novideo - Joyful Messes

6 Easy Tips To Keep Your Pet Safe During Summer Adventures

Thank you Hartz® UltraGuard Pro® for sponsoring this post. Complete and trusted flea and tick prevention starts with Hartz! Summer adventures create the best memories, and now that we have our dog, Theodore, he gets to spend a lot of our adventures with us. We decided to adventure in the Pacific Northwest this summer, where most of our family is. There are hikes, beaches, parks and lots of mountains to climb (literally). There are many off-leash dog parts, pet-friendly trails and out door seating and concerts we can bring Theodore to, but there are also some safety and precautions that are important to consider when traveling and adventuring with your pet. I thought it would be helpful to go over some of those that I’ve learned along the way! 6 Easy Tips To Keep Your Pet Safe During Summer Adventures: Extra Protection Against Ticks, Fleas, Mosquitoes: With the added hikes,…

Healthy Kids

5 Activity Alternatives to Cut Back on Cumulative Screen Time

Thank you Amazon for sponsoring this post. Give the gift of reading this holiday season with Prime Book Box! Screen time-free entertainment for young children is hard. The Cable TV shows, Youtube and Netflix are just three of the main sources for our screen-time entertainment with three boys under 6 years old. Things haven’t gotten much easier as we’ve transitioned into the older-toddler years. Now it is 2, 4 and almost-6 that brings a whole lot of physical, wild, unbridled energy in and outside of the house. SCREENS GIVE ME A BREAK! But, recent research shows us how we are teaching our children to never be calm, bored or less-than entertained. We are giving them toys, activities then screens to keep them always stimulated and totally enthralled. I’ve been reaching for less screen time here, and I’ve found some tips and tricks that really help. It isn’t as hands-off as…

Motherhood

How To Manage and Balance All The Things In Postpartum Life: 6 Gems of Advice

This post is sponsored by AZO and SheKnows Media. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Balancing postpartum life can seem completely impossible in the first few months. Between the bleeding, diaper blowouts, leakages, lack of sleep and completely interrupted activities, it can feel LIKE you’re suffocating. When you’re in the moment, it feels like slow motion as the hours tick by, but then, before you know it, your little one is talking and turning two. Let’s go over some of the things that happen postpartum, and how to balance and manage them all! Healing from either c-section or vaginal birth is shocking in itself. I was terrified to even consider looking at the aftermath of my first birth. Managing your healing process involves consistent care and attention. This is one of the major things that will consume your mind and attention (besides baby) postpartum. If you manage your health…

Fitmom

15-Minute Fat Blast Workout for Busy Mamas

I am partnering with 1915TM Organic to share this sponsored post. As a busy mama, I know how difficult it can be to get a workout in. I am just now able to grab some more time for workouts as my little ones are getting older. When they were all 4 and under, it was almost impossible unless I strapped them all in the stroller and just ran as far as they would let me. As a Pre/Post Natal Fitness Specialist, I have learned some super quick and effective moves that will get your heart rate up and help you burn some fat, even if all you can spare is 15 minutes. Most of us can grab 15 minutes here or there, and I don’t feel as guilty about letting my children watch their favorite show for 15 minutes. Sometimes, staying healthy as a mama means taking advantage of fast…

Healthy

5 Health Challenges For The Whole Family To Try This Fall

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PurinaONEPets #CollectiveBias There is something about a health challenge that is so motivating and exciting. I believe in not only setting health challenges for yourself, but also the whole family. Many mamas attempt to follow health challenges on their own, but forget their family can totally get involved as well, and may even enjoy doing the health challenge too! I put together 5 challenges for the whole family to try this fall to encourage better eating and activity habits. Sometimes all you need are a few small steps, to add up to big steps, which then turn into changing habits. I also love a challenge to get myself, and family, out of a funk, which happens easily soon after school starts. With the onset of little colds, darker and colder weather, and busier…

Mom Hacks

How to Find Balance with a New Baby

This post is sponsored by AZO and SheKnows Media. All opinions and thoughts are my own. Finding balance with a new baby can be totally overwhelming at first. Believe me, I’ve had three babies and each time I’ve found myself feeling anxious as I attempted to adjust to the new, unexpected chaos of post-baby life. However, with each baby, I’ve learned some tricks that have really helped me balance my life with a new baby. The adjustment period is one of the most difficult, but also most precious times, so balancing yourself emotionally is so very important! I have some tips and tricks that have really helped me deal with a new baby postpartum, which have helped me feel more like I am thriving rather than sinking in a puddle of dirty diapers and milky rags. Finding Balance Tip 1: Take Care of Your Health One of the best tips…

Mom Hacks

How We Are Training Our Dog To Be A Service Dog

This post is sponsored by Big Heart Pet, Inc. All opinions are my own. We are training our dog to be a service dog ourselves, because I think the experience for the kiddos and myself is wonderful, and we want to give our time and energy to those in need. I consider it my responsibility to teach my boys to serve others, and we have been blessed with amazing health and a wonderful, friendly puppy, which we can share with other children who are sick. There is a children’s hospital not too far from our house, and I can’t wait to go visit the children with my boys and our dog to make their day just a little better! I’ve seen the pure joy of children when they meet our dog, Theodore, at parks, and my heart goes out to all those children who are stuck in hospital beds, without…

Food & Recipes

5 Ways To Make PB+J Just A Little Better

#ad This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of The J.M. Smucker Company. The opinions and text are all mine. Peanut butter and jelly is an all-time favorite here. As in, almost-daily staple because my kids love it, and I actually love feeding it to them. Fat and protein in the peanut butter is amazing for growing brains. It keeps them satiated, helps build muscle and brain power, and the little bit of sugar from the jam gives them immediate energy! It also tastes amazing, and there are no negotiations when it comes to eating. Sometimes I get bored making peanut butter and jelly, so to spice things up for back to school and make things just a little bit better, I came up with 5 ways to improve the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, plus I have a recipe for peanut butter and jelly bars!! They…

Kids Activities

5 Ways To Help Your Kids Be In Charge Of Recycling + Free Printable

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #HonestKidsRecycle #CollectiveBias Getting your kids involved with recycling can be super fun, and it makes things into less than a chore, and more of a learning experience. The reason I love to put kids in charge is because it takes some of the pressure off of me! I make it super fun for my kids to take charge and be in charge of sorting, and their favorite – smashing the boxes! Make sure to click the image below, to shop the juice boxes and join the recycle program! I have 5 ways you can help you kids be in charge of recycling, and I was super excited to find out about the Honest Kids® at Walmart and the recycling program. I had no idea this existed, and I thin it is PURE GENIUS!!…