Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a leading product safety testing organization, provides useful tips to help keep you safe around play sets and the pool. It seems much like common sense but it’s usually the common sense things that people sometimes overlook. Therefore, I wanted to pass this information on to you.

As the weather heats up (and it’s certainly HOT in my area), families will seek refuge in the cool waters of their neighborhood or backyard pools. Although there is nothing like a quick dip on a hot summer’s day, pool season doesn’t come without risks. Approximately 4,200 people go to the ER every year due to pool or spa-related injuries.

To keep your family safe while having fun this summer, UL is offering the following tips:

You can find more tips on pool/playground safety on their website as well as other great information that may be useful.

For children: UL and Disney produced a video featuring Timon and Pumba from the Lion King teaching kids how to stay safe while swimming during the summer, and all year long.

Playground and pool safety are important topics in my house because of my two children. We recently moved from a very rural farm area to a small city neighborhood and I can’t stress pool safety enough! I even sold my above ground pool because it was a fear that some neighborhood child may get in without permission (and I have a fenced yard!). My children are always wanting to jump in a pool (or act crazy on their playground set) and that’s why I wanted to share these common yet overlooked tips. I’m thankful that my children know not to play around pools or in them without adult supervision. Keep cool this summer and play safe.

Disclosure: I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Underwriters Laboratories. In addition, I received a gift card to thank me for participating.

Lately, many conversations often focus on ways to give back to the community. This is likely due to the economy, news of unemployment, the recent events in Haiti – among other things. Many have the eagerness to get involved and help out. Maybe this will help you get started! This year, Pepsi can help make ideas come to life. I introduce you to the Pepsi Refresh Project.

Pepsi is giving away $20+ million dollars to fund projects that help make communities better. As many already know, Pepsi opted not to advertise during the Superbowl this year. Instead, they invested significant resources to support meaningful engagements. Pepsi wants to hear what needs they can help fulfill for you and your community. Both projects large and small, such as upgrading a playground; new lights in a neighborhood; library in need of new computers… you get the idea.

Each month, you have the opportunity to submit a project in one of six categories:

Then, at the end of the month, Pepsi will post the top submissions (on their website) and let the public vote on who should win. Grant will range from $5,000 to $250,000 (totaling up to $1.3 million dollars!) Sounds fantastic, right??

Get involved beginning today, February 1. If you have an idea for an improvement you’d like to see in your community, submit it for consideration for the March round.

You can also visit RefreshEverything.com and vote for your favorite submissions for February’s grants.

There are many fun creative, unique and meaningful ways to give back and this project is an awesome idea. Kudos to Pepsi.

Check out the video on how a soda CAN and WILL make a difference:

So, what are you waitin’ for – tell Pepsi how they can make a difference for YOU and YOUR community! Get tips and more here.

I leave you with a few excerpts from Lauren Lauren Hobart, CMO of Sparking Brands at Pepsi:

Why is Pepsi Refresh Unique?
The program is unique because it puts the power in the hands of the consumer. Individuals submit their ideas and then the nation votes on the idea that moves them the most. This is done in a very ground up way. Essentially, we’ve democratized the process.

What are some exciting ideas you hope to see submitted through the PRP this year?
We’re excited to see the range of ideas that are submitted through the program. There are six different categories, and we want ideas across all of them. So far we’ve seen a fantastic response to the program. Within the first week we received over 1000 ideas, which came from every state and every age group.

Who should be involved in the submission process? If my child has an idea, should she submit it, or should I, or should her teacher help?
Young children, particularly those under 13 years old, should work with parents or teacher. Pepsi Refresh offers an amazing opportunity for a teaching moment with parents since you can get your kids to think about what impact they can have how they can make a difference. The program can get them engaged, thinking and talking about their impact on the world in a whole new way.

Disclosure: I wrote this participating in a campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Pepsi Refresh. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

I wanted to get the word out before I get so busy with Christmas, coming up.
A world-famous and award-winning celebrity photographer, Me Ra Koh, takes incredible pride in empowering women. Me Ra has been featured Oprah, VH1′s Fabulous Weddings and Martha Stewart TV shows. She also created the SOAR! Scholarship which recently begun (Dec 1st). This Scholarship breathes hope and encouragement into people around the nation. It allows three women to have their photography dreams come true by helping them build their own photography business. Isn’t that great? The three scholarship winners will receive camera equipment from SONY, software from Adobe, ShootQ, and SHOWIT. Also, SmugMug will design websites and blogs for those winners. Wow. In addition to all that (as if it wasn’t enough) the three women will receive mentoring from Me Ra and other industry leaders on launching a successful photography business. How awesome is that?

In the 12 months following the announcement (of the winners), each will document their journey through photos, blog posts, videos, etc. All of these wonderful tools and advice provide three deserving women the opportunity to pursue and achieve their photography dreams! Seein’ how I host a weekly PhotoHunt, I thought this may be of interest to many of you. This wonderful program can empower and enlighten young women throughout our nation. Giving young women hope and encouragement allows them to thrive emotionally and physically.

Each SOAR! Scholarship applicant must complete a brief online application (requires personal & family info), a summary of what makes photography your passion and your time and travel commitments. Applicants must also submit a two-minute video explaining why they are worthy of receiving the SOAR! Scholarship. The entire application process proves fast and easy, and all information and FAQs can be found within the SOAR! Scholarship website. Hope someone benefits from this

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of the SOAR! Scholarship and Me Ra Koh Photography. In addition, I received an Amazon gift certificate to thank me for taking the time to participate