How to Have a Toddler Friendly Halloween

How to Have a Toddler Friendly Halloween

Halloween is one of the more popular holidays, usually for children of all ages. One of the challenges that I’ve faced as a parent of an autistic child, is making Halloween more autism and sensory friendly. That includes accounting for things like trick-or-treat cards and being mindful of the candy that we hand out. Now that Squeaker is getting older, I also want to make Halloween more toddler friendly. Celebrating Halloween with toddlers brings a certain element of innocence to the mix. With a toddler, it may not be possible to go out and party like you normally would, and trick or treating can get tiresome for your toddler very quickly. Safety is always an issue with toddlers as they are very naive and can…

House and Home Care Tips for Fall

House and Home Care Tips for Fall

Before we know it, the sweltering summer heat will give way to cooler temperatures. And for us in the New York that also means getting ready for apple picking and leaf peeping. But that’s not the only thing we do in fall. We also try to get ready for the winter and that includes using some of these house and home care tips. Inside the Home Everyone always does spring cleaning, but fall cleaning is just as important. It’s time to put away all of the outdoor sports gear and get ready for the cold weather and plenty of time sitting inside cuddling by the fireplace. Getting your home clean and in tip-top shape before the cold really settles in will make you enjoy your…

Cleveland Clinic is the Choice for Children’s Heart Care Needs

Cleveland Clinic is the Choice for Children’s Heart Care Needs

“This post was sponsored by Cleveland Clinic Children’s as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. All thoughts and opinions are my own.” I was born with two heart murmurs- a ventricular septal defect and an atrial septal defect. Now, while this may sound scary what it really means is that I was born with two holes in my heart. The atrial region is the upper region and the ventricular is the lower region. What it meant for my parents was an extra day in the hospital and then a trip to Houston to see a specialist. The holes closed on their own though and I’ve had no ill effects. That was over 30 years ago and I’m thankful to have all of that…

How to Make the Most of a 10 Minute Power Shower

How to Make the Most of a 10 Minute Power Shower

We only have so much time in the day, so how do we make the most of it? Well, to be honest, it really does start with the morning. I’m partnering with Schick Intuition to bring you tips for making the most of a 10 minute power shower. Sometimes it may even be less, but I’m being generous to myself and allowing 10 minutes. As a #SchickAmbassador I’m more than happy to share my routine. First, let me set the stage. On a “typical” (and I use that word loosely) morning, the alarm clock goes off at 6:00. It is then silenced for another glorious 30 minutes before Kyle gets out of bed. Five minutes later I’m usually up while our toddler continues to sleep…

The Practical Parent’s Guide for Raising Responsible Kids

The Practical Parent’s Guide for Raising Responsible Kids

Do you tend to do too much for your kids? Do you hold your kids accountable for their actions? What about chores and responsibilities at home, what are your expectations for your kids? These are just a few questions that I find myself asking when it comes to watching the kids around me on a daily basis. I also wonder about my own parenting skills in terms of how Squeaker is being raised. I want her to be grateful, respectful, and I want her to be aware. I want her to be confident and self-assured. I want to parent her with love and compassion. I want to make sure that I’m raising a child with character. I still worry constantly that I’m not doing enough…

Easy Ways to Tackle Your Teens Smelly Laundry

Easy Ways to Tackle Your Teens Smelly Laundry

This post was sponsored by NEW! Tide PurClean as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.  I might be one of those odd balls who actually likes to do laundry. Strange yes, but true. It’s one of the few household chores that I don’t mind doing.  But, even that is tested when it comes to my autistic teen’s laundry. And if you’re a parent of a teenager, you know what I’m talking about. How in the world, at that age, do they manage to get their clothes that stinky and smelly? Maybe during camp season I can understand since they’re outdoors more. Still. Tackling her laundry can be a chore on top of a chore. Here’s a few ways to make it easier and…