Busy Mom Solution

Parking Pal: Smart Parking Lot Safety Solution #Mompact

“The Parking Pal™ will entertain kids while keeping them safe at the same time! Children are automatically drawn to the unique, colorful, fun designs. The Parking Pal™ gives kids a safe spot to stand, helping to reduce parking lot injuries!”

Parking Lots are Safer with the Parking Pal Magnet!

This is another one of those products where it’s so obvious that it was invented by a mom – it’s simple, smart, and a really great solution to one of those busy mom challenges… The Parking Pal is a cute magnet that you attach to your car, giving the bigger kiddo’s a safe place to wait while you unload packages or younger children. It’s cute, it’s fun, and most importantly – it’s effective.

Great for kids of all ages and abilities

I love, love, LOVE the ideas in this video from Mom 4 Life – It’s very cool to hear the other clever uses that moms have come up with for using the Parking Pal in new ways, outside of the parking lot. And you get to meet the mom that invented this great product too! Definitely take a minute to watch this video and grab some great tips.

Learn More & Connect with the Brand

I have been using the Parking Pal for awhile now – and every time that we do, someone stops to ask us about it, or comment on what a smart idea it is. And I’m not the only one who’s loving this invention –

Mom Reviews: One Busy Momma appreciates this great idea, even though her boys are a little bit older now. She says that the Parking Pal still helps keep them safer in parking lots at age 8! And Nicole loves how it allows her to focus on what she’s doing when loading and unloading the car, instead of nagging and reminding her daughter to stay close.
Amazon: For less than $9 bucks each, you can grab enough magnets for each child in your family! And read more opinions on the Parking Pal Car Magnet – Parking Lot Safety for Children too – Every reviewer on Amazon gave it a 5-Star rating!

So, don’t just take my word for it – read the other online reviews from moms just like us, watch the video above to learn how other moms are finding creative ways to use the Parking Pal to help manage their own daily challenges, and learn more parking lots safety tips for kids on their website.

Connect with Parking Pal

See the selection of Parking Pal Magnets online, then connect with them on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on new products and promotions. And if you love supporting mom-owned businesses, be sure to visit Mompact.com today!

{This post was not sponsored. I love helping spread the word about my favorite mom-owned businesses, and Parking Pal Safety Magnets are such a smart solution for busy moms, I knew you guys would love them too.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 30, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

The Skinny on Dining Out

Who doesn’t want a perfect evening out, away from the kitchen and the mass of dishes? Most Americans love dining out, but even those who can afford the luxury are finally beginning to cut back from restaurant fare in an effort save cash and stay healthy. And while it’s always a temptation as a busy mom to stop in and grab dinner to go – let’s take a look at what you’re really getting when dining out….

Infographics by CouponCabin.com

Learning Smart Spending Habits

Many of us as busy moms have gotten so darn busy that we don’t have time to really notice where some of our spending habits have gotten off track. Things like dining out a few times a week, or that extra latte each afternoon, can really add up. Between getting the kids to soccer practice, getting dinner on the table, and getting the cheerios out of your hair…. it’s hard to keep track of everything you have going on. If you’re in need of a little extra help staying on track financial – check out my two favorite solutions:

Daily Worth

Daily Worth is a super smart daily email with a few easy to follow financial tips targeted at busy women like ourselves. From which fashions to buy this summer to take you into fall, to the best ways to save on salon hair care services – you’ll find great tips to look fab without overspending.

LearnVest

They make budgeting as easy as spending. {Ok, not quite – but very close!} My favorite part of having a free membership to LearnVest is that you then get access to all of their totally FREE financial bootcamps – from Baby on Board to Getting Hitched, there are tons of great go-at-your-own-pace bootcamps to help guide you to better budgeting.

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 30, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

Twooth Timer: Smart Solution to Encourage Kids to Brush

This is a great gadget that has completely changed bedtimes around my house! Kids love it – and I love it because it encourages them to brush their teeth much longer, with no nagging. Kids doing something that’s good for them, and loving it? Now that is a Smart Solution!

Sponsor Spotlight: The Twooth Timer Company

I’ve been using the Twooth Timer in our home for almost a year now, and it really does make life easier. This little gadget is so simple, but so effective – the kids always want to turn it on, and they will “race” to see who can brush the most teeth before the timer goes off. Which means they do a LOT more brushing then they used to – and they have more fun. The $10 bucks you spend on this totally pays off in lowered dentists bills.

Did you Know…

According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report, more than 51 million school hours are lost each year to dental-related illness. Tooth decay is the single most common chronic childhood ailment – 5 times more common than asthma and 7 times more common than hay fever.

Like most smart products, the Twooth Timer was invented by a mom, just like us. Years ago, at a routine check up for her kids, the dentist informed her that the kids needed to brush more – twice a day, for at least 2 minutes each time. She wondered how on earth she could get them, all of them, to do that, every day. The dentist advised her to try using a timer. And the Twooth Timer was born!

Let the Twooth Timer Bring Better Brushing to Your Home Too

Learn more about the Twooth Timer by visiting their website, read some great tooth-care tips on their blog, and be sure to sign up for their newsletter updates to stay informed of new products, giveaways, and cool promotions. You can also read more reviews of the Twooth Timer, if you’d like to learn a little more:

Amazon Reviews: Twooth Timer has a bunch of great reviews on Amazon, with twelve 5-star ratings, one 4-star, and just one lower ranking. That’s great to see!
My Review: You can read more about our experience when we first started using the Twooth Timer in my home, and why we love it.
More Blog Reviews: Have Kids Will Coupon loves this clever timer, it made Nicole’s daughter have loads more fun during brushing time, it worked great for Insights by April too, and the boys at Unionvale Mom’s Spot have just as much fun with this as mine do. MomVantage, a self-proclaimed “Tooth Fanatic,” who has a lot of experience with dental offices, totally appreciates what a great tool this is in helping build good brushing habits!

You can also connect with them on Facebook and Twitter. And speaking of connecting – You can learn more about the Twooth Timer from me, if you’ll be attending Reviewer’s Retreat this weekend! They are one of the brands I’ll be helping to represent during the Sponsor Speedway portion of the events. I hope to see some of you there!

If you’re interested in learning more about how to partner with smart mom-invented brands like this, and working with some great bloggers on fun campaigns, you can learn more about how Mompact supports moms in business, and sign up to be part of the team at Question Moms.

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 29, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

How To Find Out if Your Floors are Clean Enough…

“I’m not going to vacuum until Sears makes one you can ride on.” – Roseanne Barr

I used to have a clean home. Laundry was always done and put away in closets where the shirts were organized by color and sleeve length. Dishes were washed and stored in perfect order. But – then I had a baby. And, my extended family came to live with us too. And, I started a blog. And I’ve explained before how Baby + Blog = Messy Home. But, while having a baby brought loads of extra work, and a lot less sleep – it also brought a new awareness to the need to keep my floors clean. Once your little one is crawling, it’s incredibly important that you give them a home with floors that are clean enough to be safe for exploring. So you become like a hawk, ready to spot stray Legos and pennies from a room away. You vacuum daily, to ensure that your floors are free of dirt and muck. But – did you know that even if you vacuum daily, your floors just don’t always get clean enough?

“My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.” – Erma Bombeck

When you want to get your floors seriously clean – like deep-down, safe enough for baby to put their mouth on kind of clean, you need to do more than just vaccuum. You need something like this – my new favorite invention. “If you love it so much why don’t you marry it!!??” Well, I just might. Because I am in serious love with this new gadget – the BISSELL Lift-Off Deep Cleaner. I love a hard worker :) And, my FAVORITE part of this gadget is that it’s two cleaners in one. Use it the traditional way to clean whole rooms really easily {it’s a lot lighter-weight than some others cleaners I’ve rented before, making it MUCH easier to push} – then, with a quick step on the lever at the bottom, the smaller portion pops out to be a portable cleaner for upholstery, cars, stairs, or little spot messes. And with kids and dogs in my house, we have a lot of spills and messes. This cleaner is a life saver!

How to find out how clean your floors really are

So, how do you know how clean your floors really are? One simple way to find out is to take the White Sock Challenge – super simple, and seriously shocking results. Grab some clean white socks for your family. Get the bottoms just a tiny bit damp, then crank up some tunes, and dance those feet around your home’s floors. Then take a look – do you see how much dirt is on those things??!! Yuck, right? Do you really want your kids crawling around on that – or even just sitting down on it to play? No way. So, let me show you how the Bissell Lift-off Deep Cleaner works to break up the dirt and grab it right out of your carpets. And – you can check out how easy peasy it is to transform the cleaner from a stand-up machine to a smaller spot

“Vacuums don’t clean houses. People clean houses.” – Everybody Loves Raymond

Pretty impressive, right? I’m really picky about cleaning products too – I don’t have a lot of time to spend keeping up with the house, and it’s crazy around here with so many people and pets. So anything that I give closet space too needs to be able to work double-duty. The BISSELL Lift-Off Deep Cleaner is not one of those gadgets you’ll buy, then store away because it’s too much trouble to use it. Nope, this thing is so easy to use, you’ll find yourself pulling it out every week. And – after doing the White Sock Test before cleaning with the Deep Cleaner, and then afterwards – I can tell you from experience that there is a dramatic difference!!

“Please don’t feed the dust bunnies.” – Author Unknown

If you want to take the White Sock Test too – take a fun photo to show off your results, and enter it on the White Sock Test giveaway page on Facebook, for a chance to win a $15,000 Home Makeover!! Here’s how it works: Get a clean white sock and wet the soles of it just a little. Then find the most “lived upon” area of your carpet and do “The Twist” for 30 seconds. Give it some attitude! What does your sock look like now? Show us for a chance to win a Home Makeover! – Can you imagine how many cool things you do with $15,000? {I entered – I sooo need to finish up our Master Bedroom & Playroom Makeover!} So – grab your socks, and share YOUR White Sock Test results today for a chance to win big too! I bet you’ll be just as shocked by the results as I was – and realize why this Deep Cleaner is your new best friend.

{Disclaimer: I received a complimentary Deep Cleaner from Bissell, so that I could try out this White Sock Challenge test and share my results with you guys. But, free swag never sways my posts – all opinions and overuse of the word awesome are 100% honest and my own. Love this thing! Photo credit for first photo.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 27, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 9 Comments

Connecting Brands & Bloggers at Reviewer’s Retreat #RevRet12

Most of you guys know by now that I’m going to be attending Reviewer’s Retreat in just a couple more weeks. Well, not just attending – I’ll also be speaking at the event! I’m going to be presenting with a couple of other amazing social media gals, teaching our best tips on growing your audience using social media, email newsletters, giveaway events, and more. I’m pretty excited to meet some new people, share some helpful info, and get to see some of my favorite blogging friends again too!

“Position yourself as a center of influence – the one who knows the movers and shakers. People will respond to that, and you’ll soon become what you project.” – Bob Burg

If you’re going to be at Reviewer’s Retreat too, I’d LOVE to love to connect with you there. I’ll be speaking on Monday, June 4th, at 10:30, presenting the Undergraduate session titled Growing Your Audience. {If you haven’t signed up for that session yet, you can visit the site to build your schedule.} And, I’m also going to be helping out during the Sponsor Speedway portion of the event, meeting with bloggers at the Mompact table. The first speedway is during my presentation, but I’ll be at the table during the second one, later in the afternoon.

What is the Sponsor Speedway?

This is a bit of time set aside for bloggers and brands to connect with each other. Bloggers will get to take a seat, about 5-6 at a time, with each brand. You’ll get a little less than 10 minutes to quickly introduce yourself to the brand, exchange business cards, and hopefully make a totally charming first impression. Then your group will move on to the next table, until everyone has had a chance to connect. There will be some really great brands – from big names like Kia and Pampers, to fun brands like Mompact and Uncommon Goods. At Mompact, I’ll be looking for some really passionate and talented new reviewer’s to join our team this year – so don’t forget to stop by and get me one of your card. {Need a card with a totally memorable design to catch all of these great brand’s attention? Check out my very favorite blogging business card company to find some awesome inspiration.} I’ll also have some actual products on hand, if you’re interested in taking something home with you to review on your site later.

“Networking is simply the cultivating of mutually beneficial, give and take, win-win relationships. It works best, however, when emphasizing the ‘give’ part.” – Bob Burg

About Mompact… “It’s time for moms to support other moms in business the way we do in motherhood. The compassion we feel when we meet a mom in need of encouraging words at the check out line, or struggling to quiet a fussy toddler at a restaurant, is the same kind of compassion and connection moms have in business. We get what the other mom is going through: how she has to juggle work and family, sacrifice financially, and learn along the way. We’re here to provide a platform for that support.”

“Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe, call it a family: Whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one.” – Jane Howard

I’m really excited to be representing Mompact, and some of our amazing partner businesses, at this event. And I know that the mom inventors who work with Mompact are definitely very excited to get their products introduced to some of the most influential review bloggers in the blogosphere – meaning YOU. If you’d like to learn a little more about the brands I’ll be bringing to share at Reviewer’s Retreat, read on…

Twooth Timer: This is a great gadget that has completely changed bedtimes around my house! Kids love it, and it encourages them to brush their teeth much longer, with no nagging. Learn more about the Twooth Timer, and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.
Parking Pal Magnet: This is such a genius product for moms of bigger kids – it keeps them safe when getting in and out of the car, especially in busy parking lots. So simple, but really works. Everyone that sees always stops to comment on it. See the selection of Parking Pal Magnets online, then connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.
Tidy Tots: This is a new way of looking at potty training – a stage I’m JUST getting started with. These are a potty chair liner that makes clean up quick and easy – just grab the bag and toss the mess. I can definitely see the appeal to this great solution! You can learn more about Tidy Tots online, read their blog for some great tips, and connect with them on Facebook too.
ViveVita: The inventor behind these smart solutions for everyday living is the mother to nine – yes NINE – children. So she knows about challenges! Her products are all meant to make your life a little easier, and all are very clever ideas. See the selection of ViveVita products, and connect with them on Facebook and Twitter.
Nini Baby: Tired of having to pick up the toy/sippy cups/crayon/pacifier/you name it! – that your child just threw onto the floor? Then you will totally appreciate the great problem solvers at Nini Baby! Learn more about their great selection, and connect on Facebook and Twitter.
Liv and Lily Boutique: Love accessories? Then you will just adore Liv and Lily! These are luxury pieces designed by moms with a love of great fashion. From beautiful headbands and hair clips for girls, to adorable fedoras and suspenders for boys – these luxe accessories complete any little fashionista’s wardrobe! See the Liv and Lily designs for yourself, and connect on Twitter and Facebook too.
Buti-Bag: Ohmyheck – while we’re talking about cute fashions, you have GOT to check out the adorable designs from Buti-Bag! She carries a fun line of Belle Bottoms that totally glam up a pair of little girl jeans, and totally gorgeous bags and accessories. See her great goodies at Buti-Bag.com, and connect on Twitter and Facebook today too!
CuddleCloth: I had wished for something like this when Abby was a baby – and it would still be so helpful now – the CuddleCloth is a towel that you wear, making it simple to grab a slippery bath-time baby and wrap her up quickly – without getting yourself wet too! Check out the CuddleCloth in action, and visit them on Facebook and Twitter too.
Babee Covee: This is so smart – it’s a 6-in-1 Blanket and Cover for babies and kids – it’s patented design ensures that it won’t fall off, whether used for a cover in the stroller, over a car seat, or on playdates – this blanket is super versatile, durable, and super cute. Watch the Babee Covee video to see why it’s so cool, then check them out on Facebook and Twitter.
Boogie Wipes: I’m a Boogie Wipes Ambassador, and let me tell ya – I’ve given out hundreds of samples of these great kids wipes, and there is not ONE person who doesn’t totally love them! They’re for more than just colds and allergies – they work as an all purpose kiddo wipe too! Learn more about why Boogie Wipes are a must-have addition to any moms purse or diaper bag, then visit them on Facebook and Twitter too.

If you’re interested in learning more about these awesome brands, and working with them in the future – I’d love for you to take a minute to stop by their social media pages today, and let them know that you’re excited to learn more about them at Reviewer’s Retreat! They’ll love getting to “Meet” you – and I look forward to meeting you soon too. You’ll also get to connect with the Owner of Buti-Bags at the Sponsor Speedway, and learn more about the awesome designs she creates. See you soon!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 25, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution, Blogging Events | 12 Comments

Learn the Secrets of Getting Pregnant Quickly

Q&A with Jean Twenge, Ph.D., author of “THE IMPATIENT WOMAN’S GUIDE TO GETTING PREGNANT”

How long should you try on your own before heading to the doctor?

If you’ve been having ovulation-focused sex, I’d say 6 months. The standard advice is to wait a year if you’re under 35, but that’s a really long time and the average woman under 35 who’s having ovulation-focused sex is pregnant within three months. If you’ve been trying for more than three months, don’t panic. Maybe you just haven’t had your lucky cycle yet – it’s a roll of the dice. If you just can’t wait – and believe me, I’m with you – you can always consider making an appointment with your gynecologist in advance, to coincide with the month you will have been trying for six months.

With that said: If you can talk your partner into it, get a semen analysis right away. Up to half of fertility problems are caused by sperm issues (the technical term is “male factor,” which sounds like a really bad men’s cologne). Because men always have it easier, tests for sperm issues are quick and inexpensive – usually under $100 at a doctor’s office (there are home kits too, but they are less accurate). What if he doesn’t like the idea of getting his sperm tested? Remind him that spending 20 minutes buffing the banana with some soft porn is not so bad – after all, he voluntarily did this about 3 times a day when he was 14.

What foods do you think increase fertility? Which should you stay away from?

Studies find that vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish, olive oil, and plant protein (like beans) increase fertility — or at least make ovulation problems less likely. There’s no research on some of the other rumored foods (like pineapple core). What you should avoid: Trans fat, also known as partially hydrogenated oils (I like to call them “partially hydrogenated evil.”) Fortunately, trans fat’s long crime spree through the American diet has mostly been halted; the foods that used to contain trans fat have mostly been modified to banish the substance. Most evil oils are safely in bad food jail. But not all. I’ll save you some time scrutinizing food labels to tell you the one food that still employs significant amounts of felon trans fats: frosting. That’s really sad, because I think frosting is the best food on the planet. The label on tubs of cake frosting – which I read while I eat it straight out of the can with a spoon – reveals several grams of trans fat. If you’re trying to get pregnant, or will in the next three months, frosting moderation is probably in order.

Is it true what they say about positions for conceiving boys or girls?

There is no research to suggest that certain positions are more likely to produce a boy or a girl. The idea behind all of these rumors is that boy sperm swim faster than girl sperm. If that made a difference during natural conception there would be more boys conceived from sex close to ovulation. Instead, most studies find the opposite, with more GIRLS from sex close to ovulation (other studies find no difference or only a small one). So boy sperm might swim faster, but that doesn’t actually produce the results one might expect. That also suggests position won’t make much of a difference. The Impatient Woman’s Guide has a whole chapter on the research on what does make a difference in gender swaying.

Is there a better chance of getting pregnant the more sex you have?

Yes, although the difference between sex every day and sex every other day is very small. And, contrary to popular belief, sex every day doesn’t lower sperm count (though you might not want to share this bit of information with your husband).

How long should you get off the pill before trying to get pregnant?

A good rule of thumb: Three months if you’ve been on it for less than a year; six months if you’ve been on it for more than a year. It takes time for your cervical mucus to come back and your lining to thicken up again. Don’t worry if you happen to get pregnant before then — there’s no evidence that being on the pill recently will do any harm to you or the baby. It’s just harder to get pregnant the first few months off the pill.

Is it true that there are only a few days of the month you can get pregnant?

Yes! A FertilityFriend.com study of 119,398 charts showed that 94% of pregnancies occurred from sex on the three days around ovulation (the two days before and the day of). Studies from medical journals have found a “fertile window” from 5 days before ovulation to the day of ovulation, but only some of those days are very fertile — in most studies, that’s the two days before ovulation. So yes, that means the day of ovulation is NOT the most fertile! (Here is a great study that explains why — look at Figure 1). In The Impatient Woman’s Guide, I give precise instructions for how to find your two most fertile days from charting, OPKs, or the fertility monitor.

Will taking prenatal vitamins increase your chance of pregnancy?

Yes. Several studies have found that women taking prenatal vitamins, especially folate and vitamin B6, are more likely to get pregnant quickly. Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) have also been linked to better embryos in IVF, and smarter babies overall. And prenatal vitamins definitely lower the risk of birth defects when taken before conception, so start taking them at least 2 to 3 months before you start trying to get pregnant — and maybe longer. One nurse practitioner I know advises all women under 50 to take prenatals because the evidence for lowering birth defects is so strong.

To learn more about Jean M. Twenge’s book, read my review of The Impatient Woman’s Guide to Getting Pregnant.

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 24, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 2 Comments

The Impatient Woman’s Guide to Getting Pregnant

“What to do when you want to be pregnant yesterday – and you don’t have any time to waste.” – Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D…. This book is for the impatient woman. The woman who has moved up the ranks in her career successfully, and wants to succeed with pregnancy using the same methodical approach. {Except that babies don’t cooperate with planning very well.} The woman who has been trying to get pregnant for a couple months, or even a couple years! {Yep, that would make anyone impatient.} The woman who is getting older, and worried that you don’t have as much time left as you used to. Or the woman who realizes that now is the perfect time in life to start a family – career, finances, home life are all aligned perfectly. Whatever the reason, you are ready for a baby, and you’re ready to be pregnant yesterday!