$100 Amazon GC or PayPal Giveaway

Hi everyone! I hope back-to-school is going well for your family. Although we home-school, we still had to adjust to the school routine. I am so excited to announce that we are doing another great giveaway along with 9 fabulous bloggers. The prize is your choice of $100 Amazon GC or PayPal Cash. Who wouldn't want to win that? 

Leave us a comment and tell us what you would do with prize if you are our lucky winner. Enter below and good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

This giveaway starts August, 29 at 12:00 AM EST and ends September 12, at 12:00 AM EST. USA, 18+. One winner will be randomly selected from all qualifying entries and contacted via the email they provide. The winner has 48 hours to respond or new winner will be chosen. The winner will be announced on the Rafflecopter after they have responded.

Protect Your Family with These Vital Tips

Most parents have a strong urge to protect their family. Even if you don't have children, you probably feel protective over your family. We all want to care for the ones we love and make sure no harm can come to them. Although you can't protect others against everything, there are some ways you can help them avoid danger. If you want to protect your family, there are lots of things you can do. However, at the same time, you could be concerned about being too protective. Make sure your family is cared for without being a helicopter mom with these methods.

Via Eric Ward

Secure Your Home

Your home is your family's safe haven. You don't ever want anyone to feel unsafe there or to come to any harm. While someone breaking into your home is more likely to do when you're not there, you don't want to take the risk. One of the most sensible ways to protect your home and family is to set up a security system. For example, have a look at home-security.co to read about how a monitored security system by vivint home security could help you. Your system could have motion detectors, cameras, alarms, and more. Even just having motion-sensor lights can deter potential intruders.

Know Where They Are

Everyone will have varying requirements for keeping track of their family. You might want to know exactly where they are at all times. Other parents might take a more relaxed approach. As long as they have an idea of where their children are and who they're with, they're not as bothered about the details. If you want to keep track of everyone, there could be a few things you decide to do. Some parents use phone apps so they can see exactly where everyone is. You might also just give your child a phone so you can call them if you need to. Other parents just trust that kids are responsible and will be where they say they will be.

Via Evil Erin

Give Them the Skills to Protect Themselves

Part of protecting your family is setting them up to look after themselves. Your kids need self-preservation skills, which they won't get if someone is always looking out for them. They need to learn how to watch out for certain dangers and how to avoid them. Some of the skills they need involve things like crossing the road safely. You might also provide them with tools that could be helpful, like a cell phone. Some parents prepare for certain scenarios. For example, some give their children a "password" to be used by anyone picking them up from school. There are lots of ways you can help your family protect themselves.

Protect Them Online

Sometimes, the online world can seem more dangerous than the real world. Just referring to the offline world as "real" can make it seem like when you're online, it's not real life. But things that happen online can be very real and come with real dangers. Teaching your kids to be safe online is essential in the modern world. Supervising internet use is important, but you need to decide how far you should go. Find ways to protect your kids online at consumer.ftc.gov.

You can protect your family using a variety of methods. Just make sure that you have a balance between protecting them and allowing them freedom.

Secrets Your Dog Knows About You

Image source

Meet Our New Family Member, Bob #bobsweep

A couple weeks ago, we welcomed a new addition to our family. I can't even begin to tell you how happy and proud we are. He is perfect in every way!

Introducing, Bob. Bob came into my life to make my homemaking duties a whole lot easier. He sweeps, mops and vacuums on demand. This gives me fewer household chores to have to do which means more quality family time or even "me time". Moms need a break too!

bObsweep robotic vacuums are so easy to use. I received the bObsweep PetHair in the color rouge to test out in my home. This was a perfect choice since we have a dog who sheds everywhere. I find myself having to vacuum and sweep daily, and it gets tiring lugging a traditional vacuum all over the place. Bob comes packaged perfectly in a neat box with everything you need to get started. It comes with a remote control, accessories, charging unit, and instructions. I suggest you take a few moments to read the instructions and let your bObsweep charge fully before you attempt to use it.

I found that Bob bumped into the furniture a whole lot when I first used him. As time has gone on, he seems to be a lot smarter maneuvering around spaces. I love the remote control function for when I need to have Bob clean areas where I need to avoid certain spots. It is very important to be sure the floors are clear of loose cords and objects that you don't want to get sucked in. Bob is strong and can pick up toys and pens (ask me how I know). It is very easy to empty the dirt receptacle and I am always so shocked at how much it picks up!

Pretty impressive and disgusting at the same time, huh? 

Let me tell you, Bob is powerful. I must warn you if you have little ones to monitor them when Bob is in operation. We don't want itty-bitty finger or toes getting run over just in case they get a little too curious. It is recommended to clean the rotary brush (cleaning tool is provided) for any excessive hair or stringy items that can easily wrap around it. Also be sure to keep an eye on the filter to make sure it's not clogged. There is a nifty side brush that is so good for cleaning along walls and furniture. The bumper on Bob is really effective in protecting your furniture from getting damaged. I also love that it easily adjusts to different flooring types and heights with ease.

Look at bOb go! Sweeping my floors like a champ! @bobsweep This is a homemaker's dream come true ❤️😍 . . . . . #bObsweep #bobsweeppethair #pethair #ad

A video posted by Shelly 🇬🇾💞 (@momfiles) on Aug 8, 2016 at 10:33am PDT

I really love how you can command Bob to return to his charging station when it is in range. My guests are so jealous of entertained by him. My son is even learning how to use the remote so he can guide Bob safely through different rooms. This is probably because he doesn't want any of his LEGO pieces to go missing :)

You can "adopt" your very own bObsweep PetHair and other bObsweep products through their website as well as on Amazon. This compact machine is sure to become a very important member of your family! We love the difference he has made in our busy lives. Be sure to follow bObsweep on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for product updates and promotions.

I received a bObsweep unit in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own as always. 

Maintaining A Superb Relationship With Your Parents

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When you were growing up, your parents were your constant companions. Your relationship was filled with love, trust and fun. Even though you annoyed each other from time to time, it’s a bond unlike any other. But now you’ve grown up and have your own family to look after, maintaining this relationship can be difficult. You’re both facing new challenges from health concerns to changes in career. So it’s vital that your relationship adapts to this change in dynamic to help keep it in a strong and healthy condition. Here are some simple ideas you should consider to make you and your parents closer than ever.

Call each other regularly

Instead of making excuses for your lack of communication, do something about it. Schedule a suitable time each week where you can call and talk to each other. Even if it’s only for five minutes, your conversations can assist you in maintaining a good relationship. You can update each other on what’s going on in your lives and plan days out together. You can also use these conversations to find out about their health conditions and whether they need more help. Without these conversations, you might be unaware that your Father has hired senior care companions. Or that your Mother needs to have a hip replacement. Take an interest in their lives to stay fully involved.

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Ask for their help

Many parents feel they lose their purpose and feel insignificant once their children have grown up. But there is still a lot you and your family can learn from them. If you've always wanted to bake like your Mom, ask her to give you some lessons and share her tips. Your Dad could show you how to change the tyres on your car or how to start saving money more efficiently. If something goes wrong in your life, whether small or large, turn to them for support. This will make them feel important and that you appreciate their advice and wisdom. They then might feel more inclined to ask for your help whenever they need it too.

Let them know how you feel

As children, we don’t like to think of our parents no longer being here. But sadly, this is a harsh reality we all have to face. So make the most of every second you have with your parents.  Let them know how much they mean to you and how important they are to your family. You can do this by writing a letter or sending them a video via email. Surprise visits where you can both talk face to face also provide this opportunity too. They may even return your feelings of gratitude with their own and tell you how proud they are of you. This is a conversation will be one that neither of you ever forget, and it can instantly strengthen your relationship.

While these ideas can help you to maintain a healthy relationship with your parents, they all require two key ingredients. Time and effort. Making the time and effort to spend time or to communicate with each other is essential to preserve this special bond.