#NoSickDays

Here at Eighty MPH Mom, our household leads a very fast paced life. During the busy holiday season, things seem to move especially fast. From shopping for gifts, wrapping and shipping said gifts, to making sure regular household and work duties are covered, I tend to get a little stressed out! When you add in other things like addressing holiday cards, decorating the tree and house, and planning our holiday meal, I kind of want to pull my hair out.

Now would definitely not be a good time to get sick!  It is important that I keep myself and my family as healthy as possible, especially during the holiday months.  If they do get sick, I at least want to keep them as comfortable as possible.  Mothers tend to care for everyone, even if they are sick themselves. I have absolutely no time to laze around, watch movies or take time off. Although a day on the couch watching movies sounds pretty appealing, it just cannot happen this time of year.

Speaking of being sick, it never fails –  my youngest child always is sick on Christmas day. One year however, both of my children woke up so, so sick.  They came down the stairs in a zombie-like daze, not seeming very excited at the thought of opening gifts. This particular Christmas, they were going to get a big surprise – their very own computer. We set it up the night before and put a big red ribbon on it, and anticipated their reaction in the morning. What should have been screams of excitement, ended up being a chorus of coughing and sneezing.  They went back to bed quickly, and it just made me so sad.

When I am sick, Vicks NyQuil allows me to get the rest we desperately need to get better. I definitely need to feel rested so that I can bustle around the kitchen to provide the feast my family loves so much. Thank goodness for Vicks DayQuil too – it keeps us going throughout the day when we are sick.

One of our go-to comfort foods when we are sick is my very own Clam Chowder. I created this recipe and I have to admit, it is absolutely dreamy. There is nothing better than sitting in front of the fire, enjoying a big bowl of this creamy goodness. I have never shared this recipe before, but I will share it with you, so you can make it for your family – whether they are sick or not!

Best Ever Clam Chowder

Ingredients:

1 lb bacon
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 cup milk
8 oz jar clam juice
1 8 oz. block cream cheese, cubed
1/4 cup cream of sherry
2 tablespoons butter
3 or 4 red potatoes cut into small cubes
1 can minced or chopped clams
1 large shallot, chopped
Salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Cut bacon into 1″ pieces and cook until almost crisp, in large pot. Drain most of the bacon grease, and reserve about a tablespoon.

Over medium heat, add the potatoes and shallots and cook on low for about 10 minutes.

Add milk, whipping cream, clam juice and let warm throughout.

Add cream cheese cubes and lightly whisk until blended (don’t whisk potatoes). Add the sherry, butter and clams. Simmer on low for about an hour. If you like thicker chowder, mix a little cornstarch and water and add in slowly. Enjoy!

Oh how I love the holidays! If I’m feeling brave enough, I just might join the family for some fun in the snow after bundling up like the kid in ‘A Christmas Story,’ knowing that Vicks NyQuil and DayQuil has my back during the most wonderful time of the year! I hope you and your family stay healthy this holiday season. Don’t forget to check out these helpful tips for reducing fever, and for getting rid of a head cold.  Make sure you take advantage of this Vicks coupon! Remember #NoSickDays!

Make sure you check out these helpful posts!
http://beautybrite.com/how-to-relieve-a-cold/
http://www.5minutesformom.com/111868/practical-tips-to-soothe-a-cold/

And my friend, Susan, from 5 Minutes for Mom, has some great tips in this video:

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