Views From the Ville

Kicking Off Potty Training with Pull-Ups®

Dec 172013

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pull-Ups® Training Pants.

There have been a number of times over the past few months that I thought we were finally ready to start potty training. Bubbles would take an interest and try to go when prompted, and sometimes even of her own volition, but it wasn’t ever anything that was at the top of the list. It came down to the fact that my curious little girl was afraid she’d miss out on something fun and was too interested in the book/toy/whatever she was doing at the moment to stop for a potty break.

I was surprised, because everyone always talks about how girls potty train so early and so easily. I didn’t really want to press the issue with her because I didn’t want to turn it into something negative that she was going to be even more against trying (did I mention that my curious toddler also has quite the stubborn streak?). The time has officially come for us to start, though. Bubbles looked at me the other day and said, “No more diapers, Mama. I’m a big girl.” No arguments from me!

Pull-Ups Training Pants for Potty Training #pottytrainingpants

So we picked out some big girl undies and have them as our goal for after Christmas. In the meantime, we’re going to be using Pull-Ups® Training Pants. There are a lot of events and excitement over the next few days and we decided that Pull-Ups® were the best option to help us build the bridge between diapers and undies while minimizing accidents and the need for a change of clothes. Continue reading »

Keep Desks Tidy with MOS Cord Organizers

Organization 7 Responses »

Dec 162013

This is a sponsored post on behalf of MOS Cord Organizers. All thoughts and words are my own.

I know there are worse problems one can have in life, but I have to say that a snare of cords is pretty high on my list of annoyances. Between my laptop, all our cell phone chargers, the video monitor base, and the other random items five people can accumulate, sometimes I feel like I need a degree in knots.

I can only imagine it can get frustrating for Ashley in college, too. She is fortunate enough to have a dorm room to herself, but no dorm room is super-huge, so there’s not a lot of wiggle room. And she has her Macbook, iPhone, iPod, and other items located on her desk.

MOS Cord Organizers

So for Christmas we’re looking into one of the MOS Organizers. Each kit comes with a base in scratch-resistant white or black plastic or anodized aluminum. Also included are 3 magnetic cable ties, a Micro Suction cup to secure the base without need for anything to leave behind residue, and a 3M double-sided adhesive circle that will hold your cables vertically. Continue reading »

Mandarin Orange Rolls Recipe

Recipes 26 Responses »

Dec 162013

This Orange Rolls recipe is a sponsored campaign on behalf of Halos. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My grandmother makes a lot of delicious sweets that I love. Don’t ask me to chose just one – they’re all my favorite. But at Christmas each year she puts together a plate (well, sometimes large box) filled with my most favorite treats.

Each year her food care packages include orange sweet rolls and they’re something I greatly look forward to. Sweet and sticky, I always reach for them first. I decided that since I love them so much, I might as well learn to make them myself so I could share them with others.

Mandarin Orange Rolls Recipe #halosfun

One thing about recipes that come handed down from my Gram is that there’s a lot of trial and error involved for those who haven’t made them before. She doesn’t really follow a recipe; she reaches for a pinch of this and a splash of that. She can’t even tell you how long to cook or bake something, her reply is always “It’s done when it’s done.” Continue reading »

Give the Gift of Pain Relief with Wahl Hot Cold Massagers

Beauty 27 Responses »

Dec 162013

I received a Wahl Massager product for the purpose of this review. This post was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own.

Hubby has had issues with his knees for years. He had Osgood-Schlatter (pain, swelling and tenderness just below the knee) when he was a kid, which commonly affects pre-teen or teen boys going through growth spurts. I don’t think it helped much, either, that he was a seriously rough-and-tumble kid that spent a lot of time racing bikes and seeing how high he could fly off jumps.

But he is not alone in having muscle or joint pain. In fact according to research conducted by Harris on behalf of Wahl, 85% of Americans are experiencing routine aches and pains. The number one area complained about is the back, followed by neck and shoulders, and then joints.

Wahl Hot Cold Massager

I know I fall into a couple of those categories, myself. I remember teasing my friend Em who complained about back pain after the birth of her children, but now after having given birth, myself, I’m not teasing any more. My back often aches when I get up in the morning and doesn’t feel too hot after spending the day bent over at her level to talk and play, either. Continue reading »

Despicable Me 2 DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack Now Available!

Entertainment, Movie Reviews No Responses »

Dec 152013

I received the Despicable Me 2 DVD/Blu-ray Combo Pack in order to facilitate my review. All thoughts and words are my own.

I vividly remember going to the first Despicable Me movie with my husband and Austin. I remember it because one of my favorite lines from any movie has since become “It’s so fluffy!” shouted by Agnes as she’s handed a stuffed unicorn. I’m not entirely sure why it struck us all as so funny, but it’s been kind of an inside joke since then.

Despicable Me 2 DVD and Blu-ray Combo Pack

When Despicable Me 2 came to theaters this past summer, we decided that it would be Bubbles’ first theater movie. She loves the little yellow minion buddies and we didn’t really anticipate any scary parts. She did pretty well, but eventually got fidgety enough that we decided to leave before it was over (no one wants to be those people). Continue reading »

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