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Pallet Board Card Display DIY

December 4, 2013 by Melissa

The holiday cards are coming in and I’m prepared to show them off this year in a unique way. There was a time when we had a fireplace mantle that was home to cards and holiday greetings but today we don’t. Instead this year I’m showing off my beautiful friends and family with a little DIY style with this Pallet Board Card Display.

Creating this display piece gives not just my card but all the greetings we receive a special home where they can be viewed and admired. We just happened to have pallets in our garage for another pending project, and all the other materials we’re already in the garage. This card display cost me nothing to make.

Materials

pallet board, barn wood, unused shelf
sandpaper, 110 grit
wood stain & rag
staple gun
twine or ribbon
embellishments (bows, flowers, greenery)

Directions

Lightly sand your board to remove harsh edges, splinters and dirt. Using a rag stain the board your preferred color then let dry a couple of hours or over night.
Using a staple gun attach your ribbon or twine to the back of your board and start wrapping in your desired design. I added a few staples in the way down in case of twine breakage. I also added a glitter ribbon to give it a little color and sparkle.

Using the twine make a loop on the back of your board to act as the hanger.
Add whatever decorations you want. I created some burlap roses and attached them to the top of my board using a hot glue gun. It was instantly ready to hang. Totally this project took me 2-3 hours total plus some waiting time.

I hope you noticed our Cardstore.com card on the top of my Pallet Board Card Display. The card arrived in the mail right before Thanksgiving so I was able to show it off to my family and everyone was very impressed with the rich colors and heavy feel. It felt stronger than a store bought card, more like a vintage postcard. I adore the matte finish too. It feels much more professional and higher quality than the super shiny options out there.

There is still time to get your own holiday cards in time for Christmas and/or New Years. Choose from options with a Religious sentiment or a handmade quality or even something more whimsical if that fits your personality. Whatever you’re looking for you’re bound to find something that works in the theme, size or design you’re looking for.

Holiday Cards from Cardstore

November 21, 2013 by Melissa

It’s that time of year again to think about holiday cards. This year I’m working with Cardstore to put a card together that is both playful and tells a story of us.

Cardstore.com is an online creator for cards, stationery, invitations and more. Each product has its own level of customization to fit your family or event. With a Cardstore account, you can…

Browse our card collections, then save your favorites for later
The choice is yours – have your cards sent directly to your recipients or hand-deliver yourself
Design anytime, then schedule to mail in advance
Import addresses to make every order a breeze
Track the status of your order from print house to mailbox

Looking back at previous year’s holiday cards I noticed I like simple cards with very little embellishments or design. Since I always go for photo cards I want the photo to be the star. Fancy frames and wordy greetings are a distraction for me. I was able to choose a card design that fit my personal aesthetic.

The choices available go way beyond my simple selection though. Here are a couple options that did stand out that I thought with just the right photo would make for a gorgeous holiday greeting.

From whimsical to artsy to vintage to religious there are options for any family or even business to choose from. The selection process is easy with sort options for how many photos you want to include, the size of your card and even the color theme you prefer. This way you can coordinate your card against the image of your photo.

I’m impressed with those that create newsletter instead of just sending holiday cards. There is an option for that too. Keep your friends and family updated on the goings on in your home with this festive opportunity to stand out among the rest of the greetings.

Just to help you get started on your own holiday to-do list this year Cardstore is offering 30% off your orders till 11/26. Hurry as this deal ends soon.

belVita for Breakfast

August 22, 2013 by Melissa

Breakfast for me is most time non-existent. I make sure the kids get fed a balanced meal with their vitamins but when it comes to making something for myself I quickly lose interest. I like grab and go; things like coffee are my go to. I realize coffee isn’t breakfast but that’s usually what I get until 11am.

By that time my stomach is growling and I’m looking for something that I can eat with one hand so I don’t have to interrupt what I’m doing. Yogurt and cereal require a spoon so that is too much work most busy days. belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuits is something I can enjoy quickly and conveniently.

belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuits will join the five flavors of crunchy belVita Breakfast Biscuits, which launched in the United States in February 2012. belVita Soft Baked are delicious biscuits made with whole grains to provide nutritious morning energy at breakfast. The NEW belVita Soft Baked are available in two flavors, Mixed Berry and Oats & Chocolate.

Last week I had an especially busy day getting ready for a weekend getaway and knew I had to fuel up for the day and grabbed a Mixed Berry belVita Soft Baked Biscuit. I paired it with a yogurt, glass of orange juice and coffee and was able to last till lunch.

I found the belVita Mixed Berry Soft Baked Biscuits to be on the dry side but I’m guessing that is because it’s just 7 grams of fat. Any more butter or oil would make it moister but also defeat the purpose of making it a wholesome option. The texture is a cross between a cereal bar and a cookie. But the Oats and Chocolate Soft Baked Biscuit was definitely a soft more pleasant experience. Both varieties pack a lot of flavor in a small package.

With Back to School on our heels how do you keep your stress level down while keeping up with the high demands of parenting, school schedules and activities. These tips from Lifestyle Mom, Dana Hilmer could be a great help to get you ready:

It’s important to schedule down time for you and your family. Before signing your kids up for this year’s after-school activities, think about your family’s priorities and the impact each activity will have on your schedules.
It’s just as important for you to have a tasty, healthy breakfast as it is for your kids. Perfect for eating on the go, belVita Soft Baked Breakfast Biscuits come in two varieties, Mixed Berry and Oats & Chocolate, grab a banana and a latte and you’re good to go with nutritious morning energy.
Take a little time each night to get organized for the following morning. By making lunches and selecting outfits before bed each night, you’ll free time each morning for other things.
Be sure to keep healthy snacks in the kitchen for after-school snacking. Nuts, crackers and fruit are great to give kids right when they walk in the door to keep them from grazing on unhealthy snacks, or spoiling their appetites for dinner.
Moms often complain about not having enough time for themselves, but when life gets busy, it’s even more important to carve out that time. Treat “me time” as a priority.
Start a to-do list with three sections: the priority of the day for yourself, the priority of the day for your family and the priority of the day for your work. Start with these items, and only move on to other less important items once they’re done.
Use Sunday nights to plan your dinners each week. If you take a few minutes to think about how you can creatively use the leftovers from one night to the next, you can create a full week’s worth of healthy, tasty dinners that your family will enjoy.
Give yourself the freedom to say no without guilt. Activities or commitments that may not be right for your family are okay to decline. Saying NO gives you the permission to say YES to things that are important to you.
Back-to-school season is also cold and flu season. You can keep your entire family healthy with these simple habits: eating well, getting enough rest and washing hands regularly.
Create a network of support for yourself. This network looks different for everyone. Consider asking your partner and kids for support. They can be a great help with tasks you feel comfortable handing over.

belVita wants you and your family to start off the day right no matter what breakfast options you choose. If belVita sounds like they would be a good fit you can find these in your local grocery store in the cookie and cracker aisle for just about $3.69 for a 5-count box.

Comcast Xfinity #summerofkids on the go programming

August 14, 2013 by Melissa

This summer has been lots of fun with trips to the beach, museums, pool and parks but my kids enjoy their downtime with their favorite shows in between the field trips.

We’ve been Comcast customers for several years so I always knew Comcast Xfinity On Demand was a great option for us grownups. We often spend our eveings trying to catch up on favorite shows and new movies but I never realized how many kid friendly shows were available. With a huge variety of networks like Cartoon Network, HUB, Nick Jr. and NatGeo Wild my kids always have great entertainment right at their fingertips.

PLUS the fact that everyone has their own personal device we aren’t limited to just watching what one person wants to watch.

Shae can watch Strawberry Shortcake on my phone and Shaun and Sabreena can watch Adventure Time on their iPods and we can watch Nat Geo Wild as a family on rainy days at the beach on the laptop. Having this much connectivity can be a curse sometimes too but having built in parental controls and access limits can put our mind at ease. Using your device or laptop updating settings for the programs you do not want your children to watch are simple. Each family member can have their own account with their own favorites ready to watch without having to maneuver around the temptation of inappropriate content.

The #summerofkids program is all about giving kids what they want when they want it. Say goodbye to “Are we there yet”, “What can I do”, “I’m bored” and “I don’t like this show” bothers of long car trips, rainy days or days at the grandparents.

Are you using Comcast Xfinity’s features the best way you can? Find out about XfinityStreampix, Xfinity TV Player app and Xfinity On Demand all within your current Comcast account.

Dunkin Donuts Seasonal Flavors

May 14, 2013 by Melissa

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Dunkin’ Donuts. I received a Dunkin’ Donuts Party Kit to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”

The weather is warming up so that usually means I change my eating and drinking habits. Sitting on the deck with a steaming cup of coffee at the sun beats down on me isn’t very pleasant. I like to switch to cooler drinks that are more refreshing.

Dunkin Donuts knows how I think as is introducing new flavors that fit right into the season.

There’s nothing better than sharing the wealth with friends when you’re introduced to something fun and new.

Getting friends and family together for a Sunday afternoon is easy when you offer them goodies to take home. I was able to give each guest a reusable tote with a pound of coffee, Dunkin Donut’s coffee coupon and a large reusable cup.

Coconut
Sometimes you feel like fresh coconut coffee flavor. And sometimes, you really feel like it.

Triple Berry
You know what they say, “Three berries are better than one.” That’s a saying, right?

Strawberry Shortcake
Just one sip of our strawberry-flavored coffee and you’ll agree: Dessert should come first.

We served up iced coffee (strawberry shortcake and coconut) and snacks on a relaxing Sunday afternoon.

We gave our guests the options of iced with creamer or without. Rob likes his iced coffee without the addition of milk but definitely sweetened. The comments from our guests ranged from

Subtle sweetness that could be enjoyed cold or hot.

Tastes more like dessert.

I’m not a coffee drinker but I could have one of these every day.

These flavors are only around for a short time so stock up now while you can still find them.

Join the #SocialBlackout Movement for Mother’s Day with #MetLife

May 10, 2013 by Melissa

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for MetLife. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Every year Mother’s Day rolls around and husbands and families everywhere are sent into a tailspin trying to figure out just the right thing to do for the mom in their lives. We always keep it very simple because what I think is most important is spending time with those that gave me the title of mom.

An extra hour or two to sleep in, a leisurely breakfast and dinner spent with the rest of the family is usually how it goes. Some years my mom and sister and sister in law often sneak away for a pedicure. This is how we celebrate each other.

This year MetLife wants to make sure Moms are getting the attention they deserve so they are asking for a #SocialBlackout. Being a blogger the thought of NO social media for an entire day in almost impossible. I’m always on my phone checking email, sharing posts and connecting with brands. This Mother’s Day I’m not doing any of that. I’m still going to have my phone to capture the memories of the day but I’ll only be sharing for those important people in my life who aren’t close or can’t be with me that day. My grandmother is thousands of miles away but she loves to see the kids faces on Facebook and I want to make sure we send her a special message that day.

Maybe this isn’t exactly how MetLife wants the program to run but I understand their mission. Give mom your undivided attention on Mother’s Day and join the #SocialBlackout movement.

I assure you that my mother and family will get all the attention they need, want and deserve. I am promising to keep my tech usage to a minimum especially since I’m the mom wanting that special treatment.

NyQuil and DayQuil when you can’t take a day off

March 7, 2013 by Melissa

The cold fall and winters months but a beating on our family. Each of us, except Shaun, got sick in different ways as cold and flu season was running rampant around the nation. Shae suffered through 4-5 croupy coughs and congestion filled episodes before a steroid was administered to get her through a night. Rob and were switching between cough and congestion medicines, tea and throat drops just to get through the day. I endured 2-3 sleepless nights of coughing and tossing and turning.

Now how I forgot about the tried and true Nyquil and Dayquil is beyond me. New products are coming out every season and tout themselves as the new best thing and as consumers we want that new best thing. New remedies are tried and may or may not work or treat one symptom and not another but since we’ve spent our hard earned dollars on it we want our value from it. Vicks Nyquil is what I call an all-in-on treatment for the everyday cold and flu-like symptoms. We’ve all heard the commercial; the nighttime sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching stuffy head, fever so you can rest medicine.

My favorite Nyquil Spokesperson

The original may not have the best flavor but there are new options out there, Soothing Cherry Flavor and Vanilla Cherry Swirl. I wish I had this in our cabinet 2 months back when I was reading Facebook on my phone instead of sleeping at 3:20 in the morning.

Daytime cold relief is a must have for busy moms and dads too. Yes I stay home while the kids are at school but that doesn’t mean my task list isn’t a mile long. Rob doesn’t have the luxury of calling in sick whenever he pleases. He has to muscle through the aches and misery while dealing with clients, co workers and a commute. Dayquil is offers the same relief as his nighttime cousin in a non drowsy formula. Stock up on both now. The seasons are changing and in our house that means lots of coughs to come.

Nyquil and Dayquil are #1 pharmacist recommended brands for adult cough/cold/flu relief and sold at most retailers where other similar product are sold.

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Vicks DayQuil & NyQuil. I received product samples and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.”

Summer Snacking Bagel Sweepstakes

July 28, 2012 by Melissa

Who knew summer snacking could win you a great prize?

From June 28 to September 2, the Bagel Snack Star Sweepstakes gives fans a chance to win a red carpet movie experience with their friends and family!

Grand Prize: One winner will have the chance to win a private VIP photographed and catered experience at their local movie theater. New York Style will rent out the theater for you to host the ultimate experience with 50 friends. The winner will also receive a gift card for a year supply ($500 worth) of movie tickets.

Entering this sweepstakes is simple. Head over to New York Style Snacks Facebook Page, Like them and just enter your information.

Each summer right before vacation Rob and I head to the grocery store to shop for food and snacks. Since we are always limited on fridgespace in we like to grab snacks that we can throw in the beach or pool bag.

My favorite was always Plain but we were recently sent Roasted Garlic Bagel Crisps and BBQ Mini Bagel Crips. My new favorite flavor is Roasted Garlic…simply cream cheese. I sat by the pool, skipped lunch and ate this combo instead. I loved it and it was a perfect lunch for me.

Pick up your favorite flavor of Bagel Crisps, Mini Bagel Crisp, Pita Chips or Panetini at your local grocery or convenience store. Tell me how you like to eat them, just as they are or with a topping or spread.

“I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of New York Style and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.”

Skype during Summer Travels

July 9, 2012 by Melissa

Our vacation plans this summer aren’t as extravagant as some other years but I’m making sure the kids and I squeeze in some fun before school starts. Rob has to stay behind due to some work obligations but I know for sure that he and the kids are going to be on Skype each night the week we are gone.

Five days is a long time for one of us to be away from the rest of the family so we make sure to stay connected through telephone of course but Skype chat offers such a better communication experience. Skype has gotten us through other situations too. Remember a couple years ago when Rob was working hours from home and sleeping at my parents. We would chat each night about what was going on and he was able to say goodnight to the kids.

We aren’t new to Skype but are finding new ways to incorporate it into our lives. Watching Rob’s initial reaction when I send him a picture of Shae and Shaun doing something fun is worth using Skype Messaging to send files. All the different features come with different pricing structures, one is sure to fit any budget. Keep it simple and free with Skype to Skype chat or add Skype Premium to conference the entire family to plan the next big reunion. Figure out what’s going to work for you.

How are you staying connected this summer?

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Skype. I received Skype credits to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.”

Clearasil PerfectaWash for clean skin

July 6, 2012 by Melissa

One would think as an adult you wouldn’t have to worry about acne and other skin issues. For most of my life I didn’t worry about things like that, I was blessed with good skin that didn’t breakout. Today I suffer from clogged pores and black heads. Sometimes I have to perform mini surgery just to get clearer looking skin.

Raising a teenage daughter is hard sometimes. I try to educate her about keeping her skin healthy, washing her face and applying moisturizer. Clearasil recently came out with Clearasil Perfecta Wash, a perfect dose dispenser of rapid action face wash.

Rob and I have been using Clearasil Perfecta Wash for a couple weeks, we replaced our Oil Free Face Wash to see it this is was something that would improve our skincare routine.

Key Product Ingredients & Benefits:

Maximum strength acne fighting ingredient – 2% Salicylic Acid
Dermatologist tested
SuperFruit Splash – energizes and refreshes with raspberry and cranberry extracts
Soothing Plant Extract – gentle formula with ingredients known to calm and reduce redness

I haven’t noticed a huge difference in the appearance of my skin but I have noticed a softness without additional moisturizer. I don’t feel tightness and dryness on my cheeks after using Clearasil Perfecta Wash. Rob is enjoying the hands-free dispenser. He’s a little bit of a clean freak so anything that cuts down on the mess in the bathroom is a bonus. I’m not crazy about the fragrance, I would prefer something more neutral or better yet fragrance free; to me it smells more like a household cleaner.

This summer, Clearasil is giving you and your family the chance to Rock Your Skin with PerfectaWash! Just head to the Clearasil Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/ClearasilUS, for a PerfectaWash Buy One, Get One Coupon and other great summertime sweepstakes, including the opportunity to WIN VIP tickets to the Clearasil Six Flags Summer Concert Series and tickets to Lollapalooza Music Festival!

Shop for the dispenser and refill as your local Walgreens, CVS, Walmart, RiteAid and Amazon.com.

“I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Clearasil. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.”

How are you staying connected this summer?

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