Unexpected medical costs can really cause your personal finances to take a hit.  It’s one of the biggest debts our family has.  My husband and I both have medical problems that require regular blood tests, doctor visits, and prescriptions.  We both have insurance, but insurance doesn’t cover everything and it often takes us the entire year to meet our high deductible, only to have to start all over again.  Sound familiar?

Last summer our son became sick in the middle of the night.  We were really worried about him, so we went to our local emergency room to get him looked at by a doctor.  He turned out to be ok, but their were x-rays, blood tests, and the cost of seeing the doctor.  That trip ended up costing us $1,200 out-of-pocket even after insurance paid.  It was definitely unexpected and we’re still paying on this bill.

Aflac has a handy tool called the Real Cost Calculator that you can use to calculate different medical emergency and illness scenarios as they would apply to you to see what your out-of-pocket costs may be if were to happen to you or a family member.  It also shows how Aflac can help fill in those gaps of your regular insurance coverage.

Because I have Type 2 diabetes, I used the Real Cost Calculator to see what my out of pocket costs were really adding up to be.  I was shocked to find that it can cost up to over $11,000 a year.  The $4,200 out-of-pocket expenses proved to be about right in my situation.  Add in the fact that my husband also has the same thing, and we are looking at over $8,000 a year.  It’s certainly sobering to see that amount.  Factor in if this were to cause one of use to miss work, and the loss of income could be detrimental to our family.

Are you prepared for sudden, unexpected medical expenses?  Try the Real Cost Calculator for yourself and see how these scenarios could affect your family and how Aflac can help.

Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer is just what every busy woman needs to moisturize their skin without the sticky and greasy mess.  It’s available in three formulas:

· Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer Total Moisture®: contains pure oat extract and leaves skin feeling healthy and skin.

· Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer Aloe Fresh: contains pure aloe and leaves skin feeling healthy and fresh.

· Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer Cocoa Radiant™: contains pure cocoa butter and leaves skin feeling healthy and glowing.

Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer is easy to apply and saves time because it can be applied quickly and dries fast.  Check out the graphic and video below to see for yourself:

Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer is available in food, drug and mass retailers for $7.99 (SRP) for a NET WT 6.5 OZ. can.

GIVEAWAY

I have one $100 Gap, Inc. gift card and a sample of Vaseline Spray & Go for one lucky winner.  Enter using the Rafflecopter form below.  U.S. Only.  Void where prohibited.  Giveaway ends May 20, 2013 at 12:00 AM EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received no compensation for this post.  It is simply a giveaway for my readers.  All opinions are my own.

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

Mother’s Day is always a very low-key holiday around our home.  We usually start the morning off by attending church services and then go to lunch as a big extended family, or my grandmother cooks for all of us.  We beg her not to because Mother’s Day is her special day too, but she insists.  The rest of the afternoon is filled with family visiting and taking pictures.  Whatever we do, we make sure to make our mothers feel special and show them how much we care for them. 

I’m very blessed to have my mother living so close by and a part of my daily life.  Even in her retirement, she keeps very busy and sometimes we only get a quick hello in passing due my working schedule and her plans.  It’s always great to sit down and catch up with her whenever possible.  I’m so thankful to have her in my life and she is an excellent role model for me as I navigate raising my own son. 

MetLife has created the #SocialBlackout movement, challenging everyone to log off social media on Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 12th) and give mom the undivided attention she deserves.  If you are fortunate to spend some time with your mom this Sunday or someone else who has been like a mother to you in your life, make sure the focus is on them when you are with them and not your screen.  I know I am very guilty about checking emails and Facebook whenever I get a spare moment.  I’m pledging this Sunday to put away the phone when I’m with my mom and soak up as much quality time with her as I can. 

To learn more about the #SocialBlackout movement, visit MetLife’s Facebook page.  Will you be participating?

WORK

District Reading Fair, Spelling Bee, and the Battle of the Books, not to mention just work in general, has kept me busy.  My kids are ON FIRE reading this semester in the library and….drumroll please…..these kids have read over 7000 books this year.  My head is spinning just thinking about it.  However, that’s not the only reason my head is spinning.

We were officially notified after Spring Break that our school will be a 9th grade academy next year.  All of my co-workers (except a handful) will be relocated to another school, and with that, my students.  As of August I will be a teen librarian.  We sort of knew this was in the works, so while I’m not completely blindsided, I’m still a little sad because I will surely miss my students, miss reading fun children’s books to them, and miss doing Accelerated Reader with them.  I’m a little nervous about serving teens (I’ve never worked with older kids before), but I’m also a little excited because I still love teen lit (Sweet Valley High from back in the day, anyone??) and I’m looking forward to this fresh change.  But I’m still nervous.

The biggest task is going to be packing up the entire library.  All materials-books, media, etc. must go.  It will be divided among the other libraries in the district, I’m sure.  I have until May 22 to get this done.  Boxes haven’t been delivered yet.  I’m slightly panicked. 

HOME LIFE

So after those long days at work (which start with a 4:30 AM wake-up for me because of the commute), it’s been ball practice or ball games most afternoons.  We get finished anywhere from 7-8 pm, and then there’s still dinner, homework, and the bath for the kid. 

The team is 1-1, with one rainout to make up later.  So far, E.B. hasn’t had a hit yet, but he is doing good in the field and has a good attitude about the game.

But come 9 PM?  I’m totally, thoroughly, and utterly exhausted.  Rinse.  Repeat.

WHINE AND CHEESE

Add in the usual household chores, killer headaches all of a sudden that last for days, and just feeling crazy because I can’t seem to do it all, and I’m slightly stressed (HA!) and so ready for summer break. 

26 days.  I think I can…I think I can…I think I can…..

In recognition of April being Earth Month, WaterSavers, a consumer awareness campaign from the International Carwash Association® (ICA), has 3 simple tips for conserving water.

3 Simple Ways To Conserve Water

1. How to Be Green and Clean Your Driving Machine – Keeping your car clean with regular washing is an important part of responsible maintenance, but washing at home with a garden hose can use more than 60 gallons of water in as little as five minutes. Furthermore, you’re putting harmful chemicals and detergents down storm sewers and that ends up polluting our rivers and streams.

You may be surprised to learn there is a greener way to keep your car sparkling: a professional car wash. A common misconception is that professional car washes waste water, when in fact the opposite is true. WaterSavers professional car washes, for example, use an average of no more than 40 gallons of fresh water per vehicle – less than the average home washing machine, which uses 41 gallons per load, according to the EPA. Professional car washes also responsibly dispose of — and in many cases recycle and re-use — the water runoff.

2. Go Green and Keep Your Whites White – It’s easy to take steps to conserve H2O and keep your wardrobe fresh. First, only run the clothes washer when you have a full load. Make this habit for both your clothes washer and dishwasher, and you can save up to 1,000 gallons of water a month, according to Wateruseitwisely.com.

You get extra green points if you use cold water when washing your clothes. Approximately 86 percent of the energy used by washing machines is for heating the water. Washing with cold water eliminates 1,600 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year from just one household, according to the Sierra Club.

3. Break Bad Bathroom Habits – Bathrooms are water hogs, accounting for about 75 percent of a home’s water usage. Adopting a green mindset in the bathroom can save major water and money. Start by switching to a low-flow showerhead, which National Geographic says saves 15 gallons of water during a 10-minute shower. Keep the occasional bath for a special treat because the average tub takes about 70 gallons to fill, so showers are much more efficient

Be sure to check out WaterSavers on Facebook and Twitter.

Giveaway

I have a WaterSavers prize pack to share with one lucky reader.

The prize pack includes the following:

· Tote Bag

· Folding Umbrella

· 22 oz. Guzzy Water Bottle (filtering water bottle)

· Jelly Stick Non-Slip Grip for Car Dash

· 16 oz. ThermalView Insulated Travel Tumbler

To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below.  Giveaway ends May 6, 2013 at 12 AM EST.  US ONLY.  Void where prohibited.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I am working with the International Carwash Association to share these tips for conserving water. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

Making sure my son brushes his teeth properly has always been a concern of mine. As an 8 year old, I can tell you that oral care is not very high on his list of priorities. I still have to supervise him to make sure he is brushing long enough and, more importantly, to make sure he turns off the water from the sink. His little mind tends to wander a bit. In any case, I nag and he brushes, and that’s probably a parenting job I know I’m not alone in.

We recently had the chance to check out the new FireFly Ready Go Brush, which is the new toothbrush from FireFly that mimics a traffic light, lighting up green when it’s time to start brushing, yellow to signal “almost done”, and red to let kids know that they have brushed long enough and are finished with the first row. The toothbrush then completes the cycle for the next row of teeth. I love this concept and let’s face it; sometimes kids need a little entertainment to keep them motivated about those mundane tasks.

Why FireFly Ready Go Brush?

Hurried and insufficient brushing is one of the leading causes of cavities in early childhood. Dentists recommend that 60 seconds of brushing per row of teeth is the amount of brushing time needed to be most effective. The FireFly Ready Go Toothbrush encourages children to take charge of their own oral care and establish good oral healthcare habits for a lifetime, giving parents peace of mind.

Banish Boring Brushing!

The FireFly Ready Go Brush comes in four great designs featuring top entertainment characters kids love:

Barbie

Spider Man

Angry Birds

FireFly

The FireFly Ready Go Brush features soft, high quality DuPont Tynex bristles that are gentle on children’s delicate gums, accepted by the American Dental Association, and are recommended for children ages 3-12. The brushes have a suggested retail price of $3.99 and can be found at Target, Kroger, Meijer stores, Drugstore.com and Amazon.com .

Even More Brushing Fun!

What’s a fun toothbrush without some fun toothpaste to go along with it? FireFly also has a great line of FireFly Fluoride Foam Toothpaste, available in the above characters, which can be squirted directly into your child’s mouth, eliminating messy spills, leaks, and dried-up toothpaste mess on counters and sinks. This light, foamy formula flushes out bacteria and gets into those hard-to-reach spots, which is perfect for kids with braces. Paired with the FireFly Ready Go Brush, this toothpaste provides the ultimate platform in oral care for children. Recommended for ages 3-12, the FireFly Fluoride Foam Toothpaste retails for $2.99 at the major retailers listed above.

Be sure and check out FireFly on Facebook and get ready for the ultimate in tooth brushing fun!

This post is sponsored by Firefly as part of a sponsored blog tour with Burst Media, but all opinions are my own.

In celebration of Mother’s Day, Procter & Gamble has teamed up with Dollar General to honor moms everywhere.  I can say without any hesitation that my own mother is truly one of my biggest heroes in life.  She has selflessly been there for me through every step of the way, offering her support no matter what I face.  That love and dedication is still ongoing and I see the same love being passed on to my own son, her only grandchild.  Moms have the best and toughest job ever.

MEET MARIA- EVERYDAY HERO, MAY 2013

To celebrate and honor moms, Dollar General chose Maria Segura as its Every Day Hero for May 2013. Maria exemplifies the Dollar General Every Day Hero through her commitment to build a better life for her family through literacy and education. Maria was a migrant worker and through The Family Literacy Academy of Immokalee in Florida, she earned her GED and was able to offer her two younger children a better future. Today, Maria is the heart and soul of the program and donates much of her time to visiting families and assisting them with any needs they may have.

SAVE

Be sure and pick up the May P&G brandSAVER® in your local paper on Sunday, April 28 to find great coupons that can be used at Dollar General on your favorite P & G brand products, like Venus, Olay, Vidal Sassoon and Secret.

HONOR YOUR MOM

You can visit the Dollar General Facebook page in May and create a custom “Moms Rule” photo for your own Facebook Cover.

WIN

I have one Dollar General/P & G Prize Pack to give away to one lucky reader!  The prize pack includes:

· Venus Embrace Razor

· Secret Outlast Invisible Solid Deodorant

· Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Mega Firm Hold Gel

· $15 Dollar General Gift Card

To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below.  Giveaway ends May 13, 2013 at 12:00 AM EST.  US ONLY.  Void where prohibited.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I received a prize pack in order to facilitate this post and one to give away to a reader.  All opinions are my own.

It’s National Library Week and it goes without saying that I love my job as a school librarian.  I can’t think of any better job for me than spending my day reading to students, helping them select books that they will fall in love with, and cheering them on as they take computerized quizzes on the books they read to help with comprehension.

My classes and I recently had the opportunity to participate in creating the very first kid-created infographic along with TeachHUB, a free resource for teachers and parents who want the latest in education news and technology. TeachHUB.com provides the latest in education technology, news and tools. It’s a great free resource for all K-12 teachers.

My students had so much fun answering a survey filled with questions aimed to pick their developing brains about what they love about school, how they use technology, what interests them, and what they want to be when they grow up.  It sparked much lively discussions and they were so excited to be a part of this.  I was excited because most of them had never seen an infographic, so this was an excellent teaching tool as well.

I couldn’t wait to see the infographic once it was completed.  Below are the results.

I can’t wait to share the final results with my students.  I have to admit it was pretty funny reading some of their answers, especially the question that asked them if the paper or computer folder was invented first.  I was really surprised by the number of students who read books on tablets and readers.  It was definitely an eye-opener for me as far as how things have changed since I was a young girl.  Isn’t technology amazing?

According to the teachers at TeachHUB.com success in education starts with curiosity, and curiosity starts at home. For National Library Week, encourage your kids to explore a topic they’re interested in learning more about. Sit down at a library and read together – and ask them what they learned!

You can see the latest articles from TeachHUB by subscribing to their Facebook page or following them on Twitter

I was selected for this opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, and content and opinions expressed here are all my own. To learn more about the TeachHUB.com, visit their website. #CleverTeachers #NLW13

If you’re like me and have only heard about probiotics, you may be wondering exactly what they are and how they work.  Probiotics are live microorganisms (mainly bacteria) taken for health benefits.  If you’re freaked out, keep reading.  Your body has lots of natural microorganisms and bacteria and these are located in places like the gut and the mouth.  You probably think bacteria is a bad thing, but “good” bacteria actually aids in the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients.

This video explains how Provella works and help you learn more about its benefits:

You can purchase Provella online at drugstore.com.

Are you ready to try Provella?  You can click here to get a coupon good for $6 off your purchase of Provella.

GIVEAWAY:

I have a 30 day supply of Provella to share with 5 lucky readers!  To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below.  Giveaway ends April 22, 2013 at 12:00 AM EST.  U.S. Only.  Void where prohibited.  If chosen as a winner, you must respond to the email by Wednesday, April 24 confirming your shipping information.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Provella™. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.