Monthly Archives: July 2013

3 Ant & Roach Prevention Tips + Combat Roach & Ant Killing Bait Strips Review

Let me preface this post by saying that I don’t condone the harm of any insect when they are not inside my home.  I don’t allow my kids to step on ants or hurt insects unless they post a threat.. like mosquitos, wasps and bees.  One insects such as ants and roaches cross the border into my home, that’s a different story.   Take action!

I grew up in Florida and am very familiar with the Combat brand.  I was the ‘roach detector’ in our house in Florida.  Mind you, I was a young child.. how my parents and sister let me have that job, is beyond me.  Because I grew up using Combat, it is the brand I go to whenever there is the first sign of an ant or roach in our house.   I was recently asked by Combat to try out their bait strips and let you know if I like them and that is what I am sharing with you today.

I’m sure you’ve noticed the ant mounds creeping up in your yard over the last month or so.  It’s that dreaded time of year again, and I don’t mean summer, I mean bug season!  You know what that means, if bugs are outside your home, then they are sure to find their way inside. Using an insecticide safely inside your home can control pesky ants and roaches.

Does this look familiar?

ants in kitchen on juice

Every year around early summer ants start marching in through the windowsill in our kitchen and invade any fruit or food that is on our counter.  It’s awful.  It’s like it happens overnight but every year, I resolve the problem quickly.  🙂   To keep bugs from making me uncomfortable in my home, I am using Combat’s new Killing Bait Strips.  With the same killing power found in Combat Gels, the thin bait strips help get rid of roaches and ants so I can enjoy my summer, pest free!  Thank goodness!

At the fist sign of an ant or roach head to your local store and pick up a box of Combat Ant Killing Bait Strips, or the  Roach Killing Bait Strips, or both if needed.
Combat Ant Killing Bait Strip

How to use a Combat Ant or Roach Killing Bait Strip

Combat is very efficient when it comes to killing ants and roaches and the bait strips are very easy to apply.  First, you take one of the strips out of the packaging. You will notice that the bait strip has a small removable strip on it that when removed, reveals sticky adhesive.  Peel the strip off and just mount the bait strip where ants and/or roaches are attracted such as, dark places, under cabinets, and near garbage areas just to name a few. Once you have applied the bait strip to the area you will pull the main bait strip cover off and that’s where the bait is located.

Please note to make sure that the strips are kept out of the reach of children and pets.

The strip has bait in it that attracts ants or roaches to it.  When an ant finds the strip, it will eat some of the bait then carry some bait back to their colony.  Other ants in the colony are exposed to the insecticide and the entire colony is destroyed.  Score!  Sorry ants.

When you have used all the strips out of the box that you need make sure you store the leftover ones in a cool, dark place away from food and children.

What if your kids touch a bait strip?

The insecticide in Combat’s bait strips was formulated to specifically affect insects and is virtually non-toxic to humans. However, it is recommended that anyone who handles the bait strips, washes their hands after contact for their own protection.


3 Tips to prevent ants and roaches from taking up residence in your home

1. Don’t feed the ants and roaches!
Don’t leave food and drinks out in any room of the house.  Eat at the kitchen or dining room table and clean up after your meals, immediately.  Don’t allow children to snack or drink juice in other rooms of the house.

2. Seal windows
Most insects enter a home through window or door cracks.  Seal these entry spots with caulk.

3. Sweep and mop the kitchen floor often
Ants and roaches will often go unnoticed because they spend a majority of the time on the floor, under the cabinets, kitchen sink, or stove.   To prevent ants and roaches from hanging out in these areas, keep them clean by sweeping and mopping often.


Thank you Combat for introducing me to another Combat product that helps keep my home free of bugs!

Do you have clever ways of keeping insects out of your home?  Tell us in the comments below.

Castaluna Plus Size Fashion.. Brand New Moms Can Dress Fashionably!

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Castaluna is an online store based in the UK that offers plus size women trendy reasonably priced clothes and accessories in plus sizes.
Consider this though, even if you do not live in the UK and you live in the United States or another country you can still use Castaluna for fashion inspiration and ideas.
Castaluna offers clothes that help make women feel and look more confident and accessories to complete the outfit.   Many new moms, as I’ve talked about before on The Mommy Insider, feel that they can no longer dress fashionably because they can’t put together an outfit made up of sizes that they might not have worn pre-kids.

Here’s a tip..

Castaluna Plus Size online shopping

Castaluna offers a large variety of items and brands.  Their online selection include shoes, lingerie, dresses and bags, belts, shirts, and pants.  Brands they offer include Hilfiger Denim, Diesel, and Cleo as well as dozens of others.

Castaluna specializes in clothes for plus size women. The sizes run from 14-36. Many of the women who shop online at Castaluna are plus size women looking for comfortable yet trendy clothes, women who are pregnant, and women who have just had a baby.  In many stores there is just a small section for plus size clothes yet Castaluna is dedicated completely to plus sizes.

Becoming a new mom is hard enough finding clothes should be fun and easy and with Castaluna there are so many plus size options to choose from.

One of the best things about Castaluna is the variety they offer. One of my favorite sections on the site is the ‘vintage inspired’ section. The selection of vintage inspired pieces are items inspired by clothes that were worn in the 1950’s.  The fashion in the 1950’s was classy yet fun. The vintage category includes lots of red and blue hues as well as fun patterns such as polka dots. The vintage inspired category offers cute bras, trendy bathing suits, plus size dresses, stylish purses and comfortable cute shoes.

The Green tonic category which is also found under the trends section at the top of the site is a great category if you are looking for clothes that are a little more fun and playful. The green tonic section offers beautiful green hues, long flirty skirts, gorgeous heels, comfortable shirts and much more. Not only is there a variety of styles in the green tonic section but there is also a lot of styles and colors to choose from. The green tonic section and the vintage inspired section are certainly two of the best categories for trendy, stylish clothes and accessories.

Even with so many great vintage, plus size, and trendy items there are a few items that just really stick out to me because they are just so beautiful. One of those items is a pair of Daxon Flower Earrings.  For a day out on the beach pairing the turquoise earrings with the beautiful black body shaping swimsuit by TAILLISSIME is a great idea. The TAILLISSIME bathing suit is a great option because it uses materials that help suck in the skin and give the most beautiful curvy body.

Another great item that is perfect if you are a new mom or if you are about to have a baby is the cotton maternity and nursing pajamas by Cocoon. The pajama set includes a v neck long-sleeved shirt and a pair of high waisted pajama pants so they can be worn above or below the belly. The Cocoon pajama set comes in a few different colors as well as a few different sizes. It is so comfortable and light weight that it is a great item for new moms who need a simple comfortable pajama or women who are about to have a baby and need something stretchy and comfy.

Shopping for clothes after becoming a new mom, or while expecting a child can feel a little overwhelming sometimes but Castaluna takes away those troubles but offering a variety of plus sizes. Whether it is vintage, classic, modern or even funky many great clothing and accessories are available at Castaluna. Women and even men who are plus size do not have to settle for bland outfits when they an whose stylish, trendy outfits that flatter their figure.

Do you have a few favorite plus size items that you lived in after having your baby?  Tell us about them in the comments!


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Choose a Magical Christening Gift

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Christenings are a wonderful time for loved ones to come together, and, for many, can be a first chance to celebrate the arrival of a brand new family member. They can be a great source of new family heirlooms.

Some of my kids favorite ‘toys’ are the ones that I played with when I was a child.   There is something about seeing and touching a toy or anything for that matter, that’s been in the family for years that puts a big smile on a face.

Ernest Jones Christening Gifts

Christening gifts are commonly of a religious theme, but a gift that very young children can understand, such as one that relates to one of your  favorite classic story’s when they’re older, may be just as thoughtful.  To give a gift that will be remembered for years to come and add to the fairytale of a just-beginning childhood, we have some magical suggestions from Ernest Jones’ Christening collection.

As an established British jeweller, ErnestJones.co.uk offers gifts that are beautifully crafted and made from the finest materials, and giving a gift from Ernest Jones also means giving back: the company also partners with and supports Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The Hansel and Gretel money bank is a gift that is likely to become a part of the new baby’s room as he or she grows up. The gift of a bank is a wonderful way to become a part of the child’s growing-up years, as a place to store allowance, count and save money, and learn its value early on.  Made of unbreakable pewter, the silver gingerbread house’s candy swirls and adorable children is sure to become part of childhood for the new baby, if not a precious keepsake for mom.  I would love to have this bank for myself! I think it’s gorgeous and it brings back some great childhood memories.

Another great gift that is sure to become woven into fond childhood memories is the Fairytale Frog Prince tooth box.  Whether this friendly frog is to become guardian to a child’s first baby tooth, a place to be visited by the Tooth Fairy, or just an endearing nightstand addition, this smiling pewter frog and his bejeweled crown will definitely be cherished for years to come.

The Thumbelina mug is a perfect little gift for a perfect little girl. This flower-shaped mug is crafted from pewter, and, peeking between the petals, we catch a glimpse of the future faerie princess herself. This adorable and whimsical take on the traditional pewter Christening cup is a very thoughtful way to renew something time-honored in the first few months of a bright new life.

The Royal Selangor pewter Cinderella clock is a gift that may one day even bring fairytale magic to math. A fantastic addition to any nursery, this is a gift that is sure to remain a part of the new family’s life for years to come.

Even if you don’t live in the UK, you will find fabulous gifts ideas on the Ernest Jones website!

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4th of July Kids Clothes and Accessories at The Children’s Place

It’s a rainy day here in Atlanta and tomorrow is July 4th.   I will hardly let the rain stop us from being patriotic and proud!

One way that we show off our USA pride in the is to wear festive clothes and accessories.  As my daughter got old enough to dress herself, I quickly learned that a 4th of July outfit made up of a red shirt, blue shorts, and white sandals just won’t do.

What was I thinking!?

One children’s clothing store that I know will have festive, 4th of July, clothes and accessories is The Children’s Place.

Here are a few festive, 4th of July pieces, that Madelyn loves and will get when we go shopping this afternoon, if she has her way, and if this rain slows down.  🙂

The Children's Place July 4th clothing for girlsPhoto source: The Children’s Place

Shown in the photo above:

Find a The Children’s Place near you.

Do your kids love to dress up on holidays?

This is not a compensated post.  I just wanted to share these great items with you!

Delivery Man Movie Trailer!

While the concept of the film is amusing, it’s also a really heartwarming look at what it means to be a family — no matter how unconventional. The definition of family has evolved and, as seen in the film, can come in all shapes and sizes.

View a trailer for the movie Delivery Man, staring Vince Vaughn, below.

 

DELIVERY MAN releases in theaters on November 22nd!

DELIVERY MAN stars Vince Vaughn, Cobie Smulders and Chris Pratt and will be in theaters November 22. And just so you know, this movie is for adults and not small children. It’s rated PG-13 for mature themes.