Sick Day Fun!

In a previous post I shared our tips and tricks on staying healthy during the cold and flu months.  Sometimes they don't always work but you do your best and hope the kids stay healthy. 

I suppose my tips and tricks aren't working so well this year because we've had lots of opportunities to stay home from school due to all kinds of illnesses. I thought I'd share what Ainsley and I did recently when she was home with me.  I have to admit it is nice to have one on one time with the kids.  Of course I hate when they're sick but when they do stay home it's usually just one of them at a time and it's a good time to give them that attention that they don't always get.

With Valentines right around the corner I thought we could make Ainsley's valentines for her classmates.  Ainsley loves crafts and I knew this would make her feel better and cure some boredom as well.  We scrolled through my "cute kids crafts" board on pinterest and came across this:

 Seemed simple enough so Ainsley got to work.  We didn't have all the supplies at hand but we made it work.  Believe it or not (as hard as it is sometimes I've gotten much better about letting the girls do their own projects.

This kept Ainsley busy for quite a while and I think it took her mind off of feeling sick.  

They turned out very cute and all of it was done by Ainsley which makes her feel proud.  Not quite how I would have them look but it's NOT my project!  We still need to add the wiggly eyes though

Another activity that Ainsley always enjoys is baking.  Once again we scrolled through my "tempting desserts" board on pinterest and she picked out the one that looked the yummiest to her.  

 Yum!!

These are seriously so good!!!  

M&M Samoa Blondies

Recipe source: Recipe Girl

Ingredients:10 tablespoons unsalted butter1 cup packed dark brown sugar1/4 cup granulated white sugar1 large egg2 teaspoons vanilla extract1/4 teaspoon kosher salt1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour1 1/4 cups sweetened flaked coconut1 1/4 cups mini M&M’s

Directions:1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 8x8-inch pan with nonstick spray and then line the bottom with parchment paper.
2. Heat butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until it browns and begins to smell nutty (watch it closely so it doesn’t burn). Let the butter cool for a few minutes, until just barely warm.
3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the browned butter and sugars. With a wooden spoon, stir in egg, vanilla and salt. Stir in flour, coconut and M&M’s until batter is blended.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Sprinkle a few additional M&M’s on top. 

Bake 25 to 30 minutes. Let the blondies cool before turning them out onto a cutting board and slicing into squares (chilling them will make that process even easier).Side Notes:*Use chocolate chips in place of M&M’s if you’d like.

*For slightly gooey, underbaked blondies, bake for 25 minutes. For fully baked blondies, bake the entire 30 minutes.

While we waited for the cookies to be done Ainsley took it upon herself to make our neighbor, her good friend, a get well card because she was sick too.  Such a sweet girl

So with the Children's Mucinex on board which helped with her congestion and the fun activities to keep her busy, I'd say Ainsley had a fun sick day!  

Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold 
When your child has a bad cold, you both can feel miserable. Children's Mucinex is the #1 children's brand for relieving congestion* and provides fast acting relief from your child's worst cold symptoms. Try Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold if your child needs relief from stuffy nose and chest congestion. Always use Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold as directed. (*Based on IRI unit share data for the 52 weeks ending November 2012) 

The next time your little one comes down with the inevitable cold, give Children’s Mucinex a try! And go here to print a $2 off coupon!

 What activity makes your child smile when they are under the weather? Leave me a comment for a chance to win a $100 CVS gift card!
No duplicate comments.
You may receive 1 total entry by leaving a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 2/6/2013 – 3/31/2013

Be sure to visit the Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

Bennett wants to know...

Happy Valentine's Day!  ♥

Spring Decor For Your Door….

Looking to give your door a little "facelift" this spring?  Want something different?  Something you can't buy at any store?  Maybe you'd like something like this….

or this…

 or maybe mesh is your style….

or this pretty vine wreath….

Have I mentioned before that I make wreaths?;)  

I don't think I have on the blog.  But I do sell them and ship them so if you're interested you can email me.  You can also look at my "Spring Wreaths" album on my facebook page.  It's just an easy click on either mail or facebook at the top left of my blog.

Your door is the first thing people see when they come to your house, why not make it look welcoming, unique and cheery this spring?!

Children's Mucinex

This has by far been our worst fall/winter when it comes to being sick.  We've had strep throat, stomach bugs, ear infections, nasty coughs and colds, pneumonia, and the flu.  Once again I feel like I'm coming down with something and I'm afraid Bennett is starting to fight something.

In other words…we really need spring to get here!!  Like yesterday!

With all that said, I'm excited to be part of a three part series program for Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold!  As part of this program I'll share some tips I have on how I keep my children somewhat smiling on sick days as well as how to survive this cold and flu season.  I hope you'll be willing to share your tips as well!

As far as the things we do during this nasty germ season (and I'm sure many of you out there do the same), our number one rule is "Wash your hands!"  Wash them when you get home from school, wash them before you eat, wash after you use the bathroom, wash before bed etc.  Of course hand sanitizer goes with us everywhere.  

We also like to make sure our kids get plenty of vitamin C so we load them up with orange juice, even when they complain.  Taking their vitamins every day is another essential.  

A set bedtime is important for us so they get plenty of rest and when they are sick, we encourage them to lay down in their beds, even if it's with a book or ipad or whatever because we all know kids will just keep going even when they probably shouldn't.  

So you do all that and your kids won't get sick, right?  Don't we wish.  They're bound to get something some time or another.  We've recently tried Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold with our girls.  My husband swears by Mucinex for himself and we were happy to see the Children's Mucinex helped them with their congestion as well.  During the day they felt better but especially at night when it seemed to be the worst.  

What I liked most about the product was how it made it easier for them to clear their cough, rather than have it rattle around in their chests.  What they liked the most was the taste.  And what's worse than a runny nose especially when many kids don't know how to blow their noses?  Children's Mucinex helped with that as well.  

So I'll hope you'll check back for tips on how I keep the kids smiling and entertained when they have the sick day blues.  In the mean time…stay healthy and wash your hands!


Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold 
When your child has a bad cold, you both can feel miserable. Children's Mucinex is the #1 children's brand for relieving congestion* and provides fast acting relief from your child's worst cold symptoms. Try Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold if your child needs relief from stuffy nose and chest congestion. Always use Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold as directed. (*Based on IRI unit share data for the 52 weeks ending November 2012) 

Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold is offering readers a $2.00 off coupon to use on your next purchase, you can retrieve your coupon here!
  
Would you like a chance to win a $100 CVS gift card?  Let me know “What activity makes your child smile when under the weather?”


No duplicate comments.
You may receive 1 total entry by leaving a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 2/6/2013 – 3/31/2013

Be sure to visit the Children's Mucinex Multi-Symptom Cold page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!