Children and Migraines #cbias

I have migraines.  I have had them for a long time.  I do not even remember when they started.  Frankly I was never diagnosed, I always remember getting headaches that would put me in the bed sick.  Then my oldest daughter started getting them around the age of nine.  I researched and realized that it may in fact be migraines for both myself and her.  Her diagnosis from the doctor was in fact migraines.  She learned to control them just as I had.  We both have mild cases compared with some other people.  

Fast forward a few years.  My five year old son started getting migraine symptoms.  Five?  Is that even possible?  The doctor assured me that it was in fact possible.  We went through tons of testing.  Indeed he does have problems with migraines and extreme sinus headaches.  Certain times of the year are worse for us.  A lot of his issues are brought on by allergies this time of year.  One medication that has worked for us for little over a year is Children's Advil.  As you can see from the above, he is a fan!  :)

We have always went with the Children's Advil liquid.  On a recent trip to Kroger, I decided to look at all of the options for my son's medicine.  He is seven years old now and wants to be treated like a "big" boy.  Do you all get that from your kids?  They want to be just like adults.  But frankly, even if he could take regular strength medicine, he would never be able to swallow a pill.

I just had to look down one row in the children's medicine section.  The answer was there.  Plus from the name I know and trust.  Chewable tablets!  This one should please him by letting him be a "big" boy and me by alleviating his symptoms with the same brand we have been using for over a year now.

I am about to tell y'all something you don't even know about me.  I love coupons.  Love them.  This package also had a $2 coupon attached that you just peel off.  How is that for a shopping bonus?

I completed the rest of my shopping and headed home with my find from the medicine aisle.  Plus a few extra finds from the bakery department.  Want to see the details on my entire shopping trip?  Check out this google plus album for lots of pictures.

One house, five people, lots of medicine for different symptoms.  Do y'all suffer from this as well?  I find it easy to keep our medicine in a basket on top of a tall shelf.  Everyone knows where it is.  There are no calls from my husband at random times asking what he should give our son for a headache.  The Children's Advil is always in the basket within an (adult) arm's reach.

Children's Advil also works on any fever symptoms that my son may have.  A dual purpose to shrink our ever overflowing medicine basket.

My son has not had a headache yet so no feedback on the "chewables".  When I showed them to him though, they were a hit.  We will call them the "big boy" medicine for now.... 

Happy smiles for now....and there is that lost tooth for anyone that follows me over on facebook.  That is one of our latest "big boy" events.  Our first lost tooth!

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias All opinions and photographs are my own. 
~Thanks for stopping by!~
~Angie~

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Dressing for Summer plus a GIVEAWAY

A time out for a minute from Teacher Appreciation Week.  I love to help out mom businesses with my blog and have been asked to help promote a product that was invented by a mom for moms.  Gotta love that right?  So let's talk a little about dressing for summer.  We all love those new cute tank tops.  But let's face it...the bra strap hanging out is not a good look for us moms.  Strap Tamers to the rescue....

Strap Tamers® consist of a clip (to hold the bra strap) and pin which is fastened to the inside shoulder seam of a garment.  The best part for me....they can be left in the garment and washed!  When you go to wear that same shirt again, they will be there ready for use.  Now that to me was amazing.  Using the product was a breeze and I was very pleased with how they worked.  Once I read that I did not have to take them out every time....I was sold.  I love these for not only tank tops but also keeping my straps hidden on certain shirts that like to move around on me.  Frankly, though I should have let my teen write this review.  She is the tank top wearer of the family and I think I am going to have to get another pack of these ASAP.  A seriously great product that actually works as advertised. 

 So would you like to win this product plus many more?  Mompact is hosting a giveaway.  Enter using the rafflecopter below.  They will provide rules and a winner.

I was sent product for free in conjunction with this review/giveaway.  All opinions are my own.

~Thanks for stopping by!~

~Angie~

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Heart of Haiti -- give gifts with meaning

When I went to Blissdom in February, I had a great opportunity to meet with some ladies about the Heart of Haiti program.  Heart of Haiti is a “trade, not aid” program providing sustainable income to Haitian artisans struggling to rebuild their lives and support their families after the 2010 earthquake.  The best part is these products are available at Macy's (one of my favorite stores anyway).   

I try to use this blog to help to give back by sharing inspiring projects I find along the way.  At Blissdom, I was able to see some of the Heart of Haiti products and they were amazing.  Wonderful high quality hand made artisan products.  Plus this is a purchase you can feel good about.  Helping Haiti artisans and their families with each purchase you make.  Each item is a one-of-a-kind design and handmade by a Haitian master artisan from raw materials such as recycled oil drums, wrought iron, papier-mâché and stone. The collection features more than 40 home decor items including quilts, metalwork, ceramics, jewelry and paintings and is made almost entirely from recycled and sustainable items such as old cement bags, cardboard, oil drums and local gommier wood.  Items range from $25 - $60 so they will not break the bank.    

As I raise my children, I try to teach them about ways to give back.  Ways to help out those less fortunate than we are.  This is a really easy way to accomplish those goals and give a life lesson to your children.  Send them a list of items from Heart of Haiti that you would love to get for Mother's Day.  You will get a great piece of home decor or jewelry and they can watch a portion of their purchase go to helping the world.  All of this while still shopping at a familiar store -- Macy's.   

A little information on Haiti -- Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and despite the devastating earthquake; people there are filled with hope and a desire to improve their lives through employment. Options are very limited in this country.  The Heart of Haiti initiative is one that espouses “Trade, Not Aid,” providing Haitian artisans with an opportunity to make a living, feed their families and pay their children’s school fees (school in Haiti is not free).

For more information on Heart of Haiti, follow @HeartofHaiti on Twitter or like the Heart of Haiti Facebook page at http://facebook.com/HeartofHaiti. You can also check out video of Everywhere’s Travels to the Heart of Haiti at http://bit.ly/hohtrip.

I was given product in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own. 
~Thanks for stopping by!~
~Angie~

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Children's Canvas Art -- Rainy Day Crafts with @tcbygrocery @elmers #CBias #SocialFabric #TCBYGrocery

What do you do on rainy days? Have trouble keeping the kids entertained? Try some arts and crafts! These canvas art pieces are perfect for a rainy day because they can literally spend as much time as they want on them. Enjoy some rainy day activities with your kids so the next rainy day won't seem so boring. These are not hard at all and can be done a variety of ways. I will show you how we made these pieces. I hope you will grab some canvases and make some children's canvas art with your kids the next time you are feeling crafty!

If you want to see my entire shopping trip start to finish I have made a google album taking your step by step through the store.  Head on over and watch me shop.  Beware there was some drool worthy pictures of tcby frozen yogurt and frozen novelties.  More on that in a bit...

Let's start with a crafty project.  I read about a batik technique involving Elmers school glue gel.  For this technique you will need a canvas and the glue.  

Draw on your pattern with glue.  Allow the glue to dry.  For a rainy day kid's activity, the blow dryer is your best friend...

Paint right over the top.  The glue acts as a mask.  Any area under the glue will be left white.

Then literally drop your dried painted canvas into water for about 5 minutes.

Dry with paper towels.  The first thing that will happen is that the paint will lift right off of the glue.

Continue to work with dry paper towels until the glue lifts from the surface.  Work your way around the entire canvas.

Now it is time for some smiling face crafting...cause this is what it is all about right?

The glue technique is great for little kids that have a hard time painting.  It will keep them in the "lines" and then you can remove the lines.

Another great technique to use for the little ones -- Elmers paint markers.  They make painting just like drawing a picture.  For the little guy who has a hard time handling a paint brush -- these are heaven sent.  

We used a mixture of paint markers and brushes for the final product.

The preteen even got her crafting on.  Course we did not have to use as many "little hand" techniques.  She could go wild with paint and come out with some art.

The best thing about these pictures, they can spend all day tweaking them.  And the little man most certainly did.

Here is the finished version of the chevron print that we used the batik technique on.  It turned out great!  Such pretty spring colors!

Need a break from all this crafting?  We sure did!  A break to enjoy some cookies and cream from TCBY Grocery!

That even brings a smile to a preteens face!

A leisurely break enjoying our frozen yogurt then back to work...

This is the official finished product...I think...he might have even tweaked it again.  That is another good thing about using paint marker...as long as he remembers to put the lid back on they will not dry out and are readily available.

The perfect pieces to hang in their room or in any room in your home -- show off your child's artwork with pride when they are on a stretched canvas.  Have you done any rainy day activities with your children lately?  I would love to see them if you would leave me a link.

Jealous of our little frozen yogurt break?  TCBY frozen yogurt and novelties are available at a Walmart near you.  Visit TCBY Grocery on Facebook or on Twitter.

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 opinions and projects are my own.

~Thanks for stopping by!~

~Angie~

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Bleeding Hashbrains with @countrycrock @clevergirls #veggieworld #spon

This post is sponsored by Country Crock. I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Bleeding Hashbrains?  You don't know what those are?  Well they are a fun way for you to serve potatoes to your kids!  I love fun, creative food ideas.  Especially ones that allow me to "craft" with my food.  You know make it look fun and in this case a little gross for the little man in my life.....

Do you all find it difficult to get your kids to eat their vegetables?  Yep me too.  But when you can make it fun and they can be zombies eating hashbrains....well then it is a whole other story!  Plus veggies with Country Crock added to them taste so good they are sure to gobble them up...  

I got the recipe for Hashbrains from The Clare Crespo Cookbook.  It is full of fun recipes your family will love.  Zucchini boats anyone?  The Hashbrains are a fairly simple recipe.  They are made with real potatoes that you grate yourself.  A few more simple ingredients then you shape them and bake them in the oven.  Easy enough for a weeknight but cute enough for a kid's dinner party. 

Get easy step-by-step instructions for the Hashbrains plus many more veggies made with Country Crock that are not only fun to eat but fun to look at as well.  Everything from pretty flowers to brains.  Now that is variety in a cookbook.  The best part is the cookbook is a FREE DOWNLOAD!  You read that right.  Gorgeous full color pictures of amazing veggie recipes that your kid's will eat up.  The original recipe is for just the Hashbrains by the way...I added the ketchup blood myself!  If you have boys, you understand....

Display veggies proudly on your dinner plate.  With Country Crock, there is now no need to hide them.  They become the center of attention for your kids!  Want to know a fun fact?  8 out of 10 kids think veggies with Country Crock are delicious.  Now those are pretty good odds. 

 

Be sure to like Country Crock on Facebook for even more veggie ideas, tips, and tricks.  Follow them on Twitter as well.  Let me know if you make bleeding brains for your kids.  

Are you looking for quick and simple tips and recipes to make serving veggies more fun? Download the free Clare Crespo Cookbook here for fun and whimsical recipes your family is sure to love! 

~Thanks for stopping by!~

~Angie~

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Bathroom Spring Cleaning #eastersmiles #cbias

I have been all about spring cleaning this year.  Some years I skip it all together, sometimes I do it halfway, but this year...it has been on!  I have already shared some of my triumphs with y'all.  After Easter, I decided to tackle another project.  The bathroom is my latest victim.  How about some before and after magic?  Okay it was not magic WHILE I was doing it but it is magic now.

Let's start from the beginning of the process.  The clean out.  I threw away a variety of expired, old, and just plain icky stuff....

I then measured my cabinet.  I had a rough idea of how I wanted the finished product to look.  But without taking these measurements to the store, I was sure to buy something that was too large.

I then made a rough list.  Yes rough.  I know I needed to organize but I had no idea how I was going to get there.  A rough plan is fine at this stage.  Once we start shopping we will see it all come together.  You will notice I jotted down a few bathroom items I needed as well.  My son loves his Spongebob Squarepants and I noticed we needed some supplies while cleaning out.  Colgate makes a line of Nickelodeon themed kid's oral care products including our beloved Spongebob and Dora the Explorer. 

Off to Walmart I went to stalk the aisles.  This is where that rough plan comes in.  I stalked various organizational items until I found what would work in my space.  Yes I hit up the bathroom organizing area....

But there was nothing there that I felt would work.  I ended up with what is actually a product for organizing your KITCHEN cabinets....

Guess what?  It worked great in my bathroom!  Want the full low down of my shopping trip hits and misses?  I made an album on google plus all about it....head on over to see all of the areas in Walmart I stalked.  While I was at Walmart, I found a huge display with the kids' beloved Colgate products on it.....

So yes two toothbrushes and two toothpastes came home with me....to a happy face....

But enough happy faces, back to spring cleaning.  I started by trying my finds in the cabinet.

Seriously a perfect fit.  I could not have custom built something this good!  I was getting excited.

The wash cloths and hand towels all fit under my shelves perfectly.  Then I stacked my towels on top...

This is amazing.  Why did I not do this before??  No more mixed wash cloths and towels.  No more digging through a huge pile.  I am in love already!

A couple more organized and cleaned shelves.  Don't you just love the feeling after spring cleaning is complete?

I will leave you with a picture of my full cabinet after my spring cleaning fun...

Many thanks to Colgate for sponsoring my post and spring cleaning activities.  Be sure to follow Colgate on twitter and like Colgate on facebook.

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias All opinions and projects are my own.

~Thanks for stopping by!~

~Angie~

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