Whether you’re a college student or a busy mom, tackle life’s busy moments with the help of Dixie® To Go!

Crushing it with Dixie® To Go

Managing a blog, work, and a full time coursework in college can be tough! Studying, keeping social, making sure you’re eating right, and getting enough sleep are all important. With everyone’s busy schedules, it’s important to take a step back and enjoy the things that matter. Embrace life’s simple joys with Dixie® To Go, the official cup for crushing it!

You know those days when you’d rather stay in bed all day, but know you have a mountain of a to-do list to accomplish? Today definitely felt like one of those days.

I’ve been doing some research on decision making, and I’ve found out (and noticed) that the less decisions you have to make, the better off you are, and the more energized you feel. To start things off, I try to plan what I’m wearing the night before, since that is one less decision I have to make in the morning!

After getting up and getting ready for the day, the next decision to make is breakfast. Typically, for me, breakfast consists of a protein bar, since it is easy to shove in my backpack before rushing to class on time!

Save time, money, and an extra decision by skipping your trip to the coffee shop and using Dixie® To Go!

As a college student, Dixie® to Go is convenient for quickly making a cup of coffee before starting your morning routine. Afterwards, simply grab your cup and go! Those extra pockets of time can be used for studying to ace your next test, getting a few extra winks of sleep, or spending a few extra minutes getting ready to help you crush your day.

The cups are insulated, keeping your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks go. There’s no washing or cleanup, allowing for more time to do what you love. The cups are also microwave safe, which is convenient for reheating it at work or during a classroom break.

Formerly known as PerfecTouch, Dixie® to Go cups are BPA free, an extra plus! The cups also have a leak-resistant lid that is great for busy mornings. So if you are on the clumsier side like I am, you don’t have to worry so much about spilling your drink everywhere.

I was selected for this paid opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

The post Simple Fall Morning Routine with Dixie to Go first appeared on True Aim.

Welcome to Mom’s Library

This post is filled with parenting tips, activities for young children, crafts, devotionals, recipes, and more!

Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next Library!

Click here to see all Mom’s Library Posts

Money Saving Tips

50 Homemade Cleaner Recipes – Midwestern Momma

One of the easiest ways to save money is by making things yourself. Here is a list of DIY cleaners for everything from dish soap to laundry stain remover!

A Fast Way to Heal Chapped Hands – Crafty Journal

Chapped hands are inevitable during the winter. Here is a budget-friendly way to help!

Why We Still Shop at a Bulk Discount Store – Morgan Manages Mommyhood

Why shop bulk, especially if you have a small home?

Frugality from the Greatest Generation – Le Chaim on the Right

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without with these fun 10 tips with WWII-inspired frugality in mind.

2 Secrets of Monthly Meal Planning – Your Vibrant Family

Meal planning can be a hassle, but it doesn’t have to be!

Homemade Cold and Flu Season Remedies – Midwestern Momma

No one likes cold and flu season! Here are some homemade remedies to combat this!

Homemade DIY Eye Make-Up Remover – The Crazy Organized Blog

Make-up remover can be expensive, especially when you can make it yourself with household items!

How to Get Smells out of Wooden Cutting Boards – Morgan Manages Mommyhood

Instead of buying new wooden cutting boards, here are some ways to get the weird smells out of your current ones.

Would you like to participate?

Please follow me and support your fellow bloggers by visiting some links! Grab a button if you were featured!

* by linking up you give Mom’s Library Bloggers permission to use photos from your post with a link back.

Up Next Week: Alphabet Activities!

The post Money Saving Tips and Mom’s Library #173 first appeared on True Aim.

As luck would have it, the whole family woke up the next day with a sore throat. Now, my daughter had a fever too; perfect timing. We were supposed to help out in children’s church the next day and now, instead of calling my regular doctor, I would have to go to urgent care.

This is a sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links. All opinions, text and experiences are my own.

Turns out we all had strep throat! Through sickness, we had to take care of a bunch of sick kids, missed church and then the work week started right when we were recovering. What a miserable time.

It would have been nice to know right away that we should go in to the doctor. That’s why I’m so excited about the new SayAhh! Sore Throat Home Exam Kit for children ages 6 and up. I will never go without one again! Had I had this kit when my daughter complained about her sore throat, I would have saved money by going directly to my family doctor.

Since many childhood illnesses start with a sore throat, the SayAhh! Home Exam Kit helps you observe your child’s throat and make a decision about going to the doctor or not. 90% of of childhood illnesses are viral and nothing can be done about them. This will save you a lot of money and time.

You can also download the new SayAhh! Exam Guide App, which will provide a good basis for comparison to what should be seen in a normal throat, in order to better report to your doctor to determine if an office visit is necessary.

The SayAhh! Sore Throat Home Exam Aid package includes a patented, scientifically-designed oral retractor that minimizes the gag reflex, a flashlight to help me easily observe my child’s throat, a chart with medical-grade illustrations and descriptions of six common throat ailments, and a health management program at its website. It was designed by a doctor to make it easy to use, but highly effective for moms like me.

This kit does not diagnose, treat or prevent any diseases, but it is an essential tool in my medicine kit. Along with that I always make sure I have some cough medicine or natural remedies like tea, lemon, honey, or cider vinegar for my children to sooth their throat.

Enter the SayAhh! Cold Season Survival Stash Sweepstakes now through September 18, 2015, for the chance to win a $25 American Express gift card to stock up on cold/flu supplies.

Fifteen winners will be randomly selected on September 18, 2015. AND AS A BONUS… if the SayAhh! Facebook Page reaches 1,500 FAN LIKES by the time the giveaway ends, we’ll prize a $200 American Express gift card to an additional (1) Grand Prize Winner!

Now through 11/1/15 get free shipping on your purchase of SayAhh! Sore Throat Home Exam Aid online. Plus, Save $1.00 on your purchase with my special promo code: mom420 . Purchase online at http://sayahh.com/purchase.html. Remember to like SayAhh! on Facebook for more sore throat tips and information!

How about you? What do you have in your medicine cabinet for sore throats? Would you add this new product to it?

This is a product-provided, sponsored conversation that contains affiliate links. All opinions, text and experiences are my own.

The post When to Go to the Doctor for a Sore Throat first appeared on True Aim.

Have you ever paused a second to look at one of your children and noticed how much bigger they have grown? Or maybe they wake up and they look like they have grown an inch over night! It’s alarming just how fast it happens.

My daughter is turning 8 soon. She’s in that awkward stage where all of her clothes are too short, not to mention the 2 front teeth she’s missing.

I had to do some shopping before her pants looked like shorts and her dresses looked like shirts.

Modesty is important to our family and I can always find something appropriate AND modern at Carter’s. Plus, the price is very reasonable for the quality. That’s why I was so excited to hear that Carter’s has added a new size 8 to their line. They also added shoes up to size 3! Now I can still shop at Carter’s for all my children.

We found so many colorful styles for the new fall season; my daughter wanted to get them all. It was easy for her to pick out her own outfits because they all coordinated.

I didn’t have to say no to much because everything in the store was 40% off. They also had door busters for essentials like t-shirts, shorts and leggings.

Grab this coupon below for even more savings! Get 20% off your purchase of $40 or more. You can shop online, but in-store you’ll also get $10 cash back on every $50 you spend! Hurry! This coupon ends today! 8/14/15

Visit Carters.com today to shop for their new sizes, fresh styles and great deals on clothes for your all your children! Follow them on Facebook to get style suggestions and special offers.

What’s your favorite children’s clothing brand? Where do you shop for your kids?

The post Children’s Modest Fashion: Fall Shopping at Carters first appeared on True Aim.

As a once licenced Realtor, who currently owns three investment properties, I am a believer in homeownership, but NOT all home ownership. In most situations, homeownership is a great investment for everyone but the homeowner. 

In 2008, Americans were shocked when banks booted them from “their” cozy homes. They felt cheated and robbed, and many blamed the banks.

Yet, the banks are doing exactly what banks have always done: lend money for profit.

In fact, we might be grateful that there are such people willing to loan us money. The problem is that most Americans are lacking the education to borrow money. Having entrusted our education to the government, Americans are clueless when it comes to real property.

We walk into our banks like little guppies in a shark tank, and are shocked when the sharks swallow us up.

Well, after you finish reading this post, you will never be “taken” again. You will have a better understanding of real estate than 99% of Americans, including many real estate agents!

The Truth About Homeownership

Let’s start at the beginning.

1. You are NOT a homeowner:

Do you own a home? No, it isn’t likely.

Unless you paid cash, you really just own a huge debt. And when I say huge, I mean ginormous!

Think you just bought a 200,000 house? At an 8% interest rate (a great rate before the 2008 housing crash) over 30 years, you really bought a $528,310 house.

2. Amortization Means You’re NOT Buying Down Your Home: 

Interest is amortized, or front-loaded. Amortization means that you aren’t buying your house, or at least not anytime soon.

For the first five years, nearly all of your monthly payment goes straight to interest. It isn’t until the last ten years that the tide shifts and your payment really starts to eat down the principle.

Since the average American moves on average once every 5 years, most “homeowners” only ever pay banks interest!

3. You are a low-risk Tenant:

The reason banks are so set on calling you a “homeowner”, is that tenants who think they are homeowners are ideal renters.

They are more likely to maintain the property and invest money into the house. This also makes home-owning tenants less likely to default on their rent (mortgage) because they don’t want to lose “their” home.

4. You Move Too Much to Own:

The average person moves 10 times as adults, nearly once every 5 years. Everytime you buy a new home you pay closing costs, approximately 2-5% of the purchase price.

Let’s say that you buy 10 homes in your lifetime for $200,000 with 3.5% in closing costs. You have now shelled out $70,000 just in closing fees. But we are just getting warmed up.

10 moves also means 10 real estate commissions! With our same $200,000 homes that is $120,000 in realtor fees over your lifetime!

5. Real Estate Agents are Salesmen: 

Never ask your real estate agent if it is a good time to buy and expect him to say anything but yes! He is a salesman; it is always a good time to buy!

When I bought my first house, just months before the great crash of 2008, my real estate salesman assured me that there was never a better time to buy! That property is now a rental that plagues me to this day and is just now beginning to bob its chimney above water.

6. You Don’t Want Property Values to Go Up:

A few months ago, voters in Meridian Idaho did something monumental, they voted down one of the school’s excessive property levies.

Teachers went crazy on the internet calling homeowners stupid. Didn’t we know that more money means better schools and better schools means increased property values?

I couldn’t help myself. I got into a Facebook spat because, in most cases, the worst thing that can happen to a property owner is his home’s market value goes up! As property values go up, so do taxes!

So, not only would we have to pay the school levy, but we’d have to pay more in taxes on the increased value. And it’s even worse when we go to sell!

Let me explain. It is simple math that every adult should understand; thank heavens we got a pre-Common Core education, right?

Say there are two homes in a neighborhood, one is small and only $100,000 and the other is big and $200,000. Now pretend that you buy the small starter home for $100,000. In a few years your property values double.

You are super happy because you now have $100,000 in equity! You’re rich! Time to upgrade and get the big house you really want. Only it isn’t $200,000 anymore. It’s value also doubled and is now $400,000!

You use your $100,000 capital gain, but you are still left paying $300,000 for the bigger house, when before the property values doubled you could have bought it for only $200,000. In addition to that, all of your closing fees, commissions and taxes will be way more thanks to the new property value. Bottomline, property values go up and you pay more!

7. It All Adds UP:

There are many costs of homeownership that people forget or are simply unaware of.

Homeowners insurance is about 1,000 a year; Homeowner Association dues vary, but average about $1,000 a year; property tax is about 1.25% of the home’s market value, so on a $200,000 that is $2,500 a year; PMI or Primary Mortgage Insurance with around 1%, or $2,000 on your $200,000; and of course, there is maintenance which runs about 3% a year, or $6,000 on a $200,000 home.

That’s $10,500 a year for a home worth $200,000! 50 years of homeownership means you will spend $525,000 in fees and costs most people don’t even consider when they buy a home.

Now, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t buy a home. I think you should, but understand how the system is loaded against you, and then navigate accordingly.

If you can, pay cash. You may not be able to afford your dream home right away, but with the money you save, you soon will!

At some point in the future, I will offer some tips on how get the most from your family home purchase. If you have any questions or comments, leave them below!

The post The Sad Truth about HomeOwnership first appeared on True Aim.

The kitchen is where most of the waste we create happens. These 15 recycling hacks can help you save money and reduce your waste by making something new out of things you were going to throw away.

I grew up in Oregon where recycling was part of the everyday routine. We always did it. When I moved, it was a lot harder to do because of the special rules and separate facilities. No glass, no plastic bags, and on and on. So, I had to get a little creative.

That’s why I was so excited to see the new Energizer EcoAdvanced batteries at Walmart. It is the first battery on the market to use recycled batteries/materials and is Energizer’s longest lasting alkaline ever!

It makes it easy to reduce, recycle and reuse everyday without even thinking about it. Learn more about this new technology at BringingInnovation.net.

15 Ways to Reuse Your Trash in the Kitchen

I love making new things out of something old or that you are just going to throw away. That’s why these ideas are genius because they don’t just help you reuse things, they make your life better, more organized, more convenient!

Glass

1. Store spices in baby food jars. They are easier to measure out of and you can easily make labels for them with dot stickers or paint the lids with chalk paint.

2. Buy bulk spices which are cheaper and store them in larger glass jars like mason jars.

3. You can also use small jars to help you peel lots of garlic easily.

4. Mason Jars can be used with your blender. Just fill it with whatever you want blended and screw the blade right on the jar for individual sized drinks, small portions of dip, even baby food.

5. You could get really fancy and rent a glass cutter to make drinking glasses out of empty glass bottles and vases out of wine bottles. Maybe go in with a friend or the neighbors and do everyone’s glass all at once.

Plastic Bottles

6. Milk jugs can be turned into so many things. How about a watering can for the kids or maybe a scoop for pet food?

7. Make a sprinkler out of a 2 liter of soda. The kids will love it in the summer time!

8. Cut plastic water bottles in half and use the top to seal open bags of food and snacks.

9. Cut out a hole in the side and fill with birdseed for an easy bird feeder.

10. All sorts of planters can be made with all different shapes and sizes of plastic bottles; hanging planters, outdoor, and indoor.

Misc. Trash

11. Save those containers from yogurt, sour cream, and others. You can easily remove the label with some nail polish remover or peanut butter and wash them out to store food or anything else.

12. Speaking of containers, cans from coffee or nuts are great to store odds and ends in.

13. I like to reuse peanut butter jars for extra craft supplies. The clear plastic helps me see exactly what I have.

14. If I had a dime for every pair of rubber gloves I went through, well I wouldn’t be rich, but I go through a lot. Now, I turn those into big rubber bands.

A photo posted by Janine LaTulippe (@trueaimedu) on Aug 29, 2014 at 3:56pm PDT

15. Plastic bags are the worst! Save those for craft projects. You can make so many things by turning them into yarn and weaving them into bags, mats, even a jump rope.

Is there anything that you reuse in the kitchen? Share with #BringingInnovation, I’d love to hear about it!

The post 15 Recycling Hacks for the Kitchen: Make Old Things New first appeared on True Aim.

Christmas is a time for family and friends, but sometimes we can’t see the ones we love most.

I moved to Idaho from Oregon to attend Boise State and I’ve never moved back. Idaho is the perfect place for me, the only problem is, most of my family is back in Oregon. That is the only thing I miss, and I miss them dearly.

The happiest memories I have are at Christmas time. Everyone in the family gathered together and when I say everyone, I mean like 30+ people! There was a buzz and a potluck feast like no other I have experienced since.

Although I’m sad that I don’t get to be with them, it is fun to make new traditions with my own family. Luckily, I still get to experience some of the buzz when they call and pass the phone around to everyone for me.

This Christmas, with the Walmart Family Mobile plan I don’t have to worry about when or how much I talk. Their Unlimited Talk,Text and Data/Web plans makes it easy for me to connect with my family in Oregon for just $34.88/month with 5GB of 3G Data so I can use video chat and see everyone too! I can even add a second line for only $29.88.

This is by far the best deal I’ve seen out there with NO annual contract, live customer support and NO overage charges!

I purchased the Samsung Galaxy Exhibit for only $79.88 and was pleasantly surprised. It was just as easy to use as my old phone and included a lot of apps that I didn’t know about, but really love like Flipboard and it features my favorite browser (Chrome) and app store (Google Play). Not to mention, room for all my other favorite apps that help me stay organized during the holidays.

Right now you can get all of these phones on roll back:

• Alcatel One Touch Evolve 2 – $49.88 (was $59.88)
• ZTE ZMAX – $179.00 (was $199.88)
• LG L90 – $119.00 (was $179.88)
• Nokia Lumia 635 – $99.88 (was $129.88)
• Samsung Galaxy Exhibit – $79.88 (was $99.88)
• Nokia Lumia 530 – $49.88 (was $69.88)
• $40 Walmart Gift Card  with the purchase of the Samsung Galaxy Avant, 12/14-12/27.

When I went to the store I was a little intimidated to set up my plan all by myself, but I was lucky to have a wireless center at my Walmart and they helped me set everything up. It only took a few minutes and I had my new phone working!

Make sure you go to Walmart Family Mobile and check your signal strength and to see if it is available in your local Walmart store because the #HolidaysAreCalling!

Are you far away from family and friends this Christmas season? How do you keep in touch?

The post Don’t Think Twice About Keeping in Touch with Low Priced Unlimited Plans first appeared on True Aim.

I chose the word “FAMILY” to display across the stained wood because I’m planning to hang photos from an upcoming family photo shoot across the bottom. A free printable is included with those letters, so the tedious computer work of centering is already done for you! This would make a wonderful Christmas gift for so many different people on your list!

This project cost me about $7 to make. You can’t beat that! Here is what you’ll need:

• 1″ x 8″ piece of wood cut to 30″ long
• 120 and 220 grit sand paper
• 2 small clean cloths
• Wood stain of your choice
• 2 sheets of 8.5″ x 11″ decorative paper
• 24 furniture nails
• Hammer
• 5 small clothespins
• Superglue
• Hanging hardware

Without further ado, let’s get started!

DIY Family Photo Board

The cheapest wood to get is a common pine board, and if you buy a 6′ long piece, you can make two signs out of it.

As I mentioned above, you don’t have to use any power tools for this project if you choose not to. I cut a 30″ long piece of 1″ x 8″ wood with my chop saw, but when you purchase your wood at Lowe’s or Home Depot, they can cut the board for you there if you’d like. Easy peasy! This also makes things easier if you are bringing your supplies home in a smaller vehicle or a car full of kids!

Otherwise, you could also use a hand saw. So, you’ll start with something like this:

Once you have your 30″ board, it’s time to sand it. Use a rough, lower grit sand paper around 120 to smooth down your wood. Then, use a higher grit sand paper around 220 to really get it as smooth as a baby’s bottom and ready for staining.

Make sure you don’t forget the sides and always sand in the direction of the wood grain! Wipe off the dust with a clean cloth. Then, shake or stir your can of stain and take the second clean cloth (because you don’t want sanding dust in your stain) and apply the stain generously and evenly, making sure to wipe off any excess. I don’t bother staining the back because no one can see it (and I’m cheap).

Here is the stain I used in case you would like to use the same color:

While your stain is drying, print out the free printable letters on your decorative paper. I chose paper with a burlap pattern on it to give it a rustic feel. It is probably better to use card stock, but I was not happy with any of the patterns I was seeing at the store, so I used regular patterned paper.

After you download the free family printable, be sure to print it out on regular paper first to make sure that the letters are where you want them before you use your pretty paper!

Cut each page in half across the length and width. Once my stain was dry, I took my 120 grit sandpaper and roughed up the wood board a little bit, focusing more on the edges and corners in order to give it an aged look. Give it a quick wipe with a clean cloth. This is how mine turned out:

Then, space the letters how you’d like across your wood board and attach them using a furniture nail and hammer in each corner. I started in the center with the middle two letters and worked outward and left a 1/2″ space in between each letter and 1″ on each end of the board. It started to look pretty!

Next, it’s time to add the clothespins across the bottom. You can stain, paint, or leave them plain. Then, just put a little bit of super glue on the back of each one, place it where you’d like, and press firmly for 10-20 seconds. It is better to leave the spot where you will superglue them bare for a better hold, so don’t stain or paint the entire back.

Finally, all that is left is to add some hardware to hang this bad boy. I added 2 small eye screws on the top of the board centered above the “A” and “L” letters. You just need to push them down and turn! Keep screwing them into the wood with your fingers until the circular eye part reaches the top of the wood. No glue, tools, nothing. Super easy.

I strung a couple pieces of twine through the eyes and tied the ends securely together and then in a bow. I doubled it up, and hung it up on a nail on the wall. Done! You could also use sawtooth hangers installed on the back instead of string or rope and the eye screws.

Then, I just needed to add some photos of my cuties!

How adorable is that?! Now, go pick out some beautiful photos for your new wall decor! Or wrap it up as a Christmas gift! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think!

The post DIY Family Photo Board Tutorial first appeared on True Aim.

This post contains a giveaway, for more information read my full disclosure.

When you are young and broke, homemade are the only gifts you can afford. I started making gifts back when I was a teen. Usually my mom did it with me, but one year I was determined to make my uncle some peppermint patties. Yorks were his favorite, Junior Mints second.

I grabbed a recipe from an old book from my grandmothers shelf and wasn’t sure what would happen. They turned into minty animal droppings, aka Janine’s Junior Mints, but my uncle didn’t mind; they tasted great! The only problem; I just didn’t make enough.

Edible Gifts in Jars

Anything can be put in a jar, decorated with a little fabric and ribbon or with a label.

1. Cookies in a Jar

2. Cake in a Jar 

3. Hot Cocoa in a Jar

4. Waffles in a Jar

5. Bread in a Jar

6. Syrup in a Jar

7. Pie in a Jar

8. Muffins in a Jar

9. Nuts in a Jar

10. Brownies in a Jar

11. Cranberry Butter

12. Granola in a Jar

13. Caramel Sauce in a Jar

14. Hot Fudge in a Jar

15. Strawberry Jam

16. Lemon Curd in a Jar

17. Soup in a Jar

18. Spicy Jelly in a Jar

19. Rootbeer BBQ Sauce in a Jar

20. Dry Rub in a Jar

21. Ranch Mix in a Jar

22. Bread and Butter Pickles

23. Hamburger Helper in a Jar

24. Chili in a Jar

Homemade Chocolate Bark Recipes

I love Chocolate bark because it is easy to make and you can create lots of amazing flavors.

25. White Chocolate Holiday Bark with Cranberries and Pumpkin Seeds

26. Peppermint Bark Cups

27. Yogurt Bark with Strawberries and Pistachios 

28. Bite Sized Party Bark with Mini Chocolate Chips and Peanuts

29. White Chocolate Oreo Bark

30. Easy Toffee Pretzel Bark

31. Homemade Butterfinger Bark

32. Rocky Road Bark

33. Coconut Bark

34. Lemon Bark

35. S’mores Bark

36. Pumpkin Spice Latte Bark

37. Buckeye Bark

Homemade Truffle Recipes

Yummy chocolate treats packed full of flavor make the perfect edible gifts because they are so rich and look pretty too. 38. No Fuss Chocolate Truffles

39. Red Velvet Oreo Truffles

40. Samoa Truffles

41. Truffles Kids Can Make

42. S’mores Truffles

43. Blueberry Lemon Truffles 44. Lemon Cookie Truffles

45. Nutter Butter Truffles

46. Chocolate Candy Cane Truffles

47. Gluten Free Cookie Dough Truffles

  48. Thin Mint Truffles

49. Pumpkin Pie Truffles

50. Eggnog Truffles

Homemade Candy and Snacks

Delectable little goodies and snacks make great gifts for friends and hosts.

51. Seafoam Candy aka Honycomb Sponge Candy

52. Candy Citrus Peel

53. Gingerbread Christmas Tree

54. The Best English Toffee

55. Chocolate Peanut Butter Popcorn

56. Slice and Bake Shortbread

57. Chocolate Covered Raspberries

58. Pumpkin Seed Brittle

59. Strawberry Meringues

60. Homemade Tootsie Rolls

61. Homemade Kool-Aid Taffy

62. Homemade Butterfingers

63. Peanut Butter Confetti Marshmallow Squares

64. Eggnog Fudge

65. Maple Pumpkin Fudge

66. Rocky Road Fudge

67. Red Velvet Fudge

68. Pretzel S’mores

69. Cream Cheese Mints

70. Homemade Butter Mints

71. Honey Mustard Pretzels

72. Christmas Chex Mix

73. Slow Cooker Pumpkin Harvest Chex Mix

74. Pumpkin Spice Muddy Buddies aka Puppy Chow

75. Chocolate Churro Muddy Buddies

Those are just some ideas to get you started! For more homemade edible gift ideas, follow my Cookie Board on Pinterest! What do you like to make for an edible gift?

Follow True Aim Education’s board Cookie Cookie on Pinterest.

The post 75 Homemade Edible Gift Ideas first appeared on True Aim.

Look around the next time you are at the park in the fall. Most of the children there will have a runny nose or cough.

It can be hard to decide what to dress your children in when the fall weather changes so quickly. It may freeze at night, but then gets warm and sunny during the day. Here are three tips that I use to keep my little ones comfortable during this unpredictable weather season.

We live in Idaho, so most days are sunny. That can be misleading because you’ll look outside and see the beautiful sun, but step outside and you may feel blistering winds and chilling temperatures. It can be 10 degrees cooler in the shade and if the wind stops, you’ll be sweating in your thick winter jacket.

Dressing Children Comfortably and Frugally

I’ve had to get creative when it comes to dressing my little ones and not busting my budget. Here’s what I keep in mind when I’m shopping for clothes or putting together an outfit for fall.

1. Layers

Instead of a thick winter coat, it is better to dress kids in a couple layers of light clothing. This way, they can remove them and put them back on as the weather changes.

I usually pick a short sleeve shirt/dress and a light sweater or hooding for their top half. For my girls, I choose thicker leggings, or even tights under light leggings as pants. For my boys, I like sweat pants or jeans.

Garanimals from Walmart always has seasonally appropriate choices for babies and toddlers that won’t hurt your budget. I can usually find great pieces for about the same price as thrift stores.

2. Heat Rises

Most parents forget one of the easiest ways to dress their children comfortably. It is also really inexpensive. Just get them a hat!

This will help keep the warm air from escaping from the top of their head and can protect their eyes and ears from the wind. Ear muffs, or a thick headband works too.

3. Extremities

The first thing to get cold on my babies are their fingers and toes. Extra socks or a pair of boots help keep their feet cozy.

For fingers, I hate regular gloves. They are so hard to put on and my children can’t pick anything up or do much of anything with them on. Fingerless gloves or mittens that fold back for easy access to fingers work best for my children.

Please leave your tips for dressing children for the fall season below and then check out Garanimals affordable solutions.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Garanimals. The opinions and text are all mine.

The post 3 Frugal Tips for Dressing Baby for Fall first appeared on True Aim.