Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History

Monday, March 30, 2015

This weekend we finally made our way out of the house to do some fun things. My favorite part about Derek's new job is that he gets every other Friday off of work. It also means that he works nine hour days instead of eight all the other days that he works, but a three-day-weekend is a good trade off in my opinion. Friday we got a bunch of housework done, and then went to the library after nap time. Saturday we made a last minute decision to go to the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History and it was a blast. If you want to know what heaven looks like for a two-year-old boy, it's a large building, filled with large trains. 

After WWII the US sent France 49 box cars filled with food and other supplies to help with the reconstruction efforts. As a thank you, France gave every state, including the territory of Hawaii their own box car. This was the box car given to Georgia, and their often called the Merci Train. This also proves that we try to find all the French things everywhere we go. 

It's not an outing with Jay if he doesn't find something to be OCD about. We love this little organizing boy. 

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Cucumber and Pepperoni Sandwiches

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

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

Growing up my dad was the king of snack time. Everyday when I got home off the bus my dad would have a huge snack laid out for my brother and I. We always referred to them as "picking platters", and they were always nicely arranged with crackers, granny smith apples, cheddar cheese (the sharper the better), and my personal favorite, pepperoni. I'm pretty sure that pepperoni was actually the number one source of protein in my life for about three years. But it's delicious, so why not?

Ever since we moved I've been wanting to turn over a new leaf with my eating habits and make more fresh, delicious foods for me and my family to eat. When I headed out to Walmart to stock up our completely empty kitchen (which was by far the most I've ever spent on groceries in my entire life), I made sure that  I snagged some of my favorite Hormel Pepperoni, and some other yummy fixings, to make one of my new favorite things to eat.

These cucumber sandwiches are so light and refreshing, and are sure to make anyone's taste buds sing! I love the cold freshness that the cucumber gives, and then the the chewy spiciness of the pepperoni... it's a winning combination my friends... a winning combination. These would be perfect for the upcoming bridal and baby shower season. These little sandwiches are light and refreshing and would be the perfect addition to any spring get together. 

Ingredients:

1 package Hormel Pepperoni

1 cucumber

Vegetable Cream Cheese

Turkey

Directions:

Wash and slice the the cucumber and then spread a thin a layer of cream cheese on one side. Then layer a small piece of turkey, two slices of pepperoni, another thin layer  of the vegetable cream cheese, and then top it off with one more slice of cucumber. Serve cold. 

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3 Tips For a Functioning Nursery

Monday, March 23, 2015

I had every intention in the world for this post to be a full blown nursery reveal post, but then the rug I ordered never came in on time, and then I decided that there should actually be things on the wall, so I ordered more decor, but they're handmade, and coming from one of my all time favorite Etsy shops, but it wont be here for at least another month, so just expect another full reveal when I'm really all done.

The nursery was at the top of my list of rooms to get functioning when we moved because sweet Em had been sleeping in our walk in closet for the first 6 1/2 months of her life. When we moved into this house a couple weeks ago, I knew my first plan of attack was going to be getting a room set up just for her. I always told myself I wasn't going to be that mom who got all the pink things for her daughter, but then I had one, and her room literally makes the hallway upstairs glow pink... I'm actually not even mad about it one bit. 

Here are some of my favorite tips for getting a nursery functioning in tip top shape, for even the smallest budgets. Some things I think you can completely live without (we had full intentions of having Em sleep in a pack n play, instead of a crib for pretty much ever), but these three things are pretty much necessities for me. 

1. A Diaper Pail: This was something I didn't know I needed until I had one. The Arm and Hammer Diaper Pail by one of my favorite brands, Munchkin has been a nasal life saver. We have two kids in diapers right now, so the fact that we have something to contain the odor is pretty much the best. It completely seals off inside after each diaper is put in so odor can't escape, and it even has a pod of baking soda inside to keep your room smelling fresh all the day long. I'm in love. 

2. A Changing Table: I prefer changing tables to dressers ten fold. I love having everything I'm going to need for Em right at my fingertips and there isn't any digging through drawers. Having her burp cloths, onesies, and diapers in arms reach is the best thing ever. 

3. Black Out Curtains: For the longest time we just had a quilt hanging in the window in Jay's room. When we moved recently we got real black out curtains, and they're just the best. You can really use either one but having all the light blocked out from the room I think makes the optimal sleeping environment for my little ones... They also both sleep like champs during nap time which I fully attribute to the darkness.

Crib: Walmart

Changing Table: Walmart

Diaper Pail: c/o Munchkin

Crib Sheets: Walmart

Crib Matteress: Walmart

Curtains: Walmart

Curtain Rod: Walmart

Owl: Home Goods (similar)

Diffuser: Amazon

Laundry Hamper: Home Goods (similar)

This post is sponsored by Munchkin, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support this blog. 

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What Does a Stay at Home Mom Do All Day + Giveaway

Friday, March 20, 2015

Last year I posted basically this exact post, and then it kind of started spreading like wildfire, and then people were starting to fight with each other in the comments so I actually deleted the post, but I'm back for another round of this... and everyone should just be nice to each other. Also, there is a giveaway at the end of this post, so there's that.

2 am-Em wakes up and eats, I try to overlook the fact that she's not swaddled anymore and put her back to bed.

3am- Em needs to be reswaddled so Derek and I make the team effort, he helps me swaddle her in the dark and I get another bottle to feed her.

4am- I get back in bed, something falls in Jay's room and we spend the next hour on and off trying to coax him to stop talking and go to bed. 

6am-Derek's alarm goes off and I give him an, "I wuba ew two" (sleep drunk talk for I love you too), and send him on his way.

8am- Jay and Em both wake up... Em peed through all her blankets from the 8oz she drank so I strip her and her bedding and get them in the wash... Jay is screaming for breakfast so we head downstairs for Cheerios and OJ. An 8 oz glass of 100% Florida orange juice gives you 100% vitamin C to help you maintain a healthy immune system. Orange juice is one of the most nutrient-rich fruit juices commonly consumed in the United States – it provides a good source of potassium for heart health, the B vitamins thiamin and folate and is an excellent source of vitamin C.  Cheerios’ wholesome goodness is made from whole-grain oats and without artificial flavors or colors. It is low in fat and cholesterol free. And these wholesome little “o’s” have only one gram of sugar per serving! All that... and there was a $2 off coupon... so it was really a no brainer. 

9am- I get laundry in, make my way around the house to get all the trash and toys picked up from yesterday. Jay's also driving me crazy, begging to watch an episode of Team Umizoomi, so I oblige while I put Em down for tummy time and get blog work done

10 am- Jay begs for another show to watch, I deny his requests and he settles for building with the duplo blocks. Em starts screaming so I'm off to get another bottle and play with her. I also switch out another load of laundry. I realize that I haven't eaten, and I grab myself a bowl of cereal and put Em in her high chair to play while I eat. 

Jay screams that something is broken so I go down there to help him reconstruct his tower while Em does more tummy time. Jay gets hungry so we go and get a snack. I'm starting to get a headache so I make myself some herbal tea (raspberry is my current favorite) but it's too hot and I burn my face off. 

11am- Em finally drinks her bottle and I get her swaddled and down for a nap. I make Jay a PBJ. While he's eating his lunch I unload the dishwasher and finally drink my tea. Jay finishes eating and we go wash face, hands, and brush teeth. We read three stories and he's down for his nap.

12pm- I sit down at my computer and order new running shoes, because they're on sale, and an additional 40% off and I have $40 Kohl's cash, and haven't gotten a new pair since Jay was born, and they're basically free anyways, so there's that. 

I get a few blog posts written, look around to see if there are any campaigns I can apply to, and then edit some videos for my YouTube channel. 

The plumber comes to install our new dishwasher. They're the loudest human beings on the planet. Definitely a terrible idea to have them here during nap time.

1pm- I get the laundry folded and put away. Jay and Em wake up from their naps so we come downstairs and all the furniture we just ordered for our house got delivered. I lug everything inside 1 handed while holding Em in the other hand. 

2pm- I unfold our new rug out on the carpet that Jay decides he can't stands and cries for the next 15 minutes for me to get rid of it. We go outside to take a walk and get his mind off of it, but it starts pouring when we get in the stroller so we come back inside. 

Em starts screaming for food so I get her fed while Jay reads books on the couch. 

3pm- I go downstairs and get all the laundry out of the dryer and fold it in the living room while Em is playing in her new seat we got for her, and Jay runs all over the new area rug because he's now decided it's the best thing ever. 

4pm- This is the hour Em decides everything is wrong with the world, so she cries for the next 45 minutes and I'm standing up bouncing her... this is also my arm workout for the day.

5pm- Derek comes home, and I'm starving and exhausted (if you haven't noticed, I've missed lunch). Derek has to go put together Em's crib for the nursery reveal blog post that's coming on Monday, so I have to figure out dinner with a grumpy baby and toddler (not complaining, just the situation).

6pm- I decide I don't want to cook dinner, and we got a coupon for a pizza place nearby and I call and they tell me I can't get delivery unless I thouroughly explain where we live. I tell them near the big chicken, they have no idea what I mean, I say never mind, hang up, and make spaghetti. 

7pm- Jay and Em go to bed. We're out of baby formula so I run to Target. I didn't realize that I would have to take the highway to get to Target, get stuck in crazy Atlanta traffic, and what was supposed to be a 30 minute event turns into an hour and a half. 

9pm- I get home, Derek is putting the changing table together in the living room, I put the groceries away and start getting ready for bed. 

Em starts screaming for food so I feed her (she eats basically every 4 hours at night).

Derek and I watch two episodes of Friends on Netflix and I go to bed. 

10pm- The day is over, and I wake up at 12am, 4am, and 8am to feed Em again. 

Because I want you all to get a good breakfast and fuel your day right, I'm giving away $15 paypal cash to one lucky reader so they can start their day off right with some Cheerios and OJ, just don't forget about the $2 off coupon too! Giveaway will run until April 4th at 11:59pm. Enter using the rafflecopter below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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French Dip Sandwiches + Chicken Tacos with Campbell's Soups

Friday, March 13, 2015

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias and it's advertiser, as always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. #WeekNightHero #CollectiveBias

When we moved this week I made what I'm pretty sure was my biggest shopping trip ever to Walmart getting our kitchen restocked and what not. We have been eating out every night for the last week and a half and I was just really ready to get back in the kitchen and start making real food again. I saw that Campbell's came out with a new line of soups called Campbell's Soups for Easy Cooking and it's made dinner such a breeze for us this week. I love that you take recipes that are traditionally made with the condensed soups, and up the quality a bit with these great tasting Soups for Easy Cooking. 

So if we're going to be super honest, I only made two dinners this week, but they were both super easy and delicious. I made French dip, and chicken tacos. When I made the French dip, Derek was so grateful to be eating home cooked food again that he ate three sandwiches. It pretty much made me the happiest person ever. I made my normal recipe but swapped out the condensed French Onion Soup for the new Sweet Onion Flavor, and it was phenomenal. 

The tacos the following night were a big hit with Jay because he loves all things Mexican. The chicken was so easy to cook and came together in a matter of 30 minutes. Which is pretty much my max kitchen time right now if anyone really expects to get any food from me. 

Also, because I love to tell you guys about coupons whenever I can, starting 3/13/15 for one month you can score $.75 off one Campbell's soup for easy cooking on your next trip to Walmart, just an FYI for you!

Yield: 8

Author: Paige Flamm

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French Dip Sandwiches

Easy slow cooker French Dip Sandwiches are the perfect set and forget it meal. French Dip Sandwiches come together with campbells soup, and a roast beef!

Cook time: 10 HourTotal time: 10 Hour

Ingredients

• 1 Beef Roast
• 1 onion sliced
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 Sweet Onion Campbell's Soups for Easy Cooking
• Hamburger Buns

Instructions

1. Place all ingredients in the crock pot and cook on low for 8-10 hours. When meat is cooked, shred with two forks and then serve on top of hamburger buns!

Yield: 4

Author: Paige Flamm

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30 Minute Chicken Tacos

These 30 minute chicken tacos are the perfect quick and easy weeknight meal idea for small children and picky eaters. Simply shred a cooked chicken breast and toss with Campbell's soup for an easy dinner!

Cook time: 30 MinTotal time: 30 Min

Ingredients

• 1lb chicken
• 1 Mexican Style Tomato Campbell's Soups for Easy Cooking
• Corn Tortillas
• Toppings of Choice: Sour cream, cheese, salsa, cliantro, tomatoes, avocado, etc...

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400° and place chicken in the bottom of a small pan. Cover the chicken with the Mexican Style Tomato Soup and cook for 25 minutes, or until chicken is cooked all the way through.
2. Warm the tortillas and shred the chicken with two forks and then top with the desired toppings of your choice.

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Switching to Simply Prepaid by T-Mobile

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

I love my cell phone. I'm not one of those people who can never put it down, but it is a major part of what I do in a day, and to have one that can keep up with everything I do is important to me. Recently Derek and I had to make a decision as to whether or not we were going to renew our two year contract with our current cell phone provider and ultimately decided not to renew because we knew we could save big money by going to other companies.

We headed to Walmart to try out the T-Mobile Simply Prepaid plan, along with some new Samsung Avant phones and were over the moon happy about our decision. For $40/mo ($80 for the two of us), we were able to get unlimited talk, text, and 4G LTE data. We cut our cell phone bill in half without having to make any compromises. Which is pretty much the best silver lining in the world of cellphones ever. 

Being a blogger (or a human in 2015 in general I suppose), I put my phone through a lot in a day. I start off my day by hopping on my phone during Em's morning bottle. I usually have about 20 e-mails every morning that need my attention, so I sift through those and then make my rounds through all my social media. 

Then at some point in the day (or pretty much all day), I'm in the kitchen preparing food for 
someone... which means I'm using my phone to look up recipes and help me get food on the table for hungry husbands and demanding two-year-olds. Did you know two-year-olds never actually stop eating? I think that's a solid fact actually. 

Then nap time is when I plow through all my major writing and editing on my computer and I need to have my phone up as a second window for e-mails. The fact that I seriously get so much out of my phone without having to make any sacrifices is pretty much the best thing ever. My phone is a major part of my day and something I need to be on point at all times.

My dad has been using prepaid phone plans for years, and we honestly all made fun of him. I was totally in the mindset that you couldn't have a good phone, good service, any of it, if you weren't in a two year agreement with someone. My dad has the last laugh now though because I love that with the T-Mobile Simply Prepaid plan there are no overages, credit checks, or contracts. The thing I love most though is that you can still have an awesome phone. The Samsung Avant has all the things I need and want in a phone... 5 megapixel camera, forward facing camera, wifi connectivity, all the apps I could dream of. There has been no settling, and it's the best! Wireless is changing, so it's time we changed the way people see prepaid plans! Seriously, try out T-Mobile Simply Prepaid, cause it's bomb.

What do you think of the Simply Prepaid plan from T-Mobile? Do you use a prepaid plan? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

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Fruit Popsicles with Capri Sun Roarin' Waters

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias and it's advertiser. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. #KidsChoiceDrink #CollectiveBias

Growing up I can vividly remember watching hours upon hours of Nickelodeon. My parents would watch Rugrats every night with my brother and I at 7pm right before we would go to bed. I can vividly remember tons of other shows I watched too, and how every spring it was the biggest deal in our house that my parents let us stay up late to watch the Kid's Choice Awards. 

Kyle is still too young to fully appreciate the big night, and his favorite Nickelodeon shows like Mike the Knight, and Team Umizoomi probably aren't going to make the cut for any great awards, but it hasn't stopped me one little bit from mentally planning what future Kid's Choice Awards parties are going to look like in our house. 

I've been all about the "better-for-you" snacks lately and when I was at Walmart a couple nights ago and saw a special end cap for these Capri Sun Roarin' Waters drink pouches, I knew they would be awesome for popsicles. I love that they're only 30 calories and there are no artificial flavors, or colors. They're just a really tasty fruit flavored water beverage, and a great way for kids to stay hydrated.*

I love how easy it is to layer some fruit and Capri Sun Roarin' Waters together in some paper cups and then freeze them for yummy popsicles. You can easily use any fruit you want for these, but the oranges and kiwis are pretty perfect if you're going to be watching the Kids Choice Awards because Nickelodeon is all about the orange and green y'all! (Yes I've been in Georgia for a total of 3 days and am saying y'all.) #NotEvenMadAboutIt.

Ingredients:
Capri Sun Roarin' Waters
Mandarin Oranges
Kiwis
Popsicle Sticks
Small Paper Cups

Directions:
Layer oranges and kiwis in the small paper cups, and then stick the popsicle stick down the center. Fill the cups about 3/4 full with fruit and then fill the rest of the way with Capri Sun Roarin' Waters. Place popsicles on a cookie sheet in the freezer for about 4 hours, or until frozen solid. Then peel off your paper cups and enjoy your popsicles! 

Are you excited for this years Kid's Choice Awards? Are you throwing a watch party for your kids and their friends? Do you have any fun activities planned? I wanna hear all about it!

*Consume a variety of beverages daily

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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies + Giveaway

Thursday, March 12, 2015

What's better than a plain, normal, everyday chocolate chip cookie? A chocolate chip cookie that has peanut butter inside the chocolate chips. I know, we're talking about crazy, revolutionary, out this world things right now, but I wouldn't lie to you about these kinds of things. They exist, they're real, and they're delicious. They also go by the formal name of Nestle Tollhouse DelightFulls, and come in two other flavors, cherry, and caramel, and can be found at your local grocery store. 

Because I have my priorities in line, and because I've been in our new house for a total of 32ish hours, I thought, why not christen the new kitchen with a fresh batch of cookies even though the rest of our house is in shambles and boxes. Leave it to blogging and what not to force you to get your house put together in a fast-ish manner so you can get some work done right?

I didn't do anything to crazy with this cookie recipe, I simply swapped out the regular chocolate chips in my normal chocolate chip cookie recipe, for these Nestle Tollhouse DelightFulls, and was more than happy with the outcome. Derek didn't complain one bit about it either! Now that our house smells like fresh baked cookies, and there are tiny children laughing, and screaming inside of it, it's really starting to feel like home!

Because I love you guys, and because I want you to expedience the deliciousness of Nestle Tollhouse DelightFulls, I'm going to be doing $15 Paypal cash giveaway so you can experience the deliciousness of these chocolate chips! Giveaway will run through April 4, 2015 at 11:59PM. You can use the Rafflecopter below to enter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp hot water

1 cup Nestle Tollhouse Delightfulls (peanut butter)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°. In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter and sugars. Add in the egg, mix until combined, and then the vanilla. Dissolve the baking soda into the hot water and then add it to the mixture. Mix in the flour until just combined, and then add the chocolate chips. Place cookies 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet, using a rounded tablespoon scoop and rolling into balls. Bake for 10-13 minutes until golden brown. Mine took about 12 in my oven. Cool on pan for 2 minutes before transferring to wire rack.

This post was created in participation with Nestle Tollhouse. 

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Parenting Truths with Colgate Express White

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

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

Before I became a parent there were things that I would never think about doing. I lived to a pretty strict code of conduct that I had set for myself. Actually, I'm told most humans abide by these rules... but just so we're on the same page, the ones I'm talking about include: getting dressed into pajamas before bed, washing your face before bed, and brushing your teeth before bed. 

You would think that after living through that nightly routine for my 21 years pre-parenthood that nothing would change, but if we're being honest, like real, real honest... I will go to bed without doing all of those things if it means getting an extra five minutes of sleep at night. I guess there is something about having a 6+ month old baby who doesn't sleep through the night that will make you throw nightly hygiene to the wind. 

I got away with these poor habits for a while, but after 6 months I noticed that my teeth were just not what they used to be. While I still don't have cavities or anything like that,  I've just noticed that my teeth have been looking a little dull. I know that this may sound vain, and dumb, and silly, but because of this I haven't been feeling super great about myself, and once you get the idea in your head that your teeth are kind of yellow, it's all you can really think about until the problem is solved. And I knew that the one and only way to solve the problem was to make sure I brushed my teeth every single night before bed again. (Can we talk about that struggle though? Because it's embarrassingly real...)

Last week I headed out to my local Walmart to conquer this problem head on. Colgate has recently launched a new toothpaste in their Optic White line called, Colgate® Optic White® Express White Toothpaste. It helps you achieve whiter teeth in just three days* by simply brushing your teeth. Which is just about all I can handle with the lack of sleep in my life. Unlike Colgate Optic White Sparkling Mint toothpastes it contains two times more hydrogen peroxide**, which is the recommended teeth whitening ingredient by professionals.

This product should be easy to find in stores with a decorative end cap on your toothpaste isle... unless your store is like mine, then you had to fight for the last tube at the back of the shelf. There will be in store demos for the Colgate® Optic White® Express White Toothpaste and opportunities for $1 off coupons, so keep your eyes out in store for that! You can check to see if your store is participating by checking out this list. 

What would whiter teeth in just three days mean to you? Have you tried the new Colgate® Optic White® Express White Toothpaste? I want to hear what you think! Let me know! And may we all have the energy to brush our teeth at night to keep our pearly whites glistening!

*For best results, use as directed for four weeks.
**Vs Optic White® Sparkling Mint®

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