Food Fun Family

3 Things to Teach Your Daughter About Skin Care

Lolli — Wed, 01 Feb 2017 03:48:07 +0000

This post was sponsored by Johnson & Johnson and I received complimentary products to facilitate my post. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I hate to admit it, but I wasn’t always diligent about taking care of my skin, and I totally failed at teaching good habits to my oldest daughter when she was a tween and teen. In fact, SHE was the one that taught ME, as she was the example that I should have been for taking care of my face.

This year, I’ve had several conversations with my two daughters that still live at home about taking care of our skin – particularly the skin on our faces. My 17-year-old doesn’t normally wear makeup, so she didn’t think that washing her face regularly was important. She’s been struggling with breakouts the past 3 months or so.

In contrast, my 13-year-old does wear makeup, but often leaves her makeup removal routine to her morning shower….something I have been guilty of for years!

Here are three things that my teens and I have been discussing this past month:

1 – Washing your face before going to bed each night is a critical step to keeping your skin its healthiest. Remember that your skin collects dust and dirt (and everything else that is in the air and on our hands) throughout the day. Makeup actually acts as a magnet for all of that dirty stuff. The combination – makeup and dirt, for example – clogs your pores and leads to break outs, acne, uneven skin, etc.

2 – Even when you don’t wear makeup, you still need to wash your face each night. Like I mentioned above, makeup is not the only thing on your skin at the end of the day. Sweat, dirt, dead skin….those aren’t the kinds of things I want on MY pillow case at night when I’m trying to sleep.

3 – The right moisturizer is important, too…and facial moisturizer is not just for dry climates! Finding the right moisturizer for your kids type (dry, oily, combination, wrinkles, etc) can help your facial skin maintain its balance. When your skin gets either too oily OR too dry, many problems like acne will appear. Regularly moisturized skin will maintain a youthful look for longer, too. That’s a bonus for moms of teens, for sure!

The girls and I were able to stock up on some fantastic skin care products at Target last week. I’m in love with Neutrogena® Rapid Wrinkle Regenerating Cream and Aveeno® Positively Radiant Overnight Hydrating Facial. They both leave my skin feeling silky-smooth! The Aveeno® Positively Radiant Overnight Hydrating Facial makes my face feel cool and refreshed like nothing I’ve ever used before! I was also able to try Neutrogena® Hydro Boost Liquid Makeup. I love it because it covers well but does make my face feel like it’s bogged down with heavy makeup. I especially appreciated the applicator.

My younger daughter was so excited about trying Clean & Clear® Triple Clear Bubble Foam Cleanser. Foaming soaps are always more fun to use, and this was no exception. I think she may have had TOO much fun cleaning her face before bed…

Find Neutrogena, Aveeno, and Clean & Clear Products at your Local Target

From now through the end of March, Target is offering some great promotions on your favorite skincare essentials from Neutrogena, Aveeno and Clean & Clear – both in-store and on the Cartwheel app. Not only will they help you and your daughter will your skin care needs, but they’ll save you money, too!

Here’s a peek at the amazing deals offered:

In-store: Buy 3 Neutrogena skin-care products, get $5 Target gift card
Cartwheel: Aveeno – 5% off
Cartwheel: Clean & Clear – 5% off

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Johnson & Johnson.

Perhaps The Easiest Way Yet to Talk to Your Teens About Drug Use

CandyMan — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 21:39:55 +0000

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of National Institute on Drug Abuse for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you want a fun and effective way to talk about drugs with your teens, then the road has been paved for you. In just 12 clicks, you can have an engaging, thought-provoking discussion that is more like a trivia game challenge than a sit down discussion.

Have you heard about the “National Drug & Alcohol IQ Challenge”? No? Well, this is your silver bullet to get started. I took the 12-question quiz with my son, and we had a really good conversation that gave me a great peek into his surroundings. I got a 67 on the quiz. Now, in my own defense, there were 4 questions I missed, but I had most of the information correct on each question, so I still think I passed and did well.

Take the National Drug & Alcohol IQ Challenge

The National Drug & Alcohol IQ Challenge is a resource of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which is part of NIH (we live right down the road from NIH, so this is a local landmark). NIDA is holding its annual National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week^SM (NDAFW) from January 23-29, 2017. This event connects teens with scientists, so the dialogue and opportunity to ask real questions and get real answers far exceeds any other opportunities that address drug use.

How Can This Help Me and My Teens?

You may think that drugs will not impact your teens if you’re involved with their activities. But, there are two really good reasons to have a talk with your teens about drugs now.

First, even if you teach them good principles, you probably haven’t had a legitimate talk with them about the dangers and current trends.

Second, and equally important, teens are bombarded with false information about drug and alcohol use on TV, in the movies, on the internet and other places. So, your son or daughter may be the only person in their circle who has legitimate information. They may be the only person sitting at the lunch table who can chime in when one kid says something false, misleading and unknowingly dangerous about drug use. Not to mention, they will be that much better off by knowing the facts for themselves.

Talking to your teens about drugs and drug use is almost cliché at this point. But, what have you actually talked about openly?

Do you know how many kids age 12-17 actually used alcohol during the last month? Or, do you know the dangers of e-cigs and what we actually know about them? I don’t smoke, so e-cigs are a bit of a mystery to me, but rest assured, there are lots of myths about e-cigs.

Did you know that many prescription pain killers can cause your heart to beat dangerously faster?

How about this one: Do you know what “bath salts” are and how they are made? I’m not talking about taking a nice soak in a warm tub, I mean drugs that are made with compounds you can buy all over the place. Check out this link for more drug and alcohol facts.

If you’re not sure what you should be doing, here’s the “Family Checkup” which is a suggested checklist of questions to ask yourself. It has a number of good sample videos and ideas for dealing with drug related questions and situations you may find yourself in.

If your teen is using drugs and you need help, click here for videos and solid suggestions. One of the things I like about this link is that it explains why it may be hard for someone to quit using drugs.

NIDA’s website has numerous materials you can use or share with others about drug addiction and abuse. I found them to be very approachable and useful for simple discussions.

The bottom line is that National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week^SM can open doors and provide an easy way to regularly talk with your teen and check in with their friends as well. Try the quiz and see if you can beat my score. No cheating!

5 Smile-Worthy After-School Activities To Do With Your Kids #GoldfishMoments

Lolli — Sat, 01 Oct 2016 20:25:56 +0000

As my kids have gotten older, one thing has become certain: it’s harder than ever to find time to bond with them. We always seem to be on the go. Afternoons and evenings are often hectic with homework, practices, and dinner prep. Carving out family bonding time really does need to be deliberate.

The good news is, regardless of the age of your kids, it’s possible to find bonding moments and create memories together on even the busiest of days. And guess what? None of these ideas are anything new. They are probably the things that you’re doing already…so give yourself a pat on the back for being an awesome parent.

5 Smile-Worthy After-School Activities To Do With Your Kids #GoldfishMoments

Cook Together – Dinner needs to be made (they keep expecting me to feed them. Every night!) so why not make it a bonding AND a learning experience? I learned to cook by helping my mom prepare dinners when I was young, and my kids have grown up learning their way around the kitchen by my side. I love to cook, and it gives me great pleasure to see my kids enjoying it, too. Not only does cooking together give you and your child some great bonding time, but you each come away with the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve accomplished something that is helping the whole family (it doesn’t hurt when it tastes yummy, too!). Tip: encourage licking of fingers, flour on the nose, and flicks of water on the neck. In other words, let loose on your silliness and share some laughs and some learning.

Take a Walk – The late afternoon/early evening is my favorite time to talk a walk, but walks are much more fun with a walking buddy. We have a few silly walking games that we play together. One of our favorites is “Pick a Make.” We each start our walk off choosing a make of car (ie, Kid #1 chooses Ford, Kid #2 chooses Chevy, and I choose Toyota). As we walk, we tally up the number of cars of our own make that we find. The one with the most tallied cars seen gets bragging rights. Bonus if I get to hold someone’s hand while we walk.

Turn Errands Into Mini Dates – Errands are not always the most fun activity, but they’re inevitable, so we try to make the most of them. If I need to run to the store to get some milk or to the bank to get some cash, I take a kid along with me and we add in something fun – an ice cream cone from the drive-thru, a special treat at check out. And don’t forget the value of turning up the volume and playing an impromptu game of car karaoke!

Watch Your Favorite Show Together – Sometimes everyone just needs to chill after school. School days take a lot out of kids (and work days take a lot out of me!). I love grabbing a favorite snack and snuggling on the couch together as we enjoy a favorite sitcom together. It doesn’t take lots of planning, and we get to rejuvenate after the long day.

Play a Board Game – We have a huge collection of board games and card games, and we love to gather on the family room floor and play together. It’s during those times when we’re sprawled out on the carpet when we start sharing memories of the day with one another. We laugh and we joke and decompress.

What are some of your favorite activities to do with your kids?

Enter the #GoldfishTalesPromotion for a Chance to WIN!

Do Goldfish® crackers bring smiles to your family’s faces like they do to ours? Share your Goldfish® Tale on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #GoldfishTalesPromotion and you could win awesome prizes (the Contest Prize is $1000!). Each month has a new theme, and October’s theme was just announced as “SPOOKY.” Check here for super cute examples, contest details and official rules.

5 Tips To Stay Active As A Family

Lolli — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 02:37:59 +0000

I’m sharing how my daughters and I stay active thanks to Playtex® Sport® as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #PlaytexSportSquad. All thoughts, opinions, and stories are my own.

I remember when I was younger (during those blissfully naive and free pre-motherhood days) I thought that being a mom meant teaching my kids everything they needed to know. Now that I’m a mom of 4 teens (and one almost-10-year-old), I’ve come to realize that my kids are teaching me just as much as I ever hoped to teach them.

One of the things that has both humbled me and brought me the greatest sense of pride has been the fact that my kids are often such great examples to me. When I feel discouraged or like something is too hard for me to accomplish, my kids are often the ones who show me that I CAN do it. Or at least guilt me into realizing that I should…

I’ve got 3 teenage daughters. Yes, three. My oldest is in college, my middle daughter is in high school, and my youngest daughter is in middle school. If you had asked me a few years ago, while they were still little, what I thought about this current stage that I’m, I would have said that I was terrified. I would have said that I was much better with little kids than I have ever been with teenagers (yes, even when I was a teen myself).

But you know what? Being a mom of teenage girls rocks.

I suppose that it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise to me that my girls and I have bonded over feminine issues. Yep. We talk about periods (some kids are more open than others). We talk about the woes of being invited to a swim party at that time of the month, or how awful it is to start in the middle of the school day. Thank goodness my girls have been open to asking questions (and in turn, letting me answer!)…and thank goodness for Playtex® Sport® Tampon & Liner Combo Packs and Playtex® Sport® Pads that allow them to stay active in sports, exercise, and recreation during that time.

Playtex® Sport® allows you to “play on”.Since my girls have been such great examples to me of how and why to be active (as individuals and as a family), I thought it would be fun to put together a list of tips for staying active as a family. Everything is easier when you have a “team” to back you up!

5 Tips To Stay Active As A Family

Here are 5 simple things that we have done to stay active together. How does your family help each other stay active?

Do Chores Together: help each other get the chores done. Working together makes just about anything easier, and teaming up to get chores done not only make the chores go faster, but it can be a lot more fun, too. I think if *most* of my kids were left to their own devices, they’d end up….well, they’d end up on devices. TV, mobile devices (talking, texting or games), you name it. Getting everyone involved in maintaining the house not only gets them up off the couch or out of their bedroom, but it teaches them valuable skills.
Challenge Each Other: Do you have activity trackers or step-counting apps on your phones? Not only are family step challenges fun, but they help motivate each person to “step up” their game. A little friendly competition pushes everyone a little harder. Every once in a while, you’ll see or hear something heat-warming, like an older sister cheering on a younger brother….or a son reminding his dad to do his evening run instead of watching TV.
Head Outside: Play! Go to a park or take a bike ride down the street. If you feel like the kids are too old to “play” outside, then head outside for a bike ride together, a walk around the block, or a hike along a country trail. Remind each other that the outdoors are an exciting, beautiful, relaxing, rejuvinating place to be.
Play…Inside! Some of the most enjoyable mother-daughter moments in the last several years have taken place in front of the TV with remotes in our hands. We love playing active video games, where we have to dance, run, swing, and karate chop our way to the top. We have fun together and we get a workout at the same time!
Be involved: My husband has been amazing about coaching sports teams for the kids. But even if you’re not coach-material, you can support your child’s involvement in sports by practicing with them at home (throwing, pitching, bouncing, stretching, running, you name it). Not only will you help them be more prepared for the next game, but you’ll create some fabulous bonding time, too.

There are so many ways to be more active as a family, and whatever works for YOU is the best answer for you. The most important thing is that you create time to be together and keep the lines of communication open so that they’re willing to come to you when they have questions or concerns.

Are You “Fit To Play”?

What is your perfect fit? The “Fit to Play” quiz takes you through a series of questions like the one below to determine your perfect sport. I loved this question because I felt like I could see each of my teenage daughters in one of the choices. They are all SO unique. Girls, if you’re reading this, I bet you can figure out which option you are!

The quiz also suggests a femcare product as your perfect product fit. You can then sign up for free samples within the quiz experience, too. Take the quiz HERE.

Playtex® Sport®, play on, period

Connect with Playtex® Sport®

Website: PlaytexPlayOn.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/playtexsport
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlaytexSportandGentleGlide
G+: https://plus.google.com/104456896289544915621/posts

She’s Behind the Wheel! Photostory Friday – GMYBS

Lolli — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 19:13:25 +0000

How did this happen? I’ve got a teenage driver.

I’ve spent all of my extra time this week running back and forth to and from the DMV getting my oldest daughter’s permit. And now that she’s got that little card in her hands….

…the driving lessons begin.

I feel a little bit like a first-time mother who is excited when her baby begins to walk and then discovers that life is a whole lot harder when baby is mobile…

Watch out world! I’ve got to teach my daughter how to drive!

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

To play Give Me Your Best Photo Story Friday, check this. Copy this code into your post and sign the link list:
<center><a href="https://foodfunfamily.com/tag/give-me-your-best-shot" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://mychaosmybliss.com" target="_blank"></a><br />Hosted by <a href="https://mychaosmybliss.com/" target="_blank">Cecily</a> and <a href="https://www.foodfunfamily.com" target="_blank">Lolli</a></p> <p/></center>

Food Fun Family

3 Things to Teach Your Daughter About Skin Care

Find Neutrogena, Aveeno, and Clean & Clear Products at your Local Target

Perhaps The Easiest Way Yet to Talk to Your Teens About Drug Use

Take the National Drug & Alcohol IQ Challenge

5 Smile-Worthy After-School Activities To Do With Your Kids #GoldfishMoments

5 Smile-Worthy After-School Activities To Do With Your Kids #GoldfishMoments

Enter the #GoldfishTalesPromotion for a Chance to WIN!

5 Tips To Stay Active As A Family

5 Tips To Stay Active As A Family

Are You “Fit To Play”?

Featured product: Tampons & Liners Combo Pack

Connect with Playtex® Sport®

She’s Behind the Wheel! Photostory Friday – GMYBS