A sweet treat and scent too #mompact

I wasn't sure what to think when I read the label, perfume candy? I'll give it a try though.
I gave out samples at Cameron's birthday party and the tween girls loved it, even the boys didn't mind the taste. The adults thought it was a neat idea and were happy to see a sugar free variety.

I decided to set a candy dish out on the table for the holiday season and since my boys aren't crazy about it (they like 1 piece a day maybe), it now has a home on my dinning room table where I can enjoy them and have reached for them on more than one occasion as a replacement for chemical cough drops.
I love the hint of perfume by the end of the day, but have to say I'm not sure if I would eat enough in a day to maintain the perfume scent.

 Like I said earlier my family that has sugar issues was happy to see the sugar free variety. I also noticed the sugar free variety hold up to temperature changes better that the sugared ones.

I started following Deo candy on Twitter and Facebook and look forward to more interaction with this company online.

I received samples to share with friends as a Member of the MOMPact Ladies Night Out group and am promoting a variety of fun products with friends and readers through the program.

What's the trick to preparing for the holidays?

60 days until Christmas, 28 days until Thanksgiving, and only 8 days until my oldest turns 10 so I'm starting to feel the push.
That being said I thought I would share with you my top 10 tricks to preparing for the holiday season!
Recently I shared some wonderful Mom invented goodies with some of my Mom friends thanks to #MompactLNO.  I created goody bags to put some of the various things in for the Moms which brings me to tip.
#1, have your children help with some of the decorating!
I picked up a package of foam leaf stickers and colored paper bags. My oldest stuck 3 stickers on each bag and then helped me fill them.











#2 Take time to be grateful for even the little things in your life.  My group of Moms created Gratitude jars using stickers, ribbon, scraps of paper, and empty recycled canning jars.
Share with your family and friends as a way to be grateful this season. Ask each family member even the younger ones to share what they are thankful for, write it on a slip of paper and date it.

#3 Keep lots of warm drinks handy as there is nothing better to calm the stress then a cup of warm. Remember as we prepare for the holiday season, a stressed out Mom doesn't make for a fun holiday. If you need to cut back on some of the decorating or bake a little less then do it. I know I am planning on baking for gifts this year as well as crafting, but I am also cutting back on the decorating and trying to simplify things a little.

#4 Buffet style is awesome! Keep is simple, if you are having guests over consider a buffet style rather than a formal sit down event. Yes sitting down for a meal is good (we do it almost every night at home) but being with people and having conversation is good too. I have found over the years some of my favorite parties have been buffet style (also easier to clean up at least for me.




#5 Keep a basket on the counter in the bathroom filled with products that will help visiting Moms and little ones. We have grown out of the baby stage but I have friends and family with little ones.  Here are some of the wonderful Mompact Products to fill a basket with:
  

Boogie Wipes, Diaper Buds, and TidyTots potty chair liners

#6 Stay Consistent  I know during the holidays sometimes we want to relax the rules a bit, not a good idea. Stay consistent with rules and consequences, add some extra snuggle time and extra incentives to following the rules, but don't relax the rules recovering on the back side of the holidays will be too hard. Penalty Pal is a great way to simplify timeouts with a single spot on the wall, a floor , perhaps even the kitchen cabinet or pantry door.

#7 Drink extra water, I know that sounds silly, but with the change in the weather and the rush rush of the holidays remember to drink your 8+ glasses a day.

#8. Cuddle with your kids more. We live in a very materialistic society and sometimes I think we forget about the simple things like snuggling. Read a book, share the day's events, ask them what they think of things.
#9. Menu plan and freezer meals are a huge way to save time and stress. It can also be a money saver if you can pick up larger quantities of things to have on hand.
#10 Share your thoughts and ideas with friends and family. Coming together and sharing some of the responsibilities for the holidays can make it easier. Potluck is a wonderful option for large family dinners (even buffet style). Maybe change it up a little and only buy gifts for the children to save money. Think outside the box, what will help make someone else's life a little less stressful.

Join us tonight (10/25) for a twitter party where we can share tips and tricks for the holiday season.
You can also enter to win a prize pack filled with treats to make you life a little easier.

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E is for Easter #atozchallenge

With Easter just a couple of days away I thought I would share our Easter traditions with you.
Easter morning the boys have resurrection biscuits for breakfast while they get to search through their baskets for treasures.
Next it is off to church and then over to Auntie's house for egg hunt and fancy dinner. The boys love the egg hunt and love setting up their own egg hunt after the fact to play.
This year funds are really tight so they "baskets" will be simple and full of crafts, school supplies, and healthy snacks along with a couple coupons for future activities (trip to a special park, a night a grandma's, picnic date with Mommy).

 They will also be receiving their own copy of The I like Book for Kids, in which I hope to have family write in it before or at least on Easter.

What are some of your Easter traditions?

Meet the Moms of MomPact with Easy Daysies Magnet Planner

This week one of the featured Moms of MomPact is Elaine Tan Comeau Mom of 3 , teacher, and inventor of Easy Daysies.

As a homeschool Mom I liked the idea behind Easy Daysies because it is versatile. We love the fun magnet titles and the split page of the magnet board. 

Since the set comes with more magnets then will fit on the board, we set it up so that things the boys need to focus on are on the board and the other things (ones they don't seem to argue about or already do without reminder) are on the larger area. 
The labels are made with 70% recycled material which is a nice bonus in a world were so much seems to go to waste. 
As we work on moving our classroom , Easy Daysies will be an even bigger part of our day. We are looking to purchase the teacher set for our classroom goals area and use the small tree chart in the bathroom (laundry, teeth, bath, etc..) 


I can see the benefits for younger kids as well as special needs kids who need a little extra help getting things done and remembering what comes next for their day. Load the To Do side with the morning routine or the after school routine. If you are a homeschooler like me, I generalize it so the boys can see where school fits into the big picture of the day. 
Another thing I really like about this system, the background and the labels can be written on and wiped off.  I can write what is for lunch or dinner on the appropriate label or a certain area that needs attention on the clean up label. 
Find Easy Daysies on Facebook ,  EasyDaysises website,  and on Twitter. You can order directly from her website or on Amazon.


Here is your chance to win one along with a selection of other great MomPact products. 
**This product was included in my MomPact consultant kit, no compensation was given for this review***

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Meet the Moms of MomPact with Bee-Stractor Distraction Cards

Welcome to another awesome giveaway from MomPact. Meet the Moms is an awesome way for you to get to know the Moms behind the great products featured on Mompact. 

This weeks products include the  Bee-Stractors® DistrACTION Cards   While we didn't need the cards for their intended purpose (a distraction while children are getting shots, etc..), I love the cards for their true purpose, keep the kids distracted while something else is going on. Maybe it is a phone call that Mommy needs to finish, or lesson planning, or just simply waiting for the next lesson during the school day.  These fun and durable cards are a great way to keep kids entertained with something educational. The age appropriate questions get them thinking while the colorful pictures get them laughing.  If you have younger non-readers these are still great to have on hand as a way for older children to be engaged with the younger ones.  These durable credit card sized cards are on a ring so they stay together. I am actually putting together a little gift bag for a friend that includes the cards and a NiNi Toy Bungee for a road trip
Here is your chance to win a set of cards, Buzzy , and the Twooth Timer. 

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products mentioned and reviewed in this post were part of the MomPact Consultant Kit, no compensation was received for this review. This review also contains affiliate links where I may receive a percentage of any sales from the links.

Meet the Moms Tuckaroo and Bib Drying Rack Event

My boys are beyond the bib stage but I know many of my homeschool mom friends are still there so I wanted to share this awesome giveaway  from MomPact.   If you have little ones at home or have a little one on the way both these amazing products are for you.

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ilikebook a fun journey for a child

The ilikebook is an amazing way to tell your child all the things your love about them.
This compact little book is full of fill in the blank style entries for you or any one to write something you like about your child and add a date
I am giving each of my boys a copy for Valentine's Day this year. I am going to have aunties, grandparents, uncles, etc.. each fill in a passage. My goal is to help them see even when things aren't going the way we think they should , they are loved.
As a homeschool Mom, I am always looking for other ways to use things, and this book is no exception. I can see it as a book for the boys to fill out about the people around them. Actually when I first saw this book that is what I thought it was for, the child to fill out each spot about a person they like.  Either way filling out this book is a great way to share and create a treasury of memories for your child.
Now for the fun part. theilikebook is available on Mompact where Moms support Mom inventors in business, but this week you can enter to win your own copy of the ilikebook along with a Zatswho photo flashcard kit.


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I received a copy of the ilikebook as part of my MomPact consultant kit, links in the above review may contain affiliate links where I receive a percentage of sales