sponsored Archives - Busy Moms Helper

Be Company Ready Even When You HATE Cleaning

July 2, 2016 by Danielle

This post was sponsored by P&G as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review. #PGDetailsMatter

Does anyone here actually LIKE cleaning their house? I sure don’t – but I also don’t want a dirty home. I want it to look and smell nice. I also HATE that rush before company comes (or worry that occurs with unexpected company showing up) to get everything fresh. Luckily, there’s some great ways to just spend a few minutes to Be Company Read Even When You HATE Cleaning, and a few tricks to keeping it that way all week long!

I have 4 active kids and 2 big dogs. That means a LOT of sweaty clothes, bedding, even couches! This brings a whole new challenge to cleaning because sometimes even if it IS clean, it doesn’t smell that way. If I can incorporate a few things that REALLY make a difference to things looking AND smelling clean, then I’m all on board! While this stuff works all year long, with summer often comes company – family visits, friends in town, whatever. Time to bring that clean level up just a notch or two, right? Better swing by Costco to grab the P&G Household Needs products to help.

Isn’t my little helper adorable? He helped me get all stocked up – we have company coming for about half the month, so I don’t want to run out of anything!

Tip #1: Keep Supplies Stocked Up – Especially Essentials

In a family as big as ours, we definitely don’t want to be in a shortage of toilet paper – add in more company, and I better be ready. We keep our extra Charmin Ultra Soft fully stocked in every bathroom (we have four) – whether we use under cabinets or in our DIY Toilet Paper Holders. Then some extra packs go under our stairs, just in case.

Tip #2: Give Surfaces a Good Wipe Down

While paper towels have about a zillion uses, when we’re in a hurry to clean I just give my kiddos some Bounty Advanced sheets and have them wipe down all the surfaces really well. Our piano that shows every spec of dust, counters, stair railings – it all gets wiped down nicely.

Tip #3: Keep Things Smelling Fresh

Remember how I mentioned a bunch of active kids PLUS dogs? Ya, it can get a little musty smelling in our house. Yuck! I use Febreze Air Effects so often, my kids now will say ‘Mom, can you spray that stuff on the couch, it smells like the dogs’ or the same thing about their beds after a hot night. Or they call it the ‘flower bottle’ 🙂 Either way, I use it to help with our couches, beds, the playroom, and keep a bottle in each bathroom – just in case.

This was also a HUGE help last week – we got a new couch from a yard sale. We’d been needing a bigger one to fit our whole family, but didn’t have the budget for any we could find – until this one. $100 for a HUGE sectional that fills up our media room. SCORE! The bad part – it smelled like old people. I’m sorry, but that’s the best way I can describe it! I gave it a good spray, and it’s already so much better.

Tip #3: Get Laundry Clean AND Smelling Great

Maybe it’s a boy thing, but sometimes (especially when they’ve been out in the hot weather playing) I wash their clothes and they STILL have a little sweat smell on them. Same with their bedding – what gives?! I’ve started using Downy Unstopables to get and keep our clothing, towels and bedding fresh. Be sure to follow the directions on the bottle and put them in the drum of the washing machine before the clothes. This has also been a HUGE help when washing the dog bedding and pillows!

These are just a few of the things that allow me to keep my house looking and smelling amazing – even though I hate cleaning and don’t spend a ton of time! When our company comes soon, it won’t be a mad dash getting things cleaned up, since it’s just a normal thing. Yay for easy cleaning!!!

Ready to Kick Summer’s Butt

June 20, 2016 by Danielle

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Famous Footwear. All opinions are 100% mine.

The school year is rough – late nights, homework, packing lunches and rushed mornings. But as crazy as it is, the summer is downright insane! You’ve got camps, family visits, extra dance or sports, pool days, picnics, kids home All. Day. Long! Well, all day BESIDES when you’re running a million different directions with everything going on. It’s not even July yet, and I’m feeling a little beaten. But after some stubbornness and determination on my part, this is how I’m getting Ready to Kick Summer’s Butt! You heard that right – I’m ready to tackle whatever summer wants to throw at me! Now we’re doing dance twice a week instead of once? Got it. Dogs need a little extra attention and vet visits? Done. Last minute work trip for 3 days? No problem. Here are my 5 tips for a successful summer to help any other crazy mommas out there!

#1: Fake it Until You Make it I think I want to make this my new motto, because you’ll be surprised the wonders it does! I love wearing yoga pants and going bra-less when I’m at home all day – but I’ll admit I feel much more ready and confident when I actually get dressed! That being said, I hate fancy shoes. You ladies that can rock those heels or designer flats – double thumbs up because this unbalanced gal just can’t do it. I don’t feel comfortable or confident in them – but I’m planning to stock my closet with this Women’s Meditation Shooting Star Sandal because they are AMAZING. Comfortable – like I’m not even wearing shoes (the kind of comfort yoga pants give you!), sturdy so I don’t have to worry about whether I’m chasing kids at the park, racing through the grocery store with 4 kids in tow, lounging by the pool, or just waiting for the next dance lesson to be done. They’re sandals, but I feel totally confident in my appearance in them! Yes, I wear them to date night and will be wearing them at an upcoming work event because they help me feel THAT confident! Fake it ’till you make it – look ready, feel ready, be ready. I get totally nervous at work events or meetings, but act like I’m completely fine and know what I’m doing (half the time I have no clue). This helps it be successful! Such a silly thing, but it really works. Need some ideas? Instagram is awesome for that! #2: Put Your Best Foot Forward Okay, this can mean LITERALLY by wearing outfits and shoes that bring out your confidence, like discussed in #1 – but here I mean use your strengths to your advantage. Me, I’m a total list-maker. It’s annoying, but it IS one of my strengths. Instead of fighting it, I’m going with it and the lists are helping me manage this summer schedule of insanity my family has. For you, maybe your ‘best foot’ is talking – make friends and work out carpools. Chat in circles about tips for the best times for swim lessons or how to afford that summer camp. Perhaps your ‘best foot’ is cleaning – you’re nuts, and please come clean my house. No, really! Swap cleaning for babysitting or carpooling. Or it can even be cleaning your home so you FEEL more at peace and comfortable, even with all the hectic summer running around. #3: Reward Yourself You’re working hard, taking care of the family or job or the house. You’re running errands and handling appointments. Heck, you may even be in charge of the meals and shopping! You deserve a little reward – it can even be an incentive for some goals, or a little boost to get you through the week. Maybe it’s a pair of awesome new shoes from Famous Footwear – ones that will help you ‘put your best foot forward’ like in #2 and make you feel confident in your tasks like in #1. Maybe you’re earning a night out with the hubby, or a girl’s night to just be yourself and unwind with the ladies. You DESERVE a break! #4: Have Fun Summer is plenty of fun for the kids (despite the ‘I’m bored’ we hear constantly) with all their camps, activities, friends, parties, etc. – but it can and SHOULD be fun for you, too! Don’t be so focused on the errands and tasks at hand that you don’t enjoy yourself along the way. I’m not a big fan of swimming, but you can bet when we’re at the pool for the kids I’m having a fun time with them – soaking up the sun, laughing at their playing, just bringing out the best in it. We’re so busy, we forget to laugh. DON’T! Find the humor, the happy, the great moments. That’s what life’s about anyway, right? #5: It’s Okay to Say No You hear me right – it’s OKAY to say no. In some cases it’s encouraged! If you’re overwhelmed, exhausted or just can’t do another swim lesson – say no. It’s not the end of the world. You need to pick your priorities, and then arrange around THOSE. We were going to be doing swim lessons AND 3 extra dance lessons a week ON TOP OF everything we already had going on this summer. I took a good look at our situation and said ‘nope’ – well, it might have been a ‘heck nope’, but you get the idea. We’re already busy enough, we don’t need more. They’re fine without swim lessons right this second. And my Iron Man will be fine without starting dance lessons for a bit because we can’t commit to that many per week. You’re not Superwoman – you can’t do everything. Even if you could, doesn’t mean you should. Breathe, prioritize, and don’t be afraid of turning some things down so you can focus on what’s most important – your family, and YOUR health, too. This summer will go by and be crazy, fun, exhausting, exciting and memorable (hopefully in a good way). The point is it WILL GO BY, so don’t let it be so rushed that it isn’t worthwhile. And know that there’s a school year in site in a few short months to help! Let’s see what we can do to take the next few months and say ‘Hey Summer – I got this!’

Comment here and on @famousfootwear Twitter & Instagram what YOUR top shoe picks are that would help you put your ‘best foot forward’ and look/feel your best this summer!

Fun Things to do in Dallas: Safari Run

June 19, 2016 by Danielle

We were able to try out Safari Run in Plano free of charge to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Do you ever wish there was a clean, exciting place to take the kids in Dallas where they could play, you could relax and everyone would be happy? Well, there sure is now! Here’s another thing to add to your list of Fun Things to do in Dallas: Safari Run, now open in Plano!

There’s good things about visiting the zoo, or doing a zipline adventure – but the new Safari Run is for kids of all ages! As they say it, it’s “Where Kids can Party like Animals”! That’s completely true – in this huge safari-themed play place my kiddos went crazy – climbing, sliding, overcoming obstacles, swinging and much more.

My daughter’s already begging to have her birthday party (not until August, but of course she’s already ‘planning’ it – I swear she doesn’t get one that often!) here because she loved it so much. Here’s their party room, complete with murals (in the works, will be completed shortly), straw ‘canopy’ with lights, plenty of space and chairs, and even a projector to use!

For the younger ones, they’ve got the ‘Little Cubs’ area – a mini play place that keeps them much more eye-level. This makes it much easier for parents to stay close! It also helps the little ones get some space from the bigger kids, who may be a little more wild. There’s a HUGE couch area for parents – there’s space everywhere at Safari Run for the adults to sit back and relax while they watch their kids have a great time!

In another room, separate from the giant play place, is the arcade – plenty of games from bike/motorcycle racing, to ‘smash the Minion’, Speedball, and many more. The shop for them to buy something with their ticket winnings is great, and the staff was super friendly (and patient! My boys took forever deciding!).

In the main, big play area there’s 3 separate slide sets in different spots, helping avoid ‘traffic’ jams at the top! My kids’ favorite was the 3 blue ones – super fast!

SOCKS ARE REQUIRED! In case you forget, they do sell some there. There’s plenty of cubby space for kids to stash their shoes – then away they zip to play! Since I’m always nervous about germs – because once one kid gets sick, EVERYONE goes through it and it’s a nightmare – I was thrilled to see a great hand-washing area, and could always see a staff member going through cleaning and sanitizing between areas. GREAT for a place full of crazy kids 😀

Like I said before – there’s space everywhere for lounging, chatting or for when they start group classes. This would be an ideal playdate place – space for mommies where they can visit while keeping a good eye on the kids as they happily play – AND wear themselves out for a good nights sleep, hopefully! There’s screens in every room, as well, so if they want to sit and rest it’s super convenient. Even hubby and I got pulled into Meet the Robinsons that was playing while we were there!

I was really impressed with the variety – there’s the climbing, slides and bridges of course – but also obstacles like rope course, climbing triangles, zipline, hanging rings – even giant hanging punching bags (like the big blow up ball types, so perfect for kids) along the way! My boys had a blast with a giant blown up ball in one of the ‘rooms’ of the play place, pushing it around towards each other as they raced for the slides.

Today was a HUGE success as far as my family was concerned – tons of fun, playing, and enough for everyone to do! Even though we were there quite awhile, the kids were still sad when we left because they were having such fun.

Safari Run opens TODAY, and hours will typically be 10am – 8pm seven days a week. Beginning August 6, 2016, Safari Run will offer birthday parties Friday through Sunday, and Open Play hours will be available Monday through Friday only.

Head over to their website to check the hours YOU can go check it out! Your kids will think you’re the BEST ever (and will probably sleep really good that night – bonus!)

More Things to do in Dallas

Superhero Activity Booklet

June 16, 2016 by Danielle

I received a luggage piece to assist with this post. All opinions are mine alone.

Whether you’re running errands, need a little quiet time at home, have a road trip or family vacation – this printable Superhero Activity Booklet is fantastic fun for any hero lover!

Remember a couple days ago when I shared the fun Superhero Luggage Tags? I told you I’d also be sharing a booklet for some travel (or just around the house) activities to keep the kiddos happy. It’s super simple, too – just print it on an 8.5×11 sheet, then fold it up into a booklet!

There’s a maze, crossword (with plenty of Avenger names and words to find!), and they get to design their own superhero!

My kiddos said I should’ve made it BIGGER to fit into my new Hulk suitcase – and that I should get more of the Hulk suitcase to go with each character in the book! I laughed and told them to save up to get it for themselves for our next family trip 🙂 But they do have a point – it IS a bit small compared to my giant suitcase!

Create Your Own Zootopia Adventures

June 11, 2016 by Danielle

I received these products free to facilitate this review. All opinions are mine alone.

If you didn’t get a chance to see Disney’s new hit Zootopia in theaters, you’re in luck because it’s now out on DVD! We were thrilled to get ours, so we could rewatch our favorite pals face quite the adventure together. Plus, now you can Create Your Own Zootopia Adventures with the movie AND some awesome Zootopia toys!

If you recall, we really loved Zootopia when we got to see it in theaters – in fact, it’s my new favorite animated film (see why here). I even got to sit down with the directors – such a fun time chatting about the film! My kids were hilarious after the movie, including their favorite moments in their play. I can’t recall how many times I’d hear them yell ‘blood, blood, guts’ and I’d peak in to see them acting out just like Judy. Quite theatrical, to say the least! Now they have some fun toys to assist with their adventures, and it’s a blast hearing them include lines and jokes from the movie.

Judy’s Police Cruiser is the perfect size for my rambunxious boys, and they love letting her drive around in it. As the wheels turn, the front lights flash – of course this is the kids’ favorite feature!

The back turns into a little jail cell to help her catch any bandits while out on patrol.

They’ve already talked about saving up to nab the other character figures that can go along with it. Personally, I’m a huge fan of Mr. Big!

I don’t think my Iron Man will let go of Nick Wilde for awhile – at least he’s playing with him as they use their imaginations and not JUST squeezing him for the sounds over and over again.

I love the phrases they included – ‘Officer Toot Toot’ got quite a laugh from the kids!

I’m curious what fun phrases Officer Judy Hopps has!

Don’t forget, you can now nab the DVD! Here’s the basic idea of the film, if you haven’t seen it yet: “From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes a comedy-adventure set in the modern mammal metropolis ofZootopia. Determined to prove herself, Officer Judy Hopps, the first bunny on Zootopia’s police force, jumps at the chance to crack her first case – even if it means partnering with scam-artist fox Nick Wilde to solve the mystery.”

I sincerely LOVE this fun, adventurous, sweet video full of humor, friendship and mysterious plots!

How to Get FREE Samples from Leading Brands

June 10, 2016 by Danielle

This post and the awesome free samples are sponsored by PINCHme. All opinions are mine alone.

I hate buying new products. Like REALLY hate it – if I can’t stick with my regular, know-I-love-it stuff it stresses me out. Why? Because I don’t know if I’m even going to like the new stuff – if I don’t, I wasted all that money or am stuck using something I hate. Frustrating, right? BUT – some of my now-favorite products are because I was given a sample to try, or tested some of a friends. THAT is how I like to learn about new things, without commitment or wasted money. If I love it – GREAT! If not, no stress at all. Now I’m sharing with you How to Get FREE Samples from Leading Brands – so YOU don’t have to waste anymore money!

Guys – there IS NO $$$ CATCH AT ALL! I was a bit nervous, because there’s almost always a catch – but with the PINCHme, it’s entirely free – no credit card required for anything. Here’s the ONLY catch – you provide your feedback of the product samples you tried. That’s it!

How it Works:

Become a Pincher – just sign up at PINCHme – No credit card required!
Pick Your Samples – on Sample Day (next one coming up on June 14th at 12pm Eastern Time) choose which samples to add to your PINCHme box that month. (I believe it happens once per month, so if you miss this one just stay tuned for the next one!)
Provide Feedback – take just a little time to give your opinions on the things you tried, so companies can make their products even better!

It’s really that easy – and FREE! Seriously guys, who doesn’t like free stuff, especially when there’s no commitment or catch. AND you get to leave feedback, making your opinions really important for future products. Kinda nice to know you’re making a difference, right?

This is awesome because now I can try out new products without wasting my limited budget, or being stuck with something that just doesn’t work for me. Plus it’s kind of fun to get products that may be a bit of a treat – such as this rockin’ purple nail polish I received in my box!

PINCHme has all sorts of free product samples:

Beauty products – like the nail polish, moisturizers, or sunscreen
Home and Health – like the sleep aide, deoderant, floss or mouthwash
Snacks – like the Skinny Pop Popcorn or the snack bar
Even baby samples or pet treats!

Once you PINCHme, you answer some questions about you and your household in your Member Profile. They get tons of new samples from leading brands each month, and this helps them customize recommendations for you to choose. On Sample Day (June 14th is the next one, at 12pm Eastern Time) you select which ones you want to try, and they’ll ship your box full of samples – for free. Yup, no shipping costs either! After you’ve tried your new stuff out, complete a short survey with your feedback on the samples so PINCHme can let the brands know what you think.

Browsing through the types of samples they have/had in the past, there’s quite a few that I’ve been wanting to try out – but never wanted to commit the money. I’m eager to see what samples I can nab at the next sample day (June 14th!).

With more than 2 million members so far, PINCHme is really an awesome service for both consumers (that’s us!) and brands that want honest opinions of how to better their products.

If you want to see my unboxing of my first PINCHme box, I shared it during a Facebook live – Check it out!

So, you get FREE SAMPLES. You get to share your opinions with brands who WANT to know what you think. You can try out new things without any commitment. What are you waiting for? PINCHme and let’s see what fun samples we can all try out this month!

Here’s some of the samples available on the next Sample Day – June 14th

Grocery

V8 Veggie Blends – Carrot Mango (12 Oz)
V8 +Energy – Orange Pineapple (12 Oz)

Personal Care + Beauty Products:

Pond’s Rejuveness Anti-Wrinkle Cream
ZzzQuil™ Sleep Aid
Goddess Garden: Kids Sport Natural Sunscreen SPF 30
Goddess Garden: Facial Natural Sunscreen SPF 30
Toms of Maine Rapid Relief Sensitive Toothpaste
Vagisil Daily Intimate Wash
Brylcreem Brilliantly Classic Hair Cream

For Pets:

Purina One Cat Tender Selects Blend
Zuke’s Tiny Naturals
Zuke’s Puppy Naturals
Tidy Cats Breeze Litter System
Avoderm Natural Dog Food

Strawberry Lemonade Doughnuts

June 4, 2016 by Danielle

This is a sponsored project by Kendal King Group/The Women Bloggers, LLC. All opinions are mine alone. #CookingWithGerber

After a lifetime of never daring to make a doughnut recipe, I’ve now made TWO in the same week! I couldn’t resist, since they’re super easy to make and the flavor combinations are pretty much limitless. These Strawberry Lemonade Doughnuts are a great start to the day – or enjoy them for a snack or dessert later!

I wanted to switch things up a bit from the Multigrain Chocolate Doughnuts I shared before, and decided that summer called for something ‘bright and fresh’. What’s one flavor that goes perfectly with that? Strawberry lemonade, of course – so I decided to give it a try. The result was not only fresh in flavor, but a wonderful pick-me-up type taste. So delicious – and still as easy to make as ever using Nestle Gerber Lil’ Bits Oatmeal Banana Strawberry Cereal from Walmart.

Ingredients

1 1/3 cup All-purpose Flour
1 cup Nestle Gerber Lil’ Bits Oatmeal Banana Strawberry Cereal
1 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 tsp. Baking Soda
3/4 tsp. Salt
3/4 cup Sugar
1/4 cup Butter, melted
1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
3 tsp. Vanilla Extract
2 Large Eggs
1 cup Milk
2 tbsp. Lemon Juice

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Spray two doughnut pans, set aside.
Mix all the ingredients together until well-combined. Pour into the prepared doughnut pan.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Strawberry Lemonade Glaze

1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
1 tbsp. Butter, melted
1/2 tsp. Vanilla Extract
Dash Salt
1/2-2 tbsp. Milk
1 tbsp. Lemon Juice
1-2 drops Red Food Coloring, if desired

Whisk all ingredients until smooth and creamy – drizzle over doughnuts.

I still can’t believe how much strawberry flavor comes in that Gerber Cereal – it makes these doughnuts PERFECT! The texture is soft and moist, and once the drizzle sets it’s like a perfect balance. I think I do prefer the Multigrain Chocolate Doughnuts best – but it’s chocolate so OF COURSE! These strawberry lemonade doughnuts are a very close second, though, and go just great with a nice summer morning.

Also See…

Multigrain Chocolate Doughnuts

June 4, 2016 by Danielle

This is a sponsored project by Kendal King Group/The Women Bloggers, LLC. All opinions are mine alone. #CookingWithGerber

Okay, so I had a REALLY hard time deciding what the proper spelling was – chocolate DOUGHNUT or chocolate DONUT. I finally decided to just go with the classic, because it looks a bit more ‘fancy’. No matter how you spell it, though, these Multigrain Chocolate Doughnuts are delicious, easy to make (baked donuts, not fried) and are great for breakfast, snack or dessert anytime!

If you recall earlier this week when I shared the Homemade Fruit & Yogurt Popsicles using Leftover Baby Food, I mentioned that I’d soon be sharing a fabulous doughnut recipe – well, here it is! I’ve honestly never made doughnuts before, because it was kind of intimidating – then I realized I could do a BAKED recipe instead of dealing with the frying part. Woot woot! And I even made two – so don’t miss my Strawberry Lemonade Doughnuts, as well!

I love how cake-like and moist these babies are – with a lick-your-fingers good frosting drizzled for a nice finish. I may have eaten one too many – okay, a FEW too many – but it was so worth it! AND since it’s made with Nestle Gerber Multigrain Cereal from Walmart, it’s more on the healthy side. That’s a win to me!

Ingredients

1/4 cup + 2 tbsp. All-purpose Flour
1/2 cup Nestle Gerber Multigrain Cereal
3 tbsp. Cocoa Powder
1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/4 tsp. Baking Soda
1/2 cup Light Brown Sugar
1/4 tsp. Salt
1 Large Egg
3 tbsp. Butter, melted
1/2 cup Milk
1 tbsp. Vinegar
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/4 cup + 1/8 cup Chocolate Chips, melted

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees F. Spray a couple doughnut pans well, set aside.
Mix all of the ingredients together until well-combined. Pour into the prepared doughnut pans.
Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Chocolate Frosting

1/2 cup Powdered Sugar
1/8 cup Cocoa Powder
1/4 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1-3 tbsp. Milk

Whip all ingredients until smooth and creamy – the consistency should be thick but pourable. Drizzle over the doughnuts, then let set.

That’s all there is to it – super easy, and amazingly delicious doughnuts! Now I may need to go sneak another one – or two 😉

Other Breakfast Recipes

Father’s Day Gift that’s Perfect for Long Distance

June 1, 2016 by Danielle

Now that we’ve hit June, it’s time to think about a good gift for Dad or Grandpa. If your loved one lives far away, it can limit ideas – but you can share the love and memories with this fantastic Father’s Day Gift that’s Perfect for Long Distance!

We put ours together for my Dad, the kids’ Papa (grandpa). He lives states away, so we don’t get to see each other very often – the kids especially miss him. I thought the perfect gift for his Father’s Day would be a special memory book – but not just ANY photo book, a SET of twins! We got matching 8×8 Softcover photo books from Snapfish – one for Papa in Utah, and one for the kids here in Texas.

It was so fun going through all the past photos of him with the kids – he’s really been there through it all, and has not only been a huge support to me but also a great role model and friend to his grand-kids. I’ll admit, I got a few tears as I went through some from when they were little babies, remember how much he cared and helped and played with them. Him holding my little Iron Man on a swing, snuggling Thor at Disneyland, watching movies with Hulk, and making faces to Black Widow so she’ll smile for the camera.

The fun of getting these matching books is that they can actually look at them TOGETHER – just from a distance 🙂 Papa can go through the pages at the same time the kids do, and Skype or phone call to talk about the amazing memories and good times they have together. I had each of the kids sign at the back inside of Papa’s book, too, making it extra special!

You could even do this idea with SEVERAL of the different products offered at Snapfish – all with fun layouts, tons of embellishments and creative texts. I just chose the photo books because 1. they’re more durable for the kids 2. I could include plenty of photos and 3. photo books are great for telling stories/memories. My dad’s been SUCH a great influence in my kids’ (and my) life, it’s only fitting that he has a way to look back at the wonderful moments they’ve had together!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Which of the fabulous products at Snapfish would the Father-figure in YOUR life like the best?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

No Sew Shark Dog Costume

May 31, 2016 by Danielle

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

Does your family have pets? We have two goofy-yet-adorable lab mixes, and they’re such a huge part of our family. They’re always joining in our fun – whether it’s throwing a ball, playing tag or soccer, or snuggling up for a movie. For summer, I thought it’d be fun to make a cute little dog outfit for them when the kids also play dress-up. This No Sew Shark Dog Costume was perfect, and super quick to throw together!

No Sew Shark Dog Costume

For those that don’t know, we almost lost one of our dogs last fall – Tula had to have an emergency operation, all while we were out of town on vacation. It was awful, and although everyone had low expectations of her surviving, she did – and we couldn’t be more grateful! That made us appreciate our lovely pups even more, and we savor the time we get with them. We also work hard to keep them their healthiest and best, from heartworm prevention to the food they eat. If you recall from these Dog Tips I shared previously, we feed them Purina® Pro Plan® Savor Shredded Blend from PetSmart because of the outstanding nutrition and great taste the dogs love.

There’s so many dog food brands you could choose, but I love that Purina® Pro Plan® is dedicated to helping us owners discover our dog’s full potential through the high-quality and tasty (to dogs, of course) nutrition that gives our amazing dogs the chance to not only be exceptional, but FEEL it, too.

It was actually a bit difficult to get them to pose for these photos because they just wanted to be by their dog food! Before we switched to Purina® Pro Plan® Kita would pick through their food, only eating what ‘types’ she liked. I don’t have to worry about this because it’s such high-quality nutrition with a taste dogs love – even my picky Kita girl! It’s probably because it’s made with REAL poultry, meat or fish as the #1 ingredient in all their dry formulas, with crunchy kibble and tender shredded pieces for a nice texture combo.

If your dogs have a different preference for food, don’t worry, because Purina® Pro Plan® has a variety of dry AND wet dog foods – plus snacks and other meal enhancements – so you can get whatever type works best for YOUR dog. I get the kind made specifically for Large Breed as it fits my dogs’ needs best. Perhaps yours is small, then a different variety would better fit. They also have Puppy or Adult, so you can be sure they’re getting the appropriate nutrition at every stage of life. And did you know that PetSmart allows you to bring in your pets to shop with you? My dogs love it, like a little adventure!

Right now you can save some money on your dog’s food, too! SPEND $15 on any Purina® Pro Plan® product, 5/31–7/5. SAVE $15 on your next purchase of 10.5-lbs. or larger Purina® Pro Plan® Dry Cat or Dog Food or Litter by 7/31.

Since we have TWO dogs, I did a different one for each of them – this Shark Dog Costume I made for our Kita girl, the oldest of our pups. Later this week I’ll share the fun Clown Fish Dog Costume I made for Tula, so be sure to check back for the cuteness.

Note: I’m not putting dimensions or sizes, since all dogs are different – it’s really easy to customize for any shape/size

No Sew Shark Dog Costume Supplies

Blue felt/fleece (or grey, if you prefer)
White felt/fleece
Red ribbon
Black Marker
Triangle foam/stuffing piece
Ribbon for tying/securing
Hot glue/gun

No Sew Shark Dog Costume Directions

Cut out this rough shape for the shark ‘body’
Cut out a half-circle row of ‘teeth’ from the white. Hot glue the red ribbon around for the ‘gums’, then hot glue it beneath the shark ‘head’.
Cut out eyes from the white scrap, then hot glue to the ‘head’. Use a black marker to outline them, and fill in the eye.
Cut out some blue fabric and hot glue it all around the foam piece for the ‘fin’. Hot glue to the middle of the back.
Hot glue some ribbon scraps underneath to secure it beneath your pups belly. That’s it!

See, it’s so easy to put together! Kita wasn’t so sure at first, but after awhile just went on like nothing was unusual. She’s so adorable in her shark dog costume! It’s really great to be able to share our lives and family time with these two incredible dogs – and we plan to savor the time we get together!

Don’t forget to come back later this week to see the Clown Fish Dog Costume I made for little miss Tula, as well!

What variety of Purina® Pro Plan® would be best for the special dog in YOUR life?

Clown Fish Dog Costume

Fruit & Yogurt Homemade Popsicles using Leftover Baby Food

May 29, 2016 by Danielle

This is a sponsored project by Kendal King Group/The Women Bloggers, LLC. All opinions are mine alone. #CookingWithGerber

Did you know that my twins are just shy of 18 months older than my youngest? That means I had three in diapers at the same time, one learning to sleep through the night while the others learned to run and climb, one drinking a bottle and the others learning to eat more solid foods. It was a CRAZY time! One thing we did with that many young ones was stock up heavily on baby cereal and baby foods – which was great until they started to outgrow them and we had a bunch left. There’s so many recipes we learned to use them in, like these yummy and easy Fruit & Yogurt Homemade Popsicles using Leftover Baby Food! Oh, and don’t miss our $50 Gift Card giveaway at the bottom 🙂

It’s getting hot out there, so these are the perfect summer snack. Plus, you can just quickly make them and store them in the freezer, then they’re ready when you are! For these, you’ll need some Nestle Gerber Yogurt Blends and Gerber 2nd Foods Baby Food from Walmart (we’re sharing another AMAZING recipe later this week – doughnuts! – using Gerber Oatmeal Cereals, so grab those while you’re there, too).

Why would I use baby food and cereal in my recipes, you may ask? They’re all-natural without added sugars, making them a much healthier choice than what I could grab at the store. Plus, being this simple to make and having control over what goes into my kids’ food is a definite bonus!

Now I did two different recipes, but you can mix it up based on the flavors you have or want. My kids were split between which was the favorite – the Peach Lemonade or the Mixed Fruit!

Homemade Popsicles

Ingredients – Peach Lemonade

Gerber Yogurt Blends Peach flavor (4 individual containers)
Gerber 2nd Foods Baby Food Peach flavor (2 individual containers)
1/2 can Sparkling Lemon-flavored drink

Ingredients – Mixed Fruit

Gerber Yogurt Blends Strawberry Banana flavor (4 individual containers)
Gerber 2nd Foods Baby Food Apple flavor (2 individual containers)
Gerber 2nd Foods Baby Food Apple Strawberry Banana flavor (2 individual containers)
1/2 – 1 can Sparkling drink

The directions are the same for both

Directions

Mix all of the ingredients together.
Carefully pour (or use a funnel) into your popsicle molds.
Freeze then enjoy!

See – super easy! You could even let your kids get in on the fun and let them try mixing different flavor varieties to make their own popsicle recipe.

Don’t forget to grab some Gerber Cereal while you’re at Walmart for our delicious doughnut recipes coming later this week! There’s four varieties: Gerber Oatmeal Single-Grain Cereal, Lil’ Bits Oatmeal Banana Strawberry, Oatmeal Banana Cereal or Multigrain Cereal.

Teach Kids About Emotions and Moods

May 26, 2016 by Danielle

I received the Make a Mood magnutto junior to facilitate this review. All opinions are mine alone.

You know those times when your kid goes from happy-go-lucky and full of smiles, then suddenly their on the floor screaming and yelling because they’re so angry? I try to be patient when that happens, reminding myself that even as adults we sometimes struggle with our feelings – kids don’t even understand them completely, so of course they’ll get frustrated, too. There’s many fun ways to Teach Kids About Emotions and Moods, one being the magnutto junior ‘Make a Mood’ set!

We’ve used our ‘Today I’m Feeling…’ Inside Out themed printable before, and it was great – but it didn’t give them a chance to really INTERACT with their feelings. The Magnutto Make a Mood set helps them really think through the different emotions in a fun, playful way. Because who doesn’t love making faces with magnets? The box comes with two magnet sheets, and the majority of the pieces popped out SUPER easy. The few smaller ones (like the thin eyebrows) needed a little more patience, but even my kids could handle it just fine. There’s also an ‘inspiration sheet’ to give ideas on how you can use different pieces – but overall just let your kids use their own ideas!

The box itself is the magnet board, and you can flip the ‘canvas’ are then set it in the two notches on the side…

The dozens of magnetic pieces are easily stored underneath, which I find super convenient.

I did really like that the pieces weren’t all hard and stiff – but soft and ‘foamy’ almost. I think that’s better for the younger kids anyway. You can let your kiddo SHOW you how they’re feeling, then talk about it together. Sometimes visual works much easier with young kids. Heck, visual works a lot better with ME even!

You can use the included topics card for thought started while discussing emotions with your child…

Not only can this help your child learn more of their emotions and what can cause them, but also how to handle them. It’s also a great bonding time, especially if you share YOUR emotions with them – then they can feel it’s more okay to have those emotions.

Want more magnetic fun? Magnutto has THREE sets just released in April: Make a Mood, Make a Pet, and Make a Dino. The owner designed this with his two special needs children in mind, so you know special care and thought went into the development. You can check them all out on the Magnutto website – then get your magnet fun on!

Be Company Ready Even When You HATE Cleaning

Tip #1: Keep Supplies Stocked Up – Especially Essentials

Tip #2: Give Surfaces a Good Wipe Down

Tip #3: Keep Things Smelling Fresh

Tip #3: Get Laundry Clean AND Smelling Great

Ready to Kick Summer’s Butt

Fun Things to do in Dallas: Safari Run

More Things to do in Dallas

Superhero Activity Booklet

Create Your Own Zootopia Adventures

How to Get FREE Samples from Leading Brands

How it Works:

If you want to see my unboxing of my first PINCHme box, I shared it during a Facebook live – Check it out!

Strawberry Lemonade Doughnuts

Ingredients

Directions

Strawberry Lemonade Glaze

Also See…

Multigrain Chocolate Doughnuts

Ingredients

Directions

Chocolate Frosting

Other Breakfast Recipes

Father’s Day Gift that’s Perfect for Long Distance

Which of the fabulous products at Snapfish would the Father-figure in YOUR life like the best?

No Sew Shark Dog Costume

No Sew Shark Dog Costume

No Sew Shark Dog Costume Supplies

No Sew Shark Dog Costume Directions

Fruit & Yogurt Homemade Popsicles using Leftover Baby Food

Homemade Popsicles

Ingredients – Peach Lemonade

Ingredients – Mixed Fruit

Directions

Teach Kids About Emotions and Moods

More great kid posts…

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