Saturday, January 16, 2016

Walking Pharmacy


        You know what's embarrassing? When you leave the house without doing the important things like brushing your teeth or putting on deodorant. It never fails, you always run into that one person who you never want to see you looking like a hot mess. 
      Admit it, we've all done the pit niffs and the bad breath tests before meetings,luncheons and dates. We have all at one time or another rolled up to an important function looking like we just rescued a litter of dogs with the ungodly amount of animal fur that attached itself to you as you past Fido in the hall. 
      It's not enjoyable going about your day in fear someone might make mention of that patch of fur you can't shake off your coat sleeve, or that suspicious smell that may or not be you, and that freakishly large stain on your pant leg. It's always humiliating when people cast judgey eye glances and point finger towards you because your temporally not at your best. But then again, who really is?
    Do you need that extra security of having the essentials everyone needs for those "just in case emergencies''? I have the solution for you. It's call, The Walking Pharmacy. It's a very handy collection of all the necessities you're always wishing you had in your purse, and if you by chance do have them; they are swimming at the bottom of your bag. Who has time to mine though their bag? Certainly not me.

      Do you like the idea of having the convince of your medicine cabinet in your purse at all times? If you do, all you have to do to build your own Walking Pharmacy is to first find yourself a cute little makeup/toiletry bag suitable for what you want to carry in it. I chose an Orla Kiely cosmetic bag from Target. I believe I paid around $17. This specific bag is not available online at Target anymore, but I have seen it in a few stores. They are pretty hard to come by. So if you like this particular bag, keep your eyes peeled. 
     The thing I love about Orla Kiely, cosmetic bags is that they are very versatile when it comes to storage. They are also made out of pleasantly easy to wipe fabrics, have heavy duty zippers and most importantly they are super fashionable. I have even thought about picking up a couple more for my daughters who would love them as on the go mini art kits for all their colored pencils, markers and papers. See versatile!!
 

    This bag really packs a punch when it comes to space and storage of everything I need to carry. For being a small case it sure holds quite a bit. My kit has been a life saver more than once; not just for me but for my whole family. Here is a list of everything I carry in my Walking Pharmacy.



  1. Floss Picks
  2. Cough Drops
  3. Vitamin C Drops
  4. Palmers Coco Butter Lotion
  5. Red Cross Digital Thermometer
  6. Nail file
  7. Tide To Go Pen/ Shout Whips
  8. Women's Care Products
  9. Lens Wipes
  10. Band-Aid (A lot of them)
  11. Alcohol Wipes
  12. Neutrogena Beach Defense Sunscreen
  13. Baby Phat Perfume
  14. Colgate Wisps
  15. Orajel
  16. Carmex
  17. Visine Eye Drops
  18. Antibiotic/Pain Relief Cream
  19. Hydrocortisone Cream
  20. Small Travel Pill Container w/Tums and Allergy Relief Pill
  21. Bottle of Aleve
  22. Small Mirror
  23. 1 Lipton Tea and Honey Mix Packet
  24. Abreva Lip Medication
  25. Odds and Ends Kit- see contents below
And I have room to add more!!!
 
 
  
      My Odds and Ends Kit contains the small things that require much effort when searching for. The container itself is a travel size Q-Tips container which is the perfect size to fit in my cosmetic bag. It includes: bobby pins, tweezers, nail clippers, hair clips and ties, safety pins, Velcro, and a small tape measure.

 
You're probably thinking; do you really need to carry around all of this junk?
Trust me, I do. I have uses for everything I carry.
Velcro, really? What could you possible need this for?
Fashion emergencies, duh!
  And what about the tape measure?
 I am a home décor/crafting guru. An accurate measurement is crucial to the balance and shape of everything I create. 
Ok, ok. I'll give you those, but what about all those bobby pens, do you actually use them all?
Of course I use ALL those bobby pens. Are you crazy! I'm a mother of three girls. Bobby pens are the band aids of the hair/fashion world. They fix everything.
Well, gosh. You really are a smart and prepared young lady who has it together. I wish I was more like you.
Keep wishing. I'm one of a kind, baby. One-Of-A-Kind!
 
      But you can make your own Walking Pharmacy and have the luxury of carrying everything you need in a small convent bag that you can toss into your purse, carry in your diaper bag, keep in the car or even in your work desk. Trust me when I say this, once you have this little gem hanging around, you'll wonder how you ever survived without it.


Monday, January 4, 2016

Ba-na-na-na-na-na-ah Recipes

As a mom of four, I make sure to always have fruit in the fruit bowl, and one of our favorites is of course the banana. They are a quick, get out the door because the bus is here breakfast and they can be easily thrown out the window when done. See my dilemma is, I buy to many at a time and they can never seem to get consumed by the time they get to ripe. So ripe they look like a mummified fingers. Eck! Oh, and don't be me started on those dang fruit flies. During the summer time, we all look like a bunch of crossed eye Ninja Camp rejects swatting and clapping our hands as we battle an army of nasty, evil fruit fly's in the middle of the kitchen. But because I hate to see anything go to waste I always try to find different ways to use up what I have before things spoil. With that being said, I would like to share a few of our family's favorite banana recipes.
 
Amazingly Healthy Banana Muffins
 
Photo Credit: Healthy Kid Recipes by Sophia
I just recently found this recipe on Pintrest and we absolutely love them. I normally would bake banana muffins using my mothers recipe which calls for 2 cups of sugar and 1/2 cup brown sugar; so finding a healthy alternative for one of our favorite Saturday morning breakfasts that not only pleases the kids taste buds but gives me peace of mind that I'm not loading them up on sugar. Follow the link below to for the recipe.
 
 
                 
 Three Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Cookies
 
These cookies are super simple and more than likely you have all the ingredients in your cupboard. The texture takes some getting used to but they are super yummy and make a great snack to take on your day out with the kids.
 

Photo Credit: The Burlap Bag

                                                                         Ingredients: 
                              2 ripe banana      1 C. quick oats     1/3 C. semi sweet chocolate chip  
Mash banana and oat together in medium bowl. Add in chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes.
 Mom's Nila Wafer Banana Pudding 
 
My mother absolutely loved this recipe. It was one of her signature summer treats. Nothing like a big bowl of Nilla Wafer Banana Pudding to follow up Dad's fried chicken and mashed tators and gravy entrée.

Ingredients:
1 box Nilla Wafers    bananas(sliced)     1 instant banana pudding mix    2 containers cool whip
 
Layer Nilla Wafers in pan of choice. Slice bananas. Mix pudding according to box directions. Let it slightly set up. Add 1/2 container of Cool Whip. Mix will. Spoon pudding mixture on wafers. Layer on wafers then bananas. Spoon on pudding mixture. Layer wafers and bananas. Continue process until pudding is gone. Finish with rest of cool whip and top with wafers. Chill for at least an hour. Serve.

 
Frozen Banana Bites
 
 I love anything with peanut butter or chocolate. Adding in one of our favorite fruits makes it even better. These make a great summer after the swimming pool snack to fill my kids tummies before a mid day siesta. I too found this delicious recipe on Pintrest. Click the link to check it out.
Frozen Banana Bites
 

Photo Credit: Keeper of The Home
Banana Splits
 
I don't think this recipe needs any explanation. We all know what these are and if you don't, I am truly sorry but you have missed out on one of America's iconic summer treats. Since I really don't like to put limits on ice cream, we eat these year round. There are no right and wrongs with it comes to creating this amazing treat. So get creative with your favorite topping.


No Bake Banana Cream Cheesecake

*Sorry no picture of dessert. It never last long enough to snap a photo.

Sweet Momma! This stuff is good. This is my husband's and mine personal favorite pie recipe. So favorite I'm not against dueling for the last piece. "I WILL CUT YOU! NOW BACK OFF!"

It's a super simple recipe that will make TWO pies. That's right, I said TWO pies... Ok! Ok! Good Lort, sit back down and compose yourself. I say the words "two pies" and you lose it faster than a teenage girl at an One Direction meet and greet. You're a dignified grown up. Acting like I just gave you dang car or something. I ain't Oprah.
As I was saying, this pie is absolutely amazing and it is no bake, which means no slaving over a hot oven. Follow the recipe below if you would like to impress all your family and friends.

Ingredients:
Two graham cracker crust pie shells    2 packages instant banana pudding
2 containers of Cool Whip         1 package 8oz cream cheese
                              3 cups milk         1 1/2 -2 cups powdered sugar
bananas                                   
 
Blend together cream cheese,  1/2 container of Cool Whip, and powered sugar. You can add more or less powdered sugar depending on how sweet you want your cheese cake mixture. Spoon equal amounts into each pie shell. Spread carefully not to break crust. Next mix your pudding with milk. Mix until fully combined. Imminently pour on top of cheesecake filling. Refrigerate and let pudding set up. When pudding is firm top pies with remaining Cool Whip. Add fresh bananas for that finished touch. Enjoy!

You're sure to be the talk of the party with this little crowed pleaser. But beware, you may find yourself hording the a whole pie to yourself in the bathroom. No Guilt, No Shame. You did your best to keep your self together while making them. Indulged, my sweet friends. There's no going back.
The greatest thing about this pie, is you can change the banana pudding out for other delicious pudding flavors.

There you have it. Some of our favorite banana treats. Try them and let me know what you think  and don't be afraid to add your own spin to them. Share in the comment section below your reviews on these flavorful snacks. Also feel free to share your favorite banana recipes as well. Happy Snacking!