Spring Gift Guide

We're working hard to bring you the best products for Spring!

Check out our thoughts and the links below.

PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR OWN LINKS

If you want to be added, contact me at alegionforliam@gmail.com

Enjoy Fun in the Sun Safely

    I can't wait for Spring! I'm ready for longer days and sunshine! However, if you're planning on enjoying some fun in the sun, you have to do so safely. Here are ways we stay safe and our tips for special needs sun protection.

Fun in the Sun

    We love to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. We enjoy being able to fish and swim, and comb the local creek beds for creek glass and pottery. Sadly, a few years ago, a troublesome spot on my husband's face turned out to be skin cancer. And all because he refused to cover up. I've always plastered myself and our son with sunblock, but hubby has always refused. 

So What are We to do?

    That's easy. Protect yourself and loved ones from the sun! When choosing summer clothing, try opting for shirts, shorts, or rash guards that have built in UVA/UVB protection. Liam happens to love rash guards because of the silky feeling. I love them because they're keeping his skin safer from the sun's rays.

ALWAYS Wear Sunblock

    Every bit of your skin should be covered with sunblock when heading outside. Whether your skin is exposed or not, the sun's rays can penetrate clothing, so you still need to slather on some sunblock. I happen to love Sunblocz Baby + Kids. 

Don't Leave Home Without Sunblocz Baby + Kids

This sunblock is an all natural mineral sunscreen that offers an SPF of 50+. It also has the highest amount of zinc oxide compared to other kids and baby brands. (Sunblocz has 24.5% zinc oxide.) Not only that, but the ingredients are things that you can pronounce, and actually know what they are! It contains Grape Seed Oil, Safflower Seed Oil, Beeswax, and more. These all natural ingredients are safer for your children, babies, and your entire family in general. Oh and Sunblocz is a Licensed Natural Health Product (NPN) by Health Canada and FDA Registered.

Tips for Fun in the Sun Special Needs Style

•  Find clothing your son or daughter can tolerate. Whether it has UVA/UVB protection or not, it will still keep some sun off of their precious skin.
• Never leave home without sunblock! We lather up before we leave, and reapply frequently. (Most sunblocks need to be applied every 80 minutes whether you're swimming or sweating.)
• Use your smart phone, or a children's visual timer and set it to remember to reapply. This will help your schedule loving children know when it's time to reapply, as well as helping them become a little more proactive in their self care. 
• Find a hat or sunglasses your child can tolerate. EYES CAN GET SUNBURNED TOO!
• Always pack cold drinks. Many of our kids are super picky so not all convenience stores or supermarkets will have a drink that they like. So grab a reusable bottle, and pack your own!

Follow Olen Cosmetics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

 

Sensory Fun Your Kids are Going to Love

    We have been having a blast this week with some really cool products we just received from Sensory Jungle! We love them and know your kids will too!

Sensory Fun Your Kids are Going to Love

    Liam has always been a huge sensory seeker. There are things he does avoid but that's mainly certain food textures, or sticky things. (For example, he wears rubber gloves to eat apples.) One of his favorite go to toys has always been water beads. He loves watching them change in size and shape as the grow.

Growing our water beads

    We use them in a pan and he puts his hands and feet in them. I used them to teach him fractions in math too! Just a few measuring cups, and kids can start learning their fractions by seeing how many of the smaller cups it takes to fill the one cup. (See, math can be fun!) He also likes to take them outside and bounce them off the porch to see how high they go. (Note: that's pretty darn high!) Another thing he loves to do is make them and put them in my big bathtub. It's super deep, so he can get in there in his swim trunks and "swim" in the water beads. However, when you purchase your beads from most places, you don't get enough.

    For Christmas, Liam received a water beads play set. You crush the beads, and then mold them into play foods. It's a fun way to work on those fine motor skills. The best part is that our water beads from Sensory Jungle go so much further than other brands. That means, hours, days, weeks, and more of fun sensory play. 

    I put some in a jar and placed them onto a light up base. This made a really pretty sensory light for Liam's room. (It's out of his reach for no chance of breakage.) However, Voss water bottles will work too, and be a safer alternative. 

DIY Sensory Night Light with Sensory Jungle Water Beads

Get Bigger and Better Fun with Sensory Jungle

     That's not the case with Sensory Jungle! For under ten bucks you get over twenty THOUSAND water beads. Get this! You take one tablespoon of beads per gallon of water! So just ONE tablespoon makes a GALLON of pretty big water beads! That's fantastic!! (These are much bigger than the "name brand" ones.)

Just ONE TABLESPOON of these Sensory Jungle water beads, makes one GALLON of sensory fun!

Bring the Snow Fun INSIDE!

    Snow is so pretty isn't it? We love playing in the snow, but neither of us appreciate the coldness of it. Which is where Still Valley Fake Snow comes in. This stuff is so cool! It's a STEM lesson and sensory play all in one. Water transforms this polymer powder into fluffy snow. It's perfect for a sensory station, and can even be used for crafts. (A 100 grams of Still Valley Fake Snow will make about two gallons of snow.)

    We put ours on a tray and Liam used it to play with his action figures. He loved making a snowy landscape to play in. When he was finished, he scooped it all back up and placed it in bags for another day. (The scooping is a great way for kids to work on those pesky fine motor skills.) 

So Much More From Sensory Jungle

    These are just two of the fun products that Sensory Jungle has to offer. As you can see, we love them and we think you will too! Valentine's Day is coming. Skip the candy for your kids, and get them some sensory and STEM learning fun! 

You can visit Sensory Jungle HERE. Or you can find them on Amazon too!
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Valentine's Day Gift Guide 2017

 

    Check it out! A link up of things we think you all will love. Whether you're looking for Valentine's Day gift ideas for your kids or spouse, check here to see what we like!

Please do not add links without contacting me first!

Proud To Be An Autism Mom

    I don't know about you, but I'm proud to be an autism mom. Sure, it has it's difficult moments, but I'm a part of something bigger, you know? When I go out, I love to show that pride, for a few different reasons.

Proud To Be An Autism Mom

    Being an autism mom is difficult, as well as rewarding. When you're able to connect with your tribe, it helps the bad days not seem so terrible. Sharing the good and the bad with other women who get it, and don't judge, is something that I wouldn't trade for the world, which is why I'm proud to be an autism mom.

Show That Pride

 
    When I go out, I often show that pride. Either I wear an autism related tee shirt, or some jewelry. I do this for a few reasons. One is because I like to connect with other parents that live a spectrum life. However, I'm socially awkward. I have had people strike a conversation with me because they recognized my autism merch. It makes speaking with strangers easier.

     Another reason is that now that autism is on the forefront, many people recognize the colors associated with the ribbon, as well as the puzzle pieces themselves. In the event that my son is having a rough time coping in this giant and loud world, someone may see my autism garb and "get it."

Check This Out

     If you're like me, and love to show your pride in your tribe, then you have to check out Hidden Hollow Beads. I stumbled upon them while I was shopping on Amazon with Liam. I immediately fell in love with the gorgeous pieces they have to offer!

    I've been rocking their Autism Awareness Bracelet since I got it. It's stretchy and so comfy to wear. But even better yet, it's absolutely gorgeous! Whether you're dressing up, or rocking your autism mom tee and yoga pants, it compliments any outfit perfectly!

Don't Lose It!

     Hidden Hollow Beads has the most beautiful lanyard I've even laid eyes upon! Their Autism Awareness Lanyard is so pretty! Whether you're wearing it to hold your work badge, keep track of your glasses, or have it on your key chain, you'll be keeping track of your important items in style!

     I've been wearing mine to hold my glasses. I'm finally at the age where I think I've lost them, and they're on my forehead. Thanks to my Autism Awareness Lanyard, they're where I can see them, and grab them when I need them. Oh, and before I forget, it's super sturdy too! So if you have a lot of keys, it's going to hold up to them!

So Much More

     These are just a couple of the autism awareness pieces that Hidden Hollow Beads carries. They also have other awareness jewelry as well. In their Amazon Marketplace you will find various Cancer awareness pieces, bangles, other lanyards and so much more. They're made right here in the United States, and are all simply elegant!

    Which piece is your favorite?

Teeth Brushing Sensory Style

    I'm not going to lie. My son doesn't brush his teeth every day. At least with toothpaste, that is.

    I know, I know. You're all thinking, "What? Then how is she going to tell us about teeth brushing sensory style?" I'm going to tell you what I learned from my son's pediatric dentist, and his oral hygienist whom happens to have an autistic niece.

Teeth Brushing Sensory Style

    Okay, we all know that dentists recommend we brush our teeth at LEAST twice per day. However, when you have an autistic child with sensory aversions, that isn't always possible. 

    He gags. He vomits. He spits the toothpaste out. It's been years of trying every toothpaste on the market before we found just ONE he could tolerate. But he can only use it at night. In the morning he still vomits.

    Liam's eleven, and he just had his first cavity. After they filled it, they sealed his molars because he grinds his teeth all the time. I was speaking to his hygienist about our brushing struggles. He told me that toothpaste isn't a big deal.

    "As long as you can get him to brush and floss, he will be fine."

    It seems that the brushing and flossing is what gets all that nasty food and plaque off our teeth and from our gums. 

But What Kind of Toothbrush Should They Use?

    This was another expensive trial and error process. The brush can't be too big, or too "brushy." I swear, my kid is like the three bears of tooth brushing! Basically, your kid should use any toothbrush that he or she can tolerate. 

    We have found two types of brushes that he can tolerate. One is by WooBamboo and it's designed for "small dogs." Yes, I let my son use a dog's toothbrush. But hey, the dog has never used it! 

    HE loves it because it's quite small, and the front bristles are longer, and they really get in there and clean well. If he's brushing, I'm not complaining and I don't care what the brush is recommended for. If they made a Yeti brush, and he liked it, I'd buy it! 

    The other type of brush he loves are the cylindrical ones. The bristles actually go all the way around the brush. So it's 360 degrees of bristles! They are really neat, and it even says on the package that they're great for using with or without toothpaste. 

What About Flossing?

    If you're an autism parent, you know the struggle with fine motor skills. My son can not wrap floss around his fingers and get into his mouth. So I buy him those handy dandy floss pics. He can grasp them and getting him to floss isn't a fight. 

    This is what works for us, and you know that everyone is different. Basically, try your best to get your child to brush twice a day. Even if it is without toothpaste.

Do you live around Grove Oklahoma? If so, contact Karl Jobst DDS for your dental needs.
To learn more, check out Karl Jobst.

I Saw You Judging

To the gentleman man at the Sayre, Pa Walmart this evening.

I saw you.

First I saw you in the sporting goods section, boasting to all of your friends that “Not everyone is a real hunter! I’m sick of these fake guys around here. It’s pathetic.”

I shook my head as I walked away. I felt a bit sorry for you.

Why?

Because you seemed so judgmental of people that may not be a “real hunter.”

Because your life must be so mundane that you have nothing better to do, than to put down others for something so trivial.

Because you showed such disdain for someone that you don’t even know.

Not even twenty minutes later we were again exposed to your ignorance.

My family and I were at the end of the video game aisle. You were standing just across from us in the center of the main aisle.

I saw you

A very tall gentleman walked by.

He was dressed head to toe in camo, and had two other guys with him. They were talking a bit loudly, but no louder than everyone else in the store tonight.

Somehow I knew he was the person of whom you were talking about earlier.

I looked straight at you. At which time you made eye contact with me.

The smirk on your face and the shaking of your head said it all.

I normally shy away from eye contact, but I held your gaze.

I saw you attempt to speak to me, which is why I stopped looking you in the eye and instead shook my head. I had a pretty clear idea of what you wanted.

Your wife walked up to you and you loudly exclaimed, “Did you see those guys? Oh my God! People have no shame!”

At this point you probably heard me call you a “judgemental asshole.”

What did that man have to be ashamed of?

For shopping in Walmart, like YOU?

For wearing camo, like YOU?

For looking at stuff in the sporting goods section, like YOU?

For minding his own business and just going about his life? Unlike you.

Do you know who should be shamed?

YOU

For judging someone you don’t even know.

For trying to encourage others to join in on your pig headed ignorance.

For being what is wrong with our country.

Oh, and I saw you at the registers too.

When you were standing again with all of your friends, LOUDLY singing, I Touch Myself by the Divinyls.

And you know what?

The gentleman YOU were judging was right next to me in the checkout lane.

But guess what?

HE DIDN’T JUDGE YOU

He went about his life with his friends and made his purchases.

But I judge you. I normally wouldn't but since you feel it's okay then I wonder how being judged would make you feel.

Would you appreciate being called “a typical, middle aged, overweight, white guy that feels so badly about himself that he has to call out others to make himself feel better?”

I can’t imagine that deep down that would make you feel very good.

When I got into the car I asked my family if they saw you. They did.

My eleven year old son asked why you were being so mean to hunters.

I had to explain to him that just like the kids who bully him, adults do it too, which is where they learn it.

I had to explain to him that people in this world judge us without knowing us.

Now I’m not naive, I know you’ll never read this. My only hope is that someday, you are treated the way you behave.

Maybe then you’ll realize how nasty you are, and how people like you are the very people ruining this country.

Oh, and I hope you don’t have kids. We have enough bullies here.