Summer Fashion: It's Just "Better Together"

Disclosure: This post is part of a DailyBuzz Moms Tastemaker program with P&G. All opinions and experiences are my own. 

Laundry. 

Do we ever escape those constantly growing mountains of dirty laundry piled high in the laundry room? Well, considering I will be adding baby #3 to the mix later this week (EEEEKKK!!!) I don't see an end to my laundry duty anytime soon. As it is, living on a farm I have a massive amount of laundry to do daily.

Now, P&G laundry products are nothing new in our home, but we haven't used them for a while because we switched to all fragrance free formulas. Both my husband and son have very sensitive skin. I had no idea that Downy came in a "free" version until recently and thrilled to find Tide, Downy and Bounce 'Free' formulas - no dyes, no perfume - available at Target. Yay!

Just as every member of my family has their own Summer clothing preference, like my husband's non-cotton shirts and Carhart work jeans, or my daughter's light-up shoes, twirly skirt and bright tank top, the combination of Tide + Downy + bounce is just, "Better Together"!

Yes, after my family members find the perfect balance of cool, comfortable and their own personal style, it is my job to keep those clothes clean and looking their best. With a son who prefers digging in the dirt to being clean, and many hours of spit-up and baby messes in my own future this can be a real challenge.

To start with, I love that Tide is such a great stain fighter.

Downy helps to keep our clothing soft and I have been using bounce since I was a child to cut-down on static cling in the dryer. I will agree that these products are just better together!

This Summer I am all about vibrant colors paired with a long maxi shirt. I like to have a few jacket or light sweater options for cool evenings out. I also have those adorable little pearl peas-in-a-pod necklaces on my wish-list to celebrate each of my children. Add to the ensemble a big floppy hat, sunglasses and cute embellished sandals and I think I would be ready for just about any event or playdate.

This coral nursing top caught my eye, but with a new baby I will be sporting a fair amount of spit-up and constantly doing laundry. Usually that wreaks havoc on bright vivid colors, right?

My "Better Together" Summer Style by andrea-potter-kruse featuring motherhood maternity

Happily, I have been washing away the messes without washing out the colors of my favorite clothes. Add to that how affordable the prices are at Target and this Mom is a happy camper.

So, what is your go-to outfit this Summer season? And how do you keep them looking their best?

P&G Tide + Target Campaign Logo Code: P&G.

With Tide, Downy and Bounce, you can keep your summer fashions looking new up to 50% longer.* Text CLEAN to TARGET (827438) for mobile coupons.
 Attribution Statement: This post is sponsored by 
*vs. leading value detergent alone

A Day in the Life of Diaper Rash - My Experience + #Giveaway

This post is sponsored by Boudreaux's Butt Paste®, the effective diaper rash cream that treats and prevents diaper rash with every change. Let's kick some rash!

Babies!! Gotta love 'em! They arrive in this world helpless, smelling so good, and feeling amazingly soft.

But of course there is a darker side to caring for a baby. With that irresistibly soft skin comes....

...the dreaded Diaper Rash!!!

Just the name can strike fear into the hearts of parents everywhere. (Mine included!) From chapped bottoms to screams and tears, I found it could go from bad to worse if I wasn't prepared.

My son was the worst. He has very sensitive skin and from the start we learned that if I didn't catch diaper rash quickly, he would develop horrible sores in the diaper area. Through trial and error, here are my tips to help combat red and angry diaper rash:

• Change diapers frequently. I  kept my son as dry as I could with frequent diaper changes. Have you heard the joke about the newborn diapers? 7-10 lbs? No, that is not how much you can fill the diapers with. 
• Dab dry. After changing diapers and using baby wipes I started dabbing my kids dry with cloth wipes. This ensured there was no more moisture left to irritate the skin and made diaper rash more infrequent.
• Be prepared & prevent. Keep a handy tube of Boudreaux's Butt Paste in multiple places. I kept a tube in my purse, in my diaper bag, at the changing station and with my emergency diaper changing stash in the car. Have it handy and use it right away if you notice irritation.
• Seal to heal. If you need to use diaper rash cream, use it to cover the entire affected area. I like to smear it on thick for a nice comfortable barrier from friction and moisture.

In full disclosure, we don't use Boudreaux's Butt Paste for only diaper changes. It has been very handy anytime we have chaffing, rubbing or moisture. Yes, even mamas need rash relief after a 5K. Whether you are running, cycling or sporting that diaper, it can be a real help to kick some rash! 

I was sent a fabulous rash kicking kit to get me started. I love all the goodies that were included. From a diaper and wipes to a pacifier and rattle to keep baby busy while changing. Of course, there was also the essential tube of Boudreaux's Butt Paste.

I love how thick the paste is. Water repellent and even soothing on angry skin, this is my favorite brand to buy. And the scent? Not overpowering or medicinal, it is light and subtle. Not everyone has to know your baby has diaper rash.

After two children in diapers I can say that diaper rash comes and goes with stages. For my daughter the rash didn't start until after she began eating more solid foods. Depending on what she ate, some days I couldn't change her diaper fast enough to keep her skin from becoming irritated. We found citrus especially irritating. Along with all those diaper changes I used a healthy amount of diaper rash cream to keep her from having rash-induced melt-downs. She was definitely angry when her bottom was sore, but it didn't have to ruin our day.

My daughter is still in diapers and recently has been going through a new stage of being shy about it. Instead of proudly letting me know when she needs her pants changed, she will run off and play or hide so I find she sitting in wet pants more often. Thank goodness for Boudreaux's!

Here is a great video of  the scourge "Rashadon" from Boudreaux's Butt Paste

Have a great diaper rash tale? Be sure to share it over on the Boudreaux's Butt Paste Facebook Page and read the stories and comments from other parents facing their own "Rashadon". While you are on the Facebook page be sure to share this cute video with your friends, everyone needs a little humor in their day, right?

Giveaway Time!!!

Win a prize package of gift cards (Target, Babies 'R Us & Walmart ($150 value)!

One lucky reader will win a gift card prize package for their baby with a $50 Target gift card, $50 Babies 'R Us gift card, and $50 Walmart gift card ($150 total value). 

• (1) Entry: Comment on this post with your own diaper rash story, tip or trick. 

• For one (1) additional entry share the video above and leave me a link where I can find it (Pinterest link, tweet URL, or Google+ link.)

Giveaway runs 10/8/2012 - 10/18/2012 midnight PST. Comment below with your entry and leave your email address so I can contact you if it isn't public in your blogger profile. Winner will be selected via Random.org., contacted via email and the winner will be posted on this post. Click here for official rules. Good luck!

Want to increase your chances to win? Check out the giveaway over at The Shopping Mama, Mama Loves Her Bargains, Lilac City Momma, Momaroo and A Life to Brag About.  Once winner will be chosen from each of these great sites!

*Disclaimer - As part of the DailyBuzz Moms Featured Publisher Program, I received a stipend and a Boudreaux’s Butt Paste® Mom Toolkit in exchange for my participation in this program.  All opinions and experiences are my own.

Celebrating Fall on the Farm - DailyBuzz Moms 9x9

I was selected to participate in the DailyBuzz Moms " Fall into Autumn!" September 9x9.  This is my submission. For more great ideas be sure to check out the other 8 blog posts.

Crisp, clean air, cool evenings and a whole new set of new seasonal foods to enjoy makes Fall my favorite season. After the busy pace of Summer activities and longer daylight hours, Fall is the perfect time to relax and enjoy the slower pleasures of a colorful and flavorful season.

Armed with a few good recipes to really celebrate the tastes, sights and smells of the season, anyone, even if you live in the city, can bring the best of Fall into their own home. I am going to share a few of my favorites to get you in the mood for this fabulous Fall season. So, from our farm to your home here they are.

When we decided to move to the family farm it was because we were passionate about raising our children to be mindful of the seasons. Eating local and seasonal became a fun challenge, though Fall isn't really a challenging time to find good food. There is so much available right now. Our apples are ready to be picked in the orchard, prunes are ready to be shaken from the trees, squash sits out in the fields and all the beautiful root vegetables are waiting patiently in their rows to be unearthed.

My favorite seasonal foods are pumpkins and other squash. There are so many reasons to embrace squash this season, they are great to store, nutritious and inexpensive. Luckily if you can't get out to your local farm market or stand,  squash is readily available in supermarkets everywhere.

We grow several varieties and I try to incorporate them into our lunches and dinners baked, pureed, steamed and even grilled. A simple baked squash is easy to fill with various ingredients to create an entire meal. Some of our family favorites include stuffing with rice, lentils or even fruit, as in my apple and prune stuffed squash recipe. So let's begin with the tastes of Fall.

This combination may seem odd, but the apples and prunes both lend a sweetness that combines well with the spices and butter, and compliment the simple squash. This recipes is sure to please even the pickiest eaters. For a little added protein, top with your favorite chopped nuts.

Apple Prune Stuffed Squash

You Will Need:

• 1 acorn squash, halved and seeds scraped out
• 1/2 c. water
• 1 tart apple, sliced thin and cubed
• 6 prunes (dried plums), quartered
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 1 Tbsp. brown sugar
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Place the squash in a baking dish large enough to accommodate it easily. Add the water to the pan and cover with aluminum foil. Bake till the squash is fork tender, start checking around 35 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a skillet heat up the butter and saute the apple chunks until tender. Then add the prunes, half the brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg to the pan. Toss to coat.

When the squash is ready, drain out any excess water and fill with the apple filling and top with the remaining brown sugar. Return to the oven till the brown sugar melts and everything is warmed through.

Everyone seems to bake their squash differently. I like to put 1/2 cup water in the bottom of a baking dish with the cut side of the squash down. I cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes. Then I turn over and drain the water out of the squash (leave in the baking dish) and continue baking uncovered till the squash is fork tender. I find using water keeps the squash from drying out around the edges. The flesh is creamy and moist.

This easily serves my family of 4, but I wouldn't mind diving into a whole half myself. Enjoy!

A big part of Fall is the changing leaves and many colors that dot the hillsides. To capture the sights of Fall I made my kids their favorite jigglers with a colorful twist.

Fall Colors Jell-O Jigglers

I usually grab the smallest boxes for of Jell-O for this project. Grab your favorite flavors in an assortment of Fall inspired colors. We chose grape, orange and strawberry, though both green and yellow flavors would also be a nice addition.

You Will Need:

• 3 or more different flavors (colors) of Jell-O gelatin, small (3.4 oz size)
• 1/2 c. boiling water for each package

Mix the packages of Jell-O separately in measuring cups or bowls. Whisk well to dissolve all the powder. Pour one whole package into the bottom of a 9x9 glass baking dish. Put in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes.

Mix the other boxes well and let cool slightly.

Before the refrigerated Jell-O can set-up, add the other slightly cooled colors. Don't stir too much as the colors will spread out on their own. You can also reserve some of the Jell-O to pour on top after refrigerating the dish again.

Have fun and experiment with pouring and layering the colors for fun and delicious treats! When the gelatin has set-up completely, use small leaf cookie cutters to cut out shapes. A thin flexible spatula inserted under the shapes can help you life them out easily. 

My son snagged a few as I was snapping pictures. They love Jell-O!

I have a Wilton set of fondant cutters that are a great size for jigglers. I have a fall set I took the acorn and leaves from, but there are other various sets for all occasions.

Let's not forget about the wonderful scents and aromas associated with Fall. To celebrate those I created my own simple potpourri to display around the house. Once you see how simple this is to make for yourself, you will never bother to buy a bag of it again.

My husband is very sensitive to artificial scents, so whenever I can use natural fragrances around the house I do. This time of year there are so many options for making the house smell amazing. Some of my favorites included spiced cider or homemade apple sauce in the crock pot all day. But if you are looking for something that is as pretty to display as it smells good, this potpourri recipe is perfect.

Orange Spice Potpourri

You Will Need:
2-3 oranges
1 lemon
1 grapefruit
1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
2 cinnamon sticks
4 star anise, whole
Natural Orange essence *optional

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment.

Slice the citrus as thin as your can. I found my ceramic knife works best, but any sharp knife will work. Place slices in a single layer on a towel. Press the fruit segments to release the juice, but try to keep the fruit segments in place. This will make a prettier presentation when dried.

Place the citrus slices in a single layer on the parchment. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake for 1 hour and then turn and check your fruit. They should be dried but not brown. This alone will make your house smell amazing!

When dried, arrange the citrus slices and other spices in your favorite dishes and place around the house. I like to put mine near a window where it will heat up. If you want a stronger scent, or it starts to fade, sprinkle with natural orange essence for a boost.

I hope you get the chance to try some of these Fall favorites of ours. What represents Fall to you and your family? What recipes, smells and sights do you treasure this time of year?

*Disclaimer -  I was not compensated for this DailyBuzz Moms 9x9 blog post submission, but the challenge winner will receive a prize. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

School Lunch Ideas - With a Little Help from Glad

Lunch can be simple, but it never has to be boring!

This week I donned my apron and thinking cap, scanned Pinterest and consulted my book collection on Japanese bentos. With school starting next week here, and either having started or will be starting soon for the rest of the country, it is time to think about how to handle our kids' brown bag days.

This simple turkey, cheddar, avocado and cucumber wrap is much more fun with some candy eyes on the kiwi halves and a few carrot sticks to separate them and add in a pop of color.

I know, I know, brown bags are so out! But I am not ready to invest a lot in my little ones' lunch containers either.

As a child I remember the headaches I gave my Mother when I forgot my lunch box, lost my thermos or forgot to throw away my left overs. My lunchbox usually resurfaced once the contents had grown a thick green fur. Yuck! So I am going to be proactive and use simple reusable Food Storage Products from Glad for our lunch needs. I love that this allows me to be both frugal and creative.

All these lunches are easy to make, and fun to receive after a busy morning at school. My children are both young so cute is always on the menu.

These lady bug rice balls are so easy to make! Just mix rice with ketchup for the desired color and add the black with shapes punched out or cut out of seaweed (nori) sheets. I used fine tipped scissors for the details. Look for nori in the Asian food section of your grocery store. I form my rice balls in a mold, but they can be formed just as easily in plastic wrap with your hands. Form when the rice is cool enough to handle but still warm. The warm and moist rice will help the nori shapes to stick. Then I use some hard seaweed for the antennae.

Slice an "x" into the top of radishes, throw in some other veggies or fruit, pack on a bed of romaine lettuce,  and you are good to go.

The Entree-sized Glad container was perfect to fit this big lunch. Place some lettuce or kale in the bottom of the tray for a very pretty presentation.

Mini bagels, or regular sized for bigger kids, fit well in the entree-size as well. I used a muffin paper to separate the small snack from the other food. You can also find silicone baking cups to use, but I prefer something that can be thrown away for my little ones.

What about an after school snack? Or on-the-go munchies for me? The Glad containers are clear, letting me easily find my veggies in the fridge. The Tall Entree-Size allowed plenty of room to pack in the cut veggies and also hold my pepper bowl for homemade ranch dip.

My little princess enjoyed this open-faced Biscoff and jam crown cut out of whole wheat bread. It was jeweled with craisins and packed with an assortment of little finger foods she enjoys.

The Glad Food Storage Products are the perfect size and shape for most anything! From the small snack containers to the mini rounds my kids can pack fruit, veggies, cookies, mini muffins and I can take my trail mix anywhere. The lids fit tight and securely so I don't have to worry about anything leaking or spilling. I also love the interlocking lids which keep my plastics cupboard  more organized.

Looking to have fun with your child's lunch menu? There are so many great and fun products available online and in stores now. My kit includes molds for the rice balls, face punches, cookie cutters, sandwich cutters, vegetable cutters and small fondant cutters. Just have fun and keep your eyes open for what your child would enjoy. Most of these items I either picked up on Amazon, in Michael's or Walmart.

Don't forget to add variety and color to make lunch more appealing.

Glad has so many solutions to your food container dilemmas. Wash, re-use and don't worry if your child doesn't return them. They are easy and inexpensive to replace. I was sent 4 different sizes and shapes to use for my lunch creations. I found a different use for each of them and am happy to use and reuse oXem for more lunches in the future. Mine washed up beautifully in the top rack of my dishwasher and they can also be used to reheat items in the microwave or store in the freezer.

And my kids? They love getting excited over lunch. I love it when they try everything and ask me to make the same lunches again and again.

Right now you can go over to Glad's Facebook page to share your own Back to School recipes, tips and ideas in the "Mom Made" promotion. Everyone who shares a tip or idea is eligible for a chance to win a Lunch Kit for child's entire class! Now, that would be a lot of bentos! Be sure to head over before August 31st, which this offer ends.

What are your lunch ideas? What would you pack in Glad Food Storage containers?

*Disclaimer - I have partnered with The Glad Products Company through DailyBuzz Moms to help promote their Food Storage products. I have been compensated for my time commitment to review this product. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments. Thank you GLAD!

Inspiring Childen to Grow (DailyBuzz Moms 9x9)

I was selected to participate in the DailyBuzz Moms " Summer Camp: At Home!" June 9x9.  This is my submission. For more great ideas be sure to check out the other 8 blog posts.

Kids love dirt. 

They love worms and watching things grow. So this Summer my little future farmers are getting dirty and loving every minute of it.

The farm has been in my husband's family for 4 generations now. Hopefully my children will be the 5th. My husband works with both his Grandfather and Uncle everyday and we are lucky enough to be able to introduce the children to agriculture.

Instead of sending my children off to camp I prefer to let them learn on the farm. We planted our seeds earlier this year and are almost ready for a second round of lettuce and salad starts to be planted in our garden. There is so much to learn about growing our food, tending the plants and identifying pests.

There is always something to be done around the house. There are baby chicks to be fed and eggs to be collected from the hens.

Blueberries to be picked for later... or put straight in the mouth.

There are U-Pick options for things like strawberries, cherries, berries and even flowers to fill up a whole morning or afternoon. Kids love to be involved and mine are no exception.

Weeding in the garden is never ending. My little helpers don't mind since they already love to dig in the dirt. I outfitted each child with their own gardening tools and gloves which they love. We can also make the rounds to see if anything is ready to be picked.

My son has been eating more salad now that he gets to help weed and pick it for dinner. I like to plant a variety of small mixed greens. They are sweet, colorful, grow quickly and my kids had a hand in growing them.

Then there are the little lessons from Dad. Out in the Summer squash they learned how to inspect the plants and what bugs to look for.

Some bugs are pests in the field like the striped cucumber beetle. Watching for these and catching them early is important for keeping healthy plants.

But some bugs are beneficial, like the ladybug. My kids love finding them out in the alfalfa field. We have talked about how ladybugs help protect our garden plants and eat the pesky aphids.

Some insects even entertain us! This little caterpillar was twirling around in our tree.

Of course all the hard work and exploring makes for some pretty muddy kids. Our work boots have become very handy around the yard and fields for saving our tennis shoes.

I might be growing the next generation of little growers, but I am also creating lasting memories of days learning, working and playing on the farm.

Creating your own little future growers camp at home can be just as easy. Check to see what local farms are in your area, locate U-pick fields, plant a garden with your kids or even check to see if any local farmers have young children and would give you a farm tour. Small farmers are connected to the land, their local communities, and are happy to inspire the next generation.

*Disclaimer - I was not compensated for this DailyBuzz Moms 9x9 blog post submission, but the challenge winner will receive a prize. All opinions and thoughts are my own.