26 December 2015

How to Remove Mold after Water Damage

Mold is a smelly, ugly and dangerous nuisance that sticks to shower tile, drywall, siding and damp wood in any spot. Mold is a health hazard, as it releases spores that trigger allergic reactions and irritating odors. If you see a little bit of mold forming somewhere in your home, take action immediately. Mold grows quickly and can potentially cause long term harm to you or to your home. The good news is, mold is easy to take out with simple cleaning products. Click here to find out more about water damage or continue reading the article.

1. Identify it as mold

The most common household mold - Mildew - is easy to identify. It begins as small black spots that can often grow quickly when left unchecked. You’ve probably seen it on the tile wall of a shower. To distinguish between mold and dirt, place a few drops of bleach on the dirty area. If, after two minutes, the bleached area turns lighter in color, you have mildew. If the area stays dark, it’s probably dirt. 

2. Extract the moisture

In order to stop the mold from growing, you must remove all moisture from the affected area. Place a dehumidifier in the room to speed up the process. (Hint: be sure not to let the holding tank water sit for too long. Toss it in the sink as soon as it fills). Open all windows and turn on ceiling or stand-up fans to keep air circulating in the room. 

3. Clean, clean, clean

The next step requires a lot of cleaning. The walls and floors must be cleaned first. Pull out the carpet or take any damaged rugs outside to soak in the sun. Remember to wear protective gear when working around mold and cleaning chemicals; in this case, you should be wearing a respirator gas mask, protective goggles and rubber gloves. Mix together one cup of bleach with a bucket of warm water; use that solution to mop down the floor and wipe down the walls with a rag. Once that dries, go over the walls and floor again with a solution of warm water and liquid disinfectant. Repeat this process every 2-3 days until the mold goes away. 

Next, in order to clean the damaged wood surfaces such as tables, chairs and bookcases, pour a little bit of denatured alcohol into a rag and use that rag to wipe down the wood surfaces. Allow the alcohol to dry, then spray with disinfectant. Finally, move on to your upholstered or fabric furniture. Take any washable fabric items and wash them in the hottest possible temperature your washer will allow. Take upholstered items outside and brush the mold spores into the air. Leave the upholstered furniture in the sun all day to kill the mold. Afterward, use a vacuum to remove dead mold spores from the furniture. 

While we don’t doubt you have the skills and the know-how to tackle a pesky homegrown fungus, if your home does fall victim to significant water damage resulting in severe mold infestation, it is recommended you hire a mold remediation specialist to take care of the problem. If you do, make sure to hire someone insured and properly licensed.


Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post.

Clearing out a House? Try These Junk Removal Tips

So you're planning a big clean-up project. Perhaps you just inherited a house from a relative, or you’ve finally decided to buckle down for that big spring cleaning project. Regardless of your reasoning, don’t let this task overwhelm you. There are several steps you might want to take to minimize this task and make it seem less daunting. 

Hire a Full Service Junk Removal Company

A full-service, residential junk removal company will come to your home and remove all your junk in a single day. All it takes is one phone call. Just give them the specific details of what you need removed — furniture, appliances, desks, computers, mattresses — and schedule a date. Set yourself down in the back yard and watch your junk disappear. No job is too large or too small for most junk removal services. Click here to find out more about these services.

Rent a Dumpster

You may choose to rent a dumpster if a big cleanup will likely be spread over a long period of time, or if you’re just a show cleaner and you know this is the easiest way for you to tackle this project. By renting a dumpster to keep in your driveway or side yard, you can throw your junk out over a long period of time. When the project is complete, call your junk removal company and they will remove the full dumpster. You can rent dumpsters in nearly any size, for any period of time. You might like this because it is a cheaper and simpler alternative than renting a truck and making multiple trips to the dump. 

Recycle and Donate

If you have “junk” that is not necessarily ready to be thrown in the landfill, but that you don’t need in your home anymore, please consider recycling or donating it. This includes old furniture, clothing items, shoes, toys and more. Call local organizations — churches, nonprofits, shelters — and see if they are in need of any of the items you have. Around the holiday season, churches and shelters are especially looking for donations.
If you intend on hiring a junk removal company, before you pay them their deposit, always inquire about how they will dispose of your junk. Reputable junk removal services will recycle all plastic, paper and aluminum items, and some may donate items that are not ready for the dump.

Sell On Your Own

You may want to take some of your smaller items at home and sell them on your own. This is not necessarily a bad idea. Craigslist, eBay and Rumgr are three online resources that can make selling your items a breeze. Seeing how much other people are buying what you're selling online can give you a great idea as to how much money you could potentially be making off your junk. On the flip side, however, is that selling your items online is incredibly time consuming. Doing so is also a gamble, and you may not even end up selling a lot of the junk you kept to sell. It’s important that you weigh these pros and cons before deciding to sell. 

Clearing out your home and getting rid of piled up junk doesn’t have to be a daunting, miserable task. There are many different ways to approach it, but you should always consider hiring a junk removal company to handle the task for you, as it is undoubtedly the most efficient option.


Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post.

20 December 2015

Holiday Beauty Tips For Busy Moms

Being a mom can be a handful especially around the holiday season with many family functions to attend and presents to wrap. Here are a few beauty tips to help you put your best foot forward this holiday season while saving time.

Get A Flawless Face Fast With Tinted Moisturizer

Makeup can feel heavy and cakey when you're running errands around town and just want to look polished. Skip the heavy-duty foundation and opt for a tinted moisturizer instead such as Laura Mercier's tinted moisturizer. Just touch up with a bit of concealer under the eyes and add a touch of blush on the apples of your cheeks in order to create an even and glowing complexion in a jiffy.

Cut Your Hair Drying Time In Half

Is it taking you forever to dry your hair in the morning? According to Shop Hair Dryers the right blow dryer for your hair type can cut your drying time by as much as half. If you have very long or thick hair pick a hair dryer with at least 1800 watts for fast and effective styling. Choose a hair dryer with tourmaline and ionic technology if you want an extra shine boost. Powerful dryers like the Babyliss Ceramix Xtreme may even have you skipping the flat iron.

Protect & Brighten Your Skin Daily With A Vitamin C Serum

Let's face it, skin can get pretty dull during the holiday season due to lack of sleep and late night cocktails. Applying a vitamin c serum takes just a few seconds and ensures antioxidant benefits throughout the day which means increased collagen production and more radiant skin.

According to Bestvitcserum.com the leading cause of aging and wrinkles is accumulative exposure to the sun's UVA rays and as busy moms we get exposed to plenty of rays throughout the day. Give your skin an extra layer of protection by always wearing sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 every day.

The holiday seasons can be an hectic time but hopefully these tips will enable you to save time and enjoy the festivities. 


Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.

18 December 2015

Win a Year's Worth of Tea #StartAHealthyHabit


Today I have an exciting giveaway to share with you all from Native American Tea Company!  It is a chance to win a year's worth of tea!  Not only a year's worth of tea is up for grabs, but it also comes with the beautiful tea chest pictured above.  The first prize winner will receive this Native American Wooden Tea Chest plus 1 Mini Sampler every month for one year.  That's a year of tea to enjoy so you can start a healthy habit!  Second prize will receive the Native American Tea Chest shown above and third prize will receive a Native American Mini Sampler.  To get your entries in click here to head on over to the Native American Tea Company.  Good luck everyone!

17 December 2015

Bag Lady No More

How frustrating can it be to try and get out the door with a baby? Seriously. Babies are small. They largely don’t do a whole lot other than gurgle, coo, and spit-up (and look awesomely cute while doing it!). Why do they require so much stuff? If you have twins or two kids in diapers… forget it. You are walking out that door with bags on each arm, and waddling to your car. We carry diapers, wipes, extra clothes, toys, snacks… you name it! Every parent knows this feeling, but someone has finally done something to reduce the clutter we drag around with us.

I was introduced to the Q-Tee Clutch not that long ago, and I’ve been carrying mine with me wherever my young son and I go. What is the Q-Tee Clutch, you may ask? Well, simply stated, it is the most compact and cost effective child invention in a long, long time! Essentially, it is an adorable onesie that folds up into something resembling a clutch purse. Why is this a game-changer? Because it means you have one less bag to carry around. Your bag IS your spare outfit, and it carries your extra diaper(s), and wipes. It even has room for a change of pants. This is amazing, and I will highlight why below.



  1. One bag down! It might not seem like much but when you have little kids, you need mobility, and you need to be able to easily run, or grab after them. If you have an infant, you are already carrying around that 30 lb. car seat, with your angel in it. You do not need a large bag, or bags, thrown over your shoulder on top of it all.

  2. Easily leave one or two in your glove compartment. If you have one of these in there, then you don’t need to carry it around. Your backup is with you at all times.

  3. Easy to pack away for those quick shopping trips. You can throw this into your purse, and run out to the supermarket with no fear of a blowout, and being without your massive bag of supplies. 

  4. Men have no excuse not to want to grab this and go. Some men are diaper bag resistant. Excuses be gone once you have this little product. They can simply put it into their jacket pocket and take their child out for a little trip.

  5. Sleek design. This is not your mommas diaper bag. This is modern, and practical for parents on the go. 

This is one of those products that you see, and beat yourself up for not having thought of it yourself. It makes so much sense. Check it out at http://www.qteeclutch.com. I have found my new go-to baby shower gift! 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.



Getting the Best Out of Wholesale Clothing

One of the best and easiest ways to shop for discounted clothes online is through various wholesale clothing retail shops. There are many reputable online stores that offer great selections on wholesale men’s and women’s clothing. Some would find it little odd to buy too many clothes at once. What they don’t understand is that with bulk buying, they’re able to open themselves to many exciting opportunities.

* Big business opportunity-The main reason why people invest in wholesale clothing is because of the lucrative income that can be generated through clothing retail. Today the fashion industry is mostly focused on producing clothes that may change from season to season, and with each change in the trend, retailers get an opportunity to sell something new to their customers.

 
It requires lot of efforts to make any business a success. But with easy access to wholesale clothing, you can easily take small steps towards that goal. Buying wholesale men’s and women’s clothing is much cheaper than buying each item per piece. You’ll also get faster returns on this type of clothing.

* Staying current with the trend-By buying cheaper clothing from wholesalers, you will keep yourself abreast with all that’s new in the world of fashion. As fashion trends change on day-to-day basis, you’re not sure about the trend that will be hot in next couple of weeks. If you’re the type who wants to stay abreast with the latest buzz in the world of fashion, the big price drop from wholesalers will surely perk you up. You can get the latest styles in different colors and can spare them with fashionable accessories to make you stand out among the crowd.

* You can also show your generosity among your family and friends. If you’re planning to give gifts on some special occasion, a piece of clothing will be much appreciated. More so, when your fashion clothing follows the latest fashion trends. Buying your clothing requirements in bulk will save you good money.

These are top reasons why buying wholesale clothing is so beneficial. Aside from keeping you dressed in trend, you can also make good money should you decide to enter the retail clothing business.

A passion for the latest fashion does not only mean buying trendy clothes by you. Making sure that others will also look good is a great way to create a happy atmosphere. You can consider buying clothes from wholesale shops if you want to give others clothes that are according to the latest trends.

Visit at Enewwholesale.com the wholesale marketplace now for more information and wholesale products!

Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post.

16 December 2015

Learn How to Take Better Pictures with Shoot Along


What would you give to have a year of your family’s memories beautifully documented through photography?

The Shoot Along project is designed specifically for parents who love taking pictures of their children! Through weekly newsletters, parents receive instruction, motivation, and support to help them grow in their photography skills. Members find a unique, supportive community on the private Shoot Along Member site by sharing the pictures they’ve taken and browsing through images posted by fellow members.
 

With partners like Minted, MPIX, and Artifact Uprising, Shoot Along is quickly growing into a powerful, worldwide movement of parents who are committed to finding and capturing joy in the “everyday” lives of their families. The project is open to parents with all kinds of cameras, from DSLRs to camera-phones.

To learn more about Shoot Along, visit www.shootalong.com!


Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.





15 December 2015

The Adventures of Captain Greenspud Giveaway

I have a fun children's book to share with you all today written by Blu de Golyer called The Adventures of Captain Greenspud.  If you've ever wanted to find a creative way to get your child to eat more veggies this book will do the trick!  Follow Captain Greenspud on his journey through the land of Spry when he has to take on the fiendish Count Carrotine and the bad veggies to save the day while teaching children the importance of eating their vegetables.  

The Adventures of Captain Greenspud is beautifully illustrated by the talented Sarah Wheeler.  Your kids will love looking at all the wonderfully drawn characters throughout this story.  You can learn more about this book and how you can purchase your own copy by visiting the book's website: Captain Greenspud

Giveaway

Prize: 5 Lucky readers of Textbook Mommy are going to win signed copies of The Adventures of Captain Greenspud!

Details: Open to U.S. residents ages 18 and older.  Winners must respond to the winning email within 48 hours or an alternate winner(s) will be selected.  Entry is via Rafflecopter form.  Good Luck!

Giveaway Ends:  December 30, 2015 at Midnight EST


Disclosure:  All opinions here are my own and are not a result of any outside influence.  Textbook Mommy is not responsible for prize fulfillment. 

11 December 2015

Water Damage Safety Tips

If you uncover a buildup of water or experience severe, sudden water damage in your home, it’s pivotal to your safety that you understand the proper steps to take. It’s true that prevention is essential but sometimes water damage happens. Read this article to learn more about water damage prevention.

If possible, shut off the water source. Also, if possible, get to your electrical panel and shut off circuits going to any rooms affected by the leak. Electricity poses a serious threat to you if there is standing water in your home. But if you can’t access the circuit breaker and you aren’t 100% sure it’s safe, don’t risk it. Just get out of the house and wait for a professional to arrive. 

Do not come in direct contact with the water on the floor. It could be in contact with loose electrical wires. You could hurt yourself by slipping in it or by getting contaminated water in contact with an open cut.
Remove as much water as possible from the affected part of the home, if possible. Use mops, old towels and rags and a wet vac, if you have one. Remove any affected rugs and bring them outside to dry in the sun. 

Wipe down wet furniture to remove excess water. Place aluminum foil between the furniture legs and the wet carpet. Open the windows and turn on any fans and/or air conditioners to circulate air and facilitate drying.
If the water is visibly contaminated with sewage, do not attempt to mop, blot or otherwise stop the spread of water. Instead, call a professional to remove the water immediately so that you can be sure your home is dry and you can begin to quell the spread of mold. 

Take as many photos of the damage as possible. Before a professional arrives and any necessary steps are taken on repairing the home, take pictures. This is especially necessary if you’re going to file an insurance claim. You want as much proof as you can get to back up your claim. 

Do not use a regular household vacuum to remove water. Do not use electrical appliances while standing on wet floor or carpet. Do not run a ceiling fan in a room where the ceiling is wet. Replace all damp insulation with new, dry insulation.

Do not go into a room where the ceiling is sagging from water damage. Instead, poke small holes in the affected ceiling to allow trapped water to drain. Use a bucket or pan to catch the water below.

07 December 2015

Capture Your Social Memories with Social Yearbook

Over the last few years, I’ve been using Facebook as a means of sharing my life and my kids’ lives with my friends and family. My timeline is littered with those moments at the pumpkin patch, Collin’s first homer, our family RV adventure, or that summer beach vacation. Facebook has been great for staying connected and sharing those memories. However, just like yesterday’s news they all get lost on my timeline.

That’s where Social Yearbook came to my rescue. Social Yearbook is different than other photobooks, as it captures all of the Comments and Likes for my pictures that make up a big part of those memories. A beautifully printed and bound version of my timeline that I can keep forever.


My biggest complaint with photobooks in the past was the amount of time they took to create, forcing me to sort through and uploaded all of the photos I wanted to include. Social Yearbook automatically does that for me by assembling the photos I have already uploaded to Facebook – the best and most interesting pics I have. I can select an entire year (ie 2015, 2014, etc.), or a specific date range (ie June 22nd – July 6th) and voilà! my book is ready to edit.

The best part is that I can choose to edit or delete any pictures, titles or comments to customize my book exactly how I want it.

Getting started with Social Yearbook is easy! Just go to http://socialyearbook.com, log in with your Facebook credentials, and follow the step by step instructions. 



Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post.


How to Help Your Child During Exam Season

Parental life is full of different challenges and trials. A big challenge is when your kids are studying for exams. When exam season hits, it hits hard. There’s lots of stress and sometimes a few tears. So, I’ve decided to provide you with some ways that you can help your kids during exams season:

Hire Extra Help

When your children were younger, you could provide them with some extra help during exams. You’d be able to sit with them and talk them through any tough points. But, as they get older, their work starts to get tougher. Unless you’re an expert on a certain subject, it can be hard to help out your child when studying for big exams. If they’re studying for their final exams in high school, there may be very little you can do to help.

But, that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything. Instead, you should look at trying to bring in extra help for them. You can hire tutors to help them out with subjects they’re struggling in. If they’re worried about not passing their math exam, hire a math tutor. Extra help will be very beneficial to them and could be the thing that gets their grades up. 


Give Them Space

Sometimes, the best thing you can do to help is to give your child space. There’s nothing they hate more than being berated all the time. Even if you’re just checking up on them to see how they’re doing. They want to study on their own and in peace. Give them the space they need so they can study effectively. Don’t be a pushy mom and try too hard to get involved. Understand when it’s time to take a step back so they can flourish.

Instead of checking up on them every half an hour, check up now and then. But, don't pop your head in and keep asking how it’s going. Go up to their room and bring them some lunch or a snack. Something to fuel their studying. They’ll appreciate it a lot. You’re not being too nosy, and you’re helping them stay focused.

Keep Distractions Away

One of your biggest tasks will be trying to keep distractions away from your child. This could mean taking their games console out of their room, or taking their phone for a few hours. Sometimes, they might even ask you to do these things so they can study better! Studying for exams at home is tough because there are loads of distractions. If you want to help, make sure your child isn’t distracted by any of them.

Other big distractions are noise and siblings. Try and keep the noise in the house down low. Make it an easy place to study. Likewise, keep their siblings from running into the room and disrupting their studies. If you can create a distraction-free zone for your child, they’ll find it a lot easier to study during exam season. 

Disclosure: This is a contributed post.


It’s hard when your kids are sitting exams because you feel helpless. You want them to do well; you want to help. Well, if you follow the tips above, you’ll be able to do just that.

05 December 2015

Find the Perfect Wedding Dress at Cocomelody


Luxurious A-Line Strapless Natural Train Tulle Ivory Sleeveless Lace Up Corset Wedding Dress

Finding the perfect wedding dress for your big day is a fun and exciting time!  The great folks over at Cocomelody have a wonderful variety of wedding dresses to browse to fit any budget.  Some of their beautiful styles include empire, mermaid, princess, reception gowns, beach wedding dresses, and more!  They can even help you find the perfect dresses for your bridal party and help you find accessories to compliment everyone's look.  

Delicate A-Line V-Neck Chapel Train Tulle Wedding Dress

Cocomelody also has beautiful designer collection dresses in stock.  Browse dresses by top designers such as Lily White, Grace Luxury, LB Studio, and more.  Do you have a custom dress in mind?  You can get a free design consultation with Cocomelody's dress designer to help your vision come to life!  



Right now Cocomelody is having a sale where you can use the code: COCOM to get free shipping.  Valid only 11/30/15 - 12/15/15.  I highly recommend heading over and checking out their wide selection of dresses that are priced very budget friendly and I just think they are all so gorgeous!  They also have in stock right now their 2016 wedding dresses which are also a must see!  If you are planning a wedding don't forget to check out Cocomelody.


Disclosure:  This is a sponsored post.

  

03 December 2015

Impress Guests with a Stylish Christmas Table



It doesn’t matter if you go all out or just do the bare minimum, Christmas decorations are one of the best parts of the holiday season. They can turn your home from everyday to extra special with a bit of tinsel and a few baubles here and there. There are so many color schemes and designs you can choose to make your home ready for Christmas day. However, there is another essential area of your home that often gets left out when the decorating begins. Your dining table. This is the area where your family and friends will gather and where you will share your festive feast together. So it needs to look fabulous while still be in keeping with the rest of your Christmas decor. Use these simple tricks to create a beautiful table and really impress your guests this year.

Use Candles


Candles make a great addition to a Christmas table as they are so diverse. You can choose tall, short, plain or decorative depending on what theme you have chosen. These lovely scented candles smell fantastic and will add some additional festive cheer to your feast too. Use an elaborate candle holder or display them in groups for a dramatic look. Or place small individual pillar candles wrapped in jute and use as a name card to assign seats to everybody. It doesn’t matter how you decide to use them as they are guaranteed to look fabulous.




Buy Festive Flowers


Flowers have been a staple decoration to accessorize tables for centuries. So why change a good thing? Create beautiful arrangements for the center of your table using Christmas flowers such as Poinsettia and Roses. Or if you aren’t very green fingered have one made for you by a flower company, such as Teleflora. Display your bouquet in red or green colored vases in the center of your table. Or have smaller bunches and display them in woven baskets for a traditional feel. If you don’t have the space to fit any floral arrangements on your table, use holly or fir tree branches and scatter them across the table. Mistletoe also works well. This will fill your table with dark greens and reds and will look fantastic among all of your Christmas food.


White Christmas


If you’re going for a modern looking Christmas table, stick to a clean white tablecloth and dinner set. This may seem boring but there are things you can do to make it look more sophisticated and festive. Use silver accessories such as crackers and bells to enhance the color of your cutlery. Use elegant glassware to also bring glamour and luxury to your table. This smart and simplistic look will make just as much impact as a more extravagant and colorful table. So don’t be put off sticking to a simpler style for Christmas day.


Think about your accessorizing carefully. You don’t want to create something that takes up too much room and makes your tables less functional for your guests. Get creative and use your styling ideas to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. No matter how you decide to dress your table, it’s bound to please everyone who sits around it.



Shop the Latest Price Drops with Shogasm



If you're looking to save some extra  money this holiday season you may want to check out Shogasm.  Shogasm is a new shopping website that organizes products from over 140 online stores and allows users to browse, track, share, collect, and organize their favorite products.  They are constantly adding new price drops so users can get the best deals on exactly what they are looking for!  This holiday season don't break the bank, head on over to Shogasm and see the wide variety of products they have to offer and save yourself some of that hard earned money this holiday season.

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