Hope's Cafe: MAM Baby Products named NAPPA 2013 Winners! #Giveaway

Hope's Cafe: MAM Baby Products named NAPPA 2013 Winners! #Giveaway

Great opportunity to win MAM baby products! Save yourself some money :)

Sensory bags-

 It's important to get your children to use their hands and start experiencing the world around them. A quick and cheap way to do that is by creating sensory bags at home. First look through your pantry, craft cabinets, and beauty supplies. Grab 4-5 plastic bags with a zipper seal. Fill the bags with some different textures items. A few samples are dried beans, cotton balls, child safe paint, sand, and marbles. Hold the bags with your child and discuss the feeling. For example say, "this is paint, it is squishy". Please make sure to never leave your child unattended with the bags as they could be a choking hazard.

Yard Sale Season!

Yard sale season is in full swing which means the opportunity to score some great things for very little money. There are a few things you can do to maximize your haul. First- devote the day to yard sales. Plan your route the night before. Your local newspaper as well as Craigslist are great places to get listings for yard sales. Look for neighborhood and multi-family yard sales, as these have the best chance of having more items. Pick sales that close together so you can hit more in a small amount of time. Second- Make a list of items you specifically are looking for. Someone else's trash can be your treasure, but you don't need it, someone else's junk becomes your junk. If you make a specific list you are likely to end up sticking to it. Third- Get up early! You need to be prepared to be at the yard sales when they open. The best items tend to be gone in the first hour or so, so keep that in mind as you plan your route. Fourth and finally- Bring a variety of cash. Make sure you have some change and a variety of bills. This makes check out easier for you and also allows you to bargain. Yard sales can be a ton of fun and help you save a lot of money on great items. Please keep in mind safety when shopping for baby items. Car seats should never be purchased used unless it is from someone you know and trust. It is very, very important that the car seat has never been in an accident. Also, make sure with used cribs, swings, and bouncers that you do a quick search to make sure there have never been any recalls on the items. Most importantly when yard sailing- have fun!

Quick chili (or slow depending on you!)

   Chili is a great winter meal, a great addition to hot dogs in the summer, and a fun entry into a contest. Everyone has their own "take" on chili, but here's a quick recipe to help you get it on the table quickly.


20 oz ground turkey (they come this way, but you can add more or less depending on your mood)
1 chopped pepper
1 chopped medium onion
2 cans of beans- pinto, kidney, black...
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 large can tomato sauce
1 can tomato paste
1/2 an envelope of taco seasoning
Cheese and sour cream for topping


Brown the ground turkey, add your chopped pepper and onion. Cook until vegetables are tender. Add your two cans of tomatoes, two cans of beans, sauce, and tomato paste. Stir to check the thickness. Now add your half a packet of taco seasoning. Cook for 15-20 minutes until flavors have blended and chili has thickened.

Note: The seasoning can vary, you can use chili seasoning, or make your own with a blend of cayenne, paprika, black pepper. The fun part about this chili is that it's flexible. You can add more tomato paste if you prefer a thicker chili. If you want add corn, carrots, or even a can of pumpkin for some extra fiber! Play with the meat too. If you don't have the time to stand at the stove then brown your meat and then throw it in the crock pot for either 4 hours on high or 8 on low.

Rewards Programs

   One thing that enough people don't take advantage of is reward programs. There are many of them: Coca-Cola rewards, Pampers Gifts to Grow, Huggies Rewards, and Kellogg's Family Rewards to name a few. If you buy these products anyway then what do you have to lose? The companies have gotten very user friendly and most of them have apps where you can enter your codes right from your phone. Depending on how frequently you use the products there is a variety of rewards ranging from instant win sweepstakes to larger prizes such as basketball hoops. One of the rewards programs I will focus is on Pampers.
          Pampers has a great rewards program, and if you follow them on Facebook and Twitter, they frequently give out codes for extra reward points.  Earning is simple and takes just a few minutes. Plus the rewards are for things you can actually use! Chances are you probably know someone who just tosses theirs away so you may be able to scoop up a few extra points here and there. Check out your favorite brands websites for more information on their rewards programs.