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Love Your Curls

May 22, 2015 By Erica Deuel 2 Comments

As a mom, one of my biggest hopes for my kids is that they would grow up proud of who they are, how they are wired, and the masterpieces God created them to be.

My boys are gifts that made me a mom, stretched me more than I knew possible, and helped grow me into the mom I am today. I will be forever thankful I got introduced into motherhood with them. When I found out our third was a girl, I was so excited but also….scared to pieces.

It is no secret that girls can be picked apart and critiqued everyday. Sometimes a girls worse critic can be herself. Every comment about her hair, size, color, attitude, likes/dislikes has the power to uplift and build up confidence or tear her completely down.

If I can succeed at anything as a mom to a little girl, I pray that I help her to be confident and convinced in the masterpiece she is. I want so badly for her to grow up knowing she is a unique creation and to and treat herself like she believes it.

wavy_hair_little_girlWhat some may not know about my relationship with my little Reagan Noel is that our biggest fights are about her hair. She hates for is to get styled, washed, brushed, braided, played with, and put in a pony tail. In summary, she really just doesn’t want her hair touched.

She has the most beautiful curly hair. I just adore it, yet it requires care like anything else so that always puts friction between us.

Curly hair gets tangled. The only way I can brush Reagan’s hair is if it gets washed and I comb it while it is wet. Even then, it is still a battle. I don’t wash her hair everyday. So when we do wash and brush it, you can only imagine the cries of my dramatic, sweet four-year old. I am continually trying new brushes, products, and techniques to make this little task easier. I was so excited when I was selected to try Dove’s new curly hair products in their  “Love Your Curls” campaign.

love_your_curlsIf you have a four-year old girl (your experience may be like mine), they like to dress themselves, already have an opinion and taste in clothes, and a little lip gloss will bring them much joy. Reagan is a free spirit when it comes to her style and for the most part I don’t fight it. I let her choose outfits and often times bite my lip when she walks out the door.

When it came to her hair though, I’ve always just taken control. This may be because she is four or may be because for the sake of time it is one thing I can do “quickly”. It has been such an unpleasant experience, why drag it out for longer than it needs to be? I compliment and praise my daughter for her curly hair often, but here was an opportunity to teach her about her hair and build some confidence in the process.

wavy_little_girlWe started with a hair cut. It was hard for her to let her Rapunzel hair goal go, but we cut off eight inches and it is still long. We then tried Dove’s shampoo and conditioner. I let her rub some in her hair, I did as well. There were minimal tears letting her assist with the wash and rinse! I found the shampoo and conditioner left her hair feeling soft and smooth and more manageable!

Next, we tried some of the new Dove styling products.

little_girl_curly_Hair_care

Curly_hair_careWe loved the Quench Absolute Supreme Creme Serum. It is Dove’s first curl leave in nourishing treatment. It’s fast absorbing, lightweight and can be used on wet or dry hair. I let Reagan’s hair be about half air-dried when I apply it. I love how you can’t even tell she has a product in her hair. There is no hardness to her curls. They are still lightweight but just a little less frizzy.

When we were done doing her hair, she was smiling so proud. Here I had not just complimented her hair, I let her take some ownership in helping to care for her hair. By taking the time to turn an unpleasant task into a teachable moment, my daughter grew a little pride. I wonder how many special moments I miss by rushing to get through the task at hand.

curly_hair_little_girl

We have not used these products for very long, but I am pretty sure I am a huge fan.

Did you know that one in three women in the US have curly hair?

Did you know that only 4 in 10 little girls with curly hair think their hair is beautiful?

Dove wants all women and girls to love their curly hair. The “Love Your Curls” campaign  was created to encourage women to celebrate their curls and inspire future generations to do the same. I believe the more we celebrate how we are and people around us do the same, girls will more likely feel beautiful and be proud of their unique characteristics.

The NEW Love Your Curls book is a poetic tribute to curly hair. It is intended to represent and inspire curly-haired girls of all ages. If you would like to get a copy of the book to read to your little girl, you can download a free e-book here. You can also personalize it and create a customize dedication to your little girl. Reagan absolutely loved the book and seeing girls that had hair just like her.

Screen Shot 2015-05-22 at 3.00.35 PM

My Reagan is sassy, spirited, full of life, and so fun just like her curly hair. I pray she grows up loving her hair and being proud of how she was created.

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Up Your Snack Time

March 30, 2015 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

If you have boys, you probably have some battles in your house. They may be battles of the wills, skills, or even battle’s of sheer strength. Those later battles are the ones that are hardest for me. But boys will be boys, and it’s good for them to have some rough and tumble time – and when it ends with no tears, bruises, or broken furniture, even better!

We try to instill the phrase “use your muscles for good” around here. My boys are growing up knowing they use their muscles to protect. Skylanders_game_boardI love the moment though where I can head off the tears and need for super glue and convince them to “battle” with their minds thinking creatively through a strategic game.

We were all excited when they learned of Skylanders. We are new fans and my boys love the battles. I was excited when I heard that General Mills and Skylanders have teamed up to offer an exclusive Skystones game free with our favorite boxes of cereal. Hidden inside specially marked Big G cereals, fans will find Skystones cards playable on the game board found on the back of the cereal box. This is a battle my boys can participate in!

We love cereal and eat it for snacks as much as enjoying it for breakfast. There is usually a moment every school day where we need a little break and time to refuel before getting back to our book work. Cereal is one of my go to grab items. They will often eat it as I read to them, but when this game came I was excited for them to play! The Skystones game fosters family fun and fuels development through imaginative and cognitive play. My boys were still practicing critical thinking and processing order of steps all while playing. They loved it and didn’t know our school break was still a learning process!

Skylanders_game

fun_snackThe game is simple. Each player gets a set of cards (characters) and takes turns placing one at a time on the board. Each card has certain strengths and by how you place the card on the board determines if your character is stronger than the one you are battling. If you win the battle (you know by little arrows on the cards), you get to flip your opponents card over and that character has joined your team! The player with the most cards on the board once it is full, wins!

Skylanders_cereal_game

Skylanders_cereal_toyThe instructions were so quick to read and grasp. My boys are 6 and 8 and after two rounds of assisting, they were off and playing all by themselves. It looked so fun though, I joined in for a few rounds. No joke, my kids have played lots since and even started battling their dad.

As a kid, I remember the great joy in cereal box toys. They usually were lost or claimed by a sibling pretty quick. I love how this Skystones game is something everyone can enjoy. We will be saving it to play, long after the cereal is gone.

general_mills_cerealHow fun that it comes with cereal!? Participating Big G brands include Honey Nut Cheerios, Frosted Cheerios, Fruity Cheerios, Reese’s Puffs, Cookie Crisp, Lucky Charms, Trix and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. A snack and a game…perfect kid activity all in one!

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Snow Day Refuel

February 3, 2015 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

kids_in_snow

Snow. Let me begin by saying we are not accustomed to snow. We come from a life in Atlanta where one inch of snow was a big deal. Schools shut down, kids used swim tubes as sleds, and there was excitement felt by everyone. Three inches of snow would literally shut the city down for a couple of days.

We are only a few months into life in snow country, but we are loving it. I must sound like a broken record because I repeat continually how beautiful it is. All three of my kids love to play in it, so that helps too. When it snows, we are out in it. Trumping around, chasing puppies, building Frankenstein snow men, and using snow shovels as if they were sand tools.

I’m learning to drive and not be afraid because the van is bound to slip ‘n slide just a little. Maybe bumper cars is a little more normal here, but I am rolling with it…literally. When you homeschool and are in your house constantly, there is a need to get out. To get outside, to get to other environments. We can’t let the snow stop us. So we are adjusting to figuring out a new norm and are loving it.

One thing that I am learning is to have a snack ready to go after every outing out to play. Walking in snow is exercise! More than I realized. When we come in, we are wet, cold, tired, and coats, mittens, snow suits go flying. I quickly start scurrying to assist to take off the layers and pull my daughter out of that A Christmas Story moment where she feels like she can’t move.

Having a snack ready to go helps. We can sit, laugh about the moments we just created, and warm up.

honey_maid_go_bitesWhen I was offered the chance to try Honey Maid Go Bites, I was excited. A snack that provides kids with about 15% of both the recommended daily value of whole grains (48g) and protein (34g)!? While also being baked with whole grains and containing no high fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors or colors!? Amazing. Now that we have tried them, I can also say they are awesome. Think of a crispy graham cracker with either vanilla or chocolate filling.

When 13 inches of snow fell in less than 24 hours this week, we of course got out in it and I had the perfect snack to lay out for us to enjoy when we came back in.

snow_ball_fightsnow_daysnow_day_fun

snow_walksnow_puppyplaying_in_snow

snowFor the little boy energy and natural loving spirits I have in my kids, staying inside and hibernating all winter isn’t an option. We have to get out. What I am learning though is how to set it up to be the best experience for everyone. Hanging hooks by the door and extra old towels on the ground right inside the door helps. That way everyone can get in quick and start shedding the wet layers. Having a snack ready to go helps too. We don’t want those tired, cold tears, to overshadow happy memories, right!?

honey_maid_go_bite

winter_kid_snackwinter_snackWe play hard in the snow. On this particular day too, we came in and I had the snack ready (so there was no arguing what to have). The kids ate laughing, having fun discovering which Honey Maid Go Snack they were eating (because I just poured both onto a plate), and they even said it was the best day ever. No joke. My momma heart was ready to burst. It doesn’t take a lot to please a kid. Being proactive and showing a little thought in planning helps create a moment where they feel valued, loved, thought of, and cared for.

I now have a box ready to take with us next time we leave the house. Sometimes one errand turns into five and having a snack to recharge and refuel those little bellies in the car before stops can make all the difference.

honey_maid_go_bite_snackSo, to all you mommas out there, try a little snack with a kick of protein for your kiddos. They will thank you. Mine did! And for goodness sake, get out and enjoy this creation! It’s beautiful out there-even if it is cold!

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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It’s Time For A Vacation!

July 11, 2013 By Erica Deuel 1 Comment

Did you know that July is National Vacation Rental Month? I just learned that from my new friends at Wyndham Vacation Rentals.

 

If you’ve spent anytime around here, you know that we love to travel as a family. We’ll be packing up the ole mini van pretty soon for a trip to Indiana for a dear friend’s wedding. I think if we’ve learned anything about traveling is that there are plenty of deals to be had. For so long I was afraid to dream about taking vacations-fearing that we could never afford it. I’ve found it just takes a little work to make it affordable. 7 quick traveling tips to use

Here’s a few quick tips we’ve learned along the way to make things more affordable and fun:

    1. Pack food for the car. This saves money and cuts down on stops. It also gives you healthy options. Trust me, when you are cruising along I-40 outside of Albuqureque, NM your choices are gas station beef jerky or Big Macs.
    2. If traveling with kids, try to get them to play really hard before typical nap-time or bedtime, load them up, and roll! On our last trip to Arkansas, we did this and got 7 hours of drive time in with the kids totally asleep. No extra food, potty, or stretch breaks needed. Of course, you need to keep coffee on hand and rotate your drivers to stay safe, but it can really help for long distances.
    3. If you can rent a place that has a kitchen, do it. Again, it’s another huge savings than going out for every meal. This is where a rental can work out to be better than a hotel. You’ll often find a lot of conveniences of home and more ways to save.
    4. Being on the beach is awesome. Being 1-2 blocks from the beach is still awesome and often times 30-50% cheaper. We’ve found that if you have to load the car up to hit the beach, find parking, load back up, etc., it can be draining. But if you are staying at a place that is less than a mile from the beach, it’s perfect. You can walk back and forth easily and enjoy the same beach access at a fraction of the cost as the folks on the beach front.
    5. Have realistic expectations for your kids. They don’t normally sit in the car for hours. They don’t usually hike around an amusement park all day in the hot sun and stand in line for hours. They rarely spend all day getting hot and sandy at the beach. Bottom line, you are going to have some meltdowns. Be prepared. Don’t push them too hard. Just realize that they don’t need to do everything in the park or be on the beach for 6 hours straight to have fun. Be willing to adjust to their level and needs and everyone will have more fun.
    6. If you are going to a prime time spot for vacation, try to stock up on supplies or groceries before you get there. Vacation areas charge a premium even for simple things like eggs, milk, and bread. Pack a cooler and hit up the last town before your destination. Same goes for gas. Fill up away from the hot spots.
    7. Relax. Think simple. Don’t miss your vacation by over scheduling it. The most important part is being together and creating space to rest.

What are some of your travel tips? Are you going anywhere on vacation this month? Screen Shot 2013-07-10 at 9.28.06 PM If you haven’t booked your trip yet, consider trying Wyndham Vacation Rentals.  They are offering summer deals at up to 35 percent off nightly rates on bookings made throughout July at www.WyndhamVacationRentals.com. Also, for peace of mind, Wyndham offers a “Vacation Rental Bill of Rights®” service pledge ensuring quality standards (vetted rentals with accurate images), comprehensive customer service and real-time payment and bookings. In the U.S., their properties range from private homes, resorts condos and villas in beach destinations such as Florida, South Carolina, Delaware and Alabama’s Gulf Coast to mountain-side condos and luxury cabins in Colorado, Utah, Tennessee and Idaho.

Take a look at a couple of their beautiful properties. Wyndham Vacation Rentals_ Hilton Head Island, SC

Hilton Head, SC

Wyndham Vacation Rentals_ Charleston, SC

Charleston, SC

I can’t wait to hit the road again for our next trip. I hope you’ve got some fun travel plans ahead too! Make sure to chime in and tell me where you are going and things you’ve learned about traveling along the way.

To connect with Wyndham Vacation Rentals more be sure to visit them online, twitter, or facebook!

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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