Since all three boys will be heading back to school in a month after a fun Summer break, we have been preparing diligently for the upcoming school year. There is so much going on, with sports and fundraisers to volunteering and buying school supplies that we are busy prepping and planning away. One of the things we love to do as a family to help our children’s schools is collect Box Tops for Education. These little “coupons” are easy to collect and come on different products from brands like Hefty and Reynolds and when your child turns them into school – the school can redeem them for a little money. It’s a fun way for us as a family to work together and have a little fun while doing so.
My boys look forward to shopping and checking out our goods to see if there are any Box Tops on them. Each child takes out their pair of scissors and collects the Box Tops to take to school. It’s a fun little task and we enjoy the reward that it gives the school and our community. Today I want to share with you 5 reasons we collect Box Tops for my kids’ schools and how you can do so for yours too.
Collecting Box Tops allows my children to have a sense of pride in their school and their work. They can help the school by clipping these “coupons” and we are helping the school by buying products we already need and use and enjoy.
My children learn that giving and helping others (their fellow students and school) is a great and awesome thing.
It teaches my children about being organized, helpful and helps to improve their counting skills.
The money that is raised from the Box Tops collected gives my children and their fellow classmates a better school experience by helping to provide for the school. Two years ago – my sons’ school was able to raise enough money to buy new laptops thanks to the Box Tops collected from the families whose children attend the school.
Collecting Box Tops also gives our community and family a sense of pride and accomplishment and they help and get involved by giving their Box Tops to my children to take to school.
So what the heck are Box Tops for Education anyway?
Box Tops for Education is a program where you and your family (include your children) can collect Box Tops from designated Reynolds and Hefty products and trade in for $0.10 each. This may sound like a little amount, but let me just tell you – the Box Tops add up and they add up quickly. One year my family and I turned in well over 500 Box Tops for Education and we also collaborated with our neighbors and family members who saved their Box Tops and gave them to the boys to collect as a part of the program. It’s a fun way to keep my kiddos busy year round because they enjoy shopping and looking for products that include them. Like I mentioned, there are so many Reynolds Consumer Products and Brands that participate in Box Tops – you’ll be amazed at how many you already have in your pantry.
Since all of my sons part-take in different extra curricular activities like band, STEM and sports – those and many more activities can benefit from Box Tops for Education and help to provide funds for equipment, technology and so much more. Honestly, your trash (the Box Tops) can easily be clipped and saved to help contribute to your child’s school and you are donating directly to benefit the programs and school as well.
Collecting Box Tops for Education is a huge family affair and one that is kind of considered a tradition. While I collect them with my children (going on 10+ years), I have collected Box Tops with my parents for myself as a child and also with my siblings. As I stated before, my sons’ schools have collected enough Box Tops in the last couple of years to help get new computers for the children to use. Since my twins go to the same school as my eldest had gone for Elementary, they also utilize those computers that we helped collect Box Tops for. It’s a huge sense of pride for myself and my children and a tradition we have been doing since I was their age. I love seeing programs like these progress over the years and I’m proud that it continues now for my children.
You can get ready for school in the Hefty and Reynolds Box Tops for Education “School Supplied” sweepstakes and daily instant win game. They’re giving away thousands of product prizes PLUS 10,000 eBoxTops to 5 lucky schools!
So what about you? Do you and your family collect Box Tops for Education? If you do – that’s awesome, we hope your school benefits tremendously and if you don’t, definitely check out the program and see if it’s something you and yours can utilize.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
The last few weeks have had me talking about relationship advice on my Thirsty Thursday episode I do each week but I have been saving some motherhood topics…
I love getting flowers for Anniversaries, Birthdays, Mother’s Day or “Just Because”, but I’m always open to fun ideas and little things that make these occasions fun, exciting and sentimental. While flowers are nice, I love finding products that are practical and will have a purpose. This year, I wanted to share a few items that I have been loving lately that would make GREAT Mother’s Day gifts. Whether you are buying this as a treat for yourself or making the day of that special mommy in your life, these gifts are definitely some that will make any woman happy. Read on if you want to check out this round up of Mother’s Day Gift Ideas.
I have had my fair share of great Mother’s Day gifts. My husband and I are so in-tune with one another that we usually know exactly the gift we want to get for one another or something that is practical and we’ll get a lot of use out of. My goal for this list is to offer a variety of goodies for any woman, whether the stay-at-home or work-from-home mom, busy business woman or the granny with style, these gifts will surely please.
Let’s start with a little makeup – shall we? I recently was introduced to Youngblood Cosmetics, a beautiful line of mineral cosmetics created by Pauline Youngblood. From Foundation to lipstick and everything in between, Youngblood Cosmetics offers a wide range of color cosmetics that is made with quality ingredients and great black and chic packaging. I have been using a few of the products from the line and look forward to trying more. Anything from Youngblood is gorgeous, but two of my favorites is the Pressed Mineral Eye Shadow Quad in Shanghai Nights ($43 USD) and Mineral Radiance Compact (pictured) in Splendor ($43 USD). Each or any of the products are perfect for the sophisticated woman that is looking to add a little color to their life or the makeup and beauty loving mom that wants to try something new.
A great cleansing oil and a fantastic mud mask is perfect for that mother in your life. One of my favorite gifts to give to my favorite gals is the Borghese Fango Active Mud Mask for Face and Body so I just had to include the Fango Active Duo Set as a gift option. This two piece set retails for $60 USD but the Fango Active Radiance Facial Oil retails for $60 on it’s own, so it’s like you get a free product or gift with purchase. This set is gorgeous and I love how Borghese products display on the vanity. The Radiance Facial Oil has a blend of botanical oils that help to transform the skin’s texture, soothe dull and dry skin and nourish and restore lipid loss due to aging and environmental damage. The Fango Active Mud for Face and Body is one of my holy grail masks, offering a detoxifying mineral-rich mask that hydrates and firms the skin while reducing fine lines and providing you with smooth and toned skin. Paired together, this not only makes a wonderful gift – but a great treat for anyone.
Can we just talk about the design of this unit for a second? My gosh, it’s so pretty and girly and would make the most wonderful Mother’s Day gift for any mom. The Michael Todd Soniclear Petite is one of my favorite skin cleansing tools. I have raved about it time and time again here on my site and would recommend ANY of these units for a gift. This cleansing tool is the petite version, smaller than the original and the elite but perfect for travel and comes with a universal USB enabled charger which makes this great for those on the go. It’s a waterproof unit with 3 speeds to help tailor to your cleansing needs and is antimicrobial. What makes it so great is not only the design (and the pattern) but that this product is reasonably priced at just $109.00. I seriously wouldn’t mind unwrapping one of these as a gift and I know it would make a fabulous present for anyone.
I wrote about these two products from LATHER on my blog a few weeks back and they continue to be favorites of mine so I know they would make any mom or mom to be happy. The LATHER coconut creme body whip ($22 USD) is one of my favorite body butter / lotions to date. I have used MANY, trust me, and I find that it not only smells yummy – it moisturizes my skin wonderfully and leaves a light fragrance that is so delish. This body creme is silky and whipped to perfection and my skin is left soft and hydrated for hours. This is the perfect creme for any mom or mom to be. I highly suggest this as a gift to that “mom to be” because this would make a great body creme to lather on the body while pregnant too. The Vanilla & Argan Lip Scrub ($10 USD) is a must have for anyone. It is moisturizing and tastes delicious and sloths away any dry skin on your lips leaving them plump and soft for your favorite lip product or for kiss… teehee. What’s great about these products is that they come from a great brand and are made with quality products.
With the summer months just around the bend, nothing says beachy and ready for some sun like a great tote. This gorgeous striped Sportswear Tote by Helly Hansen ($50 USD) is lightweight and the perfect bag to store your everyday essentials for all your summer fun activities. It’s available in three different colors: Navy, Aquamarine and Sorbet and has a shoulder strap and carry handles. Marine stripe fabric and detailing give this tote the perfect look for sporting and toting around this summer. As a handbag lover, I know that I would love to get this quality made bag as a gift this Mother’s Day.
The next gift is one of my favorites… for moms like me who like to take their hair ties and rubber bands and turn them into an unsightly fashion statement as we wear them on our wrists. The Bittersweet Hair Tie Bracelet ($45 USD) was created by Maria Shireen – a functional fashion accessories company. It was a gift from her husband as he had it designed and created so that she could eliminate the pressure on her wrist from the elastic bands but also make her hair tie look like a stylish bracelet, by creating a channel that holds the hair tie in place. Hello – total genius, simple, unique but functional. This bracelet has literally changed my fashion game up hugely. If you have seen any of my outfit posts here on the blog – then you know that I have turned my many hair ties into the ugliest thing to grace my wrist, but I NEED them at a moments notice so I keep them handy that way. Now with the Bittersweet bangle I can literally look fashion forward without being a fashion faux pas. This literally makes a great gift for any mom and I know they will make use of this bangle as much as I do. I love it so much – I have my eyes on the gold and rose gold too.
You can’t go wrong with buying your favorite mom a perfume for Mother’s Day and Pacifica Beauty offers a set of three for just $19 USD. The Daydreamer Roll-On Trio offers three delectable scents that would make any mother happy. Tuscan Blood Orange, Tahitian Gardenia and Indian Coconut Nectar (one of my favorites) this set offers a roll-on perfume for everyone. Pick up the whole set and gift it together or break up the set and make three mother’s happy this Mother’s Day. Pacifica offers cruelty free products and are available on their website: Pacificabeauty.com, Target and Ulta stores.
Now, of course – I know there are moms out there that may be stationery, planner, pen or paper addicts… like me. So, I wanted to make sure that I included something that would satisfy those moms too. I LOVE pens and some of my favorites come from PenGems and from their signature collection. I probably have 8 or 10 of them and I love them not only because of the way they write, but because they are beautiful, stylish and just a great statement to any planner, purse or notebook. Pens, pencils and notebooks can be great gifts for mom from children or grandchildren. I love searching through Target’s One Spot Dollar Spot section for cute notebooks, pens and pencils as well to give as gifts. You can get a great selection for about $1 to $3 and you’re bound to find something you will enjoy as well as the favorite mother(s) in your life. These kinds of gifts are easy to personalize and make great little presents to open.
Of course, we can’t leave out the techie gadgets and nothing says awesome like the gift of a camera. The Sony RX100 iv ($950.00) is the perfect gift to give that will help that special mom capture every moment that her family has. It’s compact and powerful. With the ability to capture images in 21MP at up to 16 frames per second and record videos in 4K or HD – this is the perfect camera for a beginner or camera enthusiast, offering an impressive compact camera for every day use or for special occasions.
Whatever gift you decide to get that mom or moms in your life, I’m sure it will be wonderful. These are just a little suggestions of products and goodies I’ve been loving lately. Of course, as I mentioned previously – I love flowers and welcome them with open arms (especially my favorites) but when you want to think a little outside of the box, some of these presents would be perfect gifts for your loved one. I look forward to Mother’s Day each year because it reminds me that being a Mommy is so much more than presents – it’s love and happiness year round. I look forward to my sons making me beautiful handmade cards that take them hours to complete and while Mother’s Day is everyday in my house, I think it’s a day worth celebrating. Besides, I wouldn’t be a mother myself without the help from my mom and those that have come before me… right?
xo
Disclaimer: Most of the products discussed, mentioned and featured in this post were sent to me for review and editorial consideration. All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased and I was not paid to feature these products. Affiliate links are posted through out.
I have been getting a lot of questions lately regarding my take on Breastfeeding in public so I figured I would touch base on this subject in this weeks Thirsty Thursday episode. Also – a sweet friend of mine also asked about my cleaning and daily routine as a Stay at Home Mom or (SAHM) so I also share that with all of you and a little something about what I think a Woman’s Worth is.
Click on the video and watch all about it – this TT is a little long, but I think I have a lot to share. Hope you enjoy.
Who am I? Well, it’s obvious that I am a blogger (just call me an editor – lol), Photographer, an art lover and self proclaimed gourmet food aficionado…
Each year in the Fall, my family and I have journeyed up to the local Pumpkin Patch at the Kula Country Farms to choose out the perfect pumpkin for carving. This year was no exception and the family enjoyed their time there as we always do so we wanted to share with you the fun and excitement. The Kula Country Farms located on the slopes of beautiful Haleakala on the island of Maui turns it’s grounds into a fun Pumpkin Patch and Fall Extravaganza with corn mazes, garden games and fun for the entire family. For the last 4 years my family and I have ventured on over to the patch to spend a few hours enjoying the animals, buying fresh Maui grown produce and of course – picking our own pumpkins. Today I share with you one of our Family Adventures.
Let’s face it – living on Maui has its perks and benefits because frankly, we are living in Paradise. But, it can often mean that we are left without the resources that other towns can offer. So when the Kula Country Farms started the annual pumpkin patch a few years back, my family and I have taken part in it each year. There have been many changes and improvements to the patch this year, including a new parking lots that allows for easier parking for families so that they are not limited to parking on a very busy street.
The pumpkin selections are far and wide in between, giving you the choice to choose a really large pumpkin or something small for coloring and painting. Prices of the pumpkins range from $5 – $20 depending on the size and my family tends to pick up a pumpkin for each of us to carve or decorate as we see fit. The location is HUGE – offering a wide variety of activities for your family from picking your own pumpkin to taking part in the corn maze and everything in between. The boys look forward to swinging on the tire swings (while you can see this up year round) and taking part in any fun age appropriate activities for kids.
The boys absolutely love seeing the chickens that roam the grounds freely and the ponies / miniature horses that they can pet and feed. There is also a huge bunny that has been there for years for the children to befriend. This year we decided that we would take the time to not only choose our perfect pumpkin, but also spend some time checking out the vendors that were stationed up at the farm. There was a kettle corn vendor that made the kettle corn fresh while we were there (you could smell the chocolate through out the farm) and different food vendors that sold plate lunches and snacks through out.
The farm was pretty busy on the Saturday we chose to visit. Cars were parked up and down the street and since I now have a small car, we were able to find a parking spot along the road side. There were children everywhere, examining all of the fun activities and my boys absolutely enjoyed their time there. If you are planning to visit the farm in time for Halloween pumpkin carving, I suggest going early in the month of October. With the weather here in Hawaii being pretty warm, some of the pumpkins were already starting to rot (such a bummer) and last minute pumpkin pickers are scrambling for the perfect find. We visited at the beginning of October and found that there was a huge selection of pumpkins to choose from, with many different sizes and types.
My husband picked me up the perfect pumpkin for carving and Kevin Ka’eo chose his pumpkin for his first year of carving on his own. The twins each chose little pumpkins that they decided they would later paint. We all hiked the pumpkins up the hill to pay for them and finish off our family adventure for the day. The pumpkin fields can be dirty and dusty and sometimes icky but seriously, the look on these boys faces each year as they find the choice pumpkin for the holiday are priceless.
Some of the flowers were in bloom at the farm as well, which was an incredible site. If you know anything about me… then you know that sunflowers are some of my favorite flowers and I look forward to seeing them. They scream Fall to me which is one of my favorite seasons.
Since my husband has a pretty crazy work schedule sometimes and we are constantly busy, we are always looking for opportunities for family time. With the holidays right around the bend, our daily lives can keep us on our toes so having a fun day like we did definitely helps us to make memories that will last a lifetime. Our annual visit to the Kula Country Farms Pumpkin Patch is the beginning of our Holiday Family moments and reminds me that family – no matter how big or small, is something to cherish.
What are some of your Fall family traditions? Do you visit a pumpkin patch with your family to pick the perfect pumpkin? Happy Fall!
Disclaimer: All products, etc. were purchased by me with my own money. Affiliate links are posted through out.
Woohoo for Halloween. While it is not our favorite Holiday, Halloween certainly ranks top in my family’s list of days in the year. With Halloween approaching just a…
It’s been almost 6 years since I have given birth to my twins and the day is still quite fresh in my mind. All of my pregnancies were difficult and this particular one was no exception – but more so because it was VERY high risk and I was carrying two instead of one. About four months into my pregnancy a family friend gave me a bunch of books about twins (since she had just delivered her own about 6 months prior) and mixed in the bunch was the book What to Expect® When You’re Expecting. During the remainder of my pregnancy, I read through all of the books, but carried this particular book with me and read it consistently. To say it was a lifesaver, is an understatement.
While I’m not expecting any children in the immediate future, I keep these books on hand because they contain a wealth of information for both myself and my husband and they are a great reference for friends, family and ourselves to turn to when we have questions. There is a reason why they are the #1 Bestselling Pregnancy Book – it’s one of those books that you just can’t donate or pass on because it’s that valuable. Have you ever read a book that referenced anything, especially pregnancy and felt like you were reading something written in Greek? Well, that is why Heidi Murkoff & Sharon Mazel’s What to Expect® When You’re Expecting, What To Expect® the First Year, and Eating Well When You’re Expectinghave in common? They are easy to read and literally lay everything out in easy terms that make it simplified for you to understand. It’s a timeless book series that I love, will reference during each of my pregnancies in the future and suggest to any mother or father expecting their own child.
I really enjoy that this series of books offers you not only a wealth of information, but it is something that you can pass down for generations, sharing with your own children. The books offer everything from the beginning through the first weeks after pregnancy and well into your child’s second year (What to Expect® the Second Year) making it a hub of information. The books were my guide in Postpartum where I struggled and continue to struggle today and have been such help in combating an issue that many women experience. After having my twins, I experienced major depression and my hands were so busy with my sons, I didn’t realize what was happening to me. A quick glance at the book and I was able to determine that it was time to visit my doctor and I’m glad I did because I was diagnosed with severe postpartum depression. Without a little push from the book, I may have allowed such a big deal to take over and I may have not realized what was happening. I still deal with my depression today as a result of postpartum, but thankful it was caught in time before anything drastic occurred.
It’s amazing that with a plethora of information on the internet, I still found that a book would be my number one reference – till this day. The What to Expect® When You’re Expecting series is based around the main book, What to ExpectWhen You’re Expecting which has been the Bestseller Pregnancy book for over 600 weeks. It’s a definite necessity in my book and America’s Bestselling Parenting Series for a reason. As a mother who experienced some of the most difficult pregnancies, I am thankful that I have the books to fall back on for information. There is a wealth of information and covers everything you can think of. No question is odd, weird or embarrassing and sitting down with this book is like chatting with your best friend.
What to Expect® When You’re Expecting is the long-running book on the New York Times Bestseller list and recommended by moms (myself included) and doctors alike. In fact, my OBGYN hands this book to her patients that are expecting and makes it a point to keep them well informed with a great read. This book is definitely “mommy survival guide” status for me!
Have you read this series of books from Workman Publishing? If not, is this something you’ll be adding to your must-have list when you are expecting?
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
