Take the Purina One 28 Day Challenge - Your Dog will Thank You!

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Purina One, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #ONEDifference http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Cooper, our Border Collie, is the perfect fit for our family. He is energetic enough for my oldest son, gentle enough for the baby to pull on his ears and coat, and just loves his life here on the farm. In exchange for all the doggie kisses and deep loyalty he shows up, I want to take the best care possible of his health.

You might remember that I have shared his adoption story here on the blog. We met him in our local shelter and he was such a sweet and gentle guy that there was another Mom behind us hoping that we wouldn't adopt him. Luckily I saw him first. I walked him on the lead and let him interact with the kids and I wouldn't let him go till we had started the paperwork to adopt him. He wasn't meant to be in the shelter for long. After deciding we were ready for the committement of a dog, he was exactly what I had been hoping for.

Cooper never tires of playing with the kids. He is the happiest with our Chuck It and a big open alfalfa field. I have never seen a dog so eager to play. Fast as lightening he will jump, twist and perform acrobatic feats to get his ball. And everyday he asks to go back out. I have watched my kids learn to throw and learn to interact with their four-legged family member. It is a beautiful relationship to watch grow.

I want to ensure that he can keep up with my kids for years to come.

So the Purina One 28 Day Challenge appealed to me. I love the idea of seeing noticeable differences in Cooper's health. More energy? Well, not sure what we would do with more energy, but it would come in handy for playing fetch in the fields. Healthy coat, shiny eyes? I think there is always room for improvement there. Our dog lives and sleeps outdoors so his coat isn't always at its best.

How many times have you tried a new product and then never watched to see if it really worked? When it comes to pet food I don't think I have ever taken the time at regular intervals to check to see if there were any improvements in my pet's health. This challenge is a fun way to keep track of how Cooper is doing and see if Purina One is right for my dog.

I found info in my local Walmart in the dog food aisle. You can grab one of the handy cards with all the details, or just hop on over to Purina's site for ONEDifference.

When I opened the bag, Cooper was eager to take a taste. I always hesitate to try new foods with him because he is a picky eater. He is also a shy eater, usually waiting for us to leave or not be watching when he eats, so I was shocked to see him start eating his breakfast immediately.

Yes, he is so picky, we have only found a few treats, or dog biscuits that he will eat, let alone dog food brands. Don't worry, Cooper is amazingly polite, even if it isn't his thing. He will take the bone from me with his tail 'a wagging, but then abandons it out in the yard. *sigh*

Because we have been feeding him a different dog food, I started out mixing the old food with the Purina One Lamb & Rice Formula, increasing the Purina One over time. You can ask your vet to find out their suggested recommendations for introducing new foods. The Purina site suggest transitioning over 7-10 days.

This Purina One Smartblend Lamb and Rice blend dry dog food has varied texture, and a flavor that Cooper likes. So even after only being a week into our challenge, we have already hit the first observation along our journey, taste.

I would say that Cooper is already a pretty healthy boy. He is at a healthy weight for his breed and is very active. We have chickens he keeps in line, not to mention my 3 kids!  You can see my progress and other story photos on Instagram by following the #ONEDifference hashtag.  I will be posting update photos when I hit the midway mark, as well as complete the 28 days. Come follow me on Instagram, andrealkruse, or purinaonedog to keep up with the fun.

If you want to take the Purina One 28 Day Challenge with your family dog, grab a  $3 off coupon towards a Purina One bag of dog food. See, doesn't that sound good already? I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences on how your own challenge goes.

What improvements would you like to see in your four-legged best friend?

A Day of Sanity starts with a Well Packed Bag

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and U by Kotex but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #UbyKotex  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV.

Some days I spend so much time rushing and racing around, I can't even keep the simplest things straight. As a Mom of 3, I don't have time to be slowed down or to get flustered.

Hey, I barely have time to drink my morning coffee.

To keep a hold of my sanity, with both hands, I have 4 little rules I try to flive by. I'm not perfect, but these are simple things I try to do for myself.

A happy mom, is a sane mom, right?

Morning comes way too early. After hitting snooze on my iPhone a dozen tmes and then hitting snooze on my old school alarm, I HAVE to get up. So much to do.

I have to get my son up and on the school bus, feed my hungry crew and tackle the kitchen and laundry room. Time can get away from me. Before I know it half of my day is over. So my first rule is to stop and smell the flowers, so to speak.

My oldest is in school. Seems like just yesterday he was my baby. Now, the contrast between my 10-month old and my 6-year old is huge. I try to commit all the little stuff to memory... waiting for the school bus in the morning, recounting his day and snuggling in the evening. This is the stuff that makes it all worth it.

But, no matter how bad my day or week seems to be, when I stop and appreciate all those little perfect moments, it is all worth it.

Of course, with my day rushing by, I still try to make time to play with the kids. The baby wants to demolish my carefully constructed block towers and my daughter wants an impromptu tea parties or PLAY-DOH sessions. I think the conversations and bonding that happens during these pure moments of play are the best. Those are the times that I learn the most about each of my children.

On the floor or their little table, we do things they enjoy. Such simple gestures mean the world to them. It also makes me feel pretty good as a Mom.

As I race around with my laptop, my iPhone, iPod and Kindle, I try to not get so wrapped up on all that tech. Sometimes it is okay to un-plug. Even if it only happens for an hour here and there. Sometimes I go outside to dig in my garden or we head out on a family walk. Simplicity is another way that I stay sane.

I know, we can't all go move to a farm, but we can cut out some of the excess and focus on living and appreciating simple things. In the warmer months my garden helps to keep me feeling useful and grounded. Being able to grow something to serve on the dinnertable is a simple pleasure in life.

From my backyard chickens, to crafting, being productive and doing something tangible lisfts my spirits.

And the fourth rule? Now this is the hardest one for me, but it also brings the biggest reward.

I used to think that being an organized and prepared Mom meant cramming a bag till it was bursting at the seams with every contingency plan or product on the market. That wore out my shoulders and back really fast. Of course I can't prepare for every situation with small children, but I can prepare for the big stuff.

And anyway, the more I seem to carry, the harder it is to find anything in my bag.

love my diaper bag. I take it everywhere, even if we are just running into town for one item. I have gone through a few over the past 6 years, and have finally found a way to keep everything organized, handy and my bag well stocked.

Want a peek?

Here are a few of the items I consider essential:

• Facial Tissues - Perfect for noses, wiping faces or even in the event a public stall is out of toilett paper. I have also successfully used tissues to transport mystery items to the garbage. Some things your kid hands you, you don't want to touch!
• Saline Wipes - I love these because they are gentle on the skin. Already pre-moistened I have used them to wipe down children, or in a pinch they can be used in place of diaper wipes.
• Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel - I have small kids, need I say more?
• Tinted Chapstick - Great for keeping lips moisturized and adding a touch of color when needed.
• Hand Cream - Always nice to be able to use it if my skin start to dry out.
• Nail Polish - This is my splurge item. Small enough to pack around, I can apply it for an impromptu date night with my hubby. It is also nice to brush on a quick touch-up for chips.
• Feminine Hygiene Products - I won't leave home without a backup. My period always seems to hit at the least convenient times. For convenient coverage in small packages, check out the U by Kotex line in fun colors and patterns.
• Snack/ baby food - In case we get stuck out, I always carry something we can snack on. Currently I keep a grab-n-go bar for myself and a squeeze pouch for the baby.
• Hair Elastic - I grabbed my 3 free Goody elastics to put in my little bag. I love having a simple solution to hair that starts to frizz during the day. These elastics won't hurt your hands or break hair.
• Teething Necklace - I think these are functional as well as fun. My son has been chewing on everything lately, including me! So I went and got him a chewing necklage is bright tourquiose.
• ReUsable Bag - Some of my favorite shopping places have gone bag-less, so I now carry my own. So much better for the environment, too. It is also nice to have a quick place to stash soiled clothing or other items.
• Diaper Rash Cream - I love the Burt's Bees brand. Seems like car rides make my youngest's bottom angry, so we try use just a little cream to help soothe him. I like the natural ingredients.
• Thermometer - I keep a simple thermometer in my diaper bag. It isn't fancy, it just helps me check whether the kids are running a fever or not.
• Diapers - Always carry at least 2. 
• Burp Cloth - I keep at least 2  fun print burp clothes for my diaper bag at all times. I use mine for the baby, wiping grubby hands or to clean up little spills. So convenient.

Smaller essentials I keep separated into little zippered pouches. The one below holds all my personal items like Goody hair ties, chapstick, etc. If I need one of these items, I can just grab this bag and I know exactly where everything is. It is so much better than having a sea of small items all dumped together in the bottom of my bag.

When it comes to organization and being prepared, nothing is worse than being unprepared for my period. Talk about a sanity buster! I never leave the house without a bag filled with supplies. U by Kotex Sleek Tampons and U by Kotex Cleanwear Pads fit nicely in my diaper bag. Aren't these fun? I love that being prepared doesn't have to mean boring.

I can keep a stash for those "white pants" days and the sleek and slim design of U by Kotex doesn't take up much room. I found them at my local Walmart, so they were at Walmart’s Every Day Low Price and even came with free Goody elastics attached to the box (while supplies last).

That covers two of my essential items right there!

Yeah, it's a busy,crazy life, but those 4 rules are how I keep a little sanity in my day. And a sane Mom? Well, that makes me unstoppable.

Do you have any rules that you live by? 
Moms, how do you stay sane?

Wait, you Have a Cat? - Hiding the Evidence with the Litter Genie

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Litter Genie, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #petparents http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV.

I am not sure that I have ever owned a cat.. my cats have always had a way of owning me. I gladly put up with their scratching, shedding and litter box because they were part of our family.

Chloe is no different. Even though she joined our family as an adult cat, she immediately fit right in. Now, I still don't feel like she is my pet, she is just family. Any cat who is this patient with three young children is okay in my book.

To further cement her place in our home, she was there for me during all the aches and pains of my last pregnancy. She snuggled up with me or laid at my feet as I went through morning sickness and frequents nights of insomnia. Yeah, I couldn't imagine our home feeling as welcome without her.

But, that doesn't mean I want guests to know we have a cat the moment they step through our door. No, I think I would rather leave it up to Chloe whether she wants to make her presence known... or not.

Now, all through my pregnancy, my husband took over the litter box duties. Well, at least when I reminded him. It was his least favorite chore and I don't really blame him. I mean, I usually have to get out a garbage bag, scoop and then throw it out. I don't always get around to it until it has been a day or two.

That is no good.

So now that the duty is back on my shoulders full time, I wanted to try something different. I use a special pail for my dirty diapers, so would a Litter Genie help me not only control the odor from Chloe's catbox, but also make it faster and easier to clean regularly?

We grabbed ours at Target in the pet section. Yeah, they have everything, don't they? The initial kit contained all the essentials for fighting litter box odor: a Litter Genie pail, litter box scoop, and one refill.

Have you seen this? To help me scoop more often, I just open the pail, scoop, pull the handle to drop the litter into the bottom of the pail and it is sealed away (with the odors) for 14 days. My cat box cleaning just got faster and easier.

The sleek and classy white design fits easily into any home. No need to try and hide it in a corner. Since mine will be sitting right next to my cat's litter box in the laundry room, I wanted to personalize it.

I haven't had a chance to finish decorating our laundry room. I still need to finish the trim and find the perfect fabric for curtains. I am searching for yellow and white daisies. I also have plans to put up a small window box with flowers, african violets, to make fun and cheery. So to continue with that theme I decided to dress up the Litter Genie.

With my Silhouette Cameo I cut grass strips and flowers out of brightly colored vinyl. I love how it turned out and it only took me about 10 minutes to cut and finish.

Yes, the Litter Genie was just a blank canvas begging to be decorated. Would you decorate yours?

The Litter Genie system has been great. Now I can quickly scoop and move on as I am working on laundry or grabbing something from the laundry room. I know Chloe appreciates the cleaner cat box. Cats are finicky like that.

And a cleaner cat box is so important on keeping cat odors away. Frequent scooping is just one part of the pet odor solution. I have a few more tricks up my sleeve, too.

5 Tips for Taming  Litter Box Odor

• Put the litter box in a well ventilated room. Ours is near a window.
• Look for a cat litter with baking soda or other odor-fighting ingredients
• Use a litter that clumps for easy cleaning
• Clean the litter box daily & replace all the litter weekly (Made much easier with a Litter Genie)
• Replace the litter box yearly. They become scuffed and scratched over time making it harder to keep germ free and holding onto odor.

If you want to try out the Litter Genie for yourself, grab this $3 off Coupon for Target.

Chloe isn't going anywhere anytime soon. She is too important to my family. Of course, I am thrilled that I now have a better solution to our cat box. The biggest compliment I could receive now as a pet parent is hearing, "Wait, you have a Cat?"

Check out the whole Litter Genie scoop on twitter and follow #petparents for other great conversations on beating liter box odor.

Do you own a cat? How do you handle litter box odor?

What is the Wonderbag? Cooking Slowly and Empowering Women

*Disclaimer - This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and WonderBag, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #Wonderbag http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.

A whole new type of slow cooker was put to the test in my kitchen this past week. My new Wonderbag helped me make a lovely pot of Tuscan Bean Soup without the hassle of cords or electricity.

The holidays mean my oven, burner and counter space is at a premium. There is so much effort that goes into making holiday meals, the daily meals are often a scramble to prepare.  So I was excited to try out the Wonderbag. The whole concept was new to me. I usually use a plug-in slow cooker, and have tried to use more than one but I have blown a fuse on more than one occasion. The idea is food can be brought to a boil and then finish cooking in this insulated bag.

Mine arrived and my kids crowded around to see what the delivery man had brought. My daughter thought it was a pillow. The vibrant red batik fabric and was compressed down for shipping. All I needed to do was fluff it and let it sit to fully expand.

We all sat around and watched it grow and fill out.

The Fall chill has definitely settled in Oregon so I wanted to try out a soup recipe first. I just adore the simplicity of Tuscan Bean Soup.

I assembled my ingredients, sweated down the veggies, rinsed and drained the beans and kale and added it all to my soup pot along with stock and a large sprig of rosemary. Normally I would simmer everything on low for the flavors to meld - it usually takes 30 minutes or so.

But, I was grateful to have this portable slow cooker because the baby was crying, the kids needed my help, and I had to run to the market for a few other things. I normally could not have left the house while my soup finished simmering. Luckily, this insulated bag won't burn the food, it won't burn down the house, and it will continue cooking for up to 12 hours!

Off the stove I just set it inside the Wonderbag and pulled the drawstring closed.

With the Wonderbag came freedom. Freedom to walk away while the meal was still cooking, freedom to take a meal to go, or eat it whenever it was convenient. This product's clever insulation kept my soup hot all day.

I set up a little Fall picnic to enjoy our soup outside. I also have plans to take the Wonderbag on our next ski trip. Usually the ski club members share potluck style meals in the evenings, but since burner space is limited and the facilities are often rustic, it is often hard to get warm food to the table. This would allow me to make my dish earlier in the day and keep it hot and ready for when we all made it back to the cabin.

I also want to take my Wonderbag along with us on family camping trips and even day trips to the coast.

For every Wonderbag purchased in the US, one is donated to a family in need in Africa; Families in developing countries using Wonderbags can save up to 30% of their income they would have spent on fuel for wood cook stoves.

Though I enjoyed the convenience of the Wonderbag, this advancement is not just a convenience to some but a life changing gift. This slow cooker was created to give Women freedom to step away from tending cooking fires, the ability to spend less time gathering firewood and to spend more time with their families and helping themselves.

It can also decrease toxic fumes in the home created by wood burning. These fumes can affect and harm children through respiratory issues and smoke inhalation deaths.

The Wonderbag fits 2-9 quart pots with short handles. You can purchase the Wonderbag exclusively on Amazon.

Now, I want to share the delicious Tuscan Bean Soup I made in my gorgeous red Wonderbag.

Tuscan Bean Soup
You Will Need:

• 1 Tbsp. butter
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 4 oz. bacon, chopped
• 5 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 cans of cannellini beans
• 7 c. Knorr Homestyle Stock
• 1 rosemary branch
• 1 bunch of kale, ribs taken out and torn small
• olive oil to drizzle over the top
• Parmesan for garnish

Melt the butter in a stock pot. Crisp up the chopped bacon and once crispy, add the onion to sweat down. Once translucent, add the carrots. Cook them till crisp tender. Then add in the beans and chicken stock. Bring the soup up to a boil then add in the rosemary and kale. Take off the heat and place into the Wonderbag to finish simmering for at least 2 hours or up to 12 hours.

Drizzle a little olive oil over the top and garnish with fresh grated Parmesan to serve.

Enjoy!

Connect with Wonderbag on Facebook, @TheWonderbag on Twitter and on Instagram.

Finding Peace of Mind with the Tagg Pet Tracker

*Disclaimer - This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Tagg™ Pet Tracker, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #pettracker  http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.

Our Border Collie, Cooper, is an important member of our family. I didn't have a dog growing up, so when we moved out to the country I knew finding the perfect dog for my young family was a priority. Kids should grow up with a dog, right? A dog out here helps me feel safer at night. He also does a great job of keeping pests out of the yard and from around the chicken coop, and he loves to play with the kids.

We adopted Coop from our local animal shelter. You could say it was love at first sight. We don't know why he ended up at the shelter, but I feel very lucky to have found him. Border Collies are popular dogs around here and I am sure if we hadn't snatched him up, he wouldn't have stayed family-less for long. But I like to think he was meant for us.

He reminds me a little of my 5-year old son. He has endless energy,  and can run for hours

Luckily we live on a farm with enough room for Cooper to just run. His favorite thing is to play catch in the alfalfa field when it has been mowed. This dog can really move!

We have a fenced backyard and side pasture, but there have been a few times that Cooper has gotten out of the yard. A downed fence or a child that forgets to latch the back gate and he is gone. Down through the cherry orchard, out past the corn fields and off chasing smells and animals around the farm.

The last thing I want is for something to happen to our family dog. With big log trucks on the main roads and people driving extra fast down our "quiet country road", I worry.  The chance to try out a product that could track and help me locate our beloved pet seemed perfect.

The Tagg Pet Tracker is a really cool product. I know, our dog was micro chipped when he left the shelter, but that only works if someone takes Cooper in to be scanned. It doesn't help us find where Cooper has wandered off to on the farm. It is a big farm.

The box contained everything I needed to get started. From the lightweight tracker and docking station, to cords and a protective cover it was easy to set up everything in a couple of minutes. There were two sets of clips for attaching the tracker to his collar so I have a replacement if one gets lost or damaged.

I placed the tracker on the docking station to charge and then attached it to Cooper's collar when it was ready.

I set up my account online and set up Cooper's information - breed, size, weight, etc. Not only does the Tagg Pet Tracker monitor where Cooper is and help me use GPS to locate him if he gets out of the yard, but  it also gives me activity reports and tells me how active he is during the day. It was no surprise, Cooper is a very busy dog. He earns points daily for different intensity levels and duration of his activity. It is fun to review the charts and compare his activity.

I also set the Tagg Pet Tracker home tagg zone. Anytime Cooper went outside my set zone I was given a text or email depending on how I set it up. Luckily, Cooper wandered back on his own and the tracker even notified me when he come back.

To keep track of his activity, notifications and easy location tracking, I downloaded the Tagg - The Pet Tracker free app on iTunes.

Not only could I easily monitor my best friend, but I can now do it anywhere. From work or while away, I can make sure my beloved pet is safe and healthy. I know several people who could use this feature for peace of mind.

Here are some of the features of the Tagg Pet Tracker:

• Keeps an eye on your pet at home
• It tracks the duration and intensity of your pet's activity
• has a long-lasting batter
• is lightweight
• attaches to any size collar
• water resistant, even while swimming

I love having peace of mind that Cooper is where he is supposed to be. And if he does get out again, I now have a way to find him quickly and easily.

Try it for yourself. Use the discount TAGG10 to save 10% off of a Tagg Pet Tracker. (The Tagg Pet Tracker is normally $99 with 3 months of free service

Has your pet ever gotten lost? How did you find them?

World Market - My Updated Bedroom & African Safari Sweepstakes, too!

Shopping at the Cost Plus World Market is always fun. Even before I had a home to decorate I loved browsing the shelves. So many items, new surprises and staples alike seem to await me every time I enter the store. Each visit is an adventure around the world for food, decorating and gift ideas. Be sure to keep reading to learn more about their current sweepstakes (#WorldMarketSweeps) for a trip for 2 to Africa!

For this visit I was in search of some fun ways to make-over my bedroom or bath. Our upstairs is the last area I haven't had time to update since we moved in. I went shopping with an open mind and hope to add some color and whimsy to my room. Right now World Market has a new, exciting Kingdom Animalia Collection in stores. So many fun and vibrant pieces sure to get you in the mood to decorate!

There was a great selection of bath towels, mats and bath essentials. though I saw many items I liked, I kept looking. I tend to fall in love with some of their more unique pieces, from wooden screens to chairs on clearance, I could have spent the entire day redecorating the house inside my head.

While we were browsing, an employee offered to sign me up for the World Market Explorer program. With no cost to sign-up and the promise of coupons and savings I agreed. I was really happy when she took my info right there in the aisle. She signed me up on the spot so I could begin saving right away. I wish all store memberships were that easy!

With all the choices available, I decided to concentrate on my bedroom. I was in need of a new bedspread, new colors and hoped to create a more interesting atmosphere. Our quilt and solid color sheet sets needed an update. I knew after checking the World Market website they had some great bedding collections. All fun, vibrant and the change I needed from my current color scheme.

With my daughter's help we selected a bedspread and sham covers. The saleswoman we spoke with said they had just come in and hoped more would arrive in our store soon. I fell in love with the blues and mauve flowers. I loved how helpful all the employees were in the store.

Of course, we couldn't leave without grabbing a snack! I love the cookie selection at our Cost Plus World Market and we just love the Biscoff cookies and spreads the store carries. Believe me, I wouldn't have been able to not buy these cookies after my daughter spotted them.

When we got home I was so excited to see how the bedding would look. I have to admit that I was even more pleased than I expected.

I finally have a great little addition of color. The blues and greens were appealing to my husband and the pattern was a great change of pace. The best part was the bedspread went with my existing sheet sets and our down throws.

Now, if you enjoyed my little make-over, you should enter Cost Plus World Market's current sweepstakes:

Enter on the World Market Facebook page under the African Safari Sweepstakes tab or on their website.

**Grand Prize package includes:

• A trip for two to Africa (5 day Trip for 2 to Africa- includes airfare, accommodations and excursions)
• A $1,000 World Market gift card

** There will also be 3 first prize winners that will each receive a $500 World Market gift card!

**The African Safari Sweepstakes runs from  July 14 to August 17

**If you share the sweepstakes with 5 of your friends (via FB share or email) you can receive 5 additional bonus entries. This is part of the registration process when entering. Users can also enter daily for more chances to win.

For more products from the Kingdom Animalia line, check out their collection video. Connect via Facebook and Twitter to stay up-to-date on current promotions, offers and announcements.

*Disclaimer - This shop has been compensated by Cost Plus World Market and Pollinate Media Group. All opinions expressed are my own.