Review | Mabel's Labels Ultimate Back to School Combo

Samples were provided for this review.

I've reviewed a lot of things over the years, but certain brands really stick with me and Mabel's Labels is one of them. My school-aged child has many social activities on his calender and it helps to have labels around to quickly mark his belongings. Mabel's Labels aren't just beautiful, they're very durable and pass the tests of time and play; we've happily been using Mabel's Labels for around two years.

Mabel's Labels Ultimate Back to School Combo is a fantastic deal. The combo includes many of the best-selling items all combined into one convenient booklet for easy use. I am always glad to get more shoe labels, because little kids' feet grow so quickly that you find yourself regularly labeling label new shoes. My guy goes to a 'children's gym' for fun and they all put their shoes under the benches in the lobby; having Mabel's Labels Shoe Labels helps us easily locate Noah's shoes and avoids mix-ups from happening.

What's included in the Ultimate Back to School Combo:

• 40 Skinny-Minis™
• 50 Tag Mates™
• 16 Shoe Labels
• 2 Teeny Tags™

What You Should Know About These Products

• Skinny-Minis™ are dishwasher and microwave safe
• Tag Mates™ are washer and dryer safe, apply to a clothing care tag
• Shoe Labels and Teeny Tags™ are waterproof and UV resistant
• Satisfaction guaranteed

Skinny-Minis are excellent to have on-hand because they fit onto so many items, such as: notebook, pencils, crayon boxes, backpacks, electronics, sippy cups, lunch boxes and more. They're slim and easy to adhere to surfaces. I love them.

Tag Mates labels are designed specifically for clothing, so you can wash your clothing as usual and the labels will not come off of the clothing. I've tested these labels time and time again. Noah has clothes that he's outgrown and the Tag Mates labels are still inside of them.

Teeny Tags are perfect for hooking to backpacks and lunchboxes. They're very cute and the print is high-quality. I was super impressed the first time I saw one of these and I continue to be excited each time we order a new design. 

Speaking of new designs, Mabel's Labels has over 40 designs to choose from and the process is so easy that my 6yr old son designed his own labels! I love how the design appears on the screen to show you exactly what it will look like when the items are printed. My boy picked out dinosaur designs because he's really into the book The Mine-o-Saur and that's what he calls his labels (Mine-o-Saurs).

This discount-priced Ultimate Back to School Combo is only available until September 30, 2014, so be sure to order yours right away. It's a great deal and gives you a wonderful variety pack of some of Mabel's Labels best products. I highly recommend it.

3 Safety Reasons to Clean Outdoor Toys and Furniture #Palmolive25Ways #cbias

This shop has been compensated by #CollectiveBias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone

Pool games, slip 'n slides, and outdoor patio furniture are all part of the summer scene. Most of the time we just relax and play without worrying about the outdoor toys and furniture from day-to-day, but did you know that those items are a great hiding place for snakes, spiders and wasps? The majority of snake bites occur on the the legs/feet because snakes often hide under toys (ride on toys, sliding boards) and outdoor steps. It's important to keep those areas clean and active so that it doesn't welcome any dangerous pests to create a living under there. I'm about to show you the inexpensive--and fun--way that we keep our outdoor living spaces clean and safe using Palmolive dish soap!

How to Keep Outdoor Toys Safe

• Use any of the mild detergents from Palmolive to clean toys as needed. Clean off any stuck-on dead grass, leaves, bird droppings or spilled drinks/snacks from the toy surfaces.
• Lean over and peek under toys to check for snakes before you turn the toys over.
• Flip toys over to check for spiders, spider webs, wasp nests, or other unwelcome insects.
• Keep lids tightly secured on sandboxes so pests cannot get inside of it. (including the cat)
• Always supervise children while they are playing--better yet, always play along with your children while they are playing :)

I've always cleaned the underneath of my child's outdoor toys. When he was a tiny baby, I noticed that spiders were hiding under his push-car outside; I became proactive about keeping the outdoor living area clean and free of extra-tall grass (or dead grass stuck to the toys).

We've found several snakes in our yard recently--poisonous snakes--and I want them to feel unwelcome here by making sure they have nowhere to hang out. My new rule this summer: I'm keeping all of the toys washed and turned over when they're not in use. It looks funny, but it works well.

Wasps can show up and build a new home overnight--they're efficient like that. I try to tape up any holes in toys, swings or furniture to prevent them from moving in there. I also flip the toys over to check for wasp nests underneath. As the saying goes "its better to be safe than sorry", so check those toys, parents.

As you can see, there's a wasp nest under this ride-on toy in our yard. These toys get moved often and they get plenty of attention, but wasps will be wasps. I'm removing this and cleaning the bottom of this toy with my Palmolive dish soap and water to clean up any scent that might attract the wasps back to this spot.

How to Clean Outdoor Toys

Fortunately, most outdoor toys are really easy to clean. All you have to do is grab a clean bucket, fresh sponges, a wire mesh sponge and some Palmolive dish soap. You can find many varieties of Palmolive dish soap at Walmart. I'm using the Lotus Blossom scent and the Oxy version for the play toys today.

Put some Palmolive dish soap into the bottom of your bucket--a generous squirt of it will do--then add clean water to the bucket. Go ahead and toss your sponges in there to make for easy carrying--sponges love water.

The soft sponges are perfect for cleaning smooth surfaces such as kiddie pools, floats, ride-on toys and swing seats. The wire mesh sponge is best for getting off the tough messes. I'm using the wire mesh sponge to clean the legs of the play equipment. The soft sponge will be used for cleaning the swing seats. After cleaning the outdoor toys, I will throw all of the sponges away because they aren't suitable for reuse after this dirty job.

The Palmolive dish soap is gentle on hands, but we still use gloves since we may encounter some gross stuff out here. See the swing seat? That's a familiar moment, isn't it? Watch how I clean it in under 60 seconds with the dish soap and sponge.

It's practically new again! All it takes is a little tender love and care to keep the toys clean and your child safe in your yard this summer--and always. We have short winters here, so this is an ongoing routine at my house. I, honestly, don't mind cleaning the toys and checking for bugs because it gives me peace-of-mind. I also enjoy soapy buckets of water lol; I'm still a child at heart.

How to Find a Leak in a Swimming Pool

This is a useful tip that works for finding the leak in inflatable swimming pools, floats, beach balls, and even car tires. The science behind it is that the air will blow bubbles into the dish soap, which is easy for someone to notice. We've done this most of my life and it's always worked. My step-dad taught us to do this to find the leaks in car tires; I figured out that it works on the kiddie pool and accessories, too.

What you'll need to repair the inflatable pool leak

• Palmolive dish detergent
• Bucket of water
• a sponge
• a towel/dry cloth
• a permanent marker
• a pool repair patch

Fill the bucket with soapy water using Palmolive dish soap--make it extra soapy because you want a lot of bubbles. Use the sponge to add soapy water across the surface of the pool (or object) until you come across the leak; you will know because it will start blowing bubbles in the soapy water that you're putting on it. Once you've located the leak, wipe off the bubbles and mark the leaky spot with a permanent marker. Clean off the surface, dry it thoroughly and then repair the leak as usual. 

Enter to WIN a $2,000 Walmart Gift Card From Palmolive

Palmolive is holding a sweepstakes on Walmart's site and one lucky winner will receive a $2,000 Walmart gift card! This page is really cool and shows #Palmolive25Ways including a giant bubble maker and rainbow soap foam! Be sure to check it out and good luck!

I hope you enjoyed this DIY post about outdoor safety and kiddie pool repair. I was really impressed with the cleaning power of the Palmolive detergents that I used for all of these projects. Wishing you all safe and happy days of outdoor play.

Milo's Kitchen Treat Truck Schedule | Giveaway

“The Milo’s Kitchen® dog treats, gift cards, and information have been provided by Milo’s Kitchen®.” 

Milo's Kitchen Treat Truck Schedule

Milo's Kitchen is a treat brand for dogs that's made in the USA. Attention SC, NC, GA locals: If you'd like to try free samples, the Milo's Kitchen Treat Truck is making rounds all over the country and will be offering free samples of their products, plus an area for family portraits for pups & their parents! All you  have to do is... show up to meet the Treat Truck! See schedule below.

The Milo's Kitchen Treat Truck will be in the SC, NC, GA area very soon, so plan a special date with your dog:

• July 31st- Greenville, SC, Pelham Dog Park
• 8/2: Mecklenburg County Dog Parks
• 8/3: Mecklenburg County Dog Parks

See the full schedule here. It includes stops in many major US locations, such as Atlanta, NY, PA, OH and more. *Dog parks are subject to change due to weather and foot traffic.

About Milo’s Kitchen® Treats:

· Our dogs deserve only the best. That means treats made in the U.S.A. with real chicken or beef as the #1 ingredient, and no artificial flavors and colors.
· Milo’s Kitchen® Home-style Dog Treats believes dogs deserve treats made with the same quality of ingredients and care that you want for your food. That’s why we made a treat truck just for dogs!

Milo's Kitchen Dog Treats Review

My dogs are part of my family and they mean the world to me--you can tell this simply by visiting my Twitter page and seeing the banner of my silly "kids". I've always had dogs in my life and truly care about giving them the best, safest treats possible. I always buy products that are made in the USA--with no artificial ingredients--because it gives me peace of mind for my pup's health. Milo's Kitchen is a brand that you can purchase at many retailers and the price is comparable to similar products on the shelf beside the Milo's Kitchen treats.

My puppy-girl, RooRoo, just celebrated her 11th birthday! She has those "puppy dawg eyes" on lock--she is so freakin' pretty; I just love her so much. She's still as playful and spunky as ever, but she has more difficulty chewing than she used to. I'm happy to say that the Milo's Kitchen treats are easy to break into smaller bites for her and she enjoys them; the chicken is her favorite. My other three silly pups enjoy the bite-size treats as well. Sophie was sitting up in her begging position {I tell her, "say, 'please'!"}. Chelsea quickly manned the spot next to the bag and was ready to protect it from everyone else--she's a hungry little thing. Ollie was politely waiting in the background, because he knows I'll remember him; he's a nice guy.

The treat varieties included in this review are on the small side, so they are ready to hand out to the pups. I still break the largest pieces up--like the little hamburgers--simply out of habit of doing this for RooRoo (since she's 11 yrs old, now). I'm a mother by nature and by heart; gotta look out for everyone. I applaud the company on creating an affordable treat that is free of artificial ingredients and is made in the USA.

Milo’s Kitchen makes a unique line of mouthwatering varieties for your dog including: Chicken Meatballs, Beef Sausage Slices with Rice, Steak Grillers Recipe (pictured above), Chicken Grillers Recipe (pictured above), Grilled Burger Bites (pictured above), and Chicken Jerky Recipe.

Prize Pack Giveaway that includes a gift card!

The gift pack will include three varieties of Milo’s Kitchen® dog treats, and a $25 VISA gift card so that you can stay stocked up on some tasty favorites for your poochie-poo! Good luck!

USA only. No PO Boxes for delivery address. One winner will be randomly chosen and will have 24hrs to respond before an alternate winner will be randomly chosen--so double check your information when you enter the rafflecopter and be sure to use an email address that you check often.

Link for this Giveaway: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7951108f13/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Doggy Alcott Backpack and Harness Review with Giveaway!

Let me tell you about my best friend(s). She's been with me through-and-through and always makes me laugh. We both became moms just a few weeks apart and we spend a lot of time together. My best friend's name is Ruthie aka RooRoo or "the Roo"; she has puppies who are the same age as my son and they're known as "The Roo Crew!"

The Roo Crew

Meet Ruthie, Chelsea, Ollie and Sophie.

RooRoo (and her crew are) is my constant companion and we've been on many adventures together. There was one that one time we found the turtle next to our gate, that one time Sophie jumped in the baby's pool and gained the ability to run at super-speed, and many, many little road trips. Roo has been to college, to the salon, and even to a seafood restaurant (she ordered the shrimp). We go outside for walks each day and the Roo Crew always has a great time.

Every day with a dog is an adventure, because they love life and appreciate the simple pleasures of friendship. I decided it was time for my Roo (and the crew) to have a backpack, because dog's have belongings, too. I found a really cool little backpack from Alcott Adventures (offered to me for an editorial) and I'll tell you all about it. Oh, and I also got a extra-easy-to-use harness, too!

Let's start the photo story! Scroll along with me!

Doggy Backpack from Alcott Adventures

A backpack for dogs is just what it sounds like--it's an accessory that your dog wears along with their usual collar and leash. The backpack allows your dog to help carry some of their own supplies, such as waste bags, snacks, collapsible water bowls, medication, first aid supplies and more. 

This dog backpack from Alcott Adventures has zippered pockets on each side; one side is insulated (to keep things cold/warm) and the other side has a zippered pocket and a waste bag dispenser (how convenient!). 

Putting the backpack on my dog is a breeze, because there are buckles and the design is very efficient; in fact, I only had to open two buckles to put this on my dogs, because they can step into one side and then I just fasten it closed around their waste and neck. 

The dog backpack comes in several sizes--small, medium, large--we're using the small one for my dogs. My dogs are 10, 13, 14, and 20 pounds and the backpack works for all of them. You can measure your dog(s) to see what size backpack they will wear, as Alcott puts this sizing chart on their product page. 

There's also a handle made to the top of the backpack for your convenience. I like the breathable mesh liner and the padded design. The trim of the backpack is reflective for doggy safety.  

The cost of the backpacks range from $33.99-$35.99 at the time of this post. I'm very satisfied with the Adventure Backpack from Alcott, so far! Three out of my four dogs love to wear it. My Chelsea-Dear doesn't like to wear anything, but she thinks it looks cool on the other dogs; I can tell from the way she starts a game of chase as soon as someone puts the backpack on. :)

Great Find~ Alcott Adventure Harness

I've tried many harnesses and some of them are down right tricky. No one has time for that, right? The Adventure Harness from Alcott is wonderful! I mean, really wonderful. 

It has buckles on it, so that you can just fasten it around your dog's neck and then again around their waist. Like the backpack, I only had to undo two buckles and just slip it around RooRoo's body and fasten her up for good times. 

-"Ring, Ring... Adventure calling." 

--"Snap, snap. Let's goooo!"

My RooRoo has a sensitivity to light; doggy sunglasses are on my list, now.

I love that this harness has two D-rings located on each end of the top piece; you could attach any leash or even a doggy seat belt clip to it (also available from Alcott).

The harness contains a tough-duty center piece that runs down the top of your dog's body. The bottom of the harness is a soft, mesh chest piece that is reinforced with a durable lining. The entire harness contains reflective accents for safe walks and adventures.

The Adventure Harness also comes in small, medium or large sizes. All of my dogs wear the small size. What's helpful at Alcott Adventures web site is that the sizes are the same across all products. If your dog wears a small in the harness, then your dog will wear a small in other products, such as the backpack.

Giveaway! and a Peek at the Alcott Adventures Site

When you order from Alcott Adventures, the shopping, sizing and checkout processes are a breeze. I know this, because I've already tried it and I really love their site. You can shop either by adventure (like, mariner, traveler, essentials) or by product type. They have so much to offer and it's all useful stuff to make each day into an adventure for your puppy dawg and you!

Giveaway rules. Open to USA only. Ages 18+. One winner will receive a $25 gift code to Alcott Adventures web site. Entries will be verified before winner is contacted. Winner will have 48 hours to respond by email or another winner will be randomly selected in their place. Daydreaming Realist is not responsible for prize shipment. Thank you for reading and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Product samples were received to facilitate this review. This post is not monetarily sponsored. All opinions and doggy photos are my own. 

December Find: Dr. Scholl's Cozy Cushions

Do I recommend these? You bet your boots, I do! ;)

I'm someone who wears sneakers, boots and flats, so obviously comfort is very important to me. What's more comfortable than teddy-bear-soft insoles that are literally as fuzzy as a kitten?! Look at these!

Have you ever seen an insole this cute before? I thought these were pretty in the pack, but they are just to-die-for amazingly perfect once you try them out.

I got these through Influenster as a sample in my #RoseVoxBox. 

They're soft and toasty-warm on these cold, Winter days. I actually have them in my New Balance sneakers right now and they fit perfectly. I've been wearing them for about a month and I already know that I'll be buying more for my other shoes.

Don't you just want to just touch them, though? I mean, really. Love, love these. Total 10. It gives a new life to shoes that are broken-in and it makes your shoes so much warmer. You can find these in stores or through online retailers.

They can be cut to size (see the chart on the back of the insole in the photo). I've never really appreciated an insole so much, which is why I thought I'd review these for you.

Since I love them, I searched online and found a coupon (here) for them :) 

So, I Tried PetArmor for my Pets' Fleas.

I usually use the expensive brand of flea/tick product for my pets, because the vet told me that it's the only formula that treats chewing lice, but that's not true! I just discovered that PetArmor also treats chewing lice, fleas, and ticks at a fraction of the cost and uses the same vet-recommended active ingredient (Fipronil) that's found in Frontline. I'm very grateful that I was given the opportunity to test this product out from MomitForward and PetArmor.

Taking Care of Pets can get Expensive, so let's save money...

As you know, I have little house dogs and I took in foster kitties (outdoors) and decided to spay and keep them. So, needless to say, I have a few pets that need treatments for lice, fleas and ticks ~ that can become very costly. Thankfully, PetArmor is available at local retailers for much less than other leading brands and it works just as well, in my opinion. I like that it has individual doses measured out (like usual) and it comes with the little calender stickers to help you keep up with the treatment dates for each pet.

{Weekend Photos} New Samsung Wb200 Smart Camera

Macro mode. Unedited. Watermarked. 

I got the new Samsung wb200(f) Smart Camera from Walmart this weekend. This camera is so easy to use that I can share it with relatives (including my 5-year-old). It fits nicely in my pocket or purse, so I can take it wherever we go. I've only had it for two days and I've taken over 100 pictures!

I love that it has an 18x optical zoom, Wi-Fi capabilities and so, so much more for an affordable price. This camera is great for capturing everyday moments with family or for documenting adventures.

Samsung Smart Camera Uses WiFi to Upload/Share Photos!

This Samsung Smart Camera allows me to continue taking tons of photos while backing them up to my computer or smart phone via Wi-Fi connection(s). I can also use my Smart Camera to share videos/photos directly to facebook, YouTube, Twitter etc without sitting at a computer--this camera is smart!

Connecting to Wi-Fi is simple. You plug the camera into your computer via the USB cord. Install the program that will launch automatically. Then, just choose the Direct Link button to share or change the menu wheel to Wi-Fi to back up your photos to your computer or smart phone.

Fun and Useful Features

Auto mode with Zoom. Unedited. Watermarked. 

Here's a little pocket guide to what Samsung wb200 Smart Cameras can do.

• Capture stunning 14.2 megapixel resolution photos
• Zoom in on the action with 18x Optical Zoom 
• Touch to focus with the 3" Hybrid Touchscreen
• Create amazing images using filters, split shot, motion and more!
• Take control with Full Manual Mode
• Relax and enjoy Auto Mode
• Cheat using Smart Mode to choose the best scene {settings}
• Celebrate using Wi-Fi connectivity to share and/or backup your images!

White is an in-demand color for electronics; this camera is sleek, sexy and modern. The Samsung wb200 is a very versatile Smart Camera that provides everything from a simple point & shoot mode for beginners to full manual mode for experienced photographers.

This Mother's Day~I Have a Gift for YOU!

You know how you have all of those amazing photos of your child(ren), pets, travels etc on your phone? Well, why don't you turn those into a FREE photo book?! You can download the free Groovebook app in the app store (iPhone or Android) and use my code DAYDREAMING13 to get a photo book printed & shipped to you for FREE! xo

See Chelsea (blur) trying to take RooRoo's treat? lol. She better move fast!

Spring Fashion Haul from Cookie's Kids

I'm getting Spring Fever and beginning to make room for Spring clothes and sandals! Noah's a growing boy, so he gets new clothes every season. I love to buy his outfits in pieces that can be mixed-matched with other pieces; this is great when he wears one size shirt and a different size pants.

As most parents know, little children often don't like to go clothes shopping. This is where online shopping can be your saving grace. I bought Noah several items from #CookiesKids and he was so happy when the box arrived! Trading in a dressing room and long lines for a package in the mail is a huge win!

Review: Zingo! Sight Words Game for Children

I'm really happy to tell you about this new game that I've been playing with Noah--it's called Zingo! Sight Words. It's a Bingo-inspired, educational game for children. Instead of numbers, it uses sight words. Great concept, right?

Well, it gets even better: It has a sliding dispenser for the plastic word tiles {so fun!}

*What are sight words? "Sight words are the most frequently used words in the English language and make up about 50-75% of all written material. Learning and mastering sight words is a key step in becoming a successful, fluent reader. The sight words used in this game have been specially selected by leading educators as the most fundamental for reading development."

Review and Giveaway: TriCalm Anti-Itch Gel

Over the past few weeks, I've been testing a steroid-free, anti-itch gel called TriCalm. As my regular readers know, I prefer products with natural ingredients, so I was very excited to receive a tube of TriCalm from Green Mom's Meet for my consideration and review. While the product doesn't claim to be 100% natural, it is steroid free and contains COSMEDERM-7, which is naturally derived from plants.

My Experience with TriCalm

I didn't publish the review right away, because it takes time to know if something like this is really working for you. I have sensitive skin and so does my little boy. Nearly every day, I am scratching my back with my shirt or up against the door frame {like a momma bear}, so I knew exactly what I wanted to do with this anti-itch gel--try it out on my back!

It worked well for my itching back and I am continuing to use it for that purpose, especially. I'm also using it for a tiny rash that I got (behind my ear) from changing shampoos {I know, right}; it doesn't burn the little rash and it appears to be helping the healing, since TriCalm has astringent properties. I haven't tried it out on burns, cuts or scrapes, so I can't attest to whether or not it burns when treating those cases.

I would recommend this product for itching; I've had a positive experience with TriCalm for itching. I love that it's safer than many other anti-itch products and it doesn't increase sun sensitivity {especially-great news for those with fair complexions}.

Noah's Mail: Wonder Box! Educational Monthly Subscription for Kids :)

Wonder Box IS NOW CANCELLED AND UNAVAILABLE.

Don't worry, because there's more options for children's subscription box services!

You can check out Kiwi Crate or BabbaBox, instead. We highly recommend both of those!

Have a lovely day!! :)


 

{Giveaway!!} & Review!! Julep Maven Intro Box for 1 Penny!!

Hi, everyone! As you know, I really love being a Julep Maven, because I love their beautiful 4-free polishes, skin care products and mani/pedi items. If you're not familiar with Julep, let me tell you more about it. Julep is a boutique nail parlor(s) located in Washington state. Julep nail colors are created exclusively for Julep; new colors are introduced regularly. Julep created a wildly successful, monthly-subscription service that ships custom-curated packages to subscribers' homes. Julep's monthly subscribers are called Julep Mavens :)

Special offer: Use Julep Promo Code MAVENINTRO to get your first box for just a penny!

Sign up here