Get Carton Smart with this Pumpkin and Sage Pasta Recipe

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Carton Smart for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.



One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is the flavors and meals I can create around pumpkin, cranberries and chicken stock. Pumpkin is actually one of my favorite flavors to use with pasta.

Unfortunately the local pumpkin season is over. I went through most of my frozen puree baking for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Luckily Tetra Pak has me covered with pantry staples from Pacific Foods that are not only delicious but are also environmentally friendly.

Would you like to Become Carton Smart? Instead of stocking up on cans, I can fill my pantry with Tetra Paks that save room on my shelves and are stack-able, use 1/3 the packaging of a can, are re-closable and recyclable!

This is one of those times where a simple swap can mean a big difference.

I swapped out both the pumpkin puree and chicken stock in a favorite Pumpkin and Sage Pasta recipe with fabulous results. I care about the ingredients I use and take the time whenever possible to make my own pasta.



I want to make sure all the other ingredients are just as good.



With fresh sage from my garden...



And organic pumpkin puree... (I loved the easy tear open packaging, by the way!)



I created a simple and delicious pumpkin sauce for my fresh pasta.



Pumpkin and Sage Pasta Sauce
You Will Need:

• 6 sage leaves, thinly sliced
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, pressed
• 1 carton Pacific Foods Organic Pumpkin Puree 
• 1 c. heavy cream
• 1 c. Pacific Foods Chicken Stock
• 1/3 c. Parmesan Cheese, grated
• salt and pepper to taste

Start by boiling your pasta. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water to thin out your sauce later.

In a large saucepan fry the thinly sliced sage until crispy in the olive oil. strain out the sage and let it cool on a paper towel. Save the sage infused oil. Add the garlic and heat through. Then add the pumpkin puree and whisk in the cream until smooth. Add in the chicken stock and heat to a low simmer. Salt and pepper to taste. Use as little or as much of the 1 cup of reserved pasta water as necessary.

Serve over warm pasta. Top with grated Parmesan cheese and sprinkle with fried sage.

Enjoy!

So, what kind of small changes will you make this holiday season? With small swaps you, too can create great tasting food with little waste. Ready to get  #CartonSmart?

Tweet @CartonSmart
Follow #CartonSmart on Pinterest

Potty Training Time: Bummis Potty Pants Instill Toddler Confidence

When I started cloth diapering, almost 6 years ago, the first cloth diapers I invested in were part of a bummis cloth diapering kit. I still have those covers and well-loved prefolds and plan on using them with baby #3 later this Spring. Now that my daughter is almost out of diapers I have been having some cloth diapering withdrawals  I just hadn't found a great solution for reusable trainers to use during potty training.

I have tried the classic "plastic pants" which were a little like my daughter wearing a balloon. They were noisy and not comfortable for her. Then we went straight to underwear which lead to a lot of spot carpet cleaning. I was searching for a product to try for this in-between stage. She was ready to train, but not ready to go cold turkey.

So I was excited to hear that bummis had a Potty Pant. My daughter is 3 1/2, so I appreciated the trim design, fun colors and little bit of added absorbent padding. She still has an occasional accident, but these were a great way to help instill confidence during this important developmental milestone. Plus, she liked the ways these looked and felt. Her picky vote was very important for success.

I was sent a L/G size Potty Pant in Pistachio Dot for my daughter to try. She is almost 33 lbs, so right in between the suggested 30- 35 lbs range.

Inside there is an absorbent layer, one layer of cotton terry and one of microfiber, but I appreciate that it isn't too thick. My daughter isn't accustomed to cloth diapers anymore and this is nice mid-step between cloth and regular big girl underwear. In fact they look like underwear and only a savvy mom would know the difference. They are a pull-up style which she found easy enough to put on herself. There were no scratchy tabs or buttons for her to mess with. They also are made with an outer layer of waterproof fabric but she doesn't sound like a rustling plastic bag when she walks.

The material is stretchy enough to put on easily. My daughter is around the 50th percentile for her height and weight and we found these just a little snug around the legs. They were not uncomfortable or left red marks on her skin, but she did mention they were, "Not too big". For added accident protection, I appreciate that they were not too loose.

They fit around her waist comfortably and didn't come up too high. That is a bonus for wearing underneath her favorite pants and jeans without adding any extra bulk or "fluff".

You can see in this picture they are a little snug on her legs. These also come in XL, 35 lbs and up, which I would like to try for her next. Every child has a different body shape so I know fit may vary slightly from child to child, but I am still impressed with this training pant option and it will save me a lot in disposable pants.

Overall I wish I had these when my son was potty training! I would love to see more color options available in the future so I could have a whole variety available when my next child is up to bat for training time. If your toddler has chubbier legs I would suggest the next size up, but my daughter was able to use hers for 2 weeks without a problem. I enjoy that when my daughter has an accident these give her instant feedback without wetting her clothing or our furniture.

Again, I am thrilled with another bummis product and recommend this one for anyone else getting started potty training. Have you tried reusable potty training pants for your children?

Connect with bummis on Twitter, Facebook and on their Pinterest page for more product information and cloth diapering ideas. You can purchase these online through their site's Find a Retailer tab.

*Disclaimer - I was sent a pair of Potty Pants to facilitate an honest review. I was not required to post a postive review and all opinions and experiences are my own.

How To Get Started With Chickens - 10 Tips for Success

One of my favorite parts about living in the country are my backyard chickens. I have been through 2 coops, numerous coop renovations, breeds and have learned a lot in the process. If you are looking for a place to start, this is a great time of year to begin preparing and researching the best way to build your own backyard flock.

So, why keep your own chickens? Well, if the cost of eggs and meat are not enough of an incentive, think about the difference between raising your own birds and buying from someone else.

If we are what we eat, what are your chickens eating? See the yolk on the right? Don't be alarmed. That is perfectly normal. It is a healthy, beautiful and fresh egg. All the fresh plant material and insects make for healthy hens that lay amazing eggs. The one on the left is pale, weak and purchased from the store.

In the past I was frustrated with egg recalls, rising prices and eggs that were not so fresh. Most eggs take a week to 10 days from farm (or plant) to store shelves. My baked goods come out amazing and the only drawback I have found has been peeling those fresh hard boiled eggs. Older eggs peel easier, so I reserve a few specifically to boil.

Okay, are you sold, yet?

Okay, let's get started.

Real Lessons to Reduce, Reuse and Be Proud! #BetterTogether #Cbias

Parenthood is a tough job. Besides the basic needs, I am trying to raise my children to be confident, compassionate and thoughtful individuals. I know that they learn most of their lessons through my daily examples, so I try to keep my household practicing sustainable living. This is all in an effort for Making Life Better.

Last week, in my first post, I mentioned Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan. After working on it for a week, I am excited to share my family's own project here with you.

If you haven't had a chance, stop by MakingLifeBetter.com. It is amazing what Unilever is up to! There is of course Unilever's Cross off Hunger donation to Feeding America, 

"Feeding America(R), the nation's largest organization dedicated to fighting domestic hunger through a network of food banks.  $1= 8 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local food banks.  Unilever will donate $250,000.  The monetary equivalent of a minimum of 2 million meals will be donated" 

But, there is even more ways to practice sustainable living that can hit home with a family like mine.

Armed with a list of Unilever products and a goal to see how much we could buy for $50, we went in search of our favorites at Walmart.

It wasn't hard to find products that we already use daily. In fact, my bathroom is stocked with Unilever brands like Dove, Suave, Noxemia, Q-Tips and more. From desserts to pasta sauces and tea, I was able to find all we needed under one family of brands.

Now, Unilever practices sustainable living in many products with the packaging. Many of the containers can be recycled. Of course the only thing better, in my opinion, than recycling a package is to reuse it. So, that is what I am going to do with a few of the products we purchased.

My son had a great time helping me finish my shopping. I hope by watching his parents check labels and packaging he will also be a conscious consumer in the future. You can check out our entire shopping experience in my Google+ album.

Having small children means I spend a lot of time reminding them of appropriate amounts, to turn off the water and to turn lights off when they leave a room. Unilever supports the 'Turn off the Tap' pledge to conserve money and water. This inspired me to make my children more aware of their water usage and when to turn off the faucet. Since 'nagging' is not my goal, I decided to implement a Chore Chart as a fun reminder.

Luckily, my kids are both fans of shows like Go Diego Go and Bob the Builder who talk about environmental issues like water conservation on the show, so this was an easy discussion to begin.

I love Dove products and when I found out the brand's social mission is to inspire young girls to build confidence and self-esteem, I knew I had to tie that into my family project also. I was not a confident girl myself, but I have hopes that my daughter will be even stronger and sure of herself than I was. I want to promote this, the best I can, in both my daughter and son. Since they are pre-school aged, I wanted to boost their confidence and independence through accomplishments around the house. Another great chance for a Chore Chart.

Along with the Chore Chart I wanted to make a Chore Jar, just random things to help with around the house. Simple things my children can easily accomplish like sweeping the kitchen, vacuuming the living room or feeding the cat. My Chart was created with Elmer's Foam Board and craft supplies around the house. The Chore Jar was made with a reused Bertolli pasta sauce jar and the Popsicle sticks left over from our favorite Popsicle treats. Here is what I made:

My charts have drawings, since neither child is reading yet, and the paper can be removed and changed easily as needed. I am keeping them in the kitchen and the children can earn stickers for their chart when items are completed. So far the excitement and praise has been enough to keep the momentum going. Later on I might have to add more incentive.

The Chore Jar was so fast and inexpensive to make. A little hot glue on the lid and to hold on a bow, washed Popsicle sticks each list one item they can draw either when they ask to help, or to earn more stickers for their Chore Chart. As a bonus, the Popsicle sticks have jokes written on one side, I wrote on the other, so we can enjoy the jokes again and again.

I made a simplified version for my 3-year old. She was very excited to earn stickers just like her big brother. I made sure to put a smiley face at the bottom and she can earn a sticker every day for having a good attitude.

My son is 5, so his list was a little longer. He is really eager to help out around the house and I hope this challenges him to pitch-in more around the house. My scratch drawings might seem a little hard to decipher, but luckily my son caught on quickly. His list of 'chores' include:

• Brushing his teeth
• Putting his dirty clothes in the laundry basket
• Making his bed
• Turning off the lights when he leaves a room
• Turning off the water while brushing or washing his hands
• Using the Chore Jar
• Putting toys away in the toy box
• Having a good attitude for the day

Unilever has inspired me to be #BetterTogether not only with my family but also with the Unilever products that I choose. I learned so much through this program, not only about the brands, but how to look around my home and make small changes for the better.

Everyone has the power to make a difference. How will you share sustainable living with your family?

Follow MakeLifeBetter on Twitter or Facebook and see what small changes you can make.

*Disclaimer - 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  Unilever  #CBias #SocialFabric. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Unilever Products and Family are #BetterTogether - Reduce, Reuse and Be Proud!

This time of year I start thinking about holiday food, shopping lists and what community service project our family will participate in. Last year we collected toys, but this year I am pregnant and finding it harder to tackle big projects on my own.

So I am really excited to share a little secret with you.

Okay, it's not a secret, but it is a great way to give back just by supporting your family's favorite products. Unilever is a company that promotes and participates in many amazing projects promoting sustainable living such as the Cross Off Hunger Campaign. It is all in an effort to be #BetterTogether.

Which Unilever products does your family use?

I was amazed at how many of their products my family already uses in our daily lives. In the bathroom I use Noxzema, love the Suave shampoo and conditioners, use Dove bar soap and deodorant, and we prefer Q-tips brand for our cotton swabs. In the kitchen we use I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spread, Bertolli pasta sauces, Lipton teas, Popsicles and many other products. All of these are part of the Unilever family. While shopping I discovered Dove even has a dry shampoo as well. I can't wait to tell you what I thought of that product and how it will relate to my family's new project for the holiday season.

So, you might be wondering, what does Unilever have to do with sustainable living? Well, each brand is hoping to inspire all of us to make small changes that add up to big results. For example, Dove is championing a Self Esteem movement for young girls, Suave brand wants to encourage us all to "Turn off the Tap", and many of their brands have redesigned packaging to reduce waste, among other projects. Unilever is a company, I believe, Making Life Better.

There are 3 parts to Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan:

1.  Improving Health and Well Being (Health, Hygiene and Improved Nutrition)

2. Reducing Environmental Impact (Greenhouse Gases, Water, Waste & Sustainable Sourcing)

3. Enhancing Livelihoods  (Sustainable Sourcing and Better Livelihoods)

Small actions do make a BIG impact.

One Unilever project that really hits home around the holidays and beyond is Cross Off Hunger involved in Feeding America:

Unilever is committed to donating more than two million meals to families in need with Feeding America and every item on your shopping list counts.  Show your support by adding Unilever brands to your cart next time you shop.  Together we can help to Cross Off Hunger.

You can learn more about why this project can make such a difference on Unilever's website, MakingLifeBetter.com. Test your hunger IQ, learn what items your pantry needs, take a virtual food bank tour and even locate a Feeding America food bank near you right on the site. See how your family can get involved and see just how easy it really can be.

Yes, I am excited to get started with my family on our own sustainable living project. My children, ages 3 and 5, are eager and excited to take on more responsibility around the house. Goodness knows, with a new baby on the way I am going to need the help. I plan to create a chore chart and chore jar with recycled Unilever products to not only get my kids excited about helping out around the house, but also have them start thinking about reducing their own waste and water consumption.

I hope this project will help instill in them a greater awareness of their own actions and also greater self esteem for helping out and actively participating in the family. I can't wait to share the second half of this project with you. It is going to be a lot of fun!

Learn more by connecting with Unilever on Facebook and Twitter.

Also, join in on the Unilever Twitter Party

Follow: @MakeLifeBetter

Hashtag: #BetterTogether

When: Nov 15, 12-1 EST

*Disclaimer - 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  Unilever  #CBias #SocialFabric. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Mother's Day Cloth Diaper Giveaway Hop! #ClothDiaperHop

Mother's Day is almost here and we are celebrating with our love for cloth diapers!

Welcome to the Mother's Day Cloth Diaper Giveaway Hop hosted by Daily Mothering!

Nearly 100 blogs have linked up to bring you dozens and dozens of exciting cloth diaper giveaways. Enter my giveaway below and then hop to the other blogs listed at the bottom of this post to enter their fluffy giveaways too! Each blog has a cloth diaper prize valued at $15 or more, and many blogs have prize packs worth over $100.

And, don't forget to enter the GRAND PRIZE giveaway at Daily Mothering for your chance to win this amazing $1300 Cloth Diaper Prize Pack!

And I also have a great cloth diaper package you can win right here!! Remember my Booty Buns Cloth Diaper Review? 

Well, you can win a cloth diaper from Booty Buns just like I received above.

Also, I have a $30 Gift Card to Red Barn Cloth Diapers, I am self sponsoring, so you can choose your favorite fabric and style of diaper. They carry the Nifty Nappy Diaper that I loved with my son.

Giveaway Time!!

Enter below on the Rafflecopter widget. One lucky reader will win 1 Booty Buns Cloth Diaper and a $30 GC to Red Barn Cloth Diapers to choose your favorite. This would be a great addition to any stash or a great way to get started in cloth. Giveaway ends May 12th, 2012.

Review & #Giveaway - Shaklee Cleaning Products #GetClean

What is lurking beneath your kitchen sink?

Any overpriced cleaners? Harmful fumes or hazardous chemicals? Take a peak at the labels and see if you find any of these chemicals: kerosene, phenols, cresol, lye, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid, petroleum distillates, ammonia, sodium hydroxide, butyl cellosolve, phosphoric acid, formaldehyde, chlorine bleach, morpholine, phthalates?

Despite striving to clean with safer alternatives, I too was shocked at what I found. I have tried to cut my cleaning supply bill down by using natural alternatives like lemon, vinegar and baking soda, but I still keep a few other 'stronger' cleaners on hand. 

With two small children I am more concerned now about making sure my cleaners are safer, but with all the spills and messes to clean up I need them to also be economical for our family to use.

Shaklee cleaning products offer me just that. I was excited to receive my Shaklee Get Clean Starter Kit.

•  You would spend $3400 for ready to use cleaners to get the same amount of clean found in the Get Clean Starter Kit!*

• Features Basic H2® Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate - just 1/4 tsp. makes 16oz. of all-purpose cleaner for only 3 cents.

• No harmful fumes or hazardous chemicals.

• With this kit there is 108 pounds of packing waste saved from the landfills and the elimination of 248 pounds of greenhouse gases.

• Passing on one Get Clean kit to a friend is the equivalent of planting 10 trees!

Okay, sounds great, right? Ultimately if a product doesn't work for our family I won't continue to use it. With two messy/sticky toddlers, a long-haired cat and a farmer husband, there is a lot of cleaning that needs to be done.

I loved the caddy that came with my kit. It is perfect for keeping all the measuring cups, cleaning cloths and concentrates organized.

 I wanted to highlight my favorite cleaner out of the kit, which is the All-Purpose Cleaner. This is my go-to for most situations and the most used product in my home. I love that this cleaner has a very light citrus scent. Not over-powering or caustic and the scent dissipates quickly. Though I still enjoy opening our windows for fresh air while I clean, finally it isn't necessary. Our household is fragrance free due to my husband's sensitivities, so this was an important point. This cleaner uses the Basic H2 Cleaning Concentrate (as does the window and degreaser solutions), only using 1/4 tsp. in 16 oz. of water.


Not only frugal and pleasantly scented, but it did a great job cleaning my kitchen counters and bathroom counters. ...Even all the dried-on messes from the previous night's dinner!

Giveaway Time!!!

Because I am enjoying these cleaners so much, I am thrilled to be able to offer one of my readers a starter kit. One reader here will win a Shaklee Mini Household Kit - $46.95 retail value. This winner cannot have won on any of the other Mom Spark Media participating blogs.


This giveaway ends 4/23/12 and entries should be made on the Rafflecopter widget below.

Oh Baby Baby Hop - $30 GC #Giveaway

 

Welcome to the Oh Baby Baby Giveaway Hop hosted by The Shopping Duck! After entering this giveaway, be sure to enter the Grand Prize Giveaway where you can win a prize pack worth over $250 or an $80 Babies R Us Gift Card! Each participating blogger is also hosting a prize worth at least $25. Be sure to visit each participating blog listed in the linky below and enter to win!

I was a proud cloth diapering Mama with my two children. I loved trying new brands, finding new fabrics and sharing my love of fluff with our friends.

We went through a lot of fluff in 4 years. The first thing I learned was there is no perfect cloth diaper. Babies come in so many sizes. I found different brands that worked best for each of my children. My son was long and thin, while his sister was shorter and rounder.

In honor of the diverse stash of cloth diaper brands that I love, I am giving away a Gift Certificate to Kelly's Closet for $30 so you can find something to perfectly fit your baby.

Kelly's Closet is one of my favorite online shops to browse. They have everything to get you started from prefolds to all in ones, diaper sprayers to swim diapers. They offer great sales and if you look around, you might even qualify for a free diaper!

Giveaway Time!!

One lucky reader will win a $30 Gift Certificate to use at kellyscloset.com. Giveaway ends April 15th. Enter on the rafflecopter form below.

Booty Buns Giveaway Event - Starts Now!

Welcome to the Go Green ♥ Give Charity Cloth Diaper Giveaway Event sponsored by Booty Buns Cloth Diapers! Over 175 blogs have teamed up to present this amazing cloth diaper giveaway hosted by Daily Mothering.

Here's your chance to win an entire stash of one-size cloth diapers!

This amazing cloth diaper prize pack includes:

20 Booty Buns One-Size Cloth Diapers

(these true one-size cloth diapers fit 3-45 lbs!)

20 matching flannel/terry cloth wipes

40 microfiber inserts

20 cotton flannel liners

(picture does not show inserts or liners also included)

First, a little about Booty Buns...

In case you haven't heard about them, Booty Buns Cloth Diapers are incredible one-size cloth diapers that truly fit from birth to potty training! They feature a snap-down rise with 5 different snap settings (most one-size diapers only have 3!) and a waist with 10 regular snap settings plus 2 crossover snap settings. The diapers have hip snaps to prevent wing droop on smaller sizes. The incredible size range of this diaper fits from 3-45 lbs!

Booty Buns Cloth Diapers are pocket diapers and each diaper includes 2 snap-on microfiber inserts that can be stuffed into the diaper or laid on top with the included cotton flannel liner against your child's skin. The diapers have a waterproof PUL outer and a soft suedecloth inner with dual gussets on the inner lining to ensure everything stays IN the diaper! Booty Buns One-Size Cloth Diapers come in an assortment of bright colors and each diaper includes a matching handmade flannel/terry wipe. You can find out more about the diapers at Booty Buns, or check out the detailed Booty Buns One-Size Cloth Diaper Review at Daily Mothering!

Booty Buns is dedicated to encouraging others to "go green" and "give charity." Shannon, the owner of Booty Buns Cloth Diapers, leads by example. For every diaper that Booty Buns sells, she donates one Booty Buns Cloth Diaper to a child in need in the US and third-world countries. Booty Buns is the exclusive cloth diapers donator for Operation Showers Of Appreciation, and they are also donating diapers to babies that have severe medical issues here in the US. Shannon hopes to donate a lifetime supply of cloth diapers {20 diapers} to every baby in need around the globe. You can join in this effort by purchasing your own set of Booty Buns Cloth Diapers and telling your friends about Booty Buns!

Make sure to stop by and follow Booty Buns via Facebook, Twitter and Blog for news and giveaways!

And now for the giveaway!!

ONE WINNER will receive this gigantic cloth diaper prize pack valued at $546!

And, the winner will get to select their choice of diaper colors!

This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada.

Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

Sign in using your Facebook account OR your name and email address.

Click "Do It" for instructions on how to complete each entry.

There is no mandatory entry. Complete as many entries as you wish.

The more entries you submit, the better odds you have of winning!