Showing posts with label tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tips. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
With the kids home for the summer, it becomes extremely important for parents to lay down the ground rules early and let their children know what is expected of them while they are on summer break...seriously, do you know how fast a house can go from "so clean you can eat off the floors" to "OMFG I'd rather move than clean up this mess" when the kids are on a break from school? My children range in age from 15 (yes, it's hard for me to believe too) all the way down to 5 and I don't know about y'all, but it's always been so hard for me to try and figure out what age was a good age for my children to actually start doing chores. While all of my children do have chores now that they are expected to do every day before they are allowed to do the "fun stuff" ( we won't get into if they actually do them every day without a fight or not...that's another blog post), it wasn't easy figuring out when the right time was for my kids to start helping out around the house. Since I know that I'm not the only Mommy out there who struggles with making this decision, I thought I'd have Gregg Murset (CEO of My Job Chart) to weigh in and give us a little insight!
About Gregg:
As the Chief Executive Officer of My Job Chart, Murset has committed the last four years to building the largest online community and fastest growing website teaching kids about work ethic and making smart money decisions.
About Gregg:
As the Chief Executive Officer of My Job Chart, Murset has committed the last four years to building the largest online community and fastest growing website teaching kids about work ethic and making smart money decisions.
MJC was born
from real life experience. Murset is a father of six children (ages 6 to 16)
and needed a way to teach them about earning, saving and spending money. With
no system available for a family with a large range in ages, Murset came up
with the idea to combine modern technology with the traditional allowance
system to teach responsibility, accountability and the fundamentals of
financial literacy.
Now with over
556,000 members, 19.3 millions chores completed by kids and an economic impact
over $3 million, My Job Chart is leading the battle to reverse the culture of
entitlement and credit addiction that plagues American families today.
Well then, now that we've established that Gregg is indeed qualified to give us a little better understanding of when and how we can get our little ones to help us out around the house, I'd like to share some of my favorite tips from Gregg with y'all!
Well then, now that we've established that Gregg is indeed qualified to give us a little better understanding of when and how we can get our little ones to help us out around the house, I'd like to share some of my favorite tips from Gregg with y'all!
Little ones are liked crazed little monsters when
it comes to toys, it seems that in just five short minutes they come crashing
in and turn a living room into a mass destructed mini town. So when is the time
that you get stop cleaning up and your two year old finally chills the heck
out? How do you even tell a three year old to pick up? My Job Chart creator has
created a list of tips that will help parents of young kids valuable tools
about when it is time to teach these beasts a little housekeeping.
When
1. You Can Feel It … Most parents get “the
feeling” when their children are capable of learning something new or taking on
a task. It’s no different with picking up responsibilities around the house.
Don’t ignore your gut and begin recognizing that your kids can be a get help to
you.
2. Start Them Young … The basic rule is - if your
children are old enough to take toys out to play, then they are old enough to
put them away. The same goes with most other things around the house, even
clothes, dishes, video games or items used out at the pool.
3, It’s Your Call … Don’t let so-called experts
put an age range on particular jobs your kids could be doing. While it
might not make sense to someone living in big city why a 10-year old would ever
run lawnmower, in America’s heartland, it’s not uncommon for a 10-year old
handling equipment on the farm. If you know they can complete harder chores
safely, maybe you should let them try. It’s your call.
How
1.
Understand Why It’s Important To Have Kids Do Chores & Receive Rewards …
Using chores & rewards to teach our kids about responsibility,
accountability and money has been around for decades. It’s easy, effective and
can change as your child grows. Kids need structure and providing them with a daily routine or responsibilities, only help them later in life.
2. Be Consistent … When it comes to kids doing
chores around the house, often there is only one thing stopping the kids -
parents. Whether it’s because we get busy and forgot, get tried of nagging or
just find it quicker to do it ourselves, parents are often the reason kids stop
doing chores. Parents need to be consistent, demanding and set proper
expectations when it comes to chores.
3. Be Fair … Kids understand right and wrong or
fair and unfair. Separate the chores evenly or rotate them so the worst chores
aren’t always with one child. If you are rewarding your children for jobs well
done, don’t be afraid to compensate one child more than another if the chores
they handle are more difficult or are less attractive.
4. Don’t Let Other Things Get In The Way … Dance
practice, music lessons, football games, baseball practice and homework are
just a few things your child has on their plate each day. As a parent, teach
your child from an early age how to manage time and set priorities, by doing
all these things plus the daily chores. There are life lessons in everything,
don’t drop off things around the house because outside activities make life
busy. We certainly can’t do that as adults, can we?
5. Stress Saving & Sharing … If you provide a
reward for your kids, make sure to stress saving and sharing. Everyone knows
how to spend … it’s like breathing … you just do it. Saving and sharing takes
practice, a plan and often some research. In the long run, however, your kids
will see the benefits and continue to do these things as adults. It’s like
riding a bike - learn it early in life and you can always do it again later.
Learn it later in life and it’s more difficult.
I hope these tips will come in handy when you're trying to decide if your little ones are old enough to start helping out around the house. I know that even thought my children already do help out, reading them made me feel so much better about my decision to have them start helping out when I did.
Until next time y'all...
I hope these tips will come in handy when you're trying to decide if your little ones are old enough to start helping out around the house. I know that even thought my children already do help out, reading them made me feel so much better about my decision to have them start helping out when I did.
Until next time y'all...
Friday, May 2, 2014
Something that a lot of you may not know about me is that I am a work from home mom. I started working seasonally with the 1800Flowers.com brands in April of 2013 for the Mother's Day holiday. I was lucky enough to be called back last September to work the Fall/Winter holiday season with one of the 18f sister brands The Popcorn Factory, where I have been working since. I love my job, I love the brand and I love working from home, BUT it can be a very slippery slope and it's definitely not for everyone! I wrote a post over on MisadventurousMommy.com a while back with some tips for work-at-home-moms that have really helped me make the working from home process a little easier. Since I've been working from home for almost a year now, I've learned lots more tricks and tips to make the process easier and the transition smoother for everyone in the family and I thought I'd share them with all of you!
Tips and Trick for Work At Home Parents
Make the Crock Pot (or Slow Cooker) Your Best Friend: Unless your husband (or wife) is used to cooking every meal, or a four-star chef, chances are you're usually the one in charge of cooking all of the meals and that can be impossible when working from home! While my husband is very helpful (now anyway, that was not the case when I first started working) in making sure all of the household chores get completed, but dinner is one of those areas that he just does not excel in, try as he might. I learned pretty early on that the only way I was going to get anything other than take-out and spaghetti (my husband makes a mean, mean spaghetti) on the table for my family while I was working, is if I used the Crock Pot. I have found a ton of Slow Cooker recipes via Pinterest, many of them can be assembled ahead of time and frozen (major score!). One of my all-time favorites (and it's SUPER EASY and Oh-So Yummy) is Crock Pot Chicken Tacos...it's literally chicken breasts (I usually use between 4 and 6 for my family of 7), one jar of Salsa, and a packet of taco seasoning. Cook on low for 4-6 hours, serve on tortillas with whatever toppings you'd like. My family LOVES it!
Be Prepared for Resistance: If you've been a SAHM for any length of time (prior to last year I had been a SAHM for over 14 years) then your family just gets used to the fact that you are always there. If that is the case, it can be incredibly difficult for them to get used to having to depend on someone else (a babysitter, the other parent, a sibling)....this is by far and away the hardest thing about working from home, the fact that you are there, but cannot stop what you are doing and help them is very, very hard! My kids, heck, even my husband, give me a hard time on the daily about working, but at the end of the day, my job provides us with the extra income necessary for all of us to enjoy the little extras...or you know, to put food on the table! My family begs, yes BEGS, me every single day to quite my job and while it is very hard to put their wants and wishes second, I know that it is the right choice for our family, even if they don't always realize it!
Take a Shift Bid That Doesn't Conflict with your Family's Schedule (If Possible): When I chose my shift bid (the time frame that I would be working), I did so with my family in mind. I choose the late shift (3pm-2 am... and I very rarely actually work that entire shift) so that I could see my kids when they come home from school and make dinner, my shift actually allows me to do that most nights. I also chose this shift becasue it meant that I wouldn't have to pay for child care as my husband is home when I go into work. Yes, there are days when I miss sporting events, choir concerts and just plain old fun family times, but again, it's a choice that I make because it is to the benefit of our family.
Be Prepared to Make Sacrifices: As I mentioned above, my family doesn't always like my job, truth be told, there are days when I get sick and tired of missing events or not being able to veg out on the couch with my family, BUT I knew that I would have to make some of those sacrifices when I took the job. Assuming that you can take a job (especially if it is a seasonal or full-time job) and that you'll still be able to spend as much time with your family as before and not have to miss anything is just plain foolish. So be aware that you will have to make sacrifices, but it will be worth it when the extra money comes rolling in!
Delegate, Delegate, Delegate!: This one isn't a new one, I did mention it in my previous post, but it is SO important! I'm not the type of person who likes to let other people do the housework, dishes, laundry and cleaning are all things that I prefer to do myself, but when I'm working 40+ hours per week it kind of becomes impossible for me to do it all and delegating those things becomes necessary. It may be difficult at first to let other people take care of things that you would normally take care of, but I promise you that it makes things SO much easier for you to focus on your job.
I really hope that some of these tips help all of you current work-from-home-parents or if you're considering a work-from-home-job, then maybe these tips are some things that you haven't even considered, either way I hope that you find them helpful!
Until next time...
Tips and Trick for Work At Home Parents
Make the Crock Pot (or Slow Cooker) Your Best Friend: Unless your husband (or wife) is used to cooking every meal, or a four-star chef, chances are you're usually the one in charge of cooking all of the meals and that can be impossible when working from home! While my husband is very helpful (now anyway, that was not the case when I first started working) in making sure all of the household chores get completed, but dinner is one of those areas that he just does not excel in, try as he might. I learned pretty early on that the only way I was going to get anything other than take-out and spaghetti (my husband makes a mean, mean spaghetti) on the table for my family while I was working, is if I used the Crock Pot. I have found a ton of Slow Cooker recipes via Pinterest, many of them can be assembled ahead of time and frozen (major score!). One of my all-time favorites (and it's SUPER EASY and Oh-So Yummy) is Crock Pot Chicken Tacos...it's literally chicken breasts (I usually use between 4 and 6 for my family of 7), one jar of Salsa, and a packet of taco seasoning. Cook on low for 4-6 hours, serve on tortillas with whatever toppings you'd like. My family LOVES it!
Be Prepared for Resistance: If you've been a SAHM for any length of time (prior to last year I had been a SAHM for over 14 years) then your family just gets used to the fact that you are always there. If that is the case, it can be incredibly difficult for them to get used to having to depend on someone else (a babysitter, the other parent, a sibling)....this is by far and away the hardest thing about working from home, the fact that you are there, but cannot stop what you are doing and help them is very, very hard! My kids, heck, even my husband, give me a hard time on the daily about working, but at the end of the day, my job provides us with the extra income necessary for all of us to enjoy the little extras...or you know, to put food on the table! My family begs, yes BEGS, me every single day to quite my job and while it is very hard to put their wants and wishes second, I know that it is the right choice for our family, even if they don't always realize it!
Take a Shift Bid That Doesn't Conflict with your Family's Schedule (If Possible): When I chose my shift bid (the time frame that I would be working), I did so with my family in mind. I choose the late shift (3pm-2 am... and I very rarely actually work that entire shift) so that I could see my kids when they come home from school and make dinner, my shift actually allows me to do that most nights. I also chose this shift becasue it meant that I wouldn't have to pay for child care as my husband is home when I go into work. Yes, there are days when I miss sporting events, choir concerts and just plain old fun family times, but again, it's a choice that I make because it is to the benefit of our family.
Be Prepared to Make Sacrifices: As I mentioned above, my family doesn't always like my job, truth be told, there are days when I get sick and tired of missing events or not being able to veg out on the couch with my family, BUT I knew that I would have to make some of those sacrifices when I took the job. Assuming that you can take a job (especially if it is a seasonal or full-time job) and that you'll still be able to spend as much time with your family as before and not have to miss anything is just plain foolish. So be aware that you will have to make sacrifices, but it will be worth it when the extra money comes rolling in!
Delegate, Delegate, Delegate!: This one isn't a new one, I did mention it in my previous post, but it is SO important! I'm not the type of person who likes to let other people do the housework, dishes, laundry and cleaning are all things that I prefer to do myself, but when I'm working 40+ hours per week it kind of becomes impossible for me to do it all and delegating those things becomes necessary. It may be difficult at first to let other people take care of things that you would normally take care of, but I promise you that it makes things SO much easier for you to focus on your job.
I really hope that some of these tips help all of you current work-from-home-parents or if you're considering a work-from-home-job, then maybe these tips are some things that you haven't even considered, either way I hope that you find them helpful!
Until next time...
Monday, February 20, 2012
I have a confession (I just realized how many posts I start that way) I’m addicted to stuff that smells good! One of my absolute weaknesses at the store is the air freshener isle, I could seriously spend days and hundreds of dollars there—I know, it’s a sickness! While I do have several brands that I use to make my home smell great, my favorite is Glade!
I’ve been a fan of nearly everything Glade makes for quite a while now and I love that they keep coming up with new products and scents that not only make my home smell fabulous, but also make me smile…I like smiling!
Si naturally, when Glade approached me to try out a few of their newest products I could not resist and when I heard that Giuliana Rancic was teaming up with Glade to announce the launch of the new Glade Expressions Collection I was all in—I <3 Giuliana! Not only is Giuliana helping Glade with the launch of their new collection, she’s also sharing her tips on creating a warm and inviting space.
About the Glade Expressions Collection:
The Glade Expressions Collection features an incomparable fragrance experience in two contemporary designs – a fragrance mist and an oil diffuser – that are available in four new on-trend, lightly layered and long lasting fragrances that were blended by leading Glade perfumers.
Glade’s Expressions Collection features two new designs—an oil diffuser and a fragrance mist that make any space smell incredible!
Glade® Expressions™ Fragrance Mist is a refillable home fragrance spray that is unique in every way and features a sleek design – one little squeeze is all it takes to fill the air with light layers of fragrance. Glade® Expressions™ Fragrance Mist is available nationwide for $4.49, and refills are available in four fragrance varieties for $3.49 each.
· Glade® Expressions™ Oil Diffuser is the perfect non-electric diffuser for living spaces for up to 30 days, and one little click is all it takes to fill a room with a lightly layered and long lasting fragrance. Available in two fragrance varieties, the Glade® Expressions™ Oil Diffuser starter kit is available nationwide for $8.49, and refills are available in three fragrance varieties for $5.49 each
In addition to Glade’s new Fragrance Mist and Oil Diffuser, Glade has introduced four new fragrances inspired by the new collection:
o Cotton & Italian Mandarin (Fragrance Mist only) – Watery honeydew and pear mixed with leafy greens combine with white jasmine, lily of the valley, sandalwood and soft powdery heliotropine for an earthy and warm vanilla fragrance.
o Pineapple & Mangosteen – Fresh greens and tropical fruits burst in this enchanting fragrance while an intriguing mix of juicy pineapple and mixed berries combine with passion flower, jasmine, amber, musk and glistening powder for a full-bodied tropical aroma.
o Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice – Sweet pears, crisp apples, mixed berries and juicy citrus fruits come together with a generous sprinkling of cinnamon, clove and ginger coupled with a dash of vanilla and nutmeg to enhance the warmth of the fragrance.
o Lavender & Juniper Berry – The sweetness of lavender and bergamot blends with fresh eucalyptus, rose, geranium and jasmine that are enhanced with creamy vanilla, tonka bean and spices joined with hints of sheer musk and warm sandalwood creating a fresh, uplifting scent.
Glade sent me two Glade Expressions Fragrance Mists, Pineapple and Mangosteen and Cotton and Italian Mandarin, and a very trendy and stylish oil diffuser in Fuji Apple and Cardamom and I have to say I was completely surprised and delighted all at the same time! I’ve been a fan of Glade for years and have been loyal to my favorite scents, Hawaiian Breeze and Apple Cinnamon, actually I’ve refused to buy any other fragrance for my Glade candles, sprays and ;plugins, but the new Glade Expressions fragrances are unique, unexpected and completely amazing! Since I am kind of partial to the apple scent I found myself enjoying the fragrance of the Fuji Apple and Cardamom oil diffuser a little more than the other two, but each scent was a completely new and inviting experience that I definitely suggest you try for yourself…you won’t be sorry!
If you’re as obsessed with your house smelling good, like me, then you’ll definitely want to check out Glade’s Facebook and Twitter pages for the latest Glade new and tips from Giuliana Rancic!
Are you a huge Glade fan? Then you’re going to love this!
Glade is giving two Misadventures in Baby Raising readers one fragrance mist and oil diffuser in the fragrances of their choice! Enter below using the Rafflecopter widget! Blog Comments Do NOT Count as Entries!
WIN IT!
Two Misadventures in Baby Raising readers one fragrance mist and oil diffuser in the fragrances of their choice!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above from the company or PR to facilitate my review…all opinions are 100% my own…Glade provided the products for this giveaway!
I’ve been a fan of nearly everything Glade makes for quite a while now and I love that they keep coming up with new products and scents that not only make my home smell fabulous, but also make me smile…I like smiling!
Si naturally, when Glade approached me to try out a few of their newest products I could not resist and when I heard that Giuliana Rancic was teaming up with Glade to announce the launch of the new Glade Expressions Collection I was all in—I <3 Giuliana! Not only is Giuliana helping Glade with the launch of their new collection, she’s also sharing her tips on creating a warm and inviting space.
About the Glade Expressions Collection:
The Glade Expressions Collection features an incomparable fragrance experience in two contemporary designs – a fragrance mist and an oil diffuser – that are available in four new on-trend, lightly layered and long lasting fragrances that were blended by leading Glade perfumers.
Glade’s Expressions Collection features two new designs—an oil diffuser and a fragrance mist that make any space smell incredible!
Glade® Expressions™ Fragrance Mist is a refillable home fragrance spray that is unique in every way and features a sleek design – one little squeeze is all it takes to fill the air with light layers of fragrance. Glade® Expressions™ Fragrance Mist is available nationwide for $4.49, and refills are available in four fragrance varieties for $3.49 each.
· Glade® Expressions™ Oil Diffuser is the perfect non-electric diffuser for living spaces for up to 30 days, and one little click is all it takes to fill a room with a lightly layered and long lasting fragrance. Available in two fragrance varieties, the Glade® Expressions™ Oil Diffuser starter kit is available nationwide for $8.49, and refills are available in three fragrance varieties for $5.49 each
In addition to Glade’s new Fragrance Mist and Oil Diffuser, Glade has introduced four new fragrances inspired by the new collection:
o Cotton & Italian Mandarin (Fragrance Mist only) – Watery honeydew and pear mixed with leafy greens combine with white jasmine, lily of the valley, sandalwood and soft powdery heliotropine for an earthy and warm vanilla fragrance.
o Pineapple & Mangosteen – Fresh greens and tropical fruits burst in this enchanting fragrance while an intriguing mix of juicy pineapple and mixed berries combine with passion flower, jasmine, amber, musk and glistening powder for a full-bodied tropical aroma.o Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice – Sweet pears, crisp apples, mixed berries and juicy citrus fruits come together with a generous sprinkling of cinnamon, clove and ginger coupled with a dash of vanilla and nutmeg to enhance the warmth of the fragrance.
o Lavender & Juniper Berry – The sweetness of lavender and bergamot blends with fresh eucalyptus, rose, geranium and jasmine that are enhanced with creamy vanilla, tonka bean and spices joined with hints of sheer musk and warm sandalwood creating a fresh, uplifting scent.
Glade sent me two Glade Expressions Fragrance Mists, Pineapple and Mangosteen and Cotton and Italian Mandarin, and a very trendy and stylish oil diffuser in Fuji Apple and Cardamom and I have to say I was completely surprised and delighted all at the same time! I’ve been a fan of Glade for years and have been loyal to my favorite scents, Hawaiian Breeze and Apple Cinnamon, actually I’ve refused to buy any other fragrance for my Glade candles, sprays and ;plugins, but the new Glade Expressions fragrances are unique, unexpected and completely amazing! Since I am kind of partial to the apple scent I found myself enjoying the fragrance of the Fuji Apple and Cardamom oil diffuser a little more than the other two, but each scent was a completely new and inviting experience that I definitely suggest you try for yourself…you won’t be sorry!
If you’re as obsessed with your house smelling good, like me, then you’ll definitely want to check out Glade’s Facebook and Twitter pages for the latest Glade new and tips from Giuliana Rancic!
Are you a huge Glade fan? Then you’re going to love this!
Glade is giving two Misadventures in Baby Raising readers one fragrance mist and oil diffuser in the fragrances of their choice! Enter below using the Rafflecopter widget! Blog Comments Do NOT Count as Entries!
WIN IT!
Two Misadventures in Baby Raising readers one fragrance mist and oil diffuser in the fragrances of their choice!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclosure: I received the product mentioned above from the company or PR to facilitate my review…all opinions are 100% my own…Glade provided the products for this giveaway!
Friday, February 17, 2012
Before I go any further, I just want to assure you that while I don’t necessarily buy into the whole world ending this year thing, I also don’t think it’s a bad idea to make sure that you and your family are prepared in the event of an emergency!
Since I do definitely support being proactive about preparing your home, family and self in the event of an emergency I thought I’d share a few tips with all of you from NASA Senior Engineer Dr. Arthur Bradley, author of “Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family” on how you and your family can be better prepared in case of an emergency!
About “Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family”:
Written with a family-friendly style that’s easy to read and understand, Dr. Bradley delivers must-have information for personal and family safety without scaring anyone.
Published via the CreateSpace self-publishing, print on-demand platform, the 450-page “Handbook” is a guide for families everywhere, and is filled with lots of useful details that everyone can use, from evacuating their home and their general area during a disaster, to purifying water, storing food and protecting themselves and their property.
In preparing the book, Dr. Bradley, a former paratrooper and college professor with a PhD in engineering, consulted “every reference and preparedness plan” available, collected information from various agencies, conducted searches and tests and referenced 260 sources for his book. Important to him was helping families pull together a plan that works for them, including special needs for people with disabilities and the elderly as well as providing details on how to create an effective network (ie, teaming up with neighbors and friends to help one another survive the disaster). He also provides websites for useful information and exercises families can practice to help them prepare for the unexpected emergency.
Thirteen Basic Disaster Preparedness Tips
1. Start paying attention. Get a weather radio. Monitor local and national events. Be more aware of your surroundings and things that may affect your family. Stay Alert = Stay Alive!
2. Make a simple list of dangers that you are most likely to face, many of which are dependent on where you live. Next, assess the shortages or hardships that these dangers might cause, such as loss of electricity, water contamination, or inability to travel the roadways. Finally, make a few basic preparations to mitigate the effects of those hardships (perhaps keeping a generator in your garage or installing a water purifier).
3. Stock up on consumables that might end up in short supply: food, water, candles, batteries, generator fuel, ammunition, diapers, etc.
4. Shore up your shelter. Take time to inspect your dwelling to make sure it is in good repair and capable of protecting your family.
5. Plan your possible evacuation. Identify where you will go, at least two ways to get there, and what supplies or valuables you will take with you.
6. Put together a small emergency kit for your automobile.
7. Review your insurance policies and adjust or supplement them to have an adequate safety net in place.
8. Have ready a properly-sized backup heating system (if appropriate to climate).
9. Establish an emergency fund that can be quickly accessed when a financial hardship occurs.
10. Learn first aid, and put together a well-stocked family kit.
11. Maintain a minimum 30-day supply of important medications and medical supplies.
12. Create a network of like-minded individuals committed to working together to survive dangerous events.
13. Consider the special needs of those within your household, including children, the elderly, those with disabilities, and pets.
Source: Arthur T. Bradley,PhD, Author of “Handbook to Practical Disaster Preparedness for the Family” (CreateSpace)
Monday, October 24, 2011
A few weekends ago we celebrated Lil Diva’s 3rd birthday party; while it is amazing to see my baby girl grow up it was definitely a bittersweet celebration! Since refreshments are a must at every party I took great care to choose snacks that both the kids and adults in attendance would enjoy—and that definitely meant some Chex Mix!
Chex Mix has been a long-time go to snack in our family; my mom makes the traditional Chex Mix for nearly every together…and if we’re really good ( a lil mommy humor) she’ll mix up a batch of Muddy Buddy mix! When I decided to include Chex Mix in the festivities I wanted to do something a little outside the box and thanks to MyBlogSpark and Chex that was a breeze!
I recently had the opportunity to host a Chex Party Mix Change party, thanks to MyBlogSpark and Chex and I thought what better time to have some people over and share a little Chex Mix than Lil Diva’s birthday party—it was perfect timing for sure!
Since I’d never tried my hand at making Chex Mix before, yes, I’m the type of mom who buys the already made mix at the store, I was a little worried about how hard it would be and how good they would taste, but it turns out that I was worried for no reason at all because it was so simple! I chose four different Chex Mixes to make for our party; Traditional Chex Party Mix, Muddy Buddy Mix, Chili Garlic Chex Mix, and Chex Pumpkin Pie Crunch in honor of fall. Since I had never made any type of Chex Mix before I didn’t know how easy, or how difficult it would be, so I made sure to allow myself plenty of time before the party to whip up a few test batches—turns out I didn’t need them because they all came out perfect on the first try…seriously you cannot mess this up! Most of the people at the party had tried the Chex Traditional Party Mix and the Muddy Buddy mix, but no one had tried Chili Garlic and Pumpkin Pie Crunch varieties before and I loved being the first to introduce them! I expected everyone to like all of the different varieties of Chex Mix, but I never expected everyone to love them and everyone wanted the recipes and commented that they were definitely serving Chex Mix at their next together…score!
Our Chex Party Mix-Change party was a big success, everyone loved all of the different Chex Mix varieties and couldn’t wait to try them out themselves at home! I even found out that I could make Chex Mix at home that tasted just as good as the stuff you buy at the store—it was a definite win-win situation! Want to throw your own Chex Party Mix-Change party? Check out all of the great recipes, tips, and ideas below!
Highlighting the flavors of pumpkin pie, cinnamon, brown sugar and caramel, your guests are sure to “fall” in love with these seasonal favorites that can be made in the microwave in 15 minutes or less. These five Chex Party Mix recipes are sure to get your guests excited for fall and the upcoming holiday season-
- Original Chex Party Mix – A tried and true classic of many holiday gatherings.
- Chex PB & Chocolate Blast – Is there really a better combination than peanut butter and chocolate? Yes, when Chex cereal is added!
- Chex Pumpkin Pie Crunch – Mix things up and try this mouthwatering alternative to the beloved holiday pie.
- Hot Buttered Yum Chex Mix – A combination of cinnamon, brown sugar, honey and marshmallows blend effortlessly together in a crazy-delicious, gluten free crunchy mix.
- Chex Caramel Chocolate Drizzles – Melted chocolate, chewy caramel and a delightful crunch carry this gluten-free party mix recipe from microwave to table in 15 minutes.
Need some inspiration? Check out these awesome ideas for packaging your Chex Mix goodies for your guests!
- Cello Gorgeous! – Packaging your favorite Chex Party Mix recipes in cellophane bags is simple and cute. And, they’re endlessly customizable to add personal touches.
- It’s My Party – Flip a party hat upside down, line it with cellophane and it instantly becomes a festive cone-shaped container.
- Chex Cupcakes – Arrange cupcake liners filled with Chex Party Mixes neatly in a box.
- Chex-To-Go – Packaging Chex Party Mix recipes in a takeout container is quick and easy to “carry out.” We’re including 10 of these in your prize pack to help you get started!
- Tin Tower – Tin is “in” when it comes to creating a hip holiday container for Chex Party Mix-Change guests. Discover oodles of holiday tins at craft or dollar stores.
I’m always looking for creative new ways to bring my friends and family together and any excuse to host a holiday party is a good excuse to me, so why not host a Chex Party-Mix Change this year instead of your annual cookie exchange—your guests will be thanking you all year!
So, how would you like to host your own Chex Party Mix-Change party? Well, one very lucky MIBR reader is going to win a Chex Party Mix-Change prize pack…details on how to enter below!
WIN IT!
One MIBR reader is going to win a Chex Party Mix-Change Prize Pack including:
HOW TO ENTER!
To enter this giveaway please visit the Chex website and have a look at all of the delicious Chex Party Mix recipes, come back and leave a comment on this post telling me which recipe you’d most like to try!
EXTRA ENTRIES!
Please leave separate comments for each extra entry!
Stumble this post: http://tinyurl.com/3djmnkb (2 extra entries)
Comment on any non-giveaway post (2 extra entries for each comment)
Follow MIBR via GFC (2 extra entries)
Follow MIBR via Email (2 extra entries)
Follow MIBR via RSS Feed (3 extra entries)
Like” Misadventures in Baby Raising on Facebook (3 extra entries)
Follow MIBR on Twitter (3 extra entries)
Follow MIBR on Networked Blogs (3 extra entries)
Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter…Make sure you leave the URL to your Tweet in your comments! (2 tweets per day = 2 extra entries per day)
#WIN a #ChexPartyMixChange prize pack at MIBR | @Allie_23| Enter Now: http://tinyurl.com/3jjlcmf #MyBlogSpark
Share this giveaway with your Friends and/or Fans on Facebook by linking to this post on your wall. (You can share 2 times per day with your friends/fans on Facebook)
Submit this giveaway to a giveaway site or linky…please leave a link to the giveaway posting in your comment. (5 extra entries per giveaway site or linky)
Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post. (5 extra entries)
This giveaway ends on November 7, 2011 at 1:59 PM EST. One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post shortly after the giveaway has ended. Winner will have 48 hours to claim his/her prize, failure to respond to winner’s email in a timely manner will result in winner forfeiting his/her prize and me choosing a new winner. Giveaway open to US residents only please!
“Disclosure: The Chex Party Mix-Change product, information, and giveaway have been provided by Chex through MyBlogSpark.”
Friday, October 14, 2011
Halloween is my favorite holiday and even long after I have graduated from going door to door begging for candy I have loved Trick-or-Treat!
There’s just something about a crisp Autumn night, witches and goblins, the threat of ghosts and ghouls in the air, and entire towns coming together to pass out candy to Super Heroes and rock stars that makes me feel like a kid all over again!
Of course, I’m far from a kid anymore and now I have my own little ghosts and goblins running around preparing for Trick-or-Treat! And since I’ve been taking kiddos trick-or-treating for the past 12 years I’ve learned a few tricks that will be your Halloween night a definite treat!
- *Choose a costume that is comfortable! The number one no-no when it comes to taking little ones trick-or-treating is taking them in a costume that is too big, too small, too hot, not warm enough, too long, and just too darn uncomfortable! So definitely go with a costume that’s cute, but that your child won’t have a meltdown over in Mrs. Smith’s front yard!
* Dress for the weather! I know it’s a pain in the you know what to spend major bucks on a Halloween costume only to have the temperature be in the 30’s Trick-or-Treat night (something that is a definite maybe here in Ohio) forcing you to cover up Little Timmy’s costume with a jacket. Layering is the key! Most store bought costumes are made of thin fabric that make cool fall breezes downright frigid, but buying your child’s costume a little roomy and then having them wear pants and a long sleeved shirt underneath will keep your kiddos from calling it a night as soon as the sun goes down—unless of course that’s your plan!
* Be visible! Let’s face it, trick-or-treating is like a war zone and big kids with their minds on candy and candy on their minds (you liked the Snoop Dogg reference—admit it) are the enemy! When you’re taking a toddler trick-or-treating getting separated is a real possibility. In the event that were to happen you want it to be as easy as possible to locate them quickly…so light them up! Whether you buy a couple of glow sticks or clothing as an easy way to see your child making sure that they are easily visible is a necessity! One of my favorite tricks in using glow-in-the-dark tape to clearly mark an area of your child’s costume, on both the front and back, you can easily work it into the various patterns and lines in your child’s costume so that the costume looks the same, but your child is visible to you at all times!
* Take snacks! Yes, I am aware of the premise of trick-or-treat, but most parents won’t let their children eat the candy before they have examined it (myself included) so taking a baggie of animal crackers or Gold Fish for your child to snack on if they become grumpy will make your night so much better!
* Practice Manners! I know that this is a given, but I use every single opportunity that I can to teach my children about manners and Trick-or-Treat is the perfect time to do it! I make sure that all of my children say, “Thank You!” to everyone that they accept candy from and then I make sure to tell them how very polite they are. In my experience, if I praise my children for being “very polite” or telling them what nice manners they have then they have used please and thank you more often—anything to get them to say please and thank you!
* Have FUN! If you’re not having a good time, chances are pretty good that your kiddos won’t be having the best time either! I know that it can be a pain to walk for hours in the cool air with candy sick kids looking for their next fix, but take comfort in the fact that you get to go home, examine your kiddos candy, and put all of the Milky Way in a big old pile under the guise that they “look suspicious”—that’s more than enough reason to smile as your taking Susie from house to house!
Happy Trick-or-Treating!
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
With everyone in anticipation of the Wedding of the Century I thought I’d take this opportunity to let Consumer Savings Expert Andrea Woroch give those of you who are planning a wedding and dreaming of a William and Kate Like affair, but in reality have a very tight budget some tips on how to have a lavish wedding on a shoestring.
Sound the trumpets! After eight long years, Prince William and Catherine ("Waitie Katie") Middleton will walk down the aisle Friday in a fairytale wedding. Contrary to all the pomp and circumstance, the happy couple actually lead a very modest life in a $1,200-a-month farmhouse in Angsley, Wales. If William wasn't heir to the throne, one gets the feeling they might plan a more intimate and reasonably priced affair. That doesn't mean they'd have to forgo all the bells and whistles, however.
If you're planning a wedding and would like to exchange vows in a more royal fashion on a limited budget, read on for 15 tips to help you tie the knot in style without sacrificing your savings.
1. The Proposal
Prince William took Kate all the way to Kenya to propose over a champagne dinner. While you can't replicate the location, you could pop for champagne and cook your own dinner. If you're looking for something a bit more romantic, try Michael Scott's incredibly romantic, candle-laden proposal on "The Office."
2. Princely Invitations
The royal invite is a relatively simple 8-inch-by-6-inch card that says the Lord Chamberlain has been "commanded by the Queen" to invite the holder to the wedding. Eliminating all the extra envelopes, tissue paper and fuss of traditional invites is both very modern and much less expensive. To save even more, opt to create the invite on your home computer or visit sites like PrintRunner.com which offer easy-to-follow directions on custom wedding invitation cards.
3. Pre-marital Counseling
Once the question has been popped, it's wise to seek a bit of advice. The royal couple will meet with both the Bishop of London and the Archbishop of Canterbury, but you can turn to your own spiritual adviser or check with your county mental-health center for a recommendation to a counselor who charges on a sliding scale.
4. Wedding Rings
The royal couple will exchange wedding rings made with gold from Wales' Clogau Mine. William is also having Kate's ring engraved inside, a sentiment common couples can easily duplicate. For an excellent price on rings, check out pawnshops and discount jewelry merchants, like Amazon. Watch for promo codes for even more savings on jewelry.
5. Teeth Whitening
Want to know a secret? Kate donned invisible braces and had her teeth whitened for the wedding. (She also lost weight, but that's another topic.) One of the cheapest ways to purchase a teeth-whitening session is via one of the group-buying services, such as Groupon and LivingSocial. Otherwise, try a more affordable drugstore product like Crest White Strips to make your smile dazzle on the big day
6. Flowers
Catherine's floral selection is easy to duplicate as she's planned a white pallet reminiscent of an English garden. While hot-house flowers are nice, it's much less expensive if you ask a variety of friends to share the bounty of their backyard gardens. Or you might use silk flowers, which can be repurposed to decorate your happy new home.
7. Bouquets
Queen Victoria created a tradition when she included a bit of myrtle in her bouquet to symbolize "constancy in affection and duty." Her highness later planted the sprig so future brides could share a piece of her bouquet. Not only is this an inexpensive and lovely idea but planting the sprig is very eco-friendly.
8. Tuxes
An all-tuxedo ensemble at the altar has become rather passe. Follow Prince William's lead and wear your military uniform, or go your own way with a simple suit. Don't have a suit? Thrift shops have some surprisingly good deals on quality jackets, pants and two-piecers.
9. Dresses
Lucky Catherine has her choice of gowns, from Vera Wang to J. Crew, and she can wear what she likes as there's no protocol on bridal wear. Everyday brides, however, can save by renting, borrowing or hitting second-hand shops. For those looking for a gown online or in-store, plan to buy discount gift cards before checking out to help lower the cost by up to 30-percent off.
10. Tiaras
Not everyone wants to wear a tiara, but it would be hard to forgo this headwear if, like Kate, you could chose from 80 stunning tiaras in the royal family collection. Brides who want to look more like a princess than a pauper might check out costume shops for realistic-looking tiaras at rock-bottom prices.
11. Music
Princess Diana rode to her wedding in a glass carriage. Trumpets sounded upon her arrival and three choirs serenaded her walk down the aisle. While that might be overdoing it just a touch for your wedding, there's no reason you can't replicate the sound with recorded music. For a more personal touch, ask a friend to play and sing.
12. Location
Commoners might find it difficult to fill St. Paul's Cathedral, but you don't want to overlook the many low-budget locations open to you. A nice backyard, local church, public park, community garden, historical building on your local university campus...there's no end to low-cost locations if you begin to think outside the box.
13. After Parties
Queen Elizabeth is hosting an intimate luncheon for 700 at Buckingham Palace, then the oldsters will clear out and 400 of the younger guests will enjoy an evening of dining and dancing. While you might need to scale down the numbers, you can follow the same blueprint. Hold a small champagne reception directly after the wedding for the senior crowd and, if you'd like to go really low cost, a potluck dinner followed by dancing to your favorite iTunes.
14. Honeymoon
Princess Diana and Prince Charles spent their honeymoon in Hampshire, England, but it looks like Kate and William will head to equally chilly Canada. Not all of us have a former colony to tour, but we can get away for a nice hiking weekend or time at a friend's cottage. If your budget has been destroyed by the wedding itself, there's always the option of a staycation. Turn off the phones and computers and turn your home into a spa, movie theater or whatever suits your fancy. Just don't tell anyone where you are.
15. Trousseau
Despite having a millionaire's bank book, Kate is an economical clothes shopper, which can't be easy when you have to wear all those hats. The soon-to-be-princess also doubles her wardrobe by sharing with her sister. You can follow Kate's tips or hit thrift shops, second-hand stores and the big boxes for your trousseau. Target, in particular, has a comparatively upscale clothing selection at very reasonable prices.
Tips contributed by Consumer Savings Expert, Andrea Woroch, is available to share "How to Throw a Royal Wedding on a Pauper's Budget" with your audience for an in-studio, satellite or skype interview. Andrea has been featured on NBC's Today Show, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, ABC News NOW and many more as a media expert source. To view recent interviews or find more information, visit AndreaWoroch.com.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
I've been so busy lately with my holiday guide, school, and mommy duties that I've hardly had time to wrap gifts (I'm getting there, but very slowly) and I recently joined a community that I wanted to share with all of you!
"Well, Then was introduced by Harvard Pilgrim to encourage people to talk about what they do to be well as they can be and learn from the experiences of others so they can apply it to their own lives." I have to admit, I really like to talk and being able to inspire other moms and dads to do what they can to be well really makes it that much better! As part of the Well,Then community I've been sharing my thoughts, ideas, tips, and tricks for how I stay as well as I can be...check out my latest vlog full of great tips for how to work and study smart!
Check out Well,Then for tips and ways to improve sleep, eat healthy, connect with your family and so much more! You can see all of my vlogs on my profile page...go on over and have a look around...you might just learn a thing or two!
*Harvard Pilgrim has empowered me to participate in the Well,Then community and I have been compensated for participating*
"Well, Then was introduced by Harvard Pilgrim to encourage people to talk about what they do to be well as they can be and learn from the experiences of others so they can apply it to their own lives." I have to admit, I really like to talk and being able to inspire other moms and dads to do what they can to be well really makes it that much better! As part of the Well,Then community I've been sharing my thoughts, ideas, tips, and tricks for how I stay as well as I can be...check out my latest vlog full of great tips for how to work and study smart!
Check out Well,Then for tips and ways to improve sleep, eat healthy, connect with your family and so much more! You can see all of my vlogs on my profile page...go on over and have a look around...you might just learn a thing or two!
*Harvard Pilgrim has empowered me to participate in the Well,Then community and I have been compensated for participating*
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
I don’t know about you, but I am always concerned when I buy a new car seat if it’s right for my child's height and weight, if I am installing it correctly, and if my child is strapped in correctly (call it OCD if you want). This week is National Car Seat Safety Week and thanks to Safety 1st and Kimberlee Mitchell (a National Child Safety expert and Child Passenger Safety Technician, I have some great tips for all you moms and dads out there to make sure your child’s car sear is safe enough for your most precious cargo!
1. Choose an INFANT CAR SEAT with the highest weight, height and age maximum for rear- facing. SOME GO UP TO 35 lbs, which is ideal!
a. Your child is 75% safer in a crash when he is rear-facing so consequently; you will want to keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible.
2. Make sure it FITS YOUR CHILD per manufacturer’s specifications.
3. Make sure it FITS IN YOUR CAR’S BACK SEAT.
a. READ the child restraint manual and the vehicle owner’s manual for with proper installation and for the best location for the seat.
4. Make sure you can INSTALL IT CORRECTLY in the SAFEST LOCATION in car EVERY TIME.
a. Make an appointment with a CPST to check your work and to learn proper installation techniques.
Tip#2: CONVERTIBLE CAR SEATS: (Once they have outgrown the infant car seat.)
1. Choose a CONVERTIBLE car seat with the highest weight, height and age maximum for rear- facing.
a. Your child is 75% safer in a crash when he is rear-facing so consequently; you will want to keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible.
b. When your child reaches the maximum height or weight for rear-facing, turn the car seat forward -facing.
2. Make sure it FITS YOUR CHILD per manufacturer’s specifications.
3. Make sure it FITS IN YOUR CAR’S BACK SEAT.
a. READ the child restraint manual and the vehicle owner’s manual for with proper installation and for the best location for the seat.
4. Make sure you can INSTALL IT CORRECTLY in the SAFEST LOCATION in car EVERY TIME.
a. Make an appointment with a CPST to learn proper installation technique.
Tip #3 CHOOSING A BOOSTER SEAT: CHILDREN 8 YEARS OLD & UNDER or 4 feet 9 inches and under:
1. Choose a high back belt-positioning booster with that highest weight, height and age maximum.
2. Make sure it FITS YOUR CHILD per manufacturer’s specifications.
3. Make sure it FITS IN YOUR CAR’S BACK SEAT.
a. READ the child restraint manual and the vehicle owner’s manual for with proper installation and for the best location for the seat.
4. Make sure you can INSTALL IT CORRECTLY in the SAFEST LOCATION in car EVERY TIME.
a. Make an appointment with a CPST to learn proper installation technique.
TRY IT BEFORE YOUR BUY IT:
Keep in mind that most retailers will allow you to take the child restraint out of the box to see if it fits your child. Also ask if they will allow you to bring the child restraint to your car to make sure it’s a proper fit. You’d be surprised how many seats don’t fit! TRY IT BEFORE YOUR BUY IT and you will save yourself some frustration and wasted time.
CALL THE PROS TO CHECK YOUR WORK:
Then have the pros check your work as there any many variable people miss all the time. We hear “I would have never thought about that!” and “I never considered the location of the car seats in my car being a safety hazard to my other children.” Click here to find a Certified Child Passenger Safety Tech in your area! God Speed and safe travels!
Tips used by permission of Safety 1st and can be found along with some great child safety information at Safety 1st blog!
Keep it conservative & consider safety before style.
Tip #1: CHOOSING A NEWBORN/INFANT CARRIER: (Your child’s first car seat.) 1. Choose an INFANT CAR SEAT with the highest weight, height and age maximum for rear- facing. SOME GO UP TO 35 lbs, which is ideal!
a. Your child is 75% safer in a crash when he is rear-facing so consequently; you will want to keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible.
2. Make sure it FITS YOUR CHILD per manufacturer’s specifications.
3. Make sure it FITS IN YOUR CAR’S BACK SEAT.
a. READ the child restraint manual and the vehicle owner’s manual for with proper installation and for the best location for the seat.
4. Make sure you can INSTALL IT CORRECTLY in the SAFEST LOCATION in car EVERY TIME.
a. Make an appointment with a CPST to check your work and to learn proper installation techniques.
Tip#2: CONVERTIBLE CAR SEATS: (Once they have outgrown the infant car seat.)
1. Choose a CONVERTIBLE car seat with the highest weight, height and age maximum for rear- facing.
a. Your child is 75% safer in a crash when he is rear-facing so consequently; you will want to keep your child rear-facing for as long as possible.
b. When your child reaches the maximum height or weight for rear-facing, turn the car seat forward -facing.
2. Make sure it FITS YOUR CHILD per manufacturer’s specifications.
3. Make sure it FITS IN YOUR CAR’S BACK SEAT.
a. READ the child restraint manual and the vehicle owner’s manual for with proper installation and for the best location for the seat.
4. Make sure you can INSTALL IT CORRECTLY in the SAFEST LOCATION in car EVERY TIME.
a. Make an appointment with a CPST to learn proper installation technique.
Tip #3 CHOOSING A BOOSTER SEAT: CHILDREN 8 YEARS OLD & UNDER or 4 feet 9 inches and under:
1. Choose a high back belt-positioning booster with that highest weight, height and age maximum.
2. Make sure it FITS YOUR CHILD per manufacturer’s specifications.
3. Make sure it FITS IN YOUR CAR’S BACK SEAT.
a. READ the child restraint manual and the vehicle owner’s manual for with proper installation and for the best location for the seat.
4. Make sure you can INSTALL IT CORRECTLY in the SAFEST LOCATION in car EVERY TIME.
a. Make an appointment with a CPST to learn proper installation technique.
TRY IT BEFORE YOUR BUY IT:
Keep in mind that most retailers will allow you to take the child restraint out of the box to see if it fits your child. Also ask if they will allow you to bring the child restraint to your car to make sure it’s a proper fit. You’d be surprised how many seats don’t fit! TRY IT BEFORE YOUR BUY IT and you will save yourself some frustration and wasted time.
CALL THE PROS TO CHECK YOUR WORK:
Then have the pros check your work as there any many variable people miss all the time. We hear “I would have never thought about that!” and “I never considered the location of the car seats in my car being a safety hazard to my other children.” Click here to find a Certified Child Passenger Safety Tech in your area! God Speed and safe travels!
Tips used by permission of Safety 1st and can be found along with some great child safety information at Safety 1st blog!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Whether your children have already started school or they are reluctantly counting down the days until they do—one thing parents and kids everywhere are doing is back to school shopping! We here at Misadventures want to make BTS (back to school) shopping as easy and stress-free as possible by showing you the latest products, giving you the most helpful tips, and show you how to do it all on the cheap!One of my absolute favorite companies for BTS products is Carolina Pad, not only are their products sold at Wal Mart (among many other places) they are funky, hip, unique, and affordable! For those of you who haven’t heard of Carolina Pad let me give you a little bit of their history. Carolina Pad started in North Carolina in 1954 when Joseph K. Hall Jr. scraped up enough money to start a school supply manufacturing company. By selling notebook paper with more sheets at lower prices than their competitors Carolina Pad was able to gain a solid foothold in the market. In 2000 Carolina Pad turned the school supply world upside down when they introduced fashion into the ho-hum world of school supplies. By consistently offering their customers quality affordable school supplies that are trendy and fun, Carolina Pad is able to stay at the forefront of the school and office supply industry.
As I mentioned above I really love Carolina Pad’s products, not only do I buy them for my oldest girls for BTS, but I also make sure to pick up a few notebooks and pens for myself for my classes! Of course, Carolina Pad offers their customers a lot more than pens and notebooks; they also sell bags and totes, art and craft supplies, personal office supplies, and so much more. Carolina Pad has so many great collections for BTS and everyday office needs.
Studio C- Carolina Pad’s Signature brand, allows you to express your style with today’s hottest fashions.
Note 2 Self- Hip, trendy back-to-school collections. Budget-friendly and stylish.
Notebound- Durable, functional notebooks for everyday.
Ghostline- The ghosted grid makes projects easy.
Sasquatch- Eco-friendly products for those who treasure paper as much as they treasure trees.
U Create- Creativity products for all ages.
When the girls and I go back to school shopping it is always with a strict budget, and with my girls both insisting they have “the coolest” BTS supplies it’s often a struggle to get the most for my money, with Carolina Pad I know I’m giving them what they want and still saving money…it’s a great feeling!
Carolina Pad generously sent me several products from the collections from Studio C brand by Carolina Pad. Included in the products were:
- 1-subject notebook – MSRP $2.50
- 18 month Planner – MSRP $4.00
- 2-pkt folder (3 pack) – MSRP $2.50
- 1” Binder – MSRP $2.50
- Composition book – MSRP $2.50
- Ideal Book – MSRP $2.50
- Pens – MSRP $2.50
- Pencils – MSRP $2.50
The items that I received to review (pictured above) are part of Carolina Pad’s Studio C collection that are available exclusively for the back to school season (July-September) at Wal Mart. These collections include: Rock-On, Graffiti, Rising Sun, Peace, Free Spirit, Eye Candy, and Mo Rockin. I have to say that not only did I love the products because they were from Carolina Pad, I loved them because they were absolutely gorgeous and fit my 11 year olds personality to a tee! Fun, funky, fresh, and fabulous, those are the words I would use to describe the Studio C products from Carolina Pad. My 11 year old LOVED them and cannot wait to show them off on the first day of school, Mommy on the other hand is a little bummed that my daughter called dibs on every single product before I had a chance to—not to worry mommy managed to wrestle away a few goodies for herself! I’m pretty sure your elementary, middle, high school, and/or college student will love this collection as much as my daughter and myself do! And let’s not forget that at prices like that…we can afford to buy a ton to keep at home for later in the year (something I always do). And you can check out Carolina Pad’s Facebook and Twitter pages to see all of the cool back to school products and deals!
Buy it!
You can purchase the Carolina Pad products mentioned above, plus so many more at Carolina Pad’s online store or you can visit their website to find a complete listing of stores that carry the Carolina Pad products! And FYI you can get FREE SHIPPING in Carolina Pad’s web store with the Promotional Code: AUGUST!So, Carolina Pad has very generously offered a giveaway for my readers…can you say yay!
Win it!
One MIBR reader is going to win a collection of products selected from the Studio C collection! How totally awesome is that?
Mandatory Entry!
To be entered into this giveaway please visit Carolina Pad online and have a look around, come back and tell me which collection and/or products you like best for BTS. This is mandatory and must be completed before any addition entries are counted!
READ THIS…UNLIMITED ENTRIES FOR THE FIRST 48 HOURS!
Since I want to make this giveaway as fun as the Carolina Pad products it represents, I thought we’d shake things up a bit. For the first 48 hours of this giveaway (from Monday @ 2:00 am until Wednesday @ 2:00 am) I am offering unlimited entries into this giveaway, BUT make sure you read carefully because there are rules! In order to get unlimited entries into the giveaway you MUST do the following:1. Follow the mandatory entry requirement. Entrants who do not do this will have all entries removed!
2. “Like” Carolina Pad on Facebook
3. “Follow” Carolina Pad on Twitter
The only other thing I as is that each of your unlimited entries pertain to either Carolina Pad as a company or one of the Carolina Pad products. Entries must also be in the form of a complete sentence. Entries not following these requirements will be removed!
Extra Entries!
Please leave separate comments for each extra entry!
Follow MIBR via GFC, Email, or RSS: 2 extra entries each
Follow MIBR on Twitter: 2 extra entries
Tweet this giveaway on Twitter (copy and paste the following into your status, or use the retweet button—make sure to include @Allie_23 in your tweets) I just entered the Carolina Pad Giveaway at MIBR http://tinyurl.com/2v5ratz @Allie_23: 2 Tweets per day per length of giveaway
Follow Carolina Pad on Twitter: 2 extra entries
“Like” MIBR on Facebook: 2 extra entries
Follow this blog on Networked Blogs: 2 extra entries
Share this giveaway on Facebook: 2 extra entries per day per length of giveaway
“Like” Carolina Pad on Facebook: 2 extra entries
Add the BTS Blowout button to your sidebar: 2 extra entries
Add my MIBR button to your sidebar: 2 extra entries
Stumble this giveaway (this post only not the entire site): 3 extra entries
Extra any other MIBR giveaway: 1 extra entry for each additional extry
Comment on any non-giveaway post: 1 extra entry per comment
Blog about this giveaway with a link to this giveaway: 5 extra entries
This giveaway ends on Monday August 23, 2010 at 11:59 EST. One winner will be chosen via Random.org and announced in a separate winner’s post. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me and claim their prize, failure to do so will result in winner forfeiting his prize and me choosing a new winner.
Open to US and Canadian residents!
It’s August and that means Back to School! Now I’m not sure how any of you feel about your kids going back to school, but I personally hate it! I like sleeping in—sue me!
Misadventures in Baby Raising is having a huge Back to School Blowout with lots of awesome new product reviews (and some giveaways too) tips, and ideas for making BTS shopping easier on you and your wallet! The fun starts Monday with Carolina Pad! And since I am feeling generous—if you grab the BTS button below and let me know in a comment that you put it on your blog you’ll get 5 extra entries into ALL of the giveaways! (FYI: You have all week to place the button in order to get the extra entries!)
I hope to see you all there!
Misadventures in Baby Raising is having a huge Back to School Blowout with lots of awesome new product reviews (and some giveaways too) tips, and ideas for making BTS shopping easier on you and your wallet! The fun starts Monday with Carolina Pad! And since I am feeling generous—if you grab the BTS button below and let me know in a comment that you put it on your blog you’ll get 5 extra entries into ALL of the giveaways! (FYI: You have all week to place the button in order to get the extra entries!)
I hope to see you all there!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
I have a confession, I am a closet perfectionist! Messes make me anxious, dirtiness makes me cringe, and clutter makes me twitch—I just despise it all. Unfortunately I have no choice but to live with clutter as our current house offers very little in the way of storage space. I am forced to get creative with organization and it becomes a necessity to be clever when it comes to utilizing the storage space we do have.
I learned a few years ago one of the best tricks for utilizing storage space—Space Bag. I’m sure you’ve seen the commercials on television and the products in stores, but have you ever tried them? If not, you should. Space Bags have been an invaluable tool for helping me tackle the clutter in my house and the uses for Space Bags don’t end at storing clothing! While I do most certainly use my Space Bags to store off season clothing and bedding they have so many uses—some may even surprise you! From storing craft and school supplies to organizing the garage and helping make packing simpler, Space Bag has a million different uses for around the house and travel! The Space Saver community offers readers a wealth of information for using Space Bag products, packing tips, and organization tricks to help keep your home clutter free!
Recently I was asked to do a review for Space Bag, and since I use them all of the time and love them so much it seemed like a no brainer to say yes! I was sent an assortment of Space Bag products (from small bags—perfect for craft supplies) to the largest of the bags—perfect for just about anything) to review and I wasted no time getting things organized and cleaning up the clutter with them! One of the biggest challenged I face around my house is finding somewhere to store the endless amounts of out of season clothing that I find myself accumulating—it is a nightmare of gigantic proportions! Below you can see how easy it is to use the Space Bag products to store large amounts of stuff quickly and efficiently!
2 large pillows and 1 large Space Bag.
I learned a few years ago one of the best tricks for utilizing storage space—Space Bag. I’m sure you’ve seen the commercials on television and the products in stores, but have you ever tried them? If not, you should. Space Bags have been an invaluable tool for helping me tackle the clutter in my house and the uses for Space Bags don’t end at storing clothing! While I do most certainly use my Space Bags to store off season clothing and bedding they have so many uses—some may even surprise you! From storing craft and school supplies to organizing the garage and helping make packing simpler, Space Bag has a million different uses for around the house and travel! The Space Saver community offers readers a wealth of information for using Space Bag products, packing tips, and organization tricks to help keep your home clutter free!
Recently I was asked to do a review for Space Bag, and since I use them all of the time and love them so much it seemed like a no brainer to say yes! I was sent an assortment of Space Bag products (from small bags—perfect for craft supplies) to the largest of the bags—perfect for just about anything) to review and I wasted no time getting things organized and cleaning up the clutter with them! One of the biggest challenged I face around my house is finding somewhere to store the endless amounts of out of season clothing that I find myself accumulating—it is a nightmare of gigantic proportions! Below you can see how easy it is to use the Space Bag products to store large amounts of stuff quickly and efficiently!
2 large pillows and 1 large Space Bag.
Use your vacuum cleaner to expel the air out of the bag.
Viola!
I also wanted to let you all know about a great contest that Space Bag is sponsoring right now called Clean that Closet Challenge! You could win a $1000 gift certificate to Bed, Bath, and Beyond and a consultation with professional organizer Kathi Burns—how cool would that be? So make sure you head on over and check out the contest!
Buy it: You can purchase Space Bag products online and at several retailers nationwide! 
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Misadventures in Baby Raising’s Summer 2010 Must-Haves is off to a great start, this week’s theme is Amusement Park Fun and we have lots of great product reviews, giveaways, and tips to make your trip to the Amusement Park a great one!
While I love visiting the amusement park, doing so with children takes lots of planning and patience. I have complied a list of my Amusement/Theme park Travel Tips for you guys, I hope you find the tips helpful and I hope they help make your trip seamless!
While I love visiting the amusement park, doing so with children takes lots of planning and patience. I have complied a list of my Amusement/Theme park Travel Tips for you guys, I hope you find the tips helpful and I hope they help make your trip seamless!
Amusement/Theme Park Travel Tips
* Get there EARLY! While I am all for sleeping in, you’ll want to get to the park early! Arriving before the park opens insures a better chance of getting a good parking space and less of a wait in the ticketing lines. Arriving early also gives you an opportunity to go over your plan of attack with your family.
* Avoid weekends! Now I know for many of us (including my family) this isn’t possible, but visiting a theme park during the week generally means less visitors therefore less time waiting in lines and a better chance of being able to ride the rides and visit the attractions that are most popular. Another option is waiting until the afternoon to visit the park, most theme parks offer deeply discounted rates for visitors arriving after 5PM!
* Buy tickets online! Buying tickets online can save you big bucks…and when you’re talking about spending nearly $50 a pop as it is the extra savings make it such a sweet deal! Some stores also offer discounted tickets
* Pack Wisely! If you are taking a stroller with you to the park then you have some room to play with, but if not packing wisely becomes very important! I usually pack a small, mesh backpack for each of the bigger kids with me containing a change of clothes (important if their are water rides), swim suit, and towel. In the diaper bag I pack the essentials (diapers, wipes, change of clothes, bottle, sippy cup) as well as a small first aid kit (complete with both children's and regular Tylenol and headache medicine, money, credit card, sunscreen, snacks, and extra water.
* Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen! I know this one goes without saying, but if you’re like me I cover the kiddos in sunscreen and often forget myself—the last time I did that I got the worst sunburn of my life!
* Have an Emergency Plan! I cannot stress the importance of making sure your children know what to do if they get separated from you, it is one of the most stressful parts of taking our big group of kids anywhere. Make sure that older children know your cell phone number. For younger children writing your cell number somewhere on the child or his belongings is a safe bet. When my daughter Savanna went to Disney with her father I placed a slip of paper into the pocket of all of her shorts containing her name, her father’s name, my name, and our phone numbers. On our recent trip to Kings Island I used Safety Tats on the younger kiddos and I cannot tell you how many parents wanted to know where they could buy them…they are an amazing thing to have to bring parents peace of mind!
* Take advantage of Souvenir Cups! One of the most outrageous items at amusement parks is the food and drinks. The initial investment of a souvenir cup can be pricy (we paid $20 for 2 souvenir ICEE cups on our visit to KI) but refills are normally cheaper than even a small drink in most parks. Our $20 investment saved us countless money on our recent trip to the amusement park and the kids got to bring home a cool cup to help them remember their adventure!
* Go See a Free Show! Many theme parks offer several free shows during the day and attending one of these shows is a great way to cool down if it’s hot outside (many of the theatres are air-conditioned) and get off of your feet for a while. My children love watching the live shows and it seems to reenergize everyone to sit and relax a bit between rides!
I hope that I have given you a good starting point to help make your next amusement park trip turn out amazing! And if you know of a great tip that isn’t listed then by all means let me know…I love hearing what works best for other moms and dads!
* Thanks to Statesman.com for some of the great amusement park tips*
Friday, October 9, 2009
I love this time of year; the amazingly beautiful colors, the crisp Autumn air, and shopping (lots and lots of shopping). Though I do love the holidays and shopping for the perfect gifts for all of the special people in my life, there are always those family members who are impossible to buy for and in my family that person is my mother. Try as I might I seem to always fall a little short every year with the gifts that I buy her. My job of searching for the perfect gift for her became a little easier when I had children, but it’s still not an easy task.
Recently I came across a company that specializes in helping you find the perfect gift for the grandparent, mother, or father in your life. The Grandparent Gift Co. has a wide array of gifts for every occasion. From personalized gifts for the special people in your life to wedding, graduation, and anniversary gifts; The Grandparent Gift Co. truly does offer something for everyone! Some of my favorite items from the online store are the Generations Family Picture Frame,the Daddy’s Little Girl (and Boy) Handprint Frames, and the I Promise to Hug and Kiss You Goodnight Personalized Frame.
Here’s a little more about The Grandparent Gift Co. from the website:
All of the poems and sentiments you find on our products were written by Teri Harrison. They are one-of-a-kind, copyrighted sentiments you will not find anywhere else. Most of our products are made or assembled in the USA, a great deal of the work being done by hardworking moms. We take pride in our products and always strive to find the right words to say something important for you. We always hope the recipient understands the sentiment and loves it enough to share it with others and keeps it somewhere very dear to them.
We were sent the Grandma’s Smile Love Frame to review. The picture frame says: Grandma’s Smile, your smile and all it means is what I love the most…now that is a gift that I know my mother will always treasure.
Buy it! You can purchase the Grandma’s Smile Love Frame and lots of other great gift items at TheGrandparentGiftCompany.com!
Make sure you check out this and lots of great gift ideas in my Holiday Gift Guide 2009!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Most of the time I’m a very level-headed, calm, and collected parent. Lately, however, I have been at a complete and utter loss. My two year old son is in my eyes an angel; he’s sweet, charming, and very polite, BUT he has a horrible potty mouth.
I will be the first to admit that the first time Gaige heard and repeated the F word I thought it was the end of the world, but I did secretly laugh about it (oh don’t you dare judge me…it was funny). The F Bomb was a phase that passed very quickly (thank goodness) but now Bub has a new bad word of choice and it has me pulling my hair out! So what is Bub’s new cuss word? God D#$m! Of all the cuss words he had to choose that one?!? Now I have to take some of the blame for it because I am the only one in my house who ever uses it (again stop judging, it’s very rare that I say it and besides my bad word of choice is the fuck).
I have tried everything under the sun to get him to stop saying it; time out (BIG, HUGE joke), a smack on the bottom, hot sauce in his mouth (he laughs and says he wants more)…I am completely out of options and I need help!
Has anyone else had this problem? How did you manage to flush the potty mouth?
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Since we're headed into the busiest travel season of the year I decided to share a few of my tips for traveling, especially with children. I'm probably one of the most over-protective moms I know, but "hey" they're my children it's my job to keep them safe.
- This is one that I learned the hard way when my luggage was lost on a trip a few years ago. When I pack for a trip I always pack a suitcase for each of us, but instead of putting all of our clothing in our suitcase I always make sure that I put at least one complete outfit for each person in another suitcase. This helps if you lose a piece of luggage. and it's a lot cheaper than having to go buy something to wear.
- When I travel with my children I always make sure that I have a Child Identification card with me. (Some schools provide these with your child's school picture, you just have to fill in the information on the back.) They are easy enough to make on your own. I take a recent picture of my children and on the back place their age, height, weight, hair and eye color, and list any distinguishing characteristics i.e., birthmark, scar. I then laminate the picture and always carry it with the rest of my important papers...chances are you will never need this, but it's always a good idea to have it with you.
- One of the most important things that I believe you can teach your children is their mother and fathers full name, their phone number, and address. If your child does get lost then they will be able to tell an adult and chances are you will be located a lot quicker.
- Whenever I travel with my children (even if we are just going to the local amusement park) I always make sure that we have a code word. A code word is a word that only you and your children know (remember to keep it something simple and easy for them to remember; in the past we've used words like rainbow or goldfish.) Make sure that you explain to your children that if they ever get lost and are approached by an adult who says they know your mom and dad to ask the adult what the code word is, tell your child that if the adult doesn't know the code word then they do not know you. I know that if your child gets lost you want them to go tell an adult, but this is supposed to be used when an adult approaches them and tells them that they know their parents. It always give me peace of mind when I take my kids places.
- I always make sure that I take plenty of snacks with me on trips as well as fun stuff for the kids to do. A perfect take-along disposable (though I love these and never throw them away) container are the plastic containers that most baby food comes in. They are the perfect size for Cheerios for your toddler!
I hope these tips help...if you know one that I haven't listed, please share with me...and have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
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