The Mom of 4 Boys is Hollywood Bound! #McFarlandUSAEvent

Summer time, the time for lots of fun in the sun. We usually slather on the sunscreen, but do you wear sun glasses..what about your kids? When it comes to protecting your eyes, do you know all the facts? If your like most chances are the answer is NO! Below you will find some facts, what to look for when buying sunglasses, advice on what to do to protect your child’s eyes & 5 Hot Sunglasses for you and your child!
UV radiation endangers an unprotected eye in ways that can lead to vision impairment. Just small amounts of intense UV exposure can cause short-term problems, ranging from irritating to overtly painful. The following symptoms may indicate over-exposure to UV.
Bloodshot Eyes
Swollen Eyes
Hyper-Sensitivity To Light
Infants & Children get 3X the annual adult dose of UV radiation and their eyes are more vulnerable. About 25% of an individuals lifetime exposure to UV radiation happens before the age of 18! If you notice any of the following your child should be taken in for evaluation by their Dr.:
Red Eyes – Skin around the eyes is red and appears to be sunburned
Extreme Sensitivity to light – constantly tearing
Disrupted Sleep – Feeling that eyes are burning, itching, or scratchy
Severe eye pain & spasims of the eye or eye lid
Why is UV eye protection SO important? Over time, the cumulative effects of sunlight can lead to eye diseases and conditions later in life. While some damage can be reversed through surgery, other conditions, like cataracts and macular degeneration, may result in permanent vision loss. It is never too early or too soon to protect your children’s eyes from UV exposure. Now that you know what to look for, what can you do to help your little one and yourself?
Limit outdoor time between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when the UV radiation is strongest. Sometimes this isn’t an option and thats when a good pair of UVA/UBV Sunglasses come into play!
Have your child wear their UVA/UVB Sunglasses anytime they are outside, sunny or cloudy, the UV rays still come through on cloudy days!
Now you’re probably wondering what to look for when buying sunglasses, you don’t want to waste your money on something that isn’t going to help, right?!
Look for the UVA/UVB Sticker
Shop a credible source, chances are those vendors in the middle of the mall or the sidewalk don’t have true UV protection.
Make sure they are comfortable…you wont wear something that isn’t comfortable, neither will your child!
I LOVE my sunglasses, I love different styles and tints. One of my favorites is the Vestry Sunglasses from Nicole Miller, which I’m sure you’ve seen me sporting in many of my instagram photos! This year I have discovered SUM Company…the glasses are super cool and allow me to have the eye protection I need and the style I crave! I can change the look from solid black to a cool tortoise shell in just a few seconds. 5 Sunglasses You’ll Love:
Okay, you found some great sun glasses your child will love..now, how do I get them to wear them?
Routine, Routine, Routine! Every time you head outdoors put them on, make sure they see you put yours on. Once they feel the difference from direct sun to the sunglasses they will more than likely catch on and leave them on. Don’t be fooled by price! Expensive does not mean better! Plastic sunglasses are inexpensive and come in many colors and styles. Also look for Polycarbonate lenses if your child is rough or into sports they are more able to withstand rough play. Look through the sunglasses before you buy them..see if they distort what your child is looking at, I know I wouldn’t want to walk around in a distorted world! We used Baby BanZ & KidZ BanZ when little man was smaller, because they have a comfortable strap to hold them on his face. Now that he is a little older he loves his stylin sporty Foster Grants. I love the wrap around style so I know it protects his eyes from all angles.
5 Sunglasses Your Child Will Love:
Frequent sunglass use comes with practice. Reinforcing healthy behaviors by making your kids routinely wear sunglasses will help to get them in the habit of protecting their eyes. Set an example by always remembering to wear your own shades.
How often do you or your children wear sunglasses?

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Who doesn’t love a good villainess Disney movie?! Tomorrow is the premier of Disney Descendants and I want to give you the chance to win a DVD copy of this great new story!
From the Emmy Award-winning director and choreographer Kenny Ortega (“High School Musical” franchise) comes this original contemporary story of classic Disney characters reinvented and the introduction of modern Disney lore. Enter this new epic universe of relatable tween characters on a journey of self-discovery. New on Disney DVD, and complete with never-before-seen bonus and a FREE bracelet!
In a present day idyllic kingdom, the benevolent teenaged son of the King and Queen (Beast and Belle from Disney’s iconic “Beauty and the Beast”) is poised to take the throne. His first proclamation: offer a chance at redemption to the trouble-making offspring of Cruella de Vil, Maleficent the Evil Queen and Jafar who have been imprisoned on a forbidden island with all the other villains, sidekicks, evil step-mothers and step-sisters. These villainous descendants (Carlos, Mal, Evie and Jay, respectively) are allowed into the kingdom to attend prep school alongside the offspring of iconic Disney heroes, including Fairy Godmother, Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel and Mulan. However, the evil teens face a dilemma. Should they follow in their nefarious parents’ footsteps and help all the villains regain power or embrace their innate goodness and save the kingdom?
One lucky My Sparkling Life Reader is going to win a Disney Descendants DVD! This giveaway is open to residents of the US who are 18+ until 11:59 PM EST August 14, 2015.
The Fine Print: Entering this giveaway means that you accept both my rules & disclosure. I will notify winner via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to reply before I am forced to redraw winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Each household is only eligible to win this prize via blog reviews and giveaways once. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Many will enter, few will win! Please allow 8-12 weeks for delivery of prizing. My Sparkling Life is not responsible for any lost or misdirected packages. Prizing provided and shipped by Disney. In the rare occasion that a prize does not arrive (which has happened), please notify me and I will try to contact the sponsor.

This post may contain affiliate links which fund the My Sparkling Life blog.
You know my boys love their video games, and my little guys are still too young to play most of the Wii and PlayStation games so the LeapTV is perfect for them…and guess what?! They learn as they play!! We just received 5 new games from LeapFrog that I want to share my thoughts on…you know, with the holidays coming up and all!
DISNEY FROZEN: ARENDELLE’S WINTER FESTIVAL
I played this game with my five-year old who just started kinder and we both enjoyed playing it. The math starts out really simple, recognizing numbers, then putting them in order and finally equations. If you have 2 battery operated controllers 2 kids together. It does get more difficult becuase it grows with your child. I found the on-screen motions to be pretty good, quick response and accurate. There are 5 games and all are completely different. Your child can Ice Skate with Ana & Elsa or throw snowballs with olaf. My little guy was enjoying his play and didn’t even realize that he was still doing “school work”. I thought the product is great for pre schoolers, especially when the weather won’t permit outdoor play. The game teaches math, shapes but also coordination and logic.
DOODLECRAFT STARRING MR. PENCIL
I had my 13-year-old play along with my 5-year-old, just so there was someone who could help out if he needed it. They both really enjoyed playing and collaborating with each other on designing their world. My 13-year-old even compared it to the infinity sandbox. They were painting and building buildings around the town…they had fun “paintballing” the school. This was definitely a fun game for them to play and I love that they worked together to get the job done!
BLAZE AND THE MONSTER MACHINES
My 9-Year-old and 5-year-old played this one together and really enjoyed racing against each other. Everything seems to be a race with them, so for them to be able to actually race….and learn at the same time was a win-win! I’m telling you it got pretty competitive. I like this game because it teaches science, technology, engineering and math. All subjects on which most kids don’t enjoy learning otherwise.
DISNEY PRINCESS: CINDERELLA AND RAPUNZEL
My boys got quite the giggle “dressing up” like a Disney princess and snapping pics. They played connect the dots with stars by finding letters in the mix of letters and numbers. I see this being a really enjoyable game for a girl, but my boys didn’t play long on it..it just didn’t appeal to them. I do see the value in the reading skills and hope that my 5-year-old will give it another chance.
LETTER FACTORY ADVENTURES
This game is meant for 3-5-year-olds. My 5-year-old started kindergarten this year and is perfect for him! We’ve watched the movies for years and were excited to get to interact with the letters and characters. This game is perfect for teaching him his letters and sounds. There is a ton of repetition with the letters and sounds. The train picks up all the stray letters on the way to their respective stations. The game shows upper and lower case letters and makes their sound or says their name every time you point your pointer at it, or pop a bubble with that letter in it, or sort the letter correctly. On the way to its station, each letter gets three different games. By the time they get to the letter’s station they should have a good idea about that letter and the sound it makes! The kids also get to move and use their bodies to play which is an added bonus. My little guy really likes this game and I know it’s going to help him out this year with school and his speech.
Over all we really enjoyed these games and the boys can’t wait to play again!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

If your like me your totally into the subscription box service lately! I recently found a new one that left me in awe!
Cate&Chloe is a jewelry subscription company that has one concept in mind: to create stylish yet affordable jewelry women could wear every day. Cate&Chloe wanted simple, versatile, elegant pieces that would complete every woman’s personal collection. Since the inception of Cate&Chloe, the visionaries have continued to strive for the highest level of quality, innovation, and timeless designs to ensure its avid followers are able to flaunt C&C pieces from the Red Carpet to the office!
Their jewelry is simple, yet elegant and will complement any outfit you wear them with from casual daytime wear to a night out on the town!
If you sign up for the VIP subscription you get the standard 2 pieces of Cate&Chloe jewelry AND a bonus welcome gift. So 3 pieces of jewelry worth over $200 for just $39.99! When I opened my designer looking Cate&Chloe box, I couldn’t believe my eyes! They sent me the Olivia ‘Dignity’ stud earrings and I was in complete awe! I’ve never owned such gorgeous pair of earrings! These regal earrings are elegant enough to adorn a monarch with the crown inspired setting and sparkling round CZ stone. They would make a splendid addition to any collection & retail for $125! I LOVE LOVE LOVE these earrings! Even my hubby was shocked when I opened up my box! Forget the once a year jewelry gifts…he can get me this monthly box! They are shipped out every 15 days so you get roughly 24 shipments a year!! That’s a lot of glamor for little $$
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!?! SIGN UP FOR YOUR CATE&CHLOE VIP MEMBERSHIP!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Whenever you’re working out, it’s important to be mindful of what’s around you. There can be plenty of dangers and none of them you would want ending up in a hospital, having to rely on Jonathan Rosenfeld for help. Being aware of what’s around you can help accidents from happening. So if you’re doing a group run out in public, be sure to watch any roads or public pathways you cross and ensure you’re wary of those running around you, to make sure you don’t bump into anyone whilst running. Exercising in a gym environment can also have their own dangers so just be aware of who is doing what and making sure you’re giving everyone enough space to workout themselves. These conscious efforts you make can really help to stop you from getting yourself into an accident.
Use Weights Carefully
Weights are great for putting your body through its paces, and it’s important that when using weights, you’re taking care in how you lift them and where you place them down. Think about how heavy they are, and so if you’re not in control of them, you’ll want to start off with a lighter weight that is more manageable. Otherwise, you could end up causing an injury if you drop it by accident and it lands on your foot or the foot of someone else! Always have a rule of putting your weights away when you’re done with them and try to keep to your own space, making sure to have plenty of space around you to avoid any accidents.
Don’t Over Exert Yourself
We all like to challenge ourselves in life, and when it comes to exercising, we may end up pushing ourselves a little too far out of our comfort zone to the point of injury. Over exerting yourself can be dangerous, so it’s important to know your limits and when you’re pushing yourself too far. It’s never going to end well and pushing yourself to a level that you’re not yet comfortable with is only going to damage your body. Try to maintain a level of comfort whenever you’re exercising and only move up a level when your body is ready.