Crafty 4th of July Fun + Aquafresh® Sugar Acid Protection

 The Aquafresh brand has compensated me in connection with the statements made in this post.

Fun fact: The Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. Something about the warm weather, fireworks, picnics, and getting together with friends and family outdoors really gets me feeling happy. I also love how you can walk around my neighborhood and smell all those barbecue pits burning with deliciousness. Yeah. The 4th is all about food in my book.

Today's post is in partnership with SheKnows and Aquafresh® toothpaste. As many of you know, I've written about Aquafresh® in the past. What's good? Well, their toothpastes provide Sugar Acid Protection from active fluoride. This protection works to strengthen and shield teeth against sugar acid attacks. You know, the kind you get from everyday foods and drinks. And yes: even from our beloved holiday foods and treats.

The thing is, there are also plenty of ways to celebrate July 4th. So, today I thought I'd share a fun art project you can do with your kids to get everyone in the spirit. I used to do this simple fireworks and/or flowers painting project with my mom when I was a kid - long before I saw it pop up on Pinterest boards.

FIREWORKS/FLOWER STAMP PAINTING

All you need:

• Scissors
• Used up paper towel or toilet paper roll
• Different colors of paint (stick with red, white, and blue = super festive!)
• Paper plates (to hold paint) 
• Construction or other paper (Black would be great for fireworks!)
• Glitter or glitter paint (optional) 

Ada wanted to make flowers for this post.

So, here they are!

Instructions:

1. Simply squirt a bit of each type of paint onto a plate. I like to mix different colors together to get a swirl effect with flowers. Paint will likely go everywhere, so make sure you put down some type of vinyl tablecloth or even just a garbage bag.
2. Adults: Cut the end of the paper towel or toilet paper roll in straight lines. Experiment with going thicker or thinner/longer or shorter for different fireworks or flower shapes. (This would also make a great sun stamp!) 
3. This probably goes without saying, but you fold the cut parts out so they make a fireworks shape.
4. Then have your child dip the new stamp you've made into the paint and go crazy!
5. You can decorate your photo with glitter for extra dazzle.

Back to Aquafresh®. Their Multi-Action Whitening toothpaste is all about Sugar Acid Protection through active fluoride to help prevent cavities*.

It has six key benefits in one toothpaste:

• Cavity Protection 
• Healthy gums*
• Freshens breath 
• Great taste 
• Whitening*
• Enamel Strengthening 

*With twice daily brushing

Happy 4th! Remember to brush after all your tasty party treats. And if you're interested, you can grab a coupon to try the Multi-Action Whitening toothpaste right here. Visit Aquafresh® toothpaste on Facebook and Twitter.
Do you have any kid-approved 4th of July art projects? Tell me about them in the comments and you will be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card!
Entry Instructions:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 6/1/2016 - 6/30/2016
Be sure to visit the Aquafresh® brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by Aquafresh® or GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare

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Spring Sugar Acid Protection from Aquafresh® toothpaste

A dental hygienist visited Ada's preschool recently. Ever since, she's been like our own resident dentist, sharing all the DOs and DON'Ts of good oral hygiene. When we cut into Stephen's birthday cake this year, Ada made sure to mention that sweets aren't always so great for your teeth. Of course, we aren't about to cut out some of our favorite celebration foods, so we had a nice discussion with her about moderation.

What happened after dessert? She made us take a family trip to the bathroom to brush our teeth. These preschool years continue to amaze me.


Today's post is about about Aquafresh® toothpastein partnership with SheKnows. Their toothpastes provide Sugar Acid Protection from active fluoride. This both strengthens and shields teeth against sugar acid attack from everyday foods and drinks, the primary cause of cavities.

This spring, there's plenty of sugar flowing between holidays, parties at school, and my own pregnancy cravings. I'm not going to limit it all, nor do I think a little sugar every now and again is such a bad thing to enjoy. One of our favorite treats, though, doesn't have any added sugar at all. Instead, it's a basic breakfast smoothie filled with berry goodness, a dose of vegetarian protein, and gut-healthy active cultures.

And did I mention it's incredibly easy to make?

STRAWBERRY LASSI

(serves 1)

Blend together:

• 1/2 cup (heaping) frozen strawberries
• 1 cup plain kefir
• Couple tablespoons water

PS: If you're feeling really adventurous, you can add a handful of kale or your favorite greens into the mix as well. 

When it comes time to brush, it's good to know that Aquafresh Multi Action is all about Sugar Acid Protection through active fluoride. It has 6 key benefits in 1 toothpaste:

• Cavity Protection 
• Healthy gums*
• Fresh breath 
• Great taste 
• Whitening*
• Enamel Strengthening 

*With twice daily brushing

You can grab a coupon to try it right here. Visit Aquafresh® toothpaste on Facebook and Twitter.

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10 Cups a Day // GE Water Filters

Ever since we started trying to conceive number two, I've been particularly picky about the stuff I put in and on my body. For example, we swapped out more conventional body and beauty products with natural counterparts (and I even make some of my own, like my DIY face scrub). We started eating fewer fruits and veggies from the dirty dozen. And I even started getting more concerned with that beverage we all consume in gallons each week -- water.

I mean, seriously. Pregnant women are supposed to drink a whopping 10 cups (2.4 liters) of fluids (mostly water) each day according to the Institute of Medicine. If you're active, and I try to be, you should guzzle even more. The reason why so much isn't incredibly surprising. Hydration is important no matter your walk of life.


For pregnant women, lots of water helps to prevent:

• Constipation
• Hemorrhoids
• Excessive swelling
• UTIs and bladder infections
• Premature or early labor

I'd like to avoid all that . . . so, I'll grab another glass. Today's post is in partnership with General Electric (GE) and SheKnows. The topic? Water filtration. While I used to heartily source my cups directly from the tap, I started thinking more about water filtration when I upped my intake during pregnancy. We now filter our water through our refrigerator, and it's a system that works well for us.

Let's take a quick step back. What about bottled water? Well, I'm glad you asked. I've long shunned bottled water for environmental impact reasons. Who wants to waste all that plastic? When I researched a freelance article for Wisebread a few years ago, I learned a ton about this 11 billion dollar industry and water in general.

Here are the highlights:

• Bottled water costs 240 to over 10,000 times more per gallon than tap water.
• Water -- even poured in the same area -- can have wildly different contents depending on a building's pipe age, material, etc.
• 25% (to as much as 40%) of the bottled waters consumed in the U.S. come from municipal water supplies.

So, I think you can see how filtration beats out the bottle on a variety of points. You can use your own container (mine is the Lifefactory 22-ouncer -- this bottle goes with me absolutely everywhere). You can pay your regular water bill. You can drink clean water. Those are all positives in my opinion.


Did you know that there are three different ways you can use water filters in your home?

• Refrigeration filtration (this is the kind that fit conveniently into your fridge if you have a water source like we do)
• Under the sink filtration (systems that filter water at your sink – Check out this new under the sink model (it doesn’t require an added tap and is super easy to install. You turn the controller when you want filtered tap water! )
• Whole house filtration (as it sounds, this system filters water directly at the source for all your cooking, cleaning, drinking, bathing, etc. -- we have particularly hard water in my town, so this is something we're investigating.)

GE offers a variety of water filters that fit right into all these systems -- from GE appliances, reverse osmosis systems, and more. (They even make a water filter specific for select Keurig machines!) These filters contribute to better-tasting, safer water that will also save you big bucks in the long run.

You can find their entire selection of filters and options on their website.

Not only does the water coming out of a filter (from experience) taste cleaner and clearer than what comes out of the tap, it's also far lower in common contaminants, minerals, and other hard deposits that even "safe" tap water contains. And if you're drinking a lot of it like I am, it's also good to know that fresh, filtered water only costs a few cents per gallon versus upwards of $5 with bottled counterparts.

How do you guys handle water in your homes? 

Do you do bottled?
Drink directly from your tap?
Or do you use a filter?

Answer below for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

• Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post 
• Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
• Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post 

For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska).

Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

 The Official Rules are available here. This sweepstakes runs from 3/22/16 – 4/21/16.

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JCPenney // Where Giving Begins

When I last featured JCPenney on the blog, I told you guys all about how the store had been a part of my back-to-school routine since I was a kid. Well, the same goes for Christmas! Each and every year about a month or so before the holiday, my grandparents would drop off the big (I mean BIG!) holiday catalog at our house and tell us to circle anything that looked especially exciting to us.

Here’s the thing about that catalog. Where I’m from, there aren’t a lot of toy stores. So, the items I would see in the toy section were out-of-this-world to me. One year, I picked out a huge dollhouse. Another year, my brother and I decided we’d like a kid-sized pool table for the basement playroom. And the year I remember best? My grandparents gave my cousin, my brother, and me ventriloquist dummies! I named mine Harry.

Now that I’m the person doing the holiday shopping, I’m looking for a few things. First, I want unique, quality gifts. I don’t want to have to shop around too much (especially this year with the morning sickness!). And I want good deals. (Who doesn’t?).


SheKnows gave me the opportunity to revisit my holiday history with JCPenney and shop for some of my family’s Christmas gifts this year. A gift toast, if you will. Now, I would have headed to the store (it’s only a few miles away from my front door), but I decided to do it online because they were having some great sales.

Stephen started his career as a cross country coach this year. So, when I saw that JCPenney sells Nike apparel, shoes, and gear, I knew immediately what I wanted to get for my fitness guy. I chose the Nike Club Swoosh Fleece Pullover and the Nike Club Swoosh Fleece Jogger Pants.


Here are more Nike gifts I considered:


For my cuddle buddy Ada? Oh, that was entirely too easy! The store has an amazing selection of Disney toys, so I browsed around and very quickly found exactly what I was looking for: a 9-pack of Disney Princess Dolls.

Talk about the crazy impact this box is going to have on Christmas morning!


Here are more Disney gifts I considered:


And then I decided to gift myself (the cooker and baker of the house) something small. Honestly, I’m pretty sure my gift will keep giving to my family for years to come when I make food for the holidays. JCPenney carries KitchenAid, and I chose this 5-Speed Hand Mixer that I already have some holiday recipes in mind for.



Here are some more great KitchenAid gifts:



JCPenney has gifts for everyone on your list, including stuff from:

• Nike 
• Levi’s 
• Keurig 
• Kitchen Aid 
• Nutribullet 
• Diamond Stud Earrings 
• Disney 
• Star Wars 
• Boots 
• Team Sports Apparel

If you’re still shopping for all your favorite people, check out JCPenney’s gifts. You can also also follow the store on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Youtube, and Google+! All month long, JCPenney will be playing secret Santa to #GiftToast different celebrities with fun and entertaining gifts. Check out the hashtag and chime in for your own chance to get gifted some cool stuff!

What are some of your favorite gifts you plan to give this year? Tell me for your chance to win a $100 JCPenney gift card!

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.

The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 12/10/2015 – 12/31/2015

Be sure to visit JCPenney’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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Personalized Gifts with Walmart Photo

You guys know I used to dabble with semi-professional photography. It seems I’m pulling out my camera less and less these days. But we still have a ton of memories that never make it from computer to print. Slowly, I want to change that. Get albums printed. Do other stuff with all these beautiful photos.

BlogHer recently gave me the opportunity to use some of my photos in a new way. Now, I must explain before I get into the sponsored portion that I use Walmart Photo for much of my own printing needs. It’s convenient and quick. Inexpensive but quality. They don’t do a lot of auto-correcting when I send over my prints.

So, I was thrilled to get the chance to see some of my pictures come to life on gorgeous ornaments that will hang on our Christmas tree this year and for many years to come.

Check them out!


The ornaments come in a variety of materials, designs, and themes. I like these simple metal ones because they go well with our tree’s more rustic theme. We’re doing beeswax and galvanized ornaments, so these blend in well. They are solid, sturdy ornaments, too. Don’t have to worry about the cats knocking them off the tree and breaking them!

Right now, ornaments are $10 each through January 5th.


Walmart Photo has a ton of other holiday photo gifts and promotions if you’re looking for something a little more personal for the people on your list. I’ve ordered canvas prints in the past, and they have come out very nicely. Last year I ordered a canvas of Ada playing in the snow for my grandparents and it’s one of the first things you see when you enter their home because they love it so much.

Just FYI, if you’re interested in canvas prints, they’re running a promotion through January 5th where you can get $5 off your same-day canvas orders and up to 30% off other same-day gifts. Walmart.com/photo is also running a Cyber Week deal that if you order online and pick up in store, 11x14 is $22.47 and 16x20 is $29.97, good through 12/7.

Getting ready to do your annual holiday cards? Walmart has those too. Check out their Card section for more information. In-store 4 x 8 cards start at just 44 cents each and 5 x 7 cards start at 75 cents each. And many of the cards (and other prints, etc.) can be printed in just an hour for those of you who wait till the last minute like I do. Thank goodness.


Walmart Photo offers mugs, calendars, blankets, mounted photos, puzzles, tote bags, photo books, coasters, and more. Seriously, you can slap your image on just about anything these days. It’s a wonderful way to add a special touch to your holiday gift giving. There are over 3,500 photo locations across the US and -- of course -- you can always order online. Walmart is also offering free shipping on all cards and gifts through December 30th this year!

Do you do photo gifts?

I’m thinking about creating a calendar for my family this year featuring old and new family pictures. I just need to figure out what photos will work for what month. Or maybe do a collage or something. Tell me about your favorite photo gift.

And check out Walmart Photo on

Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Google+.

Be sure to visit Walmart Photo's brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers' posts.

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The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep // Review

Ada is now four years old. And I wish I could say that our bedtime routine is down to a science. The thing is, with every new stage and every new age, we have faced different challenges. When Ada was a tiny newborn, it was figuring out why she was crying. As an older baby, she’d wake in the middle of the night and not want to go back to sleep. The toddler years were a mix of good and bad, solid months of shut-eye were interspersed with months of frequent wakings and bedtime resistance.

At the preschool stage, it’s the willpower that’s the most difficult to overcome. Ada has definite opinions on if and when she’s tired. She’ll flat out tell us she’s not going to sleep. Or she’ll get all cozy and then have us up in her room 10,000 more times before she’ll actually go to sleep. It’s an ongoing battle, and I won’t lie: There are nights we just dread bedtime.

And we even have a consistent routine!


BlogHer and Random House Children's Books gave me the opportunity to review The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep -- #1 International Bestseller / New York Times bestseller -- by Carl-Johan Forssén Ehrlin and illustrated by Irina Maununen. I had actually read a few articles (including this one on HuffPost) and reviews of this book in the last several months -- so I knew I just had to see what it was all about.

My first impression of the book is that it was super cute and quite long. Ada’s attention span is good, but I didn’t know if we’d make it through the whole thing. But I quickly learned that’s not the point. What I found is that there’s a method of reading the text that helps lull your kids to sleep. In fact, I’ve read that some kids can only make it a few pages without falling asleep!

For example, anything that’s bolded is meant to be read in a strong, emphasized tone. The stuff in italics? Read it quietly and slowly. You can definitely pick up on the calm with the rhythm and cadence of the words. The author has even described the text as a verbal way to rock your child to sleep. I totally see that and feel that when I read it.

Heck -- I get tired!


Does it work?

It definitely helps. Ada didn’t magically fall asleep while we were reading the book or anything like that (I never thought she would -- she can’t even sleep if we’re in the room). But what it does is assist with is that difficult transition between waking and sleeping. The whole calming phase.

I love how the book puts Ada in the story. The nights when we read the book, Ada didn’t ask us to come back up after we turned the lights out. So, I’d consider that a success! It’s certainly a book worth trying and would make an excellent gift for your friends with younger children.

Is bedtime a nightmare at your house? Tell me about it in the comments below for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card and a copy of The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep.

Visit RabbitGoToSleep.com to check out more about the book. You can also tweet to @randomhousekids using #RabbitGoToSleep.

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: #SweepstakesEntry" and "#RabbitGoToSleep"; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry. 

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.

The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 11/18/15-12/16/15.

Be sure to visit the Random House Children's Books brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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Halloween + Spiced Crock Pot Applesauce

I absolutely love this time of year. Cool, crisp weather. Apples in abundance. Crunchy leaves beneath my feet. I can’t believe Halloween is just around the corner. And I’m one of the one in three people who started their Halloween shopping early this year. Yup! We bought Ada’s costume in August, and you’ll never guess what she chose. (I can’t wait to share the photos!)

I’m writing this post today in partnership with Aquafresh® and BlogHer. Did you know that Halloween is the third most popular holiday in America next to Thanksgiving and Christmas? I suppose it’s not a total shock. Pretty soon, we’ll be bringing home a bunch of chocolate bars, gummies, lollypops, and -- yes -- candy corn from our spooky walk around the neighborhood. (Oh, I have a soft spot for candy corn!)

We don’t have strict rules revolving around candy and Halloween. It’s (mostly) just one day of the year, after all. At the same time, we try to keep most of our autumn treats healthy. Every year, for example, we make homemade applesauce in the slow cooker. It’s a treat as much as all the candy is. Most recipes I’ve come across throughout the years call for a hefty dose of sugar. We don’t substitute anything special in its place. Instead, we leave the sugar out.

You know what? It still ends up tasting absolutely amazing with all its natural goodness. This recipe is a great one to make with small children. I suggest chopping the apples ahead of time and letting little hands put them into the pot. Then stir on the spice, start the cooker, and let the delicious aroma fill your kitchen.

It only takes a couple hours to turn this:



Into this!

SPICED CROCK-POT APPLESAUCE

What you’ll need . . . 

• Fresh apples. Total number depends on size. Enough to fill up crock pot.
• Ground cinnamon
• Lemon juice
• Slow cooker

Method . . . 

1. I never peel the skins off my apples. Simply wash and chop into wedges.
2. (I’m not too picky with the variety of apples I use. I made this batch with local Paula Reds.)
3. Fill up your crock pot with the apples. Then add a tablespoon or two of cinnamon.
4. Pour in a tablespoon or two of lemon juice, too.
5. Cook for two to three hours on high, stirring occasionally.
6. Then mash with a potato masher. Alternatively, you can wait for the applesauce to cool and process until smooth in your food processor.
7. Eat up within three to five days. Or store in glass jars in the freezer. If you haven’t used glass to freeze before, check out this post with instructions and more information.

// HALLOWEEN

To give your homemade applesauce a festive Halloween twist, you can even add a bit of canned pumpkin to the mix. The pumpkin gives it an orange color, thicker texture, and naturally sweet flavor. Plus, it’s a great way to sneak in some additional nutrition. It’s also a great side dish to bring to a party or fall potluck meal.

Aquafresh®

If you’re shopping around for a new toothpaste (for kids or adults) to help guard against all the sugar intake this season, here’s what Aquafresh® has to offer. You can visit their website, Facebook, or Twitter for more information.

• Aquafresh® toothpaste with Sugar Acid Protection from fluoride delivers the taste/fresh feeling and protects teeth from sugar acids caused by eating everyday foods. 
• Aquafresh® Extreme Clean Whitening Action includes gentle whiteners for a brighter smile.
• Aquafresh® Cavity Protection toothpaste with helps protect your teeth from cavities.
• Aquafresh® toothpaste protects tooth enamel from damage caused by sugar acids.

I hope you all enjoy a happy and safe Halloween this year. In all your fun, don’t forget to take care of your teeth! You don’t exactly want your smile to look like your Jack-o-lantern’s, right?
How are YOU going to protect your teeth this Halloween? Tell me in the comments and you will be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card!

Entry Instructions: 

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 10/29/2015 – 10/31/2015

Be sure to visit Aquafresh® toothpaste’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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Back-to-School Style with JCPenney

I’ve mentioned it several times before, but Ada is starting universal pre-kindergarten this year. She’ll be in class for 2.5 hours each morning of the week. I honestly cannot believe we’re already enrolled in the public school system. It feels like a huge milestone.

BlogHer recently offered me the opportunity to check out JCPenney for back-to-school clothing. You guys, I had to share this with you. I have a special past with the store specifically in the fall season. I grew up in a small, remote mountain town. The nearest mall is around an hour away on winding back roads. But we had a few local shops for clothing as well as a JCPenney catalog store.

Each year before the start of school, my grandparents would generously offer to buy me new clothes to fit my ever-lengthening limbs. So, I’d leaf through the thick catalog and dream up outfits. I’d get all psyched up for school in the process. (And I’d get to do the same thing at Christmas with clothing and toys -- oh, how I’d look forward to that huge catalog.)

I’m sure you can imagine that as I shopped for Ada’s clothing I had a major flashback. This time, though, I was able to conveniently grab everything online. Heading to the store with an almost 4-year-old isn’t exactly my cup of tea. I easily clicked through all the options, Ada by my side, and we selected her school wardrobe together. I’m hoping it might be a tradition of sorts. It was fun seeing her express herself through style. Even at her young age, she definitely has likes and dislikes.

Here are a few outfits:


I was really impressed with the selection of quality clothing I was able to find on the site. (Her backpack is also so adorable when she’s not chewing the straps!) Ada is now in a 4T and even fitting some 5s! She’s a tall girl, that’s for sure. My favorite brands include Carters, Okie Dokie, Oshkosh B’gosh, and Levi’s. I tried to stick with clothing in a similar color palette so we can mix and match on busy mornings.

In my search, I noticed that JCPenney features a lot of cool trends including athleisure (casual + sporty clothing). This is particularly great for kids who play sports and engage in other active extracurriculars (or just hang around the playground). For example, I got Ada her first pair of "running tights” that also look adorable with a lot of her regular shirts.

I also see that the store carries a variety of dance and gymnastics clothing. That should come in handy since Ada is going to start either ballet or tap/jazz combo in September. Does your child wear a uniform to school? There’s a huge selection of those as well!

Of everything, I was most impressed with the prices. The majority of the clothing I picked out was already on sale. Then there was an additional 25 to 30 percent off store-wide the day I hit “submit” on my order. JCPenney is known for having good sales, so keep your eyes peeled for them!

Speaking of deals, if you head to the store, you’ll see that JCPenney offers more than just clothing. Check out some of these back-to-school promotions:

• $10 kids haircuts (grades K-6) through 8/31
• $29.99 eyeglasses (16 and under) through 9/15
• Extra 25 percent off with JCP Card or 15 percent with other payment
• SUPER SATURDAY SALE ($10 off $25) on 8/13 through 8/15

I guess you could say we’re ready for school to start. I’m sure I’ll still need a box of tissues on the first day. Thank you, JCPenney, for this trip down memory lane! Visit the store on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, and Google+ for the latest on sales and other promotions.

What trends are on your Back-to-School shopping list this fall? Tell me in the comments for a chance to win a $100 JCPenney gift card.

PS: Don’t miss National #ShoutOutDay on 8/12! JCPenney is starting a shout-out movement in hopes of bending the trend of judgement prevalent in schools towards one of positive reinforcement. 
JCPenney encourages anyone and everyone to join in on the conversation and hand out shout-outs to their friends, family and followers. Simply use #ShoutOutDay to jump in on the conversation. 

Entry Instructions:

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4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 8/10/2015 – 9/10/2015

Be sure to visit JCPenney’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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Sweet Summer Fun

Hey, guys! Summer is in full swing over here at our house. I love living where the summers are hot, the falls and springs are temperate, and the winters are wicked cold. It makes us appreciate the sunshine that much more. We soak it in every chance we get. We are also lucky because Stephen has his summers off -- 10 whole weeks to spend together as a family is such an amazing treat.

As a result, we have some daily traditions. Here are some small ways we plan to have the best summer ever.

#1: Cheap Pool

Every day after Ada’s nap, for example, we slap on the sunscreen and head outdoors to the wading pool to cool off. (Yes. I pretend I can fit!) We fill up the water table and often turn on the sprinkler, too. You don’t even need much water (or cash) to have fun. I bought Ada’s pool for $15 at a local big box store and it’s already provided days of entertainment.

#2: Bug-Free Box

Some days cool off and are better for digging in the sand. My tip for keeping your sandbox bug-free is to add a good cup or more of ground cinnamon. Not only does it deter critters, but it also makes the sand smell amazing! (Note: If your child has sensitive skin, you might want to test out the cinnamon in a small patch to see if it irritates him/her. Ada’s had no problems.)

#3: Evening Stroll

When the sun gets low in the sky, we like to take a walk around the neighborhood. Ada sometimes hops on her bike and we try to keep up with her pedaling. Other times we go down to our backyard creek and wade around. No matter what, we hunt for bugs and other critters. Last year, we found a family of bunnies living in our garden. Every night is a new adventure, that’s for sure.

All it takes is some paying attention to nature.

#4: Summer Harvest

Oh, the garden. We tend to it each and every night. Usually the soil is quite dry from its long day in the sun. We harvest any ripe tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, or other fruits and veggies. Then there’s usually heaps of basil to bring indoors (I’ve been making pesto like it’s my main job). We love grilling, so it’s awesome to just pick, wash, cook, and eat.

My mother-in-law planted flowers that Ada loves picking, too. We also like to head to local farms to get berries by the barrel. I can’t wait to make (and can) blueberry jam this year.

#5: Sweet Treats

And popsicles! It wouldn’t be a summer day without delicious popsicle juice dripping down my fingers. Ada and I have been making our own batches this year, and right now, the house favorite is an orange pop that’s made with fruit and veggies. They usually stick into the molds, so our recipes need more tweaking. Sometimes (usually!) we get ice cream or frozen yogurt on our evening walks. We’ve even bought some cones and sundae supplies to keep at home.

#6: Oral Care

This post is brought to you by Aquafresh® toothpaste. Because summer sure is sweet -- in more ways than one. So, we always keep our oral health in mind. Ada’s brushing habits are getting better by the day. After her first dentist appointment in the winter, she even reminds us that it’s time to brush her teeth. But summer has us traveling all sorts of places and munching on all sorts of foods that could harm our teeth. We don’t want any surprises at our next dentist appointments!

Aquafresh® toothpaste contains fluoride which provides Sugar Acid Protection -- active defense for teeth against summer sugar by both repairing teeth from the consequences of sugar acid attacks and protecting them for the future. That way we keep our defenses up against all the lemonade, frozen yogurt, BBQs, PBJ packed lunches, berries, s’mores, parade candy, beer, wine, and more. I’ve been using the red, white, and blue paste since I was a kid because it tastes great and makes my mouth feel fresh.

Keep an eye out for Captain Aquafresh this summer (and follow his tips on Twitter @AquafreshUS). And don’t forget to brush!
How will you be taking care of your teeth while making the most of your summer? Leave a comment below to enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!

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4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 7/23/2015 – 8/23/2015

Be sure to visit the  Aquafresh® toothpaste’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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Eyeglasses from Pearle Vision + a Giveaway!

When we left off, I had just returned home from my visit to the neighborhood Pearle Vision in the Shoppes at Wyomissing in Wyomissing, PA. My glasses came in really fast after my appointment with Dr. Sider. And I was so excited to try them on for the first time. I ended up choosing frames made by RIMS in a green and blue tortoise look. Actually, they were a pair that the staff had suggested to me when I gave them a short list of my likes and dislikes. With their help, I narrowed down my search faster than ever.

I’ve never had glasses that were in a color besides black or brown before. So, I thought I’d go bold this time around. I’ve been wearing frames more than half my life, why not have fun with them? They’re such a cool accessory to add to my everyday look. Oh, and my prescription helps me see what I’m doing. I suppose that’s more important, right? Right.

I love the shape of the frames, too. Some of the plastic glasses look harsh, but these have a very nice retro shape to them.

I like wearing them around even when they’re not on my face:

My whole experience from check-in to frames-fitting and beyond was a good one.

Makes me wonder why I waited so long to return in the first place! I’ll definitely be headed there the next time I need an eye exam because the service was great, Dr. Sider was extremely helpful (especially with some concerns I had over my contacts and allergies), the frame selection is amazing, and the prices are on point.

Here’s my new look. Thanks, Pearle Vision!


For more information, follow Pearle Vision on Facebook and YouTube. And if you visit your local Pearle Vision EyeCare Center, don't forget to leave a review on Yelp!

Have you visited your neighborhood Pearle Vision EyeCare Center?
Leave a comment below to enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!

Entry Instructions:

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You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. 

The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 7/21/15 – 10/3/15.

Be sure to visit the Pearle Vision brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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Fancy Frames at Pearle Vision

I’ve been wearing glasses since I was in the seventh grade. I’ll be turning 32 in a month, so that’s basically the last twenty years of my life. I definitely take my frame purchases seriously. After all, those of us who wear glasses have them on our faces most of the day, every single day. They become a part of our personalities as much as they are a necessity to carry on the day’s tasks with clear vision.


BlogHer recently offered me the opportunity to visit the newly renovated Pearle Vision EyeCare Center at The Shoppes at Wyomissing in Wyomissing, PA. And it was extremely good timing. I was actually due for my annual eye exam last week, so I jumped on the chance to check out location, its service, and all those pretty frames.

My last experience with Pearle Vision was way back in the 1990s (for my first eye exam!), so I was more than delighted to see such modern, bright interior decor. The walls were painted their signature green with warm wood accents. The lighting wasn’t at all harsh. In fact, there was nothing sterile about this shop. It felt -- instead -- like a neighborhood boutique. The glasses were all arranged on clear shelving around the walls.

Lots of great brands from which to choose as well! Prada, Ray-Ban, Coach, DKNY, Versace, and Tory Burch, just to name a few.


My wait to see Dr. Sider was short, but in the time I had browsed, I already had my eye on one particular pair. So, I set it down with the woman at the front desk and went into the exam room. What I noticed first about this exam was how in-depth the doctor went with me into my eye history. He asked about my allergies, my work on computers, my health history, and fielded all sorts of other questions and concerns I had. I slipped out of my contacts and we go right into the exam.

After a series of reading letters from the chart and determining which prescription fit me best, I was happy to hear my eyesight hasn’t changed since last year or the two years prior. Though it’s stayed the same for a while, I think it’s still important to keep up with regular annual visits.

Before I left, Dr. Sider handed me this helpful sheet with some tips and suggestions. Did you know that eating healthy foods can help protect your vision?


I spent the rest of my visit finalizing my frames choice and finishing up. The staff was really helpful with my glasses search, offering several options that might meet my preferences. I love the plastic-type frames versus wire, and they had so many styles and colors. I ended up choosing these really cool blue/green tortoise frames by RIMS. I can’t wait to get them! I was very pleased with my customer service experience at Pearle Vision, as well as the frames selection, and I definitely see myself returning to the Pearle Vision EyeCare Center in the future.

Pearle Vision accepts most major insurances and my location even offered a AAA discount on the exam and frames. Check their website from time to time to find out about any specials that are going on. For example, when I had my visit, they were offering a BOGO deal (prescription glasses and/or sunglasses) that was one of their best of the year.

Pearle Vision was opened back in 1961 by Dr. Stanley Pearle. Today there are close to 600 EyeCare Centers across the United States -- likely one in your neighborhood. For more information, follow Pearle Vision on Facebook and YouTube.

Are you going to visit your local Pearle Vision EyeCare Center? 

Tell me in the comments and you will be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card!

Entry Instructions:

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You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. 

The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 7/7/15 – 10/3/15.

Be sure to visit the Pearle Vision brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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Recycled Bird Feeders and Oral Health

It’s finally spring! After the long, cold winter we had, I’m so much enjoying the warmer, sunnier weather and being outdoors again. This is our first spring in our new house, and we’ve already noticed that we get many more critters over here than we did at our last place.

Since our property backs up to a creek, we’ve especially noticed a greater variety in birds flying around. We thought it would be fun to set up a few feeders in trees so Ada could get more up close and personal. I started shopping around, but then quickly remembered making birdhouses and feeders out of old milk cartons when I was a kid. I thought this project would be fun for Ada to help me with as we begin to enjoy this new season.


STEP 1:

Clean out a used milk or juice container. We used this lemonade one, and I like how it has the round cap for eventually hanging the bird feeder in a tree. I even used the artwork to guide my cuts in the next step.


STEP 2:

Cut out access points/windows using an X-ACTO knife or scissors. I strongly suggest the adults do this part because cutting through cardboard can be tricky. There’s really no right or wrong way to do it. Just create enough space so a bird can go inside. You’ll want at least one window, but you can make as many as you like of all different shapes and sizes.


STEP 3:

(Optional) Paint your bird feeder. I used a thin coat of some leftover indoor/outdoor spray paint we had in the basement. You can also just leave your container as is or paint using something that won’t immediately wash off. I’ve also seen people use colored tapes, buttons, twigs, etc.


STEP 4:

Use string to feed through the top spout and then through a hole you can poke in the back for hanging. I used some yarn, but I think twine might work best.


STEP 5:

Fill with bird food. We purchased a good amount at our Christmas Tree Shops for less than $2. Just spoon the food into the bird feeder until it’s full. You can also add a perch if you like, but in my experience, the birds do fine either way.

And then you’re done! We’ve had ours up since the very first days of spring (when there was still even some snow on the ground!) and it’s holding up great!


This post is sponsored by Aquafresh^® toothpaste in an effort to remind each of us -- young and small -- to practice good brushing habits this spring (and all year long!). Obviously sugary, acidic beverages, like my beloved lemonade, are delicious to sip in the warm weather . . . in moderation. However, they can certainly wreck havoc on our teeth and gums.

I’m actually quite self-conscious about my teeth. I was born with low tooth enamel due to a medication my mom took for hyperemesis gravidarum during her pregnancy. It was black boxed several months after she had finished her dosage. Anyway, I need to be particularly careful about my oral hygiene (we all should), which is why I’ve decided to share this information with you in this campaign.

Here are some things you can do:

• Keep an eye on the stuff you eat. There are sneaky sugars in so many foods these days, so try to minimize your exposure to food and drink that contain excess sugars. 
• Brush twice a day.
• Brush at a 45-degree angle to the gums and use short, gentle strokes on all of your teeth’s surfaces.
• Don’t forget to also brush your tongue and floss! Your gums trap food and plaque between teeth where the brush can’t as easily access. 
• I always keep a water bottle handy so I can flush away anything when brushing isn’t convenient.
• Check out more tips for healthy teeth and gums.

How do you celebrate Springtime? Tell me in the comments for a chance to win a $100 VISA gift card!

Entry Instructions: 

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 6/3/2015 – 7/3/2015

Be sure to visit the Aquafresh^® toothpaste brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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I’m on a Teatox

BlogHer recently gave me the opportunity to try out SkinnyMint’s 28 Day Teatox. I’ve been feeling sort of blah in the wake of everything my body went through earlier this year. My weight has been up, I had been eating poorly, and I haven’t felt like I’ve been taking the best care of myself. I was looking at this opportunity to do something small for myself and hopefully kick-start some new habits. For me, the whole #DareToBeGorgeous resonates with my desire to have that sort of beauty from the inside out.

It all starts with self-care, and I like how the Teatox helps me detoxify my body without changing my routine terribly much. You follow two simple steps: a Morning Boost and Night Cleanse that are meant to be incorporated into an otherwise healthy diet. Yes, food! That’s what was so appealing to me about this program versus more traditional detoxes -- you still eat balanced meals to fuel your day.

All you do is add the tea in the morning and at night.


Detoxing may help you . . .

Increase energy
Burn fat
Reduce appetite
Reduce bloating
Improve digestion
Lose weight

The bolded items are my main focus in this adventure.

I’m a big tea-drinker, and as far as taste goes, I really enjoy the hints of grapefruit, strawberry, and pineapple in the Morning Boost. The active ingredients are green tea, yerba mate, and guarana. While it does contain caffeine, which is an ingredient where I occasionally have some sensitivity, I didn’t experience any headaches (my main issue), so that’s all good. In fact, if you usually drink coffee, it’s a great substitute. My favorite way to drink the morning tea is to brew a small glass, then fill a larger one with water, mix the two together with some lemon juice, and sip on it all morning.

The Night Cleanse tea contains peppermint, hawthorn berry, and psylium husk. It did have a slight laxative effect (it’s noted on the bag), but it wasn’t anything terrible. All those toxins have to leave the body in one way or another, right? Drinking tea before bedtime is a nice ritual that helps relax me anyway, so it was easy to make the switch.


I haven’t finished my whole Teatox, but I can tell you that my bloating has definitely gone down. If anything, drinking the tea first thing in the morning and before bed at night has me thinking about making healthy choices throughout the day, so it’s been a good reminder more than anything else. And I like that instead of taking stuff away (dieting, fasting, etc.), I’m adding something beneficial.


Learn more . . . and enter to win one of 50 packs of 28 Day Ultimate Teatox: www.skinnymint.com/win28day

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Website: https://www.skinnymint.com/

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