October | 2015 | Home Everyday

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October 2015

Wed
28 ^th

Just Keep Going

Posted by Erin — 5 Comments

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. You must be 21+ years old to try Poise Impressa Bladder Supports. #MySizePoise #CollectiveBias

Many of my readers know that I gave birth to my three kids in a span of 33 months. When I look back to when my kids were babies, that time was a blur of nursing, changing diapers, laundry, and mom and tot classes.

I did have one solace after each my children was born, however, and that was exercise. Whether it be walking, running, or even doing a quick YouTube workout in the living room before everyone woke up; it really seemed to help with those baby blues and keep me motivated.

Among the plethora of other changes my body had gone through, I did notice after the birth of my second child, and a particularly long walk where I ended up ruining a favorite pair of yoga pants, that it was time to shorten my workouts. I couldn’t help having to hit a locker room or bathroom to change my yoga pants during my exercise routines. I guess when you have three kids that close together, you just keep going. In more ways than one.

Now, that the kids are older and have headed off to school, the actual time I have to workout is increasing, but out of fear, I had found places where I could exercise that have bathrooms nearby for when I felt I might leak. I would workout on the treadmill closest to the locker rooms at the gym, or I would walk on a loop close to home.

Then, I heard of Poise Impressa. On my weekly trip to Target I decided to check it out, and found it in the feminine hygiene aisle. Poise Impressa is not meant to absorb leaks, but meant to prevent them all together.

I started out by using the sizing kit, and learned which is the right size for me. I found out the size is not about how much you leak or how much you weigh. It’s about the best internal fit for you. Poise Impressa is inserted like a tampon. A woman can start with Size 1, and if she still leaks, move to size 2, then size 3 if necessary. Poise Impressa Bladder Supports are right for you if you leak urine when you laugh, cough, dance, sneeze, or if you are like me, when you exercise. If you leak urine when you have a sudden need or rush to urinate, Poise Impressa Bladder Supports are NOT for you. Try Poise liners and pads for Urge Urinary Incontinence. If you have SUI like me, however, you might want to try Poise Impressa.

Finally, I don’t have worry about changing my pants midway through workouts or shortening my time on the trail . My leaks have been prevented, and me and my yoga pants couldn’t be happier.

Now, I can just keep going. This time it’s not to the ladies room or locker room to change.

If you have shortened your workouts, or if reading about me ruining my yoga pants made you laugh so hard you ruined yours, check out the Poise Impressa sizing kit at Target and see what is the right size for you. When you find the size that is right for you, join the Poise Impressa Reward program for a $25 Promo Code for a Cloud9Living.com experience by submitting a testimonial of your experience with Poise Impressa.

Then, you will be able to keep going too.

Tue
27 ^th

Splitting the Difference: Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Posted by Erin — No Comments

There is a trend among bloggers to celebrate weird National holidays. I’m not sure these days are even holidays, but more of an excuse to just celebrate or be aware of a given thing. These days include National Granola Bar Day, National Tempura Day, and even a National Greasy Food Day. For a complete list of days that bloggers try and get trending here is a complete list from Serendipity and Spice.

I like the idea of celebrations, and having these days can be fun (or as an excuse to eat as many doughnuts or fried foods seems legit). Also, as a writer it is sometimes nice to have a jumping off point for an idea or a recipe. However, I also feel that it can sometimes be a bit much to keep up with all of the different holidays and celebrations. I mean I don’t even have all of our costumes ready yet (Amazon guaranteed delivery tomorrow for the football shoulder pads).

This week happened to be a big week. Yesterday was National Pumpkin Day. Tomorrow is National Chocolate Day. So, today, I’m splitting the difference.

I made Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread to satisfy both days. This recipe is so cake like and delicious it is one of those foods that you can have for dessert, but can convince yourself to have for breakfast because I decided to call it a bread and bake it in a loaf pan.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread (yields two loaves)

3 cups all purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon salt

2 sticks unsalted butter softened

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

3 eggs

3 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 15oz can of pumpkin puree

1 10 oz bag of mini chocolate chips (I use the Enjoy Life brand as they are allergy safe)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Prepare two loaf pans with cooking spray and set aside.

In a large bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.

In another bowl toss together a spoonful of the flour mixture and the chocolate chips and set aside.

In a mixer with a paddle attachment, cream together butter, brown sugar, and sugar until creamy.

Add eggs and vanilla and mix until completely incorporated. This should take about 1 or 2 minutes.

Next, add pumpkin.

Then, with the mixer on low, slowly add flour until barely mixed.

Turn off mixer, add chocolate chips and turn mixer on for a few seconds until incorporated.

Divide batter evenly into prepared loaf pans.

Bake for 50-60 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.

Cool for 20 -30 minutes.

Enjoy!

Thu
22 ^nd

Thirsty Thursday: Hot Buttered Apple Cider

Posted by Erin — No Comments

Happy Thirsty Thursday, Readers!

My sister, Beth, always says: “Butter makes it better!” While I have made hot apple cider recipes in the past like this Warm Vanilla Spiced Cider, I wondered what would happen if I added butter to it, like a vintage hot buttered rum recipe.

I know it sounds weird, but think of all the butter that is in a pie crust.

Well, here’s what happened.

Let me tell you, Beth is right, butter does indeed make it better! This cider tastes like a Fall in a cup, or being wrapped in a warm blanket, or binge watching Gilmore Girls (did you hear about the revival?), or taking a nap with a cool breeze coming in through an open window.

Long story short, you’ll love it. The recipe is easy, and I have included step by step photos to help you along (you even get a sneak peak at my beautiful new countertops).

Hot Buttered Cider (makes two servings)

2 1/2 cups apple cider or unfiltered apple juice

3 Tablespoons butter

2 Tablespoons packed brown sugar

2 cinnamon sticks

juice of half a lemon

a pinch of ground ginger

a pinch of ground nutmeg

1/2 a teaspoon of vanilla

In a sauce pan over medium heat, add butter.

Whisk in brown sugar until incorporated.

Into the sauce pan, add apple cider, lemon, vanilla, ginger, and nutmeg. Remove from heat.

In two mugs, place cinnamon sticks.

Pour hot cider over cinnamon sticks.

Enjoy on a cool Autumn day with a friend. This recipe could easily be multiplied and kept warm in a crock pot for a party!

Tue
13 ^th

What is With the #TealPumpkin?

Posted by Erin — No Comments

In addition to potting some mums that were on sale at Home Depot and hanging the last of my fall decor, it was time for us to put out our Teal Pumpkin. This is a tradition my family and I began last year (you can read about it here), with some inspiration from the awesome people at FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education).

For those that regularly follow, Home Everyday, you know all about my kids food allergies. But did you know (according to FARE).

About 15 million people in the United States have food allergies.
About 1 in 13 kids in the United States as a moderate to severe food allergy. (that’s about 2 per classroom)
Every 3 minutes a person is sent to the Emergency Room due to an allergic reaction.
A reaction can be mild or extremely severe and even fatal. This life threatening reaction is known as anaphylaxis.
Many allergies are not outgrown over time, peanuts, tree nuts, finned fish, and shellfish allergies often tend to be life long allergies causing severe reactions.
A food allergy can develop at any time.
According to the CDC, between the years of 1997 and 2011 food allergies in children increased by 50%

While my kids have food allergies, they are just like any other kids. They go to school, play sports, go to events, and restaurants. All of these activities just require a little extra care and planning. For the most part, the people we associate with are extremely helpful and accommodating. Also, while my kids have been educated from very early on to read packages to look for possible allergens, ask a trusted adult what is in a dish before eating it, come find me at a party, or when in doubt refrain from eating a treat, they are also still children who are learning how to deal with their allergies.

This is why Halloween, for a Mom of allergy kids, is extremely stressful. While my kids are planning out the final details of their costumes, I am wondering how to navigate a through a day that is so centered on candy. Who will we donate our candy to after Halloween? Can I call every candy manufacturer between now and Halloween and find out what candies ARE safe? Should we go trick or treating or a just have a Halloween party instead?

When I found out about the #TealPumpkinProject through FARE, I was so excited to participate. This campaign was designed not only to bring awareness to food allergies, but also allow children who have food allergies to participate a little more fully in the Halloween traditions that we are so used to.

When you knock on the door or ring the doorbell of a house with a Teal Pumpkin (teal is the color of FARE) this tells the trick or treater that this house is offering glow sticks, stickers, pencils, bubbles, or some other Halloween trinket other than food. For the kids with food allergies, this is so exciting! My kids have always trick or treated in the past, and we would often donate our candy or share with family and friends after the holiday was over. Now, the kids have a small memento or trinket they can play with from their night of trick or treating with friends.

This year, I have a jar of candy for those that can have candy, and a jar filled with Halloween stickers and glow sticks.

And of course, I have my Teal Pumpkin in front of my door, again, this year. For not only my kids, but for all kids to have a happier healthier Halloween.

For more information about the #TealPumpkinProject, visit the FARE website. You can find ideas for non food treats, free printables, and all kinds of awesome information!