Gillette's New Subscription Service - One Less Thing for your College Student to Worry About

First off, let me preface this by saying that I do love my college-aged son. I think he has a lot of great qualities. He's creative and artistic, he's sensitive, and he can be very dedicated and persistent when the task at hand is something about which he's passionate. However, he's also, ummm, how to put this nicely . . . well, he can be irresponsible, lazy, aloof, and did I mention irresponsible? I keep telling myself that he's a boy and boys sometimes take a while to mature. (Thinking of a few grown men I know, I believe some of them never quite get there!) Eventually he'll learn to pay his bills on time, and pick his laundry up off the floor and wash it before he's down to a single clean sock, a bathing suit, and a pair of jeans that are 2 sizes too small, yet remain in his closet for some reason. At some point, it'll sink in that work comes before play, right? Right?

I know he'll learn this stuff and he'll grow to be a mature, responsible member of society. (If not, I'll work out an apology to his future wife for my egregious parenting failure.) And I know he's not the only boy going to college and causing his parents a little worry. It's hard to let go and let them learn these lessons on their own. I think as parents we naturally want to help them out however we can. We make sure they have everything they need as they head off to school. But as the econo-box of Ramen runs out, will they eat? When they run out of shampoo, will they buy more or just go with the dreadlock look? How about razor blades? Will they keep shaving with the same, dull blade they left home with, or will they return to you for Christmas vacation looking like one of the Duck Dynasty guys?

Well, Gillette has made that one task much easier. Gillette now offers a blade refill subscription service! It's a practical, hassle-free option that delivers Gillette’s blades directly to your door (or your son's dorm.) And, Gillette’s best blades are more affordable than you might think—only about $1 a week. How cool is that? Now, if everything our sons use offered a subscription service it would be amazing. Or if we parents could send Howlers (those talking messages from Harry Potter) to remind our kids to take care of themselves, that would be even better! Alas, we're left to let our sons out into the world on their own, hoping they remember the lessons we've taught them, giving them the freedom to make mistakes, and trusting they'll be okay. Still, for a $1 a week, we can assure they have one less thing to worry about! And The Gillette Fusion ProGlide with FlexBall Technology is the first razor of its kind, with a new handle that adjusts and pivots to respond to the contours of a man’s face for fewer missed hairs. If your son uses the ProGlide already, those same blades fit the new ProGlide FlexBall which is pretty cool! How often does it work that way, right? Never. Usually when a product is updated and improved, it renders all components of the product useless, forcing you to buy new ones.

Do you have any other tips to make life a little easier for your college student? Share them here!

Compensation was provided by Gillette via MomTrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Gillette or MomTrends. 

Our Children Are Capable of Changing the World — If We Let Them

Over the years, my kids have asked, on hot summer days, if they could have a lemonade stand. I acquiesced, less than enthusiastically because I know that “lemonade stand” is actually code for making a sticky mess in the kitchen, taking odds and ends from the garage in order to construct a lemonade stand, drinking all of their inventory, then (assuming they actually sell a cup or two) taking the dollar or so that they’ve earned and spending it on candy at the corner gas station — all while leaving everything a giant mess at home. Of course, not all kids run a lemonade stand quite like that. Meet Vivienne, an 8-year-old who sells lemonade to raise money for charity:

CONTINUE READING HERE!

image: courtesy flickr

The Case for Letting Your Kids Fail

You can bet that behind each successful individual is another person who believed in them, cheered them on, and helped them dry their tears when they failed. As parents, we have that opportunity to bolster confidence and assuage fears for our own children each day. We get to teach our kids that failures are a part of life, and that we don’t have to let them be “bad things.” Failures can be wonderful tools that enable us to grow and motivate us to succeed.

Here’s how to help your kids cope with failure:

CONTINUE READING HERE!

11 Ways Having a Teen Is Surprisingly Awesome

Last week I wrote the following line on Facebook: You might be the parent of a teen if …

As you can imagine, I got many hilarious responses! Of course, any parent of a teen (especially a boy) knows their room can sometimes smell like the large mammal exhibit at Brookfield Zoo, or can contain enough dirty dishes to host a formal dinner party for 20. Any parent of a teen (especially a girl) knows there is sometimes enough drama and eye rolling to fill an entire season ofKeeping up with the Kardashians.

But there are good things about having teens too. Yes, there really are! And here are just a few …

CONTINUE READING HERE!

Katherine Heigl Says She’s Not Difficult — but That’s Not the Problem

So Katherine Heigl is in the news again. This time she was flat-out asked if she thinks she and her mom/manager are difficult to work with. To which Heigl answered, “I certainly don’t see myself as being difficult. I would never intend to be difficult. I don’t think my mother sees herself as being difficult. I think it’s important to everybody to conduct themselves professionally and respectfully and kindly, so if I’ve ever disappointed somebody, it was never intentional.”

CONTINUE READING HERE!

And THIS is Why the Folks at the ER Know us by Name

As you may know, Jackson and his buddy have been making videos this summer. Last night he showed me this one. It's so nice to know that he's spending his time wisely this summer. It's great seeing how he has matured and how he is becoming a level-headed, responsible, young man. I love how he thinks first instead of just jumping in. It's wonderful how he can differentiate between smart ideas and dumba$$, stupid, asinine ones! See for yourselves what a grown-up, smart, young man I have here . . .

A Parent’s Guide to Navigating Common Core — and Helping Your Kids Succeed with It

Supporters of the Common Core State Standards are happy to see the increased rigor and uniform standards across states. Critics argue, among other things, that CCSS is a step towards a national curriculum. Some people objectively see both pros and cons to the new standards. Or, if you’re like most of the parents I’ve talked to, you don’t know how to feel because you are confused and frankly don’t understand what Common Core is all about. I’m not writing to debate the merits or weaknesses of Common Core here. I’m writing simply to give parents a few tips on how to help their children with the transition to CCSS because, personal feelings aside, 45 states have adopted these new standards and your children will soon be assessed on these new principles.

I work at a middle school in Florida. We rolled out the changes last year and will begin, like most states, assessing on the new standards this 2014/2015 school year. I think younger elementary kids will fare just fine with the CCSS, however, because these changes were implemented across every grade level at the same time, I feel that middle and high school students are at a disadvantage. They’ve learned one way for several years and now are being required to make sudden, dramatic changes. This guide is to help you, the parent, so you are best prepared to help your student be successful:

CONTINUE READING HERE!

The "My Air Conditioning is Broken and it's 90 Degrees" Sale

The AC went out in my house. It's Florida in summer which means every day is 90-some degrees. It's pretty miserable. Fixing it is probably out of the question, but I'm trying to raise a little money to buy some box fans.

$20 EACH BOOK, OR MIX & MATCH ANY 2 FOR $35! FREE SHIPPING WITHIN THE USA! I WILL SIGN ANY BOOK TO YOU OR YOUR DESIRED RECIPIENT!
Email me your choice(s), shipping info, and to whom you want it signed. mom2my6pack at aol dot com. You can pay via Paypal. Thank you!

CHOOSE FROM THE FOLLOWING 4 TITLES

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Yes, there are times when it’s appropriate to reason with your child, to patiently and eloquently explain why he or she needs to do as you ask. you might present convincing arguments like “Because it makes you strong”; “Because it will keep you safe”; “Because it’s good for you”; “Because it’s bad for you.” But there are times when the only thing that really makes sense is … “Because I said so!!”

This book is a hilarious, honest romp through motherhood–the joys, the sleeplessness, the frazzled days, the unending carpooling, the in-house refereeing, the dieting (yeah right), the worrying–and did we say, the joy?

Here’s what some of that joy looks like — with excerpts straight from the book:

• I tried to do the Buns of Steel video, but quickly realized that it wasn’t intended for people who have buns of pudding.
• I felt like my head might explode. I kind of hoped it would so I could take a nice, peaceful ambulance ride out of there.
• I was a little at a loss. I mean, those parenting books don’t tell you how to break up a fight over an imaginary friend.
• Moms aren’t allowed to get sick more than one day a year. Single moms aren’t allowed to get sick ever.
• Before you have children you can’t imagine yourself saying things like “Don’t put chocolate milk in your pants,” “Take the hot dog out of your nose,” or “Because I said so!”

If you’re a mom-to-be or a mom in the trenches, you’ll love knowing that you’re not the only one out there who sometimes just figures it out as you go along–and sometimes can’t figure it out at all. But in the end, Dawn has these words of encouragement just for you: “Enjoy this time. Even when they make you crazy, these are the best days of your life.” And they really are, aren’t they?

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You’ll Lose the Baby Weight is a humorous look at pregnancy and childbirth.  Meant to entertain and amuse, Dawn’s true-to-life accounts of pregnancy will ring true with anyone who hears the word, “Mom,” over a 100 times a day.

As a mother of six children, Dawn shares her hard-earned wisdom with readers.  Such as…

*  Varicose veins runs in families, which means you should get on the phone and start yelling at your mom and grandmother for passing on lousy genes to you.

*  Although there’s no evidence cleaning your house is bad for you during pregnancy, go ahead and pretend it is.

*  A well-rounded pregnancy diet should include:

1. Dairy – a chocolate shake and half a pound of cheese should do the trick.
2. Vegetables – a sixteen-ounce container of spinach dip will do nicely.
3. Fruit – a quarter of a cheesecake topped with raspberry sauce fulfills your fruit requirement
4. Bread – a  loaf of King’s Hawaiian bread (you need something with which to eat the spinach dip) and a pound of butter cookies takes care of your bread requirement.
5. Protein – sausage pizza, a big, fat hamburger, and twenty Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups (What? Peanut butter has protein!) fills the need for protein.

*  If you plan to give up caffeine altogether, just wear a sign around your neck to give others fair warning:  “I’m pregnant and I haven’t had any coffee.” People will see you coming and make a hasty retreat, which should help you avoid any unnecessary violence.

*  Your baby can be kicking for twenty minutes straight, but the minute you try to get your husband or mom or friend to put their hand on your belly so they can feel her move, she’ll stop. Without fail. Every time.

*  In order to prepare for Baby, go out to your car and spill juice on the seats.  Scatter French fries, crayons, and toys on the floor, and put a Veggie Tales CD in the player.

*  Before weighing in at every appointment, take off your shoes, empty your pockets, and tweeze your eyebrows.

With such chapters as “I’m Not a Doctor; I Just Play One on TV” and “Morning Sickness: It Isn’t Just for Breakfast Anymore,”this hilarious book takes readers through nine months of pregnancy and all the accompanying symptoms to labor and delivery and the weeks postpartum. It will have readers doubled over in laughter, trying not to wet their pants because, let’s face it, pregnant women have weak bladder control.

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After experiencing the death of both parents, Margaret McSweeney recognized the importance of community like never before. Through these difficult times in life, she learned how God uses gritty circumstances to conform us to the stunning image of Christ.

McSweeney also realized that she was not at all alone. It is for this reason that she decided to compile essays into an inspiring book: Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit Experiencing Grace.Through this collection, readers will be encouraged by the heartfelt writings that deal with loss and hardship in a real and honest way. Respected authors such as Shaunti Feldhahn, Melody Carson, Debbie Macomber, Robin Jones Gunn and others help remind every woman that they are not alone and that no circumstance is beyond the grace of God.

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Like oysters, women often encounter unexpected grit during their everyday lives. In response, God’s love and grace covers this grit and transforms the pain into a precious pearl that leaves a layered, luminous lining within a shell: Mother of Pearl. This brilliant luster is strong, lasting, and purposeful—just like the love, lessons, and legacies left by the special women in our lives. Mother of Pearl celebrates the collective iridescence of motherhood. 

Margaret McSweeney presents a collection of heartfelt vignettes from authors who communicate the importance of the unique relationships between mothers and their children, between granddaughters and grandmothers and between children and the mother-figures in their lives. These stories tell of the power of faith, prayer, and values, exploring coming of age, the joy of becoming a mother, the importance of motherhood, the ways to heal from a bad relationship with a mother and weathering the death of a special loved one. Poignant and thought-provoking, the stories serve to inspire, encourage, instill hope, and strengthen faith.

10 Super-Cute Hairstyles Anyone Can Create!

I love playing with my girls’ hair! I always have. In fact, when I was a kid I was forever stealing my sister’s Barbie Styling Head so I could play with its hair. (Sorry about that, Deb!) But now, with my girls, it’s like having my own life-size dolls to play with!

Recently, I’ve been searching for some cute, fun braids and other hairstyles I could try out on my girls. (Summer vacation is the perfect time to try out new hairstyles. It’s much easier to play and practice different styles when you’re not rushing around, trying to get everyone ready and off to school on time!) I chose seven styles that I thought looked complicated and intricate, yet promised to be easy to duplicate. Admittedly, I have basic braiding knowledge, but I’m no professional hair stylist! I wanted to see how easy, for an average mom, it would be to recreate these styles. With these easy-to-follow tutorials, you don’t have to be a professional hairstylist to create these amazing looks. After each design, I’ve included a photo of how the style turned out for me, along with how long it took me to complete it so you can see how easy they are for an average mom without tons of hairstyling experience.

(If you don’t know how to braid at all, you’ll need to watch a tutorial on braiding, French braiding, and/or fish tail braiding first. Then just practice, practice, practice.)

Let's put these to the test!

3D SPLIT BRAID

I thought this 3 dimensional twist on the classic braid was really cool. I just had to try it myself!

MY ATTEMPT AT THE 3D SPLIT BRAID

Here's Brooklyn with the 3D braid. I think it turned out really well!

TIME: 5 MINUTES OR LESS

This braid only took 2 minutes to do. I can even manage this on school days!


DIFFICULTY LEVEL: VERY EASY

This was super-easy to do! If you can do a regular braid, you'll be able to do this with no problems.

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PANCAKED 4-STRAND WATERFALL BRAID

Waterfall braids are so popular, but I've never tried to do one myself. Now is the time!


You can watch the tutorial at Cute Girls Hairstyles here.


MY ATTEMPT AT THE PANCAKED 4-STRAND WATERFALL BRAID

Here's Lexi wearing my attempt at the waterfall braid. Considering it was my first try, I think it turned out okay.

TIME: 10 MINUTES OR LESS

This took me 9 minutes to complete because I goofed up and had to start again a couple times.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: PRETTY EASY

I think this is probably a pretty easy braid to do once you get the hang of it. You can see where I goofed up a little. I need more practice.

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BOHEMIAN SIDE BRAID

I found this style featured on Princess Hairstyles. It's Kori's take on Astrid's hairstyle from the movie How to Train Your Dragon 2.

MY ATTEMPT AT THE BOHEMIAN SIDE BRAID

I tried to duplicate this hairstyle on Savannah. I goofed up a little and forgot to put the headband under the section of hair near her face. Oops.

TIME: 10 MINUTES OR LESS

This took me 10 minutes to complete. I think the hardest part was just getting the headband on correctly. I didn't do so well there.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: PRETTY EASY

The braid with the knots and the other loose braid were both really easy to do.

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WOVEN FISHTAIL BRAID

This braid looks so pretty and different, I just had to give it a shot.

You can watch the tutorial at Princess Hairstyles here.

MY ATTEMPT AT THE WOVEN FISHTAIL BRAID

Okay, so mine looks nothing like the one on Princess Hairstyles. I don't think it looks bad; it's kind of cool. But it's clearly not quite right.

TIME: 10 MINUTES OR LESS

This took me 8 minutes to finish. Fishtail braids tend to take longer than other types of braids.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: PRETTY EASY

Well, the version I managed to do was really easy. Maybe I'll practice a bit more to get it to look like the one on Princess Hairstyles.

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DOUBLE HEART TWISTS

Here's a fun style from Cute Girls Hairstyles! This would be perfect for Valentine's Day.

You can watch the tutorial at Cute Girls Hairstyles here.

MY ATTEMPT AT DOUBLE HEART TWISTS

I love this hairstyle! It's such a cute hairdo for a little girl.

TIME: 10 MINUTES OR LESS

It took me 7 minutes to do this hairstyle. It would've been even quicker had I done a straight part instead of the zig-zag one.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: PRETTY EASY

This is a very easy hairstyle to do. In the tutorial, Mindy used a Topsy Tail which is undoubtedly a bit easier than doing the pigtails by hand like I did.

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AURORA'S TIE-BACK TWIST WITH FLOWERS

Here's another one from Princess Hairstyles. I love this look with the soft waves and the dainty flowers. I think it would be a terrific look for a flower girl.

MY ATTEMPT AT AURORA'S TIE-BACK TWIST WITH FLOWERS

I think this turned out beautifully. It looks pretty cool with Savannah's ombre hair.

TIME: 15 MINUTES OR LESS

It took me 13 minutes to complete this style. The longest part was curling her hair. The little twist only took a few seconds.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: VERY EASY

This is a super-easy hairstyle to copy. I just love the loose-flowing curls and the casual twist with the flowers.

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STARBURST CROWN BRAID

Savannah showed me this style and told me I should try it. She found it on Cute Girls Hairstyles.

MY ATTEMPT AT THE STARBURST CROWN BRAID

Here's Brooklyn with my attempt at the Starbust Crown Braid. I've done a crown braid before, but I like this one with the starburst even better.

TIME: 10 MINUTES OR LESS

It took me 8 minutes to do this hairstyle. It looks like it would take longer, but it actually goes pretty quickly.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: PRETTY EASY

This is very easy to do. The hardest part was getting Brooklyn to sit still and quit whining when her hair was in her face as I was braiding.

RAPUNZEL'S BRAID FROM TANGLED

I found this gorgeous hairstyle on Locks and Locks of Hairstyles and couldn't resist trying it out! It took me 20 minutes to complete.


LACED S BRAID

I've done a similar braid in the past, but I called it a zig-zag braid and I went back and forth a few more times. I like this gentle curving braid. This definitely looks more complicated than it is. It only took me 4 minutes to do.


FISH NET FISH TAIL BRAID

Keren says this hairstyle was inspired by The Hobbit. I just thought it looked really cool! This took me 10 minutes to do. It would be even quicker without the fishtail part if you want to skip that and just continue the pattern.

Give these a try with your girls and let me know how they turn out in the comments!

Images that aren’t my own are courtesy of Princess Hairstyles and Cute Girl Hairstyles.

One Bad Mother Interview

I did an interview with Biz and Theresa at One Bad Mother this week. I admit I'm a little disturbed that I was featured on a show called, "Let's Get Pregnant Again." I'm pretty sure I sounded like an idiot during the interview, but these girls are hilarious so you should listen to it! Just click the link to go listen to the interview. Here's a description of this week's show -

Biz and Theresa want to know why, after all the misery of pregnancy and all the lack of sleep of life with a newborn, we would even think of having another baby. Where does that urge come from? Let’s kill it when we find out. Plus, Theresa compliments her partner and Biz realizes there are no voices in her head except her own. We are joined by author and blogger Dawn Meehan, who is a single mom with six kids!

ONE BAD MOTHER: Ep. 61: Let's Get Pregnant Again with Guest Dawn Meehan

The Identical,This Fall's Must-See Movie!

This week I attended a screening of the movie, The Identical. Produced by City of Peace Films, a company that boasts a framework where music, films, and video with "redeeming value" can be developed, The Identical will hit theaters September 5th. And you do not want to miss it!

The story is about identical twin brothers (played by Blake Rayne) born into poverty during the Great Depression. Their parents, (Brian Geraghty and Amanda Crew) out of work, cannot afford to feed and care for the infants. Their dad, after hearing a preacher (Ray Liotta) talk about how his wife (Ashley Judd) has suffered another miscarriage, and how it's better to give than to receive, makes the painstaking decision to let the preacher and his wife adopt one of the boys.

One of the twins becomes the famous rock and roll star, Drexel Hemsley. The twin adopted by the preacher, Ryan Wade, shares his brother's passion for music, but spends his time trying to please his father by following in his footsteps on the path to ministry.

Ryan, after several years, finds his path and follows his dreams to find success and happiness doing what he loves, and attains peace with his family at the same time.

The movie has a great story line (my little synopsis doesn't do it justice.) Even if there was nothing else to recommend this film, it's an entertaining movie to be sure. I don't think anyone would walk away disappointed. But there's so much more to it!

Not only is there a great story, but it's told very well. I love how the movie goes from the 1930s to the 1970s. They do a great job of representing the different eras with attention to detail from the way the characters dress, talk, and think, to the cars, and furniture and decorations. I enjoyed seeing how things changed through the years.

The movie is also well-cast. Newcomer, Blake Rayne plays Ryan Wade/Drexel Hemsley. He's got this whole 'Elvis thing' going on. Ryan is a really likeable character. He's just someone you want to be friends with. Ray Liotta does great job as Reece Wade. I can just picture the deadpan look he gives as his young son, trying to recite a Bible verse in church, breaks out into song and sings the verse because that's how he memorized it - as a song. The whole theater laughed aloud at that part (and several others.) Ashley Judd is perfect as Ryan's devoted mother. Seth Green provides comic relief as Ryan's best friend, Dino. Another laugh aloud part is when the cops bust Dino for taking his dad's car and present him with the option of going to jail or going home to his dad. The offier follows it up with, "I've talked to your dad. I recommend jail." Joe Pantoliano and Erin Cottrell round out the cast of relatable, likeable characters.

The soundtrack is awesome! It makes you want to jump up and sing along and dance in the aisle. And I don't dance. Like ever. I look like I'm swatting at invisible bees and having a seizure when I try. But I digress. That Blake Rayne has a voice! You can actually listen to some of the music from The Identical HERE.

What runs throughout the movie is the theme of following your dreams. I want to say it's a Christian movie, but it isn't so much Christ-centered as it is God-centered. There are numerous mentions of the Jews in the movie. The twin boys are half Jewish, Reece Wade lights a menorah for Isreal during the war, Reece preaches to his congregation, "If we love God, then we must love what God loves, and God loves his chosen people," and both twins wear necklaces with the Hebrew symbol chai. But honestly, even if you aren't religious at all, you'll still be able to appreciate the concept of following your dreams, family dynamics, and the struggle to do the right thing, be happy, and make others happy as well. Of course, the deeper meaning is: If He is in your dreams, nothing can stand against them.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie! When I left the theater, I stopped to talk to the folks hosting the screening. "I loved the movie, but you really should warn people that it's a crying movie! I didn't bring tissues. My sleeve is covered in snot now." She took a step back and gave me a horrified expression. Maybe I shouldn't tell people that I just wiped about 20 ounces of snot on my clothing, but they should warn people! So, here's my warning to you - it's a crying movie. There are several places where you'll laugh, but you'll cry too. Unless you have a cold, dead heart, you can't help but be touched by the story and the acting. But it's okay because you'll leave the theater smiling (albeit possibly covered in mucus) because it's a heartwarming, feel-good story with a happy ending, and who doesn't love that?

I'll leave you with this trailer. Enjoy!

In the Wild

Jackson has been making videos this summer. I love my kids' creativity! They crack me up! Here, for your viewing pleasure, is one of his first videos. (I have no idea what that accent is or where it came from!)