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Up and Away & Out of Sight. How Safe is Your House?

September 3, 2014 by amushro

When my son was an infant and rolled over for the first time, like any new mom I took all of the appropriate steps: video taped his latest feat, took pictures and immediately sent them to his grandparents, and then began to panic. This little guy was going to be mobile and I needed to babyproof everything! With my new rolling (and, let’s be honest, barely mobile) baby in tow, I walked into the largest baby store I could find and headed straight to the babyproofing aisle. Before me stood a giant wall with every lock, latch, gate, protective cover, cushy foam liner, and things I didn’t know what they’d protect kids from, and I bought it all. All of it. When I installed something that resembled a padlock on the toilet that neither my husband or I could unlock , I knew I’d gone too far. So I eased up on babyproofing every square foot of the house and kept to the essentials (the toilet was not one of them), but keeping medicines up and away was on the top of my list. But now that my kids are a little older, I’ve realized that medicines in this house aren’t far enough out of reach and that needs to change today!

When I read on OTCsaftey.org that more than 60,000 young children end up in the emergency room every year because they got into medicines when their parents or caregivers weren’t looking, I acted like a lot of parents and thought “not in my house.” We were storing our over the counter medicines and vitamins in a kitchen cupboard up and away and out of sight for a young toddler. However, now that my kids are three and five and growing like weeds, our medicines that I thought were in a safe place really aren’t. Look what happened when I asked my five-year-old son if he knew where Mommy kept the medicine.

He quickly grabbed a step stool he uses to reach the sink when he brushes his teeth, pushed it up to the cupboard where we keep all the medicines, and could grab a few bottles from the bottom shelf. With a little boost onto the counter, he could reach everything. Everything I thought I’d securely put away, he could reach. So my initial thought of “not in my house” was not the case. Scary, right?

I’ve put all of our medicines and vitamins into a box that I can lock and I’ve moved it to a higher shelf that I need to get on my tip toes to reach. Now I know everything is out of reach of tiny hands. But what happens when my kids aren’t at my house? What happens when they are visiting my parents house?

Telling your parents what they need to do in their own home can be a little tricky, believe me I get it. I just convinced my dad that Netflix is a blessing from the TV Gods after months of touting the benefits of streaming. Ridiculous.

Grandparents haven’t had to babyproof years, but opening up the lines of communication with grandparents can save your children’s life. I shared some of the facts I learned on the Up and Away’s website like 38% of the time, the medicine that a child gets into belongs to a grandparent and 39% it’s a parent’s medicine. Children most commonly find these medicines on kitchen counters, nightstands and dressers, in purses and bags, or on the ground. Then I showed my mom the pictures of my son able to reach the medicine I thought was secure.

The pictures scared her as much as it scared me, and she’s assured me she’s going through her house to move all medicines before our visit this weekend. After all, she loves these two rug rats, and who could blame her?

So what can you do to protect your kids?

Take inventory in your own home and before traveling to a grandparent’s house or they visit yours, be ready to have a conversation about safe storage
Follow the safe medicine storage tips recommended by CDC’s PROTECT Initiative and its Up and Away and Out of Sight campaign
Log onto Up & Away and Take The Pledge and share this information with your friends and caregivers.

So, friends, what are you going to do in your home to make sure you medicines are Up and Away?

Up and Away is an educational program to remind families of the importance of safe medicine storage. It is an initiative of the PROTECT Initiative, in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association Educational Foundation. I am being compensated for this blog post but my opinions are all my own.

What’s Better Than A Great Dishwasher Cleaner? My Husband the Dish Washer!

August 25, 2014 by amushro

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

#SparklySavings #CollectiveBias

A long time ago, the way to my heart was pretty typical: romance, wining and dining, love letters, and flowers. Now, the way to my heart is a little more practical but a lot more helpful, the dishwasher. Actually not having to touch the dishwasher is the way to my heart, and really, is there anything more romantic than your man helping around the house? Keep your poetry and give me a casserole dish with baked on lasagna that sparkles when cleaned and someone else has put it back in the cupboard—in the right spot. Swoon! Romantic dates? Who needs them? Just make sure my glasses don’t have water spots. That’s a gross exaggeration, I still want romantic dates, but I also want my husband to do the dishes. So he can woo me by taking on the dirty pots and pans and picking out the best dishwasher cleaner. Because when I cook, I use every single dish, bowl, fork, spoon, and measuring cup within a ten mile radius. Then I leave him a sink that looks like this:

“No, no. I’ve got this! You sit down and relax. Turn on the TV or maybe read a book. You’ve earned this little break. Plus I like doing the dishes.” (I totally made up the last part).

How are you getting those dishes so clean? His secret, Quantum Finish Dishwasher tabs. Those little pre-soaking Powerballs can wash right through the dried on macaroni and cheese from yesterday’s lunch and the advanced power with bleach knocks out smell in that rogue sippycup that we found under the couch that contained what we suspect to have once been chocolate milk.

It’s not all work around here. Loading the dishwasher is really just the grownup version of Tetris. While I just shove dishes into the dishwasher haphazardly, this man has a plan and a strategy. He gets every last dish carefully placed for optimum cleaning. Look at that skill!

Such careful attention to detail! He meticulously inspects the most prized stemware: Mamma’s wine glass. No water spots here thanks to Finish and his careful hand washing!

For me? What a guy! Ladies, can you see what a gem I have here?

Did I also mention this guy grocery shops and clips coupons too? When we were shopping with the family, he reminded me that Walmart has a Rollback for Finish products going until October that can also be paired with a coupon for amazing savings. This one is a keeper!

Who said romance is dead? It’s alive and kicking in this house all thanks to a sweet man who scrubs my dishes. Clearly the person who said “happy wife, happy life” had a husband who did the dishes for her.

Here’s your chance to save a few bucks on Finish Products!

FROZEN Fun for the First Day of School!

August 11, 2014 by amushro

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

#FrozenFun #CollectiveBias

I have a little trick I like to play on my husband from time to time, and my three-year old daughter is my accomplice. Whispering into her ear I say “Go find Daddy and sing your favorite FROZEN song to him! Sing Let it Go!” She scampers off to find her main man and in seconds she is belting out with real gusto and carefully choreographed hand motions every note to her favorite song. She even ends with “The cold never bothered me anyway” in a style very reminiscent of Cher. And every time she sings those lyrics and throws her imaginary crown into the snow, she leaves her Daddy with tears in his eyes and me giggling at how that little lady has her Daddy wrapped around her finger. So even though we’re still In Summer she has made it clear she will be wearing a Queen Elsa dress to her first day of school. Because I’d rather her teachers meet her For the First Time in Forever in something other than a blue, floor length gown, I knew it was time to do a little school shopping for FROZEN clothes.

Come on, I don’t have a Frozen Heart, I love this movie just as much as my daughter, but truth be told, my girl would wear her Queen Elsa costume everywhere she goes. I’ve raised the white flag a few times so she’s been to the grocery store, the playground, and maybe even a doctor’s visit in one of her Queen Elsa costumes. But usually she’s just playing dress up and reenacting the movie with one of her many Frozen toys

Or she wears one of her Queen Elsa dresses outside to ride bikes and play t-ball. What can I say, she’s a multi-tasker.

When I started searching for FROZEN inspired clothes, Walmart was a great place to shop because there was a lot to pick from and priced right. So much of the FROZEN merchandise is super expensive, and for clothes she will quickly grow out of and spill chocolate milk down the front, this adorable Elsa t-shirt and Anna and Elsa dress were perfect!

At the last minute, I grabbed the FROZEN coloring book for her because she really loves the chunky crayons and I really love coloring with my gal–for the ten minutes she will actually color.

The Frozen merchandise was spread out over Walmart, but I found her dress and shirt in the Girls section and the adorable coloring book in the stationary section under the Frozen cut-out.

When I asked my FROZEN loving gal if this dress would work for her first day of school, she asked Do You Want to Build a Snowman? and fell on the floor giggling, so I think that was a yes.

It’s true, some people are worth melting for, and just like my sweet Hubby melting while she sings to him, I melt a little seeing her so happy with a few FROZEN dresses as she gets ready for her first day of preschool. So until then, we have some singing and dancing to do.

Wine, Chocolate, and Fruit Pairings for the Perfect Girls Night!

August 11, 2014 by amushro

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.

#LoveDoveFruits #CollectiveBias

You know the saying “it takes a village to raise a child,” right? Well I’m a firm believer that in order to survive motherhood, you must have a village, but that village is meant for you as the Mamma and not your kids! Around here, my “village” consists of my support system, my life-line, and the funniest bunch of ladies that I know, my gal pals. But since summer has kicked off, I haven’t seen my ladies because of everyone’s vacations and busy summer schedules. So when I sent out an SOS text that read: Girls Night–let’s make this happen, we finally found a date that worked for everyone. No need for big fanfare, just the essentials: a girls night in with a bottle of red wine, something sweet to eat like a chocolate and fruit paring, and lots of girl talk. I was basically skipping out the door (but carefully because I had wine under one arm and a big bag of Dove® Fruit-Cranberry under the other) because I was off duty and it was Girls Night In!

Oh how I missed my ladies, and in just seconds, there were eight or nine different conversations flying around at the same time. You’ve got to think fast to keep up with us.

Just because we were staying in for the night, didn’t mean we couldn’t get a little fancy with our celebration. Red wine, chocolate and fruit parings are so delicious, and the girls and I were loving Dove® Fruit for this paring. This isn’t the kind of candy you find in your kiddos treat bags, friends. This is whole fruit dipped in creamy dark chocolate. This is the kind of chocolate you savor–maybe while hiding in your closet so you don’t have to share with your kids. It’s just that good.

I like to think that this better for you treat is actually the perfect treat for a Girls Night In, let me explain. Disclaimer: I’m totally making this theory up–just go with it, OK? So, dark chocolate, red wine, and cranberries are all supposed to be good for your heart and health, right? So this is actually a super treat because when sharing Dove® Fruit with friends you’re not only sharing chocolaty goodness but you’re saying “I care about your health” or I’m just saying “I love delicious wine and chocolate and I know you do too.”

As the night went on, the Dove® Fruit and wine disappeared pretty quickly, and since everyone agreed that this better for you treat was the perfect red wine, chocolate and fruit paring, it’s OK to take eat a few more of the Dove® Fruit. And if you are pouring me another glass, I’ll need a few more of these too.

So this delicious candy can be found in the chocolate candy aisle Sam’s Club; however, it has limited availability so be sure to check that your Sam’s Club carries Dove® Fruit. Good news, Dove® Fruit will be adding whole cherries dipped in chocolate later this year. And for the sake of Girls Night, another wine and chocolate paring will need to take place to try the cherries.

You don’t need to wait to get all of your gal pals together to try Dove® Fruit-Cranberry, grab a bag for yourself! I loved the dark wine, chocolate and fruit paring, but what will you pair it with?