A Shot of Natural Moisture for Your Lips

     This is the time of year that my skin is the driest. We're at the tail end of Winter and its wreaking havoc on me! I just got some BALMSHOT for my lips, and I'm in love! You guys have to try this!

A Shot of Natural Moisture for Your Lips

    BALMSHOT is the only lip balm on the market that comes in an actual shotgun shell. But don't worry, it's loaded with lip balm, not buckshot! The design is not only appealing, but it also keeps the balm from twisting in your pocket or purse and making a nasty mess.

    Okay, so I'm going to be honest here. BALMSHOT caught my eye because it's lip balm in a shotgun shell. How cool is that? I knew my son and husband would love the presentation of it too. (As well as my sister and her hubby!) As a family of hunters, these lip balms are perfect for us.

    Then I read the ingredients. First of all, I can pronounce them. Secondly, their all natural and safe for your entire family. Made from Beeswax, they're also 15 SPF so they'll protect your lips from the damaging rays of the sun. (This is important for me, because my husband has already had one run in with pesky skin cancer.)

    BALMSHOT even comes in an Organic option. Their Organic Pomegranate is USDA Certified Organic. It smells amazing, and happens to be my husband's favorite. 

Great for the Entire Family

    My entire family loves BALMSHOT. It comes in six flavors, and everyone eagerly claimed one for themselves. I took Raspberry, and my husband took the organic pomegranate. My son Liam chose the Classic one, because "it has a bear on it!" My brother in law called dibs on the Cool Mint one because he loves the ducks on it, and my sister claimed the vanilla mint with the pheasants. (They actually raise ducks, chickens, and pheasants on their farm.) 

    I also got another Vanilla Mint one in Pink Camo with deer on it. I gave this one to a very close family friend that has been battling breast cancer. A portion of the proceeds of their "pink" products actually goes to Mountain States Tumor Institute to help with mammograms and other Breast Cancer screenings.

I Need This! Tell Me Where I Can Get Some!

    To get your hands on some BALMSHOT lip balm, or some of their MINTYSHOT breath spray, then head to their website. 

Be sure to follow on Social Media too! 

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Spring Clean Your Mouth With Ease

    Spring is right around the corner, which means that spring cleaning is too. As an autism mom, I know my son's mouth isn't as clean as Id like it to be, or even as it should be. That is until I discovered these nifty new toothbrushes.

Spring Clean Your Mouth With Ease

  So many of our kids struggle with brushing their teeth. The feel of the brushes, the taste of the toothpaste, and more, can all be sensory triggers. This means that when we can get them to brush those teeth, it has to be done thoroughly. The Care + Me three sided toothbrushes are designed to get the entire tooth and gum in one pass, which means a deeper clean for your kids teeth, in a shorter amount of time.

The Care + Me three sided toothbrush is clinically proven to be safe and effective. This brush will remove plaque right at the gum line so teeth and gums are healthy!You can even adjust the bristles with warm or cold water! They're specifically geared towards autistics and those with special needs.

• Is the best choice for those who are overly sensitive.
• It has soft, flexible and gentle bristles which enables your children to brush their teeth in a more comfortable way.
• This Toothbrush surrounds all 3 sides of the teeth at once, shortens tooth-brushing time
• It gives efficient dental care.

What Liam Thinks

  I'm not going to lie, getting Liam to brush his teeth could be compared to getting a wild lion to let you snuggle it. It's dangerous, and even if it does happen, the outcome could be dicey. He does get cleanings every 4 months, and per his dentist, if he can at least brush WITHOUT toothpaste, then that is good enough. (His dentist gets it because his niece is on the spectrum too.)

    So imagine my happiness when I found a toothbrush that would work so well, with or without the use of paste. (We have only found ONE kind of toothpaste he can tolerate and even then it's only once in awhile because he gags.)

    I contacted Bright Autism about their three sided brushes, and they sent two right out to my Beans. I was so excited to see his reaction. When they came he was instantly intrigued by the bristles. He kept running them over his fingers so I knew that he liked the feel of them. Which meant getting him to use it would be easier.

And It Was!

    He was eager to try them out and has been successfully brushing his teeth (sans toothpaste) twice a day. This is huge! Getting him to brush once a day was a rarity, so twice a day just blows me away.

Bright Autism Has So Much More

    Not only does Bright Autism have the Care + Me Three Sided Toothbrush, but they have a full selection of other autism products. From sensory toys, to developmental toys, and even jewelry. Don't take my word for it, head to their website and check out Bright Autism.

Be sure to follow Bright Autism on Facebook and Twitter too! 

Send Them Some Love and a Wish

Okay, so Valentine's Day is tomorrow, but my son wanted to open his wish early. Which is good, because I want to share it with all of you.

Send Them Some Love and a Wish

    I recently connected with A Wish for You and fell in love with their ideas and the gifts they offer. Basically, you chose an item and a beautiful hand quilled card, tell them what you want it to say, and they send it to someone you love! How awesome is that? Since I firmly believe that we should celebrate our loved ones every day, these gifts aren't just perfect for Valentine's Day, but for every day!

How it Works

     It's super easy to let someone know you're thinking of them. All you do is head to A Wish for You, select the memento you want to send. There are quite a few to choose from, and all of them will let that special someone know you love them, each and every day. Next, choose your card, and what you want it to say. Then sit back and relax as A Wish for You sends your love across the miles, or even right next door!

Liam Adores His Heart

    I chose the Crystal Heart Dangle for Liam. First and foremost, I chose it because his worry crystal has seen better days, and after years of rubbing and worry, it broke. (It wasn't very thick.) So I chose the Crystal Heart for him to replace his worry crystal. The other reason I picked this memento was because I knew he'd enjoy looking through it and watching light refract from it. For him, this crystal fulfills a mental health need, as well as two forms of sensory input (tactile, and visual.)

    Liam loves it! He's been carrying it with him since he received it, and showing everyone he has seen. The card it came with is beautiful, and he keeps rubbing his fingers over the quilling. So to say his wish was a huge hit is an understatement. I'd say it was the best gift he's gotten in awhile!

Learn More

    I know by now, you're ready to check out all of the mementos A Wish for You has to offer, (if you haven't already.) So head to their website, and start browsing. I promise you won't be disappointed!

Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter too!

Staycation Autism Style

     We're sick of winter! Feeling cooped up because of sub zero temps is getting old. So we decided to take a little staycation.

Staycation Autism Style

    As autism parents, we know autism doesn't take a vacation. But that's okay. We're accustomed to this lifestyle. However, if you're looking to break up the monotony of the mundane parts of life that we do have control over, then I suggest a staycation.

    Choose a family friendly hotel not far from home, prepare your kiddo, pack some bags and get ready to relax. Well kind of....because we know our kids are always go, go, go!

Best Western Fun

     We chose the Best Western Grand Victorian Inn in Sayre Pa. We've stayed there before for mini staycations and we know it's a great place for families.

    First and foremost the rooms are spotless. I'm picky when it comes to a hotel room, but my autie has worse OCD than I do, so he's even more picky. Liam even went so far as to combing the room with a black light. (I kid you not!) And he gives their rooms "two thumbs up!" Our housekeeper Tammie certainly rocks at her job!

Shout out to Tammie! You rock!!

    Also, let me add that the rooms are virtually sound proof. You can NOT hear your neighbors which is great for two reasons. One being our kids tend to be very loud and not get "inside voice." The other being when they need a sensory escape, the room is quiet so they can chill.

Pick One with a Pool

    Autistics are drawn to water. It calls to us and soothes us in ways that not many other things can. So when we're choosing a place to stay, a pool is a must. The Best Western we chose happens to have an indoor, heated pool, which is necessary in frigid Northeastern Pa. 

As you can see, a lot of time was spent in the pool! Even some toys came along for their autism line up.

    Bonus, it even has a jacuzzi! Holy relaxation! Play in the pool, then chill in the jacuzzi. Repeat. All day! It was just what we needed to spice up the mundane days of winter!

Free Breakfast? Yes please!

    The Best Western Grand Victorian (and all of their other hotels,) offer a free breakfast buffet. Autistics are prone to picky eating, but their buffet has so many options, that it isn't a problem. I wish I had thought to get some pictures, but Liam's plates (more than one because food doesn't touch,) were full! He chose two mini boxes of cereal (they had many of his favorites,) a cinnamon doughnut, and even a "sour" (granny smith) apple.

    I had a Belgian waffle I made myself with some yummy toppings, it was amazing! Even my picky hubby had a large plate of fluffy scrambled eggs, sausage and an English muffin. That wasn't even all of the food they had to offer!

image via Trip Advisor

Good TV's (per Liam)

    Liam goes nowhere without his Xbox One. Thankfully The Best Western has "good tv's." He knew he could take his precious gaming system and actually be able to use it. Plus, it gave us a little break when our skin couldn't possibly prune up any more from the pool and hot tub! (Liam insisted I let you all know about how great their tv's are!)

Friendly Staff

    The staff was fantastic as well. They were so friendly and welcoming. Always smiling when we would pass them at the front desk, pool desk, or in the halls. This was huge for me. It seems that lately so many people are miserable which is a real downer. I loved being surrounded by others that were in a happy mood!

Thank You Best Western!

    We had a great time, and even though we rushed home to avoid winter storm Liam, we are more relaxed and rejuvenated. So what are YOU waiting for? Take a staycation! Just be prepared to spend a lot of time in the pool! :)

Cbd Is Helpful to Me, and Could Be for You Too!

    We've been using CBD for it's natural healing properties for a couple of years now. It's been super helpful to me, as well as my husband, and yes, even my son too! It could help you as well.

Cbd Is Helpful to Me, and Could Be for You Too!

    I use CBD to help relieve headaches, and to nip migraines in the bud. It also works wonders on my anxiety. As a matter of fact, I take it before I have to be "peopley" and it helps take the edge off of my social interactions with the public. Let's not forget that for some, (including me,) it helps relieve some chronic pain.

    My husband uses CBD to help ease some of his body pain associated with arthritis, and several broken bones, and surgical repairs. He also uses it to help shut his mind down to get a good night's sleep.

My husband loves these CBDEEZ Gummies

    For Liam, we give him CBD when his anxiety is too high. It helps him to calm down and be able to enjoy social experiences. We also use it to help quiet his brain when he's in a depressive cycle. 

   We all still rely on Western medicine to live our lives to the fullest, however, we always supplement with Eastern meds too. Think about it like this: Before Western medicines were created by scientists, people had to rely solely on Eastern treatments. So now that we have the best of both worlds, why not utilize them both?

Understanding CBD

    CBD IS NOT POT. It's a compound found in hemp and marijuana, however, unlike THC which is the most common element in "pot," CBD isn't psychoactive. Which means it doesn't make the user "high." As a matter of fact, most medicinal CBD comes from the least processed form of the cannabis plant, hemp.

    It's safe, and it's natural. Many people are using CBD for their entire family, much like us. We even use it for our pets, (as do many others!) It can help pet with anxiety and even arthritis pain too!

    It's legal. Since hemp itself is legal, (thanks to former President Obama and his Farm Bill in 2014,) so is CBD since it's naturally occurring in the hemp.

We Trust Cannabidiol Life for All of Our CBD Needs

    If you follow our story, I'm sure you've heard me speak of CBD before. Maybe you noticed our Cannabidiol Life widget on the blog. That's there because we know first hand that CBD can and does work wonders. We trust Cannabidiol Life because they offer quality products you can trust too. 

    They have CBD oils that can be dripped under your tongue, or safely vaped in your device. They even have disposable vape pens with CBD in them. If edibles are more your style, then have no fear, they have those too. You can even choose from capsules, topicals, concentrates, and more. For your pets they have you covered too. Cannabidiol Life has something to help every member of the family.

    

    

Fantastically Fun Family Game Night

    How many of you enjoy family game night? We definitely do, as well as many other families. But did you know that family game nights aren't just fun, but they're GOOD for your kids as well?

Fantastically Fun Family Game Night

    I grew up with family game nights, so of course I couldn't wait to pass that tradition down to my kids. I've always felt it was an important way to bond and have fun together. Then I found out that studies were done and game nights (as well as family dinners,) help your children learn, grow and develop better than those that don't partake in family game nights.

Can you guess the word? Let me help. "PARENTING IS OFTEN S---SS-UL" ;)

Give the Gift of Fun and Learning for Valentine's Day

    We give our kid small gifts for major holidays. It cuts down of giving them extra sugars, because let's face it, kids are hyper enough without added sugars! So why not give a gift for the entire family? Celebrate Valentine's Day with a gift, and share your love, while having fun! 

Discovery Toys

    I recently came across Discovery Toys. They have a huge selection of toys and games for every age, gender, and skill set. Whether you're a special needs family, or you're just looking for some fun, then look no further than Discovery Toys. (If you are an Autism or Special Needs family, then check out their toy guide.)

    I even connected with Tessa, whom is an education leader. She is not only wonderful, but can help you choose the perfect toy for your child. Do you need to fulfill a sensory need for your kid? Maybe you want them to work on their fine motor skills? Either way, Tessa and Discovery Toys can help.

    Since we're big into our family game nights, Tessa pointed out Discovery Toys new Word Flip. When we received it, I knew it was going to be a hit with Liam. To me it's like Scrabble and Hang Man in an easier way to play.

Word Flip is Super Fun!

    It really is. It's also easy to play! The object is to guess the word before other players. Each player rolls the two dice (included) and then you either add, subtract, multiply or divide them to get a number between 0 and 9. You then flip down that number (or you can flip down a combination of two numbers that you have rolled) to reveal a letter (or a blank depending on the length of the word.)

    The first person to guess the word gets the points of the remaining numbers that are left. When the word has been guessed correctly, flip up all of the numbers, then roll up that card and put it in the back to reveal the new word. Word Flip has over 300 hundreds words that will give players varying levels of difficulty.

Spelling, Fine Motor Skills, and More

    As a mom, I love toys and games that do more than just entertain, and Word Flip does much more than that! Playing this game will not only bring your family hours of fun, but it will help expand your children's vocabulary and spelling. Word Flip helps with strategic thinking, strengthens social skills, and helps kids visualize whole from parts. In my opinion it also works those pesky fine motor skills. Flipping the letters, rolling up the next card and even rolling the dice all help kids with their fine motor skills.

Liam saw this and said, "My mama is a ......" :)

So Much More

    Word Flip is just ONE example of the many toys and games that you will find at Discovery Toys. To see more, you have to head their website, or even contact Tessa. 

Be sure to "LIKE" and follow Tessa on Facebook too! 

PAWfect Gifts for Your Beloved FURiends

Our girls are spoiled just like our human kids. After all, they're a huge part of our family. So with Valentine's Day right around the corner, I thought I'd share some of our girls favorite treats.

  PAWfect Gifts for Your Beloved FURiends

    We have three special fur babies in our home. The eldest Josie has been Liam's best friend since he was just four years old. She's a little one, but full of sass and spunk. Then came Bayleigh. She's our german shepherd and though she was trained to be Liam's service dog, he didn't bond with her, and so she bonded with me. Then there's Clara. She's Liam's little girl. He waited outside in the pouring rain for three hours to rescue that feral and sickly kitten. Now's she's large and in charge, and runs the house! Because we love these furry beasts with all of our hearts, and because they're part of our family, they're spoiled just like the boys. When we need stuff for them, we head right to Chewy.com. 

    Not only are their prices awesome, but their customer service can't be beat. We always get our orders in 24 to 72 hours which is super fast compared to most places. My girls know a Chewy box when they see it and they're all over it.

Show Them How Much You Love Them 

    I just placed an order a few days ago because I needed flea treatments for all of them. (Even though it's winter, the fleas are still around!) So I ordered some special goodies for them in honor of Valentine's Day. (Plus it upped my order to free shipping ;) ) So let's talk about some of them.

Feline Fondness

    Liam chose two products for his daughter, and let me tell you, Clara is in love! First he chose PureBites for her. If you're not familiar with these, they're freeze dried snacks for your cat (or dog.) He picked the Shrimp ones for Clara. They're actually little dried shrimp and she goes nuts when she hears that bag! 

    He also got her a cute little toy from Petstages. (They have stuff for both your cats and dogs.) Their ORKAkat Wiggle Worm is not only cute, but it's perfect for little cats cutting teeth. So it said it's infused with catnip, which is another reason Liam chose it. Let me tell you, as soon as I opened it, you could smell the catnip. I was shocked! I've gotten catnip infused treats before, and never have they been great. This Wiggle Worm is awesome! (Also, it's quite inexpensive, which is another plus!)

Doggie Devotion

    My family has trusted Nylabone products for years. This past Christmas we introduced our girls to their newer line called Healthy Edibles. These bones are amazing! First of all, they're a much healthier and safe option compared to giving your dog a rawhide. Secondly, they're more like a real bone in taste (and for some, even appearance.) They're meant to be eaten so they're tasty and very digestible, but will also keep your fur babies busy for quite awhile. With a bunch of different sizes, you will find some for any dog in your home. They have flavors such as bacon, bison, venison, and more.

    I also got the girls some Redbarn Natural food rolls. My poor Josie has major allergies to almost everything, so we're working on tweeking her diet to help with her skin. That's how I found Redbarn. Their food rolls are made with all natural ingredients, with no added colors or harmful junk. The first and biggest ingredient is always meat. You can use the rolls as a complete meal, or even as a meal topper to get your dog to enjoy their dry kibble more. Both Josie and Bayleigh love this food, so I will be ordering more. 

Chewy.com and more

    As I said in the beginning, I got all of these goodies (and more,) from Chewy.com. They're prices are amazing. You can also get all of these direct from the manufacturer, and since they're all fantastic products, I suggest you check out their other items. I will link their social media sources below, and their individual web pages are linked above with their names. So get shopping, and show your fur babies some love!

Chewy.com

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PureBites

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Petstages

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Nylabone

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Redbarn Naturals

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