Keep Food Fresh and the Planet Happy

    Back to school season means many parents are back to packing lunches. It also means that sandwich and snack bags are being used. But these disposable bags really aren't good for our planet. What if I told you that I have a better option? One that will save money and Mother Earth!

Keep it Fresh and Our Planet Safe

    Criss Elite has fantastic Silicone Food Storage Bags that can be used again and again. You won't have to keep buying those disposable bags, so in the long run, you're going to be saving more money. That also means that the disposable bags won't end up in our landfills. By using the Silicone Storage Bags, you'll be reducing your carbon footprint. That's something all of us should be doing.

    These bags are heavy duty and will withstand going to and from school and work each day. They are leak proof and have a sturdy zipping lock on the top. It will keep contents from leaking into lunchboxes or briefcases. You can even put drinks in these bags! Milk, juice, even smoothies or soups will travel safely in the Silicone Food Storage Bags. And I'm not just saying that. I know because I have thoroughly tested them. Check out my video!

Food Safe Silicone

    These FDA Approved, Silicone Food Storage Bags are designed to keep you and the contents safe. They're made from food grade silicone and are BPA, PVC, BPF, and Phthalate Free. The bags are also non allergenic, non reactive, and non toxic. Which means they're safe for your entire family.

Refrigerate, Freeze, and Reheat

    You can use the Criss Elite Silicone Food Storage Bags for more than just keeping your foods fresh, and packing lunches. These bags can be put in the refrigerator, and stored in the freezer too. (Want to preserve your garden veggies without canning? Well, now you can freeze them in these Silicone Food Storage Bags!)

    Food can even be reheated in the bags. You can microwave and boil them too. When you're done, simply wash in the dishwasher, or by hand. Silicone withstands high and low temps. It's such a versatile material!

What We Think

    I love my set of Silicone Food Storage Bags from Criss Elite. (As a matter of fact, I have more sets on my Amazon list!) They're convenient and easy to use. I also feel good knowing that I am doing my part in preserving our planet for generations to come. 

Sensory Input for Back to School

A few days ago I got an email from the amazing folks behind Craft City. They wanted to know if Liam would like a Slime Swag Set for back to school. Of course that answer was a resounding yes!

Sensory Input Back to School Style

Now I know all too well how much fun it is to make slime. It’s one of mine and Liam’s favorite ways to spend time together. However, we don’t always have that time, especially during the school year. With that being said, there’s still a need to have slime because it gives Liam wonderful sensory input, and also keeps his hands busy during lessons. Busy hands means he focuses more on me instead of looking around the room and trying to find something to occupy his empty hands.

So when Karina and her team from Craft City asked if we wanted some premade slime, our answer was yes! They did not disappoint! A mere two days later a bunch of slimy fun arrived on our doorstep.

Soda Slime

Let me tell you, this slime smells absolutely fantastic! When my son opened it, I could smell it sitting across the room from the him. He got Orange and Grape soda. Craft City also has Cherry Cola scented and Lemon Lime Soda as well. Your kids are sure to love this four pack of premade slime.

Super Slime

This may very well being one of Liam’s favorite types of slime. He loves the colors and glitter. His favorite is Fire and Ice. It’s an orange slime with gold glitter (two of his faves,) and it even has plastic chunks of “ice” inside. He loves manipulating this slime to expose the ice and pick them out. The four pack also comes with Mood Ring slime which changes colors with heat.  Metallic slime, and Glow in the Dark Rainbow too.

Galactic Slime

Inspired by space, this four pack of Craft City premade slime is out of this world! It comes with Blackberry Blast Off, Martian-mallow, Milky Way Cereal, and Green Apple Goo. The green apple smells exactly like a hard candy. The Milky Way Cereal looks and smells just like a fruity cereal. Plus it has foam balls for even more sensory input.

Glitter Slime

If glitter is your thing then you’re going to love the Craft City Glitter Slime four pack. It comes with glittery fun in blue, gold, rainbow and pink.

More Fun From Craft City

These are just a few of the fun activities and sensory items from Craft City. You can make slime, lip gloss, and more. There are even kits to color your own squishies too! Karina sent Liam two keychain squishies, and two of those balls that you squeeze and parts of it pop out. He hasn’t put them down since they came!

Rechargeable Flashlight is Perfect for Campus Life

    If you're getting ready to send a child off to college, then a flashlight is a must. While exciting, campus life can be daunting too. Make them and you feel safer by making sure they have a quality light.

Rechargeable Flashlight is Perfect for Campus Life

    Having a good flashlight is a important for everyone. However as a parent, making sure your child has the best one as they embark on life away from the nest, is a necessity. But not just any light will do. I just got the Victagen LED Rechargeable Tactical Flashlight for my eldest son. I don't have to worry that he won't have fresh batteries for it because it's a rechargeable. He can simply plug it into his USB ports and it charges with a micro USB cord (included.) The light takes about two hours to charge and will give you up to four hours of continuous use on the brightest setting.

Super Bright to Light Up the Night

    The Victagen LED Rechargeable Tactical Flashlight is a powerful one thousand Lumens. It's beam can reach three hundred to fifty yards, or over one thousand feet! Not only will this light up campus and discourage negative contact, but in an emergency situation it can help even more. This light has an SOS and Strobe mode. The user can institute this to signal for help. Since the beam is so bright, you're sure to attract attention and help. 

Safety End

    There's something a bit different about Tac Lights, compared to your run of the mill flashlight. The front end features an "attack head." This is designed to strike an assailant in the face. Preferably in the temple, nose, or eye socket. So not only are making sure your child can see well around campus, but you're essentially giving them a legal weapon for use in an emergency.

Water Resistant

    The Victagen LED Rechargeable Tactical Flashlight has an IP65 rating. That means it will resist water damage. If your child drops it in a puddle or it gets splashed, it won't ruin the light. They can even use it to head to shower rooms at the dorm. 

Wellies Don't Need to Be Boring

    I've been looking for the perfect pair of wellies. I love to be outside as does my son, and I wanted a pair of boots that are made to get wet. So many of them are boring, and just kind of gross looking. That is, until I found this pair.

Wellies Don't Need to Be Boring

    I just discovered this pair of Biker Rain Boots from DKSUKO, and I fell in love! They don't even look like wellies! This pair of boots looks just like a fancy pair of biker boots. However, instead of being leather, they're made of ninety percent PVC, with rubber soles. The PVC and rubber keeps your feet dry, even in the wettest situations. 

    These boots even have a slight heel to give short people like myself a little lift! The inside has a thin cotton lining for more comfort too. DKSUKO's Biker Rain Boots feature two buckles to really set off that biker boot style. There's one at the top of the boot, and one at the bottom. They're not just for looks either! These buckles are functional too. You can tighten your boots with them if you want a better fit on your leg.

Sturdy, Well Designed Tread

    We don't just want our wellies to keep our feet dry. We also want to keep from slipping and falling on wet surfaces. Which is another reason I love my Biker Rain Boots from DKSUKO. Their tread is just like that of a work boot, which means it gives you the grip you need to keep from a slip and fall accident. Whether your tromping across the deck of a boat, rambling down a ramp, or tromping through a wooded area, these boots will keep your feet dry, and keep you from sliding around.

Six Colors to Choose From

    Most of the wellies I'm used to seeing are the traditional white ones. I see them all over the Eastern Shore when we're visiting family. I also see them a lot on fishing shows on television. However, DKSUKO gives you six colors to choose from. You can pick the traditional white, or opt for a pastel pink, bright yellow, or navy blue. They even have a dark brown or black option. I chose navy blue, and unless you get up close to my boots, they look like a leather biker boot!

Back to School Sensory Style

    We're not a typical family. Which is why our back to school list always includes sensory items. Liam is home/cyber schooled and he needs things that can keep his hands busy so his brain can focus. We just got this awesome kit, check it out!

Back to School Sensory Style

    Explorer's Choice 2018 Slime Kit is amazing! It has twenty-four colors of crystal clear slime. There's also an egg packed full of Galaxy slime, and fruit slime as well. Tons of slimy fun to fulfill their sensory needs, and keep their hands busy. Keeping hands busy helps to keep people focused. It works wonders for my son, and we don't do lessons without something for him to fidget with.

    However, slime isn't just a sensory tool. It's an amazing stress reliever too. I often sit in my chair and stretch slime, or make bubbles in it an pop them. Believe it or not, it helps me unwind after an especially rough day.

Add Ins to Make it More Fun

    The Explorer's Choice kit even comes with add ins to make your slime even more sensory fun! There are six glitter jars to make your slime sparkle and shine. With six packs of foam balls your kids can add more texture to their slime. The different sizes of the foam will make slime bumpy and exciting to stretch in your hands! There are even some fruit slices that they can add into their slime!

    The creators of Explorer's Choice 2018 Slime Kit even included stuff to play with your slime! There's a three piece tool set to cut and smooth out your slime. With six animals, you can hide them in the slime and let little hands dig them out. There are even three straws to blow bubbles into your slime. (We love making bubbles in our slime because then you can pop them, and it really fulfills those sensory needs!)

Hands Free Music and Phone Calls

    Back to School season is in full swing. Many tweens, teens and young adults will be looking for new headphones. Hands free phone calls and music are a must, so wireless headphones are on most shopping lists. We're currently grooving on Charmast's Bluetooth Earbuds.

Hands Free Music and Phone Calls

    My son loves his Earbuds from Charmast. First of all they're Bluetooth so he doesn't need to plug them into his phone of tablet. As a matter of fact, these earbuds will work up to forty five feet from your devices!! Not having to be attached to it for making phone calls, or listening to music, makes life easier. The built in HD mic makes phone calls more clear, and the noise cancelling earbuds helps to hear callers (or music) more clearly as well.

Waterproof and Sweat Proof

    These earbuds are IPX4 waterproof so if you child accidentally drops them in water, you won't have to worry that they will be ruined. They're also protected by the Liquipel Nano coating. This is what makes them sweat proof, and protects them from breaking down due to sweat.

Long Battery Life

    The 120 mAh battery allows for six to ten hours of play time. It doesn't take them super long to fully charge, so your kids won't be without their earbuds for very long. I charge Liam's at night so that they're always ready for him. Since we homeschool, he uses them throughout the day to listen to his cyber lessons without interruption.

Markers or Watercolors and Paint Brushes?

    It's back to school season. If you homeschool like us, or even have a child that loves art, you'll be purchasing art supplies too. Money is tight, so we're always looking for ways to save it. So should you get them markers or watercolors and paint brushes? How about both, in one convenient pen?

Markers or Watercolors and Paint Brushes?

    Liam gets his love of crafting and art from me. I homeschool him, but use a cyber school, so they send most of the items he needs for the year. However, we always buy his art supplies. He loves to draw and to color, as well as paint. But with money being tight, I can't always afford new markers and watercolor sets each year. So what do we do? That's easy. Grab this set of Watercolor Brush Markers from Lasten.

Color with a Marker, Get the Watercolor Effect

    We love this set by Lasten. The tips come to a nice point, but act like a brush. You get the ease of coloring with markers, but it looks as though you painted with watercolors. The only difference is the colors are more vibrant. So it looks as though you used very concentrated water colors. It's gorgeous!

    The Dual Tip Watercolor Brush Markers come in a pack of twelve. However, since they are dual tipped, you're actually getting twenty-four colors. One end is a dark color, and the other end is a lighter shade of the dark color. I love that because it helps to teach kids more about shades of color.

Lettering, Coloring, and More

    You can use these watercolor markers to color in your books. But you can also use them to create beautiful lettering. Use them in scrapbooks, bullet journals, and so much more. I guarantee you're going to love them as much as your kids. (So you may want to get your own set.) ;)

Makeup Brushes are a Back to School Must Have

    It's that time of the year. Cooler weather is coming, and our kids are headed back to school. If you don't have a set of makeup brushes on the back to school list, then now is the time to add them. These are definitely a must have for teens and adults.

Makeup Brushes are a Back to School Must Have

    All of my friends teen daughters have one thing in common. They have spent a good portion of their summer watching makeup tutorials on YouTube. If this sounds like your child, then they definitely need this twenty-two piece set of brushes from Maange. This set has everything your teen needs to achieve their desired look.

The Set Includes

• Contour Brush
• Blending Brush
• Blush Brush
• Powder Brush
• Eyeshadow Brushes (Various sizes and shapes)
• Lip Brush
• Eyeliner Brush
• Eyebrow Brush
• Eyeliner Brush
• Teardrop Sponge
• Carrying bag for the brushes

High Quality

    The bristles are made from high quality synthetic fibers. They are soft and effective at applying makeup. The brushes are also non shedding, hypoallergenic, and antibacterial. Their handles are sturdy too, so this set is sure to last a long time.

Easily Remove Unwanted Hair

    As the teens and young adults are headed back to school, they'll be getting ready to look their best. With this awesome gadget, they can easily remove unwanted hair. Which makes it a perfect back to school accessory.

Easily Remove Unwanted Hair

    Magefy's Hair Removal Trimmer is perfect for everyone! This is a must have tool for a shaving bag, or in a makeup tote. Users can quickly and painlessly remove any unwanted hair. Whether it be pesky eyebrow or nose hairs, trimming sideburns, or epilating armpits or unsightly lip hair. This trimmer does it all!

    It comes with four interchangeable heads. One epilator, one nose hair trimmer, the narrow trimmer for eyebrows, and another head for shaving the face or sideburns. There's even a guard that you can attach to the longer trimmer, so you can shave in three different lengths.

The Hair Multi-Tool

    Because the Hair Removal Trimmer from Magefy does so many things, I call it the "hair multi-tool." I keep mine right on my vanity, so I can touch up any areas that need it when I sit down to apply my makeup, or put on my nightly face creams. I love that it's small in size too, so I can easily toss it in my makeup bag for vacations. Because let's face it, who wants to be away from home and notice hairs that need to be removed? With kids heading away from home and to college, this trimmer is the perfect addition to their bathroom caddy. 

Rechargeable and Waterproof

    The Magefy Hair Removal Trimmer is waterproof, so if you're in the shower and want to touch up shave, you can. The IPX7 waterproof rating makes it a wonderful addition to the bathroom because you know the moisture or water won't affect it.

    The Magefy Trimmer is rechargeable as well. Simply plug it into any USB port and let it charge. This is perfect because most of our device charge via USB, so we don't need to worry about extra chargers. Heck, you can even charge it via your laptop or notebook too. 

Shed Some Light on College Safety

    Are you sending kids off to college this fall? If so, you may be considering their safety away from home. Let's shed some light on their nights.

Shed Some Light on College Safety 

    A must have item for any teen or young adult heading to college is a flashlight. They'll use it to get to and from their dorm, and as they traverse the campus at night. They may even use it to study and not disturb their roommate. But most importantly, you will rest easy knowing they are safer by having one. However, not just any flashlight will do.

Why Tactical?

    If you're going to send them with a flashlight, choose a tactical one. I happen to love the Kllarmant T6 LED Tactical Flashlight. First of all, it's super bright with six LED lights. You can zoom your beam of light in and out, which can light up any dark area on campus. This tac light has five modes. Your son or daughter can choose from high, low, medium, strobe, and SOS. Since the light it gives off is so bright and intense, they can signal help from afar. 

Self Defense with a Tac Light?

    I realize it's not pleasant to think about our babies having to defend themselves in a situation gone awry. However, in the event that this happens, the Kllarmant Tactical Flashlight can be used as a weapon. Yes, you read that right. It can be used as a weapon.

    Look at the lens end of this flashlight. This is what they call the "Lotus Shape Attack Top." It's designed to not only break glass in an emergency, (think car windows,) but it can also be used as a melee weapon on an attacker. One good swing with the end of this tac light to the temple or eye, is sure to knock an attacker off his or her feet. We all know that violence isn't the answer, but in a life or death situation, your son or daughter can easily fend off an attacker with their tac light. This will help you and them sleep better at night. Afterall, a college journey is something to be celebrated, not feared.

Look and Feel Gorgeous Without Makeup

    I love to apply makeup, and never leave the house without it. However, I don't always feel up to it. Sometimes I want to look and feel gorgeous without the hassle.

Look and Feel Gorgeous Without Makeup

    I really do love to put on makeup. However, with chronic illness, sometimes I just don't feel up to it. That being said, I don't like leaving the house without at least some eyeliner and mascara. Add in seasonal allergies (and since northeast Pennsylvania can't choose a season, I've been suffering with them since March!) My eyes water and itch, so wearing eye makeup is sometimes more messy and leaves me feeling and looking a bit gross. Then I discovered Magnetic Lashes.

No Glue, No Hassle

    The first time I donned a pair of false eyelashes was Halloween of 1999. I loved the look of them so much, that I applied them every day before work. That lasted about a year, and I finally became tired of gluing them in place, and then peeling the lashes and the glue off my eyelids every night. Time warp to 2018. I keep seeing women talking or posting about magnetic eyelashes, so I knew I had to try them out! I got these Full Size Triple Magnetic False Eyelashes on Amazon, and couldn't wait to give them a go! 

No Mess

    I think first and foremost I was excited that I wouldn't have to hassle with eyelash glue. Secondly, I was excited because if you've ever worn false lashes, you know that they not only amplify your eyes, but there's really no need for eyeliner, unless that is you want to create some nice wings in the corners of your eyes.

Realistic

    To be honest, it did take me a few tries to perfect putting on the Magnetic Eyelashes. However, once I got the hang of it, I can now apply them in no time. (Here's a hint: Use a bit of mascara, and apply the top lash. Once in place, attach the bottom lash.) They look super realistic and absolutely gorgeous. I am in love!! Hey, back to school season is creeping up on us. Don't put makeup on for school drop off or pick up. Just don some magnetic lashes.

Art is Important Too!

    I home school Liam with a cyber school. Though I love them and most of their lessons, I feel that there needs to be more of a focus on art. After all, it's important too! Being an artist myself, I make sure that we incorporate it into our daily lives. Because learning happens everywhere, and when you least expect it!

Art is Important Too!

    To me, art is any way you can express yourself. Whether it's sketching, painting, sculpting, or even writing poetry. Sadly, for many brick and mortar schools, art classes are nixed due to funding. Even in cyber school, there's not much focus on the arts. I however know what it's like to have a creative mind and need an outlet for it. I also know how important it has been in my own life, so I make sure I expose my son to various forms of art in his life.

Self portrait from 1st grade (finger paints)

Self Portraits

    One of my favorite projects to do with Liam is self portraits. Each year as we begin a new school year, his first art assignment is to create a self portrait. I give him his sketchbook, and allow him to use any mediums he desires. He has grown from using finger paints and crayons, to markers, to colored pencils, and now even uses chalk pastels or watercolors.

    What's amazing is seeing how your children view themselves. And then seeing how that changes from year to year. You will notice how the little details like eyes and ears will vary as they learn better ways to draw. It's fantastic! I gather them up and file them away, so that each year when he is finished, we can dig them out and compare them.

Lasten Sketchbooks

    I happen to love this set of sketchbooks from Lasten. You get two books. One is large (16.5 inches by 11.4 inches,) and the second is smaller at 11.4 inches by 8.3 inches. They paper is of amazing quality. It's smooth, pure white, and thick. You can sketch, draw, paint and more in the Lasten Sketchbooks. My son loves the handles on them. They're perfect for taking anywhere you or your child roams. It's back to school season, so grab some for the upcoming school year. Then get outside, and have an art lesson in the yard, or at the creek! 

You Don't Need to be an Artist to Expose Your Kids to Art

    It's true, you don't! With the internet we can now access various tutorials on drawing, painting, sculpting and more. If you're like me, you'll join your child and learn with them. It's a great way to bond and to keep your own brain fresh and open to new learning. 

    We're currently learning how to sculpt. It's something I have always wanted to do, but was never much good at it. However, we found this young lady on YouTube that creates kawaii sculpts and so we have been watching her and learning that. It's a great way to expose your child to a new art form. Who knows, maybe Liam will be sculpting more in depth pieces soon!