Product Review & GIVEAWAY: It's more than just a planner!

I am a list maker and am goal driven. There is a weird sort of satisfaction I find in checking something off. I am also very visual, which contributes to my desire to write everything down. I also thrive on organization. I have an iphone and we have an ipad so I have downloaded several apps to help keep my time and goals organized. I however have learned that I need to physically write things down on paper with a pen. That's just me. I love planners. I always have. I was the kid in school that would color code my class assignments in my planner. That doesn't mean I actually did the assignments... but I color coded non the less. Can any of you relate to this? Or maybe you are not a list maker or organizer and you feel a bit overwhelmed and a little bit of chaos in your daily life...

I was introduced to the "Mothers Who Know" planner and immediately fell in love with it! I showed my husband this video of it and all that it included and expressed my need for it! Next thing I knew he had it ordered and it was on it's way. I have only been using it a couple weeks now, but I absolutely  LOVE it! It is no ordinary planner! For once in my life my planner is also organized because there is a place for everything. Every little thing has been thought of. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints I purchased an LDS version, which includes quotes from leaders of our church and scriptures, a Book of Mormon reading chart, Sunday church lessons, FHE planning, a place for general conference notes, a place to record tithing fast offerings and visiting teaching. It is incredible. There is however a non denomination version! The planner I bought also includes a ton of things for planning for your children, but there is also a third version that is for young single adults without children or for the empty nesters! There is a planner for everyone! And everyone should have one!

Lucky for you, I am honored to a host a GIVEAWAY! One lucky winner will receive a planner of their choice!!!! Before I give you details on the giveaway here are a few more things you may want to know about the planners.

For Mormon Moms
Planner Details:

• Jan-December 2014
• Cute and stylish full color imprint
• Size: 6" x 9" and .75" thick
• Rounded Corners
• Spiral-bound with wire coils so it can be laid flat
• Monthly tabs and dividers

The planner includes pages like:

• Monthly Budget Sheet (with tithing)
• Visiting Teaching Contacts
• Holiday Planning Pages (Traditional U.S. Holidays)
• Thank you Card Tracker
• Family Focus Section
• Monthly Planner (Unique and simple)
• FHE Planner
• Sunday Lessons & Teaching Pages
• Weekly Planners
• Journal pages 

Know It, Live it, Love it Planner- This planner is designed for you! The LDS woman who needs a cute and functional planner without all of the mom stuff. 

Mom on the Go Planner- This planner has the same bright colors and great layout as the popular Mormon Mom Planner, but without any of the specifically LDS religious elements.

Watch the video to learn more. Remember this is the Mormon Mom version, but there is a planner for everyone. 

Also visit MormonMomPlanner.blogspot for more details. Also, check out their website http://intheleafytreetops.com for reviews and more inforamtion!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: One Motherhood in the Major Leagues follower will win a free planner of their choice ($40 value). Either the Mother's Who Know (Mormon Mom version), Know it, Live It, Love it (Mormon Young Single Adult or Empty Nester version) or Mom on the Go (non denominational version). The giveaway begins Thursday, January 30 and will close Sunday, February 2nd at 7 p.m. A winner will be announced shortly after closing. 

HOW TO ENTER: Must be following Motherhood in the Major Leagues facebook page. "Like" the page as well as Mormon Mom Planner's facebook page. Comment on this blog post stating you have liked both pages!

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES: Keep your eye on Motherhood in the Major Leagues facebook page for opportunities for extra entries. 

All entries will be verified. Good luck!

8 DIY ideas for moms to simplify their lives and make it more fun!

Can you believe we are at the end of January?! January is usually a very long month for me. January almost always brings the winter blues. One of my new year goals is to simplify. Simplify in just about every aspect and find things and ways to make my life a little easier. Coupons.com Blog has posted 8 New DIY ideas that are blogger tested and kid approved!

I especially love the shopping passport. I have an almost 3 year old and an almost 1 year old and I try to avoid taking them both to the store at all costs, but sometimes I have to. This idea of a shopping passport almost makes me want to take my girls shopping. I'm excited to try this out. I think it would also be fun to take pictures of staple items you buy to make a list that you can then laminate and have them check off with a white erase marker. Let me know if you try it! 

I also have a few tips for grocery shopping with kids of my own. 

1. Make a list

2. Eat before you go and still bring the kids a snack.

3. Talk about it. Talk to your kids about what you are buying, what you are going to make, talk about the colors and have them help you count the number of apples as you put them in the bag, etc. 

4. Hope for the best, but plan for the worse! 

Product Review: Origami Owl

I did a giveaway for Origami Owl a few weeks back sponsored by the amazing Neisha Dressler. I received my necklace a couple weeks ago and I love it! I have also received a ton of compliments on it. It is great quality and beautiful. There are so many charms and dangles to choose from too. Origami Owl is jewelry that tells a story. My necklace has 6 charms- a birthstone for both my girls, my initial, a ring to represent my marriage, a pearl and a plate that says "faith". Now through February 15th she is offering 20% plus free shipping on all orders. Visit her website and contact her to order. Let her know Motherhood in the Major Leagues sent you!

http://neishadressler.origamiowl.com/default.aspx 

Beauty/Fitness Friday: Healthy Food Substitutes

What of these substitutes have your tried?

What's cookin' Wednesday: Tried & True Skinny Taste Recipes

In an effort to eat more healthy around here we are trying to eat less meat and more veggies. I have seen several recipes from the website Skinny Taste pinned on Pinterest, so I decided to give some of them a try. Let me just say I was a little skeptical on some of these, but we were not disappointed. They were all delicious. Every single one we would make again. So, here you are! A few tried and true recipes from Skinny Taste! 

loaded sweet potato

taco stuffed zucchini boats

cheesy baked spaghetti squash boats with grilled chicken

butternut squash and black bean enchiladas

turkey taco lettuce wraps

Tips & Tricks Tuesday: Disney Replacement Program

Did you know Disney will replace scratched or broken DVDs or Bluerays?! If you accidentally damage or break one of your DVD or Blu-ray discs, you can get a replacement for a nominal charge of $6.95 for per DVD and $8.95 for per Blu-ray disc. Follow the link below for the details!

http://www.disneystudioshelp.com/detail_TOPSUPP_DiscReplace__SUPPORT.html

Product Review: Foam Paint Rollers

Santa brought these for our girl and she loves them! I think I may have had just as much fun as she did! They are foam rollers with different patterns. Santa got these at Lakeshore Learning Store. They come in a pack of 12 which includes 2 of 6 different patterns for $12.99. If you don't have a store near you you can order online. Or you can search on Amazon for textured foam rollers. 

Fitness Friday: Studio 5 "10 Pound Challenge"

 Check out the Studio 5 "10 pound challenge"! It started a few days ago, but if you haven't started yet or if you are coming across this post months later, start now! Challenge yourself to lose 10 lbs in 30 days. Studio 5 has this challenge where thousands are committed to changing habits and getting healthy with the help of Melanie Douglas R.D. Check out her facebook page: Studio 5 "10 pound challenge" for meal ideas, weekly exercises and daily exercise challenges as well as get the support and encouragement you may need. Melanie along with 3 other trainers are committed to answering any question you may have. I am personally excited for this challenge. My week has not been off to the best start with sick kids at home, but I really want to get in shape and get healthier. 2014 is my year and it can be yours too! 

Here are 3 tips for the month.

Think About it Thursday: You are there, but are you really there?

Oh how true this is! This is true with any relationship we may have. I can personally relate to this with my children because they are who I am with all day, every day. I adore my children as I am sure most mothers do. However, I admit that there are moments that I find myself with my priorities out of place. It has helped me to make goals each day of what I want to do with my kids. Going back to the whole reason I started this blog and the title of the blog, "Motherhood in the Major Leagues"... I want to be a professional mom. I want to show up to my "work" each day prepared and with a plan. I plan crafts, outings, errands, activities we will play together. Some days that plan gets thrown out the window. And there are times in the day that are scheduled for me to get the things I need to done, but since they are planned and since when I am with my kids I am fully present I do not feel guilty for taking time to myself to shower or sit and check the blog. However, regardless to whether or not our days go as planned, the mere fact of thinking about my children after I have had a little time to myself and before going to bed each night helps me put things into perspective and put my children at the top of my priority list, which allows me to be present. Sure there are moments and days that I look back and think I could have done better, but the beautiful thing about children is that they are so forgiving and I get to try again the next day. What things do you do that help you to eliminate distractions and be present in your relationships?

Giveaway: Let your smile sparkle!

Want a chance to win free bleach trays? I do! Make that smile sparkle! Dr. Curtis C. Bevan DDS is giving away to one lucky winner free bleach trays! My family sees Dr. Bevan and as my husband says, "Our teeth love going there twice a year!" Dr. Bevan and his staff are so accommodating and professional. He is so genuine and truly cares about your well being. His office staff and hygienists could not be more friendly. His office is welcoming and kid friendly. They are so great with our girls. Our almost 3 year old has gone in a couple of times with us and he and his staff made her feel so comfortable. She loves the dentist Dr. Bevan and his office! We love Dr. Bevan!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Dr. Curtis C Bevan DDS, is giving away free bleach trays. Giveaway runs from Thursday, January, 9th, 2014- Sunday, January 12th, 2014 closing at midnight. A winner will be selected Monday, January 13th, 2014 and posted by noon. Dr. Bevan's office is located in Salt Lake City off of Highland Drive. 4046 South Highland Drive, Suite 113, Salt Lake City, Utah 84124

HOW TO ENTER: In order to enter you must be following Curtis C Bevan DDS facebook page as well as Motherhood in the Major Leagues. Follow the links to "like" both pages, if you have not done so already. Comment below on this post saying you are following both pages.

EXTRA ENTRY: Earn an extra entry by sharing this giveaway on your facebook wall. Simply comment in a separate comment than the entry above with "shared."

ALL ENTRIES WILL BE VERIFIED!

What's Cookin Wednesday: Sausage Flowers

Okay, this has got to be the most delicious appetizer! A friend of mine made these for a little get together and they were the hit of the party. They are so tasty and she says they are super easy to make. So, with that said these are on the top of my to do list! 

Sausage Flowers

1 lb ground sausage (I like the Italian flavor)

Won Ton wrappers 1 Cup salsa 1 cup cheese
Sour cream Green onions (optional) Place won ton wrapper in mini muffin tin. Don't forget to spray so they don't stick. You want the corners to be sticking out of the tin. Place a spoonful of the sausage mixture in each won ton. Bake at 350 for 10 min. Top with some sour cream and green onions if you want.

Tips & Tricks Tuesday: Stuff Control

Ready to get that post-holiday clutter under control? I tried really hard to get everything decluttered and organized before the end of the year to avoid the post-holiday clutter, but December was a busy month full of fun and memory making as well as sickness in our home that took it's toll. Thankfully, the following tips are not knew to us so things are not totally out of control, but regardless to where we are on the clutter control scale in our home, it is something that continuously needs to be done because clutter has a sneaky way of creeping up on us!

I love this article from Power of Moms with tips on how to get your "stuff" under control. Worth the read, but here are the 2 simple tips: Downsize your current stuff and don't by stuff! Read the complete article for details.

Downsize your current stuff: 

• If in doubt, throw it out."
• When something comes in, something must go out.
• embrace an "abundance" mentality. 

Don't buy things:

Ask yourself-

• Do I need this? Really?
• Where will I store it?
• How will I maintain it?
• Will it really make my life easier or better?

I also love these ideas:

Something I struggle with in many aspects of my life is making things more complicated than they need to be, so this will be a life long motto that I will need to remember. 

Hopefully, some of these tips & tricks will help you get your stuff in control. What tips and tricks do you use that help you?

Product Review: GoGo Squeez

Applesauce on the go. It is brilliant! And before anyone calls me out on it, yes I know an actual apple is just as convenient on the go and healthier, but my girls love applesauce. I love that I can throw it in the diaper bag and it can stay in their without bruising. And my girls love it! Anyways, thought I would share this awesome deal at Target right now. 

Deal: Buy 2 GoGo Squeez 12-Packs ($7.19) & 1 Fast Fruit 4-pk ($3.49) = $17.87

- $3.49 (the GoGo Squeez Fast Fruit 4-pack will be FREE with Target Deal thru 2/22

-$2.87 (use 20% Off GoGo SqueeZ 12 pk Target Cartwheel x1/11

-$1.50 (use two $0.75 off any ONE (1) GoGo squeeZ product
= $10.01 for all 3 after stack & freebie. 

If your store allows a coupon on a SALE freebie- use 1 more -$0.75 off any ONE (1) GoGo squeeZ product
= $9.26 for all 3 or a total of 28 pouches or like paying .33 cents a pouch

Thank you Totally Target for posting this deal!

DIY Saturday: Dress Up Rack

My little one is turning 3 in March and is just starting to get into princesses and dressing up, so for Christmas we got her several dress up outfits. I knew we needed to have something to store them in, but I didn't like the idea of them being a dress up box because I knew they would get wrinkled and everything would have to come out of the box each time to find what she was looking for. My awesome husband put together his hanging rack in minutes. One trip to Home Depot for PVC pipe and 2 minute assembly and viola! Home Depot will cut the PVC pipe for you for no fee so be sure to bring the measurements and make this simple DIY even easier! The total cost was about $14

• 2 36-inch lengths of 1-inch PVC pipe
• 2 30-inch lengths of 1-inch PVC pipe
• 4 12-inch lengths of 1-inch PVC pipe
• 2 6-inch lengths of 1-inch PVC pipe
• 6 90-degree elbow joints for 1-inch PVC pipe
• 4 tee connectors for 1-inch PVC pipe
• optional: All-purpose cement for PVC (We didn't find this necessary)

I found this blog that had the following step by step instructions if needed. We were able to visualize and just put it together.

1. Join two 12-inch lengths of pipe horizontally with a tee connector. Place an elbow joint on each end to create your first foot. Repeat for the other foot.
2. Join a 6-inch and 30-inch length of pipe with a tee connector. Put the other end of the 6-inch piece into the top of one foot, with remaining tee opening positioned perpendicular to the foot, to create one leg. Place an elbow joint on the other end of the 30-inch piece, facing the same direction as the tee opening, to finish your first leg. Repeat steps with the other foot to create the other leg.
3. Now place each length of 36-inch pipe into the elbow joint at the top of one leg and the remaining tee opening toward the bottom of that leg. Connect the legs by placing the other ends of the 36-inch pipes into the elbow joint and tee connector on the other leg. 
4. Once you've dry-fitted the rack, take apart and reassemble using all-purpose cement to glue the pieces together. When the glue is dry, hang your clothes on the rack. 

GIVEAWAY: Origami Owl

I am so excited about this giveaway! My dear friend, Neisha Dressler is a representative of Origami Owl and is hosting this awesome giveaway. Origami Owl is custom jewelry that tells a story! Origami Owl would make a great Valentine's, Mother's Day or birthday gift. It would make a sweet gift for someone who has recently lost a loved one or for the new mom! Or a great gift for someone just graduating and starting a new journey. The possibilities are endless! Tell your story!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Neisha Dressler, an Origami Owl representative, is very generously giving away 2 starter lockets, which consists of gold or silver medium living locket with crystals, 4 charms of winners choice and a gold or silver rolo chain. The giveaway will run from Saturday, January 4th, 2014- Wednesday, January 8th, 2014, closing at 9 pm. Two winners will be selected and posted Thursday, January 9th by noon.

HOW TO ENTER: Must be a follower of Motherhood in the Major Leagues' facebook page. Simply "like" the page if you have not done so already. Also, please visit Origami Owl and comment below with your favorite charm! To find the charms look under the tab "Living Lockets" and then "Charm Collections.'

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES: You can earn up to 1 additional entry per day by linking this giveaway on your facebook wall and inviting others to enter. Comment on this blog post with "shared." PLEASE DO THIS IN A SEPARATE COMMENT THAN THE COMMENT WITH YOUR FAVORITE CHARM.

ALL ENTRIES WILL BE VERIFIED!

 Two winners will be able to select: 

a gold or silver rolo chain

a gold or silver medium living locket with crystals 

and 4 charms!

These are the charms I have chosen that represent me...

February and March birthstones to represent my girls, a wedding ring because I love being a wife to my best friend, a clover because I am a St. Patricks Day baby, an art pallet because I love to create and the "shop" one is pretty self explanatory! I cannot wait to receive mine and continue to add to it.