Who doesn’t love Jack Link’s Beef Jerky?! It’s made with 100% Beef, offers 11g of protein per serving, tastes amazing, and now, you get 20% more when purchasing the NEW 12oz. bag!! Whether you’re on-the-go during busy days, powering thru work or snacking with the whole family at home, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky is perfect for every occasion. Visit your local Walmart and use this Ibotta offer to get $2.25 off one (1)*!

*while supplies last, offer available on 10oz. and 12oz. bags

The post Get Your Jack Link’s Jerky Coupon on the Ibotta App appeared first on A Day in Motherhood.

Getting dinner on the table fast — that’s my goal every night when I sit down for dinner with my kids. One meal, three happy kids and the knowledge that I did not slave over a hot stove for an hour before hand.Getting dinner on the table fast — that’s my goal every night when I sit down for dinner with my kids.

One meal, three happy kids and the knowledge that I did not slave over a hot stove for an hour before hand. One of my favorite go-to appliances to help me get tasty meals out fast is my slow cooker. The slow cooker is so versatile and, with a few great recipes and great ingredients, I can get more positive reviews with a lot less effort. One of my favorite go-to appliances to help me get tasty meals out fast is my slow cooker. The slow cooker is so versatile and, with a few great recipes and great ingredients, I can get more positive reviews with a lot less effort.

READ MORE AWESOME TIPS

The post Tips for creating perfect slow cooker meals appeared first on A Day in Motherhood.

When I say that this Slow Cooker Candied Sweet Potato recipe is amazing, I mean it is amazing!! This Slow Cooker Candied Sweet Potato Recipe will not only save you time but also deliver the taste we all love on the holiday table! I absolutely love this for the holiday season… or a Tuesday! It is so easy to make and tastes amazing! I used artificial sweetener in mine but real sugar can be used as well.

Now onto this amazing recipe that will have all of your guests begging for more!

Slow Cooker Candied Yams

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

4 hours

Total time

4 hours 10 mins

 

Ingredients

• ¼ cup butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup SPLENDA® Naturals Stevia Sweetener
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 4 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into ½-inch-thick slices
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 bag mini marshmallows

Instructions

1. Turn the slow cooker onto low. Spray it with cooking spray. Cut the sweet potatoes into bite sized cubes. Place in the slow cooker. In a bowl, mix the SPLENDA® Naturals Stevia Sweetener and the brown sugar together. Top the sweet potatoes with the mixture and then pour the melted butter over the top.
2. Cook on low for 4 hours.
3. Set your oven to broil.
4. When the slow cooker is done, use a slotted spoon to remove the sweet potatoes to a serving dish and leave the liquid behind. Scoop out ⅓ cup of the liquid and mix in the corn starch. Add the rest of the liquid to a sauce pan and heat to warm. Add the ⅓ cup of mixed liquid in and bring to a slow boil to thicken. Once thick, pour over the sweet potatoes in the serving dish. Stir gently. Top the dish with mini marshmallows. Set under the broiler, watching closely, until the marshmallows are toasty and brown. Serve immediately.

3.5.3217

It is absolutely delicious, saves your oven space for something else and makes great leftovers too!

The Slow Cooker Candied Sweet Potato Recipe will be a family favorite for years to come! If you make it please let me know how you like it too!

The post Slow Cooker Candied Sweet Potato Recipe appeared first on A Day in Motherhood.

I love a good soup, but standing over the stove, mixing it and keeping little hands away from the hot stove for an hour or so makes soup one of my least favorite to cook up. Isn’t it great we have slow cookers to do all the tedious work for us? Slow cooker soups allow the ingredients to really meld together and bring out the full flavor of the soup. Try one of these 10 recipes and let me know what you think!

Slow Cooker Vegetable Soups

Not every soup has to have meat in it. Of course, there’s nothing prohibiting you from tossing a little bacon and cheese on top of them either.

Slow Cooker French Onion Soup – Spend with Pennies

Slow Cooker Broccoli Cheese Soup – Cooking Classy

Slow Cooker Roasted Cauliflower Soup – A Day In Motherhood

Corn and Potato Chowder for the Slow Cooker – Mama Loves Food

Slow Cooker Potato and Sausage Soups

A classic combination of meat and potatoes come together in each of these soups, guaranteed to warm you up and fill you up on a cold night.

Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana – The Chunky Chef

Slow Cooker Sausage Green Beans and Potatoes – A Day In Motherhood

Slow Cooker Sausage, Spinach, and White Bean Soup – Damn Delicious

Slow Cooker Chicken and Chili Soups

Chicken, noodles, and beans are my best friends when the cold weather hits and the kids start coming home with colds – colds that spread through the house like fire, leaving me no energy to cook beyond the slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup – Cooking Classy

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili – Tablespoon

Slow Cooker Chili Mac – Countryside Cravings

Do you have a favorite Slow Cooker Soup recipe? Share it in a comment!

The post 10 Best Slow Cooker Soup Recipes appeared first on A Day in Motherhood.

Raise of hands – who likes to spend all of their Thanksgiving in the kitchen cooking?

Don’t get me wrong, I love to cook, and I especially love to eat, but putting together a Thanksgiving feast can be a bit overwhelming. There’s making sure the turkey is cooked properly. Then don’t forget the rolls. The meal comes with a lot of prep work and a whole lot of clean up too.

This year, why not ease some of that cooking chaos by slow cooking your whole Thanksgiving meal. You may need to borrow a slow cooker….or 9…but the time you’ll free up to spend with family and friends will be worth it!

If you’re smart about it, you’ll use slow cooker liners, and save yourself the trouble of having to clean the inserts as well.

Can’t you see it? A table lined with 10 Slow Cookers, each containing a Thanksgiving staple. Just click on the links below to plan your slow-cooked Thanksgiving meal today.

 Slow Cook a Turkey, Ham, or Chicken

Slow Cooker Spiral Ham from A Day In Motherhood

Slow Cooker Wild Rice Stuffed Cornish Game Hen from A Day In Motherhood

Slow Cooker Turkey and Stuffing from It’s A Keeper

Add Your Favorite Slow Cooked Sides

Slow Cooker Candied Sweet Potatoes from A Day In Motherhood

Crockpot Cranberry Orange Sauce from Today’s Creative Life

Easy Slow Cooker Dinner Rolls from Living Sweet Moments

Crockpot Stuffing from The Gracious Wife

Easy Healthy Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole from Life Over C’s

Crockpot Garlic Parmesan Mashed Potatoes from The Pinning Mama

Warm Up with A Beverage

Crock Pot Apple Cider from A Day In Motherhood

Slow Cooker Cranberry Wassail from Home Maid Simple

Top it all off with Dessert

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Cobbler from A Day In Motherhood

Crustless Crockpot Apple Crisp Pie from The Typical Mom

What will you Slow Cook this Thanksgiving?

The post Slow Cook Your Way to Thanksgiving with these 13 Slow Cooker Recipes appeared first on A Day in Motherhood.

The ball soaring thru the air, he quickly glances up, blinded by the sun.  He wipes a bead of glistening sweat from his brow and receives the ball with his chest.  It falls right to his feet, in perfect stride.  He begins to dribble, managing to maneuver around a sturdy defender.  Then he jukes left, and looks right, he cuts inside the center back.  The keeper is the only thing standing between him and victory.  As the keeper makes a diving save, landing on the ground, knowing he is defeated, the ball sails past him to find the back of the net.  What a GOAL!! 

It is exciting to celebrate a victory with my favorite soccer player, but I can’t help but think about the kids on the other team and the disappointment they must feel.  Everyone wants to be on the winning team, but what about the moments in life when we are on the loosing team?  How does that make us feel?  What will the post-game speech sound like, or the car ride home?  Will this be the game that breaks us?  What about the player that never made it off the bench or the player that can’t make the grades?  We all have been there, and can fondly recall the elated feeling of victory, and how devastating it can feel to suffer defeat.  The manner in which we handle life’s victories and defeat is how our character is defined.

As parents, are we adding excessive demands and pressures to our kids by expecting more than they are capable of?  The balancing act of school, sports, college, relationships, jobs, driving, social issues and just being a kid is cumbersome and especially challenging for our student athletes.  Increased expectations are pushing our kids to higher levels of anxiety than ever seen before, and this culture is creating its own epidemic of childhood anxiety!  This shift in societal expectations is causing mental overload and stress to our overwhelmed and anxious students.

Recipe for Disaster

It is important to focus on the student athlete, as many suffer from extreme levels of pressure, not only from school expectations, but also their chosen sport.  The mental health of our youth is a worldwide issue, and suicide is the 3^rd leading cause of death among student athletes in the United States. (BOC, Suicide Prevention Part 2: Athlete Suicide Risks, 11/18)

Students are burdened with the intrinsic stress they place on themselves, as well as the expectations piled on from outside sources.  Inside their developing bodies lives a vibrant thirst for the games they love.  What young boy hasn’t dreamed of being a professional athlete?  Often these young athletes don’t even consider a plan B as their hearts are truly set on the pie in the sky dream of greatness!  They want to be the best player on the team, score the most points, and be the MVP!  There is often a coach with surreal expectations and many parents pushing their kids, living vicariously through their experiences.  Top that off with an impossible school work load and the already awkward and tricky life of a pubescent teen.  This is a recipe for a severe case of childhood anxiety!  It can wreak havoc on your child’s health.  Not only is this insurmountable pressure on your child’s shoulders, but they lack the mental development to cope with this overwhelming amount of stress.  Our students are facing personal defeat, before they even step on the field.  How can you help your student overcome this anxiety?

STUDENT ATHLETE

It is exciting and stressful to be a student athlete.  Most student athletes are smart, outgoing and popular and shoulder a lot of responsibility.  As a student first, these developing teens must demonstrate the ability to balance work load and time management, while making the grades.  Second, as an athlete, they represent their school, or club, which affects their social reputation.  They take this athletic responsibility very seriously, and are often expected to perform at unrealistically high levels.  Student athletes are consumed with juggling the endless list of demands on and off the field.

When we are young our bodies are strong and have a great desire to be in motion.  Parents are pushing their children to get involved, to stay active from an early age.  Our kids are enrolled in youth sports at a record pace, even before they enter their first day of school.  There are countless valuable lessons our kids can learn by playing organized sports.  Sports are about more than individual performance, it is about character, being a team player, and being coach-able.  There are physical and mental health benefits when our kids are involved in organized sports, but let’s keep all things in perspective!  STUDENT comes first in student athlete.  It is important that we teach our kids to balance their educational requirements, with their athletic desires.  As parents, it is easy to get caught up in the ambiance of the game.  But we must encourage them to value and prioritize all the demands placed on them, while keeping in mind that they are still developing children.

All successful athletes know the mental game is just as important as the physical game.  The players must have confidence, desire, initiative, courage and respect to be an asset to the team.  Sometimes players are too focused on comparing themselves to others, with game time performance, grades, class rigor, and all the social implications that go along with the dangerous game of comparison.  They impose unrealistic pressures on themselves which can be exacerbated by expectations from coaches, parents and peers.  Many kids are confused by the often unfair politics that take place in youth sports.  They place a lot of their value and self-worth on how much playing time they get, how they are treated by their team mates and how valuable they feel to the team. When your child is struggling with their mental game, help them regain confidence by helping them focus on the things they are good at.  Providing them ways to regroup and find mental calm and balance.  Slow deep breathes are the easiest and most effective way to quickly slow your heart rate, and reduce stress.

There is a ridiculous stigma that student athletes should be strong and tough.  They are constantly working to avoid disappointing parents, coaches and teammates.  It is a desperate place for our kids to reside.  All this combined pressure contributes to the growing concerns that we are losing our kids and depriving them of their innocence.

Are we decimating their fleeting years of childhood with unrealistic expectations?

Juggling academic success, along with physical development, and a changing body both mentally and physically can take a toll on a young mind.  These developing, malleable minds need a strong advocate to keep them on track and to help them navigate through the nagging pressures of growing up and avoiding the pitfalls of childhood anxiety.

Parent Coach

The coach controls the game and makes the play. As parents, it’s our job to step in to be their advocate, helping them navigate this treacherous journey.  We are the play-maker, the guiding force behind what we expose our kids to.  It is our job to set the limits and expectations; to guide our kids to find a healthy balance in life.

We have to first know our kids, their capabilities and thresholds, keeping in mind their physical, mental, developmental and social well-being.  This will look different for every child, and every family, dependent on a multitude of factors.  We have the ability to limit the number of sports they are able to participate in, help them choose which classes they should take in school, when they should do their homework, which friends they get to spend social time with, etc.  Let’s call this the game plan!

The Game Plan

It is essential that we communicate with our children and allow them to be a driving force in their game plan.  I see so many parents pushing their kids, both academically and athletically, along a path of their personal choosing, not their child’s preferred path.  As their parent, and current life coach, it is your job to help your student athlete set realistic expectations that encompass who they are.  Focus on setting goals in many different areas of their lives, school, sports, social, work and chores.  Don’t forget it is our job to also teach them fundamental life skills.  As parents we have 18 years to get it all in, and often times we neglect the simple mundane things, while pushing for the more exciting aspects of life.  How will you help guide your student athlete, when they are staring at the reality of stress and anxiety?

How to create a game plan:

• Bite Size Goals: These are small daily, weekly or monthly goals that can be easily achieved. By achieving these small goals, it will build confidence; promote progress and a strong sense of self-worth.
• Small Slice Goals: These are larger and a more long term goals. Things that can be accomplished in a year or a sporting season. Small slice goals are a little tougher to reach, but are attainable with hard work and effort.  It gives your student athlete a sense of accomplishment, and the appreciation that hard work pays off.
• Whole Wedge Goals: These are larger, 2-3 year, goals that can really make the plan take shape. It is often their course of action for high school or college.  Whole wedge goals are more uncomfortable and are going to take a lot of hard work, and diligence.  Often these goals change as your child develops and matures.
• Pie in the Sky Goals:  These are long term, dream goals. Often they are unrealistic and may be near impossible to achieve, but everyone needs to have a dream!  All the other goals should support this pie in the sky dream!  Don’t focus on this goal, start at the bottom!

Once you have a game plan, have check-ups at least once a month to show them how they are accomplishing their goals and make changes as needed.  This ongoing conversation is creating a relationship built on respect and support for your child.  Let them know it is OK for this to be a constantly fluid and changing plan, or working draft.  Aren’t we all a work in progress?

Setting goals and encouraging them, at their pace, will allow your student athlete to be well rounded, create balance and prevent them from getting burned out or wanting to quit.  Change the plan when it isn’t working, reduce the stress by changing clubs, or teams, and recognize when there is significant coach/player conflict.  Allow your student to take regular classes, rather than an advanced course load, when they are struggling to be successful.  Make sure your child knows that they do not have to be the best player on the team or the smartest kid in class for to you to be proud of them.  Be honest with your child, sharing your experiences, and letting them know about your struggles.  By exploring realistic expectations, and paring your child’s goals and abilities with their game plan, you are setting them up for success and a fulfilling childhood.  Excessive burden and anxiety can push student athletes into a desperate mental state, and has been linked to childhood depression.

My son has had his pie in the sky dream to play soccer in college.  We are still in the process of figuring it all out, but when we talk about it, and have our game plan check-ups, I continually share with him that it’s OK to change his mind.  I remind him that he doesn’t have to have it all figured out.  I don’t expect him to know what he wants to be when he grows up, where he will go to college, or where he will live.

Constantly I am instilling the ideology of self-discovery, to help him carve out his desired path.  He is encouraged to take classes that interest him, play on teams that are fun, and spend time with people that make him laugh.  I tell him that the plan is in pencil and can be altered or changed, as he figures it out.  By teaching him that his value isn’t based on what team he makes, how much he plays, or if he makes the best grades in the hardest classes, I am giving him back a little piece of his childhood.  Releasing him from many of the unrealistic pressures that plague our student athletes.

Parents it is OK to abandon the philosophy that our students need to be in the most rigid classes, to ensure they are accepted into the best colleges.  Be honest, most of us were not the exemplary student we expect our kids to be.  Secretly, I know this freedom from excessive pressure is actually allowing him to inch closer and closer to his goals, without pushing them on him.

The Referee

Parents, we now have to take the game plan and make it fit into an actual lifestyle!

How to be a responsible parent referee:

• Don’t over schedule your kids! They have school, sports, family life, church, social life, and don’t forget time to enjoy being a KID!  Set limits that encourage balance.
• Sleep! Kids need extremely large amounts of sleep, especially the student athlete.  Sleep is vital for your child’s development, both mentally and physically.  Adolescent and teen athletes need on average of 9-11 hours of efficient sleep nightly.  When your child indulges in a consistent nightly slumber they have increased performance, heightened mood and mental focus, energy and reduced injury risk.
• No pass, No play! It is vital that kids realize the ticket to success is found in the classroom.  Every college coach will tell their prospective athletes that school comes first.  They can’t use an athlete that can’t make the grades.  These additional pressures can cause heightened levels of stress and anxiety.  I have pretty smart kids, but I also know they love the games they play, so I help them find a healthy balance and set them up with a game plan that will allow them to do THEIR BEST!  They do not need to be the best; they only need to do THEIR BEST!  Help your child be successful by selecting class schedules that will allow them to be successful and learn at their personal pace, rather than competing with their peers.  Guide them to teams, and sports that fit their goals and competitive style.  This helps reduce stress and burn out on the field and in the classroom.
• Let them be KIDS! Make sure to encourage your child to have fun, go outside, and play with friends.  It is easy to get wrapped up in the GPA game, or who is getting the most playing time.  It often pushes an excessive amount of anxiety onto our students when they are constantly striving to be the best at everything.  They have their entire lives to push, work, worry, and stress over their future.  Don’t let them forget they are still kids.  Sometimes it takes an intentional effort to give them a break from the pressures of everyday life.

The Cheerleader

Behind every tired child, is a tired parent, and your job is never done!

Once the plan is in place, and all scheduled out, it is now your turn to be the cheerleader.

Speak life into your kids! Set them up for success and encourage them.  As parents, it is our job to give them encouragement, and confidence.  It is also vital that they know we love them even when they fail.  Our kids want to know we love them no matter what.

Don’t think the car ride home speech is just for after the game!  All of those tough moments, when your child comes to you to talk about a grade, a class, a relationship, or a game, are important and we need to speak love and life.  It’s true; the conversations we have with our kids can have lasting effects and can affect the amount of stress and worry our kids are facing.  Kids are constantly worried they will be harshly judged, get into trouble, or be a disappointment.  Give them the confidence and tools to come to you for a safe place of refuge.  They just want you to love them, in a nonjudgmental, unconditional, I am your parent, and I love you win or lose, A’s or C’s.  I am here to help you!

Things that speak life into your child:

• I had fun watching you today.
• Did you have fun?
• I’m so proud of you.
• You worked so hard.
• Did you do your best?
• I’m so lucky I get to be your mom (dad).
• Did anything funny happen today?

In the moment that your child comes to confide in you and share their victories and defeats, be there to love them, no matter the outcome.  These are the relationship, confidence building, cheers that will calm your student athlete and give them the courage to keep going.  You will be their hero for allowing them to grow and learn.  Encourage them to always do their best and be proud of their best effort.

Speaking life into our kids builds self-worth, and confidence.  It provides a foundation for them to be able to accept failure without it defining them.  This is valuable in all areas of life, on and off the field.  A well planned game strategy means they will keep trying because they know their performance is not tied to your relationship with them.

Show up- for your kids! Be present for your kids in their activities.  When we take an active role in our kid’s activities, we show them we love them and care for them.  It builds their character and validates their place in the world.  This vitally important action shows them that love is unconditional and you want to share in their successes and their failures.  Being present and showing up for your kids has far greater impacts than any material thing you can provide them.  I want my kids to know I want to be there every chance I get.  Parents breathe in these moments…  one day we will miss these busy days.

As parents we strive for our kids to be the best they can be, but let’s remember, without a healthy mental game nothing else matters.  Your child’s well being, health and safety are more important than any grade or any team.  Help your student athlete BE THE BEST THEY CAN BE!  Instilling the confidence needed to go into this world able to tackle good days and bad day.  These character building moments will help them overcome anxious and stressful situations and provide them the skills to combat childhood anxiety before it strikes them out!

How will you help your student athlete deal with defeat?

*This information is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, it is provided for entertainment and educational purposes only.  Depression is a disorder often linked with Anxiety Disorder.  Please seek a licensed medical professional for proper diagnosis and treatment.

About the author: Tanya Goytia is a mother, wife, sister and friend. She is active in her children’s lives, a sports mom and a graduate of Texas A&M University. Her degree is in sociology and her masters work is in developmental psychology, holistic health and elementary education. She is a regularly contributing author to ADayinMotherhood.com.

The post Childhood Anxiety: The Student Athlete appeared first on A Day in Motherhood.

Who doesn’t love Jack Link’s Beef Jerky?! It’s made with 100% Beef, offers 11g of protein per serving, tastes amazing, and now, you get 20% more when purchasing the NEW 12oz. bag!! Whether you’re on-the-go during busy days, powering thru work or snacking with the whole family at home, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky is perfect for every occasion. Visit your local Walmart and use this Ibotta offer to get $2.25 off one (1)*!

*while supplies last, offer available on 10oz. and 12oz. bags

The post IBOTTA OFFER * Reminder*: $2.25 off ONE Jack Links appeared first on A Day in Motherhood.

Be sure to hover over this image to purchase TENA intimates® at Walgreens. 

I recently quit the gym and I am already regretting it. I did it for many reasons. One being time. The lamest excuse in the book has haunted me as I have gone day after day after day tied to my desk and my schedule and missing, yet again, the necessary gym time to make the cost worth it. Another reason was just a lack of variety in how I was moving my body. I wanted more cardio and less weights so I have started walking, sometimes jogging, in my neighborhood. So I am still moving, still trying to stay healthy, still trying to keep myself active. I was talking to a friend the other day and her excuse for never working out hit home, though. Her bladder was her excuse. Incontinence and bladder leaks keeps people off of the workout wheel more than anything, I think. I solved this issue years ago, thank goodness, and shared my Gym Bag Must Haves When You Need Bladder Leak Protection with her. She was so happy to have a real solution that she ran twice this weekend! Well, why keep it to myself? So here are the tips I told her.

Tight Clothing Around the Private Area

When I started Cross Fit years ago, I wore loose clothing on my bottom part. Mostly because the bigger the shorts the less I had to look at the extra weight I was carrying around. However, when you leak a little during jump rope, squats, dead lifts, running and other exercises, having tighter clothing really helps keep pads and undies in place. This does not mean that you have to wear them alone. I would put them under looser shorts so that I got the clothing that help protection in place, and then the loose shorts over to keep my insecurities at bay. Any stretchy, spandex short worked well. I could move, jump and run without worrying about my bladder leak protection moving. Because what is the point of the product if it does not stay where it needs to be to protect?
Reliable Bladder Leak Pads for Bladder Leak Protection

I think I have tried every pad on the market for my bladder leaks. Thanks to kids, age and just… biology, I leak when I laugh, exercise and even walk sometimes. I don’t have much ‘holding’ power anymore either so if I am sitting at a child’s event I have to have something to catch the little leaks in case I can not find a bathroom quickly.

Reliable Bladder Leak Pads for Bladder Leak Protection

I think I have tried every pad on the market for my bladder leaks. Thanks to kids, age and just… biology, I leak when I laugh, exercise and even walk sometimes. I don’t have much ‘holding’ power anymore either so if I am sitting at a child’s event I have to have something to catch the little leaks in case I can not find a bathroom quickly.

Of the products I have tried, I most trust TENA. Their TENA intimates® Overnight Pads became my go-to a while back. I get the entire line at Walgreens where they are always in stock! TENA intimates® offers fast absorption to keep my skin fresh and dry thanks to ProSkin Technology™ that helps to maintain my skin’s natural balance. Since I can’t always get to the the bathroom completely dry out of a dead sleep when my body calls, I started wearing these for confident bladder leak protection.

Since all TENA products offer Triple Protection form bladder leaks, odor and moisture, it made sense that when I was looking for reliable protection at the gym, I would try their TENA intimates® Maximum Long Pads. I like the long size because when you are moving around that much, you need a little longer pad to feel confident. TENA cares for and helps protect your intimate skin which matters a lot when you are sweating at the gym. No need to add the leak production to the mix!

Extra Clothing

With TENA I don’t have to change my clothes anymore half way through my workout. But things happen and I always want to be prepared. So I pack another pair of undies and the tight shorts. I also pack a shirt because I sweat a lot and love putting on a dry one when the workout is done.

You may never need a change of clothes but mama taught me to be prepared so I am!

Wipes

These are not even just for leaks. They are necessary for everything! Wiping chalk off your hands, the floor off your legs after burpees and the sweat off your face after that 400 meter dash. I also use them to wipe off equipment. Can you imagine what’s on those rowing machine bars?

Wipes are perfect to clean up and change your TENA pads after your workout as well.

Wipes are perfect to clean up and change your TENA pads after your workout as well. There is no shame in being a woman. It is not even unheard of to learn of a bladder leak in men. Bodies are bodies and all of ours have their issues. I only knew of a few women at the gym that were not using something to help counteract the bladder leaks they had.

One tip, don’t use ‘period’ products. I learned that they just don’t work as well as bladder leak pads.

So grab that water, your tracking watch, your clothes, TENA intimates®, your excuses and your confidence and head to the gym, the track or the neighborhood walking path today!

Get ​TENA intimates® at your local Walgreens!

Don’t let bladder leaks stop you! What does your workout routine look like?

The post Gym Bag Must Haves When You Need Bladder Leak Protection appeared first on A Day in Motherhood.

There is almost no better memory for me than opening up the tin can on the counter at Christmas time to find a beautiful and delicious Saltine Cracker Toffee my mom had made. For years I thought it was her original recipe. That only my mom could make these amazingly delicious and festive pieces of holiday happiness. Truth be told, I shuffled into the kitchen late at night when I thought no one could hear me and snagged a few more. They are SO good. Fast forward years later and I am standing in the aisle at the grocery store trying to come up with something super special for my kids when the unmistakable aroma and taste of this Easy Saltine Cracker Toffee Recipe comes to mind. Grabbing Light Brown Sugar, I was on my way to bringing a childhood favorite to my kids!

There are three things I love about this recipe. One, it is soooooo good! Like, sooooo good. Two, it is super easy to make and three, it is versatile for any holiday! Add crushed candy cane for a peppermint flavor. Add red and green candies for a festive look! Add marshmallows for a s’mores type treat! The possibilities are endless!

The base is 4 ingredients, the oven is your friend and the desire to make them over and over again is real!

As with anything, though, the quality of a food is only as good as the ingredients used in it.

Check out my Easy Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Smoothie Recipe for another good one made with organics foods!

Now that you have the high quality ingredients you need, let’s make these Easy Saltine Crackers Toffee Recipe!

Easy Saltine Cracker Toffee Recipe

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

30 mins

 

This Easy Saltine Cracker Toffee Recipe is a family favorite and so easy to make!

Author: ADayinMotherhood.com

Recipe type: Dessert

Ingredients

• 40 salted saltine crackers or enough to line your pan
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup Light Brown Sugar
• 2 cups milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ¾ cup chopped pecans, marshmallows, candy canes and/ or candies

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F and line a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with saltine crackers in a single layer.
2. In a small pot combine sugar and butter and bring to a boil. Once mixture is at a boil, continue boiling for 3 minutes. Mixture should be a deep caramel color. Immediately pour over saltines and spread to cover crackers completely. Bake at 400°F 5 to 6 minutes. The crackers will look all bubbly. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips over the top and let sit a couple of minutes to melt. Alternatively, you can melt the chocolate chips in the microwave for about 1 minute then spread crackers with the melted chocolate. Top with chopped nuts if desired.Cool completely and break into pieces.

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Don’t these look amazing? I would totally share but they are all accounted for. But you can make them in no time and love them forever, like I do!

What holiday recipes bring back the memories of your childhood?

The post Easy Saltine Cracker Toffee Recipe (VIDEO) appeared first on A Day in Motherhood.

I find white chocolate is best when paired with other flavors. It’s perfect for making desserts stand out, and adding that perfect flavor of creamy chocolate. If you love the creamy white candy, then you’re bound to love one of these decadent desserts starring white chocolate.

White Chocolate Desserts

I am personally a lover for all things cheesecake. The white fluffy look you get with a traditional cheesecake like in this No-Bake White Chocolate Peppermint Cheesecake from Cookie Dough and Oven Mitt always gets my tastebuds dancing. However, another great way to eat cheesecake is in bar form as it generally makes enough to feed a bigger crowd. Something like these White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake Bars from My Organized Chaos creates a perfect pairing. Finally, cheesecake is always great served as a dip. Homemade Hooplah has us covered for both the dip, and dippers with this Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip with White Chocolate Graham Crackers.

While we’re on the topic of cake like desserts, these other recipes would make a delicious statement for guests during the upcoming holidays. Give this White Chocolate Pumpkin Cream Pie from Everyday Eileen a try or whip up a White Chocolate Raspberry Trifle courtesy of Tastes of Lizzy T. Either one will leave guests feeling like they got a special treat.

While desserts that feed a crowd are great for fancy parties, sometimes you just want to snack on some chocolate. Eating on a Dime gives us a White Chocolate Popcorn perfect for movie nights with the family or anytime snacking. It seems to me that dried fruit and chocolate go well together, which is why this White Chocolate Cranberry Granola from The Country Chic Cottage sounds perfect for a fall snack.

Finally, for a unique combination, you might try these White Chocolate Gingerbread Crescent Rolls from 4 Sons ‘R’ Us. Or combine a little white and milk chocolate in Lori’s Chocolate Milk Chocolate Pudding.

You’ll be glad you tried at least one of these recipes! What’s your favorite type of chocolate?

The post 10 Decadent White Chocolate Desserts appeared first on A Day in Motherhood.

‘Tis the season indeed!! Excitement is in the air, turkeys are flying off the shelves and gifts lists are being written out with the sales circulars open on the table. The holiday season is officially here! With the shopping, planning, decorating and roasting comes marathon baking days and sweets galore! Marathon baking all of my favorites, though, can come with an overload of sugary sweets that I will have to work triple hard in CrossFit to get off my hips! Enter a No Calorie Sweetener! My secret ingredient to make my treats taste just as amazing as always without the cups and cups of sugar! In fact, some of my recipes come out lighter than with regular sugar. For instance, my Peppermint Meringue Cookies get a lift of air as they melt in my mouth in sweet deliciousness that you will love!

When I say these are little clouds of a hint of Peppermint with a savory taste of chocolate, I am not exaggerating. Seriously, these are so light that you can put them in your mouth and just feel them melt. I, personally, am not a huge fan of peppermint. But these little peppermint clouds combined with the taste of chocolate make them the perfect cookie for any holiday occasion.

Here are a few tips when making meringue anything.

• Make sure your ingredients are at room temperature before you start.
• Putting the leftover meringue in the fridge will cause it to fall. You can beat the ingredients again to bring back the white fluff.

• Use parchment paper to bake any meringue item. A Silpat won’t work. It has to be parchment paper.
• These cookies break very easily so make sure they don’t move around in transport.
• Make double or tripe the recipe. Trust me. You will want more and more and more!

Peppermint Meringue Cookies

Start this recipe with time to spare. They bake in a 200° oven for 2 hours.  Try not to overcook them as they will eventually burn. In addition, let them cool for 20 minutes or so before you gently dip them in chocolate. They break very easily, especially the tips, so make sure you are gentle with these little clouds!

4.8 from 12 reviews

'Tis the Season with Peppermint Meringue Cookies

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

2 mins

Total time

12 mins

 

Make these little clouds of heaven with SPLENDA® Granulated No Calorie Sweetener and let them, literally, melt in your mouth.

Author: ADayinMotherhood.com - Lori Pace

Recipe type: cookies

Ingredients

• 6 large egg whites
• 1½ tspn white vinegar
• 1½ cup No Calorie Sweetener
• 1 tspn peppermint extract
• red food coloring, gel or liquid
• ½ cup chocolate melting wafers

Instructions

1. In a bowl, beat the egg whites until white peaks are formed. Add the vinegar and beat. Add the No Calorie Sweetener ½ cup at a time, blending well on medium. Beat in the extract. Take a pastry bag and paint or drip a few lines of red food coloring inside. Add the meringue to the bag, slowly. Lining a baking sheet with parchment paper, snip the end of the piping bag and slowly create your cookies. Put in a 200 degree oven for 2 hours. Pull out and let cool at least an hour.
2. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate wafers per bag instructions in the microwave. Gently, really gently, dip the bottoms of the cookies in the chocolate and place back on the parchment paper. Let cool and additional 2 hours and serve!

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I absolutely love making these.

Let me know if you make them!!!

The post ‘Tis the Season with Peppermint Meringue Cookies appeared first on A Day in Motherhood.

Who doesn’t love Jack Link’s Beef Jerky?! It’s made with 100% Beef, offers 11g of protein per serving, tastes amazing, and now, you get 20% more when purchasing the NEW 12oz. bag!! Whether you’re on-the-go during busy days, powering thru work or snacking with the whole family at home, Jack Link’s Beef Jerky is perfect for every occasion. Visit your local Walmart and use this Ibotta offer to get $2.25 off one (1)*!

*while supplies last, offer available on 10oz. and 12oz. bags

The post Ibotta Offer: $2.25 off Jack Links appeared first on A Day in Motherhood.

Kick it up a notch!! Tyson® Blackened Chicken Strips are full of flavor and are made with chicken raised with no antibiotics ever. Tyson® Blackened Chicken Strips are so quick and convenient, and make any lunch, dinner or snack so delicious!

Visit your local Meijer and use the offer below to receive $1.25 off one (1) Tyson® Blackened Chicken Strips product now through 10/15/2019 or while supplies last.

The post Meijer Coupon: Tyson® Blackened Chicken Strips appeared first on A Day in Motherhood.

All parents know that if something is going to go wrong with our kids, it is going to happen at the most inconvenient time!  If they start vomiting, it is at 3:45PM on a Sunday. Fall and break an arm on the playset? That will happen at 7:00PM on a Tuesday evening. If they develop a weird rash that no one on Facebook has ever seen, no matter what angle you take the photo from, it will be Friday at 5:30PM, right after the doctor’s office closes.

What is a parent to do when we can’t get an appointment with our doctor? Luckily, CareNow Urgent Care centers have made it easy to land in that spot between annual checkups and major emergencies.

CareNow Urgent Care offers convenient access to quick healthcare with over 100 clinics across the country. Walk-Ins are always welcome and you can check in online to wait from home and feel better fast.

Hours and Locations

I have 3 CareNow Urgent Care centers near me of the over 100 locations throughout the US. I just have to drive about 10-15 miles in any direction. For a girl *technically* out in the country, that is not a bad drive at all. It is about as close as the nearest ER and closer than the girls’ Pediatrician’s office.

The best part, for me, is that my CareNow Urgent Care centers are open from 8:00AM-8:00PM** and from 8:00AM-5:00PM on Saturday’s, which, let’s face it, will cover the weird times my kids manage to develop a condition that needs immediate, but not emergency, attention. **Check the location closest to you for their hours. 

Web Check-In

I love that CareNow Urgent Care has Web Check-In services. You can go onto the website, choose your appointment and then arrive when you need to! Walk ins are welcome, of course, but this can help with your schedule as well!

When you get the call from the sitter than your one year old is spitting up everything they eat and you are stuck on a bus trying to get home from work, knowing you have a set appointment can really take some stress away.

Multiple Services

Not Only does CareNow Urgent Care have the services you need in a pinch, but they also have other ones you may not know about:

• X-rays
• Sports physicals – which are needed when your child plays any sport or takes any physical education class throughout the school year
• Flu shots

For Your In-Between Needs

Sure, I take my kids to their doctor for their annual checkups and anything else that can be scheduled out. I have also used the ER on two occasions for dehydration and a deep cut on my daughter’s finger. But what do I do when I can’t get into my doctor’s office but do not have a massive emergency situation either?

In-between the doctor’s office and the ER is where CareNow Urgent Care sits. They can handle most incidents for children and adults.

By the way, as part of my research for this post, I went and looked at the reviews for the 3 CareNow Urgent Care offices in my area and found nothing below a 4.6 review rating on hundreds of reviews! As a mom looking for a place that I can trust that will consistently deliver excellent care, those reviews matter to me!

Take a moment to locate your nearest CareNow Urgent Care and put the phone number and address in your phone. That way you are ready for the inconvenient time that junior is going to start having explosive diarrhea!

For more information about CareNow, check out their blog.

The post What to Do When You Can’t Get an Appointment with Your Doctor appeared first on A Day in Motherhood.

People ask me all the time what the secret to my uber-flavorful, delicious Tailgater Sloppy Joe is. How do I get that tang that makes Sloppy Joes so awesome and how do I get that spicy kick that tastes great but does not burn? Another question? How do I eat something with such a bite when they know that I have heartburn. The second question is easy: Nexium® 24HR Clear Minis. It keeps my heartburn in check even with the spiciest sandwich being devoured! The first question, of how to infuse the most amazing flavor into the Tailgater Sloppy Joe is the Slow Cooker. Letting the ingredients simmer for hours just blends the tastes, enhances the tang and makes the kick of the red pepper flake and cayenne pepper and turns it into a heat that is smooth and flavorful.

With football season in full swing the tailgating recipes are definitely needed. But help managing heartburn from greasy wings to slightly charred hot dogs is also necessary! A while back I started using Nexium® 24HR Clear Minis to help manage mine. I was experiencing heartburn at least 2 days in a row, frequently, and it was preventing me from enjoying my recipes like this Spicy Slow Cooker Tailgater Sloppy Joes. I am not OK with that! But with PPI’s, like Nexium® 24HR Clear Minis, being the only OTC treatments specifically approved and designed for the treatment of frequent heartburn, I could now enjoy the foods I wanted without the burn later.

If you have heartburn, you know how miserable it can feel. Especially at night when you lay down and the acid decides to reward you for that relaxation. Nexium® 24HR Clear Minis helps me sleep comfortably through the night by reducing interruptions due to frequent heartburn and provides all-day, all-night protection. I really like it and pick it up at Walmart!

It can take 1-4 days to take it’s full effect but if you still are not seeing relief, you can get your money back on it too. They guarantee satisfaction!

Now that you know how I can manage to devour my very flavorful Spicy Slow Cooker Tailgater Sloppy Joes, let’s talk about the recipe and how to package them for your tailgating party!

Spicy Slow Cooker Tailgater Sloppy Joes

 

Print

Prep time

8 mins

Cook time

4 hours

Total time

4 hours 8 mins

 

These Spicy Slow Cooker Tailgater Sloppy Joes are awesome!

Author: ADayinMotherhood.com - adapted from online recipes

Recipe type: sandwich

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 pounds ground beef I use 90% lean
• ½ cup onion finely diced
• 1½ 8 ounce cans tomato sauce
• ⅓ cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp red pepper flakes
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 6 hamburger buns - I used sweet Hawaiian
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Heat the oil in a large pan over medium high heat.
2. Place the ground beef in the pan and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 6-8 minutes, breaking up the meat with a spatula.
3. Add the onion and cook for an addition 4-5 minutes.
4. Place the beef and onion mixture in the slow cooker along with the tomato sauce, ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper and ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
5. Stir to combine the ingredients.
6. Cook on HIGH for 3 hours or LOW for 6 hours.
7. Spoon the meat onto the hamburger buns then serve.

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I also use sweet Hawaiian buns to balance the tang and the heat. The sweetness goes really well with the meat mixture. You will love it!

As far as making them tailgater ready; the solution is super easy. Wrap them, freshly made, in tin foil. This keeps them warm and makes them super easy to unwrap and eat!

So there you have it. A great recipe for tailgating, a way to control the heartburn that could curb your food choices and a way to transport it all to the party!

What recipes do you make for tailgating?

Buy Nexium 14ct get a $3 Visa® Rewards Virtual Account**To qualify for Virtual  Account from Fandango, Purchase 1 participating Nexium 14ct product at Walmart between 09/27/2019 and 11/29/2019. Be sure to retain your receipt. For full offer terms visit www.activaterewards.com/Nexium14ct/Details .​

ⁱ Use as directed. May take 1 to 4 days for full effect.

I am participating in a sponsored campaign hosted by Nexium 24HR. I received compensation for this post. While all opinions stated are my own, I make no claims about Nexium 24HR as a product or its effectiveness.

The post Spicy Slow Cooker Tailgater Sloppy Joes appeared first on A Day in Motherhood.

Fall is my favorite time of the year. It cools off just enough to still be pleasant outdoors but doesn’t require me to turn the heater just yet. Instead we warm up inside with good comfort food.

Oh, how I love chili. Just last week I tried a new recipe for some pumpkin chili. I was skeptical at first, but it was delicious! The whole family loved it, but no one was able to guess that the secret ingredient had been pumpkin – score one for mom, right?

Slow Cooker Chili Recipes

Fall is still pretty busy around here. School is in full swing, and all the before and after school clubs are happening. One of my favorite slow cooker recipes are soups. It eleminates standing over a hot stove, and really helps during those busy fall days. It’s really nice to come home and serve up a bowl of comfort that you only spent  5-10 minutes on. It’s comfort food at it’s finest!

Slow Cooker Wazzu Chili from A Day In Motherhood

Crockpot Taco Chili from Eating On A Dime

Slow Cooker Paleo Chili Recipe from April Golightly

Easy 3 Bean Crockpot Chili from Creative Southern Home

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili from I Am Homesteader

White Chicken Chili Recipes

The first time I had a white chili I was sold on it. I remember looking at it and thinking, this shouldn’t be white. It should be red and brown right? Then I tasted it, and I realized what I had been missing all my life. When you add chicken and white beans, suddenly this homesteading comfort food became classy. Not every white chili has to have chicken in it, but most do. You could just exchange the beans, leave out the meat and make it a vegetarian dish. However you choose to eat it though, you’ll find it just as comforting as traditional recipes.

Award Winning White Chicken Chili from Art From My Table

White Cheddar and Apple Chicken Chili from 4 Sons ‘R’ Us

3 Bean White Chicken Chili from Happy Mothering

Instant Pot White Chicken Chili from Wondermom Wannabe

Buffalo Chicken White Chili from Tidy Mom

Vegetable Chili Recipes

No guarantee these are all vegetarian, but what makes them special is the emphasis on different vegetables. Sweet Potato is turning into a popular root veggie to feature in soups, and it’s the perfect fall ingredient. Pumpkin is another fabulous ingredient that everyone loves as soon as fall hits. Are you on the pumpkin craze? I generally don’t like it, but in these recipes, it adds a layer of flavor that is absolutely fabulous!

Sweet Potato Chili form Busy Mommy Media

Hearty Vegetarian Sweet Potato Chili from The TipToe Fairy

Best Vegetarian Chili from The Typical Mom

Hearty Pumpkin Chili from The Flying Couponer

Vegetarian Chili with Quorn Crumbles from Girl and the Kitchen

Do you have a favorite comfort food in fall? Which one of these recipes will you try first?

The post 15 Hearty Chili Recipes for Fall appeared first on A Day in Motherhood.