***Disclosure:This post is sponsored by Royal Canin® and the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™ . I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Royal Canin® and National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day, but Newly Crunchy Mama Of 3 only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Royal Canin® is not responsible for the content of this article.*** As many of you know, we are a very pet-friendly household. Okay. I'll keep it completely real with you here. We have a zoo. Six cats and a dog keep us on our toes and shower us with affection every single day. Yes. I just said SIX CATS. We have Noodles, Pringles, Truffles, Havarti, Cheeseball, and Mary Jane. And now, a little kitten has shown up on our deck, and she refuses to leave....We are calling her "Nope" at the moment, because that's what I told the kids when they asked if we could keep her. NOPE. 
Still, we are taking care of her, feeding her, and are taking her to the vet this week before we actively start looking for a home for Nope. After all, our four-legged family members deserve all the love and care we can give them. They love us back unconditionally, making them very valued members of our family. Nope, once she's socialized and properly vetted, will make someone a wonderful feline companion. We will make sure she's as healthy as possible for her new family, as we will be having her checked out, wormed, vaccinated, and maybe even spayed before we actively try to find an adopter for her. 
Since all of our cats were rescues, we know how important it is for cats to see the veterinarian on a regular basis. Most of our rescue kitties had some sort of underlying health issue that needed to be resolved upon their rescue, so we formed a very good relationship with our vet early on. She stressed to us from our first visit how cat health relies very much on preventative care and early addressing of any issues. Many pet owners don't realize the importance of regular vet visits and preventative care, and only take their cats to the vet when they're seriously ill or aging. This is a mistake that's commonly made. Half of all cats do not see a veterinarian on a regular basis. In fact, only one cat is seen by a veterinarian for every five dogs, despite the fact that 10 million more cats are owned in the U.S. Royal Canin recently commissioned a survey to better understand how pet owners feel about cat health, especially compared to dogs and learned some interesting things: • Sixty-eight percent of cat owners feel that cats are healthier than dogs. • When asked why cat owners don't take their cat to the vet more often, financial burden is the primary reason (40 percent), while 31 percent of people responded it's because they believe their cat doesn't need to go. • Two-thirds (66 percent) say they would take their cat more often to the vet if it was easier to do so. • Men are actually more likely to be found at the vet’s office than women. Thirty-four percent of male cat owners visit the vet more than once per year, compared to just one in four women (26 percent). 
Dancer, reality TV judge and proud pet owner Carrie Ann Inaba is partnering with Royal Canin as a spokesperson this year to promote Take Your Cat to the Vet Day. Throughout the month of August, cat owners can share a photo of their cat and/or tips on how they’ve successfully gotten their cat to the vet using hashtag #Cat2VetDay. For every share, Royal Canin will donate $5 to Frankie’s Friends (www.frankiesfriends.org). This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Royal Canin. The opinions and text are all mine.
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 There is no mistaking that if your kids aren’t headed back to school now, they will be soon – the stores are filled with supplies and sales and ads for back-to-school. The beginning of a new school year can be an especially challenging time for parents and children both, although for totally different reasons. For parents, making sure that kids are equipped with the supplies and everything they need to get organized and have a good year is usually the first challenge. Then meeting the teachers, checking out the classrooms, and assessing the curriculum for the year is next on the list. 2 of my kids are part of the K12 Program, which means while they attend "public school", their learning is mainly done online, from home. They do have an actual teacher and classmates that they interact with daily, as well as back to school picnics and Meet the Teacher events to look forward to. Oh, and of course, the dreaded Fall AIMSweb testing! For kids, the stress of the new school year can be a little different than what we experience as parents. Did you know that one in five children in the U.S. have learning and attention issues, like ADHD and dyslexia? Children with these types of challenges – many of whom have never been formally diagnosed – can feel especially stressed during the back-to-school season as they face new subjects, teachers and schools. As the new school year approaches, we were excited to get personalized tips from the First-Day Ready Guide to help our kids make a great start. The Ad Council and Understood.org have partnered to promote ways children and their families can be First-Day Ready. Understood.org is offering a free First-Day Ready Guide to help parents with students at every age successfully manage back-to-school transitions. Understood.org is a free, easy-to-use online resource and community designed to support parents and caregivers of children with learning and attention issues.  Sophie is in 2nd Grade this year and Xander is in 1st. We've really enjoyed checking out the tips from Understood.org. Hoping out BTS is easy and painless this year!
These back-to-school tips from the Understood.org website are an invaluable resource for getting on track and starting the year of on the right foot. They helped my family; hopefully they can help yours too.
You can also take your child on a school tour to help ease fears by showing them how to find their classroom, nearby bathrooms, the cafeteria and other important places the first week of school. This can be a huge stress relief whether the child is new to the school or not. Just knowing where to go can help them feel more comfortable.
So, no matter your child’s age or needs, this Back-to-School season can be a seamless transition and positive experience for both you and your children! If you could use some help getting started on the right foot this school year, Understood.org is a great place to start. All kids learn in different ways and at different paces. With the right support, all kids can thrive in school and in life. 
***DIsclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
Summer is coming to a close, and fall is right around the proverbial corner. That means a few different things in my home: The kids will be cranky as they adjust to their schedules, cold and flu are going to creep up on us eventually, but in the meantime, we're definitely at risk for what I call the "Back to School Sickies."
Every year, without fail, we get some sort of bug within a few weeks of school starting. Without FAIL. I think it's all the germs co-mingling in close quarters after taking a blissful summer off. I do my best to stay as healthy as possible, especially this time of year. I make sure to clean and disinfect things around the house, I drink loads of water and get plenty of rest, and I also make sure to eat a well-balanced diet. Oh, and I take steps to ensure my innards stay healthy and balanced by taking prebiotics. Lately, I've been totally digging the products from Prebiotin. 
***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
Now that Back to School Season is in full swing, I have about 3,592 things that need to get done, and only one ME to do them. Sometimes, I really wish I had a clone or 3...Or maybe an entourage...Or a band of helpful Oompa Loompas.
Anyway, with 3 kids that are all getting back to their non-summer schedules, I've been more than a wee bit busy. Often, like many parents, when my kids need me, I often overlook caring for myself properly. A big way I tend to neglect myself when on the go is by either not eating at all, or by stopping somewhere with a drive-through and grabbing food that I know isn't really that healthy, just so I can keep pushing through my busy day. Thankfully, I found a better option, thanks to the folks at Genuine Health. This company offers a wide range of fermented vegan protein products, including fermented vegan protein bars, which are a great on-the-go snack, and much healthier than fast food. Oh! Plus, they don't cause the dreaded bloat. I'm sure you ladies know exactly what demon I speak of. Bloating is not pleasant, nor is it welcomed.  ***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** Ladies, let's talk about something uncomfortable here. Something that as women, we don't want to talk about....Thinning hair. It happens, and it happens to a lot of us. Sometimes it happens as a natural part of aging, and sometimes it happens after things like having a baby. That actually happened to me after my youngest son, Xander, was born.
Just the normal hormonal changes after having a baby caused my hair to become thinner, and I shed like crazy. I was definitely aware of it, and it made me feel really self-conscious. That's why I was so excited about the latest launch from vegan haircare brand ColorProof. This new product tackles one of the most common hair care concerns today; thinning hair, which plagues 40% of American women. As August is National Hair Loss Awareness Month, ColorProof aims to bring attention to this cause which is affecting more and more women every day. Jim Markham, CEO and Founder of ColorProof, developed the BioRepair-8 Anti-Aging Scalp & Hair System, a solution-based system for women with aging, thinning, and color-treated hair. This skin-care inspired, scientifically-advanced, three-step system uniquely targets the four main causes of female hair loss at the bio-cellular level to regenerate the scalp, improve strength and density, and deliver noticeably thicker, fuller hair. 
***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
My daughter, Sophie, is 7 going on 25. Not even kidding. She's too smart to fool, and uses reasoning that is often surprisingly adult-like and rational. She is a smart cookie, and kind of reminds me of Hermione from Harry Potter. She's incredibly smart, and maybe a little too blatant about displaying it. She has been known to tell people she's smarter than them, and has even corrected the grammar of people. In public.
We're working on modesty and tact. Anyway, as you can probably guess, Sophie's style isn't your typical "kiddie style". She favors Boho or "Hippie" clothes, and doesn't really care for pastels and cutesie cartoons. She's my little mirror reflection, and she's definitely got a style pretty similar to mine. So when I learned about the luxury children's watches from Royal + Bright, I was definitely intrigued. These durable, high-quality watches are made to look like Mom or Dad's watch, but also stand up to all the use and abuse an active kiddo can throw its way. Not that I recommend beating it up or throwing watches, of course. I mean kids that fall, bump into things, climb on the playground, etc. You know what I mean, right? Right. Anyway, keep reading to learn more about Royal + Bright, as well as a fun GIVEAWAY! 
***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***
Does your family like playing games together? Mine sure does. My kids are finally old enough to have graduated from the "baby games", and we've been having an absolute blast expanding our gaming horizons.
Recently, I got the chance to check out some great spy games from YULU Toys. These awesome games, Break Free and Safe Breaker, have taken the internet by storm lately as players share their super-spy skills. 
***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% and have not been influenced in any way.***
Okay, so I recently had a birthday....At MY age, birthdays cause me anxiety. You see, I have this silly fear of aging, because aging means closer to death...And the idea of death scares the pants off of me.
So anyway, I had a birthday. The number on the proverbial cake was ancient, according to my kids. (I didn't actually get a cake, as I don't have a sweet tooth and try to eat as healthy as possible.) Rather than cry and moan and fall into some weird, mid-life depression, I decided to take my aging process into my own hands. No, I cannot stop time....No one can. I can, however, try to ensure I am as healthy as possible so the aging is done gracefully. I eat a well-balanced diet of healthy foods (usually), I stay hydrated, I get plenty of sleep, and I am promising myself to try and get more exercise. I've never really enjoyed working out by myself, and I don't really know anyone where i live to partner up with. I also don't drink....That's right. Not at all. I also don't use tobacco, and I stay away from anything addictive. Well, unless you count coffee, cheese, and Bruno Mars. I'd say these things are pretty darn addictive. I also take supplements to help ensure I'm the best me I can be, at any age! TIMEBLOCK® is a daily natural multivitamin and anti-aging supplement for men and women formulated in the Swiss Alps and grown in the Himalayan mountains. This new natural daily superfood supplement provides essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants for you to be your best physically and mentally while providing the tools for healthier aging.  ***Samples and information were provided by Go Organically® Fruit Snacks. Our opinions and our experience are 100% our own.*** Whether you’re road tripping to an awesome destination, hiking a new trail or simply having a family picnic in the park, there's still time left to Get up and GO this summer.
We did! We decided to celebrate the end of summer by hitting up one of our local wading pools before it closes for the season. We've got several big, 1 ft. deep pools at various parks, and the kids always have a blast. Sure, it's only a foot deep...But a lot of fun can be had in that 12 inches of cool water! Crab-walking, splash wars, floating, etc. Good times. Of course we made sure to have the essentials on hand before heading to the park for a day of fun in the sun. We packed towels, sunscreen, extra clothing, and of course, some snacks. Go Organically® Fruit Snacks sent us some of their delicious USDA Certified Organic Fruit Snacks to try for ourselves, and they made the perfect snack!  ***Disclosure: We received complimentary samples to facilitate our post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** Are your kids ready for summer to end? Mine have mixed feelings. My youngest son, Xander, is eager for school to start. My other kids? Well, they're not quite as enthusiastic. They aren't ready for their summer fun to end just yet. There are still more lightning bugs to catch and more adventures to be had.
One way my littles are keeping the vacation spirit alive even as school approaches is by having imaginary cruises. Yep. They're cruising the high seas with their PLAYMOBIL Cruise Ship! The Cruise Ship brings all aspects of summer fun into one colorful, unique play set. Kids will love using their imagination and creativity to bring these figures to life. Simply pull out the lower deck, lounge in the spacious guest room, sunbathe on the top deck, have a bite to eat at the restaurant, or slide down into the refillable pool! Wherever you're sailing, PLAYMOBIL's Cruise Ship will surely make it an adventure. |
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I'm Brandy, a happily married, proud mama of two munchkins and a teen. You can read more about me HERE. If you're interested in building a working relationship, please feel free to e-mail me at: NewlyCrunchyMamaOf3@gmail.com 
 
 
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