Totally Taken Care Of with Listerine #LISTERINEMom

Disclosure – I received LISTERINE® Brand products and a Walgreens gift card from Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc. and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the LISTERINE® Brand Totally Taken Care Of program. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.

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Taking care of summer fun can be a daunting task.  Rain or shine, you still have to keep your family’s days fun filled. Plan ahead to have more fun and less stress.

First of all always be prepared.  Check your local weather forecast, and keep that in mind.  Weather can change on a dime, and even the slightest chance of rain means pack rain gear and have an alternate plan if your activity is outside.  An example would be a picnic in the park can be great fun, but can’t be banked on for a meal.  When picking a park to eat in, make sure you find one that has some cover in the form of a gazebo or covered area to run to if rain starts to fall or to protect you from the overbearing sun.

Of course, no matter how long you are away for, oral care should be one of your top priorities.  Using the proper tooth paste and mouth rinse, like Listerine Total Care can make all the difference.  Total Care helps prevent cavities, restores enamel, strengthen teeth, kills bad breath germs, cleans the whole mouth, and freshens breath.

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Keep a towel in the car. It will come in handy in many situations, and more often then you might think.  Towels can of course be used to drying, but also if your kid gets cold, sits in something sticky or wet and you don’t want them to ruin the car seats, or you end up somewhere where you don’t want to sit on the ground.

It can be easy to totally take care of a summer adventure, with minimal effort but some thought and preparation.

Banana Boat For Summer Fun #BBBestSummerEver @bananaboat

Disclosure- Sponsored by BANANA BOAT®, All opinions are my own.banboat.
 A necessary part of summer is the sun of course, but with those hot days at the beach also comes the danger of skin damage and skin cancer from the sun.  The best way to fight this is with sun screen, and one of our favorites is Banana Boat®.
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 As every parent knows a good summer trip involves preparation.  Snacks, water bottles, sunscreen, bug spray ,and a towel are just some of the necessities needed for summer fun.
One fun trip we took recently was a fishing trip to a local camping spot. The prep for this trip was simple.  It was a damp morning, but it was due to clear up in the afternoon so we of course grabbed the Banana Boat® as the husband and son are super fair skinned.  We also grabbed the snacks, water bottles, and hand sanitizer.  Of course, in addition to hats and fishing gear.  Can’t fish without that!
The day started out dreary and pouring, so it was a good thing snacks were packed.  The rain cleared up, it was time for fishing so sun screen was applied and fishing commenced.  As the day progressed, the rain started up again the fishing trip had to be brought to an early end around lunch time.  The best part of this trip- not a spot of sun burn among any of us.  My son even caught a fish!  If you can call that a fish, LOL- and yes, it was put back. No one getting burned is always tricky, because my son and husband are  quite pale.  Of course, everyone can burn, but the lighter you are, the harder it can be. The day was a success with the little guy catching the only fish and everyone having a good time.
No matter you have planned this summer,  preparation and sun screen are necessities.
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Below are a few tips and tricks regarding sun screen:
Be sure to apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to you and your kids’ entire bodies 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
We know family gatherings can be hosted under many different conditions-Banana Boat has some great products that offer multi-skin benefits, like water-resistance, ease of application and
comfort. For example, for families at the beach, I love their new SunComfort™ Clear UltraMist® Sunscreen it provides Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB protection and water resistance, and also
allows sand to easily brush off!
Make sunscreen application fun for kids. Make up lyrics to your own melody to sing while applying sunscreen. It keeps them engaged and makes it feel like less of a chore.
Banana Boat® sun care products are tested in seven conditions
–sun, pool water, ocean water,wind, sweat, sand and extreme heat–to provide safe and effective broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection for the entire family.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Banana Boat® . The opinions and text are all mine.

YOXO Join the Makers Movement #YOXOtoys

As our little ones grow up, it seems like their toys get more and more complex.  They start with simple push and pull cars and rattles, they morph into tech and “batteries not included” before you can blink an eye.  Every so often, a new toy comes along that puts electronic toys in their place and brings play time back to its roots with pieces that fit together in a creative way and are easy to fit together.

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YOXO is a fun new toy, named after the basic shapes of their building pieces, Y’s, X’s, and O’s.  Each of these shapes have small slits or longer slits depending on the shape, to accept other shapes attaching to them.  This can create some interesting shapes and creatures, with possibilities only limited by your imagination.  Each piece is cardboard, so it is completely recyclable.  The design may be simple, but the toy set itself is quite fun.  I’m not sure if it is because of the odd shapes of the pieces or because each piece fits into the next with little effort, but we really liked messing with it.  Whatever the reason, YOXO is quite fun to play with.

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As far as the number of kits available, three are available at this point.  Doon, “Orig”, and Flye.  Orig is a rebellious robot who is the leader of the group and stands 18 inches tall.  Flye is a huge 4 foot dragonfly who has some unique oval shapes that really open up the possibilities of the set.  Last but not least is Doon, who is a dune buggy with moving wheels.  We gave Doon a try and were pleasantly surprised with how much fun it was to build and play with the set.  It kept my son and the husband busy for quite some time, so that was great for me.  I mean, them.

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“Doon is a 13-inch dune buggy kit for kids who are ready to take a ride. The 33-piece Doon kit includes everything you need to build your own recyclable YOXOmoto. Then take Doon apart and invent something new. Comes with custom moto parts, repositionable YOXO eye stickers in a sturdy box with a lid for easy storage. $19.99”

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These sets are now available at Target stores nationwide as well as YOXO kits are available at www.yoxo.com and at independent toy stores across the country.  Doon retails for $19.99, Flye retails for $24.99 and YOXObot “Orig” for $19.99.

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Geleeo- The Must Have Stroller Accessory

Disclosure: The Geleeo Self-Cooling Pad was provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.
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We seem to be on walks and in the stroller the majority of the time. Even if it isn’t all that hot outside my girls are always complaining that they are hot if we are out and about too often. The Geleeo Pads have truly improved our outings.

About Geleeo

Geleeo is the only self-cooling stroller liner ever invented. With proprietary hydrogel inside, Geleeo manages to stay a few degrees cooler than its ambient environment without prior refrigeration. It is made to overcome the refrigeration hassle and provide a solution that was impossible to accomplish before.

This great product was invented and designed by a parent to prevent children from becoming overheated in their strollers. It manages to deliver a gentle soothing sensation and to discharge body heat for a long lasting time without any external assistance or power consumption.

Geleeo provides an effective outdoor freshening method without fan, ice, or other traditional techniques. One pad can be used to cool off bodies on a daily basis.

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My Thoughts:

The Geleeo Pad is one of the most amazing creations I have ever used. I absolutely love this amazing pad. We live in the midwest and seem to always be hot when we are outside for very long between high temperatures and high humidity. I have a double stroller, but at this time I only have one Geleeo, so the girls have gotten good about taking turns and sharing so they both have a chance to cool off. I know that I will be purchasing an additional one so that they can both have one before this summer gets even warmer than it already is.This product truly works absolutely as amazingly as it says that it does. The girls truly stay much cooler and relaxed when we are out and about doing whatever activities that day holds. I wish that I would have had this when my girls were younger and little babies that didn’t get in and out of the stroller as often. I would use ice packs, baby wipes, and many other creative strategies to keep them cooled off. I’m not sure how I survived without it, but let me tell you that I won’t let anyone else that I know that has kids survive without them.

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Purchase:

If you are interested in purchasing a Geleeo pad for yourself, you can head on over to the website and find a store near you to purchase it from.

Glasstic Bottle – Great water bottle for on the go!

Disclosure: The Glasstic Glass Bottle was provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.
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Being on the go at all times I find it extremely important to have a good water bottle so I don’t constantly have to buy the plastic ones or get a drink wherever we stop. I must say that I have been incredibly impressed with my new Water Bottle from Glasstic.

About Glasstic:

Glasstic Bottle Co. is a division of Healthylicious Living LLC. They are a healthy and active lifestyle company, helping people around the world to realize a better quality of health and life through their innovative product line. They began developing the Glasstic bottle over three years ago when they saw a need in the market for high quality/pure yet portable beverage containers. The portable water bottle market had begun to replace plastic bottles with metal ones due to increasing concert of harmful chemicals leaching from the plastic bottles.

They knew that the ultimate water bottle had to be made of glass. Yet, they also knew that they had to make a glass bottle that was portable, break resistant, shatterproof, BPA free, toxin free and safe over-all to carry into public places. They really wanted a worry-free glass water bottle and Glasstic was born.

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About Glasstic Water Bottles:

  • Pure Glass on the Inside, Durable BPA Free Plastic on the Outside
  • 100% Shatterproof and Worry-Free
  • BPA Free Tritan Outer Shell, Toxin Free, Metal Free
  • Easy to Clean and is Dishwasher Safe
  • Stylish & Attractive
  • Wide Mouth Glass Water Bottle
  • Twist-Off Cap

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My Thoughts:

I was incredibly impressed by this great new water bottle. I like to take a water bottle with me when we are on the go traveling, or even when I am just going to work. I have had a hard time finding the right bottle for what I wanted and find myself wasting money buying bottles trying to find just the right one. From the moment that I received my Glasstic Water Bottle I have been incredibly impressed. I find myself taking it with me to work, my workout classes, and travel. It is the perfect bottle to have with me. I know that it is ‘Safe’ for me to drink from, as well as being indestructible. I also trust my children to use this water bottle as well, which really says something. At 3 and 5, they don’t always have the best grip on things, but I know that they are just fine with this awesome water bottle.

Purchase:

If you are interested in purchasing this great water bottle, head on over to Glasstic and pick out the one that is perfect for you.

AirFree Air Purifier- Perfect for people with Allergies

Disclosure: The Airfree Air Purifier was provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

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Ugh…Allergies are real serious problem for this midwestern family. Let me tell you that with the weather the way that it was this past year I think that I seriously suffered with allergies from October until recently. I haven’t had the Airfree Air Purifier for a terribly long time but I have been completely impressed with it since the moment that I plugged it in.

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About Airfree:

Airfree’s technology was developed through the initiative and creativity of a father in an effort to find an effective way to ease his son’s allergy attacks. The Portuguese businessman scoured the market trying to find an air purifier that would help his son’s respiratory issues but found nothing that suited their needs. He then began to develop Airfree. In 2004, after a few adjustments from the beginning had been made to improve electronics and capacity, Airfree was born, marked by the launch of its P air purifier range, attractive and modern in design. A groundbreaking brand was on its way to conquering world markets.

About Airfree Air Purifiers:

The Airfree air purifiers are effective against bacteria, viruses, mildew, mold, dust mite allergens, pet allergens, pollen, and tobacco odors. SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company, and dozens of other international laboratories have proved the effectiveness of Airfree air purifiers at reducing the amount of microorganisms and harmful substances from the air. The TSS technology used is an exclusive and patented technology used in Airfree’s air purifiers, is established in over 50 countries worldwide, and is completely silent. With no fans or turbines, a good night’s sleep is guaranteed.

Airfree’s exclusive technology works by eliminating microorganisms and allergens, destroying them in a fraction of a second. Depending on the model, between 4,000 and 6,000 gallons of air pass through the Airfree device every hour, treating all the air in the room in a very short space of time. This entire process is completely silent and requires no maintenance, not even the occasional replacement parts. All you have to do is switch the device on and leave it to get on with the job.

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About Air Purifier Onix 3000:

This Air Purifier is recommended for rooms up to 650 square feet. This great purifier reduces microbiological contamination in the air naturally, without using chemicals or filters. Recommended by doctors and with no contraindications, they can be used anywhere. It only weights 3.3 pounds and is easy to move from room to room if necessary.

My Thoughts:

I was incredibly impressed with this amazing Air Purifier. I have had horrible allergies this year, which is not something that I typically have. I hate allergies and all the yuckiness that goes along with them. My girls and husband have seemed to have bad allergies this year as well. We have had this Air Purifier in my house for about 2 weeks and we have already noticed a tremendous improvement with our allergies. I know that I will be recommending this amazing product to everyone around me that suffers with allergy problems as well. I am so impressed that it works so well in our big family room which we spend most of our time in. I also really like that you don’t have to change the filter. The fact that it burns the allergens away is what truly makes this product work well and not be a forever ending expense.

Purchase:

If you are interested in purchasing one or two for your house (I know that I am going to need an additional one) head on over to the website to see the different Air Purifiers that they have to offer and pick the one that is right for your home.

Head To Kohl’s for Everything You Need This Summer

Disclosure: The below was provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

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Summer is fast approaching, and it lately feels like it’s here already.  Doesn’t it feel like we skipped spring?  It’s about that time that we need to refresh summer wardrobes, grab what you need for that upcoming vacation or roadtrip, and make sure your kid’s sandals fit.  What, they don’t?  Of course they don’t, they never do!

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I don’t like to spend a lot of time going from store to store to get what I need. As a busy working wife and mother, I have a lot of hats I wear on a daily basis, and any way I can trim time I spend doing those “must do” activities is a bonus for me. That’s one of the many reasons I love shopping at Kohl’s- whether you shop in stores or online, it’s a one stop shopping experience that you don’t need to spend tons of time and energy on. Bonus? The prices are great- you can catch amazing deals, get rewarded just for shopping and buying what you need to (with Kohl’s Cash, good for anything in the store) AND they constantly mail out money saving coupons in the weekly mailers, snail mail, and the best ones come via email when you sign up to receive promotions. Really, you should- there is not a reason in the world not to. They only send you deals and updates, Kohl’s is not one of those places that bombard you with useless emails 300 times a week.

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While I usually enjoy shopping, shopping for my husband and son can be a less then fun experience, and one I prefer to either do alone or online. My son is OK if he’s with me, but if daddy is also with us, he turns into a whine machine. I don’t know why that is, but the quickness and ease of shopping at Kohl’s and getting what I need to for everyone in the family with no fuss is VERY appreciated by this mommy, let me tell you. Maybe it’s a guy thing- but they just don’t make shopping fun, and it’s great to go in with a list, sizes, and be done with it. Shopping online at 2 am is another great standby. No one annoys me then, and since they are both dudes? They don’t care what I buy them as long as it fits, and for the kiddo maybe has an Angry Bird or two involved, haha.

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[Read more…]

Potty Training with Pampers Easy Ups #PampersEasyUps #ad

Disclosure- I received the below in order to facilitate this review. Pampers has sponsored this post. All opinions are my own and honest.

Potty training can be both an exciting and nerve racking experience.  For some it is a breeze- for others like our little guy, not so much.  It’s one of those things we all need to do, and of course worth it to have the little squirt go ‘squirt’ in a toilet.  Everyone seems to have some trick or tip to make potty training easy.  My trick- just keep at it.

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Here are are few thoughts from L Jana MD.

  1. Promote potty learning. Instead of referring to your child’s transition from wearing diapers to using the potty as “potty training,” consider calling it “potty learning.” After all, mastering this eagerly anticipated milestone of childhood takes time, teaching, and plenty of practice and patience!
  1. Take a teamwork approach. From the outset, I find it helps to keep in mind that potty training is a team sport. If you simply remind yourself that you are (and always will be) on the same team as your child, it can really help you stay calm in the face of potty accidents and be a much more positive and effective potty training coach.
  1. Stock your deck. Part of the secret to your child’s potty success will involve being well equipped and removing any obstacles that stand between your child and potty success. Sure, this typically includes a fun trip out to purchase a brand new first set of coveted “big-boy” or “big-girl” underwear. But it also means having on hand other practical supplies that can help foster your child’s interest and independence – from a step stool (to improve access to the toilet) or potty seat to training pants. That’s why I’m happy to partner with Pampers, whose Easy Ups training pants are designed to help the diaper-to-underwear transition by allowing potty-training toddlers to set aside their diapers and wear something with more of an underwear-like look and feel that still helps contain accidental messes no matter whether they happen at home, on-the-go or overnight.
  1. Embrace success. As with any learning experience, young children can learn a lot from both their potty successes and their failures. While potty accidents are an inevitable (and admittedly inconvenient) aspect of potty learning, they shouldn’t dominate your day-to-day discussions. Instead, simply help your child learn to cope with (and clean up) any messes and focus your attention on celebrating your child’s successes with plenty of hugs and words of encouragement.
  1. Watch for the signs. There are several characteristic signs and developmental abilities you can watch for that suggest children are ready to potty train. These signs of potty training readiness typically include the ability to use their words to express themselves, toddle their own way to the bathroom, pull down their own pants, and to be aware of the sensation of peeing or pooping (characteristically noticeable when young children suddenly stop what they’re doing as they feel themselves start to pee. Or when they start hiding behind the sofa or standing in a corner to poop. It is also helpful (and increases the likelihood of potty training interest) when children start to be bothered by their poopy and/or wet diapers, as that can serve as a good motivation for using the potty instead!
  1. Start making connections. There’s a lot that you can do to help your child be well-prepared to use the potty successfully long before he actually starts to. Reading fun and engaging children’s books about potty training, such as You and Me Against the Pee! (which I co-authored) can go a long way towards making the idea of potty training a family and eagerly anticipated one. You can take this familiarity a step further by letting your toddler accompany you in to the bathroom when you need to go so that he both becomes familiar with the routine and comfortable with the idea of using the toilet, rather than being afraid of or intimidated by it!

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Pampers Easy Ups are another great way to potty train your little ones.  They feature an “easy up” underpants type design, while also providing 25% more absorbent then other brands.  Easy Ups also feature fun designs including Thomas the Tank Engine for boys and Dora the Explorer for girls.  If the Easy Ups get wet, the design fades to show your little ones when its time to hit the potty.  They feel more like underwear, so children will be that much more inclined to act like a “big kid” and head to the potty instead of using the diaper.

Product Features

  • An absorbent core that holds 25% more than the other leading training pant (Huggies® Pull-Ups® Learning Designs®) and ensures little ones remain dry
  • Pampers Easy Ups® have fewer leaks than the other leading training pant (Huggies® Pull-Ups® Learning Designs®)
  • Fun Thomas & Friends® designs for boys and Dora the Explorer® designs for girls
  • A more underwear-like design for growing toddlers
  • Graphics that fade when wet to help little ones learn
  • Super-stretchy sides to make them easy to pull up and down when using the potty
  • Available for Boys and Girls sizes 2T/3T through 4T/5T

They are available everywhere diapers are sold, so why not try them out?  See how they work for your little one.  Let them pick out the design they like best- they won’t want to get their new “big boy” or girl Pampers EASY UPS wet!

Learn More

Visit the Pampers Website

Submit a review on Pampers.com to earn Rewards points

Follow Pampers on Twitter and Facebook

#PampersEasyUps