Mom Talk

Everywhere you look, there is someone or something telling you how to lose weight, how to measure your weight, and how to feel better about your weight. In the face of that, you have the body positive campaigns that tell you to be proud of your body and love yourself as you are. What they are all missing, is that you are more than your body and your worth goes further than a number on a scale.

Lean Cuisine released this wonderful video to show women that it’s more important to weigh what matters in life, and not yourself. You can see women of all shapes and sizes telling the interviewer what their greatest accomplishment is in life, and then weighing that instead of themselves on a provided scale. As one woman says, the weight of her accomplishment is “immeasurable.” This video is tear inducing, but it shows what women need to see- we are more than our weight. What do you want to weigh?

My days are filled with chasing kids, running them to and from school, activities, and doctor’s appointments, night classes, and writing for my blog. On top of that, I find time to still volunteer two days per week at my daughter’s school. I try to eat healthy, but most days it’s impossible and I grab what I can. This video showed me that the other things I have accomplished, and continue to accomplish, outweigh the number on the scale I haven’t achieved just yet. If I want to weigh something, I should #WeighThis.

Join the conversation  

If you’re going to weigh something, weigh what matters. Share how you want to be weighed with the hashtag #WeighThis on twitter or Facebook today!

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

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?

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