College Bound - Parenting Healthy

I have partnered with MyCharge for this feature. Product was sent and opinions are my own

Welcome to the MyCharge HubMini Portable Charger Review & Giveaway

About the MyCharge Hub Mini Portable Charger

Here is the best portable charger (in my opinion) that you will want to own. Not only do we love the MyCharge brand, but this charger eliminates a huge pet peeve of mine. No more transporting and losing cords!

Whether you use Apple or other products you are charged on-the-go with the MyCharge Hub line. This is because the charging cords are built-in! That’s right! You do not need to remember your charger AND cords and you will not be untangling cords from your bag anymore. You simply don’t need them with this charger. The MyCharge Hub line has some chargers that recharge via a wall outlet and the mini recharges with its short USB cord. But, it is very short and portable as well.

You get the charge level displayed and with 2 charging cords (one is a lightning cable and the other is micro-USB) you can charge up to 2 devices at once. Ours will last all day charging as needed for smartphones but when my son is charging his tablet watching videos at the same time on it we make sure we recharge when we can about once during the day. However, the MyCharge HubMin recharges very fast. They recharge up to 50% faster than competing portable chargers. The battery is 3300mAh Lithium Ion and charges your device very fast.

Doesn’t the idea of just grabbing your portable charger and go sound awesome? I get compliments all the time. I especially get compliments on plane rides. I have taken my MyCharge HubXtra on many trips and everyone gets so fascinated when they see me pulling out my cord from the charger. I am going to really love this mini version! Besides, my 10 year old has pretty much gained ownership of my other MyCharge Hub charger.

You want your own MyCharge HubMini, right? The mini is fantastic for travel because it is incredibly lightweight and small. Not only are these a great Father’s Day gift, but also for your student’s back to school needs.

The Giveaway

1 lucky reader will win their very ownMyCharge HubXtra Mini. Enter below. Open to US and ens on 6/25/2018. Good luck!

Entry -Form

Back to School 2018, College Bound, Education, Gift Guides, Kids, Parenting, Reviews, School

Back To School Guide 2018

June 5, 2018June 13, 2018 Erin Sluka

Welcome to the 2018 Back to School Guide

Back to School Guide 2018

“An Investment in Knowledge Pays the Best Interest” – Benjamin Franklin

They are heading back to school! Fun in the sun and vacations are coming to an end! Are you prepared? Do you have a buy list to complete still? Have the kids style and sizes changed? Is one off to college and you have no clue what you may be forgetting to buy or discuss with them? I hope I can help you out with topics, reviews and some fun below!

*If you are a brand, contact Erin at erinnsluka(at)gmail(dot)com to get your product featured!

Keep checking back as there are more posts added several days a week through summer and fall!

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An InLinkz Link-up

College Bound, Parenting

What to do When Your Kid is in a Car Accident

June 5, 2018 Erin Sluka

It’s every parents’ nightmare – your phone rings and it’s your child telling you they’ve been in a car accident. Your mind of course automatically assumes the worse, even though the fact that they’re calling you means that they are at least in good enough shape to do that. If you ever get this phone call from one of your kids, it’s important that you don’t panic. They are likely worried and a little scared, and you panicking will only heighten those feelings for them. Instead, remain calm, and walk them through what they need to do.

The Steps of a Car Accident

The first thing you should have your kid do is make sure they are in a safe location. Have them pull off onto the side of the road or get out of the car if the car is smoking. If they are on a busy road, make sure they take extra care when exiting the vehicle, and have them stay inside the car if they can’t safely get out.

Once you know your child is safe, now you can begin walking them through the steps they need to take. This includes checking on any other drivers involved, calling for emergency assistance if needed, swapping information with the other driver, and taking pictures. If the accident happened close to where you live, you may be better off driving to location in order to better help your kid. If you can’t do this, then stay on the phone with them while they get everything done. Most importantly, if your kid or anyone else involved was injured during the accident, no matter how minor the injury, have it checked out at a hospital. It’s better to be safe than sorry in these sorts of situations.

Help Them with Transportation

Depending on the damage done to the car, your child may need some help with transportation. This could mean a ride home from the accident, a ride to the doctor, or someone to pick them up from the auto shop. Or, if their car is going to be in the shop for a few days, they may need some help getting around until they get their car back. Do what you can to help your kid out during this time. Let them borrow your car, or maybe carpool with them on the way to work/school. If you’re lucky this will only last for a few days, and your kid will go back to being independent with their own car before long.

Help Them Find a New Ride

In some cases the accident is so bad that the car is no longer useable. The car is beyond repair, and now your kid needs to find a new one. Since they are still pretty young, they likely don’t have much experience with purchasing a new car, or the credit history needed to get one on their own. Find some time during an upcoming weekend to go car shopping with your kid, and help them to find something they can afford. To make sure your kid gets a good deal, here are some car buying tips that you can share with them.

Make Sure They Follow Up

Unfortunately, even after you leave the scene of the accident, there are still things that your kid will need to do. This could be getting additional medical exams, following up with their insurance company, or working with the local police department. As a parent, it’s your job to ensure that your child stays on top of all of this and that they follow up when necessary. You don’t want to let your kid forget about anything, as this will only cause more problems down the line.

Help Them Avoid Future Accidents

Finally, after the dust has settled from the accident, it’s a good idea to go over it with your kid. According to this Los Angeles car crash attorney, “There are a number of reasons why car accidents occur, including the carelessness of distracted drivers, reckless or erratic driving, alcohol and drugs, and many other factors.” Take some time to talk about the accident with your kid and see if there was anything they could have done differently to avoid the accident. We all want to keep our kids safe, and teaching them to drive safely is a key part of this.

Make Accidents Less Scary

Getting into a car accident is scary no matter what age you are. When you’re a kid, the situation becomes a lot easier to handle if you have a parent helping you along the way. If you should ever get that dreaded phone car from your kid, remember to keep calm, and help them out using the methods mentioned above.

College Bound, Education, Parenting

6 Ways to Prepare Your Teenager for College

May 31, 2018May 15, 2020 Erin Sluka

You’re excited that your child is headed off to college at last! Most likely, you’re a bit worried and anxious, too, and so is your college-bound teen. Follow these tips to prepare your child for the first year away from home.

Determine How to Finance College Costs

Finalize college financing before your teen heads off to school. Help your child fill out federal and school financial aid forms and apply for scholarships. You may also need student loans to cover remaining costs. Remember that financial aid and grants don’t pay for some expenses, such as clothing, food, and car insurance. Consider taking out a private student loan to have extra cash on hand to cover such expenses.

Boost Emotional Skills

Right now, when something goes wrong, you’re right there to help your child through tough times. At school, your teen must manage emotions and challenging situations alone. Sit your teen down and talk about how to handle life events, relationship issues, and stress. Work to build your child’s confidence in handling emotional issues.

Review Basic Life Skills

Does your teen struggle to keep the bed made and the bedroom clean? Most likely, your child will share a room. Review how to clean, do laundry, go shopping, and cook some light meals. Make sure your college student will be a welcome roommate.

Discuss the dangers of alcohol and drugs, too. A college campus is a fun place that can be full of temptation. You won’t be there to help your child say no to risks like drinking and trying party drugs. Prepare your teen to make the right decisions when you’re not there.

Create a Budget

Teens who have not managed their own money will be in for a shock when they head off to college. Create a budget to show your child how much money to spend each month. Review how to track debit and credit card spending, and discuss the importance of paying bills on time.

Focus on Health

Immunizations must be up to date before your teen arrives on campus. Your child should also have a health insurance card and know where to go for help in case of illness. Review how to use campus health services, urgent care facilities, and emergency rooms.

You won’t be on hand to make lunch or dinner. Teens will have a lot of food options, not all of them good ones. Help your child avoid the dreaded “Freshman 15,” which refers to extra weight college freshmen tend to gain. Review nutrition guidelines to help your child make healthy choices when you’re not around.

Make Your Expectations Known

Make it clear that your child is in school to learn. You’re not footing the bill or helping with loans so your freshman can hang out and drink beer. If you expect a report card with all A’s, make sure to tell your teen to work toward those grades.

Put your child on the path to living independently before your teen leaves for school. Review these tips with your college-bound teen to give him or her the necessary skills to be successful while living away from home.

Category: College Bound

MyCharge HubMini Portable Charger – Giveaway