mom reviews

Quick & Cute Hairstyles For Working Out! And The Best Headband Ever…with Promo Code!

August 29, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!
I hope you had a great weekend! We had a fun weekend soaking up what is left of summer as a family : )

Hailey, our oldest, keeps us busy with soccer, cheerleading, and dance. She has hair just like mine was at her age; super baby fine but lots of it, and it isn’t easy to find a hairstyle that will hold it out of her face when she’s running on the field or twirling in dance class. I wanted to order Hailey a headband for her soccer games that matched her uniform, so I checked on Etsy.

On Etsy I found SassyGirlHeadbands which I liked instantly because Donna was fast with communication and had tons of adorable choices. SassyGirlHeadbands are awesome because the velvet side means they do not slip, even on baby fine hair! This is the first time I’ve been able to use a headband on Hailey without using clips with it. I can do a run or a cardio workout video without having to fix my headband and I even forget it is there! I love that it is adjustable! I also love that adding this to a ponytail or messy bun not only keeps the hair out of my face, but makes it a cute look instead of something that took zero thought or effort. Donna was kind enough to send me not only the soccer ribbon headband that I ordered, but a precious pink dance headband that is adjustable for Hailey, an adjustable headband for myself, and an awesome heavy-duty but cute key fob that I can wear around my wrist to be hands-free when I am out and about with the kids. SassyGirlHeadbands also had really nice grosgrain bows that are perfect for cheerleading or dance and really nice lanyards.

If you’d like to save on some practical cuteness, use the COUPON CODE: leahtackles to save 10% on any order. Thank you so much to SassyGirlHeadbands for providing me with these for consideration and review. I can’t wait to order more to match her dance outfits and different holidays ; )

SASSYGIRLHEADBANDS:

Instagram

Facebook

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog! If you enjoyed this post, please share! And don’t forget to subscribe!

5 MINUTE “MOM” MAKEUP AND MY DAUGHTER DOES MY MAKEUP!

July 6, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I get a lot of questions asking how I get ready every day or put on makeup every day when I have little three very young kids, so I thought I would share a few favorites for my super rushes mornings with you today. People also sometimes ask why I get ready when I have three very young kids and stay at home with them. How I get ready is I wake up early ; ) But in all seriousness, I make the choice to wake up earlier than my kids so that I can have a cup of coffee, a few minutes with my husband, and some time to throw on a little makeup in peace. Some days it works out and I have a full face of makeup on and even manage to curl my hair, other day I just slap a little on and throw my hair into a sock bun. Now, why do I always have makeup on? A lot of people assume that it is because we Daily Vlog our lives, but I’ve always been one to “get ready” every day. To me it is worth the extra effort because it makes me feel ready to have a happy and productive day. I feel a sense of control in a very hectic life, and feel “ready” for the day. Also, waking up early is so much less stressful in the long run because not only can I get myself ready, but I can compose myself, prepare breakfast, and THEN let the chaos begin!

5 Minute “Mom” Makeup Favorites:

mymommakeup-5minmakeup-leahtackles.jepg

L’Oreal Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream in Fair

E.L.F Contouring Blush & Bronzer

Colour Pop Super Shock Eye Shadows (you can apply with your fingers!)

L’oreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner in Black

Covergirl Super Sizer Mascara

Too Faced Brow Quickie in Universal Taupe

Maybelline Dream Wonder Powder in Ivory

Covergirl Oh Sugar! Vitamin Infused Balm in Jelly

Hailey Does My Makeup:

Thank you for reading! I hope that you have a wonderful rest of your week! : ) xx

OUR WEEKEND IN PICTURES | FORTH OF JULY 2016

July 5, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday! And, Happy 4th of July!

I hope that you are all having a wonderful day with your families celebrating! Happy Birthday U.S.A! And if you’re an international reader, I hope you’re having a great day as well : )

I thought it would be fun to share some pictures of our weekend festivities! We had a lot of family fun on Saturday, Hailey had her first lemonade stand on Sunday, and we enjoyed decorating Hailey’s bike and the boys wagon today! Hailey placed second in her age group for her bike decorating, and the boys also placed second place for their wagon : )

Thank you, as always, for taking time out of your day to read! Let me know in the comments something fun you did over the weekend!! And please don’t forget to subscribe : )

HOW I GET MONEY FOR SHOPPING ONLINE (REALLY!) USING EBATES!

June 15, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

I do a large part of my shopping online because I love shopping small and local when I can, but with three young kids and living in a small town that can be near impossible. I try to shop smart with sales and use coupons if I have a great one for something I actually need, but that’s always been pretty much the extent of money saving savvy for me. I kept hearing people talk about Ebates but I was skeptical because I thought I didn’t spend enough to actually get anything back, or thought that they would have some super involved sign up that would leave my head spinning. I made my account about a month ago, and have already gotten almost $20 plus a $10 giftcard! WHAT?! Below I will tell you how you can too! EVEN if you hate coupons : )

How To Sign Up for eBates:

I love eBates because signing up was EASY! I created an account in a couple of minutes without having to link a bank account or anything else that might leave some people uncomfortable. You can sign up for eBates here.

How It Works:

Before you make an online purchase you go to eBates.com and log-in to your eBates account. Once you are logged into your account you will search for the store that you would like to do a little shopping at. And then you click “shop now” and you will be redirected to the website of the store you want to make a purchase on. Right now Sephora, one of my personally favorites, has 8.0% CASH BACK on eBates! That is awesome! And the list of stores they have is incredibly long and diverse. You can get 8.0% cash back today at stores like Nike, Under Armour, American Eagle, and Sears. They are also beginning to do in-store cash back with a linked card, but I haven’t tried that *yet*.

How You Get Paid:

You can pick if you’d like to get a paper check in the mail to the address you provide on your account OR you can link your PayPal and be paid into your account directly. You also get a $10 giftcard to Walmart if you make a qualifying $25+ purchase within the first 90 days of joining. You can also share your link with friends and earn money if they sign up using your link. The biggest thing is to REMEMBER to go to Ebates first before you shop! I bought the kids new shoes from Stride Rite and kicked myself later because I forgot to use Ebates!!

Do you use Ebates or other websites or apps to get cash back? Be sure to let me know in the comments! I like to save money whenever I can : ) Who doesn’t! I hope that you have a wonderful rest of you week and weekend! Tomorrow Stephan and I head to Mackinac Island for our wedding anniversary! We are leaving all three kids for the first time EVER!! Be sure to follow along on our Daily Vlog channel! xx

OUR WEEKEND IN PICTURES | JUNE 2016

June 13, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that all of you are having a great start to your week! We had a very busy, but very fun weekend! Hailey had four performances in 48 hours for dance recitals! She did a fantastic job, and I love watching her dance : ) My parents came to see Hailey’s recitial which was too short of a visit, but very fun. We also spent time with Stephan’s family and said goodbye to a place where we all spent a lot of time. Don’t forget to watch our Daily Vlogs to see all the fun memories that we made!

leahtackles-kwapisfamilytackles-ourweekendinpictures.jpeg

ourweekendinpictures-kwapisfamilytackles-leahtacklesvlogs.jpeg

Thank you so much for reading! Let me know what you did over the weekend in the comments : ) Don’t forget to enter to win a pair of Babiator’s Sunglasses for a little love in your life! Have a wonderful day!

HAILEY’S YOUNG 5 GRADUATION! 2016

June 1, 2016 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Today our Hailey Doll graduated from her Pre-K/Young 5 program! I can’t believe it! Stephan and I were able to take her out bowling afterwards (thank you to my in-laws for the help!) and had the best time! I can’t believe that my baby is starting Kindergarten in the fall! Excuse me while I go look at baby pictures and become a blubbering mess!

Hailey,

We are so proud of you! You make us proud every single day by being exactly who you are! You are kind to everyone and always do your best! And, you have the best imagination! Never stop being wonderful you!

We love you so,

Mommy (Daddy, Connor, and Logan)

Be sure to watch our vlogs to see all the cuteness! Have a wonderful weekend : )

BABIATORS SUNGLASSES REVIEW & GIVEAWAY!

May 25, 2016 & 15 Comments

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Memorial Day weekend is THIS weekend! How did that happen already? It’s blowing my mind that we are about to kick off the summer season, but I am so happy to get outside with my family! Summer means sunshine (hopefully! Here in Michigan you never really can tell) which means lathering the kids up in sunscreen, but we also can’t forget about protecting their eyes! I will totally admit that while I never skip shades myself because it drives me CRAZY when I forget them, I have skipped sunglasses for the kids in the past because they never seem to keep them on anyways. So, when Babiators reached out to me I was thrilled to try them out! It’s always full disclosure here, and I was provided a pair of sunglasses for consideration and review but all opinions are my own. I will not be paid if you purchase Babiators. Babiators also sent information for this blog post. Babiators agreed to send a pair of shades to one of my readers! Yay! Keep reading to hear my thoughts and enter to win!

A Little Bit About Babiators:

-Babitators have UV 400 lenses that offer 100% UVA and UVB protection

-Babiators undergo rigerous testing to ensure they’re safe for your child whether on their face OR in their mouth

-Babiators are durable! They are made of a flexible rubber frames, and shatter-resistant lenses

– Babiators are guaranteed, so if you break OR lose them in the first year, Babiators will replace them and all you pay is shipping.

-And my favorite part? The fit is incredible! They’re made of a soft material that is comfortable and lightweight. They don’t pinch the temples or the nose. I wish I had sunglasses made from this stuff! It is seriously awesome!

Babiators Sizing:

Junior Babiator sunglasses for babies 6 months-3 years

Classic Babiator sunglasses for kids 3-7 years

Information About Sun Safety:

-UV damage is cumulative and irreversible

-Kids receive about three times more annual UV exposure than adults each year, yet less than 30% of parents are currently protecting their children’s eyes with sunglasses

-Children’s eyes are more susceptible to sun damage because they have larger pupils and clearer lenses, allowing more UV to penetrate and reach the back of the eyes

When getting sunglasses look for 100% UVA/UVB protection with a high quality frame and comfortable style that kids will actually wear and keep on!

My Thoughts:

I absolutely LOVE these shades! Logan, who is 16 months old, loves these and keeps them on! I love that they don’t squeeze his precious face. These are by far the nicest kids sunglasses we have ever tried. Logan is a pretty tough little guy, so it makes me happy that when he holds onto these I know they can bend instead of snapping in two. Logan also puts everything in his mouth, so I love knowing that they’re safe even when he does that. Logan is an above average little guy, and I think that he will be in the Classic Babiators by the time he is two years old.

Logan Modeling “You’re The Palm” Polarized Babiators:

Check Out All the Adorable Options Here!

Giveaway:

If you would like to win a pair of classic black babiators for your little one, enter this giveaway!

Entering is EASY!

To Enter:

Subscribe to LeahTackles.com (that’s this blog!)

Comment on this post who you would like to win a pair for!

“Like” LeahTackles on Facebook

“Like” Babitators Sunglasses on Facebook

Extra Entry Opportunitys:

Follow LeahTackles on Twitter

Follow Babitators Sunglasses on Twitter

Tweet @Babitators that you entered @LeahTackles giveaway for #Babiators

Follow LeahTackles on Instagram

Follow Babitators Sunglasses on Instagram

“Pin” this post on Pinterest (*Note: It’s easy! Hover over any picture of use the share buttons at the bottom of this post!0

Follow LeahTackles on Pinterest

Follow Babiators Sunglasses on Pinterest

Rules:

-Must be 18 years old or have parental permission

-Must live in the United States

-Giveaway ends 3 weeks from today on June 15th at 12:00p.m Eastern Standard Time

-Winner will be randomly selected

-Winner will have 48 hours to respond before I go onto the next person

I hope that each of you have a fun and safe holiday weekend! If you have any questions, please ask! xx

HAILEY’S 5th BIRTHDAY IN PICTURES!

April 27, 2016 & Leave a Comment

Hi there! Happy Wednesday!

Yesterday our oldest, Hailey, turned 5! Today I want to share a picture post of her special day : ) If you want to see her birthday video, you can check it out here! Let me know in the comments if you enjoy these types of lifestyle posts.

Hailey,

You light up our life! We are so proud of you! You make every day magical and fun! Never stop being you!

We love you so,

Mommy (and Daddy, Connor, and Logan)

Thank you all for reading! Have a wonderful weekend! : )

TRIPNIKS REUSABLE FOOD POUCH REVIEW WITH DEMO VIDEO & TODDLER RECIPE

April 18, 2016 & 2 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that each of you had a great weekend! We *FINALLY* had some spring weather and it was so nice to enjoy being outside as family. If you are new here, welcome! Please subscribe! It’s easy, just enter your email into the subscription box on the right hand side of this webpage! You will be notified whenever I post something new, and it’s free : ) Don’t forget to enter my $25 Visa Gift Card Giveaway from my Mom Life Perception vs Mom Life Reality Post!

As most of you know I have three little ones under age five, and that means we need quick and easy snack options. Logan, our youngest, is an easy going kid which is a good thing because as the third born you basically have to be ; ) Logan has always loved to eat, but up until recently he really didn’t like the squeeze pouch purees that are so popular. One day I was trying to get dinner ready so I handed him a squeeze pouch and he actually used it! I was thrilled! It is such a great option, especially for on the go, so it was timely when the people from TripNik Food Pouches reached out to me to offer to send their reusable food pouches for consideration for review. I do not accept money in exchange for a positive review, and I tell you guys what I really think! I respect the fact that you value my reviews and opinions and I would never jeopardize that, so I always keep it real ; )

VIDEO OF PRODUCT DEMO, FIRST IMPRESSIONS, AND RECIPE:

STRAWBERRY-BANANA-TOFU SMOOTHIE:

The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet

*Note: This recipe has tofu which has all eight essential amino acids and lots of protein! You can also use peaches in place of strawberries : )

-1 small banana

-6 large fresh or frozen strawberries

-1/3 cup or 80 grams of silken tofu

-1 cup whole milk

Directions:

Lightly mash banana. Remove the stems of the strawberries and quarter them. Combine all of your ingredients into the blender and process until it is smooth. This recipe makes 4 servings.

PROS OF TRIPNIKS POUCH:

-Easy to clean

-You can put these in the freezer for later

-Dishwasher safe (whoop!)

-Easy to fill (*Note: I did not properly read the directions before the video and filled it too far, after reading I did not have overflow issues)

-A LOT less expensive

-Large size but still travel friendly

-Fun bright colors kids love

CONS OF TRIPNIKS POUCH:

-I find the plastic to be a bit hard on the edges, I wish it was a softer material

-I like the large size, but wish their was a smaller pouch size more comparable to the one time use ones you buy at the supermarket

PICTURES OF LOGAN (15 months) USING THE TRIPNIKS FOOD POUCH:

TRIPNIKS POUCH FACEBOOK PAGE

TRIPNIKS POUCH ON AMAZON

OVERALL:

I really enjoy these overall, I do think that they could make some improvements to the material and size, but I still think these will come in handy! I can already see filling a few up with applesauce before heading out to the beach or over to my in-laws house and love the concept.

If you have any questions for me, let me know in the comments! Have a wonderful start to your week and I will talk to you on Wednesday : )

MOM LIFE PERCEPTION VS. MOM LIFE REALITY | Sick just got real.™| VISA GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY!

April 11, 2016 & 38 Comments

Hi there! Happy Monday!

I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend! If you follow me on Instagram, or ANY blogger on Instagram for that matter, you know that Instagram is a place full of beautiful, too-perfect-to-be-completely-true pictures. I am not saying that my pictures are “fake”, they aren’t, but they are carefully chosen snaps of my life. I also have a YouTube channel where I’m always wearing makeup, rocking a cute outfit, or chatting happily…again, it isn’t fake but it’s also sharing the good without the bad and the ugly. That is a BIG reason why I encourage you to check out our Daily Vlogs, because there you see us laughing, crying, no makeup, sweatshirts, and more just real life living. Today, I want to share a story I experienced as a mother earlier this year.

It was 3 O’clock on a weekday afternoon, which is always a time full of chaos in the Kwapis house! Connor, our three year old, and Logan, our toddler, had just woken up from their nap. Stephan was dropping Hailey, our oldest, off after Pre-K. I had just re-heated my mug full of old coffee, and was dreaming of sneaking off into the bathroom to eat some leftover Christmas candy and to have a minute of peace to scroll through Facebook. Connor was still groggy from his nap, and when Stephan had to leave to head back to work poor Connor threw a huge fit ending in him throwing himself on our hardwood floors. It was loud, I saw blood and thought he had bit his lip but quickly realized that he had split open his chin. I started panicking because Stephan had just drove out of the driveway and I was alone with 3 kids and no car. CRAP! I called Stephan and he was going to come home again to help but he had a lot to do at work so I told him I would call his mom. Thankfully, my mother in-law was able to come over to watch the other two while I took Connor to the E.R. Oh how quickly I was wide awake without my coffee, and holding back tears so I could get Connor the help he needed. I was in full on MOM MODE and just wanted my baby to be okay. Thankfully, he didn’t need stitches and was able to have his split chin glued instead. PHEW! I ended up going home with a grateful heart and cuddling my babies all a little closer that night. You can watch that day unfold here on KwapisFamilyTackles.

I was reminded of this story when I saw this video from the #SickJustGotReal campaign from Pfizer Consumer Healthcare:

http://bit.ly/1Rykxnq

That video made me so emotional and I can absolutely relate! I went from cracking up while watching the mom celebrate the victory of peeing alone (it is seriously a victory! I treasure going to the bathroom alone!) to tearing up watching the momma cuddle her sweet sick baby. I think this is a motivating and honest video that any parent can relate to. Be sure to also check out the Sick just got real.™ website for more real life relating and information on their products. I always have Children’s Advil® with me and on hand in our home because when it comes down to the nitty gritty I just want my babies to get some relief. The video and gift card for the giveaway have been provided by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. All thoughts and reviews are my own.

GIVEAWAY:

If YOU would like to win a $25 Visa Gift Card you need to enter this giveaway! It is easy!

TO ENTER:

1. Subscribe to LeahTackles.com

2. “Like” LeahTackles on Facebook

3. “Like” Sick just got real.™ Facebook Page

4. Leave a comment telling me about a time when you or your kiddo were sick or hurt and life “got real” : )

RULES:

1. Must be in the United States of America (sorry to my international loves!)

2. Must be 18+ years old

3. Complete your entry by May 2nd which is 3 weeks from today

4. Giveaway winner will be contacted by me via email and will have 48 hours to respond before I pick another winner

Extra Entry Opportunity:

1. ) “Follow” LeahTackles on Instagram

2. Subscribe to our Daily Vlog Channel

GOOD LUCK!!!

As always, thank you for supporting me and reading my blog! I appreciate each of you. Have a great week and don’t forget to come back on Wednesday for another post from me : ) xx