now until recently, I had this tiny cheap shredder sitting in my home office to use for this. However, it was so slow which means shredding papers took some time and in turn that meant that I would just let the "to shred pile" grow and grow. Then I received the Followes M-12C Shredder to test out and in all seriousness, it changed this menial task for me.

Fellowes M-12C Shredder Features:

• Cross-Cut blades that shreds up to 12 sheets of paper at a time 
• Each sheet is shred into approximately 302 particles
  SafeSense® Technology automatically disables the shredder when hands touch the paper opening
  Shreds credit cards, paper clips, staples and junk mail
• Shreds for 5 minutes before automatic cool down

As you can see, there is that stack of papers I mentioned earlier. Now if I sat down and used my old shredder to do all of these, it would literally take me several hours. Obviously, I don't have that kind of time to spare which is why said pile grew so tall. However, I was eager to get started with the Fellowes M-12C to see what kind of difference a more powerful shredder could make.

Let me tell you, this is one serious shredder. From start to finish, it took me about an hour to get through my pile and I sat there in amazement as it gobbled up 12 pages at a time and even staples. I absolutely love the fact that it can handle staples. While this shredder can shred up to 12 sheets of paper, I prefer to keep it around eight. Once you start getting up to 10 and 12 it does slow down a little bit.

One of my favorite features of this shredder is the pull out drawer that catches the pieces. This makes it so much easier to dump the shredded paper in a trash bag. There is a little window on the front so you can see it filling up. I recommend letting it fill about 2/3 of the way and then dumping it, if you wait till it is completely full, paper will go everywhere when you open it up.

Now if you have kids in the house like I do, an important feature of this Fellowes M-12C Shredder is the SafeSense Technology. When you are shredding paper, the light next to the SafeSense logo is green. If your hand (or any piece of skin) touches the silver area around the opening to the shredder, the light turns yellow and the shredder stops. Pull your hand away, and it resumes shredding. This will prevent little fingers, or even your own, from getting injured.

While a shredder might now seem like an overly fun gift to give someone this holiday season, it is a useful one. And I don't know about you, but I would prefer to receive something that would actually be useful to me. And this shredder is certainly useful. A shredder like this is something everyone should have in their home to help protect their information and identity. It could make the perfect gift for a young adult just going off on his/her own, new homeowners, newlyweds and even your spouse. Or honestly, its a great gift for anyone who hasn't take this step to protect themselves.

Buy
Fellowes M-12C Shredder is available at Target with a suggested retail price of $99.99

Connect with Fellowes
Website: www.fellowes.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Fellowes
Twitter: @FellowesInc

Virgin Mobile Custom Plans Are Great For Families #VirginMobileMom #MC

I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Influence-Central for Virgin Mobile. I received a sample device to facilitate my review and a thank you item for participating. This post may also contain affiliate links.

We are approaching that age where cell phones for kids are a topic of discussion in our house. Our oldest son will be 10 in February and while we aren't ready to give him a phone yet, it will probably be happening within the next few years. Almost definitely when he hits middle school. Since I like to start my research early I'm already looking at best plans for kids. The Virgin Mobile Custom Plans stood out to me because not only can you build a cellular plan that suits your family and child but it also gives parents a lot of control over what a child can use the phone for.

Read more »

A Delicious Taste of Fall with Teavana #TeavanaFallFavorites #MC

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Teavana. I received samples for this review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

It is only recently that I discovered there is more than just simple black tea that I buy at the grocery store. When it came to hot beverages, I always went for flavored hot coffee, especially on a chilly morning. My first experience with different teas was when I tried out the Teavana Oprah Chai Tea back in the Spring. While enjoyed the Chai Tea, it isn't something I would drink on a regular basis. However, when I saw the various fall flavors that Teavana offered I knew I would have some yummy tea sampling in my future. Pumpkin and apples and cinnamon are some of my favorite flavors!

This fall, Pumpkin Spice Brulee and Spiced Apple Cider seasonal teas have returned to Teavana stores, Teavana Fine Teas + Tea Bars and Teavana.com. They are both perfect for enjoying on a brisk, fall day.

Pumpkin Spice Brulee(Oolong)
A bountiful harvest of sweetness and spice, this warming oolong is an impeccable accompaniment to crisp autumn days. A balanced swirl of rich pumpkin and flavors of caramel, toffee, butterscotch, and creamy vanilla, this rich and smooth cup is a sublime indulgence for the body and mind any time of day.  Price: $12.98/2oz



Spiced Apple Cider (Rooibos)
Capture the soothing and inviting essence of hot apple cider with this aromatic rooibos filled with fruits and spices. Crisp apple and juicy plum blend temptingly with cinnamon, chicory, and sweet carob for a cup full of flavor that envelops the senses in comfort and joy. Price: $8.98/2oz

I was super fortunate that Teavana sent me everything I would need to steep some of their lovely fall teas right at home, including:
     •Spiced Apple Cider Tea
     •Pumpkin Spice Brulee Tea
     •A Perfectea Maker
     •Angle Infuser Mug

All natural ingredients.

Now one of the biggest reasons why I wanted to try these, in addition to how delicious they sounded, was the fact that there is no junk in Teavana teas. Looking at the ingredients I only see natural ingredients and that makes me beyond happy. I love my flavored coffees but I am also well aware that those flavors are usually anything but natural. So I like that I can indulge in these teas without worrying about what I am putting in my body. All of the ingredients are listed on the website and on their packaging for you to easily see.

The beauty of the Angle Infuser Mug is that it lets you easily steep a single cup of tea. Since I am the only one really drinking these in our home, that is perfect for me. The Perfectea Maker will allow you to brew one to two cups of tea in mere minutes and is perfect if you are sharing with a friend or loved one. For some reason, I love seeing the tea leaves and ingredients floating about in the hot water while it steeps, it is pretty in its own way.

The first tea I tried was the Pumpkin Spice Brulee. I simply placed 1 teaspoon of the tea into the Perfectea Maker, added 8oz of hot water and then lit it sit for 3 minutes, no stirring. Oh the smell that filled my kitchen while I was doing this was delightful. It was so easy and in mere minutes I was sitting at the kitchen table reading on my Kindle with a delicious tea to sip at.I have to say I was a bit surprised at all the flavors mingling in this tea. it was both spicy and creamy and just so very fall. I loved it!

The whole scooping out the tea and steeping part might seem a bit daunting to you, but I promise it is easy. Each tea comes with specific instructions of how much tea to use, the temperature the water should be and how long to steep for. There are even instructions for making iced tea which would be so refreshing in the summer. Just make sure you follow the instructions carefully to get the best tasting tea. I did not steep my first batch of the Spiced Apple Cider long enough and it came out a bit weak. Once I did it correctly though, it was perfect.

Shop & Save
Now through October 31, 2014, you can save $10 off your $30 order or more at Teavana.com by using coupon code Prudent10off30 at checkout!

Digital Eye Strain & Your Child #AOA #MC

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Mom Central for the American Optometric Association. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

In the digital world we live in these days, it is very easy to overlook the effect that all the various screens we stare at have on our eyes. I know I felt it way back when I was working full time and I even feel it on days when I spend too much time device hopping. But do we stop to think about how this might be hurting our kids? Is digital eye strain something we should be concerned about.

Do you remember the original Nintendo Gameboy? That ridiculously bulky thing with the awful
graphics and miniscule screen? Well when I got mine, and don't ask me to remember when that was, (middle school maybe?), I was hooked on it. I mean I spent way too much time staring at the awful colorless screen. Probably a few weeks later I started complaining about increased headache So my smart mom, who has worn classes since she was a young child, took me to the eye doctor. And do you know what he said? Too much time on the Gameboy. All the time I was spending looking at the screen was causing eye strain which was then causing the massive headaches so I was told to cut down my screen time. (Note: I did not need glasses at that time, but did go on to get them in high school for minor near sightedness).

Now take a moment and think about all the screen time our kids get. I admit that when you combine the amount of time my kids watch TV or are playing in their Nintendo DS's, it is higher than it should be. Then once they are back in school in a few weeks, that time might drop, but they will also be adding computer screen time. No matter which way we slice it, today's kids spend a lot of time looking at one screen or another. And we parents need to make sure we are taking the steps to keep protect their eyes.

The Facts
According to the American Optometric Association, 83% of children between the ages of 10 and17 say they use an electronic device for at least three hours every day. Now 40% of parents agree that their children have that much screen time, though I think that is a pretty accurate number for my k ids as well. Most children also say they experience burning, itchy and/or tired eyes while or after using electronic devices for extended periods of time. All of these are symptoms of digital eye strain. Some other symptoms may include headaches, fatigue, loss of focus, blurred vision, double vision or head and neck pain. My nine year old will sometimes complain of a headache, thankfully not often, but I have to believe that he is experiencing digital eye strain. Do your kids complain of any of these symptoms after spending a long time on their digital devices?

What Can We do?
Well first and foremost, everyone needs to cut down on screen time. Obvioulsy we can't change what happens at school, but at home we should make an effort to get the kids outdoors, interacting with one another or even reading in place of all the digital time. Believe me, I KNOW this is difficult, especially when we spend just as much time on digital devices. Even if you can cut back a few minutes each day, its a great first step.

It is also very important for kids to take frequent breaks by using the 20-20-20 rule pictured above.
When using technology, make sure they take a 20-second break, every 20 minutes and view something 20 feet away. Some other steps to take are:

• Check the height/position of the device. 
• Computer screens should be 4-5 inches below eye level and 20-28 inches away from the eyes. 
• Handheld digital devices should be held a safe distance away and just below eye level.
• Check for glare on the screen. 
• If necessary, turn the desk or computer or reposition your body and device to prevent glare on the screen.
• Reducing the amount of lighting in the room to match the computer screen. 
• Adjust the font size. A  larger font size will make it easier on your eyes when reading. 
• Keep blinking.

All of these are good for combating temporary digital eye strain, but it is always a good idea to have your child's eyes checked yearly even if they do not have any complaints. There is no way for us to tell if they are having trouble seeing unless they tell us. And most times, the child doesn't even realize it. For me when I was in high school, I went in for my routine eye exam sophomore year with no complaints and walked out with eye glasses. So make sure you schedule yearly exams. For the little ones, I know most pediatricians will do a quick eye test with some cards, but that might be enough. The American Optometric Association recommends every child have an eye exam by an optometrist soon after six months of age, before age three and every year thereafter.


For More Information
AOA website: www.AOA.org
AOA Twitter: @AOAConnect
AOA Facebook: facebook.com/American.Optometric.Association

Join us for the Beech-Nut #NotBabyFoodChallenge Twitter Party!

Join us today, Friday, June 13th from 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST for the Beech-Nut #NotBabyFoodChallenge Twitter Party! We are going to chat about what you look for when buying food baby food and how delicious homemade cooking by Moms inspires Beech-Nut Baby Food.

Party Information
Date: Friday, June 13, 2014
Time: 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET
Moderator: @MomCentral
Brand Participants: @BeechNutFoods
Party Hashtag: #NotBabyFoodChallenge
Prizes: 2 pre-party winners with receive a $75 Target gift card and 6 party winners will be randomly selected every ten minutes to receive a $75 gift code.

Pre-tweet to Win!
Anyone who tweets this from now until the #NotBabyFoodChallenge Twitter Party will be entered to win one of two $75 Target gift codes.

Review: Reebok #Skyscape Shoes at Kohl's #MC

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Reebok. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

As moms, we tend to be on our feet a lot. In fact, the moments that we get to sit down and relax sometimes can be few and far between. So it important for us to find everyday shoes that are comfortable for our busy feet. With summer vacation in the very near future, a comfy shoe to run around town with my 4 boys is a must have. So I was excited when I had a chance to purchase a pair of Reebok Skyscape sneakers at Kohl's.

An everyday shoe for active and casual wear, Skyscape features 360 degrees of foam comfort in a fun, flirty silhouette that pairs perfectly with jeans, skirts or yoga pants and is so comfortable, you’ll forget you have it on.

Reebok Skyscape colors & patterns available at Kohls.com, starting at $64.99

Upon first glance online, I thought these looked a lot like Keds, but once I saw them in person I knew they were nothing alike. I went to my local Kohl's store so I could see the colors and try these on because there are some items I just can't order online. Shoes, bras and bathing suits being the main three (thank you wide feet). While Kohls.com offers a variety of colors and patterns shown above, my store only had the Pink and the Black. The Reebok Skyscape is made almost completely of foam which makes them so super soft and squishy. That soft foam allows the shoe to conform to the shape of your foot offering maximum comfort. And because of the seamless construction, there are no irritating seams rubbing up against your foot. This is ideal for the hot summer weather if you like to quickly throw shoes on without socks.




I have had my pair of Skyscapes for a couple of weeks now and I have been very pleased with them. I mentioned above that I am cursed with wide feet. Unfortunately, this Reebok shoe is not available in wide widths (I do hope they change that) so if you have super wide feet, these probably won't work for you. When I tried on my usual 8 in the store, they were definitely a bit too tight. However, I was able to go up half a size to an 8.5 and that fit good for me. (Please note that going up a size might not work for everyone). Now I went with the Black because since we are talking about an everyday shoe, I wanted something that would go with pretty much every outfit. The Pink are super cute, but would only mesh with a small percentage of my wardrobe.

So what have I been doing in my Skyscapes? Well I've been bringing the kids to the bus stop, going grocery shopping, walking the mall, spending countless hours at the baseball fields and then my favorite: hanging out on our deck. I can say that these shoes have been comfortable throughout it all. I am curious to see what happens when the super hot and humid weather hits. Will the foam make my feet sweaty? I'll just have to wait and see I guess. The Reebok Skyscape is also waterproof and machine washable and isn't that just music to your ears? I can't even begin to tell you how often things are spilled on me. And those baseball fields I mentioned? When they are dry, the clay dust gets on everything. When they are wet, the clay mud gets on everything. Knowing I can just toss these in the washer when I get home after a game is such a relief.

Relaxing in my black Reebok Skyscape shoes and Apt 9 Capri jeans, also from Kohl's.

Buy
The Reebok Skyscape Shoes are available both in Kohl's stores and online at Kohls.com starting at $64.99. Color availability may vary. Before doing any Kohl's shopping, be sure to check their website for any printable coupons and if you plan on ordering online, do yourself a huge favor and go through Ebates. Ebates will list any available coupon codes plus shopping trough their link will earn you 3% cash back.

Stonyfield Organic Yogurt Pouches #MC

“I participated in a Blogger Activation on behalf of Mom Consulting for Stonyfield. I received coupons to facilitate my shopping trip and a promotional item to thank me for participating.”

Stonyfield Yogurt products have been a staple in our house ever since our first son started eating dairy around 15 months old. It is important for me to know that the ingredients in the yogurt my kids eat are organic. Trying another yogurt brand has never ever crossed my mind and we have been a strictly Stonyfield house ever since that first taste. Over the years we have progressed through YoBaby to YoToddler and now YoKids for the three oldest ones, and they have loved them all.

Recently, Stonyfield has launched a line of organic Yogurt pouches, which I think is pretty genius. This is the first refrigerated organic yogurt pouch available and they all contain pure organic ingredients and no high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors.

The first time we tried these pouches was on our recent trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. When we got down there, our first stop before the rental house was hitting a Super Target for food. My kids eat their Stonyfield yogurt every day so I needed some to put in our cooler to bring to the park. When I saw the YoKids yogurt pouches I was thrilled because that is so much easier than the cups and spoons. And the kids loved them - blueberry seems to be the favorite. Now that we are home, the pouches are great to bring to the baseball fields when we are stuck there for 4 hours or even for an evening snack when we get home after a game.

YoKids Yogurt Pouch Evening Snack

I also recently tried some of the YoToddler pouches for my four year old. Now granted he isn't technically a toddler anymore, but the YoToddler line has veggies in them and so this is a great way for me to sneak some veggies into his diet. We tried the Strawberry Beet Raspberry pouch and he gobbled it up, finishing with a "that was yummy mommy!" Look, he won't even put it down while he stabs some fruit with his fork. So yeah, those are a big winner for me.

YoToddler Pouch with Lunch

With summer just around the corner, we are going to be spending 4 afternoons a week at the local lake. When I pack our cooler with lunches and snacks, I can guarantee that there will be some Stonyfield Yogurt Pouches in there. These are just perfect for a family on the go. Easy, yummy and healthy. My kids love the taste and I love that they are organic and free of any artificial junk and from a brand that I trust.

Connect with Stonyfield
Facebook: www.facebook.com/>stonyfield
Twitter: @Stonyfield
Instagram: @Stonyfield
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/stonyfield

Teavana Oprah Chai Tea at Starbucks #TeavanaOprahChai #MC

I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Starbucks. I received a promotional item and a gift card to facilitate my review.


Sometimes a mom needs to take a little time out for herself to unwind. Being a mom is a 24/7/365 job with no vacation or sick days and it can be exhausting at time. A few years ago my sister-in-law and I started a mom's night out and we would meet up at our local Starbucks every Friday night. But over time, lives got busier, schedules crazier and unfortunately we let our tradition slip away. So when I had the opportunity to bring a special mom to Starbucks to try the new Teavana Oprah Chai Tea, I knew I wanted to bring her. I miss her!

The Teavana Oprah Chai Tea is a new addition to the Starbucks menu and is a bold infusion of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and cloves, blended with loose-leaf black tea and rooibos. It can be ordered as a hot tea or iced tea and you can also purchase loose leaf tea and accessories for you to brew at home. For each Teavana Oprah Chai Tea product sold, Starbucks will be making a donation to benefit educational opportunities for youth through the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation. Visit www.SteepYourSoul.com to learn more about the youth education organizations that will be supported through this partnership.

Mother's Day Special!
This Mother’s Day, Starbucks will be offering a special promotion of Buy One Get One Free Teavana Oprah Chai Tea beverage. So as you are driving over to mom's or grandma's this weekend, you can stop on the way and pick up both a tea for yourself and for her.


My Experience

So this past Tuesday, after we put our children on their respective buses (we have seven kids between the two of us!), we met at our Starbucks bright and early. Let me first say how much I love our local Starbucks. It is always clean and the staff are always polite plus they redecorated last year so its just a fun and comfy place to relax for a little bit. Now tea is something I normally brew at home and usually I get a latte when I visit Starbucks. So I was relieved to see the large, yellow Oprah Chai Tea sign up on the menu board making it easy for me to order. We both decided to go with iced versions.

 

Now I have to be honest, I have never tried a Chai tea before. So while I knew the various spices that were in this tea beverage, I just hadn't expected how strong the flavor would be. It was definitely different and took me a few sips to get used to. While I didn't dislike it, I think it might be more of an acquired taste. I will say it was very refreshing and those spices give it a bit of a kick.

Now that we were back together again at our favorite spot in town, it was time for catching up. And what do we catch up on? Why all the wonderful books we have read lately. It was great just sitting there and having a fun conversation while not having to worry about anyone else for just a little while. We both missed this downtime so much and out little morning date has reminded us how much we loved doing this regularly. So watch out Starbucks, these two loud and obnoxious woman plan on being regulars once again!

P.S. We did attempt to take a selfie of us together for me to use in this post. However, it was 8:30 in the morning and we had just spent the past hour getting our kids ready for school and putting them on the bus. So that picture wasn't very pretty. At all.

Our Pull-Ups Potty Training Update #StartPottyTraining #MC

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Pull-Ups. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

When I last updated on our potty training progress, well I reported that we hadn't had much progress at that point. My fourth round of potty training certainly got off to a slow start. But if there is one thing that I have learned as a parent, it is that each child is different. One child might take to using the potty like a champ and be trained in just a few short weeks while a younger sibling will take a lot more work and devotion. And this is the exact case with us. I was spoiled with my oldest son who was day trained in less than three weeks. However, here I am two months into potty training my youngest and we're still working hard on it.

So let's see...when we left off I was still struggling with just getting little man to sit on the toilet. With the help of the Big Kid Timer desktop app, physically getting him there isn't an issue anymore. When the timer goes off we head on into the bathroom to attempt to take care of business. Now whether he goes or not is still hit or miss, but this is still progress. And at this point I'll take any progress, as little as it may be, that I can get. And when we are on the go, I use the timer on the Big Kid mobile app to keep us on schedule. Little D has been wearing his Cars Pull-Ups out and about which is making public restroom visits much easier to manage. And while he doesn't always keep his Pull-Ups dry, we're getting there.

There are so many other useful and really fun tools to be found on the Big Kid Academy website. One of our favorites is getting a phone call reminder from either Mike or Sully from Monsters, Inc. You can go in and schedule the date and time of your phone call, pick the character you want and then enter your phone number and then you are all set for your child to get that special call.

As I mentioned in the previous post, a rewards system is something I used when potty training all of my kids. Whether its a earning a special (inexpensive) toy or just the happiness of filling out a sticker chart, rewards work well for us. We are using the Rewards Chart to earn a new Disney Infinity figure. As he keeps filling up his charts with stickers, he gets a little bit closer to that prize. But since I don't want him to be discouraged by how far away that goal might seem to be, we are also using The Rewards Wheel. If he has a good day then he gets to spin the interactive wheel for a fun and easy celebration like a special arts & crafts project or a little time with a video game. This is also customizable so you can enter in any reward that you want.

Pull-Ups Partners with The First Years
In addition to needing advice and tools when you start down the potty training path, parents also need a product or two to get started. I mean, little bums are just too small to fit on a big ole toilet, so we need to get them something to help them out. Pull-Ups has recently announced their partnership with The First Years, makers of potty training systems and seats like these:

Now when you purchase a specialty marked seat or system, you will also get a free sample pack of Pull-Ups Training Pants!  For us, I skipped right over using the little mini toilets simply because I hated the idea of cleaning that. Bleh. So I stuck with a soft seat that sits right on top the regular toilet seat, just like the Cars one shown above. We have two, one for the main level and one for upstairs; that way there is always a seat in the bathroom when we get in there.


So we are getting there, albeit slowly. And as slow as the progress has been, I am still happy with it because this just happens to be the pace my child needs to get accustomed to using the potty. It looks like the cold weather might finally be behind us (we had snow last week for goodness sake!) and I always find that warm weather makes for easier potty training. Less layers to remove is always a bonus and to be honest, I think next week we might be trying a few days of naked training. This worked brilliantly for my oldest son so we'll see how it works this time around. I am so thankful for the chance to be a First Flush Ambassador because the resources available on the Pull-Ups sight were just as helpful to me as the Pull-Ups themselves. And while my time as an ambassador is at an end, you can be sure to see one final update from me once we are completely trained. Why? Because then I will be completely diaper-free and that is cause for celebration!

I'd still love to hear from you if you have any potty training tips! What worked best for your child? Have you used any of the tools available on the Pull-Ups website to help?


Pull-Ups Links
Website: www.pull-ups.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pull-ups
Twitter: @PullUpsBigKid
Big Kids Mobile App: www.pull-ups.com/activities/pull-ups-big-kid-app

Join Me as a Seventh Generation Toxin Freedom Fighter #FightToxins #MC

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central for Seventh Generation. I received a promotional item and product samples as a thank you for participating.

Seventh Genaration is one of the few brands that I will buy anything they make without hesitation. Why? Because I know I will get a quality product free of toxic chemicals. I have been faithfully using their products, particularly the laundry detergent and various household cleaners, for years now. When I started having kids and became more aware of the harmful ingredients in every single product in my home, I started making lots of changes around the house. Getting the toxic chemicals out was a top priority for me and Seventh Generation made it easy and affordable for me to find great natural products.

For me I think it is pretty obvious that toxic chemicals are bad for our health and the health of the environment. However not much seems to be happening in the way of removing them from products or even just making the public more aware of them. Change is long overdo and we need to let our government know that they need to do something. That is why I teamed up with Seventh Generation as a Toxic Freedom Fighter to help spread the word and get people to take some action.

Did You Know?

• There are over 80,000 chemicals available in the United States that have never been fully tested for their toxic effects.
• Scientists have linked exposure to toxic chemicals to many health risks, including Cancer, Alzheimer’s, learning disabilities, asthma, birth defects, and reproductive problems.
• The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was passed in 1976 but it has never been updated. As it currently stands, tens of thousands of potentially harmful chemicals continue to be used in the marketplace since the 1970’s without proper testing and without disclosure by the companies that produce them.
•  For additional information to learn more visit the Natural Resources Defense Council.

What Can You Do?

• Become a Toxin Freedom Fighter by signing Seventh Generation’s petition to urge Congress to reevaluate the Toxic Substances Control Act for the first time since 1976.
• Make sure that parents and the general public are aware that of the 80,000 synthetic chemicals introduced into the market since the Toxic Substances Control Act was passed in 1976, the EPA has required testing on less than 10%. Tell your friends, family, teachers, PTA members, and anyone else who will listen!
• Help Seventh Generation reach its goal of collecting 100,000 Signatures by April 24th by signing the petition for chemical reform and urging your friends and family to do the same!

So please take some time to join us as Seventh Generation Toxin Freedom Fighters and sign the petition today.  There are also some great resources there for you to use to help spread the word like sending tweets to your state's senators and sharing on social media.