tips

Manage Your Family’s Screen Time and Keep Kids Safe Online with the Circle Home Plus

April 19, 2021 by Sandra Leave a Comment

Thanks to Moms Meet for sponsoring this blog post on how to manage your family’s screen time and keep kids safe online with the Circle Home Plus.

Manage Your Family's Screen Time and Keep Kids Safe Online

Do you want to manage screen time for your family and keep your kids safe online?

Of course, you do. 🙂

I do, too, so I’ve had subscriptions to a few different ‘screen supervision’ companies over the years, but one subscription, in particular, stands out from the others.

That subscription is our Circle Home Plus subscription, which also includes a fabulous Circle Home Plus device that connects to our home router and pairs with our home Wi-Fi network and allows us to control ALL of the internet-connected devices in our home.

It’s pretty great! I’ve never had this level of control over every internet-connected device in our home. From computers to gaming consoles to Smart TVs, the Circle gives you the power to filter what type of content is allowed and what’s not allowed.

Protect Your Family Online with the Circle Home Plus and app

Basically, after you’ve connected the Circle Home Plus device to your home router and installed the Circle Parental Controls app on your phone, you can get started by creating a profile for each family member. This is actually fun.

You’ll set filters for various categories of content and limits based on the age and interests of your child as well as your preferences as a parent. You’ll also assign each device in your home to the person that uses it so that you can get the most accurate information about how and when a device is used.

I personally love the Internet Bedtime feature and use it to completely shut the internet off of all my kids’ devices from a certain time of night until morning. This helps to keep my kids accountable and helps them to get a better night’s rest.

Set an Internet Bedtime for Each Member of Your Family

For devices like Ring cameras and Smart TVs that aren’t used solely by one person, they can be assigned to ‘Home’ in the Circle app. You can keep track of their usage that way without assigning them to one specific family member.

Filter Content on all internet-connected devices in your home including gaming consoles

The other feature I love is being able to start and stop the internet for each individual device in seconds through the Circle app. It’s fantastic! You can literally pause the internet for your entire home in one quick click or you can pause the internet on a single device with one click. Talk about power.

Overall, I love the Circle Home Plus and I know it’s working to keep my kids safe from millions of inappropriate sites and even content I, as a parent, just don’t feel they need to have access to.

Once our current 1-year subscription is up, I can definitely see my family getting a Lifetime subscription to Circle because it’ll save us money in the long run. And even the 1-year subscription actually costs LESS than what we used to pay for a 1-year subscription to another popular ‘screen supervision’ service called Covenant Eyes. While we liked Covenant Eyes and used it for years, when we compare it to everything the Circle Home Plus offers, it falls far short.

Circle Home Plus is the clear winner when it comes to keeping my family safe online and giving me power as a parent to decide what they see and when they can see it. 🙂

EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Save 20% on your purchase of a Circle Home Plus device + 1-year app subscription or Circle Home Plus device + Lifetime app subscription with promo code: MOMSMEET2021. This code is valid until 10/15/21. One promo code use per person. To purchase, click here.

How do you manage screen time for your family? Would you use the Circle Home Plus and app?

Help and Improve Your Good Gut Bacteria with Kyo-Dophilus Pro+ Synbiotic Chewables

March 7, 2021 by Sandra Leave a Comment

Thanks to Moms Meet for sponsoring this blog post on how to improve good bacteria in your gut.

Find out how to improve good bacteria in your gut.

Did you know that most of your immune system lives in your gut?

It’s true. It sounds crazy but it’s not. Your gut is where most of the good bacteria that are part of your immune system live. They live in what’s known as your gut microbiome, and they fight for you there to keep you healthy and prevent you from getting sick.

So it’s important that we keep our gut microbiome healthy, and one way I’m doing that is by taking Kyo-Dophilus Pro+ Synbiotic chewable tablets.

Whew! I know the name (Kyo-Dophilus Pro+ Synbiotic) is a mouthful, but these tablets are actually not complicated to take or keep up with. I take them daily with or without a meal at any time of the day when I remember. Of course, it’s preferable to take them at the same time every day so that you can keep to a routine. In my case, I’ve found that if I have them out on the kitchen counter, I’ll remember to take them at some point in the day.

Going back to the Kyo-Dophilus Pro+ Synbiotic name, it basically means that these tablets contain both prebiotics and probiotics. Synbiotic is a word used for probiotics and prebiotics that are combined to provide a synergistic beneficial effect in the gut microbiome.

Find out how to improve good bacteria in your gut.

Each single-serving packet contains two berry smoothie chewable tablets that are surprisingly good and easy to eat. I look forward to taking them every day now.

I wanted to mention that the tablets don’t require refrigeration and that makes them even more convenient so you can take them with you on-the-go if you know you’re going to be away from home and like to take your prebiotics and probiotics at the same time every day.

Find out how to improve good bacteria in your gut.

The added fiber in the tablets may cause gas or bloating for the first few days as your microbiome adjusts but I didn’t experience this at all. I felt that these chewables were extremely gentle on my system and I didn’t experience any negative effects whatsoever.

It could be because we recently switched our diet back to a more whole foods plant-based diet and I had already started eating more fruits and vegetables so my body was prepared for these new tablets. I don’t know if that was the case. I just know that I was waiting for some possible interesting effects on my digestive system and that never happened, thankfully!

Finally, I wanted to let you know that these Kyo-Dophilus tablets are non-GMO and free of soy, gluten, dairy, and artificial colors and flavors and you can find them at your local natural health food stores and online at places like Amazon, iherb, and Vitacost. Let me know if you end up giving them a try. 🙂

Have you taken prebiotics or probiotics? Do you have any tips on how to improve good bacteria in your gut?

DIY Gift Idea: Peppermint Sugar Scrub (and review of the Epson LabelWorks Printable Ribbon Kit)

December 24, 2020 by Sandra 6 Comments

I partnered with Epson for a review of the LabelWorks Printable Ribbon Kit.

Sugar scrubs are kind of…amazing.

Truly, I had never used a sugar scrub for the first twenty-nine-years or so of my life, and I was missing out. 😉

Now, I whip them up on a regular basis for my family and show others how to make them as well. Besides that, sugar scrubs are fabulous during the winter months, because they moisturize your skin and keep it from feeling all dry and itchy. We’ve been using our homemade peppermint sugar scrub all winter, and it’s made such a difference in my naturally dry skin.

I love it!

This particular peppermint body scrub only takes a few minutes to make, and it only requires three simple ingredients: sugar, coconut oil, and peppermint essential oil. Easy enough, right?

Sugar Scrubs Make Great Gifts

Now besides pampering yourself with a homemade scrub, you might consider giving one away as a gift. Valentine’s Day is right around the corner… 🙂

And to make your homemade gift extra-special, you can put the scrub in a brand new mason jar and adorn it with ribbon.

Like so.

I used the Epson LabelWorks Printable Ribbon Kit to create a ribbon that not only lets the gift-receiver know what type of sugar scrub is in the jar, but also gives this homemade gift a little charm and elegance.

The red ribbon with gold lettering was perfect for this project. Best of all, the ribbon was easy to set up in the label machine. I’ll confess that I read the directions on how to get started with everything, but being the non-crafty person that I am, I still didn’t know what I was doing afterwards.

One quick YouTube video later, and I was all set. 😉

I thought the Epson LabelWorks Printable Ribbon Kit was straightforward and a snap to use. Even my kids enjoyed it.

The large, green button on the side of the label printer is what you push to cut the ribbon after it comes out of the machine. My kids LOVED pushing the button and asked if I could make all sorts of ribbons for them.

I did, of course. 🙂

I put the final touches on this homemade gift by using a couple of items I already had on hand: a wintery snowman gift bag and plastic ribbon to tie everything together. I love how it turned out!

Here’s the printable recipe for the Peppermint Sugar Body Scrub:

Peppermint Sugar Scrub

Ingredients

½ cup coconut oil
1½ cups granulated sugar
10 drops of peppermint essential oil

Instructions

In a small bowl, thoroughly mix together the coconut oil and sugar.
Add the peppermint essential oil and mix just until it's infused throughout the sugar scrub.
Store in a covered container, and use as desired.

https://thesensiblemom.com/2020/12/diy-gift-idea-peppermint-sugar-scrub-review-epson-labelworks-printable-ribbon-kit/

I’m looking forward to using my Epson LabelWorks Ribbon Kit to pretty up many more of my DIY beauty projects and even to personalize wrapping paper, foodie gifts, and more of my kids’ creations. 🙂

Do you make your own body scrubs? Have you ever used an Epson label printer?

Delicious Monkey Bread Recipe PLUS Baking Tips and Tricks from a Chef

December 23, 2020 by Sandra 8 Comments

Thanks to Jewel-Osco for sponsoring this post and sharing great baking tips as we head into the new year.

One of my family’s favorite ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve is with monkey bread.

It’s gooey, sweet, and delicious! Plus, it’s the perfect indulgence as we wrap up the busy holiday season and look forward to the new year. We all love it, and I know my kids will have memories of making monkey bread with Mommy for a long time to come. 🙂

Here’s what the monkey bread looks like before it’s flipped out of the bundt pan and onto a serving platter. Mmmm…so much buttery, sugary goodness!

Jewel-Osco Lucerne® Dairy Farms Products

Now, when I make monkey bread, I love using Lucerne® Dairy Farms butter and milk exclusively available at my local Jewel-Osco grocery store. If you’ve seen my grocery haul videos, you already know that I’m a big fan of Jewel-Osco. After all, the variety of dairy products they have available is great quality and affordable.

While Jewel-Osco offers all of the above products (and more) for your NYE party needs, I only need to use their milk and butter along with the rest of the ingredients listed in the recipe at the end of this blog post for the monkey bread.

Side Note: Pair crackers with strawberry cream cheese spread (pictured above) to create a quick and easy New Year’s Day snack for your family and guests!

Baking Tips and Tricks

If you need more baking tips, Jewel-Osco Executive Chef Jeff Anderson has these for you:

1. Take inventory: Before diving into cooking and baking, check your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer to make sure you have all the essentials.
  - PRO TIP: Keep extra flour and sugar in the pantry, stock up on an 18-count of Lucerne® Eggs, and store Lucerne® Butter in the freezer so you have it on hand to make last-minute dishes for the parties you’ll be attending or hosting!
2. Gather, Measure, Ready: (Or in fancier terms, “Mise en Place”) Before you begin baking your scrumptious treats, organize all of your ingredients, utensils, and baking materials. Use these simple steps to help you prepare and not waste any time in the kitchen:
  - Gather: Pull together all of your ingredients.
  - Measure: Before you get your hands dirty, pre-measure your dry ingredients such as flour, salt, dairy, spices, etc.
  - Ready: Get your oven pre-heated before you start, so there is no waiting around.
3. Get ahead of the game: Have an early morning start? Prepare dishes that can be made ahead of time and freeze them until it’s go-time! As an example, freeze your Pumpkin Chocolate Rolls made with Lucerne® Pumpkin Flavored Cream Cheese and then pop into the oven just before guests arrive so they will smell the delicious aroma when they walk through the door!
  - PRO TIP: Take the extra step, and prepare whipped cream to top off your desserts! Try out this recipe using just four ingredients including Lucerne® Heavy Whipping Cream. This is great for coffee drinks, kids’ treats, and more!
4. Dry run: Read over your recipe a few days in advance. When menu planning, make notes, check your inventory, and think through everything you’ll need to prepare the recipe.

Monkey Bread Recipe

I hope those tips from Chef Jeff are helpful to you. Now, here’s the recipe for the delicious monkey bread I’ve been talking about. I hope your family enjoys it as much as mine. 🙂

Monkey Bread

Ingredients

For the Dough:

3-1/2 cups bread flour, plus more for the counter
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 envelope of instant or RapidRise yeast (or measure out 2-1/4 teaspoons if you're measuring the yeast out of a jar)
1-1/2 teaspoons salt (I use fine grain Himalayan pink salt)
1 cup Lucerne whole milk, warm (around 115 degrees)
1/3 cup water, warm (around 115 degrees)
3 tablespoons honey
4 tablespoons Lucerne unsalted sweet cream butter, melted and cooled

For the Coating:

8 tablespoons Lucerne unsalted sweet cream butter, melted and cooled
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt (I use fine grain Himalayan pink salt)

Instructions

In a large bowl, whisk together the bread flour, cinnamon, yeast, and salt. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, water, honey, and butter.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and mix together using a fork or spatula until the dough comes together.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for about 5 to 10 minutes. Then shape the dough into a ball and place it in a large lightly oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set it aside to rise in a warm place for about 1-1/2 hours or until the dough has doubled in size.
Once the dough has risen, lightly grease a bundt pan and set aside.
Turn the dough out onto a clean surface, then take the dough and divide it into round balls that are about 1 tablespoon each in size.
In a small bowl, mix together the butter and vanilla extract. Set aside.
On a large rimmed baking sheet, stir together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt, and then spread that mixture out over the baking sheet to roll the dough balls in.
Roll each ball in the butter mixture and then in the cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat. Toss each of the dough balls into the bundt pan as you go. Try to arrange them evenly in the pan.
Pour any remaining butter and cinnamon-sugar mixture over the dough balls. Then cover the bundt pan with plastic wrap and set it aside to rise in a warm place for another 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until the dough has doubled in size.
Once the monkey bread has risen, adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Bake the monkey bread for 35 to 40 minutes or until it's golden brown. Then remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for 15 minutes.
Once the monkey bread has cooled, place your desired serving plate on top of the bundt pan so that it covers it completely. Then carefully flip the monkey bread out onto the serving plate. Serve and enjoy!

https://thesensiblemom.com/2020/12/delicious-monkey-bread-recipe-plus-baking-tips-and-tricks-from-a-chef/

Manage Your Family’s Screen Time and Keep Kids Safe Online with the Circle Home Plus

Help and Improve Your Good Gut Bacteria with Kyo-Dophilus Pro+ Synbiotic Chewables