How to equip your home with mirrors

June 6, 2017 by Jen

No matter what you think about them, there is much more to mirrors than it meets the eye. They are not only an item that helps you check your clothes or put on your makeup. It is also something that can be used as a decorative piece.

Mirrors are slowly becoming a product that is often used instead of paintings. This is to be expected given that modern interior design is all about clean, neat interior without any excess of items.

With all that being said, you still need to know how to use your mirrors. Even though their decorative side is amazing, some mirrors simply may not fit your home. This is why I made this article in order to point out major functions of certain types of mirrors and how you can incorporate them in your home.

Hollywood mirrors

Hollywood mirrors are otherwise known as professional makeup mirrors. They can be seen in almost any movie from 30s to 70s. After movie industry, this product spread to theaters and other entertainment professions. Main reason why someone should get a Hollywood mirror is its functionality. With it, you can see your face from various angles making it a perfect choice for applying makeup. Its numerous light bulbs always do the trick. But there is another thing to be considered, according to the experts at www.hollywoodmirrors.co.uk. They fit perfectly with classic design. If you have a retro home, this just might be an item that you’ve been searching for. It will definitely bring out the Hollywood in your bedroom.

LED mirrors

From classy traditional mirrors we quickly skip to modern ones. LED mirrors are practically the same as Hollywood mirrors with one slight difference. They have LED lights. But that is not all. These mirrors have a much more modern design and usually, straight edges. This makes them a bit sci-fi. Of course, this is necessary as only a few designs would fit with LEDs. If you have a modern minimalistic interior, this is just the right item for your home. Same as Hollywood mirrors, LED mirrors can be kept in your bedroom. In the end, they allow you to sit back and slowly put your makeup. Funny enough, this is not the biggest advantage of one such mirror. Its low consumption is. LEDs last up to 10 times longer than standard light bulbs. That alone makes them a viable choice.

Full-size mirror

Even if you have several mirrors in your home, you should definitely get one full-size mirror. They can be placed in your bedroom (or wherever you put your clothes on) or in a hallway. Full-size allows you to check your clothes and see how things fit on you. But they can also be used as ornaments. If you have an empty part of the wall stretching from floor to ceiling, you might be inclined to fill it with something. Have in mind that paintings are usually horizontal which instantly limits your choices. But full-size mirrors are vertical and can cover the entire stretch.

Folding mirrors

Folding mirrors are a good alternative to Hollywood mirrors and LED mirrors. If you’re concerned with your makeup and you wish to ease the process, you can get folding mirror. When you spread it, you can see different angles of your face. This makes makeup process much easier. Of course, they are not as good as Hollywood mirrors but that is not their main advantage. Main advantage of a folding mirror is that you can easily pack it. This mirror is perfect for smaller bathroom and people who like to look perfect at all times.

Milka OREO Chocolate Candy is my favorite new snack + Giveaway #TryOREOChocolate

May 18, 2017 by Jen

Can you believe its already graduation time? If you follow me on social media, I’m sure by now you know that my son Dre is graduating High school Wednesday! These past few months have been busy, exciting and emotional! Thankfully with all the Senior activities going on I am getting to spend a lot of quality alone time with him lately! Since he has turned 18, I admit I’ve been having a hard time accepting the fact that he is now an adult, so we have had our share of ups & downs.

The other day we were out shopping, and I needed to stop at Walmart for a few groceries before heading home. As we were walking to the check out lane, I spotted the new MILKA OREO Chocolate Candy and grabbed a couple of packs. Since Dre isn’t really a big snack or sweet eater, I asked did he want anything and of course his response was no. So we checked out and was on our way home, and I was starving so I opened my new MILKA OREO Chocolate Candy bar and started eating it! OMGOOODNESS it was amazing! Again, I offered to share, but he declined! I took the other one in the house and hide it for myself later! (Yes, I’m that mom that has a hidden stash of snacks…SHH)

A couple of nights ago I was up working late and craving something sweet, so I went to get the other MILKA OREO Chocolate Candy bar and IT WAS GONE! I admit my first thought was one of my daughters found it and took it since its always one of them! So I ask them the next morning both denied and had no clue what I was talking about! My son started laughing and said you mean the one you bought for me, because I ate it! I stood there in shock because I clearly remember him saying he didn’t want one! He then went on and on about how good they were, and that I needed to buy him more to go into his senior goodie bag for senior week!

Trust me if he says something is good and asks for more that means a lot! So thankfully now I have a treat that I can actually put in his goodie bag that he will keep and eat instead of giving everything away! So that morning I headed to Walmart to finish getting everything he needed for senior week and stocked up on his new favorite snacks for not only him but me!

More about Milka OREO

With three different snack options to pick there is something for everyone!

Lets start off with the Milka Oreo Chocolate Candy Bar-

this is our favorite! With OREO cookie pieces mixed in rich vanilla creme and coated in European Milka chocolate candy.

Then we have the Milka Oreo Big Crunch Chocolate Candy Bar–

A layer of crunchy OREO cookies between 2 layers of rich vanilla creme, coated in European Milka chocolate candy.

And Finally the Milka Oreo Choco-Mix Snack Mix-

OREO Mini, Golden OREO Mini, Milka Chocolate Candy Buttons and candy-covered chocolate mixed together for a delicious multi-texture experience.

* Milka is one of Europe’s leading chocolate brands, made with milk from the European Alps* and the finest cocoa beans.

Try before you buy!

I know you are going to love either of the products but here is your chance to try before you buy this weekend, 5/18 – 5/21, MILKA OREO will be hosting in-store demos at select Walmart stores.

So be sure to check your local store out this weekend to see if they are participating and join in on the fun and also get a special coupon in-store to save on your first purchase!

Extra Savings with Ibotta:

You can earn 50¢ when you buy any Milka OREO Chocolate Candy Bars or

$1.00 when you buy MILKA OREO Choco Mix with Ibotta! But hurry these offers don’t last long!

Stay Connected:

For all the latest news, updates and special offers be sure to follow OREO on these social media networks! And feel free to join the conversation with #TryOREOChocolate

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Enter to Win:

I’m giving away 5-$25 Walmart Gift cards to five lucky Mommy’s Hangout readers! All you have to do is save this overlay….

Upload a picture of yourself (or friends/family) at Walmart with MILKA OREO Chocolate Candy Bars with the overlay on your photo!
Use the hashtag #TryOREOChocolate
Tag @mommyshangout in your photo
Come back and leave a comment with the link of your share to be entered!

I will pick the lucky 5 winners June 10th! So make sure to keep an eye on your email!

Top Tips for Dealing With Lower Back Pain

May 17, 2017 by Jen

If you’re like so many other Americans across the country, you are currently suffering from lower-back pain or have at some other stage during your life. In fact, according to reports, more than 80 percent of the population will experience lower-back pain at some point; this type of pain is the second most common cause of disability in American adults. As well, it is estimated that close to 150 million days of work are lost each year due to the problem.

If you’re in the situation where lower-back pain is causing you to take time off from your job, or otherwise negatively affecting the way that you live your life, it is important to find helpful ways to treat the issue.

Read on for some strategies, besides painkillers, you can try today.

Use Heat and Ice

Within the first two days after lower-back pain sets in, it is a good idea to apply an ice pack several times a day, for around 20 minutes per session, to help reduce blood flow and shut down capillaries. This, in turn will help to ease swelling, and thwart the ability of your nerves to conduct pain signals to your brain.

Just make sure that you never apply ice directly onto your skin, as doing so can cause cold burns. All ice packs or frozen products should be wrapped in a cloth, towel, or the like first. After the first couple of days (or even earlier, depending on your particular injury or issue), you can also start to use heating pads, again for 20-minute intervals at a time. You might find that having a hot bath helps too. Heat against the affected area(s) will help to loosen tight muscles in your back, increase circulation, and bring additional oxygen to your cells.

Incorporate Gentle Exercise and Stretching Into Your Day

When you’re suffering from back pain, it can be tempting to sit or lie down all day, and to abstain from exercise. However, it is important to keep your body moving. Besides doing low-impact exercises such as walking and swimming, you should also try to do plenty of stretching and back exercises. This can help to increase your flexibility, and stabilize your spine and stop your muscles from being so imbalanced.

While yoga and Pilates in particular, can be great for lower-back pain, really just any gentle stretching will make a difference. You can do this at home and at work on a regular basis, as well as within a clinic if you’d like to join classes. It also pays to do some stretches before you need to lift anything, exercise, or head to bed. This will help your muscles to be suppler, and ensure that you don’t hurt yourself further.

Improve Your Posture

Similarly, people who are suffering from lower-back pain are also advised to try to improve their posture. Having bad posture (particularly when you’re sitting at a desk or on the couch, or standing on your feet for hours) and lifting improperly, can contribute to back issues.

You should ensure that you’re sitting in an ergonomic chair at work, and that you don’t have to slump forward, scrunch up, or reach to do your work. As well, try to keep your ears over your shoulders, rather than letting your neck push forward. Keep the rest of your body in line too (with shoulders over hips, and hips over ankles) to achieve better posture.

When lifting things, especially heavy objects, it is imperative that you don’t let your back take the weight. You should bend at the knees, so that your legs do the work; and keep the item you’re lifting close to your body as you rise. Don’t twist your body as you lift either, as this can make lower-back pain worse.

Try Specialist Therapies

Next, don’t forget that there are lots of highly trained specialists out there you can choose from to treat your back. Many people like to visit their masseuse, physiotherapist, chiropractor, or osteopath, for instance, when they have back pain; or you can also utilize other options such as acupuncture, the Alexander technique, or a specialist clinic for back pain in Pennsylvania for treatment suggestions.

It also often helps to seek psychological support when you’re dealing with intense and/or chronic back pain. While the pain you feel is certainly real, therapists can help you to find ways to change how you think about your situation, and how to be less stressed, switch off from the pain, and focus on other things. Meditation can also be very helpful.

Buy a Better Mattress for Your Bed

Another thing that you should think about is the mattress on your bed. Check it out to see if it is sagging significantly, or if it is super firm or very soft. As well, if it is older than around seven or eight years old, it may need replacing.

If you sleep on a mattress that is too soft, firm, or sagging, this can push your back out of alignment, as well as exacerbate pre-existing conditions. It’s best to look for new products, which are in the medium-firm range.

Things to Do on a Family Vacation to Niagara Falls

May 12, 2017 by Jen

If you have wanted to see Niagara Falls in person for years, and are planning a trip to the region with your family, it’s important to have an itinerary that covers more options than just seeing this magnificent natural phenomenon.

While the falls themselves are amazing, and attract millions of visitors every year, when you have kids with you, you also need to have other activities on your list to choose from. Read on for a selection of family-friendly destinations you can consider checking out when you arrive.

Niagara Freefall and Interactive Center

No matter the ages of your children, once you have checked into your chosen Niagara Falls hotel, you should head to the Niagara Freefall and Interactive Center for some play time. Here you will find something to interest everyone; and it is a perfect choice when the weather isn’t so great.

At the Center, for starters your family can get a feel for the thrill of skydiving, without the risk. Indoor skydiving is possible for children 7 years and older, and for groups of up to four people at a time. The activity is completed within a wind tunnel flight chamber, and has users flying at air speeds approaching 140mph.

If that’s not enough, at the Freefall and Interactive Center you can also let the kids go nuts with tokens for the many interactive arcade games on-site, or have some family time playing Lazerball. This game is paint-free and mess-free, and uses soft, reusable foam balls rather than paint. The Center also offers a mechanical bull ride and a 32-foot high rooftop rock wall for climbers of many abilities.

Old Fort Niagara

A great educational outing for your family when you’re in the Niagara region is Old Fort Niagara, on the U.S. side of the falls. Perfect for history buffs and novices alike, the Fort, which was built in the 1700s, is the oldest operational one of its type in the country. It was used primarily during the French, Revolutionary, and Indian Wars, and over the years has been owned and used by the Native American, French, British and American troops.

If possible, try to schedule your visit to Old Fort Niagara with the attraction’s special event periods. You and your kids will have the opportunity to meet some on-site re-enactors who recreate the lives of past garrison members for visitors.

At other times of year, you can watch hourly musket demonstrations, and examine the site’s well-preserved cannons, barracks, rooms, and other exhibits. While at the Fort, you can also enjoy self-guided audio tours, and take in the scenic view of the falls, plus Lake Ontario and the Niagara River, from the Fort’s high vantage point.

Nightmares Fear Factory

If you are looking for something to please teenagers, or children over 7 who don’t scare easily, then put a visit to the Nightmares Fear Factory on your itinerary. This not-for-the-faint-hearted experience has been operating for more than 30 years, and is located inside a classic-style haunted house found at the top of Clifton Hill in Canada.

Participants in the Fear Factory are challenged to “survive” as they walk through the attraction in groups of up to six. This is done at your own speed, as you are led through the house by a trail of red lights – pretty much the only illumination in the attraction.

At this memorable destination, you will be scared at many points along the way, plus you’ll find that changes are made regularly so you can visit often. If, however, the family chickens out and can’t quite complete the experience, there is no need to feel deflated. Nightmares Fear Factory actually boasts about the fact that more than 140,000 people have chickened out at some point along the way since the haunted house opened!

Niagara SkyWheel

Another top attraction in the Niagara region that is suitable for all ages is the Niagara SkyWheel, on the Canadian side of the falls in Clifton Hill. This approximately 15-minute experience takes passengers 175-feet high, and is the largest observation wheel in Canada.

Ride the SkyWheel and you will enjoy a beautiful birds-eye view of Niagara Falls and the surrounding area and, if you visit around dusk or later, you can also take in the Falls Illumination show when the water lights up in the colors of the rainbow, and the city skyline sparkles.

Each SkyWheel journey includes at least four rotations on the Ferris wheel, and families can ride together in their own gondola. If you’re a keen photographer, you’ll surely love the opportunity provided by the SkyWheel too. When up in the air you can take snaps of the falls from a new angle that captures both the Horseshoe and American Falls at one time; plus you can get to see for miles in every direction.

5 Ways to Cut Back on Family Spending

May 8, 2017 by Jen

It happens gradually. You treat the kids to Unicorn Starbucks drinks and then get a fancy latte for yourself. You decide to grab takeout instead of making dinner. You throw random items into the cart at Target. Suddenly, your checking account is nearly at $0 and you’ve realized your spending is out of control. If this sounds like you, here are a few ways to cut back.

Shop With Tunnel Vision

Mindlessly strolling through the grocery store picking up items can turn into receipt shock at the checkout. The best strategy for avoiding overspending is to make a grocery list beforehand. This means shopping with a goal and not going rogue. Stick to the perimeter of the store where you’ll find meat and fresh foods. The center aisles are mostly where prepackaged and junk foods live; these are unnecessary to have in your kitchen and (bonus!) ditching them from your cart can help promote healthier eating habits. HouseMix has even more money-saving tips for grocery shopping (like bringing a calculator) and how to buy in bulk.

Pay With Cash

Consumers spend less when they pay with cash, according to a study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. If you rarely pay with cash, experiment with it. You may find that you feel more connected to a purchase and value an item more when you physically make a transaction, rather than quickly swipe a card. You have the actual remaining amount of money in your hands, rather than seeing it appear weeks later on a credit card statement, which is easy to ignore. Start by cutting up your credit cards and putting cash in envelopes designated for certain categories like groceries, bills, etc.

Save on Mobile Costs

One way to lower your spending is to adjust your mobile phone plan based on your needs. Nerd Wallet recommends. T-Mobile’s Bring Your Own Device prepaid program allows you to use your current phone with a new SIM card. Making the switch without a contract can be your best deal, and it comes with features like large data plans with a low monthly cost and no overage fees. Plus, you’ll get high speed 4G LTE data. Make sure to check if you’re eligible for any discounts through work, study or serving in the armed forces.

Take a Hiatus From Social Media

Social media has hidden financial pitfalls, like sending subliminal messages to spend, spend, spend. Think about the brands you follow, pictures of friends’ fancy vacations, products your connections are selling and simple items in photos that may trigger your shopping side. Even a cup of coffee can make you want to go spend $5 on a gourmet pick-me-up as well. Ditch social media now if cutting costs is crucial; you can always return to it later once you’ve adopted better habits. Posts and pictures can be a constant reminder of what you want but don’t need.

Prioritize Co-Curricular Activities

There are many benefits that come along with our kids playing sports. They learn teamwork, sportsmanship, athleticism and commitment. Many kids play multiple sports, and for families with more than one child, those extra-curricular expenses add up fast. The National Council on Youth Sports states that more than 20 percent of parents spend over $1,000 or more on sports each year per child. Assess your children’s involvement in sports and activities. Here are some tips to help alleviate costs:

Choose one sport per season
Buy used equipment
Sell old equipment
Sign your child up for local recreational sports (these tend to be more affordable)
Budget for all costs, even gas for travel.