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2012′s Top 10 Spring Allergy Cities

March 22, 2012 By 2 Comments

The mild winter has left several people very happy. Obviously, we are not among those people. We are huge snow lovers and did not get to experience enough snow this past winter season. Another reason we are not happy is because mild winters lead to a terrible spring season for allergy sufferers.

According to Weather.com, this year was the fourth warmest winter on record for the U.S.

“It’s causing the perfect storm for allergy misery,” says New York-based allergist Dr. Cliff Bassett.

The Weather Channel and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) have released their top 10 spring allergy cities for the 2012 Spring season. Are you on the list?

1. Knoxville, TN

2. McAllen, TX

3. Louisville, KY

4. Jackson, MS

5. Wichita, KS

6. Oklahoma City, OK

7. Chattanooga, TN

8. Memphis, TN

9. San Antonio, TX

10. Dayton, OH

No cities in NC made the list. I am pleased to see this but unfortunately, we are having a time with all the pollen right now with both M and L. L had to go on a stronger prescription allergy medicine and up her dosage on her inhaler. M is on allergy shots and Claritin as of right now. This combination seems to be working along with us being proactive. How can you be proactive? I am going to share tips that I shared last year in this post.

1. Declutter: Knick knacks, stuffed toys and clutter are major dust collectors

2. Keep decor smooth and simple: Remove carpet, as smooth floors (such as hard wood and tile) trap fewer allergens.

3. Wash allergens away: Have your child shower and change clothes after playing outside to wash off allergens on skin, hair and clothes.

4. Encase bedding: Use allergen-proof zippered encasings for pillows, mattresses and box springs to protect your bedding from dust mites.

5. Put clothes away: Keep all of your child’s clothes in drawers or closets; never leave them lying about the room.

6. Turn up the AC and clean filters: Pollen can travel hundreds of miles by wind, so keep windows and doors closed. Air conditioners filter pollen and other allergens, but they can also be breeding grounds for mold, so be sure to keep filters clean and consider using a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter.

Hopefully these tips will help you get through this severe allergy season. Maybe we can still get a late snowstorm? Wishful thinking… I know!

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Filed Under: Family, Health Tagged With: allergy tips, claritin, Top 10 Spring Allergy Cities

Our worst hotel experience this weekend!

March 20, 2012 By 3 Comments

As a traveling family, we have stayed in several hotels. I could honestly say, we never had a bad hotel experience before this past weekend. This past weekend put that statement through the window unfortunately.

Our precious M had a clogging competition in Gatlinburg, TN. We are huge fans of Pigeon Forge, TN and would occasionally visit Gatlinburg on our trips. I only had minimal experience with hotels in the Gatlinburg area. I wanted to keep our trip as frugal as we could so I put a bid in at Priceline’s “Name your own price.” Let me just state, I will never use this feature again. We have had success in the past, but this trip put a heavy dark cloud over the past successful trips.

We get to our hotel and realize, it does not look like the pictures online. Sigh #1. We get our keys and drive to our room across the road. Once we open the door, we realize we have one queen size bed for 2 adults and 3 kids. Sigh #2. I run across the road and explain I put in the Priceline instructions, that we needed two double beds. The associate gives us another room. The room looks decent with a smell. We will deal with the smell since we will only be in the room to sleep. As we went to sleep that night, I just felt weird in the room. It’s just all in my head, I was thinking. I finally go to sleep only to wake up to a scratching noise. Sigh #3. I lay there a minute and start praying that I am just hearing noises. Sure enough, the scratching continues and it is right beside me in the nightstand. There are mice in our hotel room. Sigh #4. It is almost 6am in the morning so I hurry and start packing all our things. We are getting out of this room ASAP. As I am packing our things, the smoke alarm goes off in our room. I hurry and swoop up L to carry her, M and her friend start running outside down the halls. As I am running to follow them, I realize we are the only people running in the hotel. Sigh #5. Our alarm was the only one going off. At this point, I just start laughing.

After we get our things packed and in the vehicle, we head across the street to have a talk with the front desk.

Associate: “Do you have a pet with you?”

Me: “Well, actually no we do not.”

Associate: “Why are you in our pet hotel then?”

Me: “Your clerk is the one that put us over there.”

Associate: “Let me go show you a room we have over on this side of the property.”

I go check out the room. It is a little more decent and it is by the creek. I proceed to get hubby and the girls. We begin unpacking our things once again. The girls open the door to see the creek. We have a nice view of a run down hotel and pool. Sigh #6 Someone is outdoors smoking on their balcony and it immediately sets off L with an asthma attack. Sigh #7. We are all just bewildered by this point. Hubby and I vow to never ever stay in Gatlinburg, TN again. We will stay in Pigeon Forge, TN where the hotels are not run down and provide clean and classy rooms. What an experience!

By the way, this hotel was the Sydney James Mountain Lodge. This was our worst hotel experience as a traveling family.

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Filed Under: Family, Mom Reviews, Travel Tagged With: gatlinburg, sydney james mountain lodge review, tn, worst hotel experience

Can snow show a child’s personality?

March 7, 2012 By 3 Comments

Children have different types of personalities. This plays so true with my two daughters’ personalities. During our snow day earlier this week, I sat back and analyzed their behaviors in the snow. We are a very analytical family after all.

M was in the snow forming three huge snow balls to build a snowman. She did not just stop at building the snowman. The snowman had to be accessorized. I present you M’s snow musician.

While M was entertaining us with the snow music, L was over by herself under a tree forming her own snow creature.

As we all know, L is a huge animal lover. She is going to be such a great animal advocate when she grows up. So, it was to no surprise that L was creating a bird with the snow. She came running down the hill to show me her snow bird. Too cute.

To answer my initial question, snow can show a child’s personality. M has a love for the arts including visual and musical. This showed when she was accessorizing her snowman. M is very outgoing and loves to be around people. L on the other hand is very reserved and more quiet than M. L sat under her tree very quiet while forming her snow bird.

Pretty cool right?

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Filed Under: Big Sis, Family, Little Sis

How to make snow cream

March 5, 2012 By 3 Comments

We are in the midst of a snow day today. If you recall from my post last month, one of my reasons that snow days rock was SNOW CREAM!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for snow cream.

During our adventures in the snow this morning, I gathered up a big bowl of snow cream to bring in for a delicious serving of snow cream. Here are the easy steps:

1. Gather a big bowl of snow cream.

2. Pour 2 cups of milk in the bowl of snow.

3. Pour 1 cup of sugar in the bowl.

4. Pour 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract in the bowl.

5. Stir all ingredients together and Enjoy.

This is such a delicious treat that my parents would always make for me and now I am getting to pass that tradition on to my girls. The recipe is such an easy one but just make sure you do not use the first snowfall of the season.

Great homemade dessert with no processed ingredients. Perfection!

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Filed Under: Family, recipes Tagged With: snow cream, snow cream recipe, snow ice cream

Rascal Flatts gives us a private concert

March 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

I am back from the Blissdom Conference all refreshed and energized. The workshops were amazing and filled with a wealth of knowledge to take your blog to the next level. The ideas are spinning in my head to make One Moms World a better resource for parents all around which means YOU. Stay tuned in the next month. I think you will enjoy the changes.

One of the highlights of Blissdom was the private concert by Rascal Flatts.

I have enjoyed their music for a very long time now. Back in 2007, I made a M’s preschool video with their song My Wish. Great group who loves their fans and God. The two songs we really enjoy are God Bless the Broken Road and Life is a Highway. You can imagine my face when Rascal Flatts took to the stage with these two songs. My hands were up in the hair and I was smiling ear to ear.

Turn up your speakers and enjoy!

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Filed Under: Family Tagged With: god bless the broken road, life is a highway, nashville, rascal flatts, tn country music

Daddy and Daughter Hit the Ski Slopes

February 27, 2012 By 1 Comment

Winter here in the NC mountains has been very mild. I am still awaiting on our big snow storm. We have had several small snow storms that has only accumulated up to 3 inches. 3 inch storms are very rare for us, but you will take what you get right?

Since the last storm declared a snow day for the county, Scott and M decided to take advantage of snow day rates and hit the slopes for the day. Scott and I enjoy doing one-on-one dates with the girls so I know this day was very special for hubby and M.

M owned the slopes. The first time she came down the big hill, she forgot to do pizza. I was a little worried, but she did what anyone would probably do and just fell. She got right back up and hit the slopes wide open again. She remembered to do pizza with her ski’s after the first incident. I am so proud of M for not ever giving up. She always puts 110% in everything that she participates in — this makes for one proud mommy.

Of course, we could not leave out L during the snow day. L and I went and joined in the snow fun in the afternoon. She was a very happy snow camper.

Sisters finish out the day together on the slopes. Priceless!

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Filed Under: Family Tagged With: daddy and daughter date, nc mountains, skiing in nc

5 reasons that snow days rock!

February 20, 2012 By 1 Comment

Snow is a beautiful four letter word that brings music to our ears. We are a snow loving family hence the reason we live in the beautiful mountains of NC.

This year has not brought us much of the white stuff at all which makes us sad but we make the best of it when we do get a couple of inches. It never fails though, when there is enough snow for a snow day, I see parents complaining. Of course, it is a free world, so they can complain till their hearts are content. I, on the other hand, love snow days. Here are five reasons why snow days rock!

1. The alarm is not blaring that awful sound in my ears at 6:30 am. I am not a morning person. I would rather sleep-in even if sleeping in is till 7:30. Last year, the girls school did not start till 9:15. Oh how I miss those late start time!

2. I get to act silly with my girls in the snow. It is great to let your hair down so to speak and act like a kid for the day sledding down snow hills and building snowmen. We are away from technology and creating so many smiles as a family playing in the snow.

3. We get to eat yummy snow cream. Ever since I was a little girl, my parents would make snow cream with the second snow of the year. The girls love helping me scoop up a bowl of snow and bring it in the house to create a delicious bowl of snow cream.

4. I do not have to pack lunch boxes. Now, please do not get me wrong. I enjoy creating my girls a healthy lunch everyday that they will actually eat, but as I said, I am not a morning person. Lunch just adds to the chaotic morning. I could create the lunch at night but I usually send them a warm lunch to school.

5. The girls are able to spend all day HOME with me. Oh did I say that? Of course I did. I love having the girls home with me. I am not that parent that is wishing summer vacation would hurry up so my girls can go back to school. I would rather have them home with me any day!

Today was a snow day here in NC. We spent the day on the slopes. Lots of smiles, laughs and great family time.

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Filed Under: Family Tagged With: snow days

The tale of the mom with a crooked smile

February 16, 2012 By 11 Comments

There once was a mom that loved to smile and make others laugh, but her crooked smile would over shadow her beautiful face. A point came in her life, that when she would talk to others, all she would think about—is her crooked smile.

That mom is ME!

Ever since I was a little girl, my jaw has been off centered. You see, one side of my jaw stopped growing while the other side of the jaw continued to grow. At least, this is how it has been explained to me. I was told as a teen, that one day my jaw would lock up on me. I feel like I am on borrowed time with my jaw so after talking with an orthodontist today and my husband, it is time to put the braces back on and go through with the jaw surgery.

My jaw gives me a huge complex. Especially, when I am talking to others, the first thing I think about– is that person noticing my jaw and/or teeth?

Many people have told me that my jaw is what makes Jen and I should have no worries about my jaw. Those two statements are easier said than done. First, I get frequent headaches and jaw pain. I have just learned to deal with it and will not complain. What is the use right? Secondly, how can I not worry when my face stares me in the face each and everyday?

As a teen, I went through braces, the surgery wires and was all prepared giving my blood for my 6 hour jaw surgery. I was so ready to put all of this behind me and move on with life until insurance stopped me in my tracks unfortunately. All the hard work that braces did only to be stopped and say I could not go any further because insurance refused to pay for the $30,000 dollar surgery. I will admit, I shed quite a few tears. Fast forward to my 30′s now and here I am ready to start the journey all over. Where will I get the money? Will insurance pay this time? I am leaving it in God’s hands. I pray he will provide and I can put this all behind me finally.

If you see me, you don’t have to stare. Please just enjoy my personality and not my crooked smile!

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Filed Under: Family Tagged With: crooked jaw, crooked smile, jaw surgery

I received the BEST Valentine’s present from my husband

February 12, 2012 By 1 Comment

Valentine’s Day each year is always a special day for the simple reason that is when my husband and I started our relationship. This Valentine’s Day will be 10 years. We have officially been together a decade. Now, each year we usually do not go overboard with gifts as we love to celebrate Valentine’s Day as a family. I love seeing the girls faces light up as they are celebrating with us. This year, will be an extra special day as we celebrate 10 years together.

My husband has already gave me the best gift ever. The gift was not jewelry, not clothes, not a new technology device or anything that was purchased with money. This gift did not cost one red cent. How is it the best present then?

Last weekend, we went out to eat with our Pastor and his wife for lunch after church. We were all sitting there talking about how Scott and I first met. I love telling our story. We locked eyes and smiled at each other, then the best present was given. “I know for sure I would take a bullet or jump out in front of a car if it would keep Jen or the girls alive.” Tears welled up in my eyes. That sentence right there showed me, my husband would put his life up to save the girls and I. My husband has never uttered those words to me before. My heart was beating fast and I just looked at him. That sentence has been playing over and over in my head this week. I told him Thursday night, you have given me the best Valentine’s present EVER! He said, what did I give you? I told him and we just hugged.

It reminded me what Jesus did for us. He gave his life for us so we could live. I am so thankful. I am blessed that God has given me a husband that will look out for the girls and I till the end. There is no price that could be placed on those words, but I will always keep them very close to my heart.

I love you Scott!

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Filed Under: Family Tagged With: Husband Love, Valentine's Day

5 tips to help you survive a blog conference

February 8, 2012 By 3 Comments

Blog conference season is among us with the Blissdom Conference only two weeks away. There will be many bloggers attending their first blog conference this year. Conferences can be be overwhelming even to veterans, so never fear if you are having a little anxiety about attending your first conference. I attended my first conference in 2009 when I went to BlogHer in Chicago. Why did I pick the biggest conference as my first blogger conference? I am not so sure, but it helped get my feet wet.

Here are my 5 tips to survive a blog conference.

1. Check out the conference hashtag on twitter such as #blissdom. Start conversations or even reply to people in the stream. Get to know other attendees before you even get to the conference. Plan to meet-up at the conference. You will not feel so alone once you get there.

2. Do not try to attend all sessions and every party. Your body and your voice will get too worn down. It is not worth the tired feeling. Take time and relax in your room. Drink water and eat a healthy snack to re-energize while you are in the room. Your body will thank you!

3. Leave the heavy laptop at home. All the muscles in your body will be aching from carrying the huge laptop bag around with you. Believe me, I am speaking from experience. A tablet, an iPad or netbook works perfectly as each of these technology devices can be easily stored and are very light-weight.

4. Pack comfortable shoes. I know we all want to be fashionista’s but there comes a time that we need to pamper our feet. You will do a lot of walking at these conferences and blisters are not fun at all on your first night. I am unfortunately speaking from experience once again. Pinterest can be your best friend to find super and stylish shoes.

5. Bring business cards. You will network your little heart out at these conferences. There is no way to remember everyone that you connect with so in return you cannot expect everyone you meet to remember you and your blog.

Tiny Prints have such creative business cards that will help you stand out among all the attendees. You want to make a great impression as this is your personal brand you will be representing at the conference.

Just remember to relax, don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation and you will do just fine. Let me know if you would like to connect. Remember, I was once a conference newbie :)

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are of my own.

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Filed Under: Family Tagged With: blog conferences, blog newbie, mom blog
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