All posts by Anne Younger

Anne is a 30-something full-time SAHM mom of 5 ranging from 3 to 17 and grandma of 1 who resides in Ashwaubenon (Green Bay) Wisconsin. She started blogging in 2008 as a way to regain her sanity. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, cheeseburgers and vodka along with spending time with her husband and kids.
Health

When to Change Your Pillows and Mattress: Keep Your Bedroom from Becoming a Breeding Ground for Germs

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With many products, it’s quite obvious when to replace them as you can see how much they’ve lost their functionality or have clear signs of wear and tear. But how would you know if it’s time to replace your pillows and mattresses? The signs of wear and tear of pillows and mattresses are often unclear. That’s because a mattress is always hidden beneath the bed cover which is why most of us aren’t aware of its deteriorating condition.

Even several years after having purchased a mattress, most of us think that our mattress is still ‘new’. But actually, it isn’t. Old mattresses provide accommodation for dust mites, allergens, germs, and bedbugs. This can happen to your mattress even if you wash the bed covers regularly. That’s why it’s crucial to know when exactly you should change your mattress as well as pillows.

When to Change Your Pillows

Getting attached to your pillow makes sense, but living with the same pillows can be harmful to your health even if you change your pillowcases regularly. Though sleep experts recommend getting a new pillow every few years, it entirely depends on how your pillow is treating you.

If you’re unsure whether your pillows are still giving you a good night’s sleep, then you should ask yourself the following questions:

  • Is the batting or foam bumpy or lumpy?
  • If you’re using a feather pillow, does it need to be fluffed up or pinched for support?
  • Does your pillow stay static and unfolded when you fold it in half and then let go?
  • Do your ankles, knees, or neck and back feel sore after waking up?

If your answer to any of these questions is “yes,” it’s time to get a new pillow!

When to Change Your Mattress

You spend approximately eight hours a day sleeping on a mattress. And if you have a comfortable mattress, it can sometimes be the only reason behind your energetic mood and alertness. However, to maintain your energy levels, it’s equally important to replace your mattress as soon as it loses its functionality. Below are the signs that help you identify if your mattress is old and needs a replacement:

  • If you feel lethargic throughout the day but sleep better in a hotel room, your mattress is interfering with your sleep and health.
  • If you’ve put on some weight but your mattress doesn’t treat those extra pounds well and you end up waking up dreary with stiff muscles, you need a new mattress.
  • If you’re able to see a curve in the middle of your mattress while actually feeling the springs through your bed, it’s time to look for a new mattress. Find out more about this at Mattress-Guides.net/best-mattress-review/.
  • If your mattress is pinging, creaking, or groaning all night, it’s a sign of wear and tear.
  • If you can see dust mites and bed bugs in your mattress, a fresh, clean mattress deserves your attention.
  • If your mattress is older than eight years, it has exceeded its expiry date.

Tips to Make Sure Your Bedroom Is Free From Germs

Nobody wants their bedroom to become a breeding ground for germs. So why should you? Keeping your bedroom free from germs doesn’t only let you maintain cleanliness, it also helps you maintain the usability of your mattress. Below are some useful tips to help you get a germs-free bedroom:

  • To allow cross-ventilation, keep the windows open whenever possible.
  • Change your mattress every 8 years so that your body can benefit from consistent comfort and support without interacting with harmful microbes.
  • Of course, it’s impractical to wash a mattress. But you can use a mattress protector to ensure that your mattress isn’t absorbing harmful bacteria.
  • Wash pillow cases, covers, and sheets with hot water as high temperatures kill dust mites and germs. Besides this, you can use any laundry additive to kill viruses and bacteria.
  • Inspect if there are any broken slats or loose fittings that create a hurdle in how your mattress fits your bed. Check this every six months.

The Bottom Line

Besides the original quality, there are several factors that determine when you should actually replace your pillows and mattresses. Since your body changes over time, the need for enhanced support increases as well. That’s why it’s wise to examine the level of comfort provided by your pillows and mattress so that you can analyze if you need a replacement of one or both.

If you’ve taken proper care of your pillows and mattress, it’s possible to increase the longevity of these bedroom items while making sure to never let your bedroom become a breeding ground for germs.

Demi Faulkner is a Mom who works part-time as a cleaner. She’s a bit of a neat-freak and enjoys clearing up other people’s clutter, especially as she’s paid for it! She writes in her spare time, coming up with lifestyle article topics.

Home Improvement

Perk Up Your Porcelain: Bathroom Innovations to Freshen Up Your Fixtures

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The bathroom in your home gets a lot of use and that means that it probably needs an upgrade more often than any other room in the house.

If you are looking for some inspiration and a hi-tech cleaning solution that is proving increasingly popular, the Bio Bidet BB-600 is an example of the sort of upgrades and innovations that can really freshen up your fixtures and give you a great looking bathroom.

Choose a faucet that does what you want it to do

The great thing about fitting out your bathroom these days is that your choice of faucets is now so wide, that you can get one that does exactly what you need and want it to do.

It was not that long ago that you your choice of features was basically limited to whether you wanted to have one handle or two. Thankfully, your options go way beyond that now (think wall-mounted) so you can impose your own personality and style on your bathroom, and find some faucets that complement your design, as well as providing the functionality that you desire.

Choice of finishes and colors

Another area where design options have improved greatly is that trends now allow you the chance to enjoy a virtual blank canvas when it comes to your choice of finish and color.

If you don’t want to settle for chrome in your new bathroom, you don’t have to. It is just as likely that you will come across fixtures that are made from copper, brushed nickel and even a rose-gold finish, and if your preferred option is matte chrome, then go right ahead and pick something out that ticks your boxes.

The fact that you can get such a diverse choice of colors and finishes, means that you will have much less difficulty matching your fittings up with your decor, than you would have done in the past.

Sink solutions

Selecting a sink is far less stressful than it might have been previously, as you have a variety of styles available to match your design aspirations as well as your budget.

Drop-in sinks are often a good choice if you are on a tight budget with your remodeling plans, but they are not always that popular with homeowners because they are not necessarily as easy to keep clean as something like an under-mount sink.

If you are looking for a statement sink that adds more than a touch of flair to your bathroom, you might decide to settle on a vessel sink. They do tend to come out more expensive than a number of other options, but they can certainly look the part.

Many bathrooms are small anyway, but you might be working with an even more limited area than normal. Even if you do struggle for room in your bathroom, a freestanding pedestal sink is another viable option that makes good use of the space without compromising on style.

Don’t forget that although vitreous china remains hugely popular, especially when it comes down to keeping costs down, sinks are now widely available in stainless steel, glass, marble and a host of other finishes.

So get creative with your sink solutions.

Go beyond functionality

One of the major issues with many bathrooms, is the fact that you have so much stuff that needs to be stored in there, yet there is often a limited amount of storage space available.

That scenario can soon make your bathroom look cluttered if things have to be left out on the side. If you want to avoid your bathroom looking like that, think about combining storage options with innovative solutions.

Cabinet manufacturers now offer you things like LED lighting and one-touch opening and closing, all of which can add style as well as functionality to your bathroom.

Step into your own spa experience

It really wasn’t that long ago that rain shower heads were seen as a great innovation and a big improvement in your showering experience, but now you can get shower control options that deliver an authentic spa experience every time you head into the bathroom.

If you have decided it is time to perk up your porcelain, you really aren’t short of options and there is every chance that your bathroom could become an oasis of calm and style.

Elliot Gibbs is a painter and decorator who has been in the trade ever since leaving school. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and DIY inspiration all over the web.

For Our Furry Friends

SmartBones Make Pups Happy + Giveaway – Ends 12/19

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Over the last few months, there have been some changes in our home. For those who have been regular visitors, you may have noticed that I haven’t mentioned Balty, our handsome pitbull. Balty left our family at the beginning of October and returned to the family he had before us. This was a tough thing for our family to do but it was what was best for him.

At the beginning of November, we did welcome a new little fur baby in our home and that would be my sweet little Pancake. Pancake is a 6 month old Morkie (Maltese/Yorkshire Terrier mix).

Pancake the Morkie 

Now that we have Pancake, a tiny little 8lb. dog, we’ve had to change a few things that we shop for, including puppy treats.

Thanks to the folks at PetMatrix, Pancake now has a nice supply of SmartBones to snack on!

As I mentioned in a previous post about PetMatrix, they are committed to providing the healthiest, tastiest pet chews available. The Healthy Alternative to Rawhide®, SmartBones® chews are rawhide-free, highly digestible, and 100% delicious.

SmartBones® chews outer layer is made of wholesome, flavorful vegetables, including sweet potatoes, peas and carrots. This is then combined with an irresistible inner layer of real chicken, for a yummy taste dogs can’t resist! Available in scrumptious recipes such as Chicken, Sweet Potato, Peanut Butter, Beef and Dental, your furry friend will have plenty of options, including the new SmartChews® and SmartNaturals® 100% natural meat treats.

The SmartBones SmartChews are easily Pancake’s favorite treat. He just loves them and they keep him busy and when he is all done with one, he tends to nap like someone who ate a 7 course meal.

In addition to chews, PetMatrix is now offering SmartNaturals®, a 100% natural meat treat. SmartNaturals® are available in two delectable varieties, made with grass fed beef and sweet potatoes or grass fed lamb and rosemary.

I like to use these as reward treats for when Pancake comes back in from going potty. If he had it his way, he would get an entire bag at once.

Just Say No to Rawhide!

Rawhide is the inner hide from a cow or other animal that has undergone chemical processing to remove hair and other materials. The rawhide is then ground or used whole, and is formed into various dog chews shapes.

Many veterinarians are concerned with the potential health risks associated with dogs consuming rawhide. These health risks include: stomach & intestinal blockage and potential ingestion of toxic chemicals used to process rawhide chews.

In addition, there are serious negative environmental issues generated by the use of chemicals in processing rawhide products.

Once again, we are very happy with our SmartBones products and I think Pancake is even happier!

Win It

You can enter for your chance to win a SmartBones prize pack with $25 Visa Gift Card below.

This giveaway will end on 12/19/2016 at 11:59pm CST. Winner’s will be contacted via email and will have 24 hours to respond with their mailing information to claim their prize. The Megalomaniac Mommy is not responsible for prize fulfillment. Any questions, please contact us.

*The Megalomaniac Mommy policies on giveaways can be found here.

 

 

PetMatrix SmartBones




Entertainment, Movie, Toys

Bring Trolls Toys Home for the Holidays

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Post sponsored by Mirum. Opinions are 100% my own.

If you have a young child in your home, chances are pretty good that you have heard about Trolls, the latest film from Dreamworks.

From the moment my kids saw the first trailer, they have requested to see the film, by the toys, and can we buy the movie when it comes out too??

Seriously, if you haven’t heard about this film, you are living under a rock. Do yourself a favor, scroll back to the top of this post and watch the trailer, Right.Now.

Now do you see what all of the fuss is about? Ellie has watched each of the trailers no less than 100 times each. She keeps telling me that she is Poppy, the happiest Troll, which couldn’t be more true!

Get Trolls Toys

Since the release of the film, our local Walmart has been filling up with all kinds of fun Trolls toys and Ellie has been dying to get her hands on some. While we are sure some will magically appear under our tree this Christmas, it was only right that she (and Joey) gets to experience a little magic from the film now.

Just Let Them Sing

My kids love to listen to music and they love to sing. The Trolls Rock N’ Troll Sing-Along Microphone from Walmart gives them the opportunity to listen to their favorite songs and sing along!

The microphone is a lot of fun for the kids. The love to use it to sing-along to the Trolls soundtrack on my iPhone. All they have to do it plug it into my phone, turn on my music, and the microphone becomes a speaker and allows them to sing along.

The kids have a great time playing and singing along

It’s Always Time for a Hug

Another toy Ellie has been enjoying is the Trolls Hug Time Bracelet, because, it’s always time for a hug!

This bright and colorful Trolls Hug Time Bracelet replicates the hourly tradition of “Hug Time” from the film. It features fun lights and sounds that are activated, along with the “It’s Hug Time” phrase at the press of a button! Ellie cannot get enough of hug time and I don’t mind it one bit!

 

You can find both of these great Trolls toys and many, many more Trolls items at Walmart! Be sure to get them in time for the holiday gift giving season!

Win

You can enter for your chance to win 1 of 75 – $30 Walmart e-gift cards, great for your Trolls toy purchase, using the form below!

Dreamwork’s Trolls Sweepstakes

Holiday

Moments and Memories: Preserving the Magic of Your Family Holiday with Photos

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Choosing travel is one of the most charming ways to celebrate family holidays. Besides spending quality time with your family, you get to explore new places and share the experience with your loved ones. Of course, who wouldn’t want to cherish such everlasting memories? Since family holidays give us ample time to celebrate the togetherness, documenting your family stories with photos is not only fun, it’s a great thing to recall how adventurous your holidays have been with your loved ones.

However, capturing great snapshots is an art. And not all of us are experts in clicking the right moments. That’s because there’s so much more to it except just posing for every photo. So how about a candid shot with a perfect lighting?

Preserving the holiday magic goes beyond just packing, booking, and travelling. Below are some great photography tips to help you capture the memorable stories hidden in each of your holiday photos.

Select a Black and White Theme to Capture a Timeless Photo

Though shooting in colour mode is a photography norm, most of us are still fond of the black and white effect that makes up a timeless photo. Interestingly, black and white photography is still preferred!

But when should you actually convert your holiday photos into black and white images? You can choose this option when the texture, form, and light in the image are more compelling as compared to the hues in the scene. Also, if the colours in the image are creating a distraction, it’s best to prefer black and white over scattered colours.  

To create this artistic look, simply take a photo and turn it into black and white colours by adjusting the settings of your digital camera.

Bring a Camera Battery Charger with You

If you’re wandering in a garden filled with flowers, what could be more exciting than experimenting with some floral photography? But if your camera has a low battery, this can destroy all the fun. However, there isn’t any need for letting those precious moments vanish forever. By packing a camera battery charger, you’re good to go to any place without worrying about your camera charging needs.

Pack Your Camera’s Lens Cleaning Cloth

If you’re heading towards the beach, the sea salt, sun cream, and the sand won’t do any good to your camera except for killing a perfectly captured moment. Taking splashy shots of your kids may come out to be blurry because of the sand grains stuck in the lens of the camera. In such a situation, a lens cloth works well. Clean your camera lens with the cloth before taking lively photos of the kids while they’re playing at the sea side.

 

Be Mid-Step While You’re Walking

Whether you want to start off with hiking or just feel like having calm, relaxing walk with your spouse, it’s challenging to capture the exact story in a photo. That’s because even if you’re walking, the photo will show that you’re just standing. To create the walking effect even in photos, here’s a trick: be in your mid-step as the camera captures the moment. If both of your feet are in the same place, the photo will show that you’re standing still.

Let Your Photos Narrate a Story

While you’re on the go, it’s a natural emotion to preserve every moment: your car drive, the time spent during the flight, your family’s first step on the lands of their favourite travel destination, the culture of the country, the streets, and even the food! Though this surely is a great way to capture the joys of your journey, you can uplift the charm further by capturing the minute details of these moments. For instance, if you’re in a touristy site (such as Eiffel Tower), try to shoot from a new angle – right from the ground, or from a higher place.

Preserve the Little Adventures

Exploring new places is not only fun, it’s a sure-fire opportunity for kids to try out new things – things they had never done before, for instance, diving in a lake for the first time! While they do this, don’t just capture their first try. Take a moment to record the entire family’s reactions too. To do this, make sure you’re shooting the whole scenery.  

The Bottom Line

Photography is itself a journey. And when it’s about cherishing the moments spent during family holidays, nothing beats the joy of capturing your kids’ candid laughter in an extraordinarily artistic way.  If you’re equipped with a high-quality camera, a camera charger, and the passion to take captivating family photos during the trip, you’re ready to relive the holiday magic even after years. 

John Stowe is an amateur photographer based in Leeds UK. He got the digital photography bug back in the early 2000’s and has since had many different models of cameras. He loves to share his ideas and thoughts online for others to read.