A Mom's Balancing Act

Johnson & Johnson For All You Love #ForAllYouLove

2013-05-16T13:01:00.000-05:00

**Johnson & Johnson and TheMotherhood have compensated me for my time in posting about this amazing campaign. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

This Mother's Day, Johnson & Johnson launched a heartwarming, amazing campaign celebrating love...the most powerful thing on the planet. The Johnson & Johnson For All You Love campaign celebrates the selfless and unconditional caring of moms in particular, and celebrates all the ways they care for those they love every day.

I love the idea behind this campaign and was more than happy to help spread the word when asked. What better timing than to launch it right around Mother's Day too! Afterall, we as moms put the needs of others before our own every day and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

When asked to share about a time (or times) when I have put someone else's needs before my own...many instances came to mind. As a mom and a wife, it's an easy and everyday occurrence to put the wants and needs of my kids and husband before my own. I don't really even give it any thought in the moment, it just comes naturally.

There are the daily things like waking up extra early to make my family breakfast most mornings, staying up all night with a sick child, and more! However, the one that stuck out in my mind most was not as common but something I'd do all over again if I had to.

My three little blessings

When our son Kaden was born, I had a c-section. Unlike the first time, this time around the healing process did not go nearly as smoothly. Within a week of the procedure, I was dealing with pain around the incision area much worse than anything I'd experienced. My doctor explained it as the nerve endings "waking up" causing extreme discomfort - making it difficult to walk and stand up straight. She said with time it may pass and wanted to put me on a medication that would help ease the pain for the time being. I was extremely uncomfortable and wanted to be pain-free, however, when I learned that I would not be able to breastfeed on this medication, I decided to pass without hesitation. I am a big supporter of breastfeeding for moms who are able to do it, and wasn't going to take that away from my one-week old just because I was uncomfortable. I decided to get through the pain each day (which did end up getting better several weeks later) and kept giving my son what I felt was best. Looking back it was an easy decision, and a time when I sacrificed my own comfort for him.

Baby Kaden :)

As a mom it just so easy to give and make sacrifices for the ones we love because I love my family. I'm happy when they're happy and healthy, that's more important to me than anything else.

I'm grateful that Johnson & Johnson recognizes the sacrifices people make and the amazing ways they care for the ones they love. You can learn more about this campaign by watching the introductory ad below.

Also, as part of this campaign, recognizing their commitment to the health and well-being of moms and kids worldwide, J&Save the Children!

J donated $25K this Mother's Day to

Swimways National Learn to Swim Day

2013-05-14T13:41:00.000-05:00

**As a Swimways Swim Steps Ambassador, I was asked to help spread the word about National Learn to Swim Day. All opinions are my own.

As many of you may remember reading, I was asked to be a Swimways Swim Steps Ambassador and can't wait to continue to share more info about their products and our experience with them over the coming summer months!

For those who aren't familiar with Swimways, they have been the leading manufacturer of pool toys, games and floats for over 40 years! They have introduced the Swim Steps program as a way for parents to teach their children one of life's most important skills - how to swim. Through an easy to follow, three stage program, SwimSteps products help children develop swimming skills and gain confidence in the water.

I am thrilled to be working with them and excited to share information with you about their second annual National Learn to Swim Day. Swimways started National Learn to Swim Day in 2012 with the goal of educating families about the importance and benefits of learning to swim before Memorial Day Weekend and the start of the summer.

Saturday, May 18th, Swimways encourages families around the country to participate in National Learn to Swim Day by signing children up for swimming lessons, hosting a National learn to Swim Day event or committing to learning to swim this summer.

With National Learn to Swim Day just around the corner, I've already started thinking about how my family and I will spend this important day. It's finally beginning to warm up here in the Midwest, and if the rain holds off we're thinking about setting up our pool. We are committed to helping teach our two older children how to swim this summer, and get our youngest more comfortable in the water. What better time to start than National Learn to Swim Day!?!

All summer long, Swimways will be working with Mario Vittone, former Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmer and instructor and water safety expert, to bring expert water safety tips to Swim Steps’ dedicated website TeachMeToSwim.com. In additional to these tips, families can download free materials and resources on the site, including a swimming certficate, National Learn to Swim Day party invites, coloring sheets and more!

You can learn more about SwimWays and their Swim Steps products on their website, here. Also be sure to connect with them on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Spend Time with Mom this Mother's Day ~ MetLife #SocialBlackout Movement

2013-05-11T13:06:00.002-05:00

**I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for MetLife. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Growing up, social media and our gadgets that keep us connected to friends and family on a moment-by-moment basis did not exist. In fact, I remember our family owning one cell phone when I was high school (the size of our home phone)and having the internet with a limited number of minutes to use.

As a child my brothers and I read books, played outside and entertained ourselves for hours on end. Now, it seems we can't go anywhere without checking our social media sites and being on our phones, tablets, etc. The thought of leaving home disconnected without our smartphones is always an odd feeling. But looking at the big picture, it's good to be "disconnected" sometimes and spend quality time with those who matter most.

MetLife agrees. This Mother's Day, MetLife is challenging us to take part in their #SocialBlackout movement, giving Moms everywhere the undivided attention we deserve. Rather than sharing photos on Instagram or updating Facebook, on May 12th MetLife wants everyon to log off from social media and spend quality time with Mom!

I for one think this is a fabulous idea! Technology has allowed it to be so easy for us to get on our social media accounts anytime throughout the day. But taking a day, especially one as important as Mother's Day, and putting the phone and computer down to spend time with loved ones is something all of us should consider.

Instead of being online, my family and I are going to church together, taking a nice long nap and then ending the day with a visit to my parent's house for supper. It will be a fun and relaxing day spent with my kids, husband and parents. What more could a girl ask for?!

If you also like the idea behind the #SocialBlackout movement I would encourage you to take part as well. You can find out more about it on the MetLife Facebook page.

You can also connect with MetLife on Facebook and Twitter

Encourage the moms in your life with Johnson's Baby Care Cards

2013-05-10T15:49:00.001-05:00

*I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for JOHNSON's Baby. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Motherhood is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding jobs a person can be blessed to have. It is also one of the most difficult. Along with the fun playtime, sweet cuddles and contagious laughs also come more difficult days of sleepless nights, tantrums, and more. But, with the support and encouragement from others along the way, I've found it helps me get through these harder days more easily.

Reassurance always helps! I find that reassuring words from my mom and dad about how we're parenting our kids always mean a lot to me. I know they're coming from a place of having raised three children, and their words are ones I hold dear to my heart. They are such an encouragement to me as a mom of little ones. It feels good to know they think I'm doing a good job.

It's also the simple things, like a smile or big hug from one of my kids. It helps me remember that I'm doing ok as a mom and that they appreciate me. Even a simple nod or smile from a fellow mom in the store when one of the kids is misbehaving is reassuring and encouraging, as I know all moms have harder days along with the great days. It's all a part of motherhood and I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Johnson's Baby understands, and is dedicated to improving the health of moms and babies everywhere. Living into that commitment, the brand established Johnson's Baby "Care Cards" to share positive messages of encouragement with moms across the country while raising money for their partner, Save the Children.

I love this initiative! Not only is it a great way to encourage moms, but it also helps to support a great cause. It's super easy too! Simply pick and share a card filled with messages of reassurance for a mom in your life on Facebook at www.johnsonbabycares.com. For every card sent, shared or liked, Johnson's Baby will donate $1.00 to Save the Children (up to $150,000).

As I said, as a mom I love to be encouraged. Now, having learned more about Johnson's Baby Care Cards, it has motivated me to encourage other moms more often. What a fantastic way to do it, and just in time for Mother's Day! I have several on my list that I'd like to send care cards too...some who are seasoned moms, while others are just expecting their first baby. No matter where we are along the journey of motherhood, I always think a little reassurance that we're doing ok as a mom is much appreciated.

I would encourage you to visit this Facebook page to send these cards to encourage moms in your life as well. You will be making a difference in the life of mom and giving back to Save the Children.

Tools & Blooms Spring Prize Pack Giveaway!

2013-05-10T14:02:00.001-05:00

Although I was beginning to wonder if it would ever actually feel like Spring once it arrived, it finally is starting to! After more than a foot of snow last week, we're finally seeing green grass and warmer temps. YAY! Our family loves this time of year, because it means we can get outside and enjoy the sunshine and warmth that we've been missing all winter long! As Kaelyn and Kaden get older, they enjoy helping out more with outdoor jobs too! Last summer it was fun to work with them in our garden. This year they've asked if we can learn more about flowers and plant some too. Of course, I said yes! What a fun things for us to do together.

There are some really fun ways to go about it too! As a teacher I love books that go along with the activities that I do with my kids, which is why I was excited to learn about two original picture books by Craigmore Creations that would be perfect!

One of the books is Tool. Time. Twist. A Brief History of Tools Through Time. This uses hilarious illustrations and fascinating facts to take readers through the history of tools from the stone hand ax to the modern toolbox. The "twist" will satisfy the curiosity of all budding DIY'ers when they learn not just what each tool is and when it was invented, but also how to use it. This book would be great for inspiring some fun summer outdoor projects!

The second book is one we were sent. It's Flowers by Number which gets kids counting flowers, petals, stems and stamens while being introduced to some of the most beautiful wildflowers at the same time. The kids and I enjoy reading through this book and have found each page to be beautifully illustrated, as well as providing fun facts for each flower. Kaelyn who is a little bit older enjoys learning all about these flowers, while Kaden really enjoys the numbers and counting part of it. It's fun that they can both learn from it, and get excited about planting flowers soon!

To celebrate the publication of these two titles, Craigmore Creations sent me a 3-piece children's garden tool set and a packet of wildflower seeds to go along with the Flowers by Number book. Now that spring is finally here, we can enjoy not only reading this fun book, but also planting our flower seeds with the fun tools and watching them grow! YAY! The kids are super excited, this is our project to do this weekend.

WIN IT: Craigmore Creations has also put together a very fun giveaway prize pack that will give your child all the TOOLS he or she needs to grow their own beautiful wild flower garden. The prize pack will include: a hardcover copy of Flowers by Number, a hardcover copy of Tool. Time. Twist. A Brief History of Tools Through Time, a 3-piece children's garden tool set and a packet of wildflower seeds!!(basket of flowers not included)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to US Only and will end May 27th

Also, it would be much appreciated if your readers could earn addition entries by liking Craigmore Creations on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/craigmorecreations.

Aflac Real Cost Calculator ~ Review

2013-05-10T10:52:00.001-05:00

**I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Aflac. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”

The constant changes in healthcare have left many of us unaware of the true costs of medical emergencies. We assume that our health insurance will cover most of our families medical costs, but major medical does not cover everything. For instance, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services the mean charge for a hospital stay for a heart attack is $65,427! That means if you have a major crisis, the deductibles, co-pays and rehab appointments can add up quickly and catch any family off guard.

Our family has only had a couple of unexpected medical costs, one was a year ago this month. My son Kaden was running around with his sister when he tripped and fell hitting his head on our fireplace. He had to be put out and get 9 stitches for his very deep wound. It was a scary time and I had no idea what to expect when it came to insurance policies or what may be covered. Some of it was covered, but since he had a plastic surgery procedure, the unexpected medical costs were quite shocking.

After that incident, and still paying back the bills that accrued from his surgery, er visit and follow up visits...I have definitely learned it's important to be prepared. Not only have we decided it's important to have a savings set aside just for medical emergencies, but I've also learned that Aflac can help prepare you as well.

For those who are not familiar with Aflac, they can help prepare families for unexpected costs associated with unpredictable illness and injury with their Real Cost Calculator. This calculator is really easy to use and illustrates the comprehensive costs associated with medical conditions, estimating the expenses not covered by major medical insurance. It then goes on to calculate everyday household costs (childcare, groceres, etc) and explores the out-of-pocket costs during pre- and post-treatment. It shows just how valuable Aflac's supplemental insurance can be and how it can offset these unexpected costs and helps to fill in the gaps of your health care plan. I love that it can help families better prepare themselves financially for unexpected medical emergencies and feel more secure in doing so.

In looking at the calculator and reading more about it, I have found some numbers to be quite surprising. For instance, the average cost to treat a broken leg is more than $10,000! Or, the average annual expense for people diagnosed with diabetes is $11,744.30!! I had gestational diabetes with my third pregnancy and I got a glimpse of all that goes into having this condition - but was still surprised by that cost! WOW!

I am happy to have been introduced to the Aflac Real Cost Calculator. It has opened my eyes up even more about the real costs associated with medical emergencies and ways to be better prepared for them! You can learn more at Aflac.com.

California Adventures: 6 Family Friendly Activities ~ Guest Post

2013-05-10T10:50:00.000-05:00

Families with tighter budgets can still enjoy California. Here are some of the best attractions and activities for people visiting California.

Visiting Beautiful Beaches

Via Wikimedia.org

California's coast is lined with gorgeous sandy beaches. These beaches are crisp and clean, as well as unique. Nowhere else in the world can you see so many dolphins, such a wide array of landscapes, and so many different kinds of people in one setting. From nighttime campfires to daytime surfing, California is a great choice for beach retreats.

Strolling Through Fabulous Shopping Centers

The shopping centers in California are so splendid that many people consider them attractions, too. Fashion Island is particularly gorgeous, encompassing world-class shopping and labels most people only hear about on TV. From Versace to Gucci, Prada to Louis Vuitton, fashion bugs can see and touch all of the things their favorite celebrities own.

Exploring World-Class Museums

Via Wikimedia.org

Many of the museums in California are free on certain days, or always. Families with budgets can get family discounts or reduced rates for their children. There are so many great museums in California for families to visit that they could pick any topic and find a museum that covers that subject matter.

From World War II to native history, California museums cover every topic. You could learn about the Holocaust one afternoon, and then study the history of jelly beans the next day.

Photographing the Natural Beauty of California

The gorgeous sandy beaches of California aren't the only photography-friendly landscapes in this state. While visiting California you could photograph the mountains and vineyards, the excellent architecture of the big cities, and the deserts of Southern California, too.

Don't be surprised if your photographs require some manipulation, though: the colors in California are much brighter and more saturated than other places, so your camera might not read them correctly.

Experiencing a Pro Baseball Game

Via Flickr by Keith Allison

It's not every state or city that has a professional baseball team in the United States. When you visit a place like California you can finally see a professional baseball game up close and personal. Los Angeles Angels Tickets are affordable and easy to find for families hoping to see a game. Children of all ages will enjoy the park, which is designed to entertain kids and adults.

Browse the cool sports shops on site while you wait for the National Anthem to be sung, or grab a delicious hot dog. Baseball games are a unique experience for families.

Bike Riding Across Boardwalks

The boardwalks of California are old-fashioned and cool. They are great for photography and strolling, but they're even better for bike riding. Experience the crisp, cool air of California as you ride along the boardwalk with your family. Stop and enjoy some cotton candy before you ride away at night.

When you visit California you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars per person. Experience the natural attractions of California. Get your camera and bicycle out and see what the state has to offer in its glorious public spaces.

Caillou Bathtime with You Activity Set ~ Review & Giveaway

2013-05-09T23:34:00.000-05:00

*The product for this review/giveaway was provided by DHX Media. However, all opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

My kids don't watch a lot of television, but when they do they have their favorite television shows they ask to watch. Caillou is one of their favorites! Sometimes I think Caillou is a little bit whiney, but it does seem like a wholesome, adventurous show for preschoolers, helping them learn how to manage everyday things like tying shoes, composting, how to be healthy, and more!

What I like about Caillou is that there's a lot of discovery and learning going on. His world is much like that of my kids, and it's fun for them to see him discover new challenges and learn and grow through them. I appreciate that this program is focused on healthy living such as exercise, nutrition, and safety. As Caillou overcomes life’s obstacles and makes healthy choices, children watching are inspired to do the same.

All-new episodes of Caillou are now airing on PBS and Sprout.We DVR them once in a while, but were recently sent a DVD screener of Caillou as well. When the DVD arrived, the kids were excited to watch it, as it had been a while since they had seen a Caillou episode. With Spring here, it was fun for them to learn about composting, gardening, planting and more. In fact, they enjoyed it so much that they asked to watch it again.

We were also sent a Caillou Bathtime with You toy.

Like most children, my kids love to take baths...especially when they have lots of toys to play with. I always think it's fun to see how they play with toys in the water and all the learning that goes on in the process (ie. what floats and what doesn't). Now, my little ones enjoy bath time even more with this fun activity set.

The Caillou Bathtime with You toy came in a box, and when I pulled it out I noticed there were several pieces. Thankfully, it was super simple to put together - my five year old and three year old even helped.

Once we had everything assembled, we were ready to go play. Not only is this is a terrific toy for the bathtub, but it's also a great toy for water/sensory play as well. Since I knew I'd be taking pictures for my blog, I decided it would be fun to let the kids play with it in our sensory tub that we use for water play. They absolutely loved it!

There is a small Caillou figurine which they enjoy sending down the slippery slide and floating around in his swim ring. Kaden especially enjoys the the large Caillou hat which can be used to scoop up water and pour it in his head!

One thing I really like about this toyis that it has attached suction cups. This is great for drying, as we can simply hang it on the bathtub wall and it will be dry the next time we want to use it. What a great feature!

Overall the kids have all really liked this toy. Suggested for ages 12 months-4 years, this is a toy that will last us a long time, getting a lot of use! I would definitely recommend it to families with young children.

Buy It: You can purchase the Caillou Bathtime with You Activity Set for $19.99.

Win It: One very lucky reader is going to win a Caillou Bathtime with You Activity Set of their own! To enter, simply enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below.

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This giveaway is open to US Only and will end May 24th

My Tot Clock ~ Review & Giveaway

2013-05-09T14:59:00.001-05:00

**The product for this review/giveaway was provided by White Dove Innovations. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

Although my 3 year old has always been a great sleeper, he still struggled with not knowing when it was time to get up. Not being able to tell time yet, we were in need of a solution other than a regular clock. Something that made sense to him and could easily let him know when it's time to get up from naps and bedtime. Thankfully, we've found our solution with the My Tot Clock!

For those who aren't familiar, My Tot Clock is the first all-in-one sleep clock, alarm clock, nightlight, timeout timer, and activity timer for tiny tots who can't yet tell time. Learning more about this fantastic clock, I knew it was exactly what we had been looking for and was happy to learn we were going to have the opportunity to review it!

Our My Tot Clock couldn't have arrived at a better time. We had just moved Kaden into a new room on the lower level of our house. More than ever we needed to make sure he knew when it was time to get up and when it was time to sleep so that we weren't having to go down the stairs every morning at 6am to get him back in bed. Thankfully, the My Tot Clock has been a life saver!

I wasn't sure how hard it would be get the My Tot Clock all set up, but much to my appreciate found the user guide to be very helpful and easy to follow. In no time I had the clock ready to go.

I simply had to plug it in (it also runs on batteries which is great for back up), and turned it around to the backside to set the current time, nap time and bedtime. The current time shows on the analog clock on the front, as well as the digital clock on the back. And, setting the time couldn't have been easier!

Once I did that, I set the time he goes to bed at night, as well as the time he wakes up in the morning. That way when the bed time = current time, the clock automatically turns to blue and lets Kaden know that it's bedtime and time to stay in bed. And, on those rare occasions when we get the kids to bed a little bit earlier, we can manually start bed time by holding down thte dark blue button on the top for 5 seconds. It's perfect!

There's also a Tot Clock Treasure cartridge which came with the clock. It makes the sleep routine even more enjoyable. It can play a story, followed by lullabies and even white noise. You can set it up so that it will play the story, the story and lullabies, only lullabies, or music followed by white noise. These come on once the Bed Time and Nap Time start. We use them often at night as Kaden likes the lullabies and white noise feature. I like that My Tot Clock has these features and am still in awe of how much this clock has to offer!

Getting started I also made sure to set the Nap Time, which instead of setting a sleep time and wake time...it's simply a duration of time. So I set it for 2 hours which is our typical nap length, and then when we get down to nap he simply holds the light blue button down for 5 seconds and the light blue light comes on letting him know it's nap time. Just like morning time, once nap is over, the clock face turns yellow and plays a cheerful song to let him know it's time to get up. I LOVE it and so does he!! We don't always get down for nap at the exact same time every day, so I like being able to start the Nap Time once we get him in bed.

I had a feeling this clock would be perfect for Kaden, and I was right! Having the changing colors has really helped to teach him when it's time to sleep and when it's okay to get out of bed. We don't have him yelling for us at 6 am anymore, thinking it's time to get up. Nap time has also gone much more smoothly! With this clock it's easy for parents to set the routine, yet having a child-friendly clock for the child. He loves waking up to the fun song each day, as well as the great bedtime stories, lullabies and white noise. Bedtime and naptime has definitely become less stressful and more enjoyable for us all!

Another great feature of the My Tot Clock is that it also includes a red light for timeout and a green light for any positive timed activity like potty training and picking up toys. Managing our time has never been easier thanks to this clock for children! I have used the red light several times, as well as the green light. I love how the green light helps to motivate him to clean up his room quickly (it almost becomes a game for him which is fun!).

We have found My Tot Clock to be the perfect solution for bedtime, naptime and more! It has made our daily routine run much more smoothly and I am not looking to get one for our youngest son as well! It's something we have shared about with our friends and family who have little ones, and would definitely recommend to others as well.

Buy It: My Tot Clock is available for purchase from White Dove Innovations at www.mytotclock.com for $49.95. Each unit comes with the Welcome to Children's Dreamland Tot Clock Treasure cartridge, the "Night Sky" Faceplate, and AC Adapter. There's also a selection of different interchangeable Tot Clock Faceplates for boys and girls to choose from, for $9.95 each along with several additional Tot Clock Treasure audio bedtime stories including: Goldilocks and the 3 Bears, The Hare and the Tortise, and more!

Win It: One very lucky reader is going to win a My Tot Clock of their very own! To enter, simply enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below.

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This giveaway is open to US only and will end May 24th

Less is More: How to Optimize Your Living Space and Make More Room ~ Guest Post

2013-05-09T13:00:00.000-05:00

Everyone would benefit from more space and room to decorate. People today are in love with design, but sometimes it's difficult to remember that less is more. Here are some tips for budding designers and homeowners alike.

De-Clutter the Public Spaces

Via Flickr by Puuikibeach

Less is always more when it comes to avoiding clutter. That's why people should follow these tips on de-cluttering their homes:

Add Shelving

Shelves can disappear into the wall if they are the same color. Subtle shelves are a great way to move your knickknacks from the coffee table to the walls. Remember to dust all of your shelves and items frequently, though, or they will give

a musty smell and a dusty appearance.

Choose Storage Furniture

Storage furniture is a great place to tuck away your blankets, shoes, and magazines. Most storage furniture has been designed with space in mind, so it's usually modern and sleek, taking up as little space as possible. From benches with drawers to chaise sofas with hidden compartments, storage furniture can make life a little less cluttered. If you find that you are still in the of space, however, visit US Storage Search for more advice on consolidating your clutter.

Donate Goods

Get rid of all goods that you don't actually need. Even your decorations should be used sparingly, as they add to clutter, too. Check your closets, garage and shed for items that can go: needy families would be glad to have your second mower, old laptop, and fourteen pairs of unworn shoes.

Daily Cleaning

Each day set a timer to 30 minutes and clean like the wind. Move as quickly as you can sorting, putting things away, and throwing out things you don't need. If you do this each day, soon your home will be immaculate and charming.

Trick the Eye With Style

Via Flickr by Nieve44/Luz

There are a few visual tricks that you can use to make your home feel more spacious, too. Here are the easiest to employ:

Lighten Up

Use ample lighting for your home. From the closets to the bathrooms, install extra lamps, better bulbs, and also clean your light fixtures. The brightness of the light will make the space feel cleaner and more open.

Brighten Up

Bright paintings are charming for the eyes. They make a space feel fresh, clean, and airy. Bright colors like turquoise, yellow, and lime are all used by designers to make places feel beachy and light. Together with ample lighting a bright paint job will make a room feel positively radiant.

Finish a Room, Then Remove Something

When you have finished decorating a room, remove some of the decorations. People tend to over decorate. Sometimes when you come home from vacation you might see your home differently than when you have been living there daily for years. Try to see the decoration clutter others would notice immediately.

When it comes to style in fashion and at home less is often more. Achieve this mantra by removing clutter, keeping your home tidy, and trying to see your spaces the way visitors see them.

Great Gift for Mom ~ Epson Expression Premium XP-800 Printer Review & Giveaway

2013-05-09T12:33:00.000-05:00

**The product for this review/giveaway was provided by Epson. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

Along with grabbing the diaper bag wherever we go, my camera always comes with too! I love taking pictures to capture fun memories of my kids and displaying them around our home, in photo albums and baby books. To save time and money, I prefer to print them at home and appreciate a printer that's easy to use, doesn't take up much space and offers the quality I need for pictures. Thankfully, I know I can always count on Epson!

Epson America, Inc. recently introduced the new Epson Expression Premium XP-800 and XP-600 Small-in-One printers for moms, families and technology enthusiasts. Designed to deliver superior performance and easy wireless and mobile printing, these printers are equipped with Epson Connect, Apple Airprint, and Google Coud Print! They are sleek, compact and great for digital families that require one solution for various printing needs.

Looking for a smaller printer that I can easily print off documents and pictures on, I was excited to learn we were going to be sent the Epson Expression Premium XP-800 Small-in-One Printer to review.

Features/Benefits:

3.5" touchscreen with gesture naviagtion
30 page auto document feeder with color fax
Delivers stunning photos and sharp text
Saves time and paper with auto 2 sided printing
Copy/Scan/Print/Fax/Photo options
Sleek and compact, measuring 7.5" x 13.3 " x 15.4 "
Memory card compatibility

If you've been a reader here for a while, you know that we've owned and reviewed Epson products in the past and have been very happy with the superior quality and ease of use. So, when the printer arrived, I was looking forward to checking it out.

As with the other Epson printers I've seen and used, I was happy to see that out of the box this one had a similar sleek and modern look. Unlike the Epson printer my husband uses for work in his home office (which he LOVES), this printer is smaller and even more compact, yet still offers all of the great features I've been looking for! Measuring just 7.5" x 13.3 " x 15.4 ", it's the perfect size for almost any room and exactly what I've been needing!

I am not always the most tech savvy, so of course I wondered how difficult it would be to get set up and working. Thankfully, it was very easy. It came with everything I needed (ink cartridges, set up and instruction manuals, CD-ROM with printer software/drivers), including a very helping Quick Guide to get me started! In no time at all I had it up and running (and if I can do it, anyone can!).

One of my favorite features right away, was the fact that it has Wi-Fi & Ethernet capability. No matter where I'm at in our home, I can print, scan, and access memory card slots from any room! Connecting to our wireless network was a breeze as well!

Speaking of convenience, I also appreciate the Mobile Printing option with Epson Connect! Like many moms, I take a lot of pictures with my phone, as well as access documents that I need printed. This printer makes it possible for me to print and scan remotely from my iPad, iPhone, tablet or smartphone. With Epson Connect, I am able to print documents, photos, emails and more from the comfort of my couch, or even across the globe. How neat is that?! I've already taken advantage of this feature and aboslutely love it! Pictures that would have otherwise sat on my phone for much to long, are already printed and being displayed in our home. YAY!

Another feature I really like is the touch panel. Most things are becoming touchscreen, so this is something I am used to and like. It's easy to tilt and navigate which I appreciate. The 3.5" size is perfect and comes complete with gesture navigation for easy setup and operation. It helps to guide me in anything I am doing. I am able to preview, edit and restore faded photos, or print CDs and DVDs without the use of my computer. Better yet, to save energy, the screen goes dark after several minutes of inactivity which is nice too! Epson really has thought of everything!

I have really enjoyed using this printer. It has helped to save me time, especially when I quickly need to print emails or photos. There are times I just want to print the pictures off my sd card without having to hassle with putting them on my computer. In this case, I simply slip the memory card into the slot (which is hidden behind a panel) on the front of the printer.

The pictures show up on the screen and from there all I have to do is select the one I want to print. Super easy! It guides me with each step, and I can choose whether I want to print on a CD, print ruled paper, or even a coloring page!

I tested it out and printed out a picture which I was amazed with! Look at the quality in the picture below! I then printed the same picture as a coloring page, how fun is that?! So many neat features with this printer, I could go on and on.

Everything I've printed, whether it's pictures or documents have printed out quickly and look professional. They are brilliant and the quality is top-notch! The XP-800 actually has two individual paper trays - a standard tray and dedicated photo tray for 4x6" and 5x7" photo paper. Photos is what I've used the printer for most so far, and I have to say I am extremely impressed with the quality and print speeds. I have my pictures in as fast as 12 seconds! WOW!

This picture of one of the photos I printed doesn't even do it justice. The XP-800 truly delivers sharp, grain-free photos with accurate coloring. Better yet, the printer actually features auto photo correction to automatically correct the lighting in poorly exposed images, and has the option to remove red eye as well. So, even if I start out with a picture that is too dark, I get a perfect print every time. It also includes advanced face detection, which automatically distinguishes people from scenery, correcting the color accordingly to ensure beautiful, natural skin tones!

Epson sent us a variety of different kinds of paper to try as well as project samples to get an idea of all that this printer can do - including an auto extend output tray. This unique feature automatically extends the output tray to catch paper if the tray is pushed in during a job.

I am still amazed just how compact and versatile it is! Saving time with a 30-page automatic document feeder to copy, scan or fax, leaves me time to be creative with printing on CDs, DVDs, handing card stock, envelopes and other specialty media throug the rear paper feed.

Overall we've been really happy with the ease of use and quality of the Expression Premium XP-800 printer! It truly is a small-in-one offering a convenient size and the features I need to print brilliant pictures and documents easily and quickly. I am very impressed and think it's a fabulous printer designed for busy moms and families. It's a must-have in my opinion and I'd recommend it as a wonderful gift idea for mother's day this year!

Buy It: The Epson Expression Premium XP-800 retails for $279.99 at Epson.com.

Win It: One very lucky reader is going to win an Expression Premium XP-800 printer of their own from Epson!! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to US Only and will end May 29th

5 Awesome Car Mods to Fuel Your Next Family Road Trip ~ Guest Post

2013-05-08T13:15:00.000-05:00

When it comes to driving your family, you want to make sure your vehicle is up to snuff. The right modifications and add-ons can help you significantly in your commute, or in the performance of the car, making sure you get your family to their desired destination. In addition, if you have had your car for a while, you may want to consider adding some of the following options.

Cold Air Intake can Help Your Car’s Performance

Image via Flickr by aresauburn™

There are a few ways that adding a cold air intake to your vehicle can help its performance. First, the cold air intake helps the engine by bringing cooler air into the combustion chamber of the engine. This allows the engine to have more power. In addition, some claim that a cold air intake can help improve your gas mileage, though this is highly debated.

Wi-Fi Router Helps on Long Road Trips

Imagine you are taking a long road trip with your family. If you have a tablet, it likely runs on wi-fi. If you install a wi-fi router, you allow everyone in the car to entertain themselves with movies, surfing the Internet, and more. This can cut down on bickering, and make the entire trip much more enjoyable for everyone involved.

Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines Improve Braking

If you are worried about the performance of your brakes, you may want to consider upgrading to stainless steel braided brake lines. The downside to these brake lines is that they can get pretty expensive. However, there is a much lower chance of a ruptured line. On top of that, the response time of the brakes is much better than a traditional brake line.

Bluetooth Phone Connectivity Keeps You Safe When on the Phone

When checking out the Team Kia new inventory, you may want to look at vehicles with Bluetooth. This is an important feature if you are on the phone a lot while in the car. The hands-free option allows you to take and make phone calls while driving, without risking using the hand set. This keeps your hands on the wheel and you focusing on the road, instead of the phone.

Built-in Navigation Gets You Where You Need to Go

Sure, if you have a smart phone, you probably have navigation on it. However, wouldn’t it be so much easier to use the navigation that is already in the car? Built-in navigation is definitely not a necessity, but it can make life a whole lot easier, especially when you are traveling in an area you are not familiar with. There are many different types of navigation systems, but the most helpful are voice activated, since you don’t have to worry about splitting your concentration between the road and the navigation system. In addition to that, a touch screen system is helpful.

Not all add-ons are awesome, or even helpful. However, with the right add-ons, you can improve the performance of your car, or the tedium of your trips. With so many options, it is important to make sure you decide on add-ons you are actually interested in, instead of those you feel pressured into.

Using Wet Ones All Year Long

2013-05-06T14:37:00.002-05:00

**I participated in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Wet Ones. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating

Wow, it's hard to believe that May is here and soon Kaelyn will be out of school. Where did the school year go?! Being that this was her first year of school, I look back at it fondly with many memories and firsts. I have learned a lot as a parent with a child in school and will carry those things on to next year.

When Kaelyn began school, many people told us that she will bring home all kinds of germs the first year. My kids have always been healthy and I didn't concern myself with it too much. However, the parents who told us this were right. It felt like our family had some sort of flu or cold for many months in a row this past winter, with Kaelyn usually being the first to get it. I got more serious about keeping the germs away, and one way to do this was using our Wet Ones Antibacterial Wipes more frequently and having them with us at all times.

The thing I like about Wet Ones is that they're a great way to get dirty hands clean, even when you're away from home or soap/water. They're perfect for play dates at the park, picnics...even field trips. Next school year I will definitely continue to send the Wet Ones packs in Kaelyn's backpack so she has them, even when she's not by a sink to wash her hands. When Kaelyn went on a field trip this past winter we were very thankful to have them along with us!

For those who aren't familiar with Wet Ones Antibacterial Hand Wipes, they are effective alternative to clean hands when soap and water aren't available. They are proven to be just as effective as gel hand sanitizers in killing 99.99% of germs, but they also clean better than hand sanitizer gels, wiping away dirt and messes too! I love that they also don't dry out the skin like alcohol-based sanitizers.

Wet Ones wipes are portable and be used in pretty much any situation. They come in a variety of convenient sizes and option, making them perfect for families everywhere.There's the 40 count canister, 15 count travel pack and 24 count box of individually wrapped single wipes to choose from.

There's even something for those with sensitive skin like myself and kids! Pediatrician tested Wet Ones Hand Wipes for Sensitive Skin are gentle and safe enough even for babies. They're hypoallergenic, alcohol and fragrance-free and have an extra mild cleanser and soothing moisturizers to help keep the touchiest skin touchable.

I've also been finding that Wet Ones are perfect for this time of year. With Spring upon us, we have a lot of cleaning to do both inside and out. Thankfully the snowy weather (yes, snow in may!) has kept us inside and catching up on lots of cleaning and organizing that needed to be done. Now that the weather is FINALLY beginning to warm up, we are now headed outside to do our Spring Cleaning as well. We have landscaping to trim and plant, trampoline and pools to set up, and of course...playing and enjoying the beautiful weather as well!

With this new warmer season, we have lots of reasons to be outdoors. Whether it's cleaning, playing or on the go for sports and spring activities...we have been using our Wet Ones Antibacterial Wipes everywhere we go (and will continue to throughout the season and summer).

Whether we're playing at the park, having a picnic, out for ice cream, or even getting our weekly groceries...Wet Ones Antibacterial products have been a great way for us to stay healthy and clean our hands to kill germs and bacteria. I know we will continue to use them lots of the coming months and even into the next school year. They're a must-have in our household for sure!

Here are some Spring and Summer usage tips that you may find helpful this time of year!

Spring Usage Tips:

Exploring the petting zoo
While on vacation
At the lemonade stand
Family bike-rides
Fun at the park
Spring Picnics
Between yard work tasks
After sidewalk chalk fun
At the farmer's market
When picking wild flowers
While enjoying parade festivities and eating candy
Fixing a bicycle chain
Playing on the swingset

Summer Usage Tips:

Sandy Hands at the beach
While eating in the car
For sticky hands at the Ice Cream Truck
After playing in the Kiddie Pool
For sticky Cotton Candy Hands
Visiting Concession Stands
On the boat after catching fish
Playing on the Teeter Totter
During outdoor Summer Camp/Sports
Playing in the Sandbox
On the Golf Course
At Amusement Parks
While camping
At the carnival or fair
For sticky Watermelon Hands

Buy It: The prices for all Wet Ones products vary by retailer (available at Wal-mart, Target, Walgreens, etc) ranging from .$97 - $2.99.

Clifford & Ms Frizzle Teach Kids about Science: Bubble Science Kit Review & Giveaway (winner's choice!)

2013-05-03T12:23:00.000-05:00

*The products for this review & giveaway were provided by The Young Scientists Club. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

As a former teacher and a mom of three little ones, I love to find new activities to do with the kids. It's especially on days like we've been having with rain, snow and sleet that it's nice to have fun and educational things we can do together indoors. That's why I was excited to learn about fun new science kits from The Young Scientists Club.

We are a big fan of Clifford The Big Red Dog, and happy to learn that he and Ms Frizzle (from The Magic School Bus) had teamed up to teach kids science, helping them discover bubbles, rainbows and experiments by the kitchen sink. With a 5 year old and 3 year old, I was especially drawn to the Clifford The Big Red Dog Bubble Science Kit and thrilled to learn we were going to have the opportunity to review it! Afterall, who better to teach children about the science behind soapy spheres than the beloved Clifford himself!?!

Oh, and did I mentionthat the entire line of Clifford Science kits has recently won the Tillywig Toy & Media Brain Child Award?! This is an award given only to exciting products that energize the mind while seamlessly blending fun and learning. If you ask me, that's a pretty great award and just one more reason to get excited about this Bubble Science Kit!

The Bubble Science Kit arrived and both Kaelyn and Kaden were begging to get it out.

Of course, I couldn't say no...I was just as excited to play and learn with bubbles as they were! As a teacher getting the bubbles in the sensory table was one of my favorite things to do. It was neat to watch the kids explore and discover with bubbles. In our house, having a big sensory table is not ideal...so I was thrilled when I opened the box to find everything we would need to have our own bubble fun anytime we want to!

The kit includes everything from a manual with activity ideas to bubbles, pipe cleaners, wands and even a lap tray to put the bubbles in! I was very impressed to see all that was included, and that it really is multiple activities all in one box. YAY!

To get started we pulled out the lab tray and all our "tools" and began looking through the manual. There are so many fun and educational experiments to do with bubbles. Over time we've pretty much done them all and never get bored with them! With all this snow we've been getting (yes snow in May!), Kaden and I have been enjoying pulling out the Bubble Science Kit while Kaelyn's at school. He has a couple of favorite activities that he enjoys most.

One of them is a Jumping Pepper experiment where pepper is sprinkled in water, and then a straw dipped in bubbles touches the pepper and it separates/jumps away. He thinks this is pretty neat and thanks to the user-friendly manual I was able to explain to him that when the soap touches the water, the surface broke causing the pepper to jump to the side. So fun to enjoy activities and learn at the same time!!

Another one he has a lot of fun with is the fun with funnels experiments. We simply poured some of the included bubbles in the lab tray and used each end of the funnel to see what kind of bubbles we could make. He enjoyed the little bubbles that came out of the funnel and blowing them all over the place. It's a fantastic activity that can be done both indoors and out!

There are so many more fun activities in the activity book that we've tried and loved. But, the neat thing is...with all that's included the experiment options are really endless. It's open-ended and gives children the opportunity to learn through discovery and exploration. I love it and so do they!

As I said, there are other fun science kits to choose from as well. Young Scientists will feel like real scientists when they use the Rainbow Science Kit's colorful lab tray and other tools to perform their experiments. There's also the Kitchen Science Kit, featuring an exploding Volcano which looks like a lot of fun too!

For kids who are a little older (5+), there's the Weather Lab and The Wonders of Nature Kit which give Young Scientists the opportunity to make a tornado in a bottle, swirl a paper snake, recreate the water cycle and so much more!

As you can see, with these five science kits there is a lot of learning that can take place. It gives parents, homeschoolers and teachers great hands-on activities all in one box! We'll definitely be getting more for our home. And, at just $19.99-$39.99 a piece, it's affordable to get any one of the new kits from The Young Scientists Club this Spring!

Buy It: You can purchase the Bubble Science Kit for $19.99.

Win It: One lucky reader is going to win their choice of one of these five fun science kits. Enter below using the Rafflecopter form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to US Only and will end May 17.

SwimWays Swim Steps Products ~ Our Swimming Goals this Summer!

2013-05-02T17:57:00.001-05:00

**As a SwimWays Swim Steps Ambassador, I received a variety of products to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

We've had a very long, cold winter that seems to be hanging around much longer than any of us would like. And although 6 months of snow is not my idea of fun, it sure makes me appreciate every warm and sunny day we get here in the midwest. That's why I can't wait for summer!

The kids and I spend most of our summer days outside playing and running around. Last summer we bought a large above ground pool and I am looking forward to being able to set it up and give the kids more time in the pool. Our hope is that our older two will become more comfortable in the water and will learn to swim this summer. Thanks to SwimWays, I am even more confident that will happen now!

If you're not familiar with SwimWays, they have been the leading manufacturer of pool toys, games and floats for over 40 years! They have introduced the Swim Steps program as a way for parents to teach their children one of life's most important skills - how to swim. Through an easy to follow, three stage program, SwimSteps products help children develop swimming skills and gain confidence in the water.

I am so thankful to my parents for giving my brothers and I the experiences necessary to learn how to swim when we are young. It is a skill that I think is very important and one I want to provide my kids as well. That's why I was very excited when contacted by SwimWays and invited to be a part of the 2013 Swimways Swim Steps Swim Team. As a Swim Steps Ambassador, I will be receiving some of the most popular products from Swim Steps for my children to use as they embark on the journey of learning how to swim. I will also have the opportunity to share tips with you about helping your children learn to swim, exciting brand news and more!

To start the summer off, SwimWays sent us several Swim Steps products so we are ready for pool weather once it arrives. My kids (who can't wait to hit the pool in the coming months) were SO excited to see the swimming products we received.

Caysen is currently in Step 1- Water Introduction. Before he can learn to swim, he needs to feel more comfortable in the water. The Swim Step 1 products are designed to help babies relax and enjoy the water introduction experience. He was exposed to the water last summer just a couple of times, but this summer I'm really hoping to get him more comfortable so he doesn't cry every time we get him in the water.

One item we received for him that I think will be great, is the Baby Spring Float. It is designed for children ages 9-24 months and allows them to relax in the water. It features a mesh play space perfect for playing with toys and splashing, dual inflation chambers and a low seat for enhanced security. I'm looking forward to using this at home, but also being able to take it to the lake since it folds up into a handy carry and storage bag for travel!

Kaden is in Step 2 - Water Exploration. Swim Step 2 products help to give kids freedom of motion to develop confidence in the water, while supporting them as they learn to balance and paddle. Kaden enjoys the water, but his confidence is something I'd like to work on this summer so he's more comfortable with learning to swim. I think both the Swim Sweater and Swim Vest will be great for him as we begin this journey.

The Swim Sweater by SwimWays helps kids explore and gain confidence in the water. It offers a stable, circular torso design that rides high on a child's chest for extra stability while allowing them to practice their swim skills like balancing, kicking and paddling.

The Swim Vest is also going to be great for him, as it features sturdy foam inserts that allow for balanced flotation. It will give him the safety and stability he needs, while still allowing him to practice his swimming skills in the water without having to be afraid that he'll go under.

Kaelyn is in Step 3 - Swim Training. She is becoming more and more confident in the water, but still needs a little time to work on the skills needed. The step 3 products give kids the tools needed to feel empowered in the water. I'm especially excited about the Power Swimr System. This will help her learn to swim at her own pace and advances with a child's swimming level building confidence and skill along the way. She's extremely excited to try it out once the weather warms up!

The other step 3 product we received is the Sea Squirts Swim Assist. This has a fin which both she and my 3 year old think is neat. This vest includes Buoyancy Technology, which helps children to achieve correct swim positioning. Isn't that great?! That's exactly what I'm hoping she can work on this summer, and I know this product will help.

She was excited to try it on :)

I am super excited to be a SwimWays Swim Steps Ambassador and have the opportunity to not only test out these products and help my kids through this journey of learning how to swim...but also the opportunity I'll have to share with you about our experiences and tips as well! I'm feeling ready and confident and am now just waiting for warm weather so we can get started!!

You can learn more about SwimWays and their Swim Steps products on their website, here. Also be sure to connect with them on Facebook and Twitter as well!

Eating Out With Kids - How Do Ya'll Do It?

2013-05-02T16:25:00.000-05:00

I never thought we'd be THOSE PARENTS. The ones who let their kids watch shows on the iPad so they can actually get through a dinner out without too much shrieking. However, the other day had been a long day and at that moment, the peace and quiet and ten minutes to eat my lamb shawarma without frantically trying to keep my almost 16 month old happy, was worth it.

But since this is my first child, I'm wondering what other parents have done when it comes to TV at the table. How do you cope with your children in restaurants when they're misbehaving or just plain fussy? Is there a certain age when you transition them off of distractions like the iPad and protect family time, or is it really not a big deal?

I'd love any input anyone can give me. :)

HABA Götz Dolls ~ Review & Giveaway!

2013-05-01T22:38:00.007-05:00

**The products for this review/giveaway were provided by HABA. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

For as long as I can remember, Kaelyn has always loved dolls. She enjoys everything from dressing them up, cuddling with them and combing their hair. I'm always on the lookout for high quality dolls that she will enjoy which is why I was excited to learn that Götz, the beloved luxury German doll maker, is coming back to U.S. shores!

Götz is bringing back an extensive assortment of dolls and accessories to the U.S., all courtesy of HABA! The history of this brand is as storied and rich as HABA's own. In 1950, Marianne Götz handcrafted beautiful dolls while her husband would sell them from a wagon that he'd pull on his bike. Decades later, the second generation of Götz family members is still running this business...now with these two companies coming together to sell their adored doll line to American children ages 3 and up!

A Götz doll is known for her extraordinary hair, sculptured face, trendy clothing and soft fabric/vinyl body. Visiting the HABA website and checking out the assortment of Götz dolls, I could see why any little girl would love them! Known for their superior quality and design, I knew it would be a new favorite of Kaelyn's (and mine!) and was excited we were going to have the opportunity to review one.

Kaelyn chose the Precious Day Girl - Jessica - blond 18" doll to review.

Features/Benefits:

adorable floral and hearts outfit
beautifully sculptured faces and expressions
superior quality and design
highest quality, natural-looking hair
for ages 3+

When the Precious Day Girl, Jessica arrived, Kaelyn couldn't wait to take her out of the box.

What caught my attention right away is the superior quality and design of this doll. I could tell that her soft fabric and vinyl body would hold up well to a lot of use! I also appreciated the sculpted face and expression. It is really what sets this doll apart and brings her to life for young children. Right away Kaelyn felt like she made a new friend and was asking Jessica if she'd like to meet the other dolls in her bedroom. :)

Jessica came wearing an adorable floral and hearts outfit which Kaelyn loved! It is trendy and fashionable. They are made well and contain as many details as real children's clothing - perfectly finished with button holes, pockets, and embroidery just to name a few. And better yet, these outfits can actually be washed and ironed too!

Speaking of washing, not only can the clothing be washed, but so can the dolls! If they get dirtier than a spot treatment, these dolls can be tossed into the washing machine! Simply place the doll in a pillowcase, turn the water to cold, delicate cycle, then let the doll lie, belly down, until dry. That's it! I was really impressed to learn this!

Kaelyn absolutely adores her new doll. The 18" doll size is perfect, not to mention the fun features which make playing with her even better. For instance, Kaelyn not only enjoys dressing her up, but she also LOVES her hair. The neat thing about this doll's hair, is that it can be washed, styled (even with a curling iron or blow dryer on low setting!) and brushed just like a child's hair! Any other doll hair would melt doing this, but the company roots the hair right into the doll's scalp so they won't snarl or kink. This really makes playtime a lot of fun for Kaelyn. She loves playing with her dolls hair and enjoys that she can wash it too!

Overall, the Götz doll has been a huge hit in our household! Even my 3 year old son likes to play with it! The excellent quality and attention to design and detail really set this doll apart from others. Kaelyn has hardly set her down since she arrived int he mail! We love the features that bring this doll to life, including her fun and hair and clothing too. It's been fun to sit back and watch as Kaelyn uses her imagination while playing with Jessica...the possibilities for creativity are endless! It's a fantastic doll and one I know she'll be playing with for years to come!

There are also many other dolls in the Gotz Line! A couple more of my favorites are:

Maxy Muffin Aquini 16.5" brunette

Muffin 13" no hair

Buy It: The Precious Day Girl- Jessica - blonde 18" retails for $89.99.

Win It: One VERY lucky reader is going to win a Götz doll of their choice (except for the standing dolls).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to US Only and will end May 17th

HUGGIES® Little Movers Slip On Diaper Pants ~ Review

2013-04-26T09:41:00.003-05:00

*I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for HUGGIES. I received product samples to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own.

With all three of my kids, one of the most memorable milestones has been when my babies first learn to stand. It's a fun, exciting and busy time! Once they learned to stand, they were on the go more than ever. My third was almost 14 months old when he began standing and really feeling more confident about moving around more. It was around this time that I was introduced to a new diaper from Huggies®, designed especially for standing/newly walking babies.

Huggies® Little Movers Slip On® Diaper Pants allow parents to stop changing and start dressing their newly standing and walking child. Offering an outstanding fit, these diaper pants are made with stretch sides and require no adjustments for a great fit.

Just reading a little bit about these diapers, I knew they would be perfect for our little guy on the move and couldn't have been happier to learn we were going to have the opportunity to review them. When they arrived, I was ready to test them out on him.

I was amazed just how easy it slipped on. They come pre-fastened and require no adjustments - so it makes diaper changes super quick and easy. As a busy mom, this is much appreciated.

Even diaper removal is easy, thanks to the easy open sides and grip tabs. It also makes rolling up the diaper for disposal very simple. I love how much easier these diapers make diaper changes now! It saves me time, and Caysen's happier it doesn't take so long too.

One of the things I love about these diapers, is that Caysen seems comfortable in them. He's able to move and work on mastering walking without having a constricting diaper that is uncomfortable. When I change his diaper, I notice there are no red marks from it being too snug which is nice too. They really fit nicely, stretching where they need to without any adjustments.

Another reason Caysen stays comfortable, is that these diapers have trusted Leak Lock Protection. The diaper absorbs-away layers and long-lasting core lock in wetness and keep him dry. Love it!

Now that Caysen has a comfortable diaper to move around, he's ready for anything. I've been really happy with the quality and overall comfort these diapers provide. We will definitely be buying more and I'd recommend other parents with new standers/walkers check them out too!

Coupon Alert! For those who are interested in trying the Huggies Little Movers Slip-On Diaper Pants with your little ones, you can save $2 on any one package of them here. Share it with three friends, and the coupon value increases to $2.50!

Cheesy Broccoli Chicken Bake ~ Recipe

2013-04-25T10:30:00.004-05:00

A while back I found myself on a meal rotation...making the same meals ever couple of weeks. It got old and boring, which is why I started pinning a lot more recipes to try. Over the months I have found many our family loves, and have even adapted some to make our own. The following is one we really enjoy, and best of all...the kids love it, even the broccoli!

Ingredients:

1 Package Stuffing Mix (chicken flavor)
1 1/4 Cups Water
6-7 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast Halves
4 C Broccoli Florets (I use the frozen broccoli)
1 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese

6-7 slices cooked bacon; crumbled
6-7 T Ranch dressing (drizzle to your liking)

Oven at 400º

Directions:

1. Spray large sheet of heavy-duty foil with oil and place in 9x13 pan
2. Place chicken breasts in bottom of pan
3. Top chicken with broccoli, bacon, cheese
4. Combine stuffing mix and water and add to the top evenly
5. Drizzle with ranch dressing over the top
6. Cover with foil, bring up sides and seal.
7. Bake 30-60 minutes (depends on the size of chicken breasts. 45 minutes and mine is usually done.) Around 45 minutes I take off the foil and let it bake a bit longer because I like the dressing to really melt in and for the stuffing to be a little crunchy on top.

Freezer Meals & Meal Planning

2013-04-25T10:17:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but making meals during the week gets hard at times. Life gets busy, and 20 minutes before supper time there are days when I just plain don't know what to make. Maybe it's a mix of lack of organization, or simply the busy life of a mom/parent. Whichever it is, I'm hoping to get into a better routine of meal planning and have joined a small freezer meal group in my area to get me started.

If you've experienced this, I would love any tips/advice you may have with freezer meals! Also, I'm polling the interest of my readers to see who would like to see freezer meal recipes posted on my blog, or maybe even a linky where others could post their freezer meals too? I love to share recipes, and love to find and learn about great ones too - so this is something that has been on my mind for a while. Let me know your thoughts!

Have a great Thursday!

A Great Gift For Mother's Day ~ Shari's Berries Review

2013-04-24T19:17:00.000-05:00

**The product for this review was provided by Shari's Berries. However, all opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

Whether I'm shopping for mother's day, or a birthday gift...I want to find things that are unique and personal. As a mom of three little ones, the easiest way to shop for gifts like this is online. Thankfully, Shari's Berries offers a great selection of gift ideas for any occasion and makes it easy every time!

With gift ideas for all occasions, Shari's Berries is known for their large selection of delicious and unforgettable gifts, always arranged and presented carefully and lovingly. Whether you're shopping for birthday gifts, baby shower gifts, or maybe a "just because gift"... Shari's Berries has you covered and even ships nationwide!

I have browsed and shopped Shari's Berries in the past, and have always been impressed with the large selection of products offered. With everything from Mother's Day gift baskets to dipped berries...there's truly something for everyone.

When asked if I'd like to review something from Shari's Berries, I was thrilled and the timing couldn't have been more perfect! The following week we had plans to go to a birthday get together for my brother and I knew Shari's Berries would have the perfect gift! I was right.

Browsing through the birthday gifts, I found many that I knew he would be thrilled with. However, the one that stuck out to me most was the 7-piece Happy Birthday Surprise Cookie Bouquet!

I ordered it, and even did the option to get one of the cookies personalized with his name on it. I love personalizing things, as it's an extra special tough that makes it even more special for the recipient. I know my brother really thought it was neat. The site was very easy to navigate, and placing the order couldn't have been easier. Thanks to the great coupon codes, I was able to get a great deal too!

I was also pleased with how quickly the item shipped. I was able to choose which day I wanted it to arrive, and it came right on time. YAY!

When the cookie bouquet arrived, I will admit I was a little nervous that the cookies might be broken. Afterall, cookies aren't the easiest thing to mail. As I opened the box, any anxieties I had were put to rest. The cookie bouquet was wrapped wonderfully, and all of the cookies looked fantastic!! Not only were they wrapped very well so as not to get broken, but also so that they would stay fresh too.



I was so excited to take the Happy Birthday Cookie Bouquet to my brother's birthday party. He was very surprised and loved the personalized gift idea. Best of all, the cookies were large and very yummy. There were enough for him to share with the rest of us which was a lot of fun! The kids especially liked them. :)


Overall we were really happy with the Happy Birthday Surprise Cookie Bouquet from Shari's Berries. What a great way to send a birthday wish. Each cookie was well packaged, not to mentioned beautifully and colorfully frosted. We will definitely be turning to Shari's Berries again in the future!

Buy It: You can purchase the Happy Birthday Surprise Cookie Bouquet for $39 at Shari's Berries.

Coupons: There are also a number of Shari's Berries Coupons you can use too!

State Farm Neighborhood Assist Program

2013-04-18T13:53:00.002-05:00

The State Farm Neighborhood Assist program is entering its second year of community betterment. This program seeks to improve communities through 3 types of initiatives: community development, education, and safety. After many weeks of consideration, the State Farm Youth Advisory Board has compiled the top 200 causes to have the chance to win a $25,000 grant to fund their program. Those 200 will now be voted on by the public to select the top 40 winners!

Before this month, I was not familiar with the State Farm Neighborhood Assist program, however...I think it is fantastic! My community is very important to me, especially as a parent with little ones who will grow up here. I want to see every aspect of my community thrive and remain beautiful for them, and for us! That is why I'm so passionate about the State Farm Neighborhood Assist Program and spreading the word.

Our town is a place we spend time with family, watch our kids grow, etc. And although I love where we live, our neighbors and our community, I think there are always ways we can make things better. Knowing my children are going to grow up here, I feel invested in always wanting to make our community a better place. Whether it's a deserted playground, an abandoned warehouse, or something else...I believe those of us in our community can get together to ensure that our children can enjoy and appreciate their hometown for years to come.

I am always looking for ways to participate in community betterment projects and am sure through the years many will present themselves. As I said, we have a wonderful town that we live in, but there are always ways to improve it. As a parent and former teacher, I like to see special attention being given to our education program...making sure it's the very best for our little ones. There are also things like building a playground out where we live that I'd love to see at some point. We are considered "in-town", but live on the outskirts which means we are a ways from playground in town. Having one in our neighborhood would give children a safe and fun place to play!

You can learn more about State Farm Neighborhood Assist on their website and in the video below. You can also vote for your favorite programs via their Facebook tab. You are able to vote 10 times per day for any combination of causes.

**I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of State Farm and I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

Johnson & Johnson Donate a Photo App ~ Prize Pack Giveaway #healthyessentials

2013-04-15T12:58:00.002-05:00

**This post on making a difference in the world through your own photography is brought to you by Johnson &

Johnson and The Motherhood, who sent me a box of products and compensated me for my time. Opinions, experiences and photos shared here are all my own, and I hope you enjoy them.**

As a mom of three little ones, I am a fan of Johnson & Johnson and their products for families. That's why I was excited to learn about their new initiative, Donate a Photo.

For those who follow my Twitter and Facebook pages, you may have seen me posting about a fun twitter party I helped co-host with The Motherhood and Johnson & Johnson! We talked about the new app, Donate a Photo which helps to turn photos into a way to do good. For every photo shared through the app, J&J will donate $1* to a cause that people care about. All donations are measured in actions:

Keep America Beautiful: One photo helps restore a community park
Save the Children: One photo helps a newborn get medicine to thrive
Safe Kids: One photo protects seven children from a preventable sports injury

I for one thought this was a super easy, fun and great way to make a difference and have been using the app myself. Donations made using this app must be made through a mobile device. I have lots of photos on my phone, and the following is just one that I chose to donate. Me and my sweet boy...

This is an app that turns photos into a way to do good. Sound like something you'd like to participate in? Donating is very simple. Just download the free Donate a Photo app and register to get started. Then, choose a cause, upload a photo and share it on FB and Twitter to let friends and followers know how they can help too! You can share one photo a day, every day, to contribute to the causes that matter most to you.

I also love Johnson & Johnson's Healthy Essentials initiative which offers coupons and other tools to help families stock up on the products they depend on and use every day. I would encourage you to head over to HealthyEssentials.com and register to save on J&J products. The new coupons went live on April 7th!

I was excited to receive a box of assorted J&J products to sample as part of this post, and am thrilled that they have offered a box of assorted J&J products to one lucky A Mom's Balancing Act reader as well (valued at over $100!) (Giveaway rules: No purchase necessary. Open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia, Eighteen (18) years of age or older. Prize(s) provided by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company Division of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. Void where prohibited.)

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Giveaway will end April 27th

*Johnson & Johnson has curated a list of trusted causes, and you can donate a photo to one cause, once a day. Each cause will appear in the app until it reaches its goal, or the donation period ends. If the goal isn't reached, the cause will still get a minimum donation.

Having A Ball Count 'n Roll Buggie from Bright Starts ~ Review & Giveaway

2013-04-12T16:35:00.000-05:00

I love unique toys for kids. I love classic ones too like blocks, balls or musical instruments, but I also love seeing some of the unique and creative toys as well. Especially if they incorporate music and movement, my child is usually very interested.

Bright Starts has created an array of baby products and toys that guarantee a good time for babies AND their parents. The Having A Ball Count 'n Roll Buggie is the newest to the Having A Ball Collection and is a fun way to reinforce those 1-2-3 counting lessons as well as keep your child entertained long enough for to get a few things done or to enjoy some interactive time with them.

Your little one will love playing with this Count 'n' Roll Buggie from Bright Starts. Drop balls into this cute bug; watch as it rolls and bobbles around. The bug counts balls as they are loaded and sings fun counting songs. The balls spin around inside see-thru wings while the melodies play. When the bug hits an obstacle, it turns and keeps going; the wings open and the balls pop out.

My 15 month old son Cameron had fun chasing around the bug in our kitchen. Sometimes he would stop to dance a little to the music, but I could also watch him learning as he studied the movements of the bug and tried to put the balls into the bug before time ran out and the bug started rolling again. This is a perfect fun and learning toy for his age and developmental stage.

Something I appreciated about this toddler toy is that it seems durable. I watched as my son pulled on the see-thru wings and a few times picked up the bug and threw it down onto the hard kitchen floor. So far there have been no cracks or damage to the toy, which is important because it's no fun to get a new toy only to have it break soon after.

In order to keep my son's interest in the toy (and to keep track of the three small balls) I keep it up on a shelf and then bring it out for only fifteen minutes at a time. That's my strategy for keeping him feeling like he's always got a new best toy, not just old ones.

I filmed a short video of my son playing with the Count 'n Roll Buggie that shows this toy in action:

If I could make any changes to the toy, the one thing would be that I would include three adjustable time settings like Easy, Medium, Difficult so that the amount of time before the bug starts rolling again could be changed as my child's skills and speed improve. However, my son still seemed to enjoy the toy.

Overall, I was very happy with the value and entertainment this toy provided.

You can also connect to Bright Starts on Facebook and Twitter

Win It: One very lucky reader is going to win a a Count 'n Roll Buggie from Bright Starts! To enter, please enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below.

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This giveaway will end April 26 and is open to US Only.

**This review was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Bright Starts. I was provided the featured product free of charge to facilitate my review, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Clorox SMART TUBE TECHNOLOGY ~ Giveaway

2013-04-12T15:35:00.003-05:00

This post is brought to you by Clorox and The Motherhood. I've been compensated for my time, however all opinions are my own.

Have you ever been cleaning your home, only to find that you've come to the very last bit of cleaner? It can be rather frustrating, especially when you're having to tilt, tip and unscrew the container try to get to the bottom fo the bottle of spray cleaner. Thankfully, The Clorox Company has found a solution! They have announced the addition of SMART TUBE® TECHNOLOGY.

SMART TUBE® TECHNOLOGY is a new technology that makes it possible for you to now use every last drop of liquid in Clorox spray bottles. This includes Clorox® Clean Up®, Tilex® and Formula 409® products. How great is that?! When I learned there would be no more tilting, shaking and frustration, I was sold and really excited to learn we were going to receive for review. The SMART TUBE® TECHNOLOGY can be found in the following products in all scents and sizes:

• Clorox® Clean-Up®
• Clorox® Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner
• Clorox® Disinfecting Bleach Foamer
• Clorox® Bleach Gel
• Clorox® Kitchen
• Formula 409® (Original, Lemon, Stone & Steel, Glass & Surface, Carpet/Pet)
• Tilex® (Bathroom Cleaner, Mold & Mildew Remover, Mildew Root Penetrator™)
• Clorox® Antihongos
• Clorox® Desengrasantes

We just recently got the Clorox products for review, and although we haven't gotten to the bottom of any of them yet...I can say that I love how these products clean.

I also appreciate that when the time comes when we get to the bottom of the bottle, that there's the new SMART TUBE® TECHNOLOGY! This built-in tube reaches all the way to the bottom of the bottles making it possible to now be able to use every last drop with no frustration. YAY! I'm thrilled, because as a busy mom I'm always looking for ways to make cleaning a little bit easier.

Speaking of easier, these spray bottles equipped with SMART TUBE® TECHNOLOGY also feature a new, more durable trigger that provides better coverage and control...making it easier to dispense the liquid with less effort.

I'm really happy to hear that Clorox (a trusted company that has committed themselves to providing a better cleaning experience for many years), has made it their goal to improve one of their key cleaning tools...spray bottles! I think this is going to be a feature appreciated by many Clorox cleaner users, including me!

Coupon: Clorox just launched a new coupon on their SprayEveryDrop.com site. When you watch the quick video about the spray bottle's "makeover" you get a $1 coupon. If you share the video on Facebook or Twitter, you get a $1.50 coupon!

Win It: Clorox has offered FIVE free coupons to one A Mom's Balancing Act reader so they can try out their new smart tube technology for themselves! To enter, simply enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below.

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This giveaway will end April 28th and is open to US Only