All posts by Alicia

Fourth of July Kids Safety Tips

Fourth of July Sparkler Safety Tips + Free Fourth of July Safety Printable

Out of all the injuries and burns sustained on Fourth of July, children suffer an estimated 30 percent of them.  Sparklers, likely your child’s favorite do-it-yourself firecracker, are the culprit of most of the unfortunate injuries.

Fourth of July Kids Safety Tips

Teach your kids these do-it-yourself firecracker safety tips before heading out to play this July 4th!

  1. Never light a firecracker or sparkler without an adult nearby
  2. Only hold one sparkler at a time!
  3. Hold the sparkler at arm’s length – not close to your body.
  4. Running, throwing or jabbing a friend while holding a sparkler is a no-no!
  5. Dump used sparklers in a bucket of water to cool them off – they’re still hot even after going out.
  6. Stand at least 10 feet away from friends when playing with sparklers and firecrackers
  7. Got dry grass or pine straw in your yard?   Don’t light sparklers and firecrackers near these areas!
  8. Keep your pet indoors.  Loud noises can frighten your pet!
  9. Clean up after the fun!  Sparklers and other do-it-yourself firecrackers can leave messes and hazards your parents and neighbors shouldn’t have to deal with!
  10. Enjoy your Fourth of July!

Download and print our free Fourth of July Safety Printable!
Fourth of July Kids Safety Tips Printable

Keep the fun going after Fourth of July with 2-3 crafts projects, including supplies, delivered to your mailbox every month, from Kiwi Crate!
Go to bit.ly/kiwicratejuly4 and use code FIREWORK40 to get 40% off your first box!

Banana Boat Sunscreen

Protect Your Skin During Your #BestSummerEver With Banana Boat Sunscreen + Great Big Family Reunion Sweepstakes!

Banana Boat Disclosure

It’s hot in Atlanta.. 97 degrees hot – and I, for one am a bit tired of it.  We had our backyard ‘renovated’ a few weeks ago so we could enjoy it more while sitting on the back porch but it’s too hot to sit outside for more than 5 minutes at a time.  The kids are having a blast though.   Madelyn and Sebastian are like fish.  They love being in the water whether it’s a lake, beach, pool, or river.  Sebastian is more of a river and lake kind of guy while Madelyn’s a pool and beach girl.   Needless to say we spend a lot of time outdoors, water or not.  They’ve been attending an outdoor nature camp for the past few weeks and you can only imagine how sweaty they get from being out in the heat all day.  I rarely hear a complaint from them come pick up time.  How do they do it?  I’m a cranky mess after being outside for ten minutes, let alone 8 hours!

Swimming

 

With summer sun comes summer fun!  Summer is a great time for the whole family to get together and have fun outside no matter if it’s in your backyard or at the beach.   We keep plenty of sunscreen on hand 365 days a year so that when it is super sunny outside or when the kids are going to ge swimming, we have enough to reapply several times throughout the day.

We’ve been using three Banana Boat® products for about a week as we play and work outside.  The kids, being at summer camp around sandy lake shores, used Banana Boat®’s lightweight SunComfort™ Clear UltraMist®Sunscreen which even after applying, sand brushes off the skin easily – almost unheard of after applying sunscreen, and it is water resistant for up to 80 minutes.

Banana Boat Sunscreen
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I really like Banana Boat’s Sport Performance Lotion Sunscreen with Powerstay Technology.  The lotion’s formula is light-weight, sweat resistant, water resistant (up to 80 minutes), quick absorbing, non-greasy and won’t run in eyes. I sweat like mad when I’m working in the garden and nothing stops me from pulling weeds and trimming bushes quicker than my eyes burning from sunscreen dripping into them.  Powerstay Technology boosts staying power to provide heavy duty protection throughout all outdoor activities in lotion form.

Banana Boat® has reformulated its Dry Oil Clear UltraMist® Sunscreen to now include argan oil –  a product used often on hair and skin.  This unique lightweight dry oil formula goes beyond sun protection, leaving skin feeling silky-smooth and moisturized and delivers one touch spray for quick, easy coverage with a light-weight, non-greasy feel.  

Sunscreen Application & Usage Tips

  • Banana Boat Kids SunscreenApply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to you and your kids’ entire bodies 30 minutes before going outside.
  • Reapply sunscreen every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating.
  • Use the type of sunscreen that your child enjoys most.  It’s important to make the process of applying sunscreen easy and enjoyable, not a dreaded task, so if your child prefers a spray sunscreen, stick with Banana Boat’s SunComfort Continuous Spray SPF 30 or 50+.  If your child prefers a lotion sunscreen, use Banana Boat Sport Performance Sunscreen Lotion.
  • Use sunscreen everyday.  Your child’s skin can be harmed by constant sun exposure, whether or not your child sees or feels a sunburn.
  • Make it a habit to carry sunscreen with you all the time!  I have a sunscreen stick in my purse and I keep sunscreen spray in my car and our pool/beach bag.
  • It is widely thought that if sunscreen is used regularly by children through the age of 18, there would be a 72% reduction in the cases of skin cancer later in life.

My kids are well aware that with the heat and long days of summer sun comes exposure to dangerous UVBs, the burning rays of the sun.   Applying sunscreen is part of our routine, whether it’s 97 degrees or 50 degrees.  You might think that’s strange but protection from sunburn is not the most important reason for wearing sunscreen.  You want to reduce damage from the sun. Your skin can be harmed by constant sun exposure, whether or not you see a burn. Sunburn is an immediate reaction, but damage from the sun occurs over a lifetime.  You don’t want your child either now or as an adult to experience skin cancer.

My daughter experienced melanoma at just five years old.   A tiny mole developed on her upper arm.  The mole got larger and larger so I took her to the pediatrician who immediately referred her to a dermatologist.  The dermatologist told me he needed to do a biopsy right away and I got a phone call a few days later telling me I needed to bring her in that day to have the melanoma removed.  I was beside myself – melanoma on my five year old?  That was a horrible couple of weeks.  She’s fine now and we have since started using sunscreen daily, not just in the summer.

Child melanoma photo

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I am not trying to scare you into using sunscreen but I want you to see the reality of skin cancer.  My daughter’s pediatrician couldn’t confirm that the melanoma was a result of too much exposure to UV rays – we’ve always used sunscreen and often wear sunhats and UV protective clothing, but no one is immune to skin cancer.  Not even children.  Lessen the chances that your child will experience something like what my daughter did by applying sunscreen everyday.

Enough of the serious stuff!

We took a road trip to (HOT!) Washington D.C. at the beginning of the summer to see my husband’s brother and wife and we’re travelling to the beaches of North Carolina when the kids are out of summer camp.   We’re staying at a beach house with two of my Aunts, two cousins, three of my cousins kids, and my mom, and of course my kids and my husband!  It’s going to be a full house and we’re already stocking up on games, beach toys, and sunscreen for our great big family reunion!  It’s so important to spend time with family, no matter how far away they live, so start searching for the perfect destination for your next family get together!

Speaking of..

Enter to WIN a Banana Boat® Great Big Family Reunion!

Banana Boat® Great Big Family Reunion offers summer fun in the sun adventures for the whole family.  While you’re on the website, you can enter a sweepstakes that offers the chance for one lucky family to win a reunion for up to 50 of their family members and friends. Participants can also spin the Wheel of Fun for exciting activities to entertain their families all summer long!  The sweepstakes ends July 5, 2015.

The Banana Boat® Great Big Family Reunion wants to give one lucky family a reunion for up to 50 of their family members and friends! Participants can also spin the Wheel of Fun for exciting activities to entertain their families all summer long! All you have to do is select up to 50 people via email or Facebook to join your reunion party for a a chance to win!

AND..

Right here on TheMommyInsider.com, you can enter to win one of five $30 Banana Boat® Prize Packs including Banana Boat® koosie, key chain, draw string backpack and three sunscreen products!

Banana Boat “Great Big Family Reunion” Sweepstakes

 

Learn more about Banana Boat®

 

Car prep summer road trip tips

Is Your Car Ready For Summer Road Trips? – Toyota Car Care To-Do Infographic

It’s summer!  Since having kids, by February or March each year we’ve planned our entire summer.   A couple trips to the beach, a day trip or two to the lake, a vacation with family.  Those are just a few things we do during summer vacation and I’m sure your summer schedule is similar.   When planning for a road trip we often forget to give our vehicle a second thought.   Before you head out on your next summer road trip, tackle a few technical “to dos” to ensure your road trip is safe.

June is National Safety Month, and Toyota is heavily involved in helping drivers and parents keep their families safe out on the roads so they’ve provided us with this interactive infographic to remind you what’s really important before taking off to the beach this summer!

If you’re in the market for a new car check out our latest Toyota and Lexus one-week test drive reviews including our recent review of the 4Runner TRD Pro.

[pdf width=”700px” height=”1800px”]http://www.themommyinsider.com/?attachment_id=20039[/pdf]

Can’t see the infographic above?

Below are a few of the road trip car care tips. You can click here to open the pdf infographic in your browser.

No tired tires. Before taking those tires on the road, focus on: air, wear and spare.

  • Air
    A properly inflated tire can help you avoid a flat. Refer to the owner’s manual or a label inside the doorframe for the correct pressure and check tires when they’re cold (haven’t been driven on for three hours) for most accurate reading.
  • Wear
    Take five minutes to inspect for excessive or irregular wear. If tread is worn to 1/16 of an inch, it’s time to replace. Irregular wear patterns indicate tires might need rotation or realignment.
  • Spare
    Make sure the back-up has your back and run the spare through the same tests as your other tires.

Take care for rubber wear

  • Inspect belts, hoses and wiper blades for blisters, cracks or cuts. All are susceptible to summer heat, so replace if not in tip-top condition. And make sure hose connections are secure.

Get plenty of fluids

  • Be good to your trusted steed and follow up on fluids: oil, brake, automatic transmission, power steering, windshield washer and coolant. And if it’s time to have the oil changed or coolant system flushed, just do it.

Light it up

  • Check headlights, brake lights, turn signals, emergency flashers, interior and trailer lights.

Be cool

  • AC working? Hope so.

See these Summer Safety 101 tips and more here (pdf view).

Solo Smart Drone at Best Buy

3D Robotics Solo Drone, Fun for the Entire Family, at Best Buy Now!

 

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You might think it’s too late to get Dad a great gift for Father’s Day but think again!  It’s never a bad time to give Dad a fun gift.   Best Buy has the 3D Robotics Solo Drone, the first-ever drone powered by two integrated Linux computers, making capturing the perfect shot easy for anyone!  Imagine all the fun videos and photographs you could get with a drone like the kids swimming in the pool, practicing soccer, jumping on the trampoline, Dad mowing the lawn. 😉  Best Buy is the destination for drones, including the new Solo™ by 3DR.  Now is the time to explore for Father’s Day – and beyond!

3D Robotics’ Solo Drone, the world’s first Smart Drone, has LED lights for directional awareness, an accessory bay, and live HD streaming to your mobile device. The Solo’s familiar video game-style controller feels natural, even if you’ve never flown a drone.  The Solo controller is the only drone controller with its own 1 GHz computer giving the user extraordinary control over the drone.  Pushbutton commands on the controller put both camera and copter at your fingertips.  Take off, land or instantly pause your flight midair with a single touch. Click to start and stop recording or snap a photo, even adjust camera angle while you fly.

Solo Drone at Best Buy

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Solo’s Smart Shots feature allow users to capture speciality photographs and videos quickly and effortlessly.

Smart Shot modes include:

  • Selfie
    Automatically put yourself in the middle of a scenic aerial pullout shot. As Solo flies itself up and back, your surroundings expand, building and revealing more and more of the world around you—it’s a portrait and a landscape all at once. Record the clip directly to your phone for easy saving and sharing.

 

  • Cable Cam
    Locked on a virtual cable in the air, you’re free to pan and tilt the camera without worrying about piloting the copter

 

  • Orbit
    Get an iconic wraparound shot by locking your GoPro® onto any object with the push of a button. Orbit mode puts Solo on a circular track with an adjustable radius. Fly around the circle in either direction and Solo will keep the camera locked on your subject. You can also adjust altitude and flight speed to create dynamic and sophisticated aerial shots.

 

  • Follow
    Go completely hands-free. Whether you’re taking the road less traveled with your friends, cruising your boat around the lake or just out exploring the world, Solo will automatically follow along in the air. This mode keeps the camera centered on you at all times, capturing your every move.

 

Solo Smart Drone at Best Buy

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It seems unreal doesn’t it? 

The Solo app  (for iOS and Android) make it easy to get the most out of Solo’s smart features. 

Solo, the Smart Drone, arrived in over 400 Best Buy stores on June 8, just in time for Father’s Day. It’s .  The Solo retails for $999.  This intelligent drone is also the first to support full control of GoPro® cameras and deliver live HD video either wirelessly to your mobile device or through the controller’s HDMI port for live broadcasts.  What are you waiting for?

 

Best Buy 3DR Solo Drone Offer:

  • If you purchase a 3DR Solo Drone by July 11, 2015, you’ll get a FREE Solo Smart Battery (Reg. Price: $149.99) (Sku: 5354101).
    Valid 6/7-7/11 at Best Buy.
  • Offer valid with purchase of the 3DR Solo Drone SKU: 5351035

 

We have been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test

Kick Suspense To The Curb With First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test

First Response Disclosure

For those of you who aren’t regular readers, I have a little backstory to share with you before going into detail about the First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test.

First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test

I am a 40-year-old mother of two.  My kids are 15 and 9 years old.  My son was conceived without issue and my husband and I doted on him 24/7/365.  When Sebastian was almost two years old, I was in a car accident that left me with physical and emotional injuries.  The injuries included muscle and nerve damage in my right arm and leg and a neck injury.  I was in physical therapy for quite some time. It was devastating to me that Tim and I could no longer go on our morning mountain hikes with Sebastian in a backpack on Tim’s back and that Sebastian and I couldn’t go to storytime or the scrapbook store on a whim.  I couldn’t drive for a long time after the accident and there was no way I could hike a mountain.  The accident left me physically scarred and emotionally worn, with life changing implications I didn’t even realize at the time.

My husband and I knew we wanted to have a second child but for two years after the accident it was near impossible for me to think about carrying and birthing a baby with so much else going on with my body.   When Sebastian was about 4 years old, about 2 years after the accident, things started getting back to normal with my body.  So I thought.   I started a business working from home, we were active outdoors again – albeit not as active as pre-accident, and we started talking more seriously about having the second child.    Thinking about it now, what happens next seems like a slap in the face.   Hot flashes, night sweats, my periods stopped.  Just. Like. That.   My mother didn’t go through early menopause.  My older sister hadn’t gone through menopause.   I visited with my OB/GYN during which she ran a bunch of tests.  A couple weeks later we found out that I was experiencing Premature Ovarian Failure.

WHAT?!  I was 30 years old!

My OB made it clear to my husband and I that if we wanted to have a second child we needed to act fast.  She prescribed a hormone that I would rub on my inner arm twice a day and recommended that we use an ovulation test.  Our first stop was to the drugstore where we bought a First Response Ovulation Test Kit.

For the next few months, my days consisted of applying hormones to my arm, taking ovulation tests and enjoying time with my husband. 😉   Within 3 months and thanks to First Response Ovulation Tests and First Response Pregnancy Tests, I was pregnant with my daughter!

First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test

Pregnancy tests have gotten more accurate and with earlier detection since 9 years ago when I was using one every day for months, and now, First Response takes the mess and suspense out of the equation when you’re trying to get pregnant, with the First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test – with Comfort-Sure Design features.  The FDA approved pregnancy test has a 50% wider tip and is longer, making it easy to use and easy to read and it can detect all relevant forms of urinary hCG throughout pregnancy.   Available at all major drugstores, mass and grocery stores with a retail price of $8.99-$15.99, the test is easy to pick up on a whim or to stock up on.

Whether you’re in a situation like I was where you’re fighting your biological clock or you are just anxious to find out if you’re pregnant, the First Response Early Result Pregnancy Test will let you know if you’re pregnant up to 6 days before the day of your missed period, morning or night.   Easy-to-read results are shown in 3 minutes with over 99% accuracy from the day of the expected period.