Protect Yourself From Harmful Rays With Eucerin (Giveaway too!) #ProRepair

With more two million people diagnosed annually, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, fortunately, skin cancer is also one of the most preventable forms of cancer.  Summer is here and everyone wants to enjoy the beautiful, warm outdoors.  But May is also National Skin Cancer Awareness Month and Eucerin wants to make sure everyone is doing what they can to protect their gorgeous skin and putting the health of their skin FIRST! 

Do you know that skin is the body’s largest organ?  This is why very important that we keep it healthy, so for Skin Cancer Awareness month Eucerin would like to share some tips to help protect your skin from potential sun damage this month.

· Skin Cancer doesn’t discriminate, it can affect anyone. Head to toe annual skin checks can help catch melanoma early – when it’s most curable.

· Always remember to apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes before going outside and make sure to reapply it every two hours.

· You can decrease your UV exposure by wearing protective clothing, sunglasses and avoiding the sun between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

· Making sure your skin’s protective barrier is strong is also another great way to keep your skin healthy and safe.

· Don’t forget to use SPF on days when it’s cloudy because the sun’s harmful UV rays can still cause

Eucerin has some great products that will help you protect your skin from the summers harmful rays:

Eucerin Daily Protection Moisturizing Body Lotion Sunscreen SPF 15 (13.5 oz.) – Helps protect skin from daily sun exposure with a lotion specifically formulated to moisturize and protect. This light, fast-absorbing formula with SPF 15 sunscreen provides 24-hour moisture and helps defend against sunburn

 Eucerin Daily Protection Moisturizing Face Lotion Sunscreen SPF 30 (4 oz.) – This lightweight, gentle broad spectrum SPF 30 formula with UVA/UVB sunscreens including zinc oxide and titanium dioxide helps defend against long-term sun damage and also provides effective moisturization

Eucerin Daily Replenishing Moisturizing Lotion (13.5 oz) –Keeps skin moisturized all day with a lotion specifically formulated to replenish the skin’s natural moisture barrier. This light, everyday formula with nourishing sunflower oil absorbs quickly and provides 24 hour moisturization for healthier-looking, softer skin.

To help you kick off the summer, Eucerin is giving one of my super, lucky readers an awesome prize pack which consists of one of each of the three lotions mentioned above, a $100 Visa Gift Card and a $50 Gift card to Sunglass Hut!  All you have to do to enter is fill out the Rafflecopter widget below.  Open to US Only!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


I received products as well as gift cards from Eucerin, all opinions are my own.

LEGO KidsFest is coming to Milwaukee, June 15-17, 2012! (Ticket Giveaway)

LEGO® KIDSFEST is coming to Milwaukee’s Frontier Airlines Center (Wisconsin)  June 15 – 17.  The tour will be bringing all of the creative hands-on, minds-on fun of LEGO building and experiences together in this three acre activity- and entertainment-packed family event for children of all ages and builders of all skills and interests.

Among the many LEGO attractions, families will find:

• LEGO Model Gallery: dozens of life-sized models made entirely from LEGO bricks

• LEGO Master Builders: live demonstrations and activities from the crew who get paid to play

• Creation Nation: build your own creation to add to a custom map of the U.S.

• Race Ramps: build your own custom car, then race it down the ramp against friends and family

• LEGO Games Arena: roll the dice to play LEGO board games

• Construction Zones: creative free build, play and display areas

• LEGO DUPLO®: younger visitors can explore imagination through building

• LEGO Retail and KidsFest Marketplace: purchase LEGO merchandise and official KidsFest tour goods

• Brick Pile: a gigantic pile full of LEGO bricks for creative play and enjoyment

• Monochromatic Builds: bricks of a single color to foster group creativity

• Brickscapes: fantastic displays that combine lots of LEGO and DUPLO sets

• And much more, covering over 150,000 square feet of space

“Any family who likes to be inspired, get hands-on and have fun together won’t want to miss LEGO KidsFest,” said Vince Rubino, LEGO events manager. “We’re bringing so many activities for Milwaukee-area families to test and showcase their creativity and building skills in what is sure to be a family event to remember.”

Based on sell-out attendance in previous markets, advance ticket purchase is strongly encouraged.

Five sessions – all identical – are available for the Milwaukee June 15 – 17 tour stop. LEGO KidsFest tickets are $20 for adults and $18 for children and can be purchased online at www.LEGOKidsFest.com.

Friday, June 15
4 pm - 8:30 pm

Saturday, June 16
Session I: 9 am – 1:30 pm
Session II: 3 pm – 7:30 pm

Sunday, June 17
Session I: 9 am – 1:30 pm
Session II: 3 pm – 7:30 pm

(Note: Each session offers the same exhibits and activities)

Want to know some fun facts about LEGO?

• More than 400 Billion LEGO bricks have been produced since 1949.
• The LEGO Minifigure represents the world's largest population of people, over 4 billion minifigures have been produced in the last 30 years.  This is almost 12 times the population of the U.S.
• LEGO minifigures are out of this world, literally.  The 2 Mars Rovers have an image of the LEGO minifigure etched into their front grill.
• Approximately 7 LEGO sets are sold each second.
• There are about 62 LEGO bricks for every one of the world's 6 billion inhabitants.
• Laid end to end, the number of LEGO bricks sold in a year would reach more than 5 times around the world.
• There are 915 Million ways to combine six eight-stud LEGO bricks.
• Children around the world spend 5 Billion hours a year playing with LEGO bricks.
• With a production of about 306 Million tires produced a year, the LEGO group is the largest producer of tires in the world.  
• LEGO is the contraction of two Danish words "Leg Godt" which means "Play Well"

I am hosting a giveaway for 2 tickets to the opening night session on Friday, June 15th 4-8:30.  This is a super easy giveaway to enter, just click HERE to register.

US Family Guide will be choosing the winners and notifying me on June 6th.

Good Luck!

Desi the Dog

Its been a while, but I mentioned that I acquired a new dog and I think I said something about posting about how we got her, so here we go.  I live out in the country, sort of, but by a pretty busy road so imagine my surprise when I opened my front door and found a momma dog and a puppy on my front steps.  The puppy looked like an apricot toy poodle but the mom, well she was a mess.  I brought them in, they were super friendly, and took them right to the bathtub.

This was the little girl puppy, she was actually pretty clean

This is the mom, she was filthy with matted up hair and sores under the hair clumps.  The bath water was black and I could not brush through that hair, so I clipped it off.  Both dogs were exhausted, the pup fell asleep on my slipper and the mom fell asleep on my lap while I was clipping her fur.

Here she is two baths and a haircut later.

I took the dogs to the vet to see if they were microchiped and to see if anyone had called about them.  They were not and no one had inquired about two lost dogs.  The vet called county animal control and they had not had anyone call either.  County told the vet that they have to hold the dogs for seven days to see if anyone would claim them.  So I had to leave the girls there.  I literally could not sleep that night, I did not understand why they had to stay there in a cage, they could stay here until the owner came for them.  So the next morning I called the vet and asked if I could foster them until their owner was located.  After calling county to ask, I was allowed to take them home.  About an hour after I got home I got a phone call that someone had called about them.  So back to the vet we went and I had to leave them again.  I felt bad for the dogs, according to the vet the mom was between two and three and had more than one litter.  I don't think she was abused but definitely neglected.  The puppy was in a lot better shape, probably lived indoors, but not the poor little momma.  Well I thought that was the end of that story until two days later I got another phone call....the owner did not want the mom.  So I went and got her.  She is the sweetest little dog I have ever seen, she is doing pretty good with potty training, just having a hard time getting her to stop messing her crate.  She does have some funny traits that only dogs who have to scrounge for food would pick up.  If I giver her a treat she takes it to the rug and then uses her nose to "bury" it (there is nothing to bury it with so it looks funny) then she sits and guards it from my other dog.

We are a "no dogs on the furniture" family, well I guess we were until now because this little 6 pound pocket dog loves to sleep on the top of the couch, or in my daughter's bed.

And she loves to go for car rides to pick up the kids from school.  And the name Desi....well we already had a Lucy so Desi just seemed to fit.

Keep Your Kids Active This Summer (and Chicago Bears Giveaway) #eatlikeabear

Summertime is here and kids are wrapping up their school years.  For many kids, the end of the school year is the end of physical education until fall.  Summertime is the perfect time to get your kids involved in some physical activities so that they don't end up spending those summer months on the couch and in front of the TV.  With childhood obesity running rampant through our country, its our responsibility as parents to get our kids moving.  Summer camps are making a huge comeback this year and summer sports camps should be at the top of every ones summer camp list.

The Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps are safe, non-contact instruction for kids ages 6-14 and are very suitable for any kid that just wants to learn the game.  They provide a station-based training format that allows campers to be divided by age and experience level so each receives the right level of instruction and support.  Kids will learn to run, throw, catch, defend, form block, form tackle and explode out of their stance with proper technique and improved speed.   The camps, which each run for 5 days from 9am to 3pm (that’s 30 hours active learning, instruction and fun!), do more than just introduce kids to sports, they make kids passionate about being healthy and help develop a lifelong love of fitness.  

Not only that but the camps also feature:

Chicago Bears Heroes

Professional Coaches

Athletic Development

Skill Challenges

Team Contests

Tournament Action

Championship Friday

Awards and Prices

The camps are designed to get kids more interested in physical fitness and they do this by disguising it as fun activities. “Kids do Bears Youth Football Camps because they are fun,” says Tom Finks, Executive Director of Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps.  “They don’t know that there is this big, underlying health initiative happening underneath all the fun-filled activities.”   From learning new skills and pushing beyond comfort zones to making healthier food choices and honing young leadership skills, the Chicago Bears Youth Camps provide a great opportunity for kids to develop a lifelong love of fitness.  

Tips for Parents from Chicago Bears Youth Football Camps:

Focus on New Achievements:  Kids love learning new skills and are always excited to succeed.  “At our camps, through fun skill challenges, fun competitions and fun games, kids exert themselves—often beyond their normal comfort level,” says Finks.  Finks suggests introducing your child to a new skill—making great catches, running faster, setting an obstacle record, etc., which will often get your child to push him or herself on their own.  “The fitness discovery is indirect,” adds Finks.  “They experience an increased work capacity or ability.  They see that they can move faster and longer than they ever imagined and for a longer period of time.  That experience raises their understanding of what their bodies can achieve.”

Talk about the Affects of Exercise:  Once kids begin exercising regularly, they will notice how different their body feels.  “They are relaxed, they sleep well, they are happy,” adds Finks.  “Their body may be tired, but it’s a ‘good tired’ and parents should openly talk about this.”  This is also a great time to begin talking about how the foods you put in your body affect how your body performs.  Off the field moments during camps include nutritional education games, interactive classroom activities such as “Eat Like a Bear” and lunch hours for kids and coaches.  There is even an interactive online game called “Eat Like a Pro”—which is a great tool for starting the parent/kid nutrition discussion   “Kids are now primed to consider what kinds of foods will help them perform better tomorrow than they did today,” says Finks.  “You want them to begin thinking about what foods provide them energy, repair muscles and help them feel great.” 

Provide Proper Motivation:  Just as all kids are different, all kids are motivated by different things.  Parents need to tap into the one or two things that will motivate their child to try his or her hardest and do their best.  “At camps, kids want to run hard for different reasons.  From making a great catch to winning a leadership award,” says Finks.  “Either way, that child is going to give it everything he has to achieve his own personal goal."

With locations ranging from Chicago to Rockford and everywhere in between, there is sure to be one near you.  To get registered or to check locations just click HERE.

I'm also excited to announce that I am doing a giveaway where one of my readers will win an awesome Chicago BearsYouth Football Camps prize which will include items such as small leather binder, Bears rally towel, water bottle, Play 60 drawstring bag, D.J. Moore fan face, Bears gloves and football cards.  This giveaway is open to US residents ONLY, all you have to do is leave me a comment below telling me how your kids stay active over the summer.  Don't forget your email address so I have a way to track you down if you win.  This giveaway will end at midnight on June 4th.  Good Luck!

***This post was compensated by Chicago Bears Youth Camps, all opinions are my own.

What's Wrong With My Boy?

I know I mentioned earlier that my son was very sick not too long ago, so here is what happened....I would appreciate any comments from anyone who may have some insight on the matter.  My son went to a birthday party, and being the picky eater that he is, did not eat anything there besides cake.  My husband picked him up late evening, and ran to Mc Donalds to get him a chicken nugget happy meal.  That night my son vomited (a lot) all over his bed, twice.  I figured he ate something that made him sick, he had no other symptoms.  The next day he seemed ok but had this horrible, watery diarrhea.  Again, since he had no other symptoms, I assumed it was food related.  This diarrhea went on for a couple of days, at which point I thought that it was taking too long to be food poisoning, I decided that I would take him to the doctor the next morning.  Other than the bathroom issues, which he could not even control, he was acting like himself, had no fever or anything else.  The next morning he woke up and was complaining that his left arm and leg hurt.  I thought maybe he slept in a funny position and his limbs "fell asleep", so I told him to get up and move around and see if they get better.  He started to cry in pain and refused to use his arms.  I got him to walk, though you could tell it hurt, but he would not raise his arms at the shoulder joints.  He said the left side was worse than the right.  I took him to the emergency room, this was at 9 A.M.  Once they admitted us, we had to wait quite a while, they took his vitals and they were normal, no fever.  We waited and waited while he cried in pain, finally I asked them if they could at least give him some Tylenol while we wait for the doctor to see him.  It seemed to make him a little bit more comfortable but every time I helped him off the bed so that he could use the bathroom, he would scream in pain.  They swabbed him for a flu test and took a urine sample and left us to wait again.  The doctor came in and was not too concerned, thought my son was dehydrated and sore, thought that some IV fluids would fix him right up.  So they put him on an IV and left him to rest.  We waited again, after he got about half of the bag in him, they came in and decided that they would do some x-rays and ultrasounds to make sure it was not his appendix, although his abdomen did not hurt him.  He just kept complaining about his arms and cried in pain when I helped him up.  I told them numerous times that he was saying his arm hurts and they just kept telling me that it was just the IV that was uncomfortable....well it was his left arm and his IV was in his right.  The chest and abdominal x-rays were fine, as was the ultrasound.  The doctor ordered some blood work, then again we had to sit and wait.  The blood work was fine and they were ready to let us go, with no answers, thankfully a nurse told the doctor that she did not feel comfortable letting him go home in that much pain.  She actually saw me trying to help him up and him screaming in pain.  The doctor went back to have the x-rays reviewed again to make sure there was no fracture in his left arm, and everything looked normal.  The whole thing was a giant puzzle.  The doctor was also calling the pediatrician that the hospital had on call to ask his opinion and neither one of them could come up with anything.

They decided to give him some morphine to ease his pain.  At the same time they made a decision to give him a CAT scan.  So the morphine kicked in and he finally started to doze off (this is about after 6 hours of being in the ER).  As soon as he dozed off, they came in with that drink that he had to drink before the CAT scan.  I had to wake him up and make him drink a giant cup of this stuff (it was mixed with juice) , and after he drank 3/4 of it, he threw up everywhere.  Now they were not sure if they could do the scan.....they told me to have him finish it and they would try anyway.  My poor baby was so tired and hurt so bad, and I still had to force this stuff in him.  They came in and gave him more morphine before they took him for his scan.  They also took his vitals again and now he was running a fever.....No one had any idea what was going on with him.  The scan was fine, but now that he had a fever, they ordered more blood work.  This time they were not taking it through his IV, they had to stick him in his hurting arm.  I had had enough.  My husband was finally able to get there at 7 P.M. and while we waited for the blood test results I ran to the cafeteria to finally eat something.  When I came back they said his test was fine.  There was really not much anyone could do at this point.  They offered us to admit him and monitor his pain, but I knew he would not sleep well there and he needed sleep.  We chose to take hime home because it seemed like they had checked everything and there was no immediate danger to him, just pain.  They concluded that it was viral.  Has this happened to any of your children before?  About two years ago my son got the flu, and he was really sick.  When he started feeling better, one day he woke up and could not walk.  He waddled around like a penguin with locked knees and they ran tests on him then too.  All the test results were fine. That time they ruled it as viral also, saying the flu virus settled in his knees.    His doctor perscribed him a steroid (oral liquid) and after one dose, he was fine.  This seemed very similar, except the pain level was much more intense, and this time they did not want to try any steroids. 

The whole ordeal was very scary, we left the ER at 9 P.M., 12 hours later, with no answers.  He was a little better the next day, but still would not use his arms.  He kept them down at the shoulders and looked like a little T-Rex walking around, only using his forearms.  Thankfully he is fine now, back to his old self, I just worry now that everytime he gets something viral it will end up like this. 

Winner Announcement

Hello all you lovelies, I have some great news for you, the original winner of the $125 Visa Gift card and Eucerin prize pack never claimed their prize so I am selecting a new winner as we speak. The new winner is number 44 Ashley Hatten.  Congrats Ashley, I am sending you an email shortly.                           

Next is the winner of the electric toothbrush ($160 value), and that winner is number 7 McMel.  Congrats, I sent you an email so check your inbox.

And finally I have the winner of the Rubbermaid Hidden Recycler, that winner is number 2 Melissa.  An email has also been sent out.

Congrats to all my winners, please make sure you reply to me within 48 hours or I will have to choose another winner. 

A Lego Maniac's Dream Come True (and Ticket Giveaway)

When I was little, my brother and I would build out of Legos for hours on end.  Now that my kids are a little older, they have really gotten into Lego blocks as well.  The other night all four of us sat around and built together, it brought back some great childhood memories.  The reason I enjoy Legos so much, and encourage my kids to play and build, is because they really let you use your imagination and creativity.  I also can't wait to take them to Legoland Discovery Center!  If you live in the Chicagoland area, you really need to come check it out.  Located at the Streets of Woodfield, 601 N. Martingale Rd. in Schaumburg, with over three million Lego bricks under one roof, you will feel like you just stepped into a Lego box. 

This is just a picture of the interactive map that is available on their site, you can visit the site by clicking HERE.  This is a Legomaniacs dream come true, with rides, a lego factory, a jungle adventure, hall of fame, birthday rooms and so much more.  There are no additionial costs for these attractions, unless you are looking to purchase food or product. The attraction is geared towards families with children 3-10 years old.  Oh yes, they also offer birthday parties, and you can submit your childs name for the birthday club so they can receive a free child ticket during their birthday month. 

Legoland Discovery Center is 30 minutes from downtown Chicago by car. Adult admissionat the door is $19. Child Admission is $15. Special annual pass and ticket offers are always available at www.LEGOLANDdiscoverycenter.com. Hours are Monday-Friday from noon-7 p.m. and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Open extended hours on holidays. Last guest admission is two hours before closing at 5p.m. 

I'm excited to have the opportunity to offer one of my readers a family 4 pack of tickets to check out Legoland for themselves.  Must be 18 or older to enter, please leave me a comment below telling me who is a Lego maniac in your home....maybe its you?  This giveaway will end at midnight on May 31st, winner will be chosen at random and notified by email, Good Luck!


**I received free tickets courtesy of Legoland, all opinions are my own**





Harlem Globetrotters Summer Skills Clinics

For the first time, the Harlem Globetrotters are holding summer skills clinics to bring boys and girls ages 6-14 behind the curtain to see the Globetrotters’ electrifying skills and tricks, while also having fun staying active. This is a great way to get the kids off the couch and active this summer.

Each participating child receives:

• A free ticket voucher (valued up to $40) to see the Globetrotters during their 2013 World Tour
• Autographs and photos with the stars!
• 3-day trial pass to 24 Hour Fitness

Clinic Locations:  (Keep in mind these are just the clinics - the games for your tickets are in 200 cities)
Phoenix,   Houston, San Francisco, New Jersey, Denver, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, St Louis, Miami and Las Vegas

I have a special offer for my readers, you can save $10 on registration! Enter the Coupon Code USFAMILY on the cart page after completing your registration or mention when calling 1-800-641-HOOP (4667)

WHAT:		3-hour basketball skills clinic coached by the actual stars of The HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS. Exercise that's fun, with the professionals whom parents trust to help their kids learn to play sports with a positive attitude. Register your kid and make this a summer to remember!
WHO:		Boys and girls ages 6-14. No basketball experience required, fun for all.
WHERE:		At state-of-the-art 24 Hour Fitness® locations in Phoenix, AZ, St. Louis, MO, Denver, CO, Houston, TX, Dallas, TX, Miami, FL, San Francisco, CA, Los Angeles, CA, Las Vegas, NV, New Jersey, and Seattle, WA.
WHEN:		A 3-hour morning skills clinic will run each day, Monday through Friday: 8:30-11:30 a.m. A 3-hour afternoon skills clinic will run each day, Monday through Friday: 2:00-5:00 p.m.
BONUS VALUES:		Complimentary ticket voucher to see The HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS live on tour included in the price: Retail value up to $40. Free 3-day trial pass to 24 Hour Fitness® for mom or dad! Autograph and photograph opportunity with the stars at the end of each clinic - remember your camera!
REGISTER:		Spaces strictly limited to give kids maximum interaction with the stars so REGISTER NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT

Kids Live Well Program #KidsLiveWell

Like many families, we like to go out for dinner once in a while, but it seems like wherever we go, the kids menu looks the same.  There are a handful of choices, some of which include chicken tenders or a mini pizza, and of course a side of french fries.  We as adults have an entire menu of choices, healthy and indulgent, but the kids have so few.  The National Restaurant Association has launched a wonderful program called Kids Live Well which is changing the way kids dine out all over the country.   Currently 96 restaurant brands (representing more than 25,000 locations nationwide) are revamping their kids menus to meet the demands of health conscious parents.  Restaurants such as  Applebee’s and Chick-fil-A are participating in this program, which has quadrupled since its launch last July, by putting things such as fruit and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and low-fat dairy products on their kids menus.  There are specific guidelines that the restaurants need to adhere to,

A Kids LiveWell meal must provide the following:

• 600 calories or less
• 35% or less calories from total fat
• 10% or less calories from saturated fat
• Less than 0.5 grams trans fat (artificial trans fat only)
• 35% or less calories from total sugar
• 770 mg or less of sodium
• Essential nutrients for a well-balanced meal; each meal must contain two sources of either fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein or low-fat dairy

Individual and side items are also eligible for the Kids LiveWell program if they include

• 200 calories or less
• 35% or less calories from total fat
• 10% or less calories from saturated fat
• Less than 0.5 grams trans fat (artificial trans fat only)
• 35% or less calories from total sugars (added and naturally occurring)
• 250 mg or less of sodium
• Essential nutrients to contribute toward a well-balanced meal; each individual side must contain a source of either fruit, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein or low-fat dairy

Not only that, but participating restaurants must display nutrition information of the full meal and individual menu item or make it available upon request.  With childhood obesity and diabeties running rampant through our country, this program is taking big steps to make a change.

Also, the Association has unvailed a new Kids LiveWell App.  This app will connects on-the-go parents to restaurants which offer healthful children’s menu items under the Kids LiveWell program. The app is geo-coded so that users will be able to find restaurants nearest to them with Kids LiveWell menu items. The free app is available in the Android Market and iTunes app store. To download it visit: www.restaurant.org/kidslivewell. 

I'm really excited about this program and how fast its growing.  Last Monday I attended the NRA Show in Chicago and was honored to be a part of the Kids Live Well announcement.

“Participation in the ‘Kids LiveWell’ program has exploded in a short period of time, with restaurant companies from across the industry eager to showcase their healthful choices,” said National Restaurant Association President and CEO Dawn Sweeney. “As a result, parents are finding a growing selection of healthful children’s menu options of fruit and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains and low-fat dairy products.”

What can you do to help this program grow?  Download the App by clicking HERE, support the restaurants that are already involved and suggest the program to those that are not.  Tell them how important it is to you that your child have healthy options to choose from on their menu.

Disclosure: I received compensation from the National Restaurant Association’s Kids LiveWell program for my time reviewing and writing about their program. The opinions expressed are solely my own

Visa Gift Card Winner Announced

You may be wondering where I have been, well that is an excellent question my friends.....Within the last week and a half I have acquired a new furry, four legged friend as well as had to nurse my baby through a rough illness (posts to follow), attended my daughters first Taekwondo tournament as well as celebrated Mother's Day.  So now I'm back, with lots of stuff to share with you guys.  First and foremost I have a winner to announce for the $125 Visa Gift Card and Eucerin prize pack.......

The winner is #717 Denise Goudy!

Congrats Denise, I will be emailing you shortly.

There are still a couple of days left in the electric toothbrush giveaway ($160 value) so make sure you get yourself entered in that giveaway.

Mother's Day Project (Grandmas, no peeking!) #CBias #SocialFabric #ExpressYourself

Mother's Day is next weekend so I thought the kids could get a head start on their Mother's Day gifts for their grandmothers.  Grandmas, please stop reading now, lol.....

Ok, I had an idea in my head, just needed to make a trip to Wal-Mart to pick up a few items.  My son had gotten food poisoning the night before so the kids stayed home with their dad this time and I went to shop alone.  For their project, I wanted them to decorate ceramic flower pots that we would plant some little flowers in.  I am always hesitant to let them use acrylic paint because they always make a HUGE mess and it makes me nervous.  The best solution to my dilemma was to purchase some Elmers Painters Paint Markers.  After picking up some "food poisoning" essentials, I headed to the craft isle for the Paint Markers.

 There was a nice selection of boxed sets, but I wanted to mix and match my own colors for this project.

 So I chose to buy the individual Paint Markers.  These also came in metallic colors and they were under $2 each.

I grabbed six colors, I had to get the gold and silver, I knew the kids would love those two.  These seem so much easier than dealing with paint, brushes and cups of water.  I also ran over to the card isle and picked up some cards for them.  Normally I let them choose the cards but our schedules have been crazy lately and I didn't want to wait until the last minute when all the good ones are gone.

I set up the flower pots on some newspaper and got the Painters markers ready, the kids were really excited to try them out.  You have to shake them well before using....

The tips of the markers are white when you first open them, you have to press them down a couple of times to get the paint to start flowing.

The colors come out smooth and don't drip or run.  I love that the kids didn't have to use brushes which need to be rinsed between colors, these were so much easier.

The colors stayed bright and didn't sink into the ceramic pots, the kids designs looked beautiful!

Here are their finished products, all we need now is some soil and flowers.  Oh I have to add that the drying time on these markers is so much faster than paint which is great for impatient little crafters.

All ready for Mother's Day.  Now we have a hard decision, which grandma gets which flower pot, maybe we need to make two more.

If you want to check out all the pictures from my shopping trip, click HERE to see the album on Google+.

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric