Nanny to Mommy

This post is sponsored by Crayola in the form of complimentary products. All opinions are my own. These products were featured in our Back to School Guide.

My mom was a teacher when we were growing up. I remember watching her go back to school after she and my dad divorced. She worked so hard to become a teacher, a lot of late nights studying and creating lesson plans. She loved being a teacher so much. Educating our children is such an important and, often times, underappreciated profession.

Crayola has been our brand of choice for so many years. My mom and I would create lesson plans and activities using Crayola because they make high quality products with beautiful vibrant colors in every box. And they are the one and only crayon and marker brand I trust to actually be washable when the package says it is. This summer Crayola has started an amazing initiative. They have started the next phase of the “Thank a Teacher” campaign. They want kids around the country to show their appreciation for teachers and help reach one million thank-yous to teachers across the country!

If your family is anything like mine, then they LOVE Star Wars! "Star Wars Rebels" can be found on Netflix and what I love about the show is that it showcases what happens between the movies and so much more. I received the 4th season complimentary and you can snag a copy too on July 31st!

The fourth season of “Star Wars Rebels” delivers all 15 action-packed episodes plus exclusive, never-before-seen bonus extras on the Blu-ray and episode recaps on the DVD. The series, which won last year’s Saturn Award for Best Animated TV Series, draws to an epic conclusion in a dramatic final conflict, drawing connections to the entire Star Wars saga. Star Wars Rebels: The Complete Fourth Season arrives on Blu-ray and DVD July 31st.

I received this educational information and assets from Moms Meet to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

When you are expecting a baby, there are so many things to consider. Going into each of my births I had a birth plan which of course the main goal was a healthy baby, but a birth plan is honestly only the first stepping stone. When you are making out a birth plan, you consider how you want to labor, how you want your child taken care of, and maybe even your pain management options while you are laboring or after. More than 1 in 3 (36%) women did not have a birth plan, which is an opportune time for a patient to speak with their doctor about pain management options, including non-opioids.

I really wanted to try for a completely drug free birth with my son. With my birth plan in place, I tried to talk to my doctor about my options. My doctor made me feel like I was a child without a say. She wouldn't listen to me and in that moment, I should have taken a step back and realized that she may not be the best doctor for me.

Sleep is essential to function well in daily life. Without enough sleep, we all struggle to do our best. It's why toddlers get cranky if they miss a nap, or teens can't focus at school when they stay up late texting.

Sleep deprivation affects concentration, mood, learning, memory, and even physical development. It's especially pronounced at school, where students struggle to retain information and may experience difficulties with focus and behavior.

My husband and I have decided that we are going to celebrate our anniversary with a trip every year. Whether we go on a large trip like the cruise we took to Mexico or even a small day visit to the mountains, we want to go somewhere. I understand that everyone celebrates their anniversaries differently, but this is how we have chosen to celebrates our going forward.

Though it may seem like 2018 just began not too long ago, here we are already into the summer season! School is out, the kids are home, and that means there will be plenty of opportunities to spend time as a family. Here are some fun ideas that you can do at home as a family this summer!

The sun is shining, the backyard is freshly mowed, and something most associated with summer is always at your fingertips- the backyard barbecue. The 4th of July doesn’t have to be the only reason to fire up the grill in the summer, and even though it is easy to grab fast food on the way home the payoff of a homecooked meal outside on a nice weather day is a great family bonding experience. Let the kids get crafty beforehand and make their own fun, custom aprons for Dad to wear while cooking, for mom to use while tending to the garden, or for themselves!

Are you expecting a baby this summer? These 2018 Baby Shower Essentials are practical, natural, problem-solving and adorable! We are excited to share with you some great baby gift ideas and offer you the chance to win an amazing gift collection!

The coupons for product redemption, information, and gift card have been provided by Entenmann’s® so that I could try the product and share my thoughts and information about Entenmann’s®. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions of Entenmann’s®.

One of our favorite summer past times to beat the heat is to go to the movies. Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, hit theaters July 13, 2018. It's definitely a great idea for a hot summer day thing-to-do indoors. In collaboration with Sony Pictures Animation, Entenmann’s® is launching a frightfully fun promotion to celebrate the theatrical release of Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation!


From May 28, 2018 to August 3, 2018, fans will receive $5.00 off a movie ticket to see the film with the purchase of three five-count specially marked Entenmann’s® Little Bites® or eight-count specially marked Entenmann’s® Donuts. So now you can have delicious snacks on hand that will add up to saving money on a movie ticket. Entenmann’s® Little Bites® are the perfect pre-portioned pouches of delicious baked snacks made with real ingredients like blueberries, strawberries, and banana. They are an all time snacking favorite in our house!

This is a guest post.

From taking a gap year to saving up to buy our first home, there are a number of reasons why many of us are settling down to family life far later than our ancestors.

In our grandparents’ generation, the idea of getting pregnant in your late thirties was almost unheard of – but today it’s becoming increasingly common.

Statistics indicate that over the last 45 years, the average age of first-time moms has increased to 26.3 years – an increase of 5 whole years. In some countries, the mean age of first-time moms is over 30.

Why We Chose Poppi and Zevia for Our Soda Popsicles

When I was looking for a fun treat to make with my daughter this summer, I wanted something nostalgic but without the sugar overload. That’s when I remembered a recipe I tried years ago using organic soda. While Veri Organic Soda used to be our go-to, it's no longer available. Thankfully, Poppi and Zevia now fill that space beautifully.

Poppi is a prebiotic soda made with apple cider vinegar, real fruit juice, and lightly sparkling water. It’s low in sugar (just 4-5g per can), contains only around 20 calories, and it actually supports gut health. Poppi’s Orange flavor has a bold citrus taste that’s bright, not too sweet, and surprisingly close to a classic orange soda without the guilt.

Zevia is another family favorite in our house. It’s a zero-calorie, zero-sugar soda sweetened with stevia. Their Orange flavor is caffeine-free, non-GMO, and has no artificial colors (it’s actually clear!). If you’re looking for a soda option with a clean ingredients list and no aftertaste, Zevia is a great choice.

Both of these brands offer kid-friendly flavors that are fun without compromising on health, making them a win for parents and a treat for little ones.

 

I received this product for free from Moms Meet to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

I love trying out new products. Although I have do have skin and scalp sensitivities, I am still brave enough to try new brands but the key, in my opinion, is reading labels. And when you can feel good about trying about brand's product because you can understand what is in it, that makes all the difference.

I am pretty particular about the products that I use on my hair. I am still getting use to wavy hair that I started having more and more of since my first pregnancy in 2010. It is so weird how pregnancy can have unexpected side effects, like changing your hair texture. But since it does, I am more cautious with the products I use on my hand while still having to try new ones to find out what works for me. The worst pregnancy/hair side effect that happened to me was more breakage, so I need something that can help improve my hair health overall as well. Desert Essence Anti-Breakage Shampoo & Conditioner smells great and leaves my hair feeling hydrated and light.

I received complimentary products to provide this post. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

Precious Moments is celebrating Christmas in July with so many wonderful pieces! We love Christmas in our house. I could listen to Christmas all year long! We decorate the house inside and out, top to bottom. We love all the events and soaking up all things that celebrate the season. This year not only do I want to focus more on teaching my children the Christmas story, I also want to sponsor an angel child or two so I can teach my children that it is more important to give.

I love working with Precious Moments and since they are celebrating Christmas in July and since I have always wanted one, I decided to choose the “Countdown To Christmas” Nativity Advent Calendar. With this piece, you can reveal the story of Christmas with this clever Advent calendar which holds a little figurine and a lovely Nativity Story Book poem with a special reading for each day of Advent!

This is a guest post.

Cruising with your children allows both you and your children to travel and see the world, while bonding as a family. Cruisers are usually family-friendly, which means they will offer a whole range of activities for your little ones while you relax. However, it takes some planning, so if this is your first cruise with your children, consider these tips for a stress-free and fun vacation.

Pregnancy can be a time where you experience more changes at once, more than any other time in your life. Whether it’s emotional changes or physical, everything changes and it can be extremely overwhelming, especially if you don’t know what to expect.

From dealing with morning sickness to dealing with a whole world of responsibilities, there are all kinds of different factors that are now being introduced into your life that can turn your world upside down.

You may think that you’re ready for these changes, but one change particularly that you might not be expecting: is stress. Stress is something that seems to hit you right when you least expect it. It can disrupt your life and literally put you down constantly if you don’t know how to see it coming and put a stop to it.

So many people have this idea that being pregnant is butterflies and roses, so many individuals constantly think that when you’re pregnant, you’re just a mother, you don’t have to worry about anything else. But this is completely false.

I love subscription boxes. And I have unboxed so many. I love when they are themed with either the season or common things that are happening around that time. Like this box was all about BBQ time!

So, what is Degustabox? Degustabox is an on-line food subscription service that delivers a monthly surprise box containing the latest and best products, from small and big brands alike, to the homes of the consumer: saving time and money. You can cancel anytime.

So what was in the box?

Hotel Transylvania 1 and 2 were huge hits and this summer Hotel Transylvania 3 is hitting theaters! To help celebrate the release, The Hopping Bloggers have come together to bring our readers a prize pack worth over $75!

I received complimentary products to provide this post. All opinions are my own. Includes affiliate links.

I like to keep fun stuff around to help my kiddos stay school ready and avoid the summer slide. That why I love having Play Smart activity books around.


Play Smart activity books have been raking in the awards! Early Learning 2+, Early Learning 3+, and School Skills 4+ have been given Family Choice Awards and Early Learning 3+ also won a National Parenting Product Award (NAPPA). "It's a great combination of learning and having fun. This is a fun activity book filled with puzzles, games, and art projects. We especially like the design and the colorful stickers that make the book engaging for early learning. And now Play Smart workbooks is growing! Play Smart Picture Puzzlers (6 new titles) are packed with 64 themed fun-first, adorably illustrated activities, a wipe-clean game board, and more than 80 colorful stickers—value priced at $6.99! Age ranges include 2+, 3+, or 4+.