Buttoned Up

January #GetButtonedUp Challenge Winners!

Sarah — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:52:35 +0000

As I typed the words “Day 31 check in” yesterday on Facebook I couldn’t quite believe how fast this month, and the challenge, has sped by. It has been such fun to go through a daily detoxification step each day with all of you. I’ve been inspired by your ideas and your determination to complete an organizational task each day.

Better still, I feel like I’ve grown rich in added friendships.

I almost can’t believe I have to pick winners! If I had a million dollars, I’d give each and every one of you a grand prize for crossing the finish line! But alas…I have to keep playing the lottery a bit more to make that dream a reality!

So, without further ado…I used random.org to pick the following winners:

Grand Prize Winner

The grand prize is a fabulous Hoover Max Extract 60 Pressure Pro carpet cleaner. Hoover kindly sent me one last year to test and I now swear by it (I use it once a quarter on the most trafficked carpets in the house). My oldest son ground some pink slime he got at a birthday party into our brand new playroom carpet last summer – and even after it had dried, it was no match for the Hoover. So this is one machine I put my recommendation behind 1000%.

And the winner is: Heidi Foss

Well done!

Two Runner Up Prizes

We are awarding two runner up prizes – Hoover Presto 2-in-1 Cordless Stick Vacuums.

I personally have one of these that I keep out in the kitchen (hidden behind our high chair). My kids actually fight over who gets to “help” mommy vacuum. The stick vacuum is super light and yet powerful enough to get pretty much every bit of food my kids manage to throw on the floor. And the had vac is just always nice to have around for quick little jobs.

The first runner up winner is: Christy Olsen
The second runner up winner is: Cathy Gray

Congratulations!

Week 4 Winner

The winner of the $20 Walmart Gift Card is: Filomena Alves! Huzzah!

Well done to all who participated in the challenge. Whether you did the whole thing – or even just a few days – hopefully it helped you feel less daunted by organizational work and generally more buttoned up. We’d love to here what you thought of the challenge, so be sure to let us know in the comments below. And if you haven’t signed up for the February challenge yet – what are you waiting for?

Alicia — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 10:30:56 +0000

Happy February! Create a Remember Us book for your Valentine. Go back to when you first met and choose photos that reflect who you were, and who you are today as a couple. Put into a colorful book with your own notes and give as a gift on Valentines Day.

How to battle with a picky eater and win

Sarah — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 16:30:35 +0000

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY

As I lamented in my BabyCenter post this week, motherhood is humbling. Just when you think you have it all figured out, you get knocked on your smug tush.

My latest knockdown came at the dinner (and breakfast and lunch) table. My youngest has suddenly taken an offense to vegetables of all kind. I’ve tried cutting them up into microscopic pieces and hiding those in spoonfuls of rice. But the second his precious little tongue feels even one little bit of healthy veg – he shrieks, “too much!” and spits out whatever he has in his mouth.

It was kind of funny the first time he did it. I think we laughed.

We should have kept it in. This kid has a thing for making people laugh. And the problem is, once he got a laugh, it stuck – even as our initial guffaw turned to tears. I’ve tried bribery, dips, making animal and face shapes, everything I could think of to make the veggies palatable – all to no avail.

I swore I would never puree veggies and hide them in their food. But Lachlan had other plans for me.

Last week I finally admitted that to get him to eat anything I was going to have to get my sneak on.

The Universe must agree because guess what book just hit the shelves: The Speedy Sneaky Chef.

The New York Times bestselling author’s new book offers over 85 new, faster, healthy recipes, with added fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, that are lower-calorie, higher in nutrients, and can be whipped up in just minutes. There are dozens of quick fixes for store-bought foods using innovative short cuts for tried and true Sneaky Chef purees.

I tested one of the recipes for protein-packed pancakes this weekend and my little guy inhaled them. So, so far so good. The process wasn’t nearly as daunting as I had made it out to be in my head. I’m looking forward to putting them all to the test, including making a cauliflower and zucchini puree to put into spaghetti sauce.

Mwahahahahahahaha.

The great thing about motherhood is that eventually, even if it takes a few months, you always get back up off your tush. A little bruised perhaps, but always wiser.

giveaway Details

The Sneaky Chef is offering a signed copy of her latest book The Speedy Sneaky Chef and an apron to one lucky reader!

To win, simply leave a comment on this post.

This giveaway will end Friday, February 3rd. We’ll announce the winner soon after. Hope you win!

What’s Your Routine For Feeling Great After A Long Trip Away? Let Us Know For A Chance To Win $50 Visa Gift Card

Alicia — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:36:03 +0000

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I was on vacation in Australia for 17 days and arrived home on December 31st. It was an amazing trip, BUT after twenty-four hours of traveling and more than two and a half weeks away from home, all I wanted was to take a hot shower in my own bathroom and sleep in my own bed.

I opened the door to our house, walked in to a pile of mail and holiday packages, and started the long process of sorting bills and washing my dirty, smelly clothes. In that mess, I came across a box I was expecting from BlogHer containing Head & Shoulders Green Apple Shampoo and Conditioner, the perfect products to take with me into my long awaited steamy shower.

I am a long time (15+ years) user of Head & Shoulders, so I knew I would like the products, and I was excited to try the new scent (I often use the minty variety).

I would not say I have a big dandruff problem per se, but it keeps my hair looking really nice, flake-free, and is a great value. So off I went into my shower. There is nothing like a steamy shower in your own house after a long time away.

It felt great, and I loved using the new Head & Shoulders Green Apple products. My hair was really not in good shape. My scalp had been burned and was itchy and peeling.

The products were amazing (loved the scent and I could still smell it the next day) and helped me, in just fifteen short minutes, to feel like myself again.

It didn’t help the jet lag, but it did make me feel relaxed, clean, and back to normal.

Now why is all of this important in the scheme of getting “Buttoned Up”?

When you take a long trip and you plan and get organized for the days away, it is also important to think about a few things that can help you out when you get home.

Have a few items of food that won’t go bad (e.g. cereal, frozen food, bottled water) in your kitchen, make sure you have plenty of laundry detergent on hand, and stock your shower with a few of your favorite products (like Head & Shoulders Green Apple) so that first shower is a great re-entry back into reality.

Now we want to hear from you for a chance for you to win a $50 Visa gift card.

What’s your routine for feeling great after a long trip away?

All you need to do is leave us a comment to be entered for a chance to win.

Contest rules below.

Hope to hear lots of great tips to help all of us next time we have to leave home.

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a)Leave a comment in response to this post

b)Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c)Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d)For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older.

Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail.

You have 72 hours to get back to us, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

This sweepstakes runs from 1/30/2012 – 2/28/2012.

The Official Rules are available here.

Be sure to visit the Promotions & Prizes page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggersí reviews and find more chances to win! And visit the Life Well Lived section on BlogHer.com for more great tips on looking your best.

Alicia — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:30:21 +0000

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Winter items – like snow shovels, ice scrappers, salt – will be going on sale so now is the time to buy!

Join in the February #GetButtonedUp Challenge!

Sarah — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:50:10 +0000

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It’s time to get your love buttoned up!

February is all about the heart. Not only does Valentine’s Day fall smack, dab in the middle of the month, but it’s also “American Heart Month” and therefore time to take care of that all important organ. With this theme in mind, we’ve put together another great monthly challenge for you!

By the end of this challenge, you will:

Actually have enjoyed Valentine’s Day because you were prepared for it!

Be ready to remember every important day (birthdays, anniversaries, etc) in the lives of your loved ones in 2012.

Have taken concrete steps to care for your health.

Actually have figured out how to carve out (and enjoy) some me time.

And much, much more!

How the February #GetButtonedUp Challenge Will Work

Each day during the month of February we have a specific organizational task for you to complete. Download the 29 day calendar by clicking on the link below.

Get Buttoned Up Challenge – February

When you complete the task, let the buttoned up team know your status by commenting on the Facebook check-in post for that day and either email or Tweet the picture of your completed task. We will enter anyone who has completed all 29 days of the challenge successfully into a grand prize drawing. All winners will be selected using random.org.

Participating in the #GetButtonedUp Challenge is as easy as 1-2-3:

Let us know you’re in by commenting on this post below AND by heading over to Facebook to comment under the post about being a part of the February Challenge.

Letting us know you completed your daily task by commenting on the Facebook GetButtonedUp Challenge Check-In post each day

Sending a picture of your completed task to Sarah – via email sarah @ getbuttonedup dot com OR via TwitPic to @SarahButtonedUp & using the #getbuttonedup hashtag.

Grand Prize

Grand Prize: $100 donation to the charity of your choice in your name
2 Runner Up Prizes: $50 donation to the charity of your choice in your name

Join In By Commenting Below!

NOTE: All are welcome to join in the challenge.

Tutorial: Create Knockout Valentine’s Gifts Using Our Free Printables

Sarah — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:08:30 +0000

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These Valentine’s Day Cards are cute enough to stand on their own, but if you’ve got time, you can easily embellish them.

How? By gluing each card on to a colorful piece of construction paper and attaching some candy, or punching 2 holes in the card and slipping in a lollipop. You can even tape or glue the cards onto candy heart boxes. See below for some inspiration!

Click here to download the first set of cards seen below.

Click here to download the second set of cards seen below.

Have a HAPPY Valentine’s Day!

Tool: Free Printable Valentine’s Day Cards

Sarah — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:29 +0000

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Deliver smiles this Valentine’s Day without spending a dime.

Download and print these adorable cards on premium paper stock, cut them out and voilá—you (and your kids) are ready for the big day. They’re cute enough to stand on their own, but if you’ve got time, you can easily embellish them by gluing each card on to a colorful piece of construction paper and attaching a lollipop (come back tomorrow for a tutorial on this!)

Click here to download the first set seen below.

Click here to download the second set seen below.

Have a HAPPY Valentine’s Day!

Fire Safety Winners Announced!

Anne Marie — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:32:36 +0000

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Thank you to all who left fire safety tips on our post; Fire Safety Tips Every Family Should Follow and on Facebook!

The two winners are:

Kelly Schulthies

and

Shelly Binion!

Join us in congratulating them on their win!

Stay safe!

15 cures for your toy hangover

Sarah — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:16:38 +0000

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As I settled back into my routines this week, I had a fleeting thought: did the holidays even happen this year?

One glance at the playroom confirms it most certainly did. And good GAWD, this momma needs to learn restraint! The onslaught of toys has completely overwhelmed our rather simple organization system consisting of two bins. Time to upgrade.

I went looking and found 15 organizational tools and hacks that would help any overwhelmed parent deal with their toy tsunami & thought I’d share.

What about you, Did you go a little overboard on the Holiday gifts without having done a little toy purging in advance? What’s your favorite trick for corralling the toys?

{Feature Photo Credit}