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Busy Mom Skincare Solution

Beauty products, cindy crawford, meaningful beauty, skin care

“Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick.” – Gwyneth Paltrow

I am a total junkie when it comes to beauty products. I have so many creams, and serums, and scrubs, and masks – plus all of the pretty colors of shadows, and glosses, and shimmers. I’ve mentioned before that I’m a total girl… And a quick glance around my Master Bathroom confirms it real quick, lol. {Hey, I do save one drawer for the Mister, too!} But – while I have loads of great products, they’re all different brands, and formulas, and types – so I have no idea if they are really working well together. When I learned about the new Meaningful Beauty system, I knew that I wanted to try it. I’m only a wee bit past 30, {I’ll be 32 this summer. That’s still just a wee bit, ok?} but I already am seeing some pretty serious lines on my forehead. I figured that it was probably time to bump my skincare routine up a notch – Since I became a mom a year and a half ago, I swear my lines AND gray hairs have almost doubled! Not cool.

Meaningful Beauty: A next generation advanced skincare system

The secret weapon of this system is the Crème de Serum—a triple potency product that combines the super-power of a serum with the moisturizing feel of a cream. It’s packed with amazing stuff – and as you can see in the photo, all 3 heavy-duty ingredients are swirled separately in the container, then combine into one powerful anti-aging potion once dispensed from the container. Awesome, right? It’s like if Batman were a skincare product….

Cindy Before and After

“I’m tired of all this nonsense about beauty being skin deep. That’s deep enough. What do you want, an adorable pancreas?” – Jean Kerr

 If you want to learn more about Meaningful Beauty online – You can get the entire skincare system for only $39.95 – Shipped Free!The kit comes packed with every single product that you need, for morning and nighttime treatments. You even get a cool guide to show you when and how to apply each of the products – so if you’re a busy mom like me, who doesn’t have time to figure it all out, this system is a perfect solution. I just received my kit – and after I use it for a couple of weeks, I’ll come back and let you guys know how it worked for me. Meaningful Beauty also lived up to it’s name, and sent over a second gift package too – So I was able to share it with someone who means the whole world to me – My momma. I’m incredibly lucky that she is a beautiful woman, is ageing as gracefully as can be – and that she passed those lucky-lady genes on down to me too. People have always thought I was MUCH younger than I am – and I’d like to keep it that way. Stay tuned in two weeks for results….

{Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a test drive campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf Meaningful Beauty and received a 5-step treatment kit to facilitate my review, a second 5-step treatment kit to giveaway, and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.}

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Simple Solution: Affordable Natural Care for Baby

Toddler, Messes, Products for Toddlers

“You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.” – Franklin P. Jones

Ahhhh….. Motherhood. It’s such a roller coaster ride, isn’t it? The amazing highs of a sweet kiss from your little cutie pie… followed by a trail of soggy toilet paper from another of their fun bathroom adventures. Good times, right? My little girl is 18 months old now – and myohmy! – she sure keeps this momma busy! She was so super excited the other day to show me her “colors” that she had drawn all over her tummy. FYI Dad, we don’t give markers to toddlers and let them color alone. At least it was her tummy, and not the couch. A tummy is much more washable. If you’ve got a toddler too, you know that they come with a  lot of messes. All of those messes means lots of bath times too – but so many kids products are filled with yucky chemicals, colors, and fragrances that just don’t work very well on sensitive skin. You could buy bath care items from a natural or organic brand – but those can be expensive! Well – Another “Busy Mom Solution” to the rescue – Johnson’s Natural line of baby care products is an affordable and effective cleaner, with totally natural ingredients!

Johnson's Natural, Baby Products, Natural Baby Care

“Making the decision to have a child- it’s momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body.” – Elizabeth Stone

The amount of choices when shopping for baby care products can be totally overwhelming. But one brand that I guarantee every single mom out there has used and trusted is Johnson’s. That traditional pink bottle of baby lotion has been used by moms across the country for over 100 years. And now, they’ve updated their trusted baby care goods, and developed a line made from 98% natural ingredients. Here are a few things that make this new product line totally amazing:

  • Paraben-free, dye-free, and allergen-free
  • ALLERFREE™ allergen-free fragrance, with a clean, natural scent rooted in our ingredient
  • No essential oils, which can be irritating to some delicate babies skin.

What I love most about these products is that they are an affordable option that is easy for any mom to find at her local stores. Many of the other natural lines of baby products are much more expensive, or only sold at boutiques – but you can find Johnson’s Natural at most grocery stores, or major retailers like Target and Walmart.

 Building a Cleaner, Greener Life

As a blogger with a baby, you bet your buttons that I’ve tried a million baby care products. And since I’ve been on a mission to make our life cleaner and greener since Abby was born, I’m always searching for new natural and organic products for our home. I’m lucky that Abby’s skin isn’t too sensitive, and we can use almost any brand without trouble. But it’s so important to me to limit the amount of chemicals and yucky additives that her little system is exposed to as she grows and develops. That’s why I am so happy to have found Johnson’s Natural – It includes everything you need – Baby Wash, Shampoo, and Lotion, at an affordable price. It’s the perfect GREEN Busy Mom Solution for any family. Are you taking baby steps towards a more natural life too? Share your tips, ideas, or challenges with me in the comments!

“A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.” – Unknown

To learn more about Johnson’s new Natural Baby Products, visit them online today to read product details, watch some great videos with helpful tips on going green with your family, and great coupons too!

{Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Johnson’s Natural and received a product sample to facilitate my review, and a promotional item to thank me for participating.}

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Use This Tool to Never Wait on Hold Again! #Digitwirl

Digitwirl, Never wait on hold, tech made simple

“I try to take one day at a time,  but sometimes several days attack me at once.” – Jennifer Unlimited

We’re all super busy moms, right? Which is why you read this site, for new Busy Mom Solutions each day! I know that one of my biggest pet peeves ever is having to wait on hold – There I am, kids running around wild, someone asking for a snack, diapers needing changed, and dishes needing washing – trying to hold a phone to my ear for 15 minutes, waiting for someone to get on the line! Ack – Super frustration! But, you’re in luck – Digitwirl has a great new video to save the day! Read more about this new app that can save you loads of time….

This Week’s Twirl – Fast Customer!

Calling customer service usually involves a kink in my shoulder, bad jazz flute music, and lots of waiting. I’ve decided that I’ve got better things to do, and thankfully, so has Fast Customer.  This brilliant app (available for iOS and Android), lets you choose from a list of over 3,000 customer service numbers.  Find the company you want to speak to, and request a callback with one button— then put your phone down and get on with your day… Fast Customer calls you back when there’s a real live human on the line.  If you like being reminded that “your call is important to us,” and being asked to “press 1 for english,” then you won’t like this app.  For the rest of you… it’s the ultimate time-saver.

What do you think?

Um, pretty amazing, right? This app helps make your smart phone even smarter, and definitely is a must-have tool for busy moms everywhere! I’m always on the look out for tips, products, sites, and services that can help me simplify my busy life, manage my mom life more efficiently, and have time for a little bit more fun – And Smart Customer is a perfect addition to my day. If you’re using it – Leave a comment and let me know what you think of it! And be sure to share any other favorite tools too, so we can all check out your best tips!

Find more great ideas on my Tech Made Simple and Smart Solutions boards on Pinterest!

Digitwirl.com – Perfect for Busy Moms like Us!

Carley KnoblochDigitwirl is the weekly web show that offers simple solutions to modern day problems. In 3 minutes, Digitwirl brings busy women the very best time, money, and sanity-saving technology, and then teaches them how to use it, step-by-step. Digitwirl was created by technology lifestyle expert Carley Knobloch, who uses lots of technology to manage her busy life as mom of two and entrepreneur. Become a subscriber to get weekly show alerts and exclusive deals at Digitwirl.com, or follow Digitwirl on Twitter at @digitwirl.

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Caregiver for Your Parents? This Tip Can Save a Life!

Prescription Pills

Are you a caregiver?

It’s hard for me to accept sometimes that my parents are getting older. I still picture them like they were when I was a kid. Plus, if THEY’RE getting older, that means I am too, which I have been having a hard time with since I turned 30. When the heck did I turn into an adult?? But – As our parents get older, you start thinking about how you’ll take care of them as they age. What if something happens to them? What if they get sick? Usually it falls to us, the daughters, to be the caregivers.

My Parents

My mom is still mostly healthy – She’s super active, works at a pretty physical job, is an amazing gardener, loves to dance. And her and I live together, which means I know she’s taken care of. But my father has had a lot of health problems. He broke his hip a year ago, and still has a lot of trouble getting around. He also recently moved to Seattle, on the other side of the state, so my brothers and I can’t stop in to check on him like we used to. I worry about him a lot, and hate that he’s so far away.

Help in an Emergency

We had gotten him set up with a medical emergency reporting system when we first moved him to his new house – Just in case. Like I said, he has a hard time getting around, and is known to fall and have a tough time getting to the phone. He thought it was a silly idea, and didn’t want to get it – I explained to him that it wasn’t even for HIM, it was for me, so I wouldn’t worry quite as much. All I can say is THANK GOODNESS he agreed – Two weeks ago he got incredibly sick. So sick he couldn’t get out of bed, couldn’t call anyone. But – his Medical Alert system is right next to the bed, so he was able to get an ambulance. He ended up needing emergency surgery. The surgeon said that the doctor he had here in town had missed some major problems for over a year now – if he hadn’t had this surgery, he could have died!

Protect Your Family

I am now such a big believer in these medical alert systems, and recommend them to anyone who has an older family member, friend, or loved one that has trouble getting around. It gives you piece of mind, and it can be a lifesaver for them. There are a ton of options out there to check out, and the cost is really not at all as high as I had expected.

What do you think?

Have you ever used any type of Medical Alert for your family? Do you have a close call story like this too? Share your stories or advice in the comments, to help others who are reading this find the best solution for their families too.

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3 Ways Walmart Can Help You Eat Healthy on a Budget

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walmart for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

At first, that headline feels a little bit surprising, right? I mean – We all love Walmart, but you don’t usually associate it with healthy living. But that’s about to change – Walmart is rolling out a huge campaign to help children have access to better foods, help busy moms learn how to shop for healthier family meals, and have brought in Dr. Ro, one of America’s top nutritionists, to share easy steps that every family can take to eat healthier on a budget!

walmart

3 Ways Walmart is Helping Families Live Healthier

  1. Walmart is giving away $9.5 million in grants to great organizations around the country that work to ensure families get access to healthier and more affordable food choices. This funding will help to support nutrition education programs, provide classes on learning to shop for healthier foods on a budget, and even provide live cooking demonstrations at local stores around the country – How cool is that?
  2. The addition of Dr. Ro will help Walmart share easy to follow tips that can help moms learn which foods in their local Walmart are the best to feed to feed their families, and how to find the best value. I can’t wait to learn some of her great tips on healthy living!
  3. Not every community has a health foods store – But almost everyone lives close enough to a Walmart store to visit and shop regularly! By educating families about healthier choices, and making them easy and accessible to shop for – Walmart can really make an impact on the diets of thousands of American families!

Shopping Matters Tour!

As you can see in the video, Walmart is working to busy moms the basics of how to find the best nutrition at the best prices in their own local stores. They’re also using all of that grant money I mentioned to fund amazing programs across the country – Like Action for Healthy Kids, a group that works to get healthier foods into schools nationwide. The $1.5 million grant from Walmart will bring better foods and nutrition education to 400 schools, which will impact over 160,000 children!

How these changes can help you

In our family, I’m always trying to guide us towards cleaner, greener, healthier lives. I’ve noticed over the past year that our diet and exercise habits have gone down hill quite a bit – The Mister was laid off and has been out of work for almost a year, I’m so busy running this site and all of my other projects I don’t always have time to plan for healthier meals, and I have a toddler now who can keep things running pretty crazy around here. I love that Walmart is using their enormous power as one of the biggest grocery retailers to encourage a movement towards better nutrition! Walmart reaches so many families, that they’re education programs can make a big difference in helping other busy moms like me shop for great foods to serve to their families.

What do you think?

I love hearing what you guys think about things – What do you think about the grants that Walmart will be sharing in communities across the country? Which one of the organizations listed are your favorite? Are you excited to see things like live cooking demonstrations or shopping education tours in your own local store? What else should Walmart do to help encourage and enable moms to prepare great meals for their kids? Share in the comments!

 

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Simple Routines for Better Mornings!

“How does one become a butterfly?” she asked pensively. “You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.” – Trina Paulus

That is one of my favorite quotes. It reminds me that I each day, I should do things that bring me closer to the goals and dreams that make me happy, and work on eliminating the things that get in the way. Over the past year I’ve made lots of small changes to my life that help to brighten each day – Things that help me stay centered and balanced, so that I’m able to be the best me that I can be!

Coffee, Newspaper, Starbucks, Morning Routine

Building a Healthy & Happy Day!

Here are the two routines that have really helped give me a better start to my days. I had noticed that it was the same few spots that always challenged me – but a little tweak here and there, and those problems were so easy to fix. Use these as a launching point to figure out some easy solutions to your own busy mom challenges, and simplify your life too!

  • Starting the Day Better – I used to be stressed in the morning. I’d just get started on work, then the baby would get up and need to get dressed. Next I’d need to lasso the boys and drag them away from the Xbox long enough to get ready for school. Things always felt really hectic, and I was always so tired. So now, even though it’s a bit tough some mornings, I get up at 6 am before everyone else wakes up. I can enjoy my coffee and my newspaper, go over my blogging planner and household schedule to plan my day, and start things much more peacefully! By the time everyone else finally gets up, I’m bright and cheerful {and caffeinated!!} and ready to face the morning challenges with a smile.
  • Ending the Day Better – I hate messes. But, with extended family living with me and an busy blogging schedule, the house gets super messy! With so many people – including kids and too many dogs! – there’s really only so much I can do. I’ve learned to do my best, and forget the rest! But each evening I take 15 minutes to do a quick clean – A basket to pickup forgotten toys, dishes loaded to the dishwasher and counters wiped clean, throw pillows and blanket fluffed and straightened. It’s an easy task, but makes a big difference. You feel less stressed when you go to bed, and it’s nice waking up to a {mostly} clean house in the morning.

What do you do to live a healthy & happy life?

The small routines in my life help me reduce my stress a ton, which leads to a much happier and healthier mom of the house. I’d love to hear your own busy mom solution tips as part of this discussion sponsored by Quaker Instant Oatmeal – A great option that can help you get a great start every morning. Simple, and super delicious!

Join the Discussion and Share Your Best Tips!

“Small Wins, Big Rewards” Sweepstakes

You can join the discussion here – Share Your Small Wins! Other busy moms will get to benefit from your great ideas, and YOU will get a chance to win some amazing prizes, just for joining the fun!

  • At the end of each discussion one lucky participant will be chosen at random to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card, to purchase anything from your favorite Quaker Oatmeal products to exercise clothing to help them get off to a perfect start each day!
  • All of the participants of the 3 discussions will also be entered to win the Grand Prize – a $1000 Amazon Gift Card! So the more discussions you participate in, the better chance you have of winning!

Discussion Details

Remember, the more discussions you join, the more opportunities you’ll have to win – Can you imagine how much great stuff you could get to brighten your mornings with a $1,000 Amazon Gift Card?! Here are the dates of each discussion, and the topic for each one:

  • 2/9 – Small Wins: What small wins can you accomplish as part of your morning routine to help start your day right?
  •  2/23 – Future Wins: What morning small wins will help contribute to a successful future?
  • 3/8 – Healthy Rewards: What small steps in the morning do you take to keep healthy?

Share your ideas, join the fun, and good luck in the Sweepstakes!

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Glam Media Sponsored Post

{Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Quaker Instant Oatmeal through Glam Media. The content, ideas, tips and opinions are all 100% my own.}

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How to Lose Weight with Chocolate Ice Cream

The Challenge: Most of you ladies know that I’m still trying to lose my baby weight. {Can I even still call it that? She’s a toddler now…} But, I’m a busy momma. I struggle with eating a balanced diet – I get up early so I can do some writing before that adorably destructive toddler of mine gets up, and skip breakfast for a few buckets of coffee. I eat really healthy in the afternoon, and then attempt to make something healthy for dinner that the kids will like. But, my biggest weakness is sweets, at night, while I’m up working late.

Weight Watchers Points

“I keep trying to lose weight… but it keeps finding me!” – Author Unknown

Busy Mom Solution: Weight Watchers new Ice Cream bars!! Ohmyheck ladies – these are goooood. When I heard that I was going to get a shipment of samples to check out, I thought it would be fun to try them, but honestly – I didn’t have big expectations. Most “diet” sweets have that really artificial taste to them. Since they were Weight Watchers, I knew that they’d be better than most, but I didn’t think they’d be anything that exciting. Um, I could not have been more wrong!

Dieting with Ice Cream

“I’m not overweight. I’m just nine inches too short.” – Shelley Winters

I loved all of the flavors that we tried out, and the whole family actually really liked them too – Even the guys! My very favorite was the Dark Chocolate Raspberry – These taste just like my favorite chocolate truffle from a little candy shop downtown. They are, honestly, my favorite ice cream bar that I’ve ever eaten. And when you top that with the fact that they have only 80 calories, 2 grams of protein, 0 grams saturated fat, and a Points value of 2 – well, let’s just say that I have fallen in love. Heck, I’m calling this the Chocolate Ice Cream diet – join me in adding these sweet snacks to your daily routine too!

“I have gained and lost the same ten pounds so many times over and over again my cellulite must have déjà vu.” – Jane Wagner

Dark Chocolate Dulce de Leche Ice Cream Bars

Learn more about the other flavors of Weight Watchers Ice Cream bars, like Triple Chocolate and Dark Chocolate Dulce de Leche. You can also check out all of their other products, and join the Weight Watchers program yourself.

Social media junkie like me? Follow Weight Watchers on Facebook & Twitter to stay updated on new products and promotions.

{Disclaimer: I was provided with complimentary products from Mom Select and Weight Watchers for this review, so that I could share my honest opinions. As always, all photos and opinions are 100% my own and not influenced by a little bit of swag. Thanks for reading!}

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