Need the perfect princess gift idea? It’s THE Holiday Gift Every Little Girl Is Wishing For! Paid support and free product for this post is sponsored by Huffy and Disney; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

THE Holiday Gift Every Little Girl Is Wishing For

Christmas gifts for our kids have changed over the years. We used to focus a lot on quantity – making sure that there were lots of gifts under the tree. But with only a few more Christmas seasons left with our children at home, we’ve found that the quality of the gift means so much more. My 5-year old girl is OBSESSED with everything Disney Princess right now. And we just found THE princess holiday gift every little girl is wishing for this season.

YOLO – ride in a princess carriage. 

Um, can I hitch a ride with her? I admit I had a little twinge of jealously when a royally fun ride pulled up to our house. I never had one of those fancy ride-on vehicles when I was little, especially not a horse-drawn princess carriage! But when you have a 5-year old OBSESSED with everything Disney Princess, you’re bound to be talked into the most adorable battery-powered chariot on the block.

See why this dream-of-a-toy from Huffy is going to be THE holiday gift every little girl is wishing for. And even better, see the best parent-approved features! Big dreams are just a short drive away. And this fairy tale has a happily ever after.

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How can I keep my kids healthy this season? Here are 8 Best Tips for Kids Cold and Flu Prevention, from a pediatric nurse. This post is sponsored by KnowYourOTCs, a non-profit organization aiming to educate parents on safe use of over-the-counter medicines. All opinions are my own.

8 Best Tips for Kids Cold and Flu Prevention

It’s all fun and games until your child gets sick. Then it’s all downhill from there.

Cold and flu season seems to have a snowball effect, doesn’t it? It’s not just your child that’s sick. The house gets neglected, your work suffers, sleep is lost – and before you know it, the whole household is infected with germs. Yes, it’s that time again. The time when I stock up on all of the tissue boxes, hand soap, vitamins and sanitizing wipes – cold and flu season is back! And if you’re a mama bear like me, you’re ready to shield your kids from all of the potential germs. YUCK.

As a former pediatric nurse who took care of A LOT of kids in the hospital during cold and flu season, I always get asked about keeping kids healthy during the worst season of the year. “How can I protect my kids from getting cold and flu?” It’s hard, parents. I get it. But to make things a little easier this season, I’ve come up with my 8 Best Tips for Kids Cold and Flu Prevention.

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Is My Child a Leader or Follower? Why I Left My Parent Teacher Conference Angry. And why we need to do better for our kids.

Is My Child a Leader or Follower? Why I Left My Parent Teacher Conference Angry

We’ve officially survived the first 9-weeks of school. Two lice scares (false ones, thank goodness), 1 strep throat, 1 stomach virus and 1 round of 4th grade Common Core division lessons – I think that constitutes a successful school starting for my kids (and mom too). However, I’m not here to talk about that. I had my first parent teacher conference for my daughter’s kindergarten class. And I confess:

It’s the first parent teacher conference where I left angry.

Now before we go all teacher judge-y on me, I have nothing against my daughter’s kindergarten teacher. She’s lovely, kind, and communicates very well with her students and parents. She’s great. But I’ve had a recurring theme regarding this pivotal year in my daughter’s learning. Leader or Follower – it’s a heavy theme throughout kindergarten as little minds master skills both important for school and life in general. And it’s a theme that has been bothering me…to the point that I’m pretty furious about it.

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Ever gave a really bad awards speech? Welp, now I have. Here’s The Worst Acceptance Speech Ever & What I Wish I Had Said. #FLBlogCon

The Worst Acceptance Speech Ever & What I Wish I Had Said

photo credit: Kim Vij of theeducatorsspinonit.com

Every person has that dream Academy Award Speech they want to give. In my mind, I had everything planned out from the dress I would wear, to the “complete shock” face when my name is called, to the tears I would cry as they handed me the beautiful and heavy trophy. And then I would wake up.

But yesterday, it was a moment about as close as I would ever get to an Oscar. Best Parenting Blog award was up for grabs, and I was in complete denial that I could possibly win. I don’t win awards. I was never the “popular” person. I was never the sporty girl. The only trophies in my possession were from nerdy things like good grades.

And as I stood there and planned out my exit strategy (in all honesty, I had to pee SO badly), my friends held me hostage as I heard my blog name butchered over the microphone. Wait, there must have been some mistake. That wasn’t my blog called, right? But as I got pushed forward, I had about a million neurons firing as I gingerly walked towards the stage. Saying a prayer to not trip and fall in front of a huge group of people, I held a small yet powerful little trophy in my hand. And then the introvert in me did it’s worst as my mouth gaped open, and my mind went blank.

Want to hear the worst acceptance speech ever?

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Coughing, sneezing, runny nose? It must be that time of year again! Is it a Child Cold or Allergies? How to Tell the Difference when your child is sick! This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.

Child Cold or Allergies? How to Tell the Difference

Do you know how can I tell when my kids are settled into the school year? ALL of the tissue boxes come out of the closet.

And you get a tissue! And you get a tissue! And you’re so special – you get the double layer tissue!

A sneezy boy here, a boogery nose girl there, and a mom on-call 24/7. Fall is in the air…literally. How can you tell if your coughing, sneezing, runny nose child is coming home from school with a cold or allergies? Yeah, I’m with ya. Here’s how to tell the difference between a child cold or allergies. And of course, get tips to help your little one feel better sooner.

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Make meal time awesome with these 75+ Family Dinner Conversation Starters + Easy Meal Idea. This post is sponsored by Milford Valley. All family-loving opinions are my own.

75+ Family Dinner Conversation Starters + Easy Meal Idea

I thrive on family time. There’s not a day that goes by where we don’t have family dinner at the core of our daily routine. In fact, the days we don’t have family dinner, I feel there’s a part of me that’s missing. In today’s fast paced society, that family time is less and less. Technology and social media replace laughter and actual eye contact. But even on the busiest school nights, we are trying hard to make the time to be together. Because we only have so many more years with our kids around the dinner table, right? Set down those phones and turn of the TV. Instead, grab these 75+ Family Dinner Conversation Starters + a delicious and easy meal idea with Milford Valley Stuffed Chicken Minis.

Laughter around the dinner table and good food in under 30 minutes? Heck, yes.

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This time of year always makes me teary as a mom. Grab your $50 Florida Prepaid Back-to-School Promo Code, because they grow up too fast. This post is sponsored by the Florida Prepaid College Board as a my role as Believer Blogger. All opinions are my own. #StartingIsBelieving

Florida Prepaid Back-to-School Promo Code | Because They Grow Up Too Fast

(Alternate blog post title: If you give a kindergartner red lipstick…) Dressed to impress, that seems to be my 5-year old’s motto these days. As we pick out her school outfit every night, she reminds me to not forget a “cute accessory” for her hair. “It HAS to match my dress, Mommy.” I catch her posing in front of the mirror as she fluffs her hair and pouts her lips.

She’s growing up – fast, too fast. 

Back-to-school reminds me how fast time flies. Wasn’t this little lady just in diapers yesterday? Kindergarten today, college tomorrow – it’s hard to believe how much has changed. Back-to-school reminds me how precious these years are, and how even more important it is that we are ready for the years ahead. Bright futures, careers, dreams, goals – they’re all happening as fast as these kindergarten days are flashing before me. That’s why a $50 Florida Prepaid Back-to-School Promo Code can mean so much to parents. Grab your Florida Prepaid back-to-school savings now, before they grow up too fast.

***2019 Update: Use code RAIS19 at checkout through 3/4/19 for $50 off.

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Want your children to stay healthy this school year? Grab your Back-to-School Health Tips for Kids at Every Grade Level – full guide for kids of all ages! This is a sponsored post. All healthy opinions are my own.

Back-to-School Health Tips for Kids at Every Grade Level

I know, I know – but it’s that time where we talk about the “C” and “F” words again.

No…not those ones.

Cold and flu, my fellow parents. Cold and Flu. Back-to-School means back to germs – and with two kids in full time elementary school, that’s twice the amount of germs attacking my family. The odds are against me. No bueno. So how do we keep everyone in the family healthy this school season? Check out these back-to-school health tips for kids at every grade level. So whether you have a preschooler, elementary age or middle schooler in the house, you’re prepared to keep your little ones healthy all school season long.

Bonus: you also get to see how my daughter likes to “quaff” in the mornings. 5 going on 15? Yeah, I think so.

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