Just chat and answer questions-you might win a great prize!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Hayneedle Baby Twitter Party-Tonight!
The Hayneedle Baby Store will be hosting a Twitter Party tonight from 8-9:30PM ET. To participate and win prizes just follow @Hayneedle on Twitter and follow along with the hashtag #hayneedlebaby. RSVP for the party here.
Just chat and answer questions-you might win a great prize!
Just chat and answer questions-you might win a great prize!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
When Toys Attack!
Have you ever gotten up in the middle of the night only to step on a Lego block in the middle of the floor? Have you ever sat down on the sofa only to hear a cry of "Mama!" from the doll you just found under the cushion? If this sounds like you then be warned. The toys are winning. But never fear-help is just around the corner.
1. Start small.
If you're planning to organize your toy explosion don't try to get it done all in one day. Make a small goal at first and stick to it. (Getting one corner or closet done might be a nice place to start.)
2. Get help.
Chances are they're not your toys. (Hey, they might be, who knows? I'm not one to judge.) The toy's owners should have a hand in this. They made the mess, the should really be the ones cleaning it up! So get the kids to help.
3. Do you still play with this?
A big help would be weeding out toys that are no longer played with by the kids. Get them to pick out some toys to donate to others. Depending on the child this might be easier said than done, but explain how great it would be for a child less fortunate than them to have this toy and encourage them to think about donating.
4. Is it broken?
The next step is getting rid of things that really can't be of use anymore. We all hang on to things that are broken sometimes, but if it's not of value then why keep it? If the puzzles missing pieces or half of the toy is broken off, it's time to throw it in the trash.
5. Where can it go?
If you want your toys to stay organized, there has to be a place to keep them. Do they go in a toy box? Do you have shelves? Are there bins somewhere. Make sure you have a place to keep everything once you're gone through you wedding and sorting process so that things can stay clean.
6. Make a few bucks.
You might have perfectly good toys sitting around that your kid never really liked. Or maybe he did but he's outgrown it. Donation is great, but there might be a few things you want to put on Craig's List or eBay. Or perhaps have a garage sale. This might also help your child part with a few things if there is a promise of a little extra cash.
7. Label it.
The label maker is your friend when it comes to organization. When you're sorting out what goes well consider putting labels on things, too. No one can say they don't know where something goes if it's labeled. Even children who are pre-reading can get in on the act with picture labels.
8. Create collections.
While you're getting organized consider storing similar items or themes of toys together. Not only does this make logical organizational sense, but your kids might find new ways to play with different toys when they're presented together in a new way. (Combining different sets of building blocks together, for example.)
9. Stick to it.
I mentioned starting off with small goals when you start the process. But you'll also need to keep going. Getting things organized a little at a time is great, but only if you keep doing a little each (or almost each) day!
10. Set some limits.
Now that you've gone through the process of weeding and sorting your toys and putting them away in an organized fashion you'll want to keep it that way. So set some rules to help keep things neat and clean. Perhaps only one toy out at a time? Everything must be back in the toy box before bedtime? Only the playroom can have toys out? Whatever rules work for you and your family to help you meet your goals.
Don't let this happen to you!
I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hot Wheels® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.
1. Start small.
If you're planning to organize your toy explosion don't try to get it done all in one day. Make a small goal at first and stick to it. (Getting one corner or closet done might be a nice place to start.)
2. Get help.
Chances are they're not your toys. (Hey, they might be, who knows? I'm not one to judge.) The toy's owners should have a hand in this. They made the mess, the should really be the ones cleaning it up! So get the kids to help.
3. Do you still play with this?
A big help would be weeding out toys that are no longer played with by the kids. Get them to pick out some toys to donate to others. Depending on the child this might be easier said than done, but explain how great it would be for a child less fortunate than them to have this toy and encourage them to think about donating.
4. Is it broken?
The next step is getting rid of things that really can't be of use anymore. We all hang on to things that are broken sometimes, but if it's not of value then why keep it? If the puzzles missing pieces or half of the toy is broken off, it's time to throw it in the trash.
5. Where can it go?
If you want your toys to stay organized, there has to be a place to keep them. Do they go in a toy box? Do you have shelves? Are there bins somewhere. Make sure you have a place to keep everything once you're gone through you wedding and sorting process so that things can stay clean.
6. Make a few bucks.
You might have perfectly good toys sitting around that your kid never really liked. Or maybe he did but he's outgrown it. Donation is great, but there might be a few things you want to put on Craig's List or eBay. Or perhaps have a garage sale. This might also help your child part with a few things if there is a promise of a little extra cash.
7. Label it.
The label maker is your friend when it comes to organization. When you're sorting out what goes well consider putting labels on things, too. No one can say they don't know where something goes if it's labeled. Even children who are pre-reading can get in on the act with picture labels.
8. Create collections.
While you're getting organized consider storing similar items or themes of toys together. Not only does this make logical organizational sense, but your kids might find new ways to play with different toys when they're presented together in a new way. (Combining different sets of building blocks together, for example.)
9. Stick to it.
I mentioned starting off with small goals when you start the process. But you'll also need to keep going. Getting things organized a little at a time is great, but only if you keep doing a little each (or almost each) day!
10. Set some limits.
Now that you've gone through the process of weeding and sorting your toys and putting them away in an organized fashion you'll want to keep it that way. So set some rules to help keep things neat and clean. Perhaps only one toy out at a time? Everything must be back in the toy box before bedtime? Only the playroom can have toys out? Whatever rules work for you and your family to help you meet your goals.
Don't let this happen to you!
I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hot Wheels® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Compliment Day (The Prequel)
I wanted to start a holiday. I wanted to create a movement. And then when I went to Google it and found out someone had beaten me to it. There's already a Compliment Day on January 24th and it's been around since 1998. Why am I just hearing this now?
But hey, it's sort of a moot point since every day should be compliment day. I have a friend who's email signature is "Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle." The first time I saw that it really stuck with me. All of us have our ups and downs and little kindness from someone else can go a long way when you're feeling more downs than ups. That's where a little compliment can come in handy.
Of course the key to any compliment is the sincerity. I have a friend who will tell me I look fabulous even when I know I look like I woke up three minutes ago. I appreciate the effort but it doesn't really make me feel any better. A sincere and unexpected compliment, however, can be an amazing thing. People are much more likely to complain than compliment. How awesome would it be if the reverse of this were true. If people went out of their way to be kind and complimentary?
I'm reminded of the commericals from Liberty Mutal. They have a series featuring people doing little acts that spilled over into other people doing little acts of simple kindness. I always got a warm and fuzzy feelings when those commericals played. (The Part Where You Let Go by Hem is also an awesome song so I'm sharing my favorite in the series.)
So how will you be celebrating my unofficial prequel to Compliment Day? I hope you'll find an opportunity or two (or three) to compliment a friend, coworker or even a stranger. And perhaps do some other small kindness along the way.
But hey, it's sort of a moot point since every day should be compliment day. I have a friend who's email signature is "Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some sort of battle." The first time I saw that it really stuck with me. All of us have our ups and downs and little kindness from someone else can go a long way when you're feeling more downs than ups. That's where a little compliment can come in handy.
I'm reminded of the commericals from Liberty Mutal. They have a series featuring people doing little acts that spilled over into other people doing little acts of simple kindness. I always got a warm and fuzzy feelings when those commericals played. (The Part Where You Let Go by Hem is also an awesome song so I'm sharing my favorite in the series.)
So how will you be celebrating my unofficial prequel to Compliment Day? I hope you'll find an opportunity or two (or three) to compliment a friend, coworker or even a stranger. And perhaps do some other small kindness along the way.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Only Three Months Until Christmas...
You heard right! Just three months left to prepare for Christmas. OK, for a lot of people that might sounds like plenty of time. Then you have people like me who start preparing for Christmas on December 26th. I need all 364 days to get ready. I like Christmas that much.
Now, I do keep it all within reason. I don't have my Christmas decorations out. Yet. That will happen the day after Thanksgiving. (This weekend is dedicated to decorating for Halloween.!)
The day after Thanksgiving I will be in full on Black Friday mode. Thursday night I'll stay up mapping out my shopping plan of attack. I will more than likely get a few hours of sleep and be ready to go around 4am. Shopping will occur until about 7am. Then I'll come home, have some breakfast and crash on the sofa for as long as possible.
When I finally wake up from my post Black Friday comma I'll have two goals-Christmas decorating and Christmas cards. Depending on how completely exhausted I am the tree might come on Friday or might wait until Saturday. But everything else is coming up and going up.
Then I'll sit down, preferably with a cup of cocoa, and start on my holiday cards. I probably won't get them all done, but I'll at least make a good dent. I tend to send out around 40+ cards each year. And I like to write a personal note in each. That takes time!
Thankfully Tiny Prints is ready for those early planners like me. The Christmas card shop is now open!
Now, I do keep it all within reason. I don't have my Christmas decorations out. Yet. That will happen the day after Thanksgiving. (This weekend is dedicated to decorating for Halloween.!)
The day after Thanksgiving I will be in full on Black Friday mode. Thursday night I'll stay up mapping out my shopping plan of attack. I will more than likely get a few hours of sleep and be ready to go around 4am. Shopping will occur until about 7am. Then I'll come home, have some breakfast and crash on the sofa for as long as possible.
When I finally wake up from my post Black Friday comma I'll have two goals-Christmas decorating and Christmas cards. Depending on how completely exhausted I am the tree might come on Friday or might wait until Saturday. But everything else is coming up and going up.
Then I'll sit down, preferably with a cup of cocoa, and start on my holiday cards. I probably won't get them all done, but I'll at least make a good dent. I tend to send out around 40+ cards each year. And I like to write a personal note in each. That takes time!
Thankfully Tiny Prints is ready for those early planners like me. The Christmas card shop is now open!
Even if you're not an early planner, you might want to a look at Tiny Prints now. They have an amazing selection and it will be hard to pick your favorite. I still haven't found my favorite yet. (I think I have it narrowed down to a few dozen, though!) Tiny Prints has an awesome feature on their website-just click the heart and it will add your favorites to a list, making it easier to compare them all. One thing is for certain-my Christmas cards this year will be stamped with the awesome return address stamp I picked up from Tiny Prints. So what are you waiting for? There are lots of cards to choose from and you only have three months left!
This post was written as part of the Tiny Prints Blogger Program for compensation. All opinions are my own.
A Safer & Greener Home-For Baby and For You!
Are you expecting? Helping a friend prepare for a new baby? Have a little one on the way in your family? Chances are you'll be doing at least a little work to prepare the baby's nursery. Beyond what cute patterns you can find for bedding and the adorable clothing, there are some not so obvious things to think about when preparing for baby.
1. Watch those hand me downs!
It's great to reuse items whenever possible but depending on the items it might not be safe. Previously loved cribs might have unsafe slat sizes or lead paint. Used car seats might not be up to current safety standards. So take that gently used onesie, but avoid taking furniture and safety items unless you've checked first with the Consumer Safety Product Commission.
2. Use low VOC paints.
Most new nurseries include a new coat of paint, but paint is full of potentially harmful chemicals. You'll all breathe better if you spend a little more and purchase paint low in volatile organic compounds.
3. Leave the shoes at the door.
Did you know you can cut down on the amount of chemicals in your home just by taking off your shoes? We walk through chemicals and pesticides every day. Taking them off before you step inside can help keep these chemicals from entering your home. This is especially important when you're thinking about a new baby who will spend a lot of time on the floor.
4. Less is more in bedding.
Everyone loves to pick out cute bedding and bumpers and things for the crib-but is it all safe? Crib bumpers aren't necessary, and can actually be dangerous if a child's face gets too close. (Bumpers serve no practical purpose on safety approved cribs, as the slat sizes prevent children from becoming trapped.) According to the American Academy of Pediatrics the safest bed for your child contains a firm padded mattress with a simple sheet as the only bedding. Consider using wearable blankets such as the Halo Sleep Sack in place of blankets or sheets which could cover the baby's face in their sleep.
5. Check from below.
It seems silly, but it works. Get down on your hands and knees and crawl around. Look at what might be attractive to a baby. Is it safe? Is it dangerous? Can it be adapted? Of course it will be months before the baby can crawl around and get into the trouble you're looking for now, but it's so much easier to prepare before the baby arrives then to do so after the baby is here.
6. How's the air?
Does your home have issues with mold? Air quality is important to everyone, but especially to a newborn with developing airways. Cigarette smoke is another concern for little lungs. Even before baby arrives make sure no one is smoking indoors and try to get rid of any issues with mold or allergens in the home. Depending on the severity of the issues, professional assistance might be needed.
7. Set your priorities.
Are you going to cloth diaper? Use organic clothing? Set goals ahead of time, but be forgiving of yourself if you're not able to perfectly meet each goal. Remember, when it comes to living a more sustainable and safer lifestyle it's not what you don't do-it's what you do!
8. Make time to play-safely.
Make sure the toys you are selecting for baby are safe and non-toxic. There are plenty of natural toys available that are safe for babies. Remember baby toys will be going in baby's mouth, so infant toys, especially should be selected thoughtfully.
9. Green your cleaning.
Speaking of babies putting everything in their mouths, what you are using to clean your home is as important as keeping it clean in the first place. Anything you are cleaning with will eventually go in your baby's mouth, so choose wisely.
10. Find help online!
There are lots of great resources online to help you with your journey to a safe and healthy home. Search for blogs and websites that appeal to you and your priorities, subscribe to their newsletters and follow them on Facebook and Twitter. They'll serve as a great way to keep you up to date on the latest news and support you along the way.
I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Seventh Generation blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.
1. Watch those hand me downs!
It's great to reuse items whenever possible but depending on the items it might not be safe. Previously loved cribs might have unsafe slat sizes or lead paint. Used car seats might not be up to current safety standards. So take that gently used onesie, but avoid taking furniture and safety items unless you've checked first with the Consumer Safety Product Commission.
2. Use low VOC paints.
Most new nurseries include a new coat of paint, but paint is full of potentially harmful chemicals. You'll all breathe better if you spend a little more and purchase paint low in volatile organic compounds.
3. Leave the shoes at the door.
Did you know you can cut down on the amount of chemicals in your home just by taking off your shoes? We walk through chemicals and pesticides every day. Taking them off before you step inside can help keep these chemicals from entering your home. This is especially important when you're thinking about a new baby who will spend a lot of time on the floor.
4. Less is more in bedding.
Everyone loves to pick out cute bedding and bumpers and things for the crib-but is it all safe? Crib bumpers aren't necessary, and can actually be dangerous if a child's face gets too close. (Bumpers serve no practical purpose on safety approved cribs, as the slat sizes prevent children from becoming trapped.) According to the American Academy of Pediatrics the safest bed for your child contains a firm padded mattress with a simple sheet as the only bedding. Consider using wearable blankets such as the Halo Sleep Sack in place of blankets or sheets which could cover the baby's face in their sleep.
5. Check from below.
It seems silly, but it works. Get down on your hands and knees and crawl around. Look at what might be attractive to a baby. Is it safe? Is it dangerous? Can it be adapted? Of course it will be months before the baby can crawl around and get into the trouble you're looking for now, but it's so much easier to prepare before the baby arrives then to do so after the baby is here.
6. How's the air?
Does your home have issues with mold? Air quality is important to everyone, but especially to a newborn with developing airways. Cigarette smoke is another concern for little lungs. Even before baby arrives make sure no one is smoking indoors and try to get rid of any issues with mold or allergens in the home. Depending on the severity of the issues, professional assistance might be needed.
7. Set your priorities.
Are you going to cloth diaper? Use organic clothing? Set goals ahead of time, but be forgiving of yourself if you're not able to perfectly meet each goal. Remember, when it comes to living a more sustainable and safer lifestyle it's not what you don't do-it's what you do!
8. Make time to play-safely.
Make sure the toys you are selecting for baby are safe and non-toxic. There are plenty of natural toys available that are safe for babies. Remember baby toys will be going in baby's mouth, so infant toys, especially should be selected thoughtfully.
9. Green your cleaning.
Speaking of babies putting everything in their mouths, what you are using to clean your home is as important as keeping it clean in the first place. Anything you are cleaning with will eventually go in your baby's mouth, so choose wisely.
10. Find help online!
There are lots of great resources online to help you with your journey to a safe and healthy home. Search for blogs and websites that appeal to you and your priorities, subscribe to their newsletters and follow them on Facebook and Twitter. They'll serve as a great way to keep you up to date on the latest news and support you along the way.
I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Seventh Generation blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Things I Love: September Edition-Cuteness Overload!
I'm a real girly girl. I like cute things. I go to Disney World without kids. I have an insane collection of Hello Kitty. I have a fondness for anything made in a miniature size. If it's cute I like it. And I probably want it. I probably need it. There's a recommended daily allowance of cute, after all,
These mini cards from Moo are half the size of a standard business card but they're twice as cute. I received these thanks to a perk from Klout so I only had to pay for shipping. I'm ready to head to a conference immediately just so I can start handing these out!
This super cute handmade journal came from Kristi at The Nib and Quill. Kristi is a member of The Artisan Group which means her handmade journals end up in the hands of celebrities at the gifting suites during events like The Oscars.
How cute is this tiny journal? A handmade leather journal that's only an inch high? Seriously, this might be one of the cutest things I've ever seen. Be sure to check out Kristi's shop and the rest of The Artisan Group.
Friday, September 23, 2011
What's New On TV: Whitney
Have you ever seen a promo so many times that when you finally watched the movie or show you felt like you had seen it already?
Yeah, that's how I felt about Whitney. They had promo'ed the heck out of this show and pretty much every joke was in one of the dozen or so commercials that were constantly playing in the lead up to it's premiere.
Whitney is based on star Whitney Cummings' real life and her stand up comedy routine. While the show wasn't unfunny, it wasn't particularly funny, either. Not sure if that's because every joke was already old by the time the pilot episode aired.
The white elephant in the room is also Whitney's acting. She's not an actress, she's a comedian. And it shows. There is an awkwardness coming from her that seems to spill over into the rest of the cast.
Even grading on a "it's a pilot" curve for the show I am not excited to watch it again. It gets one more chance on the DVR.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Get Outside and Play!
It's really starting to feel like fall here. Fall and spring are my favorite seasons because of the beautiful colors and the mild weather. It's the best time of year to get outside and play!
I cannot stress enough the importance of outdoor physical play for children. (And adults!) My job as a technical assistant to child care teachers often involves me helping create outdoor areas. We encourage (well, actually it's required) an hour a day minimum spent outside. Children learn so much when they're outdoors. In addition to the obvious gross motor skills and exercise they are learning about nature, cooperation, physics and more. And it's all happening naturally. (Yes, when you go down a slide and you speed up as you fall down, you're learning a simple lesson on physics!)
Even though I mentioned loving spring and fall, that doesn't mean I don't love going outside in summer and winter, too. There's a saying we use at work when we talk about outdoor play-there's no bad weather, just bad clothing. Prepare for the weather, schedule around the weather, and have fun! One of my favorite memories from college was during a heavy summer rain storm. We all ran outside a played an impromptu game of dodge ball. In the rain. We had a blast! Just because it's raining (or snowing) doesn't mean the outdoor fun has to stop-it just makes it different. (And maybe even more fun!)
So what does my family love to do outside? All sorts of things! The parents just put in a pool this summer and we all loved every minute of it. My niece just started playing soccer this month. (Seriously, three year old soccer is the cutest thing ever!) My brother in law's farm does special hay rides and pumpkin picking in the fall. Searching for Christmas trees and playing in the snow in winter is always fun. And running around after Easter eggs in the spring is always a highlight.
But getting outdoors isn't just about the special occasions. It's about taking any occasion and making it special. Something as simple as grabbing some bubbles and going outside to catch them. Taking a ball and running around a make-shift baseball diamond. It's about getting outside, getting active and having fun!
Clorox 2 wants you to take the Play 2Day Pledge. I encourage you all to go here: http://clorox2play2day.com and take the pledge to play outside. When you take the pledge you can win a trip to Yosemite National Park and other great prizes.
So what are you waiting for? Get outside and play today!
I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Clorox2® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.
I cannot stress enough the importance of outdoor physical play for children. (And adults!) My job as a technical assistant to child care teachers often involves me helping create outdoor areas. We encourage (well, actually it's required) an hour a day minimum spent outside. Children learn so much when they're outdoors. In addition to the obvious gross motor skills and exercise they are learning about nature, cooperation, physics and more. And it's all happening naturally. (Yes, when you go down a slide and you speed up as you fall down, you're learning a simple lesson on physics!)
Even though I mentioned loving spring and fall, that doesn't mean I don't love going outside in summer and winter, too. There's a saying we use at work when we talk about outdoor play-there's no bad weather, just bad clothing. Prepare for the weather, schedule around the weather, and have fun! One of my favorite memories from college was during a heavy summer rain storm. We all ran outside a played an impromptu game of dodge ball. In the rain. We had a blast! Just because it's raining (or snowing) doesn't mean the outdoor fun has to stop-it just makes it different. (And maybe even more fun!)
So what does my family love to do outside? All sorts of things! The parents just put in a pool this summer and we all loved every minute of it. My niece just started playing soccer this month. (Seriously, three year old soccer is the cutest thing ever!) My brother in law's farm does special hay rides and pumpkin picking in the fall. Searching for Christmas trees and playing in the snow in winter is always fun. And running around after Easter eggs in the spring is always a highlight.
But getting outdoors isn't just about the special occasions. It's about taking any occasion and making it special. Something as simple as grabbing some bubbles and going outside to catch them. Taking a ball and running around a make-shift baseball diamond. It's about getting outside, getting active and having fun!
Clorox 2 wants you to take the Play 2Day Pledge. I encourage you all to go here: http://clorox2play2day.com and take the pledge to play outside. When you take the pledge you can win a trip to Yosemite National Park and other great prizes.
So what are you waiting for? Get outside and play today!
I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Clorox2® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
What's New On TV: New Girl
I'm a huge Zooey Deschanel fan, so I was excited to watch New Girl last night. (Seriously, Elf and 500 Days of Summer are two of my favorite movies.) I was still on a high from watching the season premier of Glee, so I started the show predisposed to liking it.
Zooey stars as Jess, who after an embarassing break up moves in with three single guys. (One of the roommates will be changing in the second episode due to Damon Wayans, Jr.'s show Happy Endings getting picked up for another season after the pilot was shot.)
I'll cut to the chase-this show has earned at least two more slots on my DVR. It has a really dry sense of humor which is a lot like my own. At times it felt like it was written by two different writers...OK, I know, I know... most shows are written by teams of writers. Let's say it felt like it was written by two different writing teams. One team was funny, one not so much. The really funny parts made up for the not so funny parts, so I'm definitely going to give this show a chance.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
White Chocolate Candy Corn M&Ms...And A Twitter Party! #MMsGetCorny
UPDATE: Patience is a virtue! Reward yourself with a printable coupon for M&Ms here!
I really love chocolate, I do. I can even prove it...Klout thinks I'm influential on the topic! Feel free to +K me on that one. It's fine. I'll wait.
OK, done? Awesome. Thanks for that. Now back to the topic of Chocolate. Did you know M&Ms have a new treat for you this Halloween? White Chocolate Candy Corn M&Ms are on the way to the shelves of Walmart as we speak.
I really love chocolate, I do. I can even prove it...Klout thinks I'm influential on the topic! Feel free to +K me on that one. It's fine. I'll wait.
OK, done? Awesome. Thanks for that. Now back to the topic of Chocolate. Did you know M&Ms have a new treat for you this Halloween? White Chocolate Candy Corn M&Ms are on the way to the shelves of Walmart as we speak.
Don't worry, you can keep reading. Most Walmarts won't have them until tomorrow. update: some stores have them, others are still waiting! No need to rush out now...but I do expect everyone to pick up a bag tomorrow and report back on how much you love them. I recommend a scale of 1-5 with 1 being "I love them so much I want to marry them" and 5 being "I could die happy right now, just fill my coffin with White Chocolate Candy Corn M&Ms".
As if this candy news wasn't enough, I have even more! There's going to be a super awesome Twitter Party to help kick off these sweet treats where we're going to talk recipes and crafting.
Just head over here to RSVP. I'll tweet you there!
Monday, September 19, 2011
What's New On TV: 2 Broke Girls
Fall is in the air and new shows are on TV. It's a wonderful time. (I do love my new TV shows.) The DVR is full of new shows scheduled on my "give it a shot list" this week.
Tonight's new show of choice was 2 Broke Girls. Definitely not a family show, this comedy did get a few good laughs out of me and earned a place on the DVR for episode two. 2 Broke Girls stars Kat Dennings (who will always be to me the girl who hired Samantha to plan her Bat Mitzvah on Sex & The City) as a working class waitress and Beth Behrs as a former heiress who is now homeless after her father's arrest.
They become unlikely coworkers and even more unlikely roommates. Both characters had some funny lines and an interesting back story presented in the pilot episode. The secondary characters were not nearly as compelling, coming off more as caricatures than established roles.
Since pilot episodes have the daunting task of setting up the entire premise of a recurring series in just 30 to 60 minutes I tend to view them on a curve. The first episode doesn't have to be nearly as compelling as the future ones to get me to tune in again. I will get tougher as the weeks go on, though, and many a show doesn't stick on my DVR past the third episode. That said, I enjoyed 2 Broke Girls and will be back next week to see what happens.
Tonight's new show of choice was 2 Broke Girls. Definitely not a family show, this comedy did get a few good laughs out of me and earned a place on the DVR for episode two. 2 Broke Girls stars Kat Dennings (who will always be to me the girl who hired Samantha to plan her Bat Mitzvah on Sex & The City) as a working class waitress and Beth Behrs as a former heiress who is now homeless after her father's arrest.
They become unlikely coworkers and even more unlikely roommates. Both characters had some funny lines and an interesting back story presented in the pilot episode. The secondary characters were not nearly as compelling, coming off more as caricatures than established roles.
Since pilot episodes have the daunting task of setting up the entire premise of a recurring series in just 30 to 60 minutes I tend to view them on a curve. The first episode doesn't have to be nearly as compelling as the future ones to get me to tune in again. I will get tougher as the weeks go on, though, and many a show doesn't stick on my DVR past the third episode. That said, I enjoyed 2 Broke Girls and will be back next week to see what happens.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Checking Out Fruit and Veggie ProNutrients #NutritionPossible
Like most people I could stand to be a lot healthier. I have bad habits. I have good habits. (The bad habits are a lot more fun-I love ice cream!) One bad habit I am aware of: I should eat more fruits and veggies. I get fruits and veggies in my diet every day, but do I get enough? According to the USDA I should be getting 2 1/2 cups of veggies and 1 1/2 cups of fruit every day. I'm pretty sure I don't meet that on most days. (OK, I'm pretty sure I almost never get that in a day.)
That's why I was so excited to hear about the Fruit & Veggie ProNutrients from Centrum.
That's why I was so excited to hear about the Fruit & Veggie ProNutrients from Centrum.
According to their website, "Each MiniTab harnesses the power equal to one serving of a blend of fruits and vegetables." The pills are made from grapes, blueberries, raspberries, plums, carrots, and tomatoes. While not a substitute for the real deal, I'm hoping these pills can help make up for my diet's lack on some days (OK, most days) of enough fruits and veggies. These tabs contain antioxidants which promote general health and cell protection. Perfect for me!
If you want to try Centrum's new ProNutrient line of supplements, don't forget to print your $3 coupon first! In addition to the Fruit & Veggie ProNutrients you will also find Dual Action Probiotic to support digestive health and immune function as well as Omega-3 Triple Action to support heart, brain and eye health. You can follow Centrum on Facebook, too!
I'll be adding the Fruit & Veggie ProNutrients to my regular routine of a probiotic pill and daily multi-vitamin. (I'm also adding a fiber supplement for the first time.)
One added benefit I'm hoping to gain from this experience is to add new healthy habits to my daily routines. I know that I tend to find one good habit adds and builds into additional good habits. Hopefully I'll be inspired to add a few more fruits and veggies to my daily diet. I'm already more aware of their absence thanks to starting this journey.
This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All good habits, bad habits and ice cream addictions are my own.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Wordless Wednesday
Monday, September 12, 2011
Giving Back-Find Your Passion
Thanks to Walgreens for sponsoring my writing. Help Walgreens help others! Visit their Facebook page here to learn about their charitable partners and decide which cause Walgreens will donate to with a quick vote.
There was a time that I didn't volunteer. I worked at a non-profit and thought working for a non-profit's salary was more than enough. Then something happened that changed my life-I lost my grandfather.
If you looked up community volunteer in the dictionary you would see my grandfather's picture. OK, you wouldn't, but you should. He was an amazing man. How mowed the grass at the local Boys and Girls Club baseball field. He repaired broken fences at community parks. He helped pretty much every member of his church who was in need.
At his funeral I was overwhelmed by the stories I heard from people I never met, talking about what a wonderful man he was. The local baseball stadium even built a playground at the end of right field as a memorial to him. I then realized that I needed to do more. I wanted to do more. I wanted to make my grandfather proud.
I started out simply enough. The tsunami hit southeast Asia and I was heartbroken watching the news coverage. I was dead broke but I made a small donation to The Red Cross and to UNICEF. And I felt great. And I wanted to feel that great more often.
The fire was ignited. A coworker was diagnosed with breast cancer so I organized a team for the local walk. I met someone who had stayed at The Ronald McDonald house so I put a collection box for pop tops in all of our office break rooms. I kept finding little things I could do to give back in some small way.
Another thing then happened that changed my life. I became friends with the development director at the local AIDS services agency. His passion for his job was amazing. I began to attend their fundraising events. I met their volunteers. Most importantly I met some of the clients they served. His passion soon became a passion of my own.
AIDS Walk Kick Off
Around the holidays he asked me if I would be willing to chair the AIDS Walk that year. I hadn't even attended this event yet. It was five months away. I was terrified. He told me he wouldn't have asked if he didn't know I could do it. And he said they needed me. I said I would try.I'm now working on my 6th walk. Times are tough. We've faced challenges I never expected. I can't get a good night's sleep for at least a month prior to the event. And I wouldn't change a thing. It's my favorite day of the year. (OK, maybe second favorite. I really do like Christmas.)
I realized I had found my grandfather's secret. Volunteering and giving back is about finding your passion. Find a cause you are passionate about and it won't feel like work, it will fall like your calling.
Think about what you are passionate about. Is it education? A medical condition? The environment? There's a part of your community that's out there waiting for you to bring your passion. And you'll have the time of your life!
Don't forget to help Walgreens help others! Visit their Facebook page here to learn about their charitable partners and decide which cause Walgreens will donate to with a quick vote. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Learning To Sequence with Sequence for Kids
Children are ready to learn basic math concepts even before they are ready for Kindergarten. Games such as Sequence for Kids are a fun way to help children learn these skills. It is for children ages 3 to 6 and requires two to four players.
The game comes with a game board, animals cards and four sets of chips. One player deals three animal cards to each player. When it's your turn you place a chip on an animal pictures on the board that matches one of the animal cards in your hand. You then draw a new card from the pile. You can also choose to discard a card and pick a new one. The object of the game is to get four of your chips in a row on the board up and down, across or diagonally.
The game requires no reading, although there is some print on each card. Very basic math skills are needed, but could be developed throughout game play. Strategy is introduced with the Unicorn and Dragon cards. Ulysses the Unicorn allows you to place your chip on any space on the board. Dorothy the Dragon allows you to remove any chip from the board. Younger children will need some help with utilizing these strategic cards.
You can extend the materials in this game into other activities that can reinforce math and other skills. There are two cards for each animal which makes them perfect for matching and memory games. The chips can be used for counting and color sequencing.
This toy was provided to me by Imagine Toys for the purposes of this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The game comes with a game board, animals cards and four sets of chips. One player deals three animal cards to each player. When it's your turn you place a chip on an animal pictures on the board that matches one of the animal cards in your hand. You then draw a new card from the pile. You can also choose to discard a card and pick a new one. The object of the game is to get four of your chips in a row on the board up and down, across or diagonally.
The game requires no reading, although there is some print on each card. Very basic math skills are needed, but could be developed throughout game play. Strategy is introduced with the Unicorn and Dragon cards. Ulysses the Unicorn allows you to place your chip on any space on the board. Dorothy the Dragon allows you to remove any chip from the board. Younger children will need some help with utilizing these strategic cards.
You can extend the materials in this game into other activities that can reinforce math and other skills. There are two cards for each animal which makes them perfect for matching and memory games. The chips can be used for counting and color sequencing.
Using cards for memory games
You can buy Sequence for Kids from Imagine Toys. Regularly $14.95, it is currently on sale for $10.97. Like Imagine Toys on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for the latest news and reviews of their fun and educational toys.
This toy was provided to me by Imagine Toys for the purposes of this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Save Money With Shopping Apps-Guest Post on Cheap Gas Blog
Reporting Back: Member's Mark 4X Probiotic #digestivehealth
It's been just shy of two weeks and I am happy to report that I am in LOVE with Member's Mark 4X Probiotics. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was hopeful my nervous tummy would be a thing of the past. What I wasn't as confident about going in were my sinus issues. When you're taking behind the counter sinus medications on daily basis you pretty much assume that is going to be a regular part of your life.
I want you to know that I really put these pills to the test. Your diet is really the basis of your digestive health and my diet was all over the place these last two weeks. I started taking them immediately after my birthday weekend-which meant after enjoying two different cakes, ice cream and two chocolate pies. (No, I didn't eat all of these by myself-I shared!) On the third day of taking the probiotics I did have a minor tummy ache. Based on what I had been eating I wasn't surprised, and it really wasn't as bad as it would have normally been. But there was something else I noticed on the third day-my skin looked amazing! Was it a coincidence or was it the probiotics? I'm not sure but my skin was glowing!
Seven days in to my probiotic journey and I woke up with another tummy ache. This one can be put solely on my shoulders. I had decided to have a pint of mint fudge ice cream before bed. A pint of ice cream before bed is never a good idea, but especially not for me since I'm lactose intolerant. I can have small amounts of dairy but I usually know my limits. Then it occurred to me just how good I had been feeling. I normally would have been aware enough of my dairy issues to know when to stop-but I was feeling so great I overdid it. And just like with my first tummy ache, it was much better than it would have been had I eaten a pint of ice cream before I started taking probiotics.
A little over a week into this experiment and I noticed something else. I hadn't taken a single pill for my sinuses. I had gone from taking something almost daily to taking nothing! I could not be happier.
I am officially a believer in the effects of probiotics. Other than two smaller than normal tummy aches (that were totally my fault) I was feeling great!
If you want to start your own journey to digestive health you can find Member's Mark 4X Probitotics at Sam's Club.
This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Seven days in to my probiotic journey and I woke up with another tummy ache. This one can be put solely on my shoulders. I had decided to have a pint of mint fudge ice cream before bed. A pint of ice cream before bed is never a good idea, but especially not for me since I'm lactose intolerant. I can have small amounts of dairy but I usually know my limits. Then it occurred to me just how good I had been feeling. I normally would have been aware enough of my dairy issues to know when to stop-but I was feeling so great I overdid it. And just like with my first tummy ache, it was much better than it would have been had I eaten a pint of ice cream before I started taking probiotics.
A little over a week into this experiment and I noticed something else. I hadn't taken a single pill for my sinuses. I had gone from taking something almost daily to taking nothing! I could not be happier.
I am officially a believer in the effects of probiotics. Other than two smaller than normal tummy aches (that were totally my fault) I was feeling great!
If you want to start your own journey to digestive health you can find Member's Mark 4X Probitotics at Sam's Club.
This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Make Your Own Study Carrel #GlueNGlitter
Who says you have to go to the library to have your own private study space? You can make one yourself using an Elmer's Tri-Fold board and just a few other objects.
I started with an Elmer's Tri-Fold Display Board. I used my utility knife to cut the board in half. That means you can make two study carrels or just save the other half for a future project.
Clothespins are perfect for holding notes, homework assignments, spelling lists and more.
In the center of the carrel I added a pocket, a dry erase weekly calendar (made with more peel and stick paper) and a multiplication table. You can add whatever tools you think your child might need when they study.
I added a coat of blue acyrlic paint to the back to give it a finished look.
As you can see, it won't fold flat once you are finished adding your touches to the board but it will fold down to a much smaller size for storage.
If you would like to see the entire project, including my shopping trip for supplies, visit my photo story here.
This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Elmer's #gluenglitter #collectivebias. The project ideas and thoughts are my own.
I started with an Elmer's Tri-Fold Display Board. I used my utility knife to cut the board in half. That means you can make two study carrels or just save the other half for a future project.
I made one side of the board dry erase by adding clear peel and stick paper.This is officially my new favorite trick!
And it works! I can see myself doing this on many future projects. I still have most of the roll left.
I added some fun ribbon to the edges with Elmer's No-Wrinkle Dual Tip Glue Pen. I used gift wrapping ribbon, but you could also use other types of ribbon or colored duct tape.
I added a coat of blue acyrlic paint to the back to give it a finished look.
If you would like to see the entire project, including my shopping trip for supplies, visit my photo story here.
This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Elmer's #gluenglitter #collectivebias. The project ideas and thoughts are my own.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Wordless Wednesday
Monday, September 5, 2011
A Blog With No Niche
Once upon a time if someone had mentioned a niche I would have thought you meant something like this:
Oh pretty...wonder what I'll put in it?
Now I hear niche and I immediately think blog niche. Frugal, travel, fitness, homeschooling? There's a niche for that. My first blog had a niche. I wrote about coupons and savings money. Along with a few billion other bloggers. There's a reason that blog is dead. When there's a billion other people doing what you're doing-and doing it better-then what's the point? I couldn't find one and I let it go.
I missed blogging and not long afterwards I decided to start blogging again. And I purposefully left it open ended. I wanted the freedom of talking about a movie I had just seen or a book I had just read. I wanted to talk about the cookies I had just baked and the costume I just sewed. I wanted to it be me. Is "me" a niche?
I have nothing but love for the blogs I've chosen to read and follow. Lots of those have a niche and that's cool. A niche just wasn't for me. (I don't think I could fit on that shelf, anyway.) I've heard other bloggers talk about their readers complaining when they blogged about something outside of their niche area. I can't imagine that happening here...without a niche you can't complain when I go outside of it, right? See, perfect!
My blog was around for months before I added tabs at the top. I actually decided what tabs to add based on what showed up most often in my post tags. My favorite tab is "Things I Love". Because again, we're going back to the whole point of my blog. I'm blogging about me. And what's more me than the things I love? (This even created my Things I Love monthly meme.)
I hear lots of talk about creating a brand, finding a voice, fine tuning your niche. It's not that I don't appreciate that advice. But I'm just gonna keep doing what I've been doing. Writing about me. Maybe "me" is a niche after all?
Friday, September 2, 2011
Today I Did The Bunny Hop
You might think, if for no other reason than the title of my blog, that The Bunny Hop is a regular occurrence in my life. I am sad to report this is not the case.
I was visiting a classroom of toddlers this morning, my head down writing notes, when I heard the familiar tune of The Bunny Hop coming from their CD player. The children were swaying around. The teachers were, too, actually. I realized they didn't know The Bunny Hop. I was more than happy to change that.
Now I must confess, the toddlers didn't quite get all of the steps...they mostly got the hopping part. But that's not the point-they were having fun.
There aren't really that many opportunities to do The Bunny Hop in normal life. Outside of Playboy Mansion parties and wedding receptions with cliche prone DJs you're pretty much out of luck. And that's really too bad...It's impossible not to smile when you hop, hop, hop.
I was visiting a classroom of toddlers this morning, my head down writing notes, when I heard the familiar tune of The Bunny Hop coming from their CD player. The children were swaying around. The teachers were, too, actually. I realized they didn't know The Bunny Hop. I was more than happy to change that.
Now I must confess, the toddlers didn't quite get all of the steps...they mostly got the hopping part. But that's not the point-they were having fun.
There aren't really that many opportunities to do The Bunny Hop in normal life. Outside of Playboy Mansion parties and wedding receptions with cliche prone DJs you're pretty much out of luck. And that's really too bad...It's impossible not to smile when you hop, hop, hop.
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