$50 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

I absolutely love Amazon.com and, since we live up in the mountains, I find myself shopping from that website more than ever. I just recently bought my new Canon Rebel on Amazon and have purchased all of Liam's birthday presents, too. Here's your chance to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card to spend as you wish at Amazon.com! Just use the Rafflecopter form below to enter. Good Luck!

You Wave Ultra By Conair & Conair Retractable Brush Review & Giveaway

I don't even know where to start when talking about my hair. I have fine hair, which is another word for thinning hair, unfortunately. It is also straight as a stick! The only time I've had curly hair was when I was younger and my mom experimented with my hair and gave me perms... which led to a major afro-head. I wish I had a picture to share because it really was that bad. Seriously.

When I read about the You Wave Ultra by Conair, I couldn't wait to give it a try. The only time my hair looks remotely curly is at the beach, which is just another reason I love going to the beach. My hair looks naturally curly, shiny and healthy. Now, my hair can look that way year-round with the You Wave Ultra!

 

The styler only takes 30 seconds to heat up and can reach up to 400 degrees! I love that I don't have to wait several minutes like with a curling iron. The You Wave Ultra also uses Tourmaline Ceramic technology, preventing hot spots, reducing hair damage and frizz.

I followed the instructions suggested to create a sexy summer style. First, I parted my hair into sections. Then, I started with the first section, sliding it into the styler and pushed down for about 5-10 seconds, which is plenty of time to give you some nice curls. Starting about an inch from my roots, I just slide the styler down until all of my hair was curled. Easy! I went through each section to curl my hair and it really didn't take long at all. Once I was finished, I used my finger to break up the curls and make them look more natural.

As you can see, the You Wave Ultra By Conair is awesome! I may not get to the beach every season, but now I can have those beachy curls anytime I want, even in the middle of winter. It retails for $39.99 and is available nationwide at drug stores and mass retailers!

Along with the You Wave Ultra, I received the new Conair Retractable Brush ($14.99) to help me further achieve wavy hair! I love the Conair round brush I received last year and was still using it until I got this new one. The difference is that the Conair Retractable Brush does exactly what it says, it retracts! The bristles go into the barrel of the brush just by a push of a button. When the bristles retract, hair is automatically released, which means hair comes out of the brush without getting stuck and without creating tangles. Plus, it helps reduce frizz.

What I love about the Conair Retractable Brush is that it is so easy to take along with me when we travel! Since the bristles retract, I can pop this in my purse or diaper bag without worrying it will get dirty or bent. I like having a brush with me just in case and now I can.

Want your hair to be curly and frizz-free? Giveaway Time!

Get UnJunked this #Halloween with UNREAL Candy #getunreal

 Here at Children Teaching Mama, we strive to eat healthy foods and keep away from junk foods. However, chocolate is one of those delicious treats that is almost impossible to ignore! Just recently I was given the opportunity to throw an UNREAL party at our house and we got to eat all the chocolate we wanted. You heard me right, an all chocolate party!

You know all of those chocolate bars that sit, tempting you at the checkout counter? Those are filled with all kinds of gross, unnatural and unhealthy ingredients that no one should ingest. In comes UNREAL and now we have a delicious alternative to this unhealthy junk food other companies try to peddle. UNREAL candy is all-natural, contains no preservatives, corn syrup, hydrogenated oils and  artificial colors/flavors. In addition, the milk comes from pasture-raised cows that have not been given antibiotics and hormones. Sounds expensive, right? Nope! The creators of the worked out a formula so that UNREAL candy costs about the same as other candies!

Why would you eat junk when you can have UNREAL?

Party Time
We had a fun party with family members to try out all five of the UNREAL candies. My husband (the sneak) got into the candy before the party and gave himself away when remarking just how delicious the candy is. That is definitely a complement coming from him because he is a picky candy eater! He said the UNREAL 77 Peanut Butter Cups were better than any others he had ever tried. I couldn't wait to see what the rest of the family had to say!

UNREAL provided some amazing gift bags for the party guests, filled with full-sized samples! The bags looked great before the party and I couldn't wait to hand them out.

Everyone had a great time at the party and enjoyed trying the delicious treats. I think it was pretty much unanimous that the UNREAL Peanut Butter Cups were the most delicious, even more so than competitors. Everyone said they would be purchasing more in the future, so I think my work is done for now!
Enjoy your Halloween this year without the junk! Try UNREAL candy and taste the difference.

Get UNREAL
UNREAL is available at many retailers around the US, including Target, Kroger, CVS, BJs and more! 
Be sure to follow UNREAL on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with all the latest news. 
 


I received complimentary products to facilitate this in-home party for UNREAL Candy via Global Influence. All opinions expressed are 100% mine. I was compensated, but this did not influence review, which was based on my opinions and the party guests.

Umi Shoes Fall Collection Review & $60 Giveaway

Fall means many things for our family, including being outdoors more often! As you may know, we live up in the mountains, so fall is the busy season here. The apple houses are open, we have the huge Apple Festival and surrounding towns also have their own fall festivals. Not to mention, the leaves are falling off the tree, which makes this the perfect time to go on a hike! It's a beautiful time of year and we take full advantage of it. As an active family, it is very important for us to have durable, comfortable shoes for each season and that's exactly why I love Umi shoes! They offer shoes for babies (the adorable UmiBaby line), toddlers, big boys and big girls.

Another thing I love about Umi shoes is how fashionable they are. Looking at the website, it's always hard to pick just one pair to review. Josiah ended up choosing the Hayman shoes ($70) for big boys and I couldn't be happier with them. They are brown with orange outlines, which I think is so cute. In addition, they are water resistant and have outsoles that grip the ground so kids won't slip! This is especially useful when hiking and going on walks in the mountains since some places can get slippery. There is a mesh part at the top of the shoe so he doesn't get sweaty, a reinforced toe and, Josiah's favorite, the hook and loop velcro closure so he can do it all by himself!

I am always looking for great deals and, in my opinion, Umi fits the bill. When I purchase Umi shoes, I know I will receive a quality pair of durable shoes. Plus, they are eco-friendly and made of non-toxic leather and environmentally friendly materials. What does Josiah have to say about his shoes? "They are super comfortable and I love wearing them." They are officially a hit! I couldn't ask for anything more from these shoes and, since they are so durable, I know they are going to last a long time. In fact, Josiah's spring line of Umi sandals still look brand new!

Josiah's happy face!

Are you ready for your chance to win?

Start The Season Off Right With Designer Clothing From Cruise

I have always been interested in fashion and I absolutely love designer clothing. I even subscribe to magazines like W and Vogue just to see all the newest styles hitting the runway. Recently, I came across an amazing website, Cruise, which is a luxury designer clothing retailer in the UK! They have a huge variety of designer brands for both men and women. In another life I was definitely a rich socialite with a closet full of Jimmy Choos and Dolce & Gabbana dresses. The holidays are nearing and this means several parties must be attended, so I have to get some new clothes, of course, and I am searching Cruise for the perfect outfit!

I always wear dresses to our holiday parties, so I knew this is exactly what I was looking for. Women's Dresses on Cruise come in a variety of designer brands, colors and links, which means you can find the perfect dress for your body type. I fell in love with the gorgeous Alex McQueen Victorian Pink Lace Jacquard Pencil Dress and think it would be look great on me!

The one thing I love more than designer clothing is designer shoes, so that's what I picked out next. I cannot resist high heels, so I began my search through ladies footwear. With over 300 choices, I had my work cut out for me. I finally decided on a pair of black Gucci high heel shoes that will go perfectly with the dress and many other of my dresses in the future.

I am so excited about the upcoming holiday parties and cannot wait to show off my amazing ensemble. I also love designer jewelry, so my dress, along with a Vivien Westwood necklace and earrings, will make me feel like a princess and look like one, too.

Who is your favorite designer? Take a look at Cruise and leave a comment below telling me what your favorites are!

Halloween Express Review & $75 Gift Card Giveaway

Halloween is, by far, my favorite holiday of the year and I love sharing all the fun with my kids. We get dressed up every year and we also decorate our house! This year our house is all decked out. Since we live in the middle of nowhere, it is really just for us, but it is still fun and the kids have a blast doing it. Each year I really enjoy looking up costume ideas with the kids because they get so excited! This year we had a great time looking at all the cute costumes at Halloween Express! 

Last year Liam picked at a duck costume, which was adorable, but I have to admit it was itchy and not well-made. This year I wanted something of better quality and Halloween Express has a huge variety of items, so I knew we could find more than enough to satisfy my kiddos. I've always heard how cute the Tom Arma costumes are and Halloween Express has them! To my delight they had not only infant sizes, but toddler sizes as well. We ended up getting the Tom Arma Monkey costume for both my son and my nephew and they cannot wait until Halloween to wear them.

Yes, this is a stock photo, but this is such an adorable costume, I didn't want my kids getting it messy before Halloween! Isn't it cute? The costume is so soft and warm, so I am hoping for a chilly Halloween for him. The monkey stuffed animal also comes with the costume, another reason I have tried to hide the costume from him because he would not let it out of sight if he saw it. I love everything about this costume. Since Liam has NF, his head is slightly too big for the pullover hat, but we are getting it enlarged just for him!

Josiah, my oldest, is now out of the "cute" stage and has moved on to zombie games and ninja cartoons. When he saw the Zombie Ninja costume it just had to be his! As soon as it arrived, he put it on.

As you can see, he loves this costume. In the past, I've bought him costumes only for him to declare war on it Halloween day because it itches or hurts. Not this time! He did not want to take the costume off at all. The costume really has a great deal of extra pieces to make it special and at only $36.99, it is also affordable. Although it did not come with a ninja sword, they have plenty to choose from at Halloween Express that fit perfectly.

Halloween is slowly coming upon us and it is apparent by all the houses we pass going into town! I love all of the great decorations people have, especially one yard that is decorated from top to bottom. Have you decorated your house yet? Do you have your costume? Well, it isn't too late for you!

Time For A Giveaway!

Thanks to Halloween Express, we are giving away a $75 Gift Card To Halloween Express!

Addressing The Important Issue of Child Identity Theft with Bankrupt At Birth by Joe Mason

There are many subjects I think are important for parents to address and educate themselves about, including child identity theft. The more I learn about the possibility, the more I realize the need for parents to take control of the situation and protect their children! Child identity theft is on the rise and so many people have gotten away with this heinous crime in the past, but now parents are fighting back and I think it is time we joined the fight, too. Did you know it can take months or even years to recover and can create an unbelievable amount of debt for your child? It happens all over the world and that is why I think reading Bankrupt At Birth by Joe Mason is a must for all parents and caregivers.

Of course, as parents we want to protect our children from harm, but identity theft is not the first thing many of us think of when considering these harmful things. Would you? Bankrupt At Birth addresses this issue and why we should invest more time educating ourselves about child identity theft for the sake of our children and their future. We should be able to notice the signs of child ID theft. Imagine finding out your child owes $50,000 at the age of 8, thanks to an unknown thief. Now imagine it taking over a decade to resolve. It's a scary scenario and that's why we should work to eliminate the possibility before something like this happens.

When I educate myself about a subject I want all the facts and I want them to be backed up with evidence, which is one of the reasons I enjoyed Bankrupt At Birth. The book not only provides eye-opening statistics, but also actual stories of child identity theft. Reading about children and parents who have been through this breaks my heart and makes the possibility of identity theft feel much more personal, real and more of a threat. Reading this book helped me realize how important it is to educate others on child identity theft and how we can do our part to protect our children. I would never want my children to go through what many others have experienced. I recommend Bankrupt At Birth to all parents because it is important to get the facts because the threat of identity theft really begins at birth. You can purchase Bankrupt At Birth on Amazon for only $11.45!

Be sure to check out Identity Guard for free child identity theft information and a free child identity theft protection kit. In addition, I suggest reading about the Identity Guard® kID Sure℠ child identity theft solution plans and see how enrolling can help your child.

This service and the book Bankrupt at Birth were provided to me for review at no charge. In addition I received monetary compensation. All opinions are my own.

Together Counts Encourages Us To Stay Active This Fall Season #TogetherCounts

 I have always been very active and enjoy being on-the-go all the time. Now that I have a family, we are even more busy pretty much all the time! The fall is one of my favorite seasons because there is so much to do. We live up in the mountains, so the fall is when our little town gets busy and and we have a blast.

I want my children to be happy, healthy and active, which is exactly what Together Counts, a nationwide program, inspires others to do, too! The Together Counts principle is Energy Balance. This means you balance the amount of calories eaten in foods with the calories you burn from exercising and staying active. No sitting indoors watching tv when we can be outdoors enjoying nature.

Together Counts is the first kind of coalition bringing together almost 200 retailers, food/beverage manufacturers, restaurants, sporting goods and many other businesses. You can check out their website for some amazing resources, both local and nationwide. There is even a service locator feature that helps you find nearby businesses and activities encouraging physical activity, health and nutrition, food and recipes and much more!

Here are a few fun fall activities for your family:

1. Go for a hike. We live up in the mountains and have many state parks and trails nearby. Search online for local trails. You can be outdoors, enjoy the weather and get some exercise.

Beautiful fall weather in the mountains while hiking!

2. Go fishing! We are far from master fishermen, but we still enjoy it. The kids get their little reels and love trying to fling them in the water. Honestly, we have never caught anything, but that's ok! They have more fun splashing in the creek.

3. Ride bicycles as a family. You can ride around your neighborhood or go to a local/state park. Many have fun bicycle trails and, in the fall, the scenery is so pretty!

Having a great time picking apples!

4. Go to a fall festival. Many states and cities celebrate annually with a fall festival. Take a stroll around, look at all the arts and crafts and enjoy what the festival has to offer. Stay away from junk food and look for the local produce. We have an Apple Festival every year and our local apples are absolutely delicious!

5. Go apple or pumpkin picking. This year we went to an apple house to pick apples. I had no idea just how much exercise we would get while walking around the fields. There were thousands of trees with different types of apples. We walked for miles and we were having so much fun, it really didn't even seem like work. Then we rewarded ourselves by making caramel apples. Yum!

There are so many things I love about fall, including all of the healthy recipes that go perfectly with fall weather. Vegetable soup is one of my favorite things to make and is perfect on a cold, windy day. I also enjoy making vegetarian chili for the family in the fall. My husband likes his a little spicy to warm him up.

How do you stay active during the fall season? 

Click Here to see how you can help win your child's school a $30,000 grant with the Find Your Balance Challenge. There are several other prizes, too!

Be sure to join the Together Counts Twitter party next Wednesday, October 17th from 8-9PM EST with the hashtag #TogetherCounts. We hope to see you there. 

Also keep up with all the latest news from Together Counts by following via Facebook, their blog and Pinterest!

Disclosure: This post was written for Together Counts in conjunction with Resourceful Mommy Media. All opinions written are my own.

Discussing Internet Safety With Children

One of the most important issues to talk about with your children is internet safety.  We at Children Teaching Mama take this subject very seriously. Take a look at the graphic below for some enlightening facts and statistics about internet crime as well as tips for parents.

Illustration source: Lexero Business Litigation Law Firm
Want to add this illustration to your site too? Get the code here.

Cesar Meaty Selects: Delicious Food For Our Little Dogs

Five years ago we went looking for a small dog that would be a good indoor pet for our family. Arriving at our local animal rescue, we were introduced to Jack and Lucy, the cutest Papillon/Yorkie mix little brother and sister dog we'd ever seen. Although we planned to take one home, we ended up taking both! They quickly became a part of our family and we cannot imagine life without them. The kids have grown up having them around and play with them every single day, take care of them, give them food and even change their floor mats. It is obvious just how much they love Jack and Lucy.

I have to admit I spoil my kids sometimes and, since Jack and Lucy are also my kids, I spoil them, too. That's why I couldn't wait for them to try Cesar Meaty Selects dog food for small dogs. There are so many things I love about Cesar Meaty Selects, including that the food comes in resealable 10-ounce cans. Since Jack and Lucy are very small dogs, I sometimes have leftover food, so this is perfect for us!

Lucy being a sweetheart!

Jack and Lucy have very sensitive stomachs, so we made sure to mix the wet Cesar Meaty Selects dog food with their old food. The first day we mixed 75% of our usual dry dog food along with 25% of the Cesar Meaty Selects wet food. Then, they ate up theid dinner like it was the best dog food on Earth, so it really must be! They loved their new food and even licked the entire bowl clean. We slowly transitioned Jack and Lucy over to the new food by increasing the amounts of new food as their stomachs adjusted. They did very well with the new food and continue to love it. Needless to say, we have definitely purchased more since our review and will continue to do so!

Doing tricks for treats!

Over the five years of owning Jack and Lucy, we have learned that choosing the right food for dogs is very important for their health and happiness. We love our little dogs and want them to be active, happy and to enjoy life. With Cesar Meaty Selects, they can be all of these and I can spoil them with something delicious, too. Be sure to keep up with all the latest news on the Cesar Facebook page.

Lucy says, "Give me some Cesar Meaty Selects, Mama!"

I wrote this review while participating in an ambassador program by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Cesar and received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.