National Hispanic Heritage Month

*information for this post was in part supplied by Hormel Foods through their Hormel Extended Family Blogger program. No compensation was received for this post.

Did you know that National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed in the United States each year from September 15th to October 15th? It serves as a time to recognize the histories, cultures and contributions of Latino and Hispanic Americans to the United States. This group's heritage and culture have enhanced our country and shaped our national character with their ethnic traditions, especially their food.

In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Hormel, who has many different Hispanic and Latino inspired brands including Chi-Chi's Salsa, Herdez, La Victoria, Wholly Guacamole, Don Miguel Mexican Foods and more, has come up with some suggestions on recipes that would be a great selection for an at home celebration.

Appetizers:
Black Bean Soup
Herdez Creamy Tomatillo Avocado Salsa

Main Courses:
Shredded Beef Enchiladas
Chicken with Tomato Mango Relish

Desserts:
Herdez Ellen's Chocolate Chipotle Ice Cream
Avocado Chocolate Chip Cookies

Whereas all of the recipes sound delicious, I must say that I am most intrigued by the desserts. I think that I might just have to experiment first with the chocolate ice cream.

Some other ideas that I would throw out there from my own collection are Chicken Enchilada Pasta or Taco Filled Shells and Apple Enchiladas.

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some product and some of the information for this post.

SPANK! The 50 Shades Parody Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the 4-pk of tickets to see SPANK! at the Akron Civic Theatre is:

JE M.

Congratulations! An e-mail has been sent to the winner.

Thanks everyone for entering and be sure to check out the other current giveaways.

Seasonal Allergies #Claritin

A few weeks back, I heard someone say that this year the allergies were going to be rougher because the summer wasn't hot. I'm not sure I fully understand the correlation, but as a mom to a child that suffers from allergies, I am here to say it certainly seems true.

I can remember the first year that my son suffered from allergies. He was all stuffy, which could have been anything, but when I looked at his eyes, I just knew it wasn't a cold.

Of course, my son's allergies are worst in spring and early fall, which conveniently (NOT!) coincides with soccer and baseball seasons. So, at the peak time of allergies for him, he is also spending extra time outside...and playing and breathing hard, which only seems to exacerbate the issues. Thankfully, for us, Children's Claritin and some eye drops really help to make the allergy seasons more bearable for him.

As a mom crew member, Claritin has shared the following Back to School Allergy Tips:

1. Be sure to have Children’s Claritin, the #1 pediatrician-recommended non-drowsy allergy brand, on hand!

2. Multi-vitamins are building blocks to having a strong immune system. Make taking a multi-vitamin part of your child’s daily routine.

3. Let there be light! Mold doesn't like sunlight, so try to keep your curtains open during the day. Should be easy during the summer months!

4. Did you know that most pillows trap allergens, dust mites, and bacteria? Monitor the cleanliness of the pillow your child with allergies sleeps on and replace if necessary.

5. Back to school season means lots of laundry for many moms. Be sure to remove laundry from the washing machine promptly. Allowing wet clothes to sit in the washer means mold can quickly grow there.

6. Monitor pollen counts and adjust outdoor before and after school activities accordingly. Dry, windy days can be particularly high in pollen.

7. Showering or bathing at the end of the day as opposed to the morning can be helpful in removing allergens from body surfaces and hair.

8. Stay hydrated! Always send your child to school with a bottle of water. Drinking lots of clear fluids through the day can help get rid of toxins and flush out body.

9. Peak pollen production typically occurs in early morning, so try to plan outside activities at other times of the day.

No compensation was received for this post. As a member of the Children's Claritin Mom Crew, I receive product samples and promotional items to share and use as I see fit. All opinions expressed by me are honest and reflect my actual experience.