I am so excited that spring is finally here. We had a run of really nice weather here in western Pennsylvania, though you never know what to expect here. It's possible it may even snow for Easter! But at my house, we're really hoping for warm spring weather so that we can get out and get active as a family. I think we've all got a bit of cabin fever from being stuck inside all winter.

One of the things we like to do is walk around our mobile home park. We spend time getting exercise, but also talking and learning about what's going on in each other's lives. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise, and I try to encourage the kids to walk with me at least a couple times a week. Before we know it, summer vacation will be here, and the kids will be out of school. They're looking forward to getting new bikes this summer, and I've been thinking that a new bike might be in my future as well. I know that it's important for parents to model an active lifestyle if they expect their kids to get outside and be active as well.

A new program that encourages families to get active is Together Counts. Together Counts is a nationwide program inspiring active and healthy living. The principle behind the program is Energy Balance. This concept means balancing the calories we use with the calories we burn. While the concept may be simple, it's so easy to forget with today's busy lifestyles. Together Counts is a first-of-its-kind coalition bringing together more than 195 retailers, food and beverage manufacturers, restaurants, sporting goods and insurance companies, trade associations and non-governmental organizations and professional sports organizations. The purpose of Together Counts is to get more families eating and getting active together with a message of moderation. You can learn more at their website.

I don't know about you, but I'm all about a company whose mission it is to support a healthy lifestyle for families. I encourage you to sign up a team at Together Counts and start working toward that healthy lifestyle we all hope to attain. To celebrate their first anniversary and get the word out, Together Counts is holding a sweepstakes at their Facebook page. Prizes include gift cards, George Foreman Grills and a membership to Anytime Fitness. You can also find Together Counts on Twitter and Pinterest.

Finally, Together Counts would love for you to join them as they celebrate Child Nutrition Month with a Twitter party on April 3rd from 8 - 9 pm EST. Of course, there will be prizes, including $50 same-as-cash gift cards! Head on over to Resourceful Mommy to learn more and to RSVP. Have fun getting active this spring and summer, and let me know in the comments how you and your family exercise and eat healthy together. I'd love some more inspiration!

I know, I just wrote about a Waterpik product. That's because I was provided TWO products to try out! That's not something that happens often, and I have to tell you it was pretty cool to check out the variety of health products offered by one company. The Waterpik Ultra Water Flosser is probably the product you think of when you hear the name Waterpik.

From what I understand today's Waterpik is quite different from the one of years past. The Waterpik Ultra Flosser is clinically proven to be more effective than traditional dental floss in reducing plaque, gingivitis and gum disease. It's smaller and quieter than older versions, and it has a number of new features including a covered reservoir with in-lid storage and six unique tips.

From a purely aesthetic point of view, I have to say that I really like these features. Finding room for one more thing on my bathroom counter can be a challenge. I was pleased to find that the Waterpik Ultra Flosser didn't take up a lot of space, and the storage was an added bonus. Though I did find it interesting that there is only space for four tips in the storage compartment when there are actually a total of six tips. The various tips are made specifically for different purposes - great for people with dental appliances or braces.

When it comes to function, I have to say I liked the Waterpik. I've mentioned in a past post that I'm really not one for flossing. I find it time consuming and cumbersome. Withe the Waterpik Ultra Flosser, "flossing" my teeth was less of a chore. And it felt good. I was afraid that the water might be uncomfortable on my sensitive teeth, but I truly felt no discomfort. After using the flosser, my mouth did feel cleaner. I've used it for a few days, and I'm pleasantly surprised by the results.

Here are some product benefits that I found to be impressive:

• Clinically proven 50% more effective than traditional dental floss and 80% more effective than Sonicare Air Floss for gingivitis treatment
• Proven in lab tests to remove 99.9% of plaque from treated areas with a 3 second application
• Removes bacteria between teeth and deep below the gum line where traditional flossing and brushing can't reach
• Massages and stimulates gums to improve circulation and keep your gums strong and healthy
• Healthier gums in 14 days. Guaranteed.

If you're interested in purchasing the Ultra Water Flosser for yourself, head to Waterpik's Coupons and Promotions page for discounts. Wanna learn more about Waterpik products? Follow @Waterpik on Twitter and be sure to like the Waterpik Oral Health Facebook page. The Waterpik YouTube Channel has lots of informative videos as well.

I received compensation and product for review. All opinions are my own.

I have a ton of allergies. I have food allergies, as well as environmental and seasonal allergies. That means my nose is stuffy most of the time. It can be very uncomfortable, not to mention incovenient. My family has boxes of tissues on reserve at all times becaue we all have some sort of allergy. We've tried all kinds of options including over the counter medicine, prescriptions, Neti pot and other sinus rinses. Nothing really seems to help consistently.

That's why I was more than happy to try out the new SinuSense water pulsator by Waterpik. I know it sounds kind of scary when you think of the word "pulsator" in relation to your nose, but let me tell you that it's really not anything to be concerned about. Believe me, I tried it! The SinuSense is effective because it does three things - massages, cleanses and moisturizes. The pulsating stream of water actually feels good as it works to cleanse your nasal passages.

It doesn't hurt at all. The water goes in one nostril and comes right out the other to cleanse and massage the nasal canal. The benefits of nasal cleansing include:

• Relief of sinus and cold symptoms
• Reduces nasal congestion by cleaning out mucus
• Washes away contaminants by allowing sinus cavities to drain freely
• Soothes dry nasal passages
• Reduces coughing and other post nasal drip symptoms
• Improves sense of smell and taste
• Can even lessen snoring.

It really is easy to use, though it can take a bit of practice to get the hang of. The trick is keeping your head at the correct angle. Check out this video by Waterpik to see the SinuSense in action. (No, I did not vlog myself using the SinuSense. Sorry.) You'll see it's really not that hard to use. So far, I've really experienced some benefits, though I've only been using it a few days. I feel much clearer, which allows me to feel more energetic. Being stuffed up all the time is very tiring. I intend to keep using the SinuSense and believe the benefits will be long lasting.

If you'd like to learn more about the SinuSense by Waterpik, check out the Waterpik SinuSense Facebook page or follow the @SinuSense on Twitter. If you'd like to try it out for yourself, don't forget to head over to the Waterpik website for savings and coupons.

Though I receive compensation and product for review, all opinions are my own.

It's been three weeks since my family and I started our Listerine Oral Care Challenge. Time flies when you're having fun! Seriously, my kids actually enjoyed using their new products. I'll tell you more about that in just a bit. But first here's a bit of a reminder about what the challenge is all about.

The purpose of the challenge is to inform families about good oral care practice and encourage them to develop good dental habits for a lifetime. I've learn a ton since beginning the Oral Care Challenge three weeks ago. Did you know that despite our best efforts as parents, 50% of children will have a cavity or filling between the ages of five and nine? It's true. Not only sugary snacks contribute to cavities, even things like juice and milk can cause them. That's why it's recommended that children see the dentist as soon as the first tooth appears. Did you know that? Neither did I.

Besides taking kids to the dentist regularly, one of the best ways to fight dental problems is to get kids involved in their own oral care. And the best way to do that is to make it fun! We all know that kids don't always brush as often or for as long as they should. Make up charts to keep track of brushing or play music to encourage kids to brush for a certain amount of time. There are lots of ways to be creative with brushing routines.

Adding oral care products such as mouth rinses from Listerine or brushes and floss from REACH, another sponsor of the Oral Care Challenge, can also help tremendously with improving your family's dental care. We were able to try out a variety of great products for our Oral Care Challenge, including:

• REACH Toothbrushes, featuring Barbie, Batman and Phineas and Ferb
• REACH Total Care Dental Floss
• Listerine Smart Rinse in Berry Shield and Mint Shield
• Listerine Smart Rinse featuring Barbie and Phineas and Ferb

There were some great adult products for us to try as well, including:

• REACH Total Care Whitening and Multi-Action Toothbrushes
• REACH Total Care Plus Whitening Floss
• Listerine Antiseptic
• Listerine Total Care Zero

Let me first tell you about my kids' experience. They LOVED the Listerine Smart Rinse products. They said they tasted good and thought it was amazingly cool to see what their toothbrush missed when they spit in the sink. Yeah, I know, that's kind of gross. But kids think it's awesome! My oldest son, who just turned 13, did say that he would prefer not to use the "little kid" themed products though, so I let him use my grown up rinses. He likes the Listerine Antispectic because of its powerful flavor. It can be used for adults and children ages 12 and over. He thinks it's great that his sister can't use it!

I, however, prefer the taste of the Listerine Total Care Zero. As the commercial says, it's "less intense." The flavor is still minty and leaves my mouth feeling clean and fresh. We all have worked the past few weeks to improve our flossing habits, and I must say that we've done well. The REACH flosses were easy to use and did not stick between teeth. I hate when floss gets stuck. The smooth texture of these flosses did not cause that problem. The toothbrushes themselves were fabulous. My little guy is thrilled with his Batman toothbrush. It makes him feel big to have a toothbrush like his brother and sister. REACH and Listerine are brands I've trusted for years.

If you'd like to check out these products for yourself, head to Walmart's website where you can learn more about the products, where to find them and access some helpful oral care tip sheets. Also, be sure to follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #healthyhabits. This challenge has been a wonderful experience for my family and me. We've learned a lot about oral care, and the past three weeks have really helped us to develop some good habits that should carry on for a long time.

Oh my! Where do I start with this? Oral care, unfortunately, is not my strong suit. I used to have great teeth growing up. Then, three pregnancies and a lot of dental neglect later, I've now got a less than stellar smile. I know that oral health has an impact on overall health, and I wish I had taken better care of my teeth over the years. I intend to help my kids avoid the mistakes I have. Fortunately, I've been asked by the Motherhood to take part in the Listerine and Reach Healthy Habits for a Lifetime Oral Care Challenge.

The goal of this challenge is to take a look at your oral care habits and re-evaluate what you can do to improve the health of your mouth. The challenge lasts three weeks, and families are encouraged to take a few extra minutes each day to incorporate brushing, flossing and rinsing into their daily routines to help establish healthy, lasting habits.

As a part of this challenge, I've learned a lot of new things about oral health and care. Bet you didn't know:

• Brushing teeth alone misses about 75% of the germs in your mouth.
• Nearly 75% of Americans suffer from some sort of gum disease and may not even know it.
• According to a survey conducted by Reach and Listerine, over one third of Americans don't eat their favorite foods or smile in photos due to the condition of their teeth.
• 15% of people avoid kissing their loved ones because of their dental problems.

Listerine and Reach have a number of products that can help us with our challenge. My kids are totally excited about the line of Smart Rinse products. These rinses allow you to actually see in the sink what was left behind by brushing. Yeah, it's kind of gross, but kind of cool at the same time! I like the Total Care Zero rinse so far, myself. We've decided to use these products to help us focus on improving our oral care routines. The kids have already started reminding me to brush my teeth, and I've noticed them actually talking about brushing their teeth, rather than having to be nagged about it. Even my little guy is so excited by his new Reach toothbrush that he likes to get in on the brushing action. It's important to try to make brushing fun to encourage kids. We're all actually looking forward to committing to improving our brushing, flossing and rinsing over the next three weeks!

If you're interested in learning more about the Listering and Reach products, head to Walmart to check out the full line. You can also follow the hashtag #healthyhabits on Twitter where myself and other bloggers will be talking about our experience on the challenge. I'd love to have you join us. And please feel free to share any oral care tips you may have in the comments. I could use the help and encouragement!

* I was provided products and compensation in exchange for sharing information and my opinion on the Listerine and Reach Healthy Habits for a Lifetime Oral Care Challenge. All opinions are my own.

I wrote a couple weeks ago about starting the Special K Challenge. Even if you didn't read my post, I'm sure you've all heard of the challenge, right? This year, Special K wants to take the negative connotations away from the idea of approaching weight loss by asking women to consider what they will gain by losing weight. I think that is the best way to look at things ever! Simply reframing the question and putting a positive spin on things can really change a person's mindset. I'd say it definitely did for me.

I had lost weight through the hCG diet last spring, but I gained a good bit of it back. I took some time to reflect on how I felt when I lost those nearly 25 pounds. According to a study by Special K, the top three emotional benefits women hope to achieve by reaching their weight loss goal are happiness, confidece and a sense of achievement. I would definitely say that I felt all of those with my weight loss, and I wanted to feel those things again. So I jumped right on board with the two-week Special K Challenge. If you're looking to try the challenge too, find Special K with promotional codes here.

Program Overview

Have you visited the Special K website? If not, you'll want to go take a look. Special K has so much more than cereal now. Their line of products is extensive. They have salty snacks like cracker chips, protein meal replacement bars and shakes, just to name a few. I recommend taking a look. They have all their products listed on the site, and you can even browse by craving. The website is where you'll want to start if you decide to take the challenge or would like inspiration on beginning a long-term weight loss plan.

This is one of the most thorough websites i've encountered from a brand, I must say. There is a social component where you can connect with others looking for a healthy way of life. I have to confess that I didn't use this part much, as I had my fellow challenge blog participants to lean on, as well as my other online networks. But it's so cool to offer a place for people who are specifically interested in the Special K Challenge. When you've decided to take the challenge or look into a longer-term plan, you can choose your goals and find a daily meal plan tailored specifically for your choice. You'll find sample meals and recipes to try based on your plan. So helpful for busy women on the go! Seriosly, there's just too much to list here. Check out the website for recipe ideas, tips for success, Special K yummy ideas and even a mobile app with shopping lists.

My Experience

Yeah, I know - you just want to know how much weight I lost. I'll get to that. I will. First, i want to talk about how YUMMY these Special K products are. Before starting the plan, I was a self-proclaimed Special K Chocolately Delight addict. Have you ever tried that stuff? Let me just warn you, once you do, you may never stop. It's that good. So I had high expectations for their other products, though I had never tried any of them.

Let me just tell you that I was not disappointed. They were all so good, that I truly didn't have much trouble staying with the program. I followed the meal plan and ate Special K products for breakfast, lunch and snacks, along with a sensible dinner. The website offered a recipe each day for the dinner meal. While I didn't follow each one to the letter, I've added some fabulous new items to my regular meal planning!

Back to the breakfasts and snacks. My very favorite was the Chocolatey Pretzel cereal bar. I am a sucker for anything sweet and salty, and the crunchy texture of this bar just made it even better. What a great snack to just grab and go. I always had one in my purse for those moments I was out and just had to have something quick. I also loved the Multi-Grain Oats and Honey ceral. I am a cereal person. It's one of my favorite breakfasts. This one was crunchy with just the right hint of sweetness. Loved it. Even the shakes were good. I was a bit apprehensive about those and will say that the French vanilla was not my favorite. I found a suggestion on the website, though, for a French vanilla espresso shake and enjoyed that quite a bit. I also made smoothies with them, adding frozen strawberries, bananas, yogurt and orange juice. Yum! And my 13-year old son stole the chocolate shakes - they're that good.

My Results

Drumroll please...But first a little claim language from Special K: Consult your physician before starting any diet or exercise program. Average weight loss when replacing meals with two cereal meals is 4.8 pounds. Weight loss may vary. Average waist circumference when replacing two meals with cereal meals is 1.3 inches. Weight loss may vary.

Okay, here goes. I must first apologize and let you know that I forgot to take my waist measurements. Sorry. However, I did notice that my jeans fit a bit looser, so I'm confident there was definitely a loss. As far as pounds lost, I lost about 3 pounds in two weeks. That's not too darn bad. Especially considering that I cheated a bit on the weekends. I'm a notorious cheater when it comes to diet plans, however, keeping my baby steps philosophy in mind, I usually allow myself a few slips. Even my husband noticed a change and asked just the other day, "Have you lost weight?" Woo hoo! For Bill to notice, there definitely had to be a change.

What have I noticed? What did I gain by losing? I feel so much more in control when I know I'm making choices that are good for me. That's important to me. Making proactive choices is empowering. And, truthfully, the changes weren't that difficult. The products taste good, and they're convenient. It wasn't hard to incorporate them into my lifestyle. I know I will continue to be a Special K lover. Do you think you'll consider taking the Special K Challenge? I highly recommend it. The changes are gradual, and the results go beyond weight loss. Baby steps. Give it a try!

I participated in this program through a partnership with TheMotherhood on behalf of Special K. I received product and supplies to complete the plan. All opinions and statements are based on my own opinion and experience.

It's a new year. Can you believe it? Where has the time gone? Seems like just yesterday that I was telling you all about the weight I lost - 23 pounds. However, it's been about 8 months, and I'm embarrassed to say that I put a great deal of that weight right back on. So when I was asked to participate in a project with Special K to get healthy for the new year, I didn't hesitate.

Weighing In

Special K has designated today National Weigh-In Day, a day to jump start positive conversation about weight loss for the coming year. Special K asks the question, "What will you gain when you lose?" I love that! What an amazing way to view the prospect of losing weight. While it true that losing weight is hard and takes a great deal of will power, I can tell you from experience that you gain a great deal from all the sacrifices. I gained a sense of accomplishment and pride, self-confidence, energy and the knowledge that I was modeling positive behavior for my kids. I hope to take this opportunity to start the year off right and gain back some of those things.

Special K Chocolatey Chip Cereal Bar - My morning snack today!

The Special K Challenge

While I hope to make 2012 the year I make healthy eating a priority and a way of life, I plan to use my "babysteps" philosophy by starting off small. I am going to take the Special K Challenge to jumpstart healthy eating habits and get the year started right. The Special K Challenge is a two-week program that can help you lose up to 6 pounds in two weeks.Consult your physician before starting any diet or exercise program.  Average weight loss when replacing meals with two cereal meals is 4.8 pounds.  Weight loss may vary. Average waist circumference reduction when replacing meals with two cereal meals is 1.3 inches. Weight loss may vary.

Special K has set up a special community on their website called My Special K where women can connect and encourage each other toward their goals. You can go here to get recipes and suggestions for your daily meals on the plan as well. There is a suggested meal plan each day, but easy swap suggestions are also given, so there's always variety and choice on the plan. The majority of the plan consists of Special K products with a sensible dinner suggested. This is great for me, as I have been a long-time Special K fan. Their Chocolatey Delight cereal is my very favorite. I love the idea of being able to eat healthy on the go with bars, shakes and snacks. I'm really looking forward to the next two weeks!

Looking Ahead

What are your goals for 2012? So many of us want to get healthy and lose weight. Let's work together to make it happen and to gain so many good things in our lives! I encourage you to join me or just feel free to check in with me and help keep me on track. Feel free to follow Special K on Facebook or Twitter if you'd like to follow the conversation.

I participated in this program through a partnership with TheMotherhood on behalf of Special K. I received product and supplies to complete the plan. All opinions and statements are based on my own opinion and experience.

Remember I told you about a workshop I was cohosting on tween hygiene? Well, it was an amazingly informative discussion. A large group of mothers spoke with expert Rosalind Wiseman about the issues surrounding our kids' hygiene. It was so much fun to share stories and to learn how other parents are handling the sometimes tricky issues with their kids. Here's a quick recap.

Rosalind Wiseman is the author of the book Queen Bees and Wannabes, and she started things off by joking, "We love our children, but we don't have to love their stink. Personally, my younger son's soccer cleats could be used as a weapon of mass destruction!" It was reassuring to know that even the experts have to handle these "stinky" situations. We learned that our kids are growing and that increased hormones at this age can cause lots of changes.

Discussions surrounding sweat, body odor, puberty and menstruation were had. No topic was off limits. What we learned was most important was that we handle the topics with our kids sensitively. These kinds of things can cause our kids to feel insecure. We also shared that it's our job to bring up the subjects even if it's not something our kids want to hear.

When discussing personal hygiene, the most important thing to remember is to keep it private. Be sure to talk about these issues when other kids aren't around. Tell them the facts, but let them know that you experienced the same kinds of things. You might even want to share a funny memory from your own childhood.

We also shared that it helps to give kids a say in things. Invite them along to shop for personal hygiene products and ask them which ones they prefer. Also, start teaching them about good hygiene habits and enforcing regular showers, teeth brushing and deodorant wearing. These steps are important to keeping things in check. But again, don't forget to be sensitive.

You can visit The Motherhood for the entire chat summary. And we'd love it if you'd join in the discussion at the Don't Fret the Sweat Facebook page. There's some good stuff going on over there!

Now for the giveaway, and it's an awesome one. Up for grabs is a Very Bradley bag filled with informational goodies and hygiene items. You'll definitely want a chance at this. The beautiful Vera Bradley bag contains:

One sample each of Degree, Degree Girl and Degree Men deodorant by Unilever

A copy of the books Queen Bees and Wannabes and Boys, Girls & Other Hazardous Materials by Rosalind Wiseman.

Here's a picture of what the winner will get!

Leave a comment below telling me what your most difficult topic is regarding hygiene and your kids. Even if you have little kids or ones that are grown or don't have kids at all. Tell me what you think might be the most difficult topic to discuss with kids when it comes to hygiene. I want to hear your ideas! This giveaway will close at noon EST Thursday, October 13th. Good luck!

* I will receive compensation for participating in this campaign.

Do you have tweens? If so, you're probably quite familiar with some of their oddities and intricacies. My oldest two are Noah, age 12, and Norah, age 10. I thought I was ready for these years, as I've worked with kids a lot professionally in the past. Oh no, these years are just tricky, I've come to realize. I've been faced with the just plain weirdness of 12-year old boys. I've had to just nod my head at what he says because I SO cannot relate, and I've had to deal with my daughter's moodiness and crazy friend drama. I TOTALLY can relate to that! But the whole issue of hygiene is a touchy one. Thankfully, my kids' father first broached the subject of body odor with our son, so it wasn't quite so tough when my daughter wanted to delve into the realm of deodorant. There are just so many touchy subjects you don't consider until they're right upon you.

That's why I'm so excited to take part in a Tween Academy class with The Motherhood and Unilever, the maker of Degree, Dove and Suave deodorants, tomorrow at noon. We'll be joined by Rosalind Wiseman, author of the best-selling book, Queen Bees and Wannabes. The movie Mean Girls was based on this book. I'm so happy I have the book as a guide for helping my daughter to navigate the world of not always nice girls. You'll want to join us in the talk because, along with our expert and myself, there will be five other bloggers sharing their own experiences. We can all learn so much from each other! We'll be discussing the changes our tweens are going through physically and how to help them adjust to those changes and to take care of themselves.

And you know what else there will be? Um, yeah, there will definitely be prizes! One lucky winner will receive a Vera Bradyley tote filled with items from momAgenda, full size deodorant samples and two books by Rosalind Wiseman. So don't miss it. The Tween Academy class on hygiene will be tomorrow, September 28th at noon EST Just click on the link and join in the conversation.

Also, you can find lots of good information on Unilever's Don't Fret the Sweat Facebook page and follow the hashtag #DontFretTheSweat on Twitter. Follow along for updates. I truly hope to see you there!

* I will receive compensation for my participation in and promotion of the Tween Academy class. I'm thrilled to be a part of it, and all opinions are my own.

I recently spoke with Dr. Patricia Quinn, an expert on ADHD about the importance of dispensing medication regularly to kids with ADHD. She speaks primarily of one kind of medicine, and the information is helpful and insightful for those who choose to medicate for symptoms of ADHD. Always talk to your doctor about the various options for managing ADHD symptoms.