Category Archives: Home & Garden

November 15, 2018 · 11:54 pm

Zoomer The Playful Pup – Interactive Dog- Giveaway

https://amzn.to/2DmQDWC

Interactive, robotic toys are always a huge hit that are bound to make the hottest toy lists for the holiday season. Zoomer Playful Pup is no exception, not only is Zoomer on the Holiday Toy List at stores like Amazon, Zoomer is also on Mommy Ramblings’ Holiday Gift Guide!

Zoomer is an adorable, interactive, robotic dog who responds to your touch and voice. The next generation of Zoomer interactive pets, this puppy behaves more dog like than any other Zoomer with realistic sounds and actions. Thanks to Zoomer’s multiple touch sensors, when you rub or tickle his belly, Zoomer will beg for more! Pet Zoomer’s head and hear cute barking sounds, nuzzle Zoomer’s nose for licking noises and so much more!

Check out my unboxing and demo video here:

Zoomer has a floppy tongue and soft furry tail. Zoomer is full of energy and as you can see in my video above, I would not classify Zoomer as a quiet toy. Zoomer will delight kids with playful yips, yaps and yelps and will keep going until he needs to be charged. Zoomer has a rechargeable battery that you charge via a mini-USB to USB charger which comes with Zoomer.

A back button will let you change modes and a microphone on your doggie’s back will let you give Zoomer voice commands. You can even give Zoomer a new name that he/she will respond to. In the manual you will find special voice commands to make Zoomer do things like dance, play dead and more. When you give Zoomer a name you will be able to unlock even more tricks!

Here is another Zoomer video for you to check out.

Spin Master is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own Zoomer Playful Pup! Thank you to Spin Master for our review pooch and for sponsoring this doggone good giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! Open to US residents.

Zoomer Playful Pup Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!

Continue reading →


113 Comments

Filed under Gift, Giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, Home & Garden, Review

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

November 14, 2018 · 1:06 pm

6 Creative Ways to Pay for Your Next Home Improvement Project

Your home is a special place, somewhere to spend time with family and friends, a haven to relax and unwind after a long day. It’s no wonder we want our homes to look inviting and attractive. For most homeowners, this means embarking on a home improvement project. However, even with opting for DIY instead of paying a professional home remodeler to do it, the cost of a home improvement project can be overwhelming.

Unfortunately, high remodeling costs mean that many have to put off their dream of renovating their home until they have saved enough money. Depending on the scope of the project, saving up could take months or years.  Don’t get discouraged, there are other options to create your dream home. Here are six creative ways to pay for your home improvement project.

Declutter 

You would probably be surprised to learn how much money  some of the junk and clutter you have around and in your house is worth.  If you are serious about funding your home improvement project another way, then it’s time to scrap your junk for cash. Find out the scrap price for cars, and get rid of that old clunker taking up space in your garage. Go through your basement and attic and put together all the old items you no longer want or need, then start selling them online or through classified ads. Just because you don’t need it, does not mean it’s not worth something to someone else. Remember one person’s junk is another person’s treasure.

Barter 

Bartering is trading goods or services without using money. Bartering was very popular back in the day, but you may be able to benefit today. Do you have any items or skills you can trade in order to get the materials or services you need for your project? For instance, if you are a CPA, it may be possible to trade your tax services to a local handyman in exchange for their labor. Think outside the box, and reach out to your community to find someone who is interested in your offer.

Reuse and recycle

It’s possible you have all the stuff you need for your project already in your home. For instance, if you want to renovate a bathroom, consider reusing some of the pieces you already have in the renovation. For example, painting an old vanity can transform its look for just a few dollars. Adding new trim around your old mirror can give it new life, while painting light fixtures and hardware can update their look without breaking the bank.  Instead of assuming you have to buy all new materials for your home, think about the ways you can reuse the items you have.

Use store credits, gift cards, and rebates

Most home improvement stores today provide you with all the tools and products you need to complete your project. Instead of buying everything outright, consider asking for gift cards to that specific store for your birthday and holidays. This way, you can save up these gift cards and use them to pay for the stuff you need for your project. In addition, if you have store credits or rebate offers, be sure to cash those in and use them to fund your project. These are great ways to eliminate the overall expense and still get the home you dreamed of.

Get a part-time job

Taking on a part-time job can help you fund your home improvement project. Although the thought of working more may not sound appealing, you’ll be happy when the home improvement project is finished. Think about opting for a job that lets you work on your own schedule, such as driving for Uber or starting a side freelance business. When you can generate some extra income and put that aside for your project, you’ll be knocking down walls before you know it.

Consider guest funding

It may be a long shot, but sites like GoFundMe, allow you to make an online, public request for donations to your “cause.” Starting a GoFundMe account for your home improvement project could entice others to fund the project for you. Requests like this are often best if the home improvement project is needed for health issues or to make your home safe. For instance if a family member is in a wheelchair and you need an entrance ramp or if your roof was damaged from a falling tree and is not covered by insurance.

Keep The Faith

Your home improvement may have a hefty price tag, but that doesn’t mean it’s out of reach. Implementing some of the ways above can help you create the house of your dreams in less time than you think.

This is a collaborative guest post. The views and ideas expressed do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.


5 Comments

Filed under Home & Garden, Home Improvement

Tagged as , , ,

November 5, 2018 · 3:08 am

Practical Ways To Help Your Adult Children

Raising children is very expensive, and just because they reach the age of 18, doesn’t mean  your responsibility ends. On the contrary, most parents continue to financially support their adult children in some way. Some parents want to ease their children’s financial burdens or to fund a business venture. Even retired parents find ways to assist their adult kids. If you are thinking about how you can best help your kids even if you are retired, we share a few common ways you can help below.

Set up College Funds

First, you could help to pay for college tuition. Going to college is expensive and it isn’t getting any cheaper. On top of that, professional jobs require a college degree, with even more requiring advanced degrees. If you want to help ease the financial burden of student loans, you can help out with their college tuition. This way, they won’t be graduating with a degree and a mountain of debt to repay.

There are several ways you can do this. You can open a separate savings account, then withdraw the money when your children or grandchildren are ready for it. You could also place the money in a trust, which would allow your child to access it when they turn 18. Finally, you could simply have the tuition payments directed to you and pay for the semesters as they come up. Whichever method you choose will depend on your own financial situation and how old your child is.

Help Then Become Homeowners

The other large payment many people have to deal with is their mortgage. Mortgage payments are large and last a very long time. If you want to help your children with a larger down payment for their new home, it will decrease the amount of the mortgage they need. If you son or daughter already has a home, helping them to pay off their mortgage sooner is very beneficial. While every dollar helps, you need to remember to keep your own future in mind. Talk to your kids about how much help they may need, then see if you can make it work.

Funding a New Business

If your child wants to start their own business, they may need additional funds to get it going. Starting a new business is expensive, if they don’t have enough money, they may not be able to do all the things they need to which could spell failure. If you believe in your child and their business plan, you should consider assisting them financially to get started.

Before you do, make sure the business plan is a solid one. While you want to help your kids, you don’t want to throw your money away on a bad idea. If you can, have an outside financial advisor review their business plan and give your their opinion if it is a wise investment. If not, consider other ways that you can help your child, or recommend ways they can improve their business model, so that you can help with funding.

Babysitting

Lastly, if you have grandchildren, you can always help with child care. Sending a child to daycare is expensive, and if your kids can skip it even once or twice a week by sending their kids to you, that will really add up in the long run. Not only do you get to help ease the financial burden of child care, but you get to spend time with your grandchildren as well.

Before you embark on this, make sure your home is safe and baby proofed. Have some fun things for the kids to do, as well as a safe play area with their favorite toys. You don’t have to turn your home into a daycare, but some preparation is a good idea.

How to Find Additional Funds

Now, maybe you want to help your children, but you aren’t sure you can afford it. If so, there are some ways that you can earn some additional funds during retirement. For starters, you could get a part-time job. Another option is downsizing your home which would lower your housing costs, especially your taxes. You could also talk to reverse mortgage lenders. You can use this reverse mortgage lender locater to get  started. There are many options, you just need to consider what’s right for you.

Helping Them Succeed

Being able to help your adult kids out is a great feeling. Even though they’ve left the nest (or are about to), it still feels good when you can help make their lives a little easier. Hopefully, the tips above provided you with some good ideas about how best to help your kids out even during your retirement.


Leave a Comment

Filed under Family, Financial, Home & Garden, Life Stages

Tagged as , , ,

November 2, 2018 · 3:22 am

Helpful Tips For Working Mothers on Balancing Work and Family Life

In today’s day and age, a two income family is not just a choice, but a necessity in many cases. With so many women in the corporate workforce full-time, we must address the issue of trying to balance work and family life. Some days we can find ourselves questioning if we truly can achieve a healthy balance. If you are stressed out and looking for help, the tips below may help restore some sanity to your hectic life.

Don’t Be Afraid to Delegate

Managing your home includes many different tasks. Keeping your home clean and organized should not fall solely on your shoulders. Every member of the household should be sharing in that responsibility. If you have divided up the household chores, but still feel like you are having to hound others to stay on task, it can really make things stressful.

You might want to make use of professional home cleaning services or hiring a housekeeper on a weekly basis. Another helpful option is to consider renting a storage vault if you need a place to store your off-season decorations and other things you don’t currently need at home. The less stuff you have around, the easier it will be to organize what’s left. You will be amazed at how much more efficiently things will run with all that extra space. 

Delegating responsibilities to others will give you more time to do the things that matter, like spending quality time with your family and friends.

Make Preparations

If you don’t want to be rushing to work in the morning, get in the habit of making sure everyone lays out their clothing the night before. Prepare lunches at night too, and plan your meals for the week so, you can shop more effectively. Electric pressure cookers let you cook delicious meals that used to take hours in about 30 minutes. Create a family message center so that everyone is aware of upcoming events, school meetings and activities. 

Create A Family Message Center

Create a family message center with a calendar, cork board and white erase board or chalkboard. This will help keep important dates of events, appointments, school meetings and activities where everyone can see them. Enter dates in your smart phone or planner. Knowing what is coming up will help you from being caught off guard and missing important events or appointments. Don’t forget to schedule in some family fun time!

Celebrate Your Child

Sometimes it simply isn’t possible for us to be physically present at our child’s special event. While it is upsetting to have to miss your child’s concert or soccer game, sometimes there is no other choice. If you do have to miss an important event, show your child you love them and wish you could be there with a special note or little gift. While it is not a substitute for you being there, it will let them know how much you love them and how you wish you were there. You might be surprised at how much emotional support your child can gain from a small note. 

Make Use of Technology

If you have to be away on business or are working late, you can record a video of yourself singing or reading a favorite bedtime story for your kids to watch. A phone call to catch up or even a Facetime video can really help you stay connected. Make use of the technology at your fingertips. Something as simple as hearing your voice can be so comforting to your child. 

This is a collaborative guest post, the views expressed do not necessarily represent those of Mommy Ramblings.


1 Comment

Filed under Family, Health, Home & Garden

Tagged as , , , , ,

October 29, 2018 · 11:38 pm

Glass Vs Acrylic Fish Tanks. Which One Should You Buy?

When you are looking for a fish tank, the first choice you need to make, is whether you want glass or acrylic.  Acrylic tanks are more expensive than glass tanks, but they do last longer. Glass is more affordable, but it probably will not last as long. If you are not sure what to choose, check out our glass vs acrylic comparison below to decide what is best for you.

Scratch Resistance

Glass tanks are more scratch resistant than acrylic tanks. To scratch a glass tank you would need to use something hard with a good deal of force. On the contrary, acrylic tanks can scratch easily. With an acrylic tank, a cleaning pad that has sand or gravel on it, can scratch and blemish your tank walls.

Acrylic tanks may even get scratched during shipping from the manufacture to the store. Acrylic is much more delicate than glass. With an acrylic tank, you need to be careful about the types of cleaning solutions and products you use. Make sure all products are safe for acrylic surfaces.

If you do damage your acrylic tank, the good news is, they are easy to clean and repair. Kits to repair and polish acrylic aquariums are readily available. Never use any abrasive chemicals in an attempt to repair your tank.

Lightweight

The dense nature of glass means that acrylic tanks are much lighter, glass tanks are generally 4 to 10 times heavier than acrylic. If you plan on having to move your tank frequently, you might be better off with an acrylic tank.

An acrylic tank will put less stress on whatever is supporting it. Even though acrylic tanks are lighter, the water and aquarium decorations will add weight. Still, there is no doubt that moving an empty acrylic tank is easier than moving a glass tank.

Durability

Since glass is weaker than acrylic, it is more prone to breaks and cracks. If something crashes into the tank with force, it can crack or even worse, break. In most cases, a crack can make the whole tank useless. A leaking tank can damage any electronics stored under the tank as well.

On the other hand, you need much more force to break or crack acrylic. While light impact will not break an acrylic tank, it will probably scratch it.

Flexibility and Distortion

Since glass is dense and rigid, trying to create non-rectangular tanks is very difficult. Thus, buying a non-rectangular tank, is expensive.  Since glass has a different index of refraction than water, light gets bent four times when passing through the tank. This means the image that gets reflected back is distorted. So colors, position and size will not be as true.

Acrylic has nearly the same index of refraction as water. This means, when you look at the fish in an acrylic tank, light has only been bent once or twice. This makes the fish look true to their actual size and color.

Conclusion

As stated above, acrylic tanks cost more and are easier to scratch, but they don’t chip, crack and break like glass tanks. Glass tanks are more resistant to scratching but are heavier and have more distortion than acrylic.

You need to carefully weigh the pros and cons when comparing glass and acrylic tanks. While both tanks can create a beautiful aquarium, your own needs should help you decide between glass vs acrylic aquariums.

Regardless of which construction you choose, be sure you create the best possible environment for you fish to help them thrive. Tanks require regular cleaning, proper filtration and water testing. Fish and other aquatic creatures need proper nutrition and a healthy habitat. With some planning and research, your new aquarium can add beauty and tranquility to your life.

This is a collaborative guest post. The ideas and views expressed are not necessarily those of Mommy Ramblings.


1 Comment

Filed under Home & Garden, Pets

Tagged as , ,

· 3:42 am

“How Do You Take A Bath?” Blog Book Tour & Giveaway

If you are looking for a fun picture book, How Do You Take A Bath?, really fits the bill. You will smile and laugh as you follow elephants, pigs, monkeys, hippos, and more in this charming read-aloud from veteran author Kate McMullan. Perfect for fans of Five Little Monkeys Jump in the Bath, How Do You Take A Bath? is a fun and educational picture book that brings together adorable baby animals and bath time.

How does a pig take a bath? It sinks in the mud! What about a chicken? It thrashes about in dust! And a cat? Why, it licks itself clean, of course! Sydney Hanson’s adorable illustrations toggle neatly between animals in nature grooming themselves and humorous depictions of children attempting the animals’ bathing tactics. By the end of the book, the child finally makes his way to the bathtub, no mud baths or lick baths about it!

 Check out my video review of this book:

The book’s fun, rhyming prose makes it perfect for storytime and provides the facts to back it up for science discussions. With How Do You Take a Bath?, teachers looking for a classroom read-aloud and parents searching for a new book about bath time need look no further!

Giveaway:

Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky blog reader will win their own hardcover copy of How Do You Take A Bath?! Thank you Random House for the review book and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US residents.

How Do You Take A Bath? Hardcover Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget.  Good Luck!!!

Continue reading →


49 Comments

Filed under Blog Tour, Books, Giveaway, Home & Garden

Tagged as , , , , ,

October 27, 2018 · 4:17 am

Celebrate Halloween with PJ Masks- Free Activities, Printables and Recipes

Halloween is almost here, and if you are looking for some fun recipes, printables and activities for your PJ Masks fans, I have just the thing. There are so many fun things to do like activity sheets, games, coloring pages, cupcake recipes, even PJ Masks pumpkin carving sheets you can print. Check it all out HERE!

If you head off to Walmart you can pick up these fun PJ Masks items to make it a Hero of a Halloween for your little hero. Halloween Treat buckets in Gekko, Catboy or Owlette shapes are easy to hold and sturdy to carry all those yummy Halloween goodies.

Put a smile on everyone’s face with PJ Masks Halloween Greeters. How much fun are these little heros? He is so adorable, my kids love him.

Of course, we can’t forget the PJ Masks Halloween Costumes.

There are lots of other PJ Masks treats you can pick up like lollipop rings, bandages, swirl pops, stampers, party favors, push pops and more!

Let me know what you think of the activities and printables and all the great PJ Masks merchandise available.


Leave a Comment

Filed under Halloween, Home & Garden, kids, PJ Masks

Tagged as , , , , ,

October 25, 2018 · 3:29 am

Have Sweet Dreams in California Design Den Sheets – Giveaway

How much do you love the feeling of crawling into bed at night into soft, fresh sheets? I certainly do, it feels amazing after a long day.  California Dream Den makes their sheets from 100% long-staple, pure cotton with a 400 thread count so they are dreamy soft! 

California Design Den Sheet Set

I just love my king size sheet set in Mod Spa color. The tranquil green coupled with the uber softness makes an irresistible combination. They come in so many colors and prints to suit just about any decor. Check out my video below to learn more about these amazing sheets:


We think a set of California Design Den Sheets makes a perfect gift this holiday season, so you can find them on Mommy Ramblings’ Holiday Gift Guide. 

Giveaway:

California Design Den is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky blog reader will win a set of California Design Den sheets in the size and color of their choice (subject to availability)! Thank you to California Design Den for the review sheet set and for sponsoring this dreamy giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. Open to US residents.

California Design Den Sheet Set Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter for your chance to win using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

Continue reading →


75 Comments

Filed under Giveaway, Holiday Gift Guide, Home & Garden

Tagged as , , , , ,

October 23, 2018 · 11:49 pm

Give Plastic Bags The Boot and Use Reusable Mesh Bags Instead

If you are trying to cut down on your use of plastic, you are not alone. In fact, some states are already banning the use of plastic drinking straws and plastic grocery bags. Our dependency on disposable plastics is polluting our planet and endangering our wildlife.  Did you know that seabirds and mammals are dying because they are ingesting plastic waste? Most plastics are not biodegradable, so they are a real threat to our environment.

It can be hard to cut plastic completely out of our lives, but there are some easy ways to make a difference. One of those ways, is to stop using disposable plastic grocery bags. If you are already bringing reusable shopping bags to the grocery store, good for you! Let me ask though, are you using plastic produce bags? If so, you will love how easy it is to pack reusable mesh bags inside your shopping bags.

Mesh bags are washable and they are good for much more than produce. They are available in a 12 pack which includes 3 small bags, 6 medium bags and 3 large bags.  Great features like drawstring, toggle closures make the bags perfect for packing, storing beauty products, toys, craft items and so much more. Check out my video review of them below:

The bags are safe, BPA free, made from eco-friendly, food safe materials, so you can feel good about using them for just about anything.


3 Comments

Filed under Giveaway, Health, Home & Garden

Tagged as , , ,

October 16, 2018 · 10:18 pm

See It And Stream It With Google Chromecast

I have a very crazy schedule and I don’t watch much TV. However, I like to have something on in the background when I am working on my computer or writing late at night.  My Google Chromecast  lets me stream whatever I want straight to my TV.
 
I can stream from my iPad, laptop or Smartphone right to my TV. No matter what I want to watch, it has never been easier to just cast it on my TV. I can cast movies, videos, songs, games, photos, sports and more from over 2000 apps like Netflix, YouTube, HBO Now, TLC, YouTube TV and so many others.
 
 
It couldn’t be easier to hook up Chromecast to my TV. All I had to do was plug the Chromecast into my TV’s HDMI port and plug in the power. Then I was set to  stream to my hearts content, and watch what I want, when I want. You can even do it hands free when you want to watch from compatible apps, with Chromecast and Google Home working seamlessly together.
 
 
Chromecast allows you to upgrade your TV without having to buy a new one.  Since Chromecast is so affordable, we can have one on every TV in our house. You can enjoy high-speed wireless connectivity with the built-in 802.11ac Wi-Fi that connects to the Internet through your wireless home network (wireless router required and sold separately). Chromecast is compatible with your existing HDTV and easily connects to HD TVs with HDMI connectivity. Subscriptions are required for some services.
 
 
I love streaming YouTube tutorials for my husband and I to watch together, my daughter enjoys sharing her favorite video podcasts with me and of course we can binge watch our favorite shows. Chromecast makes a great gift too! Do you have a Chromecast? Let me know in the comments.
 

This is a sponsored post as a blogger working with the Best Buy Blogger Network. As always, all my words and views are 100% my own.


1 Comment

Filed under Home & Garden, Review, Tech

Tagged as , , , , , ,