Summer is almost here and that often means lots of sugary treats and drinks like ice cream and lemonade. Though we often are consistent with brushing our teeth, it’s important to remember that our gums matter too. They matter a lot!

Did you know that about half of Americans 30 and older have gum disease?

Growing up, I watched my Mom suffer through gum disease and frequent visits to the periodontist. She actually was one of the most vigilant people I know regarding oral care, and watching her have to deal with red bleeding gums really made me hyperaware.

Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums (Latin: gingivae), and inflammation is simply the body’s immune response to an attack. The main cause of inflammation in the gums is an accumulation of dental plaque, which can cause tooth loss, receding gums, tooth sensitivity and pain.

There are factors that increase the risk of gingivitis. These include smoking, diabetes, stress, hormonal changes (puberty, pregnancy, birth control pills & other medications) as well as genetics (in up to 30%  of Americans).

 Why #YourGumsMatter

• Healthy gums are important for a healthy mouth and a healthy body
• Gum disease changes the appearance of the mouth and can weaken the support for your teeth
• Gum disease has been linked to diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses

Make sure to get the right dental care with Sunstar GUM products and use them daily, schedule regular check-ups, and monitor your oral health. Not only will you have a bright and healthy smile, but, you’ll also be contributing to your overall wellness.

Take just a few minutes each day to brush and floss and you can be rewarded with a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Enter To Win Because #YourGumsMatter

To get you started, you can win a prize pack of Sunstar GUM products to help promote gum health including a Technique Deep Clean Toothbrush, a bag of Flossers, a package of Proxabrush Go-between cleaners in Tight, a package of Soft-Picks, and eez-thru floss.

Simply enter below:

Here’s to a bright and healthy smile!

This is a partnered post with Sverve and Sunstar GUM, however all opinions are expressly my own.

I received compensation from Recovery Unplugged for this sponsored post. Any opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience.

Whether you yourself have struggled with addiction or have a friend or loved one who is suffering, the world can oftentimes seem cold and confusing.

When I was younger, I worked and lived at a hot springs resort up in the California mountains. Over time, I fell in love with my best friend there. He was part Native American and a brilliant healer. Whenever an animal was hurt or a snake was around, people called him because he was able to communicate with them and was very in tune with nature. It was quite amazing and I loved our time together as we understood one another without words.

I would often visit him after work, at night, and started to notice a pattern. He had slipped back into using and was like a completely different person. I tried talking, listening, but, nothing seemed to work. I would end up leaving and after a while realized I had to leave for good. That was one of the saddest and hardest days of my life.

I wish I had known more about Recovery Unplugged’s drug rehab therapy and about some of the truly wonderful alternative resources available. Recovery Unplugged is a drug rehab facility in Florida that uses music as a catalyst to help facilitate change, to motivate and inspire long-term recovery and sobriety.

Music is the language of the soul that reaches the places inside where words can not go. It speaks to our universal humanity.  Babies respond to it as do those at the end of their life’s journey.

Music has always been so near and dear to my heart. It inspires me when I’m feeling stuck, brings me back when I’m feeling lost, uplifts me when I’m feeling down and helps me to not feel alone.

Over the years, the particular music I relate to changes, but not the incredible healing it brings.

Some of my favorites:

Neil Young – Needle And The Damage Done (Unplugged)

Recovery by James Arthur (Stevie Tonks’ version)

Make It Rain by Foy Vance (Ed Sheeran version)

Brett Dennen – Blessed

Foy Vance – Homebird

Marc Broussard – Home

I found this performance by Richie Sambora at Recovery Unplugged to be beautifully honest.

If you or those you know and care about are battling addiction, Recovery Unplugged is a wonderful resource.

Connect and Learn more:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Google+

You Tube

I participated in this sponsored campaign on behalf of Firefly® and the One2One Network. All opinions stated are expressly my own.

If you have kids, then you know that getting them to brush their teeth regularly is not often an easy task. Statistics have shown tht 90% of moms have admitted to using extreme measures to ensure their kids brush such as ultimatums, bribing with gifts, or even taking away TV or computer time.

But Firefly doesn’t want all the Moms and Dads out there to stress! Making things fun for kids can transform routines into enjoyment, whether it be cleaning up their room, doing homework, or brushing their teeth. Healthy oral care habits are so important and starting early is key to overall wellness for now and the future.

Firefly is a trusted leader in Children’s Oral Care solutions and introduced the Ready Go Brush. This brush has a light-up timer and is the #1 selling kid’s manual toothbrush. Interactive lights guide your children through 60 seconds of brushing for each row of teeth. Their products are ADA-approved and affordable. You can’t beat that!

Recently Firefly sent us a fun bundle of products to try out!

For the girls, the oh-so-fabulous Hello Kitty! They’re so cute that HK fans of any age would love them.

The toothbrushes light up, flashing green, then yellow and red after 60 seconds when it’s time to stop. Having a goal seems to really work and brushing becomes not a chore but actually a pleasant part of the day or night!  The anti-cavity mouth rinse is sugar-free, alcohol-free and safe for kids. We tried out the melon kiss flavor which I’m told was ‘delicious’.  The Firefly Fun Pump rinse comes with a super cute cup that fits right in as part of the bottle and helps keep your counters mess-free.

Of course, Firely didn’t leave out the boys! They sent along these rad Star Wars brushes. With the caps on them, they look like Light Sabers. They have light-up timers, and they make noises and talk, really they do!

You can find these fun brushes and mouth rinses at Target, Walmart and Walgreens, in-store and on-line.

Also check out the Firefly #BrushBattle sweepstakes on Firefly’s Facebook page where you can win a great trip to a theme park in California.

When your child is asking you if it’s time yet to brush their teeth, that’s a win in my book.

PS: The other morning, I woke up early and found the Star Wars brushes encouraging one another before the day began. Although they primarily speak their own language, you’ll surely recognize the words at the end! Check it out:

It’s almost Mother’s Day and  a group of fabulous bloggers have come together to share gifts and giveaways all geared toward the special woman in your life – or for yourself!  We’re happy you are here to celebrate the Something Special for Mom Giveaway Hop hosted by Lindsey Blogs and Viva Veltoro.

Be sure to hop around and check out the cool prizes, including two Grand Prizes.  Viva Veltoro has an amazing gift package for one beautiful Mom featuring products from Cake Maternity, Chewbeads, and Poncho Baby and on Lindsey Blogs you’ll find Gift Cards for Jamberry Nails and aka originals hand stamped jewelry.

Here at Strange Daze Indeed, I’m thrilled to be partnering with a wonderful company who are a favorite of yours and mine!

That would be the incredible Udderly Smooth.  Moms should be pampered every day but especially on Mother’s Day. Silky-soft, smooth and soothed are the words that come to mind.

Made in the USA for over thirty years, Udderly Smooth products contain rich moisturizing ingredients. Not your average moisturizing lotion- Udderly Smooth can be used on Dry Skin, Cracked Skin, for Diabetes Foot Care, as a Facial Moisturizer, as a General Moisturizing Lotion and for many other uses. It’s great for sunburn also!

I love the cool smooth feel on my skin and the way it absorbs without being greasy, but, most of all, it’s really one of the best moisturizers around to help keep your skin hydrated and youthful.

DailyCandy.com editor, Kimberly Miller names Udderly Smooth R as must-have beauty product on View from the Bay, San Francisco , ABC

So, ok, what do we have for Mom?

First of all, she’ll get a basket full of Udderly Smooth goodies including lotion and creams.

But, we wanted to add more fun surprises. So, Mom will also get this Udderly adorable bowl made of hand painted earthenware with non-slip silicone feet!

It’s great for cereal, soup, ice cream or whatever your heart desires.

That’s sure to brighten up any day.

Mooving right along. Y’know those stressful days, the ones that make you want to crawl back into bed with a good book or go on a Netflix binge. Well, if you can’t do that right away, there is always the anti-stress Cow! Mom’s getting one of these too.

 Hakuna Mootata!

Just enter below.  This giveaway is open to the U.S. and Canada and ends on 5/11/15. Good luck!

Happy Mother’s Day! And remember, 

So Easy Being Green, Viva Veltoro, and the Something Special for Mom participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

It’s Not Just Any Golf Camp – It’s the PGA Junior Golf Camps

New this summer, juniors can now learn from the leaders in golf instruction – the PGA of America. With programs designed for beginners through advanced players, each camp is taught in a nurturing, safe, and supportive environment where the emphasis is placed on kids having FUN!

With their unique ‘progressive skill development’ system, kids ‘learn, improve, and perfect’ golf skills each and every day with updates forwarded to mom and dad to keep parents informed of all the progress being made on the course. Each week culminates with a fun and friendly “PGA-Play-A-Round Tournament” which includes prizes and awards and even an open invitation for parents/guardians to join the on-course fun.

Connect:

PGA Junior Golf Camps on Facebook

For Kids ages 7-17 and of all ability levels.
Half-day and full-day programs are available at 25+ nationwide locations.

Enroll today to save up to $50 off the price of camp and receive a free golf cap ($25 value) by using coupon code USFAM15.

Register here!

Article – How to Pick a Summer Camp

This is a sponsored post in partnership with DataRank, however all opinions are strictly my own.

If you have children in diapers, it seems you can never have enough. They go through them so quickly, and, of course, you want the best!

Make sure to be on the lookout in your Sunday paper this weekend, April 12th, to find a great money-saving coupon. This coupon is not available online and will give you $3.00 off two boxes of Luvs. Heaven knows this will come in handy!

– Luvs with NightLock, the official diaper of experienced moms, helps to lock away wetness  – even overnight – with Luvs’ largest absorbency area ever.

– Luvs with NightLock has superior overnight protection that locks away wetness better than Huggies Snug & Dry*.

*Locks away wetness better than Huggies Snug & Dry, sizes 3-6

With great prices, super absorbency and comfort, Luvs really cares about Moms and kids!

Check out Luvs website, Twitter and Facebook pages for more great info!

This post was made possible by Double Duty Divas and Luvs. I was compensated for my participation in this campaign, but all opinions are 100% mine

My Mom always said I didn’t talk much as a child. She worried about it until the day I came out with a sentence: “I need a light.”

Two things about me:
I love reading. I’ve always been a seeker.

These are a few of the reasons that Soul Sessions by Carson Gage really appealed to me.

Sometimes your worlds merge and what you do for work coincides with what you love. I got the chance to read Soul Sessions by Carson Gage in order to write a review. Just the thought of diving into a new world, sitting in my favorite nook of my favorite coffee shop had me excited to begin. I love reading at home, but, someone always seems to need something. Here, in my sanctuary with my book and my favorite Caramel Macchiato, I settled deeply into the buttery soft leather chair. Nick’s story grabbed me. It was extremely relatable.

He was depressed which is something both I and many friends have gone through in this lifetime. Sometimes I have wondered why there is so much depression, anxiety and fear. Often have I wondered if it has to do with the physical reality in front of us, or if, perhaps, it’s something deeper.

Nick’s world had spiraled so far downward he could no longer find joy or pleasure in things he once enjoyed. As thoughts of giving up swirled through his mind, a fortuitous call from an old college friend was the impetus that sparked a profound journey of awakening.

Given the name of a therapist by his friend, Nick was somewhat skeptical, but the sense that something was missing kept driving him to keep the appointment he had made. Working with Katrina, he realized that her methods were somewhat unconventional, yet they spoke to his longings.

Through regression therapy, Nick began to explore the prospect of past lives, for it is not only our early childhood experiences that can affect us, but, something much deeper.

As Nick discovered his soulmate, the best friend and lover he had spent lifetimes with, he felt compelled to search for her in this lifetime. Searching for this deep love, his life opened up in many exciting ways…

To tell you more would be to ruin the story, as, in some ways, its unraveling reminded me of a good detective novel, only in this case the discoveries took place not only in linear time, but also in his mind, heart and spirit.

I really enjoyed reading Soul Sessions whenever I could escape my busy routine, which is exactly what I needed! I,too, have experienced what Nick felt. I, too, have had the sense that life is so much deeper than our surface reality.  I was a curious child and remain a curious adult, always asking the bigger questions with friends and loved ones.

Perhaps you have wondered too. Is this life the only one, or is it possible to have multiple lifetimes that leave their mark on us. Do we have a pre-life plan when we come to earth and how does it co-exist with the concept of free will? What happens after we die?

Do we have soulmates? On that question, I believe that we do. I have met quite a few of them in this lifetime and I have learned, often painfully, that we are not always meant to spend our lives with them. But, the learning continues nevertheless. Do you know that feeling of knowing someone even though you have just met, a deep knowing that creates instant comfort? I have been blessed with this quite a few times and each time I learn more about myself and the nature of everything. Perhaps you are spending your life with your soulmate now. This book was fascinating for me as I love the way the story is integrated with the revelations Nick experienced, revelations which I feel most readers can relate to when reflecting upon their own lives.

One concept discussed through Nick’s story is synchronicity, those happenings that really are not coincidences, but instead are signs we are given, if we choose to explore them. I do believe my reading this book at this time was perfect serendipity. I had been feeling a bit lost.

Throughout my life I get bits and pieces of my purpose and the meaning of it all. Just like Nick’s story, it is like a puzzle with each piece illuminating the greater picture. I surely don’t have all the answers. Throughout my life, I have sought and been blessed with so many wonderful spiritual teachers. From Ram Dass to the Dalai Lama, each meeting was a gift to guide me on my path.

One of my teachers, Papaji, from Lucknow, India, once told me something. He said, ‘You don’t have to go anywhere, or do anything; just keep that fire burning inside of you’. He understood my passion for truth, for knowledge, for enlightenment. I believe this. If you want to live a deeper life, pay attention to the signs and signals along the way.

If you lose your way, something will always bring you back; if you let it.

Soul Sessions helped me refocus my priorities and get in touch with my true self. Sometimes that connection gets lost in the day to day. This book reawakened in me glimpses into the infinite mystery of existence which has always intrigued and delighted me.

I highly recommend it.

 About the Author

Carson Gage has been interested in the mysteries of life and death since the age of seven, when he survived being run over by a speeding car. This experience led him on a journey of discovery for answers to some of life’s biggest questions.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.