Mom Talk

Family Time Ideas While Unplugging #ourJOLLYTIME

May 14, 2015 by Jen

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of JOLLY TIME Pop Corn. All opinions are 100% mine.

Having a family fun day at least once a week can be a wonderful family bonding experience. If you do it while “unplugged”- away from all electronics- you can focus on one another and create wonderful memories with your kids and spouse. In the age of technology, it may be hard to think of some fun things the entire family will enjoy, but it can be done. We try to have family “unplug” night every Saturday! This is one time where we all agree to turn off our devices and just enjoy each other! I admit at first it was a struggle to get the teens to completely unplug but now they often have to remind us!

We usually like to change things up and then end the night with a good movie and JOLLY TIME Pop Corn! Jolly Time Pop corn is the only brand my kids will eat! With so many great flavors there is something for everyone! Since I am trying to watch my calories I love the 100 calorie Healthy Pop Kettle corn and the kids prefer the Xtra Butter or BlastObutter of course! So, when I learned that JOLLY TIME has a great campaign going on called Unplug Pop Connect, that encourages families to unplug and enjoy family time, I knew it was perfect for us! So I was happy to take the pledge! Let’s face it if you have teens it’s sometimes very hard to get them to unplug! Check out a few of the following tips and ideas for having a memorable Family Fun Night with your family.

Board games and puzzles: What did family fun nights consist of before the Internet? Games, but not the kind on electronics. Bust out the old-fashioned board games and puzzles and have fun competing against one another for the title of “Winner” for the week.

Do family interviews: Write down a list of questions that are appropriate for each family member (ie: what is your favorite color, what’s your favorite memory) and ask each family member to respond. Have one person write down the answers and record them in a family scrapbook.

Go for a walk: An after dinner walk can be good for your health, help you unwind before dinner, and provide the perfect opportunity for your family to talk to one another.

Cook together: Sometimes, family fun night can get rushed because of the other things you have going on. Use dinnertime as part of the family fun night and cook together. It’s fun and teaches your kids valuable skills.

Make a craft: You can plan ahead for this one, gather all supplies, and then make a family craft together. Hang it in a spot the whole family can see and enjoy it.

Play a sport. Even if you’re not the outdoors type, throwing a ball back and forth or a quick game of basketball can be a fun time for the whole family and is a great way for you to all stay active.

Start a family book club: It doesn’t matter if they read to you or you read to them, or if you all read your own books, you can still start a family book club. All you have to do is discuss the books you read once a week. This helps kids learn to pay attention to details and story sequence, which is a skill they will need in school, and it’s a fun way for you to see what your kids can remember, what they enjoy reading, and for you to share your interests and ideas with them.

To Learn More:

Be sure to visit the Unplug Pop Connect site and share your own family pledge in order to receive a high value coupon or possibly win a great prize package!

Stay Connected:

To learn how others are unplugging join the conversation with JOLLY TIME Pop Corn on Facebook, and Twitter with the hashtag #ourJOLLYTIME

In the comments below please tell me what you and your family do when you “unplug”?

About Jolly Time Pop Corn:

The American Pop Corn Company of Sioux City, Iowa, is an independent and family-owned company that, for more than 100 years, has produced and marketed JOLLY TIME Pop Corn, the first-ever branded popcorn. JOLLY TIME offers a variety of traditional, microwave and ready-to-eat popcorn products in grocery stores nationwide and in nearly 40 countries around the globe. It has the only microwave and Ready-to-Eat popcorn endorsed by Weight Watchers®. JOLLY TIME Pop Corn is gluten free and is made using GMO-free popcorn. Learn more at www.jollytime.com

Moms unwind this weekend by playing DoubleDown Casino games!

May 11, 2015 by Jen

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of DoubleDown Casino. All opinions are 100% mine.

Becoming a mom or a busy professional (or even both) can really put a damper on your “down time.” It is hard to get away from the house or work, and sometimes it can be expensive to go out and unwind. If you are looking for some good ways to let loose at home, check out the following. The best part is, they all cost less than $20.

At home spa: $10-$20, depending on what you buy. You can pamper yourself at home by doing your own nails, eyebrows, and giving yourself a spa mask or facial. You can either buy all the materials (some can be found at the Dollar Store for next to nothing) or you can find recipes to make scrubs and masks. Either way, set aside a night at least once a month to make yourself feel relaxed and pretty. Just run a warm bath and see to your own health and appearance.

Read a book and sip some wine: $15. Pick up a book at the library or purchase an eBook, buy a bottle of wine you like, and unplug. Sip your wine and enjoy your book while being secluded in bed or an area of your home that promotes peace and quiet for you. Escaping in a book can help you forget the stresses of your day.

Have a picnic: $5- $10. For less than it takes to go out to eat, you can make yourself a picnic and enjoy nature on your lunch break. Getting some, fresh air will help clear your mind, energize you, and make you feel more grounded. Escaping the office or the kids for even an hour a week can help you refocus and feel more prepared to take on your tasks.

DoubleDown Casino: Free. If you like playing casino or computer games, check out DoubleDown Casino. It’s free and available every day with no locked content, meaning you won’t get bombarded with requests to buy a subscription to upgrade the game. The most popular games are the slot games, of which there are 50 to choose from, but users also enjoy Bingo, Poker, Roulette, Blackjack, Daily Slot Tournaments, and Game King™ Video Poker.

If you have ever dreamed of going to Vegas, start here! DoubleDown Casino offers a Vegas experience without the Vegas price tag. When you sign up, you will instantly be given 1 Million Free Chips and each day you can spin the wheel for a chance to earn more free chips! This is a wonderful way to unwind and disconnect from you daily routine, and you have the option of playing on mobile devices, your desktop, and even through Facebook. I love all the games but my favorite is Wheel of Fortune! I love the fact that I can play on my tablet and on my desktop!

You are also able to play alone or with friends, anywhere and anytime you are able. It’s open to beginners and experienced players, alike, and a fun, convenient way to relax whenever you need a break. Go ahead and play now, you know you want to!

Color a picture: $0-$5. This may sound strange, but scientist has discovered that coloring actually helps adults relax and focus. If you have children, you probably already have everything you need to color and relax right now. If not, you can get crayons and coloring books for cheap in most Dollar Stores.

In the comments below, tell me what you like to do in your free time and if you play games what is your favorite casino games available on DoubleDown Casino?

The benefits of creating a Baby Registry

January 22, 2015 by Jen

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walmart. All opinions are 100% mine.

Motherhood is one of the hardest jobs’ women do in life, but it’s also the most rewarding one. Becoming a mom comes with a lot of responsibilities, a whole new list of wants, needs and most of all, a lot of joy. The truth is a woman becomes a mom as soon as she gets that first positive pregnancy test. It’s like everything changes, and we are instantly in love with our unborn. I can’t explain the feeling in words, but I am sure if you have ever been pregnant you understand. It’s one of the greatest feelings in the world. I have noticed that fathers often don’t understand our connection and bond until the baby is actually here. Sure they are excited, but it’s not the same as what we often feel during pregnancy. As a brand new mom, we spend the whole nine months preparing for our new bundle of joy and trying to make sure everything is perfect. That also includes making sure that our babies have everything they need as soon as we deliver. We spend countless hours trying to find the prefect and safest products for our baby; this sometimes can get overwhelming since there are so many baby products and brands on the market, but with the help of Pampers® and Walmart, you can make sure you are equipped with all the essentials.

At Walmart, you can find all the baby products necessary for your new bundle of joy, but even better; you can find tips from other new moms and the brand they trust, which is Pampers®. To make it easier to ensure you get your entire list of new baby needs, you can register online at Walmart so your friends and family can make sure you have what you need and want. I always tell my friends and family that it’s very important for them to create a baby registry! This ensures that you get what you need and will actually use! This also saves you time in the long run because you’re not having to go exchange gifts, which give you more time to relax before the big day!

I admit sometimes making a baby registry is difficult because you are not sure what you need, and because you want your new baby to be as comfortable as possible, moms often put everything on the list. Trust me this is a big mistake! Take it from someone who has been there and done that! The truth is half of the stuff you think you want or need will never be used and just take up space! That is why Pampers Baby Basics for Any Mom on Walmart.com’s Parent & Baby Center is a great place to start. You will find great advice from other parents on what is actually needed including the Pampers Swaddlers Super Pack. I can’t tell you enough how great it was not having to buy diapers and wipes for the first year! I was blessed with so many things that I actually needed not only during the first few weeks but for the first year. So when creating your baby registry don’t just put things on there that you need for the first few months, think long term like diapers in different sizes, wipes, baby bath, lotions and other items that will actually grow with your baby.

In the comments below please share with me what items you couldn’t live without the first year of your babies life or what gifts you got for your baby shower that was most helpful.

How to protect your baby during the RSV Season #RSVAwareness #PreemieProtection

November 16, 2014 by Jen

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for MedImmune. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.

As a parent and aunt of preemies, I just wanted to take the time to let you all know that Monday November 17^th is World Prematurity Day. Each year on this day, I always find myself emotional looking back at the struggles our family has went through. I also think about all the parents that are currently dealing with a preemie and keeping them in my prayers. I am sure anyone can understand how scary this time is for everyone involved. There are 15 million babies born Premature each year! The sad truth is premature birth kills 1 precious baby every 30 seconds. Luckily in the USA our survival rate is much better than other countries but the risk and complications are still there.

One of the biggest risk parents face with preemies is RSV season, which is usually between November and March, though it can vary geography and year to year. Even though every baby is at risk at getting RSV, babies born early are twice as likely to be admitted to the hospital for RSV symptoms. The truth is that RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization for babies under 1 year old in the USA! RSV is actually very common but unfortunately, many parents aren’t aware of it! The fact that only one-third of parents have even heard about it is very alarming! So, I feel that we really need to start raising awareness not just during the RSV season but all year around! Thankfully, my kids didn’t get RSV but my niece did. She stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks, which included Christmas! I will never forget that year. She was so weak and sick.

What actually is RSV:

RSV is the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under 2. RSV is highly contagious. Symptoms are often like a common cold so sometimes parents brush it off.

Know the Symptoms:

Contact your child’s pediatrician immediately if your child exhibits one or more of the following:

Persistent coughing or wheezing
Rapid, difficult, or gasping breaths
Blue color on the lips, mouth, or under the fingernails
High fever
Extreme fatigue
Difficulty feeding

Prevention is Key:

Unfortunately there is no treatment for RSV except relieving some of the typical symptoms, so it’s important for parents to take the following preventive steps to help protect their child:

Be sure to wash hands, toys, bedding, and play areas frequently
Ensure you, your family, and any visitors in your home wash their hands or use hand sanitizer.
Avoid large crowds and people who may be sick.
Never let anyone smoke near your baby or be around 2^nd hand smoke on clothing.
Most important speak with your child’s doctor if you believe he or she may be at high risk for RSV, as a preventive therapy may be available

Learn more:

To learn more about RSV and ways to protect your baby please go to www.RSVprotection.com

Baby Sleep Myths

November 7, 2014 by Jen

There a number of baby sleep myths people think of, when the topic is about baby’s sleeping habits. This post focuses on clearing some of these myths. To know more, read on…

No nap during the day, better sleep at night

This is a strange myth parents have in their mind. For this, ask yourself one question; if you don’t eat food during the day, will you feel too hungry during nighttime and eat more than what you should? The answer to both of the thoughts presented here is, NO! So, don’t skip daytime naps. It will disturb their schedule and will lead to poor sleep window at night. Possibly, this can have a negative effect, forcing kids to wake up early next morning and be irritated during the day.

Sleep Schedule is not important

You can assume this if you are not willing to make one for your baby. Scheduling anything is good, and when it comes to baby sleep, it is very much the need when they are too young. If you schedule their sleep when they are young, they will learn how and when they should be in bed, as they grow older. So, sleep schedule helps laying groundwork for them.

Infants can sleep for long hours like adults

There is some confusion when we talk about this myth. Some say that if the baby is too tired, they will sleep for long hours. Yes, they sleep for long hours, but they don’t sleep for long hours straight. Children wake up during the nighttime and want someone’s help to get them back to sleep. In case of adults, we know how to get back to sleep if our sleep breaks during the nighttime. However, children don’t know this trick, and they keep looking for someone to hug them and make them fall asleep again. They love to get cozy when their sleep is interrupted at night.

Start solids early and see your baby have sound sleep through the night

If your child is less than six months old, it is suggested that you don’t give them solids. This is because they lack mature digestion. If you give them solids this early, there can be possible issues like food allergies and stomach ache. So, don’t do this mistake. Some parents defend their act saying that it keeps their baby full for longer hours. This should be helpful in letting them have a good night sleep. NO! As noted, this is a myth and can affect your baby negatively. So, refrain yourself from doing anything like this.

Swing, swing, all the time

If your baby is fussy, a moving swing can help him soothe and relax. However, it keeps them in a light sleep and he won’t be able to have a sound sleep. Swings are good and have their uses. It is your substitute, when you are too tired to swing the baby personally. If used effectively, the baby will enjoy the swings and even have a sound sleep. So, if buying a swing is on your mind, check out the best coupon site, chameleonjohn.com for discount coupons for overstock promo code.