Anne is a 30-something full-time SAHM mom of 5 ranging from 3 to 17 and grandma of 1 who resides in Ashwaubenon (Green Bay) Wisconsin. She started blogging in 2008 as a way to regain her sanity. She enjoys coffee, chocolate, cheeseburgers and vodka along with spending time with her husband and kids.
*This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks on behalf of Duracell. I received compensation to write this post, and any opinions expressed are my own, and reflect my actual experience.*
It never fails…Christmas morning rolls around, the kids are opening all of their cool new toys and gadgets and BAM….something needs batteries and you don’t have any on hand.
Ever been there?
I have….more than once.
Thankfully I’ve managed to stay on top of things the last few years and I’ve been reading boxes when purchasing items for the kids and for gifts and including batteries with them.
When it comes to buying batteries, we perfer to go with Duracell CopperTop All-Purpose batteries because they are dependable and long-lasting. No joke, Alexander has a toy that he received for Christmas when he was 2 that has been well loved and passed on to Ellie and now to Joey and I have yet to need to change the batteries.
I love batteries that last and are a good investment upfront.
Since most of the toys and electronics in our house require AA batteries, we like to stock up around the holidays and pick up a few of the 16 packs of the Duracell Coppertop to ensure we have enough batteries to go around.
For the last few years, the 3 older kids, Zack, Libby and Alexander, have received batteries as a stocking stuffer too. With 5 kids, a lot of remotes and countless toys and gadgets, you can bet we go through our fair share of batteries.
You can get Duracell Coppertop batteries in AA, AAA, C, D and 9V. Check your local Walmart for the big packs and make sure you are stocked up for the holidays.
As you may have noticed, we are busy getting ready for the holidays and cannot wait for Christmas to arrive. My kids are so excited about Christmas this year that we are going all out. The tree is up, the lights are on the house , the stockings are hung….now we wait.
Since we have 23 days to wait until Santa and his reindeer arrive, we thought we would start preparing for their arrival as well. To help them find our house on Christmas Eve we made batch of reindeer food to sprinkle in the snow around our house. Since we live in Wisconsin, we thought now was a good time to get started because all the snow we keep getting could make it hard for them to find us.
Making reindeer food is really easy and only requires a few ingredients and supplies. To get started you will need the items pictured below.
You will need holiday treat bags, a canister of oats, sugar and sprinkles. Now for sprinkles, you can use any kind you want. We went with the rainbow because all of the kids like to see the different colors in the snow and they all claim that the reindeer like rainbow sprinkles the best.
In addition to these items, you can print our cute reindeer food label (below) and gift some reindeer food to friends too. (Parents can also make reindeer food and surprise their kids and help them prepare for Santa’s arrival).
To make your reindeer food you take your plastic treat bag and add 1 cup of oat, 1/4 cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon or sprinkles. Once you have the ingredients in your bag, seal it and shake it up to mix everything together. Once it is all mixed, you will have a nice supply of reindeer food on your hands.
If you would like to label your reindeer food for a gift, download and print the labels below (each printout includes 4 labels) and fold them over your bag of magical reindeer food and staple the ends to the bag.
Ta da!
You’ve just made reindeer food and Santa and his reindeer will be able to find their way to you on Christmas Eve after you sprinkle it outside.
Get your printable Reindeer Food labels below:
If you have any problems with the popout box, click HERE to be taken directly to the PDF for printing.
Having a clean house is an important component of your overall health and wellness, not to mention helping you to make a good impression to any guests who come by for a visit. In the past few decades, harsh chemical based cleaning supplies have become the norm. Many people feel that a cleaning product needs to be toxic in order to do the job. However, there are many natural cleaning products on the market that provide the same — or even better — cleaning power. Additionally, natural cleaning products have many health benefits that make them the go-to choice for cleaning supplies, especially if you have children, seniors, or people with compromised immune systems as a part of your household.
The Problem of Toxic Chemicals in Cleaning Supplies
The chemicals in conventional cleaning supplies are often toxic to humans, especially when breathed. Some of these chemicals react with other elements in the atmosphere creating other toxic chemicals, such as formaldehyde and ozone. According to the Environmental Working Group, studies have also shown that these compounds can create ozone indoors, and long-term exposure to this chemical can lead to permanent lung damage. The toxins in cleaning supplies have been linked to several illnesses, including cancer, allergies, asthma, respiratory problems, reproductive abnormalities, and behavioral problems. They can also provide mild problems, such as rashes and contact dermatitis.
Many people only consider the health problems of cleaning supplies from breathing them in while cleaning, assuming that the limited amount of time that they use the chemicals provide a negligible effect. However, that is not the case. First and foremost, even using a household cleaning spray once a week can increase the risk of health problems, especially asthma. A Study from 2007 from researchers in Europe found that even using cleaning sprays and air fresheners once a week can increase the risk of asthma in adults. Although this study did not show that the cleaners caused asthma, it does show that even occasional use can cause problems.
A Healthier Home with Better Air Quality
Many of the toxic chemicals linger long after the actual cleaning period. According to the EPA, there are more chemical pollutants indoors than outdoors. There can be as many as two to five times the common chemical pollutants inside your home rather than outdoors. With the amount of time you spend inside, you should consider doing what you can to improve the air quality in your home.
Although you can install air purifiers, one easy way to have a pollutant-free home is to not introduce chemicals into it through your cleaning products. Although the smell of the product may decrease after a short period of time, the chemicals themselves linger and cause health problems.
Other Benefits of Using Natural Cleaning Products
You, your children, and your pets touch the areas that you clean. This increases the risk of contamination by the chemicals found in your cleaning supplies. The chemicals can get into your food, on your hands, on your children’s toys, and other areas. This can bring the chemicals into your body, leading to a buildup of chemicals that can cause all kinds of health problems. Many of these chemicals have a carcinogenic affect, meaning they can lead to cancer. Natural cleaning products will not have the same risk of contamination.
The benefits of natural cleaning ingredients go beyond just your health. They are also better for the environment. They are biodegradable and will not release toxins into the water system, soil, or atmosphere. The toxins from traditional cleaning supplies can taint the environment, leading to harsh and toxic chemicals getting into the water cycle, food supply, and outdoor air, causing more problems.
How to Find — or Make your Own — Natural Cleaning Products
There are many companies that focus on making natural cleaning products, such as Honest Company cleaning supplies. When you look for natural cleaning products on the market, pay close attention to the ingredients. You want to find products with natural ingredients, rather than chemicals, which often means to minimize products with a lot of words that you do not understand in the ingredient list. If you really want to ensure you have natural cleaning products, you can make your own. Lemon, vinegar, baking soda, rubbing alcohol, and other simple and inexpensive ingredients can clean your bathroom, kitchen, and other areas of your house just as well, and sometimes even better, than the harsh chemicals found in conventional cleaning supplies.
Natural cleaning supplies do not have to be expensive; they can be a cost-effective solution. If you choose to make your own, you will often spend a lot less on the supplies. However, many of the products offered by companies are not that much more expensive than traditional products. When you add in the potential toxic effects, it is well worth spending a little extra for natural products. You can keep your home clean and healthy, while keeping your family safe from the unhealthy toxins found in conventional cleaning products.
It’s the announcement Frozen fans world wide have been waiting for……Disney’s Frozen Sing-Along Edition has ARRIVED on DVD!
Let it go…Let it go…
Experience Frozen, the hit musical comedy from Walt Disney Animation Studios, like never before in a new to DVD, full-length Sing-Along Edition! Follow the lyrics with a bouncing Frozen snowflake. Join Anna as she sets off on an epic journey – teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and a snowman named Olaf – to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. It’s pure enchantment – and full of fun for the whole family!
How is it possible that this happy, sweet, loving and wonderful little boy has already been part of our world for 15 months?
It’s crazy to believe that it’s already been 15 months since Joey became a part of our lives. Having the opportunity to watch this little guy grow and learn everyday of his life has been an absolute blessing.
Joey is a boy that is so full of life that loves his family, his dog and to laugh. When I say he loves to laugh, it is an understatement. Joey thinks it’s laugh your butt off funny to spin in circles, slide down the back of the couch, have someone smell his stinky feet, and so much more. At 15 months old, he has learned to find humor in everything.
Seriously…..what’s not to love with this kid?
And to think….we though we were done after Ellie was born. I’m beyond words glad that something out there decided we weren’t finished with our family and that we now have Joey.
It now feel that our family is complete!
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