Boys & Girls Club - BGCA Give the Gift of #GreatFutures

I participated in this campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Boy and Girls Club of America. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating. 

The Boys and Girls Club of America (BGCA) is an organization that's all about giving. This time of year they're inspiring us to connect with the true spirit of giving with their 3rd annual Give the Gift of Great Futures website.

Visit the site today and vote in the Kids Give Back Contest, which showcases BGCA kids giving back in their own communities. You can also create holiday gift tags with the Gift Tag Generator and pick up a few tips on how you can inspire your own children to give back in your community too!

BGCA has been a valuable resource in the lives of my daughter and nephew. They so enjoyed the summers that they spent at the club, going on field trips, doing crafts, and making new friends. The experience influenced them so much that my daughter went on to volunteer at our local Boys & Girls club and my nephew is now a BGCA employee!

Check out your local BGCA club website to find new and exciting ways to volunteer and connect in your community too! Click here to find a club near you.

All views expressed are the honest opinion of Just Say I Told You So.

Tonight: Live Q And A For Student Athletes At Risk Of Sudden Heart Failure

Over the past several years, there have been far too many incidents of student athletes collapsing from sudden heart failure. It's time that we shed some light on this epidemic, so that we can take preventive measures.

Tonight at 4pm PST / 7pm EST experts from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center will host a live Q & A.

The Q & A will also be live on this blog post, so feel free to come back later to participate:

This is not a paid post. Any views expressed are the opinion of Just Say I Told You So.

Listerine 21-Day Challenge - Conclusion

The 21-days are up. Do I see a change? Have I made using Listerine a part of my brushing routine a habit? Will I keep it up?  Yes... Yes... and Yes!

Listerine made a difference that I can feel. By using Listerine twice a day for a brief 30 seconds this is what I've noticed:

1. My teeth feel cleaner longer, even after meals.
2. My morning breath is a whole lot fresher.
3. I smile more - this was a very pleasant side effect of participating in the challenge.

I am really proud of myself (and my entire family). I really didn't expect that this easy, simple, and quick change would have such a huge impact. I already knew that having good dental hygiene was important, but now I know that fresh breath looks and feels like something. It feels good!

After participating in the Listerine 21-day Challenge, here are a few tips that I think will help you step up your dental game:

• Keep it on the counter - the first few days of the challenge were a challenge for me, because I was storing the Listerine in the cabinet. Bad idea. Keeping things in plain sight helps to remind us to do what we're supposed to do.
• Schedule it - if you forget to rinse on occasion, it's okay. Nobody's perfect. Setting an alarm or calendar reminder will help you to remember.  After a while it'll become a habit don't worry. But until it does - wait for the beep!
• Take a closer look - get up close and personal in the mirror. Take a look around, so that you can get familiar with what's really going on in your mouth. This way when something isn't right (swollen gums, bleeding, etc), you'll be able to spot it right away.

It's no wonder that Listerine is offering a money back guarantee (offer valid through 6/30/13), they already know that this products works... for real!

Stop by the Listerine Facebook page and pledge to take the challenge today. Your entire mouth will thank you! 

Click here to download a coupon for $1.00 off Listerine mouthwash.

I received products from Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products division of McNeil-PPC, Inc. and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the Listerine 21 Day Challenge. All views expressed are the honest opinion of Just Say I Told You So.

Listerine 21-day Challenge

My mother really instilled the importance of taking good care of my teeth. As a child, I never missed a dental cleaning. As a result, I have not had a cavity since elementary school (applause please...). I have made it my business to pay it forward by teaching my daughter good oral health habits as well.

My dental routine is simple, brush and floss, sometimes I use mouthwash, sometimes I don't. I also visit my dentist once every six months for a routine check-up and cleaning. So far, this routine has served me pretty well, but that isn't stopping me from participating in the Listerine 21-day Challenge!

Did you know that even though you may brush regularly, you still miss 75% of your mouth? That's frightening! That means that there is still "stuff" lurking between your teeth, under your tongue, beneath the gum line, and any other place things can hide. This statistic alone is enough to make me want to take my oral care to the next level.

What is the Listerine 21-day Challenge?

In addition to your normal brushing routine, rinse with Listerine twice a day for 30 seconds, for three weeks (21 days).  That's all.

What results should you expect? 

• Up to 5x's healthier gums in two weeks
• Up to 9x's healthier gums in four weeks

That's awesome considering for only one minute per day.  I know you have one minute to spare, right?

 

They're making donations!

 

When you sign up to participate in the 21-day Challenge on Facebook, Listerine will make a donation to Oral Health America to help children in need of dental care.  

 

Wait... there's more

 

If you participate in the challenge and do not feel the difference, Listerine will give you your money back. Offer valid through June 30, 2013.

Will you take the challenge with me? Click here to sign up right now! Be sure to leave me a comment if you decide to participate. Let's rock our incredible smiles together!

I received products from Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products division of McNeil-PPC, Inc. and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the Listerine 21 Day Challenge. All views expressed are the honest opinion of Just Say I Told You So.

Share Your Adventures in Clean with Frigidaire!

When you're a mother, there are plenty of things to do (all the time), but laundry is the one thing that is never ending! Disney's upcoming film, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, reminds us that "life is full of messy adventures."

Frigidaire (makers of the Affinity® front loader) is on a mission help families to get the laundry done, so that they can get out and do more of the things they love!

I'd like to share a few tips from Frigidaire by Tara Aronson to help you get your clothes cleaner:

• Read - Read fabric care labels before you wash. Your clothes will last longer if you know how to treat them.
• Pretreat - Before washing stained garments, pretreat or prewash the spot using the Affinity’s Rinse & Spin cycle. If at first you don’t succeed, wash, wash again.
• Check the Wet - Check wet garments for remaining stains, and re-treat as needed before drying. Heat will set stains.
• Full loads save time (and energy) - Dry only full loads. Tumbling a handful of garments prolongs the drying time by reducing the tumbling.

Tips for removing the five most common stains by Tara Aronson:

1. Crayon - Scrape off as much of the colorful surface as possible using a plastic picnic knife. Apply laundry detergent directly on the stained area. Gently rub the detergent into the fabric then let sit several minutes. Launder using the hottest water the fabric can handle - or the Sanitize setting of your Frigidaire Affinity washer. Dry as usual.
2. Iced coffee - Sponge the stained area with cold water. Apply a pretreater to the blight. Wash as usual and air dry.
3. Grass - Prewash the garment in warm water in your washing machine –the Rinse & Spin cycle on your Affinity washer – and a laundry detergent containing enzymes. Launder as usual (normal setting) with detergent and chlorine bleach if safe for the fabric. If the garment’s care label instructions advise against it, use oxygen (color safe) bleach instead. Dry as usual.
4. Juice - Soak for a minute or so in cold water. Remove excess water, and then apply a pretreater directly on the stained area. Wash with detergent as usual. Air dry. Do not place in the dryer until the blight is completely gone – otherwise the stain is likely to set.
5. Chocolate (or chocolate ice cream) - Prewash the garment in warm water with a laundry detergent that contains enzymes using the Affinity’s Rinse & spin setting. Launder as usual, using the washing machine’s Normal setting. Dry as usual.

Head over to the Frigidaire Facebook page to share your Adventures in Clean and Frigidaire will donate $1 to Save the Children. All  you have to do is upload a photo and the app will turn your pic into your very own Movie Poster! Plus you'll be entered for a chance to win a new Frigidaire Affinity® washer and dryer featuring Ready Steam™.

This post is part of the Frigidaire promotion through the One2One Network. Stain fighting tips provided by Frigidaire from Tara Aronson. I will be eligible for a drawing; however, all views expressed are the opinion of Just Say I Told You So. 

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Moms - Review & Giveaway (Closed)

Every once in while a new book comes out that you know is going to strike a chord with just about every mom you know...this is it....“Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff for Moms” 

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Moms by Kristine Carlson is by far one of the most inspiring books I have ever read. I am always looking for ways to renew and replenish myself, so that I can continue to be the example of what I want to see in my daughter and in others.

The ins and outs of daily living can be trying at times, this is especially true for mothers. We are the backbone to our households and to society at large.  We are looked to for advice and guidance.  We are responsible for molding, shaping, and developing the lives of other human beings. We are heavily relied upon, giving more of ourselves each and every day, and sometimes taking very little.

Don't Sweat gives advice to mothers in small digestible bites, 100 short chapters of life altering "aha's." Kristine Carlson covered all the bases, from blended family to sex talks, it's like a mom bible! My favorite chapters include "The Power of Prayer Is In The Asking" and "Choose Happiness And Peace Over Stress."

Kristine touched on so many things that I have personally dealt with in my own life. Now that my daughter is a nearly 17, I realize that my role as a mother is changing, but will never end. Her growing up has forced me to grow in ways that I never would have imagined. So operating from a place of peace and understanding is more important than ever, but is also very challenging at times. I am always reminding myself to breathe and Don't Sweat reminded me of why my breath is so valuable.

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Moms is for all mothers. Whether you are a new mom or the mother of adults, you will benefit from owning this book.

About the author:
Kristine Carlson is an international bestselling author and a leading expert on love, success, grief, happiness, and parenting. Along with her late husband, Dr. Richard Carlson, Kristine has experienced phenomenal success with the "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" series. Kristine has been featured on national radio and television broadcasts, including The Today Show, Empowered Living Radio, The View, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Connect with Don't Sweat Moms on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.  Download the Don't Sweat Meditation App on iTunes.

Buy it:
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Moms can be purchased online on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. You can sign up to read the first chapter for free by clicking here.

Win it:
Leave a comment telling me how you deal with stressful mom moments. Please remember to include your email address.  

Giveaway ends at 11:59pm PST on 6/1/12. Winner will be chosen at random.org and will be contacted via email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  Good luck!

I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of this review. No monetary compensation was received. All views expressed are the opinion of Just Say I Told You So.

Diamond Candles is looking for reviewers!

Diamond Candles is looking for bloggers to review their products.  If you are interested, head over to Momma is Sweeping to sign up!

Real Seal Appeal - Collect seals and help schools

Everyone has been a victim of the budget crisis, schools in particular. Every year schools are scraping to make sure that they have the tools they need to teach our children. Education is without a doubt the foundation to success.  It is every one's responsibility to make sure that our children are given every opportunity to flourish.

Real Seal Appeal is a program that has been launched by Real California Milk to support schools in California.  The program will award up to $2 million dollars in cash, prizes, and books to California Schools. Every time you purchase a product with the Real California Milk seal on it, you will be supporting the 1,620 dairy families, who work hard for us each and every day,  and you'll also be supporting California schools.

Milk and dairy products play a vital role in child development.  It is very important that children have the right amounts of calcium-rich foods in their diet.

What can you do to help?

Collect: You and your family can collect the Real California Milk seal from items you purchase.  Send the seals to school with your child so they can be turned into his/her teacher. Every seal is like a sweepstakes entry, the more seals that are collected, the more chances for your son or daughter's school has to win.

Enter: Teachers submit the seals, along with a 3x5 card (with your name, school name and address, phone number, email address, grade, and number of students in your class). For every 100 or more seals you submit, you will receive either 25 free scholastic books or a $25 school supply gift card.
  
     Mail seals to:
     Real Seal Appeal Sweepstakes
     c/o Scholastic Inc.
     P.O. Box 711
     New York, NY 10013

Win: Up to $2 million in cash and prizes! Nine schools will receive cash awards + Wii Fit™  games for each child in the winning classroom!

• Grand Prize: 3 winning schools will receive $20,000 plus a Wii Fit™ game for every child in the winning classroom (up to 50)

• 2nd Place: 3 winning schools will receive $10,000 plus a Wii Fit™ game for every child in the winning classroom (up to 50)

• 3rd Place: 3 winning schools will receive $5,000 plus a Wii Fit™ game for every child in the winning classroom (up to 50)

• Runner Ups: 2,595 winning schools will receive $500 prizes

There are soooo many chances to win. Join the challenge! You have from 10/1/11 through 12/31/11 to collect as many seals as you can. Get your friends and family to collect seals from the dairy products they already buy. Ask the people in your community to donate their seals too, churches, neighbors,  sports teams, and block clubs. Everybody can help!

Check out the Real Seal Appeal site addition information and complete details. Follow Real California Milk on Twitter and like them on Facebook.

*Participating elementary schools in Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

I participated in this campaign as a member of One2One Network and am eligible for a prize drawing.  The views expressed are the opinions of Just Say I Told You So!