Prepping My Home for Springtime Entertaining #WicklessWonders #ad #cbias

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

The weather is turning warm and humid, the trees and shrubs are blossoming, and Walmart is just about sold out of flower bulbs---it must be spring! As much as I love the cold weather, I really do like spring, too. Mostly because it means I can pull out all my pretty decorations! I love to decorate with birds. They symbolize new life---a beautiful reminder. The newest addition to my bird decor collection is this AromaBreeze Fan Fragrance System. I love using scent-producing decorations in my home and this one is like none I've seen before.

AromaBreeze can be found at Walmart in the candles and warmers section. The Fragrance Halos that go with it are located right above them and there are tons of scents to choose from. I went with fruity since I love the fresh scent and atmosphere it brings to my springtime decor. This photo was taken at the Bentonville Walmart, but if your store hasn't stocked them yet, it's easy to buy online, as well.

Selah couldn't wait to check out our new fragrance system. We were both really surprised at how large and pretty it is. This one is Peaceful Perch and it measures about 10 inches tall. I love the shabby metal design and the sweet little bird swinging inside. Super cute!

I've just begun hosting monthly book clubs in my home so I've been coming up with themed decorating ideas for each month. Here's the one I did for March. I think this fragrance system would make an adorable centerpiece because---get this---it doesn't require a cord! There's a cord included, but there's also the option to run it on a AAA battery. Isn't that awesome? I can put it wherever I want!

I like the AromaBreeze fragrance halos better than the wax melts I usually use because the unit does not warm up the fragrance halo---instead it blows air over it for immediate fragrance release. I love fruity scents in the spring and summer, so I grabbed these two to try out: Strawberries & Cream and Tropical Fiesta. 

Each fan unit comes with instructions both on the box and in a paper booklet. It's super important to read the instructions carefully so you'll be able to operate and display the unit safely. It was really easy to install the fragrance halo. I just removed the canopy from the fan unit, secured the halo in place, and replaced the canopy. Simple! Here's a short video that shows you how to do it: http://cbi.as/4kcq.

Because the unit uses no heat, it's safe for every room in the house---even kids' rooms.  No flame or heat means I feel more comfortable about leaving it in the living room when I'm not around. I love how stylish and clean this is, too. Since the halo does not melt, there's no wax or soot residue to clean up. I'll definitely be considering more of these for other rooms in my house. They'd make great Mother's Day gifts, as well.

Where will you put your AromaBreeze? Let me know in the comments below.

5 Steps to a Greener Homeschool #BringingInnovation #ad #cbias

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

Batteries. The need for batteries is often the bane of my existence. We are a super techie family to begin with---but what is it with boys and batteries? It doesn't matter how many times I buy and hide new batteries, those boys can sniff them out like police dogs. If I ever need a battery, the first place I look is in the video game remotes. Then the boys' flashlights. Then their handheld games. My mom used to buy my husband a pack of batteries every Christmas because she knew he'd need them for the boys' new stuff. Now she just buys the boys each a pack on their birthdays. Guys are so hard to buy for---but batteries? Perfect gift every time.

You can imagine how thrilled I was to find Energizer's new EcoAdvanced recycled batteries at Walmart. I'll admit, there's a bit of guilt at how much our family throws away. We try to recycle, when possible, but it's not exactly safe to DIY-upcycle an old battery, you know? This is the first battery on the market to use recycled batteries and materials and is Energizer's longest lasting alkaline battery ever. They're good for up to 12 years in storage and provide guilt-free energy by taking something old and making it new. These will be excellent for our home and our homeschool. Here are some other tips on making a homeschool a little more environmentally-friendly.

Utilize Scratch Paper

We've had this old candy bar box as our scratch paper box for years. I fill it with paper that didn't print right, junk mail with blank backs, old grocery lists---anything that has some coloring space left on it. Before I started doing this, my kids would always ask for more and more paper to color on. Now they have a place they can find lots of scratch paper for doodling. Just be careful what you put in there---there has been more than one occasion where important bank documents got sent out into the world as pictures for pen pals!

Use the Library

Most homeschoolers know about the many resources their local libraries offer. From books to movies to reference manuals, we can plan an entire curriculum based on free library materials. This practice makes for a great green homeschool---shared materials are less natural resources used. However, there are other great benefits to the library. We love to hang out there in the dead of summer when it's so hot that air conditioning is a must. We can turn ours off and go enjoy theirs! In addition, many libraries offer classes on gardening, financial planning, and more to help you manage your green homeschool.

Turn it off

As a large family, we already use more than the average amount of water and electricity in a day. Compounded by the fact that we homeschool and are here using it all day, every day, this makes for some big utility bills! It's important to get in the habit of turning off lights, tv, and other plugged in appliances before leaving the room. Many homes, like ours, have light switches that are wired in to plug-ins. We arrange our rooms in such a way that the most-used lamps plug in to those outlets. That way we can turn off all the lights with one switch. In addition, save water by rinsing dishes in a pan of water, turning off the water while you brush, and showing the kids an imaginary line along the bathtub so they don't fill it too full.

Save your garbage

Several months ago, Selah taught us a great way to recycle toilet paper rolls by making bird feeders for the trees in our yard. This family goes through a lot of toilet paper---so this was something we were able to do easily to bless the wildlife in our yard. She spread peanut butter on each tube and then rolled it in bird seed. Some tubes we just slid over a thin, low branch. Others, we hung with twine. The birds and squirrels loved them!

Buy Recycled

Energizer's new EcoAdvanced recycled batteries are one of thousands of products that allow us to be smarter with our necessary "new" purchases. Available in AA and AAA, these batteries take what was destined for a landfill and turn it into something wonderfully new. Guess all those "dead batteries" aren't so dead anymore, eh?

Feeling inspired about these green homeschool ideas? Check out this GuiltFreeEnergy giveaway to win $1,000 in gift cards.

GuiltFreeEnergy Giveaway - $1,000 in Gift Cards

What are some ways you make your homeschool a greener place to learn?

Teaching Our Kids Smart Financial Planning #IAmProtective #ad #cbias

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

Like many young couples, Jamie and I started out our marriage in a rough place financially. Neither one of us understood the concept of saving, waiting, or budgeting. Our bad decisions made for some really hard times and we found ourselves dependent on family, friends, and government aid to get ourselves out of one trouble after another. 

Thankfully, we learned our lessons about poor money management young, and have worked our way up to a place of self-sufficiency and living within our means. It's really important to Jamie and I to teach our kids smart financial planning so they can have a future of self-sufficiency. Whether they're the working ones bringing in the money, or the homemakers spending it, we want our children to understand the responsibilities they'll face as adults and how they'll contribute to the financial health of their families.

With such a large family, we've gotten all kinds of questions about how we save for the kids' future cars, college, weddings, and more. Truth is, we don't. We feel these are adult responsibilities that our children will need to take care of on their own. That doesn't mean we just leave them in the cold when it comes to planning for these things, though. There are several ways we make sure the kids understand responsible financial planning.

Our oldest son, Michael, is the one who has expressed the most interest in his future plans, so far. Michael has already shown concern about finding the "right" job---the one that will help him support a stay-at-home wife and the large family he's hoping for. We've discussed with him the options of taking online college courses from home so he's also able to work full-time and beginning to save his money now so he'll be able to purchase a reliable vehicle when it's time. We've also helped him put priorities in order---such as making sure he's got a stable job, reliable vehicle, and a little money for homemaking basics before making plans for a marriage.

One thing we've not discussed with our older kids yet is the need for life insurance. I was recently introduced to an online learning library with lots of information on taking out life insurance. I can remember, as a new wife, not even wanting Jamie to take out life insurance because the thought of losing one of us was too scary for me. Now that I'm a little older and wiser, I understand how life insurance can help ease the burden of an already devastating time of loss, and I feel comforted in knowing our family won't have a difficult financial struggle should our children lose one of their parents too soon. It's only recently occurred to me that finding a good life insurance plan is also something we need to add to Michael's list of financial priorities. I want him to have the same peace of mind that Jamie and I have.

Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Cupcakes #snacktalk #ad #cbias

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

It's that time of year when everyone is celebrating the big basketball event and looking for a fun snack to take to a game day party. These Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Cupcakes, made with REESE'S Peanut Butter Cups and REESE'S Pieces are a fun and unique treat to serve friends---party day or not! When you're pressed for time, here's a simple way of making game time extra special. Since they're done in stages, you can do a little at a time and finish up just before time to serve.

A couple weeks ago, a few of the kids and I shopped Walmart for some REESE'S candy for the recipe. They thought it was pretty awesome that mom was doing a recipe that needed two kinds of candy---but were a little put out with me that I wouldn't tell them what it was. 

These ice cream cupcakes really have no cake at all---just ice cream, candy, and whipped topping. Your guests will be surprised by the peanut butter cup at the bottom---just like my kids were when I served them after dinner tonight!

The ingredient list includes a container of chocolate ice cream, whipped topping, Hershey's chocolate syrup, REESE'S Peanut Butter Cups, and REESE'S Pieces.

Start off by placing one peanut butter cup inside each of 12 cupcake liners inside a muffin tin. It's best to use a foil liner with a parchment insert so nothing leaks through when you add the softened ice cream. Tip: if you'll be serving these to young kids, use a butter knife to cut the peanut butter cups into a few pieces inside the liners. It will make it easier for them to eat the freezer-hardened candy.

Next place a scoop of softened ice cream inside each liner and spread it around with the back of a spoon. Your ice cream should be soft enough that some can run down in between the peanut butter cup and the liner. Don't worry about making it pretty...you'll do pretty later. Place the tin in the freezer and let it harden for at least an hour.

After the ice cream has hardened at least an hour, pipe the whipped topping onto the tops of the cupcakes and freeze again for at least an hour.

Once you are ready to serve, sprinkle the tops with chopped REESE'S Pieces and drizzle on some Hershey's syrup. Serve these to be eaten with a spoon, straight from the liner. Delicious!

Look at these handsome dudes! I went in their room this afternoon to see if they wanted to help me with photos and they were all dressed up. Apparently, they wanted to surprise me by dressing nicely for dinner. So sweet! I felt badly that I ruined their surprise---but not badly enough to give them their cupcakes early. They only got to stand here and model this one for a minute before it went back into the freezer for dessert time!

Do you have a great idea for a game day snack? Check out the REESE'S Snack Talk Challenge and enter to win a chance to be nationally recognized on CBS and Walmart.com. Enter to win at reesessnacktalk.com and visit your local Walmart to find a display with all the REESE'S products you'll need to make your excellent basketball game day recipe. Be sure to share your recipe on Twitter and Instagram using hashtags #SnackTalk and #ChallengeEntry.

Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream Cupcakes

12 REESE'S Peanut Butter Cups, unwrapped

4-5 cups chocolate ice cream, softened

12 oz. whipped topping

1 cup REESE'S Pieces, chopped

1 cup Hershey's Chocolate Syrup

Place one peanut butter cup in each of 12 parchment-lined foil cupcake liners and set inside a muffin tin. Place one scoop of chocolate ice cream into each liner and smooth down with the back of a spoon. Freeze at least one hour. Remove from freezer and pipe whipped topping on top of each cupcake. Freeze at least one more hour. Remove from freezer and sprinkle with chopped REESE'S Pieces. Drizzle with chocolate syrup and serve with a spoon.

Don't forget to enter your great REESE'S recipes into the REESE'S Snack Talk Challenge and, if you like my recipe, please pin it to share with your friends!

A Little Much-Deserved Pampering with Softsoap Fresh & Glow #FreshAndGlow #ad #cbias

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

It's been cold and rainy long enough and today I'm celebrating the fresh, glowing sunshine by taking photos outside by my newly-bloomed shrub. After today, we're supposed to have rain for a couple days and then more cold---even snow! Does the cold weather make your skin dry and itchy? It sure does for me. That's why I'm really excited about trying out these new body washes from Softsoap. 

One of my favorite things to spoil myself and give myself a little pick-me-up has always been to buy a gift bag of skin care products, a bath pouf, cozy socks, and a new book. (Ok, so there's usually some chocolate thrown in there too...) I've done it since high school and it's always so comforting to relax with all my fun, new things and enjoy an evening of pampering. 

That night of indulgence is tonight! This last week has been unimaginably crazy! In fact, the week actually started out with something wonderful that was also meant to be a pampering evening---my first monthly book club. Seven friends and I met at my home for a dinner and book discussion night. Here's a photo of the little centerpiece I put together for our dinner table. It was a wonderful night---and boy, am I glad I had it---because the week just got crazy after that! Between sickness in the kids and myself, a homeschool co-op day, ballet recitals and performance, and some unanticipated medical issues, I am wiped out and ready to relax!

I found these two Softsoap Fresh & Glow body washes at Walmart. You can find them in the soap and body wash aisle, as well as on special end caps near the hair and skin care sections.

I'm really excited about both types. This one is the exfoliating fruit polish. It uses 100% real fruit extracts from apricot seeds, orange, and kiwi to bring you smooth and glowing skin. I love using exfoliating products because they really help get rid of the dry flakiness that makes my skin look dull. It makes me feel cleaner when my skin is soft and smooth and the fruity smell is refreshing.

This is the hydrating shower cream and it also contains 100% real extracts of milk protein, almond, and coconut. This body wash, formulated to give you soft and radiant skin, is like the comfort food of skin care products. The smell of this one reminds me of the suntan lotion my mom wore when I was little. I can totally see myself using this before snuggling into bed with my book for the night. 

Wow, now that I've written all that out, I'm even more excited to spend a comfortable evening on myself! This is goona be great! What do you do to pamper yourself after a rough day? Let me know in the comments below.

RO*TEL Coupon for Walmart #JustAddRotel #ad #cbias

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

Check out this great savings on RO*TEL at Walmart! I use RO*TEL in lots of our meals---in fact, I've used it twice this week, both in Irish Stew and in Taco Soup. When we moved to the South, I quickly realized RO*TEL was a staple in many dishes---I mean, who can resist RO*TEL cheese dip? Yum!

Are you creating a snacking spread for the Big Tournament? Looking for ways to flavor game day and save money at the same time? #JustAddRotel is the perfect way to spice up your favorite recipes. From guacamole to pot roast sliders, adding a can of RO*TEL makes a traditional game day recipe into something extraordinary. When you click this link http://cbi.as/4wqx, you can print a Walmart coupon to buy 3 cans of RO*TEL and get 1 can free!

Hurry! This coupon expires on April 6th and is only available while supplies last!

Be sure to look for RO*TEL in either the pasta or Hispanic food aisle in Walmart!

5 Tips for Healthy Skin in Your 30s #HeartYourSkin #ad #cbias

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

 I've always taken skin care for granted. My teens and twenties were spent thinking that I'm young and don't need to worry about it. The truth is, that had I taken better care of my skin in my 20s, I wouldn't be regretting my ignorance in my 30s! There are lots of things we can do to give ourselves healthier skin, but here are five basic tips for healthy skin that are easy for most anyone. 

In addition to the other ideas I'm sharing here, I'm especially looking forward to incorporating products from the NO-AD line. NO-AD skin care products are multi-function beauty products that have a great  blend of vitamins, antioxidants, and SPF 15 broad spectrum protection to help achieve beautiful skin. They protect skin over the entire body---not just the face---and help prevent photoaging (sun damage to the skin). 

The NO-AD Anti-Aging Body Moisturizers are new products located in the skin care section at Walmart. Make sure to check this store list and then pick up a coupon here for $2.00 off any one  NO-AD Anti-Aging Body Moisturizer Pump Lotion or Spray Lotion. You'll only be able to grab the coupons if you have a local store carrying the product.

One thing that really helps my skin take on a healthy glow is by eating lots of fruits and vegetables. Jamie has just started juicing and I am thinking about joining him. What a great way to get a good dose of all the vitamins, minerals, fiber, and more that our bodies need for beautiful, healthy skin.

Secondly, I think there's no better way to cleanse the body of harmful toxins that dull and age our skin than by drinking lots of water. Sometimes I like to infuse lemons, strawberries, cucumbers, and more into my ice water to make it more tasty and to make sure I drink lots!

The third basic healthy skin tip is to get enough sleep. Why am I showing books here? Well, because they can either help or hurt your sleeping patterns. If you're like me and like to spend all your free time with your nose in a novel, you might need to set yourself some limits on nighttime reading so you can get adequate sleep. On the other hand, if you have a difficult time falling asleep, a book (especially a boring one---if such a thing exists) can make those eyelids heavy and help you nod off.

A fourth step to take is to find a good moisturizer and apply it daily. The NO-AD skin care line can help give you a bright, healthy glow and at its super affordable price, you can use it every day. There are two formulas: Prevent & Brighten and Prevent & Repair. Both come in either a 6.5 oz spray lotion or a 12 oz pump lotion.

Finally, I can not emphasize enough the importance of wearing something with an SPF daily. Sun damage can occur even on cloudy days so it's good to just get in the habit of wearing an SPF lotion every day. These NO-AD products also have an SPF of 15, so I feel very comfortable wearing them on my sunburn-prone skin. 

What are some things you do to take care of your skin? I'd love to read your tips in the comments below! For more info, visit No-Ad on Facebook and Twitter.

Sweet Onion Pot Roast ~ A Simple Slow Cooker Recipe & Campbell's Coupon #WeekNightHero #Ad #cbias

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

When our family first moved to Arkansas last year, I started a new tradition of making a Sunday dinner in the slow cooker to enjoy after church---and a cake to enjoy after that. The cake tradition didn't stick around very long---but the dinner one has. One of our favorite Sunday dinners is slow cooker pot roast. In fact, we love it so much that it's become a weeknight favorite, as well. 

I've always loved my method of preparing this roast. With only four ingredients, it comes together quickly and is cost-effective for our large family. However, last week I discovered Campbell's Soups for Easy Cooking---and now my easy recipe has become even easier. By making the switch from my usual Cream of Mushroom soup and onion soup mix combo to the new Sweet Onion flavor of Campbell's Soups for Easy Cooking, I'm saving money, as well as an extra step.

Campbell's Soups for Easy Cooking are found at Walmart near all the soup I normally purchase. There are four varieties: Savory Portobello Mushroom, Creamy Herb & Garlic with Chicken Stock, Sweet Onion, and Mexican Style Tomato. These come in sealed, 14.5 oz. cartons, rather than cans. Here's a $.75 coupon you can use to try them out.

I love it that I could reinvent my regular pot roast recipe and save a step by incorporating the Sweet Onion soup instead of my normal can of cream soup and packet of soup mix. The roast had the same savory flavor we love and the meal came together quicker than normal. This is a meal that you can prepare for the slow cooker in less than 10 minutes and let cook all day for a hearty and delicious home-cooked dinner in the evening.

After I sprayed the crock with oil, I set the roast in the bottom and arranged sliced onions all over the top. Then I poured in two cartons of Sweet Onion.

The soup is similar to the cream soup texture that I'm used to and has the same savory onion flavor that I got when I mixed the cream soup with the onion soup mix. 

 After cooking it on low for 8-10 hours, I was greeted with a beautiful roast topped with deliciously flavored onions. I like to serve the gravy from the pot over potatoes, along with a vegetable side and slice of bread. 

For our family, I usually make two roasts so there will be leftovers and lots of gravy. I can freeze the leftovers and serve them over rice the following week for a second quick and easy weeknight dinner.

Sweet Onion Pot Roast

3-4 lb. beef chuck roast

1 large onion

2 containers Sweet Onion Campbell's Soups for Easy Cooking

Spray a large slow cooker crock with oil and place the meat inside. Slice the onion and arrange on top. Pour both containers of soup on top of the onions. Cook on low 8-10 hours or on high 4-5 hours. 

Are you ready to make your own weekend meal on a weeknight schedule? Try reinventing one of your family favorites using Campbell's Soups for Easy Cooking. I'd love to hear about which ones you'll try out! To make it even easier, don't forget to use your $.75 coupon. Coupon launches on 3/13 and is valid for one month.

For more info, visit Campbell's on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.