This post about how to make women's voices heard in public dialogue has been sponsored by GenderAvenger. All opinions are my own. When I went to college about 25 years ago, I chose to major in Microbiology. As a women in a STEM field, there were definitely more men than women in my classes but I was certainly not the only female in my science classes. Times were already starting to change, even way back then. When my mom had considered college, her choices were pretty much nurse, teacher, or librarian. She never ended up going, a fact … [Read more...]
Balancing a Plentiful Life with Community Volunteering Keeps Kids Grounded
April 16, 2018 by · 7 Comments
This post about balancing a plentiful life with community volunteering has been sponsored by Reward Volunteers. All opinions are my own. I look around the area I live in and am both awed and slightly shocked by the wealth that surrounds us. My teens’ friends have homes with actual media rooms in them. Many had the newest iPhone by age 8. They often get brand new cars for their 16th birthday. This is not the way we raised our children. I don't want them to think this is common for most people. My husband and I are financially stable but … [Read more...]
Teach Kids to Give Back to the Community this Christmas
December 14, 2017 by · 4 Comments
Ask your kids what Christmas is all about and most of them will say it is all about Santa, Christmas trees, presents and tasty holiday cookies. If you are at all religious you will probably get 'the birth of Jesus' as an answer. But whether you believe in Jesus or just really like candy canes, teach kids to give back this holiday season. Give gifts, give love, give hugs...just give of yourself to others with no thought to what you will get in return. Teach Kids to Give Back Giving back is a hard message to teach children. The … [Read more...]
Having Fun at the Yellow River Trash Bash River Cleanup Day
September 18, 2017 by · 4 Comments
I am always looking for ways for my family to get involved in community service projects. There are so many worthwhile organizations that need a helping hand. It's hard to pick just one or two. Environmental awareness is a priority in my house. When my daughter's Girl Scout Troop was given the opportunity to participate in a river cleanup day, I thought it would be a great experience. I wanted to share a few tips that we learned this weekend as we ventured out on our Yellow River Trash Bash! This post contains affiliate links. If you … [Read more...]
Charitable Giving with CARE and Empowering Young Girls
December 7, 2016 by · 1 Comment
This charitable giving post has been sponsored by CARE but all opinions expressed here are my own. When my kids were born, our finances were limited. Everything they got was second hand and there were no cell phones, date nights or expensive cable television packages. I clipped coupons and we made do with what we could afford. However, when I look at how MUCH we had when compared to families in other countries, I feel so incredibly blessed. I had a roof over my head and access to healthcare. I had running water in my house and didn't … [Read more...]
Help Support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals with a Free #MiracleBand
May 19, 2016 by · 5 Comments
This post is sponsored by Children's Miracle Network Hospitals but all opinions are my own. Before I had kids, I worked for a children's hospital doing cancer research and bone marrow transplants. My particular job was in the laboratory, and each sample we received was given a case number before it arrived. Each tube, vial, and bottle was merely a collection of letters and numbers for us to run tests on - until the first day that I was called over to the hospital floor to pick up something for my boss. The first time I saw the … [Read more...]
How to Organize the Medicine Cabinet and Find What You Need Every Time!
May 1, 2016 by · 6 Comments
Why should you learn how to organize the medicine cabinet? Have you ever had a sick child at 3 AM only to realize that the medicine is expired? Yeah...that stinks, right? In my offline life, I spent years working as a pharmacy technician. I got a lot of questions from my customers about over the counter products and which ones they should be stocking their medicine cabinets with. Organizing your medicine cabinet is a chore that may seem rather dull but it is an important one to do on a regular basis. When you or your child get sick or … [Read more...]
Give Thanks with Kenwood Vineyards and Homemade Pinot Noir Truffles #ShareYourTable
November 20, 2014 by · 5 Comments
I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Kenwood Vineyards. I received product samples and a promotional item to thank me for my participation It seems like every time I sit down to watch TV or read something online this week I am inundated with ads for Black Friday shopping. Or, even worse in my mind...Black THURSDAY! The retail world is taking a day that is supposed to be made for being thankful and turning it into a day to earn money off things we probably don't really need anyhow. I want to … [Read more...]
Easy Thanksgiving Service Project for Kids
September 23, 2014 by · 1 Comment
With the onset of fall comes planning for the upcoming holidays. In our house, holidays have always revolved around food and family. Cooking together, baking some of our favorite cookies, and gathering around the table for a big meal. We're lucky...we can afford to buy good food that includes a lot of fresh, local and organic ingredients. I know there are a lot of families that just struggle to put food on their tables and holidays are even more difficult. I want my children to grow up knowing how blessed we are but also knowing that it is … [Read more...]
Allstate Raises Awareness for Domestic Abuse with the #PurplePurse Campaign
September 18, 2014 by · 4 Comments
This post about domestic abuse has been sponsored but all opinions expressed here are my own. I sat on my couch this morning with my much needed cup of coffee and watched the news. Watching the news on TV is rarely a 'fun' thing, full of joy or good news. This morning was no different. The big story in the headlines today is the upsurge in domestic violence incidents in the National Football League. The journalists cited several cases that have come to light recently where professional football players have been accused of abusing their … [Read more...]
