Jolly Mom: Recipes | Crafts | Atlanta Mom Blogger | Brand Ambassador | Product Reviews

Vicks has recently launched the Behind Ear Thermometer - a new thermometer that allows you to get an accurate temperature reading in 1-second.







Another very helpful feature is the Fever InSight technology, which helps parents understand the meaning of temperature readings using a color-coded display.









About the Behind Ear Thermometer:
This first of its kind thermometer lets you get a quick temperature reading from behind your child's ear, close to the carotid artery, which is the ideal external site to measure temperature. This site is ideal because it is naturally protected from drafts and perspiration. Clinically proven accurate, this innovative thermometer is an easy and reliable tool helping parents know when fever is getting better or worse. The Vicks Behind Ear Thermometer requires only a gentle, 1-second touch – no swiping across the skin is involved. Simply place in the hollow behind your child's ear with a gentle touch, press the start button, and release after you hear the 1-second "beep."



In addition, Vicks is working with Jessica Seinfeld’s Baby Buggy charity, a non-profit dedicated to providing U.S. families in need with essential items for their children. They need your help though!

All you have to do is visit the Vicks Facebook page and “share” the video on your own Facebook page. For every share, Vicks will donate a Behind Ear thermometer to a family in need.





 
This is part of a compensated campaign with The Motherhood and Vicks. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

As you may remember, we've been doing the Listerine Healthy Habits for A Lifetime Oral Care Challenge at the Jolly household for the past few weeks and it's been going really well. Like I mentioned before, Lucas already brushes his teeth twice per day and is consistently using mouthwash -- the problem is Mike and me. Of course, we both brush twice a day, but we forget to floss and use mouthwash on a consistent basis so the key has been to REMEMBER. I'm a stickler for everything being in its place, but I decided that the mouthwash and floss would stay out on the bathroom counter so we would remember as soon as we saw it every morning and evening when we brushed our teeth. It's worked like a charm!


Mike and I both agree that we love the Reach Total Care Plus Whitening Floss. It is actually flat and has this really cool Micro Grooves technology that is able to get up to twice the amount of plaque than other brands of floss. I drink a lot of coffee and Mike drinks a lot of tea so I really appreciate that this floss has whitening power as well. It is also stretchy, which allows you to get in between teeth a little easier.






We also love the Listerine Antiseptic mounthwash, which is the only over-the-counter mouthwash to receive the American Dental Association's Seal of Acceptance for fighting plaque and gingivitis. It is proven to kill millions of germs, which brushing and flossing alone WILL NOT do. Mouthwash is definitely a must! If you have a sensitive mouth, then you should try the Listerine Total Care Zero mouthwash, which does not contain any alcohol and is gentler.








Tips for adults from Dr. John Dodes, DDS (general dentist):
● Clean the entire mouth.
● Make sure you are brushing and flossing correctly.
● Avoid sticky foods.
● Go to the dentist twice a year.




Tips for kids from Dr. Kaneta Lott, DDS (pediatric dentist):
● Make oral care fun (e.g., make it a game; brush, floss and rinse to music; etc).
● Reward their behavior (e.g., give gold stars for good oral care).
● Show, don’t tell – make oral care a family affair.
● Involve them in their own oral care routine by providing products like LISTERINE® Smart Rinse, which can make the daily routine more fun, provides 12-hour cavity protection for kids and strengthens teeth 99   percent better than brushing alone.

Learn more about how LISTERINE and REACH have partnered with the American Heart Association for the My Heart. My Life.™ initiative by visiting www.MyHeartMyLife.org. And, to shop smart for your oral care products, visit www.Walmart.com.






 
I received products and compensation from Johnson & Johnson and The Motherhood as part of my participation in the Oral Care Challenge. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

Link up your giveaways!

Please make sure to link directly to the giveaway and list the name of the giveaway along with the expiration date. Don't forget to stop by Go Graham Go to link up over there as well!

From the time that Lucas was a baby until now; he has had a video monitor in his room. It gives me peace of mind to be able to see him and know that he's ok. While I loved his video monitor, there were some things that I wished it could do -- namely that I could talk to him through the monitor. Well, I am happy to report that I have found a video monitor that does THAT and much, much more at Radio Shack. Let me introduce you to the iBaby Video Monitor. This thing is so stinkin' cool!





Yes--as the name suggests, you view the picture on your “i” devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod, or PC). The iBaby Monitor allows you to use your device to view, listen, talk through, and control your camera. Setting up and using the camera is really simple. It connects to the internet wirelessly. You then download the free app onto your “i” device and follow the on screen prompts to connect the two. The camera is about 4” tall and can actually be move left and right and up and down using the app.



The color picture gives you a clear view of the room, it uses infrared vision to see clear in the dark, and the sound is crystal clear. And, like I mentioned earlier--you can actually respond to your child. The audio is 2-way so you can speak back to your baby. This is such a wonderful feature! You can soothe your baby right from the monitor or if you have a big kid like me -- you can tell your child to get back into bed and sleep lol. Love it!

Another one of my favorite features is that monitor will alert you when your baby makes a sound or moves. You can set the sensitivity on this so it will pick up the lightest of movements or sounds or you can adjust so that it only picks up loud cries and bumps, etc. Oh, and you even can snap pictures and send them to friends and family instantly. The range is unlimited since it works through the internet. This works ideally for anyone who may need to leave your child at home with a sitter, you can always get a quick view in to see your child is fine.

If I could change one thing it would be that it would come with a bedside monitor that you could use instead of always having to have my iPhone or iPad right next to me. But other than that, this has got to be one of the best baby monitor options out there right now. As I said, it’s easy to use, a breeze to set up, and loaded with everything you could want to have access to your baby right at your finger tips.






iBaby Video Monitor features:

• Connects via Wi-Fi®, 2-way audio capable, PC compatible and unlimited range
• The Snapshot feature captures pictures you can send instantly from your device
• Infrared night vision ensures clear, detailed images in low light
• Download the free iBaby app available at the app store
• Pan coverage 350°, tilt coverage 70°

Speaking of  "i" accessories, Radio Shack has tons of cool gadgets for your iPhone, iPad, and iPod! Make sure to check them out at www.radioshack.com for more information.





The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or pr company representing the company. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. Please refer to this site's Terms of Use for more information.

 

I've been seeing everyone rave about kale chips for the past year or so and I've been meaning to try them. Everyone says that they are delicious and addictive...just like a real chip. This past weekend, I was at Whole Foods and saw a bunch of kale and decided that this was the weekend that I'd finally try them. I didn't have high hopes. Well, what I mean is that I love greens and kale and pretty much every veggie on the planet, but the idea of kale chips being addictive and similar to any type of real chip seemed like a stretch sooooo while I figured that I would like them -- I didn't think I'd go gaga over some kale. Boy, was I wrong. While I wouldn't say that kale chips taste like a real chip...they are crispy, delicious, and quell my need for crunchy, salty snack. Both Mike AND Lucas loved them too and that's saying a lot. Best of all, they are actually very easy to make...instructions below. Enjoy!

 

Baked Kale Chips

Ingredients

• Bunch of kale (the curly kind)
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1 tsp Kosher salt
• Freshly ground pepper to taste

 

Directions: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Mix olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and set aside. Tear kale into bite size pieces, carefully removing from the stems. Wash and dry kale pieces really well.

 

 

Toss kale with olive oil mixture. I like to use my hands for this part so that I can ensure that each piece of kale is covered with the olive oil mixture. Spread kale onto baking sheets making sure that it is in a single layer. Bake at 325 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Start checking 10 minutes into the baking time and check for browned edges. Be careful because the kale will seem like it's wilting, but in reality it is crisping up. The kale can go from done to burned very quickly so KEEP AN EYE ON IT!

 

 

Do not store kale chips in a plastic bag or container because they will lose their crunch. I store them in a paper lunch sack and loosely close it shut to allow for ventilation. 

Our go-to place for all things educational is Learning Resources -- they not only know how to make learning a fun thing for kids, but their products are very effective teaching tools. We recently got the chance to try out the Letter Box Activity Set and it has been a wonderful tool for us at home. Lucas officially starts school in the Fall so we've been brushing up on his letters and sounds to make sure that he's comfortable and ready for school -- the Letter Box Activity Set has been just the thing to help!







The Letter Box Activity Set is basically a "mailbox" that attaches to an existing whiteboard or chalkboard and opens up to reveal the writing area and clear pockets to display alphabet cards. It comes with 104 double-sided alphabet cards with real-life photos, 13 double-sided letter cards (as in postal letter), and 8 blank cards.









Kids can practice writing the letters and are able to associate letter sounds with the corresponding alphabet cards. It's easy to hang with the included magnets or with the grommets (we used the magnets and hung right onto a magnetized chalkboard) -- we keep it right in the kitchen so every day we remember to practice our letters.







Buy It: The Letter Box Activity Set can be purchased online at LearningResources.com and retails for $34.99.