When you have pets, it's important to clean regularly in order to keep your house tidy. However, if you have furry friends around, you'll need to be aware of what kind of cleaners you use. Certain types of chemicals can be harmful to animals; so considering your options when it comes to cleaning supplies can make a big difference in the health of your pet.

Now that the kids are officially out of school, there are a few things that I love doing. As you may know, I’m a big fan of road trips, and I’m also a big fan of crafting. Those are actually 2 things that actually relax me. I ’m pretty weird like that. I’m one of those who can drive for very long distances and be comfortable behind the wheel. However having a car full of kids isn’t always fun. When they’re not complaining about the other, I can almost always expect my car to not only look trashed at the end of our trip, but also not smell so great either. So what do I do before we go on our trip? How do we get ready for the summer?

We all have experienced zits in our lifetime. I know that even me at my age still get time from time to time. When I'm stressed especially you can find me having breakouts. As a teenager, while my face wasn't flawless, I do remember having a difficult time managing my acne and having to go to my high school prom with a zit the size of a golf ball on my forehead. OK, I'm pretty sure it wasn't the size of a golf ball but you get the idea. I remember asking friends and family what to do to get rid of it, and I tried everything, from putting alcohol, toothpaste, putting my blow-dryer to "dry it", plus countless other methods and of course nothing worked. I sure wished that I had ZAPZYT at the time because I know that it would have worked for me. How do I know? I'm going to share our experience with you.


This is Kyle, my 15-year-old high schooler. He's an avid basketball player and while I hate to generalize, I would have to say that he's like most boys. He loves his sports, but I have to admit, his hygiene is always up to par, well not to my standards at least. While he's pretty good at taking showers, he doesn't really take good care of his skin, well at least not his face. He also doesn't pay attention to what he eats either and is a big fan of greasy burgers, and can have them all day if he could. However, he’s also now having the typical breakouts that most teenagers have, and while I joke about girls wanting guys with great skin, it’s of course not what a girl truly wants, but it does help to have great skin.


I have tried other products and we've not had much success with them. I've even done one of those informercial products, spending money on auto-ship with little result as well. I was sent a few ZAPZYT products. Their Acne Wash Cleanser, Pore Clearing Scrub, Pore Treatment Gel and Acne Treatment Gel. As an adult with occasional breakouts, it was something that I was most willing to try. However my son needed it more than I did and we decided that he would be the "test dummy" as I like to call him at times. He's been using it now for almost 2 weeks and I have to say that I can most certainly see a difference in his skin. His acne has diminished and his skin is a bit clearer as well. However he did say that it did leave his face feeling a little dry, but with a little moisturizer which you should use anyway, it worked great! By the way, our before and after photos are not edited. Those are actual true to life photos of a boy with zits, and a boy with barely noticeable zits after using a product that worked.


Here however are just five tips that ZAPZYT shared with us on preventing acne that has most certainly helped his case as well.

1. KEEP YOUR FACE CLEAN. It is recommended to wash your face at least twice daily to remove the impurities, dead skin and extra oil from your skins surface. Using the ZAPZYT Acne Wash which contains 2% salicylic acid, which encourages exfoliation of the dead skin cells, helps to reduce blocked bores and breakouts.

2. USE A SPOT TREATMENT. Treat whatever acne that you may have with a spot treatment. The ZAPZTY Acne Gel contains 10% benzoyl peroxide, which kills acne-causing bacteria by introducing oxygen to the pores.

3. GENTLY EXFOLIATE. Use a scrub such as the ZAPZTY Pore Cleansing Scrub, which contains micro beads that aids in the removal of pore clogging dead skin cells, lifting away dirt and oil.

4. KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF YOUR FACE. Avoid touching your face or propping your cheek or chin on your hands. Not only can you spread bacteria that way, but you can also irritate your already inflamed facial skin.

5. DON'T POP. This was perhaps one of the most valuable tips that we could have gotten. My son just LOVES popping his zits and we all know that can lead to scarring and sometimes even infection. No matter how tempted you are, DON'T POP.

So whether you call it acne, pimples, zits or blemishes, ZAPZYT has the answer. They have a full line of products designed to give you the clear skin you've always wanted and they're safe, effective and economical too. So let's zap those zits with ZAPZYT! You can find ZAPZYT at a retailer near you.
Let's discuss: Do you have a zit story to share? How do you zap your zits? 

Most of us remember being scared of the monsters under our bed or the boogeyman in our closet and know that these fears are unfounded.  Of course, there are no monsters that live in our kids' rooms, but in a child's mind, these monsters are real.  It can be a scary thing for children to learn to go to bed in the dark.  What's behind the dark doorway or out in the backyard after the sun goes down?  How do you help your child overcome their fear of the dark?


Don't Dismiss the Fear

Fear is a real emotion.  Just because there is no truth to the fears does not mean that the emotion is not valid.  When your child expresses an unreasonable fear of the dark, don't be dismissive.  Instead, acknowledge and validate their feelings.  Most children go through stages where they experience fear of the dark.  This is a normal part of growing up.

Find Ways to Fight the Fear

Sometimes a little crafty creativity can help children overcome their fear of the dark.

Do you need to use a flashlight and check under the bed to prove that there is nothing hiding?  Would your child benefit from a craft project where you create a monster-be-gone spray?  Are there scary shadows that need to be examined?  Maybe a coat is hanging up and causing a scary shadow on the wall.

Would a simple new nightlight in the hallway help alleviate the fear and give your child a comforting source of light?


Look For Root Causes

Some children will become suddenly afraid of the dark.  If this is a new fear that is just occuring, then look for the cause.  Was there a scary show on tv?  Did an older sibling jump out of the dark and scare them by accident?  Did something happen recently that is causing the new fear?  Did you have a power outage that left the house eerily dark?

Some children may benefit from the security of a flashlight that stays by their bed for those just in case moments.  When kids have access to light at any time, it may help them overcome the fear of the dark.

Let's discuss: What other tips can you share to help children overcome their fear of the dark?

As you know we are BIG fans of American Girl with Madison getting her very first doll, the Bitty Baby, for her very first Christmas, even before she was a year old. Since then it's been a yearly tradition of ours to welcome a new addition to our American Girl collection. So you could imagine our excitement when we found out that American Girl is announcing the debut of WellieWishers, an all-new content & doll lifestyle brand for girls ages 5 to 7. The lively group of WellieWishers friends--Willa, Kendall, Ashlyn, Emerson, and Camille - imagine and play in an enchanted neighborhood garden supervised by Aunt Miranda. Through their heartwarming and humorous adventures, the WellieWishers help a girl to learn how to "stand in another person's wellies" to discover the skills of empathy, kindness, and compassion that will help her be a good friend.

Getting out and getting active with your kids is a great way to bond. Keeping kids busy with fun activities keeps them out of trouble. The only thing not to like is the price tag. Luckily for you, I have a few tricks to saving money on activities for kids. Sometimes you have to get creative, but with a little effort, you will never run out of cheap ways to have fun with the kids.


Memberships are a great way to save money on favorite activities like the zoo and science center. The cost of a family membership is the same as one or two visits for the average family. Larger families, even save money with a membership on just one day's visit. Many memberships may also collaborate with other zoos and museums to save you money on other kid's activities as well.

Check for group discounts. Many places offer a group discount so getting together with friends is a great way to save money. Some places allow even non-homeschooling families to take advantage of homeschool discounts when gathered to educate children. It never hurts to call and ask.

Use google to find free events and activities for kids in your area. From builds at Home Depot to festivals in the park, you are sure to find a few free activities a month during good weather seasons. Explore your local farmer's market, many offer fun activities and entertainment for free.

Check local deal sites like Groupon to find deals near you or where you are visiting. This is a great way to save a large chunk of money on ticketed attractions and events, bowling, other fun actives.


Look for used equipment for activities and sports that require a purchase of equipment. Buying used gets you more for your dollar which can really help because kids have a habit of changing their minds about actives and want to try something new all the time. If they find something they truly love they outgrow everything so fast you will need to replace them often.

Save on private lessons by paying a high school or college student that is looking for a bit of extra money. This is a great way to save in music, arts,  and even extra help with sports. Your local student will charge less than a professional and they, in turn, gain valuable experience that will further them in their future career at the same time.

Look for free activities with the local church. Many churches offer fun festivals, vacation bible school, and great retreats your kids may enjoy. These programs usually come free or at a great discount and the profits go to help the church community.


Check your area for a dollar theater. Unlike the name implies they do not cost a dollar, but close enough compared to regular theaters. Most are between 3 and 5 dollars a ticket for movies that have been out for a while now. It is a great way to see movies in the theater without spending an arm and a leg. While there, be sure to get the large popcorn and drink if they offer free refills.

Let's discuss: Can you think of other ways you can save money on kids activities?

I am a big fan of fragrances. Whenever I'm asked, "what do you want for your birthday?", or "what can I get you?", my response is almost always the same. Perfume! Nothing screams, I'm a woman, than a nice smelling woman. I grew up mostly in New York City, where public transportation was the norm and it can get very busy and crowded on those NYC buses and subway trains. I remember one day getting on the A train to head into the city. It was pretty early in the morning and a lady came in and sat next to me. OK, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking "well it's NYC and since the trains are always crowded, she must not have smelled that great". Au contraire, she smelled AH-MAZING and I remember asking her what fragrance she was wearing, and she said "It's Vera Wang". I knew that day that I just had to have it and I did. Now if you go into my bathroom, you'll always find a Vera Wang fragrance in there and to show that I'm not kidding, I've included a photo below. That's the most recent one and no-one is allowed to touch it EVER! However, today I want to share with you another amazing fragrance that I recently discovered. It's the Vera Wang Embrace Marigold and Gardenia fragrance and must I say, it's a must have in your beauty regimen.

Many live a life where they naturally provide random acts of kindness to strangers, whether you paid for a meal for someone behind you in line at a fast food restaurant or you dropped a secret card off for that teacher that went up and beyond each day to teach your children. Random acts of kindness should be a natural way of life for human beings, as it brings us to a place of generosity in a world that seems to be going downhill while growing a generation of self-absorbed people.  With that being said, we would like to think there are still just as many people out there choosing to live a life where they lead by example with random acts of kindness and as a means to inspire more to live that way we are going to share why these random acts matter.

These day’s children are growing up faster than your average pumpkin patch and with it comes the need to learn some facts about this pre-teen stage, also known as the tween years. Little information exists regarding the tween years, but have faith, this stage does pass and you can successfully parent your tween if you only begin to understand what is going on with them.

Summer officially starts on June 20th but with the weather we've been having, you would think that summer came early. Here in Colorado, we have had temperatures in the 90's, and while I grew up in the Caribbean and have even lived in New York City, aka the "concrete jungle",  personally I have never loved weather that goes over 80 degrees. In the Caribbean when it got too hot, I would find myself walking to the beach which was just a stone's throw away from my parent's house, yes I could see the ocean from my porch, and have a dip in the cool calming water. In New York City, I would turn my AC on and enjoy the cool air. In Colorado however, there are no beaches so my central air has been on blast for the past couple of days, and while I dread to see my electricity bill at the end of the month, I need to to feel comfortable. Anyway, I digress. We're talking about summer and summer means sunshine, vacations, road trips, camping and s'mores. Well since I've never gone camping and have no intention of doing so this summer, I found an easier way to make s'mores that doesn't include a campfire. Our s'mores marshmallow pops are easy to make and taste just as delicious!

As I'm typing this, Madison and I are currently watching Finding Nemo. While looking for a movie to watch for our movie night, I went into my Disney vault, and after seeing the Finding Dory commercials on TV for the umpteenth time, she decided that she wanted to watch Finding Nemo. Now how could I resist, after all it was once one of my favorite Disney movie when it was first released, and I've watched it more than twenty times I'm sure with each of my other children. However, by the time this is posted, Finding Dory will be in theaters and I'm hoping that you will be going to check it out because we will be there on opening day. If you're however looking for something to celebrate the movie, how about our Finding Dory Fruit Punch. It is completely alcohol free and is great for everyone in the household.

If you have a little girl, there's the chance that she just loves everything that you do and want to be just like you. She wants to put your shoes on, try on your clothing and even play around in your makeup. Whenever I'm getting ready to go out, Madison always makes sure to get into my room to have some of my special perfume sprayed on her clothing. I don't spray it directly onto her skin, because it's not made for her. Not only are the fragrances sometimes a little too strong, but they all contain alcohol as well. Now I don't mind babies smelling like babies, but sometimes for a special occasion, I do like her having a nice fragrance when we're going out somewhere special, and we're all dressed up. I've been searching around for quite some time for something made just for her and I have to say that I have finally found it. Introducing Perfume for Toddlers - the M. Micallef's Baby's Collection.


Here's a little history of M. Micallef.

They were founded in 1996 and is now a signature in the world of high-end luxury perfumes. They are distributed in 60 countries and sold in over 900 sales outlets.The whole concept of the brand is based on the encounter between two beings. Geoffrey Nejman, who is the nose of the company and Martine Micallef, the soul and creator. Driven by their love and passion, and carried by their artistic sensibility, they decided to design together unique fragrances made of rare and noble materials, preserved in remarkable hand-decorated bottles in their ateliers in Grasse.

Just in case you're wondering, they do ship worldwide, so shipping to the US is no problem!


Now on to the delightful fragrances that is the M. Micallef's Baby's Collection. The baby's collection was inspired by Martine Micallef's grandchildren's birth and was launched this month. Since these were made just for toddlers, they were designed with their sensitive nose in mind. Made with alcohol free water, there are three 30ml scents included. The Petit Coeur,  Tendre Douceur, and Petite Fleur (shown from left to right above). They also come accompanied by a little rabbit plush named Harry.


Now here's a bit about the fragrances and the one thing that I was impressed by, is that you can truly smell the notes in the fragrances. The Petit Coeur has hints of lemon, mint, and bergamot notes. Madison when I sprayed this on her said "it smells like mint" and it really does.

The Tendre Douceur has notes of cherry and candy apple and Madison thought that it smelled like strawberry. This was by far her favorite and I don't blame her. Who doesn't want to smell like cherries and candy apples? Especially in the summer.

The Petite Fleur has notes of orange blossoms and Madison said "this smells like oranges", and she was absolutely correct. Without even knowing what the notes are, your child will be able to distinguish the notes for themselves.


Madison just loves now knowing that she has her very own special perfume. One that is made just for her and is gentle enough for me to spray directly on her skin, although I still spray it on her clothing. So far I've noticed no staining and the smells are fabulous! The fragrance also lasts quite a while, although I wouldn't say that they last all day, I still have yet to meet a fragrance that really does. The scents are mild enough to still have your little one smell like a baby, but with a more "grown-up" smell. With no alcohol included in these toddler perfumes, you'll feel good applying them to your little one. So if you're still in the market for something special for your little one, something to make her feel more grown-up like mommy, consider getting her the M. Micallef's Baby's Collection perfume for toddlers. She'll love you even more than she does now!

Let's discuss: What do you think of toddlers having their own alcohol free perfume? 

When it comes to being in the kitchen I'm a big fan of quick and easy meals. I am not a fan of meals that take a long time to prepare. It's summer and we are currently having beautiful weather, what that means is that I would prefer to spend my time with my family enjoying the great outdoors. I would rather not slave over a kitchen stove for hours on end. That's why our Homemade Beef and Onion Stroganoff is usually my go to meal of choice. Not only is it effortless to prepare, but it is absolutely delectable. Madison my picky eater in the family, actually enjoys eating this and consistently asks for seconds, which is very rare for her. I don't blame her since I also get seconds myself. While I'm not considered anemic, beef gives me my serving of iron that I generally won't have since I'm not a big fan of iron pills. I remember taking those horse size pills when I was pregnant and since then I've steered as far away from them as I can. This meal however is a lot easier to swallow, and you'll enjoy eating this as much as you would making it. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do in our family!