Back to school marks a time when parents and children, alike are excited about getting back on track and in the swing of a daily schedule. Oftentimes, children love the idea of picking out new school supplies and clothes for the year ahead, but what about their health? As parents, it’s our job to guide our children into making the right decisions and to learn that health and well-being are a priority that top the list. Getting an annual eye exam, in addition to a yearly doctor’s check up, is top priority in my household, especially, since I have issues with my vision. Twenty-five percent of children have vision problems that could impact their learning, and 80 percent of everything a child learns in his first 12 years comes through his eyes.  If corrective lenses are needed, select lighter, stronger and safer lenses such as Airwear®. The lenses are made using eco-friendly practices; 100 percent of the production waste from Airwear® lenses is recycled, greatly reducing the environmental footprint put forth by the manufacturing process. Airwear® lenses are the first Essilor lenses to GO GREEN.

As a parent, I appreciate that their lenses are tough and durable- so tough that NASA uses the same material to construct visors for astronauts. Airwear® lenses from Essilor are 43 percent lighter and 25 percent thinner than regular lenses, and 12 times more impact-resistant than standard plastic lenses.  Kids are active, so select lenses as active as they are; Essilor Junior lenses, which are made of Airwear® material, are specifically designed for kids and resist scratches and smudges and are easy to clean.  A quality parents can appreciate!
 
Twelve to 15 million people annually develop blindness from cataracts –and about 20 percent of those cases may be caused or compounded by sun exposure. Airwear® lenses provide 100 percent protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays.

Airwear And I are hosting a contest! If you’re a parent, we would love to hear your thoughts on how you envision keeping your child safer, healthier and more successful this school year.  Share your thoughts (in 250 words or less) by entering Airwear’s Lighter Safer Greener contest by visiting www.LighterSaferGreener.com.

One grand prize entrant will win $1,000, while 10 first prize entrants will win Airwear® lens vouchers valued up to $400.

Beth Aldrich is a Certified Healthy Lifestyle-Green Living Expert, Author and mother of three sons living in Chicago; visit her book’s blog/website at http://www.RealMomsLoveToEat.com.

I’m in heaven right now.  I received a box from CBD.com yesterday full of books.  OK I admit it I love to read and when I grow up I want to be an author.

My favorite books are Christian Fiction.  I use to read Stephen King but got scared while reading Pet Sematary and stopped with that one.   I don’t like romance novels but quirky characters in odd little towns and I’m there living life along side them.

Reading lets me escape for a while and it’s not unusual to see several books in various stages of being read scattered throughout my house.  There’s one in the kitchen (gotta read while eating breakfast or lunch) one in the bedroom (once in a while I read in bed) and even one in the bathroom (hey, a girls gotta have something to do while sitting or soaking in the tub).  When I worked outside the house I even had one in my car.  No, I didn’t read while driving, it was for the unexpected stops like a long train (very common in the Chicago area) or waiting at a doctor’s office.

One of my most favorite things I did when I was single was grab a good book and hit a my favorite restaurant for a nice relaxing dinner ALONE.  It was the best place to relax with no distractions, except for the waitress who occasionally stopped to take my order or see if I needed anything else.  I would sometimes sit there for an hour or two slowly eating while I read.  Of course I always left a good tip for my time in the booth.  That’s the trick, you need to sit in a booth or table against the wall. It’s out of direct traffic and you don’t feel people are staring and whispering about you.

So now you know what I do to relax; what’s your secret?  Leave a comment and let us in on it.  While you’re at spill the beans; what do you want to be when you grow up?

Ever since I was a kid, my mother would always tell me how important taking our vitamins were.  Now that I’m a mother of my own, I try to provide my kids with that same ideology and ensure that they are getting the right amount of vitamins to keep them healthy.  I try to maintain a very healthy diet for me and my family but sometimes, a daily vitamin is appropriate to ensure we are getting the proper doses.  Recently we had the opportunity to review Nature Made’s new chewable vitamin D, which is designed for kids and families alike.  Each tablet contains 400 IU, the recommended dose for children per the American Association of Pediatrics (the recommended dose for adults is 1000-2000 IU). 

We received a one-month supply of the new Nature Made Chewable D – 90 count and a  fun Chewable D  ”Family Pack,” which included vitamin D-related toys and activities.  They included a large bottle of bubbles, several mini bottles, a beach ball, dinosaur sunglasses, a coloring booklet, and a Webkinz stuffed animal.  Needles to say, the boys were excited to see all the goodies and could not wait for the chance to play with them.  Since the new Chewable D tablets are made for the entire family, I decided to give it a try before I gave it to the boys.  I was pleasantly surprised!  It had a nice orangey taste to it and dissolved quite well with no bitter after taste.   I had no doubt the boys would like it too…and they did.   I have no issues having them take it on a daily basis.  Although I will continue to make sure that they are getting the majority of their vitamins and minerals from the foods we eat, it is nice to know that they have options with the Nature Made Chewable D Tablets. 

 BUY IT

Nature Made vitamins can be purchased at most retailers near you or online.  Also, while supplies last, US residents can sign up for a free sample of Nature Made chewable D.  There’s more… You can also sign up for the Nature Made Wellness Rewards program and earn points for purchasing Nature Made products.  Once you’re signed up you just log in to your account and you can print great product coupons!

Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive the same prize package I received to review.   Check out all the goodies in the picture below.  Included in the bag is of course the chewable Vitamin D, a very large size container of bubbles, several cute mini bubbles, a coloring booklet, kid’s sunglasses, and a Webkinz stuffed animal. 

  Mandatory Entry

1)     Visit Nature Made and let me know of other products that would be good for you and your family.

 Extra Entries:

• Subscribe to Cocktails With Mom
• Follow me on Google Friend Connect (on the right sidebar)
• Like Cocktails With Mom on Facebook
• Blog about this giveaway then leave me the link! ( 3 entries)
• Add our text link or button to your blogroll (3 entries)
• Follow Cocktails With Mom on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway! ( once Daily)

 Win a Fun Kids Prize Pack from Nature Made Vitamin D @momcocktails http://tinyurl.com/3yjkehz

STOP!

You MUST leave your email address in one of the comments or have it in your profile so I can get in touch with you.

Contest ends, July 20, 2010 at 11:59pm CST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org. Winner has 48 hours to respond to my notification email, or a new winner will be chosen. 

Disclosure: Thanks to Nature Made for the Vitamin D sample and Family fun pack in order to facilitate this review. Opinions expressed are my own and are NOT influenced by monetary compensation.

Hi,  I’m Dee the author of numerous blogs and another one in the making.  I’ve known Dee from Cocktails With Mom for about 8 months online.  Yes, we’ve been chatting back and forth since the idea of Cocktails With Mom was just a thought in her head.  I was there when she had the idea and name but not sure how it would come across.  After all, the term Cocktails may have you thinking of things other than her intent here.

I fully understand the concept and the hesitation due to the misconception it may convey.  Let’s see Websters defines cocktails as:

Main Entry: 1cock•tail
Pronunciation: \ˈkäk-ˌtāl\
Function: noun
Etymology: probably from 1cock + tail
Date: 18061 a : an iced drink of wine or distilled liquor mixed with flavoring ingredients b : something resembling or suggesting such a drink as being a mixture of often diverse elements or ingredients <a cocktail of remembered incidents and pure imagination — Charlotte Low> <a cocktail of herbicides> c : a mixture of agents usually in solution that is taken or used together especially for medical treatment or diagnosis
2 : an appetizer served as a first course at a meal

Not quite the intent here is it?

The idea of cocktails here is a way to do the three things Cocktails With Mom was founded on.  Relax, Relate and Release.  Looking at how people use cocktails in movies and real life they’re used to relieve stress and unwind, usually after a rough day at work, a stressful day with the kids or a means to socialize.  That can all be done without the use of alcohol so my definition of cocktail is anything used to release stress and help you relax.  See, that covers the first concept of Relax.   A cocktail can be anything you want it to be,  favorite non-alcoholic drink, for me it use to be Pepsi now it’s writing,  for Laverne De Fazio it was Pepsi and milk.  For some it may be sitting outside on a nice spring day reading a book, and for others it could be as simple as talking to a good friend.  Whatever it is that helps you relax is your Cocktail.

Now onto Release.  When you’re relaxing your body and mind you’re releasing stress, the stress that can cause you to lash out, build walls and pent up anger and hostility.  Those stresses aren’t healthy and can cause ulcers, failed marriages and headaches.  Releasing these stresses or the effects of them opens your mind and you can feel.  Usually you feel better about life and people.

Relating can only come after you’ve relaxed and released the stress.   Only when you’re mind and emotions are free can you be open with people, relate with them on a personal, positive level. That relating is healthy. We all need people or as Barbara so nicely put it in song.  “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.”  We all need people and we can’t have meaningful relationships if we’re stressed and keeping things bottled up all the time.

So, the next time you find yourself in the middle of a crises in your mind, stressed out and feeling like a volcano that’s ready to erupt, reach for your favorite cocktail and Relax, Release and Relate.

Jiffy Lube gives back by helping raise awareness to Women’s Hearth Helath!

Statistics have shown that nearly 2,400 Americans die of cardiovascular disease each day. To help fight heart disease, Jiffy Lube is participating in the 3rd annual Maintenance Partners for Life campaign – a program that raises funds and awareness for the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women Movement.  The Maintenance Partners for Life campaign emphasizes the importance of maintaining a healthy heart and a healthy vehicle, and seeks to raise $1 million to help fight heart disease.

This campaign kicked off  February 1^st and will run until March 14th.  Customers at participating Jiffy Lube service centers across the U.S. can support this cause with a donation of $3, receiving in return a Jiffy Lube Maintenance Partners for Life savings book containing heart-healthy recipes, as well as $100 in savings from Jiffy Lube.  100% of the funds will benefit local AHA chapters in the communities in which they funds are raised.  People can also donate online at www.JiffyLubeGoesRed.com.  Jiffy Lube has raised $2.3 million for the cause since 2008.

Giveaway

To help spread the word about the Maintenance Partners for Life campaign, Jiffy Lube has offered to give (3) of my readers a $35 Jiffy Lube gift card as well as a Maintenance Partners for Life savings book with $100 in Jiffy Lube savings.

How to Enter the Giveaway (mandatory): 

To help Support the Cause:

• Please visit JiffyLubeGoesRed.com and tell me something you learned! (1 entry)
  

Bonus Entries:

• Become a fan of Jiffy Lube Maintenance Partners for Life on Facebook
• Take the Jiffy Lube Car Checkup  (2 separate entries)
• Take the Go Red Heart CheckUp  (2 separate entries)
• Subscribe to my blog and leave a comment that you subscribed (or you’re a subscriber).
• Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway
• Blog about this giveaway with a link to my blog ( 5 entries)

You have until Wednesday (03/10) at mid to enter the giveaway. I will choose (3) winners at random using Random.org. I will send the winners an e-mail. The winner will have 48 hours to respond with his/her contact information.

Disclosure: Jiffy Lube is providing the gift cards and coupon booklets for the winner.  I did not receive any compensation to write this post.  The opinions are all mine!

If losing weight and getting healthy was part of your New Year’s Resolution, then having the right tools only makes sense in achieving those goals.  The EatSmart Digital Bathroom Scale is the ideal way to keep track of your weight loss this year.  It’s easy to use and a great accessory for any home.

I haven’t weighed myself in quite a while ,but had a general idea as to what to expect so I  was excited to see how close or off the scale actually was.   I was excited and skeptical all at the same time.  I figured I’ve gone this long without knowing so why take the chance of once again obsessing over how much I weigh.    But then again, I really wanted to know. 

It was simple!   All I did was give it a tap with my foot, stepped on and got a very  accurate readout.  I say accurate because I knew the ball park range I was looking for and it nailed it!  So… don’t go thinking for a second your eye’s are playing tricks on you and you’re not seeing clearly.  This thing is accurate and the LCD is just large enough at 3.5″ with a blue backlit that makes it easy to read.  You can also weigh yourself in the dark, just in case this feature would be a deciding factor in you choosing a scale.   

A little more about the Eat Smart Digital Scale:

The EatSmartDigital scale is engineered to the highest precision standards. Four EatSmart precision sensors ensure that you will get an accurate measurement every time.  The slim design of the scale will fit perfectly in any surrounding, and large non-slip platform safely allows weights up to 330 lbs.

 Product Features

•  Large 3.5″ LCD display w/ Backlight – Easy to read from any distance
• 4 high precision sensors – Consistant and accurate measurement up to 330 lbs or 150 kgs every time
• Measurement in increments .2 lbs. / 3oz.
• Sturdy tempered glass top and large 12″ x 13″ platformAuto Calibated; Auto Power-Off; Runs on 4 AAA batteries (included); 2 year EatSmart guarantee

Win It!

One Cocktails With Mom Reader can win the EatSmart Digital Bathroom Scale to help you keep track of your weight loss goals and New Years Resolution!

 How to Enter:

 Required Entry: Leave a comment sharing with us your weight loss tips to help us stay on track with our goals.

This step is required to qualify for the drawing. Be sure to leave your email address in at least one of your comments so that I may notify you in the event that you are the lucky winner!

 Extra entries:

• Subscribe to my blog Cocktails With Mom
• Follow me on Google Friend Connect (on the right sidebar)
• Follow Cocktails With Mom on Twitter and Tweet about this giveaway!
• Blog about this giveaway then leave me the link!
• Leave a comment on any Non Giveaway Post
• Enter any of my other Giveaways!

Please leave a separate comment for all that you do to ensure you get all possible entries! Remember to include your email address on your comment! Contest ends 1/25/2010 at 9pm CST.

Giveaway ends on January 25, 2010 at 9:00PM, CST. Winner will be chosen via Random.org. Winner has 48 hours to respond to my notification email, or a new winner will be chosen in their place.

Disclosure:I received the Eat Smart Digital Scale test out and try.  There was no other compensation received.  The stated opinions are my own and I was not influenced in any way.

I am always on the lookout for beauty products that actually work.  I am always on the look out and as of late it has kinda become an obsession to find the most effective product.  And if by any chance the pro  duct is natural, that is even better.   The problem is -with more and more companies introducing “Eco-friendly” and “natural” alternatives to their original products it’s becoming more difficult to sort out the good from the hype.

I’ve heard about Kiss My Face and even read about Kiss my face but never went any futher with it.  The things I read and heard were good but for some reason I just never looked into the products further…now that I look back on it, I asked myself-what took you so long?  Kiss my face has an awesome product line and I recently had the opportunity to test and try out the potent and pure face care.

About Kiss My Face:  Kiss My Face is a company that is committed to producing high quality beauty and personal care products that are organic and natural. The company (founded in the 1980’s) was the brainchild of two vegetarians who were looking for healthy personal care alternatives…Kiss My Face was created from their need to find great natural products.

The Kiss My Face collection features everything from toothpaste and shower gels, to cosmetics and deodorant.The Kiss My Face Potent and Pure facial care system is formulated with the highest quality and most effective ingredients that nature has to offer. We’ve used only the most potent and pure extracts and organic or wildcrafted botanicals in abundant concentrations, so you’ll see the results you expect and more.  

I got to try out the:

Start Up Exfoliating face Wash 

The Clean for a day Creamy Face Cleanser

Brightening Day Crème

Intensive Repair Night Crème

Deep Cleansing Mask

 When I received my bag of goodies, I was filled with excitement.  I was ready to give these products a try.   I have been on the Kiss My Face, skin regimen for about two weeks now and LOVE what it’s doing to improve face. The products smell so natural, earthy and clean! I love it!  I can actually see a difference.  My face feel smoother, brighter and ohhh so soft.  Within this short period of time, I knew it was working when my husband noticed a difference.  I didn’t mention to him that I was trying out a new product so it was nice to get a compliment.  I am hopeful, this just may be what I have been looking for.  I will continue my regimen and will hope for the best.

I was also able to try out many of their lip shines and shimmers and these products are great. The “sheer organic shimmer,” is a slight shimmer with a hint of color and moisturizer. They are all organic and come in different colors such as: pearl, ruby and amethyst.  

Disclosurer:  The above statements are my opinions and my opinions only. Others may have a different experience.  The items mentioned above were received for me to try, test, and provide my opinion. NO other form of compensation was received.

).

I daydream a lot. In fact, I use daydreaming as a means of escape when I need one. We all do it, or at least most of us do. So why is it looked upon negatively? According to this Web MD Article, daydreaming gets a bad rap in our society BUT there are some benefits.

“Daydreaming is looked upon negatively because it represents ‘non-doing’ in a society that emphasizes productivity,” says John McGrail, a clinical hypnotherapist in Los Angeles. “We are under constant pressure to do, achieve, produce, and succeed.”

But daydreaming can actually be beneficial and help boost your productivity. It’s simple, cost effective and a way to make you feel happier and calmer faster.

If you are a day dreamer, continue to do so.

I have always looked younger than what I really am. Folks are usually waaay off when trying to guess my age. I usually just smile and enjoy the compliment. Looking too young has never been a problem, just embarrassing at times when trying to buy a lottery ticket or alcohol and get carded. I always hated that part!!! Now that I’m thinking about it, was it really embarrassment or just an inconvenience? Anyways, I just take it in all in stride and am thankful for the good genes.

Just recently, someone guessed my age and was off only by one year. That has NEVER happened before. It had me wondering if I am starting to look my age. Sigh…oh well I still look good!!!

What about you? How old do you look? Take the test and find out.

Btw, according to this test, I still look YOUNG!!! My results were too years younger. Have Fun.