Hyland's Halloween Costume Contest (3 Winners!)

** I received products in return for my post and sharing this contest thanks to Hyland's. **

Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year! The hot, humid weather is over and all of the leaves start changing color and you can usually find some good movies on TV during Halloween. My little ones love it too. It seems to take so long to decide what they want to dress up as and with school parties, our Halloween party, and a few other local events, they sometimes have a couple of costumes to cover everything. 

We like to have a kid friendly party each year where kids can dress up or not. (Our youngest is still a little scared of some costumes!) There are a few other kids who prefer to stay inside on trick or treat night. Some younger and of course, the older ones too. So, we try to get the word out and have a variety of healthy foods and drinks and make up some treat bags for our guests. I feel it's a good idea to have a safe place for kids to go during trick or treat hours and even after for the trick or treaters. It's also a great way to fill their pumpkins with healthy treats, toothbrushes, little toothpaste, floss, or whatever else you can think of! 

Do you want to win a Hyland's prize pack and a $100 Visa gift card? There are 3 winners so be sure to enter and share with your friends. 

Three winners will win a prize pack which includes the products in the picture above and the $100 Visa gift card. You are already taking pictures of your little cuties all dressed up, so, why not share one with Hyland's and use the hashtag #HylandsHalloweenCostumeContest? 

** Please keep in mind that you must be the legal guardian of the child in your photo. ** You can read more about the official rules on the giveaway link. 

Have a safe and happy (and healthy) Halloween and good luck! 

Hylands What's In Your Bag Sweepstakes #HylandsBagPicks

** I received free products in exchange for sharing the Hylands #WhatsInYourBag Sweepstakes. **

Hyland's has some of the best quality, homeopathic medicines out there but did you notice they also have some of the most fun and coolest contests, too! 
Their newest contest, "What's In Your Bag", is one you definitely don't want to miss!

Of course, summertime is the best time of year for days at the beach, vacations, and other fun day trips. But, when you have children or grandchildren, or even if you're just headed to the beach with your girlfriends, you are going to need a bag to hold all of your supplies. I often thought maybe I had some sort of OCD with all of the lists of what to pack and for what. (and the lists of lists I need to make!) It seems that it's just a mom thing and even if my over the top organization drives my husband crazy, we never run out of toilet paper or more importantly, coffee!

So, Hyland's decided to offer this really clever, "What's In Your Bag" contest and partnered with some other excellent, natural brands to share their Hyland's bag picks that everybody should have available for those times you need supplies. (Which is all of the time!) You might even find that you already have some of these products on your list or in your bag.

What's in your baby beach bag?   (Click the link to interact with the products on the picture and learn more about each brand!)

You aren't really living until you've tried Ella's Kitchen Strawberry + Apple Fruit Puree! I know it's meant for your baby but, this stuff is to tasty to not share. Plus, it's not nearly as messy as stashing real fruit in your bag. They have other flavors so there is something for everybody's tastebuds, no matter how picky! 

I remember the first time I tried SheaMoisture Baby Healing Lotion! Oh my goodness! It is the dreamiest lotion! So super creamy and delightful with the most pleasant scent I think I ever smelled! I use it regularly now. (For myself too!) They also have Baby Oil Rub, body wash, shampoo, and Baby Head To Toe Ointment so, you're going to want to grab them all. The winner of this bag will get a few of these very same products and I promise, this is another goody you are going to want to share. 

When we had our first daughter, (way, way, back in the 90's!), I didn't have the luxury of these fancy wipes that could be used for quick cleanups on the go or at home. I had to use regular, old baby wipes when we were out and about, because it was all I had packed. (Now that I think of it, I really don't think we had many options for on the go wipes that weren't just for diaper changes!) But, you don't have to deal with the struggle like I did! Babyganics  has all of that under control! Toy, Table, And Highchair Wipes sound pretty great, right? They are also fragrance free! You won't find any harsh chemicals in their products so, you can feel safe when using them for your baby. 

Another product I wish I had for our first couple of children are Jack 'N Jill's Gum And Tooth Wipes. I'm so grateful that these were invented because it is so much easier to clean your little one's gums and tiny baby teeth and you can even use these from birth on up.  

Every mom (or dad or grandma or grandpa) needs a Day Trip Kid Bag! 

I don't know what I would do if I ever left the house without ours! I would be lost, hurt, and no matter where I was when I realized it, I would have to turn around. Or just stop at the nearest store and try to find replacements for everything for the time being. There just isn't a way around it. When we have day trips, they tend to be ALL day trips. Even if we are just going to a few doctor appointments. We live so far from everything that we have to try and schedule everything in one afternoon. That usually ends in some sort of stop at a park, (if the weather permits.) and lunch or dinner out. 

Even on appointment days, especially in the warmer months, we pack Hylands Bug Bite Ointment and Hylands For Kids Bumps And Bruises With Arnica. These are 2 of our absolute must haves for any trip and even just days at home. Both are super fast acting and very effective! 

You can't leave the house without sunscreen! Protecting your skin and your children's skin is vital even in the colder months. This bag includes a couple of sunscreen options from Goddess Garden. They are packed with organic, plant based ingredients that are safe for your whole family. 

Did I mention that each winner will receive a gift card inside of their bag? This should help cover a day trip with the family or a day at the museum, the beach, and lunch! 

The Natural Fashionista Bag 

I'm in love with all of the bags so far but this one comes with some extra goodies for the uber fashionable moms out there! Not only will the winner receive some Hyland's products to stock up your medicine cabinet, they will also find a gorgeous variety of some of the best natural products and beauty products out there! Before I go much further, I have to quick add how much I recommend Hyland's Leg Cramps! These are crucial for the busiest of days! They provide some serious relief. 

Noyah Spearmint Lip Balm is divine! I just can't think of a better scent for lip balm. A little goes a long way and it will help prime your lips for some chic Noyah Lip Gloss made with good stuff like coconut oil and cocoa butter. 

You will most definitely need some Invigorating Body Lotion to help make it through such a long day of looking pretty and being the hippest mom at the beach. Ishga Organic Skincare has you covered there with their unique blend of seaweed extract and a matching Body Oil to boot! 

** This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hyland’s and Promotional Partners. Uses for Hyland’s products are based on traditional homeopathic practice. They have not been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. **

Hyland's Mom Throwback Giveaway

** I received Hylands products in return for hosting this giveaway and for sharing on social media. **

                               



Moms are totally awesome! I don't know where I'd be if it weren't for my mom. I still have to talk to my mom everyday. Whether it's on the phone or through text messages, (a lot of text messages!), we're best friends and I cherish all of the fun memories we have.

Hyland's is celebrating just how fabulous and super important moms are with this groovy giveaway! The winner will receive the products below. Everything a mom needs for her medicine cabinet to keep her sanity and take care of her little ones. Of course the prizes are very cool, as usual!

For your entry, please think of one of your favorite memories of your childhood, your mom, or any mother figure in your life. I would love to read about some of your most fun times! I would also love to read any ideas you have about how to keep memories alive! Do you keep journals? Do you document everything with photo books? Time capsules?

The winner of the prize pack will receive:

• Hyland’s Baby Nighttime Teething Tablets – $9.79 value
• Hyland’s Baby Nighttime Mucus + Cold Relief – $11.99 value
• Hyland’s Baby Nighttime Tiny Cold Tablets – $13.59 value
• Hyland’s 4 Kids Cold ’n Cough Value Pack – $17.39 value
• Hyland’s 4 Kids Bumps ’n Bruises – $10.49 value
• Hyland’s 4 Kids Calm ’n Restful – $8.39 value
• Hyland’s Good Morning (100 tablets) – $10.49 value
• Hyland’s Nerve Tonic (100 tablets) – $9.99 value
• Hyland’s Calms Forte (100 tablets) – $9.99 value

Now for the giveaway! Don't forget to share with friends and enter daily! You can Tweet once per day for bonus entries!

 Good luck!



  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Halloween With Hylands Costume Contest

** I received Hylands products in return for helping to promote the Hylands Halloween Costume Contest. All opinions are my own. **

Halloween is probably my most favorite holiday of them all. Not just because I am a big horror movie fan or because I have Pinhead figures and posters in my house, 365 days a year, but also because it's fall, my favorite season. Sweatshirts, the smell of freshly fallen leaves, campfires, easier dinners thanks to crockpots, soups, pot pies, chili, the perfect weather to make opera fudge, whoopie pies, and the scary movie all nighters at the drive ins. (Yes, those still exist although, they are getting harder to find each year.)

Dressing up for Halloween parties and trick or treat is one of the best times to let your kid's imaginations shine! I always love to hear the ideas my little ones have each year and it's especially fun to create our own costumes! This year, my 8 year old had to dress up 4 days straight! This has been quite the hectic week but a fun one indeed! We had a parade on Tuesday and her Girl Scout troop was in that, then a Halloween party at her Girl Scouts meeting on Wednesday, trick or treat on Thursday and today, a Halloween party at school. Of course, she just had to be something different each day! The boys got to dress up last night for trick or treat and today again so, they were all able to let their imaginations run wild!

Along with fall and Halloween, comes cold and flu season. What better way to stock up then to enter to win the newest Hylands contest?! Hylands is running their 4th annual Halloween Costume Contest and 3 lucky winners will receive a prize package filled with Hylands products and a $50 Target gift card! Al you have to do is snap the cutest, most creative pictures you can, of your kids in their Halloween costumes and enter here! 

Some important information about the contest:

The costume contest will be judged on the following criteria:

•  Adherence to the Halloween theme (35%)

•  Creativity of photo caption (15%)

•  Originality of costume (e.g., creativity of costume; costume details) (35%)

•  Quality of the photo (e.g., lighting, focus) (15%)

The Contest begins at 9:01 AM Pacific Time (PT) on October 27, 2015 and ends at 11:59 PM PT on November 3, 2015.

**People must be the legal guardian of a child to enter his or her picture. **

You can also hashtag #HylandsHalloweenCostumeContest and share your pictures on Twitter and Instagram! 

The 3 pictures that win the Hylands judges hearts, will receive the following prize package:

Hyland’s Baby Nighttime Teething Tablets 

Hyland’s Baby Nighttime Tiny Cold Syrup 

Hyland’s 4 Kids Cold n Cough 

Hyland’s 4 Kids Cold n Cough Nighttime 

Hyland’s 4 Kids Bumps n Bruises 

Hyland’s Nerve Tonic

Hyland’s Calms Forte

And a $50 Target gift card. 

I'm sure most of you already have some adorable and scary pictures of your fabulous costumes, so why not enter them? Or if you haven't had trick or treat yet, get all dressed up and think of the most clever pose and snap those pictures! 

Have a happy and safe Halloween!! 

Don't forget to come back and let us know if you were one of the lucky winners!! 

The Newest And Cutest Product From Hylands

** I received a free product in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own. **

We're a Hylands family, so, naturally, we are head over heels in love with their new product! Hylands 4 Kids Bumps 'n Bruises with Arnica  is for kids, ages 2-12 but, since I bruise easily and have issues with my legs, thanks to RSD, I have been using this for myself. (So, I would add at least to age 41!)

You can find these handy, push up, ointment tubes exclusively at Target in the first aid section. Since it is part of the Target Made To Matter collection.

Hylands Bumps 'n Bruises is free of PABA, synthetic preservatives, fragrances, parabens, and dyes. It also comes in a tube made of paperboard that is 90% recycled. My kids giggle non stop when we have to pull out their "make everything better fast" sticks, thanks to the goofy Splat!  faces on the tube. This is an added bonus for moms and dads since it is much easier to apply on a happy, giggly kid.

Hylands makes everything just a bit better to work with and they definitely outdid themselves with this product! My 5 year old and my 8 year old use their ointment sticks all by themselves sometimes! I almost wonder if my 8 year old daughter pretends she has a red spot on her arm or leg every couple of days, just so she can use Bumps 'n Bruises....

She is extra smiley here but her tiny scratch is visible so I know she actually needed it this time :) She actually had a fair sized red scratch, a few of them really. From what? We aren't so sure. Just one of those things that happens when she is outside with her brothers, playing soccer, army or jumping on the trampoline. So, she used her Splat! stick a few times and instantly said she wasn't more. Not to mention, the visible scrapes weren't very visible after the first application. (I think she rubbed it a little and made it look slightly red since she said it itched.) Which brings me to the next part we love! These "make everything better fast" sticks seem to take away the itching away. For Genevive, this is a big help because she is a scratchy kid and she has very sensitive skin. (She takes after her mommy.) We always have cortisone cream for her and I, but since we have had these nifty ointment sticks, the cortisone cream has been used much less.

Hylands Bumps 'n Bruises is formulated with Arnica Montana, which is the #1 homeopathic remedy for bruising and swelling. I do wish they sold this in a vat because my ankles, feet and legs get so swelled up, especially at night and in the mornings. But, I did notice that we have a lot less swelling when it comes to spider bites, mosquito bites, and whatever other critters are chewing on us at night. (Again, Genevive and I are the ones who get eaten alive!)

If your kids are always out and about and getting skinned knees, bitten by every bug known to man, getting scratches, skinned knees, stubbing toes, bumps, and bruises, grab a coupon for Hylands Bumps 'n Bruises with Arnica here!

I would love to know what you think so, please stop back or tweet me, and let me know if you tried this product and what you thought! (I promise, your kids will be so busy smiling and laughing at the fun Splat! character, applying the ointment is a breeze!) 

Share Your Hylands Mom Moments For A Chance To Win!

** I received Hylands products in return for promoting and sharing the Hylands Mom Moments giveaway. **

Hylands has put together an incredibly awesome Mother's Day contest and you could be one of 3 winners!


All you need to do to enter is grab a photo, try and find the funniest, most real, maybe even slightly embarrassing, but we have all been there and we all know what it's like, so, don't worry if your hair is messy, or your floor is covered in diapers, toys, food, trust me, this is something all moms have in common and there is nothing to be ashamed about!


The funnier the captions, the better! Of course, don't forget to hashtag #HylandMomMoments so your picture can be seen and possibly shared by Hylands!


What does mothering mean to you? If you need some inspiration, check out Hyland's Instagram page for some other #HylandsMomMoments!


I collected some of my own, um, interesting, mom moments, to share with all of you, just to show you what I think mothering is all about :)

This is just 1 of maybe 200 selfies of my youngest daughter, that I found in my cell phone once. (Ok, not once, but a few times.) They are always in my phone and snapping several pictures of all kinds of odd things and lucky me, gets to find them when I am trying to figure out why I have no memory space left. (Of course, I couldn't delete them!)

This is our youngest, in the middle lol. This used to happen a bit more often when he was tinier. (He will be 5 this coming Friday) but, this was a daily occurrence.)

This is one of my favorites and it seems to be a regular deal when we try and get those lovely photos of the kids, to share with family and friends. Our oldest daughter is moved out and was during this photo but, we have plenty with her doing the same kind of fun stuff.

We love to do DIY crafts, cook, bake, all kinds of good stuff. But, that doesn't mean it is as clean and well kept during and after as it may sometimes seem when I write a post about it! Actually, everything looks like this, all the time!

It may be hard to see from this photo but this was a few years ago when our oldest son decided he would like an arrow shaved into the top of his head, (Yes, from the movie lol.) But, he loved it and we like to let our little ones be their own individuals!
Plus, we had some good laughs because he reminded us of Private Joker from Full Metal Jacket! (Just in case you have seen that movie!!)



So, see? That wasn't so hard and no, I'm not embarrassed! I love sharing pictures and stories and Hylands is making that much cooler since you can win prizes for doing so!!


What can you win?


3 winners will win a tremendously excellent prize package! Complete with some of the best Hylands products, a $50 Target gift card AND a $100 Spafinder gift card!! (YES! 3 winners win all 3 prizes!!)
You can read more about the rules, here. 


Where can you enter to win? Well, Hyland's Facebook page, of course!

You have until 11:59 EST on May 7th to enter, so, quick! Snap some fun pics!


We would love to see your #HylandsMomMoments and hope to hear that one or more of our readers won one of these spectacular prize packages!!


GOOD LUCK!


Happy Mother's Day!

Help Us Find Hylee For A Chance To Win With Hylands

** This is a sponsored post, thanks to Hyland's. All opinions and statements are my own. **

ALERT!!

The Hyland's baby fairy, Hylee is missing! But, if you help find her, you'll have the chance to win a pack of Hyland's Teething Tablets OR a Hyland's gift basket!

Hylee must be found in time for National Tooth Fairy Day!! This is a real emergency and we are asking that everybody is on the lookout!!

If you happen to stumble across, Hylee, please make sure to let Hyland's know, by entering her location, here!

You could end up winning 1 of 500 full size Hyland's Teething Tablets or you could hit it big and win a Hyland's gift basket, filled with lots of Hyland's goodies!!

This promotion runs all week and everyday will be a new opportunity to #FindHylee and enter her whereabouts on the Hyland's Facebook page.

Oh, I almost forgot, she will be holding a sign with the day of the week so that you know you know you have her. 

So, where should you look? Well, other than Hyland's Facebook page, you may be able to find her on Instagram, Twitter or she may be flying around the Hyland's Pinterest page!

Our youngest daughter, Genevive has a loose tooth right now and is just moments away from loosing this and will be very sad if she doesn't get a visit from the tooth fairy. (This is why I must repeat how important it is that we all pitch in and #FindHylee!)


If you aren't familiar with Hyland's Homeopathic, you can find information about them here.
Hyland's offers a full range of homeopathic medicines for your whole family. From babies through adult!
We have been big fans of Hyland's for many years. Maybe not since they started, (By the way, they have been around since 1903!!), lol, but, our oldest daughter is 22, almost 23 and we were using Hyland's Teething Tablets when she was just a tiny baby girl ;)
We have 4 children, ages: 4, 8, 11 and 22 and 2 granddaughters, ages: 9 months and 2. All of these little ones have had quite a few Teething Tablets in their tiny mouths at certain points in their lives. There were times we did try other products, usually because we ran out of Teething Tablets, or because a grandma had something different... (We didn't have internet back with our first baby! So, it wasn't as easy to restock as often as we can now!) But, nothing and I mean, NOTHING ever came close to the easy peasy Teething Tablets!
Not only are they super fast and a cinch to get inside their little mouths, they actually work! Almost in an instant!! The time saved with these little morsels from heaven is priceless. I can't think of anything I would rather have then a sleeping, content, happy, teething baby during those crazy times. and I'm sure our little ones are grateful, well, I know they are, because, they don't have to worry about crying or being in pain or being cranky when they have Teething Tablets!!
I actually most recently had to give a bottle to my son in law while they were visiting because he had quite the painful toothache and even if our youngest is 4, we always have Teething Tablets in the medicine cabinet. Yes, they actually helped him enough to be able to stay and visit so I could see my little princes granddaughters a bit longer!! I do use them for my little ones if they have a toothache, especially when they have loose teeth. Maybe it's magic? I don't know. But, they comfort them and when they are comfy, so am I!!

While you are searching for Hylee, check out the other products Hyland's has to offer. They are always out and about on social media and are always more than happy to answer your questions! I have Tweets sent to my cell phone, via text and I have my favorites set to alert so I don't miss a thing. I can promise you, out of all of my favorites, (and there are a ton!), Hyland's Health and Hyland's Teething Tablets are 2 of the most active and helpful accounts out there. That's another reason we love this brand and continue to use their products for anything from colds, to nerve tonic to restless leg, to allergies to skin care.

Have you ever tried Hyland's Homeopathic products before?
We love comments and would love to hear about your experience!
Which products have you used? Which products work best for your family?
Are there any in particular you haven't tried but would love too?

Help Hyland's Inspire 100,000 People

I was trying to think of a way to explain what inspires me and how I am inspired and this post ended up being one of the hardest for me to write, since, there are so many things that do inspire me.
I know I may sound like a broken record when discussing my illnesses and my health condition, but, even if the last decade seems to have taken the best of me, I also see it as a blessing in disguise. (For many, many reasons.)
Of course, I must include my children in my list of inspirations! They come first if I was to jot down a top 10 list. (But, they also play an important role in my other inspirations.)
I live by certain mottos, it's how I was raised and also how we raise our little ones to live. I'm sure you have heard these before. There seem to be so many different lessons learned from them and so many interpretations.
"There is always somebody worse off than you."
Now, this isn't saying that I don't think that people shouldn't be miserable, be upset, cry or be sad in any way, whatsoever... BUT I do take this to mean, "It could always be worse."
These are the sayings I seem to keep drilling inside my head. Especially on days when I do want to complain and I am going through a lot of pain.
Of course, we all complain about things sometimes, we all have bad days and times when life just isn't fair and it seems we will never bounce back from everything that is happening, our whole world is flipped upside down and nothing is going our way. I have these days a lot and I usually end up reading books, spending extra time with my kids, watching, Cops Reloaded marathons, listening to music, anything that will keep my mind off of the negativity.
It does get hard sometimes and it is hard to imagine that there is really somebody out there who is going through something or somethingS, that are just as bad and even worse than you.
When my feet and ankles started to become progressively worse and I couldn't find a surgeon who would fix me without amputation, I took my stubborn attitude and continued to fight, each and every day. Working 2 jobs, being a wife, a mom, doing all of the housework, errands, everything a typical mom who is married to a truck driver and bartends would be doing. At that time, I only had 2 children. Two kids can be just as time consuming and crazy as 3, 4 or even more ;)
But, I still couldn't walk to well and the pain was becoming totally unbearable and there were times I simply couldn't even lift my feet to move. It felt like there were concrete blocks forcing all of the weight in the world, on top of them. I swelled up so bad and couldn't stand it anymore and continued to find a doctor, anywhere, who would say they could fix me.
When I finally found this person, they didn't make any promises but I was much to busy and had to much to do so I agreed to a series of reconstructive foot and ankle surgeries that would most likely at least get me back to walking and getting around. The bad thing was, she had a 2 year waiting list for the first surgery.
Luckily, that got knocked down a bit since I was considered an "extreme case", but I still waited a little over a year for this. I also gave birth to our 3rd child, a baby girl! So, I was even more anxious to get back on my feet, (literally.), since another baby meant a lot more housework, doctor visits, errands, days at the park, soccer, playing outside, going for walks and everything else little ones need to do and have done.
(Don't worry, I won't go through every second of the last 10 years! I know not everybody has the time to sit and read such a post! :)
I look back now and think that maybe I was expecting to much and wasn't thinking of the consequences. Why? Well, because I had a house to get back to, jobs to get to, people counting on me sometimes for what seemed to be 24/7 and I didn't have any more time to just limp around and take days off because of something as silly as pain. Although, the pain was getting so bad that I couldn't sleep and I was walking even less. So, the day came for my first surgery and I was thrilled and kept looking in my agendas, waiting to plan everything for that magical day, 6 weeks from today, when I would be moving again and able to get back to all of my jobs, my family, my work, everything and everybody who needed me.
Well, as I'm sure many of my readers know, that time still hasn't come and this was almost 10 years ago since that surgery.
I tried my best, my stubborn attitude and all but this was actually going to hold me down and it took awhile to finally realize, I wasn't getting back up this time.
Yes, I can walk. (Or limp.) and even then it's only a little bit, I always need to hang onto things, it can't be on any uneven surfaces, I usually need help and it usually can't involve any steps.
I've been through so many emotions with this ordeal. I still cry a lot and I sometimes get so angry and sometimes, I go through a phase where I start digging through doctors, specialists, surgeons, trying to find anybody who can help me in some way, any way.
Yes, my surgery failed. I can move slightly better than before my surgery, however, now, I have irreversible, extensive nerve damage and I still need the rest of the surgeries done to fix what wasn't fixed and I still need somebody to finish where my "ex surgeon" left off.
I've been diagnosed with, RSD, MS, neuropathy and they are still diagnosing me as I type this. ( On the bright side, I recently found a surgeon who is willing to help me to a degree.) But, I still have a hard time accepting that this is who I am now.
I was always up and ready to go and always in such a hurry, it was hard for others to keep up with me.
Now, it's hard to get to the grocery store or even walk upstairs to check out one of my children's rooms when they move or change something or clean it up. I have had to knock my shifts down at work, so much that I can barely make it on my one weekend shift each week.
I often sit and think about all of the things I can't do with my family or things I can't do with my kids but, when I do say something like, "Oh, I am so sorry sweetie, I wish I could run or play basketball with you...." , one of my little ones always has such an adorable thing to say...
"It's ok mommy. One day you will be running again!"
"I'm sorry mommy. Maybe if we get a basketball hoop for the backyard, we'll be able to play and then you can play with us."
"Oh mommy, it's going to be alright! You always do crafts with us and we cook together and we do so many things!"
and then I think about how my life slowed down since my "mishaps" and how we are such a close family. We are together most every night, we read together, play together, do crafts, cook, bake, do homework, we have all kinds of fun! If I was still running around like a nut, working 2 jobs, always running to the store, always cleaning, trying to get a few hours sleep between jobs, we wouldn't have this time together!
I do love to get out of the house, even if it is some of the worst pain I have ever felt. It's like my day "off" of work. So, I intend to keep that going as much as I possibly can. But, as for being knocked down and thinking I couldn't get back up, I try to think of the blessings that have come from this whole ordeal. The time I get to spend with my family in itself is a blessing in disguise and I can't imagine life being any different now.
If I were to ever "get better", I would still choose to live the way I have been living and I'd stay slowed down.
After I think about it all, I can add my own illnesses to my list of inspirations. Without them, I wouldn't be able to have all of the time and all of the extra memories with my family.
Oh and I wouldn't have time for all of the extra books, this blog and learning how to make all kinds of homemade things and everything else I never had time for before.

I would love to read comments about things that inspire you!
I almost forgot to mention, so would Hyland's!
As a matter of fact, if you share your own positive quote with Hyland's, you can have a chance to win a super amazing prize package, featuring an array of Hyland's products!!
Hyland's is one of our top favorite brands and we use their products regularly in our house.
From cold medicine, to teething tablets, to Leg Cramps to Nerve Tonic, we are hardcore, Hyland's fans!!
I think we can all agree, what the world needs now, is some serious positivity and tons and tons of inspiration!!
Please enter this contest and share with your friends! (You get an extra bonus if you share with your friends, by the way!) 
Are you on Twitter? If so, please check out Hylands on Twitter and give them a shout.
Follow Hylands Health on Instagram too! 
Let them know you entered and want to help inspire 100,000 people!

Stay Well Strategies 4 Kids Twitter Chat RSVP!

If you follow me on any of my social networks or my blog, you are probably already aware of our family's few year adventure with trying to replace everything we eat, clean with, bathe with, anything that goes into our house, bodies and even our pet's bodies, with the healthiest and best options we can find.
There are so many awesome brands out there and I am having the most fun trying their products, shopping, reading, writing and connecting with these brands online.
I actually have a little black book that I keep all of their website links, Twitters, Instagram and Facebook names so I can check in from time to time and check for sales and deals. Oh! and Twitter parties too!!
I have been using, Hyland's for many, many years. (My oldest is 22 but that's as far as I'm gonna go with ages today!) I started with Hyland's Teething Tablets and then went to several of their new products. (They don't just make stuff for children!)
This Twitter party is very cool, why? Because we get to connect with brands who actually care about our family and our children. They make some of the most important products on the market right now and happen to be a few of the brands I trust personally.
I haven't had the opportunity to try products from all of these brands but I am very anxious to learn more about them and what they do so that I can add them to our giant mix of healthier products!
Winter is almost here, (or if you're in PA like me, it feels like it's already here!) and this is a most crucial time to prepare for colds, flu, viruses, being snowed in and all of the other good stuff that comes with the blustery, freezing cold, germy weather. That is what we will be chatting about during our party!
So, after dinner tonight, or in some places, before dinner, take a break and join us for a Twitter chat where you can chat directly with brands and learn all about them and what we can add to our preparations for winter!
Please RSVP here!

You can start following the super awesome brands who will be sponsoring and OOPS! I almost forgot, the prizes!!
There will be 3 gift baskets, filled with all kinds of goodies from our sponsors and these are valued at $200 each!
@HylandsHealth
@EllasKitchenUSA 
@SheaMoisture4u
@inquisellis 
@CleanWell 

Do what you have to do, grab your laptop, your cell phone, some wine, some coffee, hide in the bathroom or out in your car or send your husband and kids to the store for some chocolate ice cream and tweet with us!!

Hyland's Baby Teething Tablets and the Obaby App Mothers Day Promo!

What could be any more precious for Mother's Day?
(Well, OK, handmade cards and pretty flowers from your little ones ;)
You can capture all of those adorable Mother's Day moments and make them your own works of art, with the #ObabyHylands promo.
Grab this app for free before May 14th!

Obaby Drops from $4.99 to FREE for Limited Time

Hyland’s Baby Teething Tablets have partnered with the Obaby app to develop a Mother’s Day Pack sponsored by Hyland’s Baby Teething Tablets in honor of Mother’s Day. To correspond with the promotion the Obaby app will be available for free, while the Obaby+ app will be discounted to $9.99 from 5/8-5/14 in the apple iTunes app store.

This special Mother’s Day edition of Obaby includes 22 beautiful new illustrations for celebrating moms. 

Just in time for Mother's Day! 

You can create your own memories with the Obaby app! 

Don't forget to download your free app and share your creations with family and friends, and use the hashatg, #ObabyHylands! 

Unfortunately, I have an Android, but the Obaby app is available for iPad or iPhone. (Things like this make me want an iPhone, I feel like I'm missing out!)

I love editing photos and having such pretty overlays to choose from to make our family photos even more extra special and sweet. 

Hyland's Allergy Giveaway!!

Enter the Hyland's Allergy Giveaway!
I use tons of Hyland's products for our little ones, everything from teething tablets to cold medicine, and the allergy line is super safe and all natural! You can enter here on Hyland's Facebook page!

 Winners will receive Hylands survival kits!
The kits include:
Hyland’s Earache Drops
Hyland’s DEFEND Sinus
Hyland’s Seasonal Allergy Relief
Hyland’s Complete Allergy 4 Kids

I never used to have allergies as a kid, but after my 2nd baby, I started having watery, itchy eyes, runny nose, and the annoying sore throat, that seems to come with every change of the season.
2 out of my 4 children also suffer from allergies, (1 in spring and 1 in fall), which led me to try and find a trustworthy product to help alleviate their symptoms.
I'm not to keen on prescriptions or medications, so the all natural remedies are my first choice. Which is why I choose Hylands before any other brand.




 About Hyland’s:
Hyland’s is celebrating over a century-long commitment to making safe and natural homeopathic medicines. During all these years, we’re never lost touch with the reasons why our founders started this company – beginning with the pharmacist and visionary George Hyland back in 1903. We have always been driven by the simple scientific proof of how the body can call upon its own natural defenses to heal and restore balance. This is the basis of homeopathic medicine. So even during times when cultural and political factors have pushed homeopathic medicine from the mainstream, Hyland’s has solidly stood its ground with integrity and wisdom.