Summer Snacking Tips‏ from @SargentoCheese

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

It's officially summer break in our house!! I can't believe my oldest is already in 1st grade!

With summer break comes hungry kids from playing outside, being active, swimming and being in the heat! Sometimes, I run out of ideas for delicious, healthy and wholesome snacks for my kids!!

But this summer I am starting out prepared because my fridge is filled with Sargento Natural Cheese Snacks! My children LOVE them as snacks and I LOVE them because they have 4-8 grams of protein per serving and is a natural source of protein that keeps my children (and me!) fueled and satisfied.

Plus, it is the PERFECT snack for on-the-go, which we always seem to be! Plus, they’re a wholesome snacking option that doesn’t sacrifice on taste. They are available in 14 delicious varieties, including String, Reduced Fat Colby-Jack, Sharp Cheddar and Pepper Jack.

And this summer, nutritionist Mitzi Dulan is ready to help you snack better. As the nutritionist for The Royals (current World Series champs), Mitzi has quite a few tricks for swapping in snacks that help you stay fueled and satisfied while on-the-go this summer.

Here are all of Mitzi's tips.

1. Pack on the protein. Sargento Natural Cheese Snacks contain 4-8 grams of protein per serving, helping keep you fueled and satisfied throughout the day. The convenient single-serve packaging makes it simple for on-the go snacking. 

2. Get fruity at least three times a day. Choose fruits that are nutritional powerhouses like watermelon which is a hydrating fruit and loaded with lycopene, a powerful antioxidant. Frozen grapes are another great fruit to snack on. Grapes are high in polyphenols which is another strong antioxidant. 

3. Variety is key. Aim to eat a rainbow of colors, even with your snacks. This helps you to eat a nutrient-rich diet. From baby carrots and red grapes to kale chips and Sargento Sharp Cheddar Cheese Snacks, eating a variety of colors means you're getting a variety of nutrients. 

4. Spread it on. Keep your cravings at bay by mixing a can of tuna with 1/4 of an avocado and spreading it on crackers. 

5. Pick-me-up smoothie. Instead of reaching for a caffeine drink, try a berry smoothie. Greek yogurt, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and a touch of honey will meet your sugary fix. 

6. Dip and eat. Use celery, cucumbers, carrots and broccoli as fiber-filled dippers with a cool spinach or garlic dip. You can also pair with beet hummus for a boost of flavor. 

7. Snack consciously. Make sure you eat mindfully and give full attention to your snacks while you are eating instead of watching TV or performing other unconscious eating behavior. This will help avoid overeating.

Buy It:

You can purchase Sargento Natural Cheese Snacks at your local retailer.

* Thank you to Sargento for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Eco-Friendly Tips from Dr. Sharp Natural Oral Care

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

April is one of my favorite months because Spring is here, the grass is green, flowers are blooming and we have Earth Day! April is always a great reminder that our Earth is beautiful and it takes effort on our parts to keep it that way!

Today, we have some great tips on being earth friendly from Dr. Sharp Natural Oral Care, one of our new favorite toothpastes!

Dr. Sharp Natural Oral Care is a line of natural oral care products that were created by a fourth-generation dentist. All products are made from natural, safe ingredients, and are made in the USA. The product line includes toothpaste for children and adults, mouthwash, and dental tape. All products are safe to use, made in the USA, and are gluten-free, have no artificial colors or flavors, are vegan, non-GMO, alcohol free, fluoride-free, and cruelty-free. Plus, they help whiten teeth and have xylitol, which is a natural sweetener that also helps to fight off cavities. The products are safe for the entire family.

I love their natural toothpastes that don't contain fluoride or SLS! Plus, they make a tasty, fun toothpaste for children which is also safe and natural for their little bodies!

Not only do they offer natural toothpaste but he runs an eco-friendly business! In his eco-friendly business, they have also taken measures to ensure that all of their products are vegan, not tested on animals, all of the tubes and bottles are BPA-free, that all of the packaging and components are recyclable, and that their toothpaste boxes are printed using soy ink. A company serious about sustainability and being eco-friendly, they have taken measures at all corners to make their products as earth friendly as possible.

Check out the these tips from Dr. Sharp for greening your business:

· Look for ways to opt for energy efficient upgrades. This includes any appliances, heat and cooling, etc. An old air conditioner, for example, is going to take a lot more energy to keep the office cool than a newer energy efficient model. While some m ay shy away from the initial expense, it can save the company money in the long run because the new unit will save money each month.

· Consider the paper situation in the office. Go paperless as much as possible, use both sides of each sheet, reduce the margins so more fits on a page, and purchase paper that has been made with post-consumer recycled materials. 

·Purchase products that are made from recycled materials as often as possible. Today’s office supply stores offer many options, including recycled paper, envelopes, ink pens, and more. The only way the recycling efforts work is if there is a buyer for products made out of the recycled materials, so be a part of that process. 

· If your company makes a product or offers a service, evaluate how environmentally friendly it is and see where changes can be made. Perhaps there are packaging or ingredient changes that can be made that keep the integrity of the product, buy that are better on the planet.

· Opt for green marketing, which includes reviewing the packaging for any shipping being done. Consider labels, inks being used in the printing process, and looking for ways that help reduce putting things out that people won’t use. For example, there are hundreds of little plastic gadgets that you can buy with your company name on them to hand out to people. However, most never use them and they end up in landfills, where they will sit forever because the plastic doesn’t biodegrade. When purchasing business cards, marketing materials, and fun products to promote your business, opt for those that are environmentally friendly.

· If your office is not already recycling, make it an office-wide commitment. Contact your local recycling center to see what the process is for having the items pi cked up each week. Be sure to also have your old electronics and fluorescent light bulbs recycled. 

· Take a look around the corporate kitchen and ditch any disposables that are not eco friendly. Things like Styrofoam and plastic sit in landfills, rather than decomposing. Replace them with reusable or the environmentally friendly options that you can buy in bulk online (they are made out of corn and are biodegradable).

· If you have many employees who are commuting to work, create a carpool group that will encourage people to ride together.

Buy It:

You can purchase Dr. Sharp Natural Oral Care products from their online shop.

* Thank you to Dr. Sharp for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Summer Stress-Busting Herbal Remedies

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

With summer in full swing, our schedules are becoming increasingly jam-packed with various social gatherings and get-togethers galore – making this the most stressful time of year. Instead of running to your nearest pharmacy to grab prescription pills to soothe the stress, the most effective and natural remedies can be found right in your kitchen.

To beat the stress and anxiety that follows the chaos and busyness of summer, the below Stress-Busting Herbal Remedies from world-renowned herbalist, Dr. Christopher Hobbs, Ph.D., L.Ac, A.H.G of Rainbow Light, are the perfect go-to antidotes that combine natural and herbal ingredients that calm and soothe.

Check them out below: 

3 Herbal Remedies to Soothe Summer Stress

By Dr. Christopher Hobbs, Ph.D., L.Ac, A.H.G of Rainbow Light

Calming After-Dinner Tea

• 1 tbsp Linden (15ml)
• 2 tsp Lemon Balm (10ml)
• 2 tsp Lemon Chamomile Flowers (10ml)
• 1.5 tsp Fennel Seed (7.5ml)
• .5 tsp Stevia – optional (2.5ml)
• 3 cups water (711ml)

Preparation: Infuse the herbs in freshly boiled water in a covered pot for 20 minutes. Strain out herbs and discard. Drink 1 or 2 cups as desired. Store cold. Great way to end a meal, and to help relax yourself before bedtime.

Stress-Buster Tea

• 1 tbsp Eleuthero Root (Siberian Ginseng) (15ml)
• 2 tsp Linden flowers (10ml)
• 2 tsp Oatstraw (10ml)
• 1 tsp Kava Kava Root (5ml)
• 1 tsp Orange Peel (5ml)
• .25 tsp Stevia Herb (or to taste for sweetness) (1.25ml)
• 3 cups water (711ml)

Preparation: Simmer ingredients in a covered pan or pot for 10 minutes, steep for about 15 minutes, strain and drink as needed; up to 5 cups (1180ml) a day. Perfect tea for supporting the adrenal glands, and to help counteract the harmful effects of stress.

Bedtime Bath Tea

• 3 tbsp Chamomile Flowers (45ml)
• 3 tbsp Lemon Balm (45ml)
• 2 tbsp Lavender Flowers (30ml)
• 2 tbsp Linden Flowers 30ml)
• 6 cups waters (1422ml)
• Several drops of essential oils such as Lavendar, Grapefruit, or Cedar (optional)

Preparation: Simmer the herbs in water for five minutes, covered, and let steep for 20 minutes. If desired, strain the herbs from the tea and discard. Add essential oil and shake wel. Add the team to a warm bath and enjoy. Serving: a single bath. This bath tea’s wonderful fragrance relaxes the spirit, and its healing substances soften the skin – the ultimate way to de-stress after a long day.

And to fight any summer sicknesses, I make sure to give my children supplements like the Gummy Omegalicious® Omega 3 Formula & Probiolicious™ Gummies. They love the gummy form and I love that they contain no artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives, or additives. They also have no gluten, soy, yeast, milk, eggs, nuts, fish or shellfish!

Buy It:

You can purchase all Rainbow Light supplements from the Rainbow Light website.

* Thank you to Rainbow Light for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Travel Safely This Summer with @safety1st!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Where will are you going this summer? 

According to AAA, road trips top the list this year. With many families hitting the road this summer, Safety 1st wants to make sure parents and children have a safe summer while on the go.

Check out these great tips from Safety 1st and keep them in mind anywhere and everywhere you go this summer!

Oh The Places You’ll Go – Travel Safety This Summer

By Safety 1st

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 75% of car seats on the road are installed incorrectly. Here are some easy tips to think about before hitting the road.

1. The safest place to install a car seat is typically in the center of the rear seat.
2. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises parents to keep their toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age 2. It also advises that most children will need to ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years of age.
3. Check in with a local Child Passenger Safety Technician to ensure your child’s seat is installed correctly. You can visit a local police station, fire station, AAA office or Safe Kids Chapter for guidance.

Where is Baby?

It may seem like common sense but never, leave a child alone in the car. Hyperthermia is a severe form of heat stroke and last year 30 children died after being left or trapped in a hot vehicle. You can learn more about this issue and easy tips to prevent it here.

Safeguard the Car

Just as important as safe guarding your home, don’t forget about the car. Especially on long road trips. It’s important to eliminate projectiles, anything in the car that is not secured is a possible projectile. That could be a child’s toy, wet nap container, or a water bottle. In a crash, objects take on greater weight due to crash forces.

Make sure unused shoulder belts are not in reach of children as they can pose strangulation risk.

Car Seats Expire

Car seats expire. Especially if you get a hand-me-down car seat you should always check the expiration date to confirm the seat is safe for your child. You can find the expiration date on the back or the side of the car seat. Also, another very important tip - once a car seat has been in a crash you should not use it, plastic can warp and materials can fray. To properly dispose of a car seat check with your local waste management facility to see if they recycle number 5 plastic.

So if you are looking for a car seat that will keep your baby safe and will last a LONG time, then check out the new Grow and Go 3-in-1 car seat from Safety 1st.  It will be the first and last car seat parents and caregivers will need, making it simple to keep your little one safe in the backseat. In addition, the seat features side impact protection, a no rethread harness, buckle holders, two cup holders and an easily removable seat cover.

Safety 1st Grow and Go 3-in-1 Convertible Car Seat can be used rear-facing, forward-facing or as a booster. This extended use car seat features a no re-thread harness, buckle holders, dual cup holders and a removable seat cover.

I absolutely LOVE that this seat can be used from baby to toddler to school age! So many baby products are only used for a couple weeks but it is so refreshing to see a baby item that is safe AND can be used for many YEARS! Love this!

Buy It:

You can purchase The Grow and Go exclusively for $169.99 at Babies ‘R’ Us.

* Thank you to Safety 1st for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Spring Family Travel Tips‏

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Finally there’s warmer weather in sight! As families start to plan their spring travel adventures, it’s also a perfect time to make sure children are safe while traveling in vehicles. Although the road conditions may seem safe in the warmer weather, traveling with growing children always provides safety challenges.

Sarah Haverstick, Safety Advocate and certified Child Passenger Safety Technician for Evenflo, has the following tips to ensure your family gets to their sunny destination safely:

1. Invest in a seat that will grow with your child. 

Combination car seats are forward-facing only car seats that allow you to use a harness for your child and then remove the harness to use the seat as a booster.

• Car seat option: Evenflo ADVANCED Transitions 3-in-1 Combination Seat
• This NEW 3-in-1 seat can be used as a harness booster, a belt-positioning booster or a no-back booster to accommodate your growing child.
• Seat features SureSafe™ Installation, Buckle Pockets, Dual Cup Holders and more.

2. Keep your child comfortable and cool during the warm weather. 

Remember to pack extra water bottles to keep your child hydrated during the summer months.

• Car seat option: Evenflo Evolve Platinum 3-in-1 Harnessed Booster Car Seat
• This line of car seats is exclusively available at Babies “R” Us and features NASA-developed “Outlast” technology, which is a temperature regulating fabric that keeps children comfortable in hot weather by actively absorbing and storing hot and cold temperatures and releasing as needed.

3. Not traveling very far this spring? 

Did you know that 85% of crashes involving children occur 20 minutes or less from home? All children 12 and under should be buckled in the back seat and big kids under 4’ 9” tall should be in a booster seat. A booster seat like the RightFit Belt-Positioning Booster can reduce the risk of injury in a crash by 45% for children ages 4-8.

4. Think your child is ready to use the adult vehicle seat belt? 

Take this simple test. Have them sit with their back and bottom all the way against the vehicle seat. Make sure their knees are bent at the edge of the seat with their feet on the floorboard. The vehicle lap belt should fit low on the thighs and hips and the shoulder belt should fit across the child’s shoulder. The child must be able to sit like this for the whole ride. Most kids are 10 – 12 years old before they can pass all of these steps!

* Thank you to Evenflo for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Tips for Putting Your Best Face Forward this Cold and Flu Season

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

It is definitely cold and flu season and this winter and upcoming spring allergy season, Puffs is here with some great products: Puffs Plus Lotion and Puffs SoftPack.

And to help you get through the rest of the cold and flu season, former Bachelorette stars and successful married couple, JP and Ashley Rosenbaum, have some great tips below!

They know a thing or two about juggling the demands of a family especially during the challenging cold and flu season. As new parents to son Fordham, they can’t take a sick day; instead they have a few methods that help them power through and recharge when a cold or flu hits their family.

Tips for Putting Your Best Face Forward this Cold and Flu Season 

from Puffs Plus Lotion Spokespeople, Ashley and JP Rosenbaum

• Show the Love: When one of us is feeling under the weather, we try to find ways to cheer the other person up— like slipping a little love note under a cup of tea or a bowl of chicken noodle soup! Being sick isn’t a glamorous part of marriage but using these simple moments to show how much you love your significant other, sniffles and all, goes a long way!
• Embrace Healthy Living: It’s important to take care of yourself all year long, but especially during cold and flu season. We love doing family activities that are healthy but also fun! Taking the baby for a long walk or a hike is one of our favorite things to do, and we also try to eat foods that will boost our immune system to try and keep sickness at bay.
• Power Through: When sickness has hit but staying in bed is not an option, I always use a good eye cream to remove puffiness and or dark circles, it makes such a difference! Right JP?!
• Cozy Up: When the cold or flu hits hard, there is something so comforting about putting on cozy PJ’s, having a big bowl of chicken noodle soup, a cup of tea and curling up on the couch with a good movie.
• Pass the Puffs: Getting sick can be really tough on your face and nose, especially if you live in a cold-weather climate! Puffs Plus Lotion has Shae butter, Aloe, and Vitamin E so it’s always gentle on sensitive skin. We constantly have Puffs tucked in places around the house so they’re always on hand when you need them.
• Recharge: While sleep can be tough to accomplish as new parents, we always try to find ways to support each other so we can make this happen (even just for a little!) when one of us is feeling under the weather. It’s amazing what a little R&R can do to help you on the path to recovery.

My husband is a really big fan of Puffs Plus Lotion because it is soothing and gentle! Puffs® Plus Lotion is their most soothing tissue with Air-fluffed™ pillows for more cushiony thickness. Puffs® Plus Lotion is gentle on sensitive skin and contain a touch of Shea Butter, Aloe and Vitamin E to provide comfort for sniffles, sneezes and everything your face has to face.

Puffs® Plus Lotion is available in cube, rectangular and to-go formats online and at local retailers nationwide.

And I am a big fan of Puffs SoftPack! They are so great to fit in the car, in my purse...pretty much EVERYWHERE!

Puffs SoftPack™ includes Puffs Basic tissues packaged in a full-size, but flexible package that fits in every aspect of your life. The sturdy packaging stays presentable throughout usage – no matter how hectic life around you gets.

• Stuff it in between the couch cushions when at home sick or while watching that tearjerker of a movie

• Stash it in the car glove box, console or behind the seat

• Pack it in your luggage when traveling

• Slide it in the side pocket of a diaper bag or work bag

• Puffs Basic tissues are soft and 50% stronger when wet vs. the leading regular brand

And make sure to check out the entire Puffs Line of Products:

• Puffs Basic

• Puffs Ultra Soft & Strong

• Puffs Plus Lotion with the Scent of Vicks®

A face in need deserves Puffs indeed!

Buy It: 

You can purchase Puffs Plus Lotion for 1 cube (56 ct): $1.79 and 1 rectangular box (124 ct): $2.49.
Puffs SoftPack™ is available in retail stores throughout the US and can be purchased in a pack of 132 2-ply tissues. Pricing is at the sole discretion of the retailer.

* Thank you to Puffs for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

My Top Five Tips for New & Expecting Parents

This post is brought to you by tommee tippee. All opinions are mine. 

Are you a new or expecting parent? 

Are you exhausted, worn out and frustrated? 

Or maybe you just haven't had a new baby in a few years and forgotten what it is really about. Believe me, those hard early months actually do fade in our memories....

Well, I just had baby #3 three months ago and I can tell you that these hard months are VERY fresh in my memory...(in fact, I am still experiencing very little sleep, chaos and exhaustion so bear with any typos or errors in this post :) 

My daughter and me snuggling at birth.

I feel like I have been through it all with my three children and I would love to help any new or expecting parents out there prepare for what you are about to go through. No, you can never be fully prepared for what is about to happen, but I hope these top 5 tips can at least inspire you, encourage you and help you get through these tough months and years of being a new parent! From one sleep deprived parent to another, hope these help! :)

1. Don't feel bad asking for help & have a great support system surrounding you!

My dad helping out with my firstborn son when he was a baby.

This is such an important tip because those first few days, first few months and even the whole first year is VERY CHALLENGING. You will learn so much but be challenged in ways as a parent, spouse and human being that you never imagined! Don't feel like you have to do it all alone or that you have to prove something to yourself...every parent has been in your spot and has had or wanted help. You will be thankful you asked for help, advice, or just a night out...and it's okay to need help!! You aren't failing by asking or needing help and no one will look down on you for it!

2. Be Prepared for ANYTHING!

Yes, you have this ideal picture in your head of what your pregnancy, labor, delivery and first few days with your baby will be like. Facebook and social media tend to give us the sunny disposition of those first few months - cuddling, snuggly babies everywhere, big smiling baby faces and parents with smiles on their faces...even I am guilty of posting these kinds of photos. But that is not real life all the time!

Every one wishes for the perfect everything...and some get it. 

BUT MANY DON'T! 

My advice is to be prepared for everything and then be thankful later on if you don't need to use any of the stuff you have prepared. I have learned this the hard way. All three times I hoped to exclusively breastfeed and wasn't successful. I learned after the first two, to get prepared just in case I would need bottles, formula and a breast pump. This time around with my third child, breastfeeding wasn't completely successful and I was so happy in the depths of exhaustion to already have on hand my favorite bottles for supplementing - the tommee tippee Closer to Nature bottles! My son latched right onto the bottle, ate well with it and we had no trouble switching between bottle and breast!

I love these tommee tippee bottles!

And along with being prepared for anything, be prepared to be ok with the ups and downs that happen. Things might not be ideal or perfect or what you imagined, but you will get through it, your baby will be just fine, and you will be a better parent because of the trials and troubles you went through!

3. You will be SO TIRED...but YOU WILL GET THROUGH IT! 

(no matter how much it feels like you won't!)

Catch a nap whenever you can!

This is probably something I tell myself every day...especially on the days where my son wakes up every hour at night and then during the day the other two children run me ragged with their endless energy. 

I. Will. Get. Through. It.  

AND so will you. It won't feel like it on many, many days but just keep putting one foot in front of the other, one bottle after another, one diaper change after another, and before you know it, your baby WILL sleep through the night, you will start getting more than 2 hours of consecutive hours of sleep and you will wonder where time even went, which leads me to my next tip...

4. Really, really, (really!) cherish each moment! (It REALLY does go by fast!)

I know, I know...this is probably the most frequent advice you receive "They will grow so fast...", "Before you know it, they will be a teenager..a adult...you will be a grandma.", "Cherish these times, they will be grown before you know it".

But you will find out how true this is! 

Even in the days of no sleep, the bouts of crying and the frustrations of those early days, try and take a deep breath, look at your beautiful child and remember how tiny and precious they are! Because in just a few short months they will look so different, will act so different and will be so much bigger!

My third child at his cutest!

You will NEVER get that tiny little baby back that fits so perfectly and snugly in your arms and cuddles so perfectly you while they sleep. You will NEVER get back those moments and someday you will wish you could!

So big already at 3 months!

I know, I know..you are SO TIRED 

(see #3!)

but when you get that precious baby finally asleep on your shoulder and you finally have silence...those are the moments where you take a deep breathe, gaze at your beautiful baby, take a mental picture, and remember how that moment feels! Do that several times a day and you won't regret it!!!

5. Get OUT and Do SOMETHING for YOURSELF!

This is probably the biggest lesson I learned from my first two children and the most important tip for staying sane.

DON'T forget who you are, what you love to do for YOU, and what your loves, talents, and abilities are! 

Don't let the busyness of motherhood consume you and make you an invalid. Get out with friends, family and your spouse and do the things you love!

Yes, the baby will be just fine without you. Yes, your trusted spouse, family member or babysitter can handle it. The baby will be just fine for an hour.

For me, I love to play volleyball and softball several times a week and go out for a dinner date or movie with my husband, sisters or friends! On these precious days, I get to remember who I am as a woman, wife, athlete and friend and I get to get a breather from thinking about everyone else all day long! I always come back refreshed and rejuvenated and ready to be a great mom and spouse again! It might seem like hard work on most days to actually get dressed decently enough to be seen in public, but let me tell you....IT WILL BE WORTH IT!

I hope these tips help you, inspire you, and get you through those 12 AM and 2 AM, (& 4 AM....6 AM...) feedings! :) 

My three precious, beautiful children.

You are an awesome parent, your baby loves you for you (bad hair, tired eyes, wrinkles and all), you will get through this and you are AMAZING!

* This post is brought to you by tommee tippee. All opinions are mine. *

Don't Let Tooth Decay Ruin Your Kid's Life This Halloween!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Halloween is around the corner (I CAN'T BELIEVE IT IS ALMOST THE END OF OCTOBER!!) and with it comes A LOT of candy! A lot of candy can lead to tooth problems...Did you know that there are MILLIONS of at-risk kids that can't sleep at night, eat properly or even concentrate in school because of painful tooth decay? Without the financial resources for dental care or even a toothbrush or toothpaste, these kids find themselves caught in a downward spiral of pain and humiliation, from getting bullied in school to enduring an agonizing toothache on a daily basis.

Don't let tooth decay ruin a kid's life! This Halloween, transform a kid's tears of pain into a healthy smile and hope for the future by participating in Trick or Treat for America's ToothFairy.

Your donation will go directly to helping children in need, and you can also be entered to win a Halloween Jack-o-Lantern bucket filled with 144 toys! (Perfect for Halloween parties and trick or treaters!)

Kids can get involved too and receive fun stickers and a certificate recognizing them as an Official ToothFairy Helper by the ToothFairy herself!

Tips for a Health Halloween from America's ToothFairy!

Make this year memorable and sweet without all the sugar with these fun tips for a healthy Halloween!

• Give 'em a treat without the sweet! Hand out sugar-free candy, toothbrushes or fun little toys to trick or treaters!
• Make sure your child has a healthy meal before Halloween festivities to avoid snacking and a sugar overload!
• If you are hosting a party, use healthy foods to make fun treats that the kids can enjoy. With a little fruit, some paper plates and toothpicks, children can create their own Monster Face. Melonballs or grapes make great monster’s eyeballs, simply spear the melonballs with the toothpicks and poke through the paper plate. For the monster’s nose, spear strawberries or orange slices, and for the monster’s smile, a banana will do just fine!
• For a healthy smile year round, remember to brush, and floss your teeth twice a day and visit your dentist once every six months! For children ages 6 and up, use a fluoride rinse.
• Trick or Treat with America's ToothFairy this year and help raise awareness and support to portect young smiles and help kids in need!

Another way to fight tooth decay and cavities this Halloween is by using the awesome Oral-B Pro-Health for Me Rechargeable Toothbrush! It is the perfect electric toothbrush for kids and is designed to cater to the oral health needs of tweens without cramping their style. This electric toothbrush has a waterproof handle with fun designs and is compatible with multiple toothbrush heads. It also features a brushing timer that ensures their brushing style goes the extra mile for the dentist-recommended 2 minutes.

• This brush head provides a gentle brushing experience.
• 2 Minute Timer - Signals to let you know when you have completed 2 minutes of brushing.
• Replacement refill heads feature extra-soft bristles
• Gently Power away gunk

So this Halloween fight tooth decay with Oral-B Pro Health for Me Rechargeable Toothbrush and Oral-B Pro Health For Me Sensitive Clean Brush Head Refills, help others by participating in Trick or Treat with America's ToothFairy, follow them on Facebook and Twitter and follow the tips from America's ToothFairy above for a healthy, happy Halloween!

Buy It: You can purchase the Oral-B Pro Health for Me Rechargeable Toothbrush and Oral-B Pro Health For Me Sensitive Clean Brush Head Refills at their local Walmart

Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Earth Day Tips & Giveaway

As we celebrate Earth Month this April, it’s important to think about simple changes we can make in our lives to be a little more eco-friendly. WaterSavers®, a consumer awareness campaign from the International Carwash Association® (ICA), has some great tips to conserve water. WaterSavers is committed to promoting the importance of using eco-friendly car washes that use less fresh water and return clean water back into the environment.

Check out these 3 Simple Tips for Conserving Water:

1. How to Be Green and Clean Your Driving Machine – Keeping your car clean with regular washing is an important part of responsible maintenance, but washing at home with a garden hose can use more than 60 gallons of water in as little as five minutes. Furthermore, you̵'re putting harmful chemicals and detergents down storm sewers and that ends up polluting our rivers and streams.

You may be surprised to learn there is a greener way to keep your car sparkling: a professional car wash. A common misconception is that professional car washes waste water, when in fact the opposite is true. WaterSavers professional car washes, for example, use an average of no more than 40 gallons of fresh water per vehicle – less than the average home washing machine, which uses 41 gallons per load, according to the EPA. Professional car washes also responsibly dispose of — and in many cases recycle and re-use — the water runoff.

2. Go Green and Keep Your Whites White – It’s easy to take steps to conserve H2O and keep your wardrobe fresh. First, only run the clothes washer when you have a full load. Make this habit for both your clothes washer and dishwasher, and you can save up to 1,000 gallons of water a month, according to Wateruseitwisely.com.

You get extra green points if you use cold water when washing your clothes. Approximately 86 percent of the energy used by washing machines is for heating the water. Washing with cold water eliminates 1,600 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year from just one household, according to the Sierra Club.

3. Break Bad Bathroom Habits – Bathrooms are water hogs, accounting for about 75 percent of a home’s water usage. Adopting a green mindset in the bathroom can save major water and money. Start by switching to a low-flow shower head, which National Geographic says saves 15 gallons of water during a 10-minute shower. Keep the occasional bath for a special treat because the average tub takes about 70 gallons to fill, so showers are much more efficient.

In honor of Earth Day, WaterSavers is offering a great prize package for one of my great readers to win. It includes:

· Tote Bag

· Folding Umbrella

· 22 oz. Guzzy Water Bottle (filtering water bottle)

· Jelly Stick Non-Slip Grip for Car Dash

· 16 oz. ThermalView Insulated Travel Tumbler

Win It: WaterSavers is generously offering (1) Earth Day Prize Pack to a lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win:

(1) WaterSavers Prize Pack
(including a Tote Bag, Umbrella, Guzzy Water Bottle, Jelly Stick Non-Slip Grip, Insulated Travel Tumbler)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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* I have been given products and am working with the International Carwash Association to share these tips for conserving water. I have not been paid to publish positive comments.*

How to Have a Successful Super Bowl Party

Super Bowl Sunday is coming this Sunday and if you are throwing a Super Bowl party (like I am!) than I am sure you can use a little help. I know I am not a super great party planner so I will take all the help I can get!

QVC came to my rescue this year and they have THREE great plays for you to execute this year at your Super Bowl Party! Try them out and take a little stress off!

The Play-by-Play:

How to have a successful Super Bowl party

Play 1 – QVC’s Resident Foodie David Venable offers his top tips to be a game stopping host:

The Super Bowl just isn’t the Super Bowl without all that food. Dips, wings, sandwiches, beer…you name it, your guests want it. In fact, the USDA says aside from Thanksgiving, there’s no other day of the year when Americans consume more food.

Now, don’t panic, fearless host. You don’t need to make umpteen dishes. And, you needn’t buy out the grocery store. Set your sights on a few key recipes and prepare them ahead of time. Buy what is too costly or time-consuming to make at home. Throwing a Super Bowl party can be just as much fun as watching the game itself…you’ll see!

· Men like chips. And pretzels. And beer. Plus, I’ve never seen a guy turn down pigs-in-a-blanket. Football goes hand-in-hand with these traditional snacks and you’ll have a wildly happy crowd if you offer the classics. But, there’s always room for something new. Especially if it’s a spin on a classic like my Buffalo Chicken Dip, which takes just 35 minutes to make. It’s spicy, creamy, and addictive. Plus, there’s no mess and no expensive wing platter needed!

· Most women will indulge in a few classics, but may prefer lighter options. Offer crackers and veggies with that Buffalo Chicken Dip. You might also consider serving soup. My Chicken and Quinoa Soup on QVC.com is flavorful and hearty, but incredibly healthy. Total cook time: 30 minutes. Keep it snack-sized by serving it in disposable cups or mugs.

· So what should you buy? Get the chips and munchies and stock up on disposable cups, napkins, and plates. A splurge that makes sense is a meat and cheese platter for sandwiches and perhaps a veggie platter. Leave beer and alcoholic drinks for your guests to bring and make your own iced tea or lemonade. You’ll save a lot of money this way, and your guests will buy exactly what they like.

· When it comes to dessert, you can’t go wrong with brownies. They require minimal ingredients and can be cut into any size. I have a few brownie recipes on QVC.com including my Chocolate Cream Cheese Brownies, which, again, bake in 30 minutes. Touchdown!

Play 2 – Make David’s fan favorite Buffalo Chicken Dip:

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients:

· 2 store-bought rotisserie chickens, skinned and finely shredded
· 3 (8-oz) packages cream cheese, softened
· 3/4 cup ranch dressing
· 3/4 cup blue cheese dressing
· 1 cup Buffalo wing sauce
· 3 cups Colby Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
· Tortilla chips (optional, for serving)
· Crackers (optional, for serving)
· Carrots (optional, for serving)
· Celery (optional, for serving)

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Beat the cream cheese, ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, and hot sauce until creamy and fully combined. Fold in the shredded chicken and 1-1/2 cups of the shredded cheese.
3. Spread the mixture into the 3.5-qt dish and bake for 25 minutes.
4. Remove the dip from the oven and sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top. Bake for another 20 minutes, or until hot and bubbly.
5. Allow the dip to cool for 10 minutes, then serve it with tortilla chips, crackers, carrots, celery, or a combination thereof.

Play 3 – Stock up on the products below to help make hosting hassle-free:

Temp-tations Old World Seven-Piece

Everyday Petal Server

QVC Item #H195696

Approximately $22.00

Ninja Six-Quart SEARious Slow Cooker

QVC Item #K301200

Approximately $99.99

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* Thank you to QVC for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

How To Get Your Children to Drink More Milk

Do you have troubles getting your children to drink their milk? Luckily my son is pretty good about drinking his milk but even he needs some encouragement sometimes!

Sadly, most kids and teens don’t get enough protein, calcium or Vitamin D. The good news is that milk is a great source for all these nutrients. Did you know that children ages 4–8 need 19 grams of protein a day and those 9–13 years old need 34 grams?

Well, if you need help with your children and milk being friends, check out these great tips below from Milk Unleashed!

Kids Drinking Milk Tips

• Check out this great calendar of hot chocolate ideas for every day of the month! Try flavors like marshmallow, toasted coconut, peppermint or peanut butter. Yum!
• Once a child turns two, you can introduce one percent or skim milk to cut back on fat. Kids ages two through eight need two cups a day, and those ages nine through 18 need three cups a day to fuel their fast-growing bones.
• As a treat, try the flavored milks — like chocolate, strawberry or vanilla.
• Mix flavored milk with white milk for a mildly sweet treat.
• Since we eat/drink with our eyes, add a drop of natural food coloring to make white milk fun!
• Many moms have success adding a bit of juice to milk. May not sound appealing to us, but plenty of kids will drink milk with orange or grape juice added.
• Add milk to fruit yogurt to make a drinkable yogurt.
• Heat up chocolate flavored milks to make hot chocolate, rather than the packets that require hot water.
• Blend fresh fruit and milk to make healthy smoothies.
• Mix milk and orange juice and freeze in pop molds for a tasty cool treat.
• Make oatmeal with milk instead of water.
• Opt for cereal with milk for breakfast. Let kids use a straw to drink up the milk in the bowl after the cereal is gone.
• Put it in their lunchbox. If it's there, they will be more likely to drink it.
• Milk is a delicious base instead of water in some soups, too. Tomato and most of the creamy varieties taste great made with milk.
• Be a role model. Kids will be more likely to want milk if they see you drinking it.
• Stock the refrigerator (and pantry) with flavored and white milk in single serving cartons for a healthy snack on the go.
• If possible, get kids started on milk as soon as you get off of formula or breast milk. They'll get habituated into drinking milk, and soon it'll be one of their favorite drinks.
• Hear from moms who have discovered shelf safe milk as an easy way to ensure their kids have a nutritious beverage anytime, anywhere.

So make sure to make drinking milk on the go really easy by grabbing and packing shelf safe milk packs wherever and whenever you go somewhere! They are so handy and my son loves drinking out of the straw!

Buy It: You can purchase shelf safe milk at your local retailer!

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* Thank you to Milk Unleased for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*