Back to School 2017, College Bound, Food, Gift Guides, Parenting

3 College Care Package Ideas For Your Student

I am a Premier Protein Ambassador and all feature ideas are my own

 

 
Do you have a child or children in college? If you do you know that bittersweet drop off moment where they are ready to run and you can’t let them go. Trust me! They won’t go far. They want food, laundry done, conversations on how to cook rice and many other needs that they will always still need your care. To make them feel even more comforted (and to comfort ourselves) we can send care packages. But what should you send? Let’s get creative based on my own experiences with some suggestions I will give you.

 

Premier Protein

 
The first 2 weeks were a lot of back and forth by phone making sure he is settling into classes and dorm life. At one point I get a call from him asking for some grocery money in his account. He wanted some cans of soup and protein bars. He said that because his first am class is on the other side of campus and he walks he needs breakfast that he can take and walk with.

 
He wanted protein bars and in our home we buy Premier Protein so I hopped online and ordered him some to be shipped. Premier Protein bars have no artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners and are gluten free. Other brands out there may contain artificial ingredients and synthetic nutrients so we really do our homework and choose wisely.

 

 
On our son’s first few days in his dorm room we noticed a small issue. The outlets are never placed in the right spots. This means that by the time they plug in laptops, lights, a mini fridge, alarm clocks that leaves little left for all the chargers as well. Another thing I learned is how much their cell phones do get used. If they have a full day of classes all over campus and need to try and hit the cafe a few times that cell phone battery is done. We love using the MyCharge HubXtra. What is unique about this is that you don’t also have to remember to grab your charging cord like most power banks require. The charging cords are built in and contain a lightning and micro chargers. I carry one myself for travel. This will get used!

 

 
One of my favorite options are gift baskets and GourmetGiftBaskets has many care packages to choose from. Some are candy filled, some healthier. This is the Health Nut Care Package above. What is great is that you can choose a basket, enter there shipping address and attach a message that is typed in a card. It is a lot of fun when that gift box arrives and they know it is a collection of foods or beverages before they even open it.

 
You will be sending packages and they will be requesting (food) mostly so send them the goodies they will proudly pick up when the hall desk sends them that message that they have a package waiting. I assure you these ideas will go over real well.

 
Let’s get you started! I am giving away Premier Protein samples. If you win you can send your child’s dorm address and Premier Protein will send it their way. Or you can use your own address and try them for yourself. Enter below. Open to US and ends on 9/5. Good luck!

 
Premier Protein Giveaway

Healthy Living

5 End-of-Summer Safety Tips

The long, hot days of summer are still here, but already many of us are dreaming of days when the weather cools and brings the colors of autumn. But don’t let your guard down yet. Parents and families should continue to take care. Summer heat and the various outdoor activities we engage in outside of our usual routines bring with it an edge of danger.

5 End-of-Summer Safety Tips

Here are tips for continued summer safety for you and your loved ones.

  1. Watch the water play.

According to the US National Safety Council, between the ages of 5 and 24, drowning is the second most common cause of death.

Parents should always accompany their child to a water play area. Safety experts suggest that parents learn how to administer CPR and other rescue techniques. Children should know to never swim by themselves and only to swim in areas that are supervised by adults or lifeguards.

  1. Practice safe enjoyment of outdoor activities.

Summer is a time when kids and parents get to try out new sports and other activities that aren’t a part of their usual routine. From motorboats to ziplining to skateboarding and more. However, Houston injury attorneys warn that a serious injury can be enough to sideline a person for good.

Make sure that you take safety guidelines for each activity to heart. Emphasize to your children the importance of following instructions that are given when trying out any new activity. You do not want to frighten your child, but at the same time you want them to know that injuries are no laughing matter.

  1. Don’t compete with the heat.

Children under the age of 4 years old are at the greatest risk of heat stroke. But that’s not to say that children above 4 are off the hook. Everyone is susceptible to heat stroke if caution is not taken.

The best defense is to prevent the risk by staying out of direct sunlight. Plan for any outdoor activities during the coolest times of the day. If you must go out during midday heat, make sure all the members of your family wear hats and are covered to protect from sunburns. Other tips for staying safe include staying hydrated and cooling off with showers at the first sign of overheating.

  1. Don’t leave food out.

Summer temperatures can surprise you with their intensity. Food poisoning during the summer can happen when you least expect it. Perhaps you have been used to leaving a plate of food on the counter and returning to it in a couple of hours? During the summer, leaving food out could lead to a case of food poisoning.

The FDA gives guidelines on their site about how long food can be left out. If the temperature is higher than 90° F, then it needs to go back into the fridge after 1 hour. To play it safe, during the hottest days of summer, everything that isn’t going to be eaten immediately should be tucked away in your fridge.

  1. Dodge bees, bugs, and bites.

It’s not just children who are out in full force during the summer. Summer weather is prime time for the insect world. But there are steps you can take to make yourself less attractive to mosquitoes, bees, and other crawlers.

Bees like fragrances and floral patterns. Avoid both when choosing clothing for your children. Dress your children in clothes that provide coverage and that are lightweight and breathable. Use bug repellent spray whenever you go to the park or other area that has heavy mosquito traffic. Mosquito netting around baby strollers is another helpful way to keep mosquito bites at bay.

Most of the items that on this list are things we are aware of, but it can be easy to relax as summer’s end nears. Keep your family safe by staying aware even while you enjoy your quality family time.

Read More Here: The Ultimate Guide to Swimming safety for Kids!

Gift Guides, Holiday Gift Guide 2017, Kids

Let’s FlipaZoo and Flip Zee With Fun Plush Toys

I have partnered with FlipaZoo and Flip Zee for this feature

 

FlipaZoo 2.0 Flipzee is here. If you are familiar with the original FlipaZoo plush then you will love the newest series of these reversible fun plush toys. There are brand new characters and as you may already know, you get 2 animals in one.

Each Flipzee has 2 soft animal characters that you flip from to hang out with the plush buddy of your choice. Right now my 9 year old talks about wanting a dog. We are in no position to get hime one right now as we are in the middle of moving into our new home so right now any plush or toy that is a dog character is what he wants.

Now this is a dog we can have right now…..

 

FlipaZoo Flipzee has all of the various animal plush and Flip Zee Girls has the doll characters that flip open to a doll or fold up to a wrapped bundle of joy. As a baby she has small brown eyes, as a doll those eyes are her adorable freckles. Watching her grow from baby to girl is so much fun. Perfect for the “I am NOT a BABY anymore!” stage and older. Collect all 6 of them!

Keep these in mind this holiday season-they are a lot of fun! Not only can you find these FlipaZoo plush there are also minis and slippers collections available. See them all at FlipaZoo.com and FlipZeeGirls.com

Gift Guides, Holiday Gift Guide 2017, Reviews, Reviews by Anthony, Video Reviews by Anthony

BLURBLE Game Review and Video

Thank you to NorthStarGames for including this game in our Sweet Suite 2017 Conference box

 

BLURBLE Game Review and Video

At the 2017 Sweet Suite conference we were introduced to the game BLURBLE. It was one of Anthony’s favorite booths we stopped at. So, we played a few rounds for you to see how hilarious it can get. From age 8 to 88 it is going to bring laughter to your next game night. It is more challenging than you think! Perhaps you will recognize the game from the older packaging. It is the same hilarious game.

Enjoy! Then find the game for yourself at Amazon and other retailers near you from NorthStar Games.