momonthegoinholytoledo

Campbell’s Sweets Factory Tour

April 7, 2016momonthegoinholytoledo

Our latest trip to Cleveland was hands down the best so far!

It included an awesome, informative, & highly delicious tour of the Campbell’s Sweets Factory. Campbell’s Sweets Factory sells savory and sweet treats including, but not limited to, various gourmet popcorns, chocolates, cupcakes, etc.

Brief History…..

Campbell’s Sweets’ heritage spans four decades of candy making excellence, beginning Amos “Jupie” Campbell’s famous Karmelkorn®. Amos started the sweet journey when he opened highly profitable Karmelkorn franchise shops in four mall locations and a plaza store.

In 2004, Jeff (Amos’ son) and wife, Lynn opened Campbell’s Popcorn Shop in Cleveland’s historic West Side Market. At that time, they, along with two of their daughters, Holly and Bethany, launched their business with only a microwave, bowls, cooking utensils and some raw products. With a lot of hard work, sweat equity and integrity they have seen their business grow and flourish. source

Tour time….

We began our tour next to a huge popcorn machine where we learned a bit about the history of popcorn, the different types of kernels, and why certain kernels are used for caramel & heavier flavoring. I have to be honest, I was highly impressed at how captivating the information was, my kiddos listened so intently.

And then the fun really began, they turned on the popcorn machine & it started popping!! The machine produced a catchy beat with the popping of each kernel, suddenly a stream of popcorn came pouring out, and the magnificent aroma of freshly popped popcorn enveloped the space. There is nothing on this Earth that compares to the comforting aroma of freshly popped popcorn except maybe tasting freshly popped popcorn! And it tasted amazing!

It was so warm, fresh, and the texture was perfect, though the taste was a bit bland but not for long, next step, caramel!

Ever wonder why they use the copper kettles? Turns out it is because the copper stays hotter much longer than stainless, which means the caramel won’t harden. That was just one of many nuggets of wisdom shared during our tour.

After mixing the popcorn and caramel together we paused for a quick sampling and then formed popcorn balls. He used a handy little tool, in fact we counted as he made them, and in one minute he made 30!! Far faster, convenient, and efficient than forming them by hand, I kinda wish they sold that nifty little tool.

After the caramel popcorn balls were formed a stick was then placed in each and a popcorn ball on a stick was distributed to each tour attendee.

Then the final step because what’s better than a caramel popcorn ball on a stick? A caramel popcorn ball on a stick dipped in chocolate!! We were all winners that day! Each person dipped their own popcorn ball in the chocolate and while the chocolate cooled we shopped!

Get this; the tour cost $5 a person, $5 that you get back in Campbell’s bucks to spend in the shop at the end of the tour!

So not only did we get to go home with the caramel popcorn balls dipped in chocolate that we watched and participated in making but we also went home with some gourmet popcorn too! It was so difficult deciding which flavor to bring home, CLICK HERE to see their menu and see that the struggle was real! Ha-ha!

Touring Campbell’s Sweets Factory was such a fun, unique, informative, and delicious family experience.

Details…

Campbell’s Sweets Factory is located at 2084 W. 25th St. Cleveland, OH 44113

Hours:

Monday- Thursday: 10am-7pm

Friday & Saturday: 9am-7pm

Are you ready to schedule a tasty tour of Campbell’s Sweets Factory?

Call (216) 965-0451 today

Add to the fun….

Now you can visit Campbell’s as a destination on The Euclid Beach Boys’ famous Rocket Ship Car or Thriller Car!

For more information, visit http://www.theeuclidbeachboys.com and click on the “Ride & Dine Ohio” link. You can also email them at euclidbeachboys@aol.com to schedule your Rocket Ship Car or Thriller Car Ride & Dine Tour to Campbell’s Sweets.

For more information, call 440-460-0565

While you are in Cleveland be sure to stop by the gorgeous West Side Market for lunch or simply a cup of Joe!

Additional Fun Family Friendly destinations in Cleveland:

A Christmas Story House Tour: A Journey back to Childhood

Childrens Activities Around Cleveland

Top 10 Things to Do with Kids in Cleveland

15 Cleveland Kid-Friendly Restaurants for Parents to Eat Out and (Most Importantly) Drink

5 Tips for Packing Healthy Lunches your kids will actually eat!

April 5, 2016April 12, 2016momonthegoinholytoledo

Whether you are packing lunches for school, a road trip, a picnic in the park, or a fun filled day at the zoo the struggle is the same & very real! Getting your children to eat healthy is like trying to rearrange the stripes on a Zebra!

Educate– Educate the kiddos on nutritious foods!! If at all possible take the kiddos with you to the store. Teach them how to read food labels:

Simplicity is your best friend here. Focus on products with short, pronounceable ingredients and look for these labels: organic, antibiotic-free, non-GMO!

Look out for sodium. Small amounts of sodium are necessary for keeping proper body fluid balance but too much can contribute to high blood pressure. Almost all foods naturally contain small amounts of sodium but many processed foods contain greater amounts.

Watch the sugar content! Fruits naturally contain simple sugars but also contain fiber, water, and vitamins, which make them a healthy choice. Snack foods, candy and soda, on the other hand, often have large amounts of added sugars. And when it comes to drinks, water is the best option.

Select foods high in protein. The body, muscles, skin, and the immune system are made up of protein. Foods high in protein include eggs, meat, poultry, fish, milk, cheese, yogurt, nuts, soybeans, and dried beans. Anywhere from 10 percent to 20 percent of the calories that kids consume each day should come from protein.

Want some help?

Take the kiddos to Imagination Station’s Eat it Up! Exhibit! It is the perfect & fun way to help educate your kiddos on nutrition!

Also, check out Heather Stouffer, CEO of Mom Made Foods, she is a huge advocate of watching food labels…watch her video ‘5 tips for reading food labels’ HERE .

Kids Pick– Let the children select the food they enjoy. Bottom line, if you pack broccoli and your son hates it, he won’t eat it. Let your kids weigh in on what they want to pack in their lunches, and offer them a few healthy choices so they feel like they’re in control.

Think Outside the Sandwich! – A sandwich is not a requirement for a lunch, think outside the sandwich! Try turkey and cheese roll-ups, sushi, meatballs, deviled eggs, veggies or fruit with dipping sauce (hummus, peanut butter, ranch, etc.)

Portion control- Double check the nutrition labels and make certain children are only consuming one serving size, if not less, most serving sizes are for adults, not children. Some company’s do offer a child size, like Stonyfield, the adult size has 23 grams of sugar and the children’s size has half the amount. It is vital that children watch their portion sizes.

Bacteria & Germs – Be safe. Pack lunches properly to ensure food safety and freshness. Invest in a reusable ice-pack; Rubbermaid makes this awesome blue ice that keeps ALL containers cool.

Always wash their hands before she eats.

Heed these 5 tips and watch the magic happen!

What is your biggest issue with kids lunches?

A Christmas Story House Tour: A Journey back to Childhood

March 30, 2016momonthegoinholytoledo

As we turned onto W. 11^th Street in Cleveland, Ohio it seemed like any ordinary street, in any ordinary neighborhood, and then we saw it, that house with the green trim that was unmistakably the Parker residence from the movie, A Christmas Story.

And it was then that my anticipation level skyrocketed! It is fascinating how a mere glance at the house can stir up so many emotions. I was suddenly transported back to my own childhood; the emotions conjured up fond memories & feelings of Christmas pasts. I was literally just like one of the kids as we raced into the gift shop to purchase our tour tickets.

And just like one of the kids, it felt like I waited for an eternity for our tour to begin, (when in all actuality it was only like 10 minutes, haha!). When the tour finally began it took everything in me to restrain myself from being the first one in line. I did manage to gathering up enough restraint to allow the shorter children to go in front of me, which was a huge hurdle, guess who was rewarded for her good behavior afterward in the gift shop?

As we entered the house my inner childlike spirit had a mini spaz attack, it was spot on from the scenes in the movie! I did manage to maintain composure on the outside, well almost, I wanted to touch everything! And guess what? You can (technically, everything in all but one room)!!! When I heard that my adult self & inner child collided, giving one another a virtual high five, yippee!! Let the fun begin!!!

We were able to pick up “The Old Man’s” award, sit on Ralphie and Randy’s beds, we reenact a few scenes from the movie, and more!

We also learned a lot about the history of the movie, characters, actors, etc., like the fact that the year they filmed the movie Cleveland didn’t receive any snow so they did whatever they could to make snow….queue the foam!

And that the actress who played the school teacher was pregnant when they filmed and she didn’t want to go too far from her in Canada where there just so happened to have a lot of snow so they filmed the other scenes in Canada. There is much more but you’ll have to take the tour yourself to hear those nuggets of trivia.

After touring the house and the museum (image above shows actual toys that were in the movie) it was time to reward that inner child, and my actual children with a trip to the gift shop.

There were so many magnificent souvenirs to choose from and all children were pleased except for one, my son. He so desperately wanted a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle, just like Ralphie’s. I entertained the idea for a moment, then culminated the day with a rather appropriate decision and infamous quote, one I am surprised my son didn’t see coming. No, because, “You’ll shoot your eye out.”

You too can deny your child a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle and allow your inner child to come out and play at A Christmas Story House open 7 days a week (except major holidays), 10am-5pm. Cost, Adults: $10.00 Children 7 to 12: $6.00 (Children 6 & under: FREE) Seniors: $8.00 For more information click here .

What is your favorite scene from the movie?

The children are asleep; you are watching television when suddenly someone starts kicking in your front door…what do you do? Are you prepared for a home invasion?

March 12, 2016May 30, 2021momonthegoinholytoledo

What comes to mind when you hear the words ‘Home Invasion’? When I hear the words ‘Home Invasion’ I think of Primetime television sensationalizing scenarios in order to boost ratings, that blockbuster, Panic Room, with Jodie Foster, and the rare story you hear about on the evening news. It is something that happens in Hollywood scripts and to other people, not me. That is until I came across some startling statistics that rocked my naïve world.

Did you know…

An estimated 3.7 million household burglaries occurred each year on average.
Around 60 percent of burglars used forcible entry to gain access to a home.
33 percent of intruders enter a home through the front door. (Hollow doors are exceptionally easy to kick in).
Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report states that a household member was home in approximately 28 percent of burglaries. Alarmingly, a household member suffered some form of violence in seven percent of burglaries. (source)
Drugs – both illegal and prescription – are a driving force behind many of today’s burglaries and home invasions.
As reported by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), “drug use and criminality are closely linked.” According to the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP), of the inmates housed in U.S. jails and prisons: Over 80% have a history of drug and/or alcohol abuse. Approximately 50% are addicted to some form of drug. Approximately 60% of suspects arrested for a crime test positive for illegal drugs. Upon release, up to 80% of drug abusers commit another drug-driven crime. Approximately 95% of inmates that get released from jail or prison resume their drug use. (source)
An estimated 10,000 people in the NW Ohio region are addicted to heroin and other opioids. (source)

These statistics shook me to my core!! What if we did have a home invasion, how would I handle it? How would I protect not just myself, but my children too? I have to be honest; this momma bear was ill equipped for protecting her cubs in the case of a home invasion. That is until I attended this month’s Ladies Night Out’s Personal Safety Awareness Training!!

A basic synopsis of the class offered at Cleland’s Outdoor World ….

Personal Safety Awareness Training

Discuss how to take a pro-active approach to personal safety. The class begins by focusing on planning for known and unknown surroundings, situational awareness, and non-violent and non-physical methods to protect yourself. The class then explores how to deal with conflicts and confrontations, including techniques and products available to safely remove yourself from a dangerous situation.

Topics that are covered include:

Awareness

Mindset

Planning

Self-defense products including sprays/gels; stun guns; Tasers; flashlights.

And other options to help keep you and your loved ones safe.

This class is dedicated to teaching individuals of all ages and genders how to avoid being a victim in the home, at work, at school or in every day travels.

http://www.clelands.com/non-lethal-self-defense/

The class was a great refresher for some scenarios and very informative in others, particularly home invasion. I liked the fact that the instructor wasn’t trying to instill fear in us but rather to educate and build our confidence so that we would be prepared for any situation. She really ran home the idea of having a PLAN! Do you have a plan? Here is a scenario she gave us…it is late Sunday night, you just put kiddos to bed, you’re sitting down on the couch watching television, and suddenly someone starts kicking in your front door what would you do? This one stumped all of us moms because quite honestly we all let our guards down once we are inside the comforts of our homes. What evolved was a great discussion.

We addressed the fact that we spend so much time talking about fire safety with our children, in school, in scouts, we have a plan if there is ever a fire in our home, etc. And we talk to our children about stranger danger and run scenarios about what they should do if they ever get lost. But we never discuss the possibility of a home invasion, why? Well, because, quite honestly, we don’t want to scare the crap out of them! We just got them all sleeping in their own beds and we would like to keep it that way, right!? At least that was my thinking and then I realized I was doing them a disservice. I am their parent and I am responsible for keeping them safe, safe from everything, and sometimes that means not sheltering them as much, and educating them on some of the realities of life (in an age appropriate manner).

The day after I attended the training I sat my kiddos down and we had a discussion. I am happy to announce that we now have a plan! We decided on a safe room, an alert word, and I even have a safety tool (the instructor made it clear that they are tools for maintaining safety…the various tools she educated us on included…pepper spray, stun gun, & Taser).

Thanks to the training and our plan I am sleeping better than ever at night. If you don’t have a plan I highly recommend you have a family meeting and come up with a plan because your family’s safety is the most important thing in this world!

If you have noticed someone you know has suddenly gotten involved in illegal activities it might be because of some type of alcohol or drug addiction. The statistics above clearly show there is a worrying correlation between addiction and crime. Luckily there are many places that are willing to help. Consider enrolling your friend or family member in an Nj drug rehab center in order to help them get their life back on track before it’s too late.

Here are some great resources I came across….

21 Cheap And Effective Tricks To Keep Your Home Safe

How Thieves Use Social Media To Rob You

These 32 Rooms May Seem Normal At First… Til You Find Their Hidden Secrets. Then They’re GENIUS.

5 Tips For Preparing A Defense Against Home Invasion

Kids’ Review Monster Jam

March 5, 2016momonthegoinholytoledo

We went to Monster Jam last night! The kiddos had a blast! Well, 2 out of 3 of the kiddos had a blast. Our 5 year old had issues with the noise, so her and daddy watched via the television in the lobby while enjoying refreshments. They had their own little daddy & daughter date. The older two, our 8 and 10 year olds lost their minds in all the noise; they were cheering, jumping up and down, and simply beaming with joy!

I thought it might be fun to let the kiddos share their take on the evening. So without further ado…

How excited were you to go to Monster Jam?

10 years old: “I wasn’t too excited until Friday morning and then I was really excited!”

8 years old: “I have been waiting a year for this day and it finally arrived but I am sad because it is over”.

What was your favorite part of the evening?

10 years old: “The Freestyle, Zombie Hunter was the best and it was a girl driver!”

8 years old: “The Freestyle was awesome but I thought it was really AWESOME when Grave Digger flipped TWICE!!”.

What Monster Jam truck is your favorite?

10 years old: “I can’t decide, it’s between Zombie Hunter and Grave Digger”.

8 years old: “Grave Digger!!”

You know how mom is looking for a new car? What if I got a Monster truck?

10 years old: “You can’t do that”.

8years old: “That would be the coolest! Yes, do that! Get one like the Grave Digger”

What would you tell other parents out there who can’t decide whether or not to take their kids to Monster Jam?

10 years old: “Do it, take them, girls and boys.”

8 years old: “If you want to be good parents, take them to Monster Jam”.

And there you have it folks, from the mouths of babes! I guess the only thing left to say is, Enjoy the Show!!

Show Dates & Times

Saturday, March 5 2:00 PM 7:00 PM

Sunday, March 6 2:00 PM

TICKET INFO:

Monster Jam® at Huntington Center Friday March 4th– Sunday, March 6th. Tickets start at just $15! Purchasing Link http://www.ticketmaster.com/venueartist/65566/1542376 or order over the phone by calling 1-800-745-3000

Perfectly Posh Review & Giveaway

March 1, 2016March 1, 2016momonthegoinholytoledo

These gems arrived two weeks ago & my life hasn’t been the same ever since!

Don’t know what Perfectly Posh is? Don’t worry, I was totally clueless too!

Perfectly Posh is fun, hip, & responsible papering…..

For as long as a girl has needed to care for her skin, she could find FUN products and she could find GOOD products, but it was difficult to find products that were both fun AND good. Perfectly Posh offers products you’ll feel good about putting on your skin. They feature:

Pampering products made in the USA
Gentle, natural ingredients
No parabens, paraffins, sulfates, lanolin, or fillers
Lots of natural butters and essential oils
Many vegan options
No animal testing

(Source)

You are probably thinking, that’s all nice and all, but does it provide real results? I know I was a sceptic. Let’s be honest, some of those “responsible” products out there just don’t deliver that girly, I just got pampered, my skin is so smooth, silky, and smells amazing result we want. Ladies, we bust our butts all day, we deserve not to be disappointed by our beauty products!

So I opted to take one for the team…after a long day of doing everything for everyone else (I beat my all-time laundry record that day and completed, as in, washed, dried, folded, & put away 7 loads of laundry…I am having the trophy made-up as we speak. Ha-ha!) I gave Perfectly Posh a try.

Smashing Good Pumpkin Face & Body Clay was the first Perfectly Posh product I tried. Thoughts that ran through my head as I applied the Clay to my face….

This smells amazing!

Is this stuff edible?

Goes on smooth

Ooh….tingles a little…I like it.

Ahhh….is this what a Spa experience feels like? I. AM. SO. RELAXED.

Maybe I will lay down….what if I fall asleep with this on?

And then sadly it was time to wash it off. But no need to fret because I followed it up with another Perfectly Posh product!! I applied the Night & Day moisturizer and nothing but SMOOTH!! Smooth as a baby’s bottom and best of all it is Vegan and has NO petrolatum in it. In fact, the first two ingredients, water & organic olive oil!! Talk about winning! Yep, this momma is officially hooked!!!

What I like best is the fact that while frequent trips to a high end Spa are not in this SAHM’s budget Perfectly Posh products are and they deliver similar results, no joke! But you don’t have to take my word for it, give it a try yourself. Give Jen a call today, because you deserve to be pampered!

Jen Kopitke

419-345-9977

Jen.Kopitke@yahoo.com

http://www.perfectlyposh.com/kopitkeposh

ADDED BONUS!! GIVEAWAY!!!

Enter to win this awesome Posh To Meet You set! Includes Big Fat Yummy Hand Creme, a Chunk, and a Lip Balm! (Valued at $19)

To enter simply complete the following….

Join Jen’s VIP group on FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/102254036794263/
Share this post on Facebook
Peruse Jen’s Perfectly Posh site; click here & then post a comment to this blog post stating which Perfectly Posh product you are most excited about trying out.

Winner will be randomly selected March 15^th @11:59pm & posted on the blog and blog Facebook page the 16^th. Best of luck ladies!

The, “Why are you STILL a SAHM” Shaming….STOP Shaming Other Moms, No Matter Their Story!!!

February 16, 2016February 17, 2016momonthegoinholytoledo

So apparently if you are a SAHM who doesn’t homeschool and your youngest is in preschool you are totally looked down upon! This nonsense started WAY back in August! I cannot tell you how many times people, people who I call friends, have asked me, “So, what are you doing with all your free time?”….”So, you say you are busy, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?”…”Now that the kids are in school WHAT DO YOU DO!?” “You have your BS & MS, are you using those now or are your still JUST raising kids?”. I have to be honest these comments are so hurtful! It makes me feel like I am lazy, worthless, not pulling my weight in society, insignificant, a waste, shameful, etc. And the real kicker, I get it from both sides, the SAHM & working moms…and guess what, I have NEVER worked so hard in my life!!!

True my oldest is in 4^th grade, second child is in 2^nd, and third is in preschool, all outside the home. So if you add it all up I have exactly 7-1/2 hours a week without children. Not quite enough for a fulltime gig. And truth be told, during that time I am usually doing something for others or, God forbid, taking a few minutes to myself, to reconnect with God, to have time away from the children, to center myself, to hopefully become a better mom. And then I am tossed back into the game of motherhood.

My husband travels with work and I know there are some moms out there that can relate but based upon the comments I receive there are a lot who have no clue! Imagine if you will, your husband being gone for 4 days out of the 5 during the week, and possibly a Saturday here and there. Imagine you are the only person, parent there 4-5 days out of the 7. Imagine you are the sole provider of all meals, clean clothing, discipline, homework helper, chauffeur, religious guidance, etc. during the week & possibly for part of the weekend that often includes a birthday party, game, church (And you have a 1 year old EXTREMELY energetic Labrador puppy & are driving to PETCO every 4 days to buy crickets for the gosh darn Gecko…I love my pets, I do, put sometimes!!!)

I do ALL the meal planning, ALL the meal prep, ALL the cooking; packing of lunches, anything & everything with food is my responsibility exclusively! We kick it old-school. My husband busts his butt and is the sole provider of our family and I love him to death for all his hard work. And I am the sole provider of ALL things household & kid related, which might come as a big surprise to some people, but, IT IS A LOT OF WORK!!!! Children don’t come to this planet knowing how to do math, spell words, be kind to others, be respectful to other, having a relationship with God, etc. those are ALL taught by someone. And on those days when you wake up in the morning, make breakfast, get kiddos ready/dress, go to start the car & it doesn’t start it is ALL on you, it is your responsibility to make EVERYTHING run smoothly while your husband isn’t there! And when you have a rotten day & could use a hug in the evening and maybe some TLC but you have to keep going strong through bath time, showers, evening prayers & stories…no matter how you are feeling, when no one is there for you in the wee hours & you have to stay strong it doesn’t help hearing others’ voices reverberate comments in your head from earlier in the day, “SO, what do you do with ALL your FREE time?”

So, the next time you come in contact with a mother whose children are school aged and she is a SAHM, the appropriate reaction/comment might be, “That is awesome!”…”Wow, that is a lot of hard work, way to go!”….give her a hug…or better yet, if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all!!!!

P.S. There are some moms out there who don’t feel comfortable sharing everything on social media or perhaps cannot due to respecting others involved & who are going through some rough times. Please, please remember to always be kind…BE KIND to ALL!

I love you ALL, single, married, small families, big families, working moms, SAHM, etc. but please work on being kind to one another…we ALL matter!

The Chore Charts of 2016, Baby!!

February 1, 2016momonthegoinholytoledo

It has taken me a few weeks to admit this but I have fallen into a rut. I have become a bad influence on my children. I have become that mom I never wanted to become, the “I got it” mom, the mom who does it all…the laundry, vacuuming, cleaning the kitchen, bathroom, making beds, emptying trash, tidying, dusting, etc. Why? Well, quit honestly, because it is easier. It is far easier for me to do it all then to have to deal with bickering, complaining, redirecting, etc. Then it dawned on me the other day that I might be making things easier on myself and perhaps even my children in the short term but what about long term, what would the future hold? I suddenly foresaw college roommates who despised me, future son-in-laws who detested me, a future ex-daughter-in-law, and don’t even get me started on the repercussions my actions would have on my grand babies!! It’s time to MOM UP and delegate chores!!

First things first, I ditched the word chore, I can’t stand it! Just saying it out loud leaves me bitter. You add the word chore to any task, even getting a massage and it sounds like torture.

Second I removed any type of chart or time consuming device that helped keep track of children’s responsibilities, I know myself well enough to know what will work and what will not. I have been there and done the charts, graphs, magnets, etc. and sure they worked for a month or two but nothing worked for the long haul. Until now….welcome to the future of chore charts……

Mission Partition

(It rhymes, added bonus! I love rhyming words more than my preschooler, lol!)

I know it looks like an ordinary gallery wall displaying all that is near & dear to me, right!? But it also doubles as a location to place each child’s responsibilities for that week a.k.a. missions for the week. Kiddos preferred the term missions because it sounds cool…I believe the exact words my 10 year old stated were, “missions sound epic, I can say I have to go home and complete my missions before I can play!”.

Missions for the week are assigned on Monday mornings & should they choose to accept their daily missions in return they can have screen time. They are each also offered a challenge for the day and/or week. Should they choose to accept that challenge they have the potential to earn some money that week….up to $5 in one week if they complete ALL challenges everyday!

Missions include:

Set Dinner Table

Clear Dinner Table

Feed Dog

Clean up Dog Poop

Take out Recycling

Organize Shoe Rack

Match Socks

Take out Trash

Place dishes in Dishwasher

Dust Living Room

Clean Personal Space/Room

Clean Bathroom

Vacuum

Fold Laundry

Put Laundry Away

Need help determining what is an age appropriate mission? CLICK HERE

Challenges for the week are tasks specific to the season/event going on that week, etc. such as, help clear snow, rake leaves, weed garden, clean family room etc. Best Part about the Mission Partition, it saves me so much time, all I have to do is add the missions for the week with a dry erase marker and update challenges as need be, now that is my kinda “chore chart”!

Tips for creating a Gallery Wall:

Decide on a color palette….don’t worry if you can’t find frames in the color you want, you can spray paint frames any color!! So hit up second hand shops for frames and give them a new updated look with spray paint.
Have a variety of textures…..smooth, reflective, sequence, rough, etc. locate items around the house or purchase items that mean something to you, perhaps they remind you of vacation, a fond memory, etc.
Have a variety of sizes/shapes….vary the shapes and sizes & balance each so that it is aesthetically pleasing to the eye, i.e. don’t place all the large items on one side together, vary them throughout the wall
Asymmetrical….always hang an uneven number of items, 3, 5, 7, etc.
Template the entire wall….purchase tracing paper & wall putty, trace each object (including where the item is to be hung with a little dot) and place on the wall. Play with the arrangement and live with the layout for a day or two…this is a step you should not rush!
Once everything is arranged to your liking double check that everything is level and get out that drill, baby!! It is go time!

We NEED Your Help: Help Addysen Get a Diabetic Dog

January 30, 2016momonthegoinholytoledo

This story was brought to my attention by one of my amazing and beautiful followers, huge thank you to Linda Smith for sharing Addysen’s story with me. I will be totally honest, I became a little emotional while reading Addysen’s story, I started tearing up, my heart goes out to her and her family. Her story has really touched me and I think her story will move you too…please read & share!!

Addysen was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 4. Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, a hormone people need to get energy from food. T1D strikes both children and adults at any age and suddenly. Millions of Americans are affected by type 1. She is now 8, and has been dealing with diabetes every day for four years! That is four years of finger sticks 8-15 times a day, scary low blood sugars that pop up at the most inconvenient times, nasty highs and 2 AM blood sugar checks. As Addysen has gotten older, she has become more anxious and concerned about her diabetes but there is some hope!

Diabetic Alert Dogs are trained to alert diabetic handlers in advance of low (hypoglycemia) or high (hyperglycemia) blood sugar events before they become dangerous. The Diabetic Alert Dog’s early detection allows the handler to take the proper steps to return their blood sugar to a normal healthy range. Diabetic Alert Dogs of America services individuals of all ages and families affected by Diabetes throughout the entire United States. http://www.diabeticalertdogsofamerica.com/

Diabetic Alert dogs provide life-saving alerts to low and high blood sugar. Diabetic Alert Dogs save lives! A diabetic alert dog will give Addysen peace of mind, security and confidence. She will be safe with a diabetic alert dog by her side.

A Diabetic Alert Dogs will give her confidence and much needed independence as she grows! Will you help Addysen obtain her diabetic alert dog by making a donation?

CLICK HERE to make a monetary donation towards Addysen’s Diabetic Alert Dogs

Also, Saturday February 20^th from 10am-4pm at Kahler Pharmacy on Airport Hwy

Drop off donations…clean out your closets mommas & donate those bags of clothing, coats, hats, gloves, scarves, towels, linens, shoes, purses, book bags and other cloth items for a great cause! Easter seals will donate to Addysen for her Diabetic Alert Dog by the pound! Please share and help spread the word!

Makeovers & Mimosas: Because You ARE Beautiful!!

January 28, 2016momonthegoinholytoledo

Feeling a bit down, like you just don’t stack up against the rest? You don’t have to look far to have those feeling confirmed. Just log onto Facebook, Instagram, or practically any social media outlet and you will be bombarded with before and after images. The before images often show a woman with excess fat, unfit, face breaking out, short hair, or whatever feature a certain product focuses on correcting and inevitably the after image is this fit, toned, clean complexion, long haired woman, etc. or the solution the product provided. Scroll down that feed a bit farther and you will see more images, images of how amazing your life could be once you have that “after image”. I should clarify at this point that I have mad respect and support for all the independent home sales product representatives, consultants, & presenters out there; y’all are doing a phenomenal job. My issue lies in the fact that there are so many women who perpetually see themselves stuck as the “before image”, who refuse to really start living their lives until they reach that “after image” of themselves, perhaps even an ‘after image’ that isn’t even realistically attainable. Pair that with the fact that a recent study found that the average woman puts herself down at least eight times each day, EIGHT, (criticisms around appearance and weight are the most prevalent) and it really is a wonder some of us even bother getting out of bed in the morning! The study went on to state that two-fifths of survey respondents said they never complimented themselves on a typical day. (Source) That is why I wanted to host a Makeovers & Mimosas event, an event to celebrate the way we are NOW, today, to recognize & enhance our natural beauty, to find clothing that fits our bodies today, to embrace our size & shape, to feel good about ourselves today, not struggle for months to achieve that after image and then live, tomorrow isn’t promised, it is vital we don’t waste today …oh, and most importantly, to have a great time!!

We started our Makeovers & Mimosas event with a toast….a toast to healthy body image, positive self-talk, complimenting ourselves, putting an end to the critical thinking & negative talk…each woman raised a glass and stated the following, “I am beautiful!”!!!

And then the fun began!!! Half of the ladies stayed upstairs and took turns applying makeup, getting their hair styled, and enjoying a massage….

The amazing stylist at French Twist Salon & Spa….

What’s a day of pampering without a massage?…..

Meanwhile the other half of our beauties headed downstairs to shop the hip, trendy, classic, and sophisticated assembles found at Style 5:16…..check out these gorgeous ladies, owning their beauty, living for today, and having a blast!!

There might have even been a little bonding going on….not just with the other ladies but with the clothing, purses, various brands…sometimes they just call out to us & it is hard to let go.

I was sad to see the day end, it was such a positive, uplifting, and fun experience.

Shout out and huge thank you to Style 5:16 Consignment Boutique, Joy from Rey of Sunshine Massage, Kelly Ball the Younique Consultant, The French Twist Salon & Spa , & all you beautiful ladies who made Makeovers & Mimosas a huge success!! It was such a delight meeting some of you for the first time, getting to know others better, and basking in the positive energy each of you radiates. It was a pleasure, thank you ladies for spending the late morning/early afternoon with us… and remember, you are each so beautiful, let that light shine for all to see!! Cheers!

Make certain you stay tuned…February’s Ladies Night Out will be announced in the coming week!! And it is one you won’t want to miss!