Staying Well in the Season of Sickness #SickJustGotReal

January 12, 2017

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

Nothing is worse than when you have a sick child. Am I right? Especially when that child has the dreaded “stomach bug“. I can just about handle anything but throw up! Right before we went on Christmas vacation Connor had a bad stomach bug and he woke Terence and I up in the middle of the night screaming. He tried to make it to the bathroom, but unfortunately didn’t get there in time…and wouldn’t you know it the ONE TIME that the toilet lid isn’t up is when he threw up all over it! Boys….seriously???

We try to get through it the best we can as parents. I’m so thankful for modern-day medicine and that we can give our children the best treatment possible. Pfizer pediatric products are my go to when we have a sick kiddo in the house. They are my tried and true remedies for colds and fevers.

The pediatric brands of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare are there with three solutions – Children’s Advil®, Children’s Robitussin® and Children’s Dimetapp® – to tackle the ickiest of symptoms.

Flavor is everything too to Connor. If it doesn’t taste good, he isn’t swallowing it. My child has the worst gag reflex and will spit up just about everything.

FEVER: 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. Connor actually enjoys taking the medicine because it tastes so good! Ha ha!

Other great products:

COUGH: 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.

COLD & COUGH: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.

*It is important to remember to always read and keep the cartons for complete warnings and dosing information on Pfizer Pediatric products and to use as directed.

If you have a friend who has a sick child send over a care package. I found this cute little Valentine’s mailbox at Target for $3. Pack it with your favorite cold remedies, some tissues, and a stuffed animal 🙂 Also, make sure you wash your hands frequently. Connor puts his hands on everything and rolls around the floor…I have no idea why, but kids are kids and they do some nasty stuff! I know as a Mom when your child is sick at times you feel helpless, especially when EVERYONE in the house gets sick too. A care package is a great way to show someone you care about them.

Check out the Sick just got real.™ website & Facebook page for some great tips on how to stay well this season.

The Gift of JOY: With Hasbro Joy For All

December 16, 2016

This post was sponsored by Hasbro’s Joy For All brand as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. All opinions expressed in my post are my own.

This is truly my favorite time of year. I remember as a little girl waiting anxiously Christmas Eve night for the next morning to come. I would eventually nod off from the excitement & thrill of the day. As I’ve grown older it’s less about the presents and more about being with family & watching the joy in my own child’s eyes.

I want to tell you about a special person in our lives, Terence’s Grandma. She’s the sweetest person. I’ve had the joy of knowing her over the past 15 years and now that she’s in an assisted living home, it’s our turn to take care of her. You see, it doesn’t have to be something big to make someone’s day. Just a hug, phone call, or a visit makes all the difference. The truth is that we can’t be there all the time and unfortunately a lot of people are left alone when they get older without any family or visitors at all….this breaks my heart.

Hasbro has come out with a great new “toy” for seniors called Joy For All. I let Connor babysit the cat (we named her Chloe) & the dog (we named him Max) until he could give them to his Great-Grandma. He absolutely LOVED them! They are so realistic it’s CRAZY! Hasbro has always been a great toy brand, and now they are striving to bring happiness to our beloved Grandmas and grandpa’s.

We went to visit Great-Grandma last weekend and brought her Chloe and Max. She just adored them. I can tell they are going to be well-loved at their new home.

HASBRO’S JOY FOR ALL™ Companion Pets have a unique two-way interaction that can help bring fun, joy, and companionship to our aging loved ones. Joy For All Companion Pets can be powered off, on, and can also be muted at night. They respond to built in sensors from motion and touch. Batteries are also included so you can give it to your loved one right away!

The Joy for All Pup was Connor’s favorite because he is really wanting a dog this Christmas. The Pup barks and turns his head when you talk to him. He opens and closes his eyes. Also, when you place your hand on his back you can feel a calming heartbeat. It’s the most realistic dog…without the maintenance I have ever seen!

The Joy for All Cat is so adorable. It’s fluffy fur is so soft and cuddly. The cat purrs and meows. It will even open and close its eyes too 🙂

We are so thankful for our new furry friends. Grandma’s nursing home is going to use them for all the residents as a therapy tool. I’m sure they will all love Max and Chloe just as much as we did.

Head to JoyForAll.com to purchase your very own JOY FOR ALL COMPANION PET today and use JOY2016 for 10% off your purchase!

Here is a sweet video of Great-Grandma and Chloe. You can see how much she really loved her. Instead of giving Grandma a robe or a pair of slippers this year….give her the gift of companionship. Hasbro’s Joy For All is truly the best gift ever if you have someone living in a home.

Follow Joy For All on Instagram & Twitter for the latest!

Here is Grandma a week later…her nurse sent us a wonderful picture of her visiting
with the Joy for All Pup. Seems like she is enjoying it so very much!

Learn Your Camera with the Best Buy Camera Experience-Christmas Photo Edition

November 10, 2016

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are completely my own based on my experience.

‘Tis the season for your annual Christmas card photo. I know because this is my busiest time of year as a photographer and my weekends are FILLED with photo shoots right now. You all know how much I love photos. They are my memories and I love to look back on them fondly from time to time.

For all of those who ask, I own this camera body and love it: Nikon D750 FX-format Digital SLR Camera Body

One of my very favorite Christmas shoots this year: Hot Cocoa Booth Pictures

This time of year I also find myself racing to the mailbox to see if we recieved any Christmas cards from friends and family. I enjoy seeing the beautiful family photos and how kids have grown. One of the most common questions I get as a photographer is “How do I use my DSLR camera?” or “How do I shoot in manual mode?” Last weekend I had the opportunity to visit Best Buy and check out their new Best Buy Camera Experience Shop. This is a great class if you are learning how to use your camera- it doesn’t matter if you shoot Nikon, Canon, Sony, or whatever…all your questions will be answered. And the best part is the class is TOTALLY FREE PEOPLE!!!

Best Buy offers the Best Buy Camera Experience Shop on the first Saturday of every month. There are three in the Dallas area. Find your classes HERE.

I have been using a DSLR camera for around 6-7 years now, but I will tell you this…I’m constantly learning something NEW! So I was excited to attend this class with a couple of my friends and talk about one of my favorite subjects- PHOTOGRAPHY!

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Our instructor, Kenneth, did a great job and really engaged with each person. After the class the employees were very helpful at answering all our questions.

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You will be given a workbook so you can follow along with your instructor. This is great so you can take it home and refer to it while shooting later on.

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After the instructor finishes talking about the material you will break up into small groups, depending on what kind of camera you have. There you will get to ask questions to your heart’s content. It was fun to discuss photos and ideas, no matter what level photographer you are.

Best Buy also offers a wide variety of cameras and accessories. I’m constantly losing my lens caps…ha!

From filters, batteries, lens caps, tripods, cleaning kits, and all your camera needs…Best Buy’s got you covered.

I’m super excited for those Christmas cards to start rolling in 🙂 You’ll never regret taking too many photos. That’s my philosophy anyway. If you have a DSLR that’s been sitting on the shelf, dust that sucker off and get to Best Buy so you can start making those amazing memories!

Dinner’s Ready with Reynold’s Heat & Heat

October 14, 2016

This post is sponsored by Reynolds™ but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

When I get home from a long day the LAST thing on my mind is “what’s for dinner?” I’ve told y’all before I’m not the best cook. I have a handful of go-to meals up my sleeve for the weeknights, but I would really like to start cooking more at home to save money.

I recently tried these new containers by Reynolds Disposable Heat & Eat. These can be found at your local Walmart and are priced very reasonably.

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These Reynolds Disposable Heat & Eat containers are a great alternative to plastic and are made with natural plant fibers. These are good for reheating dinners at home or work in the microwave too!

We had tacos for dinner last night. I put our meat and beans in the Reynolds Disposable Heat & Eat containers and I had a taco salad for lunch today!

No more melting plastic in my microwave!

Like my Mom always said “Waist not, want not”. Next time you’re at Walmart check out the Reynolds Disposable Heat & Eat in the food container isle.

GET YOUR $1.00 OFF COUPON HERE!

Ready for Fall with ChapStick® + Enter to WIN!

September 29, 2016

The ChapStick® product, information and gift have been provided by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare.

Well, as you all know we just moved into our new HOME! Praise the Lord!

Our bodies are a bit tired and we are a little achy, but are super excited for this chapter in our lives and the memories to be made in our new house. We are still unpacking and getting things in order. I can’t wait to share all the things we’ve been doing to update the house. I think it’s a lot of fun! There are definitely great things about owning a new house like our last home, but the character in an older home, the mature trees in the yard, and little “fixes” make for a fun adventure!

Yesterday I had all the windows open and it was a cool 68 degrees…it finally feels like FALL! Woohoo! My favorite season 🙂

I’m super excited to bust out those boots and scarves that have been sitting in storage. I always get SUPER dry lips in the fall/winter months too. It’s something that happens to me every single year.

This year I’m fully stocked with ChapStick®, America’s favorite lip balm, and I’m ready for the cold fronts baby! I keep one in my purse, in Connor’s backpack, and in my car. I’m always prepared and ready for the chill.

ChapStick® is available in so many varieties and flavors. I just saw “Pumpkin Pie” flavor at the store the other day! You can also purchase at Chapstick®’s new online store! Healthy & happy lips are only a click away! (Please note: there is a minimum quantity requirement of 3 items in order to proceed with checkout.)

My personal favorite is a Classic Cherry. Yum…Yum…

Be ready for fall with ChapStick® – no matter what gets thrown your way!

ENTER TO WIN A CHAPSTICK LUNCHBOX FILLED WITH ChapStick® GOODIES!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Recipients must be 18 years or older and reside in U.S.

Follow ChapStick® on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Fall into a Good Routine with ProNamel® for Kids

September 13, 2016

The ProNamel® brand has compensated me in connection with statements made in this post.

It’s time for back to school and making sure your kiddos are in tip-top shape this year! Bring on the back to school shopping, the school supplies, and yearly physicals. I’ve talked with you all before how important taking care of your child’s teeth is. In my opinion it’s just as important as a well check-up. A healthy mouth can help your child’s overall immune system and prevent infections in the future.

I was at Connor’s class visiting one day and I was astonished as I sat there and saw so many kids with fingers in their MOUTHS! Ugh…

I know we can’t be there to remind them 24/7 not to stick their hands in their mouth & tell them how nasty it is, but we can instill good dental hygiene to help prevent germs and bacteria from growing.

ProNamel® 6-12 Years Toothpaste for Kids is the toothpaste we use and it works great to keep Connor’s teeth healthy! Tooth enamel is precious and needs to be protected, starting at an early age. Acid Erosion compromises the strength of enamel. This is where ProNamel® 6-12 Years Toothpaste for Kids comes in. ProNamel® for Kids actively strengthens enamel and protects against everyday acids and cavities. I work for a Dental office and our Doctor also recommends ProNamel® to our patients.

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It’s never too early or too LATE to start good oral hygiene habits in your kids.

We try to make brushing our teeth fun and we also tell Connor how important it is to keep his teeth healthy. Now that he’s getting his permanent teeth in he knows he’ll only get one set of those. It’s important to take care of your smile, because it’s the only one you’re going to get 🙂

We have another tooth on the loose! Ha ha!

Here are some tips to make brushing fun for your kids:

Let them pick out their own toothbrush and toothpaste, they have an opinion too! Toothbrushes come in so many fun styles these days- some have lights and even music!
Show them how to brush their teeth in a routine way. Side to side, back to front.
Try rhyming or music to make brushing teeth fun.
Tell them how sparkly and pretty their teeth look when they are done. It helps build self esteem.

As you get ready for back to school, send your child out there with confidence. A bright smile can go a long way. Education is key and having the right tools and great products help make this Mom’s life a lot easier.

COUPONS ARE AVAILABLE HERE.

Follow along for all the latest on ProNamel® for Kids on Pinterest, Twitter, and YouTube.

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What’s Your Wrinkle Rating? #RoCWrinkleRanking

September 6, 2016

This post is sponsored by RoC® Skincare as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.

Aging…it happens to the best of us. It happens to EVERYONE! No one is immune to the effects the environment has on our skin. Skin is the human body’s largest organ, that’s crazy right?

I want to do everything I can to protect my skin, because I only have one set of skin. When I was younger I used to tan in tanning beds and lay out in the sun religiously. You know what they say “I should have listened to my parents” or “I should have started taking care of my skin at a younger age”.

I turned 35 in May and I certainly don’t feel like a spring chicken anymore, but I know my skin still has a fighting chance. Thanks to a great skincare regimen including RoC^® RETINOL CORREXION products. RoC^® has been a leading French skincare brand for more than 50 years, devoted to developing anti-aging products that guarantee visible and lasting results for healthier skin.

Here is a look at the 2016 RoC^® Wrinkle Ranking. Fort Worth-Arlington is my area and we come in at #34 on the list. Not too shabby. Where do you see your city on the list? Is your wrinkle radar correct?

wrinkles

So, I’ve been using the RoC^® RETINOL CORREXION products for a couple of weeks now and I have noticed my skin is smoother and softer.

I know that getting older is a gift and a blessing, but like I always say…nobody wants to see that blessing all over your face honey 🙂

My areas of concern (Raw and honest here- and makeup free!) :

In between my eyes…don’t think to hard or frown too much! Ha!

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The corners of my eyes aka “crows feet”

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The smile zone. I love to smile, but I don’t want a permanent crease where my smile belongs. Don’t forget about your neck either, so many people forget about their neck & it ages too!

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The RoC^®RETINOL CORREXION line utilizes retinol, that is pretty much the best ingredient for anti-aging. Retinol reduces the appearance of fine lines and deep wrinkles while improving skin tone and firmness. Because RoC^®Skincare understands that retinol is only truly effective in its purest and most stable form, all the RoC^® Brand retinol products are packaged in a special aluminum tube that protects retinol from light and air to keep it stable.

The RoC^® Retinol Correction Max Wrinkle Resurfacing System has two steps.

Anti-Wrinkle Treatment + Resurfacing Serum = happy, wrinkle free skin.

On a day to day basis keep your skin looking healthy with the RoC^® Deep Wrinkle Daily Moisturizer. I love this and use it before applying my makeup every morning along with the eye cream.

I know we can’t always control the elements around us and where we live, but we can do our best to fight against them. I’ll leave my skin in the hands of RoC^® Skincare, with over 50 years of experience, I think they know what they are doing.

Follow RoC^® Skincare on Facebook to learn more about anti-aging and what you can do to help your skin!

RoC^® Skincare products can be found at CVS & Target.