The last two weeks of June starts our family summer vacation. We’re going on a road trip and hitting Atlanta, Savannah, the Fort Stewart area (where my husband was stationed last) and Charlotte, North Carolina for the Type-A Parent Conference. And since we’re doing this trip without much planning, we don’t have hotel reservations, except for Charlotte. It’s going to help us save money by using a travel site on the road – Last Minute Hotel Deals from $47!

I have family in Atlanta so we’ll visit them. The most exciting thing is that my daughter, Alicia and her husband, Scott are driving in from Kansas to visit too! It’s going to be a mini family reunion. We don’t have definite plans, but I’d like to see the Georgia Aquarium, Stone Mountain, and the Jimmy Carter Library and Museum all together.

After a few days in Atlanta, Alicia and Scott are going to drive back to Kansas along with Sammi, who will spend most of July with them. This will be her first time away from us since being diagnosed with Sinus Tachycardia, possible Long QT Syndrome , POTS and Anxiety. But, I have no worries. She’ll be well taken care of. Alicia and Scott have lots of activities planned for Sammi. She certainly won’t be bored.

It will be good for her to get away from me and her father. And good for me and my husband to have some time alone. During July, we’ll go away for some short trips in the local Tampa/St. Pete and Orlando area. We deserve it.

Now I just have to find a way to cope with my husband’s driving during the road trip and all will be well.

What are your plans for the summer? Any suggestions for what to see in the cities we’ll be visiting?

Resource: Frommer’s Atlanta (Frommer’s Complete Guides)

No compensation was received for this post. This blog uses affiliate links.

Sisters

Even if when it was just my 13 year old, me and my husband, I felt like I had to stand on my head and spit nickels to get us in one room of the house, or to go somewhere as a family. But, when we did spend time as a family, the realization of the fun we had together, the memories we created, and the smiles we shared on photos made it more likely that I’d hear, “Yes” from my daughter for the next family event.

Spending Time Together as a Family

I’ve made it my goal to teach my children that “Making Together Better” is what being a family is all about. When we spend time together, we retell stories and laugh at them anyway, we eat food that my grandparents cooked for me, we celebrate holidays and achievements, and we are spontaneous. Spending time as a family deepens our relationships, inspires us to continue family traditions, and helps us focus on what is most important – our love for each other.

I wrote this post as an entry to win a full scholarship to the Type-A Parent Scholarship from Brica, whose motto is Making Together Better. You can find Brica on Facebook and on Twitter.

But because the attendees are bloggers and social media enthusiasts, we thrive on conference day. It’s time to learn about our business and to be inspired. This year, I walked away with a mixture of information and motivation, with a higher percentage of motivation. And this was just what I needed during this time of my blogging career.

Meg Croftin on Conference Stage

When the doors of conference room were opened, I was awed by the stage, table decorations and the overall look of the room. Every year, it gets better! Rayovac sponsored the conference and kept us powered up with outlets on our table. Instead of flowers, each of us received a bouquet of USB outlets, batteries and chargers. Thanks Rayovac!

Maryellen Hooper

Speakers

• Amy Jo Martin, Digital Royalty @DigitalRoyalty – Known as a renegade in social media, Amy Jo spoke about finding your why in your business.
• Ramon DeLeon, Domino’s Pizza, @Ramon_Deleon – I was most inspired by Ramon, who went from a pizza delivery guy to the Social Media mastermind of Domino’s. His enthusiasm, his family values and his online honesty (he retweets negative tweets about Domino’s and then deals with them) had me listening to every word. I’m a fan and even kissed him after his talk.
• Peter Shankman, The Geek Factory @PeterShankman – I loved that Peter chose to honor us with a brand new talk. I understood all too well what it means to “be a weed”. Although unique, you probably have haters, but dig in deep and overcome.
• Lisa Druxman, Stroller Strides @LisaDruxman – Lisa began a business after having a child and proved to us that we can follow our goals even when we feel like we are overwhelmed.
• Chris Brogan, Human Business Works @ChrisBrogan – Chris gave us tips on updating our blogs to gain more readers.
• Conference Host: Maryellen Hooper @MaryellenHooper – Maryellen had me in stitches as she spoke about being a mother of two and showed us photos of her family.

Ramon DeLeon

Animal Kingdom Dinner

Visiting Animal Kingdom after the park closed was exciting and staying after dark was thrilling. We spent our time in DinoLand USA with a dinner buffet, opened rides, including Mt. Everest (the first time it was opened to riders after dark) and midway games.

Mickey and Minnie and Me

Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck and Daisy Duck and other characters appeared for photos. Before we entered we were greeted by a face character (I don’t know her name) who called out my daughter, Sammi to ask if she was in the mafia. Sammi was wearing her black fedora. Sammi came out of her shell and had a very funny back and forth with her. We had time to sit with other attendees, talk and eat another scrumptious dinner. The celebration continued and we looked forward to the next day of breakout sessions and dinner at the not yet opened Art of Animation Resort.

My Flickr folder contains more photos from the Animal Kingdom Dinner. Take a look!

Stay tuned for more Disney Social Media Moms posts.

I paid to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. In exchange for my registration fee, I received deeply discounted rates on hotel, park tickets, free events, meals, and swag. I am not required nor was I asked to write about the events by Disney or any other brands, celebrities, or speakers affiliated with the event. All opinions are my own. Affiliate links are used on this blog

Finding the perfect dress for prom is serious business. And let’s not forget the shoes, purse and jewelery. It can be a time to bond with your mother, or a time to stress out. Sears has it all in one place. And online for browsing or buying.

Celebrate Prom Season with Sears! Join in for a #PersonalShopper Twitter Party this Thursday, May 3rd at 1 PM EST. There’s $200 in prizes and we can reminisce about prom or chat about your teens upcoming prom.

Visit the Sears “Shop Your Way” page to RSVP for the #PersonalShopper Twitter Party. Follow @ConnieFoggles, @StaceyNerdin, @Sears and join in.

I posted this as a compensated #PersonalShopper twitter party panelist. All thoughts are my own. I shop at Sears and love their clothing and customer service.

Shortly after the reception, we attended the Pirate Themed party, the Swashbuckler Soiree and Family Dinner by Disney Junior.  Held on the beach, with a tasty buffet, it was a lovely way to spend time with our families and other bloggers. The entertainment included a band of pirates (get it?), Disney characters (Smee, Captain Hook and Jake from the Neverland Pirates) for fun photo opps, splashing in the water and hunting for treasure.

The food choices were overwhelming, so I took a little of everything to taste. Then I’d go back for more of what I really like – barbeque ribs, mahi mahi, roasted potatoes and Bananas Foster. The children’s buffet had burgers, hot dogs, fresh fruit, mac and cheese and other goodies.

Disney always knows how to make families happy. The adults had time to kick off our shoes, eat dinner and dessert (maybe a few helpings of both), laugh at the corny jokes from the band and make friends with others at our table or across the beach. Children of all ages grabbed some food then ran off. They dug in the sand, found a friend or three,  played games with Radio Disney cast members, danced and some ended up with more than their toes in the water. As the sun set and our bellies were filled, my family and I found ourselves with big smiles, relaxed and looking forward to more adventures during the Disney Social Media Moms event.

Important Info: I must say thank you to the amazing women who worked behind the scenes to make this entire event as special anyone could imagine – the @DisneySMMoms team. When I checked in to get my paperwork, tickets and swag, they remembered me by name! When I apologized for the emails I sent about special requests, they were so kind. I’m kicking myself for not taking a photo of them and their contagious smiles, but I sure do remember them all.

My Flickr folder contains more photos of the Pirate Dinner. Take a look!

Stay tuned for more Disney Social Media Moms posts.

I paid to attend the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. In exchange for my registration fee, I received deeply discounted rates on hotel, park tickets, free events, meals, and swag. I am not required nor was I asked to write about the events by Disney or any other brands, celebrities, or speakers affiliated with the event. All opinions are my own. Affiliate links are used on this blog.

Even with the foam cleanser, foam treatment and toner bottles right near her sink, she didn’t use them daily as she should. We have a whiteboard in the bathroom to remind her to brush her teeth, take her medicine, etc. So I added “Use MaxClarity”. A lot of good that did! Once she didn’t use it for a few days though, she realized that she had a new breakout. That definitely enticed her to get on the bandwagon again.

The Cons:

• My daughter, Sammi opened the Maxclarity cans on her own as soon as she received the box. She had difficulty breaking the seal on the first can and ended up popping the cap off. She could still use it, though.
• We had no idea what the extra, “free” product was for – Foaming Wash. There was no information on the card that came with the box. After looking at the MaxClarity website, we learned that is was to be used in the shower for the whole body, especially areas like upper arms, back and neck where acne forms.
• We didn’t see a complete clear up of pimples, but again, I believe it was because the products were not used daily.

The Pros:

• MaxClarity made Sammi’s skin feel smooth, not dry.
• It prevented new pimples and breakouts from forming.
• The appearance of her skin improved. The pimples she had when first using MaxClarity were not as prominent. Her skin was less oily.
• You use a small amount of the products, just a dollop of foam, which helps to make it last longer.
• Clear directions, including the need to shake the cans, the actual size (a circle image) of the amount of foam to be used, and the actual products and when to use them are included in the box. These are on a small card that comes with your box of products.

For young teens and tweens, avoiding a schedule of “extra things to do” may seem like the easy way out, even if they are highly motivated to change something they don’t like about their appearance. I’m working with Sammi to follow through with the use of the MaxClarity Difference, just like I am with her brushing and flossing her teeth better. Avoiding anything to do with personal hygiene during the teen years is a common way to rebel. So, I’m taking it with a grain of salt. Maybe if I don’t say anything, she’s come to her senses!

MaxClarity Links to follow for more information:

• MaxClarity on Twitter
• MaxClarity Facebook Page

What suggestions do you have to get your young teen or tween to stick to a personal hygiene program that is in addition to showering, brushing teeth, etc.?

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MaxClarity and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Learn What Your Tween Likes

Interests change as your child gets older. For some children, interests change quickly. My tween daughter used to try something out, get bored and move onto something new. I guess she gets that from me. Talk to your tween about her interests and what motivates her. You can get some ideas about new outlets for those interests.

Make Sure Your Tween has Free Time

Too often, our tweens are bombarded with schoolwork, chores, sports and more. Allowing for free time can be the starting point for creative interests, honing talents and just playing around. Remember that old fashioned playing is creative!

image source - http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1272841

Provide Resources for Creativity

Have craft items, books, art supplies, puzzles, a chess game, etc. around the house. There’s no need to spend a lot of money. You can buy second hand; provide crayons and colored pencils, lots of scrap paper, etc. When your tween becomes interested in something, and then make some purchases. Don’t go overboard until you give it some time though.

Visit Creative Places           

Spend time at museums, libraries, coffee shops with local musicians, etc. Go for a walk outdoors. Visit bookstores, craft stores and hardware stores.

Don’t Judge

When your tween finds something creative to do, don’t tell him that it’s a waste of time. Remember that creativity has no boundaries. What we, as parents may think is silly, may be an unknown talent.

Limit Screen Time

Limit the amount of time your tween can be online, play video games, text, and play with electronic devices. Model that behavior and spend time with your tween, talking, doing crafts, and reading. This will provide more opportunities for your child to be creative.

It’s not too late to inspire your tween to be more creative. In fact, one day they will thank you for this, especially when their imagination helps them to solve problems, they have interests to keep away boredom and their talent has gotten them a job.

At any age, acne is difficult to deal with. For adolescents who are sensitive, it can be devastating. That’s why when the OTC product she used previously stopped working, and another one just dried out her skin, I knew it was time to go the medical route. The dermatologist prescribed a cleansing foam and recommended the OTC products. She also suggested a visit with an esthetician. We followed through with everything. Although, my daughter saw some improvement after a couple of weeks, the acne returned with a vengeance.

MaxClarity offers a Clear Skin Promise with a money back guarantee. They say that their products work because of their difference from other acne products: the ingredients in their VersaFoam® absorbs quickly and soaks deep into the skin. The system kills bacteria that causes acne under the skin and exfoliates damaged skin to help new, healthy skin form.

Soon, she’ll be trying the MaxClarity System. It’s a foam cleanser for morning and night, a foam treatment after the morning cleanse and a toner at bedtime.  Made by the MaxClarity Difference Team, a group of people whose expertise is in research, customer service and marketing, the goal is to provide the best product possible.

I’ll share her experience with you in April. In the mean time, you can learn more about MaxClarity from their website, their Twitter account and their Facebook page.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MaxClarity and received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

What the Sleep and Nap Studies Told Us

The studies were done months after Sammi had her tonsils and adenoids out. The doctor wanted to be sure that she was completely recovered before proceeding with the studies. The Sleep Study – Polysomnogram showed normal sleep and REM patterns. During the Nap Study – Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT), Sammi only fell asleep two times out of five naps compared to four at the last study. She did not go into REM at all this time. These are normal studies.

The Reason for the Normal Results

According to the neurologist, removing Sammi’s extremely enlarged tonsils and adenoids improved her sleep pattern. She believes that the diagnosis of narcolepsy was incorrect because Sammi had excessive daytime sleepiness and none of the other symptoms of narcolepsy. Plus the previous sleep and nap studies did not measure her Carbon Dioxide levels, which should be done for children.

What is Ahead for Sammi

We are working with Sammi on Sleep Hygiene with more specific details, such as no video games one hour before bedtime, using Melatonin, teaching her breathing techniques and other relaxation techniques to use at bedtime, etc. Sammi is increasing her in school classes from two to four for the rest of the year. We have requested another Academic Evaluation since the first one was done before her tonsillectomy and showed a processing disorder. If the results are the same, the neurologist will assist us with this.

This is such amazing news, something I never thought possible. But, getting a second opinion can always be helpful. I highly recommend it.

Do you have amazing news to share? Let me know so we can celebrate together.

image credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1198751

My daughter, Sammi is no longer a picky eater so taking her out to lunch is a pleasure. Plus the conversation and laughs do good for my mood. I asked her where she wanted to eat. First she chose a local diner, but my mother eats there often. When I suggested Ruby Tuesday, they both were thrilled.

Shrimp, Mashed Potatoes and Zucchini from Ruby Tuesday

Lunch at Ruby Tuesday can be a bit costly, but it’s worth it. Both Sammi and my mother had food to take home for another meal. I surprised myself and ate my whole meal (my appetite has been awful lately). I had the Jumbo Skewered Shrimp with cheddar mashed potatoes and grilled zucchini. My mom had the Parmesan Shrimp Pasta with the Garden Salad and Sammi had the Grilled Salmon with cheddar mashed potatoes and french fries (I know, weird) from the dinner menu. She has expensive taste.

The service was friendly and quick. The food delicious. The company the best.

Ruby Tuesday, thanks for a great meal. But, can you do something about the salad bar? It’s getting boring. And I miss the mozzarella with tomatoes. And for those of you who eat lunch there, even though the lunch menu says Broccoli as your vegetable you can get any side.

This is not a compensated post. Just my take on family fun at a good restaurant.