Note: My sister-in-law received an Infanttech Smart Thermometer to facilitate this post. 

If there’s anything you can remember from the early days of parenthood, it’s probably the overarching feeling of needing to protect your baby in every way possible.

When your child gets sick for the first time, it can be a totally overwhelming feeling. And every degree of fever can be an added level of stress. I can remember several times setting my alarm to wake up periodically through the night to check the kids’ temperature and see if they needed medicine.

The infanttech smarttemp is wearable technology in a different way than one might traditionally think of it; it’s an adhesive thermometer that connects via Bluetooth to your smart phone.

• Smarttemp is a smart Bluetooth thermometer designed for children where a parent can track body temperaturecontinuously in real time through their smartphone.
• Get alerts when the temperature rises beyond the threshold and 
• Receive medicine reminders when it’s time for another dosage.
• Parents can also share the temperature graph with their Doctor. 
• Easy placement underarm with adhesive pad (included)  Can be used for up to 24 hours at a time and is not a one time use.

The smarttemp is easy to use – just download the free smartphone app, place the thermometer under your baby’s arm with the included adhesive pad, and monitor your baby’s temperature from your phone. You’ll receive alerts if your baby’s temperature rises, so you can have the comfort of knowing your baby’s temperature is being monitored even while you sleep.

You can find the smarttemp on the infanttech site, at Kohl’s, or on Amazon, too.

We are almost always busy in our house, and I’m sure many of you can relate. Because of this, we’re always on the lookout for quick, healthy, and delicious meals our whole family can enjoy even on the busiest of nights. PastaFits has graciously given me three 20-minute meal recipes to share with you today that I can’t wait to try!

Easy Campanelle with Greens and Pancetta

Ingredients:

• 6 oz. campanelle
• 8 oz. mustard greens, tough stems removed, roughly torn or chopped
• 6 oz. pancetta, roughly chopped
• ¼ cup/1 oz. sliced garlic
• 4 tsp./~½ oz. lemon juice
• 3 Tbsp./1 oz. toasted pine nuts

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the campanelle according to package directions. Two minutes before its ready, add the mustard greens. Cook for the last two minutes. Drain and reserve.
2. Heat a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Add the pancetta and cook until the fat has rendered and the meat is golden and crisp. Add the garlic and cook until aromatic and starting to brown.
3. Toss with the reserved pasta and mustard greens. Heat through and drizzle with lemon juice. Divide between 4 bowls and sprinkle with pine nuts.

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In doing our menu planning for the week, Brian and I were reminded of a favorite recipe that we haven’t made in a while – chicken tacos with spicy avocado tomatillo sauce. I added it to our menu for the week, and decided it was perfect timing to share with you, too.

We make tacos quite a bit in our house, but we can tend to fall into a rut of ground beef, shredded cheddar and lettuce. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with the classic taco fare, but we’re starting to have more and more fun coming up with a variety of taco fillings – and this chicken taco with avocado tomatillo sauce is a winner. It is so, so good.

How good, you ask? The kids complimented me on the chicken. They ate the chicken without complaining. At all. 

I know, I know – now you understand how amazing this recipe is.

It’s pretty, too, isn’t it?

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As a parent, there’s not much worse than looking at your child feeling miserable.

We’ve been really thankful that our kids rarely get sick – but when they do, we want to do anything we can to help them feel better. When we feel like Sick Just Got Real™, we head to Target and stock up on medicine, like:

• Infants’ and Children’s Advil® provide unsurpassed fever and pain relief(1) , and contain ibuprofen, the medicine pediatricians use most for their own kids’ fevers(2) (for ages 6 months -11 years)
• Children’s Robitussin® provides soothing action and cough control with some formulations lasting up to 8 hours (for ages 6-12 years)
• Children’s Dimetapp® provides great-tasting cold-fighting power and is the #1 pharmacist recommended brand for children’s cough & cold symptoms(3) (for ages 6+)

If the kids are battling a cold, we let them sleep in our room; we make a comfy bed on the floor with plenty of pillows to prop them up; I run a humidifier in our room and also have the kids spend time in steam by running the shower hot. I also set alarms on my phone to get up periodically through the night and check temperature.

What do you do to make your kids more comfortable when they’re sick?  Well, you can start by having Pfizer products on hand! I’m giving away a Pfizer prize pack, and it’s super easy to enter for a chance to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

¹ Among OTC pain relievers.

² Based on a survey of doctors.

³ Source: 2015-16 Pharmacy Times and U.S. News & World Report.

This week’s recipe is SO simple but it’s also one of my very favorite treats I’ve ever made, so it seemed perfect to share for Mini Chef Mondays. My kids love these, and think it’s a lot of fun helping me make them.

What is this treat, you ask? Imagine eating a Girl Scout Peanut Butter Patty/Tagalong, and it being even better.

Yup, friends. I’m confidently proclaiming that these are better than Girl Scout cookies.

Peanut butter stuffed, chocolate coated pretzels. SO good.

I mean, chocolate and peanut butter? Amazing. Chocolate and pretzels? SO good. All three together? Perfection.

We were immediately hooked, and I think you will be, too.

The recipe just requires two ingredients:

• Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels
• Chocolate Almond Bark

Melt the chocolate almond bark in the microwave 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between. Make sure not to overheat the chocolate or it will seize up. You can vary the amount for this recipe easily; I used one square and was able to cover 20 pretzels.

Dip each pretzel into the melted chocolate and place it on wax paper to dry.

Eat. And try not to eat them all in one sitting.

Good luck with that.

Enjoy!

I am hosting Mini Chef Mondays along with 10 fabulous bloggers! Read how Mini Chef Mondays started, plus how to link up!
Join our facebook group to find even more recipes and share recipes too!

Be sure to check out each of their Mini Chef posts as well!

1. Frozen Yogurt Fruit Bark Recipe // Courtney’s Sweets
2. Ham & Egg Cups // Momma Lew
3. Yogurt Dipped Frozen Banana on a Stick // Baby Loving Mama
4. Bacon Egg and Cheese Pretzel Bites // We’re Parents
5. Tips for Planting a Kids Vegetable Garden // Eating Richly Even When You’re Broke
6. Pastelillos de Carne (Puerto Rican Meat Turnovers) // Giggles, Gobbles and Gulps
7. 18 Mother-Child Bonding Activities // Step Stool Chef
8. Broccoli Mac and Cheese Bites // Vegging at the Shore
9. Slow Cooker Philly Cheesesteaks // O’Boy! Organic
10. Chocolate Milk Mini Fudge Pops // Can’t Google Everything

No matter what your political ideology, I think we can all agree that this has been a tumultuous election season. That’s why there’s someone who’s keeping it simple:

Captain Obvious is running for President the only way he knows how….by actually physically running. And running. And running.

He’ll be providing satirical commentary on what has already proven to be an “interesting” election year. Sometimes you’ve gotta laugh so you don’t cry, amiright?

You can follow Captain Obvious’ run on the “Captain Obvious Runs For President” microsite where you can watch what states he’s run through. You can also grab some merchandise, and share content.

Hotels.com is supporting Captain Obvious during his race because they believe in simplicity as much as he does – and he’ll need a place to sleep at night. They’ll be providing him with running shoes, socks, shorts and everything else he needs for his run.

So, this political season, let’s follow the KISS adage – keep it simple… err… smartypants! Follow Captain Obvious as he runs for president, one step at a time. Find out more about his campaign, and follow him on Twitter, too!

You and your beloved are planning the celebration of your lifetime together, a day that will provide amazing memories for years to come. After the ceremony, dancing, wonderful food, and time with friends and loved ones, the most lasting part of the day (aside from the marriage!) will be the wedding photos.

Choose Wisely

Expect to pay at least $1,400 for photography services for the day. A reputable wedding photographer knows their craft, but you’re also paying for their limited number of work days available in a year. Cutting the budget too much can bring low-quality results, or even worse, an con artist who will give you horror stories instead of the stunning photos you want. Wedding photographers with a strong track record of professionalism and high quality results are in demand; fees might be $2,100 and up.

Ask about their camera and lenses, plus backup plans in case of equipment malfunction. How do they handle low-light or bad weather situations? Is there an assistant to help capture all the festivities?

Other questions to ask: What are their scheduled hours, and are they available for additional time? Do they carry liability and indemnity insurance? What’s the number of weddings they have photographed? Can you view results from at least three of the weddings they’ve shot?

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The recipe I’m sharing with you today has been a favorite in our family for years now. It’s delicious, and it is one of the absolute easiest recipes ever! This chicken pesto pasta salad has always been a hit at parties, so I knew it’d be perfect to make as part of our Easter brunch – and it’s a perfect recipe for little ones to help with, too!

As the title indicates, there are just five ingredients in this recipe. You can make your own pesto, and we have in the past, but there are lots of great pre-made pestos available that are perfect to use in this pasta salad.

Boil your pasta per instructions. While the pasta is boiling, drain your chicken and pour it into a small sauté pan; cook it on medium low heat for about 5 minutes, breaking it up into small pieces while it cooks. You’re basically just cooking out some of the moisture. If you are weirded out by using canned chicken, you can use a cup of shredded white chicken instead. The canned chicken really works great in this recipe, though, and saves you a ton of time.

Pour your pasta into a big bowl, and then have your chicken and pesto ready.

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If you haven’t planned your Easter menu yet, don’t fret! Here are some ideas for beautiful meals to put on the table.

Check out Stunning Main Courses for Easter Dinner

by Foodie Editor at Mode

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

I have lots of friends having babies lately – it seems like it comes in cycles, doesn’t it? With lots of baby showers to shop for, I’ve been trying to get creative with the gifts I give, and I love the idea I’m sharing with you today.

My friend who just had her baby boy also has a two-year-old little girl; this means she has two in diapers, which as you moms know adds up to a LOT of diapers! I knew a Diaper Genie would be perfect for her, so I headed off to Target to grab that and look for a few other things to go with it. Target is our favorite store to shop at – our whole family loves to go – and it’s a one-stop shop for baby gear, too. We had baby registries there with all three of our kids!

We got our Diaper Genie back in 2007 when my first son was born, and I was amazed with all the features the Diaper Genie Complete offers now. It really is the most advanced system yet; it has an ultimate odor lock system that features a 7-layer refill bag with a double Air-Tite clamp. It also includes a carbon filter that really helps absorb diaper odors to keep them from spreading out into your room.

It also has a hands-free system. Yes, you still have to touch the diaper (we can dream, right, moms?) but you just use your foot to press a pedal and open the top, so you drop the diaper right in. SO easy!

Changing the bag on the Diaper Genie is easier than ever, too – you just open the front tilt bin to pull it out.

So, as I mentioned, I knew going to Target to get the Diaper Genie. Next, I just needed to figure out what else to include. I decided to get a bottle, and since she’s nursing I thought the Playtex Baby VentAire bottle would be perfect. The “Most Like Mom” NaturaLatch nipple mimics the breast to help babies latch on naturally, so it promotes easy switching between breast and bottle feeding. It’s also got a unique anti-colic bottom vent, and the angled design helps prevent ear infections.

I got the bottle and then a few cute onesies and a burp cloth to round out my gift! Then it was just time to get home and put it all together.

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Hi all! Easter’s right around the corner, and this week’s Mini Chef Monday post has a simple, sweet treat that’s perfect to add to your menu.

We’ve all had chocolate covered strawberries before, and I am sure you’ll agree with me that they’re pretty delicious. These white chocolate covered grapes, though, are something a lot of people haven’t tried before, so they’re a fun surprise to offer. And they’re SO good! The sweetness of the white chocolate perfectly compliments the tart green grapes.

You just need two ingredients: green grapes and either white chocolate or vanilla almond bark (both are delicious)! The almond bark will dry/set much more quickly, so it’s all about preference and the amount of time you’ve got.

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My husband loves espresso. When we go to the coffee shop, he gets two shots of espresso put in his coffee. Of course, the drink costs him nearly $5 each time we go!

There are alternatives to coffee shop espresso that are great for home use, like Nespresso machines. We were really excited to get one for our home, because that meant Brian could have espresso whenever he wanted (and it’s great to be able to offer espresso to your guests when entertaining)!

The capsules that come with the machines, though, can still be somewhat pricy. Cheaper than the coffee shop, of course, but the frugal person in me would like to save as much as possible without sacrificing quality.

That’s where Gourmesso comes in. Their capsules are available from just 45 cents each, and they’re compatible for Nespresso machines. The Gourmesso capsules are pictured in the front below next to a Nespresso capsule – you can see they’re the same size & shape.

Did I mention they’re fair trade, too?

We tried out five different flavors:

The flavors are rated on a scale of 1-10 to show how bold/strong they are:

Since Brian likes really strong coffee, the etiopia blend forte is perfect for him. My mother-in-law is visiting this week, though, and the decaf perú dolce was perfect to make for her. Let me show you how easy it is! Just load your machine with water (we keep ours full so the machine is ready to go whenever we need it), and then place your capsule in, then close the handle and select your size.

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