Read. Write. Mom!

FREE Home Spring Cleaning Checklist Printables

Posted on April 8, 2015September 29, 2022 by Mandy

Hopefully wherever you live you are finally seeing the promising signs of Spring. Here in the south, the days are really starting to feel a little more like summer weather, but I’ll definitely take it over the dreary winter we had. I’m excited about a fresh new season and with that comes my annual spring cleaning spree. This is usually when I get really into those cleaning and organizing projects and I always feel so much better afterwards. But then again, I love to clean and would definitely do that over cooking any day!

Just in case you need a little motivation to start tackling those projects, here is an absolutely free to you Spring Cleaning Checklist printable to help you stay organized while you accomplish your cleaning goals. These printables feature specific jobs for each and every room in your home to get everything clean in no time! Enlist your older kids to help to make the job go a little faster. It could be a fun way to teach them some life skills.

If you do decide to print these off and use them, I would love to hear your thoughts about it!

Berry Yogurt Crunch Recipe & SPLENDA No Calorie Sweetener, Packets #SWEETSWAPS ™

Posted on March 30, 2015January 20, 2024 by Mandy

This post is part of the SPLENDA® Brand Sweet Life Blogger Program by McNeil Nutritional, LLC and The Motherhood, who sent me products and compensated me for my time. Opinions, experiences, and photos shared here are my own, and I hope you enjoy them.

Spring is finally here and if you’re as excited as me about being able to get out and enjoy yourself a little more while making some healthy lifestyle changes, then keep reading! I’m pretty much not the type of person to make any big change immediately, so I have learned to cut myself a little slack and start small. One of the biggest changes I want to make for myself this spring is to start eating a healthy breakfast every morning.

Did you know that the average American consumes more than 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day? Through the SWEET SWAPS™ Initiative, the SPLENDA® brand is dishing out creative ways to swap full sugar for SPLENDA® Sweetener Products to save calories. Swapping out regular sugar for SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener Packets in my coffee is a choice I made ten years ago and I have never looked back. Did you also know that by swapping one cup of sugar with SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated you can save more than 600 calories? That’s quite a savings!

So back to breakfast. It takes at least a couple of hours from the time I wake up until I am ready to eat breakfast. By then, I’m at work and grabbing something totally unhealthy to tide me over until lunch. On the rare occasion I do take the time to eat a healthy breakfast, I definitely notice that I feel much better. One go-to breakfast and snack item I love is yogurt, so this Berry Yogurt Crunch using SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener Packets is a smart and delicious breakfast choice to reduce the full sugar and calories in this recipe.

Berry Yogurt Crunch

Ingredients:

Greek or Non-Fat Yogurt (I used plain non-fat vanilla yogurt)

Fruits of your choice, diced (I used strawberries and blueberries)

Granola (as much as you prefer)

1 SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener Packet

Spoon yogurt into a bowl. Top with granola and fruit. Sprinkle 1 SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener Packet over the top and enjoy!

Be sure to visit SPLENDA® online for more great recipes, savings, and over 365 SWEET SWAPS ™ ideas!

Spring Clean Your Kitchen

Along with my decision to eat a better breakfast, getting my kitchen in better organizational shape this spring is also a top priority for me. Here are my top 3 Spring Cleaning & Organizational Tips for the kitchen:

Remove everything from the counters and wipe them down with a good disinfectant.

Go through each cabinet and drawer. Toss out expired products and make a list to replace items as needed.

If you haven’t used any small kitchen appliances or cookware in the last year and most likely won’t, consider selling or donating those items.

Join the Twitter Party!

What: Celebrate spring by renewing and refreshing all aspects of life – including your recipe repertoire. We’ll be sharing seasonal recipes from The SPLENDA® SWEET SWAPS™ page along with some tips to help you make smart, balanced decisions as part of your lifestyle.

When: Tuesday, March 31 at 1 P. M. ET

Where: We’ll be on Twitter – follow the #SweetSwaps hashtag to track the conversation.

You can see the details and RSVP via this Vite: http://vite.io/themotherhood

Hashtag: #SweetSwaps

Prizes: We will be giving away five prizes to randomly selected participants who answer the trivia questions correctly. Each prize includes a $50 Visa gift card, an assortment of SPLENDA® Sweetener Products and a SPLENDA® branded apron and bag. Prizes limited to U.S. participants only. Official rules here

5 Travel Apps for Adults

Posted on March 28, 2015January 10, 2016 by Mandy

Traveling can be exciting, especially when you’re headed off to explore a new destination. Even if you’re making a familiar trip, you can still find the best restaurants, hotels, directions and more thanks to some amazing travel apps. If you are interested in saving time and money on your next road trip, consider trying out some of these apps:

The Weather Channel – Knowing what the weather will be like along the way and when you arrive at your destination is important for making plans, especially if those plans involve outdoor activities. You’ll also want to stay aware in the event of severe weather.

Hotel Tonight – Maybe you’ve just decided on a spur-of-the-moment trip and haven’t booked hotel accommodations in advance. This app will help you find a place quickly and give you options according to how much money you are looking to spend on a room. Read more at Hoffman.

Reading Games on the Go

Posted on March 28, 2015January 10, 2016 by Mandy

It’s very exciting when your child starts learning how to read. Suddenly, they can recognize letters and start putting together words and happily spell and sound them out to you whenever they can. Signs are everywhere and learning to read and recognize environmental print is very important for children. The next time you’re in the car, try out one of these three reading games that are absolutely free and fun for you and your child.

The A-B-C Game -This is a great game if you are on a long car trip. Start at the letter A and see if your child can identify objects they see along the way that correspond with each letter of the alphabet in order. You can also mix it up and just write down what you see even if it isn’t in alphabetical order. Your child will enjoy looking for these objects and it helps to keep the boredom of a long ride to a minimum. Read more at Junction Auto Sales.

Vehicle Spring Cleaning and Maintenance Tips

Posted on March 28, 2015January 10, 2016 by Mandy

Springtime is here and chances are your vehicle has probably taken a beating inside and out this winter. Snow and everyday dirt and grime from the road tends to cake on and layer during the winter and the weather just isn’t very cooperative when it comes to giving your vehicle the cleaning it really needs during the colder months. Now that warmer weather is on the way, you can make sure your vehicle has a good, thorough cleaning and maintenance check to enjoy for the nicer days ahead.

Check Your Oil – Make sure you aren’t due for an oil change. If so, make sure to get that done, as well as to check other vehicle fluids. Doing this yourself can save you some money, but if you’re not skilled in this area, a local dealership or auto shop can check everything for you quickly and efficiently and usually have you back in your car in no time.

Check Your Tires – How did your tires fare over the colder months? Make sure all tires have the correct amount of air in them and are in good shape and replace those that need to be replaced. Riding on worn down tires just isn’t worth the risk. Read more at Zeigler Alfa Romeo and Fiat of Grandville.

6 Useful Vehicle Accessories

Posted on March 26, 2015January 10, 2016 by Mandy

If you spend a good amount of time on the road traveling for work or pleasure, you might find yourself wishing your vehicle came with a few more items that would come in handy for making road trips a little more comfortable or easier. Today there are a wide variety of fun vehicle accessories to meet just about any need you might have while traveling.

Car Trash Can – This is probably the most useful item you can have while traveling, especially if you have children or eat meals on the go. It makes cleanup a breeze and keeps your car looking great on the inside.

Trunk Organizer – If you have smaller items you keep in your trunk that tend to roll around with every turn or bump, a car organizer tote is the perfect solution for keeping all of those items secure in one place. Read more at Kayser Chrysler Center.

5 Fun Travel Apps for Kids

Posted on March 26, 2015January 10, 2016 by Mandy

If you’re heading out on a long road trip with kids, it can be hard to find activities to keep them from becoming bored and restless along the way, especially the younger your child is. Just as grown-ups take books, music, and other things to help them pass the time on a long trip, kids need something to help them pass the time as well. Educational apps can be a great way for kids to keep learning as they go.

Trip to the Zoo for Kids – Learning to identify animals and how to care for them will make for a fun way to pass the time for your younger child. This app is also perfect if an actual zoo visit is in your trip plans.

Kids Education Puzzle – Preschoolers and younger children alike will enjoy trying to solve a picture puzzle by sliding the pieces into their correct place. One the puzzle is solved it reveals an animal. See if your child can point out any of those animals they might see along the way during your drive.

Read more at Ken Garff of West Valley

10 Delicious St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Recipes

Posted on March 16, 2015January 20, 2024 by Mandy

Shepherd’s Pie. Guinness Beef Stew. Irish Soda Bread. Is your mouth watering yet? In this roundup there are 10 fabulous St. Patrick’s Day dinner recipes to please the whole family. if you’re looking to infuse a little taste of the Irish into your meals, these are the perfect recipes. Pair them up with a St. Patrick’s Day dessert and you’ll have your entire meal pulled together in no time, no good luck needed!

1. Easy Peasy Shepherd’s Pie | Source: Mooshu Jenne
2. Guiness-braised Brats and Broccoli-topped Baked Potatoes | Source: Farm Fresh Feasts
3. Guinness Beef Stew | Source: Family Food and Travel
4. Roasted Cabbage with Lemon | Source: Kalyn’s Kitchen
5. Irish Soda Bread | Source: We Know Stuff
6. Reuben Sliders | Source: Just Us Four
7. Colcannon | Source: Mom Foodie at Blommi.com
8. Corned Beef and Cabbage Bites | Source: Thrifty Jinxy
9. Avocado Pesto Pasta | Source: Love to Be in the Kitchen
10. Reuben Tortilla Pinwheels | Source: Home Cooking Memories