Tips for Those Squirmy Babies!

I so remember those days of my girls being those squirmy babies. I actually remember the day that diaper changing started to become difficult. It was like I had to have one hand on Haley and Amberly at all times or else they would be on the other side of the room by the time I got the diaper open and ready to place under their butts! If you are a mom, then I know that you have gone through this at some point in time...and if you haven't the time is coming!


Amberly was the worst out of my two. We use to call her "Runaway poopy butt". Haha. I know awful right? I knew that there had to be something I could incorporate into my diaper changing habits to help with this problem. I had to think, "How do I change Amberly when she is squirming away from me?!"


I came up with some very helpful tips!

• First, have everything ready BEFORE you start to change your babies diaper.
• Be ready for anything. I was quite prepared for most anything after I had my first daughter, so it was not as hard with Amberly. There were times that my husband would look at me and be like how was you prepared for that mess?! It was like I was supermom or something.
• Have an extra diaper on hand. There were so many times that the diaper would rip right when I got it on one of the girls or the taps would come off. It would drive me crazy because I just wrestled a 13 month old and almost had the diaper on and it rips! This is a perfect time for "Runaway Poopy Butt" to take off again!
• Make it fun for your child. I always had something with me to help distract my children. If they could watch something on TV, look at a book, play with a small toy while I changed their diaper, it was so much easier for me to get it done quickly.

I never did use a changing table. My kids seemed to be extra squirmy, so I just laid them in the floor and went at it. Now that they are out of diapers, I don't have to deal with the squirmy butts anymore. I don't miss the daily diaper changing, but I do miss them being that little. It may be hard right now, but cherish that time you have changing diapers because before you know it your little runaway poopy butt won't be a runaway anymore!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Huggies blogging program, for a gift card worth $35. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Fun in the Sun: Trisha Sutter Shares Summer Tips & Tricks

One of my favorite times of the summer is sitting back, relaxing and enjoying a nice "drink". ;)

Trisha Sutter from The Bachelorette shares some of her summer tips and tricks! Really interesting to watch! I learned a really cool new drink!



Wanna know how to make these? Well check out the recipes!

SANGRIA PUNCH
What You Need
1 qt. (4 cups) cold reduced calorie cranberry juice cocktail
1 cup cold orange juice
1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
3/4 cup COUNTRY TIME Lemonade or Pink Lemonade Flavor Drink Mix
3 cups cold club soda
2 oranges, sliced
2 limes, sliced

Make It
1) MIX first 4 ingredients in large glass or plastic pitcher; stir until mix is dissolved.
2) REFRIGERATE until ready to serve.
3) STIR in club soda and fruit. Serve over ice.

TRISTA'S SIMPLE CRESCENT SANDWICHES
1) Preheat the oven to 375
2) Unroll the crescent rolls
3) Spread a thin layer of poppyseed dressing on each crescent roll
4) Add some turkey to the crescent rolls
5) Add some cheese (Trista uses provolone) to the crescent rolls
6) Roll up the crescent rolls
7) Bake at 375 for 11 minutes

You can also find some more tips & tricks on the Country Time Lemonade Facebook page!

Fun in the Sun: Grilling

One of my favorite things to do during the summer is grilling! I just love the smell of a smoking grill on a hot summer day. Mouth drooling!! I am so excited because I have been smelling more and more cooking grills!

But, what is the right way to grill? Usually I just slap some meat on the grill, throw some bbq sauce on it and grill! But did you know that there are actual tips for grilling?! Well, guess what?! I'm going to tell you some to get your GRILL ON!

 

• Marinating is a very important aspect of grilling. Marinating tenderizes meat and adds flavor! Use roughly 1 to 2 coups of marinade for every 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of meat. I even marinate other things, such as veggies.


• Make sure there is enough charcoal to extend in a single layer 1 to 2 inches beyond the area of the food on the grill. Douse the charcoal with a small amount of fluid. If you do not have fluid, try using regular salad oil. Wad a sheet of newspaper and pile the coals over it and then douse the coals with the salad oil.


• NEVER barbecue indoors because carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are given off which causes toxic fumes! O.O


• Now, I like this tip! When grilling with a BBQ pit closed, open a can of beer and place the beer over the hottest part of the fire. The beer will boil and saturate the air inside the pit with water vapor, beer flavors and alcohol! <<Good tip for a GOOD PARTY. HA HA


• Now, this is one tip that I do not do, but should! I will always flip the meat several times but you should only flip the meat only one time.

Since we are discussing grilling, what are your favorite foods to cook out?

Here is one of my favorite recipes to use when cooking out:

Grilled Chicken Pineapple Sliders

Ingredients

• 1 lemon, juiced


• 1 lime, juiced


• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar


• salt and black pepper to taste


• 3 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut in half


• 6 pineapple rings


• 2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce


• 6 Hawaiian bread rolls - split and toasted


• 6 lettuce leaves - rinsed and dried


• 6 red onion slices

Directions

1. Whisk together the lemon juice, lime juice, cider vinegar, salt and pepper in a large glass or ceramic bowl. Add the chicken and toss to evenly coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and marinate in the refrigerator for 1 hour.


2. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil the grate.


3. Remove the chicken from the marinade, and shake off excess. Discard the remaining marinade. Grill the chicken for 5 to 7 minutes each side, or until juices run clear when chicken is pierced with a fork. Grill pineapple for 2 to 3 minutes per side, or until heated through and grill marks appear.


4. Spread 1 teaspoon teriyaki sauce on the bottom half of a toasted roll; next add a lettuce leaf, a piece of chicken, a pineapple round, and an onion slice. Replace the top and repeat with the remaining rolls.

Fun in the Sun Series

Big news! I am planning a trip to the beach next month! So, I decided to start a little series called Fun in the Sun. There are so many things that I have to do in order to get ready for this trip. Where to go, where to stay, what to drive and what to do?! So many options to choose from. I will be going to Florida. I am not sure on the location or where I am going to stay as of just yet. I do know that a jet ski rental is going to happen! I know, how excited are you to hear that? Lol!
Ok, to start off this series I am going to tell you some tips to stay safe in the sun.

 

• Select the perfect sunscreen. Pick the sunscreen with a high SPF. SPF is telling you how long it will protect you from the sun. For instance, SPF 30 will protect you for 300 minutes.


• Apply the sunscreen generously.


• Start ahead of time. If you are going out in the sun, put sunscreen on 20 minutes ahead of time.


• Use more than you think you need. Often, people do not use enough sunscreen.


• Stay hydrated. The last thing anybody would want while on a trip or just being out in the sun is to get dehydrated. No fun at all! Keep water with you!

Here is a fun way to remember

• Slop on some sunscreen


• Slurp up some water


• Slip on a shirt


• Slap on a sun hat


• Step into some shade

Healthy Habits

I came across some very helpful tips on how to develop healthy habits. These tips were provided by Revolution Foods. 

Developing healthy habits can be tricky. These helpful tips can help start the path to healthy habits. I thought these tips were a great way to develop a healthy plan for my children. I have been researching different ways to incorporate organic and healthy meals for my two girls. Have any tips you want to share with me? Go right ahead and tell me. 

1. Reduce, Don't eliminate. If your favorite food are high in fat, salt or sugar, just reduce how much and how often you eat them. Eating should also be pleasurable.


2. Don't skip meals. Make sure you eat your breakfast, lunch and dinner daily!


3. Find balance. Make sure all the foods groups are represented evenly in your diet. Your plate should include fruits, veggies, grains and a protein.


4. Drink Water. Sometimes your body thinks its hungry when all it's really cravings is some water. Give it what it needs.


5. Gimme five! Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Try to eat at least one fruit or veggie with every meal!


6. Eat a rainbow! Your body needs a variety of vitamins and minerals everyday to keep strong, so make sure your plate is full of color.


7. Sharing is caring. Enjoy a meal with a friend or family member.


8. Snack attack. Sometimes you may feel hungry in between meals, so feel free to munch on good choices such as fruits, veggies or some yummy trail mix.


9. Help out in the kitchen. Learn your family's secret recipes and get everyone involved in the action.


10. Indulge in nature's candy. Want a sweet, natural way to finish your meal? Enjoy a piece of fruit with yogurt for dessert!

 

Stop that Wasting of Yours!

Shaving uses an average of 20 gallons of water. Save water by filling the sink instead of running water as you shave. 5 to 15 gallons of water stream out of a standard showerhead per minute! So limit that shower use!

Of all the water used in the home, about 25% gets flushed down the toliet. Minimize flushing and check to be sure your toliet doesn't leake by adding food coloring to the tank. If it is leaking, color will appear in the toliet bowl within 30 minutes. Toliets use 25% of a household's water consumption, with clothes washers coming in second with 22% and showers 17%. Installing low-flush toliets, washing full loads of clothes and taking brief showers with a low-flow showerhead will save water!

Did you know that at one drip per second, a leaky faucet wastes between 2700 and 3100 gallons a year?!!!

A water effecient dishwasher unit uses between 8 and 15 gallons of water. If it is full when you run it, it probably uses less than you would use washing the same amount of dishes by hand so start loading up those dishwashers!

Well, what if I am a renter? How do I stop wasting water? Renting is a blessing and a curse. There is little responsibility but little control. There is no way you can make long term investments, but there are still plent of ways to still reduce that energy bill of yours! In the kitchen, simply reduce your water use. Install low-flow faucets throughout your home. Use your dishwasher. Run it full and skip "heated dry". Keep the fridge and freezer full with the following temps: fridge 38 degrees and freezer at 5. Microwaves and toasters are more effecient than stovetops and ovens. Wash laundry in cold water and hang dry when possible. In the bathroom, reduce water!! Install a low-flow showerhead and take short showers. In the bedroom, dress the bed for the season. Your goal is to keep the thermostat low when it's cold and high when it's warm and always lower the heat when you are not at home. Replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs. Turn off unused lights. Turn off the computer if you are not using it (This is a biggie for me!)

There are plenty of ways to stop wasting...so what you waiting for?? Go on, stop wasting! :D

Leave me comments on your tips to save electric, stop wasting water and so forth. I wanna hear!