Keep Momming.

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Shire. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”

Raising a child at any age is challenging, and when it comes to mothers and daughters, the dynamic can be even more complex. What some may dismiss as “typical tween girl behavior” can sometimes be symptoms of something more serious. Research suggests that girls are more likely than boys to report having mostly inattentive Attention- Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Since inattentive symptoms can be less noticeable than hyperactive and impulsive symptoms, it is important that moms know what to look for.

That’s why I’m pleased to be joining Shire, CHADD and Holly Robinson Peete to announce the launch of keep momming, a new public service initiative geared towards the moms of tween girls to raise awareness of ADHD.

The campaign is anchored within a new digital hub, KeepMomming.com, where you’ll find tips, tools and other go-to resources for moms, including a checklist to help recognize the symptoms of ADHD – inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity – and then encourages moms to talk to their daughter’s doctor. Thekeep momming initiative can help moms learn about ADHD and provide ideas on how to spark a conversation and stay connected with their tween.

Check out Holly’s message about how she keeps momming http://goo.gl/MR8HL2, and don’t forget to visit KeepMomming.com.

Cascade© Platinum Pacs- Review #Sponsored

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Cascade. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

I'm part of Mom Central Consulting and being a part of that great group of bloggers allows me the chance to review products and tell others about new things coming up. It also gives me some compensation for my time, even though the opinions are always my own.

I was recently given the chance to review Cascade© Platinum Pacs, and I was actually excited to do the dishes- well not quite excited. I was ready to put it to the test.

I hate having to rinse and "wash" my dishes before washing them in the dishwasher. I get scraping food off, but when I have to wipe ketchup or syrup off of dishes that should have been "clean" I get kind of frustrated.

Before I get into my review, let me share a bit about the Cascade© Platinum Pacs:

Cascade© Platinum Pacs feature an advanced triple action recipe that is specially designed to
leave dishware virtually spot-free and help prevent the build-up of hard-water film on dishwasher walls.

•Powers away tough, 24 hour stuck-on food
• Eliminates the need to pre-wash dishes
• Helps maintain the look of new machines and helps prevent additional hard-water build-up

• Delivers exceptional dishware shine

I was sold! We have hard water in my city, I usually have food that has been stuck on for 24 hours (when my dish hunt turns up all the ones I missed!), and like I said- I hate pre-washing the dishes.

Another thing I was excited to hear about was Cascade's partnership with Gail Simmons. If you check out instagram (or even my facebook posts) you know that people take pictures of their food. It's an experience, not just a meal, and when the dishes are dirty it kind of ruins the appeal. 

Check out Cascade's Facebook Page for more information!

As for my review, I was very impressed with the product! My dishes didn't have a film when I put them away, and I didn't have to rewash. I've used it all week (and while being at camp and various activities, there are times when the dishes don't get rinses or in the dishwasher right away).

I love that it also uses Dawn, because that is what I use for my dishes that can't be put in the dishwasher. I've tried other brands, but there's something about Dawn that makes my dishes FEEL cleaner, and I think that helps enhance Cascade Platinum.



As if Sparkling Dishes aren't exciting enough, Cascade is hosting a contest where you could win a Kitchenaid Kitchen Makeover just by taking part in their Photo contest and more information on their Instagram!

Wet Ones- My Sticky Situations!

Whoever said that "silence is golden" obviously didn't have toddlers. In my house, silence usually means something is up. Somehow I forgot this during the holiday season and my then toddler turned what I thought was a quiet and peaceful moment into a Sticky Situation. He had decided to help himself to a snack, which in itself isn't a bad thing, but what I walked into was a disaster: 

I think this was the Sticky Situation of the decade. It was horrible to clean off! Now I try to avoid Sticky Situations wherever possible, and keep the peanut butter up high! I know as moms we have all had our own Sticky Situations and have found ways to avoid them, so the contest Wet Ones is having is the perfect opportunity to share your own Sticky Situation and what you do to avoid them! You can enter your idea and get a chance to win an iPad Mini or Six Flags Tickets! It was quick and easy to enter (click the link above, or right here: https://www.facebook.com/momcentral/app_248884015238315, I just did :) )!

Here are some of my tips for avoiding a Sticky Situation:

-Have an "indoor picnic" by laying a table cloth (or older blanket) on the floor. We try not to eat in the living room, but there are times when movie nights or lazy nights win. By protecting the floor I get to avoid the hassle of cleaning up food and spills and the kids think they are getting a treat by having a "picnic" so it's win/win.

-Make cheap smocks out of trashbags when doing messy activities! I do NOT advise this for use with toddlers, but for our older Girl Scouts it has been a lifesaver. We buy a cheap box of trash bags (from the dollar store), and cut holes for the arms, head, and a line up the back. The girls can slip the "smock" on easily and keep their clothes (and uniforms) protected while we do fun hands-on activities, and they are easy to toss or reuse.

Share your tips now and you could win!


*Disclaimer: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Wet Ones. I received a promotional item to thank me for participating.

o.b. Share it Forward Blog Tour

I was given the opportunity to talk about o.b.’s “Share It Forward” program. I was really drawn to this campaign because I feel like it touches so many issues near and dear to my heart. I am a woman, a teacher (in training), and have a daughter. I think education is so important and want to empower my daughter to continue learning throughout her whole life. We haven’t hit the stage where sanitary products are necessary, but I know she will have everything she needs when the time comes.

That isn’t the case for millions of girls. That is why o.b. is supporting Huru® International. Huru® International has developed Huru® Kits, which provide girls with the resources and knowledge they need, including sanitary protection, to complete their education and safeguard their health.  

So what can you do about it? Using the The o.b.® Share It Forward program on Facebook you can help raise money for Huru® International by sharing a message with friends about Huru® International’s mission, and helping shed light on an issue that impacts many woman globally. For every user who shares the message about Huru® International’s mission with their network of friends, the o.b.® brand will donate $1 to Huru®. 

•          Become a fan of o.b.’s “Share It Forward” program
•          Click the “o.b.® Outreach“ tab
•          Select your state and agree to the Terms and Conditions
•          Share with your Friends!

Take just a few moments to make a difference for girls. You never know how big on an impact the small step you take will make.

"I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of o.b. and received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate."

BISSELL Stomp 'N Go- Party + Review

As a blogger, I get to do so much fun stuff! I never knew just how connected brands were to their consumers until now and as I started blogging about the stuff I love, I got to sign up to try new things. I am a part of Mom Central and from time to time they will have brands work with them and offer parties to host. This past week was a BISSELL Stomp 'N Go kick-off event and if anyone has seen the floors in my house- they know I need this product!

I was so excited to sign up for this and even more excited that I was chosen to share it with you all! I own a BISSELL Vacuum AND a BISSELL Carpet cleaner. We are very hard on our cleaning products and these have withstood the test of time (and even loans to friends). Sometimes it just isn't convenient to pull out the big cleaner though, and that is why BISSELL came up with the Stomp 'N Go pads. I was so happy to see that something like this exists.


A little about the product:

"Using a powerful oxy-based formula, the pre-moistened pads make cleaning easy and fun. Simply place the pad on a spot or stain and stomp on it.  Upon stomp, the pad begins working, lifting and removing the mess. You can actually see the stain being absorbed into the pad. There is no need for scrubbing or using other cleaning tools – the pad does all the work."

These take 30 minutes to work and sell for about $4.99 per 5 pack. Each pack is individually sealed so you don't have to worry about one drying out if you go awhile without needing one.

 I put it to the test by throwing a Stomp Out the Stains party, compliments of BISSELL. I tried to think of the best menu for an event like this and went with:

• Sloppy Joes
• Dirt Pudding
• Muddy Buddies
• Garden Veggies (grown in dirt)
• Coffee + Punch

 I was able to share this product with 5 friends and they left with samples to try out too. We had carpet squares with grape juice stains to try it on. You just open the pad, stomp on it to release the cleaning solution,  let it sit for 30 minutes, then you're done!

The stain showed a little after 30 minutes, but for difficult stains it could take 24 hours before the stain is gone. My friends were still impressed by the product and thought that it would be best on fresh stains, and since they were all moms with kids they knew that fresh stains would happen. 

Also, this is blurry but my friend's son LOVED getting in on the stomping! :D It was too cute.

I think that this product will not replace a carpet cleaner or a little elbow grease, but it is great for those moments when you are too busy to take care of a stain immediately. You could take care of it quickly then followup later with a scrub if the stain needed it.
They left ready to try it out at home!

 “I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of BISSELL and received a party kit and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”