Yes, I still use a hard copy calendar and yes I still like to write check lists! No all calendars are created equal. That is why I love this mom’s planner from Plan Ahead. It is an 18-month calendar and a planner all in one. It lists out the holidays up front (key for planning purposes), has a month glance, weekly calendar, contact section, vacation planning section (my favorite) party planning section, gift record and gift ideas and a separate notebook for contacts that you can pull out and take with you. Plus it’s just the right size and you can put a photo up front! What do you use to schedule and map out activities? You can find Plan Ahead at many major retailers like CVS, Target and Amazon.com.
Disclosure: Plan Ahead sent me the calendar to review for back to school. All opinions are my own in this blog post.
Yes, I know summer is not over and we are talking back-to-school deals. We have not started school yet but we know some families that have. Of course my kids love to get their supply lists and head to the store to pick out their items. Our favorite retailer is of course Staples. Just in time for school they have the best selection and great deals. For example:
• Back to School 110% Lowest Price Guarantee: The Staples Back to School 110% Lowest Price Guarantee gives shoppers the lowest prices on their back-to-school shopping. Staples matches any competitors’ prices, plus gives customers and additional 10 percent of the difference between the Staples price and the competitor price at time of purchase.
• Less List: The Staples Less List offers the lowest prices on key back-to-school essential products that are low priced all season long such as: 1-subject notebook (25¢), 2-pocket folders (15¢), index cards (48¢), composition books (50¢) and 24-pack Crayola crayons (50¢) and more.
• Extreme Deals: Throughout the season, Staples has Extreme Deals in its weekly circular and online at www.staples.com/weeklyad
• Exclusive Offer for College Students: For students heading to college, Staples is providing exclusive student savings by offering an additional $50 off any PC, including HP®, with a valid College Student I.D. or verifiable .edu email address for online orders.
Have you done your shopping yet? If not here are some tips I have for shopping with the kids for their school supplies
1. If you can, focus on one child at a time – it can get a bit hairy if you have 3 lists and 3 kids and trying to get it all done at once. Space it out and make a night of back to school shopping with each child individually. (and grab some dinner after for a bit of one on one time)
2. Take it one isle at a time – we looked at our list and ran around to all the different isles and it took twice as long. Scope out each isle and look to see what is on your list – saves time!
3. You can avoid the crowds if you go early morning or later at night. Also, if you hate back to school shopping for supplies, have your hubby or grandma help the kids. I don’t mind back to school supply shopping but I know some moms find it a chore so ask for help if you need too! Kids can also pick a buddy to go with them and that eases the time too!
Disclosure: Staples sent me a gift card to shop for school supplies. All opinions in this blog post are my own.
I always like attending events where it’s informational and fun. Today I had the opportunity to attend The Stop & Shop Dannon Yogurt Tiramisu Event. It was educational and informative (at the Stop & Shop Stoneham location), plus I got to sample the limited edition, three month special Dannon yogurt flavor Tiramisu.
I participated in an Event and Blogger Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Dannon. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. All views and opinions are my own, and do not necessarily represent those of Dannon.
We’ve all been there…deciding what better for you foods to choose from (and if you are on the path of losing weight it can be even tricker) This NEW Dannon® Light & Fit® Tiramisu Flavored Greek nonfat yogurt is a deliciously satisfying alternative. Belief me, I have tried every single yogurt out there and this one is tasty and provides a bit of sweetness that we all crave (especially in the afternoon….hello moms…)
You can enjoy this without any guilt as it’s only 80 calories. So it can be a treat for your snack, a quick breakfast and it tastes so good it can even be frozen for a tasty desert. So if your plan is to maintain your diet, lose weight or you are just on maintenance give this new Tiramisu flavored nonfat greek yogurt a try. And the best part: With 12 grams of protein, 80 calories and 0% fat per 5.3 oz, Dannon® Light & Fit® Tiramisu Flavored Greek nonfat yogurt is the one to help you avoid daily temptations yet can totally satisfy your taste buds (you will be satisfied) and the Tiramisu Flavored Greek nonfat yogurt is so different. Stop & Shop and Dannon actually had a contest for anyone to come up with a new flavor and one local woman won the contest – great idea and great flavor!
The event started by having us meet Stop & Shop nutritionist Julie Hersey (yes they have their in-house nutritionist – ask her any question you like – (go to stopandshop.com for contact information) She agreed as busy moms it can be challenging and difficult to choose better for you foods and sticking to a weight management plan while avoiding maybe some of your favorite treats is always a daily challenge. Some of the tips she suggested include the following: • Remember fiber and protein keeps you full – foods that absorb slowly like berries are great • Mix up those berries each week – raspberries, blueberries, etc. • As she walked through the store she showed us some of the new exotic fruits and veggies Stop & Shop now has – try them out to offer your and your family a daily variety and to mix it up. • Remember veggies can be fresh, frozen, canned or dried! They are still good for you no matter how they come! • Try nuts for that snacking you crave and again think variety…..I picked up some pumpkin seeds today. • You can get calcium from veggies in the form of dark greens – kale is popular now but try the baby kale as it’s less bitter. • And of course speaking of calcium, yogurt is great for you too. We got to sample the Dannon® Light & Fit® Tiramisu Flavored Greek nonfat yogurt and I have to say it can be a deliciously satisfying alternative for desert – yes desert. It had that sweet, satisfying flavor and if you freeze it, why that can be your frozen summer favorite desert!
Actually, Tiramisu is a Boston Favorite! The perfect flavor – sweet and now it’s the flavor to try in yogurt. Check out these details:
Again Disclosure: I attended this event today and received compensation, a gift bag with a gift card and information and product samples.
Boston loves Tiramisu!Dannon’s Light & Fit Greek Tiramisu is now on shelves at Stop & Shop and it’s on sale!Taste Testing The Dannon Light & Fit Tiramisu Flavored Greek Nonfat yogurtYum!
I always like attending events where it’s informational and fun. Today I had the opportunity to attend The Stop & Shop Dannon Yogurt Tiramisu Event. It was educational and informative (at the Stop & Shop Stoneham location), plus I got to sample the limited edition, three month special Dannon yogurt flavor Tiramisu.
I participated in an Event and Blogger Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Dannon. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. All views and opinions are my own, and do not necessarily represent those of Dannon.
We’ve all been there…deciding what better for you foods to choose from (and if you are on the path of losing weight it can be even tricker) This NEW Dannon® Light & Fit® Tiramisu Flavored Greek nonfat yogurt is a deliciously satisfying alternative. Belief me, I have tried every single yogurt out there and this one is tasty and provides a bit of sweetness that we all crave (especially in the afternoon….hello moms…)
You can enjoy this without any guilt as it’s only 80 calories. So it can be a treat for your snack, a quick breakfast and it tastes so good it can even be frozen for a tasty desert. So if your plan is to maintain your diet, lose weight or you are just on maintenance give this new Tiramisu flavored nonfat greek yogurt a try. And the best part: With 12 grams of protein, 80 calories and 0% fat per 5.3 oz, Dannon® Light & Fit® Tiramisu Flavored Greek nonfat yogurt is the one to help you avoid daily temptations yet can totally satisfy your taste buds (you will be satisfied) and the Tiramisu Flavored Greek nonfat yogurt is so different. Stop & Shop and Dannon actually had a contest for anyone to come up with a new flavor and one local woman won the contest – great idea and great flavor!
The event started by having us meet Stop & Shop nutritionist Julie Hersey (yes they have their in-house nutritionist – ask her any question you like – (go to stopandshop.com for contact information) She agreed as busy moms it can be challenging and difficult to choose better for you foods and sticking to a weight management plan while avoiding maybe some of your favorite treats is always a daily challenge. Some of the tips she suggested include the following: • Remember fiber and protein keeps you full – foods that absorb slowly like berries are great • Mix up those berries each week – raspberries, blueberries, etc. • As she walked through the store she showed us some of the new exotic fruits and veggies Stop & Shop now has – try them out to offer your and your family a daily variety and to mix it up. • Remember veggies can be fresh, frozen, canned or dried! They are still good for you no matter how they come! • Try nuts for that snacking you crave and again think variety…..I picked up some pumpkin seeds today. • You can get calcium from veggies in the form of dark greens – kale is popular now but try the baby kale as it’s less bitter. • And of course speaking of calcium, yogurt is great for you too. We got to sample the Dannon® Light & Fit® Tiramisu Flavored Greek nonfat yogurt and I have to say it can be a deliciously satisfying alternative for desert – yes desert. It had that sweet, satisfying flavor and if you freeze it, why that can be your frozen summer favorite desert!
Actually, Tiramisu is a Boston Favorite! The perfect flavor – sweet and now it’s the flavor to try in yogurt. Check out these details:
Again Disclosure: I attended this event today and received compensation, a gift bag with a gift card and information and product samples.
Boston loves Tiramisu!Dannon’s Light & Fit Greek Tiramisu is now on shelves at Stop & Shop and it’s on sale!Taste Testing The Dannon Light & Fit Tiramisu Flavored Greek Nonfat yogurtYum!
My tween and teen love testing out shampoo, conditioner and body washes and they certainly voice their opinions on them all. That is why the products have to smell nice and work well. We got a chance to test out @NaturesGate Pomegranate & Sunflower hair defense shampoo and conditioner as well as the pomegranate body wash. They loved the smell and liked how they all coordinated. Seriously, how many times do you find something for both the hair and body that smells good and is the same scent? No one wants to smell like a hundred different fragrances. This is the perfect combo for summertime hair and skin care (and great for moms for color treated hair). With a blend of pomegranate and sunflower petals it smells fresh and clean.
Nature’s Gate also makes this great product – The Nature’s Gate Glow Lotion in Medium – not as dark as a self- tanner (but if you have very light skin it will be a bit tan, but still a nice color). You can also use the lotion daily to build a deeper tan. My teen wanted to try one of my self-tanner lotions so I had her test this glow lotion out as I felt better about the ingredients in this lotion -or should I say the ingredients not included:  it’s Vegan, NON GMO, Paraben Free, Gluten Free, Soy Free, Mineral Oil Free, Petrolatum Free, PEG Free, Butylene Glycol Free, Cruelty Free! How many self-tanners can say that? Plus it has vitamin E in it so it is very moisturizing.
I have to say I did not instruct her how to work a self-tan cream and she slathered it on and I thought, oh boy this is going to come out bad however it was even, there were no streaks and the next day it was a nice light tan shade. She and I were pleased at the result!
Disclosure:Â Natures’s Gate sent me the above products to test out. All opinions are my own in this blog post.
QVC has a lot of great products and just in time for summer here are a few of my must haves for glowing skin. QVC sent me the following products to test out and I am so glad they did as each has a specific purpose especially if you want your skin protected and glowing.
First up is Bare Minerals Prep Step Shield SPF 50 Daily Prep Lotion – While this product is meant to go under your make up as a SPF and primer for under make up I wear it alone. It is a lightweight lotion that is very nourishing and is easily blended.
St. Tropez Self-Tan Luxe Dry Oil–what I love about this line is the ease of use and natural looking tan it provides. All of the St. Tropez products are great. This dry oil is perfect if your skin is dry as it provides a bit of moisture. How many self tanners can say that? Grab this before it sells out.
Vita Liberata Trystal Minerals Gradual Glow Bronzer & Brush – self tanning on the face is tricky. At first when I saw this product I thought..no way! It is an immediate bronzer that develops into a natural self tan. My tip for this is to go lightly on the first try –don’t overdo it as it is like a mineral foundation.
Perricone MD No Bronzer Bronzer– This is a bronzing serum that you can customize. Make sure you shake the bottle prior to using and only use one or two drops at first – more if you want a deeper bronze.
These are just a few of the unique items QVC offers for summer skin. Check out more of their great products online here.
Disclosure: QVC sent me the above items to test out. All opinions are my own.
Want to bring your kids to Fenway and enjoy a kid friendly experience?
New for the 2015 season, The Red Sox are “Calling All Kids” to join Red Sox Kid Nation.The first 25,000 kids who register for Red Sox Kid Nation (for free) will receive a free ticket to a 2015 game as part of the Calling All Kids program. Sign up here:
As part of the “Calling All Kids†program the team is making Fenway Park an even more kid-friendly atmosphere. Here are a few of the awesome additions.
• Gate K & Kid Nation Concourse – This special new entrance at Fenway is dedicated to children and families and will be located adjacent to Gate B near the corner of Van Ness and Ipswich Streets. The gate will lead fans into the new Kid Nation Concourse featuring new attractions for young fans, including: A seven-foot giant Wally bobblehead, Interactive video wall, Life-size images & footprints Red Sox players, Balloon artist, stilt walker, and face painter will keep kids entertained!
• Wally’s Clubhouse – Red Sox Kid Nation Clubhouse is being transformed into the new “Wally’s Clubhouse,†open from the 3rd to the 7th inning season-long, providing families with little ones a place to play and walk around, and a welcoming venue for children to meet Wally the Green Monster.
• Red Sox Kids Crew – A new group of Fenway Park staff, Red Sox Kids Crew, will greet kids as they enter Gate K, lead children in games, and provide families with assistance and information about kid-friendly Fenway Park activities.
Be sure to sign up to enjoy a game and all the fun kid-focused activities! I am so excited to be a part of the #RedSoxMoms this year. I will be sure to update you on other fun Red Sox related activities.
Disclosure:Â I was treated to a kick off luncheon for #RedSoxMoms this week and received a goodie bag with fun kid items such as a bobble head. All opinions in this post are my own.
It’s snowing…again…cannot wait until Springtime! I got a sense of spring as Yankee Candle sent me a few of their new 2015 fragrances! So at least I can add a bit of spring in the air inside my home.
In case you didn’t know, The Yankee Candle Company, Inc. is the world’s largest manufacturer of premium scented candles, and they have retail stores just about everywhere (more than 500 retail stores) you can also go online.
There are five new fragrances from the classic jar collection including the following:
Red Raspberry – Tangy sweet and full of nature’s goodness … there is nothing quite as delicious as ripe, rosy red raspberries.
Picnic in the Park – Warm and sunny … like an afternoon daydream stretched out on a soft blanket under a shade tree.
Blue Summer Sky – Under a bright blue sky … breathe the clean, earthy, airy scent of a heavenly summer day.
Peach Cobbler – Peaches, from the farmer’s market, perfectly baked with cinnamon and honey sugar.
Wild Sea Grass – Kissed by the ocean breeze, the green scent of dewy sea grass atop the sand dunes.
Also new are five new fragrances from the Pure Radiance collection including:
Pearlescent – Sophisticated pleasure … there’s a shimmery glow of elegance in this lovely, powdery floral bouquet.
Whisper – Heavenly sweet and luxurious, this perfume captivates the senses with its quietly enticing beauty.
Escape– Get away anytime with this perfect blend of refreshing beach air and a delicious tropical drink.
Paradise– Bask in a gentle, relaxing island breeze filled with the alluring scent of native fruit blossoms.
Meadow – Wonderfully carefree and playful … a clean, fresh scent filled with green fields, golden sunshine and blue skies.
We love love the freshness of Red Raspberry so sweet! Also, given that we just handed out over 90 boxes of Girl Scout cookies it nice to have a reminder of our favorite cookie now in the form of a candle. The Yankee Candle Company also launched the Girl Scout Cookies Candle Collection with 4 scents including Thin Mints, Trefoils, Chocolate Peanut Butter and our favorite Coconut Caramel Stripes. Buy one and have the wonderful reminder of your favorite girl scout cookie!
Disclosure: The Yankee Candle Co. sent me the fragrances in the photo to try out. All opinions are my own.
It’s snowing…again…cannot wait until Springtime! I got a sense of spring as Yankee Candle sent me a few of their new 2015 fragrances! So at least I can add a bit of spring in the air inside my home.
In case you didn’t know, The Yankee Candle Company, Inc. is the world’s largest manufacturer of premium scented candles, and they have retail stores just about everywhere (more than 500 retail stores) you can also go online.
There are five new fragrances from the classic jar collection including the following:
Red Raspberry – Tangy sweet and full of nature’s goodness … there is nothing quite as delicious as ripe, rosy red raspberries.
Picnic in the Park – Warm and sunny … like an afternoon daydream stretched out on a soft blanket under a shade tree.
Blue Summer Sky – Under a bright blue sky … breathe the clean, earthy, airy scent of a heavenly summer day.
Peach Cobbler – Peaches, from the farmer’s market, perfectly baked with cinnamon and honey sugar.
Wild Sea Grass – Kissed by the ocean breeze, the green scent of dewy sea grass atop the sand dunes.
Also new are five new fragrances from the Pure Radiance collection including:
Pearlescent – Sophisticated pleasure … there’s a shimmery glow of elegance in this lovely, powdery floral bouquet.
Whisper – Heavenly sweet and luxurious, this perfume captivates the senses with its quietly enticing beauty.
Escape– Get away anytime with this perfect blend of refreshing beach air and a delicious tropical drink.
Paradise– Bask in a gentle, relaxing island breeze filled with the alluring scent of native fruit blossoms.
Meadow – Wonderfully carefree and playful … a clean, fresh scent filled with green fields, golden sunshine and blue skies.
We love love the freshness of Red Raspberry so sweet! Also, given that we just handed out over 90 boxes of Girl Scout cookies it nice to have a reminder of our favorite cookie now in the form of a candle. The Yankee Candle Company also launched the Girl Scout Cookies Candle Collection with 4 scents including Thin Mints, Trefoils, Chocolate Peanut Butter and our favorite Coconut Caramel Stripes. Buy one and have the wonderful reminder of your favorite girl scout cookie!
Disclosure: The Yankee Candle Co. sent me the fragrances in the photo to try out. All opinions are my own.
