Holiday Gift Guide: Charm It! Charm Jewelry For Girls! #Jewelry #Blog #Review #BeautyBlogger

If you have a girlie girl on your Christmas list this year, we have found the perfect gift! Charm IT! is a line of charm jewelry for girls, and they have some adorable products! Charm IT! is the original detachable charm jewelry line, and the combinations are endless! There is literally a charm for every mood, every occasion, and every girl! It's so simple, you just pick your bracelet or your necklace, and then the real fun starts when you get to choose the perfect charms! This is such a fun product for young girls, especially in that it is not just something to wear, it's something girls can actually participate in. Customized jewelry is always fun, and with Charm IT!, the possibilities are truly endless!

We received an adorable charm bracelet for review, and our girl's reviewer absolutely loved it! Isn't it just the cutest thing? Our reviewer was Hannah, who is nine. She really loved all of the charms on this bracelet, even though they were the ones we were sent for review purposes, and not ones that she got to pick out herself. The fact that you can pick out custom charms is really awesome for young girls, and is a great way for them to express their personality. Another big hit of the bracelet was the fact that the charms are detachable, and you can move them around to anywhere you want. This is a really cool feature, since girls like to have options! One day, they could wear the bracelet by itself with no charms, the next day, with 20 charms, and the next day with only one charm if they wanted to. Great idea! Last of all, our reviewer really liked the special touches that some of the charms had. For example the "girls can change the world" bracelet was a big hit, and so was the small heart locket charm that actually opens. 

Charm IT! is sure to be a hot gift this holiday season! Check them out at http://www.shopcharm-it.com/. They even have pre-made gift sets to make gift giving easy and simple, and girls can even create a Charm IT! wish list to give everyone an idea of just what it is they have in mind! Check out Charm IT! today!

Holiday Gift Guide: Oral-B Black 7000 Electric Toothbrush With Smart Guide! #Blogger #Review #OralB #Health

We received a sample product in order to conduct this review. All opinions are our own, and no monetary compensation was received. 

The product we are reviewing today is a part of our Healthy Holidays series, and boy is it a good one! We were lucky enough to get the chance to check out the Oral-B Black 7000 Electric Toothbrush with Smart Guide. This is not your ordinary toothbrush! Check out a little bit about this bad boy: 

It’s what happens when German engineers have a zero tolerance for plaque. It accelerates to top speed faster than a high performance sports car. Seven independent functions. Up to 800 brush movements per second. Designed by Braun, it truly is engineered to perform.

• Six High-Performance Brushing Modes: Daily Clean, Deep Clean, Whitening, Massage, Sensitive and Tongue Cleaning.
• Sophisticated pressure-sensor technology alerts you if you’re brushing too hard and automatically decelerates the pulsation and oscillation speeds of the brush head.
• Wireless SmartGuide gives you real-time information about brushing modes, times and areas.
• Specially designed seals and gaskets keep the Oral-B Black water tolerant to 500 millibars of pressure.
• Made of different high-tech materials like silicon, the black travel case protects all of its vital technology.
• Designed by the engineers at Braun, it removes up to 100% more plaque than a regular manual brush.
• Oral-B is the #1 dentist-recommended toothbrush brand worldwide.

Okay, first of all, can we just say, look at this thing? Leave it to the folks at Oral-B to make a toothbrush look sexy! I mean come on, have you ever seen a toothbrush look this good? Let's talk technology. This toothbrush really packs a punch with 40,000 pulsations and 8,800 oscillations per minute. It also comes with the Smart Guide wireless display that provides step by step feedback while you brush your teeth. The Black 7000 also has indicator bristles, so that you can be sure to replace your bristles every three months, as dentists recommend. This toothbrush even has pressure sensor technology that tells you if you are brushing too hard, and can slow the toothbrush down for you! 

Our reviewer has been using the Oral-B 7000 for a couple of weeks now, and it really is an amazing product. It does a great job of cleaning and is very thorough. If you have a hard time getting your back teeth or your gum line really clean, this is definitely the toothbrush for you. It will leave your teeth feeling cleaner and your mouth feeling fresher than ever before, and that is huge. The carrying case is awesome, especially if you travel often. It's also a really nice extra that this toothbrush comes with three replacement heads, so you don't have to worry about changing them out for awhile. So far, the battery life has been outstanding, and we have no complaints there. All in all, this toothbrush is top of the line, and a very good deal. If you are looking for a great product that is well worth the money spent, this is the one for you.

The Oral-B Black 7000 Electric Toothbrush with Smart Guide is available for purchase online or at local retail stores for an MSRP of $219.00. To purchase the Oral-B Black 7000 for yourself or someone on your gift list, or just to learn more, visit http://www.oralb.com/, and make sure to "like" Oral-B on Facebook! For even more, check out the video below!

Holiday Gift Guide: Milwaukee Tools M12™ Cordless Black Heated Jacket Kit! #Tools #Review #Milwaukee #Winter #StayWarm

The product below was provided to us free of charge for review purposes. No monetary compensation was received and all opinions are our own. 

Today's Holiday Gift Guide Feature is the perfect gift for the hard working man on your list! Milwaukee Tools M12 Cordless Heated Jackets are perfect for the guy (or girl!) who spends tons of time outside in the elements! These jackets are simply amazing. Keep reading to find out more!

 About Milwaukee® M12™ Heated Jackets:
 Redesigned for optimal fit and better heat retention, Milwaukee® M12™ Cordless Heated Jackets integrate (5) carbon fiber heating elements and advanced fabric-layering technology to distribute and maintain heat across core body areas. For added versatility, two distinct heat zones (back and chest, lower pockets) can be adjusted independently to provide the right amount of heat for any situation.  A rugged wind and water resistant shell keeps weather out while improved insulation and a thermal fleece lining hold heat in to maximize warmth and reduce the number of layers needed. On and off the jobsite, Milwaukee® M12™ Heated Jackets provide up to 6 hours of continuous heat per battery charge to withstand even the harshest winter conditions.

Utilizing the same M12™ REDLITHIUM™ Battery technology that powers 60+ tools, the M12™ Battery holder is stored in a sleek back pocket that can expand to fit M12™ XC Batteries and all M18™ Batteries with additional M18™ USB Charger accessory. It also includes a fuel gauge to check your battery life and built-in USB port for charging portable electronic devices. All M12™ Heated Jackets are washer and dryer safe.

We received the M12 Black Heated Jacket Kit to review, and it is simply an amazing product! There really is no question as to why these jackets are so popular, and they are so tough to get your hands on! The M12 has four different heat zones, one in the chest/stomach, and one in the upper back. There is another in the lower back, and the last heat zone is in the pockets. The battery charger goes in a small pocket on the side, and although it is hard to believe, you can barely tell it's even there. It's definitely not something that would aggravate you or get in your way during a long day's work. There is also a USB port that allows you to charge your devices from the battery of your jacket, and there is even a slip to run the cord from the battery to the other pockets. This feature is very helpful and is not aggravating at all.

This jacket is very thick, it could actually keep you warm without the heater even turned on in some conditions. Our reviewer actually wore a hoodie over the jacket for part of the review time, and says that is actually a great way to keep more of the heat inside and stay a little bit warmer. The pockets are really big and roomy, and there is room to keep any needed "stuff" inside as well. Our reviewer was very impressed with the even heat distribution of the jacket. He says that there were no "hot spots" and that all of the heat was evenly distributed. Also, even though the sleeves do not have their own heating elements, they stay warm and toasty too! The jacket also has an LED display that shows the heat settings. That is very helpful that you are able to always see exactly what is going on. There is also a button on the bottom of the battery pack that shows you how much battery life you have left, which is a useful thing as well. The jacket is also really nice, and is fashionable enough to wear out. Simply put, this is not just a work jacket, it is way more than that.  Don't forget that this jacket can be washed and dried at home in your washer and dryer with no issues- how cool is that!?!?!

The only thing we would recommend if you are purchasing a Milwaukee Heated Jacket, is that you pick up an extra battery (they are super cheap!) to extend the heat time! The jacket is rated for six hours of heat, but on high settings and at extremely cold temperatures, the jacket only lasted for about four hours. Keep in mind, however, that this was on a 10 degree morning, and that is probably not typical. Once the high of the day reached about 30 degrees, our reviewer switched to low settings, and found that the battery life was much longer, and stayed nice and warm for the rest of the day. Also keep in mind that charging a battery is super fast, and only takes about 20 minutes for a full charge. However, you might find it helpful to always keep a spare battery around, so you never have to feel the cold at all! These are the same batteries that can be used in more than 60 other Milwaukee tools products, so they are interchangeable.

All in all, we were extremely impressed with this jacket. It does everything it needs to do, and more! The price for something like this is incredibly reasonable, and this is one of those times that you definitely get what you pay for! You can consider the Milwaukee Heated Jacket an investment that you will be glad you made. If you want to learn more about Milwaukee Tools and their line of heated gear, check out http://www.milwaukeetool.com/. or watch the video below!

Holiday Gift Guide: Panasonic Kids Battery Powered Toothbrush! #Blog #Review #Panasonic #Health

I received a sample product in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own and no monetary compensation was received. 

If you are looking for a great stocking stuffer to help promote healthy habits in your home, we have the perfect gift idea for you! We recently got a chance to check out the Panasonic Kids Battery Operated Toothbrush. 

First of all, isn't this the cutest thing you have ever seen? This toothbrush (thePanasonic EW-DS32-A)  is designed to help teach kid healthy habits from a very young age. It's super lightweight and portable, so you can take it with you on the go. This toothbrush features super soft bristles for little mouths, and the speed is very soft and gentle, so teeth can get super clean without any pain or irritation. The toothbrush takes a single AAA battery, and the cute teddy bear cap is a cute touch. Another great thing is that this toothbrush comes with a built in LED light, which makes brushing teeth fun. Believe it or not, this tiny toothbrush packs a punch with 12,000 brush strokes per second! 

Our Thoughts: 

This is a great choice for a toothbrush if you have younger kids. The $39.99 price tag might seem a little steep to some, but if you are looking for an upgrade from a traditional toothbrush, this is a great option. The ergonomic design makes it easy for anyone to brush a child's teeth with this brush: mom, dad, or kids themselves. If you are looking for a first sonic toothbrush for your little one, this is a great choice. For my four year old, this toothbrush has been working out perfectly. However, my eight year old seems like he might be a little too big for it. I would like to see a bigger size for older kids/tweens. I think that would be a great choice. I really like the LED light on the brush, it makes it a little bit easier to see inside those tiny mouths.

This toothbrush has been perfect for my four year old. I think if I were to get him a "traditional" sonic toothbrush, he would be way too scared to brush his teeth with it. I am very happy with this more gentle option for him. I love, love, LOVE that the toothbrush head can be removed and replaced. Also, the fact that it takes a simple AAA battery is great, since we always have those laying around. All in all, the Panasonic Kid's Battery Powered toothbrush would make a great gift! If you would like to check it out, click here to visit Panasonic's website.

Thanks so much to the great folks at Panasonic, we have an additional toothbrush to give away to one lucky reader! To enter, simply leave a comment below and tell us who this toothbrush would be for if you were the winner! We will draw a winner on 11/30/14 at approx. 10pm EST. Winner will be chosen via random.org and will be contacted via email for details on how to claim their prize. 

Halloween Hazards: Coming Soon! #TrickOrTreat #StaySafe #Review #Blogger

Halloween is just around the corner, and this is the time kids go crazy for special Halloween candies. But it is a risky affair. There are a number of concerns that is not understood by the kids, but the after effects are terrible. Here is a list of safety measures you need to take so that you and your loved ones continue living in a safe environment. 

• 1.    Don’t open the candy till you are home: Children go to a number of parties, and there is a possibility that some poor quality candy bar falls in the share. Tell them not to open the candy till they reach home. This way, even if there is a negative effect of that candy, you will be around to take care of the issue.
• 2.    Buy quality candies for them: You cannot stop them from having candies at Halloween. So, buy good quality candies beforehand and let them have it. There are a number of online portals offering candies for Halloween. If you are planning to buy some for them, simply google discount coupons. They offer exclusive coupons to help you get amazing discounts at such discount portals.
• 3.    Unwrapped candy? Don’t eat it: This is a golden rule. Tell your children to throw away any candy which is not properly wrapped. Also, avoid tampered candies. Many candies are tampered such as loose or torn packages or small pinholes in wrappers. Tell them to check it before having such candies.
• 4.    Eat some, avoid some: Normal Halloween candies are not an issue. However, tell your kids not to have hard candies, peanuts and gums. This will avoid any choking hazard. Again, tell them to check the big candies before having them. Some of the biggie candies have small toys in them as gifts. Checking them in advance will avoid choking.
• 5.    Know your child’s temptation: You can solve a couple of problems by knowing your child’s temptations. As a parent, you might know what types of candies are preferred by your children. This will help you list down the candies they can have at parties.
• 6.    Control the count: Kids love candies and keep stuffing them in their tummy till they can. It is important for them to limit themselves on the count. Having too many candies is not good for their health.
• 7.    Control Center: Keep the number of Children’s Hospital of Michigan Regional Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) handy. In case you find anything suspicious about a candy, make sure you report it to the control center. Many a times, people find such candies but care less about it. This keeps them and their children safe but if someone else does not notice it, it can be hazardous.

Concluding, there are a number of candy stores you can rely on. Moreover, online portals offer good quality candies at cheaper rates. Chameleonjohn offers coupons that can help you get an additional discount on your total bill. Opt for a verified source and be safe during Halloween.

More Kid Friendly Trips In Central Kentucky. (Part 2) #TravelBlogger #Kentucky #Trips #Vacay #TripsWithKids #Review

A few days ago, I told you guys about a couple of kid-friendly day trips in and around the Central Kentucky area. If you didn't get a chance to check out that post, you can see it here.

Well, after looking around researching destinations for that post, I realized that there were tons of places that we have never been, and tons of places that I was leaving out! I just had to follow up with another post with more kid friendly trips in Central Kentucky. 

Our family has been to a few of these places, but not in the last few years. We really just haven't had the extra money to do much fun stuff. Hopefully soon we will be back on track and be able to take the boys to a few of these places! 

I have come up with a few little "mini trips" that I would like to take this year, and I will share them with you guys! 

 My first little "mini trip" would be in Louisville. It's not too far away to drive with two screaming kids, and there is enough to do to be able to stay the night there in a hotel, maybe even two nights. 

The Louisville Zoo is probably my favorite place in the whole world! I love this place! The Louisville Zoo is not as big as the Cincinatti Zoo, but I really like it much better. The layout is just much more sensible and easier to navigate, and the habitats of the animals are cleaner and more spacious. The newest exhibit at The Louisville Zoo is Glacier Run, opening this Spring! 

"Glacier Run will be a truly unique experience where one can visit the animals, talk to the keepers about conservation and become temporarily immersed in life on the tundra. The exhibit will recreate the natural habitat for some of the Zoo’s most popular residents including polar bears, seals and sea lions. The addition of sea otters and bird species like the Steller’s sea eagles and magpies will add to the feeling of being surrounded by wildlife. The town of Glacier Run will include a schoolhouse, climatology lab and general store. A spacious amphitheatre will make viewing the seal and sea lion enrichment demonstrations more enjoyable."

 

I can't wait to see Glacier Run, it looks awesome! 

   

The next place on my list is the Louisville Science Center. This is where I went on my 8th grade trip, and I really enjoyed it! The Science Center is a hands-on museum-type place where kids and learn and have fun at the same time! They have an awesome Imax theater, and even a KidZone especially for children 7 and under! 

 We would have dinner at The Old Spaghetti Factory in downtown Louisville, and then the next day we would be raring to go visit the Louisville Slugger Museum, and mommy's personal favorite place, Churchill Downs. Ahh, it sounds lovely, in my mind, anyways.. 

My next "mini vacation" that I would like to take the boys on is a little further away for us, it requires a trip to Cave City, Kentucky.Here's what it would include: 

Dinosaur World:  

Dinosaur World is an outdoor museum that features life sized dinosaur models. Kids can get up close and personal with them, and even dig for "fossils" and "bones"! This sounds like something that would be right up Tater's alley! 

Kentucky Down Under:  a unique experience for kids to explore and visit with Kangaroos and other animals from down under, as well as explore the amazing Kentucky Caverns cave system. This sounds like a lot of fun and I really think Tater would like this one too! 

Beech Bend Park: This one would probably take a whole day itself! It's outside of Cave City, in Bowling Green, but Beech Bend Park looks like a great place! Beech Bend is an amusement park, water park, drag strip and campground all in one! The best part? FREE soft drinks, FREE sunscreen, FREE parking, and FREE tubes! I think this one would probably be the highlight of our trip!

I am sure I will have more trip ideas in the next few days, but this should keep me busy for awhile! 

disclosure: I was in no way compensated for any of these posts. These are just great places that I would genuinely like for my family to visit! 

(while you're saving money for your staycation, check out these coupons and deals!)

Kid Friendly Day Trips In Central Kentucky. (Part 1) #Vacay #TravelBlogger #Kentucky #Kids #TravelWithKids

This is so sad to admit, but we have never been on a family vacation. EVER.

We took Tater camping for ONE night when he was two.

That was almost three years ago!

We never have any extra money, and we work separate shifts in order to keep the boys out of daycare, so we are hardly ever home at the same time as it is.

But I feel so guilty that we have never even stayed the night in a hotel.

So, I have been trying to think of things nearby that we could do as a family, kind of like a "staycation", or a day trip at the very least.

So, I have been researching, and I found a few kid friendly things in the Central Kentucky area that we might try to do soon:

Day Trips:

Explorium of Lexington- This is an awesome children's museum in Lexington. We have been a few times when Tater was younger, but I think we need to go back!There are tons of interactive exhibits for kids, and it is a really fun place!

Salato Wildlife Education Center in Frankfort- This is one of my favorite places ever. I remember it from when I was a child. It is sponsored by the Dept of Fish and Wildlife, and is kind of like a "zoo", all with animals that are native to Kentucky. There are bears, buffalo, snakes, deer, etc. Tons and tons of great educational stuff about fish and wildlife in Kentucky, including a giant fishing area! This place also includes tons of great hiking!  And the best part of all, it's FREE!

Kentucky Horse Park- We go here every year at Christmas for Southern Lights, but we have never been any other time. I really want to take the boys here, there is so much great stuff! They have so much educational stuff about horses, and even a campground, if camping is your thing!  This would be an awesome staycation just a few minutes from our house!

Wolf Run Wildlife Refuge in Nicholasville- I am ashamed to say that we have never been here, and it is literally less than five minutes away from our house. It's a fabulous no-kill animal sanctuary that houses tons of animals that have been neglected, abused, abandoned, etc. These people have some of the biggest hearts in the world. And, my boys can get to see some awesome animals like this one: 

Old Fort Harrod State Park- One of the fondest memories of my childhood. My parents brought me here when I was a kid, and we went on TONS of field trips there when I was in school. I really think Tater would enjoy this, since it is kind of "cowboyish".

Fort Boonesborough State Park- Kentucky's second settlement, settled by Daniel Boone in 1775.  I really liked this one when I was a kid because it has a sand beach. I thought I was at the ocean LOL! This is probably one of my favorite things about living in Kentucky, is the fact that we have all of these wonderful state parks and things to do that are free or cheap!

These things will at least be a start, and we won't even have to stay in a hotel for them! We can just leave in the morning, and visit them, and then come back home.

I have a few more places that I would like to go, but they will all require at least a one night hotel stay, so I am going to save those for another post!

Anybody in the Lexington, Kentucky area, can you think of any place I forgot?

Anybody have tips for a great staycation? Leave them for us in the comments! 

What No One Tells You About Having A Baby. For Real. #Pregnancy #Labor #Delivery #Babies #MomConfessions #Blogger

In Honor of my BFF, a list of things you should know. 

In no particular order. 

And not for the faint of heart. 

So, faint of heart, please click off of this page now. 

But, Some weird shit happens. 

Nobody shared it with me.

But I am breaking the cycle. 

If you are pregnant, don't be scared. 

But read on. LOL.

1. There Will Be Blood. Nobody talks about this part. I mean really. You know it's coming, but I feel like there should be a more in depth explanation of this scary shit. So here's the deal: there are clots. Big ones. Umm. Fruit Size. No Joke. Lemon, Lime, Kiwi, perhaps? Yes. And it looks like your guts are completely falling out of your body. But, alas, they are not. So when this happens, do not freak. You have been warned. 

2. Uncontrollable Body Shit. As in, puking. Teeth Chattering. Freezing. Burning Up. All normal. All happen. You can't control it. I was a little freaked out when the very second that Bean was born, I was so overwhelmingly nauseous that I barely got out "I'm going to puke!" before I was, well, puking. Into a bedpan. How nice. Welcome to the world little baby, you make me puke. Oh yes, one more thing. Weird ass contraction type things. After the baby is born. Also normal. These actually hurt me worse than the contractions I had before Bean was born. Don't ask me. I just work here. 

3.The Hospital Stay Pretty Much Sucks Ass.  There is no resting. Don't believe that BS. From the moment you pop that baby out, you will be poked, prodded, visited, photographed, bothered, woke up, etc for the next probably 48 hours. As soon as you shut your eyes to rest, a nurse will come in to do some painful thing to your body. Or a lovely visitor will come and want to bother you. It doesn't end there. Fill out this paper. Sign this. What do you want to eat? Sigh.I was really lucky that my hospital had a "quiet time" from 2-4 where no one was allowed to bother new mommies. This was great and I was guaranteed two hours of rest each day. Other than that, I couldn't sleep. It's just too much. Even after they were born and I was exhausted, it was just too much of a shock for me to sleep. I just sat there and stared at them for hours. So no, you probably won't rest. 

4. Nurses Will Be Weird. They are going to push on your belly. Hard. It's going to hurt bad. They will check your stitches if you have them, and change your pad. You will chat about passing gas. They will ask you a million times if you have pooped yet. (Pooping is a very big deal! Everyone gets very excited after the first poop!) All of this is normal, and both times my nurses were wonderful and made my hospital stay so much nicer! Also, don't be afraid to ask the nurses if you need/want something. My nurses heard me talking about being so hungry, and brought me a giant folder full of take out menus from restaurants that would deliver to the hospital. I thought that was super sweet! 

5.Sometimes It Gets Scary. I had to be hooked up to an oxygen mask at one point, and have 3 different monitors placed on Bean when he was still in my tummy. No one really explained this to me and I was afraid we were dying or something. Turns out, all normal. So, for the record, things that would normally be scary are all fair game in the labor and delivery ward. 

6.But It's Pretty Fucking Awesome. So try to enjoy it. It really is an amazing experience. I was so scared with Tater that I just sat there and did whatever they told me. But I was much more present with Bean. I was actually the one that cut the cord! I don't know why but I felt so good after I had him, I was up, showering, getting dressed, even putting on makeup. It was totally weird. It is such an odd feeling to experience your body doing something totally beyond your control, something that it was "made" to do. My best advice is to try to soak it all in and enjoy it if you possibly can, because yeah it hurts and sucks and all that, but April 24, 2006, and May 30, 2010 are BY FAR the two best days of my life, and always will be! 

Raising My Kids Without Grandparents #Parenting #Kids #Blogger #ParentingWithoutParents #ParentlessParents

How can I raise my kids without any grandparents? Is it possible for them to become well-adjusted, happy, successful young men without these relationships in their lives?
These are the questions that I ask myself over and over. I still have yet to find the answers.

My mom died in 2000, when I was just 14 years old. My dad passed in 2004, a month after my high school graduation. My husbands father died in 2005, and afterward, his mother moved to Texas, some 16 odd hours away. My oldest son is now 4 years old, and he has never got to meet her. So, pretty much, my babies don't know their grandparents, and quite possibly never will. They do have my husband's grandparents (their great-grandparents), which I am eternally grateful for, but they certainly don't get to see them as much as they should.

This certainly is not what I had envisioned when I was young and I thought about having babies. My babies would take their place behind their cousins at my parent's house, staying the weekend, eating popsicles and playing in the yard. They would bring home tons of unneeded toys and clothes, and stuff their bellies with cookies and chips and pop. I would buy tacky little "world's best grandma" mugs and tee shirts for holidays, and my parent's Christmas tree would be filled with popsicle stick reindeer and cotton ball snowmen. However, this is not how things turned out.

Instead, my boys have their aunts & uncles, who they love to no end, especially their aunt "Nanny", who I am pretty sure they would move in with if they could! "Nanny" has become kind of their surrogate grandparent, and Tater clings to her like no one else. I still can't help but feel that I'm giving my kids a raw deal. My brothers and sisters have lives, and kids, of their own, and we are all just too busy to see each other as much as I wish we could. I also hate to burden my brothers and sisters with my children, even though I know they don't mind. It's not their job to be my kid's grandparents.

I feel so guilty that my kids will have no memory of my parents. My nieces and nephews, they all were born before the deaths of my parents. Even the youngest one, was an infant when my mom died. She will have pictures of them together, and memories of her grandpa when she was a toddler. My kids will have none of that, not even a picture for me to show them and say "this is your grandma holding you when you were born." Sure, I can show them pictures, tell them stories, but really, will that be enough? Will their be a hole in their little hearts where their grandparents should be?

I feel in some way, that everything I do is overcompensating for the lack of family in my children's lives. Yes, I had my first baby when I was 20. I wanted to have my babies young, so they would have a better chance of growing up without anything happening to me. I don't want to leave them without their parents. We're all they have.I try to take them as many places, give them as many experiences as I can, things that my parents would have done. Birthday parties? they are a huge deal to me. Christmas? the presents are ridiculous. I'm subconsciously making up for them not having grandparents to buy them things and do things with them. I don't want them to feel like they are missing out on anything, but I know they really are.

Is there a way for me to make peace with this? I'm not really sure. I would love any suggestions or ideas that anyone may have to help me. I know that things could be much much worse for my boys, and that two parents, and aunts and uncles and cousins that love them are more than many kids have, and that's what I have to remember.

Five Hour ENERGY Yummification Contest Winners!!! #FiveHourEnergy #Blogger #Review

The 5-hour ENERGY® samples, gift card, and information have been provided by the makers of 5-hour ENERGY®.”

How exciting! The contest winners for the super fun Five Hour ENERGY Yummification Contest are in!!! You know you want to view the winning videos, and you can do it here!!

First Place ($50,000 prize): “Pomelimelade” by Tim Merlau, Los Angeles, CA

This winning submission mixes a Pomegranate 5-hour ENERGY® shot with limeade, and then takes us on a musical journey through all that can be accomplished over several hours (spoiler alert:  it’s a lot).

“Pomelimelade”

 1 glass Limeade

  1 shot of Pomegranate 5-hour ENERGY®

Second Place ($30,000 prize): “Ramalamadingdong” by Mark Golembeski, Los Angeles, CA

The second place video helps us turn that 2:30 feeling frown upside down by mixing a 5-hour ENERGY® shot with lemonade.  This video has it all: a clown, a puppy, a guy in a tutu, and much more.

“Ramalamadingdong”

§  1 glass Lemonade

§  1 shot of Berry 5-hour ENERGY®

Third Place ($10,000 prize): “Arnold Power” by Zac Sheorn, Lugoff, SC

The third place winner reminds us that you don’t have to be good at sports, but mixing a Pink Lemonade 5-hour ENERGY® shot with decaffeinated iced tea helps keep you refreshed while practicing.  And practicing.

“Arnold Power”

§  1 glass Decaf Iced Tea

§  1 shot of Pink Lemonade 5-hour ENERGY®

Try Your Own Yummification! 5 Hour Energy $25 Gift Card and Prize Pack Giveaway!!

The 5-hour ENERGY® samples, gift card, information, and additional gift pack have been provided by the makers of 5-hour ENERGY®

Being a mommy is hard work. Seriously. Before I became a SAHM, it's all I wanted to do. It looked like the cushiest job in the world, hanging out all day playing blocks and making snacks. Ha! Boy, things look different now that I am over here on this side of the fence. So, tell me, are there any of you guys who sometimes need a little boost in the energy department? I know I do! Sometimes, when I need a little boost in the morning, or later in the middle of the day, I choose 5-hour ENERGY®. For me, 5-hour ENERGY® is able to give me the boost that I need, without the crash that I get if I drink a soda or eat a candy bar. And when you are a mom that is go-go-going all the time, NOT having a crash is a big deal!

5-hour ENERGY® comes in a TON of different flavors, so there is always something to choose from based on your taste and mood! 5-hour ENERGY® shots have a blend of B-vitamins, amino acids, and essential nutrients, with zero sugar, zero carbs, zero herbal stimulants and 4 calories! A lot of people think that 5-hour ENERGY® shots have a ton of caffeine in them, but really, the amount is comparable to a cup of premium coffee.

We received an AMAZING pack of  5-hour ENERGY® shots to try out! There were more than pictured, but you guys have to understand, my hubby works 50 hours a week,and he is obsessed with these! So, some of them didn't even make it to the picture! However, we did have enough left over to try out some "yummifications"!! What are those, you ask? A yummification occurs when you mix a 5-hour ENERGY® shot with your favorite beverage! Check out the great 5-hour ENERGY® “Yummification” video contest, to enter the contest, visit www.5houryummification.com and follow the instructions to complete the entry form; “Like” 5-hour ENERGY® on Facebook, then create and submit a video that is no longer than 60 seconds showing an original combination being made, tasted, and named (creativity counts!).

Sounds fun, right? Not only is it fun, you can win some great prizes!!!
One grand prize winner will receive $50,000, and the following prizes will also be awarded:
Second Prize (1): Thirty Thousand Dollars ($30,000)
Third Prize (1): Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000)
Fourth Prizes (10): One Thousand Dollars ($1,000)
To enter, visit www.5houryummification.com and follow the instructions to complete the entry form or “Like” the 5-hour ENERGY® page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/5HourEnergyShot and follow the instructions to click the contest tab. Entries must be received by August 19, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. EDT to be eligible.  No purchase necessary.  US residents only.  18 years and up.

We made a great yummification, and we called it "Nate's Lemony Surprise", because my 8 year old came up with it.. (No, he did not drink it, although he REALLY wanted to!). We mixed one lemon 5-hour ENERGY® shot with equal parts lemonade and lemon-lime soda. I was a little unsure of this combination, being as it came from an 8 year old, but it was surprisingly tasty!!! Definitely a little bit tart with a little bit of a "kick", but come on, it's called Lemony Surprise, so what do you expect??? :) We also made a second yummification, courtesy of my 4 year old! (Hey, if big brother got to create a drink, little brother had to get in on the action too!) This time, we mixed a diet, caffeine free cola with a strawberry 5-hour ENERGY® shot. The result was a yummy take on a cherry/berry flavored cola with a boost! It was pretty darn good too!

So there are our creations! Now, you guys, read the rules, and get busy making a creation of your own! It's fun, it gives you a yummy new drink, and you get a chance to win CASH!!! To celebrate this contest, the generous folks at 5-hour ENERGY®  are giving one of Flip Out Mama's lucky readers a chance to win a 5-hour ENERGY® variety pack that includes a $25 Visa gift card. Would you like to win? To enter please check out the 5-hour ENERGY®  “Yummification” contest. What would you mix with your 5-hour ENERGY®??? Comment below and let me know, and enter via the Rafflecopter!! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't Forget The SPF! Coppertone Unveils Awesome New Products! #SPF #FunInTheSun #Review #Blogger #Coppertone

Summer is winding down, and it's easy to forget the importance of sun protection when we are not heading to the beach or at the pool every day. However, you have to remember to be diligent about protecting yourself and your family from the sun no matter what season it is, no matter what the weather is like. I am the first to admit that, like most of us, in my younger days, I was not very good about protecting my skin. I am a very pale gal, and a good 15 or 20 minutes in the sun without SPF, I burn like crazy. I have endured many sun burns, blisters, and even sun poisoning on a couple of occasions. Now that I am older, I realize how important it is to protect yourself from the sun, and I never let my boys or myself out of the house without sunscreen on!  

Coppertone is king when it comes to sun protection, and they have some amazing and innovative new products on the market to help us all stay safe! Here's the rundown: 

Coppertone Sport AccuSpray was developed to solve a common frustration – the cloud of spray people experience when using a spray sunscreen. The product has a new patented technology that creates a more targeted spray for less mess and waste. This one was a definite fave of my boys! I am super serious about sunscreen, but they hate wearing it. That is mostly because when I spray their old sunscreen, it goes everywhere! All over them, their face, their eyes, and the person standing behind them! This was a great improvement over sunscreens we have used in the past, and I really liked it! 

Coppertone ClearlySheer, which comes in two lines – Sunny Days and Beach & Pool – was created to provide women with a sunscreen that’s just for them. The brand new formulas are both incredibly lightweight and sheer so you’ll feel comfortable wearing them every day under your makeup or when you’re in the water. This is an amazing idea, and I am so glad that Coppertone came out with this line of products! I think that many women don't really think that they need an additional sunscreen beyond whatever is in their BB Cream or foundation. However, that is just not true! I love the Sunny Days line, I have been using it under my regular makeup every day, and there is no residue, no greasy build up! It's great! I really hope that this new line helps women to protect themselves from the sun every day, not just when they are on vacation! 

   Coppertone Kids Tear-Free Lotion: Specially formulated to protect and keep children’s skin soft and smooth. The ultra-gentle, tear free formula won’t sting or irritate eyes, perfect for summertime activities. Sometimes, I really just prefer to put lotion on my boys instead of a spray. Mostly when I know we are going to be in the sun for a long period of time, I just think that a lotion works better. This lotion is great, and it really is tear free. Believe me, I checked! :) 

 Coppertone WaterBABIES Pure &Simple Lotion: The #1 pediatrician-recommended product, specially formulated to provide broad spectrum protection for a baby’s delicate skin. The gentle, moisturizing formula is an essential for your water baby.   Ahhh, WaterBABIES... It's been four long years since I needed a special baby sunscreen... Waaaaaaaah. My babies are all grown up now, but I still love this lotion. It smells like babies to me, haha! I'm passing this one down to my niece so she can protect her little Water Baby! 

I really love Coppertone's products, and I am glad that my family is all set to continue to protect ourselves from the sun, even though now summer is winding down! It's just as important to use sun protection in the "off season" as well! The folks at Coppertone know this, and that is why they launched their 2nd year of their "Making The Sunscreen Grade" program. This is a fabulous program that educates parents, teachers, caregivers and camp counselors about sun protection so that they can set a good example for the kids in their care. This is a super program and I am really glad to see something like this being initiated by Coppertone. I think that if there had been a program like this around when I was in school, I might have paid more attention to sun protection, and saved my skin from a lot of burns! Definitely check out the details about this awesome program HERE!  Oh, and don't forget to join Coppertone on Twitter  and Facebook to stay up to date with all their latest products! 

Celebrating a Summer Of Fun With PEEPS & Company! #PEEPSONALITY #Peeps #SummerFun #Food #Review #FoodBlogger

Thanks to Peeps & Company  for sponsoring this review. All opinions are my own. 

Guys. Summer is almost over. Can you believe that? I really do love Fall, I think it might be my favorite season (I'm fickle, I can't pick one!), but I am not ready to see summer go this year. We have been having so much fun this year, I'm just not ready for it to end! Just one small part of our summer fun this year has been checking out the awesome new PEEPS Minis from PEEPS & Company! Yep, that's right, your all time favorite Easter candy is shrunk, wrapped up, and delivered to you in three amazing flavors to eat all year round! What's not to love about that? The fine folks at PEEPS sent us an amazing Summer Fun Package to help us have a great summer and express some #PEEPSONALITY! 

Look at this fun package! Doesn't it just make you want to get out and DO something??!! First of all, we got to try out all three of the new PEEPS Minis flavors! There's Chocolate Creme, which was delish and perfect for those times when you just need a *little* bit of chocolate, sour watermelon, which the boys loved, and Strawberry Creme, which were so deliciously good, they didn't even make it into the picture! I am loving these new PEEPS Minis, and you will too! Guess why? Only 14 CALORIES PER PEEP! I am not kidding you right now! Each resealable bag of PEEPS Minis comes with 24 PEEPS inside, enough to keep you satisfied for quite a while! Oh, and they are gluten and fat free too! 

They are sooo yummy, and if you don't believe me, just look at these guys' faces: 

These two are definite candy experts, so if it passes their test, you can believe it's good stuff! We also got some great summer essentials in our PEEPS package, like a great PEEPS Signature Beach Towel, which is super soft and ADORABLE! WE also received a great PEEPS Signature Tote, which has been making the rounds with us to all of our pool trips and play dates this summer. Definitely a conversation starter! The PEEPS pail was a great addition for sand castle making, and in my house, dirt playing! The PEEPS tumbler has been perfect for me too, even though the boys are begging for it! Not happening, kiddos! 

Now, I know you guys are wondering where you can get all this adorable PEEPS branded merchandise, and not to worry, I have got you covered. Just visit the PEEPS & Company Summer Essentials website, and you'll be able to find all the cool PEEPS stuff that we got to check out, and more! We are really loving the PEEPS Minis here at our house, they are the perfect size (40% smaller than original PEEPS) to have a few and not be *completely* off the diet wagon, so that's a good thing! Go on, check them out, you are gonna love them too! I know that my family is pumped that now we can have PEEPS all year round! Woohoo!!! Make sure to check out PEEPS on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram to stay up to date on all the coolest products, and don't forget to express your own #PEEPSONALITY!