A Day in Motherhood

We Painted Keepsake Boxes with Elmer’s Painters Paint Markers #ExpressYourself #CBias

May 14, 2012 By Lori 3 Comments

My kids are arts and crafts fanatics! I, myself, am not all that creative so they must get it from their dad. One of their favorite things to do is paint. Let’s be honest, though, that is not one of the cleanest things they can do. But they love it so much that I lug out the egg cartons, fill the containers with paint, wrap the kids in trash bags and then hand them brushes.

I almost always regret it.

So when I learned about Elmer’s Painters Paint Markers I was intrigued. A paint pen that is easy to use, produces vibrant colors and won’t include the spray of a flung paintbrush that currently decorates the outside of my house?

I headed to Walmart to check this out! Sure enough, right there on the crafting aisle were the Elmer’s Painters Paint Markers. These permanent and streak free, non-toxic and acid free paint markers come in a variety of colors and are only $1.97 each on Walmart shelves now! We chose a myriad of colors – including each child’s favorite (Pink for Katie, Purple for Sarah and Red for Megan) – and looked around for a project we could do with them!

See my whole shop – and the toddler artwork – below:

Since these paint markers draw on everything from ceramic to cloth, we decided it was high time we created some little boxes to put some trinkets in. Mommy gets another box to throw things in that are small and the girls get a piece of art that they created.

Now, my initial plan with these markers was to paint an outside bench that my girls will have forever, and we will. Unfortunately we’ve had too much rain lately to actually get out and do that but how incredibly fun would that be? These markers would be PERFECT for that and we will be doing one and I will let you see it when we are done!

I know that crafty Mom’s everywhere will come up with clever crafts that will make you go ‘ooohhh’ but my kids are 5, 4 and 2 and what they did with these boxes made me go ‘ooohhh’!

So, first things first. I got home with the pens, the adorable wooden boxes to paint and a weeks worth of groceries. My girls hop out of the car, grabbed the pens and hightailed it inside. Convinced that they could not open the pens – I should so know better by now – I lazily gathered my groceries and took them inside.

Where all three girls were sitting, having figured out how to make the pens work, painting their boxes. I stressed out for a moment, “NOOOO, these are for a great creative craft that we are going to make perfect together!”, and then let it go. They were so happy and so excited to be “painting” and not being told to watch where they put their brushes or being wrapped head to toe in trash bags that I had to let them be!

So, I apologize for the messy, unorganized craft that you are here to see.

I will say, though, that Katie put a lot of time and effort into hers and really made it sweet. She worked so hard on it that she took it to school and gave it to her art teacher all on her own. One day it was drying, the next she gets a Thank You note from the teacher for the box. I had no idea she had even taken it but the grin on her face, sure to challenge the Cheshire Cat was all that mattered!

I love these Painters Paint Markers! They are easy to use – as described by Katie in this video below – fun to use and cleaner than any other type of paint I have let them use!

With summer upon us I have stocked up! And since they can paint on plastic, wood, tile, shirts and more, I suspect I will be stocking up several times over the Summer! Be sure to come back and show me your awesome crafts after you go get your Painters Paint Markers!

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**I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric. All writings and opinions are 100% mine. Please see my Disclaimer/ Privacy Policy for more information.**

Filed Under: My Motherhood Blog, Promo Writings, Promo Writings Tagged With: a day in motherhood, arts and crafts, crafts for young kids, DIY, Elmer's, Elmer's Painters Paint markers, Paint Markers, Walmart

Summer is Around the Corner, Is Your Computer Protected for Your Family? #DigitalJoneses

May 11, 2012 By Lori Leave a Comment

I am amazed that my kids get out of school in mere weeks! Already! And I know that that means that they will be on the laptop and the phones even more wanting to play games when it is too hot to go outside, raining or they are just bored!

So I am going through and making sure that everything I can do to make sure my kids are protected online is being done! If you have kids that will be home while you are working, ease your worries by making sure you have everything in place to stop predators from stalking your kids!

So head over to the Digital Joneses Website and take the three challenges that can show you how protected your electronic devices are and help you make them more secure!

Are You Digitally Smarter than a 5th Grader?

The Trend Talk Parental Questionnaire

Digital Spring Cleaning Checklist

You can read my three posts relating to these Challenges too!

Digital Spring Cleaning Feels SO Good

I Talked to My Kids About Internet Safety

How Much do YOU Know About Internet Safety?

I’ll be back soon with how better to protect your SmartPhones! In the meantime, check out the great resources that are FREE to help protect your family! Be sure to check out all of the Digital Joneses Families and learn from them as they test and share their experiences too!

**I am a Digital Joneses Blogger and my family and I will participate in a year long program designed byTrend Micro. We will receive assets to take the challenges on. My opinions and writings are 100% mine and can not be duplicated or copied without prior permission. The assets received in exchange for our input will vary. Assets received to date: ASUS Zenbook computer. Please see my Disclaimers Page for more information.**

Filed Under: My Motherhood Blog, Promo Writings, Promo Writings Tagged With: a day in motherhood, computer protection software, Digital Joneses, Trend Micro Direct Pass, Trend Micro Titanium

Happy 3rd Birthday Collective Bias! My Walk/ Run in Your Honor was SO FUN! #HappyCBDay #CBias

May 11, 2012 By Lori 3 Comments

As many of you know, I am in love with Collective Bias and Social Fabric. I love sharing with you guys all of the new products that come out and twists on some favorites that have been around a while! The community is amazing and I am really blessed to be a part of it!

My walking partners! Even Tag the puppy loves Collective Bias!

This week, #CBias celebrates it’s 3rd Birthday! All week I have been taking photos as part of ‘Spirit Week’ to help celebrate! Today at 11:11am CST, there was a 5K walk/run and I participated in it by walking with my youngest daughter and my youngest dog (a result of a Milkbone Shop for Social Fabric!) and we hit the trail!

We are officially race participants!

Every mile I walked donated $1 to Girls on the Run, a non-profit that helps pre-teen girls learn self respect and assurance through running!

My goal was to go around our loop twice making it 4 miles total! BUT, my daughter had other ideas! Plus, halfway through I accidentally paused my Runkeeper so I missed half a mile to report. But considering I had a 2 year old and a 6 month old puppy, I’d say we did pretty dern well and I am hope that my participation donates a little!

And now to relax and rehydrate!

And a HUGE thanks to Collective Bias for the amazing “run pack” which included a water bottle, Snickers Marathon bar (yea, that was eaten as I was walking into the garage), my run number (#0011) and Collective Bias stickers! The very nice scarf my dog is sporting was a gift a while back. Usually I wear it but the pictures were just too CUTE! Our whole family loves Collective Bias!

I 'paused' the Runkeeper in error half way so I really went 2 miles! LOL

CONGRATULATIONS Collective Bias on 3 Successful Years!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Collective Bias

Thank you for all you have done for me and the blogging community in general!

Filed Under: My Motherhood Blog, Promo Writings, Promo Writings Tagged With: a day in motherhood, Collective Bias, Girls on the Run, Social Fabric

VTech Multitasking Phone System Review: Free Yourself to Talk

May 11, 2012 By Lori Leave a Comment

I have a confession to make. I will avoid answering the phone in my house because I know that the minute that I pick it up, my kids will start wanting things, complaining about something or try to take the phone from me to play with. It drives me nuts and I feel sorry for the people on the other line who have to listen to me say, “Mommy is on the phone… please walk away!” fifty thousand times!

So, I just don’t answer it.

But a few weeks ago I received a new way to talk to family, friends, business associates and telemarkers because I became the proud owner of a VTech LS6475-3 Multitasking Phone System! Not only is this sleek, looks so great on my desk system clearly a superior phone to any other I have ever had but it gives me something I don’t get with other phones!

FREEDOM!

For a mom, that word is golden. Because the reality is that no matter how many kids you have or whether you work in or out of the home, there is some sort of gene in children that alerts them the second the phone rings! They can go from playing happily to raging screamers in one ring flat!

But with this phone – especially the cordless headset - I can hold my children, prepare their meals, help them fix a broken toy, change batteries on electronics and get them their milk without so much as a, “Hold On” to the person I am talking to! And I have decided that the kids don’t so much care that I am talking to someone else but that my hands are not totally free to do whatever it is that they deem important at the time!

I especially love this phone and the lightweight, sophisticated headset when I am on a call for business! I can type and talk without using one hand to hold the phone or keep it balanced or screaming into a speaker! But if I do need to use the speaker phone on the handsets – the model comes with two handsets – the clarity is amazing! This phone has HD Audio and you can tell the difference the second you start talking on it!

I can have both hands free to work and talk to a Client!

Another GREAT feature the LS6475-3 Multitasking Phone System sports is an answering machine! And not the old time, scratchy, unreliable machine that drove everyone nuts but an easy to use, clear, answers every time, easy to use, answering machine! Add the caller ID and this phone has it all!

Seriously, I now use this more than my cell phone when I am home because it is so easy, beautiful and functional for a busy mom who was, unfortunately, not born with three hands!

I can make dinner and still talk!

Mother’s Day is around the corner and I can tell you, this would be the PERFECT gift for any mom (and mom blogger!). And with FREE SHIPPING from the VTech website, you can get it and enjoy watching the hard working woman in the house gain back the FREEDOM to talk to whom ever she wants and still complete the tasks at hand!

I can hold my daughter and still talk... very important for moms!

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I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of VTech and received a product sample to facilitate my review.

Filed Under: My Motherhood Blog, Promo Writings, Promo Writings Tagged With: a day in motherhood, Electronics for moms, mothers day, VTech, VTech LS6475-3 Multitasking phone system

I Took the Jennie-O Make The Switch Switch Challenge & Will Donate my Savings to Kids #JennieOCFK #CBias

May 7, 2012 By Lori 6 Comments

It is a new month and a new start to challenge myself to not only do something fun and interesting for my family, but to find a way to give back to those less fortunate than us. And the best place I have found to gather ideas and get inspiration is Champions for Kids and Jennie-O Turkey!#JennieOCFK!

As you may know from reading my blog faithfully, I have taken on the challenges month after month and continue to be surprised and excited about others generosity and how these SIMPLE SERVICE Projects change my family for the better too! This month is a super fun and really easy project that anyone can do!

In taking the Jennie-O Make The Switch Switch Challenge we have decided to give something up and donate what we would normally spend on it to help kids eat healthier! With the money we will save by giving up something we all love, I am going to throw a healthy snack party at my daughter school classes!

So… drum roll please.. up, for the entire month…. COOKIES!!! And not just one type of cookie, ALL cookies! Why, because it has become an epidemic in this house to get a cookie for doing something good and we all need to stop it! We have – mainly – the tubs of cookies that you can scoop out, make just a few and then make some again later. Purchased from kids in the neighborhood for about $10 a tub (ACK!), we buy them all year long and spend a fortune! Add to that the beloved packaged cookies we get at the store at least once a week – ranging from $2.98 – $4.98 a package – and we are on cookie over load and need to health it up around here!

Now before you think we live on cookies around here, we don’t. But we entertain a lot, have other kids over and my husband and I both have a late night sweet tooth. So, in a month, we, I estimate – spend about $50 on cookies. Terrible, right?

So I am kicking the cookies habit and am creating a healthier meal time experience for my family with Jennie-O Turkey. And then I am going to take my savings and use that to create a healthy class party for my daughter’s schools as opposed to the usual cookie kits and brownie pans!

I headed to my local Walmart to see how much I would save not buying the cookies and other sweets! See my whole shop below and some recipes I have already made with Jennie-O turkey.

On this trip, with TONS of Jennie-O Turkey products, fruit and milk, I spent $57.00. Taking out our usual barrage of cookies and sugary snacks saved me – and I kid you not – $40 on this shopping trip alone!

What a wake up call!

So, over the next three weeks I will be shopping like this – and hopefully permanently between you and me and my waistline – and whatever I save I will put into a healthy party at both of my daughter’s schools! I am hoping by the time I am done that they won’t even realize that the parties did not include cookies!

Do you have any great recipes I can use with Jennie-O Turkey to entice young kids? I am thinking turkey dog and cheese sticks, fun shaped turkey sandwiches and then a fruit plate with some whipped cream! I am open to any and all suggestions!

Come back in a few weeks and see how I did!

Find out more about Champions for Kids on their Website and follow them on Twitter @Champions4kidsTwitter and Like them on Facebook at Champions for Kids Facebook!

Find out more about Jennie-O on their Website and find the Jennie-O CFK Project Card too!

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**I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #JennieOCFK #CBias #SocialFabric. All writings and opinions are 100% mine. Please see my Disclaimer/ Privacy Policy for more information.**

Filed Under: My Motherhood Blog, Promo Writings, Promo Writings Tagged With: a day in motherhood, Champions for Kids, Jennie-O Turkey

I Ziplined ‘The Rattlesnake’ at Florida Ecosafaris & LOVED IT #DisneyGlobalEvent

May 6, 2012 By Lori 12 Comments

‘Party Like a Rock Star!‘ I scream out as I walk off the platform, sat comfortably in my secure harness and let my fears and inhibitions turn into excitement and pure, unadulterated FUN on The NEW Rattlesnake Zipline Roller Coaster at Florida Ecosafaris at Forever Florida!

As I endured the drops and turns of this truly amazing zipline roller coaster, I laughed and squealed with delight! This this is F U N!! Not scary… FUN! It amazed me that there were no engines or mechanism to keep me going. Just the brilliant design and peaceful thrill of being the only one on a roller coaster, hanging freely (harnessed, of course) and anticipating the anxiety but enjoying the complete adventure! The Rattlesnake opened on April 6, 2012 and I can not wait to go back and ride it again!

You can also not be quite so adventurous and go on the wonderful Zipline Safari where you can zipline from platform to platform enjoying both the fun of ziplining and the amazing views of the property from each platform!

Check out our fun filled day in the slideshow below:

But Florida Ecosafaris has more to offer than the amazing Rattlesnake! This 4,700 acre eco-ranch and wildlife conservation area puts nature first. They leave untouched the natural habits for animals. And with its natural streams wetlands and dense forests that can be toured via Coach Safari, the whole family will enjoy its massive beauty. Learn how conservation is number one when it comes to this unique and special adventure park and wildlife reserve! I loved seeing the baby alligators basking on the rocks and the story of ‘The Bone Yard’. Instead of burying or disposing of animals that pass, they lay them in the Bone Yard and let nature take its course. That is how devoted they are the conservation and wild life on the land.

See the Baby Alligators?

The Coach Safari is perfect for the entire family and I am looking forward to taking my kids back!

Feel like a peaceful bike ride over the tall Cypress trees that decorate the land? Then you can embark on the first ever Canopy Cycle Adventure in the USA! I’ll be honest, I went back and forth between this one hour adventure that would take me 25 feet up in the air, show me nature in its truest form and give me a good, relaxing tour versus the Zipline tour! So I am really looking forward to returning and trying this amazing adventure out!

The other adventure that I am dying to give a go at Florida Ecosafaries is the Horseback Safari! I can not imagine the beauty and serene landscaping that would only be interrupted by the clipity clop of my horses feet. You can even turn it into a several day event with your family and really ‘rough it’ in the natural habitat that is celebrated at Florever Florida!

But as I landed my feet on the platform at the end of The Rattlesnake, conquered my complete fear of anticipating in falling on the Panther Pounce and raced Jen from TheSuburbanMom.com down the Peregrine Plunge, I was glad that I got the amazing Zipline Adventure crossed off my ‘MUST DO’ list!

My family and I are planning a trip back to Florida later this year and revisiting Florida Ecosafaris at Forever Florida is defiantly a must! There is so much more to Florida and what it can offer as a family vacation and unique adventures that you would imagine! Take some time to see how you can spend an entire day doing something that you can not do anywhere else!

Oh, and by the way, don’t worry about getting from your Global Resort Home to Florida Ecosafaris. Just call up a Pegasus Bus and enjoy a comfortable, relaxing ride with courteous drivers and clean, quiet buses! It is the only way to travel to all of the wonderful Florida amenities!

PegasusBus.com was amazing!

Check out this other great post about the days events at MamaLovesHerBargains.com! She took the scenic route

**I traveled with a group of bloggers as a mostly compensated trip for these events. Photos were used with permission. My writings and opinions are mine. Please see my Disclosure Page for more information. Affiliate links may be included in this post.**

Filed Under: Disney, My Motherhood Blog, My Travels, Promo Writings, Promo Writings Tagged With: a day in motherhood, Coach Safaris, Florida Ecosafaris, Forever Florida, Horseback safaris, Pegasus Bus Line, The Rattlesnake Zipline Roller Coaster, Zipline safaris

Allegra & CVS Help Me Feel Beautiful: Head to Toe! + You Could WIN a $50 CVS Gift Card #ClearBeauty #CBias

May 3, 2012 By Lori 10 Comments

I am an allergy sufferer. In fact, I am still on steroids and an inhaler from an allergy related infection that landed me in the Urgent Care center on a Sunday! To prevent anything like that happening again – and to stop my morning allergy attacks all together – I headed to my CVS to get an allergy medication I KNOW works on me! I know because I used to be subscribed Allegra by my doctor. And since that same prescription strength formula can now be found on shelves, it is time for me to start getting this under control.

As all of you allergy sufferers know, when you are sneezing and coughing and rubbing your itchy eyes, it makes it harder to want to take care of yourself! Who wants to put on makeup when you know you’ll be rubbing it off and looking blotchy from all of the allergens? And, at least, I, can kiss pedicures goodbye because bending over with those irritating runny noses and dry coughs to do one makes the entire task just ridiculously un-fun!

So, I am taking the challenge to go from seriously drab to amazingly FAB and my first beauty secret is to use Allegra to get rid of these darn allergies that drain me and take my attention off of looking the absolute best I can!! Instead of making sure I have I have tissues next to me, I can focus on my smile and putting my best foot forward! And since in the month of May I can get a 30 pack of Allegra for ONLY $17.99 at CVS, I am ready to stock up and enjoy my savings!

Speaking of feet…

While shopping at CVS – with my pint sized beauty consultant, Katie - for Allegra and some other beauty items to make me look as good as I am going to feel, I came across some pedicure items. It has been a while since I have given myself one because I have been tired from my allergies and find it hard to do all of that work while sneezing continuously! And my feet are work!

So, in addition to wearing the all important make up that I skip most days in favor of being a sneezing cough-a-thon, I picked up a pedicure kit and some other essentials for some toe pampering! Body wash that will bubble and let me soak my toes, a pedicure kit and some super sparkly toenail polish that will reflect the sunshine that I will be basking in more now that I have my Allegra!

See my entire shop below for #ClearBeauty!! And please do not make fun of my ‘Allergy Face’!

I got home and – yearning for some toe and Lori pampering – took my Allegra! It works in about an hour – I felt better in less time – and immediately noticed my energy level improve and my time free up to take care of me! Plus, I knew that if I put on makeup, it would STAY!

I got to work on my feet first… no small task… and enjoyed prettying them up and giving them a fab makeover without having to watch for a draining nose, anticipate a sneeze during a critical cuticle care moment, or raise a soapy hand to rub itchy eyes mid way through! I revived my ignored feet and felt AMAZING when I was done!

Toes complete, I headed into my bathroom and confidently put on makeup knowing it would still be there throughout the day!

It is AMAZING the difference that can be felt when your allergy symptoms are under control! I feel GREAT and will never be caught without Allegra by my side again! The new FAB Lori – head to toe – is here to stay!

Now it is YOUR turn to go from drab to fab in the Allergy Makeover Game! You could WIN a $50 gift card to CVS just for playing! GOOD LUCK!

Get more information at Allegra.com!

LIKE Allegra on Facebook and Follow Allegra on Twitter!

**This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias #collectivebias #CBias. All writings and opinions are 100% mine. Please see my Disclaimer/ Privacy Policy for more information.**

Filed Under: My Motherhood Blog, Promo Writings, Promo Writings Tagged With: Allegra, allergies, Beauty

HOUSTON: See the Preview of “What to Expect When Your Expecting” on May 15, 2012

May 2, 2012 By Lori 2 Comments

I am really looking forward to the new movie, What to Expect When Your Expecting, a new film with a great ensemble cast that features Jennifer Lopez, Brooklyn Decker, and Elizabeth Banks, among others. The months leading up to childbirth can be challenging, but with this new film, expecting parents get a dose of what they can expect by seeing it on the big screen with some of today’s biggest actors! (More information below.)

**Our promo screening will be Tuesday, May 15^th, at 7pm at Edwards Greenway Grand Palace.**

Use CODE DIMHMMT7 at GoFoBo.com.

The first 100 that enter the pro code and get a confirming email are in!

A kaleidoscopic comedy as universal as it is unpredictable, WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING finds humor and uplift in all the unexpected trials and triumphs of welcoming a child into the world. The film stars Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Elizabeth Banks, Chace Crawford, Brooklyn Decker, Ben Falcone, Anna Kendrick, Matthew Morrison, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock, Rodrigo Santoro, Joe Manganiello, Rob Huebel, Tom Lennon and Amir Talai. The film is directed by Kirk Jones, written by Shauna Cross and Heather Hach and inspired by the book “What To Expect When You’re Expecting” by Heidi Murkoff. Lionsgate presents in association with Alcon Entertainment, a Phoenix Pictures production / a Lionsgate production of a Kirk Jones film.

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Filed Under: Deals, Freebies, Houston, My Motherhood Blog, Promo Writings, Promo Writings Tagged With: Houston movie screenings, Movie Preview, What to expect When Your Expecting

Join Us for an International Delight Afternoon Me Time Twitter Party: May 8, 2012 at 2 – 3pm EST

May 2, 2012 By Lori 18 Comments

There is never enough ‘me time’ in a day! And, as most Moms and Dads know, when the kids are around, getting just 10 minutes alone can be a real treat. But with a tasty, delicious drink like International Delight Mocha Iced Coffee, afternoon ME time becomes a real luxury. I like to flip through a good book and put my feet up with my Iced Coffee! To celebrate that special ten minutes of quiet while the kids nap or play in their rooms, we are throwing a Twitter Party! Come join in as we talk about how we each spend our time, what snacks we have with our Iced Coffee and more! And because International Delight Mocha Iced Coffee will hit Sam’s Club shelves in May, 2012, we’ll be giving away 2 $25 Sam’s Gift Cards, 1 $50 Sam’s Gift Card and 1 $100 Sam’s Club Gift Card during the party to help celebrate!

When: Thursday, may 8, 2012 from 2-3pm EST.

Where: On Twitter, using the hashtag #IcedCoffee

Who: Be sure to follow the hosts @lomargie, @wahmdiva

Custom Tweetgrid: http://bit.ly/JAG0MO

Prizes: We will be giving away 4 Sam’s Club gift cards throughout the party. 2 valued at $25, 1 valued at $50 and 1 at $100.

Let your followers know about this twitter party, too! The more the merrier!

Just copy and paste the tweet below.

“Let’s Talk About Afternoon ME Time at the #IcedCoffee Twitter Party May 8 2-3pm EST RSVP: http://bit.ly/JpkiqF #CBias”

Please RSVP using the linky below (enter the URL to your Twitter profile) to be eligible for a prize. All winners will be chosen randomly from the RSVP list. Winners must be present and participating during the party to be eligible to win a prize. Be sure to follow the Party Hosts, along with using the hashtag in every tweet about the party.

Read all Rules and Regulations before you participate!

Filed Under: My Motherhood Blog, Promo Writings, Promo Writings

Help Make ‘Roger Nix President at Age Six’ a Reality! How to Get YOUR Copy!

May 1, 2012 By Lori Leave a Comment

I think childhood literacy and books are the key to the future. So, as a personal favor to a friend, I ask you to consider reading, learning and helping a first time author get his wonderful children’s book off the ground! You can get a book too!

************************

First time children’s book author Nick Dazé, is in the final days (63 hours to be exact) of his campaign to raise funding to independently publish his children’s book Roger Nix President at Age Six.

The story is about kindergartener Roger Nix, an ordinary boy: Roger loves kindergarten, playing make-believe, and hanging out with his imaginary friends (a baby donkey named Jack and a baby elephant named Abe). But when he learns about the plans of Old Man Plee, a perennial presidential candidate, to shut down schools and send kids to work in factories as an austerity measure; Roger decides to run against Old Man Plee as a defender of “school and summer vacation, learning and imagination”. Of course Abe and Jack are there to help him every step of the way.

Nick Daze and his incredible Kickstarter campaign have already raised nearly $22,000 and only has $8,000 more to go in order to put the book into production. The book has been fully written by Daze and the illustrations beautifully crafted by Bill Robinson. Each $30 pledge towards the Roger Nix campaign comes with a first edition hardcover copy of the book, delivered in time for the new school year this fall. This is a timely story that is fascinating, engaging, and a thought-provoking read for both kids and parents written by a imaginative adult who was encouraged to explore his imagination as a child.

Here is an excerpt from the book:

Roger stood up quickly. He had something to say

With a wink from Jack and a trunks-up from Abe.

“I’ll run against him,” Roger said with a shout.

“I’ll run for president, have you no doubt!

To close school would be nothing short of a crime

You can’t fool all us kids, not all of the time.”

He stood on his desk and they all watched and wondered

As Roger kept talking, his voice boomed and thundered.

“We’ll beat him and keep all the schools as they are

Or make them way better. We’ll shoot for the stars!

We go to school so one day we’ll go far,

Not because it is easy–because it is hard!

We are KIDS! The whole point is to learn and have fun

And to use our wee noggins…

THIS RACE HAS BEGUN!”

So Abe, Jack, and Roger got to work right away.

“That kid’s on to something,” his parents would say.

He made lots of speeches; he shook lots of hands

He toured a big factory that made rubber bands.

Then one night on the tube, to Old Plee’s disdain,

The news ran a story on Roger’s campaign.

“Roger Nix, daydreamer and ultimate kid,

Is gaining on Plee in his presidential bid.”

But everyone knew that sooner or later

Roger would have to be quite the debater.

Because one night soon, under some bright marquee

A debate would take place between Roger and Plee.

Please find more information and link to donate below if interested:

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/787960356/roger-nix-president-at-six

Filed Under: My Motherhood Blog, Promo Writings, Promo Writings

Over Simply Right 4X Probiotic Pinterest Party: WIN $700 in Gift Cards

May 1, 2012 By Lori 1 Comment

UPDATE: The giveaway is closed and all of the lucky winners have been posted over at Someday I’ll Learn. Congrats everyone! Also, if you’ve tried the product, let others know what you think of it by leaving a review for Sam’s Club at bit.ly/4xprobiotic!

A while back, I took the Member’s Mark 4X Probiotic Challenge from Sam’s Club. I loved it and have used it to stay balanced ever since. And I recommend it to anyone trying to get a little healthier and stay regular! Now, the name of the product has changed to Simply Right 4X Probiotic Digestive Care Supplement! This is the same value product recommended by gastroenterologists to balance the digestive system, with four strains of natural, beneficial bacteria.

To celebrate the name change and the fact that Probiotic supplements can help you stay #4XHealthier, they are throwing a Pinterest party and rewarding you for participating!

One Grand Prize winner will get a $400 Sam’s Gift Card and three runner ups will get a $100 Sam’s Gift Card! Not too shabby, right? Just follow the steps below to be entered!

1) Create your own #4XHealthier board,

2) Pin 4 healthier living pins (workout routines, shoes, smoothies, healthy food) and tag each pin with #4XHealthier,

3) Pin 1 4XProB at Sam’s pin (directly from Sam’s club site: http://samsclub.com/sams/shop/product.jsp?productId=prod5590696) and tag that pin with 4XHealthier

4) Link up their board entry to enter the contest at http://www.somedayilllearn.com/2012/04/4xhealthier-pinterest-party/.

See? Easy! And it could be VERY rewarding! Check out my Pinterest Board for the #4XHealthier Party for ideas. I can’t win, but I can inspire!

The RSVP Board where your can report your links is open now. All winners will be drawn by Random.org.

Filed Under: My Motherhood Blog, Promo Writings, Promo Writings Tagged With: #4XHealthier, 4X Probiotic Digestive Health, balance, Digestive system, Recommended by gastroenterologists, Simply Right

SAFESKIN Kid’s Sports Wraps Are Fun and Versatile + My $100 Walmart Gift Card Winner

April 27, 2012 By Lori 1 Comment

A few weeks ago, I shared with you guys the fantasticness of NEW SAFESKIN Kid’s Color Sports Wraps. Because these painless wraps are so awesome, I thought I would share some more thought about them plus share a coupon to get them for your First Aid kits! In addition, the WINNER of the $100 Walmart Gift Card is announced below too!

More Great Facts:

SAFESKIN® Kids Sport Wrap offers kids the superior support needed to get back in the game with bright, fun colors that highlight team spirit and self-expression – not the boring, dull beige wraps adults use. I put them on my kids to see what they thought and the loved the vibrant red and blue colors!

SAFESKIN® Kids Sport Wrap is a great option for on-the-go sports moms’ first aid kits – it’s self adhesive, water resistant, reusable, latex free and does not need clips or pins to secure it in place. I can attest for the fact that these are super easy to apply! I just opened the package, wrapped the SAFESKIN Sports Wrap around my kids arms, ankles and hands, tore the end off and it stuck! They played in them for a while and they never budged!

Each year, more than 3.5 million children under age 14 receive medical treatment for sports-related injuries,¹ with strains and sprains among the most common complaints.²From the playground to riding bikes to organized sports, kids can get injured doing anything! Having these wraps on hand at the time of an injury just makes things easier on mom and her crying child!

I highly recommend everyone heading to Walmart to pick up some SAFESKIN Kid’s Sports Wraps for the car, the First Aid Kit or the medicine cabinet! For only $3.94 a roll you can afford to be prepared!

The Coupon

Save $0.50 on a roll of SAFESKIN Kid’s Sports Wrap with this coupon from Coupons.com!

The Giveaway WINNER:

CONGRATULATIONS TO Elana I. who won the $100 Walmart Gift Card in the SAFESKIN Kid’s Sports Wrap Sweepstakes!

Remember that April is National Youth Sports Safety Month – I teamed up with SAFESKIN Kids Sport Wrap to bench the beige of traditional sports wraps for my kids. And I loved every minute of it! Get your wraps while it is fresh on your mind!

LIKE SAFESKIN Kids Sports Wrap on Facebook

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2 National Center for Sports Safety, Sports Injury Facts, http://www.sportssafety.org/sports-injury-facts/(Updated Not Available) [Assessed Feb. 6, 2012]
*SAFESKIN Kids Sport Wrap is not intended for direct contact with broken skin.

SAFESKIN Kids Sport Wrap is a trademark of Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc. or its affiliates.

DISCLAIMER:

Please read all terms and conditions within the Rafflecopter form. I received compensation from Kimberly-Clark Professional in the form of a gift card to participate in this campaign promoting the Sport Some Color SAFESKIN Kids Sport Wrap Challenge. In addition, Kimberly-Clark Professional provided the gift card I am using as the prize in my promotion.

Filed Under: Coupons, Coupons, Deals, My Motherhood Blog, Product Reviews, Promo Writings, Promo Writings, Reviews

Global Resort Homes: Truly Relax on Your Florida Vacation #DisneyGlobalEvent

April 26, 2012 By Lori 6 Comments

Several years ago my husband and I took our two little girls to Disney World in Orlando. We did not have our third daughter yet so it was four people – albeit two small ones – in a hotel room with two beds. It was OK but it was cramped, even with little kids, and my husband and I were stuck in the same room as our children and when they went to bed at 7, we had to too.

We were there for 7 nights and even though we tried to quietly play card games, sit outside and chat or even watch television, it always woke up the kids. So we would lay there, staring at the ceiling, listening to our children sleep!

But now that I have had the distinct pleasure to spend five comfortable nights in a Global Resort Home, I will never hotel it again!

The Beautiful Global Resort Home We Stayed In

While in Orlando for the Red Carpet Premier of Chimpanzee, I got to stay in one of the Premier properties that Global Resort Homes offers in Kissimmee, FL and I have to tell you, this is how to truly relax on your Florida vacation. Located just 1.5 miles from the Disney Parks, there is room for everyone and every thing. These are not time shares nor is anyone going to come in and try to sell you a home or anything else for that matter! In fact, unless you need something, you may not see anyone besides your neighbors the entire time you are there! These are homes that guests stay in for the perfect vacation!

Eight women, 11 suitcases, and 8 Oscar Plush toys shared the spacious six bedroom home at 2576 Archfield in Kissimme. The four large bathrooms designed for multiple people to be in them at the same time were never cramped. And if you have ever shared a bathroom with another woman – much less four other women – you know how amazing that is!

A Spacious Kitchen makes Waking Up Peaceful and Comfortable

With one bedroom downstairs and five bedrooms up, including the master, the floor plan is perfect for parents that wants to be near their children but have the privacy of their own bedroom too! It is also great for multiple families as there are three King bedrooms, a Queen bedroom and two twin bedrooms in this house and others like it. Split the house with your family and friends and sit out back under the warm Florida moon, feet in the hot tub, chatting while your kids sleep peacefully inside!

Or come home in the middle of a busy day at Disney, let the kids nap while you relax reading my blog and then head back to the parks with everyone rested and ready to go! Avoid being one of those couples with the screaming, tired children at six o’clock because they have been at Mickey’s for eight hours and are just all out of happiness! The point of a vacation is to relax and have fun!

Walk into Comfort at the End of a Long Day of Having Fun

To help facilitate that relaxation further, most of the Global Resort Homes come with private pools and also hot tubs! And the area is fully fenced to prevent mosquito attacks while you are trying to relax. When you need a break from soaking and relaxing after a hard day of It’s A Small World After All, you can have a little friendly competition in the game rooms that are located in the garage of most of the homes! Or gather around the spacious kitchen and living room area and talk about the day and the fun you’ll have the next day without bothering anyone in the house who might be sleeping.

But the best part of staying at a Global Resort Home instead of a cramped hotel room is that when you get ‘home’ from a long day, it really feels like you are home. There is a fully functional kitchen, a full sized washer and dryer {so pack less because you can wash you clothes… saves on baggage fees!}, coffee makers, comfortable couches, two eating areas, pass through kitchens and so – SO – much more!

Relax in the Hot Tub Like Some of the Bloggers Did

And it all costs about the same as a hotel room! Yes – about the SAME, if not LESS, than a hotel room!

Other perks come from the 24 hour concierge where you can rent – for super cheap – things like cribs, car seats, scooters, gas grills and more for the entire stay and save BIG on baggage fees and your back by not having to lug around heavy items! Get groceries delivered, have a private chef prepare your meals, get an in home massage! Book tickets to attractions, special events – Hot Air Balloon Ride anyone? – and even rent a car or call a shuttle. All you have to do is ask! They even have a Mobile Concierge that can give you directions to theme parks, dining and shopping tips and so much more!

The Room I Was in Sort Of Fits My Personality, Doesn't It?

I urge you to take some time when planning your Orlando vacation to check out Global Resort Homes first. They have properties with everything from condominiums to town homes to large, premium homes. Take it from someone who has done both the hotel and the home. This is the best way to relax at the end of a hard day of taking a vacation!

Filed Under: Disney, My Motherhood Blog, My Travels, Promo Writings, Promo Writings

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