Cool Down in the Dog Days of Summer with Peanut Butter

The steamy, sultry days of July and early August are known as the "dog days" of summer. If you're looking for a creative way to cool down this summer, Southern Peanut Growers wants to help with your favorite ingredient: peanut butter.

Yup, PB is more than just something to add to bread and jelly. Your littles will love these yummy recipes and you'll delight in knowing that they're getting extra nutrition in every delish bite.

From Veggie Sammies with PB Satay Sauce to Creamy PB Banana Popsicles, there's a recipe to curb every craving. Start with your favorite brand of PB, add a few ingredients and create a new family favorite.

Creamy PB Banana Popsicles 
These smooth, and sweet, dreamy popsicles will melt in your mouth on a hot summer day.

4 large very ripe bananas
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
12 oz. frozen whipped dessert topping
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. Pour into popsicle molds. Freeze until firm.

Serves 12.

Peanut Butter Strawberry Pineapple Smoothies 
These fabulous smoothies combine the deliciousness of peanut butter with the sweetness of strawberries and pineapple to create a healthy and yummy mid-day treat.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Makes: 2 to 4 servings

1 1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawberries
1 cup plain, fat free Greek yogurt
1 cup milk
1/4 cup pineapple juice
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1 tbsp honey (approx.)

Place the strawberries, yogurt, milk, pineapple juice, peanut butter and honey in a blender. Puree until very smooth. Adjust honey to taste. Serve immediately. Make 2 to 4 servings.


Calories per serving: 236, Fat 12g, Cholesterol 3mg, Sodium 159mg, Carbohydrates 20g, Fiber 3g, Sugar 16g, Protein 13g

Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwiches 
Skip the ice cream parlor and make your own super sweet ice cream sandwiches to help you cool down after some fun in the sun.

Makes 12 ice cream sandwiches

24 fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, cooled (about 3 inches in diameter)
1 1/2 quarts vanilla ice cream, slightly softened
1 1/2 cups creamy or crunchy peanut butter
Toppings of your choice (ie. chopped peanuts, mini chocolate chips, toasted coconut)

Spread layer of peanut butter on 12 cookies and add a scoop of ice cream. Create a sandwich by topping with the remaining cookies. Roll edges of the ice cream in toppings of your choice. Place on a baking sheet and freeze until firm. Serve slightly frozen.

Veggie Sammies with PB Satay Sauce
Put a nutty twist on your picnic lunch. Pile fresh summer veggies onto your favorite bread and top with creamy PB sauce.

4 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
3 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons water
4 teaspoons hoisin sauce
2 teaspoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons sriracha
2 six-inch French baguette rolls
1/2 cup sliced cucumber
1/2 cup white onion
1/2 cup red bell pepper
1/2 cup purple cabbage
1/2 cup fresh cilantro

Directions:

Combine peanut butter, lime juice, water, hoisin sauce, soy sauce and sriracha in in a small bowl. Mix well.

Spread sauce on both sides of bread, then layer with cucumber, onion, and bell pepper. Top with cabbage, and cilantro leaves.

Serves 2

All too soon, school buses will be making the rounds in your neighborhood. Before summer slips away, whip up some tasty and nutritious peanut butter treats and keep it cool.

Summer Fun for Kids of All Ages

 

As the days of summer slide by, take time to make summertime memories with your family before school time rolls around. Whether you enjoy a morning walk on the beach, a picnic lunch at your favorite local park or an afternoon hike in the mountains, spending time together can be as much fun for mom and dad as it is for the kids.

These fun summertime ideas will help you with your late summer family fun planning.

Hit the pool. Spend a hot summer day at your favorite municipal swimming pool. Relive your glory days by jumping off the diving board. Teach your kids to swim underwater or show the little ones how to dog paddle. After a day in the sun, be sure to enjoy a frozen treat before you head home.

Blow bubbles. Pick up a few bottles of bubbles and spend some quality time in your own backyard. See who can blow the biggest bubble, the smallest bubble and the bubble with the most parts. Let mom and dad take a turn too.

Play at the park. It may be hot outdoors, but your kids will still enjoy time at their favorite local park. If it's really hot out, visit the park early in the morning to beat the summer heat or wait until later in the day.

Cool down inside. Visit your nearest children's museum and enjoy the AC on a hot summer day. Kids love hands-on fun and they're learning as they play.

Take a hike. It's cooler under the trees out in the woods. Grab hiking sticks and hit the trail. Enjoy nature and see what interesting things you can find.

Go fishing. Head to the nearest lake or river and teach your kids how to catch the big ones. If there's a fish hatchery near you, take the time to learn how rangers supply local fishing spots with fish to catch. Many fishing sites have catch and release programs if you don't want to take your catch home.

Hit the road. Take a family road trip to somewhere you've never been. Whether you visit a historic site, explore your state or head to the beach, mountains or lake, spending time together is priceless.

Celebrate summer with ice cream. Visit your favorite ice cream or frozen yogurt shop or make your own ice cream cones at home. Ice cream treats will light up your child's eyes and make happy memories of summertime fun.

Summer will be over before you know it. Gather the kids, make a list and get out to enjoy some late summer family time together this week.

Top Ten Stress Busting Tips for National Stress Awareness Day

Photo credit: Phlebotomy Tech

November 4 is National Stress Awareness Day. When you're dealing with difficult situations, people or changes in life, stress can affect you in ways you may not realize.

These top ten stress busting tips from the International Stress Management Association will help you fight back against life's stresses and reclaim your life.

1. Learn to manage your time more effectively. We waste a lot of time doing unimportant tasks, especially when stressed, so prioritise your day and do the important jobs first. The unimportant ones can wait, and often they will disappear completely leaving you time to do other things. Also, do not put off the unpleasant tasks – avoidance causes a great deal of stress. Give unpleasant tasks a high priority and do them first.

2. Adopt a healthy lifestyle. If we eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly and ensure we get adequate sleep and rest our body is better able to cope with stress should it occur. If this is not the case, then this may be a warning sign so don’t ignore it. Engaging in some form of physical activity may help you by working off the biochemical and physical changes that occur within your body due to stress. Relaxation also helps your body return to its normal healthy state. Good relaxation techniques include breathing exercises, massage and a variety of complimentary therapies.

3. Know your limitations and do not take on too much. We can cause ourselves a great deal of stress because we do not want to let people down. We then end up doing more than we should. Learn to delegate effectively and be assertive so that you can say ‘No’ without upsetting or offending.

4. Find out what causes you stress. Take time to discover what is worrying you and try to change your thoughts and behaviour to reduce it. A stress assessment can help you to fully understand the causes, the implications to your health and how to manage, cope and make necessary changes.

5. Avoid unnecessary conflict. Do not be too argumentative. Is it really worth the stress? Look for win - win situations. Look for a resolution to a dispute where both parties can achieve a positive outcome. Find out what the real cause of the problem is and deal with it.

6. Accept the things you cannot change. Changing a difficult situation is not always possible. If this proves to be the case, recognise and accept things as they are and concentrate on all that you do have control over. Managing change effectively is essential or else performance will be reduced.

7. Take time out to relax and recharge your batteries. You will perform more effectively during work if you regularly take a short 10 / 15 minute break, easily making up the time you used relaxing. Alongside this, at least one annual break of at least 10-14 continuous days is recommended,

8. Find time to meet friends. Friends can ease work troubles and help us see things in a different way. The activities we engage in with friends help us relax and we will often have a good laugh. It boosts the immune system that is often depleted during stress.

9. Try to see things differently, develop a positive thinking style. If something is concerning you, try to see it differently. Talk over your problem with somebody before it gets out of proportion. Often, talking to a friend/colleague/family member will help you see things from a different and less stressful perspective. You may also need to consider professional help in order to achieve the desired outcome and prevent ill health and / or burnout.

10. Avoid alcohol, nicotine and caffeine as coping mechanisms. Long term, these faulty coping mechanisms will just add to the problem. For example, caffeine and nicotine are stimulants - too much and the body reacts to this with the stress response increasing or even causing anxiety symptoms. Alcohol is a depressant!

dear soon to be single mom

Dear soon to be single mom, I'm sorry for what you're going through. The tears. The uncertainties. The "what ifs" and "if only" thoughts that run through your brain. Endlessly. At 3 a.m.

Divorce sucks. No matter who wants it. No matter if he started it or you started it. No matter who's at fault. Even if nobody is to blame.

You made plans. You had dreams. Your little family was happy -- or maybe not so happy. You married for better or worse. This is worse than worse. 

Fun times with kiddos...not so much when you're going through a divorce. It feels like your whole life is ending...and it is. The life you knew and embraced is no more.

Divorce is hard. Harder than you think it will be. Hard times a million. Saying good-bye to your littles every weekend, every other weekend or every day hurts. A lot. Deep in your heart.

Watching the love of your life go forward without you is no easier. 

Just when you thought you were so over him -- you will realize that you still love him. It hurts.

You tried your hardest to keep it all together. But it broke anyway, shattered into a zillion unfixable pieces.

You see the pieces when you look into the mirror. And when you look into the eyes of your little ones.

Your heart is broken. Even if he treated you terribly. Even if he cheated on you. Even if you hated him at the end.

Because there's still that little piece of you that loves him. You see him in your littles. In their smiles. In their tears. In their faces that scrunch up just like his.

You meant it when you said "for better or worse." Maybe you still mean it. 

It's okay to grieve. Divorce is a kind of death. It's a death of your dreams. A death of your goals.

A death of your future. The future you thought you'd share. The future that now seems so uncertain.

It's okay to cry. To scream. To feel sad. And lonely. And maybe a little hopeless.

It's okay to be angry. To feel hurt. These are all normal emotions that serve you well during this abnormal time in your life.

You didn't think it would end this way. You didn't think you'd be one of "them" -- those single moms you see alone at the park with their little ones. 

Those moms without partners that order their food to go at restaurants. Who don't want to sit and eat alone in a world that's sorted by pairs.

Those moms who celebrate their kids' big moments alone instead of sharing with the other parent. Who sit alone at PTA meetings and soccer games. Who don't get a break. Ever.

You wanted a love that would last forever. You thought you had it. But it's gone. And it hurts. You thought you'd grow old together. But you won't. And it's not fair.

The big D. You never thought it would happen to you. You thought your marriage was strong enough. Why? Who knows. 

But better days are coming. Not today. Not tomorrow. Maybe not even soon. But they are coming. You can't get around the fire without walking through it.

It's a hard journey. But you can do it. You're strong enough. You love your kids. Nothing will change that. No matter what. Through sleepless nights and moneyless days. You'll make it.

Trust yourself. Trust God -- whether or not you believe. Trust your friends. The true ones. Who don't talk about you behind your back. Trust your family. They love you. Always and forever.

And trust your kids. You'll get through this. Together. Hand in hand. Side by side. Hold them tight and wipe their tears. Tell them you love them. 

Tell them their dad loves them too. They need both of you. They need your permission to love both of you. They are a part of both of you. 

Sometimes when you're doing it all, it seems like you deserve all the credit. Maybe you do. But let him have some of the credit too. He loves them too. Even if it doesn't always seem that way.

I'm sorry for your journey, dear soon to be single mom. I've walked it too. It gets better. And sometimes it gets worse. But you can do it. 

Your kids are counting on you. To give them strength. To show them how to get through it. To help them say good-bye to someone they love. Over and over. Trust yourself. You've got this mama.

October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Awareness Month: Safe Sleeping Suggestions for Babies

October is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month, created to help prevent the nearly 4,000 unexpected and unexplained infant deaths that occur in the United States each year. Hindi Zeidman, creator of The Ollie Swaddle, wants to help parents keep baby safe and comfortable while sleeping:

• When room sharing, it is best for your infant to sleep in a separate sleeping area to avoid the risks of rolling over or suffocation, which can occur with bed sharing.
• The supine (or laying on the back) is the safest sleep position for your infant, unless otherwise directed by your infant’s pediatrician. Unaccustomed tummy sleeping increases the risk of SIDS by 18 times over babies under 12 months old who are used to sleeping on their backs.
• Your infants sleeping area should be clutter free (free of blankets, pillows, or plush toys) and sheets should fit tightly around the mattress. Steer clear of using a pillow top mattress or mattress pads, as it could lead to suffocation if the baby rolls to his tummy. 
• Your infant should sleep in a safety approved crib with a firm mattress. Do not use items like wedges or special sleep surfaces that claim to reduce the risk of SIDS. 
• To protect your infant, only use bedding and clothing made of non-toxic flame-resistant materials free from drawstrings and ribbons that might catch.  Buttons and snaps should be securely attacked to prevent choking hazards.
• Avoid overheating baby. Insure the room has good air flow.  If the room seems stuffy, use a small fan or open a window to provide fresh air. Keep the room temperature around 70 degrees.
• If you use a pacifier at nap or bedtime, make sure it doesn’t have a cord or clip that might cause choking or strangulation.
• Avoid using blankets at nap or bed time, babies should sleep in a wearable blanket or similar.  Swaddling is a safe way for your baby to sleep and has been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS.
• Babies should sleep in a smoke free environment.  This includes not sharing a bed with an adult smoker.  Smoking increases the risk of SIDS.​​
• Educate people who care for your baby about safe sleep practices.  You have every right to insist family members and care givers follow your instructions.​

The Ollie Swaddle was named after and invented for a baby boy named Oliver, a foster baby that wasn’t thriving until Ollie Swaddle founder (and his foster mom) Hindi developed The Ollie Swaddle. It improves quality and duration of sleep for all babies (including preemies and high risk), reduces fussiness and helps babies self-calm. Its elasticity allows for freedom of movement, while the opening at the bottom makes it easy to change diapers. The custom developed moisture wicking material reduces overheating promoting physiological regulation. Perfect for ages 0-4 months.

These safe sleeping suggestions from Hindi Zeidman are reprinted with permission, in the interest of teaching parents the importance of safe sleeping habits for their babies and in loving memory of all babies lost to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Get Ready for Halloween with Walmart

Whether your Halloween includes spooky and ghoulish teens, cute and cuddly tots or a group of fun-loving friends, you'll find everything that you need for a spook-tacular Halloween at Walmart. 

Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so it’s all about the party. Most of us will attend or host at least one party this Halloween. Some busy parents will host or attend a family Halloween gathering, school party, community trunk-or-treat event and an adults-only Halloween bash.

Instead of running from store to store to find Halloween costumes, accessories, food and party needs, head to Walmart and pick up everything in one place -- at prices that won't break the bank.

Knowing what families need for Halloween, Walmart has stocked the shelves with exclusive candies like the new Pecan Pie M&Ms and Pumpkin Spice Ghirardelli Caramels, as well as tried-and-true favorites. 

Walmart also carries a large selection of costumes for kids of all ages, as well as costumes for mom and dad. For the first time ever, Walmart.com will have 200 costumes available through the Pick Up Today service – including the top licensed costumes for kids such as Avengers, Star Wars and Ant Man.

Top Halloween Costumes for 2015

Kids -- Girls Costumes

• Frozen Elsa Classic Child Halloween Costume with Locket
• Rubies Batgirl Tutu Child Halloween Costume
• Dorothy Child Halloween Costume
• Purple/Orange Lite-up Witch Child Halloween Costume
• Pink Batgirl Child Halloween Costume
• Rubies Supergirl Tutu Child Halloween Costume
• Frozen Elsa Deluxe Child Halloween Costume
• Pink Power Ranger Dino Charge Classic Child Halloween Costume
• The Dark Knight Rises Deluxe Catwoman Child Halloween Costume 

Kids -- Boys Costumes

• Star Wars Ep 7 Kylo Ren Child Halloween Costume
• Antman Child Halloween Costume
• Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Deluxe Leonardo Child Halloween Costume
• Red Power Ranger Dino Charge Classic Muscle Child Halloween Costume
• Star Wars Darth Vadar Child Halloween Costume
• Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Deluxe Michelangelo Child Halloween Costume
• Halo Master Chief Classic Muscle Child Halloween Costume
• Gold Power Ranger Dino Charge Classic Muscle Child Halloween Costume
• Blue Power Ranger Dino Charge Classic Muscle Child Halloween Costume

Baby

• Oatmeal Bear Infant Halloween Costume
• Pumpkin Tutu Infant Halloween Costume
• Elephant Infant Halloween Costume
• Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Infant Halloween Costume
• Baby Red Riding Hood Infant Halloween Costume
• Cow Infant Halloween Costume
• Pinky Winky Infant Halloween Costume
• Dalmation Infant Halloween Costume
• Pink Pansy Infant Halloween Costume

Looking for just the right touches for your teen's Halloween party? You'll find creepy makeup kits, frighfully realistic Halloween decor items and everything your teen needs to create the spookiest haunted yard in the neighborhood.

Be sure to grab Halloween plates, napkins and a few extra trick-or-treat pumpkin buckets to hang from shepherd's hooks in front of your house.

Class mamas coordinating school Halloween parties can fill a basket with trick-or-treat bags, bagged candy, prizes and even a cute wreath for the classroom door.

You'll find all the fixings to create your family's favorite Halloween snacks. Let the kiddos help make Mummy Dogs, Witches Fingers, Eyeball Cupcakes and other frightful treats or keep it simple with Halloween themed bowls filled with crackers, chips and candy. Add a frozen pizza or two and you're all set.

No Halloween is complete without pumpkins. Big or small, real or plastic, Walmart's got you covered. Pick up a pumpkin carving kit or two and watch the kids create the best jack-'o-lantern ever.

Halloween memories remain long after the candy's all gone. The big day will be here before you know it, so make your Halloween plans and leave the rest to Walmart.

Disclosure: This blog post was sponsored by Walmart; however, all opinions expressed are my own.

Old School Road Trip Fun for Kids

Summertime's all about making memories with your little ones. Road trips offer a chance to spend time together -- but they can also be stressful. Everyone cooped up in a small space can lead to cries of "He's touching me" and "She's looking out my window."

Enjoy some old school road trip fun with your family this summer. Whether you're a DIY fan or would rather shop for travel games, these 15 games will help you make summertime memories.

The Alphabet Game. The youngest player starts off the game. Each player in turn uses a consecutive letter of the alphabet to create a funny story. Example: Annie is going to Alabama and she's bringing apples. As play continues, each player has to repeat all previous stories and add their own.

I Spy. Pick out an object inside or outside the vehicle and describe it. Use color, size, location and other clues. The winner chooses the next object.

The Billboard Game. Look for words starting with each letter of the alphabet in consecutive order on signs and billboards. The real challenge comes with Q, X, V and Z.

The License Plate Game. Type a list of all 50 states. Print and laminate copies for each family member. Using dry erase markers, players mark each state as they find a car from that state. The winner's the first one to find license plates from all 50 states.

Mad Libs. You remember playing this game in the '80s. You'll find updated versions of Mad Libs at Cracker Barrel or make up your own version.

String Games. Maybe you were a champ at creating Jacob's Ladder. Teach the kids mad string skills with Cat's Cradle and other fun string games. Don't remember how? Check out Kidlantis.

Thumb Wrestling. Two players join their fingers together into fists with thumbs up. Each player tries to pin the other player's thumb for five seconds. No arms allowed.

Rock Paper Scissors. At the count of three, two players use their hands to display rock (fist), paper (flattened palm) or scissors (two fingers spread out like scissors). Rock crushes scissors. Scissors cut paper. Paper wraps rock.

Where Are We? Make copies of road maps of your trip for each child and laminate. Let the kids keep track of where you are by looking for road signs, exit signs and other landmarks. Your little ones can also use dry erase markers to follow along on the trip.

Lines and Dots. Why play Dots and Boxes on your mobile device when you can go old school with a DIY version of Lines and Dots. Download the free printable from MomsMinivan or make your own by filling half of a sheet of notebook paper with dots spaced evenly about 1/2 inch apart. Players take turns connecting dots by drawing lines between two dots. When a player completes a full square, he writes his initials in the box and takes another turn. The game ends when all boxes are filled.

Build a Story. Mom or Dad starts the story with a few sentences. Each family member in turn adds a few sentences. Make your story silly, funny or just plain crazy.

Silly Sing-Alongs. Pick up a CD with silly kid songs. See who can sing the loudest. Your kids will learn fun new songs in no time at all. Find printable silly song lyrics on MomsMiniVan.

Tic-Tac-Toe. No kids, it's not a hashtag even though the Tic-Tac-Toe board looks like one. Draw tic-tac-toe boards or download a free printable. This classic game is played with two players, one making Xs and the other making Os in the nine spaces of the tic-tac-toe board. Three in a row wins the game.

Spot It! on the Road. The newest in the Spot It! games is perfect for road trip fun. There's only one matching symbol on each pair of cards. Players try to be the first to find their match. Find the game on Amazon or at your favorite toy shop.

Travel Bingo. Pick up old school travel bingo cards at OldTimeCandy or make your own. Players cover each picture as they see the object and try to be the first to get five in a row.

Pack your bags with old school fun as you hit the road this summer and show your kids all of the fun games you can't play on a tablet or phone.