Sharing Special England Moments with my Daughter

Slowly, I've been putting up photos and tidbits about me and Lynzie's trip to England last month. It was her first time going and I was so excited to take her to all my favorite places. There are so many happy memories from our trip, I know I'll never remember them all. 

One special moment took place on one of our visits to Winchester Cathedral. We actually spent a good part of our three days in Winchester in the cathedral. It was a favorite place for both of us, as there's so much history (and mystery!) inside that one could never grow tired of studying it. One afternoon while we were there, I took a tour while Lynzie went around sketching. When I finished with the tour, I went looking for her and found her here, lighting a prayer candle. What an amazing experience for her! 

On our first morning in Bath, I got her up really early, when it was barely light out, to show her around the best part of the city before all the rest of the tourists came out. This photo was taken just after the bells at Bath Abbey had finished playing, The Bells of Great Britain. It was awesome watching my daughter experience England for the first time. We have a lot of the same interests in common and there were times when it was emotionally overwhelming to know the joy and amazement she was feeling. 

Another special time was when we visited Chawton Manor, a family home of one of Jane Austen's brothers. We stopped off at the church of St. Nicholas and visited the graves of her mother and sister. While that was a breathtaking experience, I got really emotional when we went inside to pray. In fact, every time I visited a church on this trip, I got really emotional! God did some amazing things in my heart in England this year. He truly is the same everywhere I go.

Ideas for a Cozy Commute with Yankee Candle® Car Fragrances #LoveAmericanHome #ad #cbias

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

When I was a new wife and homemaker, there was this lovely shop downtown called The Sycamore Tree. I loved to go in there and browse all the beautiful things for sale and imagine making my home warm and cozy and super inviting. One display I loved to spend time at was the Yankee Candle® shelf. There were dozens of glorious fragrances of jar candles to choose from! Now I can have Yankee Candle® brand products in my car with these new Smart Scent Vent Clips and Car Jar Ultimate hanging fragrances. 

Yankee Candle® brand Smart Scent Vent Clips and Car Jar Ultimate can be found in the Auto Fragrance and Air Care (near the laundry aisle) sections of Walmart. I found several great fragrances for $4.94 each in the Auto Fragrance aisle. Check out the Walmart Assortment Page for a large variety of fragrances.

 In addition to the hanging jars, there are these neat vent clips. I love the innovative idea of these air fresheners.

Just like my dreams of a cozy home, it's nice to have a cozy car---especially if you've got a long commute! Using Yankee Candle® fragrances is just one way I make the inside of my car more inviting. Here are a few more ideas for a relaxing commute:

I make sure to have a separate charging cord for my phones---one that is designated for car only. This way I don't find myself forgetting to grab it from the house, resulting in a dead battery half way through the day.

I love to listen to soothing music while I'm driving. These Celtic harp CDs inspire me to creativity.

It's also important to have some nutritious snacks and water. These help keep me awake and alert for safety---and are great for those really long waits in traffic.

Do you have a favorite Yankee Candle® fragrance? Let me know in the comments below!

Natural Nutritious Cat Food from Purina Muse® -- Grab a Coupon! #MyCatMyMuse #ad #cbias

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

A healthy cat is a happy cat so I try to be careful to choose nutritious food for O'Neill to enjoy. We've had him for almost 10 years and he's always been a sweet and loyal cat. He's not one of those stuffy, nose-in-the-air felines---he's a true friend whom we've nicknamed the "Guard Cat". 

See that scar above his lip? That's from defending our house against a giant raccoon about eight years ago! O'Neill has several scars from fighting off raccoons, possums, and other night time trespassers. He's not scared of any of these Ozark mountain animals who want to steal his food and camp out on the porch. He even growls and stares down the foxes!

It's important to me to keep him strong and healthy. Choosing which food to buy is simple with 100% complete and balanced nutritious Muse, especially if you're looking for a quality natural food for your cat. Taste is key with Purina Muse® Natural Cat Food--your cat will gladly clean her plate! Varieties of wet recipes include Chowder, Broth, Gravy, Paté, and some with Toppers. All are made with real fish or poultry and contain no colors, preservatives, or artificial flavors. 

Purina Muse® Natural Cat Food is only available at PetSmart. There are 30 delicious recipes to choose from with 24 grain-free varieties. Make sure to grab a coupon before you go!

I like giving O'Neill a variety of flavors to enjoy. I wouldn't want to eat the same thing every single day so I like to change it up for him, too. He loves wet food over dry food so he got pretty excited when he saw these three cans I'd bought him.

With Muse you don’t have to choose between natural nutrition and food that tastes great. Your cat can have both when you choose Muse. Natural has never been so delicious. Put Muse to the test with our clean plate guarantee. How do you keep your cat happy and healthy? Let me know in the comments below!

Creamy Cucumber Bacon Salad #GameTimeClean #ad #cbias

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

Fall is in full swing and it's time to break out the comfort food! I love making warm and hearty dinners for my family when it's chilly out. Still, sometimes it's nice to set off the rich and meaty with something cool and refreshing. That's what this Creamy Cucumber Salad is---crisp, fresh, and full of zesty flavor. Fall is also the season for game time and this salad is an excellent tailgating take along. You can make it ahead of time and it's easy to transport in a covered container.

My whole family loved this salad when I served it last night and Jamie said he was excited for lunch time today so he can enjoy some leftovers! It was super easy to prepare and clean up was simple with Viva Vantage paper towels. I tend to have really sensitive skin so lots of water irritates it. I love using paper towels during cooking because I can use them to mop up messes during the prep process and then wash the counters once at the end with soap and water. These ones are cloth-like; soft and strong and textured so they scrub well without ripping.

I found this 6-pack of Viva Vantage paper towels at Walmart in the paper products section of the grocery side. This pack is a great size for our large family. 

I love using these high-quality, super absorbent paper towels for soaking up bacon grease. After this bacon drained, I lifted the towel and the plate below was dry. I love that!

For this recipe, I removed the seeds and excess juice from the tomatoes to keep the salad from getting soggy. The towel captured all the juice, leaving me with no mess.

Creamy Cucumber Bacon Salad

3 cucumbers

2 large tomatoes

6 slices of bacon

1/2 c. mayonnaise

2 TB. horseradish mustard

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

salt & pepper, to taste

Fry the bacon and set on a paper towel to cool. Slice the cucumbers, tomatoes, and bacon into bite-sized pieces. Whisk mayo, mustard, and seasonings in a separate bowl, then mix in with the cut ingredients. Stir well and chill until you're ready to serve.

If you're looking for easy clean up from a strong paper towel, give Viva Vantage paper towels a try. What are some of your favorite tailgating and potluck dishes? Let me know in the comments below!

Super Simple Smoky BBQ Chicken Pot Pie #FullnRichFlavor #Pmedia #ad

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group®, Birds Eye®, and Farm Rich® but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #FullnRichFlavor  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

With our busy schedules, it can sometimes seem like a deliciously flavored dinner is trumped by the quickest and easiest solution. I'm excited to share one of our family's favorite simple homemade meals, made with a couple of great products from Birds Eye and Farm Rich® Smokehouse. Whether you're strapped for time or have all afternoon to put together dinner, you'll love this smoky homemade pot pie!  

I found Farm Rich® Smokehouse Dry Rub Smoked Chicken and Birds Eye Barbecue Sweet Corn at Walmart in the freezer section. There are lots of flavors of both products to choose from. I love that these are already flavored for me. That's one less step and a few less ingredients I have to worry about on a busy night.

For a limited time, earn $0.75 on Birds Eye Vegetables and unlock $1.00 off one Farm Rich® Smokehouse product with Ibotta, while supplies last. If you haven’t used Ibotta, first download the app available on iOS and Android. Before you shop, be sure to unlock the rebates for both Birds Eye Vegetables and Farm Rich® Smokehouse. Then, shop! Buy the products that you’ve unlocked at major retailers. Finally, verify your purchase by scanning your barcodes and submitting a photo of your receipt!

I've been making various versions of this chicken pot pie for several years and it's always a hit. This recipe makes two pie pans but the filling freezes well. If two pies are too much for one dinner at your house, make one for now and save one for another busy week night! Just be sure to freeze only the filling portion and then continue on with the crust instructions on the night you plan to bake it.

I started by pouring my corn and peas into a bowl to partially thaw on the counter while I cooked the chicken. This ensures they're nice and hot when the pie is finished baking. If you'd like to prepare this corn as a side dish, you can steam it right in the bag in your microwave.

After the chicken was finished cooking, I mixed it in with the vegetables and some grated pepper jack cheese. Then I mixed in the soup and poured into the prepared pans. I topped it with the crust batter and let it bake.

This delicious Smoky BBQ Chicken Pot Pie is a great meal for any evening, but we especially love it on cool autumn evenings. This is comfort food at its best!

Smoky BBQ Chicken Pot Pie

Filling:

16 oz. Farm Rich® Smokehouse Dry Rub Smoked Chicken

10 oz. Birds Eye Barbecue Sweet Corn

12 oz. frozen peas

8 oz. shredded pepper jack cheese

26 oz. can condensed cream of chicken soup

Crust:

2 c. flour

3/4 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking soda

2 TB melted butter

4 eggs

2 c. milk

Preheat oven to 375º. Pour the frozen corn and peas into a bowl to partially thaw on the counter. Bake the chicken according to package directions. When chicken is done, add to the bowl with the vegetables, and stir in cheese and soup. Pour mixture into two pie pans, 1 13x9 pan, or individual ramekins. In a separate bowl, mix dry crust ingredients. Pour wet ingredients into the bowl you mixed the filling in and whisk until mixed well. Add to dry ingredients, stir well, and pour on top of filling. Bake, uncovered, for about 30 minutes until the batter puffs up and turns golden brown.

DIY Camera Case & Purse Pouch Made From Recycled Materials #BringingInnovation #ad #cbias

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

In a family with nine tech-loving children, you can imagine the batteries we go through! Recently I picked up Energizer® EcoAdvanced™batteries, a choice I've made before. I love it that I can purchase recycled batteries for my kids' electronics and know that I'm making less of a stamp on our environment. Our big family is on a mission to improve the world we live in by recycling and being creative with the resources we have. This morning, I made this cute camera pouch for my purse. It took about 10 minutes to put together and it's made entirely of materials I had around the house.

We found Energizer® EcoAdvanced™batteries at Walmart near the electronics section. These are the first batteries to be made with recycled materials. These AA and AAA batteries from Energizer® are their highest performing alkaline batteries. When we use longer lasting and reliable batteries, we use fewer batteries. This creates less waste to impact our environments.

I started the project with a french fry box, some duct tape, and scissors. 

First, I cut open the box along one side and across the bottom.

Then I cut about 1/2" off the top of the front of the box all the way to the side seam.

Then I applied the duct tape to both sides of the box. Using duct tape keeps the pouch moisture and bump resistant. I applied tape to one side, then cut off the excess before applying the second side and cutting off the excess. This made it easy to follow the outline of the box.

Finally, I taped up the side and bottom with strong clear packing tape and adhered a button and string to keep it shut.

Learn more about Energizer® EcoAdvanced™batteries here. I'd love to hear about your latest DIY project!

Moving Toward a More Natural Lifestyle #NaturalGoodness #ad

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

Our family has made a good effort this year to move toward a more natural lifestyle. From nixing the processed foods to finding ways to reuse and recycle, we're changing our stamp on the environment as well as cleaning up our act for more strength, energy, and an overall fulfilled life. As the mother and homemaker in my family, it's my responsibility to make sure I give everyone the best care I can---a big job that I take seriously.

This week, we've had the opportunity to try Tom's of Maine® brand toothpaste products with some great results. I'm impressed by the fact that they don't contain any artificial colors, flavors, fragrances, or preservatives. If animal products or testing is a concern for you, rest assured that this Maine-based company doesn't test on animals or use animal products in their toothpastes.

I found Tom's of Maine® Simply White® Clean Mint Cavity Protection Toothpaste at Walmart in the toothpaste aisle. I bought the kids Tom's of Maine® Silly Strawberry® Anticavity Toothpaste, found with the other kids' toothpastes. Tom's of Maine® also offers other natural products like deodorant, bar soap and mouthwash. Learn more about Tom's of Maine®'s ingredients, purpose and source, by visiting their website.

It's so important to build healthy habits. Oral care and hygiene have always been really important to me---especially when it comes to my kids. With a family the size of ours, it can be difficult to establish good routines for the kids, but it's so important to do so when it comes to caring for our teeth and gums. Using natural products helps me feel like I'm offering them something safe and effective.

Are you excited about the Tom's of Maine® line of oral hygiene products? Let me know how you help your family live a more natural lifestyle.

A Great Solution for Bladder Leakage #LifeAfterLeaks #ad #cbias

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. You must be 21+ years old to try Poise Impressa Bladder Supports. #LifeAfterLeaks #CollectiveBias

Way back when I only had two or three kids, I remember chatting with a mother of 13. She mentioned her difficulties with bladder leakage, since her many pregnancies had weakened her muscles in that area. I remember thinking that would be the most embarrassing thing and vowed to never be faced with the issue. Fast forward 10 or 11 years to this past winter when I was hit with the worst sickness I've ever experienced--a terrible case of bronchitis. A few Kegels throughout the years really are no match for 10 pregnancies and I found myself missing activities for weeks out of fear of "leaking" in public every time I coughed.

When I first saw Poise Impressa Bladder Supports at CVS, I was intrigued by the concept. It looked like a great way to help with minor leakage in a discreet way, allowing the wearer to be active and comfortable. Poise Impressa is designed to alleviate SUI limitations and issues that arise because of leaking when you sneeze, laugh, cough, dance, or exercise. Always start with a sizing kit. It will give you three options to help you find the right size fit for your body. The size is not about how much you leak or how much you weigh. It's about the best internal fit for you.

You'll find the Poise Impressa Sizing Kit near the pantiliners at CVS. Make sure to grab your printable Poise Impressa Starter Kit coupon, good only at CVS, before you go. Available while quantities last.

If you have issues with bladder leakage when you laugh, cough, dance, sneeze or exercise, try Poise Impressa Bladder Supports. They're inserted like a tampon but they do not absorb leaks because they're made to help stop them. The sizing kit contains two of each size. To find your size, begin with size 1, and if you still leak, try size 2, then size 3 if needed. Once inside, the product expands to support the urethra, preventing leaks when you sneeze, laugh, cough, dance, or exercise. After you've found the right size for you, purchase the 10-count pack in the correct size for security against embarrassing leaks.

*Important: Do not wear the Poise Impressa if you are pregnant or on your period. This is not a tampon. Please wait until your period ends to use the sizing kit.

What do you think of this innovative way to help stop SUI leaks? How would Poise Impressa Bladder Supports give you more confidence?

Keep In Touch in a Special Way with CloudPets #CloudPetsForever #Ad #cbias

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

 I am absolutely in love with my kids' new CloudPets™ Teddy Bear! This is such a genius idea and I totally think it should be at the top of every mom's Christmas shopping list. CloudPets™ are new, one-of-a-kind products that keep loved ones in touch when distance separates them. A CloudPets™ owner can receive and send messages through the toy and synced phone app.

I found this CloudPets™ Bear at Walmart this morning. There were a great selection of cute ones on this end cap in the toy aisle. Right now, they can only be found at select Walmart stores but will be available nationwide soon. Make sure to grab some AA batteries (you'll need three) from the pallet display in your store.

I'm super excited to send messages to the kids next time I'm in England. Even though I'm only gone for a week or so at a time, it's hard for them having me away and a special daily message from me would really ease that stress. Before I left last week, Kynthia said she didn't think I would be her mommy anymore when I was gone. Talk about breaking my heart!

But CloudPets™ aren't just for kids. They're also a special way for long distance friends and loved ones to keep in touch. A CloudPets™ would be a fun gift for a military wife, college student, or grandparent living in a nursing home. It could even be used as a creative way to ask someone to prom or to propose! (Don't get any ideas, Lynzie! Not yet, anyway...)

One thing I really love about CloudPets™ is the option for parental controls so I can choose who has permission to send messages to the kids. Only those I invite will have access to the ability to send and a free app makes it easy to set everything up.

Check out this "How It Works" video for details on making your CloudPets™ work properly.

What creative idea do you have for using CloudPets™?