Go Graham Go: Parenting | Recipes | DIY | Brand Ambassador | Product Reviews | NC Mom Blog

If you are a personal friend of mine on Facebook, you know that we have been spending a great deal of time at the pediatrician's office lately.  I have finally come to the conclusion that we have a combination of lingering winter cold's, teething and allergies going on.  I even asked our pediatrician if he had a frequent flyer program or discount card!  There has been one constant throughout all of this and that has been Vicks. 



Every night we turn on our two Vicks warm mist humidifiers for the boys' rooms (they are actually the only brand warm mist humidifier you can find at our local Walmart).  I am so thankful that Vicks has found it important enough to provide warm mist humidifiers in stores full of cool mist!  They just work  better for our family.  Graham's humidifier is filled with the VapoSteam and Davis gets a rub down with the Vicks BabyRub every night.  The BabyRub is something new we started this week and it has helped Davis go from waking about 3 times a night to sleeping through the night.  I truly think he was mostly upset with not being able to breathe!  His combination of teething and allergies were really making him uncomfortable.



If you love the way Vicks works but do not like the greasy feel, you should know that they now have a VapoRub Topical Cream that provides the same relief without the grease!  This is great for kids and adults 2 and over so we use this particular version on Graham.

If you are on Facebook you should check out the new Vicks VapoRub page that gives handy tips and tricks for dealing with colds and cold symptoms.

I was not compensated for posting about the Vicks brand.  I did receive an iPad in order to experience the new VapoRub Facebook page and the power of touch. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

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How many of you have ever been in charge of a fund raising event?  I going to be really honest here and tell you that I try to avoid them at all costs!  If anyone ever mentions needing a "volunteer" to head up a fundraiser or would like ideas I try to run as fast as I can!  In my experience, they are extremely hard to coordinate and even harder to get people on board.  When I used to coach cheerleading I loathed the fact that we had to fund raise while other sports were given money, just because of how complicated it could become.

Working in the school system I definitely see where we have a need for fund raisers.  It is just a necessary evil.  Actually, our neighbor just dropped off a case of cookie dough that we ordered through a school fundraiser.  I truly do not mind helping... but please... don't ask me to organize the thing!  Another thing that I have found to be a drawback with fundraisers is the fact that only a select few students end up with really great prizes because of the high selling goals.  With all of that being said, I was introduced to a fund raising company that looks like they may be on the right track.  The company is called Big Event Fundraising and they have ideas that will allow many students to receive fun prizes instead of just a select few.



Prize Programs
Has your school ever done anything like this?  What Big Event Fundraising does is creates attainable goals for the kids so that they can all attend a fun event at the school.  They have things like a magic show where a student would only have to sell 5 items in order to receive admission.  The show lasts for 40 minutes and even involves the top sellers in various ways.  That definitely sounds attainable and would make me want to sell if I was a kid!  If you are looking to appeal to a really young crowd I think the Super Party would be a fun idea!  I know that Graham really enjoys all of the inflatable houses and games.  If you are dealing with a high school you know that you are going to have to choose something other than a magic show or inflatable bounce houses.  You can choose from the traditional prizes or Sportswear and Cash prize programs.  Typically, high schoolers are going to respond well to cash!

What are you selling?
The last and most important thing that always makes me cringe about fund raisers is what is actually being sold by the students.  Honestly, who wants to buy something that they are never going to use again?  It is always nice when the fundraisers are selling things that consumers would like.  I think it is important to choose a company that will offer you several choices.  Those choices should include items that people would normally buy.  For instance, going back to the cookie dough I just purchased.  I decided to buy this because we always have cookies in our home.  So, if I could buy a large tub of frozen cookie dough, help out the school, and keep my cookie fix going... why not?!  A company like Big Event Fundraising recognizes that and offers seasonal products, frozen food, cookie dough, and many other ideas that will work with a wide variety of people.  Not everyone wants a candy bar or doughnut right?

With all of that being said, I want to know: Have you ever done a large fund raiser and what was your experience with it?  For those of you who are seasoned at this, what are your tips?

This post was sponsored by Big Event Fundraising. These are my honest opinions. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.

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If you are looking for a cheap family night meal, this deal from Juice in the City Charlotte for Johnny's Red Bowl would be a great one to snag!  I wish I lived closer because this place looks amazing!  $5 for $10 worth of food is a steal!  This deal is good for today only.

This post was sponsored by Juice in the City. Please see my Terms of Use for more info. Subscribe to Go Graham Go! by Email as well as follow us on Twitter!

I remember very clearly the day Graham received his very first Tonka friend truck.  It was the big blue monster truck and his daddy brought it to him because he had been sick for two weeks.  Tonka is a name that a lot of us have grown up with and have been watching our children grow up with.  If you are familiar with the Chuck and Friends line, you can now add a fun DVD to the mix!



We were sent the Chuck's Big Air Dar DVD for review.  Included with the video is a mini Chuck the Truck toy.  I thought at first that this video would be too young for Graham, but he really loves it and can relate to the themes that are being conveyed.  Anytime you mix trucks or vehicles with lessons you are sure to win with Graham!  I guess the real test that this is a fun movie is the fact that my husband said, "When did you guys get this movie?  It is cute".  Cute is not a word my husband uses a lot, especially not when talking about movies!



Chuck the Truck is challenging his friend Flip the Race Car to see who can do what the other is built to do.  Several of Chuck's friends are also in the movie trying to help the two out.  Chuck's parents even become involved.  In the end, they learn the lesson that they are created for a reason and they each have things they are great at!  What a wonderful message to share with your kids.

The new Chuck's Big Air Dare DVD retails for about $9.99 and can be picked up in retail locations near you.  You can also purchase the title online.  If you have a Chuck the Truck or Tonka lover in your home this is a must have!


This product was provided free of charge by Hasbro. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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Subscribe to Go Graham Go! by Email as well as follow us on Twitter!

Graham and I have been having a lot of fun learning all about plants and how they grow lately.  We have been preparing to plant our square foot garden again this year and Graham has many questions about it!  So, when I was contacted by Growums I knew they would be a great fit for our family and hopefully for yours!



Growums not only provides kids with a fun garden growing kit, it also has a community and learning activities built into an interactive website.  You can register online and keep up with what you can expect from your garden through mini videos.  In these videos you will meet the Growums characters that are a ton of fun for kids!



There are 6 different Growums garden kits to choose from.  Choose from Herb Garden, Pizza Garden, Salad Garden, Stir-fry Garden, Taco Garden and Ratatouille Garden.  We were sent the Herb Garden for review and we have had a lot of fun watching our herbs grow!  The experience of putting together the garden was also fun and educational for Graham.  Because he put it together, he has taken more ownership for the garden.  We are just about ready to move it outdoors!



Each kit retails for about $9.99 and would make excellent gift ideas that are out of the norm!  We would definitely recommend these kits to friends and family.


This product was provided free of charge by Growums. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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Subscribe to Go Graham Go! by Email as well as follow us on Twitter!

 This year on Earth Day I spent the majority of my day at work.  I have to say that I am very proud of the high school I work for and the students and staff that work there!  It seems like from day one, everyone has been devoted to making our environment a better place.  We even have a club that is dedicated to it!  Being around so many people who care makes you want to do a better job as well.



Each of the counselors has a recycling bin in their offices as well as one big one in the copier room.  This year we also have a wonderful intern!  Not only is she a great counselor, but she is extremely earth friendly!  She brings all of her lunch items in recycled containers (sour cream containers, etc).  I love her!  Each and every one of us has our water bottles with us at all times as well.  I must admit to picking up the Styrofoam cups for tea in the lunch room, however (I wonder if the lunch ladies would mine me filling up my huge water bottle with tea?!).

Click to Donate
Don't forget, for every click given to the Scott Naturals Test Drive page through the special link I've used, a $1 will be donated to the National Wildlife Federation!  You can also find out how to enter the 4 Week Test Drive contest to win a Ford Fusion Hybrid!

How about you?  What did you and your kids do on Earth Day this year?  Share with me and other bloggers in order to win a prize pack of Scott's Naturals products.  If you don't win this week never fear... I am doing this for 1 more week!







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I received product and compensation from Scott Naturals and The Motherhood.com in order to thank me for my time. These are my honest opinions and ideas.  Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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There's just something about spring that makes me want to bring out all of my dresses!  I guess the breezy, airy feel of dresses makes life easier and makes you feel prettier.  As much as I love dresses, it is extremely hard for me to find one that I feel comfortable wearing.  There are just so many factors that have to go into creating the perfect dress and I think you will find that Shabby Apple has a style that is right for you.



I was sent the Ballerina for review a few weeks ago and love how comfortable it is!  This dress is perfect if you feel like you have a few imperfections to hide on your tummy.  If you are a mom, chances are you know what I am talking about, right?  The stomach is form fitting, but gathered in order to make you look slimmer.  I typically have trouble with tops that crossover, and this was no exception.  It was an easy fix just by putting a camisole under the dress.  The knee length is a perfect one for me and for many women.  It is nice not having to worry about everything showing if there is a breeze!  If you are planning on purchasing the Ballerina, please keep in mind that this dress runs big.  I typically wear a size 6 and ordered a size small which seemed to be a pretty good fit for me.

The Ballerina retails for $62 at Shabby Apple.  Make sure you check out all of the dresses available!  There are so many different styles and varieties that it can be hard to choose from.

This product was provided free of charge by Shabby Apple. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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When I saw these on the Weelicious site a few weeks ago, I knew I had to make them!  I have to be honest and let you know that the broiler on my oven scares me because it NEVER reaches the right temperature.  So, I tweaked this recipe a little bit to make it easier on myself.  So, here is my simple version of Baked Coconut Shrimp!



Ingredients:
1 lb raw, peeled, deveined, frozen shrimp (defrosted)
1/4 Cup Flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 whisked eggs
1 Cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
Cooking spray

Preparation:
Tip: A quick way to defrost your frozen shrimp is to put them in a dish full of cold water.  I let mine sit for about 2 hours and they were good to go!

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.  Pat your shrimp dry with a paper towel and sprinkle with salt.  Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray.  Set up 3 bowls: flour, egg, coconut.  Taking one shrimp at a time, dip them into the flour first, egg second, and roll in the coconut.  Place the coated shrimp on the cookie sheet.  Once you have all of the shrimp on the cookie sheet place it in the oven for about 12 minutes.  Keep an eye on your shrimp because they cook quickly!



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If you have one Corgi, two cats, a 4 year old and a baby in your house like I do, then you know the need for a fabric refresher!  I feel like I clean and a tornado goes behind me to destroy what I've just accomplished!  With that said, I love a product that helps me do quick touch-ups on the go.  I also love products that are environmentally friendly.  Simple and safe are my friends!



We were sent the Clean+Green Furniture Refresher for review and I have been using it about 3 times per week for several weeks now.  It works great on our furniture, throw pillows, and curtains.  Before the Clean+Green Fabric Refresher, I would generally rely upon air fresheners for odor and cleaners for stains to work on my upholstery (probably not the smartest idea...but it did in a pinch). 

Here's what we love about Clean+Green:

• Not only cleans, but permanently removes odor
• Made from non-toxic botanicals
• Versatile. Can be used on fabric, leather, vinyl, plastic and upholstery
• Easy.  Just spray on and walk away!
• Price. Only $9.99!

You can purchase the Clean+Green Fabric Refresher online with FREE shipping on orders of $25 or more.

This product was provided free of charge by Clean+Green. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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Graham's birthday was 2 weeks ago and he of course asked for another theme that you can't really find in the stores.  Honestly, I like that he picks off the wall themes because I love to make things for parties!  So, I will be sharing with you my different ideas and of course, free printables I created over the next few weeks for a Monster Truck Birthday party!



Below is the Happy Birthday Bunting in yellow and black that I created to go along with his theme.  The party was originally going to be at our house and this bunting was created to decorate Graham's new playhouse.  Unfortunately, it rained so this was used to decorate a table at our church.  Make sure you download the bunting for yourself below!  You will need to print the "A" and "Y" twice.








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There is really nothing I enjoy more than having Graham want to help me out in the kitchen.  The older he gets the more interested he is in being a part of what I am doing.  Not only is is fun for us, but I truly believe it encourages him to eat healthier.  Knowing that he had a hand in creating our dinner always makes things smoother.  That is why I absolutely love the new Flip 'N Serve Breakfast Playset for creative and crafty play for Graham.



What child doesn't love Play-Doh?  I know that Graham has grown even fonder of the stuff since he has been attending preschool.  They have an entire center dedicated to it and he really enjoys creating, cutting, and molding with it.  We were sent the Flip 'N Serve Breakfast Playset for review.  I set it up early one morning and Graham literally played with it the entire day!  He stopped only to eat breakfast, lunch, dinner and to take a nap.  Without me even asking him about it he volunteered this information, "Mom, this one is much easier to use than the one at preschool".  He was referring to the Play-Doh press portion.

Graham's creation!

The Flip 'N Serve Breakfast Playset includes a griddle that spins when you press it down.  There are interchangeable pieces that allow you to create waffles, pancakes, or eggs.  On top of the press there are molds that will allow you to create bananas, strawberries, and other fun goodies!  We also had a blast creating smoothies!  When you press the Play-Doh in the top it swirls out into the cup just like an actually smoothie would.  With the spatula, utensils and plate, your little one will have a blast pretending they are you in the kitchen.

Here's my favorite part!  The Flip 'N Serve Breakfast Playset retails for only $12.99!  What a great birthday gift for under $20.


This product was provided free of charge by Hasbro. These are my honest opinions on the product. I do not post reviews on products I can not stand behind. Please see my Terms of Use for more info.
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Subscribe to Go Graham Go! by Email as well as follow us on Twitter!

Purely Products always has the most unique ideas!  You are also going to love the fact that their products focus on saving energy and our Earth.  The Healthy Night Light is another great product that has been added to the line up.



The Healthy Night Light is an air purifier and a night light in one.  It works by using the built-in ionizer to positively charge airborne allergens and removes them from the air.  Spring is usually when the allergies start to get worse for a lot of families, so this would be a great way to solve two problems at once for your child!  One Healthy Night Light cleans up to a 12x12 room and lasts 35,000 hours with an automatic on and off light.  What a great way to save money and energy.  Right now you can purchase two Healthy Night Lights for only $19.95.


I received no product or compensation for this post.  Please see my Terms of Use for more info. Subscribe to Go Graham Go! by Email as well as follow us on Twitter!

As part of our Eco Living Week, New Wave Enviro will be giving away their gorgeous Floral Flip N' Sip Stainless Steel Water Bottle to one lucky Jolly Mom reader and to one lucky Go Graham Go reader, as well as giving one away at our #EcoLiving11 Twitter Party on Friday (Earth Day)!

Going green doesn't have to be hard. There are simple steps that we can all take that are affordable, doable, and that will make a difference. One way is reducing waste. Rather than buying bottled water, get a water filtration system and fill up a reusable water bottle. Not only is this cheaper in the long run and better for our planet, but it is also so much better for our health. We've all heard of BPA and the toxic chemicals that are contained in certain plastics. They wreak havoc on our bodies--especially our kids! If you want to go green, you should check out New Wave Enviro--a wonderful company that focuses on critical health and environmental issues facing us today.


Floral Flip N' Sip Stainless Steel Water Bottle

• Food Grade Seriously Safe Stainless®
• BPA Free! No hidden liners or Epoxy Resin
• Comes Standard with High Flow Flip N' Sip Cap
• Wide mouth and rounded corners for easy cleaning

I was not compensated in any way for this post. All opinions expressed in this article are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone. Please see my Terms of Use for more info. Subscribe to Go Graham Go! by Email as well as follow us on Twitter!

Happy Earth Day!  Don't forget that tonight from 9pm-10pm EST Piera and I will be hosting the #EcoLiving11 Twitter Party!  We will be talking about different ways to get your family involved in the process and learning from one another.  Please make sure to RSVP for the party so that you will be eligible to win the prize pack!  Want to know what we are giving away?  Check it out:


1. Filtrete Water Station: ERV $40
2. JOON Prize Pack with Tote Bag (not pictured): ERV $50
3. Weleda Cleansing Milk: ERV $19
4. Kids Konserve Snack Pak: $22
5. New Wave Enviro Floral Water Bottle: ERV $12
6. Healthy Night Light: ERV $19.95

We can't wait to see you there tonight!  Make sure you are following @gograhamgo and @jollymom.

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I don't have a little girl, but if I did, I would definitely be all about JOON products for her!  JOON is passionate about healthy skincare for girls and it shows in the ingredients of their products.  You will find no yucky toxins in this line!  Not only are the products healthy, but the whole philosophy behind JOON is to encourage girls to be as healthy as they can be in every way possible.  I love it when a company gets the message right!



I received no product or compensation for this post.  Please see my Terms of Use for more info. Subscribe to Go Graham Go! by Email as well as follow us on Twitter!