3 Reasons to Visit Your Car Mechanic Routinely

I will be completely honest with you - in the past I wasn't always good with taking my car in for routine maintenance and checkups, but over the years I've realized how important it is for the life of your car. Regular visits to your mechanic are the difference between you having a car that runs great and one that is constantly being worked on. Yes, these visits will cost you money. However, they will actually be saving you money in the long run because of the large repair bills you will be able to avoid. The trick is setting up a maintenance schedule for yourself and sticking to it. For many people, this is much easier said than done. You must not skip any scheduled maintenance appointments just because everything seems to be working fine on your car. In many cases, a serious problem could be developing that you do not discover until it is too late. 

Here are some reasons why preventative maintenance is the key to keeping your car running smoothly.

13 Memories to Make This January

Memories can and should be made everyday. Making memories and celebrating life doesn’t always mean having to go somewhere elaborate or by spending lots of money. Memories are made by spending quality time with people you love. This year I want to inspire you to do something special, something you perhaps wouldn’t have thought of doing each month. Every month I’ll share several ideas of ways that you can make memories, and I’d love to hear your ideas as well. Just comment below or send me a Tweet with your ideas!

16 Things to Remember in 2016

Welcome to 2016 my friends! I hope you had a wonderful celebration to ring in the New Year with people that you love. We stayed home as we usually do, ringing in the year with the kids. We kept our ‘party’ pretty low-key, watching the festivities on TV while playing board games and sipping on bubbly. We had snack foods and root beer floats to top off the evening, and at the stroke of 12 we broke out the silly string and poppers and created a huge mess in the living room and kitchen!

I’ve been cherishing these last few days before the routine happens again. Yesterday I went and had a pedicure and lunch with a friend and caught up for a few hours and today we all hung out at the house and took down the Christmas decorations and packed them away for the next 11 months. We are officially down to our last day of our vacation and I’m already looking forward to our next long weekend.

These past two weeks have showed me house nice it is to slow down and just be. Be happy; be content.

Pulling Off a Christmas Feast at the Last Minute

Pulling Off a Christmas Feast at the Last Minute

Maybe plans fell through and now you’re sitting with your head in your hands, praying for a Christmas miracle. If you just found out you’re in charge of this year’s Christmas feast—for whatever reason—don’t panic. Okay, panic a little! Is it out of your system? Good. Now it’s time to get down to business. Contrary to what you’re probably thinking, it is actually possible to pull off a delicious feast with limited time—it just takes a bit of foresight and a lot of patience. Follow these tips and throw a dinner party your loved ones will enjoy to the fullest this Yuletide season.

5 Ways to Get Your Face Ready For Holiday Photos

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

You guys - it’s here. The Holiday season is upon us which means parties, dinners, events, and outings are surrounding us - as well as many opportunities to be featured in everyone’s photos.

It’s hard not to be self-conscious or shy of photos this year - after all, we are all eating a little more and probably partaking a little more than usual. But that doesn’t mean that next time your co-worker grabs your hand and drags you into the photo booth at the company’s holiday party that you should duck and run for cover.

In fact, I think you should do quite the opposite. This year, throw all of your insecurities aside and say ‘cheese’. Have fun, celebrate, and make memories.

Why You Shouldn’t Make Everything From Scratch This Thanksgiving

We hosted our Thanksgiving early this year. It wasn’t big, wasn’t elaborate, but it was memorable.

In years’ past I always got caught up with the hustle and bustle, trying to be Miss perfect and create everything myself - and all from scratch. Sure the food tasted good (most of it anyways!) but I was left tired, worn out, and stressed out.

I wasn’t sure if it was worth it.

New Mom Advice

I received product and compensation from Mead Johnson Nutrition to create this post written by me. All experiences and opinions expressed in this post are my own and not those of Mead Johnson Nutrition. Consult your pediatrician before making changes to your baby's diet or if you have concerns related to your baby's digestive health. Please see the product label/website for acceptable use and benefits. You can contact Mead Johnson Nutrition with product related questions or comments toll free at 1-800-BABY 123 or through the Contact Us link on Enfamil A.R. or Enfamil.com

I think something is in the air around here - I know so many pregnant women right now! It brings back lots of memories, some good, some that I definitely don't miss, but it certainly makes me miss tiny little toes and baby snuggles. Gosh they grow up so fast.

It really makes me think about these past twelve years that I've been a mom.

Sometimes I get so busy living life that I don't take time to reflect. With Anika in the 7th grade, it seems like forever ago when I would stay up countless nights with her, rocking her, burping her, and feeding her. She was definitely my most time consuming baby and actually had frequent spit up issues, which was not only messy, but frustrating for my naive 18 year old self. There was many sleepless nights together just the two of us, and we both did a whole lot of learning.

How to Create a Memorable Date Night

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

Date nights are a rare occasion around here. Between schedules, kids, kid’s schedules, and finances, it can be challenging.

But it’s so important.

It had been a few months since my husband and I had been on a date night and it was by far past time for one. Normally I decide where and what we will be going to do, but sometimes it just gets too exhausting and I slack off on it...and then normally date night’s come to a pause.

But a couple of weeks ago something different happened....

5 Holiday Traditions You Need to Create

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

The holiday season is so magical. This time of the year has always been one of my favorites because all of the activities promote togetherness, and making memories. These are the times for traditions and family, and I’m definitely excited to jump in and have a few magical weeks with mine.

Some of my favorite holiday memories are probably the same as yours: trimming the tree, having a big meal together, and of course decorating holiday cookies, but those aren’t the only fun traditions to keep with your family.

Maintaining Healthy Choices All Year

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

It’s crazy to think that we are already heading back home after four days of visiting family. We have had a simple time – we haven’t done too many things, but I think that sometimes it’s the little moments spent together that create the biggest memories.

What Your Middle Schooler Really Needs to Keep in Their School Locker

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

This year will be Anika’s second year of middle school – and that makes me both happy and sad. I’m sad because I’m having a hard time with the fact that my baby is now a 7^th grader, though I’m happy for her because things will hopefully be a little easier this year with a few less changes.

Moving from elementary school to middle school is a big wake up call for a lot of kids – they have more teachers, new classes, are the ‘young’ ones at the school, and they have lockers. In other words: they have a lot more responsibility. And that’s a scary thought not only for the middle schooler, but also for the parents who have to allow their child to start having more independence.

I asked Anika to write down a few things she thought were necessary to keep in her locker, now that she has had a year of locker experience under her belt – and this is what she came up with:

1. An extra jacket: “Just in case! Sometimes it’s easy to forget to bring a jacket, and sometimes the weather can change on you pretty quick!"
2. Extra pencils (that are already sharpened): “Sometimes your pencils can break in class and it’s nice to have extra ones all ready to go for your next period.”
3. Tissues: “Because there will be one day; and you will have a runny nose, and it will be faster if you have some in your locker all ready to use!”
4. Extra folders, paper, binders, etc.: “Everyone will need extra supplies at some point – better to have them now than be sorry!”
5. Plastic zip up bags: “It’s great to have a couple of these in your locker in case your crayon box gets ruined, or you need to keep paper clips or pencils together in one spot.”
6. Clorox Disinfecting Wipes: “ You should definitely keep these in you locker because when you are going from class to class you don’t have a lot of time, so if you get something sticky or just need to wipe something clean, you don’t have to waste any time – so you won’t have to worry about being late for class!”

I just loved learning the way a 7^th grader thinks! I obviously love the Clorox Disinfecting Wipes because they can quickly remove germs and bacteria that are lurking around (like inside of those school lockers!) They can also be used on multiple surfaces – like appliances, shopping carts, tables, sinks, etc. and the regular Clorox Disinfecting Wipes canisters are made from a recyclable number 2 class of HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) – and I’m all for recycling.

From July 19^th – August 1^st (while you are doing your back to school shopping) at Target you can also save 5% off of Clorox Disinfecting Wipes when you use your Cartwheel App!

The Clorox Disinfecting wipes can be found in the cleaning aisle as well as on special displays in the store.

Middle school: year #2 isn’t that far away – and I’m not too worried….because my little Miss Anika managed to pull off a 4.0 last semester (insert: mom bragging moment here). I’m excited to see how this year goes for her!

Do you have a middle schooler? What was the hardest transition for them to make?

~Melissa

How to Create a Memorable Outdoor Party This Summer

Compensation provided by Gold Peak via Mode Media. All opinions are my own.

You all know by now how much I love summertime. One thing I really missed doing last year though was the end of summer BBQ that we had held annually for several years. Things just didn’t quite work out right for it to happen and we ended up not having anyone over to celebrate the end of summer with us. It was sad and I don’t want that to happen again!

One of the things that I love most about outdoor summer parties is the memories and traditions that it creates for everyone. The food, family, atmosphere – it’s a day where everyone gathers together to celebrate.

The first way to create a new outdoor party tradition is to just start. Yes it can be stressful hosting a party, yes it costs money and can be slightly overwhelming. But is the look on everyone’s faces when they get together and share an amazing evening together worth it? You bet it is.

Once you’ve established your outdoor party tradition, do something a little different every year. One year I held a pie contest – where everyone brought a homemade pie and then we all stuffed ourselves tasting each one and voted on the best one. Another year we had a bunch of games for everyone to play. Once I held a dinner party on the night of a Blue Moon, so I created a Blue Moon themed party. Whatever you decided to do, changing things up year to year will make for lots of memories – and conversations the next year. 

Create some killer food. I know this definitely is a matter of opinion on what food tastes the best here, but whatever menu I put together, I always try and do this: have an appetizer or a dish that makes some guests step out of their usual food comfort zones. My friends and family for the most part are pretty conservative when it comes to food and they have teased me about my creations over the years, but you know what? They actually end up liking some of it and would have never tried it had I not given them the opportunity.

Of course I always make sure there’s lots of food and drinks that everyone likes, lots of sweet tea being one of them. Nothing sings summer like sweet tea – Gold Peak Sweet Tea is one of my favorites. It’s made with real sugar, no preservatives, and tastes like homemade. Sometimes we’ll serve it right from the bottle, or if I feel like fancying it up a bit, I’ll pour it into a beverage container with ice and some fresh blueberries.

Extra added touches to make your summer party memorable could also include fun invitations, blankets to keep guests warm when the sun goes down, ample lighting to create a homey atmosphere, games available to play, and even a pack of conversation starter cards.

Hopefully in a couple of months I will have more fun photos to share with you, because the best ways to have a fun and memorable evening is to just spend time with people you love.

~Melissa

There’s nothing like Gold Peak’s home-brewed taste. Gold Peak, the taste that brings you home.

Tips to Help Keep Your Laundry Pile Under Control

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

How we *Try* to Keep Our Crazy Clothes Pile under Control

Life has been so busy this week that it seems like a miracle that we get any housework done – let alone the clothes. If you would have told me 10 years ago just how many loads of laundry a family of 5 has on a weekly basis, I probably would have laughed out loud and tried to convince you that you were exaggerating to me.

But, here I am, with a multitude of clothes that somehow seem to multiply overnight. Wayne is pretty helpful when it comes to washing the clothes, but a few years ago there was a little ‘accident’ that involved my favorite pair of sweatpants and some bleach, and my sweatpants ultimately lost the battle and I had to say goodbye to them. I’ve had many theories as to how large bleach spots appeared on my loungewear, but as you can only imagine I’ve been very leery about anyone using bleach on clothes since then.

That is, until now. Clorox® has two new products, Clorox® Bleach Crystals™ and Clorox® Bleach Packs™ that have eased my fear of using bleach. They are both water activated – meaning they will only start working when you are ready for them, and I don’t have to worry about any more spills, splashes, or bleach damaged sweatpants! ;)

Plus – they are quick and easy to use, making our laundry time just that much shorter. All we have to do is toss it into the washer and let the Clorox® Bleach Crystals™ or Clorox® Bleach Packs™ work their magic!

Besides Wayne and I taking turns on laundry duty, we also try and keep our growing clothes piles under control by washing one load of laundry every night, and by teaching the kids responsibility and having them fold their own clothes and put them away in the right drawers. It’s not necessarily easier to do this at first (believe me!), however, I hope that someday they will be able to become self-sufficient and take care of their own laundry (Fingers = crossed).

How does your family try to keep the laundry piles under control? If you haven’t already, you should definitely try the new Clorox® Bleach Crystals™ and the Clorox® Bleach Packs™! You can find them in your local Walmart, next to the laundry detergent aisle.

~Melissa

Create a Box Tops Holder for the New School Year

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. 
#Hefty4BoxTops #CollectiveBias

I’ve collected Box Tops for as long as I can remember. Clipping them and trying to keep them in one place where I wouldn’t forget about them though was another story. A couple of years ago I got smarter and started throwing them all into a basket that I keep knick knacks in on top of our refrigerator – with the thought of one day creating a container designated just for them, to make collecting (and turning them in) as easy as can be; and this week I finally did it!

I always knew that Box Tops were helpful for schools because each one is worth 10 cents, so they can definitely add up – however; I never knew just how important they were until I joined our school’s Parent Teacher Organization three years ago. The Parent Teacher Organization raises all of the funds in our school for field trips, gym equipment, assemblies, etc. Without the small handful of parent and teacher volunteers, the kids would have far less opportunities and educational experiences.

One easy way that all parents can help though is by participating in the Box Tops for Education program. Our school holds two contests throughout the school year to see what classroom can collect the most Box Tops, and whichever one does earns a classroom party.

Hefty has always been a brand that I buy frequently, and they are the only trash bag that supports Box Tops for Education. The Hefty brand has raised more than $3 million in contributions to schools by partnering with the Box Tops for Education! Currently, there is a limited time offer for back to school on specially marked boxes of Hefty trash bags where you can collect 4 Box Tops on each package for your school!

And as for my Box Top container? Here’s what I came up with:

What you need:

• A plastic container with a lid (think peanut butter jar, or in my case I used and old candy jar)

• A box-cutter or x-acto knife

• A sheet of sticker paper, pens, etc. – whatever you’d like to use to decorate your container.

• Box Tops!

1. The first thing I did was soak the container in warm water to remove the labels and adhesives.

2. Next, I drew a line the size of the opening that I wanted to cut on the lid, then using a box-cutter (or an x-acto knife) I carefully cut a hole in the top.

3, I debated whether or not to draw something or paint the container, but I decided to go the easiest route possible and simple typed up a label and printed it out on a sheet of sticker paper, then cut it to fit the container.

4. And voila! Now I have my designated container on top of the refrigerator so they will never get misplaced again!

I found the Hefty garbage bags at Walmart (look towards the cleaning supplies sections) so be on the lookout next time your shopping to grab some with the specialty marked extra Box Tops!

Do you have a specific area to keep your Box Tops  collection in? I'd love to hear where you keep yours!

~Melissa

3 Ways to Encourage Summer Reading for Your Kids

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #Back2SchoolReady #CollectiveBias

Yesterday, I was tired, hot, and just plain exhausted. I knew I needed a bit of a break, so after lunch I had the kids get cozy in their rooms and read. I then kicked back in my bed with a book and after a couple of pages may or may not have fallen asleep briefly.

When I opened up my eyes to see how many minutes had passed, the house was still quiet. Wondering how much trouble the kids were getting themselves into, I jumped up to go find out.

To my surprise – an hour after I had everyone sit for mandatory ‘quiet reading time’, there they were – all laying together up in Noah’s new big boy loft bed – munching on Rice Krispies Treats®’s as Anika read a chapter story out loud.

It’s nice to know that my kids can get excited and be entertained with a good book, because sadly, so many kids are so focused on electronics and social media all of the time that they don’t read anymore! I will admit that the past couple of weeks we’ve been so busy that none of us have done much reading, and I know I’ve got to get that changed and start encouraging them more to take an hour and let their creative minds get the therapy they need through a good book. With school starting up in a few short weeks, I need the kids to stay in the habit of learning. Here are a few good tricks that have worked for me before that I’d like to share with you:

1. Let them pick out the books – and right now they can get them for free. Right now, only at Walmart, on specialty marked Kellogg’sproducts, you can receive (or donate) on free Scholastic book! All you have to do is go to their website, create a Kellogg’s Family Rewards account, and then enter the code found inside the product you purchased. Once the code is entered you can choose from 80 different book titles, and every person have redeem up to 30 books! You have 14 days to redeem your codes after your purchase, and all of the codes have to be entered in by 3/31/16. The books will arrive completely free of charge in 6-8 weeks at your house (or wherever you’d like to send them!)

What a fun way for them to build their own book library and be able to choose what they would like to order. I also love the idea that you have the choice to donate your books, say to your local school’s library. As a PTA mom I know just how important each and every donation of any size is!

2. Besides receiving free books, another way to encourage reading is by having tasty snacks available. Some of our favorite reading time snacks are Rice Krispies Treats, Nutrigrain Bars, and cereals like Corn Pops or Raisin Bran.

3. Another way to make reading time more fun is by creating fun reading forts with the kids. When I found my kids up in Noah’s new bed, they were having a blast because it was somewhere ‘new’ and exciting. Recreating that feeling with a fort or tent can lead to more imaginative minds.

What other ideas do you have to get kids back on track and reading regularly before school starts? : Be sure to check out more books available via this Kellogg's offer at http://cbi.as/gfgc. I'd love to hear your favorite book offered! Share your photos with the hashtag #Back2SchoolReady so we can all see!

~Melissa

Consumers can also buy directly on Walmart.com and receive a free book from purchases made between 7/21/15 and 9/11/15. Look for Buy Now button at http://wm6.walmart.com/Kelloggs-Back-to-School.aspx for a list of all eligible items. Ecommerce redemptions are made via receipt scanning. Full details on site above. There are 3 ways you can upload your receipt, via text, via scanning into your computer or Kellogg's Family Reward app - only when you purchase ONLINE between 7/21 - 9/11.