Spring Cleaning & Donations To Goodwill Make A Huge Impact #7DaysofSpringCleaning

Disclosure: This post was made possible through the support of Goodwill. All opinions are my own. 

Just recently we moved into our new house and have been slowly bring boxes over to unpack. We've had two storage units full of items for over a year and we definitely have our work cut out for us over the next few weeks. I never realized just how much stuff we've accumulated over the years and I knew it was time to get rid of items we no longer use. My first step was organizing Josiah and Liam's room because they had too many toys, many of which were toys they never even played with. My latest project has been organizing our closets. This is how I noticed how many clothes we never wear anymore. My husband has gained a few pounds over the years and many of his dress shirts and slacks do not fit anymore. I, on the other hand, am a clothing and shoe hog, which has taken up a great deal of space in our closet. In fact, it takes up most of the room.

Almost finished cleaning out my closet! I have much more room now.

This weekend I got to work bagging up items from our closet and was astounded at just how many clothes were piled up when I finished. I ended up with two overflowing bins of clothes that were still in great condition, but never worn anymore. Some would just simply throw these items out, but this is NOT what you should do. This spring, when doing all of your cleaning, take a moment to sort out items that could be useful to others. Don't throw them away! Separate useable items and donate them to Goodwill.

For 110 years, Goodwill has thrived on the power of donations and want everyone to know just how important it is to donate. These donations have such a powerful impact and can really change the lives of many people. It's time for all of us to not only donate, but to realize the value of what we donate during Goodwill's Donate Movement with the Ad Council.  Their tagline really says it all: Donate Stuff. Create Jobs. Your donations make such a difference and can even help create jobs for your community. After all, thousands of jobs are created each year through Goodwill.

Using Goodwill's Donation Impact Calculator, I was able to calculate just how important the items could be from our closet. I estimated we had 3 bags of clothes to donate and, after clicking the button, I learned that these clothes could create 3 hours of financial planning classes for those in need. So, not only do our donations mean more jobs, but helping others with their own financial needs so they can learn how to budget and get out of debt. The possibilities are endless. Watch the video to learn more about the impact of donations.



Do you need to organize your home this spring? Now's a great time to check out Goodwill's Donation Impact Calculator and see what a difference you can make just by donating items from your home. Whether you are donating clothes, dishes or even a lamp, you can help change lives and better your own community!

Goodwill would love for everyone to participate in their #7DaysofSpringCleaning by focusing on different areas of their home for seven consecutive days! For example, you could clean out your closet like we did on the first day, get rid of plates, pots and pans you no longer need on the second day and so on. You can even tackle those bookshelves and make more space for new books.

Will you donate to Goodwill this spring? If so, here's a fun quiz for you to take and find out not only your clothing personality, but how best to declutter and organize your closet! Leave a comment and let us know your results!

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Disclosure: This post was made possible through the support of Goodwill. All opinions are my own. 

Find The Perfect Swimsuit With Hapari Swimwear & $100 Gift Card Giveaway

The weather here in Georgia is slowing warming up and we've had some high temperatures the past few weekends. After all of the snow we've had this year, I'm so happy to see the sunshine and to spend more time outdoors. We enjoy spending time at our pool, going to the lake and going to the beach! We'll be at the beach in only a few weeks, so I've been excited to begin my yearly search for a new swimsuit. I have to admit, as I get older, finding the perfect swimsuit has become much more difficult. In fact, just this morning I was listening to the radio and heard other women complaining about the exact same thing! It seems like they either cover too little or too much these days, so when I started looking at Hapari Swimwear, I was blown away by their beautiful swimwear.

Hapari was founded in 2005 by moms who had the same issues with traditional swimsuits that I currently have! They believe women shouldn't have to choose between the perfect style and the perfect fit, so they created swimwear for real women that is not only fashionable, but flattering. I worked with Hapari about two years ago and, as soon as I recently revisited the website, I immediately noticed how much the line of swimwear has not only changed, but expanded. I was blown away by the beautiful choices and had the most difficult decision of choosing one swimsuit. With traditional swimsuits, I have trouble finding any that I love, but I found several that I wanted on the Hapari website.

After a week of debating, I finally decided on the Denim Tile Twist Bikini Top. Two years ago, I chose a Tankini style swimsuit, but I'm finally back to my pre-pregnancy weight and ready for a bikini. Hapari has several different swimsuit types, including one-piece, push-up bikini tops, bandeau and more. In addition, there are many different designs and patterns. You can choose from a variety of solid colors or designs that fit your tastes. My favorite color is blue, so when I saw the Denim Tile Twist Bikini Top, I knew that was the one for me. There were 3 different matching bottoms from which to choose, too! The Denim Tile Cali Bikini Bottom is what I chose because it is such a unique design and I love the how the yellow meshes so well with the blue. Usually, that would conclude my swimsuit shopping, but nope, not with Hapari because they also have matching cover-up shorts, skirts and wraps! I just had to splurge for the Denim Tile Straight Swim Skirt.

After placing my order, I was excited to receive it only a few days later! As you can see in the photo, the swimwear is true to size and fits perfectly! The top has plenty of room and covers everything very well, so I don't have to worry about playing on the beach with my kids or riding the waves! I feel completely comfortable with my body and the swimsuit, which is a definite plus and what Hapari is all about. The skirt is much more comfy than shorts and matches perfectly with the top, so I can wear it down to the beach or to the pool. In fact, I can just leave it on if I want because it is made of the same material as the swimsuit. Another thing I love about Hapari is that there are several other Denim Tile style swimsuits, such as the tankini and string bikini, so I can easily add pieces to my collection. There are other colors and styles that match well with the colors, too, so mixing and matching are possible, too.

As I mentioned, I had a tough time deciding on a swimsuit because they have so many great styles, but this one is, by far, my most favorite swimsuit in years! Not only are there many different styles, but they now have underwire options, push-up tops and Tummy Tuk bottoms! Plus, all of the swimwear is affordable and we don't have to spend an arm and a leg for a beautiful new swimsuit. I cannot say enough about Hapari and that's why I am so excited to offer this great giveaway for our readers!

Ready For A Giveaway?

One Lucky Reader Will Receive A $100 Gift Code For Hapari.com!

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Become a Toxin Freedom Fighter with Seventh Generation #FightToxins

Disclaimer: This post is a part of a sponsored awareness program and campaign by Seventh Generation and in conjunction with Mom Bloggers For Social Good to raise awareness and demand change to the Toxic Substances Control Act.  Research  for this post was provided by Seventh Generation, but all written opinions are my own.



When I was pregnant with Josiah, I read an article on the Seventh Generation website about the types of toxic chemicals often found in common household products and was completely taken aback. Upon searching my house, I found that I had many of the same products with those hazardous and toxic ingredients! As a future mom, this was a wake-up call and I decided that day to read labels and educate myself on the products I purchased. Those toxic products were disposed of and we've never looked back. Since then, we've been huge Seventh Generation fans and have not only used their products, but stood by their campaigns to fight toxins and educate others about chemicals.

We are joining Mom Bloggers For Social Good to become Toxin Freedom Fighters and spread the word about the need to update and reform the Toxic Chemicals Control Act of 1976.

What is the Toxic Substances Control Act & why is this reform necessary?
The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) was passed in 1976, which included 60,000 chemicals and it has NEVER been updated. Since then, 20,000 new chemicals have been added, but fewer than 10,000 have ever been tested. It's been over 35 years since that act was passed and we've made barely any headway with testing chemicals and finding out conclusive evidence as to whether or not they are safe. The goal of the act was to ensure safety, but it has failed to do so and left the Environmental Protection Agency unable to adequately test chemicals that may be unsafe.

As a mom, all of this is completely disconcerting and alarming. There are 62,000 chemicals remaining on the market that have NOT been tested and guess what? These chemicals are found in a variety of products, including toys and other children's items, cleaning and personal care items, furniture, electronics, food and beverage containers, building materials, fabrics, and car interiors. Imagine the impact this can have on our own health and our environment.

As many of you know, my son has brain tumors and receives chemotherapy. He was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis, though the cause remains unknown. To think that certain chemicals in our environment could possibly be the cause is disturbing to say the least. Could this have been avoided if our government adequately tested chemicals? Even exposure to low doses of certain chemicals, especially in the womb or in early childhood, can effect hormonal, reproductive, and immune systems. Imagine the possible harm exposure to multiple chemicals could cause. Cancer, as in my son's case, learning disabilities (which are also linked to NF), asthma, and birth defects are all associated, in some way, to exposure to toxic chemicals. It's a scary fact and something we have the ability to fight!

My brave little Liam... one of the many reasons we signed the petition!

How Can You Fight Toxic Chemicals?
This is such an important subject and something I believe all people, especially parents, should take special interest. Seventh Generation is calling for all concerned citizens to sign a petition on FightToxins.com that will be sent to Congress on April 30th, 2014. The petition calls for a re-evaluation of the Toxic Chemicals Control Act for the very first time since 1976. We need YOUR help to gain the 100,000 signatures needed to make a difference. You have the ability to really make a difference for yourself, for others and for the future of your own children. Please take a moment to sign the petition and join us as a toxin freedom fighter!

Disclaimer: This post is a part of a sponsored awareness program and campaign by Seventh Generation and in conjunction with Mom Bloggers For Social Good to raise awareness and demand change to the Toxic Substances Control Act.  Research  for this post was provided by Seventh Generation, but all written opinions are my own.

Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mysteries At The Fox Theatre Atlanta, Georgia & Ticket Package Giveaway

If your kids are anything like mine, they LOVE Scooby Doo. My 6 year-old has watched them since he was about two and my four year-old says the Hex Girls are his girlfriends. Just today they were having a conversation with each other about how silly Scooby and Shaggy are. This is why I was so excited to hear about Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mysteries and their current tour, which is coming to The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia this coming Saturday, March 29th at 2pm and 5pm!

About Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mysteries

In this exciting new production, Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. Gang have been called upon to help solve an epic mystery.  A trouble-making ghost is haunting a local theatre and Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, Velma, and Scooby-Doo are on their way in the Mystery Machine to crack the case.  With crazy ghosts, perplexing puzzles, and an abundance of Scooby Snacks, it’s Scooby-Doo and friends at their best, travelling across the country, solving mysteries wherever they go. 

 

SCOOBY-DOO LIVE! MUSICAL MYSTERIES features big musical numbers including the evergreen Scooby-Doo theme song, “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?,” alongside original groovy tunes including “Round Every Corner” and “We’re Mystery Inc.”  Filled with wacky new characters and uproarious antics, SCOOBY-DOO LIVE! MUSICAL MYSTERIES has young audiences on the edge of their seats in traditional Scooby-Doo fashion from the moment the lights go down.

 

Ticket Information

Ready to get your tickets for Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mysteries? Tickets range from $18.00-$45.00 and are available on The Fox Theatre website, by calling 855-285-8499 or at the Fox Theatre Office. Group discounts are also available (for groups of 10 or more) by calling 404-881-2000. Want the VIP experience? You can also purchase VIP tickets for $75, which includes a pre-show meet and greet, a photo with Scooby-Doo and a large poster that has activities and drawings!

We are so excited to give our readers a chance to win & attend the show!

 

Ready For A Giveaway?

One reader will win 2 tickets to Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mysteries!!

Kohl's Spring Fashion Google Hangout : Great Fashion Tips & Trends #sponsored #SpringAtKohls

I participated in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Kohl’s. I received a gift card as a thank you for participating.

 

 

Our family shops at Kohl's every season for new outfits and, since Spring is finally here, it's time to go shopping once again. For my birthday I asked my husband for some new clothes, so I've been checking out all the latest fashion trends on the Kohl's Spring Fashion Hangout. I love their clothing for women and cannot wait to go shopping this weekend.

Casual Pink Elle Shirt

Guess what? Pink is definitely "in" this season and many of the beautiful outfits at Kohl's include different pink tones and patterns. I'm going to take advantage of this fashion trend because I love pink, especially when paired with blue! The Spring Fashion Experts suggested several different ideas for creating different looks with the same outfit just by adding a jacket or piece of jewelry! Denim jackets are also back in style and, just like my niece, I have to have one! Pairing a denim jacket with a dress is a very cute casual look and keeps you warm on cooler spring days.

Same cute shirt paired with an equally adorable jacket!

Take a look at the Kohl's Spring Fashion Google Hangout to check out all of the great fashion tips! What's your favorite fashion trend for this spring season? Will you dress to impress with pink like me?

Love this beautiful emerald green dress by Elle, too!

I participated in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Kohl’s. I received a gift card as a thank you for participating.

Quick Affordable Care At the Walgreens Healthcare Clinic #HealthcareClinic #CollectiveBias #shop

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. #HealthcareClinic #CollectiveBias

I consider myself relatively healthy, but I have to admit that I always put my children first. This winter has been especially trying and my boys have been sick multiple times with a variety of illnesses. First, they both had strep throat, then the flu hit and now they are suffering from allergies.


Our busy, on-the-go family!

For this reason, I've put my healthcare aside and focused on keeping my boys well and this abruptly came to a halt two weeks ago when I came down a stomach bug that completely bombed my entire body. I was officially down for the count and in need of some kind of healthcare, but, as a mom, I'm always on the go and don't really have much downtime for myself. This makes it very difficult to schedule appointments for myself and, as you know, this time of year so many other people are sick that you have to take appointments if/when they are available. That doesn't work for me when I am driving the kids to school, picking them up and taking them around to other activities. I need something fast, efficient and reliable.

When I found out about our Walgreens Healthcare Clinic Atlanta, I was so excited because it is my favorite neighborhood drugstore. We go often for anything from getting a quick snack and picking up some shampoo to visiting the pharmacy for medications and getting photos developed. Why not also visit the doctor or nurse practitioner while there? This is such an ingenious idea and we happily obliged a visit... or three. We've been there multiple times over the past months and, as you can tell, have always been very happy with our service!

For our most recent visit, Mama had her turn for a wellness visit. Thankfully, my stomach bug was well in the past, but I really wanted to check in with a healthcare professional to make sure I was doing all I can do to be healthy and stay healthy. Since my stomach bug, I'd been experiencing heartburn like nobody's business, which is something new for me and I definitely did NOT like it. Getting checked out was just what I needed.

As soon as we got there, I checked in via their computer system. From there, I entered my information and why I was visiting. The first screen asked if I needed to be seen for prevention & wellness, treatment and monitoring & managing.

I choose prevention & wellness since I wanted to be checked out and to get a physical to get me back to full health. Then, there were several choices to narrow down why I wanted to be seen that day.

In only a few minutes, I was ready to be seen and, after about 10 minutes I was seen by a nurse practitioner, which was amazing! When seeing other healthcare providers, I end up waiting for at least 30 minutes and I've even waited up to two hours in the past, which is just ridiculous, especially when you have children. She immediately started her evaluation by asking me questions about my daily life and current health. By the end of the visit, I was feeling much better about my health and had a plan set for becoming healthier and staying that way!

An entire aisle of vitamins, probiotics & other supplements!

She recommended an over-the-counter medication for my heartburn, a women's daily vitamin and a new probiotic since I was unhappy with my current one. She even took me over to the vitamins and pointed out the ones she thought I should try, which I thought was above and beyond as a healthcare provider. She took her time to talk to me, answer questions and never once hurried me like other doctors have.

Being able to be seen by a healthcare provider, purchase my medication and pick up some other items was great! Plus, I was in and out of there in about 30-40 minutes! I had a great visit and highly recommend this for your family's healthcare needs.

Have you visited a Walgreens Healthcare Clinic? If so, leave a comment and tell us about your visit!

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser. #HealthcareClinic #CollectiveBias

Educational Fun At School With Scrabble Clubs Review & Scrabble Board Game #Giveaway

When I was in the 8th grade, our English teacher allowed us to have "board game Fridays" a few times a month and there was one game I always brought.... SCRABBLE! It has been, for years, one of my favorite games besides Monopoly. I have played since I was about six years-old and would get completely schooled by my parents. While kids were partying in high school, I'd have SCRABBLE parties with my friends. By college, I'd gotten pretty good at the game and learned a few tricks and now my husband gets so mad when we play because I'm the one doing the schooling!

When I was in middle school, my friends and I started an unofficial SCRABBLE club. We'd meet every other week and play some great Scrabble games that got pretty competitive. There are so many benefits to playing SCRABBLE regularly, especially as a student because it is very educational. It greatly helps develop vocabulary and spelling skills. I'm still learning new words as I play and try to find new ways to earn points. Using a Q or Z are ways to really rack up points, so I've learned so many new words by studying a dictionary. SCRABBLE is also a fun way to engage with friends and also work on math skills when adding points. Getting a double or triple word score just adds the challenge and is always exciting as a player when you get massive points.

Because teachers and community leaders also see the educational benefits of using SCRABBLE in the classroom, they have teamed up with Hasbro to create School SCRABBLE Clubs! The clubs are designed for 4th through 8th grade kiddos and can be established in a classroom, after-school or through other community organizations, such as the library! When I was in elementary school, we had a library club and often played SCRABBLE there, too. Playing the game is a fun, social way to learn and we fully support School SCRABBLE Clubs!

Would you be interested in starting or supporting a School SCRABBLE Club? Establishing a club is very easy and you can easily find more information on the Hasbro website about starting a club and how to do so. There are also some informative videos!

Need another reason to support School SCRABBLE Clubs? All the clubs from across the U.S. are invited to compete against other schools and complete for the title of National School SCRABBLE champions! Can you imagine how much fun that would be for students? This years' competition will be held at the new Hasbro facility in Providence, Rhode Island on April 25-27! The date is coming up soon and we want to celebrate!

We received SCRABBLE board game for review and it had an extra awesome surprise! The "new" version can be played as always OR you can mix it up with Power Tiles, which several new ways to play the game and stump other players. I was excited to get this board since you could say I collect SCRABBLE games. I have my original vintage board from the 70s, an ultimate board that swivels, a travel SCRABBLE game and SLAM, so this is a great addition to my collection and we couldn't wait to play it, so that's exactly what we did.

Josiah is almost 7 years old and, SCRABBLE is recommended for ages 8+, so he understands the concept enough to form some words with the help of my husband. In 1st grade, he already has weekly spelling tests, so this is a great way to brush up on his vocabulary skills and he enjoys playing, just like his mama! I have a feeling this will become a fast family game night favorite as the boys get older.

Josiah ended up with 121 points, but Papa won with 191! It was a great game and Josiah has already been asking when we can play again. You bet it will be soon!

To celebrate the National School SCRABBLE Competition, Hasbro has a great surprise for our readers....

Ready For A Giveaway?

One Lucky Reader Will Win Their Own Scrabble Board Game From Hasbro!

Winnie The Pooh: Springtime With Roo Blu-Ray Giveaway 4 WINNERS

Just a few months ago we visited Disney and we were able to meet some of our favorite Disney characters, including Winnie the Pooh and Rabbit! The boys had to give hugs to both of them and it was so sweet.

We also had a chance to visit the tree house and write a letter to Winnie the Pooh, too!

If you can't tell, we are huge Winnie The Pooh fans. I grew up reading Winnie The Pooh stories. In fact, Josiah's baby room was decorated with Classic Pooh. I was so excited to hear that Winnie The Pooh:Springtime With Roo just came out for the first time on Blu-ray and Digital Hi-Def!

About the movie:
Each year, Rabbit plays Easter Bunny, but this year, he's decided it's "Spring Cleaning Day" and he orders everyone to hop to it: scrubbing, dusting, and mopping. All his pals are very disappointed, especially little Roo, until Rabbit learns that putting others first and showing friends how much you care turns every day into a precious gift! Sparkling with unforgettable songs and a never-before-seen bonus treat, this delightful egg-stravaganza" shows why love, hope and friendship are always in full bloom in the Hundred Acre Wood!

This is a perfect gift just in time for spring and would be great as an Easter present, too! That's why we are so excited to run this great giveaway just for our readers.

Ready For A Giveaway?

 

FOUR Lucky Readers Will Win Their Very Own Copy of Winnie The Pooh: Springtime With Roo on Blu-Ray & Digital Hi-Def!

Living Heart Healthy: Campbell's Soup Address Your Heart Campaign & Delicious #Recipes #HeartHealthy

As a mom on the go, it is so easy to fall into risky and unhealthy eating habits. I am, admittedly, guilty of eating fast food and other things I shouldn't, but 2014 is a new start for our family! My downfall is sugar and I cannot resist a gummy worm. However, we've decided to be a much healthier family all around. To begin, our entire family now takes vitamins, supplements and probiotics. We've also greatly changed our eating habits. We used to eat later at night than we should, we'd  eat unhealthy foods with too much grease and also eat out at restaurants too often. My husband and I made a promise to each other that we would start eating at home more often and that we'd eat healthier. Now that we hold each other accountable, it has been much easier staying with our heart healthy choices!

How does your family stay heart healthy? We eat mostly white meats and always include at least two veggies with each meal. In fact, while reading up on the Campbell's Soup Address Your Heart website, I read that research shows that eating 2.5 cups a day of veggies can greatly reduce risks of cardiovascular disease and cancers. Josiah and I love vegetables, but it has been quite a change for my husband and Liam. The Campbell's Kitchen website has some great Heart Healthy tips, delicious recipes and much more. In fact, we will be sharing some with you below. Eating three healthy meals a day is so important to our bodies. When you have picky eaters like we do, you have to experiment with foods often to find things they like and that is exactly what we do. Now that my husband eating more veggies, this has opened us up to trying all kinds of new recipes! We will be posting weekly recipes that we've tried. Speaking of great recipes, here are some photos and links to our favorites we want to try from the Campbell's website.

Broccoli Cheddar Rice

Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Creamy Turkey & Vegetable Lasagna

Pork Medallions with Spinach & Barley

Tilapia & Vegetable Casserole

If you are ready to start cooking, be sure to visit the Campbell's Kitchen website for not only great recipes, but for money-saving coupons! If you try some of the recipes above or have a healthy treat to share, leave us a comment. We'd love to hear about it.

 

Disclosure: This post was written Campbell's Address Your Heart Campaign in conjunction with PartnersHub. Compensation was provided for writing the post. All opinions and thoughts included are my own.