tips

5 Tips for Potty Training Success (and How I’m Potty Training Baby Number 5)

May 9, 2014 by Sandra 4 Comments

This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with Pull-Ups® Training Pants and Latina Bloggers Connect.

Potty training a toddler is no walk in the park.

I believe this is why we moms get to celebrate a holiday known as “Mother’s Day.”

Am I right? 😉

Seriously, though, I should know. I have five kids. And we’re currently working on potty training baby number five, my beautiful and feisty 2-year-old daughter, Elisabeth.

But you know, I think that with the right tips, tools, and mindset, potty training your toddler CAN be a great bonding experience.

It can even be fun to “Say Adios to Diapers!” together.

We’re Using Pull-Ups Training Pants

Because our kids are all different, we have tried varying methods and techniques when it came to potty training each of them. For Elisabeth, we purchased a new potty seat for the commode in addition to Pull-Ups Training Pants.

So far, Elisabeth wants little to do with her new seat, but she adores her Pull-Ups!

She’s decided that she’s done with diapers, but she still needs a little motivation for actually making it to the bathroom to use the potty.

DID YOU KNOW? Pull-Ups Training Pants are proven to deliver more potty training success than diapers. And Pull-Ups have stretchy sides that allow your child to learn the skill of pulling down and up.

5 Tips for Potty Training Success

Even though Elisabeth says she wants to use the potty, and then always says, “Laaaater” whenever I talk to her about actually going, I’m not concerned. I’ve been down this road before with my other kids, and I know that she WILL get the hang of this potty thing.

Since this isn’t a new experience for me, and I’ve learned some things along the way, I thought I’d share my top 5 potty training tips with you.

Here We Go!

Tip #1: Be willing to follow your child’s lead. If your son or daughter seems ready to begin potty training, go for it! Grab the Pull-Ups and get started!

Tip #2: Be careful to involve your child. Take them to the store and pick out a new potty seat or search for one together online. Talk to them about the fun characters and designs that are on the front and back of Pull-Ups Training Pants. Elisabeth loves picking out which design she’s going to wear next.

Tip #3: Be patient…boys generally take longer to potty train than girls. From personal experience and from what’s been shared with me by other moms, I think it’s true that boys take longer to potty train than girls. Your son may also not be ready to start potty training as early as your daughter was.

Tip #4: Be motivating and celebrate your child’s success! Do a happy dance or have a mini-party when there’s potty training success. 🙂

Tip #5: Be prepared to give lots and lots of grace. Just as with anything else, when little ones are learning a new skill, we need to be ready to show grace when mistakes are made. There will be accidents, but how we react to those accidents is what matters most.

Our Final Potty Training Journey has Only Begun

We still have a long way to go before Elisabeth is completely potty trained. But you know what? I’m not in a rush. Maybe it’s because we’ve been down this road before or maybe it’s because she’s our last baby.

However long it takes is fine with me.

Do you have any potty training tips to share? I’d love to hear them! 🙂

The Chicago Bears, Breast Cancer Awareness, and Early Detection

October 25, 2013 by Sandra 2 Comments

This is part of a compensated campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and P&G. However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Cancer is ugly.

It’s a horrible disease that wreaks havoc on families every single day. Unfortunately, cancer is a disease I’m getting up close and personal with because whenever my four-year-old son, David, is admitted to the hospital or has an appointment with his doctor, he goes to the same floors where, tragically, kids who have been diagnosed with cancer go. The same follows for David’s treatment, it’s very similar to the way certain cancers are treated.

Breast Cancer Awareness
While I won’t be talking about childhood cancer in detail today, I will be talking about breast cancer, which affects us, ladies.

I had the opportunity to visit The Chicago Bears’ Halas Hall this past week and find out things I never knew about breast cancer — in addition to ways that women can detect it early. I had the chance to sit in on a roundtable that included Corey Wootton, a Chicago Bears football player who has personally been affected by breast cancer, and Janelle Hail, a breast cancer survivor and founder of the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

Here are a few key pieces of information I learned about breast cancer and early detection during the roundtable:

1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in her lifetime.

Breast cancer death rates are higher among latina women.

When breast cancer is detected during the early (localized) stage, the five year survival rate is 98%.

We can help save lives by spreading the message about early detection to those around us.

Creating your own early detection plan for breast cancer is easy. There’s even an app for it! Just search “NBCF” in the app store. 🙂

I also learned that there are free screening locations available across the country for women to get mammograms and other diagnostic services. If there isn’t a hospital on the list in your area, you can check with your local hospital.

The Bottom Line
We need to be informed about how early detection saves lives and helps beat breast cancer. I’ve already installed the app on my phone, and my reminder plan is in place. I’ll get an email 3 days before I should log a self-exam.

I love how technology makes life easier and even helps save lives.

Do you have an early detection plan in place? Do you know someone who has been affected by breast cancer?

Disney World: 10 Tips for a Great Family Road Trip

June 19, 2013 by Sandra 4 Comments

A special thanks to MomTV for sponsoring this fun Disney World video!

Today, I’m sharing 10 tips for a great family road trip to Disney World. With a little planning and these tips, you can be prepared to enjoy a fun family road trip to the happiest place on earth.

Disney World Road Trip Video
I’m bringing these tips to you in a video that I’ve uploaded to YouTube and shared on MomTV.

I hope you enjoy it! 🙂

You can read all of my recent Disney World posts here. I’m currently recapping our most recent trip to Disney World.

Beauty Review: Fysiko Eyelash Growth Serum (Month 1)

May 30, 2013 by Sandra 5 Comments

Thanks to Influenster for the fabulous Fysiko Eyelash Growth Serum that I received for
review purposes.

Who doesn’t want long, beautiful lashes?

I certainly do. 🙂

The reality is that as I get older, my lashes need a little extra help. Yes, mascara is fabulous, and if I could only choose one product to apply to my face each day, it would be mascara. But, but, but…mascara can only take me so far, which is why I was thrilled to be offered the opportunity to review a natural eyelash growth product called Fysiko Eyelash Growth Serum.

What is Fysiko Eyelash Growth Serum?
Fysiko is a natural growth serum that allows you to grow fuller, longer lashes in just 6 weeks. You apply it over your eyelids the same way that you’d apply eyeliner.

So far, my results have been positive after only 3 weeks of use.

Fysiko Lashes Before & After Pictures
Here’s my before picture:

I’m totally making myself vulnerable by allowing the camera to get this close to my face. I prefer pictures to be taken of me from across the room. 😉

I started using using Fysiko on May 9th, and I’m already noticing a difference. My face doesn’t look as washed out when I’m not wearing mascara, and my lashes are looking better overall.

Here’s what my lashes look like after 3 weeks of consistent use:

Using Fysiko with Contact Lenses
I’m able to use the Fysiko serum while I wear contact lenses. The directions say to apply the serum before you put your contact lenses in, but I found that this bothered my eyes once I had my lenses in (this is just me). Instead, I put in my contact lenses, then I apply the serum just like you’d apply eyeliner. I wait for the serum to dry, and I’m good to go.

I’m looking forward to sharing how the serum is working on my lashes over the next few months. I’m three weeks into using Fysiko, but I’ll be testing it for a full 16 weeks. I’m going to share pictures of my monthly results on all of my posts, so that you can see the difference right along with me.

Are you satisfied with your lashes? What’s one of your favorite beauty secrets?

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

tips

We’re Using Pull-Ups Training Pants

5 Tips for Potty Training Success

Here We Go!

Our Final Potty Training Journey has Only Begun

Footer

Categories