I’m tired of our kids being bullied. It’s time to do something. Want to End Bullying and other types of abuse? Let’s #ChangeTheConversation. This post is sponsored by The Monique Burr Foundation for Children. All mama-bear opinions are my own.

Want to End Bullying? Let’s #ChangeTheConversation

Parents, let’s face it. We all want to end bullying, right? All of us. But how many of us are actually “doing” something about it? We need change, real change. Because the stats are scary. It’s time to #ChangeTheConversation.

When the #MeToo movement began, I had chills thinking about how many women were silently victimized for years – believing that speaking out would not make a difference. Now imagine that same movement – with my kids, with your kids.

I just felt my throat and chest tighten.

The truth is, 1 in 4 children will be bullied or abused in their lifetime. 1 in 4. 1 in 5 kids will be cyberbullied. And the stats get scarier from there. But here’s the good news. 95% of abuse is preventable with education. It’s a topic that we never want to talk about with our children – but we need to. Bullying and abuse are acts that we as parents have to DO something about. So here’s what I’m doing right now to end bullying, as in real action. I hope you’ll consider doing the same.

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Want to make some quick last minute travel plans? Grab these 10 Easy Florida Getaway Ideas for a Stress-Free Weekend. This post is sponsored by Picture Keeper. All wanderlust opinions are my own.

10 Easy Florida Getaway Ideas for a Stress-Free Weekend with Picture Keeper + $250 Giveaway

All I want for Mother’s Day is zero stress and a traveling heart. With my most recent purge of “stuff” in my house and a focus on more travel, I’m ready to plan my next adventure. But you know what happens when you’re a mom. Schedules. Sleep deprivation. Lack of time management. We blink and all of a sudden Mother’s Day is here and that hope of a little getaway becomes a dream.

But what if we had $250 and a weekend to go now, right now. Where would you go?

Thanks to Picture Keeper, I’ve got travel plans on the brain with these 10 Easy Florida Getaway Ideas for a Stress-Free Weekend. Check out my favorite Florida destinations for a last-minute travel adventure and be sure to scroll down to find out how you could win $250.

10 Easy Florida Getaway Ideas

Picture Keeper is giving away $250 this Mother’s Day. And instead of all of the “stuff” I could get with that money, my mind immediately went to traveling with the family. It’s a no-brainer that Florida travel has my heart. And with $250, we definitely could take advantage of all of the adventures my home state has to offer. Here are my Easy Last Minute Florida Getaway Ideas. Who’s ready to travel?

1. Orlando – A staycation is always an easy family getaway. With so many great hotels in the Orlando are at an affordable price, we just need a pool, Florida sunshine and a bed. 
2. Sanibel Island – Hands down the best shelling in Florida. This secluded island is covered in some of the most beautiful shells. One of my favorite spots for family exploring.
3. Cocoa Beach – When this beach is only 40 minutes from the house, how can we resist? I love this town for it’s laid back surfer charm, sandy beaches and quiet downtown.
4. Siesta Key – This is my favorite white sand beach in Florida. This huge stretch of powder along the Florida west coast is the perfect spot for relaxation. 
5. St. Augustine – The history, the sights, the food. Need I go on? We would drop everything for a weekend in St. Augustine. We find new hidden treasure spots every time we visit.
6. Singer Island – A little piece of “home.” When I used to live in the West Palm Beach area, this little secluded island was always a welcome.
7. Key West – A bit of a drive, but so worth it. Sometimes you need a little “quirky” island to bring out your best mood. The food, the sights and the culture really makes Key West a special place for us. 
8. Winter Park – This city has always been a little Florida hidden gem spot for us. Give me one of the best Florida farmers markets, a stroll down Park Ave. and kids rolling in the grass any day.
9. Miami – Color and life. When I need to be reminded of the vibrancy of Florida, this is city I look for. There’s so much to do and see with the family too. The aquarium is always fun.
10. Jacksonville – This city continues to come back to my bucket list. This is my eclectic spot, for when you need a taste of everything. Food, culture, beaches, exploration, sports – a great place.

Keeping My Family’s Travel Memories with Picture Keeper

Being a blogger is both a blessing and a curse at times. That constant nag of missing “that amazing photo,” often times forces me to lug around my heavy camera equipment. But the freedom of leaving that stuff behind to be in the moment with my family – that’s the time I cherish the most. I love when I can opt to leave my job behind and just take those candid shots with my phone. But let’s face it. Even bloggers have trouble saving those priceless family photos. Not having backup photo protection for my travel memories is basically taboo. It can’t happen – ever. I always need to have backups for my backups.

Picture Keeper helps me to keep those family memories stress-free long after our getaway. By simply plugging in Picture Keeper Connect USB drive into my phone I can save, store and backup my priceless travel memories. So easy. Photos, videos, even my contacts are all kept safe and secure. The best part? Picture Keeper is awesome for travel! No wifi, storage or data is needed to use while on-the-go, making our stress-free travel even more stress-free!

Save for Mother’s Day with This Picture Keeper Promo Code

With Mother’s Day around the corner, there’s no better gift than keeping mom’s priceless memories safe and secure. Picture Keeper is offering HUGE savings this holiday. Use promo code MOM18 for 40% off a Picture Keeper Connect at picturekeeper.com.

Follow Picture Keeper on social media for the latest products, offers & more:

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$250 Cash Giveaway from Picture Keeper

Ready to plan your next Florida getaway? Enter this amazing Picture Keeper giveaway! 1 lucky reader will win $250 cash + a Picture Keeper Connect! Whether planning an adventure or just using the $250 to treat yourself, Picture Keeper wants to make sure that mom is taken care of this Mother’s Day! HURRY, this giveaway ends 5/8/18 (just in time for Mother’s Day). Open to U.S. residents only. Here’s how to enter:

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Need parent tips getting through the Florida Standardized Test? Check out how we’re Surviving the 3rd Grade FSA Test with Nintendo Selects. This post is sponsored by Nintendo. All video game loving opinions are my own.

Surviving the 3rd Grade FSA Test with Nintendo Selects + Giveaway

3rd grade is no joke. Harder materials, harder learning, and the first year of standardized testing. Today begins the 3rd grade FSA Test for math. The Florida Standardized Test is the one test that determines whether our boy moves from 3rd grade to 4th grade. Months of preparation, practice tests and learning all culminate to this moment – and I’m beyond nervous for my son. But we have been diligently working away at home and he’s ready. He’s SO ready. Here’s how we’re surviving the 3rd Grade FSA Test, with lots of tips for kids and parents. Plus check out how Nintendo Selects is helping us stay on track for this year’s FSA testing and be sure to scroll down for a fun giveaway!

Helping My Son Handle FSA Test Stress

The test anxiety is real. My 9-year old son can easily get himself worked up into a panic attack just thinking about the Florida Standardized Test. He knows how much is at stake. And he doesn’t want to watch the rest of his classmates go on to 4th grade without him.

When my son gets stressed, we have to stop and redirect him to the things that bring him joy. Building bricks. Reading comics. Playing his Nintendo 3DS. Nothing brings back that beautiful smile faster than a few minutes with his favorite video games. And with so much time and effort being put into this FSA test this year (like literally MONTHS!), I knew that I wanted reward my son for all of his hard work.

Nintendo Selects – Fun for Under $20

But let’s be honest. Sometimes a new Nintendo game would cost upwards of $30-$50+. Not in the family budget. That’s why I was excited to hear about the new Nintendo Selects collection of classic games for Nintendo 3DS and 2DS systems. Featuring games your whole family will love like Super Mario Land 3D and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, NES Remix, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D and more, there’s lots of fun ways to help your child stay on track for the best FSA testing year ever.

Need a digital copy? No need to carry around those game cartridges with a Nintendo eShop gift card! You can purchase a digital copy of Nintendo Selects games online! Just sign into your Nintendo account and download right onto your game system. The Nintendo eShop gift card makes a great gift and easy for kids to grab their “hard to find” Nintendo Selects games.

Giving my son just 10-15 minute mental break with his new Nintendo Selects games really helps him to stay on task and be more focused to get his 3rd Grade FSA Test practice questions complete – without complaining. And he just LOVES these classic games too, the ones this mom grew up on!

3rd Grade FSA Test Tips for Parents

The Florida Standardized Test is a huge school milestone for your 3rd grader. And as unprepared as I was going into this FSA testing season, I don’t want any other parent to feel that way. So I’ve come up with a handy list of 3rd Grade FSA Test Tips for Parents to help control the stress, ease the learning and allow your child to shine.

• Goals – My son focuses better when he has goals to achieve. Whether it’s getting “x” amount of math practice questions correct on his homework or knowing the difference between finding the perimeter vs. area of a shape, I like to give him concrete and obtainable goals to help him on his FSA journey.
• Practice, Practice, Practice! – Ask your child’s teacher for a list of test resources or extra practice tests to take home. There are also free FSA practice tests online (print and computer) to go over with your child at home. Here’s a list of FSA practice tests to try: HERE, HERE, and HERE.
• Go Over Answers Together – One of the things we found out is that while my son does go over the answers to practice test in class, he was sometimes too scared to ask for further clarification on wrong answers.
• Breaks – Give your kids plenty of mental health breaks. Allow them to have time to do things that they love like playing sports outside or playing their Nintendo Selects games! We set timers so he knows that when the timer goes off, it’s time to get back to work.
• Praise – My kids thrive on praise for their hard work. I make sure to praise and encourage my son for all of his hard work before, during and after the FSA.
• Rewards – Consider using a rewards system to help encourage your little tester to excel. We love using this Nintendo Rewards Printable to help my son earn extra playing time when he goes above and beyond his normal FSA studying.
• Sleep – A good night’s sleep can make a HUGE difference during test day. Make sure not to do anything too strenuous or draining the day before and make sure they go to bed on time if not early the night before the FSA test.
• Balanced Meals – This goes for meals too. A balanced breakfast before the FSA can also help fuel that little mind to work smarter during the test as well.
• Keep It Simple – We also lay out clothes the night before, get everything for school by the door and try to cut down on the amount of morning tasks before heading out that day. Less stress!
• Love – The most important 3rd Grade FSA Test tip I can give is to make sure that your child feels LOVED, no matter what the outcome. Tell them, show them and be there for them every step of the way. Let your child know that they are so much more than a test.

The FSA is here, and we’ve done all that we could. This smart and amazing kid is going to rock this test, move onto 4th grade and do awesome things. I just know it. Thanks to a hard work ethic, a brain full of ideas and Nintendo Selects, the 3rd Grade FSA Test is just another stepping stone in his school career.

Nintendo Selects Giveaway

Whether you’re looking to reward your child for the hard work they’ve been doing, finding the perfect kid birthday present to fit your budget or just some good old family fun, we love how Nintendo Selects offers great games at a great price. Ready to try Nintendo Selects with your family? 1 lucky Raising Whasians reader will win one of the classic Nintendo Selects games for their Nintendo 3DS, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (a $19.99 value). Open to U.S. residents only. Ends 4/30/18. Here’s how to enter:

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Do you & your kids know how to safely dispose of your over-the-counter meds at home? Check out these Safe Medicine Disposal Tips for Parents. This is a sponsored post. All mama-bear opinions are my own.

Safe Medicine Disposal Tips for Parents

Out with the old, in with the new. 2018 has been the year of family travel. The more that we’re out exploring, the more I realize how much more our family is thriving. Bringing those travel adventures home, I’ve been spring cleaning the house with a new look at life – less stuff, more memories. A house full of stuff is nothing, NOTHING compared to the memories we share. And as our house has gone into spring cleaning overload, (Sorry, honey, can you schedule another donation pick-up?), I’m realizing that our medicine storage has grown so large that it has overtaken our kitchen area…because I had no clue how to trash our old meds.

I know, poor excuse. 

Before writing this post I had no idea how to safely dispose of medicines at home. When I was a pediatric nurse in a hospital setting, we had procedures for these types of things. But who knew that we were only a few steps and a few household items away from finally cleaning out our medicine cabinet once and for all. Let’s spring clean our medicine cabinets together with these Safe Medicine Disposal Tips for Parents…and hey, don’t forget to pour that extra cup of coffee. 🙂

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How are you keeping your kids safe? Grab your up & away medicine safety tips for National Poison Prevention Week. This is a sponsored post. All pediatric nurse opinions are my own.

Up & Away Medicine Safety Tips for National Poison Prevention Week

I remember the first time my daughter was able to push herself on the swing. She was so proud of herself. When my kids play on the swings, so much happens in those few seconds between the ground and the sky. Determination turns into smiles and laughter. Hard work turns into carefree play time. And as much as I’d like to focus on my kids swinging “up and away” today, I have to remind y’all that this week is also National Poison Prevention Week.

Did it make you cringe? Me too. Because the surprising stats instantly pulled at my mom heartstrings.

During one of my few pediatric ICU rotations, I witnessed a child laying in bed from an accidental medicine overdose. Hooked up to all of the machines and breathing apparatuses and about 5 IVs running through his little fragile body – it’s truly heartbreaking what can happen to a child in seconds. According to SafeKids, almost every minute of every day there is a call to a poison control center because a young child got into a medicine. Approximately 60,000 kids go to the ER every year because they got into medicines that were left within reach (this equals 4 school bus loads of kids every day). I don’t know about you – but that’s way too often for my comfort. Let’s talk REAL medicine safety tips, parents. We need to. Please read these really important tips, self-check your home and have your questions ready for an informative Facebook Live session this week. Let’s do this, for our kids.
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Up for a little early morning humor? Check out the 6 Stages of Breakfast When You’re a Mom. This post is sponsored by RaceTrac. All delicious opinions are my own.

6 Stages of Breakfast When You’re a Mom + FLASH RaceTrac Giveaway

One thing I’ve learned since becoming a mom is how “fluid” the term breakfast is. What I once thought was a delectable 5 course meal of delicately cooked eggs, freshly squeezed orange juice and a side of extra crispy bacon suddenly morphed into a world of survival of the fittest when my son was born. Then add my daughter – I may or may not have eaten a few things I am taking with me to the grave. As our lives get busier and busier, I always have breakfast to keep me grounded. Mom always said it was the most important meal of the day – but she didn’t say what the breakfast had to include.

So today I’m having the judgement-free breakfast. Raising my cup of coffee, I’m sharing a little humor with the 5 Stages of Breakfast When You’re a Mom. Have a laugh with me during my recent early morning breakfast hunt, and scroll down for a delicious RaceTrac giveaway.

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Depression can be hard to put into words. Here’s What I Wish Everyone Would Understand About My Depression. Take the survey & win a $100 gift card! I was compensated by Med-IQ through a grant from Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. and Lundbeck to write about depression awareness. All my opinions are my own.

What I Wish Everyone Would Understand About My Depression + $100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway

I had a magical conference with other bloggers last month. Fast paced, little sleep and antibiotics with specific side effects that “may cause depression,” I was a hot mess of emotions as I struggled to keep a “happy face” for the six days being surrounded by people I admired and looked up to. But the battle in my head raged on as I questioned everything I was doing, feeling or thinking – sometimes near tears.

“You don’t belong here.” “You’re a failure.” “You’ll never be like them.”

One morning at the conference a friend had made a point to say hi to me in passing. I grumbled a hi in return and kept walking, lost in my demons while (in my mind) pretending to have my act together. Not my finest moment, as I knew I was being short and rude.

A few days later, that same friend pulled me aside. She asked if I was ok, recalling our morning exchange. “You looked angry. I wanted to make sure you were feeling alright.” She was concerned with how I was feeling, knowing my history. I’m so glad that she took me aside, asked questions and allowed me to clarify what was really going on during that conference. And in the end, she was still my friend and still there for me.

I wish every conversation was that easy. There are days when depression takes complete control of me. There are days when I hide it well. There are days when I can’t even put into words what my depression feels like. But if I had to take my depression and put it into a box, here’s what I wish everyone would understand about my depression.

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Grab your 2018 Florida Prepaid Open Enrollment Last Chance + Promo Code before the period closes! This post is sponsored by the Florida Prepaid College Board as a my role as Believer Blogger. All opinions are my own. #StartingIsBelieving

2018 Florida Prepaid Open Enrollment Last Chance + Promo Code

It’s bottom of the 9th. The score is tied. And it’s last ups. Last chance to make that game winning run and be the hero for your team. What are you going to do?

This scene may look familiar. Once a year our family hosts an annual kickball game. It’s been amazing to watch the excitement of this game grow over the years. Mostly a game for adults to “relive the good old days” and for the kids to “be one of the grown ups,” it’s a chance for many of us to get that last ups again – be the hero of the team. But for many (including myself), you go back and forth on getting up there. What if they laugh at me? What if I miss? What if I fall?

But what if it’s the last chance to be that hero? Don’t let that last chance, that last opportunity to pass you by. Today I’m chatting about the last chance to begin your child’s college future, the 2018 Florida Prepaid Open Enrollment Last Chance. Hesitant and procrastinating parents like me might want some insight on our journey – and a last chance to save big on your child’s dreams with an exclusive Florida Prepaid Promo Code.

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