I knew I had it all wrong when last Christmas- surrounded by a mountain of presents and a house full of family- my children could not have cared less about the presents. Both of them opened one gift, loved it, and quickly lost interest in the rest in favor of playing with their aunts and uncle.

I actually had to force them to open the rest of their gifts over the next three or four days, so I would have something to tell my in-laws when they called to ask how the kids liked the gifts. “Uh… they were… umm, great. Whatever they were… hehe”

They were ages four and one at the time. While this was NOT the reaction I had anticipated, I was not all that surprised. My children have always put more of a premium on experiences rather than things and I cannot be more grateful for that. Don’t get me wrong. They love toys and books and messy art supplies as much as the next kid… and of course, they often succumb to the “gimme-gimmes” anytime we are near a Lego store.

On the other hand, Scout still goes on and on about the first time I ever took him to Taco Bell and then to my office. Not a particularly extraordinary event, but a completely novel one to him. Yet, he can’t tell you the last thing he just HAD to have  at the store.

On her second birthday, Lou was more interested in the Flip camera we were using to film her, than her presents. At one point, she took over the camera and took great glee in shooting my husband opening the gifts for her. The Bitty Baby that Mike’s mom obsessed over for weeks was presented to her, then sadly, tossed aside. Months later, it still lives in the closet and is barely played with… if ever.

As I said, I’m not surprised that my kids are like this. Mike and I have been very intentional about raising them to appreciate doing over having, and we’ve taught them this by example.

In 2008, Mike lost his job. Two weeks later, he accepted a new job… in London… and I lost my perfect life in Dallas, Texas. We had a month to reassess our worldly possessions and our house, and got rid of most of it. Scout was two at the time, and watched as toys, books, dishes, decorations, furniture…  all made their way to Craigslist, Freecycle, charity shops, or were given away to friends. Then, off we three went on a grand adventure!

I can’t even tell you how many people told me that I was INSANE to leave Texas. (How could anyone leave Texas?!) Friends asked how I could just give away or sell all of our stuff. How could I give up the comfort and security of my cushy suburban existence? It was a chance to live in London. How could I not?

Eight months later, when the economy unexpectedly tanked and we once again found ourselves jobless… except this time, living abroad. We had to go through the entire process again. For a second time in his small life, my son watched as we shed belongings and packed up the rest to move back to the States. Sheepishly, we prepared to return ”home”, but not quite…

A  bit older and more aware, this second move took a toll on our son. Every night he would wake up and bring all of his toys into his bed, then sleep on top of them. It was as if he feared they would go away otherwise. My heart broke for him and, as a result, we got rid of very few of his things.

We moved a third time a year later. It was a local move, but no less harsh on my son. Night after night, he would ask, “Is this really my room, now?” and “When are we going back to our house?”. I had no idea if he was talking about Dallas, London, or the short gap in between when he and I lived with my parents.

This time in our life was THE most stressful. The resentment from it still bubbles up from time to time. Yet, looking back, it was also the most remarkable and it solidified our values as a family. So what did we learn in the midst of utter insanity?

Things will come and go.

Jobs will come in go.

Friends will even come and go.

What matters in life is the experiences you seize and the people who are there to embrace them with you.

Disclosure: As a Kidworth Ambassador, I was compensated for sharing how our family saves, spends, and sets goals. This is the perfect time of year to re-evaluate how you view the “stuff” in your life. 

Image credit: From kalastajanvaimo.indiedays.com, via Pinterest 

As you can imagine, my home is pretty tech saturated. Bings, bops and beeps, tap-tap-tap. Some days, we truly ARE the big green room in Goodnight iPad. So, it’s easy  to overlook a little button battery in a story book, light-up wand, or desk clock.

After two kids, I’ve grown accustomed to tuning out a lot of sounds and blinking lights. I’ve had do this for the sake of my own sanity. I don’t even think twice about handing my children the garage door opener, camera, or flashlight to keep them amused, but after seeing this video I will.

The children featured in this video seem to skew towards infant/toddler age, but the truth is, battery-related injuries are a threat at any age. Regardless if a child is little or really should “know better”, the outcome of accidentally swallowing a battery can be deadly. When a lithium battery gets stuck in a child’s throat, the saliva triggers an electrical current. This causes a chemical reaction that can severely burn the esophagus in as little as TWO HOURS.

Once you think about it, these types of batteries can be in some of the most unexpected places. Anywhere, really!

Safe Kids Worldwide and Energizer recently announced a crucial partnership to share life-saving tips and advice with parents and caregivers about the potential dangers of swallowing  batteries. The formation of “The Battery Controlled” by Safe Kids and Energizer shines a light on this growing issue and provides simple steps to prevent injuries and deaths to children.

Last year, it was reported that more than 3,400 children ingested button batteries. These were only reported cases. It has been suggested that the actually number is much, much greater–considering all of the incidents where caregivers just let the battery “pass” or didn’t even realize that one has been swallowed in the first place. In any case, the number of cases of children swallowing batteries has more than quadrupled in the past five years

So what can you do to help prevent this growing threat:

• Keep button batteries and devices that use them out of reach of tiny hands. Lock them away.
• Only give your child toys in which the batteries are tightly and securely fastened in a tamper-resistant way.
• If you child swallows a battery, go the the emergency room right away. Do not induce vomiting. Do not let them eat or drink anything until an X-Ray can confirm if the battery is there.
• Learn more and take the pledge on The Battery Controlled Facebook page.
• Spread the word. Share this life-saving information with caregivers, friends, family members and sitters

For more information on this important issue and for tips on how to protect your family, visit www.thebatterycontrolled.com.

Disclosure: The Battery Controlled is a campaign supported by Energizer, in partnership with Safe Kids USA, to alert parents and other caregivers to the hidden danger of swallowing coin lithium button batteries. I was compensated for this post, but the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I never endorse anything I do not personally support or have used. 

A redesigned, all new Honda 2012 CR-V  was debuted at the LA Auto Show before Thanksgiving. A few weeks prior, I was invited by Honda to gorgeous Park Hyatt Aviera in Carlsbad, California on a convert mission to test drive this fabulous new car for myself.

No Tweeting. No Facebook. No blog posts until it could be unveiled to the public! In other words, pure agony…  So it is with so much suppressed excitement that I share with you what an honor and a thrill it was to be a part of this event!

Read the rest of my review of the Honday 2012 CR-V on my friend and Wonder Tech Twin, Leticia Barr’s site, Tech Savvy Mama… Beep, Beep! 

Disclosure: I was a guest of Honda for their CR-V press event in Carlsbad, California. Honda provided travel arrangements and accommodations. Although I was not required to write about the event, I was more than happy to do so. All opinions are my own and no compensation was received. Images courtesy of Honda. 

Everywhere I went yesterday, people kept asking me if I was hosting Thanksgiving, what I planned to serve, and who I was having over…

“Host” is quite an ambitious word for what I do every single day, which is put a meal on the table that my kids will turn their noses to and my husband will clean up after. Ha!

Yes, it is just the four of us this Thanksgiving. After a week of the flu, coughing, and sneezing… and far too many hours logged into work,  we begged off an invitation to dinner at relatives in favor of staying close to home and together.

This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for the little break and for this quite weekend with my littles and my hubby, and I hope you have a wonderful one too!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 

I took my first and decidedly LAST foray into the Black Friday darkness last year…Within 15 minutes, I resumed my originally stance of  “Shopping? um… that’s what the Internet is for”.

So, the day after Thanksgiving, stuffed with turkey and pie, I plan to be on my sofa in my pajamas and curled up with my iPad.

Just in time for my browsing pleasure, Sam’s Club– known for its big box warehouse stores, bulk items, and super savings– has launched a new Sam’s Club For iPad app. Last year around this time, they produced a mobile shopping app for iPhone, Blackberry, and Android.

There is a terrific review of the mobile app on my good friend and Wonder Tech Twin, Leticia’s blog, Tech Savvy Mama. According to Leticia, the phone app was intended to help “consumers streamline shopping during the holidays and throughout the year… by allowing for shoppers to confirm in-stock availability of hot holiday items at their favorite Sam’s Club location” without having to drive to the store.

This year, Sam’s Club has taken that same convenience and accessibility, blown it into a full shopping experience, and taken it to a larger screen with the iPad app.

Here are some of the highlights in using this app:

Full access to tens of thousands of items (as opposed to just thousands…) 

In any given Sam’s Club location, there are only about 3,000 to 4,000 items in stock and available for purchase. I say “only” like that’s nothing at all… Pppf!  However, when compared to the 40,000 products available within the app and online, it IS rather puny.

Different Way to Explore the Store 

If you are already a member of Sam’s Club, then you are familiar with the deals within deals. For instance, it’s not enough that you can buy a flat-screen TV, toilet tissue, 400 #2 pencils, steaks, and underwear in the same place for a great wholesale price. You can save even more with Instant Savings and eValues.

• Instant Savings can be found on 40 to 50 electronics sold at Sam’s Clubs. It’s an instant rebate or sale price given for a limited time and only online!
• The eValues Program is one of the many benefits available with the Sam’s Club Plus membership that offers “Plus members” the opportunity to enjoy even more savings and convenience. It comes in the form of extra discounts loaded onto your Plus Membership card and helps you find even MORE terrific savings at Sam’s Club.

Avoid the Lines. Click’n'Pull.

One of my biggest deterrents from shopping big bulk stores is the amount of tiiiiime you have to spend in line. Because it’s not enough to voyage across the vast expanse of the store, forage for the items you need, fight the crowds around the store samples…  you also have to spend the exact same amount of time staking your spot at the check-out.  I know. Bleak, huh?

With Sam’s Club’s brilliant Click’n'Pull Program you simply shop and submit your order online before 5 p.m. Your items will then be ready to pick up at your local Club the next day. Shopping has never been easier!

Manage Your Shopping List on the Cloud 

With the Sam’s Club mobile apps for smartphones and iPad, you can manage your shopping list across all platforms and access it anywhere you have Internet access. You never have to worry about forgetting your list again! Or have an excuse of “forgetting” something like extra batteries for your kids’ favorite, but noisiest toy… Ahem.

…And Much More 

The Sam’s Club for iPad app also offers:

• Helpful holiday recipes and decorating ideas
• Tips and Tastes, a schedule of what products are being sampled in each location during a particular week
• Hours, directions, events, and featured items at the nearest locations
• New items and discounts being offered

Download the new Sam’s Club iPad app for FREE in the App Store.

Within its first week since launching, a million people already have. Experience “Saving Made Simple” along with them!  BEAT THE HOLIDAY RUSH… or, you know, shop at your own leisure. After all, that’s what the Internet is for!

Like the store, you must have a Sam’s Club Membership in order to enter and fully access the app. You can find membership information online.