A sweet treat and scent too #mompact

I wasn't sure what to think when I read the label, perfume candy? I'll give it a try though.
I gave out samples at Cameron's birthday party and the tween girls loved it, even the boys didn't mind the taste. The adults thought it was a neat idea and were happy to see a sugar free variety.

I decided to set a candy dish out on the table for the holiday season and since my boys aren't crazy about it (they like 1 piece a day maybe), it now has a home on my dinning room table where I can enjoy them and have reached for them on more than one occasion as a replacement for chemical cough drops.
I love the hint of perfume by the end of the day, but have to say I'm not sure if I would eat enough in a day to maintain the perfume scent.

 Like I said earlier my family that has sugar issues was happy to see the sugar free variety. I also noticed the sugar free variety hold up to temperature changes better that the sugared ones.

I started following Deo candy on Twitter and Facebook and look forward to more interaction with this company online.

I received samples to share with friends as a Member of the MOMPact Ladies Night Out group and am promoting a variety of fun products with friends and readers through the program.

What's the trick to preparing for the holidays?

60 days until Christmas, 28 days until Thanksgiving, and only 8 days until my oldest turns 10 so I'm starting to feel the push.
That being said I thought I would share with you my top 10 tricks to preparing for the holiday season!
Recently I shared some wonderful Mom invented goodies with some of my Mom friends thanks to #MompactLNO.  I created goody bags to put some of the various things in for the Moms which brings me to tip.
#1, have your children help with some of the decorating!
I picked up a package of foam leaf stickers and colored paper bags. My oldest stuck 3 stickers on each bag and then helped me fill them.











#2 Take time to be grateful for even the little things in your life.  My group of Moms created Gratitude jars using stickers, ribbon, scraps of paper, and empty recycled canning jars.
Share with your family and friends as a way to be grateful this season. Ask each family member even the younger ones to share what they are thankful for, write it on a slip of paper and date it.

#3 Keep lots of warm drinks handy as there is nothing better to calm the stress then a cup of warm. Remember as we prepare for the holiday season, a stressed out Mom doesn't make for a fun holiday. If you need to cut back on some of the decorating or bake a little less then do it. I know I am planning on baking for gifts this year as well as crafting, but I am also cutting back on the decorating and trying to simplify things a little.

#4 Buffet style is awesome! Keep is simple, if you are having guests over consider a buffet style rather than a formal sit down event. Yes sitting down for a meal is good (we do it almost every night at home) but being with people and having conversation is good too. I have found over the years some of my favorite parties have been buffet style (also easier to clean up at least for me.




#5 Keep a basket on the counter in the bathroom filled with products that will help visiting Moms and little ones. We have grown out of the baby stage but I have friends and family with little ones.  Here are some of the wonderful Mompact Products to fill a basket with:
  

Boogie Wipes, Diaper Buds, and TidyTots potty chair liners

#6 Stay Consistent  I know during the holidays sometimes we want to relax the rules a bit, not a good idea. Stay consistent with rules and consequences, add some extra snuggle time and extra incentives to following the rules, but don't relax the rules recovering on the back side of the holidays will be too hard. Penalty Pal is a great way to simplify timeouts with a single spot on the wall, a floor , perhaps even the kitchen cabinet or pantry door.

#7 Drink extra water, I know that sounds silly, but with the change in the weather and the rush rush of the holidays remember to drink your 8+ glasses a day.

#8. Cuddle with your kids more. We live in a very materialistic society and sometimes I think we forget about the simple things like snuggling. Read a book, share the day's events, ask them what they think of things.
#9. Menu plan and freezer meals are a huge way to save time and stress. It can also be a money saver if you can pick up larger quantities of things to have on hand.
#10 Share your thoughts and ideas with friends and family. Coming together and sharing some of the responsibilities for the holidays can make it easier. Potluck is a wonderful option for large family dinners (even buffet style). Maybe change it up a little and only buy gifts for the children to save money. Think outside the box, what will help make someone else's life a little less stressful.

Join us tonight (10/25) for a twitter party where we can share tips and tricks for the holiday season.
You can also enter to win a prize pack filled with treats to make you life a little easier.

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Helping Mom help the kids learn responsibility

Moms need help not just from other Moms willing to share information but from the kids to get things done around the house and believe me this Mom is no exception.

I am always looking for way to get the boys involved in the housework because in all honesty I kind of suck at housework, so I was intrigued by the "Hands Around the House" by 3R Cards. 

The pictures on each of the cards are colorful and very eye catching for children. I liked the colored pencil effect of the cards. We were able to sort the cards out and select the cards that were important tasks for the boys. As we continue to put this program into place I am thinking of either magnets on the back or a hole punch in the corner for a binder ring since the cards are everyday activities for the boys to do. 
***added: the boys decided this wasn't working for them, however we have a friend that liked the look of the program so we are going to pass it on to another family while we continue on our quest to find a good fit for us***

If you or your children need the rewards factor to add to the program, this set even has rewards cards allowing the child to select their own reward for jobs completed and a calendar page to track tasks.  Hands Around the House helps Moms and Dads help the kids get involved with the everyday chores and things they need to be responsible for. 

I love the idea of the 3Rs: Respect, Responsibility, and Reward. However, we don't use rewards for housework, so I saved those cards aside for large projects that we will be doing where the kids will be involved and expected to do their part.  There is a lot of flexibility with this card set so Moms with small kids can find appropriate cards for them while still having cards that are appropriate for older kids, and the flexibility doesn't end there. The website is stocked full of tips and suggestions to help use the set.  

Hands Around the House" by 3R Cards can be found not only on their website , but also on Facebook. You can also download extra Calendar pages HERE.


I love this bit of background on the product from the Mom inventor
"This system was originally invented by my mother over 30 years ago.  Her system was a little simpler, and there were no rewards.  Her motto was "Do it"- the "just" was implied.  It did however teach me and my 3 siblings that we were all responsible for making the house run smoothly and when it did, we had more time to do the things we wanted."


You can purchase a complete set of  Hands Around the House" by 3R Cards on the website for $24.95 or you can enter to win a set along with a bundle of other products to help kids become more independent in the latest Meet the Moms Giveaway using the Raffflecopter form below.






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Disclosure: “I received this review opportunity as part of Mompact.com.  All opinions are my own.”




**edited 6/13/2012 to added some additional thoughts on the product***

Snack Time and On the Go Meal help with QuickSplit

Even though we homeschool, we always seem to going somewhere or feel crunched for time. If we stay home I am preparing 3 full home cooked meals and a snack or two that day; and that adds up to a lot of time spent preparing, cooking, and plating food.  
I was so happy to hear about  The Quick Split a portable, mom invented, patented product made in the USA. I know that sounds like a sales pitch, but honestly that list of highlights caught my attention.

This   portable food cutting gadget  packs a punch for moms on the go or buried at home.
As soon as I received mine I put it to work making snack time a lot easier.  My boys love mini Quesadillas for snack so I agreed knowing I could make them a little easier to cut up with my new   
portable pizza cutter.  And before you ask, I have a regular pizza cutter from Papa Murphy's but it is bulky and not really sharp so if I use it I end up going over the tortillas a couple times to cut them and it still doesn't quite get the job done.

I love the compact size and the handle styling.
I couldn't believe it cut through the tortillas in one pass.
Sure made afternoon snack time faster which meant two little boys were happily going on with their day.

This is a patented gadget and is the first of its kind on the market! 
  The Quick Split on Facebook  and The Quick Split on Twitter  a great way to connect with this amazing little product online. 

  Retails for $15.00 and currently has free shipping if purchased from her website

This product is also part of the current Meet the Moms Giveaway over on the Mompact Facebook page.  Be sure to stop by for your chance to win an amazing bundle of products.

The giveaway ends Sunday the May 20, 2012 so hurry over to enter.


disclaimer: I received this review opportunity as part of Mompact.com.  All opinions are my own

Mompact Moms Help On the Go Rafflecopter

Mompact Mom invented products that will help Moms on the go are featured in this week's bundle giveaway.
Don't miss you chance to win these great items: Kidzikoo, QuickSplit, DiaperBuds, Lillybit Diaper Clutch
This giveaway is sponsored by MomPact, please see entry form for Terms and Conditions.

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R is for Rafflecopter win a MomPact assortment

I love Rafflecopter giveaways they are so easy to enter.
So here is one for you to enter featuring Fashion and Function solutions including the On the Cuff  I reviewed earlier this week sponsored by the Mom Inventors of MomPact
 
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Mid week helper

Just thought I would highlight a product this week that has been a huge help.

I love My HippMAMA Toolbelt and since I dislocated my shoulder and am in recovery mode I need all the extra help I can get. I attached the little pouch to the hand of a shopping cart which freed up my usable arm and made the things I needed easy to get at.
I also connected the same pouch to my shoulder sling, giving  me access and a place for my phone since I don't have a pocket in the skirts/ pants I can wear right now.  It is the little things like my HippMAMA Toolbelt that have made being a Mom now a little easier

Meet the Moms Twooth Timer

This week Meet the Moms of Mompact responsible for creating Twooth Timer and Buzzy Cards.

Let me tell you about The Twooth Timer. This fun and functional product makes brushing a breeze. Just set the timer to 2 minutes by turning the top of the tooth and let them brush the time away.  It really is that simple.  My boys love the Twooth Timer in their bathroom, not only is it a fun way for them to brush, but I can give them a 2 minute shower warning and set the timer.
Have you really thought about how long 2 minutes is? My boys thought it was a lot shorter, until we played a little game with our youth group (all 3rd/ 4th graders). I set the timer and told them they had to stand still and not say anything for 2 minutes. It was funny to watch them only last for about 30 seconds, when we were done I then talked to them about the fact they should be brushing their teeth for 2 minutes and they were surprised that it was that long.  I gave each of the kids a small bag with dental hygiene products in it and had them tell their moms about how long 2 minutes really is.
Thankfully we have the Twooth Timer for my boys. It has made brushing a fun game for them. Now instead of rushing through the process, they see who can brush the longest and actually make it to the end of the 2 minutes. Thanks to the Twooth Timer brushing time is fun time.
Head over to Twooth Timer's webpage and download some fun coloring pages

You can enter the Meet the Moms giveaway through Mom Pact below for your chance to win a Twooth Timer, a Twooth Pocket Pal , and a set of BeeStraction Distraction Cards.  Also check out my review of the BeeStraction cards here

**This review is based on my personal experiences and the product was part of my kit as a MomPact Consultant***

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Meet the Moms with a Mompact Rafflecopter event.

Do you want to be a HippMama too? Here is your chance to win one HippMama Toolbelt and two Hot Joe Jackets from Mompact.  You can read my review of the HippMama Toolbelt 




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MomPact Blog Hop: ezShade Review and Giveaway

I am so glad you stopped by. I want to introduce you to Linda Varga. She is a mom inventor and responsible for creating the ezShade.  ezShade is UV protection that attaches to a beach umbrella or a pop-up canopy.  I received both as part of the MomPact Blog Hop and have enjoyed reviewing this product.  At the bottom of this post you will have the chance to win one for yourself.   

I was happy with the product. I first tried the umbrella ezShade. We have a dark green umbrella so I picked a green shade. The greens are very different but overall the ezShade did a great job adding shade to the area. I was a little disappointed with the sticky velcro pieces. They were small and I had to reapply them a couple of times. I would have liked to see them a little larger.  I love the fact that it is light weight  and easy to set up. It is also adjustable height wise so if we tip the umbrella to an angle I can adjust the length of the shade at the bottom with velcro tape. Also being able to weight it down along the bottom adds stability.

#MomPact bonus giveaway, have you entered?

I am so excited that I get to give either an ezShade umbrella or canopy shade to one of my lucky readers as part of the Mompact Blog Hop! Over 120 blogs are participating over 150 prizes up for grabs and Mompact is now sweetening the pot with extra big prizes! Today's giveaway for $100 cash!

Check out Mompact on Facebook and go to QuestionMoms.com under Giveaways for more surprises including a huge gift basket giveaway!