Power Up Your Mornings With BelVita {Review}

If you follow this blog on Facebook, then you have seen my posts about the delicious belVita Breakfast Biscuits that I tried out this past week. Even though my "Five Days of belVita Breakfast" trial has come to an end, I will still be enjoying these wholesome biscuits for breakfast. They are so good!

Not only do belVita Breakfast Biscuits taste good, they help to keep me going all morning. These lightly sweet, crunchy biscuits provide nutritious sustained energy that will last all morning. The combination of the ingredients and the baking process allows these biscuits to release energy regularly and continuously in your body.

Each package of four biscuits has 18-20 grams of whole grains and is a good source of fiber and four B vitamins. They contain no high fructose corn syrup, no partially hydrogenated oils, an no artificial flavors or sweeteners. The addition of a low-fat dairy product and fruit to a package of belVita Breakfast Biscuits provides a healthy, balanced breakfast.

Weekend Win It - March 31-April 1 {Giveaway Linky}

Welcome to Weekend Win It! This giveaway linky is a great way to spread the word about your giveaways, or find some great ones to enter! And remember...you don't need to be a blogger to enter these giveaways!

I have a few great giveaways going on right now!

Giveaway: Maxi-Cosi Ends: 4/1 Prize: Maxi-Cosi Pria 70 Convertible Car Seat

Giveaway: Gutzy Gear Ends: 4/2 Prize: Gutzy Gear Prize Pack - one pack of straps and three packages of Gutzies!

Five Question Friday - March 30th

Happy Friday! I can't wait until the weekend is here! We're off to see the bestie for probably the last time before she has her baby, and I can't wait!

I'm beyond stressed out about the house hunting we're doing to try to find my mom a house, and I'm ridiculously tired, so I'm just going to get right down to business here today...

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Improve Your Water Quality With A ZeroWater Pitcher {Review & Giveaway}

I don't trust the tap, do you? Because of all the horror stories I've heard about the impurities in our drinking water, I've chosen to drink bottled water for as long as I can remember. Since I do use bottled water, I'm big on helping the environment and make sure to recycle all of our water bottles. I also drink the bottled water because of the taste. Do you enjoy the taste of your tap water? I certainly don't.

We also have filtered water from our refrigerator, but that too tastes "different" to me. I can taste the chlorine in it and it's not appealing to me. It always leaves a bad aftertaste too which I do not care for. Being as World Water Day just passed us on March 22nd I am even more conscientious that pure drinking water is important.

I recently had the opportunity to test out the ZeroWater Filtering Pitcher and am excited to share the results with you!

Rylie's First Visit To The Dentist

OK, well, it wasn't technically her first visit, but it was the first time she had her teeth cleaned. Rylie had gone with me to my last two cleanings for "fun visits". My dentist likes to make sure the kids are comfortable with coming in there, so he has them come in a few times to take "rides" in the chair and pick prizes from the treasure closet before they actually do anything to them.

So yesterday was the day. I had to take her to her pediatrician in the morning to get this rash checked out that was on her legs (turns out it was most likely from a bug bite), then we looked at a house for Mama, had lunch, and then headed to the dentist. She seemed so excited about it all day, which surprised me, but she started to get anxious as we were driving there.

You see, when Rylie went with me before, she got scared of the white suction tube the hygienist uses to suck out water and such. For the last four months any time I mentioned her going to the dentist she would always say "are they gonna use that white thing on me?" To which I always replied "no, Lindsey knows you don't like that."

Have Some Old School Fun With Chick-fil-A {Giveaway}

Rylie and Bryce are Chick-fil-A nuts! They love to eat there, and we usually do so once a week. I love how they have recently added grilled chicken nuggets and Buddy Fruits to their kids meals for healthier options, even though I think my kids are hooked on the classic chicken nuggets and fries. With dip, of course!

Lace up your sneakers because the new Nutritious Chick-fil-A Kid’s Meals are going to help fuel active family fun! Spring is here and what better way to promote an active lifestyle, and enjoy the great outdoors than with some old school games for your family to enjoy.

Check out the Old School Fun blog app below for:

• Fun Activities! Spin the wheel to get an endless amount of Old School Fun and games for the entire family! You’re just a spin away from creating awesome family memories!
• The Old School Quiz! Are you a disco-dynamo or the bomb dot com? Take the throwback quiz to reminisce about the pop culture icons of your era!

Wordless Wednesday: Throw Bryce From The Train

For more photos from our Day Out With Thomas, check out my event review.

Old Navy BEST TEES {Review}

Here in hot and sunny Florida, comfortable t-shirts are a staple for everyone in our family. We need soft, breathable fabrics to wear during our 90+ degree weather so we can stay cool and comfortable.

I can pretty much go into any store in Florida right now and find stacks and stacks of t-shirts available for purchase. The only problem? Most t-shirts are boxy and made for men, and I'm not a man. I like my t-shirts to flatter my shape, and not hang off of me. I don't want them to be too clingy, either. I have yet to find the perfect t-shirt.

Well, up until now.

Old Navy has solved all of my t-shirt woes with their new BEST TEES! They listened to their customers and have recently re-developed their t-shirts to make them better, brighter and bolder, with new styles, cuts and colors.

Teenage Babysitters

My 13th birthday was a huge milestone for me. Not only was I finally a teenager, but I was also old enough to babysit for our neighbor. She had a two year old boy and a newborn baby girl, and she told me that when I turned 13 I could babysit for her! I think I watched her kids for the first time the weekend after my 13th birthday.

I babysat for her over the next three years, at least twice a week. I was a pretty responsible kid, and I usually gave the kids 100% of my attention. I even did crafts with them and made up silly dance routines as they got older. However, I was still a “normal” teenager who did “normal” teenager things. I had friends over from time to time. I sat on the couch and watched MTV while the kids played. I sat out in the front yard and talked to boys while the kids ran around. Thank goodness we lived on a road that was not traveled often!

Now that I am a parent, I look back and wonder why she trusted me with her children. I was 13! I knew nothing about kids, especially young babies. Was it because my parents were right across the street? Possibly. Or maybe since she was a psychologist, she could read me enough to know that I would take good care of her kids? Whatever her reason, I think she must have been crazy.

Adorable And Affordable Clothes For Kids From The Children's Place {Review & Giveaway}

Spring is officially here, and do you know what that means? It means that it is time for me to put away all of my kids' winter clothes and stock their wardrobe with adorable spring and summer clothes. I have a slight obsession with buying clothes for my kids (just ask any of my Facebook friends who see my constant status updates about shopping for them), but I just can't help it. After all, they look cute in just about anything!

One store that I absolutely love shopping in, and can't get enough of these days, is The Children's Place! Not only are their clothes for children ridiculously cute, but they are very affordable, too. The prices at The Children's Place are low to begin with, and they always have great sales going on.

The new spring and summer lines are out at The Children's Place, and it has been so much fun filling up my kids' closets with their new spring wardrobes. Whether you are looking for a dressy spring dress, bright summer tanks and skirts, or fun tops and shorts, The Children's Place has something for every little girl!

~*~Winners!!!~*~ Initials, Inc., Kidtoons, Jerry's Nut House

Congratulations to last week's winners!

Initials, Inc. $50 GC



Kidtoons The Gruffalo Prize Pack

Want Kidorable For Your Easter Basket? Want It For Free?

Who loves Kidorable? We sure do! I cannot get enough of their super cute accessories for kids! From rainwear to backpacks and even hanger sets, Kidorable speaks to the precious spirit of childhood.

Do you need some fun gifts for your child's Easter Basket? How about one of these great products from Kidorable? Sure, you might need a bigger basket to stuff these in, but long after the candy is gone, these fun accessories will still be bringing a smile to your child's face!

Check out Kidorable's Easter Egg Hunt Giveaway to win free Kidorable merchandise! From now through April 9, Kidorable will be giving lucky winners FREE products every weekday. All you need to do is like Kidorable on Facebook or follow them on Twitter and share the excitement with your friends.

To enter, just post a comment on Kidorable's Facebook page or retweet each giveaway. Winners will be randomly drawn every weekday at noon CST.

Spring Into Family Time With The Instep Sierra Bicycle Trailer {Review}

Now that Spring is in the air it's the perfect time of year to get outside and get active. The weather is perfect, the trees and flowers are blooming, there's a wonderful aroma in the air, so why not! One of the best ways to stay active, especially when you have a family is bicycling.

We have come a long way from toting our baby or young child in a small seat attached to the back of a bicycle. That way made it difficult to stay balanced and it was just awkward. Instep has made it their mission to create easy and affordable ways for parents to stay active by creating products like jogging strollers and bicycle trailers.

At InSTEP® we pride ourselves on Joggers and Trailers that not only measure up to your expectations of comfort, performance and convenience, but do it at an outstanding value price. More features. More function. Plus great style and sharp colors you’ll be proud to roll out on the town with – hey, becoming a parent doesn’t have to mean surrendering all sense of taste.

Protect Your Baby From RSV By Encouraging Proper Baby Etiquette

Having a baby brings so much happiness and joy to new parents, but it also brings fear. When Rylie was born, we had no idea what we were doing. My husband had never changed a diaper in his entire life, and even though I had been around babies before, I had never had one in my care 24/7. One thing that I did know for sure was that I would do anything to keep her safe.

I knew that a common virus could potentially have serious effects on a newborn, and since Rylie was born smack dab in the middle of flu season in January, I simply didn't take her out of the house. My co-workers kept asking me when I was going to bring her in to the office so everyone could see her, and my answer was always "when she is older". My maternity leave proved to be a very long two months cooped up in the house, but my baby didn't get sick, and that is all that mattered to me.

I guess because Rylie was born full-term with no complications, I was never warned about RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus). In fact, I didn't even know it existed. That was until one of the babies in her daycare had it. This baby had been a full-term, healthy baby, and still contracted the potentially deadly virus. The baby recovered pretty quickly from her RSV infection, like most full-term babies would, but of course I did some research on the virus and found out just how dangerous it is, especially for babies born premature.

Grooming Line From ToiletTree Products {Giveaway}

How many products do you have that you just grab and go and don't think much about your purchase when you buy them? I know we have plenty. Take grooming products, for example. I know that when I need a new set of tweezers or some fingernail clippers, I don't pay much attention to my purchase. When I shop for these products, I just grab the first one I see. Usually, though, after time goes by, these products become dull and don't work like they should, and they have to be replaced.

ToiletTree Products has recently released their new Grooming Line filled with several personal grooming products that will last! These products are all crafted with the finest materials and are expected to last a lifetime. Could you imagine never having to buy nail clippers again?

Weekend Win It - March 24-25 {Giveaway Linky}

Welcome to Weekend Win It! This giveaway linky is a great way to spread the word about your giveaways, or find some great ones to enter! And remember...you don't need to be a blogger to enter these giveaways!

I have a few great giveaways going on right now!

Giveaway: 4moms Ends: 3/25 Prize: mamaRoo Plush in your choice of pattern

Giveaway: Lysol Ends: 3/25 Prize: Lysol No-Touch Kitchen System

An Easier Way To Floss With The Sonicare AirFloss {Review}

I don't know about you, but I'm not a fan of flossing. By the time that I'm done with my nightly routine; using a 3-step program to wash my face and then brushing my teeth, I'm ready to hit the hay! I do however understand the importance of flossing and attempt to do it at least once or twice a week. I typically substitute mouthwash in place of flossing most nights though.

Since the age of 6 I've been with the same family dentist. I'm good about keeping my appointments and getting my routine check-up and cleaning done every 6 months as recommended. One thing that my hygienist has drilled me on for the past 2 years is my lack of flossing. I always floss really well the week before my appointment (hoping she won't notice), but unfortunately there's no tricking her...darn!

With gingivitis looming over my head I was determined to stop being a slacker at flossing....if I could only find an easier and less painful way of doing it! Enter Sonicare AirFloss by Philips:

Our Day Out With Thomas The Train

My kids love Thomas the Train! Especially Bryce. In fact, when he first learned that his middle name was Thomas, he always said his name was "Bryce Thomas the Choo Choo Train". So I'm sure you can imagine how excited he was last weekend when we pulled up at the Day Out With Thomas event and he saw this...

How cool! Right? When you attend a Day Out With Thomas, your family will get to take a ride on the True Blue Engine himself!

Little Mommy Baby So New Doll {Review & Giveaway}

Rylie thinks I am the coolest person alive! OK, so maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but she does think I'm pretty cool. She likes to imitate everything I do, especially when I apply my makeup in the morning. I even had to give her one of my makeup brushes so that she can pretend she is putting makeup on. She gets excited when we wear the same colors, and will often choose her own outfits to coordinate with mine. I know that in just a few years she won't think I'm so cool anymore, so I will cherish this for as long as I can.

I don't get to leave the house by myself all that often, but when I do, I always tell her that since I will be gone, she has to help Daddy. She usually responds with "So I have to be the mommy?" Of course I have an ulterior motive for telling her yes, because really I just want her to behave and not drive Brian nuts with her usual antics, but if pretending like she is the mommy while I'm gone gives her a sense of responsibility, then hey, whatever works.

Little girls love to pretend they are real mommies, and with dolls from Little Mommy, they can do just that. Little Mommy brings nurturing play alive with their adorable baby dolls and accessories. Little girls can celebrate milestones and have giggly moments with these dolls that offer play for all stages of a little girl's life.

Five Question Friday - March 23rd

Happy Friday! It has been another busy week here, and I am beyond glad that I am off today! It has been a fun week here on the blog, and I enjoyed writing some personal posts over the past few days. I loved hearing that, like me, not all of you are perfect and allow your children to eat fast food on occasion, and I hope you all had fun laughing with me (and not at me) when I told you about our public bathroom debacle of last weekend. I have enjoyed interacting with some of you through the comments you left, and hopefully I can crawl out of the blogging hole I have dug myself into once again and reply to the rest of your comments. I promise, I'm trying!

We have NO PLANS for this weekend. Hallelujah! Well, at least I don't. My mom is here for the weekend and she is taking the kids to Sea World again today, and I'm sure they will have all sorts of fun together over the next couple of days. The house hunting may actually be over soon, as we're waiting to hear back regarding the offer we made on a house yesterday, so we won't be out and about looking at houses this weekend like we have been doing. I may just stay in my pajamas all weekend. Who knows?

I hope you all have a great weekend, and have some nice spring time weather to enjoy like we are having here in Central Florida!

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Singing The Potty Time Blues

As you all know (or at least you should by now, I post about it way too much here) Bryce is now potty trained. He has been doing very well and very rarely has accidents. He does still have issues with keeping the pee in the potty, especially at school where they don’t have the splash guard things on the seat, but that is really beyond his control, so we don’t consider on-the-potty-accidents as true accidents. Anyway…

The worst part about having two little kids out of diapers is the amount of time I spend in public restrooms. Blech. I couldn’t wait for the day to come when my kids could feed themselves at a restaurant so that I could eat my food while it was still hot, and now I’m back to eating cold food again because I spend the entire dinner in the bathroom. It never fails. As soon as our dinner gets to the table, someone has to pee. When I bring that kid back, inevitably the other one has to go. And Heaven forbid if one of them has to poop! You might as well put my dinner in a to-go box.

Along with eating cold food, I have to stop in the middle of shopping trips, and I have missed the “Happy Birthday” song at birthday parties. Seriously, I feel like if we’re out somewhere, I am always in the bathroom.

Seventh Generation Diapers Are Lorax Approved {Review & Giveaway}

What is The Lorax? Well, the question isn't What? It is Who? The Lorax is the "Speaker for the Trees" who brings environmental truth and ecological hope to all. Up until just recently, I had no idea who The Lorax was. Sure, I have seen all of the previews for Universal Studios' motion picture debut of Dr. Seuss's The Lorax, but I had no idea what it was all about. Since my mom was a teacher, we had a ton of books when we were kids, but we didn't have too many Dr. Seuss books, so I hadn't had the pleasure of knowing the story of The Lorax until now.

Thanks to Seventh Generation, I now know who The Lorax is, and I know his story. It is a sad story about the Once-ler chopping down all of the beautiful Truffula Trees in order to make "Thneeds". Once the trees were gone, there was no food, there was smog in the air, and there was glup in the pond, so all of the forest animals had to leave. This story is a wonderful way for our children to learn about environmental awareness and sustainability, and will hopefully inspire a new generation of environmentalists.

Wordless Wednesday: Breakfast And A Movie

This is what I woke up to when my mom was in charge...

Give Your Shower An Upgrade With A Delta In2ition Handshower {Review}

Unfortunately when my Husband and I were ready to purchase our first home the market was at its peak. We were unable to afford a new home so we purchased a 15+ year home and decided to fix it up. The first things to go were the awful paint color choices that the previous homeowners enjoyed, like "bright as the sun" yellow, hot pink bathrooms and a bright teal exterior paint. I'm not making this up people!

Another thing that was an absolute must before moving in were the blue carpets (which clearly did not go with their color choices). We chose laminate hardwood floors as a replacement and our paint color choices were much more modest. We slowly changed out the old kitchen appliances and upgraded the master bath. My husband purchased a new showerhead for our bathroom, but the kids bathroom remained the same, until now....

My Kids Eat Fast Food

Go ahead. Judge away.

I was scrolling through Facebook the other night when I saw a post by one of my friends complaining that McDonald’s now serves fries along WITH the apples in their Happy Meals. Did you know that? All Happy Meals now automatically come with fries and apples. Anyway…the first few comments were in agreement with her saying how “asinine” it was to basically thwart a parent’s plan to purchase a healthier option for their child when eating out by making the bag of apples smaller and making up for it with French fries.

And then it happened…

Someone left this as a comment - “Easy solution: don’t eat at McDonald's.” It was then followed up by someone else with a similar statement. The rest of the discussion remained friendly, and the first commenter even came back and said that she was being facetious, but it got me all riled up anyway.

Transform Your Backpack With Gutzy Gear {Review & Giveaway}

When I was a kid in school (you know, way back when), I remember getting my textbooks and making book covers in order to personalize them. I didn't want store bought book covers, because I didn't want to have the same ones the other kids did. I wanted to personalize my books in my own way. So every year, my mom would help me cover them with white paper, and I would design my own book covers.

Fast forward to today when I am taking my little ones to school. They don't have textbooks yet, but they do have to carry backpacks every day with a change of clothes and a blanket. Rylie definitely likes to have her own style, as evidenced in her weekend wardrobe that she picks out all by herself, and personalizing a backpack isn't as easy as just coloring on some paper over a book.

Backpack personalization is easy and fun with Gutzy Gear! Gutzy Gear gives kids the opportunity to express their personal style, passions, and hobbies by transforming any simple backpack into their own statement-making personality pack!

Airblown Inflatable Easter Bunny By Gemmy {Review & Giveaway}

Spring has sprung, and Easter is less than a month away! For some reason, we haven't done much for Easter in years past, and I want to change that this year. We always do an egg hunt for the kids, and we usually visit the Easter bunny at the mall, but this year I want to do more. I definitely want to color eggs, since this is something my kids have yet to experience.

This year, I would also like to do a little bit of Easter decorating. Thanks to Gemmy, our first Easter decoration went up this weekend in the form of a giant 7' Airblown Inflatable Easter Bunny. I can't think of any better Easter decoration than to have the Easter Bunny himself greeting us when we come home every day!