TheMorrisonFamilyBlog

 Nobody really enjoys filing taxes . Even certified public accountants probably find the process tedious at times. But when you're working from home, it can be an extra chore to get your taxes done simply because you are responsible for tracking all of your business accounts in addition to your personal finances (since some of these duties would normally fall to an employer to complete). However, if you don't want to find yourself in a mad dash to get it all done at the last-minute, there are plenty of tips and tricks that will help you to prep. Here are just a few to try so that both your personal and professional filings go a little more smoothly this year. Tax Prep Tips for Work-at-Home Moms Get organized. This is a good idea for any business endeavor, but it's absolutely imperative to the work-at-home mom that is juggling the many demands of children and a job (or several), often at the same time. When it comes to organizing taxes, you'll need to implement a filin...

 One of the best parts of being a parent is watching your children grow and develop - the worst part is how fast it goes. So instead of mourning that your little tykes are turning into adolescents before your very eyes, focus on ways to celebrate their biological advancement by planning the spectacular birthday parties that they'll remember for the rest of their lives. This could mean bringing together all the elements that go into creating a theme party, arranging for some spectacular kids' entertainment (clowns are out, singing waiters dressed like Disney characters are in), or choosing a venue that is a little off the beaten path (water park, race track, etc.). And you can have a lot of fun with all the little touches, including the gift bags full of favors for your kids' friends to take home at the end of the party. If you choose to do a theme party, you can easily come up with party favors that will play into it. For example, many young girls want a party with a Disne...

 My kiddos love Madagascar movies. They each have a favorite character and they each have a favorite scene from each of the movies. They were thrilled when we were able to host a Madagascar: Move It! Move It! party to celebrate the launch of Madacascar 3. It was an unusually hot day here in Utah, so the viewing party was awesome! The kiddos did Madagascar crafts...they thought the cut outs that made continuous garland were awesome. We made popcorn cupcakes, s'mores and kicked back and watched the Madagascar 1 and 2 Movies.

 A big thanks to Disney Baby for sponsoring this post and the Disney Baby “Little Character” Contest. No matter how many children a mother has, each one has magic moments. When The Beauty Queen was 20 months old, she was a character. She loved to play jokes on people. Her favorite was hide-n-go-seek. She would say, "Bye-bye" and then run and hide. She couldn't keep quiet! She would be in her hiding spot giggling and whispering, "Can't see me." It was a time of true magic for her to be able to hide, still see us, and think that she was invisible.   With the Divine Miss M, her magical moment happened once every two weeks when her dad shaved his head. She was 6 months old and would sit on his shoulders and rub her hands all over his fuzzy head and just giggle and laugh.   Disclosure of Material Connection: This post is brought to you by Disney Baby and the Disney Baby "Little Character" Contest. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use ...

 Growing a life inside your body, while miraculous, pregnancy also puts your health at higher risk. While most women experience a healthy pregnancy , your immune system doesn't function as well as it normally does, so you're more likely to get sick and contract infections. Infections may not be life-threatening for Mom but can cause problems for the baby if you leave them untreated. There are three major kinds of infections that put babies at risk: congenital, perinatal, and postnatal. Congenital infections are one that passes through the placenta from mom to baby. These kinds of infections include everything from the herpes simplex virus to rubella to listeria. You can do a thorough screening if you're concerned about any of these. Many of them can be treated, and your doctor will need to know if any are present in Mom to help prevent passing on the infection during labor. Perinatal infections transfer during labor and are mostly limited to STDs. Postnatal infections can b...

  This is our Scrubz Body Scrub Review. We received Scrubz Body Scrub in exchange for this post. All opinions and my love for body scrubs remain my own. Scrubz Body Scrub Review Utah is a dry state. We are often told in the summer months that we are experiencing a "drought". It's true. I laugh because, well, we are a desert. The dry climate, mixed with the cold winter has left my skin dry, flakey, and cracked. It's disgusting! I had the opportunity to try Scrubz Body Scrub and Wowie. Wow. Wow! It is amazing stuff. First, when it arrived my daughters and I cooed at how beautiful it was packaged. It was exactly how we envisioned a beauty product should be...BEAUTIFUL. The burgundy organza bag, tied with matching satin ribbon started the flow of a beauty regimen. It lured me. We admired it for a few hours. Then we gently opened it up and discovered the contents to be equally aesthetic and they appealed to not only our eyes but our noses as well. The bag contained the jar...

  Toilet Tree Products were introduced into our home with their fogless mirror, which Jake uses.   Now we are discovering the quality runs high in all their products with our recent receipt of their Toiletry Bag.   My husband goes out of town sometimes for work and keeps a toiletry bag on hand to grab and go. The Toilet Tree toiletry bag allows him to organize all of his toiletries and take "home" with him while traveling.   Out of the box, I found this bag offers a heavy-duty bag with double stitching to keep everything together for a long time. It is designed to be water-resistant and has an easy to clean nylon fabric interior.   It offers a large double zipper compartment for easy access. The bottom of the toiletry bag has a separate compartment for storing three TSA approved travel bottles, already labeled for Shampoo, Conditioner, and Body Wash . Here you'll also discover a toothbrush case and a collapsible cup with pill holder, making traveling easy. ...

 It’s 11:00 am and my stomach starts growling, not a little nudging, but a giant push screaming "FEED ME!" kind of growl.  This is the time of day that I lose control of my cravings and I eat anything and everything I can find, but nothing seems to satisfy this hunger.  The new Nimble Balance Bar is the perfect choice for these moments, a rich indulgent bar that is naturally sweet and loaded with critical ingredients that a woman needs to stay healthy. And because it has only 120 calories, it is the perfect snack any time of the day. [caption id="attachment_14972" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Nimble Balance Bars and GlitterSweet mini-purse[/caption] Nimble Balance Bar was formulated using the proven 40-30-30 ratio of carbohydrates, protein, and fat which helps to stabilize your blood sugar, reduce inflammation, increase your energy and improve your mood. Designed specifically for women, Nimble is fortified with rich antioxidants, beta carot...

When I was 13, we lived in rural Appalachia. I remember waking up one morning and seeing this big, ugly, gray mass on my thigh. It was a tick that had been indulging in my blood all night long, maybe longer. As an adult, I monitor my children and pets to ensure ticks aren't feasting on anyone. School’s out, and it’s almost time to send the kids off to camp.  Parents across the country are packing travel bags filled with swim goggles, sunscreen, and other summertime necessities for their children, but one of the most important things parents need to remember as their young ones head off to summer camp is tick prevention.   The Tick-Borne Disease Alliance  (TBDA) has compiled a list of the top five “must-have” items in a  Tick-Prevention Summer Camp Survival Kit  that every parent should include in their child’s travel bags this summer. Lyme disease is the fastest-growing infectious disease and the most common tick-borne disease in the country, according...

 So, your teenager wants to have a party at your house. First of all, if your teenager wants to actually bring a pack of their friends over, you should be flattered. That means you have a bit more of the "cool factor" than they've probably been giving you credit for. However, before you say "Sure!" too quickly, there are some things that you should keep in mind. There has been more than one (or 20) teen parties in the past that have gotten out of hand and resulted in parents being held legally liable for what has transpired as a direct result. For this reason, alone, more parents should be cautious about allowing their kids to have a party without them being present (even if "out of sight" means the parents are in their bedroom). That said, if you're wondering about just what your liability is when it comes to hosting a party for your teen, you've come to the right (preventative reading) place. Be Careful About Being the Social Hostest with the...

 It's summer and while the days are longer and life seems to slow down a bit, it's important to remember safety. Here are some tips to keep you, your family and your home safe all summer long. 1.) Stay Hydrated: Don't wait until you're thirsty to drink, try and drink two to four glasses of fluid each hour. Avoid sugary drinks or drinks with high alcohol content when in the heat. Monitor your children and make sure they are getting plenty of fluids while playing. 2.) Grilling is an outdoor activity: Use grills outside and don't put pits or grills too close to your home. If you use charcoal when grilling be sure to dispose of them once they are completely cool. 3.) Keep your lawn safe: Keep kiddos away from lawnmowers and never let them ride on the mower. Keep your grass clippings at a minimum as they invite ticks. 4.) Home Sweet Home: Put blind strings out of reach from small children . Review boundaries with your children when they play outside and require the bud...

 For kids, the summer means no school and that means days full of fun. Unfortunately for many families today, budgets are extra tight and won't lend themselves to funding all the summer fun for the family. If this is the situation you're in, here are some fun activities for the whole family that won't break the bank. On those especially hot days, consider just setting up your hose and sprinkler in the backyard and invite friends and neighborhood kids to join in. It will keep the kids occupied and cooled down for hours. The day before, make some juice popsicles using ice cube trays and toothpicks to make an easy and cheap treat for the kids that will help them cool down. Strap on your helmets and go for family bike rides through your neighborhood, city parks, state parks, or nearby trails. Loading the family up and taking a bike ride won't cost anything and is a great way to get outdoors while spending time together. Don't have bikes? Dig those Frisbees, whiffle ball...

 I love to be creative in the kitchen, and Skillet Bacon Jam has been a fun addition to my creativity. I think everything tastes better with bacon, and with Skillet Bacon Jam, it was far easier to make happen. I don't like the bacon mess cleanup, and Skillet Bacon Jam eliminated that while still giving me the bacon flavor. When it arrived, I was excited. I opened the sample jar, and it didn't look very appealing, but I'm not one to let that stop me--especially when it comes to bacon! Besides, I had read about Skillet Bacon Jam on their website and discovered this about them: We make this  bacon spread  condiment called bacon jam..you say what?.. that’s right,  we use niman ranch bacon and render it down along with onions, balsamic and other spices. It cooks for several hours until it is a perfect blend of smoky, tangy, savory and slightly sweet….basically spreadable bacony goodness!  USDA approved. Spreadable bacony goodness? How could anyone resi...

 As the weather heats up and the days get longer, we all tend to spend more time outdoors.  Why not make it a place that you enjoy? Mommy’s Memorandum is teaming up with some great sponsors to bring you our first annual Backyard Makeover Extravaganza. This event is designed to show you simple ways to add value to your home through a little patience and a lot of elbow grease.  Stay tuned this summer as we walk you through our journey in transforming this lackluster suburban plot into a summer retreat. We want your help. We are looking for fresh ideas, and new products that will make this backyard sparkle.  If you have a product you would like to see featured, please feel free to  contact us . We are open to all suggestions, big or small, and will gladly accept your request.

 Although summer doesn't officially start until the third week of June, most of us start celebrating the summer season on Memorial Weekend. That's the time when we break out the grills, put on the white shorts and shoes and hang out on our backyard decks until our hearts are content. For some of us, however, our backyards are not as fun as they could be. That's because we haven't "summer-ized" it yet. If you're wondering what you can do to get your backyard ready for fun in the summer sun, check out these three cool tips: Landscape your lawn . If a lot of us are really honest with ourselves, we'll admit that we tend to put more energy into our front yards because that is what people tend to see the most often. Yet, when it's summertime, very few people of us hold parties on the front lawn, right? No, most of us feel more comfortable hanging out in the back. This means that landscaping has to be done. You can hire a professional landscaper for yard ...

In 1992, my family spent the night listening to Hurricane Andrew blowing through our neighborhood. The aftermath was a trying time as our water and food supply was limited. My mother-in-law's food storage had not been rotated in years, and most of it, when unsealed, had gone rancid. It taught me a valuable lesson about having food on hand that has been rotated. eFoods, remembering the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in Japan a year ago, has created special family preparedness offers for our readers: www.efoodsoffer.com. Don't forget to enter the special coupon codes: Food40 and Food50 when ordering to get this memorial discount. eFoods' mission is to empower every family to have food security in the case of storms, natural disasters, or even financial crises like shrinking income or the loss of a job. Having been through a natural disaster, I can't encourage you enough to be prepared. Disasters happen to people we know, sometimes even ourselves. Be ready. D...

 Summer is just around the corner and as we are gearing up to bare more skin we look for ways to cut a few extra calories. Go Cocktails has an easy solution, with only 5 calories per serving, you can enjoy your cocktails without sacrificing your diet. Go cocktails comes four of our favorite flavors; Apple Martini, Cosmopolitan, Margarita, and Lemon Drop.  Just add water and your favorite liquor, shake and go.  Individually packaged, you can carry these flavored packets everywhere you go. Making specialty drinks at home can be expensive and often disappointing. Have you ever tried to make a cosmopolitan or an Apple Martini at home? Searching for the right mixers can be time-consuming and is often difficult to get the recipe just right. Go Cocktails is fast, easy, and taste just like your favorite bartender's recipe, but without all the extra calories. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="200"] Go Cocktails--Cosmopolitans[/caption] At first, I was ...

 Last week I shared with you some of the food options available on Nutrisystem. Truly an amazing selection for even the pickiest eaters. This week, I tried focusing on My Daily 3. Exercise combined with a low calorie diet can help you lose weight faster, and with our new personalized fitness program, you get the extra edge you need to succeed. I'm not even going to try and schmooze you into thinking this is easy. It is probably my BIGGEST struggle. The kiddos and life keep me going continuously , but it's not enough. Getting out there and moving, in my mind, seems do-able. Then morning comes and I really have to motivate myself to get out there and walk. The weather is getting nicer so I'm doing yard work. The kiddos and I have gone on a few bike rides. I know this will get easier. We watched part of Extreme Makeover where the viewer followers one person on their journey. In the episode we watched we stood at the bottom of these stairs and the trainer told him there was so...

 This is our KimmyShop.com Avengers backpack review, for the backpack we received in exchange for our honest review. As homeschoolers, we don't have much need for backpacks during the school year, so come summer, my kiddos LOVE getting their new backpacks for camps and camp-outs, swimming or zoo outings, or for long car trips to destinations far and wide!  Big Boy is in love with the new movie Avengers and wanted an Avengers backpack.  Kimmyshop.com is THE place to go when looking for character-themed merchandise, and sure enough, they have the best Avengers backpacks around. KimmyShop.com Avengers Backpack Review: Big Boy's backpack features the first Avenger, Captain America , and has two compartments perfect for holding all that a boy could ever want!  The front compartment is large enough to hold Big Boy's portable game system and all of its games, while the main compartment can easily hold a change of clothes and a stuffed animal for snuggling (shh! don't tel...

 Memorial Day launches our start to summer. It's a celebration as we’ll be spending more time outdoors – and that means dealing with bug bites, sunburn, poison ivy, blisters and recreational injuries that can potentially derail your summer fun. But the thought of summer injuries won’t get you down if you are equipped with an important summer accessory: Topricin Pain Relief Healing Cream. Fueled by nature not chemicals, Topricin medicated cream promotes rapid relief of the most common pain symptoms. Topricin is an odorless, non-greasy blend of eleven natural ingredients that support the body’s basic function of maintaining healthy cells and repairing damaged ones through enhanced healing and restores vitality to joints, nerves and muscles. One two-ounce tube of Topricin offers multiple uses. -Minimize the discomfort and duration of poison ivy and bug bites: Topricin treats the symptoms of the rash by revitalizing, restoring, moisturizing and providing vibrancy and energy to the skin...

 The DANO Ducki is a unique bath toy and teether.  After three kiddos and umpteen million dollars spent on bath toys that I have to throw away because I can't clean all of the mildew out of the crevices and out of the inside of the hollow plastic bodies, I resolved that fourth baby would never have a bath toy - especially since MES loved to suck on the bath toys and I never knew WHAT was going in her little belly.  The Dano Ducki is different though.  As a bath toy, it floats fantastic and even has a flap on the bottom to open for cleaning.   I love that this flap snaps closed and stays closed unless Mommy opens it.  I also love that Mommy can get inside of the toy and get rid of that pesky mildew.  I can put the Dano Ducki every night after bathtime so that Clara can suck on it during every bath if she wants to.  Say goodbye to smelly-bath toys forever! With teething surfaces built into the beak and tail, it is a wonderful solution to soot...

 Do you know what is gross? Pulling out dishes from the dishwasher after they have completed the cleaning cycle and finding food particles or spots on the dishes. We moved 18 months ago into a home that would have failed any cleaning inspection. We spent weeks cleaning and when we settled in our dishwasher had been overlooked. We are a family that feasts. Our dishwasher runs two times a day, sometimes three if we're entertaining. There have been moments when I have gone to unload the dishwasher and found its clean was not so clean. Worse, when the kiddos have unloaded the dishwasher and I've gone to serve someone a beverage and the glass was speckled with waterspot and required a hand wash before I could fill the glass. The first few cycles were foul and disgusting so I took it a part, cleaned it and put it back together. It didn't help. The baking pans were gray, the glasses had fingerprints and lip prints still on them, and they were coming out with a cloudy film." I...

 Gentle on skin and the planet! Seventh Generation Free & Clear diapers offer eco-friendly comfort for your little one.  Seventh Generation Free and Clear Diapers make me feel better about using disposable diapers.  I know that doing my part to keep our Earth an amazing planet is important, and I know there are all sorts of chemicals in those other diapers that aren't good for my sweet Clara.  Seventh Generation has improved the disposable diapering experience.  Everything you want in a diaper – and nothing you don't. Bottom-loving, baby-pleasing performance with absolutely no fragrances, latex, petroleum-based lotions or chlorine processing.   I have thought about using cloth diapers: they're better for the world, they're better for baby; they're just better... BUT I know my limitations as a mom.  I would have one stinky house and not an ounce of happiness if I were stuck washing diapers every day, all day, so we use disposable.  With Seventh...