Sunshine and Sippy Cups

How To Use a Garden Hose to Fertilize Your Plants

I’m a sponsored blog partner with Pennington and participated in their Pennington Smart Feed Program – I love their new Smart Feed products and think you will too. See full disclosure statement below the post.

“One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides.” – W.E. Johns… This is our third summer now in this house, and the big piece of property it sits on is finally coming along nicely. All of the overgrown brush is gone, the driveway has been leveled and got a fresh coat of gravel, we planted more trees this summer {bringing it to a total of 17 in the back now!} – and the gardens are all set and beginning to fill out! We have a huge vegetable garden in the back filed, bordered by fruit trees, and there are flower beds and container gardens from the front of the house all around to the back. {Read and see a little more of my garden here.} I’m not the most skilled at putting all of this together – But my mother is a Master Gardener, and teaches me so much as she helps me. And one thing that is a must is using the right products, because just like every other mom out there – even Mother Nature can use a little help!

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 11, 2013 Filed Under: Outdoor Living | No Comments

What I Learned About Motherhood from Dory on Finding Nemo – #FindingDory

Parenting Advice from Dory, of Finding Nemo… I loved this movie before I even became a mom. I used to watch it all the time when my nephews would stay with me…. And admit to watching it a few times on my own too. {And yes, I cry every.single.time when the mom dies at the beginning. Darn these Disney-Pixar films pulling at my emotions!} And, with Mother’s Day around the corner {this Sunday!} I thought it was a great time to share some of the lessons I’ve learned from watching this movie so many times. Dory may or may not be a mother {would she remember?} – but she has some great lessons to teach us about motherhood….

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 10, 2013 Filed Under: Parenting | 2 Comments

Splishin’ and Splashin’ – It’s Bath Time with Caillou!

Growing up with Caillou… If you’re mom to a toddler, odds are that you are a big fan of Caillou – the little boy who explores, discovers, and shares his adventures in growing up – each day on PBS and the Sprout channel. My little girl absolutely adores him. And, once I took some time to watch the cartoons with her, and saw the great messages and lessons that each episode teaches little ones, I loved it too. So, when I had the chance to check out one of the newest Caillou toys for bath time – Well, I don’t know who was more excited – me, or Abby…. :)

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 9, 2013 Filed Under: Giveaways | No Comments

What Tools Do You Need to Capture Your Spring Memories?

“If you see something that moves you, and then snap it, you keep a moment.” – Linda McCartney… Spring is so full of things that need to be photographed… The garden is in bloom. There are events like graduation, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Memorial Day, and more. You’re on the go, it’s a season of change, it’s a time full of moments to capture. And that means you need something a little better than just your smartphone to photograph all of those amazing memories.

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 9, 2013 Filed Under: Tech Tips | No Comments

What Do You Need in a Summer Diaper Bag?

I participated in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Wet Ones, to share my favorite summer diaper bag must haves. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating….

Spring has sprung, and summer is coming up just around the corner. Around here, the warmer weather brings a ton of changes! We’re getting ready to open the pool {I’m in Central Washington, and it’s already 90 degrees – woah, right?} – and we’re out of the house so much more often, running around to visit the park, outdoor festivals, camping, and other fun stuff in the sunshine. Which means having a well-stocked diaper bag filled with great essentials is super important at this time of year.

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 7, 2013 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | No Comments

Father’s Day Gift Ideas & Deals

Almost 3 in 5 {58%} dads surveyed feel that they spend more money on their partners for Mother’s Day than their significant others typically spend on them for Father’s Day. {See the full Father’s Day gift giving survey here.} And that might be true – Mother’s Day often includes a date night out, flowers and jewelry, things like that. But traditional Father’s Day gifts like a home-cooked dinner, coffee mug or ties are great gifts, but do usually cost less. But, when it comes to gifts from the kids, dads get luckier – only 23% of consumers surveyed say they spend more than $61 bucks on a gift for mom, but 31% spend more than that on dad’s day presents. But whether you’re shopping for your Mister or your own dad – there are a couple things much more important than how much you spend… First, obviously, we all know it’s the thought that goes into the gift that matters most. And – for us frugal mommas, getting the best deal possible is pretty darn important too! Check out this round-up of a few ways to save on awesome gifts for dad this year… [Read more…]