Sammy Makes Six

Salmon & Veggie Foil Packs

2019-09-16T08:08:00.002-07:00

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ChooseMazola #CollectiveBias

September is National Cholesterol Awareness month, and as caretaker of my mom, high cholesterol is something we struggle with every single day. My mom is now 83 years old, but she still loves to eat the way she did when she was much younger, much more active, and less sick. As her caretaker, it can be hard to ensure that she's still eating foods than she can enjoy, while making sure that she's keeping her cholesterol levels down. A clinical study showed Mazola® Corn Oil reduces cholesterol 2x more than extra virgin olive oil. To learn more about this claim, see Mazola.com.

One thing she hasn't had to give up, though, is her favorite corn oil. This is the corn oil that I grew up seeing in our kitchen. It's the corn oil that helped her make all of her amazing dishes throughout the years, and now Mazola Corn Oil also helps her keep her cholesterol levels down. Mazola Corn Oil is an all-purpose, cholesterol free cooking oil that is a smart heart-healthy* choice for your family. *See http://cbi.as/a3bgw for more information on the relationship between corn oil and heart health.

Today, I'm sharing one of the dishes that she enjoys the most, Butter Garlic Salmon with a side of buttery mashed potatoes, with three tweaks that make it lighter and better-for-her. I will skip using all butter in the recipe and instead use Mazola Corn Oil. I will replace the mashed potatoes with veggies and will also replace salt with garlic, pepper and parsley.

It's hard to imagine a grownup of my mom's age not enjoying veggies, but it's actually true. My mom spent her life eating meat and potatoes but very rarely included vegetables or salads in her meals. So now that she is older, getting her to enjoy them has been like teaching a kid to eat veggies. But in this recipe, the veggies are as much a star as the salmon, and I find that she eats her entire portion with very little complaint.

Salmon & Veggie Foil Packs
(serves 2)

2 salmon filets (6-8 ounces)
1 yellow squash sliced
1 zucchini sliced
1 bunch asparagus chopped
2 garlic cloves minced
1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tbsp Mazola Corn Oil

DIRECTIONS:

1. Season (with pepper) both sides of the salmon and place it in the middle of a square of aluminum foil.

2. Add squash, zucchini slices, asparagus and chopped parsley around the salmon, keeping things in the center of the foil.

3. Drizzle corn oil, which I've had sitting with the minced garlic in a little bowl, over the fish and veggies.

4. Fold the edges of each packet and place into preheated oven at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

5. Carefully open packets and serve hot - you can top with a little bit more fresh parsley if so desired.

Not only is this recipe on the easier side to make, all you really have to do is chop your veggies. It's also cholesterol-free and better for my mom. Mazola Corn Oil has more cholesterol-blocking plant sterols than other cooking oils – four times more than extra virgin olive oil and one and a half times more than canola oil.

Plus, it's really delicious and a nice way to celebrate such a beautiful piece of salmon. The simplicity of the ingredients just lets all of its delicious flavor shine through.

When dealing with my mom's growing health issues: heart disease, high cholesterol, etc., it's been hard to get her to make those much needed changes to her diet. But I like that Mazola Corn Oil is such an easy swap for things like butter or lard (which she loved to cook with). Plus, it has such a variety of uses including baking, grilling, sautéing, stir frying, or mixing up a marinades and dressings.

This National Cholesterol Awareness month and every other month of the year, Mazola is our partner in the kitchen. How about you, what better-for-you changes have you made in the kitchen?

5 Must-Haves for the Busy Woman

2019-06-10T15:05:00.002-07:00

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SunbeamTargetedHeat #CollectiveBias

It's officially the first week of summer vacation and while most people might think that a moms job gets easier in the summer, they are actually pretty off the mark. If your life is like mine, summer can be even more hectic than when the kids are in school - because you still have all your daily responsibilites, and also a houseful of kids that need watching and entertaining. So how do I keep it together even when my to-do-list looks longer than the hours in the day?

I plan ahead, I make sure that I have my essentials with me at all times and I self-care at the end of those really tough days when everything aches, especially my back.

5 Must-Have's For The Busy Woman

A bag that can hold it all: The first thing that any busy woman needs, whether you're a mom or not, is a great tote bag with enough space to hold your life in. I love bags with plenty of pockets, space for my laptop, phone, reading tablet and with a great design.

Who says tote bags have to be ugly? These days it's so easy to find a tote bag that fits your personal style. I loved this black canvas tote from the minute I laid eyes on it and especially like that no matter what I stuff into it, it still looks cool.

A mobile office: Being able to take my office with me has always been one of the perks of working from home. As long as I have my laptop, camera and phone with me, I can work from almost anywhere, including and especially my car, where I spend most of my time.

A daily makeup edit: I've always found that one of the things that makes the biggest difference in how I feel on any given day is if I had time to put myself together, and because there are days that I am out the door super early, I do not always have time to apply makeup. On those days I grab my to-go cosmetics bag that contains all the products I need for a quick 10-minute face.

That way I can put my face on while I have a few minutes in the car and feel a million times more confident than I did with a bare face. Not saying you need a full face of makeup to feel confident, sometimes all I do is mascara and a red lip, and even those two things alone make a world of difference.

Comfy shoes: You will never catch me in a pair of heels these days, I gave up heels after a lifetime of working in heels while killing my feet and back, but I will step out in wedges on those days that call for a meeting or something more than my normal routine. And on those days I will always tuck my comfiest pair of shoes in my bag to change into as soon as I can.

Sunbeam® Renue® Contoured Back Heating Pad: A new addition to my tote bag but one that has become an immediate must-have is this new Sunbeam® Renue® Heating Pad - which you can purchase at Walmart. If you suffer from back pain then you know how painful and hard it is to deal with it, especially when you're constantly on the go. For most women, there is no such thing as a day off.

I've spent a lot of my working life on my feet and in high heeled shoes, and for the past 9 years I've spent a lot of time sitting in a desk chair and car without much movement throughout the day, making back pain a real thing for me. That's why I now carry my Sunbeam® Renue® Heating Pad with me because I can pop it on if I stop by my moms during the day, or in a pinch I can even use it in my car since I do have an outlet.

The Sunbeam® Renue® Contoured Back Heating Pad provides targeted heat therapy that is clinically proven to relieve pain associated with muscle tension and stress. The pad’s contoured design is shaped specifically to fit the #1 area of pain for heating pad users, the lower back. The integrated waist strap helps keep the pad in place for hands-free, high-level heat therapy.

Sunbeam® Renue® Contoured Back Heating Pad Features:

Additional Extender Waist Strap attached, stretches up to 85 inches
4 heat settings—low to high-level heat plus 2 hour auto-shut off.
Entire pad is machine washable for easy care.
Soft, Micromink fabric for added comfort.

Thirty minutes (or longer) at the end of the day with this heating pad on my back and I feel like a brand new woman. It's been such a great day to aliviate back pain without having to take extra pain relievers.

I'm too busy to let back pain hold me back from living my life and getting things done, I am super stoked for the addition of the Sunbeam® Renue® Contoured Back Heating Pad in my life. With my tote bag, mobile office and heating pad in-hand, I am ready for whatever summer may bring. #NewellHomeRefresh

We Took the Purina ONE® 28-Day Challenge

2019-02-22T08:16:00.001-08:00

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PurinaONEVisibleDifferences #CollectiveBias

Take your pet from “good” to “great”! With Purina ONE®, you could see visible differences in just 28 days—like strong teeth, vibrant energy, sparkling eyes, and a radiant coat. Make the switch today and save on Purina ONE® when you register for the 28-Day Challenge at www.walmart.com/purinaone. What differences will you see? Visit your local Walmart to redeem your offer and realize your pet’s potential*.

*Save on ONE (1) 2.8-lb. or larger bag of Purina ONE® SmartBlend® Dry Dog Food, any variety, or 2.8-lb. or larger bag of Purina ONE® Dry Cat Food, any variety. While supplies last.

Our cats are a big part of the family and as they have gone from kittens to adults it's been important that we care for their health more than ever. It's definitely been a pleasure to watch these guys go from these furry bear looking kittens to these now long and black, panther-like cats.

Aqua, the only male cat of the three, is especially susceptible to urinary tract problems so I was really interested in taking the Purina ONE 28-Day Challenge with him. We started the challenge by visiting our local Walmart and picking up a bag of Purina ONE® Urinary Tract Health for him. Crafted in Purina-owned facilities in the USA and with no poultry by-product meal, artificial colors flavors or preservatives, I was excited to see how he would take to this new food.

As you probably already know if you own any cats, when switching them to a new food it is always best to slowly introduce the new food, mixed it in with the old one. We did that for the first few days and then he was off on his own with the Purina ONE® Urinary Tract Health.

Not once was there a complaint of unhappiness or crying for his old food, he has in fact really enjoyed the flavor of this new food. Every time he heard the rustling of the bag and his name called, you could see his excitement for meal time and his new food.

The purposeful nutrition in every bag of Purina ONE helps support healthy energy in cats and by day 7 you could definitely see a more playful side of Aqua. He's not the most playful of cats but there's been a giddier side to him this past week. He's even had a few runs in the yard with his siblings on the days it hasn't rained.

Purina ONE dry formulas are highly digestable and promote high nutrient absorption, so more nutrition goes to work inside your cat. More nutrition into this guys belly has meant a happier and more energy-filled cat.

But definitely one of the more visible differences in Aqua is how healthy his coat is. You can actually see a difference is how thick it is too, which is really nice because we love a good black coat for snuggling and keeping him warm on these really cold days.

Purina ONE provides him with omega-6 fatty acid, vitamins & minerals in every bowl, which have lead to a beautiful coat and clear eyes. Crunchy kibble and calcium in every Purina ONE formula helps support strong, healthy teeth and gums, something else that is so important for raising healthy cats.

But of course the most important thing that we look for when choosing a food for any of our cats how it can support and promote their health. Purina PRO brings together the delicious flavor that our cat can enjoy, and because it's filled with all of the essential nutrients his body needs, he will lead a better life overall.

We took the Purina ONE® 28-Day Challenge with our cat and are very happy with the results. It's so easy for you to take the challenge too, it's as easy as making the switch to one of the many Purina ONE foods available. Register for the 28-Day Challenge at www.walmart.com/purinaone.

Keeping the Kids Busy When You're Sick

2019-02-20T11:22:00.000-08:00

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., Abreva, Emergen-C, Lipton, Robitussin and Theraflu. All opinions are mine alone. #SickDayTips #CollectiveBias

Life doesn't stop just because you're sick and when you have kids it can get hard to find time to take care of yourself while having to keep the children busy and entertained as well. Today I am going to share some of the ways that I keep my kiddos busy and happy so that I can get a little bit of downtime.

I am also going to share some of the products that I purchase at Ralphs to support my overall wellness.

I have been susceptible to cold sores ever since I can remember and Abreva® Pump Cold Sore and Fever Blister Treatment has been my go-to since it first launched some years ago. I've never fully understood the cause of a cold sore but I know that I am especially likely to get one during the colder months. Between the mixture of really low temps and having to run the heater indoor, I will usually get a few cold sores each winter.

If you've ever had a cold sore you know how uncomfortable the itch, pain and swelling can be. So even though I used to think Abreva® was on the pricey side, it's always been worth every single little penny and I am never without an open tube.

Purchase all of the above products at your local Ralphs store, where I stock up on mine.

And now that we have our wellness products at-the-ready, it’s time to get the kiddos busy with fun things to do so they can allow us a little bit of sick time to rest.

Encourage creativity: As a child I loved nothing more than a coloring book, a notebook and some crayons. Now as a mom and grandmother, I love to encourage these kiddos to get creative too. We have a container filled with everything they will need to get those creative juices flowing; they can do everything from color a page from a coloring book to publish their own newspaper, using our printer, blank paper and staples.

By luck my youngest is super creative and she also encourages the younger kids to get into the fun of creating even if it’s just getting the boys to color.

Reading time: There is nothing more joyful than a house full of kids where there is not a sound because all of the kids are busy reading. Reading is another habit that is highly encouraged in our household even if it means having to buy all of the latest books. And there is no better companion on sick day than a good book

Girl time: My daughter Sam is now 13 and so is my grandaughter ( I know, highly strange) and they are the best of friends. Since Sammy’s sisters were so much older than her when she was born she didn’t get a chance to do all those things most girl siblings do with each other but she didn’t actually miss anything because she has her niece, Darlene.

A perfect busy time activity for them when I am not feeling well and getting some rest is girl time activities, like doing their nails and even masking. Yes, thirteen year olds now mask! Sam was actually gifted a set of masks for the holidays and now these girls are practically full-grown teens doing their skincare and nails.

Board game action: While my oldest girls call board games “bored games”, these kiddos are super into them, which is so much fun. They will literally spend hours going through all of their board games, laughing and having a ton of fun with the little boys.

Technology hour: And of course we can’t forget to give the kids a little bit of tech time. Our kiddos love their tablets and iPods as much as other kids but because they also love to do so many other things, they only get an hour of tech time per day. Which is perfect for a little bit of bro on bro racing.

Overall we’ve got some pretty good kids and none of them are babies anymore, so for me it’s not overly hard to keep them busy while I take a sick day, I know it’s much harder when you have small ones. But I hope my tips along with product recommendations can help you stay well this cold and flu season. Find more inspiration and sick day tips at the social hub to help you stay feeling your best.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent disease.

Theraflu-(c) 2019 the GSK group of companies or its licensor. Theraflu is for use in adults 12 years and older.Use all products only as directed. Read label and follow directions. Abreva, Emergen-C, Robitussin - Use only as directed. Read label and follow directions.

What We Look for When Choosing Medicare Coverage for Mom

2019-01-28T09:46:00.002-08:00

My mom is 82 years old and as she gets older, her health insurance coverage becomes even more important. Today, I have partnered with Anthem Blue Cross to talk about finding the right Medicare Advantage plan for my mom and what we look for when doing so.

With prescriptions, visits to specialists and her regular doctor appointments, it's important that we find a plan that fits my mom’s budget. As is the case with many seniors, my mom lives on a very limited income. But while cost is very important when picking the right coverage for her, it's not the only thing we look at.

These are just some of the things we look for when choosing a new Medicare Advantage plan for my mom:

Premium costs
Prescription drug coverage
Out-of-pocket costs
Access to doctors, specialists, and hospitals in the area that treat her specific needs
Co-pays for: doctor visits, prescriptions, and hospital stays
Other support and wellness services

Even though my mom lives with us and has family around her, our entire household goes to school and work for most of the day. That means that my mom can get lonely and restless without having much to do other than cook, clean (she is an avid cleaner who will clean her room daily) and watch tv. We don’t have other family living close by, so it is rare for her to have any visitors. I can see how needy she is for conversation and something to keep her active and busy. And - I can see the importance of giving her brain something to do other than watch television.

But other than me taking a day off of work to take her to her doctors and grocery shop, her weekdays can get pretty lonely. Access to an adult day center that includes transportation to and from is definitely something that would benefit her quality of life and is something that I would love to have access to for her.

Access to the right doctors, specialists, and hospitals is also a top priority for us when picking a Medicare Advantage plan, especially because we live in a small town with limited choices. That has actually been one of the biggest struggles for us since coming to live in this area: finding doctors who can deal with her specific needs. Just like parents of young children like to find the perfect pediatrician for their little one, we strive to find my mom the right doctor to deal with her many health issues.

And of course, we can't forget about costs when picking a Medicare Advantage plan for mom. There are actually so many that it can be confusing and overwhelming to sort through them: premium costs, doctor visit copays, prescription co-pays, and other miscellaneous out-of-pocket costs.

We look at all those numbers, especially the copays which can sometimes outweigh the premium costs. Those are the everyday costs that will add up the most and we need to keep them as low as possible.

Anthem Blue Cross is committed to offering Medicare Advantage plans that provide high-quality care to seniors while also addressing other social and support needs that can impact good health, which is important. In 2019, Anthem and its affiliated plans, like Anthem Blue Cross, are offering a new package of benefits that provides wellness services! Included are healthy food delivery, health-related transportation services, adult day center visits to help reduce loneliness, personal home helpers to help with daily activities at home and even pain management.

Getting my mom to eat a healthier diet is definitely a struggle for us. She still cooks the majority of her meals and forgets about all of her health issues when doing so. Healthy food delivery is something that would definitely improve her health, even if she still cooked most of her meals. But she definitely needs an influx of healthier options every now and again, and food delivery would allow her to rest more. This is something I will definitely be looking into closely for my mom.

Anthem Blue Cross knows that one of the best ways to help people live healthier is to lower barriers and make it easier for individuals to access items that address everyday health needs. Giving people the option of services, such as delivered meals or time at an adult day center may make it easier for them to better manage chronic conditions, engage more with their community, or avoid preventable health-related incidents.

I think a lot of us tend to forget about taking advantage of all the things our insurance plans offer, I know that I do that with myself. I only go to the doctor when absolutely necessary and forget to find out what else my plan can do for me. But I try to be better about it when it comes to my mom and will, from now on, focus on it even more.

If you’re currently caring for an older parent or other loved one, like I am, services like health-related transportation, healthy meal deliveries and access to an adult center are definite strong points when choosing a plan for them. I don’t usually get excited when it’s time to once again delve into Medicare Advantage Plans with mom, but knowing about the additional benefits offered by Anthem Blue Cross, has me excited for the future.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Anthem Blue Cross, however all opinions are my own.

Feeling Fresh & Confident This Holiday Season

2018-12-24T09:57:00.000-08:00

This post is sponsored by Summer’s Eve®, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love the holiday season even though it tends to make me something of a crazy woman, it's just such a busy time of the year! Already my schedule is pretty busy: caring for 7 pets, driving kids back-and-forth, keeping an eye on my mom’s medications and doctor visits plus trying to keep my business going so we can have a roof over our heads. Once the holidays arrive, I also have to add Santa's helper to the list as well as holiday events planner, meaning that I have to plan as many holiday events and experiences into my families already bulging schedule.

But that's exactly what makes the holidays memorable, all those moments when I can look over at my kids and see the happiness that each effort has delivered. It might have taken a two-hour drive and 5 bathroom stops to get to our favorite LA spot, but seeing the smiles in their eyes as they spot the enormous Christmas tree we visit each year makes it all worthwhile.

And - because my December is super busy, the last thing that I have time to worry about is staying fresh through the many hours and activities in a day. With Summer’s Eve® Cleansing Wash and Cleansing Cloths as part of my routine, I know that I can start my morning on a fresh note that will last until I close my eyes each and every single night.

As the trusted leader in feminine care, Summer’s Eve® is known for developing personal care products that are gynecologist and dermatologist-tested for safety and help women feel fresh every day. Summer’s Eve® Cleansing Wash always has a spot in my shower and it’s a product that’s passed on through the generations.

Why Summer’s Eve® Cleansing Wash? As women, our bodies tend to experience not so fresh moments.. It could be that it’s that time of the month, or maybe you hit that gym hard and sweat yourself crazy each day, or maybe you’re just chasing six kids in a mall full of shoppers, all those things can lead to a less than fresh feeling.

The external vaginal area has a large concentration of sweat glands of anywhere on the body. So, it's nothing to be embarrassed about, especially when we can easily remedy the situation. Using regular soap in this sensitive area and that can throw off the pH balance, leave residue and cause irritations. Summer’s Eve® Cleansing Wash is safe and gentle wash that caters to one of your body’s most-sensitive areas and helps rinse away odor-causing bacteria. It is specifically designed for the external vaginal area to remove odor-causing bacteria while providing gentle cleansing and freshening.

But of course those moments of needing extra refreshment don't just come when we're at home close to a shower, a lot of those moments come when we're busy living life. That's where the convenience of Summer’s Eve® Cleansing Cloths comes in. It's like having the Cleansing Wash with you every step of your long day and because they are super-discreet, you can pop into a restroom and take care of any emergency freshening, pronto.

Again, this is another product that I always have in my bag to share with my girls are we are out and about. These Cloths are especially wonderful during period time, as they offer a super quick refreshment at that time of the month. Summer’s Eve® Cleansing Cloths provide an easy and discreet way to feel confidently fresh. The cloths are lightly fragranced and quickly wipe away odor-causing bacteria – whenever, wherever.

Summer’s Eve® Cleansing Wash and Cleansing Wipes are a must-have during this incredibly busy holiday season, when I really need to feel fresh and confident. With a bottle of the Cleansing Wash in my shower, Cleansing Cloths in my bag, or both when I am traveling, I know that my personal freshness is covered. After-all , who has time to worry about smelling bad or feeling icky? Not me!

Less Cooking & More Eating This Holiday Season

2018-12-19T13:26:00.006-08:00

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CelebraConNestle #CollectiveBias

As the holiday season pushes on I am ever grateful for my local Walmart and the fact that I live only blocks away from it. It's so convenient for me year-round but especially during the super-busy holiday season. So whether I am running late and have nothing to make for dinner, or we have a holiday event like a get together, posada or Dia de Los Reyes gathering, I know I can run in and grab what I need to get the crew feed, fast and easy.

One of our favorites, that always happens to live in our freezer is STOUFFER'S® Party Size Lasagna. This has seriously been a favorite of ours for years and it's a great option for those busy nights during the holiday season when I would rather be enjoying time with loved ones instead of cooking. Find STOUFFER'S® Party Size Lasagna in the freezer aisle at Walmart.

This party sized lasagna is delicious, and the best part is that it's ready to go, just throw it in the oven. While it's cooking you can prepare a salad, some garlic bread, or a yummy Mexican fruit salad that I am sharing below.

This is one of my favorite recipes ever: it's a great way to incorporate fruit into a meal, it's sinfully delicious and it allows me to bring a little piece of my heritage to the dinner table. Bionicos originated in Guadalajara, Mexico, where I lived as a child and where my family continues to live in Mexico.

Bionico (serves 4-6)
2-3 diced pears
2-3 diced apples
2 diced oranges
2 diced kiwis
1/2 cup of shredded coconut
1/2 cup of granola
1/4 cup of raisins
1/2 can of La Lechera Sweetened Condensed Milk

For this recipe I will use whatever fruits I find on sale at Walmart that week - there is usually quite a nice selection to pick from. Other fruits that are perfect in a bionico are: grapes, bananas, melon, watermelon, papaya, etc. Really, it's any fruit that is either in season, ripe or on sale.

All you have to do is wash and cut all of your selections and place into a large container.

If your kids have a favorite fruit, make sure to add some in! My granddaughter loves kiwis.

Once you have placed all of the diced fruit into a bowl/container, it's time to drizzle in the sweet condensed milk. I will use about 1/3 to 1/2 of a can, depending on how much fruit we have. I add enough to add some sweetness to the fruit but not completely overwhelm their flavors.

Plate into individual bowls.

And top generously with shredded coconut, granola and raisins.

Again, this recipe is super easy to personalize to your taste. If you would like to add walnuts, sliced almonds, even a drizzle of honey, you can!

I feel like the only thing we were missing were bananas but I didn't find any ripe ones, or else I would have added 2-3. We love bananas!

And, we are done. We now have a yummy Bionico to follow up the very filling and delicious STOUFFER'S® Lasagna. A perfect way to enjoy a desert that is sweet but not overly rich and full of everyone's favorite fruits.

For a healthier version of this dish I recommend replacing the sweetened condensed milk with greek yogurt and adding honey. It'll be just as delicious but you'll save yourself a lot of calories.

With STOUFFER'S® Party Size Lasagna I know that I can get a dish on the table that my family loves, without having to stress about being in the kitchen for hours. Instead, I open up a box of the lasagna, and during that hour and forty minutes that its cooking, I can prepare dessert, cook another side dish or simply spend it watching a holiday movie with my family.

STOUFFER'S® Party Size Lasagna helps me keep the holiday smiles coming without me having to spend hours and hours cooking. I recommend keeping it in mind for all of your upcoming posadas, family dinners and other holiday events. Find more STOUFFER'S® recipe inspirations HERE to get you through the holiday season and more.

Day Tripping to Palm Springs

2018-12-14T08:48:00.001-08:00

This post is sponsored by Palm Springs but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

We've been living in the Inland Empire for over 8 years and had never visited Palm Springs before, even though we are only about 40 minutes away. But when recently we got to pay a visit as part of a collaboration with Visit Palm Springs, we had to jump at the chance. And even though we could have taken the entire family on this day trip - we decided to make a shopping day of it and leave all of the kids behind.

It's not often that we get to spend a kid-free day and Palm Springs is actually a perfect destination for a really relaxing and fun adults-only day. We will be returning soon with the whole brood but we're super stoked to have gone on our lonesome this first time around, it really gave us the opportunity to cover a lot more ground and find some places we definitely want to revisit. Here is just a quick look at a few of our favorites spots so far, with tons of photos!

The Corridor: a specialty shopping center full of great little shops and an open courtyard. You can grab a coffee at koffi and sit in the courtyard, taking a breather and just enjoying the beautiful open space. There's tons of seating available and I love that it's a pooch-friendly space!

We definitely recommend checking out koffi for a delicious coffee experience.

And then what had to be one of our favorite finds, Just Fabulous. This is a gift boutique that you will want to get lost in for hours, they just have so many things to look at and discover, I wanted some of everything.

Books, art, greeting cards, Palm Springs mementos, you name it they have it. This is one of those shops that you can turn to when looking for a gift for that hard to shop for person in your life. It's also a great place to find that perfect coffee table book that's missing in your living room.

And you must stop by if nothing else to check out all of the beautiful Christmas trees which are on display. There were so many fun colors, my favorite I think was the red which I couldn't get a photo of because the store was jam-packed. Plus, the ornaments are so fun!

The Corridor is going to be a must-have stop next time we're in Palm Springs, I highly suggest you mark it down for a visit on your next Palm Springs visit too.

Now for what had to be our favorite store: Palm Springs Vinyl Records & Collectables.

As fans of music and movies, we were so excited by this shop and by the selection. You can find everything from DVD's, tapes, records, movie prints and of course so many gift ideas.

With a few birthdays and the holidays right around the corner, we were able to find some more unique gifts that we would not have found had we not stopped in here. This is definitely another store that we highly suggest marking down for your next Palm Springs visit.

We'd read about The Galleria on the drive up and could not wait to check it out. This cluster of small shops is located on North Palm Canyon Drive and includes ten of the most charming small shops, perfect for finding all kinds of treasures: art, furnishings, etc.

The shop windows at The Galleria are just a treat for the senses.

This was my favorite piece, which can be found right in the middle of the central atrium at The Galleria. Unfortunately, she is way over my price range.

I've already started noting down museums and attractions we have to check out plus a lot more locally owned stores that we want to stop at on our next trip. If you take a trip down soon I highlight suggest making a note of some of the places we've shared in this post, plus the Palm Springs Walk of Stars and maybe a few restaurants. Plan your next Palm Springs trip by using this handy guide to help you hit all the right spots!

For the Holidays : Capirotada de Leche & Abuelitas Chocolate

2018-12-11T07:46:00.001-08:00

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NestleTraditionallyUnited #CollectiveBias

Today I am excited to share some of my favorite products, both essentials not just in my everyday pantry, but absolute must-haves for the holiday season. Of course I am talking about NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® Sweetened Condensed Milk and NESTLÉ® ABUELITA® Mexican Hot Chocolate - both of these products will bring even more joy to all of your holiday gatherings and they're also perfect for those days you're home just enjoying family.

Growing up in a Mexican household NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® Sweetened Condensed Milk was one of those products that I can remember always seeing in my moms kitchen. In fact, anytime that we saw a can of NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® we got really happy, because we knew that something really delicious was being planned. It could have been something as simple as pan tostado topped with NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® or maybe mom was going to do some baking with it, but whatever it was going to be, we knew that it would be delicious.

La Lechera strives to aid moms in the kitchen with quality, consistency and creativity that you can use to bring your family together. La Lechera is the perfect ingredient to help you pamper your loved ones with delicious desserts that fit your busy lifestyle. It's tradition and quality are guaranteed to create unforgettable family bonding moments.

And probably even more special to us is NESTLÉ® ABUELITA Mexican Hot Chocolate, which is literally happiness in a mug. This, this is our hot chocolate. We're not a hot cocoa type of fam, even though we do enjoy a cup here, but honestly anytime we are craving the warmth of a delicious cup of hot chocolate, NESTLÉ® ABUELITA it is. There is just nothing like it.

Find NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® Sweetened Condensed Milk and NESTLÉ® ABUELITA Mexican Hot Chocolate at your local Walmart.

Today I am going to share one of our favorite holiday dishes that pairs beautifully with Abuelita.

Capirotada de Leche (serves 4-6)
NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® Sweetened Condensed Milk: 1 can
NESTLÉ® Carnation Evaporated Milk: 2 cans
French bread loaf: 1
Vanilla: 2 tbsp
Cinnamon sticks: 2
Mozzarella: 1 cup sliced

Bananas: 3 slices

Raisins" 1/2 cup

Shredded coconut: 1/2 cup

Directions:
Slice french bread into 1/2 inch slices and butter on both sides. We prefer to toast them on a skillet but you can also put them in the oven for a few minutes. Set those aside while we prepare the sauce.

Pre-heat oven to 350°
In a saucepan combine NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® Sweetened Condensed Milk and NESTLÉ® Evaporated Milk, along with cinnamon sticks and vanilla. Allow this to simmer slowly while stirring frequently. Simmer until boiling with medium heat.

Now we will build our capirotada in a baking dish. Start by layering the bottom with the toasted French bread, then add a generous amount of sauce slowly, allowing a few minutes for the bread to really soak up as much of the sauce as possible. Now add a generous layer of bananas, cheese and raisins.

Once first layer is completed we will do the same thing again, layer french bread, soak generously with sauce, top with bananas, cheese raisins and shredded coconut. Take any remaining sauce and slowly top the entire dish.

Bake for 20 minutes covered with foil and an extra 10 minutes uncovered.

The really neat thing about capirotada is that you can personalize it to your liking. I have always preferred to add white cheese while others use yellow cheese. I just really love the taste of mozzarella with the sweetness of the sweet condensed milk and bananas. I don't add peanuts either but that's another ingredient that you will almost always find in this dish.

My suggestion is to play around with the dish and eventually you will come up with a version that is perfect for you and yours. We love this slightly toasted, less mushy version of capirotada made with milk instead of water.

And of course you can not forget to pair it with a delicious glass of NESTLÉ® ABUELITA!

Sweet perfection and a perfect holiday recipe.

This holiday season stop by your local Walmart to pick up some NESTLÉ® ABUELITA and NESTLÉ® LA LECHERA® Sweetened Condensed Milk for your holiday recipes, make it easy by using the Add To Cart option below!

POWER THEIR POSSIBILITIES

2018-11-07T11:49:00.001-08:00

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Purina. All opinions are mine alone. #FuelTheirPotential #CollectiveBias

Shop the post by clicking the photo below.

If there is one thing that makes me happy it would be being a cat mom, especially to our three black cats. Originally from a liter of four, these cats have been with us since they were born and it's been a pleasure to watch them grow up into these incredibly beautiful black cats, each with their own personality.

As they've grown their needs have changed and we've had to make changes to not just how we care for them but how we feed them too. In today's post I will be sharing how we power our cats possibilities by meeting their needs as they get older.

CHANGE YOUR CATS DIET ACCORDING TO THEIR NUTRITIONAL, HEALTH NEEDS

We've always stuck to the Purina brand but now that the cats are older they have run into digestive issues plus we've had to monitor their weight because they love to eat but no longer run around and burn as many calories as they used to. While we love to see them enjoy their food and eat to their hearts content, we don't want to have overweight cats. Just like humans, overweight cats are more susceptible to illnesses and disorders like diabetes and arthritis.

This is where making the change to Purina Pro Plan PRIME PLUS Chicken & Rice Formula Adult 7+ Dry Cat Food has come in. Prime Plus™ Cat food hits all the marks when it comes to meeting our cats personal needs:

With a proprietary blend proven to improve and extend the life of cats age 7 and older (Findings based on cats exclusively fed a complete diet with the proprietary blend vs. cats fed the complete and balanced diet alone.)

Backed by a 9-year study
It also improves digestive health, helps maintain lean body mass and it supports a strong immune system

Something else that is incredibly important is that the love to eat it. While these cats are not super picky eaters, we have run into a few foods that they do not like, at all. But from the very first time all three of them tried Purina Pro Plan PRIME PLUS Chicken & Rice Formula, they loved it.

Just like children, it does zero good to feed a cat a food that's good for them if they are not going to actually eat it, so the fact that they love this is fantastic. Yay for no added stress of having to force them to eat their meals. they love this stuff!

SHOP AT PETSMART FOR ALL YOUR PET NEEDS

PetSmart continues to be the #1 source for our cat shopping needs as they have everything we need for them. Here you can find everything from new bedding (something we change out every few months), collars (which they lose almost immediately) and other pet necessities like shampoo, flea/tick care, etc. PetSmart always has some sort of deal going so I shop for their needs as the deals come through and find I can save quite a bit of money.

Right now you can get a $10 PetSmart gift card when you spend $40 on Purina Pro Plan. (Make purchases from 10/15/18 –11/24/18. Upload receipt by 12/1/18.) *The Offer will be fulfilled within 8–10 weeks from the submission date. Learn more about this offer HERE.

GIVE YOUR CATS THEIR OWN PERSONAL SPACE

While cats will be pretty friendly with each other, for the most part, they still need their own personal space. Our three black cats are not the only cats in the family, about a year after getting them we have fostered and adopted other cats and that meant that they had to learn how to share their home.

It was definitely a challenge to mix a family of three with a family of five brand new kittens, but somehow we've managed it. And one of the main ways that we were successful is by making sure that they all have their own areas for those moments when they want to sleep or just want to be alone. Believe me, cats can be as moody as teenagers and they need a place that's just theirs.

TREAT THEM TO THEIR FAVORITE SNACK

Our family is big into snacking and so do our pets. Our cats love wet food so we always have some cans around to complement their dry food, or when they've been extra good they can get their own full can. Pro Plan® Prime Plus™ has several varieties of wet food you can purchase in variety packs to give your cats their favorite treat as often as you like.

GIVE THEM PLENTY OF LOVE & ATTENTION

Cats are not as needy as dogs but they still love to be paid attention to. Not all cats love to be held, but they do love a good scratch and they love to hang out in whatever room we have gathered in.

So we take a cue from them and either hold them or completely leave them alone. Out of our three only Blue has ever been a fan of being held, and even now that she's super big she still allows us to hold her just like when she was a kitten.

Having cats as part of my family is truly one of my greatest joys, I love my cats. It's been very special for us to watch them grow from these tiny bear looking kittens into these big panther-like cats, and I can't wait to see them live the rest of their lives out as best as possible.

Visit the Pro Plan® Prime Plus™ Hub to see how other pet parents are empowering their pets possibilities.

We Took the #PurinaONEDog #28DayChallenge

2018-11-05T10:22:00.001-08:00

Sponsored post by Mirum. All opinions are my own.

I'd be lying if I said I've always been a dog lover, before Rocky I never had a dog and had ZERO idea how to care for one. But about 4 years ago Rocky came into our life and since then we've been a dog family. We found Rocky as a stray who'd been living in an empty field by my daughters house, and though none of us were looking for a pet, there was no way that we could ignore the small white dog that was on the streets in over 110 degree heat. She was and continues to be a very skittish dog who made it very difficult to catch her. But after about 2 months of coaxing, leaving food our for her and the fact that she took a liking to my mom, we finally caught her.

She is older in age, the vet estimated she was 8-9 back when we found her, and she is in constant need of a vet. She is incredibly susceptible to dry ears, infections, and has had a few moments where I thought she might be leaving us, but like a champion she manages to get over it and continue on. As she is a very important part of the family we do our best to care for her and do right by her, and that includes giving her food that takes care of her nutritional needs, but that still falls under what we can afford.

As the years have passed Rocky isn't as energetic as she once was, she could literally sleep all day and because she loves to eat, was overweight. Gone were the days where she would get happy just from seeing us pick up her leash and the happiness from her eyes as we got to the park, her favorite place in the world. We missed that Rocky who could run around in the grass - her little ears perked up at the sounds and her little body running so fast you could barely see her.

That's why joining the #PurinaONEDog #28DayChallenge was actually pretty exciting for us, I really wanted to see if Purina ONE® would actually make a difference in our pup. Would Purina ONE® Lamb & Rice Formula actually make a discernible difference not just in Rocky's outward appearance, but in how she feels and her energy levels? We headed to Walmart with our $3 off Purina ONE® coupon and grabbed a bag of Purina ONE® SmartBlend Lamb & Rice Formula for her.

Purina ONE® SmartBlend Lamb & Rice Formula Dog Food

● Every ingredient has a purpose.

● Real meat is the #1 ingredient, delivering 100% nutrition with 0% fillers.

● Smart nutrition that’s inspired by nature and advanced by research.

● Crafted in Purina-owned USA facilities for unparalleled quality and safety.

We have kept a daily, one second diary of Rocky's progress throughout the challenge (press full screen to see the video larger) and as you can see, there is quite a visible difference in her well-being. As the days progress not only is she more energetic, she looks happier and perkier. By the middle of the challenge she is breaking away from the leash and wants to run around on her own to discover what all the smells and noises are.

You can even see a difference in how bright her eyes are and how happy she is to be out and about. We don't even have to drive to the park anymore because she is happy to walk back and forth to get there, something she's not always been a fan of.

While Purina ONE® will not turn back the hands of time and bring Rocky back her youth, the nutritious benefits in it have made a visible difference. In fact, changing her over to this food has made a difference for all of us because we are all getting in on the outdoor action, taking a short walk in the late morning and a longer walk each evening to the park.

We all feed our pets every single day but now I realize that what we put in that bowl really does make a difference. We've watched Rocky go from being a dog who loved to run around and who didn't ever want to leave the park into one who only wanted to go out to the yard for potty breaks. All these changes we attributed to her older age and declining health. But these past 28 days have shown us how amping up the nutrition levels in her food really does make an incredible difference.

Rocky is an integral part of our family and it's been a joy to see the visible changes Purina ONE® has made. Because Purina ONE® is part of the Purina family, it's still affordable and super accessible during one of our many Walmart trips. I love that giving her better nutrition isn't going to cost the moon and stars, and yet it's made such a difference.

You've seen the changes in our pup, now it's time for you to join the #PurinaONEDog #28DayChallenge with your dog or cat. More than a bowl of food, Purina ONE® is full nutrition to help fuel your pet’s full potential. Don't forget to grab the $3 off coupon for your first bag Purina ONE®!

Better Skin From the Inside Out?

2018-10-22T10:56:00.001-07:00

This is a sponsored post in partnership with PURENEW. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This July I turned 45 years old and while I don't feel like an "old lady" I can definitely see all the changes my face and skin have taken over the past 5 years. It's not just the overall sagging look of my skin that is super noticeable, it's the way that it's no longer as bright and clear as it used to be. There is a constant dull look to my skin that is only helped by adding multiple steps to my skincare regimen and there is a lot more texture and hyper-pigmentation than I've ever had before.

I don't feel old at the age of 45, by any means. I've actually found my 40's to be some of the best years I have ever had. I've finally come into my own when it comes to feeling confident in myself. But there are days that my skin betrays me and makes me look like I am older than my years. If you're near my age or past it, then you know how awful that feels. No, I don't want to turn back the hands of time and be in my 30's or even 20's again. But I would love to recuperate some of the old elasticity my skin used to have and really work to fight those wrinkles that are standing by ready to walk all over my face. I'd love to wake up to a bight complexion that isn't covered in dullness and new sun spots.

I've been hearing a lot about beauty supplements recently and would be lying if I said my interest wasn't piqued. After all, I do incorporate supplements into mine and my family's daily life. Could the addition of a dietary supplement geared to care for my skin, take my current skincare regimen up a notch, help it fight advanced signs of aging and give me better skin overall?

With that in mind I was very excited at the opportunity to try PURENEW supplements.

ABOUT PURENEW SUPPLEMENTS

Available in two versions to address specific age-related issues:

Essential Skin Clear for women in their 20's and 30's

Your 20s and 30s are the most critical time for optimizing your skin health – the way you care for it now will determine future skin quality. Essential Skin Clear is fundamental formulation for those age 20+ that rehydrates and promotes healthy, glowing skin, relieves clogged pores, and fights fine lines, dark spots and sensitive skin condition.

Professional Skin Clear for women 35+

In your 40s and 50s, expression lines and dark spots on your face become more visible due to cumulative sun exposure and free radicals. Professional Skin Clear is advanced skin care aimed at reducing wrinkles and promoting clear skin in women age 35+. The ingredients nourish your skin from the inside out, regenerating healthy skin cells and increasing collagen, boosting moisture and elasticity to reduce wrinkles, reducing formation of both visible and hidden age spots and brightening skin tone.

PURENEW supplements also help to promote hair growth and help strengthen both hair and nails, which is something I am already taking another supplement for. I am all about paring down and simplifying my routine, and being able to knock out a whole step/product means less time and money spent on my skincare.

PURENEW supplements are easy to incorporate into your daily life. You can pop a daily pack into your bag if you're heading out early or will be having breakfast out. It is suggested that you take 1 packet daily after meals so I love the ease of the daily pack.

After taking PURENEW for 10 days I do already see changes in my skin. It feels softer and seems to have acquired a brightness similar to the one I get from my Vitamin C serum (one of my favorite skincare products), and that's because Vitamin C is high on the ingredient deck of PURENEW Professional Skin Clear.

I'd love to see what changes my skin would make with continued use of this product, as it's hard to see real results in the small amount of time I have been taking them. But since I am already seeing an improvement in my skin health, I can only imagine that with more time the results would be pretty impressive.

I do realize that there is no such thing as a "magic pill" that will make my skin perfect on its own. Skin health is not something you can come by as if by magic, you do have to drink water, protect your skin from the sun and lead an overall healthier life to be able to reap healthy skin. But if a product like PURENEW Professional Skin Clear can boost my existent skin care regimen and maybe even cut out some products, then it's definitely something I would consider for the long-haul.

Get more information about PURENEW products by visiting their site online.

Please make sure to consult with your physician before starting any new dietary supplement, especially if you're a woman who is pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

My Tackle the Day Survival Kit

2018-10-17T11:49:00.000-07:00

I received compensation from Aleve to write this post. All opinions are entirely my own. #NeverBackDown #Aleve #CollectiveBias #advertisement

To say that life is busy, is an understatement. As you all know, or in case you're new to this blog: I am a mom, grandma, entrepreneur, mom of 6 pets, caretaker to my mother, and chauffeur to the whole family. My days start pretty early and can end as late as after midnight, especially when my days are so long that my work gets left behind. Hey, life wouldn't be life if I wasn't belting out a deadline on my computer in the middle of the night.

But like most women in this world, I can handle it. There might be days that I am a little worse for wear, those days that really knock one down, but for the most part I get up the next day ready to do it all over again.

One of my secrets for being able to tackle the day and survive intact is to carry everything I need with me. Today I am sharing what is in my current Tackle the Day Survival Kit (aka my bag).

As any smart mom or busy woman on-the-go, we all know the power of our purse, and the importance of making sure everything we'll need throughout the day is in it. I have another bag filled with my work essentials: laptop, mouse, chargers, etc. But in my handbag I carry everything else I will need:

My comfy new scarf because 5:00AM drop offs are so cold - this also makes a great pillow if I happen to pass out waiting for the kids to get out of school
My card holder with one credit card and pre-loaded coffee card

Snacks that won't make me get the jitters
My refillable water bottle - less waste and I can even add ice!

Aleve Back & Muscle Pain Tablets

I put my whole self into each day and I'm not going to let back and muscle pain sideline me. On those days when my back is killing me, I turn to Aleve Back & Muscle Pain.

Aleve Back & Muscle Pain offers all day pain relief so I can overcome my tough pain and put my whole self into each day. With a one-pill dose, Aleve helps me power through the day and allows me to live life without that awful backache pain that creeps into my life more and more as I get older.

Aleve Back & Muscle Pain is now available at Walmart. Only Aleve offers up to 12 hours of pain relief in just 1 pill*. All Day Strong, All Day long. *Among leading OTC brands, based on minimum labelled dosing. Use as Directed. For occasional sleeplessness associated with minor pain try Aleve PM.

I have noted down the rebate offer which is currently available for a $5 Walmart eGift Card and a super fun sweepstakes you can also take part in with your purchase.

To claim rebate: purchase two (2) Aleve products (80ct or larger) at any retailer between 9/15/18-10/31/18 on a single receipt, and text ALEVE to 555888 to receive submission instructions. Rebate: one (1) $5 Walmart eGift Card. Rebate offer valid 9/15/18-10/31/18, while supplies last. Limit one rebate per person. Allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. eGift Card subject to printed terms. Reply STOP to unsubscribe or HELP for help. 4 messages per month. Msg & Data rates may apply.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Sweepstakes starts on 9/15/18 and ends 10/31/18, Legal residents of the 50 US/DC 18+. Void where prohibited. See Official Rules https://neverbackdownrules.pgtb.me/6SMMd8. Visit https://neverbackdown.pgtb.me/GRxbhS to enter. Legal residents of 50 US/DC only, 18 years of age or older. Click the banner to visit the sweepstakes page.

Life is busy and each day is another test in perseverance and patience but I have zero complaints. I know that I am actually very lucky to be able to work from home so that I am able to be here for my kids, my grandchildren, my mom and all of our pets. I am: the prescription runner, the "I forgot my homework" dropper-offer (is that a word?) and I could not be happier about it. After all...my aches and pains are covered with Aleve Back & Muscle Pain and Aleve PM for those occasional nights that the pain interrupts my sleep.

Getting Ready for Game Day at Dollar General | Shrimp Tapas

2018-10-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MyDollarGeneralWin

We're excited for the arrival of football season, especially college football. While we no longer live in our home town, it's still the team that we root for every single year. This year we are looking forward cheering on our team, and having a lots of good times with friends and family as we sweat it out in front of the TV.

Nothing says game day like good food and drinks, and this college football season the family and I are stocking up at our local Dollar General for everything we will need for game day. I love how convenient having a Dollar General only two blocks from home is. It's so quick and easy to pop in for all our game day watching needs: paper towels, napkins, serve ware and of course Dr Pepper®.

We're a pretty large family so it's important to me that I can stock up for extra savings of Dr Pepper at Dollar General. Plus all the other Dollar General brand essentials we need are also super inexpensive, most only $1-$2. My budget definitely goes a long way by shopping there.

Dr Pepper is the perfect drink for watching college football because of its rich, indulgent, one of a kind flavor. It's super versatile when it comes to pairing it with sweet and savory dishes (my favorite), including the really simple appetizer I am sharing below.

SPICY SHRIMP TAPAS

Ingredients:

2lb clean pre-cooked shrimp

4 mangos diced

2 tablespoon oil

2 garlic cloves

2 tablespoon Sriracha sauce

salt and pepper to taste

Instructions: Prepare mango cubes. Then in a large skillet heat oil, adding garlic and stirring for a minute or less. Add shrimp, salt and pepper, stirring for another minute. Lastly, add Sriracha sauce and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Cooking time for the shrimp should be no more than 5 minutes total - unless you're working with raw shrimp.

Plate by inserting a shrimp and one cube of mango on a toothpick. Serve hot or cold and don't forget to add a cold glass of Dr Pepper.

And as easy as that I have a sweet & spicy appetizer that the family will enjoy and it didn't take me very long to prepare it.

This is exactly my kind of dish - something quick and easy yet super flavorful. I will leave the heavy tailgate-style cooking to the professionals (the guys).

Say “I Love You” to Your Cat

2018-09-19T13:22:00.002-07:00

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DineALaCat #CollectiveBias

Suddenly, after many years of not having any pets at all I have now become the mother of cats. It began with the first cat which was brought to me after the owner sent her to the pound. Being the softie that I am, I could not let this poor kitten go to a high-kill shelter. She was only the beginning of this new cat lady life - because soon after not only was I feeding the stray cats in the area, but I also took in a mom who was about to have her kittens.

Now I have a house full of cats and while it can be quite the chore to keep them all clean, fed and happy - it's also very rewarding. These cats, especially the kittens who were born here and only know this home and us, are more than just pets, they are family. These are just a few of the ways that we let them know we love them, even though there are so many of them and it can be hard!

PLAY TIME : Cats are very playful creatures and love a good toy. I like to pick up a few toys for them every time I visit PetSmart to buy them food. While we have run the gamut of toys, I find that they love little rolling balls and mice the most.

As cats get older and they are fixed they do tend to get on the lazy side, ours would just love to lounge about all day. That's why having a selection of toys to get them moving about is also important. They can literally spend hours upon hours rolling the little balls around, something they enjoy doing in the middle of the night.

CUDDLE TIME: Cats might seem like they don't need a whole lot of one-on-one attention but the more I get to know them the more I have learned that they actually love it. While a few of the kittens are pretty standoffish, a few of the others love a good cuddle session.

Long haired cats specifically need a lot of upkeep but it's easy enough to keep their fur in check with a daily brush session which turns into a scratching session.

SHOPPING AT PETSMART: I love it when I can find a one stop store that has everything I need and PetSmart is definitely the place to shop if you have pets. Here I can pick up everything from food to cat liter and not spend my time going from store to store.

Stock up on your cat’s soon-to-be favorites: When shopping at PetSmart I always make sure to add some extras for all the cats. There is nothing that your cat will enjoy more than Fancy Feast Filets, Broth and Appetizers. If you've not seen these before, they have them in the area where the cat treats are and are an amazing way to complement your cat's meals, in a really delicious way.

Fancy Feast® complements are not intended to be fed as a complete meal, these are small sides that can be served as an appetizer, as a snack in between regular meals, or as part of a meal.

Our cats favorites are: FANCY FEAST Broths Tuna Whitefish Shrimp Classic which we like to serve them before their dry food. Oh, they love this broth!! From the minute that they see us serving their little bowls with the broth they get so excited.

If your cats have a diet of all or mostly dry food, I highly suggest letting them try the FANCY FEAST Broths Tuna Whitefish Shrimp Classic. I guarantee you that your cat will know you love them when you feed them this yummy broth.

Their second favorite is the Purely Fancy Feast Filets Natural Tuna filets, talk about a treat! You can flake it on top of your cat’s dry food, break it into a tender treat, or even serve it whole. Each filet is substantial enough that it makes a great snack and they love them.

Purely Fancy Feast Filets Natural Tuna filets are perfect for delighting your cat at snack time, mealtime, anytime!

Our cats are family and even though there are so many of them, it's important that they all feel loved and wanted. They honestly don't require a whole lot other than a roof over their heads and food. But it's nice to be able to give them more, especially when it's as easy as adding Fancy Feast® gourmet complements to their meals and a little bit of one-on-one attention.

See how others are saying "I love you" to their cats HERE and score some cash back on your purchase of these products at PetSmart. IBOTTA OFFER: beginning on 9/5, earn cash back when you buy any two (2) Purely Fancy Feast® Filets, for a limited time.

Back to School Essentials at Dollar General

2018-09-18T09:47:00.001-07:00

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SparkleWithGain #ILoveGain #CollectiveBias

The back-to-school season is in full swing and today I am going to share how having a Dollar General so close to us has been super convenient. With a store just two blocks from our place, it's easy to pop in with the kids after class and grab all those essential must-have items that make back-to-school easier.

School Supplies: I feel like we've already purchased so many school supplies, yet the kids keep getting lists for items they need to take in to school. Luckily, Dollar General has a really great selection of school supplies, including items needed for school projects.

Laundry essentials: One of my favorite items to stock up on at Dollar General has to be laundry products. I use the Dollar General app and can always count on coupons for our favorite brand of laundry detergent. If you love Gain then you will be excited to learn that there is an EXCLUSIVE to Dollar General scent called Fresh Water Sparkle that smells so incredibly fresh and clean! Head to the Dollar General coupon page to get your own coupons by clicking the banner below!

I took advantage of the coupons and grabbed: NEW Gain Flings! Laundry Detergent Pacs in Fresh Water Sparkle scent, NEW Gain Fireworks In-Wash Scent Booster Beads in Fresh Water Sparkle scent along with Gain Liquid Laundry Detergent in Fresh Water Sparkle Scent.

With 4 kids in a uniform-only school we do a lot of laundry each week and nothing makes this chore less of a pain than having a range of good products to get it done. Having a complete Gain regimen at the ready, means we can get our almost daily load of wash in and out pronto and easy. Plus this Fresh Water Sparkle scent makes all of our clothes smell so good and I love knowing that the kids head out the door each day smelling so fresh and clean!

Laundry and storage solutions: Something else I find myself stocking up on a lot at Dollar General is laundry and storage solutions, especially since we have to keep the kids uniforms separate from their regular clothes. School mornings are super hectic so having their uniforms in one location just makes things simpler.

This trip we grabbed a new laundry basket, some cute hangers and a basket to catch all the single socks that come out of every load we do. Seriously, where do all these socks that are missing go?

As a Gain-enthusiast, it makes me so happy to get home with a new Gain scent to do some laundry.

Gain Flings! Laundry Detergent Pacs, Fresh Water Sparkle: Gain flings! laundry detergent pacs are packed with 50% more scent than Gain liquid laundry detergent. Always place the pac directly into the drum before your clothes and make sure to add extra pacs for larger loads.
Gain Fireworks In-Wash Scent Booster Beads, Fresh Water Sparkle: Gain Fireworks scent beads that give your clothes an extra boost of scent. The more scent beads you add, the more amazing your laundry smells. Just shake the scent beads directly into the drum of your washer before your clothes. BTW - these are the BOMB - they can give your clothes up to 12 weeks of freshness!

And don't forget to get the kids into the action on laundry day, my daughter actually really likes to help fold and hang their uniforms because everything just smells so good. Plus there is something so soothing about the scent of warm clothes straight from the dryer - it's so homey and comforting.

As you can see, Dollar General has been playing a major part in making the back-to-school transition easier for us. I'll definitely be making another trip next week for more essentials and more Gain Flings! Laundry Detergent Pacs in Fresh Water Sparkle scent - after grabbing more coupons.

An Imagination Fueled Playdate with PLAYMOBIL toys

2018-09-13T12:34:00.001-07:00

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PlayWithPlaymobil #CollectiveBias

Click on the tabs in the picture above for information to purchase PLAYMOBIL toys!

I have a confession - our kids love technology and it has become a problem in our household. We've always set limits and I am a huge believer in letting kids out to play, in buying them toys that will help them fuel their imaginations and get them in the dirt and grass to play. But even so, there are days that I feel we are losing the fight, days that the boys claim to be too tired to go out and instead want to lounge about with their tablets.

That's when I know it's time to pull out the big guns and get them back to playing the way I know they love, it's time to plan a good old fashioned playdate.

The place: Outdoors! Do you remember being a kid and how much fun it was to play outside? Those were the days! We lived in an apartment complex that was filled with tons of families and I remember getting to go out to play every single day after homework. We would literally stay outdoors until right before bath time and enjoyed every single second.

While the world no longer allows us to let our kids roam about outdoors on their own they can still enjoy the yard, your patio or a local park.

The goods: To make this a really spectacular playdate, they picked out a few new playsets from Walmart. Nothing gets these boys as excited as a new toy and PLAYMOBIL toys are exactly what the doctor ordered for hours of imaginative play.

Walmart has a great selection of PLAYMOBIL toys with tons of fun sets. We picked out the PLAYMOBIL Take Along Fire Station and PLAYMOBIL Take Along Police Station.

PLAYMOBIL brings you imaginative play sets focused around iconic figures from a variety of worlds, both realistic (police, firemen, etc.) and fantastical (modern day dinos). The boys picked out a police and fire station, both of which we have just a few blocks from home, so these sets feel really realistic to them.

Boys can be pretty rough, especially when they are putting a playset together and get frustrated. But PLAYMOBIL toys are really high-quality and very sturdy. PLAYMOBIL play sets help develop both cognitive and social/emotional skills, both things these boys work on every single day since one is in Kidergarten and the other in first grade.

Anthony has always struggled with his motor skills so these toys are perfect for him and sturdy enough to take the beating.

The snacks: Don't forget to get some snacks and drinks ready, nothing fancy. Kids snacking doesn't require much prep, simply throw some crackers into baggies and add some drinks.

The smiles: With new PLAYMOBIL playsets and snacks, those will come automatically. The kids won't be the only ones smiling either, as a parent and grandparent, I find it so refreshing to watch these boys play with these playsets for hours.

PLAYMOBIL playsets are super detailed so you might have to jump in and help them put them together. These boys have three older siblings/cousins who jumped at the chance to help.

PLAYMOBIL playsets have been a big hit with our boys. They've bee enjoying hour after hour of police and fire fighter action.

Visit the PLAYMOBIL Social Hub to see how other parents are getting into the creative play action.

10-Minute Spicy Shrimp and Zucchini Stir-Fry

2018-09-06T08:08:00.005-07:00

I received compensation from Alka-Seltzer® to write this post. All opinions are entirely my own. #MyFoodMoment #CollectiveBias

I grew up on spicy food, literally. We are Mexican, which means that every single meal was served with a few choices of salsa, made from scratch by my mom. From there on out food just wasn't the same if there wasn't some sort of spiciness to it. But after reaching the age 35, I started to notice that my body didn't seem to deal as well with it - this was definitely the first time that I got my first bout of occasional heartburn and I remember not knowing what that terrible burning sensation was or how to get rid of it. I remember not being able to sleep and having to sit up in order to catch a few zz's. It wasn't the best night of my life, that's for sure.

As the years have passed I have actually had to change the way I eat a lot. No longer can I indulge in all-spicy food the way that I used to - but every now and again I still want to enjoy something with a kick of spice. That is where *NEW* Alka-Seltzer® PM Gummies come in - this new product from Alka-Seltzer® is the ONLY fast relief of occasional heartburn with sleeplessness available. And - you can find it at your local Walmart. No more having to deal with occasional sleepless nights with heartburn.

Helping relieve the symptoms of occasional heartburn with sleeplessness is easy with Alka-Seltzer® PM Gummies. Simply take 2 gummies 30-60 minutes before bedtime and get ready to have a more peaceful, restful night. The gummies are also pretty enjoyable to take, which is always a plus!

On that note, I am sharing one of our favorite quick and easy stir-fry recipes. I always have a pre-cooked bag of shrimp in the freezer and love coming up with different ways to enjoy it. I love shrimp because it's super quick to prepare and always a pleasure to enjoy.

10-Minute Spicy Shrimp and Zucchini Stir-Fry

Ingredients:

3 medium zucchini diced

3 garlic cloves crushed

1 pound pre-cooked and cleaned shrimp

1 tablespoon soy sauce

3 tablespoons sriracha sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil

2 tablespoons oil

salt, to taste

pepper, to taste

Steps:

Heat oil in large pan or wok

Add oil, followed by garlic

Cook garlic for a few minutes

Add zucchini and cook until tender

Add pepper and salt to taste

Add shrimp and cook for about 2 minutes

Add sriracha sauce and sesame oil and stir-fry for about a minute

Serve over a bowl of white rice and be prepared for a nice kick of spiciness.

One of the joys of life is being able to enjoy the foods you love. That's why I was excited to find these new Alka-Seltzer® PM Gummies. Occasional heartburn relief plus melatonin for occasional sleeplessness - so I can enjoy all the spicy foods I love? Sign me up!

A Very Berry Start To Your Day

2018-09-04T12:37:00.000-07:00

This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Mirum Shopper. All opinions are my own.

School mornings are incredibly hectic in our house. The kids went back-to-school 3 weeks ago, but none of us have settled into the groove of the fall routine yet. We have some good mornings when everyone somehow managed to get up on time and we are running smoothly, and then we will have a morning when everyone wakes up late and runs around grumpily trying to head out the door on time. I think it's going to take at least another few weeks for smooth sailing to come around and in the meantime I try to make things as simple as possible, like breakfast.

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and even if they only have a few minutes, I want to make sure that the kids can grab something quickly on their way out. One of their favorites is English muffins or toast with jam and butter and that's where this super quick and easy recipe comes into play.

Using Brummel & Brown Yogurt Spread, this is a simple way to incorporate this delicious spread (that is made with the goodness of real yogurt) and fresh fruit, to make a really yummy fruit spread for those busy mornings. Because it's so quick to prepare, I don't even have to make this ahead of time, instead, I whip up a fresh batch whenever we're going to enjoy it.

VERY BERRY SPREAD

Yields about 24 servings

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Brummel & Brown Original Spread

1/2 cups berries, fresh or frozen

1 Tbsp. water

1 Tbsp. brown sugar

Instructions:

Bring berries, water and sugar to a boil in a small sauce pan. Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes, until sauce has formed, stirring occasionally.
Remove from heat and allow to fully cool.
Mix berry sauce with Brummel & Brown Original Spread until blended

Now you're ready to spread on English muffins, toast, baguettes, bagels and more!

Weekdays are incredibly hectic, but by making sure I have products like Brummel & Brown Yogurt Spread in my fridge ensures that I can whip something up quick and easy for the family to enjoy.

With the sweet, creamy taste of Brummel & Brown, I can cook up timesaving meals, with less fat and calories than butter! We can use this spread for cooking, baking or on it's own over a piece of toast. Brummel & Brown is made with plant-based oils, purified water, and the goodness of real yogurt.

Score a great deal on any Brummel & Brown Yogurt Spread at your local Albertsons using this $1 off Just For U Digital Coupon from 9/4/18 to 10/13/18. Find Brummel & Brown by the butter spreads in the refrigerated section of your Albertsons store.

How to Create a Relaxing Me Moment

2018-08-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias #InspireYourBold

I'm one of those people who can't start the day without a nice, strong cup of coffee, even during the hot days of summer. But it seems like fall is coming early to my neck of the woods and I could not be happier. Every morning this week it's been cool and crisp and I am completely reveling in the idea that summer might be out the door a few weeks early. The better to enjoy my early morning coffee!

But because I am a true coffee lover who runs on coffee this will not be my only cup of coffee, I usually enjoy at least three during a typical day. My favorite cup to enjoy is the one that I get to drink during the golden hour - once the kids are home from school and everyone is fed and working on their homework. Once everyone is home, I know I can sit down and enjoy not just a delicious cup of 1850™ Brand Coffee, but some "me time" as well.

My days start pretty early - today I was up by 4:00AM - and tend to be really busy. So it's pretty vital for me to get some time to relax, even if it's just for 30 minutes. If you're a busy mom you're probably wondering where you will get an extra 30 minutes in your day to relax, and I get it, it doesn't happen for me every single day. But when I can grab those 30 minutes for myself, you bet that I will squeeze as much out of that little moment of the day.

How to Create a Relaxing Me Moment:

I start by always making sure to have 1850 Black Gold Dark Roast Ground Coffee on hand. I always make sure to grab 1-2 bags from Albertsons over the weekend so that I have enough to last me the week.

Right now is a perfect time to try 1850 Brand Coffee with this $1 off coupon at Albertsons.

Inspired by the heritage of The Folger Coffee Company, 1850™ Brand Coffee is an evenly roasted coffee made from 100% Arabica coffee beans, fire-roasted and steel cut for a delicious bold but smooth taste. 1850 Brand coffee's unique blend of ground coffee that delivers bold, yet smooth taste. It is evenly roasted for consistent coffee flavor with less bitterness.

1850™ Brand Coffee comes in four signature blends of Ground and K-Cup coffee and will also be available in 3 Ready to Drink flavors.

For any relaxing moment to be perfect, I have to have a fresh cup of coffee and my preferred method of a enjoying a truly delicious cup is to prepare it in a French Press. It's not as quick as preparing coffee in a traditional machine, but I have always felt that coffee tastes a million times richer and more delicious prepared this way, plus a French Press can come along with me to wherever I happen to be enjoying my cup.

Though there are a few steps, it's actually quite easy to prepare French press coffee:

Rinse of press with warm water and measure out coffee as you set water to boil in a kettle. I use 2 tablespoons of coffee for every 8oz of water but you can play with that ratio according to how strong you want to enjoy your cup. Add coffee to the press and allow to sit while we wait for the water. Once the water has boiled set the kettle aside for about half a minute, you don't want the water to be at full boil when it goes into the press. Now pour water into the press and stir. Place the lid of the French press right on the press with the plunger up, just letting the filter sit right above the water and allow the coffee to brew for four minutes. After four minutes you can slowly press the plunger down on the press.

You will want to serve the coffee immediately and enjoy any remaining in the press pretty quickly, as it will continue to seep with the grounds. I usually prepare enough for 2 cups, knowing that it won't be sitting in the press longer than 15 minutes. Any remaining coffee I will pour into a cup for enjoying as iced coffee later.

Now that I have a piping hot French Press filled with 1850 Black Gold Dark Roast Ground Coffee, I add a few books to my tray, my cell phone for playing my favorite music app and off I go to the little table in our garden. And if I'm feeling extra I will add a bottle of polish so I can do my nails too.

But most of the time I just want to sit there with my feet up, hot coffee in hand, eyes closed and just listening to the sounds of soft music coming from my phone. With so much to do in a day, those are the moments that my mind just aches for as much peace and quiet as possible.

And that is how I create a relaxing moment. Sometimes I won't get a full 30 minutes, other days I have barely begun to drink my coffee when I have to run and most times, the kids are on the table with me as I hold on to my French press for dear life. But the smooth flavor of 1850 Black Gold Dark Roast just makes everything right...

5 Tips To Keep Your Body Feeling Good & Full of Energy

2018-08-23T10:53:00.001-07:00

I received compensation from Bayer Consumer Health, makers of MiraLAX® to write this post. MiraLAX® is a laxative used to treat occasional constipation. All opinions are entirely my own. #EaseTheDay #CollectiveBias

When you're a woman who's constantly on-the-go it's easy to forget that you need to take care of yourself. It happens to me all that time, I start the day early - usually with nothing but a cup of coffee in my belly, and I don't stop until early evening. In between that time I probably have a quick bite at a drive-thru for breakfast and a quick lunch at home that I barely had time to chew because I am always in a hurry. Did I have any water? Well, I meant to. But even though drinking more water is always at the top of my mind, I even have tons of cute water bottles to encourage the habit, I usually run on some sort of coffee.

What this means for my body in the next few days is stomach discomfort and sluggishness - and this complete lack of energy that makes me feel like a zombie. The last thing I want to do when I am having occasional constipation and feeling like a slug is get up the next morning and do it all over again. But most moms don't have the luxury of being able to take the day off from work, taking care of their family and running a household.

Here's where a little bit of self-care is necessary, and I don't mean getting up at the crack of dawn for an hour of yoga and meditation. My kind of self-care tips are those that you can easily add to a busy daily routine, small things that we can all do so that our bodies don't take as big a hit as they usually do.

5 Tips To Keep Your Body Feeling Good & Energized

GET EXTRA SLEEP

An extra hour of sleep really does make a difference. I spent my younger years trying to get up as early as I could to get as many hours into a day as possible. The more time I had in a day, the more I could achieve, right? These days I cherish that extra hour of sleep - I find that when I am more rested I immediately wake up feeling more refreshed and ready to face a busy day.

DON'T SKIP BREAKFAST

Having breakfast is one of the best things you can do for yourself, yet it's so hard for many of us. Throughout my single mom and full-time career years, I trained myself to run on coffee and even now I find it hard to break that routine. My stomach just doesn't crave breakfast and I'm not used to a big heavy meal first thing in the morning. But something small like a fruit salad or oatmeal I can definitely do.

If you're not a big morning eater like me, look for light options, but make sure you have something for breakfast. Your entire day will be better if you start it off with the most important meal of the day.

RELIEVE OCCASIONAL CONSTIPATION WITH MIRALAX®

Something else that happened routinely during those years as a single, full-time working mom is the occasional bout of constipation. I think it happens to many of us women, we're just too busy to eat right and treat our bodies better.

MIRALAX® is one of those products that you can find in my medicine cabinet, for those times that I really need it. MiraLAX® Mix-In Pax® are the perfect solution for women on-the-go.

MiraLAX® isn't a scary laxative and that's why it's the one I trust. MiraLAX® is different from stimulant laxatives. MiraLAX® works with your body’s natural process to provide effective relief from occasional constipation. MiraLAX® provides a gentle experience, so you don't have to worry about any "surprises" right in the middle of your busy day. Use as directed.

Find MIRALAX® products at Walmart, and save on any MiraLAX® product with this coupon.

DRINK MORE WATER

Yes, collecting cute water bottles are fun - but filling them up and actually using them through the day is a much better use of them. I will probably never meet the recommended 8 glasses of water per day, unless it's really hot, but if I can drink one or two of my current bottle, then I call it a win. When I drink more water, my body feels more hydrated, I feel less of an urge to grab an expensive beverage and even my skin looks better.

PACK HEALTHY SNACKS

I tend to do this more for the family when we go on an outing but never remember to do it for myself. But packing a bag full a good-for-me snacks is such a lifesaver, especially for helping avoid the hunger monster which leads to a greasy burger. Packing a few pieces of fruit for yourself each morning is so easy, and within a few hours you will be so glad you did.

There are a myriad of other things we can do to help our bodies feel more energized and overall, better. But even by following these simple tips, you'll see how much better you'll feel at the end of another long day. We take care of everyone else, why don't we start by taking care of ourselves first?

Inspiring His Style for Back-to-School

2018-08-06T07:23:00.001-07:00

This post has been sponsored by Mirum, all opinions are my own.

It's that time of the year - the kids are headed back-to-school. Which means that if you're a parent, you're probably in the thick of back-to-school chaos: back-to-school shopping, orientations, last minute doctors appointments, etc. We've been at it for a few weeks now and are pretty close to being completely done, just in the nick of time because our school starts this Wednesday. That's in just two days!

As excited as we are to watch the kiddos set off on a new school year, you still can't help but worry about them a little bit too. The two girls will be just fine because they attend the same grade and always have each other, but as the oldest, Angel is off on his own.

Last year was a bit challenging for Angel as it was his first year at a new school, he had to make new friends and get used to a very different curriculum - a much harder one than he was used to. Because their school is a very demanding one, there were a few moments where we weren't sure that he would make it to the end of the year without being sent back to his old school, or if he would be promoted to the next grade.

But with a lot of extra work and effort Angel made it through and is ready to face the new school year head on. Having been there a full year now, he knows the expectations of his school and knows he has to work at full steam from day 1. Plus being the second year at the same school, he now has a small batch of good friends to hang out with and he feels more confident in his skin.

Confidence plays a major role in all our lives, especially teenagers. Do you remember how hard it was to be a teen? I do! That's why we've always made an effort to help this kid find his style and his way forth. As parents, we want to control everything right down to the clothes our kids wear, like we did when they were babies. But Angel is almost 14 and has his own opinions on style and how he wants to carry himself, which seem to change pretty often.

One thing that is a constant though is his personal care - and here is another area where we get to inspire him, by building him a perfect AXE Back To School Kit filled with products from his two favorite AXE scents from Ralphs: Axe Gold and Axe Phoenix. Did you know that AXE now makes shampoo + conditioner plus body wash too?

Which is perfect because now Angel has an entire personal care regimen in his favorite scents that he can mix and match including: Axe Gold Body Spray and Body Wash, Axe Phoenix 2in 1 Shampoo + Conditioner, Body Wash, and Antiperspirant Deodorant. Having an entire range of his favorite products at his fingertips, goes a long way to ensuring that he actually uses them. We've already gone through those years where he wasn't interested in showers and smelled like onion rings - believe me, we don't want to go back.

If you have a child in this age range then you probably worry about bullying as much as we do. That's why we are happy to support AXE in their partnership with Ditch The Label, an anti-bullying organization. For each purchase of an AXE Styling product this summer at  Kroger family of stores, AXE will donate $0.25 to Ditch The Label, with a guaranteed minimum donation of $50k and a max donation of $125k. Void where prohibited. 

Click the link to find out more information about Ditch The Label.

Whether it's giving him the tools to fight bullying or the tools to help him smell and look great, we are here for it all. As a parent, it's our job to equip these kids as best as possible so that they can be ready to deal with what life has to throw at them. Helping them build self esteem and confidence in their own skin (which includes proper hygiene) is as important as buying a really cool school wardrobe.

Inspiring Angel to find his own style, while always being true to himself is so important. As he enjoys his last two days off from school, I hope we've done enough to help him navigate his way through this new year.

As you're finishing the last of this year's back-to-school shopping, don't forget to stop by your local Ralphs to stock up on his AXE favorites using the Digital Coupons below.

SAVE ON AXE PRODUCTS AT RALPHS

Buy ONE (1) Axe Body Spray product, get ONE (1) Axe Body Wash product FREE (excludes trial and travel sizes).
Save $1 on any ONE (1) Axe Hair product (excludes trial and travel sizes).
Save $1 on any ONE (1) Axe Deodorant or Antiperspirant product (excludes trial and travel sizes).

Tips for Keeping School Lunches Fun & Easy

2018-07-30T12:29:00.002-07:00

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LunchesWithLove #PackedWithLove #CollectiveBias

Summer flew right by and once again it is the busiest time of the year, the back-to-school season! In just a few short weeks these kiddos are going to be back in class -- enjoying a whole new school year and getting their education on. Luckily, all of our kids attend the same k-12 school, which means that our mornings are not as crazy as they could be, like when I was dropping kids off at three different schools. But even so - our mornings are just like any other household's weekday morning, hectic and stressful.

Our school does not offer a lunch program. That means that on the daily, we have to pack 5 snacks and 5 lunches, plus some extra snacks for walking home or the after school program. That's a lot of lunch and snack prep! Today I am sharing just a few tips for making lunch and snack prep a little easier for you, the person that has a long list of to-do's, every single morning.

Tips for Keeping School Lunches Fun & Easy

The first tip for keeping school lunches and snacks fun and easy for kiddos is to pack them in a cute lunch bag. One of the best things about going back to school is new school gear, and that includes and fun lunch bag! Letting the kids pick their own lunch bag allows them to let their personality to show through and they will be happy to reach for their lunch bag several times a day.

Purchasing cute and colorful containers and ice packs are another way to keep things fun and fresh for the kids. Two snacks and one lunch per day, for an entire year can get pretty tedious. Changing up the contents of their lunch bag goes a long way to keeping kids from getting bored.

Pack the main lunch bento-style so no time is wasted opening up packages, especially for the little ones. Here I try to change up their daily sandwich and fruit, while always including something crunchy and yummy like Snyder’s of Hanover pretzels. These are some of their favorite pretzels and the mini size is perfect for packing in a lunch box.

Snyder’s of Hanover has been America’s pretzel bakery since 1909. With simple ingredients and robust flavor, Snyder’s of Hanover pretzels are always in our pantry and they make a great addition to any lunch bag. Nothing livens up a lunch more than the hearty crunch of Snyder’s of Hanover pretzels.

Keep snack times easy for the kids by including a few packs of Snyder’s of Hanover lunch packs Mini or Sticks. These pre-packed options, make grab-n-go easy for the kids, plus the portion size is that perfect snack time amount -- they can enjoy a quick snack and then grab some playground time.

These perfectly portioned 100 calorie packs of mini pretzels are made with unbleached wheat flour, in a peanut-free facility - safe for school! Each pack contains 10 100-calorie bags and make packing easy and quick. Make sure to add extras for sharing!

One of the most important tips that I can share with any parent when it comes to packing school lunches is to pack what the kids will eat. It makes zero sense to pack a lunch that the kids will pick at or even throw out. These kids are in school for so many hours in a day, they need to have happy tummies if they are to concentrate and feel good.

So even if it means that we have to prepare sandwiches and cut up fruit the night before, each child gets what they like. Angel likes PB&J's, Anthony likes turkey with mustard, Julius no mustard just mayo and the two girls get ham and cheese. Sure -- it would be easier to make a week's worth of sandwiches over the weekend and just throw them in the lunch bags each morning, but half of those would be coming back at the end of each day and we would have some hangry kids.

When they open their lunch bag each day at school, kids should be happy and excited. Lunches are a little extension of a parents love for each child and a full kid is a happy kid.

Look out for an offer in your weekly circular for a chance to save on Snyder’s of Hanover® and Lance® products starting 7/29/18 until 9/30/18. Now is the time to stock that pantry up in preparation for back-to-school.

Save $1.00 on ANY 2 Lance® Sandwich cracker or peanut multipack 8oz or larger
Save $1.00 on ANY 2 Snyder’s of Hanover® Products 5oz or larger

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NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. LIMIT ONE (1) PRIZE PER PERSON. The Sweepstakes begins 7/16/18 at 12:00:01 AM ET and ends 8/26/18 at 11:59:59 PM ET. Open only to eligible legal 50 US/DC residents who are 18 years or older and the age of majority. Subject to Official Rules available at www.bettersnackingforyou.com. See Official Rules for daily entry instructions, odds of winning, prize details, restrictions, etc. There are ninety (90) prizes available. The total approximate retail value of all prizes to be awarded is $23,238. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Sponsor: S-L Snacks National, LLC, 13515 Ballantyne Corporate Place, Charlotte, NC 28277. Administrator: US Sweepstakes & Fulfillment Co., 625 Panorama Trail, Suite 2100, Rochester, NY 14625.

Heading Back-to-School With Cute School Gear

2018-07-13T10:23:00.002-07:00

This post has been sponsored by Babblebox, on Behalf of Justice. However, all opinions are my own.

I can't believe how quickly summer has just flown by. In 3 1/2 weeks, our kids are headed back to class, which means it's back-to-school shopping time! I actually really do look forward to shopping for a new school year with Sammy. She is the last of my kids and she is my last go at the whole back-to-school thing. She's going into 6th grade this year, so I do have six more years to go, but if you're a parent then you know how quickly the years pass by. Needless to say, I enjoy the back-to-school season and having this time with my child to prepare her for a new school year.

Plus, who doesn't love to go shopping! We love taking a few full days to hit the mall and slowly go through the list of items she needs. And of course we always have to make a stop at her favorite store, Justice. I have been shopping at this store since my older girls were young and it was called Limited Too. That was also their favorite store, which is why it was no surprise when Sammy turned 7 and decided that this is where she wanted to do the majority of her shopping as well.

As usual, Justice has hit it out of the park when it comes to the back-to-school selection. Sammy was lucky enough to receive a few items as part of this campaign, and she is in love with everything. These are probably the very same items she would have picked in-store for herself.

She received the:

Ombre Foil Dot Initial Backpack Sammy's favorite, but it's not just cute. It's super practical for her school life and everything she needs in a backpack to get her through the entire year.

Ombre Foil Dot Initial Lunch Tote: under $13 and the perfect size for a lunch and snack, plus extra drinks.

Ombre Foil Dot Initial Water Bottle: A must-have at Sammy's school. We live in a very hot area which requires a few water bottles a day. Now she can take her own bottle, less waste and more affordable than purchasing water bottles.

Ombre Foil Dot Initial Pencil Case: what a cute way to store her pencils and erasers.

She also received a graphic tee with a cute and colorful design. Sam loves Justice Graphic Tees and this one just makes her happy. It'll definitely be a fun one for her to wear on free-dress days at school.

Let's talk about the Ombre Foil Dot Initial set and how cute it is! Sammy is all about that sparkle and having her initial on her backpack, lunchbox and even her water bottle is pretty darn cool.

The Ombre Foil Dot Initial Backpack (available in 13 initials) is Sammy's favorite. Because her school is uniform-only, her backpack is one of the only ways she can show off her personal style and each year she always picks something super fun and cute. The Ombre Foil Dot Initial Backpack is not just cute though, it has padded straps for comfortable toting, her backpack is super heavy year round so this is very important. It has two side pockets, again important for water bottles and drinks. It has a very large front pocket that will fit her daily folder and loads of room inside. And, look at that pompom - that will definitely perk up her navy school uniform.

This is the face of a happy girl who is super thrilled with her colorful and vibrant, sparkly back-to-school goodies. It's going to be fun to look for other matching school supplies.

With her new backpack, cool graphic tee and Justice jeggings, she now has the perfect outfit for free-dress days and can't wait for the first one.

My favorite part about shopping at Justice with Sammy is that she is able to show off her personality and different styles. Whether it's a dress for the school awards program or her everyday sporty gear, we can find it all in one place, and most of the time we score some amazing deals! So definitely - stop on by next time you're in the mall. Or better yet, run on over because the girl backpacks are going to be so popular, you can't wait till last minute!

Find all the Justice items we have shared in this post online or in-store. We will be stopping by this weekend to pick up my granddaughters backpack and she's already eyeing the Unicorn Flip Sequin one. It's going to be a fun shopping trip for sure.

Tips to Keeping Your Home in Tip-top Shape for Your Family (and Your Cat)

2018-05-29T09:05:00.001-07:00

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FreeandCleanLiving #CollectiveBias

When I was growing up my siblings and I were not allowed to have pets. My mom believed that it wasn't possible to have pets in a home, and still maintain a clean house. If you're a pet parent then you know it's completely possible-- just because you have pets doesn't mean your home has to smell bad or be dirty. Right now there are over 6 cats in my place and one dog and besides finding cat hair collected throughout several corners (they seems to gather there every 5 minutes), you might not know that there is an entire cat family living there.

I have a routine that I do each morning where I do a quick clean up of the living area, where the cats like to hang out, and the liter boxes. After that I get the whole crew fed and we are ready to face the day in a home that's clean and pleasant. I love cats and as someone who sorely missed having a pet as a kid, I am thrilled to be able to care for so many now. The extra 30 minutes a day of my life that I spend cleaning up is nothing compared to the happiness that these guys bring.

5 Tips to Keeping Your Home in Tip-top Shape for Your Family (and Your Cat)

FINDING THE RIGHT LITTER:

New TIDY CATS® Free & Clean™ Unscented Clumping Litter is the litter I currently use for my family of cats. Once we got more than one cat, it was important to really step up the odor control. I shop at Target at least once a week for the entire family and I love that I can pick up whatever the pets need there too, and the best part is that at Target I don't have to spend a lot!

Tidy Cats® Lightweight Free & Clean has unscented odor control with the Powder of Activated Charcoal. I like the unscented version of this litter because with multiple cats things can already be pretty scented, instead of adding more smells to the situation, I prefer to eliminate them completely.

Tidy Cats® knows powerful odor control is at the top of your list of litter must-haves…but sometimes added fragrances and dyes just aren’t what you want. Free & Clean offers you the odor-absorbing power of activated charcoal plus TidyLock® Protection to lock away odors.

Tidy Cats® Lightweight Free & Clean is 99.9% dust free and clumps strongly, making cleaning the litter boxes fast and easy. Plus the TidyLock Protection locks away odors so the garage never smells foul. We do our laundry in the garage and are in and out of there all day so freshness is a must.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF LITTER BOXES

One litter box per cat is strongly suggested and that's what we always did when we had three cats. But now with so many more cats and limited space, we have four boxes total in the garage, and instead of cleaning them once a day, we do it twice.

A clean litter box doesn't just mean a fresher smelling home, cats love a clean box and they are so much happier when their boxes are nice and clean.

TRAIN YOUR CATS

Something we've not quite mastered with the youngest cats is to train them not to get on certain areas like the kitchen counters, dish drainer (they love the drainer) or even the kitchen table. These are areas that have to be completely germ and cat free as they are the areas where we prepare and enjoy meals. A lot of people also train their pets not to get on beds and furniture.

For us it's mainly the kitchen, the cats have pretty much free reign as long as they stay out of our food prep area. It's our small kitchen table that we can't keep them off of. They seems to realize that this is where the family gathers, and they too want to be a part of it.

LITTLE BIT OF ELBOW GREASE

We live in a townhouse, it's not very large except for the living area where the cats tend to spend the most time. Every morning after getting the kids of to school I take 20-30 minutes to dust, vacuum the floor and the furniture. I wipe down all the kitchen and table surfaces, plus clean out the liter boxes. I have my routine pretty set so I never have to take longer than the allotted time.

Honestly, besides the litter boxes this is the same routine I did every morning before getting the cats. I like to start my days with a fresh house and that tidying routine has always been part of my morning, ever since my kids were little.

A fresh home is a happy home and having one cat or multiple cats, like we do, doesn't have to mean your home has to be smelly. Take a trip to Target and purchase Tidy Cats® Lightweight Free & Clean for your litter boxes and you'll immediately see a difference in the freshness near their boxes, with no extra added scents. Target is always a great place to stock up on your pet's needs, plus do a little bit of shopping for yourself too!

Looking for more #FreeandCleanLiving inspiration? Check out the social hub to see how others have put Tidy Cats® Lightweight Free & Clean to work for them.