This year, since we're homeschooling our daughter, I am really focusing on giving the kids quality gifts that encourage learning and creativity. They are both getting educational games and tablets, and we're also giving art and dramatic play related presents. There is something magical about a child's imagination, and I am a huge fan of creative play. 

One company that offers about a zillion educational and imaginative products is Lakeshore Learning. This company has been around since 1954, and provides wonderful, engaging products to schools, daycares, and homes nationwide. 

While there is online ordering available, Lakeshore Learning also offers brick and mortar locations from coast to coast that offer free children's crafts, teacher's workshops, and more! ​

It's that time of year again, folks! The air is getting downright frigid, noses are starting to run, and I've even heard quite a few coughs while I was out and about yesterday afternoon.

I think it's safe to say, Cold and Flu Season has official made its arrival. We haven't gotten sick yet, which is pretty miraculous, but I know it's coming. No amount of handwashing ever seems to help us completely escape the mutant colds we have floating around here in NE Ohio. 

Thankfully, when cold symptoms strike, I have some Advil® Sinus Congestion & Pain. This will not only help squash those annoying cold symptoms, it will also help me remain productive even if the only thing I want to do is curl up in bed with a good book and thick blanket. That's what I like to do on my sickest days ever. 

Speaking of.....Have you heard about the Advil® Sinus Congestion & Pain Sickest Day Ever Sweepstakes?

About the Advil® at Work™ “Sickest Day Ever” Sweepstakes:
·         Advil® Sinus Congestion & Pain provides fast, effective relief of your severe cold symptoms, so you can enjoy your sickest day!
·         Park City, UT; Grand Canon, AZ; or San Juan, Puerto Rico - where will your “Sickest Day Ever” journey lead you? Three Grand Prize winners will receive:
o   Two round trip tickets to their selected destination
o   A two-night stay in a hotel for the winner and a friend
o   A one-day itinerary for the “Sickest Day Ever”
o   A video prize pack to capture their “Sickest Day Ever”
·         Even if you don’t win the Grand Prize, you still have a chance to jump in on the “Sickest Day Ever;” after entering our Grand Prize Sweepstakes, click the link to the Weekly Prizes page, and confirm your email to be entered into the drawing!
·         After confirming your email, you will have a unique URL that you can share with all your adventurous friends. For each friend who enters the Grand Prize Sweeps through your unique URL, the entrant who shared your URL will receive one additional entry into the Weekly Prizes, including a Sports Outlet Gift Card, Outdoor Backpack, Premium Headphones, and Fitness Tracker!

Entering the Advil® at Work™ “Sickest Day Ever” Sweepstakes is easy:
1.       Head over to the Advil® at Work™ “Sickest Day Ever” Sweepstakes page:http://www.sickestdayever.com
2.       Simply record a video on the sweepstakes page of yourself saying our Advil® Sinus Congestion & Pain tongue twister for your chance to experience your “Sickest Day Ever!”
o   “Sickest Day Ever” Tongue Twister: “Six of my sickest sinus symptoms solved with the speed and strength of Advil in Advil Sinus Congestion & Pain for a chance to win the Sickest Day”
3.       Fill out quick “Sickest Day Ever” entry form and enter for your chance to win the Grand Prize trip and other fun prizes. 


Information about Advil® Sinus Congestion & Pain

·         Advil® introduces Advil® Sinus Congestion & Pain*, which provides fast, powerful relief for a number of severe cold, flu, and sinus symptoms.
·         It is the only over-the-counter cold and sinus medicine that combines the speed and strength of Advil® with a proven nasal decongestant for fast, effective relief of severe cold symptoms including, sinus pressure and headache.
·         Contains Phenylephrine, a nasal decongestant which reduces swelling and allows the nasal and sinus airways to expand to their natural state for easier breathing.
·         Advil® products contain ibuprofen, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that has been repeatedly proven to reduce pain safely and effectively when taken as directed.
·         Advil® Sinus Congestion & Pain is intended for use in adults and children from ages 12 and older.
* Advil® Sinus Congestion & Pain was formerly known as Advil® Congestion Relief

I am thrilled to announce that one lucky reader will receive their own Advil® Sinus Congestion & Pain Prize Pack containing Advil® Sinus Congestion & Pain Samples, a t-shirt, and a $25 Visa Gift Card. 

How cool is that?!

This giveaway is open to US  Residents 18+ until 11:59PM on November 25, 2015. No PO Boxes. Winner will be drawn using Rafflecopter's Random Number Generator. All entries will be verified, so play fair! I will notify winner via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to reply before I am forced to redraw winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram in any way. Participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. If you have any questions, please contact Brandy at newlycrunchymamaof3@gmail.com Thanks for entering, and Good Luck!

Do you love beauty, fitness, and surprises? Who doesn't, right? I am more into the beauty aspect....I'm not going to lie; when it comes to fitness, I have good intentions, but don't always make the time to work out. Perhaps this will be a New Year's Resolution for 2016. 

Anyway, recently, I received a Fall Box from fabfitfun. This seasonal subscription box contains tons of full-sized, luxury beauty and fitness goodies. Every season, you can try out great new products, and maybe even discover some new favorites!

I'm not going to lie....We have a zoo. We have multiple cats, all of which were rescues, and we also have small dogs. (You know, the cutesy little hypoallergenic breeds?) Anyway, the cats basically run the show here. They are, after all, far superior to any smelly old dog. (According to them. We love our pups, too!) 

When choosing pet food, we always want to give our pets the best. With so many brands to choose from, it really takes some careful research to choose the food that is going to be the most beneficial and nutritious. Sure, there are bargain brands that contain loads of grain and other fillers, but are those really the best for our furry friends? Studies have proven that grain-filled food really isn't the best choice. In fact, these foods can actually be harmful to a pet's health! 

This year, Christmas is going to be a bit different for my family. Rather than focusing on the gifts we are to receive, we're focusing on giving. My kids get gifts all year long thanks to blogging. This year, the Holiday season is going to be all about giving back to a family who deserves it. 

You see, a few days ago, Corey was senselessly murdered. He was shot 5 times in the chest, and left to die. His family discovered his lifeless body the next day, and now their lives are turned upside-down. 

Two children, ages 3 and 6, lost their Daddy. A woman lost the man that she was to marry in just 6 months. This family has been torn apart, and right before the Holidays. Can you even imagine the pain, grief, and confusion they must be feeling? 

Corey was a very giving man who was passionate about helping others. He helped those who were sick, primarily. He taught many people how to change their diets to maximize health, he helped numerous people quit smoking, and he was a shoulder to lean on for anyone who was struggling. Corey was a good man, and he didn't deserve to die. 

Thankfully, there have been several arrests for his murder. The people who robbed and shot him are behind bars where they belong. 

Still, his family is left behind to try and pick up the pieces and learn how to live without him. 

This year, some friends and I have a special mission: Christmas for Corey. We want to help make sure that this family, the kids especially, have the best Christmas they possibly can. 

We will be collecting toys, clothing, and other gifts for Corey's family. Dan, my husband, will be wearing a Santa suit, and we will be showering this family with love and support during this difficult time. 

I have a lot of wonderful things in the works, but I need some help. 

I am looking to partner with brands who would like to donate giftable items that would go directly to Corey's family. In exchange, these brands will be offered a review, placement in my Holiday Gift Guide, and 6 MONTHS of FREE sidebar ad space. 

If you would like to help this cause and make Christmas special for a family suffering from a tremendous loss, please e-mail Brandy at newlycrunchymamaof3@gmail.com 

Now that the holiday season is upon us, I'm scrambling to find the perfect gift for everyone on my "Nice List" this year. The kiddos are easy to shop for. They're happy with anything music, video game, or tech-related. 

Finding gifts for the lovely ladies in my life is a little tougher. After all, you never want to ask a woman for her clothing size. Okay, some may not mind.... But please don't ever ask ME for my clothing size. I might end up crying! That's a different post entirely, though. 

One thing I have found always goes over well with my female friends and family are beauty related gifts. After all, what woman doesn't like feeling and looking pretty?! 

Recently, I discovered some great gift ideas from Pixi Beauty. Their Holiday Collection offers 3 portable, versatile kits that are sure to bring a smile this season. Or any season. Good makeup is always appreciated, don't you agree? 

As a mom, I take tons of pictures.....As a blogger, add a ton more. It seems that I am constantly filling up the available storage of my iPhone, and I end up having to delete things on a fairly regular basis. It gets frustrating, and I never like erasing memories from my phone simply to free up some space. Sure, I transfer them to my MacBook Pro, but unfortunately, that doesn't have infinite storage space, either. 

Recently, I learned about a great new product made specifically for iPhone users. The PhotoFast MAX Hello Kitty USB 3.0 Flash Drive offers a fun, convenient way to backup your music, photos, and even your social media content. This product is designed specifically for iOs users, and can also be used with your Mac/PC. It comes in varying storage capacities from 16gb all the way to a whopping 128gb. 

How cool is that?!