Thanks For All You Do Gift Basket – Free Printable Cards!
Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CareWithTrust #CollectiveBias
Tis the season for lights, company, gifts, hustle, bustle and gratitude. One thing that we always try instilling in our kids is giving back. This is such an easy way that you can give back as a family to so many different people – neighbors, family members, teachers, community leaders, pastors, police officers, etc. (You can check out our list of ways to volunteer as a family here for even more ideas!)
Use as directed.
While it is the time for holidays it is also the time for sick kiddos. BOO. After this last round, I knew exactly who we were going to thank – our pharmacists at our local Walgreens! I am totally that mom. I go into the pharmacy with kids who don’t feel good and I want to talk to the pharmacist. You know, just in case. I need to go over symptoms, double check that it isn’t serious, and find out exactly what medicine I should be buying.
Stock your medicine cabinet to be ready! Just hoover over the above photo and click to head to Walgreens to find everything you need, including MOTRIN®!
Everyone is always more than gracious to me. You would think having seven kids that I would be a pro, but I go in with questions every.single.time. And typically, I leave with the same medicine. MOTRIN® has been there for me through seven kids and all of the germs they have brought home through the years.
Children’s MOTRIN® is usually our go to. And I say our because our pharmacists recommend it too! It’s clinically proven, safe, fast to offer relief and I love that it is dye free!
And did you know that Walgreens is the only retailer to carry all of the flavors of MOTRIN® products? The different flavors can make a big difference in trying to calm a sick kiddo! Actually in our medicine cabinet each kid has their own flavor! I told you that MOTRIN® is my go to! MOTRIN® is what I trust to give my kids when they don’t feel good. Fast acting, clinically proven and safe all make it a mom win for me. Through all of our kids, MOTRIN® has helped us get through fevers, colds and flues. I will forever be a fan!
After our last run to the Walgreen’s Pharmacy, I decided to put together a quick thank you basket. When the pharmacists know you like ours do then it is probably a sign that you are there a lot! This whole thing probably took me 20 minutes to do and just a few dollars. And because I have all of the thank you cards created for you, that means you can put it together in about 5 minutes! Yay!
You can get all of the printables here!
Print off the large thank you card and write a quick note on the back. I told our pharmacists thank you for always answering my questions and helping us to make the right choices for our family. Quick. Simple.
Next grab a basket and fill it with some krinkle paper. I was able to get them both for a $1 each!
Figure out what kind of snacks you are adding to your basket. You will need a strip of construction paper for each snack.
Wrap the paper around and secure in place with a piece of tape.
Cut out the right sized thank you square. I ran ours through a sticker maker, but you don’t have to!
Attach over the tape either as a sticker or with a dot of glue.
That’s it! Now, just arrange in your gift basket and get ready to deliver!
We really appreciate our Walgreen’s pharmacists so much for every question that they answer for us!
And this little act of kindness is a great way to make sure that they know they are appreciated!
Use as directed.
While Walgreens is open 24 hours so you can come in whenever your kiddo gets to not feeling good, MOTRIN® is one thing I highly recommend keeping in your medicine cabinet just in case!
Don’t forget to pin!
Instant Pot Chili Con Queso
Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #KickoffWithGreatTaste #CollectiveBias
Football at our house is a BIG deal. Every week, Dustin and I sit down and draft our fantasy team, not so much to compete in a contest, but really just to compete against each other. The kids will even get into it picking their favorites! Then, we all sit around during the day watching football, cheering on our teams (and players!), and munching.
Really do Sundays get better than that? (The answer is no. No, they don’t.)
Recently we have been homegating more. Even better, we have this projector that can put the games on the side of the house. It’s SUPER cool. Not only is it like watching the games on the big screen, but even better, for the evening games it means football and bonfires!!
I don’t know about you, but bonfires, football, queso and Coca-Cola? That’s pretty much a night made!
We can just set up the coolers, bring out the food and let the night begin!
But whether we are watching at home or if we are heading out to tailgate, one of our favorite things to make, hands down, is chili con queso. Dustin has been a bit obsessed with his Instant Pot lately, so that’s what he has been whipping it up in. It’s cheesy goodness y’all.
I swear, we make it every single week. The kids love it. We love it. Our tailgating friends love it. And it is super versatile! We of course dip our chips in it. But we’ve also topped it on baked potatoes, added to hot dogs, smothered on our burgers, and loaded it on our french fries. I always say to make a bigger batch so we can use the leftovers in a taco the next day, but every time we make a bigger batch – it seems to just get eaten.
Everything is super easy to make and shopping at Walmart makes it even easier! Have you used their online grocery pick-up before? It’s so simple to use and saves me a TON of time! Walmart is definitely the party central for our homegates and tailgates! While you are picking up the ingredients for this Instant Pot Chili Con Queso, you can also pick up all of your other tailgate needs (and groceries for the week!) all in one trip.
We never have a tailgate without our Instant Pot Chili Con Queso, but also not without Coke® and/or Coca-Cola® Zero Sugar. It pairs with everything! It’s a total winning combination!
1
block melting cheese
2
cans chili we use the no bean, but pick your preference
2
cans diced tomatoes with jalapenos
3/4 cup
milk
1 tbsp
seasoned salt equal parts salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder-
extra jalapenos optional
Servings:
-
Open your package of cheese and dice into cubes to make melting easy and even.
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Toss the cheese into the bottom of your Instant Pot.
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Open the cans of tomatoes and pour over the cheese.
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Empty the cans of chili into the slow cooker.
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Pour in 3/4 cup milk and sprinkle with seasoned salt. Stir.
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Seal and lock the lid. Set to the chili setting and allow to cook.
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When it is finished, vent to allow the steam to release. Stir and serve!
For more tailgating and homegating inspiration, recipes and decorating ideas check these out!
Don’t forget to pin our Instant Pot Chili Con Queso!
Recovery Is Possible + An Easy Way You Can Help Fight The Opioid Epidemic
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias #LICDrugDisposal
Did you know that with the current Opiod Epidemic, 197 Americans die every day from a drug overdose? (Source: National Center for Health Statistics) While that number is alarming, think about how high that number climbs when you think of all of the people who are affected by drug use; the parents who are desperately trying to protect their children, the spouses who are trying to make things work praying that things get better, the children who are caught in the middle, the employers who are left trying to cover shifts, and the addicts themselves who are left feeling embarrassed, guilty and shameful over their decisions and inability to control it. Addiction is a family disease…because it impacts everyone.
Addiction is a disease that doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care if you are a male or female, old or young, educated or not, rich or poor. It grabs a hold of anyone it can and it holds on with vengeance. The stigma that comes with it are painful and causes many people to hide – whether they are the addicts or the loved one of an addict. The face of addiction is blurred because people are afraid to tell their story. But the good news is that recovery is possible. If you or a loved one suffers from addiction, then they/you are not alone. Knowing that you are not alone on this journey and that it is safe to come forward, I think, is a huge first step. It was for us.
My family is one of countless families across the country who are dealing with addiction. We live in a prominent area, in a nice house. We drive a nice car. You see us at gymnastics and band concerts. But behind closed doors, we used to carry a big secret. We didn’t want to have people know. We were afraid of how they would react and what would they say. Would they think we were bad people? Bad parents? But the truth is, lifting that burden and sharing our story has been powerful. And life changing – not only for us, but for the people that it has inspired. That’s why I was so excited when LifeInCheck Drug Disposable asked to partner with us, not only to educate people on their awesome program, but to tell our story to put a face and a story behind addiction.
Our Story (The Short Version)
Dustin always has been the life of the party. He just has ‘that’ personality. Everyone gravitates to him, talks to him, wants to be around him. He has a way of making everyone feel special and you can’t help but just be relaxed around him. He experimented in high school with drinking and some drugs. His world at 18 was two things: instant gratification and fun.
When he was a senior in high school he fell in love. A different love. An unconditional love. He and his high school girlfriend had a baby. Fatherhood gave him a love he had never felt before. Unfortunately, when his son was two he was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma and spent the next 18 months in a hospital ultimately to lose his battle with cancer.
Emotions weren’t something that he knew how to handle. And emotions and heartbreak on that level were things he couldn’t and didn’t want to accept. What followed was guilt, self hatred, bad relationships and decisions made with good intentions, but that seemed to fall short.
A few years later, he was in a stressful marriage with a few more children. He went to the doctor for a knee injury and was prescribed powerful pain medications. While his prescription ran out, his desire for the medication didn’t. Soon both him and his wife were in a severe active addiction to prescription drugs and eventually heroin.
Dustin had a long few years of getting clean, including a halfway house, a relapse, a ton of work and a lot of hard reflection on learning about himself, his patterns and how to change his way of thinking. He left his toxic marriage, was awarded full custody of his three children, and has worked on beginning his life for the first time.
I am so proud of him and his passion for the recovery community. It hasn’t always been easy. TRUST me. Addiction impacts everyone and is a fight that you team up together to overcome. But I’m beyond overjoyed at the journey he has been on, we have been on and our family has been on. He runs and chairs local meetings, sponsors and helps people in the recovery rooms, shares his story and the hope that recovery is possible. He is still the life of the party – only this time, the party is a little different. He makes sure that every person knows that they are valued, worthy of good things and good people. He makes sure to let people know that they are more than their addiction and that there is hope.
How You Can Help
One way that you can help is to just be open to understanding. Addiction doesn’t plague ‘bad people’. It can happen to anyone. It can be noticeable or it can often times be hidden behind closed doors. Being open and understanding makes people feel safe to come forward for help. I have attended countless meetings with Dustin in the past and I can’t tell you how much that I have learned from the paths of other people. Even though our paths have been incredibly different, at their core, our paths can be very similar. The saying of ‘more alike than different’ has been proven to me over and over again.
Saturday, October 27th 2018 is National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. It is an easy way that everyone can help fight the opioid epidemic in their own neighborhood.
LifeInCheck has created this tool to help you safely dispose of unused or expired medications. Simply enter your city and state or zip code and search radius and we will provide a list of safe drug disposal locations in your area. Using them is incredibly easy. You just go, drop in your unused or expired medications in the box and that’s it!
It is a discrete, safe and responsible way to dispose of your expired and unused medications. How does this help?
- According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately fifty-four million Americans over the age of 12 have used prescription medications for non-medical reasons at least once in their lifetime. LifeInCheck has created this tool to help you safely dispose of unused or expired medications. Simply enter your city and state or zip code and search radius and we will provide a list of safe drug disposal locations in your area.
- Patient disposal of unused medications today takes many forms, from flushing down the toilet or pouring in the drain, to throwing in the garbage, or worse. More often than not, the end result is damage to our environment, drug diversion or the drug being abused by others. In an effort to assist in reducing these issues and bringing awareness to the massive opioid crisis that is plaguing many families, LifeInCheck created a Drug Disposal program that provides consumers with a safe option to discard their unused or outdated prescription medications in secure receptacles located across the US.
We headed over to get rid of some unused prescriptions and expired medicine. While the medicines that we had weren’t considered addictive or opioids, they have been collecting dust. I am almost embarrassed at how old this bottle was! It literally took us 30 seconds to properly dispose of! Here is a list of things you can and cannot bring to dispose:
- Drugs Accepted at Receptacles:
- Unused or expired prescription medication (Including Schedule II-V controlled substances)
- Unused or expired over-the-counter medication
- Pet Medication
- Drugs NOT Accepted at Receptacles:
- Schedule I controlled substances
- Illegal drugs
- Thermometers
- Inhalers
- Lotions/Liquids
- Aerosol Cans
- Needles
- Hydrogen Peroxide
If you have unused prescriptions or expired medications, please use this tool to look up a location near you. Our location was inside a local hospital. The staff was all friendly and helped direct us to the area. But honestly, you can’t miss the green box! It was seriously, the easiest thing ever!
One day we will share our full story (but it’s a long one!), but sharing the hope of recovery is our passion. If you or someone you love has a story to share on addiction or the opioid epidemic, feel free to share here or with your own friends and family. People do recover! Dustin is a living testament to that. Recovery has given me my best friend back, his parents their son back, and most importantly, his kids a father back. By sharing, listening and with things like the LifeInCheck Drug Disposal Program we can all take a huge step in working together in our families and communities.
Free Printable I Love You Cards + Easy Ways To Make Your Spouse Feel Loved
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias #NatureMadeWellness
This year one of my resolutions was to get healthy. What a loaded statement! A few years ago, that would have meant I wanted to exercise more and eat better. Now, when I say I want to work on my health, it not only includes those things, but it also means that I want to work on my mental, emotional and relationship health. Trying to work on all of that at once has been overwhelming, but with small steps it has been an amazing journey! Far from perfect, but I am happy to report that focusing on small things has made a HUGE impact on my health in every aspect possible! It’s funny, but when you put effort into other avenues of health, it seems that it is easier to make those choices like picking more vegetables and going to the gym to exercise. I’ve also started to incorporate Nature Made® vitamins from Walmart in my daily routine. I have to admit something to you thought, I’m HORRIBLE at remembering to take my vitamins in the morning. HOR.RIB.LE. Dustin on the other hand, is really good at remembering. I was constantly telling him about 4 in the afternoon, ‘Aww man! I forgot to take my vitamins this morning!’ In the past three months or so, something awesome has happened. Every morning, he makes me a cup of coffee and brings me my vitamins. Y’all, that’s an act of love. I don’t think he knows how much that small act of kindness means (well, I tell him so, I hope he knows)! His one small act of kindness inspired me to do return the favor, but in a different way. I created these fun love notes that you can print here. Find a small act (or try one of our ideas below!), print off a card and fill in the blank of I Love… and leave it for your spouse to find. Even though this is an act of kindness to make your spouse feel loved, it will make you feel good too! Make a surprise breakfast. Take a tip from Dustin and include some vitamins too! Nature Made® Vitamin D3 Adult Gummies are a great one add to breakfast. Vitamin D3 helps support bone, teeth, muscles and immune health.† D3 is actually the body’s preferred form to get vitamin D.* Nature Made® Vitamin D3 Adult Gummies also provide 2000 IU of vitamin D3 per serving. As the saying goes, ‘A well-functioning immune system is foundational for your health.’
Compliment him. Make a honey-do list….and then do it. Hand him a list already checked off and tell him to enjoy himself.
Cook their favorite meal. Lasagna anyone? Fill up his gas tank. Silly? Yes. Practical? Totally. A nice, small gesture that makes someone smile? Absolutely!
Exercise together. Check out some fun couples workouts on Pinterest! Offer a massage. Without expecting one in return. If he offers, even consider saying no. Sometimes, it feels nice to just be spoiled every once in a while.
Frame something important. For Dustin’s first Father’s Day we celebrated together, I purchased a Grateful Dead poster for him and had it framed. He used to have the same poster and loved it, but life happens and it was colored on and torn. The story and meaning behind this silly poster was everything though. I even wrote a letter on the back of his frame. When I told him I had a gift for him (and he saw how large it was) you could tell he was definitely surprised! I don’t even think he remembered telling me about the poster! It now hangs in our bedroom (although it doesn’t match my modern farmhouse decorating scheme I have going on….but letting him win that one is an act of love in itself)! Let your spouse sleep in. Sleep is VITAL for everyone, especially me. Not just for my beauty sleep, but when I get a good night’s sleep, I feel SO much better. Nature Made® Melatonin Adult Gummies are perfect for me. I can be tired, laying in bed trying to go to sleep, but my brain’s goes over a zillion things I need to do or didn’t get done that day. Nature Made® Melatonin Adult Gummies provides 2.5 mg of melatonin, which helps support my sleep and it helps reset my body’s sleep/wake cycle.† Plus, they taste great! You can find Nature Made® Adult Gummies at your local Walmart. These vitamins are perfect for not only supplementing your health, but a great way to use in an act of love to support your loved ones too! Be sure to pin our ways to make your spouse feel loved, while using the free printable love notes!
† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
*Vitamin D3 is more effective than vitamin D2 at raising and maintaining adequate levels of circulating vitamin D in the body.†
Pledge To Thank A Veteran!
Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DogChowDifference #CollectiveBias
As a parent, there are a few things that I try very hard to teach my children. One of them is gratitude and another is appreciation. We strive to implement them in our everyday life. One thing that I am passionate about is making sure that our Veterans know that we appreciate them and how gracious we are of their service. My son’s father is a Veteran, my brother is in the service and we have countless friends (that we are lucky enough to consider family!) also who have sacrificed their time and dedicated their lives for our freedom.
I wish that I had about 60 hours in each day, but the reality is that I don’t. So we do what we can. There is no shame in that! And sometimes inspiration hits me when I least expect it. Like when I am shopping for dog food.
We are lucky enough to have a Dollar General literally at the end of our street. Talk about convenient! We are there all the time. It’s so nice to be able to take a few minutes and walk together (or grab one of the kids) and just spend a few minutes talking and walking. Those few minutes really add to our quality time. Sometimes, we grab the dogs and walk over to do a bit of shopping. We are at Dollar General SO often that everyone knows not only our names, but our dogs’ names too.
I ran in to grab some dog food. We really enjoy shopping at Dollar General not only because of the convenient location, but also because of how clean and easy to find everything is in our store. I can run in, know exactly where to find things and quickly be out the door heading home. Plus they offer great promotions!
Right now, Dollar General has teamed up with Purina® Dog Chow® to support our military vets with every purchase of specially marked bags of Purina® Dog Chow®.
And even more, on October 10th, you can take advantage of 11% savings on Purina® Dog Chow® at Dollar General! The offer is available in-store and online. Low prices and our favorite brands? WINNING!
So once we got home with our Purina® Dog Chow® my mind was twirling. I was so happy to support a great cause and with a purchase that I feel good about giving our dogs. We see Vets all the time and my kids are awesome at thanking them for their service. Creating little cards has been on my mind for a while. I got to work immediately! Well, after the dogs got fed!
If you follow us, then you know all about Lincoln and George, but a few months ago we adopted Stella too. Three rescue dogs in all now. We go through A LOT of dog food. I love Purina® Dog Chow® for a lot of reasons.
- Made with Real, American-raised Chicken
- 23 Essential Vitamins and Minerals
- Always crafted in the USA since 1926
- Protein for Strong Muscles
- Crafted in the USA
- Always crafted in the USA, Purina® Dog Chow® is made with real beef, lamb or American-Raised Chicken.
- It provides 100% complete and balanced nutrition adult dogs need to help them live long, healthy lives.
- Why does Purina care so much? Because the food we make isn’t just for your dog, it’s for ours, too.
And, our dogs absolutely love it!
So while the dogs were chowing down, I whipped up these fun little cards to thank a Veteran!
Didn’t they come out cute?
I’m super excited for us to use these cards to thank a Veteran! Super handy and if I don’t say so myself, super cute!
The idea behind them is that you can sign them if you want or even add a gift card if you desire, but mostly to print off and keep in your purse, so when you see a Military member you can hand them one and say thank you.
You can download our cards here!
These cards are an easy way, even as a busy family, that you can remember to thank a member for their service! I hope that you join us in thanking our Vets for their service! These little cards to thank a veteran should make it nice, easy and handy! And don’t forget about October 10th at Dollar General to save big on Purina® Dog Chow®!
Be sure to pin our Free Printable Cards to thank a Veteran!
How To Get Started Geocaching
Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser, Walmart Family Mobile. All opinions are mine alone. #SummerIsForSavings #CollectiveBias #WFM1
Have you ever heard of geocaching? If you haven’t then once I introduce you to it, then you will not be able to wait to get started. And if you have, then you know how fun it is! It’s seriously one of the best family activities that you can do. Which also means, perfect for summer.
Geocaching is essentially a treasure hunt. They are everywhere – seriously, you have some set up in your town too! Once you get to the location that the cache is, you will need to hunt for it. Sometimes they are easy and sometimes they are really tricky. People can get really creative! Inside is always a little something – usually something that fits the owner’s interests. You can log your find, take photos, add something if you would like. Then, leave it for the next person to find.
You need just a few tools to get started making it a great frugal activity to do! Not to mention, incredibly fun! The most important thing that you need is a smart phone that can connect to the internet.
Recently, we went to Walmart and bought my son his first cell phone. There were several reasons that we chose Walmart for buying his phone!
- Names you trust with Walmart’s low prices! We got him the LG Grace phone. It’s a great size, takes awesome pictures and plenty of space for his games! 🙂
- No contract
- No activation fees
- No late fees
- Budget friendly plans – We got the $49.98 Plus Plan from Walmart Family Mobile, powered by TMobile’s Nationwide 4G LTE Network. For only $49.98 we get Unlimited * Talk, Text, & Data which includes up to *13GB of 4G LTE then 2G.
Plus, customers on the $49.88 PLUS Plan will receive a free VUDU movie rental credit valued at $7.00 each time they renew their service. Adventures and movies? It’s a win!
And it is SO easy. Literally, we walked into the store, picked out his awesome new phone and purchased our plan. Setting up the phone took just a few minutes!
What does this have to do with geocaching? Because you need a great phone with reliable coverage! The first thing you are going to want to do is to download a geocaching app. This will pull up the caches that are near you and give you a map to follow.
Then, using your phone follow the map until you reach your destination! There are some caches that are in the city (we did one that the prize was hidden inside a restaurant!) and some are out in park-like areas. We chose to do one in a local park.
Our cache took us down to a creek.
Once we got down to the creek, it was up to us to find where the cache.
Sometimes when you are choosing a cache to find, they will have hints. If you need one you can check there or the comments of reviews. Sometimes the caches can be pretty tricky!
Our dogs were pretty excited to play in the water while we searched. When you find the cache, sometimes there is a log. Add your name, the date and a message if you wish. Then, put it back for the next people to enjoy!
And then it is off to the next cache! Luckily with our Walmart Family Mobile, powered by T-Mobile, we have plenty of data to take us on adventures!
- Disclaimer: All prices for phones and plans included in this post are accurate as of the date of posting; however, these prices are subject to change. Please refer to this page or your local Walmart for current pricing.
- VUDU movie offer is a limited time offer. Available for lines active with the PLUS $49.88 plan only. VUDU enabled device and account required for digital viewing. Customers must be 18 years or older to open a VUDU account. Movie rental only available in the USA. Free movie rental provided in the form of a movie rental code to the value of a $7.00 VUDU credit. Must be used within 30 days of receiving code. Offer is non-transferable. Limit 1 per customer. Additional terms and conditions on VUDU’s website: http://www.vudu.com/termsofservice.html
Guide To What Laundry Care Symbols Mean
My closet is packed full of treasures. And I really mean that wholeheartedly. I have jeans that I know I can put on without fail that make me feel like a million bucks. I have a favorite dress that is my go-to for girls night out. I have t-shirts from concerts that immediately bring back memories.
There are so many times when people ask me how I met someone or if I remember when we did so-and-so together and when I think back I often can visualize us in that moment. Even down to what I was wearing. My clothes aren’t just for throwing on. For me, they really do hold special memories.
So the last thing I ever want to do is to ruin them by simply trying to take care of them. (How ironic right?) But I will confess, if I were to list out all of my talents I’m not entirely sure that domestic goddess would necessarily be listed. So when my mom bought me a gorgeous new top for my birthday and I went home to wash it I will be the first to admit that I was a little confused on the do’s and don’ts. I’ve seen the laundry care symbols on clothing tags for ever. But I honestly never knew what they meant.
So in an effort to preserve my new top and my favorite vintage concert tees I decided that now that I’m in my 30’s, this was probably something I should figure out.
When you see the open circle on your clothing, then you know that item is meant to be dry cleaned. Want a tip: Use Dryel! Save the time and hassle of going to the dry cleaners (why go when you can do it at home!) and get your clothes safely washed. Bonus: It saves you up to 90% of the cost of dry cleaning! WIN!
Each starter pack comes with 4 packs, spray, bag and instructions. How does it work? The heat of the dryer releases a steam inside the garment bag that cleans your clothes and removes odors. The Dryel Booster Spray can remove stains and add freshness. But you don’t just have to use Dryel for your dry cleaning items. Use them on your favorites that you want to preserve too. That awesome one in a million pair of jeans? Don’t let them fade! Wash them in the Dryel bag! My favorite vintage concert tee? You bet that it gets washed in Dryel! You can find a retailer near you here.
I’m so super excited to announce that I am working with Dryel this year! Their products are so simple to use and have really saved me so many times in time, money and from ruining some of my treasured items from my closet. Be sure to be on the look out for some clothing hacks and tips on keeping your wardrobe in perfect shape all year long!
Disclosure: I am a paid ambassador of Dryel. All thoughts and ideas are 100% my own.
18 Easter Basket Ideas: Fun Easter Basket Alternatives
Easter will be here before we know it! It’s time to start picking up things to add to the Easter baskets and eggs! Are you ready? This year, Josh is a little bit older so I wanted to something besides a traditional Easter Basket so I went on the hunt (haha, see what I did there? Hunt? Like an Easter egg hunt? … It’s the little things guys… LOL) I wanted some fun Easter basket ideas that were unique and really just some Easter basket alternatives. There were so many ideas that I found that I just had to share with you all!
Just a hint before I share! My favorite place to pick up Easter basket items; well, anything really, is Kmart! Kmart has both a grocery side and their traditional retail side (filled with clothes, toys, and everything home). Their prices are always low and they have great options for saving big (including the Shop Your Way Rewards program).
Here are a few great offers that will come in handy with your baskets:
Easter 6 pack Candy or Lindt Gold Bunny – Just $2.50 on sale! (Expires 4/8)
Easter Packaged Chocolates for $1.50 (Good 4/9-4/15)
Earn 25% in points with $10 + worth of Smart Sense Food and Drug Products at Kmart! (Expires 5/1)
AND scroll to the bottom…I’m giving away a $100 Kmart Gift Card!!!!!!!!
Umbrella Easter Baskets
Hatbaskets
Balloons
This is so neat! You can add candy and trinkets and then, blow up the balloon with them inside!
Makeup bag
Pool Noodle & Beach Towel Basket
Potty Baskets
Candy Baskets
Tackle box basket
Tote Basket
Truck Basket
Easter Bouquet
Maybe fill with dollar bills for a teenager?
Soda Basket
Swing Basket
Sandbox Basket
This is great if you have several kiddos and want to do a group basket!
Rain Boot Easter Basket
Cozy Coupe
Basketball Goal Basket
Aren’t these super fun? The best part is that you can pick up EVERYTHING that you need at Kmart to recreate any of these! Plus, don’t forget to check out their Smart Sense brand. Seriously, everything that you need for your Easter get together at huge savings!
And now the $100 Kmart Gift Card giveaway!!!
Don’t forget to pin our Easter basket ideas!
This post is sponsored by coupons.com, however, all opinions are 100% my own.
Cheesy Egg, Sausage & Veggie Ring – Yummy Breakfast Recipe!
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BreakfastGoals2018 #CollectiveBias
Breakfast is a big deal in our house. Like a really big deal. We love it all – pancakes, waffles, eggs, french toast….and of course sausage! While we try to have a good breakfast every morning, on holidays and birthdays we try to do something a little special. Sometimes, even on weekends or days off, mornings are still hectic. Especially when you throw in the excitement of things like Easter baskets! This recipe is super simple to put together and while it is baking it gives you a chance to get out of the kitchen and be with your family! Another bonus: It looks so pretty on a plate for your holiday brunch! Oh and an even bigger bonus is that the clean up is SO simple. Seriously, 5 minutes and clean up is done! WOO HOO!
This is quickly becoming one of our favorite recipes, but I think it is perfect for spring and Easter because not only for the reasons above, but it also kind of looks like a nest! It doesn’t get more spring than that! 🙂
To make it, you honestly probably have everything in your refrigerator now! I like to use Odom’s Tennessee Pride® Country Sausage. You can find it at Walmart! We usually get two rolls (the mild and hot) and make them both to get a nice mix in our breakfast rings. And the next morning we use the leftovers for a big batch of biscuits and gravy! YUM!
Besides sausage, you will need eggs, cheese, crescent rolls and if you are like me, veggies! I love tomato and green pepper in mine! But really, you can add anything to yours – mushrooms, onions, or whatever your family likes!
5
eggs Plus one more for brushing the ring – optional.-
tomato chopped -
green pepper chopped
1 can
crescent rolls
1 cup
shredded cheese
1 pound
susage We like to use 2 pounds and mix the flavors. You will have leftovers!
Servings:
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Preheat your oven to 375.
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In a small saucepan, cook the sausage and drain. Remove and put in a small bowl to cool.
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Wipe out the excess grease of your pan and add your 5 eggs and scramble. Remove from pan and set aside.
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Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper. Open the crescent rolls and make a star pattern. You will want to overlap the edges and they should be pretty tight together.
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Begin to layer your ingredients on the crescent rolls. I start with a little cheese and then add the sausage.
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Add the scrambled eggs and veggies.
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Top with more cheese!
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Fold the crescent ends towards the middle of the ring.
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It will look like the fillings aren’t fully covered with the dough and that’s ok!
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Beat an egg in a small dish and brush over the crescents. This is optional, but it really gives the ring a nice color to it!
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Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.
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Slice into wedges and serve!
That’s it! This is truly one of our family’s favorites! I hope you enjoy it!
If you make it let us know! I would love to hear what you think! Odom’s Tennessee Pride® Country Sausage
Don’t forget to pin!
Try Chromecast Audio For Crowd Worthy Sound!
Anyone who knows me will tell you that music is a huge part of my life. I may not be very musically inclined, trust me I tried, but I love it. (Warning: I do sing. Badly, but I do sing right along with my favorite songs. Just don’t say that you weren’t warned!) I can’t seem to get anything done in our house without having a playlist going. It doesn’t matter if I’m working, showering, cleaning, or going to sleep. Music is on. For us, summer is filled with concerts. FILLED. We just can’t seem to get enough.
So when I heard about Chromecast Audio (available at Best Buy!), I really wanted to give it a try. This little device is an inexpensive way to turn any speaker into your dream speaker! It’s really easy to set up and you simply plug it into your speaker. Then your music can connect through wifi from your phone, tablet or computer. And since it uses WiFi instead of bluetooth the sound is amazing!
Here are some more benefits to using the Chromecast Audio!
- It’s so easy with your phone to play, pause, change the volume, etc from anywhere in your house! Plus, you can still use your texting and calling features without interrupting or draining your battery. (That’s a huge plus in my book! I hate streaming and having a friend call and no music in my background. And it always happens during one of my favorite songs!)
- It’s compatible with hundreds of audio apps. You can stream songs, radio stations, and podcasts through all of your favorites. It’s compatible with Pandora, Spotify, YouTube Music and Google Play Music. You can find all of the compatible apps here.
- Connect more than one Chromecast Audio to stream the same music on multiple speakers. PERFECT for playing inside and outside on your deck during a BBQ!
Working from home, I often will start working in one room and get up to go do something in another (like the laundry room, to restart the dryer for the third time or into the kitchen to start dinner) It’s so nice to be able to effortlessly bring my music with me. Having our Chromecast Audio hooked up in both places means that I literally don’t miss a beat.
It’s also small. So you bet that I plan on taking it with us on vacations. Sometimes when we rent a house for vacation they don’t always have bluetooth ready speakers. But now, it’s no problem! We can stream our music regardless! And honestly, since this uses the Cloud and WiFi – it’s better!
How do you plan on using Chromecast Audio for your music?
The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.