ENTER TO WIN AN OCEANFRONT CONDO or $50,000 CASH!

Posted on December 30, 2019 by Kim

Win an Oceanfront Condo and Change Your Life! Vacation Myrtle Beach, one of the largest providers of family vacation accommodations in Myrtle Beach, SC, is pleased to announce the launch of The Great Myrtle Beach Condo Giveaway contest, which features the grand prize of a furnished oceanfront condo at The Caravelle Resort located in Myrtle Beach, SC, valued at nearly $100,000 (or $50,000 CASH, winner’s choice)!!! Other lucky winners will receive a 7-night stay or a 3-night stay at one of Vacation Myrtle Beach’s oceanfront properties.

The newly renovated, oceanfront efficiency condo offers room for up to four guests and includes a fully-equipped kitchen. In addition to its prime Myrtle Beach location, the resort provides convenient access to all of the area’s major attractions, restaurants, and things to do. Families and couples enjoy a wide variety of on-site amenities including an indoor pool, a block-long poolscape complete with a large pool, whirlpool, lazy river, kiddie lazy river, kids’ pool, poolside bar, and plenty of relaxing deck options. In addition to everything you need for fun in the sun, the resort offers an array of dining options as well as an opportunity for rejuvenation and relaxation at its on-site spa.

The Great Myrtle Beach Condo Giveaway sweepstakes is now open for entries.

For Official Rules and for more information about Vacation Myrtle Beach properties and deals, please go to https://woobox.com/hsfeoo?source=usfam

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Dinosaur adventure was a roaring good time!

Posted on December 30, 2019 by Kim

Dinosaur Adventure came to Pittsburgh this past weekend and it didn’t disappoint! I was mostly excited for my 3 and 10 year old boys but I even caught the 12 and even the 14 year old girls having fun! Who would’ve known they could have fun too? *wink wink

Dinosaur Adventure was an all-new, one of a kind exhibit featuring realistic, life-sized dinosaurs that came alive with their life-like movement and roars. We learned about the most popular dinosaurs -Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops, Diplodocus, and Velociraptor. We even learned about some other dinosaurs we had never even heard of before!

Just walking into the convention center had us stopping for pictures right away when my kids wanted to sit on the little dinosaurs!

The dinosaurs moved and roared and were so life-like!

As part of Dinosaur Adventure, children of all ages enjoyed a variety of activities such as fossil crafting, Jurassic jeeps, themed obstacle courses, riding their favorite dinosaur, and so much more!

Look how the big kids are having fun too!

Do you see that? They ALL had fun and found something to do. I caught it on camera! They can’t deny it now!

The whole family was also amused by the live entertainment featuring a walking dinosaur show, and a dinosaur meet & greet.

We even got to see the not-so-existent driving skills of my 3 year old. The workers there were so patient and great with his inability to turn the steering wheel!

Even when we thought we were almost done, there was face painting! Look at the smile on their faces!

There was so much to do there for all of my kids. Mostly the 3 and 10 year olds but like you saw, seriously…did you see it? If not, scroll back up and look. This is like, monumental! Even the teenagers had fun!

Thank you US Family Guide and Dinosaur Adventure, for a roaring good time! If this ever pops up in your area again, I highly recommend going!

Posted in Reviews | Leave a comment

Save $3 off any activity or VIP Ticket to DINOSAUR ADVENTURE

Posted on November 8, 2019 by Kim

I am excited to share that Dinosaur Adventure is coming to:
Madison WI – Alliant Energy Center – Nov. 16 and 17
Fort Wayne IN – Allen County War Memorial Coliseum – Nov. 23-24
Toledo, OH – Seagate Convention Center, Dec. 7 and 8
Raleigh, NC – NC State Fairgrounds – Jim Graham Building – Dec. 14 – 15
Allentown, PA – Allentown Fairgrounds – Dec. 21 – 22
Pittsburgh, PA – Monroeville Convention Center – Dec. 27- 29

Dinosaur Adventure is an all-new, one of a kind exhibit featuring realistic, life-sized dinosaurs that come alive with their life-like movement and roars. Learn about the most popular dinosaurs -Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops, Diplodocus, Velociraptor, and explore recent finds with exciting discoveries!

As part of Dinosaur Adventure, children of all ages will enjoy a variety of activities: fossil crafting, Jurassic jeeps, themed obstacle courses, riding their favorite dinosaur, and more!

The whole family will also be amused by our live entertainment featuring a walking dinosaur show, and a baby dinosaur meet & greet.

My Readers SAVE – $3 Off any Adult, Child Activity or VIP Ticket Use Code: FLASH3

Visit the link HERE to get your tickets!

I can’t wait to take my 3 year old. He pretends to be a dinosaur every day. This will be the perfect event for him to see, play, interact and have fun!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Free pass to all federal parks, lands, and waters for 4th graders.

Posted on March 6, 2019 by Kim

Do you have a fourth grader at home? You can get a free pass to all national parks, lands, and waters through August 31, 2019.

Go here to get your pass.

See the official rules to see how kids 16 and under and adults can also benefit from this free pass.

If you’re an educator of fourth graders, you can also get passes for your students!

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

My kids loved reading Pepper the Parrotfish!

Posted on January 31, 2019 by Kim

Tired of reading the same book every night to your kiddo? Surprise your little one with Pepper The Parrotfish! This educational picture book for ages 3-8 delights children and parents as they learn what makes the parrotfish a special part of our planet.

All 4 of my children read this book. I read it first and then watched their faces as they worked their way through the book. Truthfully, I wanted to see their reaction to the story as they continued through to the end. After they were done, they looked up at me and didn’t say a word. They just smiled. We had a discussion about how the fish changed the world and they even got into a conversation about how they can just be themselves and improve the world too.

I love how this book got them to enjoy reading, enjoy learning about marine life and also spark a discussion to better themselves and the planet around them. I highly recommend purchasing this book for your children or your children’s teachers/library. I’m excited to continue reading the Great Animal Trait children’s book series. This was only the first book in the series. Each story features a lovable character who reveals a unique animal fact. The story educates children while encouraging them to share what makes them special in our world. I can’t wait to see the rest of the books!

Part of the proceeds will be donated towards marine conservation. Free Shipping for a limited time only! Colorado local author and illustrator.
Hardcover, ISBN: 978-1-939550-74-3

SAVE $5 on the Best Children’ Book, Pepper the Parrotfish for ages 3-8! – Pepper The Parrotfish is swimming to your door with $5 OFF deal!

Click HERE to purchase!

For more details, go here:
http://www.PepperParrotfish.com

Use Promo Code KIDS5 at checkout.

Remember, a portion of the proceeds benefits the marine conservation!

Posted in Reviews | Leave a comment

DaffaDoot products really hold up to toddler and family life

Posted on September 10, 2018 by Kim

I recently came across a company called DaffaDoot. I was given a complimentary Car Seat Protector. I was really excited to see how well it holds up because we are always traveling for softball or baseball (out of state) and my youngest’s seat gets a beating. I was able to install it before we went on a road trip from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin. Look how nice it looks all snugly under the car seat.

Check out how it looked AFTER the trip and after another 3 weeks of getting my youngest in and out of the car, with muddy shoes, with grassy shoes, with wet shoes, and with an everlasting supply of snacks.

Can you believe that’s IT? Yeah that was caked and crusty but look at where his feet were. It’s like magic! It was CLEAN! Now, check out what it looked like after I took less than a minute to clean it.

Cool huh? I would definitely recommend DaffaDoot’s Auto Seat Protector! It’s material really withstands the wear and tear of getting a toddler in and out of a carseat.

Check out DaffaDoot’s information below. Oh and did I mention how I love their mission? They donate their time and money to numerous organizations that they care deeply about.

DaffaDoot is all about family values, and we are on a mission to improve the lives of everyone we can reach. We are a Mother/Daughter team, and proudly donate our time and money to numerous organizations supporting pregnant moms-to-be, new parents, battered women, and school age children. We are insanely committed to providing the best customer service on the planet and delivering only the highest quality products available.

Happy Times! DaffaDoot Brings It!

My Readers Receive 20% off orders using Promo Code HWBLFYLE

Go HERE!

1. Crib Wedge
DaffaDoot Baby Reflux Wedge Pillow. For babies who frequently suffer from reflux or dramatically spit-up. It’s a safe, natural baby reflux treatment which gently elevates the baby’s head and torso to help alleviate discomfort due to frequent stomach acid or frequent spitting up.

We used only the best material, making it waterproof, hypo-allergenic, and anti-bacterial. Drooling, spit-up, and leaky diapers can all wreak havoc, but cleanup with a disinfectant wipe or warm rag is a breeze. It sports a non-skid bottom (holding the wedge firmly in place for safety and convenience), is free of harsh chemicals, and meets and exceeds all federal safety regulations.

Happy baby equals happy parents!

2. Auto Seat Protector
Deluxe Auto Seat Protector-This is what I tried and it’s AWESOME!

Got grime? We have the solution.

We all know the importance of having children in carseats and boosters, but without some kind of protection under their seat or booster, all those dropped cookies and Cheerios can make a serious mess. Plus, car seats and boosters have a nasty habit of digging and denting your fine upholstery and leaving a permanent mark on your backseat.

What you need is some high end protection.

Our latest release, the Deluxe Auto Seat Protector is exactly what you need. Other mats or pads can’t compete with our 14mm padding and heavy duty durability. Our neoprene non-slip backing grips like no other, and our Universal Fit with an extended “lock-down” bulb ensures that no matter what you drive, it’s perfect for you and your kids.

It’s Full-Size, Premium Construction, with No Compromises. We’ve used only the strongest material and threads, and reinforced in ALL the right places. Many protectors provide only a sliver of extra fabric and claim to protect your seat, but we refuse to compromise on quality. It’s evident from the first moment you take our protector out of its box. You will enjoy the premium feel, the superior stitching, and the quality fabric.

Did we mention that it’s anti-slip and color-fast? We even baked it in an oven to make sure it could take the heat. And it has spacious elastic storage pockets where you can keep things like diapers, pacifiers, bottles, sippy cups, toys, wipes…and yes, a bag of extra Cheerios. Bottom line, it’s perfect for you and perfect for your little one.

3. Car mirror
Baby Car Mirror – Crystal Clear Rear Facing Baby Mirror – Safety Certified & Crash Tested – Shatterproof Back Seat Baby Mirror – Gorgeous Gift Box

Your baby’s smile is worth it! No doubt about it! That’s why we insist on the highest quality, with just the right amount of curvature, shatterproof glass, and a solid stay-put mount… all so Baby gets a perfect reflection of herself in the mirror. She will have a blast babbling, giggling and jabbering at that “other baby in the mirror.” And should she get lonely, she simply needs to look up and can see Mommy looking back at her! Oh yeah, because you can see her too!

Just like you, DaffaDoot is all about safety, and we understand how frightening it can be when you’re driving and baby makes a funny choking sound, and you can’t see around her rear facing car seat to see why! Boost your confidence with the safer baby car mirror specifically designed and tested for parents wanting a safe way to view Baby. It’s the Best of the Best with its independent lab-crash-test, safety tested rating, and shatterproof crystal-clear reflection.

Installation is an absolute breeze! No tricky parts to snap together, no tools needed, & installs in seconds. (Requires an adjustable headrests for proper installation.) You can rest easy because here at DaffaDoot, we are totally committed to providing a robust, quality product, & if you have ANY problems with your DaffaDoot mirror, simply let us know and we promise to make it right. We truly want you to love our mirror as much as we do. It’s that simple.

My Readers Receive 20% off orders HERE using Promo Code HWBLFYLE

Posted in Coupons, Reviews | Leave a comment

20% off for my readers at DaffaDoot

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Kim

I recently came across a company called DaffaDoot. I was checking out their products and totally wished I would have found them earlier. My kids are 12, 10, 8 and almost 2. The products that are around today seem not only just better but more versatile. They seem to have thought it through more and made such improvements that would have been helpful with my first 3. And for that reason, I usually never used any of these products with my first 3 children. There were just some things about the products that made me think it would be a pain or harder to use. Until I found DaffaDoot. I’m going to review the Car Seat Protector. I’m really excited to see how it holds up. We are always traveling for softball or baseball (out of state) and my youngest’s seat gets a beating. Check out DaffaDoot’s information below. Oh and did I mention how I love their mission? They donate their time and money to numerous organizations that they care deeply about.

Happy Times! DaffaDoot Brings It!

My Readers Receive 20% off orders using Promo Code HWBLFYLE

Go HERE!

Happy baby equals happy parents!

2. Auto Seat Protector
Deluxe Auto Seat Protector

Got grime? We have the solution.

What you need is some high end protection.

3. Car mirror
Baby Car Mirror – Crystal Clear Rear Facing Baby Mirror – Safety Certified & Crash Tested – Shatterproof Back Seat Baby Mirror – Gorgeous Gift Box

My Readers Receive 20% off orders HERE using Promo Code HWBLFYLE

Check back in a few and I’ll let you know what I think of the car seat protector!

Posted in Coupons, Reviews | Leave a comment

At-Home Teeth Whitening: Does it Work?

Posted on June 26, 2018 by Kim

I drink coffee. I drink tea. I drink soda, sometimes. These drinks are awful for your teeth. I recently began to notice how everyone else’s teeth were white and mine were, yeah, not even close anymore. I’ve tried the whitening toothpaste bought in stores. No difference. I’ve tried Crest whitening strips. No difference. I had just about given up when I heard about Smile Brilliant and their custom teeth whitening trays. I thought to myself, “Custom trays? That sounds like it would work.” I figured that if I had to get custom made trays, this teeth whitening company must be serious. I was intrigued. So I had the opportunity to review their product. Read on to see what I had to do and how well it worked (and get to the giveaway).

First, you receive the box full of everything you need. The kit includes the materials you need to create your custom molds as well as the whitening gel and desensitizing gel. It also has step by step instructions, with pictures!

My first step was to mix the base with the catalyst to get my mold ready. They were blue and white so you could tell when it was completely mixed together. You had to watch how long it took you because it will start to harden if you take too long. There was plenty of time for me to mix it together and place them in the molding trays. Here I am creating my custom molds and watching my timer. Great photo, huh?

I let them sit, as directed, until they hardened. I tried to show my kids, but their only comment was, “Eiw, Mom. Why’d you show me that?” They were just jealous that I got to do this and they don’t.

The next day, I shipped them off in the prepared, bubble wrapped mailer. In about a week, my custom trays arrived. And so I began.

Now, the first time I did this, I was a little confused but I followed the directions. The directions made it very easy. I think I was just a little overwhelmed with all of the information and didn’t want to mess this up. It actually is an easy process. You have to remember that everyone is different and there are a lot of tips and tricks to learn. I had to learn some because my teeth ended up being sensitive to the whitening gel. I actually only did it once a week. This really made my review take longer but with some tips from my Smile Brilliant specialist, I was able to increase how many applications I completed.

I ended up completing 7 applications, total, throughout 8 weeks. Most people need 7-14 daily applications to see results. I think if I would have done them daily, I would see even better results than the ones I had. I just found it a little difficult to complete it daily. This is why:

First, the gel has to be on 45 minutes to 3 hours. Then you have to desensitize for 15-20 minutes. Then, you can’t eat or drink for a while afterwards too. I did this review in the middle of softball and baseball season. We weren’t getting home until 10:00pm some nights. Since I wanted to make sure I did it properly, I did it right before bed. I get up at 5:00am and on the nights I whitened, I wasn’t going to bed until 11:30 or so. I need my sleep so I only did it once a week. Second, there were some nights that I skipped because my gums were hurting. I had to wait a few days for them to calm down so it wouldn’t hurt to badly when I whitened. This is when I reached out to my whitening specialist who gave me even more tips such as only whitening for 30 minutes, leaving my desensitizing gel on a little longer, coat my gums with Vaseline for coconut oil prior to whitening, and using desensitizing gel only on my “off” days.

Here’s an overall look at the steps I took:

Brush teeth with water (not toothpaste, fluoride slows down the whitening process)
Whiten for 45 minutes-3 hours (3 hours max per day! Do not whiten overnight, it can cause extreme sensitivity)
Brush teeth with a non-whitening toothpaste
Rinse trays out with cool water
Desensitize for 20 minutes (do not drink or eat for 1 hour after each session)
Remove trays, but do not rinse your mouth or brush your teeth, just spit (leave a thin layer of desensitizing gel on your teeth)
Sleep! It is the best to whiten before bed so you are not introducing any staining food or drinks.

It really is pretty simple. You just take the syringe and but a continuous bead of gel along the outside of the trays. I learned to wipe off any excess gel that may seep out of the trays so it doesn’t irritate your gums. This is actually pretty important and a great tip to use!

Are you ready to see the results? Check them out below.

The results may be subtle, but think about it. If the directions were for 7-14 daily applications and I have results with 7 weekly applications, then this stuff works! I know my teeth are whiter. I feel better about them now. Not only was I worried about how yellow they were getting, I was also worried about how crooked they were. Even with braces as a kid, they decided to move back a little, especially on the bottom. I don’t smile much because of this. Now, with them being whiter, I’ve gained some more confidence back and I’m not afraid to smile a little more.

I would definitely recommend Smile Brilliant if you are looking to brighten up your smile and especially if you’ve tried other teeth whitening products without any significant results. I plan on using the rest of my gel to continue to whiten and then use it for touch-ups down the road. It’s a great product that I definitely recommend.

If you would like to try it out, you can use my coupon code for 20% off!!!

Use code: mykidscoolmom20

Or if you want to try to win $149 Smile Brilliant credit, which is good for the T3 system, you can enter the giveaway HERE. It is open to USA, UK, Australia and Canadian residents.

**I was given this system to review for free. I have given my own, true opinions of the product.

Tooth Whitening Gel

Posted in Coupons, Giveaways, Reviews | Leave a comment

Kid challenge for Mom’s peace and quiet

Posted on June 20, 2018 by Kim

It’s summer vacation and kids and teachers are off for the summer. Now, I still teach English to children in China in the early morning until 10:00 am, so when I’m done, I want my “me time.” I want time to enjoy the summer off, away from the vigorous hustle of teaching special education. “Me time” is close to impossible, so I’ll just settle for time to read, while knowing the kids are happy, busy, and safe.

With all four kids and a neighbor friend in desperate need of something to do, I challenged them all. They always like challenges. I challenged them to create a mural on the entire driveway. When I said, “entire driveway,” I meant the ENTIRE driveway. *Insert diabolical laugh*

They willingly accepted. With my homemade lemonade next to be me on top of a bucket of softballs (because that’s what’s in every corner of our garage), the box fan to my far left set to #3, and me on my lounge chair, they began.

And I enjoyed my book and lemonade….

I told them I still saw too much black so…

Here’s the final result.

I think they did a good job. I got a few chapters read and they had fun.

So, when you’re looking for some down time, just say the word “challenge” and grab anything in sight. I’ve even used challenges to get parts of my house clean and bags of donations gathered. Have fun!

*Disclaimer: Helmet for the toddler is not necessary but important for full cooperation.

Posted in Cool Ideas | Leave a comment

Sleep Zzz Pillow provides comfort at night to keep my kids asleep

Posted on April 2, 2018 by Kim

Introducing the Sleep Zzz Pillow from the makers the Twin Z Pillow as Seen on ABC’s show Shark Tank!

We received the Sleep Zzz Pillow about a week ago to review and immediately my 8 year old son said he wanted to try it. He was always coming downstairs saying he can’t sleep or his neck hurts. He tried it and after the first night, said it was wonderful. He said, “I love that it helps my neck rest and not hurt anymore while I’m sleeping. It’s helpful at night because sometimes I sleep weird. So I put my body through the hole and it feels like it is squeezing me.”

My son says that it is very soft and furry and very comfortable. I love how the cover is removable so I can wash it frequently. My son likes the opening that I use to take the cover off. He uses it to hold his water bottle. I think that’s hilarious but genius! He also says that if his water leaks, the pillow and case will just soak it up. He cracks me up! He’s always thinking of how to make the best of all of belongings.

The Sleep Zzz Pillow is a kids sleep pillow (ages 3 and up) that surrounds your child with the snuggly softness and security of their very own body pillow sized perfectly for them! This pillow helps kids fall asleep faster and most importantly STAY asleep providing a more restful nights sleep for your child and you! Everyone wins!

I love the Sleep Zzz Pillow. I’m actually going to get some more for my other children who have been eyeing up this one!