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How to Prevent CO Poisoning – Onelink Carbon Monoxide Alarm

by Jennifer Leave a Comment

Being a homeowner is so rewarding, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. Maintaining appliances big and small are important to the health of your family, and the upkeep of your home’s value as well. Did you know homeowners suffer the most from Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning, also known as the “silent killer?” Do you have a Carbon Monoxide Alarm?

CO is a tasteless, colorless, odorless gas that can be produced by the combustion that occurs in appliances like furnaces, clothes dryers, ranges, ovens, water heaters, attached garages and fireplaces. Today, I’m sharing a simple way to protect your family from carbon monoxide poisoning with a Onelink Environment Monitor.

This is a partnered post with First Alert. All opinions are my own. [Read more…]

Brentwood Home Kids Furniture

by Jennifer 113 Comments

Are you looking for the perfect way to makeover your kids space? Let me introduce you to a top knotch company that’s dedicated to delivering handcrafted products at honest prices. Brentwood Home is a California-based company that provides luxurious home essentials for the whole family.

Brentwood Home

How to Paint a Finding Dory Pumpkin

by Jennifer 2 Comments

This summer’s blockbuster hit, “Finding Dory“, swims home on Blu-ray, DVD, and On-Demand November 15th! In preparation of the release, I met with Disney’s own Master Pumpkin Carver, Joseph Yakovetic. Believe it or not, that pumpkin below is mine. I don’t see myself as a natural artist, but with Joseph’s guiding voice, I was able to pull-off this fun Finding Dory Pumpkin. Want to make one of your own? Just follow these easy steps below!

How to paint a Finding Dory Pumpkin

Tackle Sticky Stains Fast with Goo Gone!

by Jennifer 1 Comment

Sticky stains are the worst! As a mom of two young boys, I always find myself tackling some sort of stain. I’m sure many parents out there can relate….am I right? That’s why I’ve turned to Goo Gone for those tough cleaning jobs, like glue, crayon, and anything else that can leave an adhesive residue in its wake.

Have you ever tried Goo Gone?

How to Clean A Vinyl Fence Quickly

by Jennifer 2 Comments

Vinyl fencing is a great way to bring curb appeal to your home, while providing privacy, and safety for animals and children. Just like any other product that’s left outdoors, vinyl fences are susceptible to algae, dirt, grime and other build-up. Cleaning a fence can be time consuming, however it’s a necessary maintenance, especially if you live in a HOA governed community. So how do you clean a vinyl fence? Read on to see our easy tips!

How to Clean a Vinyl Fence

How to Combat Life’s Sticky Situations with Kids

by Jennifer 20 Comments

This post was sponsored by P&G as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.

Oh boy! Let’s talk about kids for a moment. They are life’s greatest blessing, but boy can they drive you batty sometimes. One minute they’re bringing you a flower from the garden, and the next they’re covered head to toe in mud. All you can do is laugh at silly moments like that.

Today, I’m sharing some of those compromising moments parents have found themselves in…and how to combat them too!

You know you’re a mom when….

5 Easy Spring Cleaning Tips

by Jennifer 6 Comments

While cleaning might not be the funnest activity once becoming a grown up, it is a necessity. Thumbs down, right?! Oftentimes we do the bare essentials when cleaning our home, but we can miss areas that could really use some attention to detail. Today I’m sharing some easy steps to tackle those overlooked areas of your home.

Easy Spring Cleaning Tips

Outdoor Movie Night With A ZooTopia Theme!

by Jennifer 18 Comments

An Outdoor movie night can be so much fun, especially on those warm breezy summer evenings. Come on in and see how we celebrated Zootopia with this movie night!

This is a partnered post with Walt Disney Studios. All opinions are my own.

Disney’s ZOOTOPIA broke all kinds of records, including becoming the 4th animated film to cross the 1 billion dollar milestone. Amazing, right?! We were first introduced to ZooTopia during an Orlando press junket where the family and I saw an early movie screening. I also had the pleasure of interviewing Jason Bateman who voices the clever fox, Nick Wilde, in the film. Jason is just as funny in person, and charming too!

I was thrilled when Disney reached back out – this time to host an outdoor movie night. It’s something my husband and I have always thought of investing in, and here was our chance! ZooTopia’s Blu-Ray & DVD release just so happened to coincide with the beginning of summer. Those clever Disney folks! 😉 So, to kick off summer we invited friends over to enjoy a family favorite – ZooTopia under the stars!

Hosting A ZooTopia Themed Outdoor Movie Night

I’m a Mean Green Ambassador

by Jennifer 2 Comments

Today’s post is sponsored by Mean Green. All opinions are my own.

I’m excited to announce my Ambassadorship with Mean Green products! Known for handling the toughest jobs both inside and outside the home, Mean Green became a well-known and trusted brand.

Dream Kitchen Makeover with Wellborn Cabinet

by Jennifer 7 Comments

This post is sponsored by Wellborn Cabinet, Inc in conjunction with Blog Meets Brand and I have been compensated for my participation. All opinions are my own.

Have you been dreaming of a kitchen makeover? I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite TV channels is HGTV. Their home makeover shows are dreamy…and inspiring! I’m always looking for ways to improve the value of my home, and for interesting design upgrades that resonate with my style. Speaking of home values, do you know which room remodel can bring you the greatest return? A kitchen!

Washi Tape DIY Cup Holder

by Jennifer 19 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GIVEEXTRAGETEXTRA #Target #CollectiveBias

If you’re tired of losing items in your car – why not create a catch-all cup? Certain items have a tendency to get lost between or under the seats, in your bag or possibly fall out the door once open. Here’s an easy way to keep all of those necessary items in one handy spot – a DIY Car Cup Holder.

If you like easy DIY crafts – this is for you! Washi tape is all the craze with creative and bold designs that allow you to use it just about anywhere.

DIY Cup Holder

How to Reduce Window Noise with Indow Window Inserts

by Jennifer 20 Comments

Do you live or work on a busy street and find the outside noise intrusive? Maybe you enjoy sleeping in on weekends, but your neighbors like to mow the lawn as soon as the sun comes up. Or you live near a train station and find yourself missing quality sleep. Whatever the reason, I’m here to tell you there is a solution. I was dealing with that very issue since moving into our new home. We purchased a lot on a street corner and didn’t anticipate the amount of street traffic we would encounter. After a year of interrupted sleep, I was more than ready to find an answer to how to reduce window noise.

This is a partnered post with Indow and Austin Home Restorations. All opinions are my own.

Check out this short video below of the Indow Window Inserts and how quickly they can be installed!

How to Reduce Window Noise:

5 Spring Cleaning Tips + Garage Door 101

by Jennifer 138 Comments

This is a partnered post. All opinions are my own.

The birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and the weather is finally warming up. It’s officially spring! With the new season comes a honey-do list to complete. I know cleaning isn’t everyone’s favorite topic of discussion, but it must be done.

Here’s 5 spring cleaning tips to help you successfully tackle those chores:

What’s Your Favorite Snuggle® Up Moments?

by Jennifer 14 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SnuggleUpMoments #CollectiveBias

Whether you have little ones or your children are fully grown, I imagine we can all agree that one of our favorite moments as parents is snuggling with our children. I am lucky to have two of the best snugglers in my boys! But let’s be real – little boys love to play outside and get dirty. They certainly live up to that long-lived reputation of being smelly. So what’s a mom to do?

It was time to step up my laundry game by adding scent enhancers like Snuggle® Ultra Blue Sparkle fabric conditioner and blue iris bliss® Snuggle Scent Boosters®! The products are really easy to use and provide my family’s laundry with Snuggly Softness® plus 30 Days of freshness. The Snuggle Scent Boosters come in convenient single packs that are tossed in the washing machine before loading in the clothing. Just don’t over pack the washer to ensure all garments get the long-lasting effect. [Read more…]

8 DIY Lavender Crafts & Recipes

by Jennifer 13 Comments

Lavender is one of my favorite scents. It can bring calmness and relieve stress when feeling anxious, among other great qualities. If you enjoy doing DIY projects, this round-up of lavender crafts and recipe ideas is perfect for you!

8 DIY Lavender Crafts & Recipes

DIY Beauty Lavender Milk Bath

Kids Craft Idea: Dinosaur Diorama

by Jennifer 13 Comments

Today’s post is partnered with Pacon. All opinions are my own.

Do you remember making diorama’s as a kid? I do! This simple kids craft requires just a few things to create: an old shoe box, some construction paper, and an imagination. Inspired by my recent press trip to LA for The Good Dinosaur, I thought I’d teach the boys how to make a Dinosaur Diorama.

First things first! You can’t have a Dino Diorama without a dinosaur, right? 🙂 Pacon Creative Cut-Ups™ offers parents and teachers a handy book filled with creative paper projects, like dinosaurs, robots, animals and even flowers! We chose to make this green T-Rex for our diorama. [Read more…]

Easy Holiday Party Appetizer + Kids Handprint Art Idea

by Jennifer 13 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of NABISCO Cookies and Crackers. All opinions are 100% mine.

The holiday menu can be quite the task. Guests expect certain foods depending on the holiday, but it’s always fun to throw a few curve balls like new recipes into the mix. What are you planning for the holiday menu this year? If you’re looking for new and easy recipes, I highly recommend checking out the NABISCO Party Planner website. It’s full of tried and true recipes that are simple and delicious. Plus valuable coupons, tips and more!

I’m sharing one of those tasty recipes below. If you like savory appetizers, this recipe for roasted pepper-cheese bites is perfect. It takes just a few minutes to make too!

Roasted Pepper-Cheese Bites

Fall Crafts for Kids: Leaf Wreath

by Jennifer 54 Comments

Are you looking for fun fall crafts for kids? Today I’m sharing our latest craft: a leaf wreath. The boys had a lot of fun using their imagination to create their own wreath. We began by searching our neighborhood for leaves, which ended up being quite the scavenger hunt. This year Florida is not participating in fall as our temps continue to be in the 80’s-90’s. So…we decided to use a mix of real and faux leaves in a variety of shapes and sizes for the craft.

Fall Leaf Wreath

What you’ll need:

Construction paper
Assortment of leaves/pinecones
Scissors
Table cover
A variety of paint colors (we used Kwik Stix paint sticks)

Print your Favorite Social Media Pics Instantly with HP Snapshots!

by Jennifer 35 Comments

Instantly print your favorite selfies & social media photos with HP’s new Snapshots app and sticky-backed photo sheets!

We hosted friends and family over the weekend to an afternoon crafts party featuring HP Social Media Snapshots. We all love taking photos with our phone, but most of the time that’s where they stay. Now you can easily print your favorite social media photos for keeping or sharing with others. Our #StickaPic party box included fun photo props, craft glue and other essentials, printer ink, and of course HP Social Media Snapshots. Additionally, we stopped into Michael’s Craft store for a variety of paper for our party.

The Shark Rocket Powerhead Vacuum Tackles Heavy-Duty Cleaning Without the Weight!

by Jennifer 5 Comments

Do you fight your vacuum to clean your floors? Well, that’s about to change! Say goodbye to your heavy vacuum because the Shark Rocket Powerhead is here. Weighing in at just 9 lbs (not including the cord), nearly half the weight of the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball, this vacuum promises to never lose suction and be a powerhouse at heavy-duty cleaning.

While attending the Blogher conference in New York earlier this year, I had the opportunity to see the Shark Rocket Powerhead in action – before it hit stores! As a Shark® product fan, already reviewing their Shark Sonic Duo floor cleaning system, I was excited to get my hands on their latest product. [Read more…]

An Easy and Affordable Way to Organize Your Home

by Jennifer 20 Comments

As children grow parents exchange baby items, like cribs and toys, for toddler versions and so on. Recently, I looked at the boy’s overfilled playroom and decided it was time to purge. There was just too much stuff!

If you feel that way about any room in your house, I encourage you to take the time to purge. You’ll feel so accomplished afterwards! I know I did.

I began seeking out shelf storage for our made-over space and found Way Basics. This company is pretty awesome! It uses recyclable materials to make functional furniture that requires zero tools! That’s any women’s dream, right? Well many anyways. 🙂

More about Way Basics zBoard:

Upgrading Your Space with Philips Hue A-19 Starter Kit & Netgear Nighthawk Router

by Jennifer 7 Comments

Considering upgrading your space? Why not do it with lighting! Set the mood with the new Philips Hue A19 Starter Kit, where you can choose from 16 million color choices! We were lucky enough to get our hands on the starter kit, Hue Go personal light, and Netgear Router with DST adapter with Geek Squad service included. [Read more…]

What You Need to Know About Managing Home Energy Costs

by Jennifer 6 Comments

Tired of paying high power bills? Do you feel like your money is slipping away? Today, I’m sharing a way to take control of your home energy costs, and surprisingly it’s really simple!

Did you know?

In the average home, 75% of the electricity used to power home electronics and appliances is consumed while the products are turned off. *Source energystar.gov
An old refrigerator (roughly 10 years+) can consume up to $20 of your family’s monthly budget.
Leaving ONE tiny MR16 bulb on can consume $10 of energy per month. How many lightbulbs do you leave on regularly?

Knowledge is power! [Read more…]

Add Luxury to Your Home with Aroma Sense

by Jennifer 90 Comments

Today’s post is sponsored by Aroma Sense. All opinions are my own.

What if your shower could be more than just a shower. What if it could be an experience? When you step into a shower with Aroma Sense – that’s exactly what you get! This product is a game changer. No longer will you shower just to get clean. It will be to indulge in a refreshing, energizing shower experience with a luxurious spa-jet feeling. Every time you close your eyes while bathing with the Aroma Sense Shower Head – you feel like you’re on a tropical escape…at least that’s how I feel. [Read more…]

Family Portraits + Easy Chalkboard Paint Craft

by Jennifer 15 Comments

This is a partnered post with Portrait Innovations. All opinions are my own.

I love capturing memories like family portraits. Since I’m usually behind the lense on the blog, I try to coordinate family pictures with a professional studio at least once a year. One thing that’s always important is great photo props. Most studios have a variety of props to use, but it’s also fun to mix in something personal too. This year we created this super easy chalkboard paint craft.

6 Overlooked Areas of the Home & Easy Cleaning Tips

by Jennifer 8 Comments

When we moved into our brand new home last year, I was so excited for the extra space for our family. We were gaining a second floor with a bonus room just for the kids. It sounded perfect…..until I realized how much more space I would have to clean. I’ve never lived in a home with stairs so cleaning them seemed impossible to me. I have a very heavy vacuum that doesn’t offer a helpful way to clean stairs. And ceiling fans – forget it! The new home has higher ceilings making it extra difficult to clean them, until now!

Today, I’m sharing easy cleaning tips for those overlooked areas of the home, or the ones we tend to avoid. 😉

I should point out that cleaning is not something I enjoy doing. I’m sure many of you out there can relate. With 3 boys (including hubby) in the home, it is quite a feat to keep this place spotless. Many times I do the basics, but you can only put off those areas for so long.

Let’s talk about those 6 overlooked areas that go uncleaned often: [Read more…]

Bath Time Routine & Tips for Young Kids

by Jennifer 8 Comments

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sterling for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

Believe it or not, bath time can be one the most stressful daily activities for parents. Often children resist bath time because they are afraid of the water. Balancing safety while a child is having a meltdown can be a struggle. Since so many parents can relate, I’m sharing helpful tips for a bath time routine for kids.

Bath Time Routine & Tips for Young Kids

Once your child has outgrown a baby bathtub, the big bath can seem scary. Begin by encouraging your child to join you in the preparation process. Let them choose the color of towel/washcloth, and pajamas they’d like to wear.
Don’t forget the toys! What fun would a bath be without a few water toys? Let your child select 3-4 toys to bring in the bath to play with. If grandparents are helping out and don’t own any, simple kitchen supplies like measuring cups can work. Remember to rotate toys so your child doesn’t get bored.
Safety. Okay you and your little one are prepped for the bath, so now it’s time to run through a few safety steps. Never leave a child unattended in the bath. Test the water temperature prior to placing your little one in the bath tub. Most experts recommend bath water at 100 degrees F. Consider a faucet cover to prevent your child from bumping their head on it.
Address any fears your child may have. While the bath is running, encourage your little one to put their hands under the faucet, or possibly bathe a plastic doll while they are preparing to get in the water. This helps a child relax and feel more confident. Another suggestion is putting on a swim suit and joining your child in the tub until they are acclimated.
Before your child exits the bath, wipe up any bath water that may have splashed out of the tub. This will prevent any accidental slips or injuries.

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