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Kindness Begins with Me and Mompacts Summer Spirit of Giving #SSGiving

*This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

I want to be kind to everyone, for that is right you see.

So I say to myself, “Remember this: Kindness begins with me”

These are the words to a children’s song I grew up singing many Sundays. Words that have had a great impact on my life. Whether through the example of others kindness, or feeling it myself as I try to show kindness, I know without a doubt that kindness has to begin with me. I can’t let it end when it reaches me.

Through many trials, I’ve always been blessed by the kindness of others. Some moments were large that brought me to tears, others were a simple gesture or smile that let me know I was visible. One particular rough spot had me in tears as I thanked a very dear friend for her kindness to our family that truly meant the world to me. Being such a good friend I felt I could open up to her, and tell her how often I felt disappointed that I was getting the help when I’d rather be giving the help.

She told me “One day you’ll be in a position where you can do the helping.” It helped me accept others kindness easier, and look for ways that I could bless people’s lives in small and simple ways, before I could financially help in larger ways. Since then I’ve come up with a number of small kindnesses to share.

My particular favorite way to spread some cheer to others is with “Sunshine”. I’ve sent a couple “Sunshine Boxes” off to friends I knew needed a pick me up, but recently started thinking my neighborhood could use some pick me ups too. People right here who I don’t even know could use some Sunshine too. So I created these Sunshine cards. A quick simple idea really, but one I’m hoping will spread the cheer around.

The idea behind a Sunshine Box is to send a bunch of yellow items to brighten someones day. The Sunshine Card is similar but on a smaller scale. I may find a number of things to attach to these cards as I leave them around town; things like chapstick, quarters or Boogie Wipes.

Speaking of Boogie Wipes – the Mompact community has put together a Summer of Giving event going on right now! This is a great time to spread a little sunshine to your friends! You can nominate yourself, a friend, or even a preschool to receive a gift from the Mompact Giving Tree. No need to wait for the holidays to spread some cheer, because Mompact and their awesome Mom centered Companies are doing it right now!

I have already nominated one of my dear friends for a tag on the tree, and then signed up to be notified when the tags are live so I can pick and fulfill one as well.

Summer Spirit of Giving Event

When: Nominate someone TODAY!

Where: Online at Mompact

Who: Anyone and Everyone with a Kind heart.

August 5, 2015
A Whole Grain Challenge and Nature’s Harvest Giveaway
The information and coupons have been provided by Nature’s Harvest® so that I could try the product and share my thoughts and information about Nature’s Harvest® bread. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions of Nature’s Harvest®.

Did you know that it’s recommended adults eat 48 grams of whole grain a day, and kids should be getting a minimum of 40-48 grams? I didn’t, and when I first read that I thought “gosh that’s a lot of whole grains daily!”.

I started reading my food labels more to see just how many of those whole grains I was consuming, and turns out I’m doing pretty good. Thanks to a few good choices of cereal, and Nature’s Harvest® bread, I get a fair amount of Whole Grains into my diet. With at least 8 grams of whole grains baked into every serving, Nature’s Harvest® makes it easy to incorporate into our diets.

I went through a phase in middle school, where toast was all I wanted for breakfast every single morning. It’s not the most filling choice, but it was quick and easy. I still love toast, but as an adult I know the importance of a balanced meal – especially in the morning. This Almond Blueberry French Toast has everything to start your mornings off right.
Almond Blueberry French Toast

2015-11-11 13:18:20

Almond and Blueberries give French Toast a light flavor that’s perfect for the mornings.

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Ingredients

12 slices Nature’s Harvest® bread

2 eggs

2 cups milk

1 tsp Almond extract

1 Tbs sugar

1 Tbs ground cinnamon

fresh or frozen blueberries

whipped cream

maple syrup

Instructions

Preheat a skillet over medium-low heat.

Whip eggs, milk, almond, sugar and cinnamon together in a shallow dish.

Dip bread in mixture and place on skillet. Cook until browned, flip and continue cooking until browned.

Serve with whipped cream, blueberries, and syrup.

By Home Maid Simple

Home Maid Simple https://www.homemaidsimple.com/
Try any one of these varieties of Nature’s Harvest®
- Nature’s Harvest® 100% Stone Ground Whole Wheat Bread
- Nature’s Harvest® Honey Wheat Made with Whole Grain Bread
- Nature’s Harvest® Butter Top Made With Whole Grain White Bread
- Nature’s Harvest® Butter Top Made with Whole Grain Wheat Bread
The Challenge

Nature’s Harvest® bread is baked with at least 8 grams of whole grains per serving. Nature’s Harvest® 100% Stone Ground Whole Wheat Bread has 25 grams whole grains per serving (and is what I used for the French Toast)! That’s a fantastic amount to start your day with. Natures Harvest® wants to help moms feed their families 48grams of whole grains daily, so has put forth the Whole Grain Challenge. From now until August 13th, you can enter to win weekly prizes just by taking the challenge to feed your family whole grains!

You can find more information on Whole Grains, get tips, and recipes by visiting Nature’s Harvest® online.

The Giveaway

CLOSED

In addition to the weekly prizes you can win from Nature’s Harvest®, I’m also going to give away a $25 visa gift card and 1 $5 coupon for Nature’s Harvest® bread – provided by Natures Harvest®.

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all entries verified

open to US residents 18+

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July 30, 2015
The Kiss that Launched 1000 GIFS

The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs by Sheralyn Pratt:

Each weekday from 2:00-4:00 p.m., Grace and Ashton cohost Battle of the Sexes, a radio program arguing the he-said/she-said issues of the day. Their fiery debates often have listeners wondering if there’s more to their relationship than just talk, even though Grace has been dating Phillip, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Perfect, since long before she ever met Ashton Miller.
Yet when news comes that Battle of the Sexes is on the bubble for cancellation, Grace and Ashton need to step up their efforts to engage their audience to keep the show alive. When a charity organization approaches them and proposes that the two of them kiss for a fund raiser, Grace and Ash agree to kiss for a good cause. A kiss is just a kiss, right?

Purchase your copy

Amazon.com

My Review:

What a fantastic read, and perfect for a summer indulgence. With school a lot of my reading is informational, so it was very nice to pick up something just for fun. Now with that said, it was also almost like looking at my own life. Being so involved in social media, I got a kick out of watching it be used for a sort of battle grounds between coworkers. There were a lot of great parts, and I don’t want to spoil it for you, but the ending was most definitely my favorite part!

Author Sheralyn Pratt:
Sheralyn’s first job was as a karate instructor, which taught her that practice does not make perfect; practice makes habit–good or bad. Martial arts also taught Sheralyn that a master is simply a person who can effortlessly do all the actions a beginner finds difficult or maybe even impossible.

Sheralyn has worked in many fields throughout her life, but her 12 years as a karate instructor have shaped how she does everything, including writing and mentoring. She likes to keep things light and fun, but she’s also aware that life is journey and that if you’re going to buy a book, your life should better for it.

So, fiction or nonfiction, know that each of Sheralyn’s books are designed to take you to a new place. Maybe that book is designed to help you escape for a few hours, or maybe it’s a book designed to teach you a new skill. Either way, Sheralyn hopes it’s unforgettable…in a good way. 😉

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$25 Blog Tour Giveaway

Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 8/5/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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July 22, 2015
Apartment Gardening {Giveaway}

This post is sponsored by LTD Commodities. All opinions are my own.

Spring is here, and although we had snow in our forecast this weekend, it never actually snowed – hurrah! I do love the snow, but in it’s correct season, ya know? Plus I just got some fun gardening items, and the kids are ready to ride bikes everywhere. So, the snow can just stay away now.

LTD Commodities wants to help you get your garden ready to bloom. When you live in an apartment though, having a large garden is not always a possibility. One of the first questions I ask before renting an apartment is whether there is a garden area, or if I can make one. Our current home has a garden area, but the last renters never used it, so the owners covered it in gravel. I decided rather then trying to grow outside, I’d find other ways to have a garden while renting.

Grow Indoors

I was so excited to find this cute greenhouse from LTD. It’s perfect for growing herbs indoors, while protecting the plants from exuberant children (or pets). You can also place it outside to get more sun, but still protect the plants from any harsh weather spring may throw on us (like random snow storms).

I also found these fun herbs in a can to grow. They fit 3 perfectly inside the greenhouse grower. I can’t wait for the herbs to start sprouting!

Find a community Garden

Often if you live in a city you can find a community garden to join. These are areas you pay a little fee, then can grow in your specific plot. It’s a great way to get out of the apartment, get to know others in your neighborhood, and well – grow your own food!

Vertical Gardens

A garden I don’t see too often, but is a great space and time saver are these vertical gardens. You can hang them on a fence or out on a balcony to get enough sun. Add some water, and then let them grow. An added benefit to vertical gardens is the lack of weeds, making them less time consuming than a traditional garden would be. I got these ones to send to my mom. She doesn’t live in an apartment, but she has become increasing more busy these days and I thought they would help her out. LTD has a couple different selections of these fun plants to choose from.

Garden decor

So you don’t have the space to garden, the time, or maybe you don’t have that proverbial green thumb, you can still make it look like you do with some gardening accents. I found these adorable children with solar powered fireflies caught in a jar. It’s the perfect accent to any garden or garden like space. Plop one of these by your front door, and your friends will feel like they’re a child again hanging outside catching the little glow bugs – it’s an instant garden feel!

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May 11, 2015
Fricaine Handbag Giveaway

Lately I’ve been having the time to get a bit more fancy. I’ve been spring cleaning my closet, and the kids of course. I’ve also been trying out some new shoes that I can’t wait to tell you about later this week. While fashion has been on my mind of late, I thought it would be great to share this giveaway with you all!

The Social Butterfly Co. has teamed up with Fricaine Handbags to give one lucky person this adorable handbag! Just follow THIS LINK to the giveaway form!

Fricaine creates high quality fashion items from some unique colorful fabrics glabally sourced.

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If you just can’t wait to get your hands on some of Fricaine’s colorful fashion (perfect to welcome spring with), they are offering my readers 15% OFF when they use the code FRICAINE15

May 4, 2015
Origami Owl Giveaway

With Mothers Day coming up, I thought now would be the perfect time to join in a giveaway! I’m in love with the little Kitchen Aid gem and family heart inside.

We’re excited to promote this giveaway tailored to mom and the many roles she plays in caring for her family. This giveaway is sponsored by Origami Owl Custom Jewelry. One winner is going to win the mom necklace set featured above. The prize includes a heart-shaped silver locket, silver chain as shown, and 7 charms (mom heart, family heart, butterfly, nail polish, star, football, and mixer). Retail value is $95 total. To see the selections in more detail you can visit OrigamiOwl.com.

Terms of service: One person may enter per household, Open to the 48 Contiguous States age 18+. Void where prohibited. One winner will be chosen at random from all valid entries. Winner has 48hrs from time of contact email to reply or another winner must be chosen. Practical Parenting Ideas will need your full name, address, and phone number for shipping purposes. This information is never sold or given to anyone else. We respect your privacy. Enter below and good luck!

Entry -Form

Disclosure: This website was not compensated for this post. My website/blog is not responsible for fulfillment of this prize. Prize will be shipped by Practical Parenting Ideas. This giveaway and post are not affiliated, endorsed, or sponsored by Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, or any other social media platforms. If you have any questions, or would like to see your product featured on Practical Parenting Ideas, please email Debi at Practical Parenting Ideas.

March 19, 2015
Watching our Children grow through Milestones

*This post is sponsored by VTech. The VTech product, information, and giveaway have been provided by VTech.

I love watching our kids grow, and reach different milestones. The Holidays especially seem like a time where we notice more, and reflect back to the milestones they have reached as we get ready to send Christmas cards to our family and friends around the world.

This year has been one of bitter sweet for me. Since 2006 we’ve had a baby every 2 years. That would mean, we “should have” had a baby this year. We decided for the time being though, that we are happy with 4 kids. So instead of prepping, or taking care of a newborn right now, I’ve had more time to play with Little Prince and really see him reaching these different stages in his life. I never missed them with my older kids, but I also was much more distracted with them, and there were little things I never noticed “when” it happened.

Like talking in full sentences for example. Or counting. The ability to play and understand games like Hide and Go Seek. Learning Colors.

These are just some of the fun milestones Little Prince has hit this year. He’s also learning to manipulate, climb counters, figured out the fridge lock within the first 5 minutes of installation, and knows how to use a screwdriver.

I love VTech because they’ve got toys that aren’t just toys. They help and encourage our kids to learn, grow and reach those milestones. VTech combined with an expert panel, including Dr Lise Eliot an Early Childhood Brain Development Expert, to create a milestones resource for parents. Broken down by age from birth to 9 years old – you can stop worrying now if your child has reached an important milestone, or if they still need some help.

We received a package of VTech goodies including the Chomp and Count Dino, Roll and Surprise Animal Train, and Lil’ Critters Play and Dream Musical Piano. Based on recent milestones, we opened up the Chomp and Count Dino for Little Prince.

Along with numbers, it is also helping him learn colors and listen to directions. We plan on donating the other toys to a family in need this Christmas season so another child can learn and grow on a level perfect for them!

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Giveaway

VTech would like to send a package to one of you!

Enter on the Rafflecopter below.

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December 1, 2014
Holiday Gift Guide: American Certified K’nex Giveaway

This year shop American companies. Or just win some cool toys from one! I’m excited to be partnering with American Certified to offer you a chance to win 1 of 3 K-Nex Toy Chests.

A little about K’nex – “Founded in 1992, K’NEX Brands, the world’s most innovative construction toy company, was established to make and sell what has become one of the most integrated construction systems for children, and is America’s STEM building solution. Winner of over 250 international awards and recognitions, K’NEX, America’s Building Toy® company, is focused on Building Worlds Kids Love® and encourages youngsters to “imagine, build and play.” From the living room to the classroom, K’NEX has building toys specially designed for every age group and skill level.”

Increase your chances of winning, and enter to win 1 of 50 other American Certified prizes on their blog!

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December 1, 2014
Holiday Gift Guide: Holiday Outfit from eShakti

Are you going anywhere special for the holidays? I’m probably not, but I’ve always thought it would be fun to go to a holiday party all dressed up. So I decided I could dream a little, and put together my dream Holiday Outfit.

I started by browsing through eShakti’s new arrivals. I just love that I can customize the dresses to fit my body, plus the length, neckline and sleeves to fit my level of comfort. It’s dress shopping on a whole new level! For the holidays, I couldn’t imagine anything more me than the Beaded snowflake ponte sheath dress.

After finding my dress I headed over to two of my favorite online boutique stores – Cents of Style and Hannah Jane. I’m not one for extreme high heels normally, but the Mosaic-36- Cream Velvet Pump from Cents of Style is exactly what I would wear to a party with this dress on!

Just a little more bling to dress this outfit up. I feel a necklace would just detract from the beautiful snowflake embroidery, so I went for something a little more simple with these Silver Stacking Knuckle Rings from Hannah Jane Boutique.

What does your holiday outfit look like?

Get ready to show me, because eShakti is giving one lucky reader a $50 Gift Card!!

Open to USA and Canada

all entries will be verified

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November 28, 2014
Holiday Gift Guide: JBL Flip 2 Wireless Speaker
This shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser #GiftingAudio. All opinions are mine alone.

This one time, 6 years ago, I was cooking dinner, when BAM! A speaker falls off our cupboard, and we find ourselves in the ER getting staples in my head. It’s a moment I like to periodically bring up when Mark comes home with new speakers that “were an amazing deal, and you can’t beat the sound quality!” Sometimes I put my foot down, and make him get rid of some before he can bring more into the house. Little does he know, I actually bought HIM a wireless speaker this year.

It’s a rare occasion, but the first time was when he sold his humongous sub woofer, and like a year later I found it at a yard sale. Yeah, we once again sold that. Oh well. It was big clunky, and hard to move. This year I knew I was going to theme his Christmas stocking around music. I wasn’t sure where to begin at first, but then I came across the JBL Flip 2 Speakers.

I was already familiar with JBL speakers thanks to Mark’s love of them, so I just knew this was going to be the start of his stocking. The Flip 2 Speaker is portable, wireless, and runs on Bluetooth. Shopping on JBL’s website was really easy with free ground shipping, 30 day returns, and lifetime support! Those are the key things I look for when shopping online.

I am in love with the size of this speaker. Nice round edges, and a compact size means I just might be able to stop bringing up the falling speaker story…maybe. You know what else is great about it’s size? It fits in a Christmas Stocking!

The star has arrived for his stocking, so I’ve been on a hunt for other items to really make his Christmas morning a fun surprise. Obviously we needed an iTunes gift card so he could download all his favorites – like Mozart and Smashing Pumpkins. He’s a well rounded music lover as you can see.

After I picked up the gift card, I found this really awesome old music book. Hello! I just can’t resist books, but old books with music? Mark and I can agree on those.

Next I found a couple more fun items that really spoke to his personality. The Reindeer playing a saxophone is a given for Mark. I included an Ocarina, boat whistle (OK admittedly my parents gave him that one year…it just looks cool here), a sopranino recorder to play along with the music, and one of my absolute favorite tie finds ever – complete with saxophone tie pin.

I put together Mark’s stocking based on his personality, but I waned to give you some other ideas as well that would go great as a gift with the JBL Flip 2 Speakers

More Musical Stocking Stuffers:
- music magazine subscription
- guitar and/or guitar pics
- drumsticks
- harmonica
- bust or bobble heads of favorite musicians
See how fun this is? Stockings have always been the hardest part of Christmas for me, but I think I’m going to be knocking it out of the park this year!

Do you have a Music lover in your life? Well guess what, we’ve got a giveaway to help you craft a Musical Stocking theme as well!

JBL.com #GiftingAudio Sweepstakes
November 25, 2014