***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** I have a confession to make....We have not yet seen DIsney's new Cinderella movie. How that's even possible, I don't even know. My kiddos are princess-obsessed. So obviously, we will have to fix that little problem as soon as possible. We can't wait for the Blu-Ray release on September 15th! It won't come quickly enough for my kids, I'm sure.
To get my 5 year old daughter, Sophie, even more hyped up about this newer version of one of her favorite Disney fairy tales, I decided to surprise her with some Disney Cinderella costumes from Costume Express. They have SO many gorgeous costumes to choose from, and they are styled to match the costumes featured in the movie itself. Pretty cool, don't you agree?
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I received a sample from Scotties for the sole purpose of this review
Can you believe it -- according to a recent study conducted by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the top 10 cities that will experience the worst spring allergies this year are…
1. Jacksonville, MS *worst*
2. Louisville, KY
3. Oklahoma, OK
4. Memphis, TN
5. Knoxville, TN
6. McAllen, TX
7. Wichita, KS
8. Dayton, OH
9. Providence, RI
10. Richmond, VA
The itchy watery eyes and the stuffy nose are the absolute worst – but Scotties is here for you! And if your allergies get bad, try our 3-ply, or 3-ply with aloe for the extra strength you need.
How will you treat your allergies this summer? Hopefully Scotties is on your list! *The participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. ***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my review. No other compensation has been provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** After a long, ridiculously harsh winter and what seems to be turning into a pretty crazy summer weather-wise, my poor hair and skin have really taken a beating. Extremes aren't always good for one's appearance. Harsh, extremely cold conditions can cause dry hair, skin, and nails. Humidity paired with insane heat? Well, that can be equally disastrous. I tend to get break-outs in the summer due to sweating alone!
There are plenty of ways to help keep your skin, hair, and nails in tip top shape, no matter what the season. Using products that contain SPF, a good moisturizer, staying hydrated, eating a balanced diet, and getting enough sleep are all things that can do absolute wonders for the body. But what if you need a little extra help, like me? I mean, I'm not going to lie. Today is my birthday, and I am 34....Wow...How did that even happen?! So as a woman rapidly easing into my mid-30's, I need all the help I can get when it comes to maintaining a glowing, youthful appearance. Thankfully, the folks at SeabuckWonders have the answer. This brand is amazing, and offers a wide variety of products that harness the powers of sea buckthorn. This plant-based ingredient is well known worldwide for its soothing, rejuvenating, and balancing properties. These natural, non-GMO, cruelty-free, organic products are packed with a high concentration of sea buckthorn oil for maximum results. That means healthier, softer and more beautiful skin for anyone that adds these products to their daily routine. I became a mother when I was almost 19. I remember being absolutely terrified, since I was young and hadn't even considered having children yet. Plus, I was in a very abusive marriage, and pregnancy wasn't exactly the best news at the time. At the time, I had absolutely no idea how much my life was about to change in the most beautiful ways. Kyle was born 15 years ago, and being his mom has been the single best thing I have ever done. I am a better, kinder, gentler person because of him. Sure, it hasn't always been easy, but everything has been so completely worth it. Luckily, I was able to leave my abusive ex-husband once and for all. Since then, I have remarried a man I have actually known since I was 13. He was my first "real" boyfriend, so imagine my shock when I would up with him again so many years later. It had to be fate. When Dan and I got married, we started trying to conceive almost immediately. We wanted to expand our family and give Kyle siblings to grow up with. He was pretty sick of being an only child by that point. It should have come easily, right? After all, that's what our bodies are designed to do: Make babies and preserve the existence of the human species. Well, it usually takes between 6 months to a year for most couples to conceive. Many of them conceive much, much more quickly than that. I remember seeing all of my friends getting pregnant left and right, while each and every month, we were left with disappointment...Again. We even suffered 3 very early miscarriages. It was devastating, to say the least. We headed to the doctor to see what, if anything, they could tell us about why we were having such a hard time getting and staying pregnant. Dan's swimmers checked out just fine, but they determined that I have PCOS, which can make it difficult to have a baby. Difficult, but not impossible.... Rather than allowing the diagnosis of Secondary Infertility to bring us down and crush our hopes of expanding our family, we decided to keep trying. We made some lifestyle changes, and even used sperm-friendly lube to help us along the way. Today, we are blessed with Sophie, who is 5, and Xander, who was born just 12 months after his sister. Yep. Back to back pregnancies, which came as an absolute shock and delight. After all of the heartbreak, all of the losses, and all of the tears, our family was finally complete. Here are my top 3 tips for couples like us who have their hearts set on trying to conceive a child: 1. Take Care of Yourself. Proper diet, plenty of water, and getting a good night's sleep are SO important when you're trying to conceive. Your body needs to be in tip-top condition to take on the very important job of growing a baby. Everyone knows a woman who is already pregnant is eating for 2. This is also true for women who are trying to become pregnant. Nourish your body before pregnancy the same way you would if you were nourishing the baby you long to have inside of you. 2. Take Vitamins and Supplements There are plenty of supplements that can be taken to help fertility. My husband took Zinc, which is beneficial to sperm production, every day. I took Folic Acid, a Prenatal Vitamin, and a special supplement for women with PCOS daily. I truly believe that making sure we got the best nutrients for fertility helped us conceive. 3. Use Sperm-Friendly Lubricants Using a sperm-friendly lube like Astroglide TTC™ can help assist you in your fertility journey by supporting healthy pH levels in the vagina. This supports the sperm in reaching their ultimate goal. HOW IT WORKS: When trying to conceive, it is vital to provide an environment where sperm has a chance of survival. Environmental conditions are affected by pH levels, osmolality (the concentration of substances like sodium and potassium) and the consistency of egg white cervical mucus. While traditional lubricants may affect these conditions and inhibit sperm motility, studies have shown that Astroglide TTC is compatible with sperm, oocytes and embryos and allows sperm to move freely. TTC is specially formulated with adjusted pH levels, compatible osmolality and a consistency similar to that of your own cervical mucus, making it less likely to hinder sperm motility than traditional lubricants. TTC also contains galactose, which is found naturally in semen, as well as fructose, the main source of energy for sperm. Like all Astroglide products, TTC also temporarily relieves vaginal dryness during sexual activity. Astroglide TTC™ retails for $12.99. (This is a great price, folks!) You can purchase it at Amazon, Drugstore.com, CVS, and other fine retailers. Connect with Astroglide on Facebook and on Pinterest. You can even submit your own testimonial. Astroglide TTC™ sponsored this blog post. The opinions and text are all mine " "***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my review. No other compensation was provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** During the summer, we spend a good part of our days on the go. We head to the many playgrounds in our town, the water park, and even to the riverfront to catch some live music almost every weekend. We have tons of fun as a family, and really enjoy the beauty of NE Ohio summers.
Of course, being constantly on the go means that there's a lot of temptation when it comes to food. Without fail, I always end up hearing "Mooooommmmy... I'm HUNGRYYYYYYYY" coming from at least 2 out of 3 kids' mouths. Now it would be SO easy to stop at a fast food restaurant when the natives get restless. Fast food is quick and easy, and definitely takes care of hunger. But, and this is a HUGE but, fast food is also pretty darn gross, in my humble opinion. We avoid it whenever possible. Most fast food choices are far from healthy, and are full of chemicals, preservatives, GMO's, and tons of fat and sodium. Did you hear about that 14 year old cheeseburger that never decayed? Yeah. I definitely don't want to serve that to my kids. Thankfully, I have some tricks up my sleeve. Or, in my purse, to be exact. I have Slammers Protein+ SuperFood Smoothies at the ready for any time my kiddos need a snack while we're out and about. ***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my review. No other compensation has been provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** If you know me in "real life" or even just on Facebook, you've probably heard me talk about the gazillion different uses for and benefits of coconut oil. Seriously, I use it for everything. Whether it's soothing a sunburn, calming down thrush in an infant, or even bringing out your own natural beauty, coconut oil has definitely become a go-to product in my home.
Did you know that coconut oil is also a wonderful dietary supplement? It's true! The healthy fats found in coconut oil have some pretty impressive benefits. It can help support a healthy immune system, supports heart health, and even helps support good cholesterol levels. How is this possible? Well, coconuts are naturally high in Lauric Acid as well as Medium Chain Triglycerides, or MCT's. These are broken down quickly by the body and converted to energy. MCT's are known to help reduce hunger, and even help you to feel fuller, faster. So yes, coconut oil can also help aid you in your weight loss and fitness efforts. Seriously, folks, is there anything coconut oil can't do?! Welcome to the Give Your Feet A Break Today GiveawayHosted by: A Medic's World Sponsored by: Hydrofeet Sometimes walking can be painful for many reasons. Whether it is lower back pain, or conditions with your feet, maybe the type of shoes that you wear, all of these can add up to uncomfortable steps that you are taking on your feet. Why not try adding a pair of insoles that will help alleviate some of those problems? Let's introduce Hydrofeet, a therapeutic liquid messaging insole made for men and women, with children sizes coming soon. Let's check out the full review Tom over at A Medic's World did here. So how does a chance of winning 1 of the 10 pairs available of these sound? Yes, 10 lucky people will each get to pick 1 pair from the size chart below. ***Disclosure: “I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Folgers. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.***
My name is Brandy, and I am a coffee addict. No, really. I am. If I don't get my coffee fix when I wake up in the morning, I am not pleasant to be around. Plus, I end up getting sleepy mid-afternoon, and with kids to care for, that just won't do. I need to have both energy and mental alertness on my side, otherwise my kids will take over the house and turn it into a huge, booby-trapped obstacle course. That wouldn't be good.
So as I was saying, coffee and I have quite the love affair going on. There's just nothing like a nice, steaming cup of coffee to get me ready for a busy day. Wait. Scratch that. Hot? Steamy? What am I saying?! This is summer! The only things that should be hot and steamy are the weather and of course, Bruno Mars. My beverages should not be. Not this time of year, at least. ***Disclosure: I will be receiving promotional items to thank me for my participation in this campaign. No other compensation has been provided, and all opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.*** Summer may have just officially begun, but many families are thinking about back to school shopping. Some families are running out and stocking up on supplies. Other families are struggling to find a way to afford things like school supplies, clothing, and shoes for back to school season. This can be very expensive, and many hard-working families don't have the means to get everything their children will need for school this fall.
Thankfully, The Kids In Need Foundation is there to help. In fact, they have been helping for an impressive 20 years! What does the Kids In Need Foundation do? Well this is an amazing, non-profit organization that does a lot of good. They provide school supplies to children who need them nationwide-at no cost to their families. To celebrate their 20th Birthday, the Kids In Need Foundation has partnered with Duck Tape, and they have whipped up something sweet to help celebrate! One lucky crafter will win $5,000! That's right! FIVE. THOUSAND. DOLLARS. Let that sink in for a minute..... How do you enter? It's simple! Just head on over to the Cupcake Design Contest Page and submit your own Cupcake-themed Duck Tape pattern! The winning design will also be made into a larger than life cupcake. How cool is that?! You can learn more about The Kids In Need Foundation by connecting with them on Facebook, on twitter, and on Instagram.
This week Logitech introduced its2015 Play Collection Mice! How adorable are these mice bringing a splash of color and a touch of playfulness to your desk? This is the seventh annual design collection for Logitech's most popular mice - the Logitech Wireless Mouse M325c and the Logitech Wireless Mouse M317c. Inspired by the latest trends in fashion, furniture design and accessories, these distinctive new mice feature the friendly faces of playful characters, and colorful patterns and shapes
“Our goal was to evoke a little fun, and remind you to smile when you’re using your mouse,” said Charlotte Johs, global vice president of computer peripherals at Logitech. “We combined a splash of color, a touch of playfulness and a dash of spirit to create this year’s 2015 Logitech Play Collection. The color combinations and designs are inspiring, cheerful, and add personality to your desk.” The comfortable shape of the mice, plus the precise scrolling and tracking makes navigating a breeze! The 2015 Logitech Play Collection mice are compatible with Microsoft Windows, Max, Chrome OS or Linux and they can play up to 33 feet away while still maintaining a reliable connection! With the collection's long-lasting battery life, it's easy to keep the fun going for up to 18 months depending on the model. ![]() The 2015 Logitech Play Collection is available in June 2015 for a retail price of $29.99. One lucky winner will receive a random design of the Logitech Play Collection! To enter, follow the steps in the giveaway form below. This giveaway ends on 7/7 at 11:59pm ET and is open to US Residents, 18+, one entry per household. Participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. Momma Lew received this product for the purpose of this review, but all opinions are her own and were not influenced in anyway. |
PR Friendly Mama!
I'm Brandy, a happily married, proud Mom of 3 amazing kids. If you're interested in building a working relationship, please feel free to e-mail me at: NewlyCrunchyMamaOf3@gmail.com Links We Love :Archives
March 2023
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