Category Archives: New posts

EcoMaids of Marietta house cleaning – just in time for the holidays

Atlanta Moms Edition, Cleaning & Cleaners, Holiday, New posts, , , ,

EcoMaids of MariettaOK, moms.. I know your stressing about Thanksgiving and the holidays.  What exactly is causing your stress?  Here’s my list:

  • Finding and buying gifts for everyone
  • Planning travel
  • Decorating the house
  • Making, buying, mailing holiday cards
  • Cleaning – that’s a doozy!

I am going to go out on a limb and guess that your list is similar to mine.   If it’s not, leave your list in the comments below.. I’d love to know what I’m forgetting to stress about!

I recently crossed one item off of my stress-list – cleaning. The lovely folks at Eco Maids of Marietta deep cleaned my house and made it look like we don’t have an 11 and 4 year old inhabiting our place.  The poor cleaners even witnessed my husband catch a huge spider in the den.  I felt terrible that they had to see that and it was right after they arrived too.

Getting ready for EcoMaids was quite a task.
Here’s a snippet of a conversation I had with my  husband and two kids the night before EcoMaids was coming:

Me: Alright guys, we have to clean the house.  The cleaners are coming tomorrow.

My 11 year old son: Oh, Mom!

Me: No really.. get up to your room and pick everything up!

My 11 year old son: But Mom.. that’s what they do, right?

Me: Come on.. just do it!  I am going to tell them to throw away whatever they find on your floor, dresser, under your bed, and on your nightstand.  They are coming to CLEAN, not straighten up after you!

My husband: (with a surprised look on his face) Alright, let’s go clean up.  We have to get ready for the cleaners.

The EcoMaids cleaners were at our house for about 5 hours.  That’s how detailed they are.  It was so nice to see shiny baseboards, clean appliances, dust-free ceiling fans, and made beds.  The relief my husband and I felt when we looked around the house for the first time after the cleaners left, was immense.  I am so thankful for EcoMaids and know you will be too!

EcoMaids of Marietta

EcoMaids of Marietta services the majority of Cobb County and the immediate surrounding areas and has been green cleaning in Cobb County since August of 2009.  EcoMaids’ products and services are safe for kids, pets and our planet. They use Green Seal Certified solutions and methods, multi-level HEPA-filter vacuums, and microfiber tools and cloths.  All of EcoMaids of Marietta’s employees are screened, bonded, and insured, as well as trained in the most progressive green cleaning techniques.

EcoMaids attention to detail is unmatched. Superior service, Competetively Priced, & We’re Green! You cannot go wrong.

Leave the cleaning to EcoMaids and spend more time with the people you cherish most.

Get a free estimate online or call us today at (770) 427-0066.

EcoMaids of Marietta websiteEcoMaids website

EcoMaids of Marietta Twitter page EcoMaids of Marietta Twitter

Our super sweet Candy Land party and a giveaway!

Contests, Games, New posts, Toys, , , , ,

Can you imagine.. Candy Land, cupcakes, face painting, pottery painting, bead bracelet craft, and hair-do’s.. all in an hour and a half?
Oh my gosh I can’t tell you how exhausted I was around 12:30 today.  I was pooped and ready for a nap, which is very unlike me.  All for good reason though.   Thanks to Hasbro and My Blog Spark, I hosted a Candy Land party for about 18 3-5 year old’s this morning.  I was thrilled to have Desiree from BottlesToBritches.com, Stacie from TheDivineMissMommy.com, and Amanda from OhAmanda.com at the party.  Check out their blogs!  You’ll love them.

Candy Land was recently redesigned, bringing the excitement that is Candy Land back to our kitchen table.  Forget the dinner, let’s play Candy Land!  My daughter is 4 and Candy Land is the “go to” board game when she has friends over.  Don’t even try to offer another game.. Candy Land is “IT!” and that’s the way it is.

Candy Land party - My Blog Spark

Candy Land is a classic ‘first game for children’, takes about 15 minutes to play, and because there is no need to read to play Candy Land, even 3 year olds can play it!

Candy Land board game

You too can travel down the rainbow path on a journey of discovery through enchanted lands filled with sweet surprises around every corner. Create delicious treats at the Cupcake Commons to deliver along the way, participate in a thrilling snowboard race down the Ice Cream Slopes with the Duke of Swirl, take a relaxing train ride through Gummy Hills and climb to the top of Chocolate Mountain. Be sure to make friends with Gramma Gooey, Lord Licorice, Princess Frostine and Princess Lolly of Lollypop Woods throughout your adventure, as you race to meet King Kandy at the grand entrance to the Candy Castle.

Here’s a short video of our Candy Land fun at Farmhouse in the City in Roswell, GA:

A special thanks to Hasbro who provided us with the Candy Land board games to play and give away through MyBlogSpark!

You can buy Candy Land at your local Target, Wal-Mart, or Toys R’ Us, or online from Hasbro.

GIVEAWAY!

We are giving a lucky reader a Candy Land board game!   To enter leave a comment below telling us one what your favorite memory of playing Candy Land is (with your kids or from when you were young).
Earn extra entries by sharing this giveaway with your Twitter friends (Tweet: “I entered to win Candy Land from TheMommyInsider.com!  You can enter too:  @mommyinsider”).  Be sure to follow us on Twitter and leave a separate comment below telling us that you Tweeted and what your Twitter address is.  ‘Like’ us on Facebook and tell your Facebook friends about The Mommy Insider and/or our Candy Land giveaway. You can post about our giveaway on Twitter and Facebook up to once per day – just make sure to let us know in the comments, that you did!
Entries accepeted through November 30th.

Have fun with Candy Land!

Ralph Lauren Sanderson pants – My Official Holiday Pants

Clothes - mom & dad, New posts, ,

Ralph Lauren women's clothing

Ralph Lauren Sanderson trousers
Ralph Lauren Sanderson trousers

I have a difficult time finding pants that fit  well.   I blame it on the ‘mommy belly’ that won’t go away no matter how many sit-ups I do and how many miles I walk on the treadmill (not so many these days).  Given my ‘situation’, I was thrilled when I received a pair of Ralph Lauren Sanderson pants and they slipped right on, beautifully and comfortably.  As I put the pants on it felt like I was slipping a sheet of whipped butter on my legs.  Sounds strange, I know.. but these pants are so light and smooth, I don’t know how else to explain it.

The Sanderson pants sit just below my natural waist giving support where I need it most.  The pants have a fuller leg shape which helps me feel more balanced; between my big boobs and small legs.. sometimes I feel like I don’t look properly proportioned in ‘skinny’ jeans.

A classic pair of black pants is a must-have for every woman’s closet.  I can’t imagine a body type that the Sanderson’s won’t  flatter.   The Sanderson’s are available in petite and regular sizes.

Ralph Lauren Sanderson pants - brand ambassador
Ralph Lauren Sanderson pants

When shopping for holiday outfits this year be sure to try on a few Ralph Lauren pieces.  Thanks to Ralph Lauren’s timeless designs and high quality, you will wear them for years.

<< This is what happens when my 11 year old is responsible for taking photos of me.

View all Ralph Lauren Sanderson trouser colors and sizes

Ralph Lauren TwitterRalph Lauren Twitter

Disclosure: I am a participant in a Mom Central Consulting campaign for Ralph Lauren and may receive various Ralph Lauren products as part of my participation.



Goony Goo-Goo and GaGa Too! Madelyn is HOOKED on this book

Bedtime, Books, Contests, New posts, , ,
Goony Goo Goo and GaGa Too
Goony Goo Goo and GaGa Too

Like I’ve said in previous book related reviews, Madelyn LOVES to read.. or rather, be read to, at this age.  From what I’ve seen, most 3-5 year olds get hooked on something and it becomes part of their routine.. for a long time.  Such is the case with Goony Goo Goo and GaGa Too written by children’s book author Kia Morgan Smith.

Goony Goo Goo and GAGA Too
Goony Goo Goo and GaGa Too is a tale of two sisters Selena and Celeste who are less than enthusiastic about their new baby brother.   They don’t understand why he can’t talk or walk and at the first indication that ‘Baby Boy’ understands what the girls are saying, the girls go on and on assigning him chores and such.  Mom is none to happy about the girls attitude about Baby Boy and gives them a piece of her mind by explaining to them that Baby Boy isn’t their servent boy and that the girls should appreciate their little brother for who he is and what he can do.  The book is whimsically illustrated by Brandon Fall.

Click this link to buy Goony Goo-Goo and GaGa Too on Amazon.com.

Here’s a brief video of Madelyn showing off the book and her favorite children’s book author:

Kia Morgan Smith Twitter

Follow Kia Morgan Smith on Twitter

Kia Morgan Smith on Facebook

Follow Kia Morgan Smith on Facebook

GIVEAWAY!

We are giving two lucky readers a copy of Goony Goo Goo and GaGa Too. To enter, leave a comment (click to jump to comments) below telling us why you want to win.   Get an extra entry for following us on Facebook here and and an extra for following us on Twitter here.  Be sure to leave a comment telling us that you are following us and include your Facebook & Twitter ID’s so we can give you extra entries!  Entries accepted through November 29th.

Shutterfly Holiday Cards – it’s not too early to get started on your holiday cards!

Holiday, New posts, , , , ,

Shutterfly photo giftsI can’t believe it but we have NEVER had a professional family portrait taken.  One of my all time favorite family photographs was one that my mother took of Tim, Sebastian and I (pre-Madelyn years) in front of the Christmas tree.  So, I printed a million of them and put them in Christmas cards.  I haven’t done that since.  Call it lazy, over-whelmed.. I don’t know.  It’s just not happening.   That’s why I’ll be designing and getting our holiday cards from Shutterfly.com this year.  Now to find someone to lucky enough to try and get a great photo of the four of us!  I’ll be sure to update you all when that happens! 🙂

Besides a huge selection of holiday cards, Shutterfly offers shoppers a great selection of photo gifts including wall calendars and stationary.

Shutterfly holiday cards - photo gifts

Shutterfly shoppers can choose from a variety of holiday card styles.  Are you a simplistic kind of gal?  No problem.. choose a classic, simple holiday card design. If you love bright colors and fun type faces, you’ll love Shutterfly’s more charismatic holiday card designs.

Shutterfly holiday photo cards

A few of my favorite Shutterfly.com photo products:

Shutterfly website
Shutterfly TwitterFollow Shutterfly on Twitter
Shutterfly on FacebookLike the Shutterfly Facebook page

Now I just need to find a photographer to shoot a few (hundred.. it’ll take that many to get one good shot of the 4 of us I think!) photographs of us for our holiday cards. 🙂

Are you a blogger?  You can get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly.com.  Learn how here!