Printable Potty Training Sticker Charts

I know not all children are the same, so what works for one, may not work for another. I did find sticker charts so helpful when my one of my children was potty training. I tried to give her space, let her pick out cute underwear, remind her frequently, and even gave her candy as reward--nothing worked. Then, one day we tried a sticker chart with cute kitty stickers that she loved (and could only use for her potty chart) and it worked. I was surprised that a simple sticker chart worked for her, but it did.

Simply print these out and let your child pick out his or her favorite stickers, then every time your child uses the potty-- he or she gets to add a sticker to the chart.

I will update this post as soon I create more. If you would like a certain theme, please let me know in the comment section or send me an email (jessica@arebutterfliesticklish.com). 




Fairy Chart 

PDF Download

Car Chart

PDF Download

Have a Secret to share? Get to Know the Person Behind the Blog Week 2

So, I am a bit late in posting this, but I am trying to make more of an effort to follow through with things I want to write about, so I am going to try to keep this going. The first week of "Have a Secret to Share? Get to Know The Person Behind the Blog" I shared a secret about my lack of domestication. Each week I will share a secret or just fun facts about me, the person behind the blog, so my readers can get to know me better.

This week I am going to share a secret about something I have briefly mentioned on the blog, but have never really talked about in detail. This is not an especially easy post for me, but it is real and it is part of who I am, so I do want to share it. OK, deep breath, here it goes.

Win it For Mom Mother's Day Event iPad2 Giveaway

 

Welcome to our fun annual Win It For Mom Mother's Day giveaway event! This year we are giving away an iPad2 to one very lucky mom out there!

 Grandma Juice and The Kids Are Grown Now What  are the awesome hosts of this fun event and they have teamed up with a wonderful group of bloggers to bring you this amazing giveaway for an  iPad2 for Mother's Day.

It's a Great Day to be a Dog #iLoveMyK9 #CBias

When I moved in with my husband years ago, I had wanted a cat. My husband was at work a lot and I was home alone some evenings. I had always had a love for cats, and we often had a few while I was growing up in my parent's home. My husband is allergic to cats, so he decided to get me a dog instead.

This is Vegas when she was a puppy.

We got Vegas in the Fall of 2004. She was such a sweet little puppy that turned into a much larger puppy that just seemed to keep growing. I can admit that times have been difficult with adding new members to our family, as she was our baby and then when we had our babies, it took some time to transition. She was always great with the babies and she still seems like a baby herself most of the time.

I have really loved seeing her interactions with my children as they have grown. My oldest son absolutely loves her and wants to play with her everyday after school now. He will just sit and pet her, walk around with her, or play a game of fetch. I truly think she has become a type of therapy for my son who has special needs, as he always seems happier and more relaxed after playing with her for a while. We all like to give her treats every now and then too, and she truly is such a loving dog that just loves attention.

This is Vegas now. She has gotten so big, and she is so sweet.

Even though she is starting to get older, she still greets you with plenty of excitement.  I was recently given the chance to go shop for some new dog treats for her, so we all decided to head to Walmart and look for some tasty treats for Vegas. We were also there to purchase some dog treats that we are making into a gift basket for my mom. It was nice to go out as a family. My husband is often on-call or at work, so he rarely comes shopping with us. He was on-call, but he brought a tow truck with him so he could leave quickly if he needed too.

We browsed through Walmart, and of course we had to make a stop at the toy section. We also picked up a few items we needed for the home as we shopped.

My little one loved this cute little bunny.

Sometimes, I think my husband likes the toy aisles as much as my children.

When we reached the pet aisle, I was surprised by how many treats there are to choose from. Some of the shelves were a bit bare, but there were still tons of treats there that we could select from. I was hoping to check out some of the new items offered by Milk Bone and Pup-Peroni.

My children tried to buy all of the dog treats they could reach, because everything was so cool!

 I was also looking for a brand that we have never tried before-Milo's Kitchen Homestyle Treats. I quickly found the Milo's Treats on the top shelf, but I was having a difficult time finding Milk Bone Trail Mix or Pup-Peroni Mix Stix. Thankfully, my husband has a good eye and can always find what he's looking for. He found the Milk Bone Trail Mix hanging from the middle of a shelf near the bags of dog food, and he found the Pup-Peroni Mix Stix on an end cap.

There really was a lot to choose from.

Finally, my husband spots one bag of Pup-Peroni Mix Stix on an end cap. At the next aisle, he found a full end cap packed with Pup-Peroni Mix Stix.

We grabbed a few bags of treats and browsed a bit more then headed home. We are making a gift basket with some of the treat items we picked up for my mom. Myself, my sister, and my aunt all pitched in to buy my mom a dog, as she has always dreamed of owning either a full blooded German Shepherd or Husky. I searched for a long time to find a full blooded German Shepherd that was within the price we could afford. I finally found one and my sister took my mom to pick him up. She has been in love with him ever since, and he is such a sweet dog. She has been going through some difficult times with the economy and really has to budget what she spends, as my Dad is currently laid off and she is a stay at home mom. So, I was really excited to get her some new treats that she may not otherwise have been able to get for her dog, who is named Cooper (After Alice Cooper--her favorite musician).

This is a picture of my mom's dog Cooper who will be receiving a gift basket of new treats!

I really wanted to drop off the basket the evening we went to Walmart, but she wasn't home. So, I am hoping we will be able to do that today. As soon as I do get to drop it off, I will be updating my post with a picture of her and Cooper.

Our gift basket has Pup-Peroni Mix Stix, Milk Bone Trail Mix, Milo's Kitchen Chicken Grillers, and a few new balls. It is packed in a cute water/food dish.

We picked up a few new treats for Vegas, as well. We have already given her plenty of Milk Bone treats and we have tried Pup-Peroni, but Milo's Homestyle treats were new for us, and for her. She loved them! The Chicken Grillers look like real pieces of chicken and they were definitely a special treat for her. Milo's Kitchen also has meatballs, sausage slices, and jerky, but none of those options were available at my store. It was OK, since the chicken style seemed wonderful, as well.

Pup-Peroni Mix Stix in beef/sweet potato flavor and egg/bacon flavor. Milo's Kitchen Chicken Grillers and Milk Bone Trail Mix.

I think the Trail Mix from Milk Bone looks really interesting and it is made from rolled oats, real beef, and sweet potatoes. The pieces of trail mix are designed in cute little shapes and would be perfect for small dogs or for just a small reward or treat. The Pup-Peroni Mix Stix were new to us, but we do know the Pup-Peroni brand. The Mix Stix are unique, as they have real pieces of meat in each stick. We found two yummy varieties for dogs, and we bought one bag of each--beef and sweet potato and bacon and eggs. I thought bacon and eggs sounded so cool, who doesn't like a yummy breakfast?

I was happy to buy the all the treats as they were each about $3.00 a bag, which is much cheaper than our regular grocery store. I do think it would have been nice if some of the treats we were looking for had been on the actual shelves with the dog treats and not set-up on end caps, but it wasn't too hard to find and my husband was awesome for helping me out.

We had a fun time during our shopping trip as a family and we are so excited to show Cooper and my mom the gift basket packed full of new treats. I am sure Cooper will love them as much as our Vegas did!

My oldest son and Vegas after he shared some new treats with her. I tried to get a picture of him giving her some new treats, but she was so excited that I couldn't get a picture that wasn't blurry.

 Here are some great ways you can connect with the brands mentioned in this post! To read more stories about people who love their dogs, follow the hashtag #iLoveMyK9 on Twitter. 


To see my full shopping story, please view my Google Plus album.


Milk Bone on Twitter


Pup-Peroni on Twitter


Milk Bone on Facebook

Milk Bone Website

Pup-Peroni Website

Milo's Kitchen Website


Disclosure: I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™. #CBias #SocialFabric Regardless, all thoughts and opinions expressed are always my own. Please visit my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Parsimonious Pash's 5K Giveaway for a Kitchen Aid Mixer

Parsimonious Pash started blogging just a few months ago, and she has has quickly been growing a following. This giveaway is in celebration of her page on Facebook reaching 5,000 fans! She is so thankful to her fans for helping her get where she is that she decided to host a  giveaway to celebrate!

I have teamed up with her, as well as several other bloggers to bring you this fun giveaway! I am so excited to help her celebrate this achievement with her, as I think her blog is awesome! 

When You Just Don't Know What to Say

 It isn't often that I don't have some type of comeback or reply to something my children say to me. I often listen to protests and whines, as they try to explain why they can't clean their room, take a shower, or do any chores. I also hear plenty of remarks and comments about why they should be allowed to do something they want.

Leaked Kraft Oreo Breastfeeding Ad Was Never Meant for Public Eyes

As I sit here watching a media frenzy take over the Internet, it saddens me that it is once again over something as normal as breastfeeding. I am not shocked, as I have come to expect this type of reaction from the public, especially in the US where breastfeeding is still not seen as the norm. Women are repeatedly told to "cover up" when breastfeeding out in public, and while Facebook claims they are supportive of breastfeeding--they have continued to remove breastfeeding pictures that are less than revealing.

I recently saw the new Kraft ad for Oreo's and it actually made me smile. I thought, wow there is a company that is finally showing some open support of breastfeeding. I had read that the ad was meant for Korea, and was not something that would be used throughout the rest of the world. That part was a bit of a let down, as I think the US needs more breastfeeding ads, but nevertheless, I thought it was cute and creative. I was happy to know that a company as big as Kraft would create something that helped normalize breastfeeding.

(I would love to share a picture of the ad here, but  due to copyright restrictions, I cannot. To view the ad for yourself, please visit this link. The ad depicts a baby breastfeeding while holding an Oreo in one hand, with a tagline that reads "Milk's Favorite Cookie." I also want to note that I appreciate the design and willingness to show breastfeeding, even if was mostly advertising a cookie. So, thanks Cheil Worldwide, the advertising agency for Kraft.)

Last night, I became aware that Kraft released statements about the ad and what it was supposed to be used for. Apparently, the ad was never meant for the public to see--not the public of Korea nor the public of the rest of the world. This is when I felt a big let down, as I had thought the company was making a change to help normalize breastfeeding, instead, they were trying to cover up this "leaked" ad that was never supposed to see the light of day, at least not in public.

Interview With Christine Stark--Writer, Artist, and Speaker

I recently had the opportunity to interview Christine Stark, who is the author of the book Nickels: A Tale of Dissociation. The book is a unique story of survival, that follows the character Little Miss So and So throughout her life and is told from her point of view. To read my full review of the book and to enter to win a copy, please follow this link. I wanted to know more about the author and the inspiration behind the book, so I sent Christine a few interview questions and she was kind enough to share her answers with me. 

Five Tips to Successfully Breastfeed

When I was pregnant with my first child, I wasn’t sure I would breastfeed. I started to learn more about the benefits of breastfeeding, so I knew that it was something I wanted to try. After my son was born, I learned that while breastfeeding is natural—it may not always come naturally to you. Breastfeeding is a learning experience for both the mother and the baby, so it is important to be prepared and seek help when you need it. I have now breastfed four children, and although not each experience was successful, I have learned a lot about breastfeeding and how to have a more successful start.

Learn as much as you can before your baby arrives. 

This may seem self-explanatory, but it is important to read books that are related to successful breastfeeding. I read a large amount of pregnancy books, and some simply scared me by saying that it would be painful and it may not work, so a lot of women supplement with formula. After having my first child, I did supplement, which I later learned was actually causing more problems. Milk production works on supply and demand, so the more a baby expresses the more milk you make. This is critical during the first six weeks as you establish a supply, so you are able to produce enough milk for your baby. Every supplement takes away a feeding session at the breast, which can negatively impact your milk supply. If I had known that at the beginning, then I probably would have had an easier time when I first started breastfeeding and dealt with a low supply. So, I do think it is important to read a lot of books on breastfeeding, meet with a La Leche League group, and even attend a breastfeeding class.

Review and Giveaway of Nickels: A Tale of Dissociation

Since I have recently started reading more often, I am always on the look out for new books that may interest me. I was recently asked to review the book, Nickels: A Tale of Dissociation, which seemed like something that may be interesting, so I was excited to read the book.

Gorton's Fisherman Friday: Enter to Win

When it comes to dinner, I like things that are simple and easy. I always want to offer my family food that is tasty, but also easy to prepare. Since I have four children, dinner needs to be on the table as quick as possible. One of the easiest and tastiest dinners we make is using Gorton's frozen foods. So, I was excited to be offered a few free product coupons to review their products.

Review of Jody's Popcorn and Discount Code

I am always on the look-out for new snacks for my children. I do like to offer my children healthy options, such as yogurt, bananas or fresh veggies, but some days they do eat prepackaged snacks. When I came across Jody’s Popcorn, I thought it looked like a nice snack that my children could have for a treat once in a while. So, I was excited when they offered to send me a few bags to sample.

Soft Clothing Review and Giveaway

As a mom to four, I know that some children develop sensory issues or preferences in regards to clothing. My oldest son has several mental health, behavioral, and emotional health issues, so sometimes he does have clothing preferences. He does not have specific sensory issues where certain things bother him all the time, but sometimes if he is anxious or having a difficult day, something small that normally doesn't bother him, may end up causing him to become upset. When I found the Soft Clothing Company, I thought their products looked fantastic for both children with special needs and just for children in general, so I was excited when they offered me a pack of undies to review.

Review of the Novel Blaze of Glory

I used to be an avid reader. I would often buy a new book and read through the book in one sitting. I could never put a book down without finishing it, since I just had to know what happened in the end. I no longer have the time to read as much as I used too, unless I'm reading lunch menus, report cards and an occasional article. I truly have missed reading, as it was one of my favorite hobbies. So, I was excited when I was asked to review the book Blaze of Glory, as I thought it may be just the thing I needed to get back into reading regularly.

Win a $25 Amazon Gift Card in this Flash Giveaway Event

   

I hope everyone is excited for another flash giveaway, because we have another one ready for you that is for a $25 Amazon gift card. This giveaway started April 9th and ends at 12:01am on April 13th. 

This flash giveaway event is being hosted by two wonderful bloggers, My Crafty Life and Full Price? Never! , as well as numerous other awesome blogs!

Enter: Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Good Luck!

Newbie Bloggers Giveaway Event

 Welcome to the Newbie Bloggers giveaway hop! This event is hosted by by GoingCrazy!!WannaGo??!! and Planet Weidknecht. 

I am so excited to be part of this fun giveaway event. As someone new to the blogging world, who has been blogging for less than a year, I know how important it is to make connections with other bloggers and find support or advice. The Newbie Blog hop started as a way to help new bloggers make those connections and find other bloggers who were willing to share information, so everyone could learn together. 

The Newbie Blog Hop is hosted by GoingCrazy!!WannaGo??!! and Life's Cheap Thrills. It opens every Tuesday at 9pm CST and closes on Friday at midnight. There is also a Facebook group where experienced and newer bloggers share information as they learn together. If your a new blogger or even if you just feel new, please come join us!

OK, now on to the giveaway event! There are over 100 blogs participating in this event, with both new bloggers and wonderful bloggers who support newbies. All of the blogs will have a giveaway item worth at least $15.00. This event starts April 10th and ends on April 17th. 

I hope you check out my giveaway and then hop around to some (or all) of the other awesome blogs participating in this event. 

Ozeri Kitchen Scale Review and Giveaway

I am always on the lookout for new products and gadgets for the kitchen, so I was happy to see some of the unique products that Ozeri offers. I admit that I am not that great of a cook, but I do like to bake when I have time. One of the most important parts of baking for me is to make sure the ingredients are measured correctly and I have exactly the right amount of ingredients to go into the mix. I have read about skipping the use of measuring cups and simply making the recipe by weight, but I have never had a kitchen scale to do that with, so I was excited when Ozeri agreed to send me
a kitchen scale to review.

Vintage Couture Review and Giveaway

Sometimes I think I am the mother of one of the most girly-girls on the planet. My oldest daughter loves everything pink, sparkly, and girly. She is also quite particular about clothing. I once gave her a gray T-shirt to wear and she was astonished that I even dared to suggest she wear it. Instead, she choose a pinky shimmery top to wear. I am always looking for clothing that she may like. While she is OK with wearing something simple (sometimes), she usually prefers things that have flowers or look very girly. I came across the site, Vintage Couture, and I was impressed with the items they offer. So, I was thrilled when they agreed to do a review and giveaway on my blog.

About The Company: Vintage Couture is a clothing company this is inspired by vintage fabrics and the history that surrounds each piece of fabric. They offer unique fabrics that you won't find anywhere else, with clothing collections available for infants, girls (up to size 14), and boys (up to size 16). They even offer stylish clothing for women! Besides clothing, they also carry a full line of accessories, including 18 inch doll clothing, hair-bows, headbands, and diaper bags.

Busy Day and a Trip to Walmart

I needed to run to the grocery store the other day, but I also needed to go to Walmart to get some items for around the house. My husband was working, so I took all four of my little ones with me. They haven't been able to go to Walmart lately, so they were excited to come with me. I know their favorite part is being able to see all of the toys, so we made a deal that if they would be good through both stores, then we would check out the toy aisles before we left.

The first thing we needed to do was run to the grocery store. We usually visit Shop n Save, because it is pretty close, not too crowded, and they have self checkouts. My children love being able to use the self checkouts and help me put the groceries in the bags. After our grocery store trip, we headed to Walmart to pick up some items for the home.

It's Raining Giveaways Win a $25 Gap Gift Card

 

I hope everyone is excited for another giveaway, because we have lined up another awesome flash giveaway for our readers during our April Showers Bring May Flowers Event!

I have joined some wonderful bloggers and awesome hosts My Crafty Life and Full Price? Never! to bring you this flash giveaway!

Enter: Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below. 

Prize:  $25 Gift Card to The Gap Family of Stores

Dates: Starts at 12:01am on the 6th and ends at 12:01am on April 10th (Eastern Time)

Enter to Win $500 Cash

Contest Chest is having an awesome giveaway that you can enter right here from my blog! You have the chance to win $500 cash.  A fellow blogger, Bay Area Mommy, was the winner of the last contest.

How to enter: Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below

Prize: $500 Cash

What is Contest Chest?

Contest Chest  is a website dedicated to bringing you the most interesting contests online. Businesses and bloggers can submit their own contests and Contest Chest also searches the Internet to find the best contests out there. They separate contests by country, so you can easily find one that is available in your location. If you love blog giveaways and sweepstakes, then you definitely want to check out Contest Chest! Simply click the link above or the banner below to sign up and start entering more contests.






a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, but the thoughts and opinions expressed are always my own. Sometimes, this blog receives items for free for the purpose of writing a review and/or hosting a giveaway. Some posts may be paid sponsored posts. These factors to not determine the type of review posted, and the reviews are always factual and based on my own opinions.Please visit my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Help Support The Peloton Project

I was recently informed about a new documentary that is going to cover the lives of nearly 40 cyclists as they embark on a journey across North America. The team members have been training for the past year, while also raising money for cancer care in their communities. As the team makes their way across the country they will also share stories of cancer survivors, caregivers, and a story of  a young woman who was just diagnosed with cancer. The team is taking on this year's Cancervive Peloton Project.

The journey will be starting October 2nd, with team members departing from Calgary, Alberta in Canada. They will travel to Lewiston, Maine as part of the Dempsey Challenge. During this time, they will complete the entire trip in just ten days, as they cycle day and night. Each of the six teams will need to complete 100 miles during their six hour leg of the race to stay on schedule. The team members will be paired up with "cancer warriors," and will be riding in their honor.

What the director says about the film:

 "real people with incredible stories told about their humble lives, challenges, and a commitment to move forward-sometimes charging, sometimes crawling, but finding the strength to advance."

The director, Ramsey Tripp, and producer, Laura Davis, are working on this project to help show those battling cancer that there is hope. This film is also currently being backed by Patrick Dempsey, who is also the executive producer. 

They are currently is need of backers to help support the film. They had a goal of $20,000 by April 6th, or they would not be able to receive funding to complete the documentary. They have reached their goal of $20,000, but there are still ways you can help. The entire film will cost about $600,000 to complete, but they need continued support to ensure corporate sponsors can see how much interest and support there is for the film. The costs for production of the film will cover trips to Calgary, equipment, hiring a crew, cameras, and other expenses. Although they have reached the goal of $20,000, they rest of the cost of the film will need to be covered by corporate sponsors, grants, and other donors. You could be one of the donors that helps bring this film to the world!


How you can help:

Learn more by visiting the website for The Peloton Project


Donate through the Kickstarter page. Even $1 will help show your support of the film.

Like The Peloton Project on Facebook and share the page with your friends or family.

Follow @thepelotonfilm on Twitter and Tweet about the film using hashtag #pelotonfilm

Weekly Clean Up Chart Printables for Children

Lately, it seems as though none of my children want to clean up anything. We have tried all the techniques and tips that we can think of, but they really don't want to clean up their toys and nothing can motivate them to even try. We can sometimes get most of the children to clean up, but one of my daughters still battles with us during the entire time we are cleaning. She seems to have a very stubborn attitude towards almost everything, unless it involves princesses or the color pink, so I have been lost trying to figure out what to do. We have tried putting things away in bins and limiting what she can play with, we have taken toys away, we have yelled and pleaded--but it has gotten us nowhere. When none of those techniques worked, we started to try and offer rewards, such as going outside, earning money, and getting to go to the store.

She usually lays on the floor and whines about how tired/hungry/bored/etc. she is while everyone else cleans up. We have tried making clean up time fun, and we try to turn it into a game. That works for some of my children, but not for my little princess. I was feeling exasperated and frustrated with the amount of toys and clothes everywhere when I started remembering how stubborn she was with potty training. What finally worked was a sticker chart. Something so simple, yet she really loved it. What made the difference was that she was able to pick out cute stickers and was so excited to add a new one to the chart when she used the potty. I decided that a weekly chore chart may work. Of course, it may not, but for right now, it is my only idea.

I started creating a few and decided to share them. You can print them out yourself and try them with your children at home. I have made a few different ones (some you can use a sticker with and some are just for check marks). If you decide to try using these charts, I would love it if you shared your experiences!


Fairy Chart 

PDF Download

Car Chart

PDF Download

Weekly Clean Up Chart

PDF Download

Places to Donate Your Hair to Charity

Have you ever donated your hair to charity? As someone with long hair, which has always been  extremely long, I think about this often. One of the problems with donating hair is finding a place that will accept your hair the way it is and finding a reputable organization that will actually use your hair.

The first time I cut my hair, I donated it to Locks of Love. I have since read a lot of conflicting information regarding Locks of Love, and that they may sell extra hair to wig making companies to raise additional money. I will include Locks of Love in my lists of places that accept hair donations, and anyone who wishes to donate there can do so. I do know that Locks of Love is accredited by the Better Business Bureau and that they say they only sell hair that is too short, gray or unusable. The reason they state that they sell gray hair is that they cannot use it for children, but they use the funds to help manufacture the wigs.

Locks of Love: They create wigs and hair pieces for children that have certain medical conditions, such as alopecia areata. They also create wigs for children that are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation, have experienced trauma or burns, or have other genetic or dermatological conditions. They aim to give children a sense of normalcy and confidence after suffering from hair loss.

Donations: They accept hair that is colored or permed, but not bleached or in dreadlocks. Hair must be 10 inches in length. Many salons throughout the US accept hair donations for Locks of love.

Recipient Information: The children receive wigs for free or on a sliding scale based on income. To be eligible for a hair piece, applicants must submit medical forms, financial records, and two letters of recommendation, as well as application.

Wigs For Kids: They are recommended by the American Cancer Society. They create wigs for children who have certain medical conditions, have experienced burn trauma, or are undergoing medical treatments that caused them to lose their hair. They aim to help children improve their self-esteem while battling a medical condition. They don't want children to have to worry about their appearance while going through an already emotional time.

Donations: This is a list of salons that donate hair to Wigs For Kids. You can also fill out the donation form and send in the hair yourself. They do accept gray hair, but they do not accept hair that has been chemically treated. Hair must be 12 inches in length to be donated.

Recipient Information: Parents need to fill out an application form for their child with information about their medical history, referral information, and insurance information. To be eligible, children must have a referral from a medical professional and come from a family that cannot afford to purchase a wig.

Pantene Beautiful Lengths: They are recommended by the American Cancer Society. They create wigs for women with cancer. Pantene wants to help women grow strong, beautiful hair which can in turn be donated to help women with cancer. They aim to help women feel like themselves again after losing their hair.  They are currently partnering with Seventeen magazine to sponsor National Donate Your Hair Day, which is April 27th.  Click this link to find out more information about National Donate Your Hair Day and to find a salon near you.

Donations: Hair must be no more than 5 percent gray. They will accept hair that has been dyed with vegetable dyes or semi-permanent color, but they prefer hair that is free from chemical treatments. They do not accept hair that has been permanently colored, treated with other chemicals, or bleached. Hair must be 8 inches in length.

Recipient Information: Wigs are distributed at no cost to women with cancer through the American Cancer Society.

Wigs 4 Kids: They provide wigs to children and adults who are in need of one in Michigan. They aim to give children a sense of belonging, by helping them fit in with their peers.

Donations: Hair must be 10 inches in length. Hair cannot be colored or chemically treated.

Recipient Information: Applicants must fill out an application form with medical information and referral information. They also ask applicants to be an ambassador of the program by writing their sponsor a thank you note, sending before and after pictures, and participating in events if they are healthy enough to do so. 


Wigs 4 Kids and The Childhood Leukemia Foundation: Wigs 4 Kids has partnered with the Childhood Leukemia Foundation to help as many children as possible overcome the emotional trauma of hair loss.

Donations: The same donation requirements apply to those as Wigs 4 Kids.

Recipient Information: The Childhood Leukemia Foundation has a program known as Hugs-U-Wear. This program helps children with cancer by providing them with 100 percent human hair wigs and child-friendly hats.

If you choose to donate your hair to any of these organizations, make sure to read the donation requirements at the website first. Each organization has specific requirements and ways they like the hair to be cut and tied, so please read it carefully so your donation is accepted. I think donating your hair is a wonderful way to help those in need. Like I mentioned, I have once donated to Locks of Love and my next donation may be going to Wigs For Kids. I am ready to cut my hair again, so I may be ready to make another donation soon. 


Have you ever donated your hair? Will you be donating your hair on National Donate Your Hair Day?

April Showers Brings Flash Giveaways!

You have heard the saying that, "April Showers Brings May Flowers," right? 

Well... we are mixing it up this month! This April it's raining FLASH GIVEAWAYS!

I hope you are all ready for a month of fun! I have teamed up with some awesome bloggers and two fabulous hosts, My Crafty Life and Full Price? Never!, to bring this to my readers! There will be a Flash Giveaway for you to win everyday, and there will be new ones starting every Tuesday and Friday!

We have some awesome prizes for you to win, including $25 Amazon Gift Cards, $25 Barnes & Nobles, $25 Target and $25 to the Gap Family of stores!

Enter: Simple fill out the Rafflecopter form below!

Prize: This week we are giving away a $25 Gift Card to Amazon!

Milano Series Diaper Bag Review and Giveaway

Since having children, I have found that it is essential to have a nice diaper bag that can hold of the items we need when we're out. We usually ended up using the free ones from the hospital, but they were never very big or had enough pockets for everything. I would end up cramming the bag full of a bunch of items, then I could never find what I needed. My younger two children are still in diapers, so we definitely need a nice diaper bag, but I have never found one that really looked like it would be big enough for all the stuff we need--and look stylish. I came across the website for Milano Series, and noticed the diapers bags they offer. They looked stylish and appeared to be a good size, so I was excited when they agreed to do a review and giveaway on my blog.

Have a Secret to Share? Get to Know the Person Behind the Blog

I was thinking of a post I wanted to write, when I did something I often do. I started reading other blogs and found myself lost in a sea of posts. I think blogging is an excellent way to let out your thoughts, feelings, opinions, and anything else you may have on your mind. I enjoy reading other blogs, and it helps me to feel a connection to someone whom I don't even know. I grieve with them, I laugh with them, I learn from them.

My blog has become a mixture of my family life combined with topics that interest me and the occasional review and giveaway. Yet, I often find myself saying something like, "that is for another blog post" or "I will post more about that in the future." I never really talk about me--things that define who I am, who I have become, and who I am continuously striving to be.

Cash Giveaway Birthday Celebration

I am so excited to participate in this fun giveaway! I have teamed up with Couponing in PA, as well as ten other bloggers to bring our readers a giveaway that celebrates Coupon in PA's birthday, as well as her site's Facebook page start. 

Prize: One winner will receive $28 (since she will be 28) and the other winner will receive $20.

Winner's choice of PayPal cash or an Amazon gift code. 

Enter: Simply fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!