Products we Love Archives - Busy Moms Helper

Spring Means Muddy Paws

April 19, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post brought to you by our friends at Swiffer. All opinions are ours alone. #SwifferFanatic #DontSweatYourPet

Y’all know how much we love our pets – but I will say that Springtime can be one of the most frustrating parts of the year with them. Why, you may ask? Because Spring means muddy paws – which then get tracked in all over my floors! Add to that the fact that they’re bringing in all that pollen or other plant stuff as things begin to grow, just adding to the mess. Luckily it’s not really a big deal, because I can clean it up super easy with my arsenal of supplies.

I like to call it my ‘arsenal’ because it practically ‘attacks’ the mess, cleaning it up super quickly and with hardly any effort. Heck, my kids even ENJOY using our Swiffer products for their chores, meaning less fights getting them to check them off! All I need to do is make sure I stay stocked up on everything – if we run low, I just nab some during our next trip to Kroger – and the mess almost takes care of itself (so to speak). For those muddy paws all over our dark wood floors, we’re loving the Swiffer Sweeper Dry and Wet Pet Refills with Febreze Odor Defense that Trap + Lock all that yuck. A quick swipe across the floors and they’re clean once again! I also like that they smell so fresh, thanks to the Febreze Odor Defense, so our house smells great – without smelling like cleaner 😉

Some of my dogs get the ‘what ME?’ look when I jokingly ask who left all the muddy paw prints – but some of them couldn’t care less! At least I don’t have to stress about it, and can just ask one of my kiddos to nab our Swiffer Sweeper to wipe it up quickly.

And who here has pets that LOVE laying in the window areas in the springtime when the sun shines in nice and warm? I have a few that will hang out in the sunny spots constantly – meaning more of their shedding gets left behind. Another fun tool in our cleaning arsenal is our Swiffer Dusters Heavy Duty Pet Refills – which is probably my family’s FAVORITE cleaning tool!

I mean, they get a ‘wand’ of fluffy cleaning-ness to go ‘trap’ all that hair and dirt left behind. Swipe it around on the ledges or wherever your pet tends to chill out, and it grabs all the fur up quickly. Check out everything it got up from just ONE swipe along this window seat ledge that my Leia girl loves laying in during the sunshine!

Even though Spring means muddy paws, shedding and all sorts of other pet frustrations, you don’t have to worry about anything other than loving your pet thanks to a trusted supply of Swiffer products to help clean up the mess quickly, easily and even enjoyably!

Check out items for your Swiffer cleaning arsenal!

10 Reasons to Choose Michael’s VIPs Tour Guides

April 17, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

I was provided tour guide services to facilitate this review. All opinions are entirely my own.

Want to know what one of my favorite things about vacations is? The memories – whether they’re good, bad, hilarious or down-right embarrassing! And yes, I have plenty of those 🙂 One of my least favorite things, on the other hand, is the stress and hassle involved. That’s one of several Reasons to Choose Michael’s VIPs Tour Guides for your next Orlando vacation! (originally shared March 2017)

May contain affiliate links that help support this blog. See our disclosure.

If you’ve been on a family trip in Orlando, I bet you can remember seeing the people who were just DONE with their ‘magical vacation’. The grumpy group arguing over everything, or the family that’s shoving through crowds to get to the next ride first. That’s NOT the best way to spend a vacation – and yes, I’ve been there and done that. After experiencing an absolutely amazing trip last year, though, I’m now convinced that my family needs a tour guide for all our future trips – for our own sanity and happy-memory-making sakes! And I know who I’m calling every time – Michael’s VIPs offers so much more than just showing you around. Here’s TEN reasons they’re my go-to Orlando Tour Guide service…

#1: Saves Time, Saves Money

Time is money, or that’s what everyone says. Vacations are expensive enough, so why would you add the cost of a tour guide? Because it not only saves you the stress, but also can SAVE YOU MONEY overall! With their expertise, you get so much more done in a day, meaning you can go for less days. That’s fewer park tickets and hotel nights, less food and snacks you have to buy, less missed work or school. They’re able to get you places faster in the parks because they have it memorized. They know which ways to walk during what times of day due to traffic, which rides get busiest at what times, and when dining fits into the schedule to miss less actual park time. Time = Money, and these guys can save you a LOT of it!

#2: More Affordable than Other Groups

Yes, another one that comes down to money – because I’m sure that’s likely the top reason most people are hesitant to hire a tour guide. The prices for a private guide directly from places like Walt Disney World cost you between $400-$600 an hour, while Universal Orlando is about $2,800-$3,200 per day. Ouch! Michael’s VIPs is only $125-$150 an hour depending on the time of year.

So they’re not only saving you a TON of money in that fee, but you get all these other perks that you may or may not get with the other guys…

#3: Planning Help from Beginning to End

Whether it’s help with hotel or dining reservations, transportation from place to place, getting tickets, or fast passes, Michael’s VIPs handles all of that for you – before you even get there! I loved not having to wake up super early to nab my desired dining times when they opened 180 days before our Disney World trip, because they took care of it for me. We discussed ahead of time what we wanted from our trip – where we wanted to eat, things we wanted to do, the types of rides we were most eager to try – and they took care of all the reservations. They helped us figure out which transportation worked best for different days or situations, which saved us a LOT of time. They even texted (yes, I had their actual cell phone numbers to text before, during and after our trip) to see how we enjoyed our trip!

#4: Goes Beyond the Parks

I loved that for our whole trip – that included Walt Disney World AND Universal Orlando – we could use the same company and guides. We didn’t have to switch when we went to a new place, making it much easier for them to really get to know us and our likes or dislikes as far our vacation. If we had wanted to go try something else in Orlando, they’ve got you covered for that, too! They go beyond the parks, so whether you need a fun shopping venture, or a fancy evening out for business, they know the place and can guide you where you need to go.

#5: Honest Input & Recommendations

If you hire a private guide directly from the parks, they kind of HAVE to promote their own company’s stuff. Even if a restaurant outside the park is better, they’re likely to encourage you to eat inside the park because it helps their bottom line. With Michael’s VIPs, they cover everything and have nothing extra to gain from promoting certain things or places over others – so you know they’re going to give completely honest input or recommendations for your trip.

#6: The ‘Little’ Extras

Everyone know that the little things can make or break a great vacation, right? Well these guys want you to have the best experience possible, and the guides have fun ways of ensuring that. Take Renee for example – she brings little fake jewels to ‘toss’ to the kids during certain Little Mermaid shows or rides! Chris made sure to bring us ponchos for Kali River Rapids, and new right where to take our picture from the bridge. And Rob had learned enough about us to know my love of Star Wars, so he made sure to wear a Millennial Falcon shirt. It’s the little things, guys, that can make a world of difference and let you know that they really care about YOU!

#7: More Photos with Your Group

How many of us moms do a great job getting photos of the kiddos while on vacation, but often overlook getting ourselves in the photos? It’s super nice having a guide there to take photos of your whole family (or just you – because, why not?!) and really catch those fun memories. And yes, they’re happy to nab some with their phone and email or text it to you if you don’t want to shove your phone or camera at them constantly 🙂

#8: Extra Set of Hands – help with kids or bags

If you have multiple kiddos, you know that having another adult around can be a life-saver. They can help keep them safe and close to the group, and even keep them happy skipping along so you and hubby can enjoy walking holding hands with each other for a change! Another thing is trying to figure out seating on rides – there’s another ‘big person’ to help the younger ones. Or if you want to sit off a ride, the guides are happy to go with the kids for a second round – or third or fourth or…. (yes, my kids do this on rides like Flight of the Hippogriff at Universal). And Jason was awesome helping us with our MANY bags from Universal that day – and they were HEAVY bags!

#9: They KNOW All The Things

If you’re like me, you don’t want to just randomly pick a bathroom and hope it’s a decently clean one at busy public places. Luckily, Michael’s VIPs know where the bathrooms are located and which are the best (and check whenever you’re near, in case someone needs to stop). They know where the entrances are to all the rides, and where to head for the best seats for performances.

At Universal, we suddenly really wanted Pumpkin Juice – but wanted to try the carbonated version – and Jason took us right over to the correct place to get that. They also know which rides have the best ques for entertaining kids who may be getting restless – although you won’t wait in many lines with this skilled crew! When kids need to get rid of some of their energy, they know right where to go for the play areas in the parks.

And they know the RIDES super well, like where the camera is if there’s a photo, and also how to score the best on Buzz Lightyear – check out my score following their trick!!!

The only thing they DIDN’T know and were unable to find out for me, was why at Magical Express at the airport arrival there were lines 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 – where did line 7 go?!

#10: They Work While You Rest

Some rides the guide had us go on while they went and took care of other work pieces, like scheduling more fast passes. We also enjoyed watching a short bit of Jedi Training Academy while resting in chairs in the shade, while Rob went and grabbed some waters. While we were enjoying lunch, even when they joined us because we LOVED their company, the guides would still be working – reorganizing the schedule on their phone to make up for a random ride closure (Hogwarts Express – so sad!) or seeing about switching up dining reservations because you changed your mind on what type of food you want. Guys, they work HARD – but make it all look like all fun and play!

I seriously can’t WAIT to go back to Orlando again, because I know Michael’s VIPs will make it a wonderfully fun, stress-free vacation for my whole family!

Our goal is fall-ish 2018 taking EVERYONE in my family – when are YOU going to go and give these tour guides a try?

To know more about each guide we got the pleasure of vacationing with last October, read HERE

Check with Get Away Today for the best prices on tickets and hotels for your vacation – and use Promo Code: BusyMomsHelper for even more savings!

Tour guides for couples – is it worth it?

Tour guides for families – what you need to know

How to avoid lines at Walt Disney World

7 things to NEVER bring to Disney World – and 10 you MUST!

Fly with Toothless at iFly

March 2, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

We received a complimentary visit to try this flying adventure. All opinions are mine alone.

We’ve all dreamed of flying with dragons – and now you can really experience the adventure and Fly with Toothless at iFly! Dreamworks and iFly have teamed up for the release of How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World to offer you an unforgettable experience that the whole family will be talking about for a long time to come. Our family had the opportunity to try out this unbelieve Virtual Reality experience, and we’re still on cloud 9!

Our family was a mix of excitement and nervousness, as we had no clue what to expect from our exciting evening. Despite a few fears, even the littles couldn’t wait to try it out and were talking about it for many days leading up to our appointment! We went to the Dallas location, but the How to Train Your Dragon virtual reality experience is available nationwide (there’s over 30 locations in the U.S.) exclusively at iFly.

First of all, the basics: While you can enjoy iFly indoor skydiving as young as 3 years old, the Virtual Reality (VR) experiences are for ages 6 and up and for weights up to 260 pounds. As first time flyers (but now definite repeats!), our package included a short training to start – so they could explain how it works and the various hand signals used in the wind tunnel – as well as two 1-minute flights each before the VR.

They provide the jumpsuits (can fit over regular clothes, just don’t wear something bulky), helmets, goggles and foam ear plugs. You do need to wear closed-toe shoes that won’t slip off.

I knew they worked with younger kids, but was still nervous if they’d have something that fit my littles – but they had quite the variety and had the right thing for all 7 of us! Don’t we look adorable in our gear? 😉

I’m so glad we got to try out the regular flight before, because you can really get a feel for the wind blowing and the instructor guiding your body around as you fly. Especially for the kiddos, I don’t know how they would’ve done having a VR set on without knowing their ‘real’ surroundings first. Plus we could experience the VR better as we weren’t as ‘flingy’ as the first flight!

If your kiddos are a bit unsure like some of mine were, don’t worry – the instructors are incredible, preparing us with all the information beforehand and guiding us every step of the way. Ashley was with our crew, and I can’t speak highly enough of her. She kept it extremely fun, safe and was super patient with some of my littles that were more CLINGY….

If you’re wondering – after this first flight of his, he had his arms fully out for the second, so we were thrilled at his progress and feeling more at ease! Just from the flights, the kiddos were begging to come back again soon – and we hadn’t even done the awesome VR, yet!

Now it was time for the BIG event – flying like a dragon! We raced Toothless and Astrid, but you can also pick Hiccup if you’d rather him. They get you all equipped with the VR headset outside of the tunnel, making sure it’s working and you can see. Then you begin your race in a fully-immersive and exhilarating adventure through the world of Berk from the new film How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World!

The instructor has you the entire time, moving you around so your flight is totally life-like. They have a screen so the instructor can see exactly what you see, so they can move you perfectly around the mountains, hills or other obstacles you may encounter.

Feel free to look around as much as you’d like, because there’s stuff to see ALL AROUND YOU, not just in front! It was so incredible to soar right along our beloved dragon Toothless, and really feel what it’s like to fly. This breathtaking journey is unforgettable, and it’s truly a family experience I recommend for everyone that’s able. My kids are STILL talking about it, and can’t to go back as soon as we can. Be sure to ask them about return pass deals when you’re there, because that’s when you can get the best prices!

Of all the exciting things I’ve had the privilege of doing for this site, I can honestly say that this was definitely in my top 10 favorites! Hurry and schedule your time to try out this incredible VR experience to feel and see for yourself what it really is like to fly like a dragon!

Who’s YOUR favorite from How to Train Your Dragon?

Love and Pet Messes

February 18, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Thanks to Swiffer + Febreze for sponsoring this post. All opinions are mine alone. #DontSweatYourPet

With Valentine’s Day so recently, I loved seeing all of the local shelters and rescues posting their holiday specials so you could adopt your new furry Valentine. Sweet dogs and cats holding little signs such as ‘Be My Valentine’ or snuggling heart-shaped pillows? Melt my heart! For those of you still stuck at the thinking stage – whether or not you should adopt a new furry friend – here’s some of my thoughts about how to tackle at least some of the things that may be causing hesitation. Because really, adopting comes with Love and Pet Messes – but we can help with that last one!

We’re long past the thinking stage, but I still remember that amongst the excitement and desire to get a pet, there were concerns. Will we have enough time to pay adequate attention to our new pet? What are the costs involved? Are we going to be able to keep and care for her long-term? And of course – what about the PET MESSES?! I know animals shed, and it can be super frustrating – but the great news is that it doesn’t actually have to be a hassle! If the messes are the last thing keeping you from enjoying the amazing friendship and love of a new pet, you can rest assured that Swiffer + Febreze can save the day with a swish and a spray. You can nab both during your next trip to Kroger!

I was thrilled to learn that my favorite cleaning helper – Swiffer – now has special pet-specific products to really give us pet-owners some help. I’m talking about the awesome Swiffer Dusters Heavy Duty Pet Refills, as well as the Sweeper Dry and Wet Pet Refills with Febreze Odor Defense that Trap+Lock all that pet hair and dirt. I’ve always loved how easily I can sweep up all the dead grass and yuck on my floors, then making them fully clean and shiny. Plus the Swiffer Dusters are AMAZING for getting all the nooks and crannies around the house where my dogs’ shedding seems to come to rest.

Along with the ‘pet messes’ is the smell – we all know that dogs and cats don’t always smell like roses (despite rolling around in them often, it seems!). But that ones even easier, because Febreze AIR Heavy Duty Pet Odor Eliminator can freshen up all around your home with a quick spray. If you’re worried about your couches – my pups LOVE laying around on our couches – then never fear, because there’s also Febreze Fabric Pet Odor Eliminator that helps to quickly freshen those up, which is particularly great before having guests over.

While there may be other reasons you’re not ready to commit to a pet, if you’re at the point where you ARE ready, it’s truly an incredible bond between pet and owner. We love our pups so much – they truly complete our family! There’s ups and downs in all love stories, but Swiffer + Febreze can help make sure you don’t sweat your pet because of the mess or odor. No matter what stage you’re at – thinking, plunging, or loving (that’s us!) – you can enjoy the fact that Swiffer + Febreze help clean and freshen up pet messes quickly AND efficiently. That means you can spend more time with your new fur-ever friend!

What pet would YOU most enjoy?

7 Things to NEVER Bring on a Cruise Ship, plus 10 You MUST!

February 8, 2019 by Danielle 23 Comments

I received this Carnival cruise complimentary to help facilitate this post. All opinions are mine alone. #CruisingCarnival

During all the excitement leading of to you cruise vacation, it may be hard to focus on packing. I’m a bit of an obsessive packing-list-maker, but even I was struggling with what I’d need for our Carnival Cruise last month! I decided to ask the staff onboard what they thought were the have to or definitely don’t brings, from their own experiences working there. We heard some entertaining stories, that’s for sure, and they all helped us compile a list of 10 Things to NEVER Bring on a Cruise Ship, plus 7 You MUST! Some of these may seem like no-brainers, but if it’s on the list it means somebody at some point has tried it!

Contains affiliate links that give us a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our disclosure for more info.

Now, this is definitely not an all-inclusive packing list – do NOT only take what we tell you are ‘have to bring’ items. I’m not putting clothes on here because, really, if you can’t remember clothing then perhaps you’re already too drunk to go on a cruise. This are just some things that many people may not think to take – or may consider taking that really aren’t allowed, or even safe!

Things to NEVER Bring on a Cruise Ship

Towels
- Guys, there are plenty of towels on the ship – and you can even take it with you to port (just be sure to bring it back!), so there’s no need taking up precious suitcase space with bulky towels.
Bottled Drinks/Alcohol
- They do allow a limited amount of canned drinks – like soda – per person brought on board. Bottled drinks (like the 16/20 oz. bottles), bottled waters and any alcohol are not allowed and will be either discarded or confiscated, to be returned to you at the end of the cruise. See your cruise line for their specific rules on this.
Too Many Clothes
- One crew member told of a couple that brought FIVE huge suitcases for the two of them on just a week-long cruise. They wanted multiple outfits each day, several swimsuits, lots of shoes and everything. Every time he saw them – even on the same day – they were wearing something different. The problem was there was no free space in their room and they kept complaining about it – but it was simply because their luggage took it all up! So I guess this one is more of a ‘highly recommend not doing’, but it’s your call.
Candles/Fireworks/Fire Hazards
- Fire is one of the most dangerous things that can occur on a cruise ship, so they are VERY strict on any fire hazards. Don’t bring anything like candles, cooktops (yes, people have tried this), or especially fireworks. Instead of candles, if you’re looking for a special scent to your room, just get one of those plug-in scents.
Bad Attitude
- This will ruin not only YOUR entire trip, but risks affecting others on the ship as well – both guests and crew. The people on cruise ships are amazing, and if you have a good attitude, it’s nearly impossible to have a crappy vacation. And you never know what a good attitude may get you!
Lots of Snacks
- Yes, you may need a few for before getting on the ship, but that’s about it. There’s SO MANY places to eat at any point in the day, and room service is just a call away. From the main dining rooms, to the buffet, to other spots like a pizza or burger spot, specialty restaurants and more – you will not have a shortage of food or snacks!
Drone
- I can see the temptation, as this would be really fun – but it also causes risks so drones aren’t allowed on cruise ships. Not only can it be seen as a risk of spying into other people’s rooms, but it’s a distraction and could affect the navigation of the cruise ship. Drones are just another thing you should never bring on a cruise, or you may loose it!

Now that we’ve got those out of the way, check out this ten things that are SUPER great to bring on a cruise, that you may not have thought of to include in your packing list! We make sure to bring all of them for every cruise, since they make a huge difference for the trip.

10 Things You MUST Bring on a Cruise Ship

Power Strip
- There’s not many plugs in a cruise cabin, and since most people have multiple things needing to be plugged in (phones, tablets, etc.), it’s a good idea to have a strip with more outlets so you can utilize it better. NOTE: I’ve heard from some that while power strips are fine, be sure it’s not a surge protector type because some ships/cruise lines may not allow those.
Ziplock Baggies
- These come in handy for so many things – taking along random little things (hair elastics, seashells, etc.), packing some snacks for a shore excursion or to take back to your room, bigger ones can hold wet clothing instead of dripping it all down the hall, and to store liquids that may leak into your suitcase.
Overdoor Hanger
- While most people think these are only good for shoes (they’re great for shoes, but that’s not all), this is handy so you can put your ‘need to grab easily’ items like sunscreen, chargers, notebooks, maps, etc. You can also organize it so the next day’s outfit/shoes are there ready to grab first thing!
Waterproof Lanyards
- I first used mine in Hawaii, and now LOVE taking it on vacations with me! It was great for our excursion to Atlantis, and since many people tend to spend a lot of time at the pools on the ship, this allows you to keep your phone (and room key/cards) handy, but still safe from the water.
Clips for Towels
- It can get really windy up on the decks at sea, and you don’t want your towel or swim cover-up to blow off your chair, so bringing clips to fasten them as you lounge or swim is a great idea.
Highlighter
- Each day you’ll get the pamphlets with all the happenings and schedules for the ship, and since there’s SO MUCH to choose from, having a highlighter so you can mark things makes it much easier. You can even do different colors – like pink for ‘have to do’, yellow for ‘maybe’ or green for ‘the kids and blue for ‘the adults’.
Flat Shoes
- Crew members said how often people, particularly women, bring just fancy or nice shoes with heels, then hate how bad their feet are hurting or have a hard time walking on a moving ship. It’s a good idea to bring a pair of flats, just in case.
Clock
- There are no clocks in the cruise cabins, so if you’re like me and practically HAVE to be able to see what time it is during the night (or day), bring your own. I recommend a small, cheap one that’s easy to pack/transport.
Conditioner/Lotion/Etc.
- Our previous cruises had shampoo and body wash in the showers, but no conditioner or body lotion. If you may need those, bring your own just in case there isn’t some supplies. Also bring your own shampoo and other personal products if you’re very picky as to the brand.
Blanket/Shawl/Jacket
- In the theater, and up on deck, it can get a bit chilly at times, so it’s a good idea to have something you can wrap around yourself. I love taking one of my soft, fluffy blankets with me – especially if we plan to watch one of the movies on the big screen by the pool!

What would YOU add to this list for a cruise vacation?

Check out our other posts from our Carnival Cruise fun!

Why Shorter Cruises are Totally Worth It

5 Common Cruising Myths Debunked!

Atlantis Resort Bahamas: Our Aquaventure Day

How to Date on a Cruise Vacation

Thin Mint Pudding Cookies

January 25, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Thank you Girl Scouts of North Texas for the complimentary cookies to assist this recipe!

It’s that time of year again, when troops of young ladies and their leaders await, table full of delicious goodness, for you to exit the grocery store or drive by, hoping that you’ll stop and buy a box (or a dozen). I love seeing the girls get excited as they work hard to sell their cookies, not just to raise money but also to learn great leadership and entrepreneurship skills. If you’re looking to do something a little different with your box of tastiness this year, try a new twist to one of the favorite Girl Scout Cookies with this amazing and super easy to make Thin Mint Pudding Cookies recipe!

The Girl Scout Cookie Program runs January 11th – February 24th, so be on the lookout for your local troop so you can nab some boxes (or check out TexasCookieTime.org to order some) and give this new recipe a try. And I totally won’t judge if you eat a Thin Mint or two while these bake, because life’s about enjoyment, right? 😉

Yield: about 3 dozen Thin Mint Pudding Cookies

Ingredients

1 1/2 sticks Butter, softened
3/4 cup Light Brown Sugar, packed
1/4 cup Sugar
1 small pack INSTANT Vanilla Pudding (3.4 oz)
2 Large Eggs
2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2-1 tsp. Mint Extract
2 1/4 cup All-purpose Flour
1 cup (about 1 sleeve) Thin Mints, crushed

Note: to really get my Thin Mints crushed, I put them into my blender.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Spray or line 2-3 baking sheets, set aside.
Mix the butter, eggs, light brown sugar, regular sugar and pudding mix until smooth. Add in the vanilla, baking soda, and mint extract and mix again until smooth.
Mix in the flour until everything is well combined, then gently fold in the crushed Thin Mints until evenly incorporated.
Roll into 1″ balls, then place on cookie sheet, flattening just a bit.
Bake for 8-10 minutes, then remove and allow to cool 2 minutes on the cookie sheet before removing to cooling rack. Do not overbake.

These taste amazing – soft and chewy, with a great flavor just like Thin Mints! Now, I had my Thin Mints crushed to a fine powder (because the blender), but you can do larger pieces if you want it more like chunks instead of all throughout your cookie.

Next to Samoa’s, Thin Mints are my absolute favorite Girl Scout Cookie – and I love enjoying them as-is and also in these delish pudding cookies. Plus, it makes them go further, so you can take them to a party or get-together without having to use ALL your Thin Mints!

What’s your favorite Girl Scout Cookie?

Pet Clean Up Made Easy

January 18, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This awesome pet cleaning post is sponsored by Swiffer. All opinions are mine alone. #DontSweatYourPet #SwifferFanatic

Y’all know how much we love our dogs, all four of them. They complete our family, and provide plenty of snuggles, loves and goofy moments – that being said, they also provide quite the mess in our home! All that shedding and the paw-prints really can be frustrating, but luckily it doesn’t prevent us from enjoying our furry pups! Here’s some ways Pet Clean Up is Made Easy so you can focus on the GREAT things about pet ownership.

If you’re like us, you’re among the 59% of pet owners who feel that their pets help make their house feel like a home. It just wouldn’t be the same without them, so it’s a bit sad that 70% of Americans (and 75% of pet-less parents) say that their concerns over pet messes may prevent them from adopting a pet. Now, I know there are some really great reasons out there that pet ownership may not be for you, but I hope I can show you how the messes shouldn’t be a large factor in that important decision!

Having had dogs for over 5 years now, we’ve learned how to make the clean up not only easy, but QUICK – because busy parents like us just don’t have a lot of time to be cleaning – but even the savviest pet owners may need help to see why they shouldn’t sweat it when it comes to their furry friends.

Since we’re making a pledge to stress less about the pet hair all over our floors this year, and handling it quickly and easily instead of making it a huge hassle, the first thing we’re doing is dividing up the work. Each week is someone else’s turn in our home to do the floors, while we also rotate dusting (especially the stairs – because boy does the dog hair like to collect on there!). For the stairs, ledges and baseboard-type spots we love how quick (and fun, according to my kids) the Swiffer Dusters Heavy Duty Pet Refills work.

Just grab a duster, fluff it up, then swipe it away at those pet hairs – it picks them up so well, and leaves your edges looking wonderful! Even the pets kind of like these fluffy yellow things, though I don’t think they appreciate it as much as we do 🙂

The floors were the biggest stress, but luckily we tackle that easily now. Whoever is in charge of the floors for the week just pulls out our Sweeper Dry and Wet and the Pet Dry Refills with Febreze Odor Defense (that are amazing, and Trap + Lock all that dirt and pet hair – you can find them at Kroger) and sweep away. It’s actually kind of fun to watch them do the swishing, back-and-forth motion with it!

After that, for the dirty pup prints, the Wet Pet Refill works amazing at wiping those up in a jiffy, leaving our pretty floors shining. Plus, the tough green strip is perfect when there’s a spot that needs a little extra scrubbing. I love it!

Being a pet owner, I know there will always be a mess (plus kids – so there’s that!). When we first got a dog we had to spend a ton of time cleaning all the dog hair and paw prints, but we don’t mind at all now because with Swiffer it’s so quick and simple!

Now that we spend less time cleaning up after our pets, we can enjoy a lot more time with our family – including our furry friends!

What’s your trick for quick pet clean up?

Easy Potato Soup & Cider Recipe

January 14, 2019 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Thank you Idahoan® Steakhouse® Soups for sponsoring this post. Enjoy the flavorful, slow-cooked taste of restaurant-quality soup at home, in minutes.

While I’m grateful to live in a place warmer than Utah now, it’s still been plenty cold here lately with a bit of freezing rain this month. I don’t know about you, but when it gets cold I have even less of a desire to spend forever cooking – but, we still have to eat, right? Luckily we can still make a delicious and comforting (aka: nice and warm!) meal with this Easy Potato Soup & Cider Recipe! with hardly any effort required, you can whip up a family-pleasing dish in practically no time at all, meaning more time you can spend wrapped up in that blanket.

Okay, so maybe us moms don’t ACTUALLY have time to just lounge around wrapped in a blanket – but you know I’m gonna try to stay as comfy and bundled as possible once the temperatures get into the 30’s and 40’s here! That’s one reason this meal is so perfect – the apple cider cooks in your slow cooker a few hours, making the house smell like cinnamon and deliciousness. Meanwhile the Idahoan Steakhouse® Soups cook in just 5 minutes, and are full of flavorful seasonings and rich cheeses – not to mention real Idaho® potatoes – giving you a creamy, hearty flavor with every bite. All you have to do is add water, making it about as easy as a quality meal can be!

Are you in for several weeks of chilly weather in your area? Don’t worry, you can enjoy more than one tasty meal that’s easy to make and brings warming comfort to your family because Idahoan Steakhouse Soups offer a variety of great flavors, such as Loaded Potato (which we enjoyed for this particular dinner), Creamy Potato, Cheddar Broccoli (my favorite!!) and Cheddar Potato. So many options to choose from, but since they’re quick to cook maybe just whip up a variety and let your family test out their favorites!

Apple Cider Recipe

Ingredients

Large Container Apple Juice
3-4 Cinnamon Sticks, plus some for garnish as desired
Caramel Syrup, if desired

Directions

Pour the apple juice into your slow cooker.
Add 3-4 cinnamon sticks.
Cook on low for 3-4 hours, stirring occasionally to spread the cinnamon flavor throughout.
When serving, add a bit of caramel syrup as desired – enjoy!

When your cider is close to done, grab your flavor choice of Idahoan Steakhouse Soup and follow the directions on the back. For our Loaded Potato, I simply had to boil 4 cups of water (for 1 package), whisk in the contents of the pack, lower heat and simmer (uncovered) for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then remove it from the heat and let cool about 5 minutes. That’s all it takes, guys!

I’m a huge fan of things that help make our busy lives easier, so of course I not only love the great, slow-cooked, full-of-flavor taste of Idahoan Steakhouse Soups – but also being able to give my family restaurant-quality soup right in our home in just minutes! They really help make comfort easy, despite the chilly temps outside.

What’s your favorite cold-weather drink recipe?

Creative Way to Include Batteries with Gifts – with free printable!

December 11, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

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

How many times have you been super excited about a gift, but once it’s opened realize it needs batteries – then the search begins! That hassle and waiting to be able to actually ENJOY the gift can cause so much unneeded holiday stress. Especially with kids, you don’t want to deal with the pressure (aka nagging) that’s sure to ensue while you hunt through cabinets and drawers. Don’t worry, because I’ve learned a Creative Way to Include Batteries with Gifts (plus giving a free printable so it’s even easier). No searching or stress THIS year!

While you’re doing your holiday shopping, make a note of which items need batteries – including what type and how many. Then stock up on however many Energizer® Ultimate Lithium™ batteries you need during your next visit to Walmart (because Energizer® Ultimate Lithium™ is the #1 Longest-Lasting Battery). It’s probably a smart idea to nab a few extra packs, just in case! To help with the holiday budget, click here to receive a $5 Walmart eGift card with your $15 Energizer® battery or lights purchase.**

Make sure you have everything ready – your gifts, wrapping paper, scissors, tape, ribbon, hole punch and your Energizer® Ultimate Lithium™ Batteries. As a mom, I rely on these for all our toys and electronics because nothing outlasts their long-lasting power – I want to be switching the batteries as infrequently as possible, because heaven knows I have plenty other things to handle each day. I also really appreciate each battery’s safety-conscious and leak-proof design, helping me feel confident that the most-loved toys and devices are protected against leaks and corrosion! They’re the clear choice to power the essential devices in your life dependably! Gather everything together, then you’re ready to start making your fun ‘battery holder’ gift box!

Click on the photo below to easily shop for all your batteries!

You need to print off this template – I highly recommend printing onto colored cardstock type paper. This is more sturdy so works best, and printing onto the color you want the box to be saves you from having to trace it. Don’t worry if you can’t print directly onto the paper you’ll use for your ‘box’, because you can print on normal paper, cut it out, then trace it onto what you’d like. It prints onto 8.5×11 size, and has 2 per page. Once you have the template, here are the steps for creating your awesome ‘battery holder’ to attach to your wrapped gift!

Print out the template
Cut out each box on the outside lines
Hole punch slightly into each of the triangle tips
Fold inward on the inside lines
Add your Energizer® Ultimate Lithium™ batteries and use ribbon or string to loop inside, then carefully tighten and secure in a bow!

Now, because of the flaps on two of the ends (this provides more support for the pyramid shape), threading the ribbon the wrong way can cause weird lumps or issues. Here’s how I found works best for the smoothest closure…

There you have it – a super fun, festive gift box allowing you to safely include batteries WITH a gift by just taping the bottom of the paper box on top of your wrapped present. That means no more hunting around to power your kiddos new toy! If you don’t want to tape it on top, just wrap it inside the box with the present so it’s right there handy – or you can hang a bunch of these battery boxes (carefully) from your tree – high up where young ones can’t reach, of course – to easily grab when a ‘batteries required’ gift is opened. So fun!

Want to know another perk of hitting up the Energizer® battery displays during your Walmart shopping trip? You can nab these amazingly useful Energizer® Brand Headlights for a great stocking stuffer! I couldn’t resist getting another for hubby, because he uses his All. The. Time!

If you’re in a hurry so don’t have time to do this fun battery gift box, just use festive ribbon and tape to secure the needed batteries to their corresponding gift – easy!

Now go enjoy your holidays knowing that you’ll have a lot less stress when present-opening time comes, because any needed batteries will be right there with the gift, not only making it easy to grab but also look fabulous!

**See Offer Terms & Conditions for complete details

How often have YOU forgotten batteries during the holidays? Me….well, way too many 😉

Chocolate Lovers BBQ Sauce

December 8, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

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

As many of you know, there’s a divide in our house when it comes to chocolate – I absolutely love it, hubby doesn’t. So far the kids are on my side, which I’m quite pleased about. As such, sometimes I find fun ways to incorporate that flavor into foods that you wouldn’t normally find it in, such as the Chocolate Lovers BBQ Sauce I tried the other day! Not only does it have incredible flavor, but also just a hint of chocolate goodness that really makes it special. It works amazing as a marinade for chicken, a dip, or even as a sauce to put on your burgers. You’ve got to give this unique and tasty recipe a try!

The secret to making this chocolate BBQ sauce work so well is the TABASCO® Chipotle Pepper Sauce, which really enhances the flavors with overpowering them. Being a family who has varying tastes, TABASCO® Sauce is one of the best ingredients to stock up in your kitchen (and when you run low, just restock on your next trip to Walmart!) because it’s perfect as not just an ingredient, but also as a condiment that lets each person personalize our food how we like best. Since it’s found anywhere in the world (it’s TABASCO® Brand’s 150th anniversary, so they’ve been around quite a while), you can use it to add or enhance flavor to practically any type of cuisine! So whether you’re whipping up this tasty BBQ sauce or preparing another dish, TABASCO® Brand’s variety of flavors has a bit of something for everyone. Don’t forget to take advantage of the Ibotta offer to save $1 off of 5 oz. or larger TABASCO® Brand Sauce in any flavor now through 12/31/18!

The reason I chose TABASCO® Chipotle Pepper Sauce as the perfect flavor for our chocolate BBQ sauce is that the flavor of smoke-dried jalapeno peppers brings a rich balance of smoke and heat to the sauce. It really pairs well with any type of protein dish, but I think it’s particular excellent for chicken. You can use this sauce flavor for plenty of marinade recipes, or as a condiment over prepared meats. Another great trick – combine it with pineapple for a sweet-savory dish!

This dish is super easy to make, just mixing some ingredients over the stove, letting them simmer to really bring out the flavor, then adding the melted chocolate. Love it!

Ingredients

1 can (15 oz) Tomato Sauce
1/2 cup Water
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
2 tbsp. Onion Powder
1-2 tbsp. TABASCO® Chipotle Pepper Sauce
1 tbsp. Cinnamon
1/2 cup Milk Chocolate Chips

Directions

In a saucepan, mix all of the ingredients except the chocolate chips over medium-low heat. Once it begins to boil, reduce heat and simmer 25 minutes.
When almost done, melt the chocolate chips carefully, then stir into the sauce mixture until smooth.
Enjoy as a marinade, dipping sauce or even a sauce for your burgers!

What could be really fun is to try it with other TABASCO® Brand Sauces, such as their original TABASCO® Brand Pepper Sauce (hubby’s personal favorite), or the milder TABASCO® Green Jalapeño Sauce. Then we could see how the flavors in this chocolate BBQ sauce are changed – maybe making your next favorite dip to serve on game day!

The possibilities are practically endless when you have incredible, flavor-enhancing sauces to help you out! Just don’t tell anyone your secret ingredient, so you can stay the hero chef at your next party 😉

Which TABASCO® Brand Sauce is your favorite?

Adding Memories to Our Walls with Canvas Wraps: The Perfect Gift

December 4, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

This post sponsored by our friends at CanvasDiscount.com – all opinions are mine alone.

Who else loves having family photos decorating their home? They help make it more YOURS, and can be happy reminders of those you care about. We moved into our new home over 7 months ago now, but life was busy so I kept putting off hanging things up. This past weekend it was a blast adding memories to our walls with Canvas Wraps – and they’re the perfect gift for any occasion!

After we had family photos taken at the end of last year, I was so eager to get them printed to hang on my walls. It makes me so happy seeing all the kiddos, how much they’ve grown over the years, in our home! One of my hold-ups was that we were moving soon after, so I knew I wouldn’t be able to hang them for a bit. Honestly, though, my biggest holdup was price – because with this big of a family (and wanting so many fabulous canvas wraps), it can add up! Luckily I was introduced to CanvasDiscount.com where I was able to get all the prints I wanted for up to 90% off – meaning huge savings on this incredible holiday gift for my family!

Once I figured out the layout and size of every Canvas print I wanted, I completed each upload on their site, placed my order, then patiently waited while it shipped. It arrived more quickly than I expected, and then I was begging hubby to help get a bunch of them up on the walls. My first goal – this huge blank wall right inside our front door…

I mean, look at that space begging to be filled up with beautiful Canvas prints! That photo doesn’t give quite the scale of how TALL this blank wall is, so here’s another shot…

See, it’s SUPER tall and just – well, blank! Luckily, I received my beautiful canvas wraps and – once I decided on how I wanted them laid out – got them all up to really help our home look more cozy, welcoming, and much less bare!

Now once you walk in the front door, this is the view people will be greeted with…

I absolutely LOVE IT!!! Although I’m still a bit in shock with how old all my kiddos look – weren’t they just babies yesterday???

You may be wondering why I’m such a huge fan of canvas wraps versus regularly printed photographs in frames. First of all, I don’t like the glare on glass in photo frames. Second, these wraps are super sturdy, with frames behind that help them hang securely. Not only that – but check out the amazing quality of the photos!

You also avoid those silly smudges that tend to get on photographs (especially if you have kids!).

I’m looking forward to hanging the rest of my awesome photos soon – I got a few of just hubby and I for our reading nook in our room, some from family vacations and with extended family for our big family room (though right now the tree is blocking the wall, so that may have to wait until after the holidays) and even sent several to family for Christmas. When you get older, it’s the memories, family and friends that really matter so one of the best gifts you can give is canvas wraps of their loves ones and special memories shared!

I also wanted to include our pups with our family photos, so was really excited with how nicely their photo went at the bottom of our layout…

Whether you want fabulous canvas prints for your own home, or as a great gift that’s perfect for practically anyone your list, you’ve got to check out CanvasDiscount.com – they’re my go-to place for amazing prices and quality prints to decorating my wall with memories!

You can save up to 90% on your Christmas photo canvas HERE!

Perfect Grilled BLT

November 29, 2018 by Danielle Leave a Comment

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

I can’t remember the first time I had a BLT sandwich, I just always remember loving them. The crunch of the bacon, the juicy tomatoes, crisp lettuce – and it’s always made better with some turkey slices. I’ve since learned to up my sandwich-making game by trying new sauces, and finding a way to make the Perfect Grilled BLT. Not only is this toasted just right, it also has a delicious basil mayo sauce that really completes this classic lunch recipe!

First, let me tell you our secret to getting a perfectly toasted sandwich Every. Single. Time. The trick – adding some NEW Land O Lakes® Soft Squeeze™ Spread onto the outsides before placing on the heated grill! This is super easy to spread on, in a convenient, easy to squeeze bottle which means less mess to deal with. I wasn’t sure this would really make much of a difference at first, but after using it OH MY GOSH – I love it, and now keep some constantly handy in my fridge – kind of like having squeezable convenience right at my fingertips in the fridge! Stock up on this fabulous NEW product, made with real butter, during your next trip to your local Kroger store. Because we could all use a little something extra special, you can even Save $0.75 off ONE (1) Land O’Lakes Soft Squeeze® Spread with their current promotion – score!

It’s awesome to be able to save money – and also to enjoy a super delicious and easy to make BLT sandwich! Now that we don’t have to deal with crumbs or mess while making out meal, thanks to NEW Land O Lakes® Soft Squeeze™ Spread, we can really focus on just making it and enjoying EATING it.

Ingredients

Slices of Bread
Bacon
Lettuce – washed & cut into strips
Tomatoes – washed & sliced
Turkey Deli Meat
NEW Land O Lakes® Soft Squeeze™ Spread
1 cup Mayo of Choice
1-2 tbsp. Basil
1 tsp. Garlic Powder

Directions

First, use a bit of NEW Land O Lakes® Soft Squeeze™ Spread to grease a skillet for your bacon. Grill it crispy, then set aside.
Whip the mayo, basil and garlic powder until creamy.
Gather the ingredients, then build your sandwich – spread some of the basil mayo onto the inside of each bread slice, then add your desired amount of turkey, lettuce, tomatoes and bacon.
Spread some easy-to-squeeze NEW Land O Lakes® Soft Squeeze™ Spread onto the outside slices of bread, then grill your sandwich over medium-low heat until perfectly toasted.
Serve warm – ENJOY!

Check out items for your Swiffer cleaning arsenal!

#1: Saves Time, Saves Money

#2: More Affordable than Other Groups

#3: Planning Help from Beginning to End

#4: Goes Beyond the Parks

#5: Honest Input & Recommendations

#6: The ‘Little’ Extras

#7: More Photos with Your Group

#8: Extra Set of Hands – help with kids or bags

#9: They KNOW All The Things

#10: They Work While You Rest

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Ingredients

Directions

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What’s your trick for quick pet clean up?

Apple Cider Recipe

What’s your favorite cold-weather drink recipe?

How often have YOU forgotten batteries during the holidays? Me….well, way too many 😉

Ingredients

Directions

Which TABASCO® Brand Sauce is your favorite?

You can save up to 90% on your Christmas photo canvas HERE!

Ingredients

Directions

What creative ways would YOU use NEW Land O Lakes® Soft Squeeze™ Spread in your cooking or baking?