How I Deal With Kid's Sensitive Skin at Laundry Time

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

When you have kids, you can expect that doing their laundry will become a big part of your life. While I was raising my five children, it seemed that the piles of dirty clothes never ended, and as soon as one load was done, at least three or four more were still waiting to be put into the machine.

But one thing I was grateful for was that my kids never had any skin sensitivities or allergic reactions to the laundry detergents I used for washing their clothes.

Unfortunately, my three grandchildren are not as lucky. They all have extra sensitive skin, and can break out in rashes, or have a flare-up of mild eczema. So we have to be extra careful about the laundry products we buy and use for all of them.

That's why we choose to use all® free clear detergent, which is the #1 detergent recommended by Dermatologists, Allergists, and Pediatricians for Sensitive Skin.

And all® free clear detergent was awarded the Seal of Acceptance by the National Eczema Association for having no dyes, perfumes, certain chemicals, and irritating residues, which helps give us peace of mind when using it on the kid's clothes.



When my oldest grandson Jayden was a baby, he had severe skin rashes that were really terrible, and he was diagnosed with eczema. It's gotten a lot better as he's gotten older, thank goodness. My other two grandchildren Liam, and Ashley have the rashes as well.

So staying with all® free clear detergent is the best course of action to keep these guys feeling their best, and free of painful skin problems.

They are really loving their summer vacation so far, and it's really wonderful to see them having fun with each other. We've been to the beach, gone to concerts in the park, had lots of play dates, and had fun at the water park.

It's a real relief to see them happy and able to enjoy themselves outside because I remember how much pain my grandson Jayden was in because of his skin issues. It feels good knowing that we are doing all we can to protect them with a product we trust.

As important as it is to use a detergent with the kid's sensitive skin issues in mind, I also want a detergent that is going to get our clothes clean.

These kiddos know how to get their clothes dirty, and grass and food stains are a common occurrence at our house. I love clean laundry, so I really like how all® free clear detergent fights tough stains, whitens whites, and brightens colors.

I'm a big fan of liquid detergent and so that's what I use, but when I saw the all® free clear mighty pacs®, I decided to give them a try. They really are so easy to use, and a great back-up when I find myself low on the all® free clear liquid and don't have time to go to the store.

Since our summer weather doesn't always cooperate when we want it to, the kids and I enjoy doing things like making our own play dough when we have to stay inside for the day.

My daughter and I have always bought the kids lots of play dough, but they seem to like the homemade kind the best. This recipe is simple and very inexpensive to make. My granddaughter Ashley is four, and loves to help cook and bake, so she's always eager to help make this.

Recipe for Homemade Play Dough

Ingredients:

1 cup cold water
1 cup salt
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
food coloring
3 cups flour
2 tablespoons corn starch


Directions:

In a large bowl, mix together the water, salt, oil, and 6-8 drops of food coloring. Gradually add in the flour and corn starch and mix with a spoon.

At this point, the mixture may need you to pick it and knead it with your hands until it resembles bread dough. It's ready to be played with. Store in an air tight container.

If you or someone you love has sensitive skin or allergies, then you'll be glad to know that washing with all® free clear helps remove three of the top everyday allergens, dust mite matter, cat and dog dander, as well as certain fragrances. It also removes 99% of everyday and seasonal allergens.

(Disclaimer - including cat and dog dander, dust mite matter, ragweed, grass, and tree pollen. all® free clear is not intended to treat or prevent allergies)

I shopped at Target and picked up all® free clear liquid detergent and all® free clear mighty pacs®. I was super excited to find them both on sale in the laundry detergent aisle.

Do you or your loved ones suffer from sensitive skin? Have you tried all® free clear liquid detergent?

Please let me know how you like it if you've tried it. And be sure to join in on the conversation with the all® free clear community and connecting with parents and caregivers just like you!


-Post written by Patricia  

BeKOOOL Fever Reducing Soft Gel Pads and Gift Pack Giveaway

* I was sent products to review for this post. The opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Even though its March we are still in the cold and flu season. My son thankfully does not get sick too often but this year being in kindergarten the germs are everywhere. I do not like to give him too much medication when he gets sick and found a great helper to when he does not feel well, BeKOOOL.

BeKOOOL is a sticky gel sheet that you place on your child's forehead. At first my son was a little weary of this new cold sticky thing I was trying to put on his head but being sick he just gave in. It was nice to not have to constantly replenish his cold wash cloth on his head to keep him cool. I even saw a family at the mall with a child wearing a BeKOOOL Disney gel sheet on their child's head. I spoke with them and they wanted an alternative to medication in the early on set of their child's cold. They were pleased with how the gel sheet was cooling off their little one's head. I agree with them, it is nice to have a product you can use that is easy and external.

A little info on BeKOOOL:

Parents no longer have to watch their kids suffer while they wait for medicine to kick in thanks to BeKOOOL's immediate and long-lasting cooling relief. BeKOOOL's non-medicated soft gel sheets are convenient and fit in your diaper bag or purse. These adhesive and non-messy gel sheets are a wonderful alternative to the traditional messy washcloth or warm bath. Your kids will even think they're 'koool' because they have Disney characters on them.

BeKOOOL's easy-to-use, soft gel sheets:  

• Stick to kids' foreheads, so little ones who are sick can comfortably rest and relax
• Provide up to eight hours of cooling relief 
• Safe to use with fever-reducing medicine (it’s non-medicated)

I was also sent a pack of the Adult BeKOOOL Migraine gel sheets. I LOVED these! I suffer from migraines and they often start with a few warning signs like my forehead swells a little and my face hurts. I put on a BeKOOOL on my forehead and went to lay down in a dark room. Thankfully the cool gel reduced the swelling in my face and held off a full blown migraine. I did not have to do an ice pack like normal, the gel sheets are much less messy and I was able to take a nap with it on.



GIVEAWAY:

One lucky reader will win a BeKOOL Gift Pack

a Rafflecopter giveaway


 *Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts March 18, 2016 and ends on March 31, 2016 at 12:01 am PST. Winner will be emailed and has 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize.

Curious George 3: Back to the Jungle on DVD #CuriousGeorge

*I received a copy of this movie to facilitate my review, all opinions are 100% my own

Curious George is a loved character in my family. As a child I loved reading the books, now my son enjoys the books and movies. The newest movie Curious George 3 Back to the Jungle George is selected to go on a space mission but things go all wrong when he does not behave as he should. He crash lands in the African jungle and meets all sorts of friends along the way as he waits for Man with the Yellow Hat to find him.



My son as always giggles at the antics of George. He is a little monkey himself always being silly and messing with stuff just for the curiosity of it. Man with the Yellow Hat tries to teach George about being cautious and that was a great way to be able to bring up what it meant and how my son could try that too. While out shopping this week I have mentioned to my son while he was monkeying around that we need to try to be cautious like George should, he did settle down a bit.

The movie is cute and fun for all the Curious George fans in your family. There are a few fun ways to interact with the famous curious monkey with the Photo App Photo With George for free.

Here is the picture my son and I made with the photo app from his visit to Dino Days in Sacramento. Photo bombed by George and my son's favorite animal a giraffe. We laughed how it looks like the giraffe is trying to eat the leaves.

You can also follow Curious George on Twitter and Facebook. 

Sweet as Honey: Maya the Bee Movie and Giveaway

Disclosure: I received complimentary items to facilitate my review. No other compensation has been provided, and all opinions are 100% my own.

Watching a movie at the end of the day is a family fun night we do several times a month. We curl up on the couch, have some snacks and get lost in a world outside our own for an hour or so. Over the weekend we watched and fell in love with Maya the Bee. This wonderful movie that will definitely be on our Summer Movie list. This movie shows kids how to "bee" true to their own heart, be loyal to friends and celebrate diversity. Maya learns about the bugs outside her hive as she explores the world around her. I think I like Maya because she reminds me of my own child, he questions the norm and has a zest for seeing what is out in world. She is a spunky little Bee that kids will adore.


Movie Summary:

Maya the Bee, based on the children’s novel beloved by generations, is now buzzing with new excitement as this fantastically funny and family-friendly film!

Maya is a little bee with a big heart. While most bees believe that other insects should be feared, Maya can’t help but make friends with Flip the violin-playing grasshopper, Kurt the dung beetle and even Sting, a young hornet. This group of “fearsome” friends causes some bees to avoid Maya. But when the Queen’s royal jelly is stolen, it will take Maya and all of her bug buddies to figure out who did it and how to save the day!




My son thought Maya was cute and brave. His favorite character is the violin playing grasshopper Flip. I love this little song they sing to "bee" yourself. Movies with a positive family friendly topic are always a great find to add to our movie collection. My son loves to watch a movie over and over like most kids do, that means it needs to be a movie that I agree with him hearing the message. Maya the Bee has the Dove.org seal of approval for all ages family friendly.

After watching a movie that my son enjoys I like to find ways to share learning with him on a topic he may not know about. I have so many ideas to celebrate all things "bee" autiful about bees for my son. We can learn about honey, pollinating and hive life. I see many crafts and recipes on Pinterest that can help my plans and Shout Factory has provided a few as well.

GIVEAWAY

Enter to win a copy of Maya the Bee Movie on DVD

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts May 19, 2015 and ends on June 1, 2015 at 12:01 am PST. Winner will be emailed and has 72 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize. I was sent a product to review for this post.

Hearthsong Toy Review and $50 Gift Certificate Giveaway

 I was provided with a product for my review. All opinions are mine alone.

  

 As a mom and grandmother, I have been buying toys for almost 40 years. What's important to me now when I give my grandchildren toys, is that they are well-made, creative, and sparks their imaginations.

That's exactly what Hearthsong toys do. Hearthsong lets parents provide their children with wholesome, age-appropriate, and high-quality playthings.

When I was given the chance to review the Skyscraper Glow-in-the-Dark Marble Run, I knew my grandsons would really love it. And they do, with it providing hours of creative play and fun.

Here are this toy's very cool features:

Our bright-window-filled skyscraper blocks are fun to play with day and night! Glittery windows soak up the sun and reflect it back to you after dark. Build stacks of varying heights and connect their tops with a marble run so you can watch the glow-in-the-dark marbles jump down, around, and along that fun run's stair step, water wheel, seesaw, and funnel. Illuminating!

• Glow-in-the-dark skyscrapers make a marble run
• Wooden blocks with glittery windows
• Windows soak up the sun and glow at night
• Build stack of varying heights
• Connect stacks with marble runs
• Includes tricks like stair step, water wheel, seesaw, and funnel

It's really been fun for me to see how creative the boys are with this Marble Run, and the glow-in-the-dark feature is awesome. They love turning off the light at night and playing with it. It's an absolutely great toy that boys and girls will love, all the while using and developing their imaginations.



 You can visit the Hearthsong website here to shop for toys. It's actually one of the best shopping sites I've ever used because it's so in-depth and easy to navigate. It lets you find the perfect toy for your child by age groups, interests, categories, and prices. And using the Gift Finder is very helpful to narrow down your choices from the hundreds of selections available.

I love talking about the Hearthsong company because it's toys remind me of the days when children had the chance to be creative and make using their imaginations a part of growing and learning. Good toys like these are important, I think, for developing creative thinking and imaginative playtime.

Besides the Hearthsong website, you can visit them on Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter.

I'm so happy to share with you that Heartsong is giving away a $50.00 gift certificate to one of our readers. Be sure and enter and have your own chance to experience these great toys.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


 *Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts Dec. 18, 2014 and ends on Jan 1, 2015 at 12:01 am EST. Winner will be emailed and has 72 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize. I was sent a product to review for this post.

Apple Tree Handprint Project

 

With Thanksgiving coming up next week we have been talking about giving, sharing and loving your family and friends. A great way for children to relate to this in real life is to read them a story about the subject. That is why we have been reading The Giving Tree , a family favorite. All this reading sparked the Apple Tree project below! I love it when the story continues into real life, it really seems like the children are understanding and absorbing what we are teaching.

 

 

Cousin Love

HaPpY HaLlOwEeN!

Alphabet fun with cookie cutters!

 

With Back to School in full swing around here we are brushing up on our ABC's with these alphabet cookie cutters. I made a simple sugar cookie recipe, but when the boys started the cookie cutting they seemed so bland in color. We added food coloring, although it was messy and didn't blend well the boys loved it!  

 

 

We didn't decorate them with frosting or anything since they were already colored blue, it worked out well and they last longer that way. We sealed them in a plastic bag and they boys have been going back to them to "play", I love an activity that gets lots of use. This activity is a great way to let them play and learn all at the same time, perfect!

How about you? Have you done anything fun or different to get your kids eager to learn? Do tell, we are always looking for ideas!

Energizer Giveaway and National Childhood Injury Prevention Week #sponsored

Home safety has always been a big thing for me. I am a what if kinda gal and a bit of a clutz so I try to be careful. When my son was born I went on full crazy mode baby safety everything I could think of (oh and it was a million things that could happen lol).

After my son was about 2 years old I was not as worried about everything. Still aware of things but no so paranoid. Until he swallowed a penny. I always check the floors, vacuum regularly and made sure my purse was never around but he managed to find a penny under the couch cushions. It was within the first few weeks of me starting my first job since my son was born and when I got home my husband told me LW swallowed a penny. My first thought was are you sure, maybe you thought he did and was wrong. I panicked I did not want to imagine all the horrible things that may or may not happen. I asked my son did you swallow a penny, his response was "yes mom and its in my tummy". We found out from the doctors this happens often and x-rays would only expose him to extra radiation if we already know he swallowed it so we just have to wait and check his diaper. It was a long wait but eventually it did pass through his system. They did say thankfully it was not a battery since that can be far more dangerous. I had not considered the small batteries that are shaped like a coin. I now realized I needed to make sure all coins and batteries were kept up and the devises that contained them kept up as well.

If it is suspected that a child has swallowed a coin lithium battery, it is important to go to the emergency department immediately.



Coin lithium batteries can be found around most homes in everyday items like remote controls, keyless entry devices for your car, flameless candles and children’s books with sound. If ingested, these coin-sized lithium batteries can cause serious chemical burns in as little as two hours.  Yet in a survey conducted by Energizer, 62 percent of parents reported being unaware of the risk associated with coin lithium batteries.

In support of National Childhood Injury Prevention Week (September 1-7, 2013), the National Safety Council and Energizer have teamed up to share some important tips every parent should know to help prevent injuries from the ingestion of Coin Lithium batteries to help keep kids safe.

The Energizer battery pack felt more secure to me. 

The 4 S’s of Coin Lithium Battery Safety
·         STORE devices that use coin lithium batteries out of reach of children
·         SECURE the battery compartments of devices
·         SELECT battery packaging that meets federal guidelines for child resistance, such as Energizer’s coin lithium battery packaging
·         SHARE this information with your friends and family

Looking over the child proof packing I can see a big improvement on the older packages. Child safety on batteries is important to me since my son is such a busy body and looks for things to mess with. I could easily open it with scissors which I feel is a simple task to keep my son from being able to open the package.

Energizer led the industry by being the first to voluntarily develop packaging for its 20 millimeter coin lithium batteries that meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) strict guidelines for child-resistant packaging.  They also developed a national awareness campaign in partnership with Safe Kids Worldwide called The Battery Controlled, which works to alert parents and caregivers to the dangers of swallowing coin lithium batteries. Identifying ways its products can help keep families safe is part of the Energizer commitment to designing its products with people in mind and investing in programs that have a positive impact on the world. that’s positivenergy™



For more information on child safety and coin lithium battery safety, please visit nsc.org, www.energizer.com, TheBatteryControlled.com and www.poison.org/battery.  

My little guy loved the flash light. He always wants to play with one when he sees it, under Moms supervision of course! We had a fun time playing shadow puppets and even spotted a few "monsters".

Keeping my son safe is top priority to me and when a company like Energizer makes it easier with safety packaging it makes my job as his Mom a little easier. 

GIVEAWAY

·         Two (2) packages of Energizer Coin Lithium batteries

·         One (1) Energizer LED Nightlight (winner’s choice between Sleeping Beauty or Cars)

·         One (1) Energizer Weatheready 2-in-1 LED Light

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 *Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts Sept. 4 2013 and ends on Sept. 18, 2013 at midnight EST. Winner will be emailed and has 72 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize. I was sent products from Energizer for my review.

Super Silly Saturday

While out shopping at the dollar store for craft supplies the other day I told the boys they could each pick out one thing, after all everything is a dollar. To my surprise they picked these supper silly glasses and they cannot get enough of them, wearing them every chance they can! I thought for sure they would pick out something like a car, action figure or rubber snake. To my surprise they went with these classic funny glasses! Nice.

How about you? When was the last time your children surprised you?

Regal Summer Movie Express for only $1

 

Looking to beat the heat this summer for only $1 per person? Regal Theaters hosts a "Summer Movie Express" every summer. On Tuesdays and Wednesdays they play older movies like Ice Age, Rio, Yogi Bear, Happy Feet 2 and more for only $1!! I plan on taking my boys this week, it will be my now 3 year old Liam's first movie going experience, but I figure if we fall apart or have to leave the theater it was only a dollar. You can't go wrong for that price, check out the states, cities and times here.

* I was not paid for this post, I just wanted to share a fun and frugal summer event with our readers :)

Wordless Wednesday

A trip to our local Fire Station!

With the warm weather in full swing around here we are spending more and more time outside and the boys are riding their bikes and scooters anytime they can. Honestly Jayden had an ill-fitting helmet and Liam didn't even have one, mind you he was always on a three wheel trike, but with him wanting to ride bikes with his brother I knew they needed proper helmets. Through Jayden's Elementary school I found out that our local fire department comes to the Elementary schools to fit and give any student in need a helmet for free. All of the helmets are donated by the firefighters so any donations are welcome. Since both of the boys needed new helmets we made our own trip to our local fire station so they could each get fitted for a helmet by a real life firefighter!!

 Liam getting fitted for his very own super cool red helmet!

 Look Mom it fits!!

 Jayden's turn, he had a lot of questions for the firefighter :)

 They even got some cool stickers and a lesson on always wearing your helmet.

A perfect fit for both! Having the firefighter tell them how important it is to wear a helmet was great, they have been seriously on top of the helmet wearing because a "real life firefighter" told them to!!!

Check with your local fire station and see if they offer something like this available, it was a great experience the boys are still talking about.

Wordless Wednesday

Last week we were in sweaters and warm socks, this week we are in swimsuits and swimming pools! 

That's Washington for ya.

Enjoy your weather wherever you are!

Happy Friday!

 A few things I LOVE about this picture from our outing this morning:

1. Ashley's face!! She is so happy her brother is "sort of" holding her hand, she sure does love him.

2. Liam's face and body language. He is willing to help her walk but could really take or leave it!

3. Seeing my little ones together and happy, seriously aren't these the moments we live for?

Have a great weekend filled with sunshine (I hope) and lots of laughter!

~ Sam

Do your kids ever...

fall asleep in strange situations, places or times? My children were never really "those kids", you know the ones that fall asleep in a highchair or playing on the floor? I always wanted them to be, but normally it is only in their beds, and occasionally in the car. Until lately...

Yes that is a chicken nugget in his mouth and yes he is sound asleep!

Disclaimer: We were on our way home from t-ball so we hit up the drive thru and I took the nugget out of his mouth right after I snapped this picture :)

We were on a family walk and she fell asleep in the backpack.

2nd Disclaimer: My hubby took the pack off, we snapped the picture and laid her down in her own bed. Although we did debated letting sleep peacefully while standing up :)

How about you? Do your kids fall asleep randomly? Or are they mostly bed sleepers?

Wordless Wednesday

Keeping clothes on this boy lately is IMPOSIBLE!!!