July 19, 2016 by Krista

Period Preparedness Car Kit

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

Hi there, friend! I’m so glad you’re here today. I’ve got a question for you. Are you ready?

Have you ever had an unexpected visit from dreaded Mother Nature, or Aunt Flo, or ‘that time of the month’ or whatever else you may call it? Yes, that’s right. Your period.

I know, you’re probably thinking we don’t know each other well enough for this conversation. But, hear me out.

There’s nothing quite like that unexpected surprise. You’re having a fine day and then WHAM! There it is. No warning, no nothin’! And those are your favorite panties, right?! Happens to the best of us, I promise.

But what’s worse than a surprise visit from every woman’s least favorite aunt? A surprise visit when you are out and about and completely unprepared! Maybe you’re even on vacation. Or out with your favorite girls.

But, don’t worry! There’s a way you can avoid that awkward situation! I’ve got exactly what you need: A period preparedness car kit.

Here’s what this kit can do for you:

Enjoy your vacations, your shopping trips, your lunch dates or date night, your beach trips, and your girls’ nights out, even if your period interrupts you.
Have the confidence that you can handle any situation Mother Nature might throw at you, even when you’re away from home.
Never have to beg your girlfriends (or a stranger!) for feminine hygiene products again! You might even become the go-to hero among your girlfriends.

Do you want that confidence? Click that yellow next arrow to keep reading and I’ll tell you exactly what you need to do to stay confident and comfortable, no matter when your period strikes. And how U by Kotex® can help.

On the next page you’ll get the full supply list and directions on putting your Period Preparedness Car Kit ready to go.

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June 30, 2016 by Krista

Does your PC need a FreshStart?

Hey there! Welcome! So glad you’re here today. Can I ask you something? Do you feel like your computer is less than it should be?

Do you have an aging PC?
Is your computer starting to show its age?
Are you near data capacity?
Maybe it’s riddled with bloatware, viruses, or malware?

Guess what?! There’s a simpler, more affordable alternative to shelling out hundreds (or thousands!) of dollars for a new PC or yet another trip to the service center: it’s FreshStart!

What is FreshStart?

It is the perfect alternative to a new, expensive PC purchase. It can make your old PC run like never before. Here’s just what FreshStart can do for you:

Adds years of life to an old PC
Makes an old PC run faster than when you bought it
Adds more data storage
Removes all viruses and malware
Copies all of your data and settings over to a new hard drive
Gives you a FREE 90 days of Norton Security
Turns your old drive into a secure backup drive

All of this done in the comfort of your own home or office—certified technicians will come to you within 30 minutes! Forget about waiting around all day!

Computer problems are so frustrating! With FreshStart, getting your problems fixed is as simple and stress-free as possible.

If you don’t know what you’re doing, trying to fix it yourself can cause even more problems. Dropping your PC at the service center leaves you without a computer for days or weeks. And a stranger has unsupervised access to your data!

Why use FreshStart?

FreshStarting your PC is easy: With one click, one of 10,000 nationwide certified techs will come to you and take care of the rest. After your FreshStart, you’ll have a PC that’s guaranteed virus-free with more storage, and several years more productive lifespan!

FreshStarting your PC is fast: A tech will be onsite to install your FreshStart drive in under 30 minutes, and the full process takes about an hour (depending on the amount of data you have). No more dropping off your PC at the service center and being without a computer for days!

FreshStarting your PC offers unmatched privacy and security: No internet downloads, and no strangers can access your data during this service.

FreshStarting your PC is affordable: A laptop service bundle is $168, and a desktop bundle is $178—both of which are a fraction of the cost of a new PC. If you feel comfortable with following a YouTube hard drive replacement video, the DIY kit is available on NewEgg and Amazon starting at just $89!

FreshStarting your PC is eco-friendly: Keeping your old computer a little longer means cutting down on waste. Save some money and help the environment when you FreshStart your PC.

FreshStarting your PC supports your community: FreshStart kits are assembled by Chimes, a charitable organization. They provide training and employment opportunities for adults with disabilities. All service providers are local contractors in your area, so all FreshStart services performed will directly support the independent technicians in your community.

Will FreshStart work for you?

There are some requirements your PC needs to meet in order for FreshStart to work. Do a quick run down this checklist to see if your PC qualifies for a FreshStart:

Can power on and boot to Windows
Must be a laptop or desktop PC, sorry no tablets
For Windows 7 users, the license key sticker must be legible to be able to get the free upgrade to Windows 10
Must be less than 10 years old

What are you waiting for?

If you feel like you’re stuck between a dying PC and a new purchase, try FreshStart. FreshStart is 100% satisfaction guaranteed, so if you’re not happy, just return the kit within 30 days for a full refund.

May 31, 2016 by Krista

Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake

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

Hey, I’m thrilled you’ve stopped by today! So… I have a question for you… Do you have a sweet tooth?

Did you say yes? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Especially if you have a thing for chocolate and caramel. Or sweet and salty. This will tickle your taste buds into ecstasy.

Here’s one more question… Have you ever made your own caramel? I used to help my grandma when I was little and what I remember most are the arm cramps I got from stirring the pot. I really had no desire to make caramel without my grandma…

… Until this barely-stir recipe entered my life. It’s absolutely amazing and super simple. It takes a little bit of time, but you can totally just set it and check on it every so often. There’s no heavy arm work!

If you’re in a rush and don’t have time for homemade from scratch, that’s ok! I’ve got a quick and easy version for you too. Check that recipe out down below.

HOMEMADE FROM SCRATCH CHOCOLATE CARAMEL POKE CAKE

CHOCOLATE CAKE RECIPE

Print This Recipe

Chocolate Cake

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Total time: 50 mins

Serves: Approx 20 servings

A not-too-sweet chocolate cake that is moist, light and fluffy and perfect for poke cakes.

Ingredients

1 c. white sugar
3 eggs
2 c white flour
1 c milk
¼ c butter
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp baking soda
6 tbs cocoa

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x13" glass pan.
In a large mixing bowl cream together sugar and butter.
Beat in eggs.
Add vanilla.
Combine flour and baking powder. Mix well.
Stir in milk until batter is smooth.
Pour into pan. Lower oven temperature to 325°F and bake for 28-32 mins.
(This is the perfect time to get your caramel started. See recipe below.)
Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 5 mins.
Use a butter knife to poke holes in the cake. The more holes you make, the more caramel will soak down inside. Poke your knife into the cake and give it a little twist to make the holes bigger. The caramel will soak in better.

CARAMEL SAUCE RECIPE
(I originally found this recipe on leafytreetopspot.blogspot.com a few years ago and I LOVE it. I tweaked it slightly to fit my needs for this recipe. You can see the original recipe at the link above.)

Print This Recipe

Caramel Chocolate Poke Cake

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 35 mins

Total time: 55 mins

Serves: Approx 20 servings

The perfect sweet and salty dessert that will leave your taste buds wanting more!

Ingredients

- ¼ Cup butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 Cup light corn syrup
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 Cup whipping or heavy cream
- 2½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

** If you're in a hurry or don't want to mess with making your own caramel sauce, just use a jar of your favorite caramel sauce from the store and skip to step 11.
In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat on the stove.
Increase heat to medium-high. Add sugar and corn syrup and mix until well blended.
Add the salt and combine with a spatula.
Slowly stir the mixture until it comes to a boil.
Reduce heat to medium low and let boil 4 minutes without stirring.
Remove from heat and slowly stir in the whipping cream. Be careful and don't pour too much in too quickly. It might spatter and could burn. Stirring nice and slow will help get the cream mixed in smoothly as well.
Return to medium low heat and continue cooking without stirring until mixture is 245°F on a candy thermometer.
*Note: This makes the caramel a firm chewy candy. You'll probably have to cut the caramel on the cake with kitchen shears, but I love the chewy texture. For most people, a caramel sauce will be more to your liking. There's lots of recipes, but I've never tried any and don't have a favorite to point you to. You can even add sea salt to the sauce and make it salted caramel sauce if you'd like.
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Pour caramel over the cake (recipe above). If your cake is domed after you bake it, you can use a spatula to pull the caramel back to the middle as it soaks in and cools down.
If desired, sprinkle caramel with sea salt before it cools too much. If the top has already started to firm up, you can gently press the salt into the caramel with the palm of your hand. Be careful, the caramel will still be hot!
Allow to cool completely (2-3 hours). Slice and serve topped with whipped cream, pretzel sticks and M&M's® Red, White & Blue Milk Chocolate for the perfect sweet and salty ode to America.

This cake is super moist, not too sweet and the perfect blend of sweet and salty. I wanted to add some patriotic love to this cake and the M&M’s® Red, White, & Blue Milk Chocolate were perfect. They also have M&M’s® Red, White, & Blue Peanut that compliment the sweet and salty of the cake just right.

Maybe you’re more a Skittles® fan? Well, there’s Skittles® Red, White, & Blue too! I’m not sure I’d eat them with the chocolate caramel cake, but they are pretty tasty little treats.

Right now MARS/Wrigley is showing appreciation of our troops by donating M&M’s® to the troops for every bag purchased at Walmart. Select stores will have representatives sharing more information about the “1 For You, 1 For the Troops” campaign exclusively at Walmart.

Did you know that M&M’s® were originally created for the troops? Keep the tradition going and buy M&M’s® at Walmart or Walmart.com.

Supporting the troops is definitely something I can get behind. America has always held a special place in my heart. I truly love this country, despite any flaws she may have.

When I met my husband, he was a soldier. We have lived the life of a military family and I had a love-hate relationship with the military, for many reasons. But, I will be forever grateful for and to the courageous and selfless men and women who defend our freedom. The brave people who leave their families to stand against and protect our rights and privileges. I admire and respect the families that are left behind, the single parents who hold their homes and families together while the one they love most is thousands of miles away, often in mortal danger.

The men, women and families who make up our armed forces are some of the strongest, bravest, courageous and selfless people I have ever had the privilege to know. I am so grateful for the time we had among those heroes. I will always respect, admire, and love those who have, who do and those who willingly sacrifice holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, time with their families, their health and even their lives to protect this country and all those within her borders.

If purchasing a bag of M&M’s® or Skittles® can help lift a service member’s day with a small treat, it’s the least I can do. Help support our troops and grab a bag (or two!) at Walmart today. And check out more fun patriotic recipes for your celebrations this summer!

I hinted at the quick and easy version earlier; but, as promised, here’s the recipe. This is a little different consistency and flavor, but still really yummy.

QUICK AND EASY
CHOCOLATE CARAMEL POKE CAKE

Print This Recipe

Chocolate Caramel Poke Cake

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 30 mins

Total time: 40 mins

Serves: One 9x13" pan

Quick & easy chocolate caramel poke cake ready to serve in 45 minutes!

Ingredients

1 Family-sized Chocolate cake mix box (should bake in a 9x13" pan)
12 oz bottle Caramel ice cream topping
Sea salt to garnish (optional)
Whipped cream
Pretzel sticks
M&M's® Red, White, & Blue Peanut

Instructions

Mix and bake the cake according to the directions on the back of the box.
Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool for 5-10 mins.
Use a butter knife to poke holes in the cake. The more holes there are, the more caramel will soak in. You can give the knife a twist after you poke it in the cake to make the holes a bit bigger.
Pour half the caramel over the cake and let it sit and soak in for 10 minutes.
Pour the other half of the caramel on top and let it soak in.
Slice and served topped with whipped cream, pretzel pieces and M&M's® candies.

May 23, 2016 by Krista

How to Keep Your Kitchen Clean

Hey! Thanks for stopping by today! I’m so did! Do you have a kitchen? Yeah? Well, then you know how difficult it can be to keep a kitchen clean, right?

I’ve got 3 ravenous boys and a husband with a ginormous appetite. Our kitchen is THE room in our house where we spend most of our time. It’s a busy place and there are dishes and crumbs abound. The refrigerator seems to have a revolving door, but that’s not to be shown up by the pantry’s strict open-door policy.

I don’t have time to constantly be running around, keeping my kitchen clean after my insatiable boys eat yet again today. I’ve got more important things to do than be on crumb patrol! You too?!

What you need is a routine. A system. A schedule. When I started using a schedule, all my stress vanished. I didn’t feel like I had to keep everything spotless all the time anymore because I knew that it WAS clean.

It’s okay if there are a few dishes in the sink or the counter isn’t constantly spotless. They will be taken care of and I know they haven’t been sitting there for days. Nor will they be left there for days either, which may or may not have happened in the past…

Our kitchen is lived in, but it’s also clean! The first thing I changed was doing it all myself. I don’t do it alone anymore. My boys have their parts to help keep clean. Between all of us, it’s quick work to keep the kitchen tidy. We use these three things to help keep our kitchen clean.

3 THINGS I USE EVERYDAY TO KEEP OUR KITCHEN CLEAN

KEEPING A KITCHEN CLEAN MUST-HAVE #1

Good, strong trash bags are must-haves in our kitchen. I need a bag I can trust to keep our trash contained and that there won’t be leaks! That’s the worst, right? Hefty Ultra Strong bags are great for keeping the garbage where it belongs. The active tear resistant technology offers better puncture resistance so leaks don’t happen.

KEEPING A KITCHEN CLEAN MUST-HAVE #2

A good strong, safe cleaning solution. I use vinegar, lemon, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide as my main cleaners. They are great cleaners and there’s no harsh chemicals that will mix with our food or my kids. I use a 2:1 ratio of vinegar and water with a tablespoon of lemon juice (or lemon essential oil) as my basic multi-surface cleaner. It’s simple, cheap, safe and effective. That’s how this momma likes it.

KEEPING A KITCHEN CLEAN MUST-HAVE #3

Cleaning rags. I like to use cotton rags like these ones. I just throw them in the washer when I’m done. We save money by re-using them, it’s better than paper towels for the environment and I don’t have to worry about them tearing in the middle of a mop up or counter scrub down. The best part? No nasty sponges sitting around, stinking like crazy!

THE SECRET TO KEEPING A KITCHEN CLEAN

So what kind of schedule will help you stay on top of everything? You’re in luck! I’ve got the perfect printable for you! I’ve broken it down into daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly tasks. And there’s a BONUS weekly schedule to help you make sure you don’t miss anything in your quest to keep your kitchen clean.

For the monthly and quarterly tasks, I assign a specific date and schedule it into my calendar so I don’t forget about them. For example, I clean out the freezer on the 15th of January, April, July and October. At least that’s my goal.

Want your copy of my How to Keep Your Kitchen Clean printable and the BONUS weekly schedule? Clicking the button will take you to the download page where you can save and print your schedule to keep your kitchen clean!

Have you ever tried a weekly cleaning schedule before? If not, give this a try! I promise you’ll feel like you spend less time cleaning up after everyone else; and, somehow, it’s easier to keep your kitchen clean!

May 17, 2016 by Krista

Top Ten Things To Do With Your Kids This Summer

Hey, I’m so glad you stopped by today!

What time of the year is it for you? Here, Summer is getting closer and closer. Which means my boys will be home. All my boys. All. Day. Long. I’ve discovered the best way to get through the long summer days is to have a plan. A fun plan!

With all the fun we’ll be having around here, we need to keep our energy up! Between my three boys and my husband, some one is eating AT ALL TIMES. But we can’t be tied down to the kitchen! There’s too much to do, too much fun to have. And, frankly, I get tired of cleaning it all day long.

We reach for Mott’s® products a lot around here. I love the quality and that they have options to take snacks with us on the go. One of our favorites is the new cherry apple juice. It’s such a delicious treat and pairs perfectly with lunch.

We also love the applesauce cups and the squeeze pouches are perfect when we’re going out. The occasional treat is great and we love Mott’s® fruit snacks for that. They are pretty much a staple in our diaper bag for church. They help keep my boys quiet, which is a huge feat all on it’s own!

Mott’s® keeps up fueled up and running all through our summer fun! I love that they have boxtops on them too! Extra bonus for my kids’ school and products I already love?! Yes, please!

So, are you looking for some fun to schedule into your summer plans. Take a look at these fun projects and see which ones your kids would love to try out!

10 FUN THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS THIS SUMMER

1. Egg Toss Painting. Because sometimes it’s okay to throw eggs! This is tons of fun and super easy to clean up! Plus you get a fun piece of art when your finished.

2. Cardboard Box Cars. A great upcycle for empty boxes! You can spend an afternoon making the cars and then play with them until they fall apart. We have a fun “drive-in” movie night and my boys watched the movie in their cars. They loved it!

3. Sun catchers. These are fun and so versatile. We made some for autumn and then did it again with valentine’s hearts. It’s a great project for those crayon stubs, but definitely needs adult supervision.

4. Make cookies. We love to make cookies. My boys don’t have a big attention span, so a package mix is perfect. They get to help dump the ingredients in. By the time they are no longer interested it’s time to put them on a pan and bake them. It’s perfect. And delicious!

5. Preschool Olympics day. With the Olympics coming up, this could be a fun way to introduce it to your kids. This is a fun activity to introduce the Olympic rings. Throw in an obstacle course, run a race or two or do some water races and you have the perfect summer afternoon.

6. Make Sparkle bottles. These are fun to make and almost as much fun to watch. But, they can be a bit messy. If you can, make them outside. You’ll also need to help with the hot water part. The kids love to pick the colors for their bottles and watching the glitter fall is super relaxing.

7. Building with marshmallows. This is so fun! We did this as an activity for the little kids for a movie night we had. It was the perfect distraction when they got bored and wanted to run around. It was amazing to see what they came up with. Such a fun sensory and imagination-building activity!

8. Science projects. We love to do science projects! You could do a whole afternoon of projects or make some fun goop to play with.

9. Put together a boredom buster jar with some craft sticks and pretty washi tape. Write down all the fun things you want to do this summer and then pull them out when you need an activity or distraction.

Or for an even easier activity, check out this fun printable version. All you have to do is print, cut it out and fold them up and put them in a jar for the next time the kids start bickering or pull out the dreaded “I’m bored!”

10. Headed out on some road trips this summer? Check out these fun ideas to keep your toddlers busy and happy while you’re on the road. Or maybe you have preschoolers? Here’s some ideas to help keep preschoolers busy too!

But, that’s not all! Mott’s® is having a contest and YOU COULD WIN $100 e-gift card to Walmart! It’s super easy to enter. Here’s what to do:

Take a photo and make a post on Twitter and/or Instagram and share why you think is your perfect health partner – include the hashtag: #MottsMoments and #sweepstakes
Register: CLICK HERE to register with your Instagram/Twitter handle and name/email
Get Lucky! The lucky winners will win a $100 e-gift card to Walmart!

Tell me, what do you think of new Mott’s® Apple Cherry Juice? You can find it at Walmart! And don’t forget to enter for your chance to win a $100 e-gift card to Walmart!!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Mott’s®. The opinions and text are all mine.

What is FreshStart?

Why use FreshStart?

Will FreshStart work for you?

HOMEMADE FROM SCRATCH CHOCOLATE CARAMEL POKE CAKE

QUICK AND EASY CHOCOLATE CARAMEL POKE CAKE

3 THINGS I USE EVERYDAY TO KEEP OUR KITCHEN CLEAN

KEEPING A KITCHEN CLEAN MUST-HAVE #1

KEEPING A KITCHEN CLEAN MUST-HAVE #2

KEEPING A KITCHEN CLEAN MUST-HAVE #3

THE SECRET TO KEEPING A KITCHEN CLEAN

10 FUN THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS THIS SUMMER

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QUICK AND EASY
CHOCOLATE CARAMEL POKE CAKE