I'm a Delta Faucet Mom Ambassador!! #WomansIn2ition

Posted by Jenna | Monday, May 20, 2013



**I participated in an Ambassador Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Delta Faucets. I received a product sample and promotional item as a thank you for participating.

As a busy mom of three, I find one of my favorite things to do after a long day of taking care of the kids, fixing meals and cleaning the house is to take a shower. It's a quiet place for me to relax and enjoy some peace and quiet without interruption. After my shower usually comes shower time for each of my kids (yes, they prefer showers over baths). It has been my dream to have a showerhead that would not only give me the relaxing shower I need at the end of a long day, but also one that makes shower time for my kids more convenient.

That's why I was thrilled when selected to be a Delta Faucet Mom Ambassador and given the opportunity to review one of the Delta In2ition Shower Heads to review!
shower heads, hand held & dual showerheads in2ution by Delta Faucet

When my Delta In2ition Showerhead arrived, I couldn't wait to have my hubby help me install it so I could try it out. Thankfully, installation was a breeze, which I will discuss more in a following post. Once it was up and ready to use, I stood back and amazed with it's beauty! Just look at it!
I love it! It goes extremely well with the other fixtures and decor in our bathroom, and suits our taste perfectly. I really appreciate the sleek, modern design and stainless steel finish! Of course, after checking out how it looked, I couldn't wait to see how it worked! Here's a quick video I took that explains some of the key features I absolutely love about this shower head.



As you can see, the Delta In2ition shower is unique, in that it's a two-in-one shower system that features a showerhead and handheld shower in one. The removeable handshower can run separately or simultaneously from the showerhead. There's a handy lever positioned on the side of the showerhead that lets the user set the In2ition shower to one of three options: showerhead and handshower, showerhead only or handshower only.
There's also a button which controls the flow of the water as well. It allows me to choose from a more relaxing, gentle flow to one that is stronger and more invigorating. I love having this option! Depending on my mood adn the kind of day I have had, there are times when I prefer a more gentle spray, while other times I prefer that it be stronger!
And, a feature I forgot to mention in the video is that this particular In2ition Showerhead offers H2OKinetic technology. This basically means that it has an internal system that controls the speed, movement and droplet size of the water coming out of the showerhead. It makes the water feel more powerful and like there's more coming out without actually using more water. How neat is that? 

One of my favorite features is by far the detachable handshower! There's a flexible 60 inch hose (which stretches to 82 inches) that makes it super easy to now give my kids showers. It's so convenient to rinse them off, not to mention cleaning my shower! I no longer have to move around the shower head, but can simply grab the handshower and rinse down my shower much easier and more quickly. YAY for making this busy mama's life a little easier! The handheld shower detaches easily, and goes back into place easily and securely too.
Overall we've been really happy with the Delta In2ition Showerhead! It's extremely well-made, eye-catching...and best of all, it offers many features I've been looking for. It gives me the relaxing shower I need after a long, busy day...while still offering the convenience of making it easy to shower my kids as well! It really is a perfect multitasking tool for busy moms and families.

Over the coming months I will be testing out our Delta In2ition 2-in-1 Shower Arm Mounted Shower Head and sharing with you some of my favorite features along the way! Stay tuned...

You can learn more about Delta at DeltaFaucet.com. Also be sure to connect with Delta on Twitter and Facebook.



Elmer's School Glue Naturals ~ Review

Posted by Jenna | Monday, May 20, 2013




**I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consultingfor Elmer's. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

As a mom of three small children, and a former Pre-K teacher, arts and crafts activities are one of my favorite things to do with my kids! There's just something about watching them use their imaginations as they create and learn that brings a smile to my face every time. Since we do various projects frequently, I try to keep the necessities on hand...one of those being glue! A bottle or stick of glue has proven to be a must-have item for almost everything we create. That's why I was excited to learn about the all new School Glue Naturals from Elmer's

Elmer's, the makers of America's favorite school glue, understands the demand for natural adhesive products from eco-conscious parents and teachers. That's why they're proud to announce Elmer's School Glue Naturals, the FIRST and ONLY school glue made with naturally occurring ingredients (specifically corn and soybeans) and available in recycled packaging in pourable and glue stick form.

I appreciate that Elmer's is offering a natural-based glue option for parents and teachers and was excited that we were given the opportunity to test it out! 
When our Elmer's School Glue Naturals pourable glue and glue sticks arrived, the kids were begging to do an activity. As I mentioned, I love to do projects with my kids and typically try to tie it into something they're learning in school or we're learning at home. When the Elmer's glue arrived, we had been talking a lot about Spring and the different things we see during this time of year. I decided to do a couple of fun projects with the kids to spark their creativity and encourage some learning at the same time. 

Kaden loves colors and learning more about them. Lately he has been particularly interested in rainbows, and with Spring and rainy weather upon us...I thought it was the perfect time to do a fun rainbow craft. We cut up some colored paper (except purple, he wanted to color that one himself), a cloud shape and got out glue and cotton balls ready.

Kaden first used the Elmer's School Glue Naturals to glue each of the color strips along the bottom of the cloud shape (this was his rainbow!). He then used the pourable glue for the larger cloud shape to glue on his cotton balls. 



I was amazed, and happy to see that the Elmer's School Glue Naturals pourable glue and glue sticks are just as strong and washable as Elmer's traditional School glue. They can be used on any project that you would typically use Elmer's traditional School Glue on! 
His rainbow project has held up great and he enjoyed using the new glue. The glue sticks seemed very comparable to other Elmer's glue sticks we've used and these were probably Kaden's favorite to use. The pourable Elmer's School Glue Natural is also fantastic quality. It is a bit thicker than Elmer's traditional white School Glue and seems more gel-like. At first it was a little more difficult for Kaden to squeeze out, as he's used to the white glue pouring out. He has started to get the hang of it though as we use it more. I for one appreciate that it doesn't flow out as quickly, so then we're not wasting any glue! 

Kaelyn has shown an interest in all of the flowers we've planted this Spring season and wanted to make a flower craft. She enjoys tracing her hands and cutting them out, so we decided to make a flower picture with her hands. 

She began by tracing her hands three times, then cutting them out along with a flower pot, stem, and two leaves. Since there were smaller surfaces to glue, she used the glue sticks for even coverage and it worked perfectly! 

 
Her flower picture turned out great and has stayed glued down with no problems at all! 
After using this several times with the kids so far, I can tell you that Elmer's School Glue Naturals is just as strong and washable as Elmer's traditional School Glue. I also appreciate that it's just as safe and non-toxic, with the benefit of being made with naturally occuring ingredients and in recycled packaging! 

I would definitely purchase Elmer's School Glue Naturals in the future to use with my kids. And, if I were still teaching would gladly use them in my classroom as well!

You can connect with Elmer's on Facebook and Twitter as well. You can also learn more about their Elmer's "Pin to Win" Sweepstakes, here.
Buy It: Elmer's School Glue Naturals is available in a single 4 0z. pourable bottle ($3.29 RV), single 22g glue stick or 6g glue sticks sold in two packs ($3.29 RV), and in a 30 pack case ($16.99 RV). You can purchase Elmer's School Glue Naturals nationwide in JoAnn Fabric stores, Michaels stores, and more.
 



Doc McStuffins: Time For Your Check-Up DVD Review & Giveaway

Posted by Jenna | Monday, May 20, 2013



**The product for this review/giveaway was provided for free. However, all opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

Our kids do not watch a lot of TV, but when they do there are a few that are their favorites. One being Doc McStuffins. It's a cute, clean animated tv series that all three of my kids enjoys sitting down and watching from time to time. So, you can imagine their excitement when we learned we were going to have the opportunity to review Doc McStuffins: Time For Your Check-Up on DVD!


Doc McStuffins: Time For Your Check-Up arrived on DVD May 7th. This is the second DVD compilation for Disney Juniors animated hit tv series, featuring 5 fun-filled episodes and a free growth chart!

For those who aren't familiar, Doc McStuffins tells the story of a nurturing six year old girl who heals stuffed animals and broken toys out of her backyard playhouse clinic. Assisting "Doc" at the clinic are loveable stuffed animals. Whether it's a loose stitch, low batteries or something else...Doc and the other helpers are always there to lend a helping hand in any way they can. 

We received the Doc McStuffins: Time For Your Check-Up DVD and all three of my kids wanted to sit and watch it right away. It was a rainy day and the perfect time to watch a little tv together, so we sat down and watched a couple of episodes. A few days later, we watched the rest. 

What a fun DVD! I love that it includes 5 episodes, as it's something that we can keep on hand to watch on several different occasions. We've also used it in the car for longer road trips which has been nice too! My kids are glued! They just love Doc and all of her cuddly, stuffed friends. 

The five episodes included are: Gulpy, Gulpy Gators!/One Note Wonder; Tea Party Tantrum/Blast Off!; Arcade Escapade; Bronto Boo-Boos/Brontosaurus Breath; and Doctoring The Doc/Hot Pursuit! 

I really can't say that there was one that stuck out as a favorite. My kids loved them all! I appreciate that all of the episodes are not only cute and clean, but that Doc's helping nature helps to teach young viewers the importance of taking care of oneself and others. It's really a great lesson for all ages.

We've been really happy with this DVD and look forward to watching it again sometime. 

Street Date: May 7, 2013
SRV: $19.99 US/$24.99 Canada 
Approximately 120 minutes
 
Win It: One lucky reader is going to win a copy of Doc McStuffins: Time For your Check-Up DVD of their own! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter giveaway below.
 







3 Signs That You Need Help With Your Finances ~ Guest Post

Posted by Jenna | Monday, May 20, 2013



The lightning pace of modern life can make taking care of personal finances a difficult task. How are you doing at it? Following are three signs that show you are in need of a little help.

3. You Don't Have Savings Goals

Image via Flickr by Images of Money

If you have your paycheck spent almost before you receive it, you probably aren't looking ahead very far. Do you dream of buying a house? Are you dreaming of retirement? Stop dreaming and start planning. Set both long-term and short-term savings goals. If you're at a loss as to where to begin, make your first savings goal that of establishing an emergency fund that will sustain you for a minimum of three months if you experience a loss of income.

Once you've established concrete goals, outline a concrete plan for reaching those goals. Figure out how much you can reasonably set aside each month. Also, set a deadline for yourself. A deadline will motivate you to keep saving, and you'll have something to look forward to.

2. You're Constantly Struggling With Debt

If the plastic in your wallet is digging a hole that's getting deeper and deeper, this is a major sign that you need help with your finances. The first step to filling in the hole is to stop digging. If at all possible, stop using your credit cards. Also consider consolidating your debt, which will lessen the overall amount you will pay in interest and make it easier for you to keep track of your payments.

Tackling your debt takes you miles closer to reaching your financial goals. After you have an emergency fund set aside, make paying off your debts the priority. It will free up money for savings and give you added peace of mind.

If you're really struggling to pay your debts, consider getting professional help from a company like global money management firm Fisher Investments. If you choose to go to a financial advisor, thoroughly check out their credentials and areas of expertise. Choosing the right help can go a long way.

1. You Don't Know Where Your Money is Going

If all you can say for certain about where your money is going is, "out of my bank account" -- it's time for you to start paying real attention. For a month, keep track of every dollar you spend. You can either write it down or find an app for your phone.

It might seem like a tedious task, but the end result is that your eyes will be opened to what your spending habits really are. Then you can decide where you can cut back and save more money. Once you know where your money is going, make a plan for where you want it to go. Write out a budget that:
  • Covers necessities, 
  • Gives you a little room to play
  • Moves you toward your financial goals.
Pay particular attention to how much money you budget for things like recreation and dining; in other words, expenses that can easily get out of hand. After doing this, you should have a much better idea about how you're spending your cash.

With a little knowledge, self-control, and maybe some outside assistance, you'll be on your way to reaching your financial goals, whatever those goals might be. Make an honest self-assessment to see if you're exhibiting any of the signs that you need help with your finances. What other problems have you experienced with your own finances?




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