NEVER LOSE YOUR KEYS AGAIN

As a mom of a blended family, our house is always on the go and consequently, I am always misplacing something, especially my keys. Most parents everywhere have the same issue, rushing to get their kids off to school in a timely fashion, running errands and some have to rush off to work. It is no wonder we can all keep our heads on straight with life's hectic pace.

In my case, I usually hang up my keys in the same spot every time, or well, I use to but in the last couple of years, I was finding (no pun intended) that I was misplacing my keys more and more frequently.  An easy solution I found (or actually, was given) to stop losing my keys, was the TrackR.  I received my TrackR last Hanukkah as a gift. When I first saw it, I was a little unsure what it was for.  The small circular-shaped contraption, I learned, is basically the simplest way to find lost and misplaced belongings, especially keys!


How it Works

When you lose something (in my case, my car keys) you tap your finger on the lost item tracker, TrackR and it rings your misplaced keys.  It even works on your phone, even if you misplace your phone and it is on silent. Pretty cool, right?

Honestly, it is one of the best inventions ever, especially for absent-minded people like me, who are always misplacing things!


The TrackR is the size of a quarter and has some really cool features you can request, for an additional cost of course, but things like uploading your own image or name to your TrackR device. It is also water resistant.  It comes with a replaceable battery that last up to about 1 year.

The TrackR easily attaches to your keys, purse, water bottle or other item you do not want to misplace.

This item, the TrackR is definitely on my Mommy Warrior "Thumbs Up" list of awesome products!  
                                
                                              

PROTECT YOUR BABY

Protect Your Baby with This Baby Stroller Mosquito Netting.

This net is convenient to protect your baby on those hot days where you are strolling around and there is the possibility of mosquitoes, especially if you live in Florida. The Baby Mosquito Net is great because it fits not only on a stroller but it also can be used on a pack and play and fits most cradles and bassinets as well.

PROTECT YOUR FAMILY FROM MOSQUITOES AND ZIKA VIRUS

 If you have been watching the news you have probably already heard about the Zika Virus. Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that only causes mild, flu-like symptoms in most people. But it can cause severe brain-related defects, including disastrously small heads, if women are infected during pregnancy. Zika is spread mostly by the bite of an infected mosquito (Aedes) species. These mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters. They can also bite at night. The most dangerous thing about Zika is that it can be passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus. Infection during pregnancy can cause certain birth defects. There is no vaccine or medicine for Zika at this time.

Personally, this whole mosquito thing has me a "bit" nervous considering, I live in Florida and so very close to the Everglades.  My best recommendation is that if you have young children, just remember the basic rules to try to avoid the dangers of being infected by a mosquito, that may carry the Zika Virus, not only for your kids but for you as well!

The best way to prevent Zika is to prevent mosquito bites.

1.Use EPA-registered insect repellent. It works!
2.Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
3.Stay in places with air conditioning or window and door screens.
4.Remove standing water around your home.

Many areas in the United States have the type of mosquitoes that can spread Zika virus. These mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters and can also bite at night. Also, Zika can be passed through sex from a person who has Zika to his or her sex partners.

If you are pregnant - 
If you are pregnant and have a partner who lives in or has traveled to an area with Zika, do not have sex, or use condoms the right way, every time, during your pregnancy.

Pregnant women should not travel to areas with Zika. If you must travel to one of these areas, talk to your healthcare provider first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites during your trip.

The Florida Department of Health has already identified an area in one neighborhood of Miami, where Zika is being spread by mosquitoes, and most recently, there has been a case reported in Palm Beach, and Tampa, FL as well. Florida’s caseload of Zika spread by Miami mosquitoes has risen to 25, and U.S. health officials continue to warn pregnant women to avoid the infection zone despite the governor’s assurances that the area of concern is shrinking. (Source: Global News)

Florida’s Department of Health says active transmission has been only happening in a 1-square-mile area encompassing Miami’s Wynwood arts district.

If you want to protect your baby/children from mosquitoes, here are some highly recommended Mommy Warrior picks:



(Note: Skin So Soft by Avon, is an excellent cream, especially for those who have sensitive skin.)

Source: www.cdc.gov

MOMMY WARRIOR (THURSDAY) AMAZON PICKS

BABY ITEMS - PICKS OF THE WEEK

SOS CHILDREN'S VILLAGES OF FLORIDA

As we get our children ready for back to school year 2016-2017, we are, for the most part, very fortunate to have all the things we need to provide our children with the basic necessities to attend school.

Such is not always the case, in all families, especially when it comes to foster care families.  One particular foster care organization in South Florida, SOS Children's Villages, is a favorite of mine, one, because it is in my home state and two, because they are an amazing organization that does their best to give foster care children a happy, and safe home environment, as well as a good education.

Below is a letter from the VP of Development of the SOS Children's Villages of Florida, Dawn Seay.  Please take a moment to read and share if possible on your social networks.  

Thank you, 

Mommy Warrior

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello:

There is a lot of activity involved with back to school.  Getting the kids up and out, packing lunches, finding classes and bus stops, and the list goes on. There is a sense of excitement and a new beginning as children embark upon the new school year.  For some this means starting kindergarten or making the transition to middle school, which can arguably be some of the toughest years during the journey to adolescence; and for others this is their senior year as they prepare to move on to the real world and more independence. 

As you think about these things and recall what back to school meant to you, consider what it would be like to live with the uncertainty as to whether you would be able to afford a yearbook, a class ring, or attend homecoming or prom?  With your donation, the things many of us take for granted can become a reality for our children here at SOS Children’s Villages.  Please help make a difference this school year by making a donation to our Back to School campaign.

Thank you in advance for your generous support!

Best Regards,

Dawn Seay
VP of Development
SOS Children’s Villages - Florida

NEED A PHONE CASE?

iPHONE 6 & 6s LEATHER CASE ROSSINI SYRACUSE 

If you are looking for a sturdy phone case for your iPhone 6 or 6s, I highly recommend the Rossini Syracuse Leather case.  It is a perfect fit for the Apple phone so you do not have to worry about whether the case fits properly or not.  It fits snug on your iPhone so you do not have to worry about your phone falling out.

It is super slim, without the big bulk of some other phone cases.  The Rossini Syracuse case is made of top grain genuine leather and is handcrafted. 

 

It is attractive, slim and reasonably priced for the top-quality you are getting with this phone case.  It comes in various colors: light brown, black, rose and a few other options.  My personal favorite is this light brown option shown below.  

 

(I love the smell of the leather and I think the best feature is how slim the case actually is.  Also if you want to give this case as a gift, it comes in a nice box with the Rossini logo on the outside.)

 

Whether it is for you or for a gift, the Rossini is a top-quality phone case.

 

8.5 x 6 x 1.5 inches

 

TEENAGE DEMON SYNDROME

I have never asked God to grant me as much patience as I am requesting right now!  In less than 5 days my 13-year old daughter, (very soon to be 14-year old) will be starting high school! I knew that sassy, smart-alec mouth would come and bite me in the ass someday, in the form of karma!  All I can think of is, "Geez,  my poor mother!" God rest her soul, she was one very patient woman, because I don't know how she put up with me!  And now I have to put up with "mini-me" on steroids!

I ask myself, how does a sweet, cute loving girl, mysteriously turn into "Sybil, the Devil-Child," the moment she enters her teens?  One minute, it was all fun and games, going shopping at Justice and buying her adorable clothes and the next, it's "eye-rolling 101" with a side of snide remarks served up on a daily platter, I didn't order.  

Who knew, I would have such little patience?  I mean, I've been through this before with my step-daughter but I guess it's not the same when your kid lives with you 24-7, plus, I must say, to my detriment, she does have my genes AND her sister's! (Talk about payback!) I am sure I will find the humor in that maybe four or five years from now.

For now, it is bad mood in the mornings, bad mood when she's hungry, bad mood when's she's sleepy, oh and of course, bad mood every time I say "no!"  So let me see , that leaves me with a window of opportunity from maybe 2:30-3:30p,m, in a car ride, or maybe at night from 11:00p.m. til midnight, when I occasionally get the scoop of what's going on in her life. Wow! Two whole quality hours of the "real" kid I gave birth to.  Did I really put my mom through the same thing?  (Note to Heaven:  "So sorry Mom!)

I know it can be really stressful to start a new school, especially high school but boy, do I hope this is just a short phase.  (Let me indulge a little in that fantasy, will ya?)

Truth be told, I have an amazingly wonderful, smart and beautiful daughter but some days she is just simply possessed with the "teenage demon syndrome!" Not all get it, but those with a smart-ass, sassy attitude from the time they are young and too smart for their own good, often do.  I know from experience it will pass, but in the meantime, I need lots of patience!  And you my friends, the readers, are going on this ride with me for the next four years as I vent and ask for patience, MNO's and maybe even a few shots of Whiskey during these high school years, good times and in bad, Mommy Warrior-style!

MY BEAUTIFUL LITTLE LADY!

I know it will be an interesting ride with many ups and downs but one thing I know for sure, is that when all the "smoke" clears, she will come out smarter, stronger and more fierce than ever and she will always be my loving little girl that I adore! 

Let this next chapter begin.  

SHE & I ON A SATURDAY AFTERNOON OUTING- AUG. 2016

WHAT A CHILD'S LIBRARY SHOULD INCLUDE

Does your child have a library of books at home yet? I am sure there are plenty of books scattered around here and there that they love, but do they have a collection they can go to find a special type of book?

Of course, you do not need anything fancy but a nice array of books in an organized location that your child loves is always a great tool to have.   

As the summer winds down, now is the time to start getting your school-aged child ready for school and in the reading mindset. If your kids are still really young, now is the time to start nurturing his or her love of reading, if they are not already little "bookworms."  

Getting your kids "library" started is easy. You can build a "library" section for them in their room or simply set up a nice reading area to call their own somewhere in the house.  I did that for my kids when I purchased a rug about reading and put one tall lamp with a nice big comfy bean bag in a corner of our living room area.  There are other areas of course where they can read, but this is their special reading place!"  You can even use big or small clear bins and label them with either the types of books, the titles or use pictures if your kids are younger.  Organization, visual appeal and accessibility are key.

If you do not already have a library of books for your child, here is a great guideline on how to build that library at home.

Your child's library can be broken down into Fiction books, Non-Fiction books, How-To's and Poetry books.

Reading fiction books at a child's reading level helps him or her to practice their reading strategies and improve their reading skills as well as build their vocabulary. It also helps them to read independently because they are confident in their own reading ability.

When a child is reading above their reading level it helps them to build a stronger vocabulary and teaches them about different story lines and plots they may not always read about at their level. 

If your child currently only wants to stick to easy fiction books this can be used to practice fluency in reading and also to help the child practice reading with expression.  They can practice on the "easy" books to build up their love of reading and then start to move up.

Non-Fiction books not only help your child improve their reading skills but it also teaches them to gather information independently for a book report for example or simply for historical knowledge.  Even younger children now-a-days in school sometimes have to report on what they've read and learned. 

SAMPLE BOOK REPORT TEMPLATE

Another great way for your child to learn is by reading non-fiction books above the child's reading level. In this case, the parent reads to the child and shows them the book as they are reading. This way they experience learning about a subject while the parent explains and the child is happy that the adult is reading to them, while gathering information.

Two more great types of books that can be part of your child's library are; "How To" Books and Poetry Books.

How-To books are excellent to teach young children how to follow directions in completing a task or building something. It teaches them and reinforces how to follow directions in order.

Poetry books, although not always very popular with kids can be useful in helping appreciate language and its rhyming patterns. It also helps them use their imagination.

Oh, and don't forget magazines!  There are plenty of age-appropriate magazines for school-aged kids to read. They can always find great articles and they are sure to love the pictures and how bright and colorful they tend to be. Another perk of magazines, is you can order a subscription of an age-appropriate magazine for your child and they will be that much more excited to read it when it arrives!

So no matter what kind of book your child likes to read, it's about nurturing their love of reading one book at a time.

  Here are some book shelf ideas for your child's room:


 

This Tot Tutor Kid's Book Rack is colorful and rather inexpensive. It is the perfect starter bookshelf:

Another colorful option is the KidsKraft Puzzle Book Shelf:

FORTY THOUSAND VIEWS - THANK YOU!

I just want to express my gratitude to all my loyal Mommy Warrior blog readers! Thank you for your continued support of the MommyWarriorLady.com blog!!!!  

40,000 page views! Thank you! ‪#‎mommywarrior‬ ‪#‎grateful‬ ‪#‎blogging‬ ‪#‎mommyblogger‬ ‪#‎mommyblog‬

BACK TO SCHOOL FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS AT SAM'S CLUB

Hey Mommy Warriors!

Back-to-school means back to long to-do lists and lots of things to remember (homework done? lunch packed? project complete?). Sam’s Club wants to make sure there is one thing busy parents don’t have to worry about: prioritizing their own health during the hustle of getting kids back to school.

 

To help support busy parents, Sam’s Club is hosting free health screenings for both members and the public this Saturday, August 13 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., while supplies last. These screenings are confidential and available at all 613 Sam’s Club locations with a pharmacy. 

They are valued at up to $150 and will include the following tests:

 

·         Glucose

·         Total cholesterol

·         HDL (good cholesterol)

·         Blood pressure

·         Body fat percentage

·         Vision (not available at all locations)

·         Hearing (not available at all locations)   

       Come by on Saturday, August 13, 2016  for a FREE HEALTH SCREENING 

at a Sam's Club near you with a pharmacy!

GETTING YOUR KIDS TO PRACTICE MATH AND HAVE FUN

Summer is almost over, much to the disappointment of many kids and excitement to many parents!  Have your kids done any school work at all during their time off? I know mine just cringe at the thought of doing any school work during summer time, let alone Math.
   
Well, if you want to have your children improve their Math skills, I have a great app to share with you, one that pretty much tricks your kids into learning while they have fun! I know that if I tell my kids to sit and practice their Math, they would never want to cooperate but with this app, they have fun and practice their skills at the same time.

Monster Math is a wonderful app for kids that is fun and educational. It helps them to improve their overall Math skills including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, while they're playing! This "MathGame" has a fun story line and evil monsters that will engage your kids. Your children will become so involved with the characters: Maxx and Dextra, that they will not realize, they have their own personal Math tutor right in their hands.

Monster Math is the perfect app for kids from first grade through the fifth grade (1-5.)  

The math games in Monster Math are able to be customized to suit your kid’s natural abilities, letting the player move between advanced and basic math skills by just tapping the phone screen. The Math levels adapt according to your child’s progress.  

Monster Math’s multi-level system is designed to guide kids who maybe having a hard time solving a problem towards the right answers. So even if they feel that they don't know the answer right away, there is a tendency to "steer" them in the right direction.

Parents will love it also because it gives detailed reports, weekly emails and allows you to get an in-depth view of how your kids or students are progressing in math!

Monster Math Helps Kids with:

• Addition
• Subtraction
• Multiplication
• Division

(Note: Monster Math 2 works with iOS.)

So, whether you want your kids to practice their Common Core material or Math skills in general during the summer or on a daily basis during the school year, Monster Math is the perfect tool to improve their skills.

You can download the free app on your Android today. If you are using an iOS you can enjoy Monster Math 2 as well! 

Monster Math is FREE and you'll be happily surprised at how much fun your kids have while playing Math games!