Bonding With My Youngest And the Importance of Premium Care Diapers

This post is sponsored SheSpeaks/Pampers Premium, but all opinions and experiences are my own. #MothersPromise

Elliott is my little bud.

Since it is summer there has been a whole lot of activity (chaos!) around the house with the older siblings home during the day. Usually, it is just Elliott and me.

I gotta say, I may be biased, but my youngest child is a hoot! He is funny, caring, creative and clever. He can turn anything into a toy and never runs out of things to do during the day. Of course, he loves when Mommy can sit down to play with him.

Now that Elliott is a toddler his favorite word is, "No!". When we ask if he needs his pants changed, he yells, "No!" and races off down the hall. It has become one of his favorite games to avoid diaper changes.

My youngest has very sensitive skin and easily breaks out into a rash or chafes if things rub in the wrong places. So I can understand why sometimes he decides to run. But, Walmart has a new option from Pampers that is even more gentle on his skin and makes getting a clean diaper much more pleasant.

Did you notice the Pampers Premium Care Diapers  debut on Walmart shelves this past week?

Diapers are definitely not created equal and these new diapers have:

• Absorb Away Liners: To pull wetness and mess away from baby’s skin
• Breathable Materials: To keep air circulating around baby’s skin
• Extra Absorb Channels: Help to distribute wetness evenly for up to 12 hours of protection - Hypoallergenic - Wetness Indicator: Lets you know when your baby might need a change

Elliott and I put the size 4 Pampers Premium Care Diapers to the test and we both loved how soft they are!

Easy to use, to secure and for him to wear, they did a great job of keeping him dry throughout the day and night. And with the same wetness indicator found on the front (the yellow line will turn blue as it absorbs wetness) I love with Pampers, it is easy to know when my evasive toddler is ready for a new diaper.

It is always easier to bond over Play-Doh or construction trucks when my son is dry and happy.

Whether worn on their own, or under his clothes, these diapers gave him the freedom to run, climb, crawl and play. I love the leg gussets on Pampers diapers. They give me piece of mind throughout the day that we will be accident-free.

I was also sent a fun #MothersPromise kit with a diaper clutch, memory book, promise card and a sturdy box for special keepsakes. I had so many hopes and dreams for each of my children while I carried them to term, and then as they started to grow and develop into individuals. This kit is a great way to keep track of all those hopes, dreams and promises I have for my baby.

I made the promise to each of my children on those late nights nursing that I would support them to be whomever they wanted to be in life. I still stand behind that promise to love them unconditionally.

What promises did you make to your baby?

Pampers #MothersPromise Instagram Giveaway!

Because we all make promises when we bring home our tiny, fragile baby from the hospital, now you can share those promises for a chance to win! There are great prizes like Walmart gift cards and Pampers Premium Care Diapers to be won.

Just head over to SheSpeaks  to enter and information on what you could win by tagging #MothersPromise on an Instagram photo of your baby!  bit.ly/je68mH 

So, what promises did you make to your baby?

Tackling the Meatball Mess: Bounty with Dawn

This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/Bounty. All opinions and experiences are my own. #BountyatWalmart 

There is nothing more enjoyable then a slow roasted tomato sauce with homemade meatballs. It is a stick-to-your-ribs, grandma loves you kinda meal. 

Well, unless you are the one stuck with cleaning the kitchen afterwards! 

Those gloriously delicious balls of meat, simmer in a sauce that just happens to get everywhere. In my rush to get dinner on the table I often miss the loud sputters of sauce as it goes from a gentle simmer to a more violent bursting out of the pot and onto my stove top or counters. 

Truly a delicious, but messy endeavor.

Usually I have to deal with the mess after we eat because the oils from the meatballs and the tomato sauce leave a film on everything. Messes can't just be wiped up, they need something to cut through the grease like Dawn.

I remember after I left for college, my parents started using paper towels for everything. They liked the fact they could be thrown away and didn't harbor germs like a kitchen sponge. I just rolled my eyes. Paper towels just don't cut it, in my book, for using with soap and water. Sorry.

Well, Bounty and Dawn have joined forces to make my cleaning fantasies a reality. Bounty with Dawn is a 2-in-1 product  that combines Bounty's durable paper towels with Dawn's grease fighting powers. Truly the perfect product to do battle against my meatball and red sauce nemesis! 

I ran my paper towel under the sink to activate, then wrung it out before setting to work to tackle those spills and pick up those greasy splatters.

I love that the Dawn in the paper towel sudsed up and took out my kitchen mess. I tackled the whole kitchen with just one of these paper towels. I just rinsed, wrung it out and kept cleaning between spills.

Oh, and they are also handy for cleaning out those messy splatters in the microwave, too. This has my traditional stinky kitchen sponge on notice. When I'm done with my cleaning, I can just throw the paper towel away.

Wouldn't this be a wonderful thing to take while at a vacation home or while camping? All the strength of my handy kitchen rags, without the laundry afterwards. Oh, the possibilities..

Be sure to check your local Walmart for Bounty with Dawn, and grab the Meatball recipe below.

Meatballs
recipe courtesy of New Bounty with Dawn

You will need:

• lb ground beef
• 1/4 c. plain breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• pasta
• red sauce of your choice

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a muffin tin with cooking spray.

Combine beef, breadcrumbs, egg, cheese and seasoning in a large bowl. Portion into 1 3/4" balls and bake until cooked through. (about 15 minutes)

Turn the meatballs during this time so they brown evenly.

Cook pasta according to the package directions.

Warm your sauce in a small saucepan over low heat. Add cooked meatballs to the sauce and simmer for a few minutes. 

Serve over pasta and topped with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Enjoy!

How do you tackle your biggest kitchen messes?

Want the House to Smell as Fresh as Spring? Try #FebrezeSpring

This is a sponsored post from SheSpeaks and Febreze. All opinions and exerperiences are my own.

I wait all Winter for Spring to finally arrive. I look forward to throwing open the windows and letting the crisp, cool breeze in to banish the gloomy, musty Winter blahs. The smell of fresh cut grass, the warm alfalfa in the fields, flowers and laundry hanging on the line all mix to create a unique scent that only comes this season.

Well, at least I would love to "throw" the windows open. In truth, my allergies keep me inside with the windows tightly shut to keep both the pollen and clean air out.

With a family of 5, my home doesn't always smell so fresh.

*Sniff, sniff*

Febreze is here to help fill my home with the scents of Spring... without all the added sneezing and wheezing from seasonal allergies. The Febreze Spring Collection is currently available in Walmart.

Bringing all those delicious Spring scents indoors is like bringing all the fun of U-pick strawberries into the house everyday... without the threat of berry stains!

In honor of Spring I decked out the car with a Febreze Car vent clip in the scent Rain. Easy to use, this would be a great option for ridding the car of funky kid smell. Or if you just happen to forget a dirty diaper in the car overnight. Just sayin'.

The NOTICEables warmer, that plugs into any standard wall socket, was filled with the new Sweet Pea & Pink Petasl scents. This one was a little too strong for my taste, but I loved the scent. I just wish I could have turned it way down. It actually has an intensity control, but I unplugged it after a few minutes... the smell lingered for me to enjoy for a few more hours.

I also tried the Set & Refresh with Rain again. This one went in our utility room where I don't often get the chance to air out the room. With the freezer, hot water heater and storage in that room, it doesn't smell fresh or inviting. That was easy enough to change.

Be sure to check out all the fun new seasonal scents currently available at Walmart. So many freshening options out there. Find the perfect way to bring in the scents of Spring for your family.

What scents remind you of Spring?

Smile! Help a Child In Need by SMILING IT FORWARD™

*Disclaimer - I received information and products from McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNeil PPC, Inc., the makers of TYLENOL®. The opinions stated are my own. This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks.

Yesterday there weren't many smiles around our house.

A 24-hour stomach bug came in hard and fast. It started with my son in the morning and by midnight all three kids were sick. Tummy pain, crying and general grumpiness was rampant. As a Mom I did everything in my power to make them comfortable, encourage them to rest and cuddle the hours away.

Yesterday I sent my husband to the store to stock up on all our sick day essentials, sports drink, Jell-O, electrolyte freezer pops and I made sure we had infant and children's Tylenol stocked in the medicine cabinet. It is the brand I rely on to easy my children's aches and pains while sick.

This morning I was in desperate need of my coffee. It was a long night and I would rather crawl back in bed. Of course, it was all worth it to see my children feeling better and smiling this morning. It is that first smile that marks they are feeling better than makes this Mom's heart sing.

Inspired by Moms' proudly sharing photos of their smiling children, TYLENOL® brand started the SMILING IT FORWARD™ campaign, a chance for Moms to share their photos for a good cause. Every child should have access to doctors, nurses and the medicine they deserve so Children's Health Fund mobile clinics, throughout the U.S., are getting in on the action.

Alyson Hannigan, from How I Met Your Mother, is also a Tylenol Mom. In September she shared the first smile of her daughters for the first donation from Tylenol to Children's Health Fund. Now that the ball has started rolling, Alyson wants to encourage other moms to participate in SMILING IT FORWARD™.

How can you get involved?

TYLENOL® will donate $1 to Children’s Health Fun for every uploaded smile. This donation helps children in need see a doctor and receive the care they deserve (up to $100,000). So Moms, do what you do best, share those photos of your kids smiling. Share photos that make you smile and brighten your family's day. Upload your photo to the SMILING IT FORWARD™ site.  I uploaded my photo of Elliott. I love waking each morning to his smiling face and after everyone was sick it is the best present I could receive. 

Between September 17, 2013 and January 31, 2014, McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc., the makers of TYLENOL®, is inviting anyone 18 and older to share a photo that makes them smile on SmilingItForward.com. Each photo approved & shared will trigger a $1.00 donation from TYLENOL® to Children’s Health Fund, with a minimum donation of $75,000 and a maximum donation of $100,000. Review Terms and Conditions  for complete program details. For information about Children's Health Fund, visit www.childrenshealthfund.org.

SunRype Snacks - Putting Fruit into Our Busy Hands

As a Mom, I keep myself armed with snack options for the kids.

They always seem to be hungry at the worst moments. I do carry things like applesauce and fresh fruit, but if you have ever had a banana get smooshed and rot in the bottom of your diaper bag, you start to shy away from that sort of thing. I even found a rather mummified orange in a pocket once. Blech.

Sadly, junk food seems to have no expiration date and usually comes all neatly packed and ready to travel. Well, I am not ready to settle.

The folks at #SunRype were kind enough to send me a goodie box of snacks. It was filled with Just Fruit & Grain Bars, Fruit Strips and Fruit Bars. My kids can't have the grains, but I was more than glad to stash those away for myself. Hey, mama needs snacks, too!

The Fruit Strips were perfect for little hands.

My kids love their fruit leather and fruit snacks. I would love to tell you that I slave away and create them all myself, but the fact is... I'm pregnant, tired and busy. I do enjoy to make some of our treats using fresh fruit from our farm, but right now the trees, vines and bushes are pretty bare.

I always cringe at the ingredient list on the back of most fruit snacks. The SunRype Fruit Strips are 100% fruit with no added color or preservatives. It's just that simple. Speaking of that, the Fruit Source Bars were also 100% fruit. We all thought the Blueberry Pomegranate was delicious.

As for the Just Fruit & Grains Bar? Well, they were all mine. Sweet, but not too sweet. It contains 4 grams of fiber, so it was just what I needed in between meals on a busy day. Summer Berries was my top pick, but berries are my absolute favorite.

We still have a few of these snacks left and I plan to bring them with us on our upcoming family vacation. I know they will be the perfect, portable snack while we enjoy an active day at the water park.

Mmm... want to try it for yourself? SunRype has a Facebook BOGO offer you should check out and snag. Believe me, you won't want to have just one of these on hand.


*Disclaimer - This is a sponsored post on behalf of SheSpeaks/SunRype. I received these products for free to share my firsthand opinion. I was not compensated and am under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions and experiences are my own.

Torani Syrups, Coffee and So Much More

This Christmas I may not have the energy to do my normal baking, but I don't want to miss out on all my favorite Seasonal flavors. Torani syrups, you know, the flavored syrups you can add to your coffee for a little extra "wow!" are so much more. I was sent two bottles of Torani syrups to use and get the creative juices flowing. I was sent a bottle of Gingerbread and Hazelnut syrups.

Now, I already know that I love Hazelnut syrup, and I highly recommend adding a little splash to your hot cocoa next time. For this post I decided to explore the Gingerbread flavor.

Wow!

You have to try this one!

I made a nice, moist gingerbread cake and substituted half the water called for with the Torani Gingerbread syrup. Then when I made the fresh whipped cream for topping, I used the syrup instead of vanilla extract and cut back on the sugar. Perfection! Bursting with flavor and moist. It was a great hit.

Gingerbread Recipe

You Will Need:

• 1 1/2 c.  Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
• 1/2 c. Whole Wheat Flour
• 1/4 c. sugar
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. each cloves and nutmeg
• 3 Tbsp. fresh grated ginger
• 1/2 c. (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 3/4 c. black strap molasses
• 1/8 c. water
• 1/8 c. Torani Gingerbread syrup
• 1 large egg
• 1 c. buttermilk (*or sub with milk and a splash of apple cider vinegar)
• 1 c. whipping cream, chilled
• 1 Tbsp. Torani Gingerbread syrup
• 1 tsp. sugar

Spray a 9 inch square pan with non-stick spray and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl sift together the dry ingredients. Set aside.

In a heat-safe measuring cup, melt the butter and stir in the fresh ginger molasses. Add this to the dry ingredients and stir. Add the water and syrup together and also add to the bowl.

Whisk together the egg and buttermilk. Stir this into the batter till incorporated.

Bake for 33-36 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out of the center clean. Let the cake cool completely.

In a chilled bowl, add the cream, syrup and sugar. Beat with hand beaters till soft peaks form. Serve on top of a slice of cake, dust with cinnamon and enjoy!

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I also made a steamer with warm milk and Torani Gingerbread syrup dusted with just a touch of cinnamon. Another great way to use these syrups that doesn't even require the coffee maker.

Thinking outside the box and using Torani syrups in my kitchen was easier than I first thought. I have so many other great ideas to try and since the syrups come in a wide variety of flavors, I am sure it will keep my taste buds happy.

About Torani:Since 1925, 3rd generation family-owned Torani has been crafting great tasting flavored syrups that coffeehouses use to make their flavored drinks taste so delicious. With over 120 flavors in Regular and Sugar Free varieties, Torani flavored syrups are perfect for flavored lattes, mochas, coffees, cocoas, Italian sodas, teas, lemonades, cocktails and smoothies. Coffeehouse professionals choose Torani flavors because they are expertly crafted and made with the highest quality ingredients, like natural flavors and pure cane sugar. The Sugar Free flavors have no calories and are sweetened with Splenda. Now, Torani flavored syrups are widely available at retail so you can easily create authentic coffeehouse quality drinks at home.

My only question is, what would you do with Torani syrups? Do you already have a favorite flavor?

*Disclaimer - this is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks & Torani syrup. All opinions, recipe and experiences are my own.