The Car Seat Key Gets This Momma's Approval!

How many times have you bent back or broken a nail on your child's car seat button? Do you have arthritis in your hands that makes it difficult to push that button in? Or does doing so just make your fingers sore? All of the above are true for this Mom. And I have 4 kids. My youngest is about to be 2 years old. She has a toddler car seat. I get that they are supposed to be child proof to keep them in securely. And I appreciate that. But wow! Getting that button pushed can be difficult. Especially when your kid spills things over it. Ever get one of those things stuck before from stickiness? I have. It was a nightmare. Try though I did, I could never get it completely cleaned out and it never worked smoothly again. Which is where the Car Seat Key would have been a priceless gadget to have!

*Disclaimer: I was chosen through my association with US Family Guide to work with namra in writing this review in exchange for the products they sent. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. The opinions within are strictly my own.*

What makes it worth having? 

Now that that is passed, let us look into this awesome little gadget that does wonders! It is designed to assist you in a quick motion to pop open that red button that keeps the baby locked and secured in the car seat. They come in various colors (how stylish!) and clip on to your key ring or bag with the nifty clip that is attached. I decided to keep the teal one. It's so pretty! I'm going to be giving away the black one soon. Best of all, these have been tested with every car seat on the market, so you can be assured that it will work with yours. They fit nicely, even in smaller bags or you can hang it on the side.

Time for some great savings! 

They offer free shipping throughout the US as well as bulk discounts. Save big with The Car Seat Key.
Buy (2) Save $4.00 Buy (3) Save $9.00 Buy (4) Save $14.00 Buy (5) Save $19.00 Discount is automatically applied at checkout!
Coupon Link Here

So if you know someone with kids still in car seats, this is the perfect time to buy them a great gift! Parents, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles - anyone who carries young children in their vehicles can benefit from this tool. They would be a great addition to the gift basket, bundle or diaper cake design! They sell for $14.99 each unless you bundle and save!

Let me know what you think about it in the comments below!

A Hook For a Hand Never Looked So Good!

There have been times when I could have used an extra hand. As a Mommy, or Wonder Mom even, I can't always carry everything myself. But I don't always have someone around to help. That is where The Mommy Hook is a godsend. 

*Disclaimer: I was sent these products, free of charge, in exchange for my honest review. I was not otherwise paid or endorsed. All opinions expressed are strictly my own.*

I have to say that I am thoroughly impressed by these hooks. When I was working, I had tiny versions that helped me carry bunches of keys of the business around. I couldn't imagine not having one. But this one is large! And comfortable. This is possible because of the foam padding. It is designed perfectly for holding all those extra bags, but still staying comfortable in your hand. It is strong enough to hold the weight and big enough to be attached to the stroller or cart. The Mommy Hook is the ultimate and bestselling stroller accessory!

Simple but effective is always better! 

I can balance baby and bags with ease. I can also attach it to my stroller or store cart. I like this as I often shop for groceries for 2+ weeks at a time. And since carts are only able to hold so many filled bags, this adds to our ability and ease of carrying more. My husband has been using them to carry all the bags at once for me since  the pain has been strong lately.

These are sold locally too! You can check here to find out where they are close to you. I saw retailers like Target, Walmart and Buy Buy Baby on there. Amazon has them as well! But if you aren't in America, don't worry! They have international sales too. 

Another reason I love them? They were created by a divorced father of three who has twins in the Autism spectrum. Parents know parenting needs. He saw a need and he filled it (Robots reference, anyone?) Point is, he created something amazing! They are designed to last. Through all our parenting adventures. But they are versatile. Created of durable aluminum, it is lightweight but not cheap like most other hooks and clips that are made from plastic and have a tendency to break easily.

So who wants to win one of their own?! 

 

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How I'm Creating My Perfect Steampunk Goggles

I don't have a lot of free time. Between the appointments and kids... I stay busy. But every so often, I take a moment for me. Which, right now, means that I am working on my next steampunk project. 

Goggles! 

What steampunk costume would be complete without them?! I've always been fascinated by them. In college, I had a buddy that always wore goggles. Not steampunk, but still cool ones. I envied him for strutting his style so freely. 

Now I'm finally doing the same. And I love it! A friend gave me these goggles. I painted them and used gears that my Mom had sent me a while back to add some flair.

I also took apart a pair of aviator glasses my Mom had sent. They were pretty twisted, so I'm giving them a new life. Used the glass lenses to add a greenish color tint to my goggles.

Loving the effect! 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - what my kids always tell me :) 

I decided each side should have its own unique design to it.

So I switched up the pattern of gears. My engineer husband has plans to help me attach movable parts to create this effect next time: 

So what do you think?

Next, I am going to attempt to make pouches that I can attach to my belt and wear with my corset top. I have multiple sizes of glass bottles to put in them. Hoping to complete it all before Halloween. Around that time, we are wanting to go to Free Comic Book Day for Halloween and maybe catch an event at a local collectible's shop next to our favorite photographer!

Low Sodium Spaghetti and Alfredo Sauce

We don't eat spaghetti nearly as often as we used to. My family loves to pick on me for how much we used to make it. But it has been a favorite of the kids. And a simple meal that I can throw together in a rush. With the need to drop all the extra sodium, however, I had to rethink making it or chicken Alfredo. That is, until I found some homemade recipes for them. We have found that we actually prefer it this way! The flavor of jarred sauces has become so bland. We bought Ragu in the past. It was within our price range, but had some flavor to it. I would always add my own seasonings though when I used them. But with these recipes, I can easily make sauces ahead of time, freeze them and pull them out as needed. I can make multiple batches with ease. The lower sodium count keeps my mind at ease too. So if you are looking to cut out the extra sodium or maybe you just want a great recipe to make your own sauces, then look no farther! Simply delightful! 

Spaghetti Sauce

 

2 tbsp basil
3 tsp garlic
1/4 onions
1 1/2 tsp ground oregano
8 tbsp tomato paste (no salt added)
15 oz tomato sauce (no salt added)
1 1/2 cups of water
red pepper flakes to taste, optional

Mix everything in a sauce pan on low heat. I cooked it for about 10 minutes while stirring occasionally. You can then let it cool and then store it in the freezer for later or use immediately. 

For lower sodium meatballs, switch to Kikkoman's Panko breadcrumbs. Super low in sodium compared to the Progresso I used to use. Don't add the salt! Stick with herbs and seasonings instead. I use oregano, mostly, but also basil. If you want tangy meatballs, try adding low sodium soy sauce, I use Kikkoman, and a little ginger and brown sugar. Mmmm it is magnificent! 

Alfredo Sauce 

3 tbsp garlic
3 tsp parsley
2 1/4 cup low sodium chicken broth
3 tsp lemon juice
3 tbsp all purpose flour
3 tbsp olive oil 
2 1/4 cup 1% milk
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
1 package of pasta

Start by sauteing the garlic and flour in the oil. Then add in all the other ingredients except the pasta. Simmer on low. Meanwhile, cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and mix with sauce. It is just that easy!