Baby Essentials for the On-the-Go Family

Soccer games.  Piano lessons.  Grocery shopping.

When you have kids, there are always places to go.  And when you're trying to keep up with your big kids' activities while at the same time bringing your baby along, there are several things I can think of that will make your life a little easier.

1. Diaper bag.

Okay, so this one's probably obvious!  But, what are the things that you need to keep packed in your diaper bag at all times so that you can grab and go and never be without the things you need for baby?

• Diapers and wipes – I cannot tell you how many times I think we are just going to “run to the store really quick”, so I don't bother to make sure the diapers and wipes have been restocked.  Let me just say that every time I don't make sure there are plenty in there, we end up regretting it!
• Extra clothes – Those times you regret not bringing the diapers and wipes are very likely to be times when you'll wish for an extra pair of clothes too!
• Plastic bag – See above if you can't figure out what it's for!
• Pacifier – When your family is on the go, you may end up being out during baby's naptime or feeding time.
• Blanket – If you're out during naptime, a familiar blanket may help baby fall asleep somewhere besides his bed.
• Hat – If you're taking baby to ballgames or other outdoor activities, you'll need to make sure his delicate head is protected from the sun
• Toys – Soccer games may be fun for the rest of the family, but they may not interest your baby nearly as much.  Make sure you bring something fun for him to do too!
• Snacks – when your baby is starting to eat solids, having a little snack and drink in the diaper bag will do wonders toward keeping him happy while you're out and about.

2. Nursing cover – if you breastfeed and you'll be out when baby is hungry, you may want to bring a nursing cover with you.  (By the way,  you can get a free one here!  Just use the coupon code ENBABY when you check out and you'll get one for the cost of shipping only.)

3. Shopping cart cover – when your baby is old enough to sit up, I recommend using a shopping cart cover.  Shopping cart handles have nasty germs on them and babies like to put everything in their mouths!  Not a good combo!

4. Car seat – I guess this is another obvious one!  You can't take your baby anywhere without a car seat!  I recommend the Combi Shuttle, which can be paired with any of Combi's strollers to create a travel system.  I really like that it is specifically designed to offer protection from front, rear and side impact collisions with its Combi Tru-Safe® Side Impact Protection and anti-rebound bar.    It also offers lots of comfortable padding for baby and has straps that are very easy to adjust.  You can learn more about the carseat here.

5. Car seat cover – These are so nice to have!  When baby falls asleep in the car seat, you can keep the cover down to help keep it dark and quiet so he can get a better nap while you're out.  They're also nice for keeping sun and wind off of baby when you're walking between the car and the store, and they're great for keeping random strangers from reaching down and pinching your baby's cheeks!  You can get a free shopping cart cover as well when you use the coupon code ENBABY at checkout.  You'll pay shipping only, which is somewhere around $12.

6. Stroller – When you've got older kids, a stroller is invaluable.  You need about 8 arms to keep track of everything and everybody, and trying to hold a baby at the same time just adds to the chaos.  All of the Combi strollers can be used along with the Combi Shuttle car seat to create a travel system.  Instead of having to unstrap your baby and buckle him into a stroller, you can just clip the car seat right into the stroller with the baby still in it.  (This is especially a lifesaver if your baby is asleep!)

Combi sent us the Cabria stroller, which is perfect for the on-the-go family because it folds up so small.  I have never seen a travel system so compact, but I'm glad it is because there is so much else that needs to go in the back of the van!  It's got a smooth ride, and that nice big shade keeps the sun off the baby.  It's also very easy to fold up. (Remember that part about needing 8 arms?  A stroller that's easy to fold is a big plus.)  The only downside is that the storage basket underneath is very small.  I'm assuming it wouldn't be able to fold up so small if it were bigger.  Oh well, I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too.  You can see more about the Cabria stroller here.

(Please note: Combi sent us the Shuttle car seat and Cabria stroller free of charge to faciliate this review.  However, I sought them out and requested it because I thought this would be a great stroller for a family with lots of kids -and it is! )

You can order the Shuttle car seat and/or a stroller on the Combi website, where you'll receive free shipping on orders $50+.  I also recommend following them on Facebook and Twitter so you can keep up with giveaways and specials!

What did I forget?  What else do you need as an on-the-go family?

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Fight Laundry Stains with Biz

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Biz Stain & Odor Eliminator. All opinions are 100% mine.

As a mom, I deal with stains every single day.

When I given the opportunity to try out Biz stain fighter, I was happy to put it to the test.

I had stains of all types to fight: mud, grass, food, baby blowouts, you name it.

Here is just one example of one of the stains I worked on (or that Biz worked on for me).

I know, I know.  I just had to show you the grossest one!

After treatment with Biz:

You can see that it worked quite well.  Biz contains more stain fighting ingredients than other types of stain fighters.  It contains ingredients to combat all 4 types of stains: protein-based stains, inks and dyes, brightening/whitening, and granular stains like mud and dirt.

Although the instructions say to use Biz by adding it to a load of wash, or to wet the area with warm water and apply Biz for 30 minutes before washing, I found a favorite way to use it that worked well for me.  If something got stained I would immediately put it into a bucket of warm water and add Biz.  That way I could allow the garment to soak in the stain fighting power without having to remember to come back and wash it in 30 minutes.  I could get it into the wash whenever I happened to make my way back into the laundry room.

I had the opportunity to use it on a wide variety of stains.

For instance, my little girl smeared peanut butter all over a white shirt.  After treatment with Biz, it came out whiter than ever.

Another time my little man got grass stain and mud on a pair of tan pants.  The grass stain came out without a trace, which surprised me as that is usually one of the toughest stains to fight.  On the other hand, the mud did not come out nearly as well.

My overall opinion was that although there are certain types of stains that Biz had a harder time fighting, the ones that it fought well were fought extremely well.

Take a look at where to buy Biz and be sure to be on the lookout for the new look:

You can also save $1 on Biz with a printable coupon!

Be sure to connect with Biz on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest for lots of stain fighting goodness.

DIY Hurricane Using FrogTape®

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of FrogTape Brand Painter’s Tape. All opinions are 100% mine.

I painted this hurricane using FrogTape® Shape Tape™.  It was a little bit challenging at first due to the curvy shape of the hurricane, but once I figured out what I was doing I got on a roll and was able to complete the project fairly quickly.

(FrogTape® is the only painter's tape treated with PaintBlock® Technology. PaintBlock is a super-absorbent polymer which reacts with latex paint and instantly gels to form a micro-barrier that seals the edges of the tape, preventing paint bleed.  Check out thisFrogTape how-to for more details.)

Step 1: Start with a clean, dry hurricane or vase.

Step 2: Measure and cut pieces of FrogTape® Shape Tape™ to create the design you have chosen.  Peel off one half of the backing.

Step 3: Adhere the tape to your hurricane.  Continue until you have completed your desired design.

Step 4: Remove the other half of the backing and secure the tape firmly with your fingers.  Then use a firm plastic object to smooth the edges of the tape. (I used an old gift card.)

Step 5: Ensure that your design looks exactly like you want it, then paint directly over the tape to fill in the bare design.

Step 6: After the paint is dry, remove the tape from your project and enjoy the finished product!

I had fun trying out a new project.  What project would you like to try using FrogTape® Shape Tape™?  You can find tons of creative inspiration when you follow FrogTape® on Twitter @FrogTape!

The Ultimate Guide to Buying Healthy Food at ALDI

Someone asked me this question a couple days ago:

“Knowing that you are a “real foodie”, I would love to see a post about what foods you buy and what you don't buy at Aldi. I love Aldi for my budget, but I'm just starting to make healthier food choices and sometimes I don't think Aldi fits in the picture.”

I think this is a GREAT question.

As many of you know, shopping at ALDI was one of the major steps in my healthy living journey.  That was not because ALDI is necessarily such a healthy place to shop, but it was because I stopped using coupons to get all sorts of packaged foods for free and started focusing on whole foods instead.

I am still on my journey.  It is a life-long process to always be learning and putting into practice what you've learned, all while keeping a realistic balance depending on your present circumstances.

With that said, I know that everything I buy at ALDI isn't necessarily 100% ideal.  But it is better than what we ate before.  If you're at the beginning of your healthy living journey, I believe it will be a big step in the right direction to start with some of these things.  If you're further down the road than I am, than ignore everything I say and keep up the good work!

I've divided this list into things I normally buy, things I splurge on (health-wise), and things I never buy.

photo credit

Things I normally buy at ALDI:

1. Plain rice cakes – I'm sure they're nutritionally void, but there's nothing bad in them either, and since we're gluten-free right now they help fill up our bellies in an emergency.

2. Natural peanut butter – I've priced out natural peanut butter in bulk many times, and buying it by the jar at ALDI still comes out way cheaper.  It does have a couple added ingredients like molasses, but I'm okay with that for now for the savings and convenience.

3. Organic salsa – homemade salsa from local produce is ideal in my book, but since that was unrealistic last summer due to my chronic fatigue, I'm glad to have an “okay” option that's affordable.  Maybe this will be the year to can a bunch!

4. Spices – I have not yet done the research on how important organic spices are, and spices are WAY cheaper at ALDI, so I'm using them for now.

5. Dried beans – Again, I haven't yet researched how important organic is, and these are WAY cheaper than anywhere else.

6. White rice – Do your own research on everything, but my conclusion on rice is that organic is no better than conventional under most circumstances.  I'm definitely going for the savings here.  (I also buy brown rice and use both types, but they don't sell brown at ALDI.)

7. Organic pasta sauce – Same story as the salsa.

8. Fresh Produce – I start by buying whatever produce I can get locally as that is definitely the most healthy option.  If you are forced to trump savings over health, or if you can't find what you need locally, then stick with the “clean 15“, with the exception of corn.  Please don't eat non-organic corn, as it's genetically modified.  (Time would fail me to give all the reasons you should stay away from GMOs.  Please just trust me and don't do it.  Or go do some research.  That would be even better.)  ALDI's prices on produce can't be beat, and even if you're not yet doing the local/organic thing, eating produce is waaaay better than eating processed foods, so go for it!  (Update March 2017: ALDI now sells many types of organic produce too.)

9. Frozen Vegetables – these are really good quality, and frozen vegetables are pretty much as healthy (if not more so) than conventional fresh produce from the store because they are flash frozen at the peak of freshness (i.e. nutrient density).

10. Organic apple juice – this is not a “regular”, but it is a fun treat once in a while.

11 .Paper goods – You're not going to find them much cheaper than you will at ALDI.

12. Toilet paper – So far my favorite brand of toilet paper comes from ALDI!

13. Baking soda and vinegar – for cleaning.  I think I can get bigger bottles at Walmart for a cheaper price per ounce, though.

14. Some gluten free foods – ALDI does carry a gluten free line of foods now; however, most of it is highly processed and is therefore not what I would call healthy.  For an occasional treat, it is nice to grab a box of pre-made cookies or bars.  I also buy their spaghetti and pasta noodles regularly since the only ingredients are brown rice and water.  They're cheap, and they cook up beautifully!

15. Bread – if you're not gluten free, ALDI has a line of sprouted grain bread that contains very few ingredients. (You'll need to keep it in the fridge because it goes bad quickly.  That just means it's not full of chemical preservatives – yay!)

16. Plain yogurt – ALDI now carries organic plain yogurt.

Things I occasionally buy from ALDI:

1. Nitrate/nitrite-free ham – This is not ideal at all, but my husband likes to have lunch-meat on hand for those “Whoops, we didn't have any leftovers for you to take for lunch” days.  If he's going to eat it, I'd rather it be free of preservatives.

2. Hormone-free cheese – Again, not ideal, but definitely better and cheaper than many of the alternatives.

3. Cream cheese – It's easy to make my own from raw milk, but every once in a while I get lazy and grab a block.

4. Butter – Same story as above.

5. Organic cheese sticks – NOT budget-friendly and not the greatest compared to raw dairy, but a fun treat for the kids when we're out that's much better than cookies or candy.

6. Nuts – Definitely cheaper than anywhere else, although I am currently in the process of researching the best options for nuts health-wise and am not quite sure where I stand on that issue yet.

7. Oats – a great option if you can't afford organic.

8. Almond milk – definitely a splurge.  Don't look at the ingredient label.

9. Olive oil – This one's tricky.  It's hard to know exactly what you're getting when you see a label marked “olive oil”.  Do some research and you'll see what I mean.  But I still grab a bottle sometimes.

10. Sugar – ALDI now sells raw cane sugar, which I don't use often, but if we're going to use sugar it's what I use.

11. Coconut Oil – I'm glad they have it if I'm in a pinch, though I can typically get a better price per ounce elsewhere.

12. Organic ketchup – It's nice to have an affordable organic option.

Things I never buy at ALDI:

1. Raisins – grapes are on the dirty dozen list, so I always buy organic raisins, which ALDI doesn't sell.  If you can't afford organic, again, whole foods are still way better than processed!

2. Canned goods – I try to never buy canned goods since I don't want to contaminate myself or my family with BPA.  (Here's a trick, though.  If you need canned tomatoes, use salsa in jars.  Most things with tomatoes in it are also going to have peppers and onions.  This way you can purchase in glass jars, plus save yourself the work of cutting up the peppers and onions.)

3. Packaged/processed foods – self-explanatory

4. Baking powder – I only buy Rumford aluminum-free non-GMO baking powder, which ALDI does not sell.

5. Imported fish – If it comes from China, don't buy it!  I've seen people saying they've found wild-caught Alaskan salmon at ALDI, but every package I've ever looked at says it was imported from China.  Don't be deceived by labels.  Read every word.  (If you really find wild-caught Alaskan salmon, go for it!)

6. Meat and eggs – I can't bring myself to feed my family meat or eggs that comes from animals fed GMO grains their whole life.  This one is tough, because grass-fed/pastured meat and eggs costs a fortune!  I'm not even sure what to tell you, other than to make the sacrifice if at all possible.  Otherwise, “give thanks and eat”, and really mean it when you ask God to nourish your body with the food He's provided.  He knows.  (Side note: ALDI does carry grass-fed beef now; though it is not always available.  If you can find it, get it!  I did the research on it, and came to the conclusion that while I would prefer locally raised beef, the grass-fed beef from ALDI is still a great option!)

7. Non-organic “dirty dozen” produce – Any produce I can get locally is the best option.  Besides that, there are plenty of other produce options from the “clean 15”  or I can pick up organic at another grocery store.

Shopping at ALDI has been one of the BEST ways for me to lower the grocery budget on healthy food.  I also HIGHLY recommend my friend Tiffany's Grocery Budget Bootcamp if you're trying to eat healthier on a tight budget.  Most of the people taking the course are finding that they are eating healthier AND lowering their grocery bill at the same time!

Enrollment is currently closed because Tiffany teaches each course live, so make sure you sign up for the waiting list so you can be the first to  know when it opens back up!

How I Plan My Menus with Build a Menu

We all know we should be planning our menus ahead, but actually doing it is quite another thing.

I recently found out about Build a Menu, and it is awesome!  It accommodates any diet type, like gluten free, Trim Healthy Mama, or even just “normal people”. 🙂

(Interested in trying it?  You can try it free for 2 weeks by going through this link!)

I thought I'd show you exactly how it works so you can make an informed decision.

1. Choose your store.

I love that it includes Aldi and Walmart!
I personally just choose “any grocery store” since I buy my food from a variety of places, including the farmer's market.

2.  Choose your recipes. You don't have to plan out 3 meals a day if you don't want to, but it's nice that everything is included if that's what you want to do.

There are so many dietary options from which to choose, and you are not limited to just one type.  You can mix and match as much as you want.
I love the choices, though!  (Dine on a Dime, Trim Healthy Mama, Gluten free, etc.)

You can open up the recipes and look at them to see if it is something your family would like.  You can also see approximately how much each recipe will cost to make, so you can skip the ones that don't fit your budget.  And if you're doing Trim Healthy Mama, it will tell you what type of meal it is (S, E, etc.) Then you mark the checkbox next to the ones you want to use and they are automatically added to your menu and the ingredients are added to your shopping list.

Another cool thing is that if you want to have something more than once, you can select how many times you want to have it, and the ingredients will be adjusted on your shopping list accordingly. (For example, it will tell you exactly how many ounces of beans you need to purchase.)

I also love the fact that the recipes are changed out every week so that there are not an overwhelming number of choices.  I am very easily overwhelmed, and when there's too much to look at I usually end up saying “forget it”.  You can, however, see all the menus you've created in the past, and if you want to add a favorite recipe to your menu for the week, you can do so even if it's not on the current week's list of recipes.

*New!  Now you can upload your own recipes too!*

3. After you select your recipes, you click “Build My Menu” and you'll be able to add your recipes to a calendar on the days you'd like to have them.  You can plan up to a month at a time; though you don't have to do that much.

You can also skip planning it out on the calendar and just go straight to printing your list of recipes and your shopping list.

(That's how I prefer to do it because I like to have the freedom to choose whichever meal I'm most in the mood for or whichever would work best with our schedule for the day.)

Oh, and I almost forgot to tell you – as you're checking off the recipes you want to use, the program is tallying up your grocery total for the week!  That's perfect for those of us trying to stay on a strict budget.

Here is what your shopping list will look like:

I love how it's divided up into sections of the store, and how it even lists staples so I can make sure I have enough of those things.

Now, I must say as a “real foodie”, there are certain ingredients that I skip, like canned soups, broths, etc.  But I've become pretty adept at substituting the “real food” versions of those things without any trouble.

So instead of buying broth at the store, I would just make sure I had enough homemade broth in the freezer or that I have enough yogurt to substitute for cream of ____ soup.   (Side note: yogurt works great for that in most cases – just add a little seasoning to it, and you've got a creamy/tasty substance with no need to go through the complicated steps of making homemade cream of ____ soup.)

That's pretty much it!

You can sign up for your subscription using the button below.

(But if you happen to not love it, there's a money-back guarantee, so it's totally risk free to give it a go.)

Note: I have included affiliate links within this post.  I will receive a portion of each purchase made through these links.  You pay nothing extra, but the commission helps keep Imperfect Homemaker up and running. (And it might put a couple groceries on our family table too – thanks!)