LimByLim

Be Prepared For Cough, Cold & Flu Season With An Organized Cart #FluSeasonHacks

November 6, 2018 No Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., Kleenex, Lipton, and Theraflu. All opinions are mine alone. #FluSeasonHacks #CollectiveBias #Ad

Cough, cold and flu season is just around the corner, and the time to stock up on supplies is now! I know that the last thing I want to do when I am sick is to make a special trip to the store because I do not have the supplies I need to feel better. Therefore, it is a good idea to prepare now, before illness strikes.

During one of my regular shopping trips to Ralphs, I recently made sure to pick up Kleenex®, Lipton, and Theraflu Power Pods. I know that these items will inevitably come in handy sometime during this upcoming sick season.

Making sure to stock up on supplies that will help when sickness hits are the first step to being prepared for cough, cold and flu season. However, it is also important to take the next step in storing those supplies in an organized manner to make them readily accessible when they become necessary.

Tip: One tool that I have found to be really helpful for organizing is a three-drawer plastic cart that can be found at most “big-box” stores.

These drawers are inexpensive and can store a lot of items in a relatively small footprint. I like that they can easily be used anywhere that storage space is lacking, including the kitchen or bathroom. It would also be easy to move this cart bedside when someone is ill and needs to have their supplies close at hand.

Kleenex Ultra Soft Tissues

I always make sure we have a supply of tissue, especially during cold season.

My family prefers the Kleenex Ultra Soft Tissues because it is so soft and gentle on our noses. It truly has become a brand that we have come to depend on over the years.

Tip: Make labels with a label maker so that it is easy to see what each drawer contains.

As you can see, I designated the top drawer for Kleenex®. A neatly labeled drawer brings a smile to my face! I am also digging these artsy-modern Kleenex® box designs. Using these clear drawers makes it easy to see when my supply is running low.

Lipton Tea

I was excited to learn that Lipton has a new range of herbal supplements that are aimed at wellness. This line is made with botanicals and essential oils such as ginger and peppermint. The one I bought is called Soothe Your Tummy. According to the package, it is designed for “those times when your stomach feels less than its best.”* I always reach for a hot drink when I am not feeling well, so a drink that can calm the stomach is always good to have on hand.

Tip: Sometimes I like to save boxes or containers instead of throwing them away so that I can use them for organizing. Here, I saved a gift box that is the perfect size to neatly contain the Lipton Herbal Supplement tea bags. This sturdy box makes for easy access and visibility.

Theraflu Power Pods

Theraflu Power Pods are compatible with most single-serve coffee makers. These pods offer fast, non-prescription relief for symptoms due to a cold or flu, including:

Minor aches and pains
Headache
Nasal and sinus congestion
Cough due to minor throat and bronchial irritation
Minor sore throat pain

Theraflu Power Pods also temporarily reduce fever and are available in both Daytime Severe Cold and Nighttime Severe Cold formulas.

Whenever my husband starts to feel sick, he always wants to take something that works at night so that he can get a good night’s rest. I feel better knowing that we have a supply of these Theraflu Power Pods in our arsenal.

You can save $2.00 on any ONE (1) Theraflu Power Pods through 12/8, via this digital offer.

Tip: Since the instructions are printed on each individually wrapped pod, I threw away the box and stored them all in this clear plastic box from the dollar store. This keeps the pods protected and organized, and again, it is easy to see when we are running low.

Tip: Sometimes it is a good idea to combine different types of items in one drawer. Here, I was able to store a box of Kleenex, the Lipton Herbal Infusions, and the Theraflu Power Pods all in one drawer. I like storing these items altogether so I know exactly where to go the next time someone is not feeling well. The containers within the drawers keep the contents from becoming a jumbled mess. The bottom drawer can be used for any other supplies that your family might need to feel better.

(Note: Medicine should obviously be kept out of the reach of small children.)

With my organized supplies, I am feeling much more prepared for this year’s cough, cold and flu season. Here are some deals that can help you stock up and be more prepared too:

Kleenex is offering FREE Home Delivery (where home delivery is available). Offer valid 9/4 – 11/11/18
Check your in-store circular for the 11/4 coupon for .50¢ Off Kleenex Facial Tissue or Wipes.
Also look for the $1.50 coupon on 4-pack Kleenex Facial Tissues, for Kleenex Germ Removal Wet Wipes.
And, 11/4-11/24 you can get .50¢ off Kleenex 4-pack bundles and Kleenex Wet Wipes via this digital offer.

Kleenex – ©KCWW, Lipton – © 2018 Unilever Theraflu – ©2018 the GSK group of companies or its licensor. Read and follow label directions. Theraflu is for use in adults 12 years and older. Use products only as directed.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent disease.

Celebrations, Crafts, k, n

DIY Halloween Costumes: Referee + Charlie Brown

November 1, 2018 No Comments

The past couple of years n has been able to wear some hand-me-down Star Wars costumes. Since he has outgrown them, we needed to come up with a new costume idea. He agreed to be a referee.

I bought a cheap white polo and painted the stripes with black fabric paint from Michaels and painter’s tape. I only painted stripes on the front because I was too lazy–ha! We bought the black baseball cap from Michaels (the last one in the store!) and he already had the pants.

k went to a Halloween dance a couple of weeks ago and her friends all dressed up as different Peanuts characters. She made her own Charlie Brown t-shirt with the same bottle of black fabric paint. Again, I bought the yellow t-shirt from Michaels. (What would I do without Michaels and their 40%-50% coupons?)

This year k wanted to hand out candy instead of going trick or treating. Too bad we only had five groups of kids come by!

Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

Give the Gift of a Classroom Friendly Pencil Sharpener + Giveaway

October 31, 2018 37 Comments

Gift giving season is quickly approaching and I have a wonderful gift idea for the teacher, parent, or office supply guru in your life: a Classroom Friendly Pencil Sharpener. You may recall that I wrote a review of this pencil sharpener last year. Well, I am happy to report that this pencil sharpener is still going strong in our home and has enabled many homework sessions since then.

These manual pencil sharpeners come in a wide array of colors and can be purchased here. There are significant discounts if you buy them in multiples. Also note that the site offers free shipping, which is always a plus, right?

I am excited to announce that I am holding another giveaway for a Classroom Friendly Pencil Sharpener in the color of your choice ($24.99 value)!

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Family Field Trips, Giveaways, Sponsored

Chinese Lantern Festival at the Pomona Fairplex + Giveaway

October 30, 2018 5 Comments

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by the Hanart Culture Chinese Lantern Festival.

The Chinese Lantern Festival Will Light up the Night at the Pomona Fairplex
November 15, 2018 – January 6, 2019

The outdoor evening skies will become ablaze with the color and light with more than 1,000 beautifully handcrafted lanterns. The lanterns range in size from 12 – 23 feet tall, and combines art, tradition, and culture. This year’s theme, “The Wild,” features five different locations – America, Oceania, Asia, Antarctica and Africa, with lanterns representing wild animals from each region, including Cheetahs, panda bears, jellyfish, majestic cranes, lions, and even dinosaurs.

The festival will also feature food, Kung Fu shows, animatronic dinosaur rides, demonstrations, and shadow play for the kids. Enjoy Asian and American cuisine, while shopping the craft marketplace where authentic Chinese jewelry, artifacts, dough figurines, as well as Chinese embroidery art, sugar art, paper-cut and fabric art will be available for purchase.

Hanart Chinese Lantern Festival
Thursdays – Sundays from November 15, 2018 to January 6, 2019 – Including Holidays
5:30pm-10:00pm last admission at 9:20 p.m.

Fairplex at Pomona – 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768

Tickets $13-$21; Children under 3 get in free.

– EARLY BIRD SPECIAL – Save up to $10 per ticket when purchasing before November 8^th.

Tickets can be purchased at the event, or discounted when purchased online in advance at www.chineselanternfestival.com/tickets

I am excited to attend this Chinese Lantern Festival! I have never seen lanterns like these before in person, and they look amazing from the pictures. This looks like a fun way to experience some Chinese culture. I am also pleased to announce a giveaway for four tickets to the festival!

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Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

Giving The Power of Play: One World Futbol Review + Giveaway

October 26, 2018 27 Comments

Disclosure: A sample was provided in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

With an estimated 4 billion fans, soccer is the most popular sport in the world. One of the reasons why its popularity is so widespread is that you basically only need a ball and a flat surface to play. For soccer players like my son, soccer balls come and go. If it starts to go flat, we use our pump to add air to it; when a ball starts to show wear, we buy a new one. However, for soccer players in disadvantaged communities, soccer balls are not as easy to come by. One World Play Project recognized this problem and developed a ball that never needs a pump and never goes flat: the One World Futbol.

The unpoppable One World Futbol is made of a cross-linked, closed-cell foam formula. It is ultra-durable, nearly-indestructible, and unpoppable! This ball never needs a pump and never goes flat, even when driven over or punctured. When my son heard this, he immediately wanted me to drive over it so we could test it out. Luckily, you do not have to attempt to destroy your own ball because the company made its own video to prove their claims.

Pretty amazing, right?

My son tried out the One World Futbol and we can tell that it is one tough ball that will last a long time. It is definitely firmer and feels denser than a regular soccer ball. These soccer balls would be a good investment for schools, where balls usually have a short lifetime. With the holidays coming up, a One World Futbol would be a welcome gift for any soccer fan.

One World Play Project is a social impact B Corp whose goal is to bring the power of play to youth in need.

They give 5% of their e-commerce sales to provide play resources to organizations using play to work with youth living in disadvantaged communities worldwide. Collaborating with sponsors, organizations and individuals, this amazing company has delivered play to an estimated 60 million youth in 185 countries. We love when companies give back!

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The One World Futbol is sold online at www.oneworldplayproject.com, as well as Amazon US, UK, Spain, Italy, France and Germany, and via their EU site (http://europe.oneworldplayproject.com). Look for group discounts and special offers on their website!

For Gift Givers who don’t want a ball for themselves but want to donate a ball directly to organizations impacting youth, the Give a Ball option is perfect and just $25. This can be done easily online here.

I am excited to announce that One World Play Project has agreed to give away a One World Futbol to one of my readers!

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Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

Let’s Give a #HolyRoar: Chris Tomlin’s Holy Roar Review + Giveaway #FlyBy

October 24, 2018 10 Comments

When I first heard that Chris Tomlin’s newest album was called “Holy Roar”, I had never heard that term before. According to Tomlin, Holy Roar is “the freedom, the experience, the wonder of worship. It is seeing the church come together, hands lifted to God, pouring out our praise with an eternal song in our hearts. It’s every voice together, changing the way we worship.”

After listening to the album, I can say that “Holy Roar” perfectly embodies the worship songs in Tomlin’s latest release. The title song is an upbeat, catchy anthem. The chorus explains it all:

A HOLY ROAR / REACHING FOR HEAVEN/ OUR PRAISE POURED OUT / WITH RECKLESS ABANDON /

OUR WORSHIP GOD / IS WHOLLY YOURS

I was also excited to see that a song that I am already familiar with, “Resurrection Power”, is included on this album. Chris Tomlin has so many songs that are considered Christian “classics”. I predict that many of the other songs from this album will be added to this collection.

Holy Roar is set to be released on October 26, 2018 and can be purchased here.

Chris Tomlin is one of the most heralded singer-songwriters in the world who has amassed an impressive body of work. He has sold more than 8 million albums, 11.3 million digital tracks with 16 #1 singles. Chris is one of only four artists ever to receive the Sound Exchange Digital Radio Award for over 1 Billion digital radio streams, others include Justin Timberlake, Pitbull and Garth Brooks.   The Grammy® winner’s list of music awards include an American Music Award, 3 Billboard Music Awards, 21 Dove Awards, a BMI Songwriter of the Year Award and more. Chris’ concert tours have sold-out venues in major cities including New York City’s Madison Square Garden, The Forum in Los Angeles, Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and Red Rocks in Denver, among others. This spring, Chris marked another career milestone by launching his own imprint record label, Bowyer & Bow, in partnership with Capitol Christian Music Group.

I have a quick giveaway to enter to win a copy of Chris Tomlin’s Holy Roar CD, so enter today!

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller/FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

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Book Review, Reviews, Sponsored

I Wish I Had This Book Growing Up: The Girls’ Guide To Conquering Middle School Review

October 22, 2018 No Comments

Disclosure: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

I am not sure who was more nervous about k starting middle school this year, k or me. I remember middle school as being a somewhat difficult adjustment. Grades suddenly seemed more important, there were more teachers and students to deal with, friend groups were in flux, etc.

So far, k’s transition to middle school has been pretty smooth. However, there are new issues that she has to deal with, and I know that more will arise. She seemed genuinely excited when I gave her a copy of this book, The Girls’ Guide to Conquering Middle School. The authors of this book are Erica and Jonathan Catherman and they both have a lot of professional experience in coaching and mentoring kids.

The Girls’ Guide to Conquering Middle School covers topics ranging from Backpacks to Cyberbullies to Gossip to Lockers to Studying. Each topic is only about one page long, and there are also a lot of graphics to make it fun and engaging. I like that the book covers both serious and light-hearted topics. I found that the advice given regarding each topic is age-appropriate and helpful. Sometimes kids and parents alike do not feel comfortable bringing up certain topics, so this book help spark some discussions. I certainly would have liked a book like this during my middle school years; I am glad my daughter can read and benefit from it.

Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

Stocking Stuffer Idea #1: IntelliDent Tooth Brush Shields Review + Giveaway

October 20, 2018 17 Comments

Disclosure: I received samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Is it too early to talk about stocking stuffers? I try to find little practical gifts to use as stocking stuffers throughout the year, so I am going to say it is not too early even though it is only October. I hope to feature various stocking stuffer ideas in the upcoming weeks. Today I want to share with you a new-to me-product that would be a useful and appreciated stocking stuffer: IntelliDent Toothbrush Shields.

Toothbrushes are susceptible to contamination because they are typically kept in the bathroom where there are multiple surface and airborne microbes. Storing a toothbrush in a cup on the bathroom counter, or enclosed in a dark space like a medicine cabinet creates a perfect breeding ground for germs. Not to gross you out too much, but toilets can cause contamination within a six-foot radius! IntelliDent Toothbrush Shields are breathable, quick drying shields that are laboratory tested to be a 99.9% effective barrier against bacteria.

IntelliDent Toothbrush Shields are disposable, and effective for up to seven days.

We tried one out on my son’s electric toothbrush and the fit was perfect. I could see these shields also being really helpful when packing a toothbrush for travel. Anything that helps reduce the chance of illness is a good idea in my book!

IntelliDent also makes Mouth Guard Shields. The idea is the same, except they are sized for dental devices or mouthguards. They would be perfect for k’s Invisalign trays.

IntelliDent products are sold at Walgreens and CVS, so look for them on your next shopping trip. Seriously, tuck some away for stocking stuffers!

I am also pleased to announce that I am hosting a giveaway for you to win three 10 ct. boxes of IntelliDent Toothbrush Shields:

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National Parks, Vacation

Lassen Volcanic National Park Part II

October 19, 2018 No Comments

The next morning we did an easy hike around Manzanita Lake.

One nice thing about visiting less-popular parks is that you have the views to yourself.

Next we did the Devastated Area Interpretive Trail. There were solar powered boxes at various stations that provided information about what we were looking at.

After our hike we drove to Summit Lake for lunch. (We had picked up sandwiches from the camper store at Manzanita Lake in the morning).

Taking a dip.

At this point, D had a big headache. As D likes to say, it was “no bueno”.

We set up camp at Summit Lake South and D took a short nap.

Then we drove to Cold Boiling Lake. I have to admit, I was bit disappointed when I saw the size of this “lake”.

I would say a more appropriate name would be Cold Boiling Big Puddle!

But, it was cool to see the gas bubbles, and the whole area was quite scenic.

I did not know there was geothermal activity like this in California! This sulphuric mudpot reminds me of Yellowstone.

We ended up buying a snack and dinner at the Kohm-Yah-Mah-Nee Visitor Center. The selection was quite limited, and again, I must say I am disappointed with Xanterra’s food service.

This was our pulled pork sandwich. There was actually a good amount of meat heaped onto the bun.

This was the “pizza”. A frozen DiGiorno single that you have to heat up yourself in the microwave. Really?? We really had no other dining options, so they have a monopoly.

We took a post-dinner hike near our campsite.

Although it might not be on the top of anyone’s National Park bucket list, we thought that Lassen Volcanic National Park is still worth a visit.

Camping, National Parks, Vacation

The Forgotten Park & Post: Lassen Volcanic National Park

October 18, 2018 No Comments

Poor Lassen Volcanic National Park. It is probably the least known National Park in California. It was also the last park that we needed to visit in order to check off all of the National Parks in California. It is also the vacation blog post I have taken the longest to write. (I partially blame that on my shifting work schedule, but things seem to be settling down now).

During the drive from Crater Lake to Lassen, we stopped in the town of Bieber for a pit stop and lunch.

This was the bathroom situation…Bwahahaha.

The food situation was actually not bad. This BLT salad had a lot of bacon. And a lot of cheese, as you can see.

We checked into our Manzanita Lake campsite and quickly set up camp.

Then we headed to Manzanita Lake and decided to rent a kayak. I am pretty sure the kayaks were meant to hold 2-3 people, but the person in charge let us all go in one together.

In retrospect, I am not sure this was the best idea as the kayak felt quite tippy with four. I was getting a core workout trying to keep us centered.

I did not want to bring my camera, so I used my iphone. But then I was nervous about dropping my iphone in the water, so I would not consider this a relaxing time. Thankfully, we did not capsize!

We ended up buying paninis from the camper store for dinner.