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Halloween Lighting Fun

October 19, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by Philips Hue via Momtrends Media. The opinions are mine and are not indicative of the opinions of Philips Hue or Momtrends Media.

Growing up, my family always loved Halloween, and the entire neighborhood made it extra special and exciting. Us kids really looked forward to the candy, food, costumes and friends! Now with my kids, I try to make it just as much fun – and this year, we’re going way beyond the ‘normal’ with some Halloween Lighting Fun! Whether you’re throwing a monster bash, want to greet trick-or-treaters in a frightfully delightful way, or just want to add more witch’s magic to your kids’ holiday, this is sure to be a hit for the whole family.

One of my favorite parts of the Halloween season is all the COLORS – from the colorful treats and decor, to the costumes and makeup. This year, we’re taking ‘colorful’ to a whole new level thanks to the Philips Hue Go. Y’all know how much we love our Philips Hue smart lighting system, but I have to say that this piece just screams (or glows) FUN! Using the Hue app on your smartphone or tablet, you can personalize the light to match any theme or atmosphere you want. To make it even more convenient, you can control your Hue lighting with just your voice using Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri with Apple HomeKit.

One you have the Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance starter kit, just add a Philips Hue Go to your system. The Hue Go is great because it’s portable lighting. One option is to plug it into a power outlet and shine it on your walls to paint them with colored or white light. We’re going with the more flexible option for our Halloween lighting fun this year, though! The rechargeable internal battery can last up to 3 hours, and even when it’s in portable mode, you can STILL control it with your smart device. So if you’re busy handing candy to the newest monsters and heroes to knock on your door, you can still play with the countless color options.

For us, we wanted to make a super colorful, exciting witch cauldron with smoke – cue the dry ice! Now, keep in mind that the Philips Hue Go is not waterproof. You need to use caution and common sense – make sure the light isn’t touching (or even too close) to the water or dry ice. We made sure we had a DEEP bucket, put the water and dry ice at the bottom, then set our light on something else several inches above those (but still hidden at the top of the bucket). It was incredible how cool the smoke looked with the various colors as it flowed out of the bucket and over our Halloween table spread!

The kids love making ‘spooky’ (okay, so they’re too adorable to be very scary, but they tried) and silly faces behind the light, and to pretend they’re casting ‘spells’ over the cauldron – I mean, bucket! We kept switching up the colors from a favorite pumpkin-like orange, to an eerie witch-green tone. There’s even pre-set light scenes in the app such as Blood Moon or Blue Lagoon. Have a special backdrop or photo? The Hue app can extract the colors from your image and apply it to your lights, making your Halloween atmosphere complete perfection.

Make the ultimate trick-or-treat stop or create haunted house effects with Hue’s special Halloween lighting formulas. You can recreate a lightning effect – or make it appear like a mischievous ghost is switching the color and brightness of your lights! The third-party app Hue Haunted House can add flashes and flickering to your colored lights for more Halloween fun, as well as combine haunting sounds and lighting effects to make anyone jump – enter the creepy ghost sounds or eerie piano music! Another option for a thrilling sound and light show is to download the Hue Sync app (available for Windows 10 PCs or macOS computers) to sync your Hue lights to the beat of your chosen Halloween-related music tracks. I think a set of Thriller is a definite must-do!

We’re all counting down the days until Halloween this year, and are so excited to show off our fun lighting with friends and visitors! Thanks to Philips Hue smart lighting, anyone can turn their everyday lighting into an extraordinary experience. Halloween is the perfect time to play with light and color and create an amazing ambiance, but it doesn’t have to end there – use it any day of the year! Once you nab the start kit, it’s simple to add more of Hue’s products like the Go to REALLY turn your house into the spookiest (or most thrilling) in the neighborhood!

What’s YOUR favorite Halloween color?

The Ultimate Gift That isn’t ‘Stuff’!

October 8, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Thank you to my friends at Bluprint for sponsoring this post. All opinions are mine alone.

Okay mamas, I know many of us aren’t ready for the reality of it BUT – Christmas is coming. I know, it may sound far away still, but with everything between now and then, it’ll be here before we know it. It sneaks up on me every year, so I’m trying to be on-the-ball and plan ahead so that I can better enjoy the actual holiday season instead of running around in a crazy mad dash checking things off the to-do list. The gift shopping seems to be the biggest & easiest thing to get done in advance, and today I’m telling you about an amazing option that would work for pretty much anyone on your list! And the best part is, it’s not a toy or more ‘stuff’ to clutter the house – it’s The Ultimate Gift That isn’t ‘Stuff’!

I’m thrilled when I can find something that’s more of an activity or event – something they can DO, especially if it’ll be lasting. You know what I’m talking about – not something the kids will play with for a week then forget about. I’m talking about Bluprint – NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment’s new and expanded subscription service! It’s the premier digital destination for lifestyle learning, and offers online classes that focus on legacy crafts PLUS new complementary categories that help promote and facilitate self-expression in areas such as writing, music and dance, yoga and fitness, home decor, entertaining, plus plenty for kids and family. I was amazed with how many online classes were available, and the variety of topics is fantastic!

The extensive categories make this a perfect fit for practically anyone on your holiday list – from sewing classes for beginner kids just starting out, on up to complex pattern making or highly skilled sewers. Don’t worry, there’s also plenty for the guys in your life, too – such as woodworking, photography, cooking, healthy eating and much more. I love the idea of taking some of these classes TOGETHER – sharing a new hobby or skill with your special someone sounds like a super fun and unique date night!

Bluprint has an incredible content library with over 3,000 HOURS of original classes, and they produce original entertainment series featuring creative experts. They’ll not only provide a fun time, but will help inspire, empower and entertain everyone, form the experienced creator to the everyday doer. My kids are going to LOVE the kid-focused cooking classes, as they’ve been learning a few basic things to do more on their own in the kitchen. Since my girls are almost teenagers (YIKES!), and fashion is a main priority for them, this Fashion Attic series will be perfect for them – and other classes can help them learn to make their own bags!

As for myself, the fitness classes (especially the ‘Boost Your Physical and Mental Energy‘ one – I’m sure all of us parents would appreciate this one!) and tons under the Cooking category will be great fun. And my fellow busy moms – there’s plenty of cooking hacks and tips, plus easy recipes to help us on those busy weeknights! Hubby will go crazy for the DIY Sushi or How to Make a Comic Book, of course.

I love that Bluprint offers a place for families to turn online inspiration into offline ways to imagine, play and grow – whether individually or all together! You get 24/7 access to exclusive series and easy-to-follow classes, so it works with everybodies schedule. Your family can learn and try new things together (great family night activities!), and it doesn’t matter what skill level you are. With kid-friendly content made with ages 6-12 in mind, plus trusted, family-friendly experts, you don’t have to stress about what your child is doing online with Bluprint’s family content.

Another fabulous benefit of giving the gift of Bluprint this holiday season? The subscription is only $14.99/month or $120/year ($5/month savings!) and is accessible on both desktop and mobile – either go to http://www.mybluprint.com/, check it out through the Bluprint app or on Roku. Already, Bluprint serves a passionate and engaged community of millions, and that’s growing all the time. They keep them informed, and one step ahead of trends. Members with similar interested can connect through premium and enhanced original editorial content, social media engagement and live, one of a kind events.

By planning ahead, you can get an even better deal: starting now through October 12th, Bluprint is hosting its Get Started Event – allowing makers, doers and creatives alike to stream unlimited classes and series for FREE with registration! Also, now through October 20th, visitors have the option to choose one of two limited time offers: Monthly subscription for $9.99 (normally $14.99) OR select an Annual Subscription for just $100 (normally $120) + a free Bluprint Box of your choice! The holidays just got even better.

Which of the many classes on Bluprint would YOU choose first?

Check them out on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Youtube to connect with their amazing community!

Tour Guides for Families at Walt Disney World

September 26, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

We receive complimentary guide services from Michael’s VIPs to facilitate this post. All opinions are ours alone.

Phew, it’s been just a few weeks since our big family Disney World trip, and we’re already missing it. As we look back and remember everything we did, we’re reminded how much we were able to fit into our time there – and it’s all because we had our ‘magical’ tour guide to help us out! If you’re not sure if hiring private Tour Guides for Families at Walt Disney World is Worth it, check out our experience: you may realize that they’re worth every penny, and more!

First of all, your tour guide services don’t start just when you get to the park – with Michael’s VIPS, they help you plan from start to finish (or anywhere in between). They even will help reserve your dining and fast passes; it’s a full service to set your trip up for success! A few days before we arrived, our guide Renee contacted me to go over details. We discussed the kids ages and heights (in case you have littles who can’t do certain attractions), if there were any restrictions, any rides we wanted to avoid or ones we were hoping to do over and over again. We made a game plan, and set our time to meet that first morning. She was right there at the entrance of Magic Kingdom waiting for us, and the kid immediately loved her friendly personality and it was hugs all around! Then we were off on our adventure…

As a mom, my absolute FAVORITE thing about having a tour guide for families at Disney World is that she handles all the details – I didn’t have to check times or fast passes, or reservations. I was able to just go along and enjoy my time with my family, without the stress. What’s crazy is, you can’t really even tell she’s constantly checking everything! She’s right there with you, alert and in conversations, chatting happily with the kids – but she is constantly aware of the plan, ride wait times, upcoming parades or shows that could affect crowds and traffic, everything. Not only that, but we like to joke that Michael’s VIPs are ‘walking, talking maps’ because they know all the routes, where every ride and event is, and even where all the bathrooms are (and which are the best ones!).

That’s really convenient for families, because if you have kids you KNOW there’s plenty of ‘I need to go to the bathroom’ moments! I realized that, since every time we were near one she’d ask if anyone needed to go, we didn’t run into the issue of emergencies or inconvenient potty breaks. That was super nice! I remember so many trips to Disneyland where we’d be far from a restroom, or about to get on a ride, when a kid just HAD to go. Not this trip, though! It’s fun how many little stories of bits of information the guides have – such as why Animal Kingdom has bathroom doors, unlike most of the other parks’ bathrooms (answer: in the very unlikely event a wild animal got out, people could get to safety in a restroom!). And if you do get a chance with a tour guide from Michael’s VIPs, ask about the ‘poop trail’ at Magic Kingdom. The kids still bring that up!

Our first day at Magic Kingdom, we had done every ride by about noon – and hadn’t felt rushed at all! We were trying to remember the longest wait we had any of the days we had Renee with us, and we don’t think that any wait was more than 5 minutes or so – but most of the rides were just however long it took us to walk up there! There’s so many reasons that having a tour guide with Michael’s VIPS is well worth the cost, but especially when you consider how much more you’re able to do in a much shorter amount of time with them. It means you can plan on less days, hotel nights, food, all of that because you don’t HAVE to go for as long – you’ll be able to get a ton done! Plus, less standing in line saves everyone’s sanity – especially moms 😉

Renee stayed with us each of the days up until we’d done pretty much everything, then let us decide if we wanted her to stay longer or if we were good to go redo things on our own however we’d like. I loved and appreciated the flexibility! These guys even go above and beyond so much – when one of our kiddos got a bit sick (from a ride or heat, we’re still not quite sure), and felt better sitting off one of the rides, Renee was happy to let her stay off with her so none of us had to miss it. She even bought her a drink to help her hydrate more. They TRULY care! Plus, they’re prepared – there were a few times she whipped out some pepto pills to help some of our more sensitive stomachs. At one of the lunches, we were happy to invite her to join us and the kids had a blast at the ‘fun table’ with her – so cute!

The guides love kids, and are so patient with them. It’s their job to make your family happy and help you have the best vacation possible – but you can tell it’s not just their job, it’s what they truly love and care about your family. If you’ve read our previous experiences with Michael’s VIPS – when it was just my mom and I at our first time at Disney World, or last year when hubby wasn’t sure a guide was worth it for couples – then you know how great each and every time with them has been, despite being different groups and circumstances. Families are very different, but after this I’m convinced that our trip wouldn’t have been even nearly as good or enjoyable without Renee’s amazingness. What’s funny – day two with her and one of our girls was like “is Renee magic or something? How does she make it so we can do so much without any waiting?” Yup, these guides are magical – and priceless!

It was a very sad ‘see you later’ when we parted ways at the end. The kids kept saying how much they missed Renee, and she was more than thrilled when we texted her a few days later letting her know that. When we WERE on our own, the kids kept commenting how it was a bit more frustrating and ‘boring’ because we weren’t as magical as her – there were more waiting in lines, and we may have gotten lost a time or two. We still had a wonderful time, but it was much easier, less stressful and we got to do a lot more with the help of our wonderful guide. You can read even more reasons to choose Michael’s tour guides here!

Contact Michael’s VIPs for YOUR next trip to Walt Disney World – or Disneyland!

Make sure you eat, Mom!

September 24, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by Tai Pei Food. All opinions are mine alone.

How many of you forget to eat sometimes? I miss meals quite often, unfortunately, and it’s not because I’m not hungry (anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE food), but I simply forget to feed myself. I use to think I was losing my mind, but after talking with several other parents – especially moms – out there, I realized that my problem was actually quite common. We’re so focused on taking care of the kids and everything, that we tend to put ourselves last. Sometimes this results in running out of time for our own things – like eating. Luckily there’s things we can do to make sure we’re prepared with a backup plan for those moments we just don’t have much time to spend on our own hunger, like with these easy meals for moms. Because unlike we do for the kids, there’s nobody telling us ‘Make sure you eat, Mom!‘

First of all, don’t plan something that requires a bunch of preparation or cooking time if you aren’t REALLY going to get that time. Be realistic, mommas! I’ve found that having a variety of Tai Pei entrées available in my freezer really helped out. Not only can you spend less money, but you wait less for a meal that has healthy, filling ingredients – plus it’s ready in just minutes, making them super easy meals for moms.

During that stressful noon hour of feeding the kids, doing dishes, probably tackling a load or ten of laundry, just pull out one of Tai Pei’s delicious offerings (like hubby’s favorite General Tso’s Spicy Chicken, or my top pick Sweet & Sour Chicken) that include REAL ingredients and no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. Pop it in the microwave for the time it says on the new perfect-portion-sized packaging – maybe tackle a few of your other tasks while it cooks – then enjoy a hot, delicious meal full of Asian flavors with hardly any time or effort at all.

Another trick to make sure I don’t end up a hangry mom by mid-afternoon? I pop my Tai Pei entrée of choice-for-the-day into the microwave while I start prepping my kids’ meals. Right about the time I’m serving them their food, mine’s ready to go, as well. A bonus is that I then can sit WITH my kids and we can eat together. This way everyone can get fed and happy all at once, plus you’re having some quality time together. Now THAT’S multitasking 🙂

Guess what? These easy meals for moms are also enjoyed by the entire family, so you can cook some for the whole crew and have lunch or dinner done in a breeze! That’s a definite lifesaver on those crazy weeknights when you just don’t have time (or let’s be honest – energy) to spend forever on a meal.

Easy meals for moms can be for breakfast, too – check this recipe out!

Easy Chicken Fried Rice with Egg – 2 Servings

Ingredients

1 Package of Tai Pei Chicken Fried Rice
1-2 Large Eggs

Directions

Cook Tai Pei Chicken Fried Rice per package directions. Set aside.
Heat skillet with oil and fry one or two eggs until whites are set and yolk is still runny.
Transfer fried rice on a plate and top with fried eggs. Enjoy!

Learn more about Tai Pei entrees & where to buy them at www.taipeifood.com/dragon or www.taipeifood.com/find-tai-pei

Tips for Owning an Older House

September 18, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Sponsored by One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® service providers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Since moving to Texas, we have owned two newly built homes – this meant everything was new, from the walls and paint to the HVAC systems and windows. Our most recent home purchase, though, is one that’s almost 20 years old – so things aren’t fresh and shiny, or functioning at their best. While we really love this house, we’re having to learn some maintenance and care things that weren’t even on our radar before! If you’re in the same boat as us, here are some Tips for Owning an Older House that we’ve learned that may help out.

Our biggest wake-up call when we moved into this house a few months ago was the HVAC system – the air conditioner just couldn’t keep up at all. Being early summer in Texas when we moved in, this was certainly not ideal, especially considering we have kids, as well as a ferret (they’re extremely sensitive to temperatures, so it could actually be dangerous for her). Since we know practically nothing about these systems, we knew we needed to call in the professionals from our local One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® service provider to come and take a look. Owning an older house typically means older systems, so we knew they could help us get things working properly because they’re a brand we can trust, and they provide quality service when we need it (for us AND our pets!)

The local One Hour service provider is part of the Direct Energy family of brands, with independently owned and operated locations all over the country. That means you get local service, backed by a national brand! Their service is backed by an on-time guarantee, and even endorsed by UWIN® (that’s a consumer service resource that lets home service contractors provide a nice, extra level of protection – as well as peace of mind to residential consumers who actually get the services). To find your local One Hour service provider, check out their website or call 855-One-Hour.

Our technician, Shane, showed up and was very professional and friendly. He handled all of our not-so-knowledgeable questions and concerns, then took a good, deep look at all the aspects of our HVAC system. He definitely knew his stuff, which shouldn’t be a surprise since the One Hour technicians receive ongoing HVAC training. They’re thoroughly skilled to address any HVAC issue, and get you back to feeling comfortable inside (especially if you’re in this Texas heat – dang!). Everyone can appreciate a properly-cooled house – even this cool dude!

Honestly, I was a bit concerned about what type of technician would show up at first, but I should’ve known that One Hour service providers ensure you’ll be served by a reliable professional who’s not only well-trained and skilled, but also clean, courteous AND background-checked. This was HUGE for me, as a parent, when it came to someone coming into our home!

One thing we learned about owning an older house – you never know HOW things were actually installed or maintained! As Shane went through everything, he made sure he answered all of our questions, showed us photos of the spots he was talking about, and cleared up any aspects we didn’t quite understand. It turned out that our HVAC system had many things not even installed correctly, which explained clearly why it wasn’t working right! He pointed out areas that could be fixed to bring up the functionality (and save on our terrifying electric bill from wasted usage due to leaks), and also the spots that were just fine. I really liked that he also let us know of some aspects that weren’t exactly 100%, but that wouldn’t make enough of a difference to justify paying to fix them now. That’s honesty, right there! We even got some tips to help prepare for the upcoming seasons:

Change air filters regularly, especially before winter begins
Properly ‘winterize’ your A/C units
Have a pro check your HVAC systems for any leaks or issues

I was so relieved to know what was actually going on with our HVAC system, and how we could get it running better for a more comfortable home and family. Now that we’re on our way to having that taken care of, here are a few other tips we learned about owning an older house:

Check your Roof – missing/loose shingles (or hail damage, if you’re in an area, like us, that deals with that) or overhanging tree limbs may need to be taken care of
Look at your windows, doorways, tiles, showers and other spots that may need to be resealed if the caulking/sealant has worn away or started to peel up
Double check your air vents, making sure they’re clear of junk or debris for proper airflow
Check your locks – doorknobs or locks may wear out and not work 100% after some time
Test your smoke alarms and CO2 detector (if you have one) to ensure they’re still functional
Keep an eye on drains and pipes – you don’t want them blocked!
Stay alert for signs of foundation issues – doors getting funky in the door frames, corner cracks from settling, etc. This is something you want to catch early on!

What are your best tips for owning an older house?

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning® service providers

Busy Weeknight Dinner Ideas

September 14, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com on behalf of RAGÚ®. All opinions are my own.

Not to say that summers aren’t also crazy, but once school’s back in session it seems like weeknights get even busier. Between picking up the kids, homework, karate or dance (or whatever activity is that evening), it can be a real challenge to get a delicious, quality meal on the table for the family. That’s why I love keeping a list of tasty, family-friendly Busy Weeknight Dinner Ideas handy – just like this cheesy chicken pasta recipe!

My favorite trick for whipping up a tasty meal that the whole family will love is using New RAGÚ® Simply Pasta Sauces, because not only is it made with 100% Olive Oil and contains no added sugar (so I can feel good about serving it to my family), but it also has an incredible flavor.

For this recipe I used the NEW RAGÚ® Simply Chunky Marinara Pasta Sauce, with plump tomatoes, onions, garlic and spices bringing great flavor to every bit – proving that simple recipes can bring tons of flavor. That means less time in the kitchen, prepping fewer items to add in to your recipes, still with a delicious taste for your family meal.

Ingredients

1 box pasta of choice
1 jar New RAGÚ® Simply Pasta Sauces
1-2 cups Shredded Cheese (I did a Mexican Style blend)
1-2 cups Tomatoes, diced
2-3 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, cooked and diced

Directions

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Meanwhile, cook the tomatoes over medium-high heat in a large skillet until softened, then add in the chicken and mix well. Put to lowest heat.
Once the pasta is done, add to the skillet and mix in the New RAGÚ® Simply Pasta Sauces until everything is covered. Add in the cheese and mix until it’s melted and gooey.
Serve with a little more cheese sprinkled on top, and enjoy!

See, it’s just that easy to serve your family an amazing meal with very little time spent in the kitchen! And with New RAGÚ® Simply Pasta Sauces, you can whip up dishes like Quinoa Penne with Savory Tomato-Basil Sauce, or even a Cauliflower Crust Mix & Match Pizza. The possibilities are nearly endless with RAGÚ pasta sauce!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What’s YOUR favorite recipe to use RAGÚ® Sauce in?

Life Hacks for Your Home

September 11, 2018 by Danielle 3 Comments

This post is sponsored by Philips Hue via Momtrends Media. The opinions are mine and are not indicative of the opinions of Philips Hue or Momtrends Media.

When someone ask how your life is going, how many of you answer with ‘busy’? I sure do – because that seems to be the overall theme of motherhood. Now with back-to-school season upon us, schedules have gotten even crazier for most, so I know we could all use these Life Hacks for Your Home to make family life a little bit easier – and more enjoyable! I truly think it’s the little things – slight adjustments – that can add up to a huge difference in helping families throughout the year. Small changes to help our routines seem to stand out, but what are some easy ones to apply?

Morning Routines: First of all, did you know that light has a major impact on not only our moods, but also our schedules? One thing I hate when it gets closer to Autumn and winter is that the mornings before school are really dark. I don’t want to be up getting ready for the day when it looks like nighttime outside, and of course my kids don’t either! That’s one of the many great things about Philips Hue smart lighting – you can actually adjust and control the COLOR and COLOR TEMPERATURE of the light, as well as the brightness!

For example, when it’s about time to wake up you can set the Hue lights at a lower brightness level (perhaps, 25%) to encourage waking up. And yes, I need about as much encouragement as my kids – sometimes more! Then as they’re getting more awake and ready for the day, turn up the brightness gradually to 100%. There’s even a pre-set ‘energize’ mode to help give a natural ‘boost’ to your family that early in the morning, with a cool daylight tone.

Want to know something even better? You can control the Philips Hue smart lights FROM AN APP ON YOUR SMARTPHONE OR TABLET! Seriously, that’s a life-saver for us busy moms – especially when WE are groggy trying to get ready for the morning hussle. And if you have Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant or even Siri with Apple HomeKit, you can control the the Hue lighting system with just your voice. It sure seems like it was made to help us parents out!

Afternoon: Okay, so we addressed a hack for making morning transitions easier – how about making homework time better? I really like the idea of a great homework station or fun reading nook (my kids LOVE to read) – so how can lighting help? I know that I struggle to focus more with certain lighting conditions – but you can turn your Hue lighting to the pre-set ‘concentrate’ mode to help when your family is doing homework or studying with the crisp, white light. For reading, choose the ‘read’ light for a softer, comfortable tone!

Evening & Weekends: Enough with the less favorite times of day – how about hacks for your home for the FUN times? I’m a huge fan of music and movies, so the fact that I can switch up the COLOR of my Hue lighting sounds like a blast! You can even sync your lighting with the content that’s being played on your computer – this works for movies and music. How awesome is that?! When my girls heard about this, I swear it was like Christmas morning for them. Now there’s some major dance parties going on in their room!

As y’all know, our family really likes gaming as well – whether our own games, as a family or just hubby and I. The trouble is that you’re looking at a screen with varying lighting, so you don’t want the room DARK but you also can’t see as well with normal lights. It’s been much better with our Philips Hue lights, because we can adjust the brightness as needed, as well as the color for some real fun. See – not all life hacks for your home have to be about the boring moments!

Nighttime: We’ve gone through the day from wake up and after school – now how about going to bed? We moms love it when the kids are in bed (FREEDOM!), but sometimes getting them to sleep is a battle. Just like you can gradually make the lights brighter and help boost your mood and energy level in the morning, why not switch it around with the ‘go to sleep’ option on your lighting? With Hue, you can set the specific time you’d like the lights to gradually dim, helping to ease your kiddos to bed. Then you and hubby can enjoy the pre-set ‘relax’ scene with the warm, dimmer light and unwind after another crazy day (aren’t they all?).

Eager to try it out and see how these simple hacks for your home lighting can really help your family’s routines and moods? Just nab the Philips Hue White and Color Ambiance starter kit. It includes four A19 standard-size LED bulbs which can go into any standard, indoor light fixture, as well as a bridge (the heart of the system for the app-based control of your Hue lights). There’s also an Ethernet cable to connect it to your wireless router, and (of course) a power cord that fits in any standard outlet.

Bonus: One last hack for your home using this awesome lighting system! Using the app, you can control the lights when you’re not even home! This is awesome if you’re out later than expected, because you can arrange for the lights to be turned on when you return, instead of stumbling into a dark home. Love it!

With back to school in full swing, I know all of us busy moms can use all the help we can get – so let us know about your own home hacks that make crazy schedules (or groggy mornings) a bit better!

How would YOU program your Philips Hue lighting?

Lunchbox Tips, Tricks & Ideas

September 10, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by Babbleboxx & it’s partners. All opinions are mine alone. #lunchboxx2018

Back to school season is in full swing now, and I have to say that one of the biggest stresses during the school year in the past has always been dealing with packing lunches. With five kids, it adds a ton of time in the morning; you have to deal with kids liking different things, plus you want to ensure they get quality foods. With the help of some of the trusted brands we love, we’re sharing some Lunchbox Tips, Tricks and Ideas with you to help ease the chaos!

First of all, save time where you can. If you can send a whole apple instead of slices, that saves you cutting time. Cooking any meats or steaming veggies in a big batch for several days or the week saves you from doing it daily. You can also save so much time by skipping the grocery shopping – by using Shipt for convenient same-day delivery!

With an annual membership, you get access to free, unlimited deliveries (for orders over $35). You put in your zip code, then it displays what stores are available to choose from. You select whichever you desire, then browse through the products online. You can even add notes to each item (like on tomatoes, if you want ones to use immediately or ones that aren’t quite ripe enough yet so they’ll last a few more days) to help your personal shopper get what you want! Either in a browser on your computer or with the app conveniently from your mobile device, you select your one-hour delivery window and pay. I love Shipt grocery delivery because it’s reliable, and saves me an hour or more each shopping ‘trip’!

Use this link to sign up for Shipt for just a $49 annual membership fee!

Another important thing is to include protein for a healthy diet. After talking with several friends and other moms, I was actually surprised how many said they don’t really pack anything with protein because it’s difficult to do. My tips for helping include protein are to:

prepare meats ahead of time, then serve in various ways (sliced for a salad topper, in a nacho salad, as a steak burrito, etc.) for the week
be sure to include freezer packets or something to keep the meat safe

For example, at the beginning of the week we would prepare a few days’ worth of meats and protein. You can even make even healthier choices by ordering Pre Beef, which is not only from grass fed and sourced from nutrient-rich pastures (and raised with care), but have no added antibiotics or hormones! They even come in neatly sealed clear bags, so you can see ALL sides of your beef.

We tried out their Ribeye and Top Sirloin Steak first (I’m a HUGE steak fan, for anyone who knows me), and we loved the great flavor in the meats. Their Chuck Roast piece (beef shoulder) was ideal for Sunday dinner, having everyone asking for more. And since ground beef is perfect for many quick weeknight dinners (or include for tacos or burritos for lunch), we enjoyed their 85% Lean Ground Beef as well as their 95% Lean option. Pre Brands online meat delivery also goes with our first tip of saving time, because it comes to you – so you can buy delicious, grass fed beef online easily!

Use Code: BUSYMOM for 10% off your order through October 31, 2018!

You can also use code: BTS40 for 40% off 85% or 80% lean ground beef – expires Sept. 21, 2018.

Along with delicious, fresh beef (protein), don’t forget some quality grains such as Lundberg White Rice & Quinoa Entrees. They’re super easy to make, taking 20 minutes or less on your stove, and can be packed easily for a delicious lunch. Not only do they taste great, but they’re made with quality ingredients, such as organic white rice or organic American-grown quinoa.

For those that are more careful and attentive to what they eat, you’ll appreciate that these tasty, convenient rice and quinoa entrees are vegan-friendly, USDA Organic, non-GMO and ALSO gluten-free verified. My friend whose family has severe gluten allergies will really enjoy these! The Rice Pilaf was the overall favorite, but my personal favorite was the Rosemary & Olive Oil quinoa blend.

My last big lunchbox tip is to include snacks and (yes, I’m gonna suggest it) TREATS! Just like us adults may need a pick-me-up between meals, our kids do as well. They need to be focused on learning, growing and playing – not focused on feeling too hungry. Since it can be worrisome at school with lunches and snacks about allergies, I really appreciate that MadeGood products are made in a facility that’s free of the EIGHT common allergens – peanuts and tree nuts, wheat, dairy, eggs, soy, sesame, fish and shellfish.

MadeGood has school safe snacks such as healthy granola bars, crispy squares, soft baked cookies and even the cute granola minis. If your kids – or kids in your child’s class – have allergies, there’s no reason to miss out on delicious goodies, especially since they’re a healthier option. Their snacks are organic, gluten-free and also non-GMO project verified. And if you look close at the wrappers – veggies, too! You wouldn’t know from the taste because WOW they’re delicious (yes, I snuck some of the kids’ snacks to try for myself – shhh!), and the kids love them. Having some very close friends whose family has many allergies, I’m thrilled we can have something at our house (or to take with us on outings) that are allergy free, so everyone can enjoy.

What are your best lunchbox tips, tricks & ideas?

Why We Love Family Gaming

September 7, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by Babbleboxx.com on behalf of Turtle Beach. All opinions are mine alone. #Recon200GameLouder

I was talking to a friend the other day, and I guess she had been ‘scolded’ by someone for allowing her kids to play video games. While I fully agree there should be parent guidance, and not all games are appropriate for everyone, I’m definitely a fan of video games, as is my whole family. Every parent should have rules that best fit their family, and I know everyone has different opinions. I thought I’d share a bit about Why We Love Family Gaming, and how it’s not JUST about fun and games!

First of all, I didn’t use to be too big into video games – I got more interested when hubby and I got together, since it was a great way to bond and spend some fun time together. Now with our kids, we’ve progressed to not just gaming as a couple, but also as an entire family. Now, don’t be thinking one ridiculously-noisy house full of all the sounds of seven different devices – luckily we have our Turtle Beach® Recon 200 gaming headsets that allow us each to hear our own game. But guess what? We can still talk to each other over the microphones, which means not just fun gaming time, but also family activity time. You’d be surprised how many quality conversations we’ve had with our kids over a game of Minecraft or something!

Plus, with this awesome gaming headset (which becomes available for all starting September 9th) we’re able to adjust the volume of not just the sounds, but also your VOICE from the microphone – so you can clearly hear yourself from the mic, or turn it down as you desire, even to mute by simply flipping it up. The high-sensitivity mic does well at picking up your voice loud and clear, so we don’t have to sit there saying ‘what?’ for the whole game. It’s as easy as adjusting the dials on the headset, so even the kids can change it to best fit their desired sound level (because we know some kids are more sensitive than others, or prefer more or less input).

While my kids like it a bit quieter, hubby is all about the volume! I agree with him, that you can get more immersed into the games with quality amplification – and great Bass Boost! You don’t want to just hear it, but really feel it, too. And don’t worry, the Turtle Beach® Recon 200 gaming headset is battery-powered but RECHARGEABLE, giving you a whole day (12 hours) of great sounding game time! If you’re like us and have an Xbox One, the headset is even optimized, so you get fully immersive surround sound with Windows Sonic for Headphones.* I’m really picky with my gaming headphones, since I have some hearing struggles already – but these nice 40mm speakers (that are actually COMFORTABLE over my ears) give really nice, crips high volumes along with the boomy lower sounds.

So besides the enjoyment of gaming, as well as the conversations, we also strongly believe that game time can be a LEARNING experience. My kids may not realize it yet (and I’m not about to tell them!), but we often are able to teach things to them while we’re all playing games. Whether it’s building in Minecraft (just point out differences in the gaming play versus reality), or teamwork by making a family goal then delegating tasks to accomplish it. We also use it to teach patience, or good sportsmanship (have you seen a 7 year old lose recently? It can be ugly!).

Along with that, since this day and age is so full of technology, especially in many careers, it’s helping them learn to switch between different platforms and programs so they’re more prepared for whatever their future holds. I really appreciate that the Turtle Beach® Recon 200 gaming headsets can easily switch platforms with them, being compatible with not just Xbox One and PS4TM, but also the Nintendo SwitchTM, PCs and our mobile devices.

Another perk to gaming that we enjoy, is it can be a reward or consequence – they can EARN (or lose) gaming time based on either attitudes and behavior, or perhaps by doing extra schoolwork, active play time, or taking on more household chores. We adjust it as best fits our family at that time, keeping our rules a little flexible – because life’s always changing, so it can be difficult if things are too rigid.

Since the Turtle Beach® Recon 200 gaming headsets are priced at $59.95 MSRP, you may be like ‘wow, that’s a lot for a headset that my kid may ruin’. You know your kid best, and while I don’t think a toddler (they seem able to destroy ANYTHING), would be ideal, my kids are great with headsets – and since the Recon 200 has a headband that’s metal-reinforced, it has that added durability that makes me worry even less about it getting ruined – or even worn out anytime soon!

Okay, I have to say this part that I enjoy about family gaming because I know many of you other parents will appreciate it as well – it’s been a great way to get my kids to play TOGETHER! It’s amazing how well my kids do when doing video games together – talking things out, splitting projects or tasks, helping when needed. There’s very rarely fighting (you know there’s some occasionally – this IS reality and they ARE still just kids, after all), so I love seeing them build those relationships and really get along with each other!

Check out the Turtle Beach® Recon 200 gaming headsets online here or on Amazon for your own family gaming!

*Windows Sonic for Headphones provided by Microsoft for Xbox One (and compatible Windows 10 PCs). Also compatible with Dolby Atmos® for Headphones (sold separately).

Back to School Preparedness Basket

August 21, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NixUltra #CollectiveBias

I can’t believe we’re all in the madness of back to school season already – didn’t summer just begin? Since we can’t avoid it, may as well make the most of it and ready our kids (and ourselves) the best we can. With everything that comes with the return to school, I love putting together a Back to School Preparedness Basket so there’s no last-minute rushes should something come up!

What’s great about this school preparedness basket is that it can be a gift – to a neighbor or friend with a kiddo starting school for the first time, to a teacher for their class. Or you can just keep it for yourself so your family is ready for whatever may happen.

School Preparedness

Be sure to click the image above to easily shop online!

If you’re a new student parent, you may be like ‘wait, what can happen?’ At school the kids are around a ton of others, so there’s not just a much higher chance of spreading germs for getting sick, but also major worries such as lice. Something as simple as a hug, or backpacks touching, or sharing hats or dress ups – all of those can spread lice around, so your child’s chances of getting it in a group setting, like school, makes the chance of them getting it increase immensely.

That’s why I put Nix Ultra® Super Lice Treatment from Walmart in our school preparedness kit – because IF that happens, I want to be prepared! I feel I can trust this brand more because it’s the #1 Pediatrician recommended brand, and it kills lice and eggs – even if it’s the resistant “super” lice. If my kids get it, I want to be sure that stuff is GONE!

School Preparedness Supplies

Fun Basket or Tote
Printable Tag – click here to download
Tissues (big box and small portable packs)
Hand Sanitizer
Cough Medicine/Pain Reliever/Etc.
Nix Ultra® Super Lice Treatment
Moist Wipes
Odor Removing Spray (for air and/or fabrics)
Baggies
Lip Chap

Note: these are just SOME ideas of what you could include – there’s so many more things that would be great, like safety pins, eye drops and more that will make you even more prepared for back to school.

School Preparedness Directions

Gather all of your supplies, and prep your basket as desired – line it with tissue paper, a cute towel or rag
Neatly place your preparedness items
Add the tag and some ribbon, if desired
Be sure to store away from children for safety!
Now you’re all prepared for the back to school season – good luck to all!

One thing I’ve learned with lice – the school doesn’t always report if there’s been a case in a class until multiple have – yikes! You can check yourself if there’s been lice cases reported in your area with this handy lice tracker, and if you need help you can use this lice ID tool.

Having dealt with everything from catching flu, cold, strep and – sadly – lice, more than once, I’ve learned to be ready for about anything. I guess with 5 kids at school, it’s impossible to avoid forever! At least I’m prepared with Nix Ultra® Super Lice Treatment which is pesticide free, non-toxic and has an easy application. As a mom, I also appreciate that it’s tough on lice, but gentle on skin. Want to

Saving money during the crazy back to school season is a major help, so while you’re stocking up on everything for your back to school preparedness basket at Walmart, don’t forget this coupon for $3.00 OFF any ONE (1) Nix Ultra® product. Just print it off – it’s valid through March 31st, 2019 so you can stock up all school year long! Once printed though, the coupon will have a printed expiration date so use it within 2 weeks.

Be ready for anything with this awesome school prep basket, and don’t forget all the goodies to tackle all the many things that kids may come home with – and it’s not all just fun artwork 🙂

Who would you give a school preparedness basket to?

Back to School with Mr. Gatti’s

August 17, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by Mr. Gatti’s. All opinions are mine alone. #mrgattisbacktoschool

Okay, fellow moms – are you ready for the school year? With all the supplies shopping, meeting teachers, figuring out new schedules or carpools, it can be even busier than normal. Here’s a great idea – take a break from the hassle and enjoy some amazing family time (and fit in a delicious dinner) at the same time by celebrating Back to School with Mr. Gatti’s!

If you’ve never heard of Mr. Gatti’s before – it’s an awesome place where you can not only enjoy a delicious pizza buffet, but also tackle all sorts of games (and win tickets for prizes) in the Game Room arcade area! It’s like an entire evening (or day – lunchtime would be ideal, as well) of having a fun time and making memories with your family.

And because they know how hectic this time of year can be for families, Mr. Gatti’s has a fantastic back-to-school promotion for the entire month of September: you can get a FREE $5 game card with the purchase of a buffet!

Their prices are already phenomenal, so this is some very delicious and fun icing on the cake for your visit.

With everything our family has had going on lately, I knew a night out to enjoy some time together was just what we needed. The kids had an absolute blast playing the games – and it was really special getting to introduce them to some arcade games that WE enjoyed growing up. Pac-Man and Space Invaders were favorites, while some of them couldn’t get enough of motorcycle racing or Whack-A-Minion.

If your kids are like mine, they’ll really like earning tickets while having fun with games, then choosing what prizes they want from the large machine! Plus it’s easy to load whatever amount you want onto the reloadable cards, so they can choose what games they want.

Not just the kids were loving this – hubby and I had a great time playing along with them all, plus watching their reactions to all the excitement.

Most of the games were $0.50-$0.75, with a few being a bit more – so you can fit in quite a few for $5. You may never want to stop with all the family fun, though! It’s also nice that you can choose how to do things. Want to start with games then go eat? Do it. Starving and want food first? Help yourself. Or you can mix it up and do some games, then food, then games. It’s entirely up to you how you want your awesome family night to go at Mr. Gatti’s

With all the stresses of back-to-school, it’s the perfect time to treat your family to a night out of fun and relaxing, and the whole family of all ages can enjoy making some memories together. Food + Games = an amazing evening out with those you love most!

Don’t forget, for the entire month of September you can enjoy Mr. Gatti’s back-to-school promotion: get a free $5 game card with every buffet purchase. Woot woot!

Find your nearest Mr. Gatti’s to make your own family memories HERE

You can also check then out on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter to see all the fun and offerings. Don’t forget to have some family fun amongst all the back-to-school hassle with Mr. Gatti’s!

Teaching Teens Life Skills

August 13, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post was sponsored by the National 4-H Council as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own. #4HWellness360 #IC

I remember when I hit the teen years, I thought I knew everything that I need to really be an ‘adult’ – yes, you can laugh because oh my word, was I wrong! Knowing just how unprepared I was, I know the importance of Teaching Teens Life Skills, especially since my older kids are almost teenagers.

That’s one reason I’m really excited about the 4-H Wellness 360º program – it not only helps to set up secure habits for their families and community in their futures, but it’s even driven by 4-H TEEN leaders! That means that this program, supported by Target, uses the proven influence of young people by engaging the teens to lead and empower their friends and peers, setting up the lifelong healthy habits they’ll need.

I think one area that can be a roadblock for teens is confidence, so having the 4-H Wellness 360º program makes sure they have the knowledge and experience to help build that confidence by offering nutrition education, cooking classes, even yoga class or lessons on avoiding risky behaviors. Once they have that strong framework to live a healthy lifestyle themselves, teens can help share that with others – making this incredible chain reaction for teens to really help shape their future in a bright, healthy way!

I’ve always loved the idea of teens educating younger youth – sharing their experiences, what they’ve learned, and acting as good role models. Peer pressure can be a strong thing, whether good or bad – so this program really helps use that for the GOOD. It also helps that this age is critical for growing skills and establishing behaviors, as well as when they can be most influenced (again, for good or bad).

My oldest hits 13 at the end of this year, and it kind of has me terrified. There was a lot to prepare for in the ‘real world’ that I wish I’d gained more knowledge and experience with as a teen – and in today’s society there seems to be even MORE I want my kids ready for.

More and more, it seems that teens-turning-adults don’t have essential life skills – such as cooking, or how to grocery shop wisely – to help them. I’ll admit, I only knew how to cook a few very simple things when I went off to college – and I was even one of those people who didn’t know not to put the dish-soap type into the dishwasher! Ya, that was a messy learning experience.

I’m so glad there’s programs being made like the 4-H Wellness 360º program to really provide those skills, and especially to teach them how to make not only healthy decisions, but smart and GOOD decisions in their future.

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Who would you give a school preparedness basket to?

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