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Win a Dyson Ball Animal 2 on amotherworld
Contest

Enter to Win a Dyson Ball Animal 2!

Are you frustrated with your current vacuum? Are you in the market for a new vacuum? Not sure what brand to purchase, and what model? Look no further!

The Dyson Ball Animal 2 upright vacuum has the strongest suction power of any other vacuum. I was given one to try and review – read my review of the Dyson Animal 2 here.

The Dyson Ball Animal 2 vacuum has an impression cyclone technology to maximize suction; it pulled dust out of my carpet that I didn’t even know was there! The ball helps the vacuum swivel easily, which makes it simple to get around things without breaking your back. All the attachments make cleaning a breeze, including floors, carpet, stairs, ceilings, corners and even your pets!

No more vacuum frustration! YOU could win a Dyson Ball Animal 2!

 

ENTER TO WIN

We are giving away a Dyson Ball Animal 2 (ARV $449.99)! Tell me what your biggest frustration with your current vacuum is for a chance to win!

All you have to do is enter via the Rafflecopter below. Enter more than one way to increase your chances of winning!

Good luck!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

GIVEAWAY WIN A DYSON BALL ANIMAL 2

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Dyson Ball Animal 2 Vacuum Cleaner
House & Home

Dyson Ball Animal 2 Picks Up Dirt Like No Other Vacuum

There are some household items that you can’t skimp on… like a good vacuum. When your vacuum doesn’t pick up dirt the way it should, you know it’s time for a change. But many people make the mistake of buying inexpensive vacuums that end up breaking down after just a few months. Count the number of vacuums that you may have purchased over the course of a few years and you’ve spent much more money than you ever imagined!

Investing in a good vacuum is a sensible idea. You’ll need a better vacuum with features like HEPA filters to block dust and dander from the air in your home. The Dyson Ball Animal 2 vacuum cleaner has the best section to pull all the dirt and dust off floors and upholstery. I was given one to try and review. Here are my thoughts:

Dyson Ball Animal 2 Vacuum

User-friendly

The vacuum is easy to assemble and use. I unpacked the Dyson Ball Animal 2 and put it together. Within a few minutes, I was ready to vacuum.

I plugged it in, and hit the carpet with it first. I could feel a bit of resistance when I started on the carpet, and couldn’t believe the suction that came out of the wand! I only did a small patch and was amazed by the amount of dirt and dust it already picked up.  The Dyson Ball Animal 2 vacuum pulled dust out of my carpet that I didn’t even know was there!

The ball helps the vacuum swivel easily, which makes it simple to get around things without breaking your back.

Everything on the Dyson Animal 2 uses the same button release. The hose from the instant-release wand is long and flexible, and can reach high and small spaces. You can easily switch from vacuuming the carpet to detaching the long wand and cleaning the corners and ceilings, to cleaning the hardwood and tile floors.

Attachments

There are several attachments and they are easy to hook them up;  the Tangle Free Turbine tool to thoroughly clean your couches and other upholstery, the Combination tool to help you reach up into the rafters and grab those cobwebs, and the articulating hard floor tool for all of your hard floors; and the Stair tool to clean your stairs.  If you have a pet, you’ll love the Dyson Groom tool which looks like a cat brush and it attaches to the long wand.

Dyson Ball Animal 2 Vacuum

Cleaning

The Dyson Ball Animal 2 vacuum is easy to clean; all you have to do is pop off the bin, push down on a button, and you can easily empty dirt into the garbage. Once every month to two months, just remove and wash the bin and filter in cold water, allow to air dry, and pop back in.

Warranty

The Dyson Animal 2 vacuum has a 5 year warranty for parts and labour including service and parts (free shipping too), and support from Dyson Experts. For the price, you have 5 years guarantee that if a problem does arise, you’re covered. Now that’s a smart investment!

Dyson Ball Animal 2 Vacuum

Features

  • Strongest suction compared to other vacuums in its category
  • Cleans carpets, floors, wood, and tile
  • Instant-release wand comes free in one quick, smooth action. Stretching 4.6 metres to clean stairs and hard-to-reach places
  • Ball™ Technology steers easily into difficult places with a simple turn of the wrist
  • Tangle-free turbine tool will remove all pet hair from your couch or hard to clean areas
  • Radical root technology captures more dust
  • Whole machine HEPA filtration captures allergens instead of releasing them into the air
  • Hygienic bin empties with one push of a button on the canister
  • Attachments including a stair tool and a grooming tool you can use on your pets

 

Watch my unboxing, assembly and demo video:

If you are tired of dealing with vacuum cleaners that lose suction, or have to replace bags, or deal with vacuums that blow dust back out, stop debating and buy the Dyson.

I gifted my parents with one; look how happy my father looks!

Dyson Ball Animal 2 Vacuum

One lucky amotherworld reader will get a chance to WIN one of their very own Dyson Ball Animal 2 vacuum cleaners! ENTER HERE

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Self-Care Gift Ideas for All Types of Moms
Holidays

Self-Care Gift Ideas for All Types of Moms

Special guest post by Kristy Rodriguez, Author, Pure Nurture: A Holistic Guide to A Healthy Baby

A little bit of self-care can go a long way, especially for a mom. What better way to celebrate mom than to give her a few gifts that will help her to feel her best and encourage her to practice self-care. This is the perfect time to focus on self-care for moms and I have some amazing self-care gift ideas for all types of moms – all under 20 dollars.

As a mom of two little girls, ages 3 and 5, I find that self-care can be a challenge.  One thing I would like for Mother’s Day would be to have the entire day to myself. The ultimate gift of self-care! An entire day to do anything. Alone! Even if that means puttering around the house or running errands- a trip to Target or just sitting at the coffee shop for a couple hours diving into a good book. Hot latte in hand- hot being the key term. Because if you’re anything like me, it’s a treat to drink a hot tea or coffee. That is if you even remember that you made it.

If having the day off all to yourself isn’t an option or not something you’re interested in, I’ve come up with a few easy, accessible and inexpensive self-care gifts for the mom in your life- and for you. Go ahead and treat yourself to a little something this Mother’s Day. You deserve it!  It’s easy for moms to get lost in motherhood and forget about taking care of themselves.  Self-care looks different for different types of moms — whether a busy working mom, athletic mom, new mom, pregnant mom, or foodie mom. Below is a round-up of gift ideas and activities for each type mom, so you’ll be sure to find a few ideas perfect for you (or that special mom in your life).

Self-Care Gift Ideas for All Types of Moms

Pregnant moms

    • Pure Nurture Book: It’s the essential guide to self-care during pregnancy. A short and sweet inspirational guide for moms-to-be, inspiring them to practice more self-care and ultimately creating a healthier foundation for their growing baby. After all, self-care is baby-care!

  • Coconut Oil or Sesame Oil: Keep skin smooth, soft and hydrated with a natural product, no added ingredients or toxic chemicals. Which is even more important during pregnancy. Moms-to-be often focus on the quality of the food they are eating. However, sometimes forget that the skin is our biggest organ. Everything that you put on your skin will be absorbed by the body and can make its way to the baby. Natural cold-pressed oils, like coconut oil are a great option. It can also help to prevent stretch marks. It’s is great to massage with the oil before or after your shower. Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil also makes a great eye-make up remover. I could go on and on about all the benefits of this product.

New Moms

    • Journal: Keeping a journal is a great way to practice gratitude. Even if you’re not a fan of writing, keeping a list of 4 or 5 things you feel grateful for each day can be incredibly supportive and healing. Keeping a journal can also help mom keep track of diaper changes, feedings and the baby’s sleep schedule. It’s also a place where mom can write notes about how they’re feeling. I used my journal to write letters to my little ones. I then put the journals in a keepsake box for later. A little time capsule for each of my girls that they can open on their 18th birthdays.

  • Dark Chocolate: These are a decadent treat packed with antioxidants and great for or moms avoiding coffee while nursing.  I love chocolate and have a stash at all times. I love eating a square after lunch and dinner. Not only does it taste delicious, but it is also a mini stress reliever. The best brands are organic have the fewest ingredients.  One of my favorite brands is Alter Eco. It’s organic, fair-traded and GMO-free.

Busy working moms

    • Non-toxic Nail Polish for an at home manicure and pedicure. Just like the skin, the nails also absorb whatever you put on them. Most nail polishes are full of toxic ingredients that we want to avoid. For this reason, I recommend a few brands that are free of the top 3 to five chemicals we want to avoid. (This is especially important information for pregnant women and kids.) Check out Scotch Naturals, Mineral Fusion or Butter.

  • Essential Oils: Essential oils are a great way for busy working moms to de-stress and relax, especially coming to and from the office. I recommend the Aura Cacia Essential Oil Diffuser and some of my favorite oils, which include Orange, Peppermint, and Lavender!

Foodie moms

    • A candle: Mindfulness at meal time. How we eat is just as important as what we eat. Lighting a candle, taking a few deep breaths and saying a prayer or a thought of gratitude can help make mealtime a special time for mom. Slowing down and relaxing at meal time will help our digestion to effectively do its job and allow our bodies to absorb more nutrients. Candles can emit toxins into the air when being burned, for this reason I recommend looking for an unscented candle made from soy or beeswax.

    • Mason Jars: My favorite gift idea on the list! This is the most versatile gift and are a great for any type of mom.  A great alternative to plastics, mason jars are inexpensive and they are good for you, your family and the planet. They make great food storage containers. Fill them up for trail mix on the go, a smoothie-to-go, overnight oats and more! For your smoothies- in the evening put all of your prepped ingredients for your morning smoothie in a mason jar. In the morning, pull the jar from the fridge and dump all the ingredients into the blender. When blended, pour back in the mason jar and take it with you to go! (Fantastic for all types of moms.) They also make cute flower vases.

 Athletic moms

  • Tennis ball and/or lacrosse ball: These are inexpensive and easy to find and portable. Massage your feet, legs and glutes with a tennis ball. It a great way to do a self-massage and release “knots” or “trigger points”. Similar to a foam roller, but more precise and easier to take with you on the go. Lacrosse balls are much harder and can be used for the back and shoulders. Go gently at first and research the best ways to use these tools. I give myself a food massage with a tennis ball almost every night before bed and take one with me when I travel.

  • Water Bottle: LifeFactory is my all-time favorite. These are glass, non-toxic, and available in fun colors and different sizes. They come with a protective silicon over the glass, which allows them to be more durable. They also offer flip lids and lids with a straw. I recommend the flip lid over the straw. Drinking through a straw can cause you to swallow extra air, which could create bloating a gas- and who wants that!?


Being a mom is one of the hardest and most fulfilling “jobs” in the world. Moms deserve so much love, care and appreciation. Not only from others, but from ourselves. One of these ideas will be a perfect little gift or create a self-care package or basket and fill it with a few of these items plus a few more that you know would be perfect for your special mom (even if that’s you). Treat yourself or that special mom in your life to a self-care gift she can use on Mother’s Day and for years to come.

 


Kristy Rodriguez is author of the newly published book Pure Nurture: A Holistic Guide to A Healthy Baby.   Kristy is a certified holistic health coach and registered yoga instructor specializing in prenatal and postpartum wellness, support, and empowerment. With her cumulated years of experience in education and health, she brings extensive knowledge, personal experience, and deep compassion to her students. Connect with Kristy at www.purenurture.com and on Instagram.

Kristy Rodriguez

 

 

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Mothers Day Gift Guide 2017
News

Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2017

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, so of course I have a Mother’s Day Gift Guide with some lovely picks for mom – and YOU!

Dads, if you’re reading this, please note that moms deserve everything including a day off from any type of work. Mother’s Day means mom gets to sleep in, not have to cook, and to pamper herself. Along with those essentials, here are some other gift ideas for Mother’s Day in our Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2017.

Mother’s Day Gift Guide

 

Mothers Day Gift Guide | amotherworld | amotherworld.com

  1. Kate Spade New York Lemon Recipe Book
  2. butter LONDON Nail polish
  3. Cotton flax plush striped slippers
  4. Tory Burch Eau de Parfum Spray
  5. Most Awesome Mom mug
  6. Baublebar Oracle drop earrings
  7. Floral print kimono robe
  8. 14K intertwined Rose gold criss cross ring
  9. “You da mom” catch all tray
  10. Kate Spade New York Cameron Street Adalyn wallet
  11. Best mom ever silver picture frame
  12. Fossil Virginia Three-Hand Stainless Steel Watch

 

Happy Mother’s Day!

 

 

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Switching Out Your Spring and Summer Clothing
House & Home

Swapping Out Your Spring and Summer Clothing

We live in a country with four seasons, and springtime is unpredictable! One day, the kids are out wearing just a t-shirt, and the next, they’re in winter coats! This is the time of year when the front hall is littered with a mix of boots, rain boots, light spring jackets, and puffy coats.

Spring is the time of year when you’re swapping out your cold weather clothes for your warm weather ones. Seasonal switch-out time is the perfect opportunity to look through your closet. Before you pack away sweaters and coats, it’s a good idea to take inventory, organize clothing, and store clothing properly.

Do you still wear it? Does it still fit? Here are some tips to help swapping out your spring and summer clothing.

Swapping Out Your Spring and Summer Clothing

Swapping Out Your Spring and Summer Clothing | AMOTHERWORLD

Donate

If you haven’t worn the clothing in the past year, it may be time to donate. Keep a pile for donations. Only donate to charity clothes that are in good condition. Make sure that they are accepting donations; many places only accept seasonal clothing.

Mend or Trash

Also, keep a pile for worn and torn clothing for the mending, to use as rags, or the trash. If an article of clothing is damaged, it needs to be fixed before putting it into storage. Give yourself a week to do the repairs yourself. If you don’t make the repairs in a week, send the clothes out to a tailor to be professionally repaired or get rid of the item of clothing because you may not care enough about it to even have it fixed.

Wash first

Do not pack anything away that has been worn and not washed. Pests love to snack on dead skin cells, so clean everything you plan to pack away for the summer. The New Arm & Hammer™ Plus OxiClean™ 3-IN-1 Power Paks combines the freshening and deodorizing power of pure Arm & Hammer™ Baking Soda with the stain fighting power of OxiClean™.

For heavily stained clothing like kids’ winter coats and mittens, use a tough stain fighter with colour safe brighteners like OxiClean™ Colour Shield Laundry Stain Remover which keeps your colours looking new and radiant longer.

Storing

When you’re storing clothing, pack the clothes loosely into an air-tight, thick plastic bins. Don’t store clothing in cardboard boxes because they can break down and attract insects. Use plastic containers with lids, but make sure the containers aren’t airtight as air circulation will help avoid mold and mildew.

Store clothing in the main areas of your home or in a climate controlled storage area of the house. Basements and attics are humid and prone to mold, mildew and insects. Try storing clothing under the bed and in extra closets if you can.

What are your tips for swapping and storing clothing?

 

Disclosure: I am #ChurchandDwight Ambassador and as such receive compensation in the form of product and/or payment. As always, the opinions expressed herein are my own.

 

 

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Cinco de Mayo Mexican Lasagna | amotherworld | www.amotherworld.com
Contest

Cinco de Mayo Mexican Lasagna

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration held on May 5 to commemorate the Mexican Army’s unlikely victory over French forces in 1862 during the Battle of Puebla. The holiday has become associated with the celebration of Mexican-American culture and the delicious food.

Here’s a simple yet scrumptious dish to make – a Mexican “lasagna” of sorts. But the recipe doesn’t use pasta; flour tortillas are used instead! Also, it’s layered with cheddar or Monterrey Jack cheese and sour cream instead of mozzarella and ricotta, and chunky salsa instead of tomato sauce.

Great for parties and a Cinco de Mayo celebration, this Mexican lasagna will be sure to wow your family or guests.

Cinco de Mayo Mexican Lasagna

Ingredients:

1 pound extra lean ground beef

1 packet Old El Paso Taco Seasoning Mix

8-10 Old El Paso flour tortillas

1 cup sour cream

1 can diced tomatoes (you can find one made for chili)

1 red onion, chopped

10 mushrooms, chopped

1 red pepper, chopped

1 cup black beans (optional)

2 cups shredded cheese blend (cheddar, Monterrey Jack)

Juice of ½ lime

½ cup chopped cilantro, some to top

2 tablespoons Old El Paso salsa

Cinco de Mayo Mexican Lasagna | amotherworld | www.amotherworld.com

Method

On medium heat, cook and crumble ground beef until no longer pink. Add in taco seasoning, onion, mushrooms, pepper until soft. Add cilantro and lime juice. Add beans if desired. Add a little water if too dry.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread the two tablespoons of salsa along the bottom of a 9×12 inch roasting pan or casserole dish.

Line the bottom with tortillas. Add beef taco mix. Spoon some of the sour cream over beef and spread. Sprinkle some of the cheese mix.

Continue until you are done with all the layers. Cover with lid or tin foil. Bake for about 30 minutes or until cheese is melted.

Allow to cool for a couple of minutes. Then slice and serve.

Cinco de Mayo Mexican Lasagna | amotherworld | www.amotherworld.com

Cinco de Mayo Mexican Lasagna | amotherworld | www.amotherworld.com

ENTER TO WIN

One lucky reader will win an Old El Paso Cinco de Mayo prize pack featuring a number of Old El Paso products as well as a $250 gift card to Walmart! Total value is $275!!!

Please enter by filling in the Rafflecopter below. Please see terms and conditions in the form below.

Good luck!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

This post is proudly sponsored by Old El Paso and Life Made Delicious.

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What is Oobleck and How Do You Make Oobleck?
activities

What is Oobleck and How Do You Make It?

Move over slime! The hottest trend now among kids is making oobleck. What is oobleck?

It’s an odd name isn’t it? When my 10-year-old son told me he wanted to make oobleck, I was baffled – I hadn’t heard of this name before.

What is Oobleck?

Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid; it has properties of both liquids and solids. Oobleck is neither a liquid or a solid. The cornstarch-and-water mixture creates a fluid that acts more like quicksand than water. When you apply force, like squeezing or tapping the oobleck, it will become thicker.

How do you make oobleck?

  1. Place 1 cup of cornstarch in a large bowl.
  2. Stir about 1/3 cup of water to the cornstarch, adding a little more if needed (to about ½ cup)
  3. Add 4-5 drops of food coloring to 1/2 cup of water if you want a colour
  4. Keep stirring with your hands until it has a gooey consistency
  5. Test the oobleck by grabbing a handful and trying to form a ball.

 

Why do kids like oobleck?

It makes a great science project or is just fun to play with. You can slowly dip your hand into it like a liquid, but if you squeeze the oobleck or punch it, it will feel solid.

Kids will have a ton of fun playing with oobleck. Make sure to lay out some newspaper or wax paper on a table before starting – the corn starch will get everywhere!

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Nintendo Switch
Entertainment

Nintendo Switch is Back But Hurry!

If you’ve wanting to buy a Nintendo Switch, you better act fast. The popular console is back but hurry because they will sell out quick.

Best Buy and Toys R Us have restocked their shelves with the hugely popular gaming system. Amazon also has new stock as well, but you’ll have to be a Prime member.

But inventory is expected to be in short supply. The hybrid game console, which pivots between a big-screen TV and on-the-go portable, features a built-in 6.2-inch screen, a pop-out kickstand and wireless motion controllers.

It’s a hot ticket item, so get in your local Best Buy and Toys R Us stores fast. The new inventory goes on sale on the same day as new game Mario Kart 8 Deluxe launches.

Since the Switch launched on March 3, its sales have exceeded Nintendo’s own expectations. Nintendo reports that it has sold 2.74 million units in its first month compared with the 2 million the game maker predicted, which may explain why finding one has been so tough.

Meanwhile, I’m still trying to get my hands on a Nintendo NES!

 

 

*affiliate links*

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parenting

5 Reasons Why I Don’t Force My Kids to Share

This post originally appeared on CanadianLiving.com in 2013.

“Can you share your toy?” “Can you please take turns?” How often have you heard these phrases when your children are playing with other kids?

I was at the park the other day when my six-year-old son Daniel brought one of his toys from home to play with – a stuffy superhero that I had just bought for him. He had shared it with another boy but then wanted it back.

Should my son give the boy a longer turn with his toy? Or should he take the toy back, saying it belongs to him?  While one parent may say, “Now share your toy with the little boy,” I would allow my son to take his toy back when he wanted it back.

When is it okay not to share? Here are 5 reasons why your kids don’t always have to share.

5 Reasons Why I Don’t Force My Kids to Share

1. Young kids aren’t wired to understand sharing

We want our children to be polite, caring and kind especially around other kids. But little ones don’t quite understand the concept of sharing at a young age. When they are playing with a toy, they are all-consumed so when you take a toy away suddenly, that toddler is likely not going to be happy about it!

Kids under the age of three feel a strong sense of ownership when it comes to objects; they’re not developed enough to understand empathy. But don’t fret – when kids are three and four, they become aware that sharing is the right thing to do while 7 and 8 year olds will hand over to share without issue.

2. Some things are just too special to share

“I don’t like to share my Lego toys because they are really special to me and all of them were bought by my mom. They took a long time to put together,” my 8-year-old son Anthony tells me.  “But I don’t mind sharing my beach toys if I’m not using them.”

Try prying a teddy bear or a special toy from your child’s arms to share with another child – you’re just asking for a meltdown. One tip is to put away meaningful items before a play date.

“If there is something a child doesn’t want to share, that is fine – but you will save a lot of drama by putting it on Mom’s bed or in the closet for the time the other child is there,” says Dr. Deborah Gilboa, MD of www.AskDoctorG.com, a Family Physician and mom of four who provides practical, straight-forward advice with a twist of humor on her website

5 Reasons Why I Don’t Force My Kids to Share | amotherworld

3. Forcing kids to share isn’t cool

I don’t force my children to share their belongings because I want them to have ownership and responsibility for their belongings. If I’ve gone out somewhere and bring my tablet, laptop or phone with me, does that mean I should share it with another person? Of course not so we shouldn’t expect our children to easily hand over something valuable to another child either.

But I will encourage them and reinforce positive things about kindness in sharing with others – because it’s a nice thing to do, how fun it will be to play with the toy together, etc. You want your kids to share and play nicely with others because they want to, not because they are being forced or shamed to.

4. Setting boundaries with siblings is important

“In our house the rule is – if you love it enough to sleep with it you don’t have to share it the next day,” says Dr. Gilboa.  If your tween or teen has bought something with their own money, they don’t have to share it with their siblings she says.

“If you got it as a gift you should get some time to enjoy it before sharing, but whether or not it is eventually communal property is up to the family,” says Dr. Gilboa.  “We have given our older guys each a cubby – none of the other kids may take anything from there.”

5. Not everything should be shared

Food and snacks shouldn’t be shared and can be especially dangerous if other children have an allergy. At my sons’ school, students are not allowed to share food because of this simple reason.

Also when a child brings a bicycle or scooter to the park, it isn’t safe for other children to ride, especially without a proper helmet. Not to mention the last thing you’d want is to share a case of lice!

What are your thoughts?

 

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