Busy Mom Solution

How to Help & Support Your Child’s Teacher this School Year

I participated in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Wet Ones, about supporting teachers this school year. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

I think it’s safe to say that everyone’s kids have finally started school now. And in most areas – fall is in the air… The leaves are beginning to change, the air is crisper in the morning, and most important of all – Pumpkin Spice Lattes are available once again. {Yum, oh yum.} But, even though you’ve done the main back to school shopping, that doesn’t mean that your work is done – there are a ton of things you can do to help support the hard work that you’re kiddo’s teachers are doing throughout the school year.

How to help teachers all year long

We all know that for some crazy reason, our schools are almost always underfunded. Most of us would say that schools are one of the most important places for our tax dollars to go – yet unlike the DMV, the courts, or the police department, teachers buy huge amounts of supplies that are needed to do their jobs out of their own pocket. They work many hours off the clock, have to do tons of continuing education, and aren’t that highly paid. But, clearly, they do it because they love it – which is why they deserve our support, right? Here are some great ways to show support:

Teacher Appreciation Gifts that Rock [Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on September 16, 2013 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

8 Clever Mom Tips that Went Viral

“All mothers are working mothers.” – Unknown… This is one of my favorite mom quotes. Because, no matter how much the media wants to talk about the “mommy wars” – we’re all working moms. We’re all tired. We’re all doing our best to make the best for our families. Right? So – I wanted to share my absolute most popular posts and tips – the things that have gone viral, having over 30k repins on some of these posts. Others are newer – but seem to be helping solve mom-probs already. And others are some of my best freebie tips that people asked for updated codes and info on. So – whether you’re a new mom, a tired mom looking for extra tips, or a friend of a mom looking for cool gifts and info to share – you’ll find it here. Pin it at the end to share it with your other mom friends – we all need a boost, right?

Some of you might remember when I won the StartupNation Home Based Business award in 2012 – when I shared my story of becoming an unexpected work at home mom. I had to use every tool I had – from survey sites to selling on ebay, to make enough money to get by. As I did that, I learned an amazing amount of ways to be an awesome mom on a small budget. Check out some of the most popular tips of the past two years… Pin ’em, share ’em on Facebook, or tweet, google +, or whatever else the kids do these days, lol.

Get a free nursing pillow – pick your choice from 9 different prints. Once you’ve added your favorite to the shopping bag, you’ll enter promo code “ENBABY”, and it’ll automatically take 100% off of your purchase, leaving just the shipping charge for you to pay. These are seriously gorgeous – and Abby still uses hers, even as a big girl :) [Read more…]

Why Choose a Memory Foam Mattress?

This past week, magic happened in my bedroom… Something happened that totally knocked my socks off, blew me away, gave me feelings I’d never had before. No – I’m not about talking hanky panky here ladies. I’m talking about my new Nature’s Sleep memory foam mattress arriving. From the crazy way they ship it to you, to the way it magically transforms into the best sleep you’ve ever had in your life – you absolutely must check this out. Since I’ve already made every one of my friends and family come lay on it and check it out at my house, it’s time to virtually share it with my favorite people on the internet – you guys! Watch the video below to get a look at how it works…

Why choose a memory foam mattress from Nature’s Sleep? [Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on August 30, 2013 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 20 Comments

Clean Your Whole House with the Click of a Finger

“A motorized cleaner head combines anti-static carbon fiber filaments and stiff nylon brushes to tackle dust and dirt on any surface…” – Dyson Cordless Animal Vacuum from Best Buy… I’m sorry ladies, but that’s my type of sweet talk :) I know that I talk a lot about how crazy-busy I am, and how my house isn’t always as clean as I’d like. But, I have always kind of loved cleaning. No…. Not that I always love the process. Given the choice, I’d of course prefer a day by the pool, relaxing in the sun with a margarita. But since real life doesn’t work that way, and I have a serious case of OCD, I’m a cleaning junkie. And I must admit – I love the end result. Much like a carpenter probably doesn’t totally love swinging a hammer, but is a sucker for a brand new cabinet that he’s built by hand – well, I love seeing how a well thought out to-do list that’s all crossed off can make a house a real home again :) Which is why Dyson is one of my all-time favorite brands. And it’s why I want to tell you a little story about an adventure in Dyson-land, because you need this amazing gadget in your life too…. {and the magic of the finger-clicking is coming soon, promise.}

What does the Dyson Cordless Animal Vacuum DO that makes it so great?

Well – it sucks. Not in a bad way though. Not like, “I brought you home last night on a whim, and now I regret it..” No, like, it sucks all of the yucky stuff out of your life. Maybe not your whole life – but the life that needs to be sucked away – Dirt in the carpet, in the crevices of your tile floor, on your wood or laminate floors, your ceilings, drapes, carpets, rugs, bedding, cabinets, and more. How? Because it’s a 3-in-one gadget that can clean anything and everything with just a flick of a finger… And isn’t that what we’ve all been waiting for since we were little girls watching Bewitched? It’s a totally cordless vacuum that can mount onto the wall, plugs in and gets over 20 minutes of action between charges, and with the flip of a switch transforms between a traditional vacuum with all of the awesome Dyson Animal vac capabilities – to a stick vacuum to get cobwebs or floors, and even a hand vac for furniture or small messes around the house. Everything a woman wants…

Dyson DC44 Animal Slim Bagless Handheld Stick Vacuum Video Review

I had wanted to film a video for this myself, but with all of the remodeling we’re doing this week, I don’t have many clean spots to even take a photo – let alone a video! So, I’m sharing a video from one of my favorite Best Buy Bloggers – this is from Crystal at Surviving a Teacher’s Salary. {Follow her – she has beautiful photos and kind of rocks all the time :) And see her review of this vacuum too – Dyson DC44 Animal Slim Bagless Handheld Stick Vacuum Review.} It gives you a WAY better idea of what the vacuum is like versus just seeing photos. This baby rocks!

“Delivers a fade-free 20 minute run time, no loss of suction” – Dyson, Best Buy

Ahhhhh….. That’s another line that is just music to my mommy-ears. So by now you’re like – “Ok Meagan, you’ve totally talked this guy up. But is he just a pretty face? Does he have any substance to back it up or what?” Yes ladies, I know how sceptical we all are of new men, er, I mean household gadgets and appliances. You know, they make big promises… “I’ll be here for you long term, I’m super dependable, I’ll look and perform exactly like I do today for the next 20 years….” But we all know those lofty claims from pretty faces aren’t always true. But, Dyson delivers, ladies. Let me count the ways…

I can’t get enough of his flexibility: This bad boy has such sweet moves… Swivelling this way and that, laying flat to get into tight spaces, sweeping through tight hallways, under furniture, and around fixtures. You’ll be dancing while you vacuum, guarantee.
He can be anything you want: From a full vacuum, to a stick vacuum, to a portable hand vac – you’ve got it all in one compact gadget.
He’s easy: When you have a smaller mess, just grab him and go – he’s all charged and ready to rev his motor at the touch of your finger on his trigger! Just push his buttons, and let him clean up any problem spots around the house easy peasy, without the fuss of a bunch of cords and plug ins and hauling things around. Quickie cleaning that packs a punch!
No strings attached: He’s cordless! Meaning he can roam where you want to. {B-52’s reference, anyone? Or am I just old?} But seriously – you just mount him on his holder, he’s charged when you’re ready, and you take him anywhere through the house in a jiffy for a quick fix of cleaning.

Learn more here: See more real mom opinions on my Best Buy Bloggers Pinterest board, and check the Best Buy Bloggers WOLF page for cool products and new promotions. And if you have any questions at all about this rockin’ 3-in-one vacuum and how it’s changed my life – ask questions on my Facebook page! I’ll be sharing more of my own videos of this bad boy soon, because I’m so in love. But I’d love to give you any info you need before then. Because I love you guys. :)

Posted by Meagan Paullin on August 27, 2013 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 6 Comments

Back to School Money Management Tips: #SchoolCents Twitter Party!

This post is brought to you by Capital One and The Motherhood and I’ve been compensated for my time. All opinions are my own.

The #SchoolCents Twitter party with Capital One kicks off on Wednesday – August 21st at 12 pm ET (11 am CT/9 am PT). It’s all about back-to-school shopping tips and money management, to help you get your new year started off on the right foot. We’ll have amazing tips from The Money Coach – {personal finance expert Lynnette Khalfani-Cox} – how cool is that, right?! So RSVP today, mark your calendar, and come party it up with The Money Coach, The Motherhood, and some of my awesome bloggy friends….

[Read more…]

Posted by Meagan Paullin on August 19, 2013 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

Back to School Tips: Fun Lunches, Fall Fashion, & More!

“When you know better you do better.” – Maya Angelou… This quote applies just as much to us moms as it does to kids gearing up for a new school year – There’s always something new to learn and discover, whether it’s a new word or skill at school, or a great tip to help calm the chaos of motherhood. So, while you’re helping your kiddos prepare to go back to school, I’m here to help you prepare too – with some super helpful ideas: Shopping, lunch prep, fashion, and more. Keep reading to check them out – and be sure to pin your favorites to refer to again later.

Back to school tips: Packing fun lunches

This will be the first year that we’ll be packing lunches. My nephews were here all summer with me – and once school starts, they’re here every morning to catch the bus, as well as each afternoon after school. Little Guy is seriously crazy-excited about getting to bring his lunch to school – he has been asking me every.single.day if I can put his lunch in his new back to school lunchbag from Marshalls! He’s so funny :) So, I’ve been looking for new ideas to make lunches fun, check out some of my favorites:

To see more cool ideas – follow my Bento Box lunch board on Pinterest. And – a couple more tips: Make lunches based on your kids favorite books, favorite movies, subjects they’re learning in school, or favorite colors. Freeze a Capri Sun or juice box to put in their lunch in the morning – it’ll keep it cold all day, and will be drinkable by afternoon. And be sure to check out your local Marshalls or T.J.Maxx for awesome lunch bags and gear at the best prices!

Back to School Tip: Have fun!

In between all of the craziness of back to school prep, it’s important to remember that it’s not just about the serious stuff like school supplies, making sure kids are at the right skill level, or ensuring you’ve bought the best supplies – it’s also about having fun! Kids can’t learn without a little bit of whimsy, right? They need some fun to balance things during their increasingly intensive school days – so brings some sunshine into their days:

Pair some fun crafty projects, cool printables, and awesome games and adventures – and have a rockin’ back to school season that’s sure to get any kiddo ready for a new year of learning.

Back to School Fashion Tips: Layering

I love fashion. You might not know it if you see me in my usual “work from home mom of a toddler” uniform of yoga pants, off the shoulder tees, and messy bun – But in a former life, I was actually quite trendy :) I worked in merchandising and fashion merchandising for over 10 years, and loved it. I’m so drawn to anything creative – design, texture, color – and fashion has always been fun for me. So I love helping to pick out new school clothes for the kids – and love being able to find pieces that mix and match easily, to create a ton of outfits from just a few great items. And one way to really stretch your wardrobe is to use layering to make the “same old” from last year look new again!

Layer unexpectedly: Most people would layer a button up shirt over a tee – but how great does this look with it layered underneath instead? You can also layer polo shirts under tees too – very fun for little guys.
Best pieces for girls: For girls, light cardigan sweaters are my FAVORITE layering piece! You can put them over a tank and cinch at the waist with a belt. Toss them over summer dresses to bring them into fall. And short sleeve cardis look great over a long sleeve top – very on trend, but still comfy for the playground.
Extend summer faves: Use basic long-sleeve t-shirts to take favorite tees from summer into fall – just layer them underneath. You can usually find basic long sleeve tees super cheap – or, buy whatever you find on the clearance rack. Even if the kids don’t like the brand/character/design, it doesn’t matter, since you’ll be covering it up with another shirt anyway. They also work great under short sleeve polos or plaid shirts too.
Accessories: Ok, this mostly applies to girls, I know. But a few fun accessories can seriously make last year’s pieces more fun. You can do it DIY style – adding patches, using fabric to extend the length of jeans – no sewing required!, or taking the kids to a fabric store to pick out ribbons, new buttons, or trimmings to add to old clothes. Or, use inexpensive pieces purchased at places like Marshalls or T.J.Maxx – things like scarves, gloves, hats, shoes, jewelry, belts, ties, hair clips and bands – they all add up to a fresh new style!

Once you start thinking about it – you’ll find all types of things to jazz up your kids wardrobe. Layering old with new, finding cool new pieces to update what you already have, or adding a cute accessory or two to make something feel new – they all save you big bucks versus buying a whole new wardrobe.

Back to school tips Saving big on school shopping

Ok – now that we’ve talked about all of the things you need to do and buy before school starts – let’s talk about how to SAVE on all of that gear! I did a HUGE shopping trip for the kiddos – My nephews – Little Guy, andBig Guy – and then my own Abby, who’ll start pre-school this winter. {See her over-the-top adorable big-girl outfit here} And, you can see our whole back to school shopping trip online, and see what sweet deals we found, and learn about my secret deal-scoring tricks. We shopped at my fave retailers – T.J.Maxx, and Marshalls, and here’s the breakdown of the deals:

Total shopping trip:
Regular retail price: 345.99
My price at T.J.Maxx and Marshalls: $161.88
Total savings: $184.11 – more than half!!!

Super cool, right? Check them out online to find where your own closest sweet-deal stores are located: Marshalls, and T.J.Maxx. If you’re ready to save big for back to school – and the rest of the year too! – Be sure to pin this post to Pinterest: Pin me here. Share it to Twitter and Facebook.

Thank you to Marshalls and T.J.Maxx for giving the opportunity to check out their new fall selection for back to school and share it with you guys. I received a complimentary gift card to help with my post. All opinions and photos are 100% my own – as always!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on August 18, 2013 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution, Fashion | 2 Comments

7 Clever Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar in the Kitchen

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Heinz Vinegar, to share clever ways to use vinegar in the kitchen. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and as a thank you for participating.

“Housework is something you do that nobody notices until you don’t do it.” – Unknown… The kitchen is usually the center of the home, so it makes sense that it’s often the messiest part of the home too. 3 meals a day are created there, mail is sorted there, kids rummage through cupboards for snacks, the dog’s dish might be there, and in our house – it’s the main entrance we use when coming and going every day. So between dishes, the garbage, the pets, and the clutter – I feel like it’s a constant battle to keep things clean and germ-free! And, to add another bonus layer of challenge, I’m really trying to cut back on using store-bought cleaners that contain a lot of toxic chemicals and additives. I mean, if I wouldn’t want it to go into the kid’s mouths, why would I rub it all over the counters that their food touches, right? Let me share one amazing product that can help solve the majority of your kitchen-cleaning dilemmas – Apple Cider Vinegar.