Tips Archives - Popsicle Blog

10/30/18

The Scary Side of Parenting

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Pampers at Sam’s Club. The opinions and text are all mine.

Halloween is just around the corner, so lets talk about something scary. PARENTING. Because if you’re a parent, pretty much every day can be little scary. Funny thing, being a parent has made me the happiest ever in my life…and at the same time, the most scared. After four kids, I have had my share of scary experiences.

Every day there is something new. Kids get sick…it’s scary. Kids getting lost while on a shopping trip…it’s scary. Kids choking on something at meal time…it’s scary. All things I have experienced. Luckily in the end, everything usually turns out fine.

And then there is the day to day scary. Like the fact that kids break everything, they stain their clothes, and have monster tantrums. And yes, it’s pretty scary when you walk into a room and find your toddler sitting on your computer.

Or when your toddler helps themselves to a snack.

I’ve never been so scared for the walls in my house. I have a little monster artist. Every wall is colored on and I have a date with a bucket of paint and paintbrush every night. Sigh…looks like I will be covering them in butcher paper asap. Or until I can get my older boys on board with putting their pens and pencils away properly. Yes…older kids can be scary too…did I mention that I have a teenager?!!! Scary.

And then there’s poop! Little ones in diapers can lead to all sorts of scary experiences – the dreaded blowout, the mad dash to remove the Halloween costume before a poop explosion, or how about checking the diaper bag just to find out there are no diapers when your out in public. Ugh!

Yep…PARENTING IS SCARY!

While most of all the parenting scariness can’t be escaped, buying Pampers at Sam’s Club can definitely help you to avoid running out of AND paying too much for diapers and wipes!

With instant savings plus FREE SHIPPING on both…you won’t want to miss this deal. You have enough to be scared of already and you don’t need to be scared that diapers and wipes will take all your money. NOW through November 25th, Sam’s Club members can get $3 off each box of Pampers diapers and Pampers wipes at Sam’s Club and on samsclub.com. NEW 2x softer Pampers Cruisers, NEW best-fitting Cruisers with 3-way fit and other Pampers products are $3.00 off. With free shipping, all you have to do is shop online or on the Sam’s Club app and have diapers delivered right to your door…now that is convenience!

Finally…while we all can probably agree that parenting can be really scary. We can also all agree that we wouldn’t change it for the world. Our kiddies are our world and we love them to pieces. A big deep breath, a vacuum, lots of laundry detergent, a good friend’s shoulder to cry on and a lot of patience can get us through most of the scary times. I have found that if I can end each day with a hug and a kiss with each of my kids, and a quick clean up of the house, that all the scary memories of the day melt away. Did I mention how AMAZING parenting is?!!!

{Disclosure: This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Pampers at Sam’s Club. The opinions and text are all mine.}

Posted by Jill | 10/30/18
Filed Under: Tips

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10/16/18

Tips for Protecting Your Family From Fires

Thank you First Alert for sponsoring this post. October is Fire Prevention Month – practice safety in numbers to ensure your family’s super prepared too!

October is Fire Safety Month. as residents of Southern California, we are no strangers to fire danger. we experience wild fires on a yearly basis. it is important to be prepared not only for the wild fires we have here, but also in case there’s a fire in our home. so i have partnered with First Alert to bring you this post.

one year ago this month, i found myself driving as fast as i could towards my children’s school. as i drove, i could see the hill behind their school burn with sky high flames. at that time, i wasn’t sure of their safety. when fires hit our area, it’s often hard to tell how close the flames really are. on this day, the flames were so close that the school was under evacuation. i was unable to get to my kids school. luckily my friend was able to grab my kids and get them to a safe place where we could be reunited.

this is our local school during the 2017 Canyon fire.

this is a scene that us SoCal residents know so well. and this wasn’t the first time we were evacuated. we’ve been evacuated three times. in 2008, we almost lost our house. and i am pretty sure that there will be times in the future that we’ll be evacuated again. it’s just how it is living in our area. so far, we’ve always been evacuated during the daytime, but if a fire happens to start during the night, it could be an even scarier thing. all three times the fires threatened our home, we had no warnings from fire officials to get out. the fires came to fast for them to get us out, and we had to leave on our own. if fire started at night, the only way we would know, would be our fire alarms.

October is Fire Prevention Month

what is Fire Prevention Month? Fire Prevention Month raises awareness about fire home safety to help make sure that we know how to keep our homes and family prepared in the case of a fire emergency. there’s safety in numbers, and when it comes to fire protection, numbers can make all the difference. in honor of Fire Prevention Month this October, First Alert and Super Prepared Family are encouraging everyone to practice “safety in numbers” to ensure we are “super prepared” when it comes to whole home safety.

it’s very important that the entire family be involved in home and fire safety so they know what to do in the event of an emergency. even little kids can get in on the action!

there are two things we should be aware of – fire and carbon monoxide poisoning. smoke and carbon monoxide alarms should be installed on every level, including the basement and inside and outside every sleep area. did you know that 3 out of 5 fire deaths occurred in homes without smoke alarms. and carbon monoxide is the #1 cause of accidental deaths in America. CO is invisible tasteless and odorless that can be produced from any fuel burring device. CO alarms detect this poisonous gas and provide early warning. it’s sad to think that some of these deaths could be prevented with the proper alarms.

it’s important to practice an escape route with your family. show each member ways they can escape from a fire, including different exits from your home. make sure that everyone knows how to get out of the home and where to meet.

Alarms don’t last forever, remember to replace every 5 to 10 years (depending on the model). we decided to eliminate the need to replace batteries, and upgraded to First Alert’s 10-year sealed battery alarms. these First Alert Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are battery free, and last up to 10 years. they have a chip in them that lets you know when they need to be replaced. and just to be sure that are up to date on making sure our smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are replaced in proper time, we have put stickers on them so we know when we purchased them.

we own an RV, and it is also very important that we also have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors inside of it.

Important Fire Statistics

please don’t become one of the statistics.by prepping you home with smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, you will be notified with an early warning in the event of a fire. fires spread quickly, and there is not a lot of time to escape so every second counts. and you cannot see, hear or smell CO.

did you know…

• Over 100 million homes in the US are not protected with smoke alarms? fire department responds to fire every 24 seconds.

• 3 of every 5 home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with 0 working smoke alarms.

• 40% of homes do not have a single CO alarm

• Carbon Monoxide poisoning is the #1 cause of accidental deaths in the US. Every year there are 80,000 CO incidents.

these facts and statistics show the importance having the proper protection in your home. Fire Prevention Month is a great time to make safety a whole family affair. check out this fun little video about fire safety, and go check your fire detectors. we don’t want our family to become one of the statistics.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Posted by Jill | 10/16/18
Filed Under: Tips
Tagged With: Fire Safety
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6/22/18

Organizing Your Sunscreen for Your Summer Adventures

This is a sponsored post on behalf of @Aveeno.

S U N S C R E E N! if you live in the OC, you probably have a giant stash of it. with it being sunny all year long here in Orange County, it’s very important to protect yourself and your babies with sunscreen. but if you’re anything like me, you either tend to leave it at home when you need it, or you run out and forget to stock back-up. well, now is the time to stock up on all your sunscreen needs AND organize it for your summer adventures.

summer is here, so it’s prime time to start buying all your suncare needs! first, you are going to want to head over to Walmart and pick AVEENO® Baby CONTINUOUS PROTECTION Sunscreen Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 50. Walmart has a twin pack at a value price, you can use the Ibotta offer for $5 back, you’ll have double the protection, double the moisture, and double the fun this summer!!

i have trusted these products for all my kids. as you probably know, i have written about it many times before. the AVEENO® Baby CONTINUOUS PROTECTION Sunscreen Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 50products have 100% Zinc-Oxide UVA/UVB Mineral Protection, are hypoallergenic, and free of parabens, phthalates, dyes and fragrance. they also lock in moisture to nourish skin, and are gentle enough to use everyday…even on baby’s sensitive skin. plus, they have the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. finally, something that most parents can appreciate…are tear-free, easy to apply, and the non-whitening formula goes on without stinging.

Places you need to remember to bring sunscreen

now that you have stocked up on sunscreen, it’s time to organize it. you don’t want to be without it when you really need it…which is pretty much ALL the time here in Orange County.

Diaper Bag or Summer Purse. this is the number one place i keep sunscreen. with a baby in tow, i always have my diaper bag with me. So it’s great to have sunscreen with me all the time.

Sports Bag or Summer Camp Bags. when sending those kiddies of to sports practices and summer camp, make sure to keep the sunscreen stocked. and don’t forget to remind your kiddies to applyas necessary throughout the day.

Car. great for those quick trips to the park, or backyard playdates.

Backyard. i can’t tell you how many times we’ve been playing in the backyard and i realize we need to apply sunscreen – especially since we have a pool. you don’t want to have leave the kids alone in the water, and they don’t want to get out of the water for you to find the sunscreen. make a fun basket full of sunscreen products, hair ties, bandages, and non-perishable snacks to have on-hand in the backyard. this will keep you and your guests supplied with everything they need to have a fun playdate.

Grandparent or Babysitter. make sure to have a bag of essentials for kids that the grandparents or babysitter can use. don’t forget the sunscreen, because in my experience, they don’t always think to put it on the kids when they are out. i have had kids come home with sunburns after a day of fun with the grandparents. oops!

Beach or Pool Bag. i like to keep a bag of towels, swimsuits, goggles, sand toys and sunscreen in the car for impromptu trips to the beach, splash pad or pool with friends. then we are never without our swim stuff when we are out and about.

lastly,

Where you keep your keys. having a bottle of sunscreen near the door where you keep your keys or leave your house, it will help remind you to apply sunscreen to your kiddies or yourself before you leave.

Now you are covered! (in sunscreen)

by stocking up on sunscreen and organizing it for your summer adventures, you won’t have to stress about looking for that one bottle you bought, or being without and having to cut your sunny playdate short. it will make summer easier, less stressful and hopefully sunburn free. don’t stress about sunburns or dry skin… with AVEENO® Baby CONTINUOUS PROTECTION Sunscreen Lotion with Broad Spectrum SPF 50, you can nourish and protect your family during everyone of our OC sunny days!

{Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. }

Posted by Jill | 6/22/18
Filed Under: Products I Love, Tips

2 Comments

5/15/18

How to Throw a Moms Only Pool Party

Photos taken by Short & Sweet Photography.

if you’ve never had a moms only pool party, TRUST ME. you. need. to.

moms are often neglected when it comes to pool parties. during summer, us moms spend all our time packing-up the kids for swim playdates, swimming lessons and pool parties. when we get there, we have to try to put sunscreen on wiggly, whining kids…mulitple times. then during the pool time, we spend the entire time making sure that none of the kids drown, fight or run on the pool deck. if we are lucky enough to get in the water, we spend the whole time getting splashed and watching kids show us their mediocre tricks in the pool. so much fun for the kids….but not always as much fun for the moms.

Time for a Moms Only Swim Party

at a Moms Only Swim Party, you don’t have to worry about anyone but yourself! no wrangling kids, no whining, no kids begging for food, no crying, no fighting…talk about AMAZING! last year i went to my first Moms Only Swim Party and had such a blast, i knew i had to get more moms onboard with having one at least once a year.

How to Throw a Moms Only Pool Party

rule #1 – no kids allowed. unless it’s a baby…and even then, try to get a sitter. you will be glad you did.

rule #2 – have your Moms Only Pool Party BEFORE the end of the school year, during school hours. 11:00am is the perfect time to have it. that way you can enjoy lunch at the pool party and still have time to have fun before it’s time to pick up the kids.

rule #3 – invite all your mom friends. send out an evite, or start a Facebook event. this way everyone will be on the same page and can start chatting with each other to make plans. make sure to be inclusive of everyone…its the perfect time to invite a mom who may be shy or in need of friends. i can’t tell you how many times i have heard a mom tell me that she’s been lonely or doesn’t have any friends.

rule #4 – everyone must wear a bathing suit AND go swimming. no party poopers here. leave the bathing suit shaming at the door. us moms know how it is. so put on a bathing suit and enjoy yourself.

rule #5 – food. you must have yummy food. making the pool party potluck is even better. that way you get to experience a little bit of food from everyone. which equals – different tastes, different cultures, and different varieties.

rule #6 – drinks. you need lots of drinks…non-alchoholic and alcoholic are great! you can even mix drinks or make soda floats.

rule #7 – be silly. there is no shame in playing pool games and acting like kids. when is the last time you jumped off the diving board or slid down a waterslide.

rule #8 – take lots of pictures and video. with your phone is just fun. have your heard of Boomerang app? make sure to take some Boomerangs too. They are so much fun, and everyone will have a ball reminiscing over your fun photosafter the party is over.

rule #9 – chill. use this time to enjoy your mom friends. there will be no interruptions since the kids are at school, and you don’t have to worry that someone is going to drown.

rule #10 – most importantly…HAVE FUN. this is your time…and most likely, the ONLY time you will have to yourself with your friends between now and the end of summer! school is almost out….the kids will soon be around all. the. time.

last years Moms Only Pool Party was one of the best times i had with my friends. we are still talking about it now. and you can bet we already have this year’s scheduled. too bad the kids will still be in school…NOT! now…go plan your own Moms Only Pool Party! trust me, you’ll be glad you did.

Posted by Jill | 5/15/18
Filed Under: Style, Tips

7 Comments

5/4/18

My 5 Favorite Spring Cleaning Tips

i don’t know about you, but we are in spring cleaning mode over here. start back up, so I’m taking the opportunity to get my spring cleaning done. i secretly love cleaning… now i’m not talking about cleaning up the everyday messes, i’m talking deep down cleaning. The kind of deep down cleaning you don’t always have a chance to do. it’s my favorite to see everything extra sparkling clean, so i partnered with Bounty to bring you this post with my 5 Favorite Spring Cleaning Tips.

this year, with the boys at school, i have a little sidekick that has me all to herself. she’s always trying to join in the fun – including the cleaning. how i can say no to her wanting to help me? she is my “right-hand” lady, insisting on helping me scrub scuffs off floors and dirt from the baseboards. and i guess you can say the NEW Bounty Quick-Size Paper Towels are my “right-hand man!” they are 2X more absorbent vs. the leading ordinary brand and Bounty, IS the Quicker Picker Upper. make sure you keep reading for an amazing deal on these happening now!

5 Spring Cleaning Tips

here are 5 of my favorite spring cleaning tips. i don’t have time to do these weekly, but a couple times of year gets my home back on track to looking fresh and clean.

1) Cleaning scuffs of the floor and wall – scuffs on floor and walls build up over time…and annoy me so much! to get rid of scuff on the floor you can either use a little toothpaste or multi-use cleaning product and a Bounty Quick-Size paper towel to gently rub the scuffs away. for the walls, a mixture of 2 cups of water, 1 tsp of vinegar and 1 tsp of dish liquid combined will help get the scuffs off. gently massage into the wall and wipe away.

2) Cleaning Baseboards – using just water, wipe the baseboards down with a Bounty Quick-Size paper towel paper towel. you can use a cotton swab to clean the cracks and a magic eraser to get the scuffs off. after the baseboards are clean, wipe them down with a dryer sheet to help propel any dust away.

3) Limescale on the sink and shower fixtures – to get rid of the build-up of limescale build-up around the sink handles, shower heads, shower handles and toilets, use this trick. soak a paper towel in vinegar (or limescale remover) and wrap the paper towel around the fixtures. let sit for 30 minutes to and hour and wipe away!

4) Removing gunk from your kitchen cabinet doors – cooking and grimy hands can leave dirty residue on kitchen cabinet doors. to remove the gunk without scratching, use 1 part cooking oil to 2 parts baking soda. mix together, and with a paper towel or toothbrush, rub the dirty spots till the gunk is gone. it will leave you wood cabinets nice and shiny.

5) Freshening up the toilets – even though you probably clean your toilets every week, they still may get a bit stinky over time. that’s when its time to do a deep clean. unscrew the seat and lid from the toilet base and wash it good with bleach or cleaner in the shower. with a Bounty paper towel, wash any residue from the base of the toilet where the seat was screwed on. use a flathead screw driver wrapped with a paper towel around the head of the screwdriver to clean between the toilet tank and toilet base. pour some vinegar into the tank to reduce smells and prevent water stains.

ask you can see from my tips, i use paper towels A LOT in my spring cleaning. the NEW Bounty Quick-Size Paper Towels are a must-have when tackling your big and small cleaning messes…especially as you are doing your spring cleaning.the size is just perfect, and you can size-up for larger jobs.

Right now you can cut down on your errands by easily ordering the NEW Bounty Quick-Size Paper Towels on Amazon. PLUS, you will save up to $7 on the Family 16ct Pack. here’s how – Add the Bounty Quick-Size Paper Towels to your cart by clicking HERE. save $5 by using promo code 5QUICKBOUNTY. apply the $2 of coupon at check out!

with Amazon, it will be delivered to you doorstep without any hassle. plus, this pack of 16 family rolls equals 40 regular rolls, which makes it the perfect time to stock up during this limited-time Amazon deal.

happy spring cleaning!