Mother-Daughter Monday #1: Airing Jane’s Laundry

Just like in any relationship, I find it’s the little things my Mom and I do for each other that help keep our relationship so special.

In our first edition of Mother-Daughter Monday, we’re talking laundry… specifically, who does my laundry (sometimes!).

My Mom is always there to help me out with the big and little things – and it always means so much to me.

So, here’s where I admit that I get a little help in the laundry department from my Mom.

Does your Mom help you out with the little things that help make your life easier?

 

The Mother-Daughter Relationship: Introducing Mother-Daughter Monday

I always knew that I had a special relationship with my mom.

But it took me awhile longer to realize that not every daughter had a mother like mine.

I guess, when I was younger, I thought that all mothers were just like mine.

I thought that all mothers woke their daughters each morning with a loving kiss and a declaration that today would be a great day.

And that when their daughters would say, “Just let me sleep a few more minutes,” all mothers would gently tuck the covers back around their daughters and wish them sweet dreams during those extra minutes of sleep.

I thought that all mothers would stay up late with their daughters as they studied for a big test or finished a big term paper, checking in every once in awhile with snacks, cups of hot tea and encouraging words.

I thought that all mothers had the right words to say, at the right moments, whenever their daughters needed them. That all daughters saw their mothers as the first person to go to whenever they needed to be comforted.

I thought that all mothers and daughters laughed together and genuinely enjoyed each others’ company.

Because that is all I have ever known.

A lot of people ask my mom advice on how to raise daughters who they will remain close to over the years. We often find ourselves talking to people about mother-daughter relationships and how to not only get along together, but truly enjoy being with each other.

So we have decided to start a new series here on MomGenerations.com called Mother-Daughter Monday. We will discuss what makes our relationship work, and we want to hear about your relationships with your moms and/or daughters, too!

Please join us this Monday, when we’ll be talking about something my Mom still does for me as an adult, even though I really could (and should!?) do it myself. Can you relate to this with anything in your life?

What else do you want to hear about during Mother-Daughter Mondays? We want to hear from YOU!

Review: Mr. Chewy Is a Convenient Way To Order Pet Food Online!

I spend a lot of time online. So a lot of my shopping gets done – you guessed it – online.

In the last couple of weeks alone, I’ve opened my door to find packages containing: a food processor, hand sanitizer, books, canvas prints, shampoo/conditioner – and dog food.

Ordering dog food online was a new one for me. I’m used to buying it at the pet store, which I usually only go to when I need to, well, buy dog food. Like, really need to by it.

To be honest, I’m not great at planning ahead. (And not just for the dogs’ food, by the way – for me and Brian, too.) I usually see that we are way low on dog food and have to make a quick run to the pet store. And I always tell myself that next time I won’t wait until the last minute.

So when I was asked by MrChewy.com to use its site to order food in exchange for honest review of its services, I jumped at the chance.

Not only does Mr. Chewy have over 70 popular brands of dog and cat food, treats and supplies – but the prices are extremely competitive (particularly in this economy, price matters), the site offers free shipping on orders over $49 (let’s be honest, I rarely spend less than $50 on dog food and supplies), and the site allows you to set up a delivery schedule (read: no more needing to make a last-minute run to the store for food!).

But as I stated above, I’m a pretty savvy online shopper, so I have certain expectations when I order something on the web. I want an easy-to-navigate site. I want good communication so I know my order is being processed and shipped. I want a quick response if I have a question. And I want my order to get to me promptly.

In short, I want a hassle-free shopping experience. And I have to say that Mr. Chewy exceeded my expectations.

The site has a great layout and the ordering process was extremely easy. I was buying food for our 3 dogs, and I loved that I was able to browse through my options by Brand, Food Form (canned, dry, etc.), Lifestyle (puppy, adult, etc.) or Specialty (all natural, gluten free, etc.). All the foods had different bag size options, a description of the food and a list of the ingredients.

I didn’t have any questions, but I noticed that I could call Mr. Chewy 24/7 or chat online with a customer service rep if I needed to. That’s a great feature.

Once I placed my order, I received a confirmation email. My order shipped right away – I got an email telling me that it had shipped, along with a FedEx tracking number. And two days later, my order arrived right at my front door. I couldn’t believe how quickly it got to me!

My experience ordering dog food on MrChewy.com was everything I could have asked for in an online shopping transaction and more. I will definitely be setting up a delivery schedule with Mr. Chewy so we won’t run out of food again!

When Mr. Chewy says it is “Delivering Pet Happiness,” it’s true! It’s clear that customer service is of the highest priority. After a quick, easy and enjoyable online shopping experience with them, I can honestly say that I am a happy Mr. Chewy customer!

Website: www.MrChewy.com
Like Mr. Chewy on Facebook
Follow Mr. Chewy on Twitter

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Disclosure: I received a coupon to use on Mr. Chewy’s website in exchange for an honest review of its services. All opinions are my own.

My Special K Challenge 2-Week Update!

Remember the Special K Challenge I told you I was taking part in? Well, I’m 2 weeks into it and doing great!

When I was choosing which Special K plan to follow, I went with the one that would help me get to a target weight. My goal? To lose 10 lbs. in 35 days. I knew I needed something attainable, but definitely something that would force me to put an end to the feeding frenzy that was the holiday season.

I’m not weighing myself until after the 35 days are up (20 more days to go), but I have already found that I’m making smarter food choices and my clothes are fitting better!

There are two key things for me when it comes to sticking with a healthy eating program:

1) Having a plan to follow

2) Accountability

And my Special K plan has really helped me out by giving me both.

As far as having a plan to follow goes… each day Special K gives me a meal plan that tells me what I should eat throughout the day.

I love that the site provides the calorie count for each meal/snack, so even if I don’t eat the exact thing my plan suggests, I can at least have an idea of the calories I should be shooting for.

I’m obsessed with the Special K Multigrain Oats & Honey cereal, so that’s what I’ve been having for breakfast every day.

I really like that the plan includes snacks because they are the little pick-me-ups throughout the day that I really look forward to. They prevent me from having that starving feeling that I hate. Plus, I love the Special K snack options – I think my kitchen shelves prove that!

Chocolatey Pretzel Cereal Bars, Sea Salt Cracker Chips, Strawberry Fruit Crisps – what’s not to love?

Knowing that I have a plan to follow in order to stay on track – and having everything on hand – has really helped.

As far as accountability goes… what has really helped me is the My Special K™ mobile app. I have my plan with me at all times on my iPhone, so I can plug in and keep track of my progress on the go.

With the help of my Special K plan, I am looking forward to continuing toward my goal of losing 10 lbs., and being fit and fab for my wedding in July!

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Consult your physician before starting any diet or exercise program.  Average weight loss when replacing meals with two cereal meals is 4.8 pounds.  Weight loss may vary. Average waist circumference reduction when replacing meals with two cereal meals is 1.3 inches. Weight loss may vary.

Disclosure: I participated in this program through a partnership with TheMotherhood on behalf of Special K. I received product and supplies to complete the plan. All opinions and statements are based on my own opinion and experience.

We Rescued a Puppy!

It has been almost 11 months since we lost our beloved Seth.

Having 3 dogs was never overwhelming for me and Brian. Seth, Ryder and Tansy had an excellent dynamic together. So Brian and I had been talking for awhile about getting another dog – a brother or sister for Ryder and Tansy.

We figured since we just bought a house, it was a good time to start looking for a puppy to rescue. So a few weeks ago we did just that. I mentioned on the blog that we had an application out for a female puppy, but she ended up being adopted by another family.

Then last weekend I was looking on PetFinder.com and came across this guy:

His name was Sobe – a 4-month-old retriever mix – and he was being fostered pretty close to us.

I melted at his picture and put in an application to adopt him, but figured he probably already had a bunch of people interested in him.

When I got an email saying our application had been approved, Brian and I were so excited! We arranged to go meet him the next evening (Monday) at his foster parents’ house.

It was love at first sight!

We renamed him Jethro because we’re huge fans of NCIS and Mark Harmon’s character, Leroy Jethro Gibbs. (My parents obviously don’t watch the show because when I told them what we were naming him, they said, “Like Jethro from The Beverly Hillbillies”) LOL

Jethro is such a good boy. His big sisters are warming up to him more and more every day. We love our little family!

And now, if you can handle the cuteness, here is a little photo collage of our new baby boy:

Welcome to the family, Jethro!

Can Your Relationship Survive a DIY Home Renovation Project? Yes! Here’s How Ours Did.

Renovating a house with your significant other can be stressful. I know.

While overall Brian and I enjoyed the experience of renovating our new house together, there were definitely instances in which we questioned each other’s sanity in regard to design choices.

But now that we’re in our new house – and both loving it – I thought I’d share some of my tips on how our relationship survived a DIY home renovation project… and how yours can, too!!

1) Compromise, Compromise, Compromise – This was a tough one because it’s hard for me to bend when I have an opinion about something. But Brian gave me free reign to pick most of the paint colors, so when he really wanted to use a certain color for the bedroom, I knew it was only right to give in. (And I’m glad I did because I really do like it.)

I also knew that if there were things I really wanted, I would have to compromise on other things that weren’t as important to me. So, when Brian and I were looking at light fixtures and each had different favorites, we went with his choices because when it came down to it, I didn’t have to have the ones I liked, and I know getting the ones he liked made Brian happy.

2) Have Some Trust In Each Other – We have beautiful hardwood floors. When we first bought the house the floors were in need of a little love. Brian thought they could also be lightened up a little.

I loved the dark hardwoods, but Brian told me to trust him; I would still love them if they were a little lighter. I wasn’t sold on the idea, but since he was the one doing most of the work on the hardwoods, I went with it. And I’m glad I trusted his instincts because I love our shiny new (lighter) hardwoods:

3) Vent To Each Other - We – okay, mostly I – had those moments in which the project got overwhelming. (I really don’t like sanding walls, I’ve learned). By the time we got to the hardwood floors – the last step before moving in – I was just about done with the project. I wanted to call in the professionals. Brian was insistent that we finish it ourselves, but he was awesome about letting me vent my frustrations to him (“I just want to move in!” was a phrase he heard often). Knowing that he understood me, and listened to me, went a long way when it came to squeezing more work out of me.

4) Have a Third Party To Vent To - While it’s great to vent to each other, there are times when you just need someone else – someone outside of the day-to-day renovations – to talk to. My Mom was awesome for this, even though she usually tried to make me see Brian’s point of view, too.

5) Surprise Each Other – Even when renovations are making you stressed, remember that you’re in this together, as a couple. And you love each other! It’s always nice to go a little out of your way to do something that will surprise your significant other. One night I called Brian, expecting him to be at dinner with friends, and it sounded like he was in a very hollow room. I asked him where he was, and instead of trying to come up with a lie, he told me he was at the house working on finishing up the hardwoods to surprise me. Aww…

To surprise Brian, my Mom came over one afternoon while he was at work and we put the Christmas tree up. I turned the lights on the tree so Brian could see it all lit up as he drove in the driveway. He loved it!

6) Cry Uncle – Brian and I both wanted to move in to our new house as soon as we could, and there were many days that we were gung-ho about working around the clock to get things done. But then there were days when we just couldn’t deal with the project at all. So while sometimes spending a few hours sanding walls together could actually make for a fun date night, other times we knew we just needed a mental break from the renovations, and opted to put off the work for another day. We were still able to hit our goal of moving in the house before Christmas – and the breaks did wonders for our sanity!

Have you ever renovated a house with your significant other – and completed the project with your relationship intact? What tips would you add to this list?

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Follow all of our home renovation fun here!

A Doggie Gift Basket For Our Pups! #CBias #ILoveMyK9

I mentioned last week that Brian and I had put in an application to adopt a new puppy from a rescue group. We were approved to adopt, but it turned out that the dog we were looking at had already been placed in a home. We were disappointed because she was a little cutie, but we were also happy that she now has a loving, permanent home.

So while I was hoping to present the #ILoveMyK9 doggie gift basket that I put together to the new puppy, it turned out that it was up to our dogs Ryder and Tansy to enjoy the treats. They, by the way, had no complaints about this!

I put the Milo’s Kitchen, Milk-Bone® and Pup-Peroni treats in the new dog toy bin that I had bought on my trip to Walmart. (I put a lot of their toys at the bottom of the bin because the dogs always excited about their toys, even if they’re not “new”!)

Ryder and Tansy were such good little girls, waiting patiently for their new toy bin and treats!

But then it was time to dig in!

Ryder was content with her 3 treats, but Tansy still wanted more!

But she had to settle on playing with her toys (don’t want to spoil her dinner!).

Both doggies loved all the goodies in the gift basket. I put the treat packages in our pantry, so I know just where the dogs’ noses will be sniffing each time they go in the kitchen!

Check out my entire shopping trip photo album on Google + here!

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Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All opinions are my own. #CBias

2012 Style: Update Your Wardrobe with Karen Kane

If you’re a Facebook friend of mine, or follow me on Twitter, you may have noticed that I put up a new profile picture yesterday.

I change my Facebook profile pictures every so often, but the Twitter photo change was a big deal; prior to yesterday I hadn’t changed it in almost 3 years.

But yesterday I was wearing an outfit that I loved so much – and felt so stylish wearing – that when Mom snapped a photo of me, I knew it was the one.

Okay, maybe I’m overstating the significance of a profile picture change on Twitter… but there’s no overstating how much I loved what I was wearing: the Karen Kane Wrap Top Sweater Dress.

I felt sophisticated, confident – and comfortable. Those are three important qualities I look for in clothing, and lucky for all of us, that’s what Karen Kane is all about:

Karen Kane’s approach to fashion is simple – she designs clothing for the woman that wants to feel comfortable without sacrificing her sense of style. Always on the go with her family and friends, she proves that it is possible to look smart, sexy, and sophisticated all at once. Created with longevity and versatility in mind, Karen’s collection is one you’ll wear for life.

I want clothes that are chic, modern and professional… clothes that can easily take me from a business meeting to dinner with my girlfriends. That’s why I love Karen Kane. With looks that range from retro to resort, classic to contemporary, this line is flattering and fabulous for women.

Plus, I love that over 80% of Karen Kane is manufactured in the United States.

And when I say, “My Mom would wear those clothes,” I mean it in the most positive way! My Mom has incredible style, so I was so excited to share with her the versatile pieces we were sent to review. We both feel in love with the wrap dress, as well as the Dolman Cowl Neck Sweater.

Can you tell Mom felt comfy (and chic) in it?

It’s the New Year, and these fabulous Karen Kane clothes were just what we needed to add some fresh variety to our wardrobes. In fact, with just these two pieces, Mom and I were able to put together quite a few looks we both loved, just by accessorizing a bit! Take a look:

Check out all that Karen Kane has to offer. We know you’ll fall in love, too!

We are so excited to announce that we’ll be hosting a Twitter party with Karen Kane on Wednesday, January 11 from 8:00-9:00 p.m. EST – so stay tuned for more info!

Follow Karen Kane on Twitter
Like Karen Kane on Facebook

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post and we received the Karen Kane clothing in the photos/videos for review. All opinions are ours.

“Before” and “Now” Pictures of Our New House!

A reader emailed me yesterday asking for more house renovation photos. I thought I had been doing a good job of sharing our DIY project progress, but then I realized that, while I’ve been updating my renovation album on Facebook often, it has been awhile since I shared photos of our house renovation on the blog!

We have done a lot since I last wrote about the work we’re doing on our house. We have moved in! There’s furniture! The floors look brand new! There are new light fixtures!

We love our house, and even though it took a lot of effort to get everything done before Christmas (we wanted to move in before the holiday), we did it and it feels awesome that we did it ourselves.

We still have more work to do – we need curtains for all the windows, we need more wall hangings, we are borrowing a rug for the family room until we get a new one, and we’d like to get a flat-screen TV soon – but it’s really coming along, and we both just LOVE it!

(As a reminder, we bought a two-family home, so we’re living on one floor. The second unit was already renovated before we bought the house.)

Here are some before and after photos… though, as I said, we’re not completely done with the renovations, so it’s actually more like “before” and “now” photos.

Family Room:

Front Parlor:

Kitchen:

Bedroom:

Dining Room:

Bathroom:

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Follow all of our home renovation fun here!

Taking the Special K Challenge To Hit My Weight Loss Goals In 2012!

Raise your hand if you over-indulged over the holidays.

(See me raising two hands?)

Between the Christmas cookies, pies, cakes, apple crisps (read: SUGAR!) – not to mention all the yummy (and fattening) appetizers and side dishes at holiday gatherings – oh, boy, did I eat.

The upside? I enjoyed all the delicious food, as well as the company I had while eating it. The downside? Now my clothes are too tight.

The problem? When my clothes don’t fit right, I don’t feel as confident as I’d like to.

So I’m doing something about it: I have signed up for a Special K plan with the goal of losing 10 lbs. in 35 days.

The Special K brand recently commissioned a national survey among women ages 25-54 and found that the New Year was the number one moment in time in which women said that they plan to start or re-start a weight management plan (67 percent).

So the brand has marked today, January 2, 2012 as National Weigh-In Day.

But “rather than focusing on the numbers on the scale, the Special K brand wants women to imagine what they will gain emotionally when they achieve their goal.”

It’s a day for us to “weigh in” on the topic of weight management, as well as why and how we plan to accomplish our weight loss or maintenance goals.

Personally, I’ve had my ups and downs with weight management throughout my adulthood. Right now I’m a little down on myself because my weight up to a point where I’m not happy with it. I don’t need a number on the scale to tell me this. As I mentioned, I know it in the way my clothes fit – and I also feel it in the way I carry myself.

When I like the way my clothes look and feel on me, I’m more confident. I look forward to picking outfits out of my closet, rather than dread trying to find something that fits. I also I feel a sense of accomplishment, seeing the results of my effort and hard work. Because changing eating habits and making time for exercise takes some adjustment, and sometimes it really is hard.

And that’s why I’m so excited to have signed up for a Special K plan. I love that I was able to customize my program based on my goal.

I’m looking to achieve a goal weight. My wedding is coming up in just over six months, and I want to look and feel great on my big day. And I want to feel confident in my beautiful, form-fitting Ann Taylor dress!

Based on the plan I chose and my goals, I got got a meal plan just for me!

With everything laid out on the Special K site this easily for me to follow – daily plans and recipes for all meals, a way for me to track my moods, weight and exercise levels – there’s no excuse for me to not stay on track.

I’m excited that my pantry is stocked with Special K goodies – how can I not be excited about Chocolatey Pretzel Cereal Bars!? – and I’m looking forward to share my progress with you… let me know if you’re joining in, too! And tell me: based on your own personal experience, what are your thoughts and opinions on maintaining or losing weight?

Consult your physician before starting any diet or exercise program.  Average weight loss when replacing meals with two cereal meals is 4.8 pounds.  Weight loss may vary. Average waist circumference reduction when replacing meals with two cereal meals is 1.3 inches. Weight loss may vary.

Disclosure: I participated in this program through a partnership with TheMotherhood on behalf of Special K. I received product and supplies to complete the plan. All opinions and statements are based on my own opinion and experience.

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