Sarah Tilton’s Car Seat Installation Tips and WIN a Britax Advocate ClickTight car seat

March 2, 2015 by 182 Comments

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Car Seat Installation Tips:

  • It is important to follow the user manuals from both the child car seat manufacturer and the vehicle manufacturer in order to achieve a proper installation.
  • Use a car seat that makes installation as simple as buckling a seat belt. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, three out of every four car seats are installed incorrectly. To address this concerning fact, the new ClickTight installation technology in Britax convertible car seats gives any caretaker the confidence to correctly and securely install these seats in just a few easy steps.
  • The safest place for your child in any vehicle is in the back seat. The center of the rear seat is preferable to outboard (window) positions — as long as you can achieve a tight installation — because it is the farthest from a side impact. Research has shown that children under the age of 3 have a 43 percent lower risk of injury when restrained in the center of the rear seat compared with the rear outboard positions. However, keep in mind that if you’re not able to install your car seat in the center position, a properly installed car seat in an outboard position will still provide excellent protection for your child during a crash.
  • Tips to avoid loose car seat installation:
  • After installation, grasp the seat near the belt path to check for excessive movement, which is movement of more than one inch side-to-side or front-to-back at the belt path.
  • If you have trouble installing your car seat securely, try the following:
    • Install the car seat in another seating position in your vehicle. For example, if you can’t install it securely in the rear center seat, try an outboard position.
    • Install the car seat using another installation method. For example, if you’re not able to get a secure installation using the LATCH system, try to install with the vehicle seat belt and tether.
  • The process of seating and removing your child along with the motion from your vehicle moving can shake your child seat loose over time. This makes it critical to check the fit often and reinstall your child seat periodically.
  • Using a technology like ClickTight, which uses seat belts for installation, also eliminates any parental worry about the 65-pound LATCH capacity and when to switch a growing child away from it.

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The Listerine 21 Day Challenge

March 2, 2015 by 7 Comments

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® 21-Day Challenge. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own.

pic6Recently, my family and I took the Listerine 21 Day Challenge.   You might recall the blog post I wrote about it when we first started.  It was an easy challenge to take- not really all that challenging- and our mouths are that much happier for it.  It was made even easier with the emails and reminders that LISTERINE sent on a daily basis. Our breath is better for longer, and my mouth does feel fresh and clean.

pic8You might be wondering what the challenge consisted of.  If you decide to take it as well, you choose an expert in fitness, nutrition or home organization from whom you will receive daily personalized emails with tips, video content, and guidance from. By signing up for the 21 Day Challenge and sticking with your twice daily rinsing routine, you will have a daily opportunity to instantly win exciting prizes, including a Fitbit®, a $100 Container Store® Gift Card, an Amazon Fire TV, or more.  For every seven consecutive days you swish, you’ll be entered into one of the sweepstakes drawings for a grand prize.  It’s a win-win situation, really.   (See what I did there?)
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Hungry Caterpillar Booster Seat from Creative Baby

February 28, 2015 by 3 Comments

Disclosure: The Hungry Caterpillar Booster Seat from Creative Baby mentioned 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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When you are always on the go with young kids there are some things that you really need that make life easier. Having a booster seat that you can easily pack up in the car with you is a must have if you are traveling with a young child, especially if you are going somewhere that doesn’t have children. The Hungry Caterpillar Booster Seat from Creative Baby.

About Creative Baby: 

Creative Baby is the creator of the interactive foam mats known as the iMat line, which are made of interlocking soft sections that magically become interactive when used with the company’s patented Voice Pen.

Creative Baby believes in stimulating children’s minds through fun and engaging activities. It’s the first step in unlocking their creative potential. Creative Baby develops products to excite and entertain, to challenge and delight. The unique line of product cultivates a true love of play in children, and empowers parents to encourage and participate in their child’s creative development.

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WIN Simply Juice Drinks

February 25, 2015 by 269 Comments

We are always looking for something new and fun to add to mealtimes. We don’t drink a ton of juice or soda, but we do sometimes, and I always keep some in the house.  You never know when the fancy will strike you.  Sometimes, you want that something sweet.  With juices, I can be a bit picky- so many of them are nothing but sugar water, and I don’t let my son have those (or soda, for that matter).  I was happy to find out that the makers of Simply Orange and Simply Lemonade have launched a new premium line of refreshing juice drinks in a variety of flavors: Fruit Punch, Tropical and Mixed Berry. Each flavor has a real fruit taste and is made with simple, all natural ingredients.

pic8My son and I looked for them when we were shopping recently, and our store carried them.  He helped me pick out the new ones, so we could give them a try.
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Filed Under: food, review

Keeping The Kids Busy During Long Winter Days

February 25, 2015 by 2 Comments

Versatile- play with it inside, take it outside, pack it up and bring it along with you to grandma’s, even take it into the tub- is the new Playmobil Take Along Zoo and Aquarium.  This set comes with trees, pools, fences, and quite a few animals (such as zebras, giraffes, lions, fish, walrus) and human caretakers as well.  All of these pieces fit easily into the case, which folds up and is easy to store or take along.  When open, one side is the zoo, and the other the aquarium.  Your child can really fill it up with water and let the sea creatures have a swim.  It comes with quite a lot of pieces for one set, and there is room in the case for a few more should your child have some other “animal friends” that want to visit.  Available for $49 on Playmobil’s site.

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If you are stuck inside like many of us this winter (the temperatures have been crazy lately- more days in the negative then the positive degrees for much of the country) you are breaking out fun indoor playthings. Some inexpensive ways to replenish or restock are by American Plastic Toys- made right here in the USA, and really low cost.  Take the Fashion Doll Coupe- for only $5 (yes, really) you and your kids can take your toys cruising all over the house.  Since the wheels are plastic, they won’t leave those ugly and annoying black marks on your floors, either. The car is a two seater, and fits most popular dolls as well as smaller stuffed animals and toys.
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Work It Out at Kohl’s

February 23, 2015 by 8 Comments

Getting into shape is “one of those things” that many of us struggle with daily.  We all want to look and feel great, but many of us weren’t born with perfect genes or a great metabolism.  Couple that with the junk that is pumped into food these days (yes, yay for technology) and busy lives, and it’s just not easy, is it?  It’s no wonder why so many people make losing weight or personal fitness their New Year’s resolution.  Did you start off strong in January, but now that February is here, you are wavering a little?  Kohl’s has your back.

WP_20150222_15_33_40_ProThey have great sales on everything you need to lose weight and get into shape (without breaking the bank).  I love all the bright colors as well- with a winter that seems like it will drag on for all eternity, it is nice to at least wear the colors that the outside world is missing, yes?

WP_20150222_15_34_06_ProI belong to a local gym, which is helpful for me, because I really dislike this cold weather, and I promise you I would not be out in it much for walks or whatnot.  I am outside as little as humanly possible right now, so I am grateful for that membership!  Another option that I utilize is at-home workout DVDs and yoga.  Kohl’s has a fairly wide variety of both DVDs and workout equipment, from weights to yoga mats and more.  They carry all the brands you know, trust, and love, as well as the DVDs with trainers you really want to watch. Even better news- they are all on sale.
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LEGO Justice League Vs Bizarro League Blu-ray Giveaway

February 22, 2015 by 72 Comments

Disclosure- I will receive a copy of the below for promoting.  All opinions are my own.  See I Disclose for more info.

Have you seen the latest LEGO movie?  It was really fun (and at times, very funny).  Your kids will love it- and honestly, so will dad. LEGO Justice League vs. Bizarro League is out now, and is worth a watch.

pic5Lego fans wait no more- LEGO: DC Comics Super Heroes: Justice League vs. Bizarro League is here along with an awesome Bizarro name-generator app and exclusive Digital Trading Cards.

About LEGO Justice League vs. Bizarro League

Batman has joined the newly formed Justice League in order to keep tabs on Superman, a mistrust that is complicated by Superman’s clumsy – but well-meaning – clone, Bizarro. Bizarro’s creation of the Bizarro League has caused confusion amongst the world’s greatest Super Heroes, but an even greater and mysterious threat may force the Justice League and Bizarro League to band together to defeat evil.
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Big Hero 6 Now Out on DVD

February 20, 2015 by 5 Comments

Disclosure- We received the below in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are our own and honest. Please see I Disclose for more info.

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The new Disney movie, Big Hero 6, is now out on DVD.  My son and I both really enjoyed this movie, it will be one both adult and kids will like. This was one of the cuter movies I have seen in a while, if a bit sad at times. The story revolves around a boy-genius, Hiro, who tragically loses his brother whom he looks up to (after they have already lost their parents). His brother is a “nerd”, and builds amazing technology at a local university. With some encouragement from his brother and his brother’s friends, Hiro creates a new machine himself and earns a place in the same school. Unfourtunatly, this is where the trouble starts. His brother is lost, as is the school, but his brother’s invention, the robot-nurse Baymax, and his school friends are there to help Hiro figure it all out.

The movie is very sad in several places. Several kids in the theater were crying, my son included. He still loved the movie and has watched it three times since getting it, but if your child is very sensitive, use caution. This is one of the best movies, in my opinion, that has come out for kids and families in a while. I liked it myself, and kid-movies are not always as much fun for adults. I would personally recommend it for the whole family.

Synopsis:
From Walt Disney Animation Studios, the team behind “Frozen” and “Wreck-It Ralph,” comes “Big Hero 6,” an action-packed comedy-adventure about the special bond that develops between Baymax, a plus-sized inflatable robot, and prodigy Hiro Hamada. When a devastating event befalls the city of San Fransokyo and catapults Hiro into the midst of danger, he turns to Baymax and his close friends – adrenaline junkie Go Go Tamago, clean freak Wasabi No-Ginger, chemistry whiz Honey Lemon and fanboy Fred. Determined to uncover the mystery, Hiro transforms his friends into a band of high-tech heroes called “Big Hero 6.” Inspired by the Marvel comics of the same name, and featuring comic-book style action and all the heart and humor audiences expect from Walt Disney Animation Studios, “Big Hero 6” is directed by Don Hall (“Winnie the Pooh”) and Chris Williams (“Bolt”), and produced by Roy Conli (“Tangled”).
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