See Much More with VSP Vision Care: The Story of Connor’s Glasses

This blog post is sponsored by VSP® Vision Care, the nation’s only not-for-profit vision care company. Talk to your employer about getting started with VSP this open enrollment season.

So, Connor is officially a second grader!  How is it that I just had this baby and now he’s already knee-deep in grade school?   I got him a backpack this year that has dogs with glasses on them.  He loves dogs and he loves his glasses, so it worked out great!  Speaking of glasses, that’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about today.  Let’s chat about the importance of vision care and you can also check out www.seemuchmore.com to see if VSP® Vision Care is right for you.

Last year Connor had an eye exam right before Christmas break and his results showed that he for sure needed glasses.  Terence and I both wear glasses and contacts so I knew it was only a matter of time.  We took him to pick out a new pair of glasses and made it a fun experience for him.  He was actually super excited to get glasses and wanted them really bad!  Ha ha!

I think I knew all along he needed them because he was struggling in school.  One in four children in the U.S. has undetected vision problems which could impair learning, according to the American Optometric Association.  Connor kept telling us he was having problems seeing things and he actually passed his first in-school eye exam.  It was after a second eye exam at school that we decided to take him back to the Doctor and get more information and another more comprehensive eye exam.

Get your child excited about wearing glasses!!!  Say things like:

  • “Those glasses look so good on you!”
  • “You look SO SMART in those new glasses”
  • “Are you excited to show your friends your new look?”

Connor in his new glasses 🙂

As soon as we walked out of the eye doctor’s office he turned to me and said “Mom I can see EVERYTHING now!”

That melted my heart that he was basically living in a blur.  I had absolutely no idea.  I didn’t get glasses until I was much older and honestly thought he was too young to need glasses at 6-years-old.  Of course as a parent you will do whatever it takes to help your child. I felt relief and contentment knowing my child could see better.  Did you know a routine eye exam can help detect signs of serious health conditions, like diabetes, a brain tumor and high cholesterol?

Now glasses come in so many options.  I like wearing them myself just to change-up my every day style.  Connor chose a pair of camo printed glasses and he loves to show them to his friends.  It has also taught him responsibility and how to care for a valuable item that he wears every day.  So far he has done a great job at keeping them on his face and putting them in his case at night.

Something our eye Doctor said to him was:

“Remember, if your glasses are not on your face then they should be in your case!”

We repeated that over and over and he caught on really quick!

Select eyeglasses that contrast from your facial contours and bring symmetry and balance to your prominent features.  I love trying on different shapes and styles.  It’s one of the easiest ways to change your look and have fun too!

So, now that we’re full-swing into the school year remember that we are heading into open enrollment season so don’t forget to sign up for vision care benefits. Reminder: while most open enrollment periods are in October and November, if you experience a life change like marriage or childbirth then you may be eligible to change your benefit selections and add dependents, meaning if vision benefits are offered – you could sign up.

Check out more info at seemuchmore.com!

Back to School Snacks with #LoveLittleBites & ENTER TO WIN!!!

Entenmann’s® Little Bites® provided me with coupons & a gift card so I could share my thoughts about Entenmann’s® Little Bites®.  All opinions are my own.

It’s back to school season!  That means school, and sports, and after school activities….which also means HUNGRY CHILDREN!   I’ve written about one of our favorite snacks before, Entenmann’s® Little Bites®.

Entenmann’s® Little Bites® are so good, they are just for the kiddos.  They are soft baked mini-muffins and come in convenient pre-portioned pouches that make for the perfect lunchbox staple or easy after school snack.

Offering the great taste kids love and providing the good choice parents want, Entenmann’s Little Bites:

  • Contain no high fructose corn syrup
  • Use real ingredients like blueberries, bananas, strawberries and chocolate chips
  • Are certified Kosher
  • Most varieties are less than 200 calories per pouch
  • Contain zero grams of trans fat per serving

Entenmann’s Little Bites® offer more than 10 varieties of snacks that are perfect for a busy family:

And for a limited time they have a new Pumpkin flavor for fall!  Yippeeeeeeee!!!

These are a big hit in our household and it seems like we are buying them for snack time every time we are at the grocery store.

This guy’s favorite are the Chocolate Party Cakes with confetti.

They are the perfect school snack and so easy to pack in the mornings 🙂

As part of its continued partnership with TerraCycle, an international recycling company that turns waste into plastic that can be used for other products, Entenmann’s® Little Bites® will run a contest that encourages participants to send in their pouches in celebration of the back to school season.  Contest will run from August 15 – October 31

There are two ways to participate:

  1. Collection contest to send in the most Entenmann’s® Little Bites® pouches
  2. Schools can design and build a creative collection receptacle for the Entenmann’s® Little Bites® pouches
Entenmann’s® & TerraCycle will provide tiered prizing for winners

The Entenmann’s Little Bites ® Pouch Recycling Program is open to any individual, school or organization interested in reducing local landfill waste. To learn more about the Entenmann’s® Little Bites ® Pouch Recycling Program, please visit: HERE

Entenmann’s® Little Bites® on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, & Pinterest.

ENTER TO WIN BELOW!

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Home Security with CUJO Smart Firewall

I have been compensated in the form of a free product in exchange for this review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When you work online… and basically EVERYTHING now days is online, security is of utmost importance.  I recently found a device called the CUJO Smart Firewall and not only is it super smart, but it’s super cute too!  So, let’s chat about this little gadget!

I have my own little Wall-E protecting my personal information 24/7 – 365 days a year.

The CUJO Smart Firewall is available at Best Buy stores and BestBuy.com.  CUJO is a smart firewall designed to bring business-level security to your home network.  This one tiny device will secure all other devices connected to your WiFi router.  This includes your computer, iPads, Kindle, cell phones, etc.  CUJO will block malicious sites, viruses, and hackers and also send you a message letting you know when security has been breached & tell you exactly what CUJO blocked.

 

CUJO also lets you control what your kids access online and keep them safe.  That’s super important right now because as Connor get’s older the more he is using technology & I want to protect him the best I can.

Now, let’s talk about how easy it is to install this little guy!

You will start by connecting the CUJO to your network.  Download and install the CUJO App on your smart phone (available for iPhone & Android).  Then you will continue the installation process on the App.  The App basically walks you through the entire process.

Also, customer service called us during the installation process to make sure everything was going okay and offer any support we might need.  That was really nice by the way 🙂

Here are some of the main things you need to know about CUJO:

  • BUSINESS-LEVEL INTERNET SECURITY  
  • GUARDS ALL DEVICES
  • PARENTAL CONTROLS
  • CONNECT TO ROUTER, CONTROL WITH APP
  • BLAZING FAST (built with 1GB Ethernet)

Parental controls features:

  • parental controls for all devices
  • internet filter
  • time limits
  •  social media monitoring
  • pause internet
  • alerts and reporting
  •  remote administration
  • user profiles and settings

I can now say I feel like my home has a nice moat of security surrounding it.  If you are looking for the latest security for your home and business check out the CUJO– it’s definitely a smart choice.

 

Put Some YUM in Your Summer FUN With Yoplait Mix-Ins

This post is sponsored by Acorn Influence, all opinions are my own.

This summer has been CRAZY busy y’all!  Terence and I have been working non-stop and Connor is having fun at camp with his friends.  As much as I really didn’t want a pool when we bought this house, I’m finding that I actually love it!  When you live in Texas (which is basically next to the equator…a pool is a great thing to have!)

I get in these “modes” if you will where I’ll clean constantly, edit pictures for hours, or even work through lunch or dinner.  I know that’s not a good thing, I need to take care of myself too.  So, a lot of times I’ll bring a snack to work or eat something before dinner to tide me over.  

Okay, so I have to share one of my favorite snacks…they are Yoplait Mix-Ins.  They come in a bunch of different flavors too…so you’ll never get bored!

Yoplait Mix-Ins FLAVORS at Walmart:

  • Very Berry Crisp
  • Salted Caramel Pretzel
  • Mint Chocolate Delight
  • Key Lime Crunch
  • Coconut Chocolate Almond
  • Cherry Chocolate Almond

I’ve tried four flavors so far and they are ALL so good!  Yoplait Mix-In’s are the only mix-in product that are original yogurt, and not Greek.  These snacks are the perfect solution if you are an on the go Mom like me.  

I have to say my favorite was the Coconut Chocolate flavor because I am a “chocoholic”.

Honestly, now yogurt seems pretty boring without something in it!  I love knowing that when I’m in a jam I don’t reach for a candy bar, instead I have a delicious healthy option with Yoplait Mix-In’s.

I’m not the only one who loves Yoplait Mix-In’s…Connor thinks they are pretty awesome too.  

The mix between the creamy and crunchy makes it a decadent indulgence. I found Yoplait Mix-In’s at my local Walmart.  I have a feeling these will be making a lot of school lunch appearances this year.  Don’t forget to put some YUM in your summer FUN too with Yoplait Mix-In’s!

Girls Night Out & Life Hacks with Tai Pei

This post was sponsored by Tai Pei and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Last week I had the best time gathering with a bunch of blogger friends in Dallas for a night of crafting, food, and fun!  The event was sponsored by Tai Pei asian foods.   Not only did we get to sample some of these fabulous entrees, but we learned some seriously cool life hacks.  

As a photographer I know my DSLR camera pretty well, what I don’t know are the nitty gritty basics I learned making a pinhole camera.  Our hostess with the mostess was Rachel Rushing.  Rachel showed us some pretty cool life hacks using our Tai Pei containers.

To make our pinhole cameras we each got a container and covered it with thick black tape so it’s totally light-proof. Then we cut a square on one side of the container and placed a piece of tin can behind the cutout in the box.   After poking a tiny hole in the tin piece we were ready to go outside and develop our photos with special paper, which we later developed.  The whole process was very interesting and now I know how to make a picture without an actual camera!  How cool is that?

We sampled several Tai Pei entrees, and  honestly I didn’t know what to expect because it’s a frozen dinner after all.  I was extremely impressed with the taste and the quality of the food.  Tai Pei frozen entrees come in several different flavors:

  • Beef & Broccoli
  • Chicken Chow Mein
  • Chicken Fried Rice
  • Combination Fried Rice
  • General Tso’s Spicy Chicken
  • Orange Chicken
  • Pepper Beef
  • Shrimp Fried Rice
  • Sweet & Sour Chicken
  • Teriyaki Chicken

Let’s not forget about the dumplings either!

My favorite dish was the Chicken Chow Mein.

Not only did Rachel show us how to make a pinhole camera, she had several other projects that she showed us how to do as well.  Like a pinata fringed candle holder,  fire starter container (with dried kindling in it), and a concrete planter and vase.  We had an amazing time and now I know how to do some pretty cool things recycling everyday items- such as a Tai Pei container.

Concrete vase

Fringed pinata candle holder- please use a flame-less candle.

Tai Pei entrees are definitely something I will be serving our family in the future.  Not only did they taste great, but the ingredients were wholesome and filling.  I’m a super busy Mom and Wife and I’m always on the go and looking for an easy and fast meal, this definitely fits into our lifestyle.

Use the store locator to find where Tai Pei single serve is available near you (in the frozen food section).

GET YOUR TAI PEI COUPON HERE!!!

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Summer Travel Prep + Enter to WIN! #SummerTravel #SickJustGotReal

This post has been sponsored by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. All thoughts and reviews are my own.

Connor and I just got back from a fun road trip to Arkansas!  We celebrated my Grandma’s 80th birthday.  We had the best time and got to see a lot of relatives we haven’t seen in ages.  I make the drive to Arkansas about 3-4 times a year and the only way I get through it is a book on tape (or whatever they are on now) and an iPad for Connor.

I remember the days of traveling when he was a baby.  One time Terence and I were headed home and Connor started getting sick all over the car.  We pulled into a gas station and Terence was just throwing paper towels at me saying “Get it I can’t look at it!”  Ha ha!  Oh yes…we’ve all been there a time or two.  I get crazy allergies when I go home too and I’m not sure why.  The last couple of times I’ve had to visit an emergency clinic.   All of this to say… PREPARE YOURSELVES PEOPLE!

I take our medicines and vitamins with us when we travel and it’s been a lifesaver at times.  I carry Children’s Advil®, Children’s Robitussin® and Children’s Dimetapp® for Connor.  I just pop them in a waterproof bag or you could use a plastic bag, and put them in my purse.

Now I don’t have to run around like a chicken with my head cut off looking for a pharmacy when sickness strikes us!  If there’s one thing I know from traveling is you cannot be too prepared.

WHEN SICK GETS REAL:

  • Ease those aches and pains, while reducing a child’s fever fast with Children’s Advil®*, a great solution for kids as young as 2 and up to 11. Children’s Advil® comes in several great-tasting flavors, including: Sugar-free Dye-free Berry, Bubble Gum, Grape, Blue Raspberry, Fruit and Dye-Free White Grape flavors. There’s also Infants’ Advil® White Grape, which provides unsurpassed fever relief (among OTC pain relievers) with a syringe for easy dosing for children 6-23 months.
  • For your child’s cough, trust Children’s Robitussin® Extended-Release 12 Hour Cough Relief to control and relieve symptoms all-day or all- night. Available in grape or orange flavor, for children ages 4 and up. Please note, certain Children’s Robitussin® products are only suitable for children ages 6 and up.
  • Children’s Dimetapp® Multi-Symptom Cold Relief Dye-Free eases your child’s stuffy and runny nose, while quieting a bothersome cough. All in a great-tasting grape flavor that’s dye-free, for children ages 6 and up.

ENTER TO WIN A $25 VIRTUAL VISA GIFT CARD & A SICK JUST GOT REAL MEDICINE GIFT.

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Summer Fun with Fruit Shoot

It’s summer and Connor’s been in full speed camp mode.  He went to a great camp a couple of weeks ago on lake Grapevine and it was so much fun.  Also, can I just say how HUNGRY this kiddo is all the time?  He is constantly wanting snacks and drinks…but I guess if I had the energy level of a 7-year-old I would too!  One of our favorite snacks are Fruit Shoot® juice drinks.

Fruit Shoot’s resealable cap allows children more independence and is user friendly. The bottle is durable & won’t puncture easily like some pouch drinks we’ve tried before.  The best part is you can put the cap back on the bottle and drink later, you don’t have to sit there and drink it all in one sitting!

No matter what he’s doing he’s alway going to want a drink afterwards & we love Fruit Shoot drinks because they are so easy to pack+go.  Fruit Shoot comes in several different flavors: Fruit Punch, Berry Burst, Strawberry & Raspberry, and Orange.

I know it gets so hot here in Texas you can fry an egg outside and it’s so important to keep hydrated.  We found Fruit Shoot at our local Albertson’s grocery store.  They are also available at Walmart.

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