Family * Travel * Food

Why We Love Mr. Fish Restaurant in Myrtle Beach, SC

We frequently visit Myrtle Beach, SC and have tried many of the dining establishments in the area. One of our go-to places is the Mr. Fish Seafood Restaurant located at 6401 North Kings Hwy. We discovered it a couple years ago when we were on the hunt for a very specific menu item. When you first walk into Mr. Fish, you will be greeted in the traditional southern way and escorted to your table. The decor is very funky and whimsical. Very beach-y and fishy, of course. Maybe we have been lucky the times we have been because we have never had to wait and we were served quickly. Once you place your drink order, a basket of golden brown hush puppies are brought over to your table to tease your taste buds. Don't they look tasty?


We dined at Mr. Fish last weekend and I had a grilled chicken sandwich. I was impressed and loved how tender and flavorful the chicken was. I'm always happy when I can see the seasoning. The roll is soft and perfectly toasted.


The steamed oyster are so fresh and delicious. It's actually a lot of fun prying them open and making a big mess. We love topping them with their special cocktail sauce and a squeeze of fresh lemon.


The special menu item we were on the hunt for in the past was the soft shell crab sandwich. Oh man, it is SO good! It's super fresh and prepared so simply to highlight the natural crab flavor. This is a must try if you haven't had a soft shell crab sandwich before.


Nobody would believe this when going to a seafood joint that collard greens would be on the menu. I know we are in the south, but still. Well let me tell you this, these greens are the star of the show! They are the BEST we have ever had and you find yourself craving it. It has an unusual sweet taste that I can't explain. Mind you, I don't normally like collards. I feel like we need to order a bucket of it on our next visit. You can't go to Mr. Fish's without ordering the greens! 


The best part is that the prices are very reasonable and you will not ever leave hungry. Mr. Fish serves a variety of seafood dishes including fish, shrimp, crab, oysters, lobster and even sushi. Of course they offer non seafood options as well. They have something for everyone. We are going back later in March and I plan to try some sushi rolls and of course a side of greens. If you are ever in Myrtle Beach, you must try them out. We have really enjoyed the times we have dined there and figured we would share our experience here. If you go, let us know! 

You can check out the full menu on their website and find them on Facebook
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Ways to Give Your Breakfast A Healthy Boost

If you are a parent, you probably have found yourself asking a family member if they had breakfast. We all know how important breakfast is to start our day and sometimes it's hard to eat healthy things. The following items are great to add an extra boost of healthy nutrition that you can feel good about.

Viki's Granola

Available in 5 varieties: Original, Blueberry Almond, Maple Cranberry, Banana Walnut, and Apple Cinnamon

This granola is simple. There are no unnecessary ingredients at all, just wholesome all-natural goodness. It's not coated with sugar or artificial ingredients like many popular brands and are a great addition to your breakfast or snacks.
Viki's Granola is Gluten Free, Non-GMO Verified, Cholesterol Free, Zero Trans Fats, Sodium free, Dairy Free, and Kosher Pareve. I tried the Blueberry Almond variety and it tasted as it should. It was not sweet and was well balanced. A big difference from what I have been used to. It is great on top of yogurt, ice cream, applesauce or as is for a snack. Get some recipe inspiration on the Viki's Granola site and purchase them here.

Carrington Farms Organic Chia

Chia seed is an excellent source of nutrition that can be added into almost anything. My son LOVES it on his oatmeal every morning and that makes me happy. He was even eating a rice dish the other day and requested a sprinkling on top. It helps that chia seeds make you feel fuller longer which aids in weight loss. My husband and I enjoy chia seeds on salads and in baked goods.

Carrington Farms Organic Chia Seeds are:

  • 100% Organic
  • A sought after, nourishing “superfood”, loaded with beneficial properties that support a healthy lifestyle
  • Contains the richest plant source of Omega 3’s, containing more Omega 3’s than salmon
  • High in fiber, has more calcium by weight than milk, high in iron, potassium, folate, phosoporus, magnesium and manganese
  • One of nature’s highest plant based sources of a complete protein and are extremely high in antioxidants
  • Naturally gluten free
  • Can be added to salads, cereal, yogurt and smoothies
  • Perfect to make the popular Chia Seed Pudding


They come in 5 flavors: Blueberry Acai Flax, Peach Chia Vanilla, Maple Pear Quinoa, Raspberry Coconut, and Apple Quinoa Cinnamon. 


This Ready-to-eat Oatmeal Fruit Squeeze is perfect for busy families. You get the goodness of whole grain, gluten free oats and delicious fruit bites in one convenient squeezable pack. No more excuses of having no time for breakfast since they are portable. They are available for purchase in Publix Supermarkets, Whole Foods, Earth Fare and more


Any of these products are convenient ways to boost your breakfast in a healthy way. 
I received product samples for review and all opinions stated are my own as always. Thanks for reading! 

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Enroll in a Teaching Position for Amazing Benefits (Guest Post)

There are one too many reasons one enrolls into a teaching job. We’ve all had those teachers who were an inspiration and contributed towards the people we are today. Not only do people not forget about their influence upon us, but they will surely remain remembered for as long as we live. Many people who wish to enter the education system want just that and tuition jobs (click here to sign up as a tutor) are the place to start.

The benefits of becoming a tutor are endless as there are a lot of subjects to be taught and not only will people have the opportunity to help other people to become more self-aware individuals, but also people who enroll in the teaching position will never get bored as classes are extremely interactive and simply amazing taking into consideration that you will work with a whole lot of different people from different backgrounds. A tutor positions has a lot of advantages and they should be highly regarded if one desires to make the big step in becoming a teacher.

Chance to Earn Amazing Money

Teachers do not usually earn a whole lot of money in one single go but salaries are extremely competitive to other professions. Teaching careers will give those who opt for such professions to get promoted over time and will have the option to give private tutoring classes in order to supplement their earnings.

Important Benefits

There are a lot of extra benefits of becoming a teacher and these include health insurance as well as some amazing pension plans which are becoming rarer among other professions but one can count them as an added perk in a career which involves teaching. Other benefits which come from being a teacher involve sick days as well as tuition reimbursement and one could easily find that a teaching job offers a lot more than one would initially think.

Amazing Education Career

One has to take into account the happiness factor when enrolling in a profession but teachers usually have it all when it comes this factor as their job is generally stress-free and motivating to do. Teachers will feel extremely motivated and confident when they are practicing their job and a lot of people will benefit from these factors starting from students and going up to friends and family as you will always be energetic and invigorated. A career in education will always yield some amazing opportunities to develop as an individual and feel great about the job.

Mastering a Subject by Teaching It

There’s an old saying stating that it takes some years of teaching before one could state that he or she can master a subject. One of the best ways to learn a favorite subject is teaching it as students might ask you questions which require some research in order to clearly explain it. Being a teacher will always come with opportunities for improvement and research.

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Why We Switched Our Dog To Nature's Logic Dog Food

It's so hard to believe that we have had our dog Rocco for almost three years now. He has really grown in a lot of ways. We have worked hard to train him to obey rules and have good manners. Like any dog, he has his naughty moments. Overall, he is a very friendly, healthy, and happy pup. There is one thing that hasn't really been 100% with him and that is with his diet. We have been purchasing premium food and it seems like he has lost interest and some days won't eat a whole lot.

We also noticed that Rocco seems to have some type of allergy because he has been particularly itchy, more than a dog should be. We use natural, organic bath products and wash all of his bedding in unscented detergent. We narrowed it down to his diet.  I've been really nervous about changing his food, but knew we needed to do something. I was presented the opportunity to test out Nature's Logic nutrient dense meat based dry foods and after doing some research on the brand, I decided it was worth a shot. 


What makes Nature's Logic dry kibble so good for your dog? The first thing is that it's made of whole foods and no synthetics. I mean, you won't eat anything that is synthetic, so why feed your dog something like that? Below are some product details.

Highly palatable and nutrient dense meat based dry foods with  concentrates of select fruits and vegetables, containing no wheat,  corn, rice, soy, potato or chemically synthesized vitamins, minerals, or trace nutrients. Each dry diet is specially coated with digestive enzymes and plasma protein containing high levels of natural vitamins, minerals, and albumin and globulin proteins.

•Over 55% Animal Ingredients
•Gluten Free
•Probiotics
•Enzymes
•100% Natural
•No Synthetic Vitamins or Minerals

Nature's Logic is not genetically engineered, free of common allergens, and is family owned and made in the USA.


Rocco is only 8 pounds so I was very happy to see such small bites that are perfect for his size. We transitioned him from his regular food to the Canine Lamb Meal Feast, and I quickly learned why it got such a name. Just the mere sound of the kibble dropping into the bowl made Rocco sit anxiously until I told him it was okay to go to his bowl to devour it--- truly a meal feast! 


He took a few sniffs and immediately dove in. In less than 3 minutes, it was all gone. He looked at my like I was going to give him more. Ever since he started his Nature's Logic food, he has been extra stalkerish for his meals. He doesn't hesitate to eat anymore and stays on his feeding schedule we prefer him to be on. We feel so good knowing he is eating wholesome food that is giving him the proper nutrition he needs. 

Also, a little TMI-- my husband cleans the yard and noticed more consistency in Rocco's poop. This is good, since he was not eating properly before. 


Just how we feed our human family members, we want to ensure that our furry companion gets the same. It has been so good to see Rocco eat normally again. We will continue him on this food and will be using Chewy.com to purchase it. For a complete list of online outlets and local stores visit here. They offer a really good variety of items like the dry kibble, wet food, treats, and supplements. Oh, and Nature's Logic makes cat food too. 


If you are thinking about switching your dog's diet, I highly recommend Nature's Logic. Your fur baby deserves a meal feast every day! I am keeping a close eye on him to see if this food helps with his allergies. So far he seems a little less itchy, but I think he needs a solid month of eating this diet to know for sure.

Be sure to check out Nature's Logic on the web, and follow on Facebook & Twitter for product promotions and updates. They also periodically have coupons, so be on the lookout for those.

I received products for review purposes. All opinions are 100% mine as always, and this is one of those times where a review has turned me into a new customer.
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Food Is Fuel: Easy Ways To Boost Your Nutrition

We all know what kinds of foods we need to consume to live healthily. But life isn’t perfect- sometimes we’re busy and make choices that aren’t the best due to convenience. Other times we might make bad decisions due to emotional issues- who hasn’t reached for a big bar of chocolate at the end of a stressful day at one time or another! It’s all a balancing act, it’s fine to indulge in the things you enjoy now and again. Just make sure you’re getting the good stuff into your body too. Here are a few ways you can go about it.

Add Salad To Everything

The great thing about salad is it’s versatile and goes with most things. Having a sandwich or burger? Pile on the salad. Pop it onto the side of your plate at dinner time, or if you’re having a meal that it really doesn’t work with it, have it as a starter. It’s fresh, crisp and delicious- an easy way to get another one of your five a day at both lunch and dinner. Skip the heavy, creamy dressings which will be high in fat and calories. Create simple vinaigrettes instead: olive oil, honey, mustard, and vinegar make a delicious combination which is perfect for livening up a salad. Don't just limit yourself to boring old iceberg either. Experiment with different mixed leaves, and add extras like pickles, olives, and jalapenos for a tasty kick. Put some red and white cabbage through the grater attachment on your food processor along with some red onion and carrot for a delicious slaw. You can eat this as it is, or mix some natural yogurt with mustard for a tangy alternative to mayo.

Take Supplements

As well as a healthy diet, a supplement is like an insurance policy to make sure your body isn’t missing anything that it needs. You could check out AlgaeCal reviews if you were after a calcium supplement, this is especially useful if you’re vegan or dairy free. You could take a vitamin capsule or blend which is specifically targeted to your gender and age group. Vitamin C effervescent tablets are popular too. Work out if you’re likely to be lacking anything in your diet and go from there.

image credit

Drink Your Nutrients

Smoothies and homemade juices are a fantastic way to give your body a hit of nutrition. Not only do they taste great but they’re easy to consume, perfect if you’re not massively keen on certain ingredients but want the health benefits of them. They make a great breakfast, especially for those who struggle with traditional breakfast foods. To make life easier, chop up all of your fruit and then portion it into sandwich bags. Pop in the freezer, then you can take one out and empty it into the blender whenever you want a smoothie. Much easier than messing around chopping fruit every time. Add some fruit juice or almond milk to get the mixture going, and add other ingredients of your choice to boost it. Goji berries, spinach, beetroot, and avocado all work well. Added to the base smoothie, you can’t really taste them with the sweetness of the fruit but still get the health benefits.

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Disease: Emotional And Nutritional Remedies

photo credit 

If you or a loved one is living with a life-threatening disease, it can be a massive pressure on any strong family unit, and it’s not a surprise really, is it? The emotional strain, not to mention the financial strain if you are looking for affordable treatment, can be completely unbearable. It can feel like a weight bearing down on you, and, to be honest, it can be really difficult to find any positives in that sort of situation. We all have ways of coping, and here are some pearls of wisdom to think about if you or someone you care deeply about is going through this difficult period.

Diet Can Still Help

Your body requires essential nutrients and vitamins to feel that bit better. Of course, if you are going through painful treatment, it is not likely to be high on your priority list, but having some healthy food can help to take the edge off in some circumstances. Now there is research that eating ten portions of fruit or vegetables a day instead of the usual five will do your health a world of good. And if you aren’t having any in your diet, you are likely to feel the benefit.

Seeking Closure…

This is a big one. It depends on your own specific view of what you would define as unresolved issues in your life. For a lot of people, living with a disease helps to focus the mind and get rid of all the pointless things in life that they worried about incessantly. For people that have mesothelioma, it has been a common step to take part in legal proceedings against the firms responsible. And while it can be a taxing process, sufferers could get a settlement that can provide for their families after they have passed away. There are firms, like Madeksho for all benzene lawsuits, that work with sufferers of chronic and terminal diseases. Only you can decide that if it is worth going through for closure, or if you wish to provide for your partner or family. But one thing is true, your relationship with your family will never be better. You will start to realize what life is all about, and it all sounds a bit whimsical, but sometimes it really takes a serious incident to focus the mind on what you want, which leads me to the next point…

Use This As An Excuse To Do Anything!

If you have shied away from making your mark on the world, now is the time. Jump out of a plane, go to a Mardi Gras, or experience the sunrise over the Grand Canyon. Life is short, and we all say this, but there's no point in ever regretting anything. What does anxiety do for us? Nothing! It makes us feel bad in the head and bad in the body. So, make the most of life, it’s the only one we have. Live, laugh, and love, and you will find your way of coping with one of the most difficult things in the world.

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Head in the Sand: Why the Most Dangerous Thing an Addicted Person Can Do is Nothing

Burying your head in the sand is one of the most dangerous things you can do if you have an addiction problem. These things don’t go away by themselves. You have to take action if you want to get your drinking problem back under your control. It’s not easy to do that, but it’s certainly better than doing nothing at all. So, here are some more reasons why inaction is so dangerous.

Inaction Means That Their Mindset is Wrong

When someone who has an addiction does nothing about the situation they’re in, it suggests that their mindset is completely wrong. When a person’s mindset is completely wrong, there is not much hope of that person getting the help that they urgently need. That’s why addictions can be so tricky to deal with. Mindsets are perhaps more difficult to change that the physical problems themselves. You have to be in the right frame of mind and have the right kind of outlook if you are going to make a huge change to your life.
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Other People Can’t Force Someone to Change Their Way of Thinking

People can’t force themselves to change their way of thinking either. On top of that, other people can’t force them to change how they think. So, if someone has a friend or relative who has a drug problem, it won’t be solved by pressuring them into change. Addicts normally have to hit rock bottom before they make changes to the way in which they live. Other people can only point them in the right direction and give them the support and advice they need. Beyond that, the addict themselves have to be in charge and control of what happens.
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Problems Pile Up Quickly for Addicted People

Another issue is the fact that problems can pile up very quickly for people who are experiencing addiction. It’s not just the physical addiction that has to be addressed. There also has to be an approach to dealing with the other impacts on your lifestyle that an addiction can have. You can have career problems, fall out with friends and family because of your problem and even have to move out of your home if you have money problems. If you have trouble with the police because of an addiction, you should turn to top-rated DWI lawyers to help you. But when all of these problems pile up, you’ll regret having not taken action sooner.

It Often Takes a Big Problem to Wake Them Up

Sometimes, it takes a big problem to hit a person before they wake up and realize the situation that they’re in. When they hit by a problem that makes them think about how bad their situation has got, that person might then take steps in the right direction. Unfortunately, it can be even harder to recover from the problem because the addiction will probably already be at an advanced stage by then. That’s why it’s always better to take action sooner rather than later if you can.
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Try New Softsoap Hand Wash Plus Lotion

Softsoap has added an all new hand wash to their product line-up, and you must try it when it becomes available in stores March 1, 2017. Introducing Softsoap Hand Wash Plus Lotion. This hand wash gives you the cleaning and sanitizing power you expect from Softsoap, with the added touch of lotion. I know I am a habitual hand washer and usually immediately have to put lotion on afterwards. Now I can wash my hands in one step and skip the lotion! 


Softsoap Hand Wash Plus Lotion is available in three luxurious fragrances, including Shea & Cocoa Butter, Aloe Water & Lime, and Orchid & Coconut Milk. I love all of the fragrances and so does my family. My little one keeps all of a sudden needing to wash his hands frequently. He has taken a liking to the Aloe Water & Lime hand wash and I am not even mad about it!

If you are an avid cook, baker or gardener, this new hand wash is a great choice. They come in 8 oz pump bottles and retail for $2.49. I am hoping Softsoap will make a large refill for these hand washes. Be on the lookout for it in select stores, March 1st. Also, grab this money-saving coupon whiles supplies last.

Products were provided to me from Colgate-Palmolive for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
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How To Stomp Belly Fat And Enjoy A Flat Abdomen

Getting rid of belly fat is an admirable task, but you’re not the first one to propose such a mission. Belly fat is notoriously known as an outfit ruined and people often times complain about it. It also has a reputation for being something hard to get rid of, as opposed fat from other parts of the body. But once you are determined to eliminate belly fat and make it a thing of the past, it can’t do anything to stop you.

If you’re looking for ways in which you can burn the fat away and forever banish belly fat from the temple that is your body, you’ve come to the right place. In this article we will be taking a look at what is required in order to efficiently and permanently eliminate belly fat.

Always on the run

You might have thought that all you need for a flat belly is to do a thousand crunches every day and that should set you up for success.  That’s quite a straight forward approach but it is also unnecessary. What you can and should do however is keep moving and keep your heart rate up. Jogging is widely considered as one of the best ways in which you can burn belly fat ( and all types of fat, for that matter). Through jogging, you can say goodbye to belly fat fairly easily. This is because belly fat is visceral fat that is downed fast by body movement empowered activities like jogging, bike riding and of course swimming. It is recommended that you take up jogging for about 12 miles per week. That should get you where you need to go. It’s up to you to determine how much jogging you do each day although a constant average amount might serve you best.

Protein rule

Another vital element in belly fat burning is to up your protein intake from every meal. Belly fat storage is encouraged by the body when it begins to take in larger amounts of insulin as per the body’s reaction to aging. Protein on the other hand combats the resistance of insulin in the body and thus reduces the amount of fat that is stored on your belly. If you want to lose belly fat, than you should really look into increasing how much protein you consume in relation to other nutrients, so we’re not talking about just adding more protein over everything you already eat.

One trick that gives exemplary results is taking one or two tablespoons of vinegar each day. It is believed that the acetic acid produced protein which enter your body after vinegar consumption do a lot of work in terms of burning fat.

Yoga

The bane of belly fat are aerobic exercises. Consider enrolling in a yoga class to burn down some belly fat. This works because yoga reduces the body’s cortisol levels, which is a supporter of belly fat. Yoga doesn’t have to be a long lasting endeavor at the end of a drive. You can practice a couple of yoga poses at home, in only 10 minutes of your time.
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February Giveaway: $100 Amazon or PayPal Cash

Do you need some extra cash to help with groceries or gas? Or perhaps you have a wish list item you've been wanting for some time? Then you have to enter this giveaway hosted by myself and a group of amazing bloggers. There's a $100 cash prize up for grabs! Details are below, good luck! 


How to enter: There are 10 ways to enter this giveaway and each one is worth 5 entries. If you’re already a follower of an account, claim that entry! This giveaway starts February 13 at midnight EST and ends February 28 at 11:59 PM EST. Entrants must be USA residents and at least 18 years old. One winner will be randomly selected from all qualifying entries and contacted via the email they provide. The email will come from joannegreco at gmail. The winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The prize is $100 in Paypal or Amazon online gift card, winner’s choice.
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18 Common Words & What You Can Use Instead

18 Common Words & What You Can Use Instead (Infographic)
Source: www.grammarcheck.net
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The Family Files - Can Siblings With Big Age Differences Get Along Well?

These kids of mine are truly something special. They are all so different for the most part, yet have some striking similarities. Their ages are now 22, 20, and soon-to-be 9. It's funny, I often call William an "only child" because his sisters are adults. The nice part is that his big sisters come home from work/school and are fully ready to do child-like things with him. He always complains that his siblings are his biggest botherers 😆The girls are fully obsessed with their little brother. Every little thing he does is so cute to them. Oh, and the fact that he is the most adorable little thing makes everything even cuter! This is why they stay in his face. 


The older siblings do indeed start stuff with the little one. William will be so calm and quiet all day until they get home. That's when the adult children start to behave like little children. I admit, it's a lot of fun seeing the bond between the three of them. William will be the first one to get sad if one of his sisters have to go out of town or are spending the night away from home. By the way, he calls them "my girls". He asks me all day, "When will my girls be home?" And when they do finally get home.....

There are so many days where my husband and I listen to those kids laugh together, talk to each other through the walls, or get into some sort of mischief that results in all of them getting yelled at. It reminds us of how very blessed we are to have children who really love each other and enjoy time together. Our biggest hope is that they will be this way forever.

Do you have children with big age differences? Do they get along well?
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Give Your Valentine The Gift Of Power With MyCharge HUBPLUS

Do you have your Valentine's Day gift ready for your Sweetie yet? If not, you better hurry up and get him/her something that is sure to make them feel loved and appreciated. This year, skip the candy and flowers and give them what they really want-- The gift of power! The HUBPLUS Portable Charger from myCharge is a great idea for your Valentine. After all, who doesn't use electronic devices daily? 


The HUBPLUS portable charger is unique because you can charge up to 3 devices at once while you are on-the-go! There are two built-in cables for your iPhone and other micro-USB device, as well as a standard USB port. This makes carrying charging cords a thing of the past. If you travel often, this is a must-have! The best part is that the power bank lasts a long time and can be recharged by plugging it directly into an electric outlet.


I plugged the lightening cable into my iPhone and it charged fully in less than 20 minutes. Of course individual charging time will vary based on make and age of your device. I think about those long car trips we take and how every time my son's tablet will start losing power. Now we can take along our myCharge HUBPLUS and his tablet will stay juiced up for the ride. The compact design and light weight is ideal for taking it anywhere you want. You don't ever want to get caught out there with no battery life for your devices. 



The myCharge HUBPLUS would make a great gift for any occasion. It can be purchased here for $79.99. Be sure to follow myCharge on Facebook and Twitter for the latest promotions and product updates.

I received a product sample from myCharge for an honest review. All opinions are my own as always. 
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$100 Amazon or PayPal Cash Giveaway

I've teamed up with an amazing group of bloggers to bring you another great giveaway.   All you need is a Twitter account to enter. See the full details below and good luck! 


a Rafflecopter giveaway
How to enter: There are 20 Twitter accounts. Each account is worth one entry. Follow all 20 accounts for 20 entries into this giveaway. If you're already a follower of an account, claim that entry! This giveaway starts February 5 at midnight EST and ends February 19 at 11:59 PM EST. Entrants must be USA residents and at least 18 years old. One winner will be randomly selected from all qualifying entries and contacted via the email they provide. The email will come from joannegreco at gmail. The winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

The prize is $100 in Paypal or Amazon online gift card, winner's choice.
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Mom Files Is 10 Years Old

I seriously can't believe that 10 years ago, my husband bought the domain, momfiles.com. He is actually the one who believed that it was going to become something very special. He pushed encouraged me to start this blog although I really didn't want to. No lie, I did not believe him. Who would bother to read my blog? Where would I even find readers? I decided to humor him and figured I'd try this whole blog thing and see what happens. This came with very little expectation of any kind. I was simply doing it as a online journal and a place to connect with like-minded people.


Fast forward ten years... I had no idea that blogging would bring so much added value to my life, and I'm not talking about income. It has connected me with so many great people all over the country. Crafters, home cooks, interior designers, tech specialists, artists, writers, and regular every day folks. I have bonded and become really good friends with some truly amazing people. Some communicate with me regularly via text, phone, and social media. If I'm going through something and need someone to talk to, I'm covered. I really needed that. I think being a stay-at-home mom for so long makes me feel lonely sometimes. My blog friends seem to fill that void and I don't even have to leave home (score!).

I have really enjoyed engaging with my readers and it brings me joy when I get the occasional comment from those I started out with. I hear a lot of other bloggers ask the question, "Does anyone actually read blogs anymore?" I say, yes! It makes me so happy when someone tells me that they searched my blog for a particular recipe or they bought something based off of a past review I did. I appreciate the trust that is shown.

One of the greatest things about this blog is the fact that I have 10 years of family memories. I've shared so many milestones, experiences, funny videos (remember Vent Day?), heartfelt thoughts, reviews, birthdays, disappointments, and even some very random things. I have always felt like you all celebrated with us, cheered for us, cried for us, or just simply listened.

I truly appreciate all of my readers and social media connections. You are the reason I'm still here. I go through my times of wanting to scrap everything and shut down shop. Then someone will message me and tell me they loved something I posted recently that really helped them at the time they needed it most. I'm always very happy to help anyone that I can.

I want to say, thank you! Thank you all for connecting with me. I genuinely feel like some of the best people I've ever known are those I've never even met in real life.


Thanks for reading!
xoxo
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How Hard Water Can Affect Your Child’s Skin?

People often don’t realize the impact of water on their skin. The experience you have after bathing depends a lot upon the kind of water your tank consists of. Your tank could either consist of hard water or soft water. If you feel like when you come out of the shower, your skin feels itchy and irritated than it could be a sign that your water maybe hard. Now the skin of adults is more hardy and resistant to different kinds of water, however, you should carefully consider the kind of water you bathe your adolescent with.

What hard water does to your skin is that it leaves it scummy since hard water doesn’t easily form leather with soap. This could also lead to clogged pores which in turn cause pimples and acne. But that’s not all, people who use hard water find that their skin is usually itchy and dry and they use lotions and creams to moisturize their skin. This also leads to eczema.

While, studies have shown that water which consists of minerals that makes it hard isn’t necessarily bad for your health, there are a few evidences which show that hard water could lead to eczema in little children.

The study was conducted by researchers who made a connection between hard water and eczema. They determined that children who were exposed to hard water had an 87% higher chance of developing this condition.

How to deal with hard water

Places where ground water is used are usually more likely to get hard water because the water passes through stones and rocks and it picks up minerals like calcium. There are regions where there is high tendency of hard water as opposed to other regions.

There are a few tips and tricks through which you can combat this problem. So for example if you are bathing your infant then you can use a soap which produces leather and is made specifically for hard water in order to prevent eczema. For laundry and doing the dishes you can use detergents and liquids which are formulated to be used with hard water.

You can also install a water softener system in your home if you are really concerned about your child’s health. The initial years of a child’s development are always crucial so feel free to look for water softener options and install the one which seems to work for you. We found some great choices online at Ukh2o.

One of the best reasons why it is important to have clean water apart from saving your infant from eczema is that it is generally better to clean with soft water. You will be able to clean up your dishes and clothes with way less detergent and soap. And soft water is better for your skin as well. With hard water you end up using a lot of soap which actually isn’t good for your skin and ends up making the problem bigger than it is.

Making your water soft is not a solution for any kind of skin disease or chronic condition. But, it is definitely a wise step in order to avoid irritation and dryness of skin and getting rid of certain health problems.

There have been a large number of researches determining the effect of hard water on skin and how it causes conditions like eczema. Hard water is something that researchers claim affects 20% of kids 11 and under, as well as 8% of teenagers and adults.

How to figure out whether your tap consists of hard water

Water residue around the sink and soap scum is one of the signs of hard water. If you wash your dishes and you seem to think that they can never get clean enough than that may be a sign of hard water. Apart from that if you always seem to need more soap whether you are bathing, doing the dishes or washing clothes then that is also one of the signs.

If you can’t figure out for yourself whether your tap consists of hard water or not then you can take this inquiry to your water utility company and they should be able to tell you whether that’s the truth or not.

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Are Aquarium Fish Good Pets For Kids?

Plenty of studies have shown the positive impacts of having pets for your children. Not only does having pets provide health related benefits but they also provide them with a great learning experience. Children with pets are said to be more kind, loving and tend to become more responsible. These are some of the reasons in getting a pet for your kids.

But often times due to several reasons (like allergies) parents don’t get a feline or a canine creature for their kids. So what other options are available for these parents? If your kid hasn’t owned a pet before, then fish would be a good option to consider.

Fish can prove to be amazing pets if taken care of properly. However, without careful consideration, you could end up with the wrong fish for your kids.

Albeit, keeping fish as a pet will instill responsibility and ownership in your kids, not every species of fish is meant to be kept as a pet by kids.

Quite a lot of breeds require way more attention and commitment than others. Knowing which fish would be ideal for your kid is the building block in the process of being able to provide your kid with the perfect pet fish.

Once you have decided on letting your children keep fish as pets, you need to prepare your aquarium for them so that the fish have a safe and secure enclosure.
Initially, regardless of what tank you think of purchasing, you’ll need to be patient. Prior to adding fish to your aquarium, you’ll ideally need to wait for around two weeks. This is because the filter needs to produce the healthy bacteria that will aid in removing the fish waste. If the fish tank’s not ready, the fish can die from ammonia poisoning.

You should discuss the importance of keeping the water tank clean with your kids. To make them responsible you can also ask them to clean the water tank themselves. However, if the aquarium is situated in a location which is not easily accessible for your children then its probably best you do it yourself. However, if it is easy to get to and your floor won’t be ruined by a few splashes then let your children take care of it.

Also make sure that you keep your kids well informed on the dangers of overfeeding the fish. This could also cause the ammonia levels to rise which could cause your fish to perish. You can also come up with a chart which has details of what every person in the family is responsible for and put it on the fridge.

The kind of fish you should get for your children can vary, as discussed before, it’d be best if you get a low maintenance fish for your children. But you should also make sure to get a strong and healthy breed of fish which can survive harsher conditions in its enclosure, because if it dies your children could get really upset.

Think about getting a few fish instead of just one. It is always fun to have a tank with plenty of fish to look at and your children will also have a good time watching them swim around. However, make sure that the aquarium is big enough to provide enough room for a few fish in lieu of just one. You should also consider getting colorful fish to keep your children attention. Unlike adults, kids don’t understand logic quite as well; they get attracted to whatever is aesthetically pleasing. Therefore you should get them the kind of fish they would appreciate the presence of instead of just giving them something they wouldn’t know the importance of.

Platys are a good option to look at because in addition to being hardy they are also compatible with other fish which makes them a suitable option for your aquarium.
Apart from Platys, Swordtails are also a good option to consider. They are colorful, hardy and also very playful which makes them a lot of fun to watch.

It is probably best to get your children involved right from the start, from when you get the aquarium so that they feel the ownership of it and become responsible. Tell them about how everything works and what the benefits of doing some things are.

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