Photography is a passion of mine, so I will be doing more photo posts. They are much more fun to do and they come naturally. I have some posts that I’m writing and if it takes me days or weeks to do so, I’ll get them done, but I will not rush through them. I will not let blogging become a chore. I’m a P.O.S among other things.

Jayden’s been taking lots of baths lately. We think he has a water addiction. Normally we don’t let him bathe back-to-back-to-back because of his eczema, but the olive oil baths are helping legs.

*smooch* *smooch* *smooch*

My good friend Katja Presnal of Skimbaco Lifestyle will be hosting her First Ever Interactive LIVE Multimedia Snazl show TODAY on Tuesday June 30, at 2PM EST! The show is part of e.l.f. Cosmetics BlogHer stories series, done by Snazl.com, and can be seen at both of those sites as well as SkimbacoLifestyle.com. If I am able to grab the embed code when the show goes live, I’ll have it streaming  here on Mommy Daddy Blog as well. During the show, Katja will be giving away a total of 5 $25 gift cards to e.l.f. Cosmetics! The first gift card will go to the person who guesses the SUPER STAR that Katja saw in NYC yesterday. One of the remaining 4 gift cards will also go to a blogger who blogs about her show. Be sure to visit Skimbaco Lifestyle for more details and tune in on Katja’s blog, Snazl, or the e.l.f. Cosmetics promo page at 2pm EST for the party!

Giveaways

Summer Family Tips From Scott Common Sense + $50 Visa Giveaway! – During the month of June, Scott Common Sense is all about making the most of the time you spend with family and friends. Scott Common Sense is definitely a great go-to destination for tips and advice. We’ve teamed up with Scott Common Sense to giveaway one $50 Visa Gift Card to put towards those backyard barbeques, along with coupons for Scott Long Lasting products. (ends 6/30)

Reviews

Balcony Makeover With Walmart And The Home Depot – I’ve been itching to do something with my balcony ever since the weather started getting nice. I had no clue as to what I wanted to do. But before I had a chance to start actively looking, Walmart presented me with the opportunity to choose a patio set and accessories of my choice to help decorate my outdoor space. Shortly after, The Home Depot presented me with a mini shopping spree in their gardening section.

Review: Toni by Vincent Shoes – I’m somewhat obsessed with shoes and ever since having Jayden, I’ve become even more obsessed. I love finding fashionable shoes in teeny little sizes. The folks over at Vincent Shoes sent over a pair of Toni’s for us to review and I am thrilled. I’ve heard rave reviews about Vincent’s shoes before Jayden was even in the works, so I didn’t expect any less when reviewing them.

Not only are families spending less money during vacations, they are spending more time at home as well. Hey, I’m enjoying our staycation. I’ve never appreciated home as much as I do now, but staying home equals bigger messes and more chores.  According to a recent Clorox survey, over 60 percent of the Moms surveyed reported an increase in cleaning around the house as their families now spend more time at home.  And, not surprisingly, Moms reported wanting to save time and money for all of this extra cleaning. Mom Central got together with the MommyDocs and came up with a list of Five Tips for Summer Staycations to keep your family safe and your house cleaner during the summer months this year.

Staying Safe at BBQs. According to a recent survey, 70 percent of Moms are cooking more at home and many are likely switching up their meal routine with an outdoor BBQ. Make sure your kids have a safe BBQ experience by keeping them away from the flames and any sharp knives. Also, don’t forget to check that your child’s hamburger is fully cooked. Always keep a thermometer on hand to be sure all food has reached the appropriate inside temperature.

Keep the Pool Cool and Clean. If your kids love to spend hot afternoons in kiddie pools, you know the importance of cleaning the pool area. Dump out water after each session, and keep the pool clean by disinfecting it with a solution of ¾ cup bleach* to one gallon of water. Don’t forget to rinse well and dry thoroughly after each cleaning (never leave any water in the pool). Be sure to always supervise children when they are in or around any water. (* Always remember to read and follow precautions and usage directions before using cleaning products)

Staying Healthy and Hydrated. Spending time in the heat means kids will be more prone to becoming dehydrated. Remind kids to take frequent rest/drink breaks in the shade when playing outside and try to avoid activity during peak sun hours.  Encourage fluids before, during, and after outside activities.

Having Peace of Mind at Playgrounds. Sometimes just getting out of the house is the best way to keep it clean, but before letting kids loose at the playground, ensure the safety of the equipment. Swing seats and slides can really heat up in the sun – test them out before your kids hop on to avoid burns. Be sure the playground surface is composed of a soft material to help prevent injury. All playground equipment should be routinely checked for any broken or loose parts.  As always, adult supervision is a must at all times!

Saving on Spills. Spending extra time around the house, especially with kids, often means more spills to clean up. Synthetic sponges and kitchen cloths can start to smell and carry bacteria, but you don’t have to toss them out after a few uses. One option to reduce bacteria is to sanitize sponges and dishrags by soaking them in a bleach solution (¾ cup of bleach* to a gallon of water) for 5 minutes in the sink.  Don’t forget to rinse and dry when done.  A wet sponge can also be microwaved to get rid of bacteria. (* Always remember to read and follow precautions and usage directions before using cleaning products)

Related Posts:
How to Budget for a Family Vacation with Julie Casserly
Summer Family Tips From Scott Common Sense + $50 Visa Giveaway!

With the economy in the condition that it is, families are starting to spend less money on summer vacations. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Practitioner Julie Casserly of ChicagoHealers.com says, “Position yourself to be lucky to spend the amount of money you actually have for vacation, instead of going into debt and later on having to pay for past choices. No one likes having what I like to call a “spending hangover”…it takes all the fun out of going on vacation in the first place”. “It’s all about what free cash you have to be able to afford a vacation and about what is right for you and your family, there is no right or wrong, it’s about what you have chosen as your financial priorities and making sure that you create a positive energy flow from your spending (spending on a cash basis) and not a negative energy flow (spending with debt).”

Ms. Casserly offered some tips for making your vacation memorable without paying for it until next summer. I couldn’t resist sharing them.

• Last Minute Deals – We live in a world where there are so many things to do and many, many options.  Many of the travel websites will have last minute trips at a deep discount, particularly today with this economic environment.  Decide, OK, we have $2000 to spend on vacation and then search online for an all inclusive trip for the long weekend that falls into that number.  The exciting part is that you are leaving yourself open to trying a new adventure or a new place.
• Look At The End, First - Steven Covey says, “Begin with the end in mind”. I couldn’t agree more. Decide what are your priorities for your vacation, what amount your will choose to spend, then build your plan out from there.
• Choose the Day – Choose to travel on cheaper air fare days, say Tuesday – Saturday
• Name Your Price – Rent your car, hotel, or your airfare through priceline.com where you can name your own price. I have tried a 30% lower price than the market price and most times I am successful.
• Pack the Snacks – If you’re taking a road trip, pack a cooler!!!  No need to spend extra money on those high cost, high calorie snacks.
• One Stop Shopping – Buy in bulk, get airfare, hotel, and car from one vendor.
• Locals Know Best – Talk to the locals once you get somewhere, go to the restaurants where the locals eat, they’re not tourist traps with higher costs, and many times better.
• Set the Plan and Open an Account - If you don’t have a vacation planned, set those financial intentions by opening up a separate savings account that is ONLY to be used for your vacations. If you’ve decided you want to spend $3000 per year on a vacation, then make sure you put $125 per check (if paid twice per month) into that savings account straight from your paycheck.  I’ve met so many people who want to go on vacation, but they don’t because they don’t plan on it….this is a really easy thing to do to go have some fun in life!

Got a tip for making your vacation memorable without paying for it until next summer? Feel free to share in the comments. Also, be sure to share some of your summer tips here for a chance to win a $50 visa card courtesy of Scott Common Sense!

Yes this picture was staged, but catching him in the act made us want to post this friendly reminder for parents who are as challenged as we are.