Kleenex Helps #SharetheSoft with Vudu this Winter

Momma Told Me: A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down...

When I was just a little girl my mother would dote over me most when I was sick. It stands out in my mind most, perhaps, because those who know Momma from anecdotes hereon the blog know she could be a little rough around the edges. That is to say that Momma was not the one to express affection with mother-daughter doodles of unicorns and rainbows. She didn't encourage excess hugging, and, for the most part, was not one to allow unnecessary tears. Momma was tough, but I never felt I lacked love- especially when those dog days of flu season would roll around. I don't suspect I will ever find another to make me feel so loved, so cared for, when I am down. We had a ritual I picked up from a very young age; when I was sick, Momma would go out of her way to put a smile on my face. It stands contrary to reason that someone who is ill should consume an excess amount of sugar, yet flu after cold, I was treated to a Red Blue Icee and craft store grab bag. The theory being that, while I may not be feeling 100%, Momma's fears would be at ease so long as her baby still had enough spirit to sip frozen sugar syrup and chew bubblegum cigars.

With a weakened immune system, Momma was ill more than not following her battle with cancer, myself circa age 4. I remember feeling so bad for Momma that I would often grab any Kleenex box within reach and mope about the house, feigning illness myself. Not to mock her, of course, but because I didn't wish to feel bright and cheery is she didn't. We spent countless afternoons of my childhood huddled under blankets, in our pajamas, plucking pillowed tissues from those floral print Kleenex boxes. We trusted Kleenex for everything from allergies to Fudgecicle mustaches and sticky fingers, and we'd never hesitate to #ShareTheSoft. As an adult I keep plenty of boxes of Kleenex on hand; one in every room. I dare say I might just be addicted to Kleenex Hand Towels, for their convenience by the bed and in a messy pinch. I keep Kleenex mini packs in my purse, and always preach proper hygiene with noses blown and wipes; especially during the Winter season. Nothing illustrates this more than with 10 year old Sabrina, whom we watch after school M-F.

When Sabrina's mom found herself short on vacation days, and opening her home to unexpected guests, we were quick to open our home for childcare during Winter Break. Seeing how stretched then she was, and listening to the tell-tale sniffles from young Sabrina, I knew I could trust Kleenex to help save the holidays. During a last minute trip to our local Walmart, just 4 days before Christmas, I happened along the tissue aisle. I won't lie; it was ravaged. Thankfully, Walmart stocks plenty of Kleenex brand products, and still had several packages and sizes to choose from. We were even lucky enough to snag the limited edition Kleenex #SharetheSoft bundles with a complimentary $4 Vudu streaming credit! These specially marked 4 pack bundles of Kleenex have all the toughness of Kleened with Lotion, and a special peel away including an easy redeem Vudu Movie Streaming code. I was so inspired I knew I had to grab 2, one for us, and one to toss into a Winter 'Get Well- Stay Well' gift bundle for Sabrina's mom. I may not be a mother yet, myself, but I certainly remember how tough it was for Momma to remember to take care of herself during the busy holiday season.

While I was at Walmart I decided to pick up a few Winter wellness essentials; some key ingredients to staying healthy, and getting healthy (should that Winter flu bug find a way in). I picked up a wonderful plastic basket that could double as my gift basket and a tissue catcher by the bed, of couch. We always need extra tissue designated trash bins when we get the sniffles here! Then I filled the basket with plenty of Kleenex staples like grab and go Slim Packs, and Kleenex with Lotion cubes. Walmart had plenty of Rollback prices on cold/flu medication and preventative care such as Airborne effervescent packets. I was sure to stock the basket with antibacterial aids such as Dial Foaming Hand Wash, in adorable holiday wrappers, and a mini Purell hand sanitizer for on the go. On my way back from picking up some Halls with vitamins drops in the fully stocked Pharmacy department, I spied the Grocery section of our local Walmart. I knew I had to pick up some of Sabrina's favorite ice cream fixins for our lazy day the following afternoon.

Sure enough, when Sabrina's mother dropped her off, on her way into the office at 7 am, the following morning, she looked worn and tired. Sabrina was sniffling, and Momma was praying neither would fall sick. Even though she was in a hurry, I was sure to present the Kleenex gift basket I'd specially assembled to get her through the flu season. It was hard not to smile when seeing someone get as equally excited as I about health maintenance products! I was sure to point out the Vudu promotional code, so her and her daughter could snuggle on a sniffly day in the future. Once Momma was off, tiny penguin (as Brina's known here) and I turned the heater up and got comfy around the TV. We'd recently rearranged our living room, replacing a storage ottoman with a kid-friendly memory foam sack known as a Xorbee. Needless to say, this became a makeshift bed for Sabrina and Nora through the afternoon.

Despite my best efforts of warmth and comfort morale was lacking by 1PM, as the sniffles began to resume. I was quick to toss Sabrina her own box of Kleenex (by the way, what is it about having your very own box off tissue that rocks so much as a kid?) Just having the softness nearby was instantly soothing. I also shared my little secret about the Vudu code. Redeeming the $4 credit was extremely simply, we logged directly into the Walmart.com/kleenex portal, which linked us directly to the Vudu redemption page. Once we had entered our code we could link it to an existing account, or create a new one. Our household runs on digital streaming and subscription services, such as Vudu, and we already had the channel ready to go on our Roku box. The availability of content on Vudu was almost overwhelming, though entirely easy to browse. We could instantly stream movie previews, view community reviews, or browse similar titles for selected films. The $4 credit covered just about any title in SD stream, for a day pas rental. Sabrina immediately knew she wanted to watch the just released Ice Age 4: Continental Drift.

With our Kleenex at side and Vudu code redeemed, there was only the matter of ice cream sundaes to fix. Each of us got to build our own toothache ice cream feast. There was plenty of Breyer's Golden Oreo, Keebler Oreo Crumbles, Banana Split Sprinkles, and Heath Hard Shell topper, thanks to our stock-up at Walmart. Sugar was just what this doctor ordered, livening the party and bringing big laughs alongside the Vudu film. Of course, after an afternoon of sniffles with Kleenex, Sabrina soon allowed herself a nap. Who wouldn't fall asleep with so much goodness? Thanks to Kleenex and Vudu I was able to successfully #SharetheSoft and help mother and daughter indulge in a lazy day this holiday season. View our entire Kleenex with Vudu experience in our Google+ album; get a sneak peek at our trip to Walmart and from basket to sundae! Do you have special traditions to get through the Flu Season blues? A special Kleenex memory?

What Daughter Says: For what sugar won't cure, Kleenex will soften. We love all that Kleenex does to help us #SharetheSoft.

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Kleenex® Brand Tissues  #CBias #SocialFabric.