girls Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

The Most Charming Frozen Gift Ideas

Paula — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 18:18:55 +0000

Did you know that the Frozen sequel is due out any time now! My kids have long since aged out of this phase, but to be honest at least two of us will be watching the new movie together. Age is relative, right? I happen to love Anna and Elsa and Olaf too of course, so I can’t wait. This season, as we get closer and closer to the holidays I wanted to share a few of my favourite Frozen gift ideas. Hunting for the most perfect Frozen gift ideas ever? Look no further. I gathered a few of the most charming ideas around here for you. There’s still time to order them and have some of these delivered fast for the holidays. Depending on the shipping options you choose, they could be in your home by next week. Which Frozen toy have you been looking for? Do you have a Frozen Fan? The Most Charming Frozen Gift Ideas – Disney Frozen Elsa’s Ice Palace Playset Disney Frozen Small Doll Elsa and Magical Lights Palace Playset Frozen Little Golden Book Playhut Frozen Bed Tent Frozen Olaf’s Summer Tea Set Frozen Olaf, Anna, Elsa, Kristoff Figure (4-Pack) Disney Frozen Sticker Sheets, 4ct Disney Frozen Sisters Forever Pop Up Hamper Disney Frozen KIDdesigns Chill ‘n’ Chat FRS 2-Way Radios Disney Frozen Sparkle Princess Elsa Doll Disney Frozen Sisters Giftset Disney Frozen Elsa Wooden Magnetic Playset Disney FROZEN Travel DRESS-UP TRUNK Disney Frozen Do You Want to Build a Snowman Jewelry Box Toy Ultimate Sticker Book: Frozen Frozen Celebrate Love Comforter Spot it! Disney Frozen – Alphabet Disney Frozen Enchanting Dress – Elsa Disney Frozen Cool Tunes Sing Along Boombox LEGO Disney Princess Elsa’s Sparkling Ice Castle Disney Frozen Olaf Cuddle Pillow Frozen Elsa’s Musical Snow Wand Disney Frozen Crystal Kingdom Vanity Disney Frozen Surprise Slides! Game Disney Frozen: 12 Board Books Crayola Frozen Color & Sticker Books Disney Frozen Loving Sisters Micro Raschel Throw Projectables Disney Frozen LED Plug-In Night Light Disney Frozen Castle Playset Play-Doh Disney Frozen Sparkle Snow Dome Set with Elsa and Anna Disney Frozen Cool Tunes Headphones Disney Frozen Anna and Elsa’s Musical Bicycle Playset Disney Frozen Flip Open Sofa Disney Frozen Fever Elsa Doll Disney Frozen Light Blue Stationery Set Pack with Case Disney Frozen Magical MP3 Microphone Frozen Elsa’s Tiara Crayola Frozen Inspiration Art Case Hide Away Pets Frozen Olaf Plush Frozen: Olaf’s Quest – Nintendo DS Disney Frozen Pop Up Board Game Crayola Frozen Giant Coloring Pages Frozen Activity Tote Kit A Tale of Two Sisters (Disney Frozen) (Step into Reading) Frozen Lip Gloss Tubes Frozen Olaf’s in Trouble Game Disney Frozen 5 Wood Puzzles in Wood Storage Box Disney Frozen Elsa’s Magical Musical Gloves Disney Frozen UNO Card Game Frozen Disney Disco Party CD+G Karaoke with Light Holiday Gift Giving Days are Here! Frozen is almost out so that makes these gifts super hot again. Start shopping now and don’t forget to sock some away for birthdays too! WHEW!! That’s a lot of frozen gift ideas. There’s something here for every tiny or growing Frozen fan! This post contains affiliate links as a service to readers.

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11 Survival Tips For Raising Teenage Daughters

Paula — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 20:22:00 +0000

Raising teenage daughters is not a walk in the park. Your sweet little girl, that adorable baby you used to dress up in cute pink dresses, who insisted on reading Robert Munsch bedtime stories all snuggled up in her toddler bed for years, is now a teenager. Oh yeah, it happened fast too, didn’t it? Overnight, she’s a surly teenager with attitude, and you wonder how your relationship will survive this. Relax, the good news is you’ll both be fine…eventually. There are just some things that you need to remember. Chief among those is DO not take it personally. You were a teenager once. Try to think like your teenage daughters. What annoyed you or made you want to argue with every single word your Mom and Dad uttered? Put yourself in her shoes occasionally. Try empathy and then use these tips. Here are 11 survival tips for raising teenage daughters: Communication Is Vital Your teen is a person so talk to her and not at her. She is going to roll her eyes, mumble under her breath and make some signs you’d rather not see her make if you lecture her for everything. Pick an appropriate time to talk, not while she’s on the phone with her friends or doing her homework, unless of course, the rare occasion she asks for your help presents itself. When you do talk, ask her what’s happening. Make sure you listen and get to know. It is true that quality matters far more than quantity. Even five minutes of real conversation is worth more than hours of empty words when raising teenage daughters. Lately a lot of parenting experts I follow recommend asking how is your head and how is your heart or some variation of this. You could open the door to discuss mental health by phrasing it so. If you’ve been around here before at all then you know we love to ski and travel. One of my favourite things about skiing is the time spent on the chairlift. That ride up the hill or mountain gives me a captive audience. My kids share an awful lot on the chairlift. Sometimes in the pool too. I seize all of those opportunities as often as possible. These road trips, swim days, and ski trips are my secret weapon in raising teenage daughters. Don’t Bark Orders You’re a parent, not a drill sergeant. Speaking to your teen with respect will often, but not always, get you respect in return. No matter how many rules she breaks or boundaries she pushes, remember she is your child and she will need guidance. Patience will sometimes be hard, but it is not impossible. Sometimes you have to take a deep breath and walk away. Sometimes it helps me to remember this roller coaster video by a parenting expert. Create A Safe Environment Even your teen daughter needs to feel safe in order to talk to you or come to you when something is wrong. If your daughter ends up somewhere with someone that’s been drinking and she needs a ride home, you want her to call you. Don’t make threats, give her choices and allow her to make some mistakes. That’s how your teen daughter will learn and be prepared to move on as an adult. The mistakes made in the safety of your home will help her to make decisions in the future. Give her some freedom, but create a safe environment. Teach Her Don’t be afraid to admit when you make a mistake. She will learn from it and your relationship will grow. Take the lessons you learned as a teen and let her learn them. That’s not to say you can’t tell her a few select stories to show her how certain situations turned out for you. You need to let her grow up. You can’t protect her forever but you can teach her to take care of herself. Trusting your teen daughter will go a long way in your survival of those rollercoaster teen years. Be Careful Buying Her Big Things Do you want to buy her a car, or do you want her to learn to work for it and buy it herself? Maybe you help with the car, but she has to pay for the insurance? Did you buy her a phone, but she has to pay the monthly bill? Or maybe she wants the latest iPhone model and you’re making her pay for that herself. You should be careful buying too many big-ticket items, even if you can afford it, because you want your teen to learn to work for some of the big things herself. They value things more when they have had a role in helping earn them. No Negotiating Consequences It can feel sometimes like you are growing future lawyers and not raising teenage daughters. Mine will argue that the sky is not blue just to argue with my husband and I some mornings. Not everything is a negotiation. You will not get anywhere if you punish your daughter then allow her to negotiate her way out of the punishment. She also shouldn’t be able to negotiate her way into getting something for nothing. Has she done her chores? Is her homework done? Yes, good then she can continue life doing the things she would normally get to enjoy once she finishes them. Know Who Is in Her Circle and Get to Know Them This will go a long way in allowing you to know what your teen is doing and who is she is around. She should feel comfortable inviting her friends over, if they’re all at your house you know what they are and aren’t doing. Reasons why I love having a pool. It can be a great gathering place for friends. Be a Parent Not a Friend No matter how much you want to be included you are a parent and not a friend. There will be plenty of time for that when your teen daughter is grown, working, and raising a family. It is your job to teach, guide and keep her safe. It is not your job to ensure that she is always the life of the party. Boundaries are important and can prevent disaster. Just the Two of You Spend some time that’s just the two of you, even if it’s just shopping for school supplies and clothes. Go out to a movie or have dinner. It’ll help keep the lines of communication open. Take a mother daughter trip or weekend away if possible. Raising teenage daughters who communicate with you is vital. Sensitivity Chances are she’s sensitive to everything. Don’t tease her, she is reaching an age where she doesn’t find it as amusing as you. You could actually hurt her feelings. When in doubt, just don’t say it. Don’t Let Her Bait You When your teen daughter is rude or sarcastic simply walk away. Don’t let her pick her a fight. You are the adult, teach her to walk away from those situations by showing her how. This one is so challenging for me. In fact, I was baited just today by my youngest. Remember when it comes to surviving raising teen daughters, it is difficult. And you can do it. The main things you need are patience, empathy, humour and the ability to walk away and take a break from it all when you think you’re about the snap. Keep those lines of communication open, and be there when she needs you. She will need you – even if it doesn’t feel like it right now. Over to You Do you have teenage girls? Any tips of your own to add?

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How to Save on Grad Dresses and Prom Dresses

Paula — Wed, 25 Apr 2018 09:12:27 +0000

Is it possible to save money on grad dresses or prom dresses? Absolutely. No need to break the bank just because it’s graduation time or prom time. Hard to believe, but my youngest is graduating grade eight in June. Which as we all know means shopping and potential to ruin the budget. But shopping for prom dresses and grad dresses doesn’t need to break the bank. Here’s how we saved money on grade 8 grad dresses for both of our girls. I’ve been a bargain hunter most of my life. It’s extremely rare for me to pay full price on major purchases. Negotiation is actually something I’m good at. For years we had to be super strict about our purchases and budget so old habits die hard as they say. Why would grad dresses or prom dresses be any different? Three times now we’ve been in the position of shopping for grade 8 grad dresses, prom and semi-formal dresses. Two daughters and three dresses. One is in high school and there are more opportunities to go to fancy dances when you’re in high school. But every single time we’ve managed to save. In fact, those three dresses have cost us under $200 all together. FYI, if your child is graduating grade eight here’s a post about preparing them for the high school transition. Wait, what? How can that be? Well as I mentioned I’m a bargain shopper. With a few easy tips you can survive and thrive with teenage daughters who need dresses for fancy occasions. Here’s how we saved and looked fabulous as well. Four easy ways to save on grad dresses and prom dresses: 1. Buy gently used. When my older daughter was graduating from grade 8 I told her she could have any dress she liked that fit. I gave her wide-open budget at that time because I wanted her to feel good about what she was wearing and I felt generous to be honest. But my oldest daughter isn’t really a huge fan of shopping and she found a dress at Goodwill surprisingly I loved it. Her floor length turquoise dress was $17.50. 2. Borrow a dress A couple of years later my oldest daughter and a good friend were dating and they had to go to a semi formal at school that was 20s themed. This time she came home with a dress she had borrowed from a friend. It was a perfect fit and looked amazing on her. 3. Shop where savings abound This year my youngest daughter is graduating from grade 8. Soon she will go away with the class on a 3 day grade eight graduation trip. She’s excited about that. We went through a period of time where she wanted to wear jeans to her graduation and I mostly laughed about that, but eventually she started to get a bit anxious because everybody else was shopping, or had their outfits already. So on the weekend I decided to pause and take her into Winners. She tried on three dresses and fell in love with a long black fitted floor length gown. The dress has a peek-a-boo cutout in back. To be honest, even though it was only the third or fourth dress we’ve tried on in this entire process she fell in love with it and the price was so good that we ended up buying it. Grand total $75. Now this dress needs to be hemmed. And we need a special bra because of the cut out back and I will buy a lovely age appropriate pair of heels. But it’s perfect. Again I could’ve gone higher on the dress and been comfortable with that but she found what she loved and we are both extremely happy with it. 4. Rent a gown There are many services now also where you can rent a grad dress or prom dress. I am totally for it if it saves money, and reusing dresses is not a bad idea in my opinion. Buying things that you only wear once doesn’t sit well with me ever. So here’s to saving money on grad dresses and prom dresses. I’d much rather have cash to spend on a cottage rental or a fun vacation getaway every year than a closet full of dresses my daughters have only worn once. Is your daughter graduating this year or going to a special formal dance? Are you splurging or saving?

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New Playtex® Sport® Compact Tampons – Discreet Options for Girls on the Go

Paula — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 08:59:24 +0000

I am a spokesperson for Playtex Sport and as such I have been compensated. This is my experience and it is truthful. WHEW! I am home for a few days. This summer has been crammed with travel, road trips, camping and camps. My teens have lucked out being able to go camping, hiking, canoeing and visiting their cousins. They’re still active in martial arts and swimming in July and August. BUT, travel and camp, has taken a big role for us this season. My girls are 13 and 16. Together we travel often, because that’s a major part of my blog and business here. They need to be ready to run or pack at the drop of a hat. I just drove one to camp for two weeks in Muskoka region of Ontario. On the way to camp I dropped my older girl off at her aunt’s house. Two days before that we went camping. In June we spent a weekend exploring Sherkston Shores. WATERSLIDES!! And we are expecting to stay in a yurt for fun right before school starts. Last week I bought a box of Playtex® Sport® Compact tampons because I trust Playtex brand feminine hygiene products. I had heard good things already about the discrete tiny compact nature of the new Playtex® Sport® Compact tampons. My older daughter cracked the box open and stocked her backpack with these before we headed to meet my brother and his family to camp in the Kawarthas. My daughter and I were both astonished at the size of these tampons. TINY and discreet matters, as much as being prepared when traveling. When you need to run to the bathroom and your tiny cousin wants to follow you the last thing you want is an interrogation about what you are carrying. And if you want to jump in the lake to cool off, or swim, worry free options during your period are vital. Fishing for hours off a dock? No problem. Canoeing? Riding horses? Sailing, playing baseball or basketball? Worry free. Playtex® Sport® Compact tampons are the newest compact from the #1 athletic tampon brand. They are 30 % smaller than Playtex® Sport® full sized tampons (based on length before extended). Oh, and they offer the same great 360 degree sport level protection. Also crucial, because my kids aren’t slowing down. As a Mom of teen girls I am in charge of all sorts of new shopping decisions. If one needs face wipes, or facial cleanser that’s up to me. Hair conditioner and product. Me. New bras. Me. Neither one of the girls drives yet and any money they earn they often save. But sometimes this Mom feels like a taxi and an ATM. Bank of Mom occasionally feels drained, even exploited at the checkout. But this is a product I feel great about buying. Playtex Sport supports girl’s sports through their Play On Canada sports initiative. And they get the importance of discreet products for girls on the go. I can easily recall being a teenage girl in high school. That trip down the hall to the washroom in the middle of class could make you feel self conscious. The struggle to hide tampons in your hand or purse as you walk down the hall…it’s real. When we opened this box of this newest Playtex product – Playtex® Sport® Compact tampons – we were blown away by the size first of all. SO TINY. You can easily conceal in your palm, pencil case, makeup bag or gym bag. Playtex® Sport® Compact tampons are perfect for active athletic girls, providing great protection no matter what sport you play. Here we do horseback riding, acting, skiing, basketball and martial arts. In fact just a couple of months ago both my girls graded to probationary black belt. That was a big deal and it means heading to lessons at least 3 times a week. Periods can’t slow you down. The size also makes these ideal for traveling. When you travel a lot, or camp, you know every square inch of backpack, or suitcase is crucial. Small things that take up less space are brilliant when they allow you more freedom. That’s what these do. We are super impressed with this latest Playtex product. Oh and by the way Playtex Sport web site is my GO TO RESOURCE for moms and daughters. There’s so much information that can help if your daughter is about to start her period, or already has her period. The PERIOD FAQ page is he best, with reliable and useful facts that help. Playtex® Sport® Compact tampons are available exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart! I am a spokesperson for Playtex Sport Compact and as such I have been compensated. This is my opinion and my story and it is truthful.

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Limeapple Back to School Packs on Sale

Paula — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 00:23:51 +0000

My girls are active girls. If yours are at all like mine then you know that the quest to find good quality, age appropriate athletic wear is a challenging one. Finding affordable athletic wear for girls is almost like spotting a LIVE unicorn flying over a rainbow. But, it doesn’t have to be quite so impossible with Limeapple’s Back to School sale. Affordable and adorable high performance girl’s clothing is available now, for two days this week only Friday August 18 and Saturday August 19 at Limeapple.com. I have shared posts previously about Limeapple and why I love their clothing for my girls. Right now though Limeapple has their Back to School packs on for 50 % off. Limeapple is offering their newest fall 2017 Limeapple girls clothing for people to buy in coordinated Back-To-School Gift Packs. There are three different Limeapple back to school packs available. Boutique Pack (Casual Wear), Sport Pack, and Gym Strip Pack (That’s $50 instead of $108) All 3 of the packs are 50 % off. Limeapple’s Bubble Hoodies and tights are some of my favourite items they offer. My youngest daughter loves the soft bubble hoodies better than any other hoodies. The athletic tops and shorts are routinely packed in her backpack for gym class. Limeapple Limeapple is a lifestyle clothing brand offering fun, practical, well made clothing for smart, confident, adventurous, young girls age 4 thru 14. From signature printed leggings to fun tops and dresses, there’s something for everyone. This post has been sponsored by Limeapple which means I received compensation. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful.

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Get Loud for Girls – Mental Health Awareness Week #GetLoud

Paula — Mon, 01 May 2017 14:42:27 +0000

I had no plans to write about Mental Health Awareness Week, but there’s this conversation I recently had with a male paediatric psychiatrist that struck a chord. It continues to disturb me, because it rang true. So, I need it off my chest so to speak. I need it out of my head. Get Loud for Girls? You might be wondering why just girls? It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and I want you to get loud for everyone. Get loud for the 1 in 5. BUT, I want you to think hard about whether Mental Health Awareness and Care is equal for males and females, especially when it comes to children and youth. Sit with that for a moment and let me share the broad strokes of this conversation I had recently. I was sitting there in the doctor’s office during a regular appointment for my one daughter. It was a bi-annual thing. The appointment to double check her medicines, her height and weight, and discuss her growth trajectory and behaviour at school and home. To be honest I view these appointments as perfunctory. I resent having to remove my child from school sometimes to discuss her strengths and shortcomings in front of her. It is maddening. But I do it because it is the only game in town, and because she has followup care. She also has a caring doctor that is involved. Does he always understand exactly what I am telling him about her needs? No. Definitely not. But we meandered through half a dozen experts before finding this one. So, here we are on a recent spring day talking attention deficit disorder and learning disabilities, anxiety, gender and lifelong outlook. Towards the end of the appointment, I asked a question regarding my other daughter. My oldest has had anxiety disorder for years. She manages and does extremely well most of the time. We have done all the things, from play therapy to art therapy to medication and youth mental health group treatment and cognitive behavioural therapy. Stressing again that she does extremely well. BUT, that said she needs to be followed. Despite my experience as a parent of children with special needs, and all the health care gaps we have seen and fallen into, I anticipate that a person in Canada with any diagnosis gets care. Diagnosis, treatment and followup care. Anxiety medications are serious. All medications are serious actually, especially in kids. And yet nobody follows her. How can that be you ask? Well when you complete the intensive youth anxiety treatment group at the hospital they discharge you. They suggest your family doctor can follow your child and write the prescriptions out. And that is all well and good. Until your family doctor says – wait what is the follow up plan?- the outlook? the longterm? Then he stops because he questions why there is not continuity of care for a young girl with generalized anxiety disorder. And this is not his expertise. He clearly feels uncomfortable. So a massive chasm opens up again. We begin questioning AGAIN where is this going and why is nobody following this girl? And why is children’s mental health care so bloody hard to navigate and access. Truth. We were told years ago that the expert at London Health Sciences who diagnosed my older daughter would not be able to follow her. SHE works out of Toronto as well and is stretched super thin. We would have stood on our heads and sung the alphabet in Mandarin while juggling flaming swords with our feet to get assessment and diagnosis at that point. While taking care of my youngest girl and gathering her prescriptions, I ask her current specialist who is not accepting new patients, about the side effects of a medication. He confirms immediately that YES, that what you are describing is a definite side effect of a stimulant medication. That needs to be checked out and monitored or she needs to come off of that medication under doctor’s supervision. On a whim, I tell him her story that she has no specialist and the family doctor is leery to even write her prescriptions. He offers to take her referral if I direct the family doctor to do it quickly. But first he says – I am not surprised. Not surprised at all. Family doctors receive very minimal training in mental health issues and treatment, he says. Many doctors will not tell you but the last thing they want to take on is a young girl with mental health issues. Eating disorders, and puberty and mental health and anxiety – all of these issues have them running scared. And they can be hardest to treat in young girls. His words. Not mine. A specialist with decades of experience working in mental health care in Ontario. That one conversation has stuck with me months later. It was my WTF moment? Because health is health and doctors are sworn to help care for their patients, regardless of their diagnosis, age, colour, disability, ability, race, gender…..right? ROLLS EYES, SHAKES FISTS at the heavens. Well there’s theory and then there’s reality. And months of searching for a person to follow a child with anxiety shouldn’t be this hard. His observation actually rings true. It gives me context for all the challenges we have had over the years, which I thought were related to diagnosis. But never ever considered might have something to do with gender. So this week I am getting Loud for Mental Health Awareness Week. I am also getting loud for Girls. BECAUSE if you need health care you should get it and 1 in 5 people have mental health issues or disabilities. Be honest, we all know someone with a mental health diagnosis. I know 5 or 6 people in my extended family alone and 3 of those were/ are girls. The ability to access timely and appropriate mental health care for both of my daughters has been challenging often and I have written about that. Here’s one of the first pieces I wrote about my daughter’s anxiety for Today’s Parent magazine. Change is happening. Awareness grows. But we need so much more still. …We need to invest in is education and training for young doctors. In fact we might consider incentivizing some to step into children’s mental health so kids, and in particular young girls are not left vulnerable and under serviced. GET LOUD and USE the LOUD: So Get Loud. Get Loud for children and adults and Get Loud for Girls. But don’t get loud for a day or a week. USE THE LOUD UNTIL the gaps are filled and girls don’t have to shout, or self harm to be seen, diagnosed, treated and followed.

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Share Photos of Your Daughter’s Old Gear to Win #PlayOnWinGear

Paula — Sun, 02 Apr 2017 10:29:12 +0000

I am a spokesperson for Playtex Sport and as such I have been compensated. This is my opinion and my story and it is truthful. Is your daughter’s basketball jersey junk? Is that wrestling singlet sunk? Volleyball uniform vanish? Don’t sweat it. You can still save the day. Right now you could win a new uniform for your daughter, or grand-daughter. You might even win uniforms for the entire team with the Playtex Sport Gear Giveaways. This is one contest you will want to share. The Playtex Sport Gear Giveaways are happening right now on Instagram. It’s easy to enter. All you have to do is upload a photo of your old gear and post to Instagram for a chance to win one of several $100 weekly gift cards to Sport Chek. See more details and rules below. I am the Mom of two athletic girls. My girls are strong and sporty. This year they will grade to probationary black belts. They have a tournament this weekend. And my youngest is competing in a dressage show at the stable where she rides this April. They take pride in how they look when they compete. Part of that comes from practice and knowing the sport inside and out. And a piece of that also comes from looking the part. Uniforms should inspire girls to do their best at whatever sport they choose. When girls get in the game, they learn teamwork, develop a work ethic, get into shape, and boost their self confidence. Unfortunately, girls are at a serious disadvantage when it comes to playing sports. With less opportunities and less variety, girls often have to take what they can get. High school girls in Canada should have every opportunity to succeed and be supported with whatever sport they choose. Unfortunately for female athletes, barriers often stand in the way of success. That’s why I love that Playtex Sport is working hard at breaking barriers for girls with their Playtex Play On Canada Grant Program and their sports gear giveaways. Did you know? 72 % of high school girls say they are unable to participate to their full potential in high school sports. In May 2016, Playtex Sport did research on girls in sports and found that many Canadian girls believe their participation in sports is limited because they can’t afford athletic participation fees, uniforms or transportation. Canadian girls believe that boys teams get more support. Now Playtex Sport is asking Canadians to share photos of your old sports gear (including uniforms) on Instagram for the chance to win new gear for them or their team. From April through August anyone can enter by posting a photo and using the hashtag #PlayOnWinGear. Don’t forget to tag @PlaytexPlayOn in the photo. A weekly draw will determine the winner and each person in the photo will win a $100 Sport Chek gift card (up to a maximum of $1500.) Tell your daughters about the program. Share the initiative with other mothers and grandmothers too. Rules and Regulations for the gear giveaway are here – > http://paradigmpr.ca/PlaytexSportContestMiniRulesGearGiveaways.pdf Playtex Sport GEAR GIVEAWAY: And right now one of my Canadian readers can also win their own great gear giveaway prize from Playtex and Thrifty Mommas Tips. The Playtex Gear Giveaway shown here includes: Under Armour duffle bag Playtex Sport t-shirt Multi-pack of headbands High-quality earbuds Heavy-duty jump rope Playtex PlayON! water bottle Playtex Sport product – 18 super / 18 regular combo pack Follow instructions below for a chance to win. Good Luck! Please remember to Follow along on these channels: Instagram: @playtexplayon Twitter: @playtexplayon Facebook: www.facebook.com/playtexplayon Entry-Form I am working with Playtex Sport to share information about the Playtex Play On Canada Grant Fund, and as such I have been compensated. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful.

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First Shave – Building Good Hygiene Habits for Daughters #ad #moveslikenoother

Paula — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 20:07:37 +0000

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Gillette Venus. All opinions are 100% mine. First shave. There are so many teen and tween developmental milestones that are tricky areas to navigate. First period, first kiss, first shave, first date. There’s really no rule book for these areas. Even though your girls will probably pretend they do not want to hear any of this information from Mom, it’s important that they learn. I mean everything Mom does or says is embarrassing at a certain point, but still you have to keep the channels of communication open. And it’s important that you help build in some basic good hygiene habits from the start. Make the First Shave a Great Experience The first shave is a MAJOR first. I’m not even joking when I say that my youngest was asking since she was 11 years old. “When should I start shaving my legs?” I repeatedly advised her she was a bit too young to start at 11, but by 12 she didn’t want to wait any longer, so it was time to discuss how to do a first shave and what tools we needed. On the weekend we were both driving to a social event – a bridal shower – together. It was an exciting day and something purely girly. Only my youngest and I were going because my older girl had a rehearsal for her play and was busy. The nice thing about these opportunities is that we have the chance to have Girl Time and one on one GIRL DAY. Yes, we even call it that. After martial arts, she and I tidied up and were preparing to dress up a bit so we had the chance to cover this topic again. Use Shave Gel Always start with a great shave gel and use a moisturizing lotion after shaving. The gel helps eliminate skin irritation, and the lotion keeps skin hydrated and healthy. Luckily the Gillette Venus Swirl has a water activated Moisture Glide Serum making the first shave and every shave thereafter, a gentle experience. That’s important for teens and tweens, and Moms too. You can find more information about the product here – www.gillettevenus.ca Use Warm Water Warm water is best for shaving because it opens the pores and helps with getting a closer shave. After shaving, give a quick spray of cold water on the legs to close all those pores back up. Don’t Buy Into the Waxing Myth Many girls, and women too, think that waxing is the only way to get smooth, hair-free and exfoliated skin. This is a MYTH. And a painful one, at that! If your daughter uses a good shave gel and a sharp razor, she’ll get skin that’s just as smooth and exfoliated without the pain of waxing. Waxing can be expensive and painful. Razors are generally more convenient and affordable. Use a Razor That’s Designed for Women In addition to menstruation and the first shave, part of becoming a woman is developing curves. For a wonderful experience with that first shave and every shave after, our daughters can’t use just any old razor. Women need something that navigates curves without causing pressure, skin irritation, and the worst of all, cuts. The Venus Swirl was made for women and designed by women. Why do I care about that? Women’s bodies are unique. We quite simply shouldn’t be shaving with razors made for men. It’s important to me to support businesses that build their products for women, with input from women. It matters to me as a parent of two girls. If your tween, or teenager, is just starting to use a razor, you don’t want them getting discouraged easily. Good products that work are vital to making sure their first tries at shaving are successful. Venus Swirl pivots nicely to manoeuvre around curves, so your daughter doesn’t have to work too hard. The moisture glide serum also means no irritation during or after shaving. My daughter has sensitive skin so I am very conscious of things that can aggravate her and cause itching or dry skin. I find, when I shave, that the knee, both behind and in front, and the ankle area are the trickiest spots. There are often fine hairs left around the knee area even after a long shave. But that wasn’t the case with the Venus Swirl. No more missed hairs? That’s something to celebrate and share. If I had a dollar for every single time I cut myself near the ankle with a rigid razor I’d have about $100 more dollars than I do today. FLEXIBALL™ technology somehow translated into no nicks or cuts. That’s the way a shave should be. The flexible nature of the Venus Swirl is ideal for your teenager. Whether you have been shaving for 30 years, or are just learning, comfort and convenience matters. The cute design doesn’t hurt either. For kicks on the weekend I tried my current razor on one leg and the Venus Swirl on the other. Then, because the one done with the old razor was still not smooth I redid it with the Venus Swirl. The difference was noticeable. The First Shave Should be Wonderful The first shave is a major rite of passage for our daughters, so it’s important to be sure it goes smoothly… I had to. Make sure she understands the importance of a good shave gel, a good lotion, and the most advanced razor out there, the Venus Swirl. With the best gel, razor, and guidance, that first shave can be a milestone our daughters never forget. One that leaves her with smooth, flawless skin! Follow Venus Swirl on Twitter and Venus Swirl on Facebook too. With so many shaving myths out there, it can be hard to know fact vs. fiction. Check out more advice at Gillette Venus

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Limeapple’s Bubble Hoodies Give Back #BecauseICan

Paula — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 12:43:14 +0000

I have two athletic, talented, smart, comical girls that are fast becoming young women, and who seem busier than ever in 2017. This year has been a flurry of activity so far – from skiing, horseback riding, basketball, martial arts, travel, play rehearsals, and more. As a Mom, I choose clothing that lasts and works hard to keep up with my active girls. Limeapple fits every time. And Now Limeapple’s Bubble Hoodies also give back. We are particular about the clothing the kids wear and how it moves when racing back and forth to horseback riding, martial arts, dance, drama rehearsals, basketball and skiing. Limeapple bubble hoodies and athletic pants and jackets are some of our favourite pieces because they are versatile, high quality and super soft. Our Limeapple bubble hoodies have travelled many kilometres this year alone on cruises, through airports and up and down dozens of chairlifts in Vermont, London, Ontario and Collingwood area. My girls love these bubble hoodies because they say there’s nothing softer or warmer. Both girls wear their bubble hoodies from Limeapple often. They are excellent for skiing and super for jackets when racing out the door to a sports activity, or to catch a plane. Limeapple is a clothing brand I love. That’s why I am happy to share that Limeapple is launching their “Because I Can” campaign today. Starting today, March 1st they are donating 10 % of their sales from BUBBLE HOODIES. Proceeds go to three causing Educating Girls, Childhood Cancers and Empowering Girls, specifically Plan International, Kids CANcer Care, Because I am a Girl and Girls on the Run. Just leave a note on the order indicating which charity you wish to support. Limeapple believes in girls and makes clothing that fits girls and encourages them to be active. That is what I love about this brand. The clothing is fun, colourful, fashionable and functional. There are several details we love in the bubble hoodies – long sleeves with thumbholes, and locking zippers that stand up to wear and tear. The polyester material will look good wash after wash. [tweetthis]Limeapple is donating 10 % of sales from BUBBLE HOODIES to charities that support girls #BecauseICan[/tweetthis] Limeapple Bubble Hoodies: In a rainbow of gorgeous colours and sizes too, these bubble hoodies now help give back to girls and healthy charities that support children. There’s no better time to buy one. Trust me this will be one piece your daughter, or granddaughter loves. We have Limeapple Bubble Hoodies in black, cobalt and dark purple. I love them all and they wash beautifully! Now they also give back. There’s no better time to buy one. This post has been sponsored by Limeapple which means I received compensation, and/ or product in order to post. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful.

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Breaking Barriers for Girls – Playtex Sport Play On Canada Grant Program #PlayOnCA #ad

Paula — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 12:01:54 +0000

I am a spokesperson for Playtex Sport and as such I have been compensated. This is my opinion and my story and it is truthful. Raising fierce girls is a privilege and a duty. One I am grateful for, most days. Girls are change agents. They are keepers of the future, dreamers, teachers, doctors, explorers, scientists and athletes. When we raise girls we change the world together. Unfortunately for girl athletes, barriers often stand in the way of success. That’s why I love that Playtex Sport is working hard at breaking barriers for girls with their Playtex Play On Canada Grant Program. Did you know 72% of Canadian girls say that they’re unable to participate to their full potential in high school sports? That’s almost three quarters of Canadian girls who say barriers to participation in high school sports include inability to afford uniforms, transportation or athletic fees. And in fact 48% say that boys have more choices when it comes to high school sports. I am the Mom of two athletic girls, ages 12 and 15. One is in high school and the other will be headed there in another couple of years. My daughters do extracurricular sports from horseback riding and skiing to martial arts. This summer both of my girls are scheduled to grade to their adult probationary black belt. And this year my youngest daughter made the girls school basketball team. Watching her grow and be part of a team sport has been wonderful. For us, being fit and athletic and building strong bodies is every bit as important as building strong minds. We strive to do a lot of family sports together. I am conscious of communicating to both my girls that healthy living and sports are part of life every day, including the days when you have your period and menstrual cramps. In the blink of an eye my younger daughter will be heading to high school. Because she never met a sport she didn’t like immediately, I am certain she will join as many team sports as she can squeeze into her already busy schedule. As parents we will support her with that. But it worries me when I read that boys’ sports teams typically have better opportunities than girls do. There are multiple barriers to success for girls in high school sports and that’s just wrong. Girls have just as much right to do sports as boys do. Canadian female athletes are world class. Remember the Olympics? Our Canadian female athletes dominated many sports. For many of these young women, I am sure their love of sports began at school. I believe that schools, private companies and parents all play a part in making sure girls achieve success in any field, or sport they choose. Breaking barriers when it comes to high school sports is vital to making sure girls have all the opportunities available. Playtex Sport gets that. That’s why they launched their Play On Canada Grant Program in August of 2016. Now, after several months of contest entries Playtex Sport is ready to reveal all 13 of the recipients of the Play On Canada grant. Thirteen high school girls’ teams representing a wide range of sports from wrestling to swimming, soccer, basketball, weightlifting, rugby, field hockey, curling and volleyball are the recipients of these grants. The winning teams come from all over Canada, from Campbell River in BC, to Summerside, PEI. Grant applicants requested all kinds of different items but the majority of those requests were for new uniforms and gear. Playtex Sport has partnered with Canadian Olympic champion wrestler Erica Wiebe to surprise one of the first grant recipients. West Humber Collegiate Institute girls’ wrestling team received brand new wrestling uniforms. The girls’ reactions have been captured on video. This simple gift of uniforms has potential to transform how each of these young athletes feels about their team. It’s one way Playtex Sport is helping young female high school athletes succeed at breaking barriers. Uniforms help boost confidence. I’ve seen that look of confidence on a child’s face when they get that first jersey. And I’ve seen how proud my daughter is of the number 48. “I made the basketball team and I play point guard.” It’s one of the first things she tells everyone who calls our home. Young women need more opportunities to get in the game and persevere despite obstacles. Playtex Sport is helping to make sure that Canadian girls don’t quit or give up because they lack the same opportunities boys have. Through this grant, Playtex helps young female athletes reach their full potential. Canadians can help increase the 2017 Playtex Play On Canada grant program by an additional $25,000. Simply share this video featuring Erica Wiebe on social media by July 15, 2017 and you can help Playtex Sport to boost girl’s chances. Every share adds $1 to the fund to a maximum of $25,000. Share Now Breaking Barriers with Playtex Sport and How You Can Help You can find more information about the 13 recipients of the grant here – www.playtexplayon.ca/ Playtex® is encouraging the conversation about girls’ sports in Canada using the hashtag #PlayOnCA. Follow along on any of these channels: Instagram: @playtexplayon Twitter: @playtexplayon Facebook: www.facebook.com/playtexplayon Share this video by July 15, 2017 and Playtex Sport will add $1 to the Playtex Play On Canada Grant Fund-up to a maximum of $25,000 Share Now I am working with Playtex Sport to share information about the Playtex Play On Canada Grant Fund, and as such I have been compensated. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful.

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