Win a $100 Victoria's Secret Gift Card + Barbara Cereal Coupon!

Disclosure: For each coupon that you print from these Common Kindness posts, you can designate money to go to your favorite charity. I don't get paid a dime for posting these coupons...its all about spreading the good around.

You may have noticed lately, that I've been posting coupons here and there from Common Kindness.

Giving Street Kids A Safe Place To Play

You may not see them in your daily life, but they're out there.

Who?

Orphans and at risk youth that have no where safe to spend their days. They're here, they're abroad, and they all need a positive place to keep them away from the dangers of the streets.

Does Your Car Accident Qualify For A Personal Injury Claim?

Have you ever been in a car accident?

I have, more than a few actually.  If I remember right, I think only one tiny fender bender was my fault, the rest were all the fault of the other party. 

It's important to know that if one of these three elements are missing, you won't have a valid personal injury claim.

#1. Injuries                    #2. Fault                    #2. Insurance

Check out this infographic, sponsored by Siegfried & Jensen to see if your case qualifies:

FREE Blogger Opportunity + Pregnancy Giveaway Starting on 8/14

Calling all Bloggers! 

FREE Blogger #Giveaway Opportunity!

And if you're not a blogger, check back on August 14th, for this great giveaway!

Hey Blogging Mommas! Join me in teaming up with the Blogging Mamas Network for a great, FREE event to promote and redefine healthy and natural skin from Pretty Mommies! 

This giveaway event is free for bloggers, plus in exchange for hosting the Giveaway Form and information on your blog, you'll receive 2 free Social Media links of choice! 

Be sure to sign up soon, as the event begins on August 14th and will end on August 25th!  Blogger with the most Sign-Up referrals gets a Follow Page during the Event. 

They'll be giving away a full set of Pretty Mommies Skincare to 2 winners and a YEARS SUPPLY (that's 6 sets) to 1 winner. That's $1,264 of Pretty Mommies products!  Plus, there's a prize up for grabs just for bloggers, too.

 

The blogger who has the most entrants from their blog during the giveaway will also get a set of Pretty Mommies.

To sign-up for this Event, go to the So Easy Being Green blog!

(and be sure to tell them McKinneyMommas sent ya)

FREE SleepSack Swaddle at Acute Kids Urgent Care This Week!

Are you a new momma or expecting momma in the Collin County #DFW area?

  

Medical City Children's Hospital and Acute Kids Urgent Care are encouraging local mommas to use safe sleep techniques at home with their babies, and have a special gift, just for you!

Now through this weekend, or while supplies last, Medical City’s Acute Kids Urgent Care locations are giving away FREE infant sleep sacks. 

That's right, expecting and new mommas can visit any Acute Kids clinic this week for a free SleepSack Swaddle!

The sleepsack is designed to replace any loose blankets you may be using that can cover your baby's face and inhibit breathing. 

 Acute Kids Urgent Care - LOCATIONS

Flower Mound Clinic

2701 Cross Timbers, Suite 232
Flower Mound, Texas 75028

469-549-0300

Frisco Clinic

3411 Preston Road, Suite 1
Frisco, Texas 75034

214-618-3920

Plano Clinic

3305 Dallas Parkway, Suite 345
Plano, Texas 75093

972-300-4200

Allen Clinic

109 North Central Expressway, Suite 509
Allen, Texas 75013

972-359-6900

McKinney Clinic

8080 Highway 121, Suite 110
McKinney, Texas 75070

972-727-3800

Now, that's a pretty cool deal if I don't say so myself!  Thanks Medical City Children's Hospital and Acute Kids Urgent Care, for caring about the safety of our babies! 

Please be sure to come back here and tell me if you were able to grab a sleepsack for your precious #DFW baby and at which location!

Montessori In The Home - Lesson: Cleaning With Bissell

"Clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere.....clean up, clean up, everybody do your share".

Sound familiar? 

It's the song we sing in our home multiple times a day. 

With two toddlers in the house who get a thrill out of making messes, I figured it's high time they get in on the cleaning action and Bissell Perfect Sweep Turbo was just the ticket I was looking for.

Now, I know the photos above may look a little like manual labor, but she's actually having a blast helping mommy clean up.  


One of the basic philosophies in Montessori early childhood education is that all children are eager to "work", and that many tasks that adults now find burdonsome or boring (aka. chores) young children thrive at wanting to master.


Washing, scrubbing, and vacuuming are all practical life skills that are the building blocks for all kinds of cognitive skills like:

• concentration
• sequencing and order of tasks
• positive self care and hygiene

Of course it's best to get started on these skills early, before they have the chance to hear older siblings or playmates complaining about "chores". 
 


I will be honest.  When I first got the Bissell Perfect Sweep Turbo, I thought....."meh" anything that needs to be screwed together like this, and doesn't have a permanent cord attached isn't going to do much in my daily toddler tornado cleanup needs. 

I was wrong.

This little sweeper has not left my side since I received it over a month ago.  Honestly, it's the only thing I use now on the kitchen tile after meals, on the carpet after snacktime and well....everywhere.

Now, it's not a wet/dry vac, but I'll tell you I've picked up frozen peas, tiny grains of cooked couscous, grapes, and other varieties of toddler finger food with ease (just be sure to dump out the receptacle  and dry it so no fuzzies start to grow).  

With the back issues I've developed recently (L5 pars fracture and spondylolisthesis), sweeping and bending over with the dustpan is a killer - so this Bissell sweeper was a total godsend at the perfect time.

Why Bissell Perfect Sweep Turbo?

• Up to 60 minutes of cordless cleaning time 

          (you don't have to worry about the kiddos running over the power cord) 
 

•  Made for carpets, rugs and hard wood

             (don't have to purchase multiple vacuums for multiple floor types)

• Easy to remove dirt container

         (no refill bags, easy for kids to learn how to use as well)

• Totally affordable (under $50 bucks)

 

So, make clean up time fun for the whole family. Throw a handkerchief on your head and teach your kiddos the importance of taking care of your home with @bissellclean #sweepers pride.

"Clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere"

For more information on Bissell sweeper products visit: www.bissell.com/sweepers

And stay tuned for updates and promotions at Bissell's Facebook page: facebook.com/bissell or on TWITTER @bissellclean.

Taste of Dallas 2013 - Fun For The Whole Family!

It was our first adventure to Taste of Dallas and we were excited to show Gamma (a foodie from California) just how Dallas foodies roll. 

Speaking of roll, this was the first year that Taste of Dallas featured a collection of 15 food trucks which joined the ranks of favorite Dallas restaurants, in Taste Curbside!

How fun is that?

Kroger's Private Selection Angus Beef

I recently had the chance to sample some of Kroger's Private Selection products, including their Private Selection Angus Beef, thanks to BzzAgent.

During my last Kroger shopping trip, I grabbed some beef tenderloin, and decided to check out the #PrivateSelection Citrus & Savory Rub, since I didn't want to think about marinating or figuring out what type of flavors to use on my steak.

A rub is super simple way to flavor your meat and usually turns out really good.

DealWell Discount Prices On Health & Wellness Services DFW

As a momma of two toddlers, it's not often I get to relax with a massage or spa service.

However, it's a necessary habit that I need to start scheduling into my busy life, to maintain my sanity.

One of the reasons I don't treat myself to spa services is because I hate paying full price for them ...well...for anything so was really happy to hear about DealWell, offering discounted prices on health and wellness services in the DFW area.

Common Kindness Coupon for Barbaras Cereal $1 OFF

Looking for a healthy cereal for your kiddos? 

My mom, a health and nutrition major raised us on Barbara's cereals....I'm guessing she probably knew what she was doing ;-)

Here's your chance to try it for $1.00 OFF! Plus, do good while you're at it!

Social Media Giving Day is July 15th! #Give + Giveaway

Do you think TWITTER and FB take up too much of your time? 

Maybe you're just looking at it the wrong way. I think that there is the potential to "DO GOOD" with social media, and Givver.com is out to prove it.


Social Media provides us with the opportunity to spread the word about so many important issues to people around the world, and that my friends...........that's a good thing! 


Monday, July 15th, is Social Media Giving Day, and you can help start a positive movement on TWITTER, plus win a cool Official Social Media Giving Day Prize Pack while you're at it!

Read on to see how!

Sciatica? Back Pain Due To Breastfeeding & Motherhood!

photo by: imagerymajestic/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

If you don't see me posting for the next few days..... I spent the evening in Urgent Care for a back that was so locked up I couldn't get out of my chair at dinner.

I have dealt with shooting pains in my lower back/hip for the past year, which I think is sciatica? I think breastfeeding in all kinda of strange positions probably made it worse this year.

It typically gets better propped with pillows between my legs and back, but I did a lot of housework over the past few days, and was in unbearable pain last night basically unable to move.

Supposed to go get an MRI tomorrow...in the process of scheduling it now.  This is SO not what I need right now with Baby O's 1st Birthday party scheduled for Friday. :-(



Anyone else have experience with this type of back pain or sciatica?  

Tips or Suggestions for treatment?

A Dress For Every Little Girl- $30 or Less at Tea Collection

Summer ain't over yet!  Round out your little girl's wardrobe with this fabulous summer deal from Tea Collection! 

Tea is featuring select dresses for $30 & under which includes dresses from their new collection. 

Bring home a little Far East flavor in this Deco Fans bright knit dress. 

Plus, you can layer with a complementing long-sleeve tee to warm her dresses up for fall. 

Or, brighten her day with this gorgeous Tea Collection Chrysanthemum Banded Dress

Stock up on comfortable and durable dresses for the new school year or the next family vacation. 

Don't miss your chance to shop these amazing dresses from Tea Collection! 

Happy Shopping!

Taste of Dallas - A Tasting Event + Family Fun Night!

So, which foodie adventure is this McKinney Momma headed to this weekend - where all my DFW readers are invited?

The 27th Annual Taste of Dallas of course!

Looking for an event this weekend that will entice your culinary cravings, PLUS your kids can have fun at as well? 

A Positive Relationship With Eating - Healthy Habits Manual

Since I'm always up for finding new ways to meet my family's health and nutritional needs, I was excited when I was asked to check out the Healthy Habits Manual, written by Laura Cipullo, a registered dietitian, eating disorder specialist and author of the blog, "Mom Dishes It Out."

The first installment in the The Mommy Manual Series,  Cipullo shows parents how to introduce their children to a positive & healthy relationship with food. With eating disorders and childhood obesity on the rise, this topic is more important than ever for parents to address.

The Healthy Habits Manual, is not just another book on healthy eating, rather it is an instructional and interactive guide, complete with activity suggestions, recipes and handouts which are is great for parents to use with their children - and even teachers to use in their classroom!