Family

Cold and Flu Rescue Kit

48 · Oct 29, 2018 · 1 Comment

This post is brought to you by Ball® Fresh Preserving Products by Newell Brands

As much as we hate to admit it, cold and flu season is on its way. There is nothing more miserable than one of those lousy winter colds. What’s almost just as bad is watching someone you care for dealing with a cold or, Heaven forbid, the flu! I’m always looking for ways to help cheer them up and let them know that we love them and hope for their better health. That’s when I came up with this idea for a Cold and Flu Rescue Kit to share with those loved ones that are suffering.

There is just something special when someone takes the time to put together a simple little gift to let you know that they care when you are feeling down in the dumps. I have been on both ends of this, and it is never taken for granted in my books. So, if you have someone in your life needing a little TLC, I have the ticket for you.

You all know of my love of all things jars, so of course, I put this little gift set together in my new favorite Ball® Quart Size Wide Mouth Sharing Jars. They are beautiful in their own right and they look even better dressed-up a bit. Here is what you will need for the whole kit.

Cold and Flu Rescue Kit Supplies

Ball® Quart Size Wide Mouth Sharing Jars
Ball® Home Canning Funnel for Mason Jars
Black vinyl (optional)
Cricut cutting machine (optional)
Cricut transfer tape (optional)
Scissors and craft knife
WhipperBerry Jar Designs
Epsom Salt soothing Eucalyptus and Menthol Mineral Bath
Small box of tissues
4×4 piece of leather
2 4×4 pieces of coordinating fabric
3 heaping tbsp. of chicken bouillon – powdered
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
2 bay leaves
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. dried parsley
2 cups of noodles

Instructions

Now, the vinyl decals on the side of the jars are super cute, but if you don’t have a Cricut cutting machine don’t worry, they don’t make or break this project. However, if you do have one and would like to make the decals, you can have access to my project in Cricut Design Space. It’s already all set for you, sized for these jars and everything. Cut out the decals and adhere them to the side of the jar using the transfer tape. If you need a little help applying the vinyl, I have a good tutorial for applying vinyl that you may want to check out first.

Once your vinyl is applied (if you are doing this step), the next step is to fill the jars and dress-up the lids.

The Comfort Jar

The comfort jar is filled with comforting mineral bath salts. I found two different colored Epsom salt baths that were infused with Eucalyptus, menthol & spearmint and layered it in the jar using the Ball® Home Canning Funnel creating stripes.

Next, I take a piece of cloth and trace a circle using the lid of the jar with a pencil or chalk pencil. Cut out the fabric and then place it on top of the jar lid and secure it with the band.

The Sooth Jar

This one is my favorite! It’s a tissue jar with a leather lid!!! How cool is that?

For this one, you will need a cube size box of tissues. Open the box from the side and pull the tissues out of the box. Take a third of the tissues and unfold the first tissue flap. Roll into a loose cylinder shape and place into the jar making sure to keep that tissue flap at the top. This will be the starting tissue once you put the lid on.

Again, take your leather and trace the lid of the mason jar and cut out the circle with your scissors. Next, cut an “X” with a craft knife into the center of the circle.

Place the leather inside of the mason jar band and place lid on the tissue jar making sure to pull the lead tissue through the opening in the leather lid.

I think I will be making one of these for every room in my house!

The Nourish Jar

This one is pretty straightforward. It may not be your Mom’s chicken noodle soup but, it’s pretty tasty in its own right. Plus, it’s easy to make and share.

Again, you will be using your funnel to help keep this nice and tidy. Layer your chicken bouillon, garlic powder, onion powder, bay leaves, thyme, parsley, and noodles.

You’ll top this with another fabric circle.

Print out the chicken soup recipe and add that to your kit and then you’re ready to go. Then Pin this one so that you don’t forget what to put in the jars.

Place the Ball® Sharing Jars into a basket or a bin and run to the rescue of your family member, friend, co-worker or whomever STAT! They will truly appreciate this thoughtful gift as you come to their rescue in their time of need.

A Boy and His New Beddy’s Bed

11 · Aug 2, 2018 · 1 Comment

We’re getting ready for school here in these parts. With that comes the resurrection of old routines whether good or bad. Some routines stand the test of time like brushing your teeth, getting dressed and such. Others like making the bed could stand for a little improvement! Let’s be real here… How many of our kiddos or, us even, regularly make our beds? When the back-to-school routines truly kick-in, how many of our kiddos are skipping this one task because it’s just a pain and they would rather move on to bigger and better things? I have one little guy that generally skips this task or takes FOREVER making his bed thus making us late for school each morning. Anyone else in this boat? Yea, I thought so! That’s when I was introduced to Beddy’s Beds by a good friend of mine and my little guy has been using his new bedding all summer and we are super in love with this whole system!!! Come learn all about Beddy’s along with this fun room makeover for Gage.

+ This post brought to you by Beddy’s Beds +

Boys Room Makeover

SEVERAL months ago we embarked on a room makeover for our little guy. He had been living in a pink and purple room since our move last year and it was high time to make some changes. An eight-year-old boy will put up with a pink room for only so long. We don’t even know Ashley & Alexa and why they even had an attic!

We settled on an Explorer room packed full with all kinds of great inspiration to explore our world. We found an old discarded library book that was filled with copies of the maps from the Lewis & Clark expedition. The library was just throwing it out! We pulled it apart and Decoupaged the pages onto Gage’s wall.

The very last step that needed to be completed was, new bedding! Like I said before… His bed NEVER looks like the photo above. If it is made, it looks like Salvador Dalí made the bed rather than Martha Stewart. Granted, I know… It’s a little boys room but, there has to be something smarter & easier. Check out this video to see the genius of what we found!

The Genius of Beddy’s Bedding

Did you see that? How easy it was for Gage to just zip-up his bed when he got up? This bedding is brilliant! Here are my top 5 reasons why I love Beddy’s bedding…

1. First off, it’s dang cute! I love the fabric that we selected for Gage’s room. We picked the Checked Out bedding and it looks great in his explorer room. They have all kinds of styles that are perfect for toddlers on up to Mom & Dad, both boys, and girls, along with college-age kiddos. Plus, the options keep expanding each year.
2. His bed is so easy to make! The bedding is somewhat like a sleeping bag that has a fitted sheet element sewn on the bottom. The whole system fits right onto the bed and grips nicely to the mattress. Now, if you have hot sleepers like Gage is, don’t worry, the top blanket unzips at the bottom if you’d like and down each side, you can even remove the whole top blanket for washing. Gage is a hot sleeper and he likes to keep the side unzipped and then zips it right back up in the morning.
3. I love that this is a product created by Moms for Moms! You know how Beddy’s came to be? It was out of the frustration of trying to make bunk beds. Have you ever tried to make a bunk bed? It’s impossible even for adults let alone kids. Beddy’s are handmade with fabulous fabric. The top fabric is 100% cotton and the inside is a scrumptious Minky fabric that all kiddos love. Gage has been using his bedding for a few months now and I’m thrilled with the quality of the materials & workmanship.
4. Beddy’s bedding is easy to wash! I’ll be honest, when I first saw a Beddy’s system I thought it looked like a bear to wash. I was so wrong! Gage who struggled to gather all of his bedding on wash days in the past now has no problem stripping his bed and loading it into the washer all by himself.
5. I love that his product empowers everyone to start their day on the right foot! When I was a kiddo, I received a pillowcase that said, “Start each day in a happy way.” It was actually a Strawberry Shortcake pillowcase. The first morning I used it, I was 6 or 7, I read the quote and it really hit me. I did need to start each day in a happy way! That morning I felt empowered to make my bed (the old fashioned way) starting my day on the right foot and then moving forward with confidence that I could handle whatever came my way that day. It sounds silly, right? Can making your bed empower you, of course it can. If you aren’t a bed maker, give it a go. Commit to making your bed for a week and see how that little change will change your day. We need to give that gift to our kiddos. A good breakfast and a made bed, that’s a good recipe for a great start to the day!

What are you going to do this new school year to help your kiddos to feel successful right from the start? I highly recommend investing in some Beddy’s bedding for the kiddos. I’m thrilled with how Gage loves his new bedding and how his room looks with the bedding.

+ Disclaimer – This post has been sponsored by Beddy’s Beds. They sent product for my family to review however, I was not paid for my review or for this post. Remeber, I only share what I love and truly use in my everyday life. +

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From Carpool to Care Packages • Hunger-Aid Survival Kits

64 · Jan 29, 2018 · Leave a Comment

This post has been sponsored by Nature Valley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

With four kiddos that range in age from 7 to 20, I’ve been running carpool FOREVER it seems. One thing that never changes, no matter the age of the child, they ALWAYS arrive hungry! Even when they are far away in college, they are constantly fighting those hangries. I have found that from carpool to care packages, my go to products are always Nature Valley. Whenever I am at Walmart, I always stock-up on our favorite hunger fighting snacks to add to our Hunger-Aid Carpool Snack Bin or, to include in a Hunger-Aid College Survival Box.

I remember the first time I had a Nature Valley Granola Bar when I was a kid. It was at Girl Scout Camp and I remember biting into this crunchy granola bar and loving the flavor and especially the crunch. For years, it was my go to granola treat when I was in the mood for crunch time. I felt like I was getting an extra special treat because they always had TWO bars in each package. That’s a big deal when you’re young or even when you’re a poor college student. Over the years, I’ve watched their brand grow to include many more snacking options that, as a Mom, I love sharing with my kiddos.

Taking Care of the HANGRIES • The Hunger-Aid Carpool Snack Bin

Having four kiddos; one in college, high school, middle & elementary, school pick-up is a long drawn out process. Keeping the car stocked with Nature Valley products, as well as extra school supplies “just in case,” is fabulous way to let your children know that you truly care about their success.

I’m loving the NEW Nature Valley Layered Granola Nut Bars & Soft-Baked Filled Squares. They are perfect for either, before school on one of those hectic mornings or after to take care of those hungry tummies. They are so scrumptious and the carpool kiddos love them. I’ve created a Hunger-Aid Carpool Snack Bin that I keep in my car so that my children are never left with a case of the hangries before or after school.

I created this fun design for the bin based off of the vintage Band-Aid tins that our mothers, grandmothers or even great grand mothers always had around when we needed a little tender loving care after getting into a scrape. I thought it was perfect for the snack bin for the car. You’ll be able to download the file for yourself below.

Shopping List for the Carpool Snack Bin

I’m always running to Walmart to grab all kinds of things because it’s a one stop shop packed with all the things I need – especially for this snack bin. This is what I put together for the carpool snack bin to keep in the car.

130 oz Acrylic Latch Jar, Clear
Nature Valley Peanut Butter Chocolate Layered Granola Nut Bars(also available in Almond Butter Chocolate!)
Layered Granola Nut Bars
Nature Valley Honey Peanut Butter Soft-Baked Filled Squares (available in Cocoa Peanut Butter too for your chocolate-loving-kiddos)
Sam’s Choice 100% Natural Spring Water
A package of #2 pencils
A Nail File
A fun and colorful vinyl decal used to create labeling for the bin

To start, I grabbed one of my favorite clear buckets at Walmart. I use these for all kinds of stuff. Storage for little bits and bobs, a travel container when taking meals to friends homes, pantry storage… The list goes on and on.

For this purpose, I grabbed some vinyl decal materials and created a cute label for the bin because, you know, that’s how I am.

You can download the SVG files to use HERE. If you’re new to creating with vinyl, I can also show you how to apply vinyl or import and use a SVG file.

I applied the vinyl to the bucket…

Then filled it with my loot! The car will now be stocked-up with Nature Valley hunger fighters, water, extra pencils & nail files for those teenage girls emergencies.

As soon as the kiddos jump in the car, they know exactly where to go to get a little something to help them get over those after school hangries.

Stocking-up the Dorm Room • The Hunger-Aid College Survival Box

For my college student, Nature Valley products are perfect for care packages paired along with other great items from Walmart to stock-up their dorm rooms. Here are some ideas to include in your care package.

shipping box from Walmart
Nature Valley Peanut Butter Chocolate Layered Granola Nut Bars
Nature Valley Soft-Baked Honey Peanut Butter Filled Squares
A pack of #2 pencils (for those pesky Scantrons)
ball point pens
fuzzy socks
Equate Makeup Remover Cleansing Face Wipes
Nail Files
A fun and colorful vinyl decal used to create labeling for the bin
ribbon
tissue paper
clear packing tape

To start, line your shipping box with tissue paper and start with your bottom layer of goodies first. Fuzzy socks and every girls favorite make-up wipes.

Then the good stuff! Load up the box with Nature Valley treats.

I gathered the pencils and pens and secured them with a rubber band, then tied them with a pretty ribbon. It’s always those extra, classy touches take your care package from simple to special. I closed up the box and then added the vinyl to the box.

I can’t wait to send this off to my favorite college student!

From Care Packages to Car Pool, these Hunger-Aid survival kits are the BEST! What are your favorite ways to show your family that you adore them? What are their favorite Nature Valley hunger fighters? Which new flavor of Nature Valley bars are you most excited to try next? What kind of Hunger-Aid bin should we make next? Maybe one for the office or teachers lounge? Let me know what you think!

+ Disclaimer • This is a Nature Valley sponsored post. All thoughts, ideas and opinions are my very own +

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Tips for Carefree Family Fun

4 · Aug 9, 2017 · 1 Comment

With Summer in full swing, it’s prime time for family get togethers. Come learn how we create carefree family fun with our family and friends!

• I’ve partnered with Carnival Cruise Line to create this post! Enjoy! •

When Summer rolls in it’s time for family fun in the sun, playing at the pool and of course family reunions. Our family is actually at our annual family reunion right now in Idaho and we are having a ball! With our family, one of the challenges that we face is coming up with activities and get togethers that are fun for all ages.

We have struggled in the past with the various ages that need to be entertained in our family. Our family has all ages… Elementary age, Middle School, High School & College age kiddos. Yeah, we know how to spread them out! Then, if you include the extended family, we have a whole other crew of infants through pre-school as well. Looking at the other end of the spectrum, we have young adults, middle aged and seniors as well. We pretty much have the whole rainbow of ages in our family. How on earth do you entertain a crew like this?

Well, let me tell ya… It can be a challenge. Here are some of our tips for carefree family fun!

Tips for Carefree Family Fun

Keep things simple
Plan healthy, energy promoting yet simple meals
Create activities that can be entertaining for all ages
Schedule down time
Keep things relaxed and fun, don’t let your expectations get out of control

Keep Things Simple

When dealing with all ages, the more simple the activity the better. Plan activities that the whole family will enjoy. You really don’t need to over schedule yourself to say that you’ve had fun. Right now we are having a ball hanging out in my parents back yard and playing games with the kids. One of these years we are going to make things even more simple and plan a family cruise with Carnival Cruise Line. Carnival is all about fun for all. They have become the masters at finding ways to help the whole family enjoy simple and carefree family fun!

Carnival believes everyone deserves a place to play, where they can jump in on the fun without a second thought. The possibilities for play abound on a Carnival cruise — at any one moment, you may be laughing until your sides ache, singing and dancing your heart out, taking in amazing sights, or savoring mouthwatering bites – all with the help of your crew – the ultimate fun facilitators. You can’t get more simple than that! They handle all the hard stuff and your only job is to have FUN together!

Plan Heathy Meals

Nothing weighs a group down more than poor meal planning. One cannot live on burgers and hot dogs alone. Plan meals that are easy to prepare ahead of time and help to give everyone healthy energy. Here are some of my favorite go-to recipes that would be perfect for a carefree family get together.

• Overnight French Toast + a PERFECT prep-ahead breakfast that everyone will love •

• Breakfast Power Bowls + This is a simple breakfast that is easy to customize to everyone’s taste •

• The BEST Chicken Salad Recipe + Perfect to make ahead of time! •

• Onion and Poppy Seed Salad + Another crowd pleaser •

And that’s just a few of our favorites! Checkout my Pinterest board for other great WhipperBerry recipes.

Now, if you aren’t into cooking and want someone else to take the helm in that area, … man oh man, Carnival is the way to go. The Carnival Chef’s know how to tickle the taste buds and please every palette in your family!

Create Activities that can be Entertaining for all Ages

Here’s where the fun never ends… It can be hard to find activities that everyone will love. We’ve found that yard games tend to be a huge hit with the littles all the way up to the oldies. There is just something about the novelty of the games. What’s fun is that they are easy to DIY so that you don’t have to spend and arm and a leg for them.

We’ve created a set of medium sized yard dominos and some small dice that everyone LOVES to play with.

Now I’ve seen dominos that are super big that you play all over your yard and they are super fun. I wanted a smaller set that is easy to store and transport. I cut some 1 x 4 planks into 6 1/2 inch blocks and used a wood burning tool to create the dots. Everyone loves them!

They even love building towers with them.

Who says only little kiddos love to play with toys!

As inspiration from Carnival Cruise Line’s live game show, where you can team up with your friends and family to play some of the most classic games, we also created some dice for Yard Yahtzee! We had a blast and you can easily re-use your homemade pieces for your own favorite dice game.

Again, I used my wood burning tool and cut some 2 x 2 blocks to create the dice. If you are a Yahtzee fan, here is a printable score card that you can download.

• Download Yahtzee Score Card HERE •

If you would rather have someone else be the cruise director, sail with Carnival the fun ship! They have a ship full of all kinds of fun activities for all ages.

Create a Chance for Relaxation

With all of this fun, you need to keep in mind that all of your age groups will need some rest. Create some opportunities for down time. Don’t forget to create a safe space for the teenagers to be teenagers. They like to stay up late and sleep-in.

The more rest you have, the more fun you can have together without a whole bunch of grumps. You know that Carnival also excels in this area. And for adults, don’t forget to check out all of their SPA options!

Also, don’t forget to keep your expectations in check. We all want a magical time together but, the bottom line is… The little ones will get cranky and won’t want to go along with the schedule or, someone will get sick. Personality types are put to the test and that’s alright. Everyone needs to just step back, relax and go with the flow. Remember, this is the time to make memories that will last a lifetime!

Family

Boys Room Makeover

The Genius of Beddy’s Bedding

Taking Care of the HANGRIES • The Hunger-Aid Carpool Snack Bin

Shopping List for the Carpool Snack Bin

Stocking-up the Dorm Room • The Hunger-Aid College Survival Box

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