Keeping Life Fresh and Natural with Tom's of Maine

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

Here on the farm there is always something to be done. Summertime is no exception! Things are in full swing. Strawberry and cherry season is already over, but now we have beans, blueberries, squash, peaches and more. Top that all off with the demands of Fall planting and a busy house full of kids and my husband and I work up quite the sweat everyday. Since so much attention goes into what we eat, it only makes sense that we would look for a long-lasting deodorant with natural ingredients like Tom's of Maine.

Deodorant doesn't grow on trees and neither do stores in the country, so when I decided to try Tom's deodorant I turned to my favorite online option, Amazon.

As a Prime customer, I found options for getting my new deodorant delivered in just 2 days. This time though I tried the Prime Pantry box. I was able to get a flat rate for the whole box and could fill it with as much as it would hold. We also use Tom's of Maine toothpaste in our house and I order that through Amazon on a monthly subscription. Now I can combine all my ordering on a monthly schedule. This saves me a lot of unwanted trips into town.

I ordered the Naturally Dry Antiperspirant and the Long Lasting unscented for myself. Chasing the kids and weed control in our family garden can leave me a dripping mess on a hot day. For those days I plan to use the Naturally Dry. But for date night or trips into the city I can use the Long Lasting option.

When I mentioned I was going to try Tom's of Maine deodorant, my husband had me grab some for him. There is a long lasting men's deodorant option. My husband has just started using it, but I am curious to see how it holds up to the demands of a busy farmer. That will be a true test.

Living on a 5-generation farm means there is a lot of old equipment.. It also means that some of the methods used have been passed down from generation to generation, just like this old tractor. Simple and natural solutions work on the farm, and we don't have a need for artificial colors, flavors, fragrances, or preservative in the food we grow. I like the idea of leaving those out of my body with natural personal care products. I like to stay #FreshNaturally.

All I ask from a deodorant is that I smell like... well, it doesn't have to be flowers, but at least it shouldn't smell bad. There is no shortage of work to be done around the house and farm. These Gerbera Daisies are desparate for a good weeding, but I know that will be one dirty and sweaty job.

Don't worry. It's on the to-do list.

Everyday there are things to be picked, processed and enjoyed. We like to embrace each season and fully utilize what is available. I pick while I can and preserve things to get us through the long Winter.

Kitchen work, with lifting and stirring over a hot stove, always works up a sweat. Do you watch any reality TV cooking competitions? We love watching "Chopped" on Food Network. The contestants are constantly wiping their brows as they slave over the grill or stove. Some days my kitchen feels like that when I am processing canned goods and keeping my family of 5 fed and happy.

We moved out here, just a short distance from where my husband and his family grew up to give our kids a memorable childhood. I wanted them to be able to collect bugs in the yard and play catch with a dog. There are some real pro's to living outside the city limits.

Looking inside a squash blossom today I noticed both a helpful insect right alongside a harmful one. That is a lot like living out in the country. Natural means we get dirty, and sometimes a little stinky working out in the garden. It is a lot of hard work and to keep cool my body tries to compensate.

I like being natural, but letting body odor or sweat stains hold me back from socializing seems unnatural.

Things are not going to stop growing around here. (At least for the next several months!) From the kids to the squash, growing is busy, dirty, fun business. Keeping everything healthy and happy keeps me busy.

And when I can do it all and stay dry I have more time to enjoy the simple pleasures of country life like a rainbow over the alfalfa field.

And now, don't mind me, but I have to get back to work. For a peek into my busy/dirty day, check out my Instagram video:




Have you tried Tom's of Maine products? Which deodorant would you like to try?

Creating a Good Life - 10 Essentials for Adopting an Adult Cat

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community. This cat food shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser. All opinions and experiences are my own. #goodlifepet

One of the best things our family decided to do was to take in an adult cat named Chloe. Growing up around cats, I have experienced my fair share of kittens... but also have fond memories of an adult cat we adopted, when I was in high school, named Leo.

Leo was a very friendly, soft and snuggly cat who entered my life as a confident adult. There were no shredded items or tiny paws snagging my ankles at every turn. He arrived and then promptly took a center position on the couch and our laps.

Though kittens are adorable, with my own young children I didn't want to deal with the boundless energy of a tiny terror, sharp little milk teeth and litter box training. No, I opted to take on an mature cat and it is a decision I have never regretted. You could say that Chloe and I have provided each other a mutually beneficial good life.

In my experience, kittens are often impulsive decisions. Based on looks and tugging at heartstrings, kittens come home and are flexible enough to take on a new family and experiences. The truth is, the patience a kitten would require is currently being sucked up entirely by my 3 young children. Adult cats require more forethought and planning, but also come with great benefits.

• Mature cats do not demand as much time as raising a kitten
• Already litter box trained
• Often spayed, neutered and fully vaccinated
• You know what to expect in the way of temperament, size, coat, etc.
• Are a better fit for children and older adults

Of course, once you decide a mature cat is a good fit for your family's needs, you will need to prepare for bringing them home. Having everything in place and ready to go when they start to explore their new home will help reduce the new family member's stress.

I have compiled a list of 10 essential items to get you started and prepared for your new friend. Believe me, your new cat will thank you.

First lets look at the general items you will need.

1. Carrier or travel box for vet visits and coming home. An older cat will require more vet visits and having a carrier will make travel easier and safer. Make sure it is well ventilated and your pet may appreciate being able to see you there.
2. Identification. You can find an I.D. engraver in most large pet stores and there is even one in my local Walmart. Make sure there is a way to contact you if your pet becomes lost or injured. A newly adopted pet may wander off before they become accustomed to their new home. I like to keep an extra I.D. handy because cats have a talent for slipping out of their collars.
3. Brush or Grooming Supplies. Depending on your cat's coat, you may want to get a grooming glove or brushes to keep your pet's coat at its best.
4. Treats. Treats are a great ice breaker with a new pet and a great way to build trust. I also keep some handy for Chloe when I want to introduce a new peice of cat furniture or entice her into her carrier.
5. Flea & Tick Prevention. Growing up we used flea collars, but now I use an easy treatment to keep parasites away. It only needs to be reapplied every few months. This helps to keep fleas down on my indoor/outdoor cat as well as in my carpet.

Then you will need to make arrangements for a cat box. I like to find an out of the way place to put my cat's litter box but that is also well ventilated. It needs to also be in an area where I will remember to keep it scooped and changed. For us, the laundry room was the perfect place for these items.

6. Litter Box. This should be clean and free of scratches that can harbor smells and bacteria. I like to change the box itself once a year.
7. Cat Litter. There are so many choices out there for litter - clumping, scented, all natural...your choice.

Not essential, but an item I have grown to enjoy is a Litter Genie. This has helped  keep the litter box cleaner and has cut back on the indoor cat smell.

An older cat may be overwhelmed by the excitement and activity in their new home. When Chloe first came to live with us she found a quiet place to rest during the day and safely explored our home in the evenings. Eventually I created a little area for her in our laundy room. It seemed like the perfect place after I found her curled up on top of the dryer several mornings. The laundry room has a baby gate on it so she can retreat from small grabbing hands. She has a bed, and everything she needs in this room. Some days I still find her hanging out in the laundry room shen she needs a little break from the three children or there is company in the house.

8. A Safe Place. We put up a bed and the blanket she came with to create a   safe area with familiar smells. The window also lets in enough light that she can warm up on Winter mornings.

And then, last but not least, you need a place for fresh, clean water and food.

9. Food & Water Dishes. I prefer a self-waterer and gravity style feeder since we are busy and I don't want Chloe to run out of food. She doesn't have a problem with overeating so this has worked best for us.
10. The Right Food. I chose GOODLIFE™ dry cat food Indoor Recipefor Chloe because she primarily lives indoors. It is available in my local Walmart and reasonably priced. Chloe enjoys the taste and I appreciate that chicken is the first ingredient on the bag.

There are 3 different recipes, Indoor Recipe, Real Chicken Recipe and Real Salmon Recipe, all available at Walmart. Chloe spends much of her day inside, enjoying the good life, so the indoor recipe made the most sense for her. The protein contect is a little lower (but, she isn't as active, either) and it contains added fiber to help control hairballs. That is really important when you have a long haired cat.

None of the GOODLIFE™ brand recipes contain corn, soy or wheat. Either chicken or salmon top the list of ingredients. Yes, its a grain free cat food option. You can get nutrition information, see how other leading brands stack up and even score a $1 off cat food coupon for GOODLIFE™ Cat food on the brand site.

 

If adopting a cat is in your future, give adopting a mature cat some thought. Ask around because a cat you know may need a new home.

How did we find Chloe? After posting a humorous "Cat Wanted" letter on Facebook, a old high school classmate responded by saying that her growing family had one too many cats. Over a direct message photo of Chloe, we knew we had found our cat. She has proven that mature cats have just as much love to offer a new family as a kitten.

I would even say, she has more.

Do you have cats? Have you ever adopted an adult cat?

Introducing Kecia from Southern Girl Ramblings

It is the time of year for gift exchanges and Secret Santa. I am a proud member of the Social Fabric community of bloggers and this year am participating in the Virtual Gift Exchange. Yippee!

I am excited to introduce Kecia from Southern Girl Ramblings - my virtual gift is to share a little about this talented blogger with readers here as well as the Social Fabric community in general. So, let's get to know Kecia and her blog a little better, shall we?

Kecia started blogging in 2005, and Southern Girl Ramblings was born in 2009. With a little bit of everything from giveaways to surviving parenthood, I think there is something for everyone on her site. She is a busy Mama of two - she just added a new baby boy to the crew. Congrats Kecia!!

Check out her Pinterest boards for everything from delicious recipes to Blogging Resources. I think we can all learn something from a board filled with guest posting etiquette to organization and how to use keywords. All great stuff that I plan to repin and read.

As for my favorite posts on her blog? Well, it is hard to choose but the Super Simple Caramel Apple Cupcakes caught my eye... and as a cloth-loving mama I enjoyed her first post Beginning her Cloth Diaper Journey. I can't wait to see what she thinks of cloth after having tried it out on her new baby. I am a fan and love seeing new converts come into the fluffy fold.

Overall, Kecia is someone I would love to meet in real life. She has a great blog, great tips, as well as tries out and gets to giveaway a lot of neat products. I hope you drop by her blog and connect with her on her social media channels: Instagram - Check out the adorable pics of her new baby! And Facebook 

Kecia, happy holidays! Congratulations on your beautiful new baby boy and I hope 2014 is a madly successful year of blogging for you.

#Ad To Your School with Tyson Products and Safeway

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  To support local schools I shopped at Safeway for participating products in Tyson's Project A+ Program. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and its client. #ClipForSchool.

My son started out on his great school adventure this past Tuesday.

Kindergarten, already? Can you believe it?

Of course we have been preparing, both mentally and physically, for weeks now.  Yes, I was the Mom doing timed practice drills down to the bus stop in the morning. On the first day my son could barely contain himself as he waited for the big yellow bus.

Yes, there was a lot of bouncing involved.

He had a fabulous first day and beamed through till bedtime. It made me feel good that he started out his education on the right foot. Now I just want to keep it all so positive. I would love to volunteer in his classroom and help with school events, but with a 2 month old baby and another young child at home, I just don't have the time to give right now. Luckily there are other ways I can contribute to our school.

Do you shop at Safeway? I stopped by our local store to learn there were multiple ways to do my weekly shopping and support my son's school at the same time.

Safeway is currently running a Back to School 10% School Donation Program. Just look for the shelf tags like this one:

This program runs from August 14th through September 10th. There is still time to take advantage of this opportunity. Just register your Club Card so 10% of the net purchase price will go to the school of your choice automatically, or follow instructions on the bottom of your receipt after you get home. eScrip supporters earn automatically.

Safeway also stocks a variety of Tyson products, many of which are eligible for Tyson's Project A+ Program. I found a handy sign on the outside of the freezer case with a quick explanation of how it works.

I can only imagine the fun things a little extra cash could fund at my son's school. On our last visit to the elementary school my husband and I remarked how they could really use updated playground equipment and supplies. The volleyball net was tattered and they can always use new balls and supplies for the students.

The beauty of this program is anyone can get involved. That means not only can you get other parents and teachers involved, but ask your relatives or friends to clip labels as well.

The Tyson Project A+ site was easy for me to use.

Check to see if your school is already listed, if not it is easy to get enrolled. Sign up took just a few minutes and my school showed up on the list immediately. There is also a complete list of participating products on the site, and with more than 40 Tyson products listed, there is sure to be something your family will love.

Then clip and collect labels to be redeemed for cash for your school. At 24 cents a label, it adds up quickly and is worth more than other school incentive programs. There is a minimum of 100 labels for redemption. I know I buy enough Tyson products to put a decent dent in the minimum myself.

Okay, so I shopped at Safeway, accumulated some money and labels for my school and now have Tyson chicken in my freezer. What did I make?

I made this Easy Chicken Caprese Pasta that was on the table in less than 10 minutes! Check out the recipe.

Easy Chicken Caprese Pasta

You Will Need:

• 4 Tyson Grilled & Ready Chicken Breasts
• 1 box Angel Hair Pasta
• 4 garlic cloves
• 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
• extra virgin olive oil to drizzle
• 2 large beefsteak tomatoes, sliced
• 8 slices of fresh mozzarella
• 1/4 c. fresh basil, sliced thin
• balsamic vinegar to drizzle
• kosher salt

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Boil pasta according to the package instructions. I prefer Angel Hair because it cooks in around 4 minutes.

Cook chicken according to package instructions. The recommended method is covered in the microwave and cooking times vary depending on the amount of chicken being cooked. Set aside.

In a large saute pan melt the butter and warm the garlic through. Add the cooked pasta and toss to coat. Drizzle with more olive oil as necessary to keep the pasta from sticking.

Plate a serving of pasta and top with a chicken breast, then tomato slices, mozzarella slices and sprinkle with basil. Drizzle the top with balsamic vinegar and sprinkle with kosher salt to taste.

Enjoy!

Connect with Tyson on Facebook for product announcements and promotions.

What does your school need? Are you participating in either of these programs?

Enjoying Bigelow Teas - #AmericasTea for Dinner Versatility

This 4th of July really snuck up on me. The new baby has taken most of my spare time, so I didn't put as much thought into planning a holiday meal for my family. Despite it being the busiest time of year on the farm, I still wanted to spend the day with family and good food. We love to fire up the BBQ for holidays like this, and this year I chose to embrace the versatility of Bigelow Tea and try using our favorite teas to flavor my dishes. It is #AmericasTea for a reason and since it was America's big day, it seemed fitting. We already enjoy iced tea, but I wanted to see if I could also marinate, bake and use tea in a dessert.

I have great memories from my childhood linked to a cup full of tea. My first babysitter introduced me to a simple mug, a little milk and honey. It soon became my drink of choice, even in elementary school. After living abroad in Japan tea became the new love of my life. We drank it everywhere and hot, cold, sweet or bitter, but the selection is amazing back here in the US. So many tea flavors to choose from!

My local Walmart carries a wide selection of Bigelow Teas. You can see our family shopping trip to Walmart and what I had to choose from. Usually I purchase mint tea or simple fruit teas to enjoy while I read at night. It is my favorite why to unwind after a long day. For this meal I was determined to think outside the mug. With it's low price, I grabbed several flavors to try and experiment with. We left the store with Earl Grey, Constant Comment, Orange & Spice, Perfectly Peach as well as an Herb Tea Assortment plus all the veggies and other baking items I needed for my meal.

Burgers, dogs or steak? We have done it all before. This year I went for a more unconventional meat, a local lamb, yum! The Bigelow site had an intriguing recipe for marinating lamb kebabs. It called for Constant Comment tea, a spicy tea blend with hints of orange. This was the first time I tried this tea and the aroma from steeping it made my whole house smell amazing.

It was as simple as steeping the tea, adding in the other ingredients, honey, cumin and cloves, and letting the meat marinate before adding to a pre-soaked skewer. We grilled half of them on the BBQ, and cooked the other half in the smoker. Both were delicious, but the smoker added even more flavor to the meat.

I loved this meal because preparation was simple and cleanup was just as easy.

I also wanted dessert to be special. The idea of Earl Grey flavor packed into a little shortbread cookie sounded like the perfect way to savor my favorite hot drink in cookie form. I added in a little more tea than other recipes to boost the flavor along with vanilla and made sure the sugar was pulsed up fine.

Earl Grey Tea Cookies

You Will Need:

• 3 Tbsp. Earl Grey tea (about 8 bags of opened tea)
• 3/4 c. granulated sugar
• 1/2 c. confectioners sugar
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 c. AP Flour
• 2 sticks butter, unsalted at room temperature
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a food processor, pulse up the tea and granulated sugar. Make sure the larger leaves of tea are broken up. Then add the confectioners sugar, salt and flour and pulse till well incorporated.

Then add the butter and vanilla. Mix until the dough comes together and is evenly moistened throughout. It should just hold together but not be too sticky. You can add a tsp. of water if necessary.

Turn the dough onto a piece of waxed paper and roll out to 1/4" thickness. Use a cookie cutter to cut out stars or your favorite shapes. Place onto a lined baking sheet and chill for 10 minutes.

Bake for 10 - 15 minutes depending on the size of your cookie. I used two different sizes of star cookie cutters and adjusted the time for each tray. Bake until they begin to turn golden around the edges.

Cool on the tray for 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Being Summer, I had a crunchy treat for dessert, but I also wanted something to help us cool off. We enjoy making snow cones because they are simple, inexpensive and delicious.

I also used Bigelow Tea to make my syrup for snow cones. If you haven't made your own snow cone syrup, you have to try it. It tastes so much better than store-bought. I used Perfect Peach flavored tea and jazzed it up with pureeing up one ripe peach for the little fruit chunks. It was a huge hit with my family!

The tea added a nice complexity to the seasonal fruit. Dare I say it was an improvement on a perfectly good peach?

Perfect Peach Snow Cone Syrup

You Will Need:

• 3 Bigelow Perfect Peach tea bags
• 1 c. water
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 ripe peach

Bring 1 cup of water to a boil and then turn off the heat and steep the tea bags for 5 minutes. 

Discard the tea bags and add in the sugar. Bring back up to a boil  and stir the mixture till all the sugar has dissolved. Let the syrup reduce slightly over a low simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.

Add a sliced ripe peach and the syrup to a blender and pulse till you achieve desired results. I left some small chunks of peach in my mixture. Let this completely cool then put in a jar and store in the refrigerator till you want to use it.

I make crushed ice in my Blendtec and then gently spoon the syrup over the top to serve. Enjoy!

A whole meal with tea? Yes. Tea is still my favorite warm beverage, but the flavors are so much more versatile than I first imagined. Bigelow Tea comes in such a wide variety of flavors that it works perfectly with everything from lamb kebabs to family-friendly desserts. All the bags are individually sealed to hold in all the freshness and aroma - the perfect compliment to fresh food at my Summer BBQ.

Be sure to follow Bigelow Tea on Facebook, Twitter as well as check out their Bigelow Tea Pinterest Board.

I want to know, what would you make with Bigelow Tea?

For more great Summer ideas, check out the Summer E-Guide Below:

Baked Hominy: Recipe Revamp with Bacon! Kraft #FreshTake

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and Kraft Foods #FreshTake #cbias #SocialFabric . All opinions and experiences are my own.

What recipe really speaks to your family?

Is it pizza? Macaroni and Cheese? Or how about a good 'ole hamburger?

One of my husband's all-time favorites is this Baked Hominy recipe that his Mom made. Yes, I have shared it here on the blog before, but this is really the first time I have completely tweaked the flavor and made it my own. Well, ... with a little help from Kraft, of course.

So, what is hominy? Well, the dish is our family's version of macaroni and cheese. A Winter comfort food that is thick, creamy and will stick to our ribs. It was a favorite at our ski club potluck after a long day out skiing. The hominy itself is made of dried maize kernels that are softened in a process called nixtamalization. Kernels are soaked, cooked and then hulled, leaving a corn that is soft and easier to digest. If you grind it up, you can make corn tortillas. In this case, it is softened, but chewy and makes a great substitute for pasta. You can find it in the Hispanic Food section.

The recipe is not difficult, but I usually spend a little extra time pulsing up my breadcrumbs in the food processor with a little butter and Parmesan cheese. I haven't found a pre-made breadcrumb that works perfectly for the top. With all the available flavors of the Kraft #FreshTake Meal Kits, I thought they might add a new fun spin on our family favorite and save me some time, too!

Despite my best planning, I am a strict shopping list kinda Mom, once in our Walmart I couldn't decide on which of the Kraft Fresh Take mixes to try. Luckily I married a smart guy who suggested we try both. Okay, this baked hominy dish would present it's own little show-down of flavors. We decided to try it both with the Southwest Three Cheese Recipe and the Cheddar Jack and Bacon Recipe. Both mixes sounded like they would go well with the other ingredients in the entree.

If you are looking for your own Fresh Take Meal Kits, head straight to the dairy section, and you will find it with the pre-shredded cheeses. Also keep your eye out in the meat department for coupons right on packages of chicken to redeem for $1.00 off the price of one (1) chicken item with the purchase of Fresh Take. The coupons will run 5/1-7/31.

Ready to make this simple and delicious meal idea?

Baked Hominy

You Will Need:

• 2 - 1lb, 13 oz cans of Hominy (white or yellow), rinsed and drained
• 2 pints sour cream
• 1/4 c. chicken stock
• 1/2 large onion. grated 
• 3 c. Monterey Jack Cheese, grated
• 2 - 4oz can diced green chiles
• salt and pepper to taste
• Kraft Fresh Take Meal Kit in either Southwestern Three Cheese or Cheddar Jack and Bacon

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Start by draining and rinsing your hominy well in a colander. Let it dry while you prepare the rest of the dish. Then add all your wet ingredients together, the sour cream, stock, onion, and chiles. I use a whisk to get it as smooth as possible. Then add the hominy and cheese. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour into your casserole dish.

Add your selected flavor mix of Kraft Fresh Take to the top and then bake for 30 minutes, until it has warmed through the and top begins to brown. Serve warm.

As for the Fresh Take Meal Kit?

Once I opened up the package, the inner pouch held two clever sides. One for the shredded cheese and the other for the seasoned breadcrumbs. All I had to do was tear off the top, and pull open the center seal.

I mixed it right in the pouch and then could sprinkle it over my casserole. The bacon smelled so good!

In our little showdown of flavors, we put the Southwest Three Cheese head-to-head with the Cheddar Jack and Bacon. After trying both sides of the casserole dish, and they were both tasty, the bacon won out! The smokey flavor was a perfect paring with the creamy, rich flavors in the hominy. The Southwest Three Cheese came a close second because of the mild heat. My husband is not a fan of warm/spicy foods.

I loved them both because of how much they changed up my usual dinner recipe and saved me a few steps. This recipe revamp was a complete success.

Though a great addition to your favorite meat, think outside the box and see how Fresh Take Meal Kits can add a little zip to your usual recipe. So, how would you use Kraft Fresh Take?

Check out the Kraft Fresh Possibilities Tour. Their truck which will be making stops across the country from March through the end of July. To see if they are making a stop in your town check out the tour website for more information.