Bringing back first memories with Legacybox

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

The years are so full of moments big and small, cellphones have made our memories easy to capture. But when I became a mom 18 years ago I was still using a landline and taking photos with a film camera.

We’d get them developed and place them in a giant green mailbox hoping to get around to making photo albums. It never happened, we’ve moved our 150 pounds of memories 9 times. They’re currently being used in the living room as an end table and a reminder of how much has passed.

Thousands of photos and negatives, seconds, minutes and hours of my children lives captured onto film, never seen by them and a vague memory waiting to be rediscovered, thanks to Legacybox.

“What’s a camcorder?“ They asked!

The charger is long gone, the screen has been dark for over a decade and my kids have no idea how to use one. Over a dozen tapes full of firsts; birthdays, holidays, soccer games and ballet recitals. Family and friends we long to see again, how time flies by.

After days of sorting through the piles of memories, we packaged them up and shipped it off to Legacybox. The excitement grew as we waited for the box to return.

“Wow!“ To hear their little voices again, the giggles and first words. Pieces of life’s puzzle falling into place as they watch themselves grow up. Hard to but it into words but their laughter said it all.

What moments they cherish the most?

What moments do they you cherish the most?

Head over to the Legacybox website to get 40% OFF with code CHERISH. on your own Legacybox kit. It’s your turn to take a walk down memory lane. 

How I Get Fast Relief From My Cold And Flu Symptoms With Theraflu PowerPods

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

We get excited this time of year. November marks the end of hurricane season, the start of cooler weather, pecans falling from the trees, fewer mosquitos, and the holidays just around the corner.

But it also reminds me that with all the good comes the nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, headache, body aches and fever. Theraflu PowerPods, a new product that provides a convenient way to get relief from your cold and flu, Theraflu PowerPods Daytime or  Nighttime will ease symptoms. (Use as directed).

Walmart is our cough and cold destination and where we can get Theraflu PowerPods , compatible with most single-serve coffee machine. (Keurig, Mr. Coffee, Hamilton Beach, Cuisinart, iCoffee, AIcok, BELLA, Black + Decker, Aquverse, and CHULUX3).

”Press. Sip. Relief.”

My other simple ways to fit off cold and flu are handwashing washing, cover that cough, and stay home curled up with a good book if you’re contagious.

Watch our Theraflu Video HERE

The Gift of Togetherness

This post is sponsored by RMHC, Inc ® but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Today makes another year of our favorite family tradition. When we celebrate time together and the start of the holiday season. Our little town lights up for the holidays, full of white lights and beautiful storefronts. We love to stroll along the streets and peer into the windows to get us in the mood.

It’s amazing watching as the sunsets and the lights start to sparkle in the trees, we hold hands and sing songs. The ever important holiday wish list would usually transpire as they stop in front of the toy store. The older they get the more its about the memories together, and the toys they once loved to play with as they walk past the window.

The moment they see the trees lit up for the first time every year, never gets old and our time we share together is cherished.

 

This holiday season, your donation to RMHC gives families with sick children the most precious gifts of all: joy, courage, comfort, strength, and togetherness.

Through the Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald Family Room programs, RMHC provides places for families to stay just steps from the hospitals where their children are receiving critical medical care.

Learning a New Skill for the New Year with Fender Play

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

 I’ve been playing the Ukelele for several years now and have always wanted to learn to play my Great-Grandfather’s guitar. Learning has definitely been a challenge. But after trying Fender Play, I can play the guitar after just a week!

Whether you’re just starting like me or a pro, playing an instrument can certainly improve a person’s overall well-being, including emotional benefits,  such as increased creativity and self-expression, increased patience, confidence in self and skills,  work ethic and persistence with proven physical benefits,  including enhanced hand-eye coordination,  a boost to the immune system and enhanced brain development.

Fender Play lets me go at my own pace with progress tracking and guided paths to help you learn when and how you want, you can choose the style of music you want and learn well-known songs you love and spend as much on a year of Fender Play as you would for one in-person lesson.

Bite-sized lessons with a micro-learning approach to keep you learning fast, for just about anyone willing to learn, maybe even our little Alex.

 

• Fender Play is the complete learning app for guitar, bass, or ukulele from the most trusted name in guitar
• Free 14-day trial!
• SPECIAL OFFER: Annual Plan gets you 10% off Fender gear while your plan is active (US & UK)
• Everything you need to learn guitar, bass, and ukulele
• Play your first song in 22 minutes

It’s Never Too Late to Learn with Fender Play!

 

Watch our Fender Play video HERE

 

DIY Mickey Mouse Ears For Make A Wish’s Share Your Ears

 

This post is sponsored by Make-A-Wish Foundation but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

To honor the 130,000th Disney wish granted globally and in celebration of 90 years of Mickey Mouse, Disney is inviting fans to Share Your Ears to help make life-changing wishes come true for children with critical illnesses.

From November 4 to November 27, 2018, simply take a photo showing off your “Mickey Mouse ears” – or any creative “ears” and upload it to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

We spent the weekend glued together as a family, literally. We laughed, we smiled, and we created some DIY Mickey Mouse Ears, to help inspire you to share off your ears!

DIY: Holiday Cheer Ears, Sparkling Jewel Ears, Dream Catcher Ears

To Start the dream catcher ears wrap the wooden hoops with the yarn, create the dream catcher pattern with the twine, then add feather beads to the end and tie off. I found invisible thread or fishing line to work well when attaching the ears to the headbands.

The dream catcher Mickey Mouse Ears turned out awesome! But I did have to watch a few videos about making dream catchers to get the hang of it. After you finish your DIY ears don’t forget to Share Your Ears!

From November 18th – 27th, 2018 Walt Disney Parks will donate US $5 for each social “share” up to US $1M in donations.

Visit ShareYourEars.org and upload photos to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter!

#ShareYourEars

Environmentally Friendly Way to Eliminate Clogged Drains

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

Who has time to clean up? With four teenagers, 2 dogs and a busy life a clogged drain is not something we have time for.

Simply wipe TubShroom off and GO! Easy to maintain.

Best of all it’s super family friendly and environmentally friendly. No more harsh chemicals needed for clean up and that’s a big plus!

No more costly plumber bills to fix another clogged drain.

We like to bathe Kimmy 3 times a week, with our humid southern summers and cool dry winters keeping her coat shiny and soft takes extra care. So pet hair in the drain has been an ongoing problem unto now! TubShroom was on our list of must-haves, worked beyond our expectations and she’s no longer swimming in the shower!

Unlike regular plugs that go over the drain, TubShroom fits inside, neatly collecting hair around it. Designed to effortlessly catch human and pet hair without disrupting the flow of water.

TubShroom for the sink is a perfect solution for a bathroom having to hold up against 4 teens and an adorable pup and son who’s about to start shaving, yikes!

TubShroom is available for purchase online HERE as well as in store in Bed Bath and Beyond and Target!

My Favorite Go-To Relaxing Activity

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

Since I was little jigsaw puzzles were my go to activity, I was an only child for many years, never having a partner to play board games,  puzzles were a way I could occupy my self during the long winter and rainy days. My shelves were stacked full of puzzles, I’d redo my jigsaw puzzles dozens of times in a day, even turning them upside down to make for more of a challenge.

 Fast forward to today and there are Jigsaw Puzzles at our fingertips, now I simply adjustable the time clock setting to give more of a challenging experience.

This is still my go-to activity, but I no longer have to camp-out at the dining room table, having the ability to take them on the go, I don’t stress out when it dinner time if my puzzle isn’t finished.

I especially like the ability to add more pieces and play up to 1024 puzzle pieces on our tablet and 400 puzzle pieces on the phone.

Over 20,000 puzzles to choose from, you can customize the game-board by choosing from dozens of free backgrounds and if you’re like me and like listening to music while playing solo.

Starting my mornings off with a walk to the bay,  watching the sunrise, listen to the pelicans and of course a Jigsaw Puzzle to get my mind going.

Afternoons can be waiting for a client at the local coffee house or unwinding on the sofa with my favorite bunny.

Jigsaw Puzzle is great for puzzler players of all ages and possibly an inquisitive bunny! Offering over 10,000 eye-catching HD puzzles, Jigsaw Puzzle is currently the most searched jigsaw puzzle app on the App Store, also available on Google Play as well as the Amazon Kindle Fire. Why is it that Grocery store lines are so long? I usually skim though the latest magazines at the register to ward off boredom, but the Jigsaw Puzzle app is way more fulfilling and keeps my stress level down to finish off the day on a good note.

Fall puzzles are currently available and so pretty! If you’re looking forward to the beautiful colors of the season as much as me, it will put you in the mood for warm apple cider and pumpkin pie!

A great way to stimulate your brain and stay sharp!

 

Click the below to watch a short video showing us using the Jigsaw Puzzle App.

Youtube Video Here

Smelly car? Fix, Vent Clips from Refresh Your Car®! GIVEAWAY!

This post is sponsored by Refresh Your Car®! but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Whether it’s attack of the smelly feet from the back seat during a pit stop or taking our three favorite furry friends to the vet, so we can keep enjoying are road trips together Refresh Air Vent Clips Fresh Strawberry & Cool Lemonade sweetens the ride! and brightens up even the longest of road trips.

Fresh Strawberry & Cool Lemonade™

Innovative scents from Refresh Your Car® come in unique fragrance packs that feature two scents, specially formulated to go together or used alone.

• Fresh Strawberry & Cool Lemonade™ – This mixture of freshly picked strawberries and the tastiest lemonade creates a dynamic duo, with the perfect combination of freshness, fruit and fun – guaranteed to brighten up even the longest of road trips.
• Alpine Meadow™ & Summer Breeze™ – The smell of crisp clean mountain air coupled with the alluring scents of sea oats and crashing waves makes this an all-season fragrance to celebrate.
• Lightning Bolt™ & Ice Storm™ – A bold combination that creates a soft, clean and smooth sent, which releases a hint of cool musk.
• Wildflowers & Love™ – A dual combination of scents that will bring the easy-going, gentle smell of love on a nice summer day to your commute.
• Citrus Sparkle™ & Summer Splash™ – A refreshing mixture of berries, tart mandarin, jasmine and vetiver blend to create the perfect summer escape.

Classic and tropical scents:

• Perfect Peach™ – The simple smell of peach comes through clear, with its fresh, crisp and fruity smells that will keep you feeling energized and warm.
• Fresh Linen – A classic crisp and clean fragrance that will remind you of your favorite sheets dried on a clothesline by a blowing breeze.
• Cool Breeze™ – A crisp, clean and strong fresh sent that will keep your car as fresh as a cool breeze. Island Coconut – The smooth tropical smell of an island coconut, with fruity smooth notes of the Caribbean.
• Lexol® Leather – Rich leather, orange zest, black pepper and cedar scents mix perfectly together to create a timeless fragrance that is sure to delight.

Lexol® Leather

Giveaway Details:

1. Like my [Instagram: HERE] and tag 2 of your friends to enter
2. Comment on which scent you prefer when you enter.
3. Share this post and tag a friend to enter.

   1. 1. Winners must be selected on June 7th

      2. Winners will be selected at random by using a raffle tool.
      3. Winner must be able to submit mailing address to receive Refresh Prize.

 

DIY: Pool Noodle Race Car Track

It’s Wednesday my favorite day of the week, when I was little it was the day my Dad took us for pizza when my Mom was at work, sometimes I still fell like a kid especially when were in the backyard holding matchbox derbies, we’re so excited to  show you our latest summer fun project, we actually it can be used all year round and is great indoors too!

Start your engines!

Now I saw this done with marbles, the noodle was a much small diameter, so when I saw the giant noodle on sale at the grocery store we snagged the last one!

My new obsession other than drilling holes in toys is matchbox cars, wait till I show you are flying ones!

But that will have to wait for another week since their just so so cool they deserve their own DIY post.

1. Buy an extra large diameter foam pool noodle, I got mine 1/2 price at the super market ($1.50)
2. cut the noodle in half with a serrated knife (one side than the other side or electric knife you can cut straight through both sides)
3. once the noodle is in two pieces lay them on the ground side by side
4. insert toothpicks where the two halves of the foam noodles touch each other
5. use as many toothpicks as need to hold the noodle tracks tight together
6. then with a need nose pliers clip the ends of the tooth picks flush to the noodle

 Now you’re ready to decorate your track

Using cardstock at toothpicks I created small flags for along the sides of the track

 Again with cardstock cut to size I stamped Start and Finish then I cut wooden or bamboo skewers down to size leaving the pointed end exposed (makes it easier to insert into the foam) I then used fast drying Aleene’s Tacky glue I glued the two pieces of cardstock together with the cut ends of the wooden skewers sandwiched in between and we were ready to race!

Finally just prop the track up on a chair, table, bed, pretty much anything, the higher the prop the faster the cars go.

 17 is my lucky number, guess who won?

I don’t bet on the races but it wouldn’t have hurt this time.

This DIY project rates low on the skill level scale, it was very easy and I came out looking like Super Mom!

Hair That Goes from Day to Night Effortlessly with TRESemmé

Spring has sprung, flowers are in bloom, there’s a gently warm bay breeze and of course the humidity is at 96%, long hair can be hard to keep up with this time of year.

I need something that can hold my long hair, and three teen age daughter with their trendy hairstyles, and still let’s our hair move in the breeze. Thanks to NEW TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray, a day at the beach won’t have us looking wind blown and running back home to re-style before dinner.

Introducing the revolutionary TRESemmé Compressed Micro-Mist Hair Spray, the newest innovation in styling from TRESemmé. Whether you are looking for a date night look or everyday style, these hairsprays keep any look intact that’s full of life and movement.

Our local Walmart had a great display to chose from, TRESemme BOOST 3 was a perfect fit, gives an all-day hold for our brushable styles and it’s humidity resistant!

TRESemmé Compressed Micro Mist Hairspray Extend

TRESemmé Compressed Micro Mist Hairspray Boost

TRESemmé Compressed Micro Mist Hairspray Smooth

TRESemmé Compressed Micro Mist Hairspray Texture

What’s yours?