McKinney Mommas

What Your Mother Really Wants for Mother's Day!

2019-05-09T19:49:00.000-05:00

I was not paid for this post, however I did receive a complimentary item for purposes of reviewing from the company described below. AS always, all opinions are 100% my own and not influenced by the company described.

Wow, how is it Mother's Day already...AGAIN.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised, it DOES happen every year, right?

Well, it's always hard for me to think of what gifts my mother and mother-in-law would like to receive for Mother's Day. Heck, it's hard for me to think of what I want to receive for Mother's day.

I finally found something, both I would love to receive, and I think my mother-in-law would also enjoy.

For me, gardening is a calm time where I can reflect and connect with the earth. I think it's an awesome way to relax and meditate and I know my mother-in-law thinks the same.

This New Gardening Gift Basket contains everything your awesome hard, working mother (or mom friend) needs for helping her get her garden in order, while spoiling her with some special treats at the same time.

Really nice, name brand gardening tools are included along with delicious snacks like crisp cookies, and trail mix to keep you energized while you're outside enjoying the fresh air, and dirt under your nails. Ha, ha.

To find this gift basket or more gifts your mom or a mom in your life would love to receive, follow this link: Gourmet Gift Baskets

I Didn't Have Time For Lunch...until #AlphaBurritos

2018-05-01T14:22:00.002-05:00

I received a complimentary sample of this product from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to facilitate this review. All opinions are 100% my own and not influenced by the company described below.

I feel like most of my blog posts begin with, "as a busy mother of three young children".

Probably because most of the things I write about really do revolve around the fact that:

I have three children - 18 months apart and 21 months apart - which is a recipe for an insta-busy life
I like to find products that work to help me manage my ~~chaotic~~ busy lifestyle

It's true that I'm often talking to mothers about needing to take time to eat healthy meals in order to keep their energy up to deal with the demands of motherhood.

However, I often forget my own advice and forget to eat lunch as I'm hurriedly throwing food at my three minions.

"More apples, MOM!"

"More peanut butter and jelly, MOM"

After discovering Alpha Burritos, I realized that I almost always have an extra 80 seconds that it takes to heat up this burrito!

Did I mention that Alpha Burritos are 100% plant based? As in, no animal products!

More and more research coming out lately, has made my family attempt to shift to more vegetarian meals and eliminate meat where and when we can. We are not vegan or vegetarian, but are simply trying to be healthier with less meat in our diets.

Alpha Burritos come in four flavors:

Mexicali
Philly Sandwich
Chick'n Fajita
Pizza

Interestingly enough I think my favorite flavor was the Philly Sandwich - which is surprising since I'm really into mexican flavors typically.

My girls also took a bite of each and asked for more and "my own, please?" of the Philly Sandwich.

So, I guess that takes the argument off the table that kids don't like "veggie burritos".

Here are some reasons I liked #AlphaBurritos:

11 grams of protein in every burrito!

No GMOs

No Cholesterol

No corn syrup

No artificial preservatives

Zero animal products

Only 80 seconds to heat in the microwave

You can find Alpha Burritos at your local Walmart! How convenient is that?

To find your closest location, visit: http://alphaplantbased.com/store-locator/

Join The Movement!

Facebook - www.facebook.com/alphafoods
Instagram - @AlphaFoods
Twitter - @alphaplantbased

National Artichoke Day - A Holiday For Every Day!

2018-03-16T12:47:00.000-05:00

Nerd Alert, Nerd Alert! Did you know that today is National Artichoke Day?

Yes, I have been known to frequent websites that list crazy holidays or National celebrations that you've probably never heard of.....like....

National Kissing Day
National Lemonade Day
National Cheese Lovers Day

I'll bet you've never heard of those, right? In fact, that's one of the ways I began to find content for my blog, when I started writing 7 years ago.

It was a fun way to find themed products - National Cheese Lovers Day meant I got some cool swag from a cheese company and had fun sampling and posting about it.

I used to find these crazy holidays from a few different websites, but I'm excited to share that I'm partnering with this cool viral holiday website National Today [https://nationaltoday.com/] where all the holidays are right at my fingertips and I can find a reason to celebrate silly things all year long!

Stay tuned and keep an eye out for these fun and interesting national holidays that you've never heard of!

Here are a few fun ones to wet your whistle for the month of March:

International Day of Forests (Mar. 21)
Forests are the lungs of our earth!

National Puppy Day (Mar. 23)
We all deserve a puppy (or five).

Red Nose Day (Mar. 24)
This holiday is huge in the U.K. — it’s comedy relief for charity!

Tasting My Way Through Yolo County - Taste of Yolo

2018-01-19T14:07:00.000-06:00

I was not paid for this blog post, however I did receive a complimentary admission to the event to facilitate this article.

Join me on my exciting adventure at Taste of Yolo, won't you?

It may not be the largest foodie event in California, but Yolo County can sure put on a spread.

I was excited to attend this food and wine event at Central Park in #Davis, where surrounding wineries, farms and restaurants brought out their best products to sample and share with the community.

All attendees received a nice, reusable bag to carry swag, pamphlets, and also included a beautiful wine glass, just the right size for tasting samples throughout the park.

There was a detailed map inside of the swag bag, which made it easy to find your favorite farms, restaurants and wineries - all categorized by region. The Yolo County areas included:

Capay Valley
Clarksburg
Davis
West Sacramento
Winters and
Woodland

The closest "region" to the main entrance was Clarksburg, so I made that be my first stop. Hemly Cider caught my eye with it's chalkboard sign advertising samples of Jalapeno Pear Cider.

Now, I'm not a fan of sweet ciders, but love to try any new funky combo so I requested a pour. This was a pretty fun, unfiltered, cider, just the right amount of spice and not too sweet. Did I mention that the only ciders Hemly makes are from the pears grown on their 165 year old estate?

The only thing I love more than a good cider, is one with some history - and this one was both!

The next stop in the Clarksburg section was Séka Hills at The Old Sugar Mill - with a fantastic Rose of Syrah - very nice people and lovely wines, a perfect compliment to the warm weather we were enjoying.

After a few samples of wine, I figured I should stop to take a bite of something to balance out the delicious vino. So, I found my way to the Winters section, where there was a crazy intense buzzing around an empty table of food.

I figured there was a reason people were still hanging around, so I also waited, and caught the re-fill in progress in the video below.

I might have a had to wait another round to get my sample - but it was

OH, so worth it!

The Buckhorn Steakhouse put out a perfectly balanced Farmers Market Crostini, built on a grilled kalamata olive baguette, a smear of fresh farmers market cheese, and topped with a fork-tender tri-tip and finished with a tangy chimichurri sauce.

I'm going to have to plan a trip to Winters very soon to check out the Buckhorn Steakhouse in person! If this sample was an indicator of their offerings - I'm going to be a very pleased eater indeed!

The DIY stage had a nice lineup of Chef demonstrations, of which I was only able to catch one. Stazi Dulman from Nugget Markets put on a very informative and delicious presentation on pickling spring vegetables.

The lineup for the DIY Stage was:

Ann Evans - author of Davis Farms Market Cookbook - canning apricot jam and pickled onions
Stazi Dulman - Chef at Nugget Market - pickling spring vegetables
Kevin O'Connor - Chef at Cobram Estate - olive oil demo
Hannah Muller - Full Belly Farm - making bouquets with spring flowers

The Black Bicycle Farm drew me to their booth with the lovely aroma of fresh lavender of which they were giving sample bouquets (that kept my swag bag smelling very sweet) and some very cool stickers.

I had never heard of this farm, in my very own town of Davis before, which is why I love events like this. They apparently have estate grown olive oil for sale, and will be opening a tasting room for their vineyard grown wines in June 2018.

I can't wait to visit their Vineyard.

About half way through the event, I began to wander around sniffing out booths that looked interesting and made my way to a few tastings and samples which I enjoyed, not region specific (photo above):

Capay Valley Vineyards - the sweetest family owns this vineyard - likely it will be Tom or Pam (owners since 1998) pouring you a taste of their amazingly refreshing Sparkling Tempranillo - yes, I will have another pour, thank you!

Nugget Markets put out a cooling and very richly flavored Cilantro Gazpacho sample, of which I wouldn't have minded taking a whole bowl home!

Taber Ranch Vineyard pouring samples, looked like a beautiful place for weddings, and other events in Capay Valley.

Next stop, time to give my feet a break and sit down for a demonstration on the Nugget Stage.

I was pleasantly surprised to see veteran Top Chef (2007) Ryan Scott doing a cooking demo, in which he included many guests in the audience, that got to participate in crazy shenanigans - each of them loving every second of it.

I found out that Chef Scott is a frequent guest on the Rachael Ray show, and after meeting him, I was happy to find he was was quite down to earth. He was very happy to pose for photos and sign autographs for young fans (pictured above).

Heck, he even took a #selfie with me which was a fun memory!

After an entertaining demo at the Nugget Stage, I made my way to the Woodland section, where I found some super tasty bites (pictured above).

Maria's Cantina was serving up an Elote Salad - if I was being picky it was slightly thick and the cheese tasted like cheddar instead of a more traditional cotija or similar. I think of Elote as more tangy and spicy. Either way, it was a welcomed bite served with a dried plantain chip.

Morgan's on Main was serving a beautiful Strawberry Lemon Cream Tart - a very nice treat.

Finally, Savory Cafe was working hard to get all their Belgian endive filled with hummus, olive tapenade tapenade, red pepper and a micro greens topping. It was a eye catching presentation with the two colors of endive, and despite being not extremely experimental - all flavors and portions were executed perfectly to create one very nicely balanced bite!

After my belly was full, I kept seeing people walking around with this pink/peach looking drink that looked tasty. I got up the courage to ask a fellow what it was so I could try it myself.

Found out it was a Hibiscus Honey Blonde from Three Mile Brewing (Davis) - a relatively new brewery in Davis, CA. Made with local honey and dried hibiscus flowers, this unique pink brew was just what I was looking for on a warm summer day.

Three Mile Brewing gets mad points for making this pink ale not too sweet - even though the color would indicate otherwise. I'm not into sweet brews!

As I walked up to Blue Note Brewing, I remembered a friend of mine asked me to meet her there a few months back for a beer and some live music. I wasn't able to, and after tasting their Hopamine Mosaic Pale Ale, I regretted not making the trip.

Woodland is only a 15 minute drive from Davis, and the downtown area is really starting to get exciting with new restaurants and breweries. Blue Note is no exception, a family friendly spot with picnic tables inside and room to hang out with the whole family while sampling unique craft beer.

I think I'll go this weekend and check it out.

I have a lot more photos of booths, pours, bites and fun at Taste of Yolo, but I don't want to overwhelm you. So, I'll leave you with this fun clip I took of the main man at Berryessa Gap Winery pouring his selections through a crazy cool elephant spout!

Trust me.

You won't be disappointed if you meet me at Taste of Yolo this year!

(Taste of Yolo 2018 date to be announced!)

California H2O School Challenge - deadline 1/31/18

2018-01-06T01:16:00.000-06:00

This is a sponsored post, however all opinions are my own and may not reflect those of the companies described.

I grew up in Southern California, but never thought much about water conservation as a kid - maybe it wasn't such a big deal back then.

However, when I moved out of state for 12 years and back just a few years ago I could feel the serious need for myself as a Californian to conserve water.

When I bought my first house, a few years ago, I found myself filling a tub of water to wash dishes instead of running the faucet like I used to for each dish. Also, we as a household decided to..... "if it's yellow, let it mellow". Yes, gross, I know, but a water saving option.
I often take the water I used to blanch broccoli or cook pasta and use it to water the plants once it's cooled. I'm always thinking about water now as a Californian - because it's important.

Important for me and most importantly, my children's future given the current state of California's drought.

Luckily, there are programs that are helping our children to learn about being water-wise and actually be awarded for creating new ways for conserving our precious water in California.

Photo courtesy of http://challenge.calwater.com/

Cal Water H2O Challenge’s Classroom Challenge

There's still time to enter (January 31st, 2018 is the last entry date) for your school or classroom, grades 4-6 to come up with a project - with teacher direction - to explore how water is a global and local resource, and attempt to preserve water in your community.

A great resource, if you, or your teacher is interested in finding great lesson plans, or participating in the challenge, can be found at: challenge.calwater.com/resources.

The most important prize is saving water for generations to come - but in this challenge - kids can also win some awesome prizes:

Prizes

Grand Prize
Class Celebration: Classroom tent-camping trip to the Santa Monica Mountains with NatureBridge
Class Funding: $3,500 grant
Extras: Cal Water prize packs for every student

2nd Place
Class Celebration: A Pizza Party
Class Funding: $2,500 grant
Extras: Cal Water prize packs for every student

3rd Place
Class Funding: $2,000 grant
Extras: Cal Water prize packs for every student

4th Place
Class Funding: $1,000 grant
Extras: Cal Water prize packs for every student

All Participant Prizes:
Student Recognition: A certificate of participation for every student
Teacher Recognition: A teacher certificate Teacher Gift: An AMEX gift card

The 2018 Cal Water H2O Challenge is on now for grades 4-6 in our service areas! Check out this short video below to learn more. pic.twitter.com/K4BzYXgKZU
— California Water Svc (@calwaterservice) December 19, 2017

To learn more about the Cal Water H2O challenge, access the resource center, and read the FAQ section, please visit: https://challenge.calwater.com/.

5 Better Breakfast Tips For Kids!

2017-09-28T16:13:00.001-05:00

I was not paid for this post, just passing along information I found to be helpful myself :-)
Well, I'm a little late to the game since September is "National Better Breakfast Month" and there are only a few days left in the month...

However, we shouldn't stop eating healthy just because it's almost October, right? Right.

I often struggle getting my three kids out the door for school in the morning, making sure they've had a healthy breakfast before the bell rings. I came across some great reminders written by Barbara’s & Frances Largeman-Roth, RDN, nutrition expert, mom of 3 and best-selling author of Eating in Color, and thought I'd share them with you.

Breakfast Time over Screen Time – Mornings are hectic, especially at the beginning of the school year, before everyone has settled into their schedules. Make it clear to your kids that breakfast time needs to come before they turn on the TV or play with their phone.
Better Breakfasts – Barbara’s Breakfast Survey revealed that juice and cereal are the most common breakfast foods on school days: 71% of children drink fruit juice and 95% of children eat cereal. Clearly, kids love juice and cereal but you can still help them make better choices. For example, 100% fruit juice rather than “drinks” or “blends” and lower sugar cereals like Barbara’s Puffins, which are also packed with whole grains.
Add Color! – Studies show that kids like food that’s colorful, so take the opportunity to fit in an extra serving of antioxidant and vitamin C-rich fruit--and tempt their taste buds--by offering brightly colored berries, diced apple and melon, or sliced grapes and kiwi fruit on the breakfast table.
Streamline Set Up – Having a sit-down breakfast is much more doable if you do a little prep in advance. Set up the breakfast table the night before: Clear clutter, and set out bowls, spoons, and napkins. Then all you need to do in the morning is serve the food!
Always Have Backup! – There are some days when you just have to grab and go! Being prepared with a healthy back up option is smart. I like to make extra whole grain pancakes on the weekend and freeze them for a rainy day.

As much as I would love to cook them a hot breakfast each morning, it's just not happening every day so cereal is our easiest breakfast meal. My girls' favorite Barbara's cereal has been Cinnamon Puffins.

What's your kiddo's favorite breakfast cereal?

Problem With Picky Eaters? #DailySunshine Shakes To The Rescue

2017-09-13T14:37:00.000-05:00

I was given complimentary samples of this product to facilitate this post. All opinions are 100% my own and may not reflect the opinion of the company described.

Luckily, I was blessed with children who aren't picky eaters.

My problem is that I can't keep up with the quantity of food they seem to need to ingest, to fill their ~~giant sized~~ tiny bellies.

I swear 10 minutes after they finish lunch, they ask me for a snack. Not a joke. Sometimes I feel like I should just live in the kitchen because chances are, in 10 minutes one of my three girls will be requesting another snack.

Since they never stop eating, it's important to me that I'm feeding them food that fuels their body and provides essential nutrients - not just empty calories.

Now, I had heard of #Beachbody, Shakeology and #BeachbodyOnDemand before, but what does this have to do with nutritional snacks for kids?

Turns out, they have a yummy smoothie blend called #DailySunshine that is a fruit and veggie shake blend containing healthy fats and plant based protein.

The question though, is of course, "will my kid drink it".............

Often, I find a snack with a good source of protein and vitamins, but my kids just won't like it.

All three of my kiddos tried Daily Sunshine, and asked for more...

which I take as a good sign! In fact, I may have snuck a few shakes myself when I was feeling like something sweet in the afternoon, but didn't want to make a bad snacking choice.

One of my favorite things about these shakes are that they blended up really easily, without being lumpy. One of my complaints about another whey protein powder I use is that unless you use a blender, there will be lumps (yuck). The Daily Sunshine packets, easily blend in a shaker cup with just 8 ounces of water or milk.

My daughter also had fun adding her own extras to the shake, blending up frozen blueberries, peaches and chia seeds for an antioxidant punch.

Benefits of Daily Sunshine

One packet is equivalent to 1 FULL serving of fruits and veggies
Made with organic fruits and vegetables
Made with organic pea protein (10 grams of protein per packet)
Healthy fats - ALA omega-3 fatty acids
Contains fiber and probiotics to support healthy digestion

After experimenting with adding our own ingredients, as well as blending with ice, and simply shaking in the shaker cup - I'd definitely purchase these shake packets for my kids.

All three of my kids (6, 5 and 3) loved the taste of both the Strawberry Banana and also the Chocolate Daily Sunshine, for a healthy snack after Tball practice, school, and weekend errands.

To find out more about this nutritional shake for kids, or to purchase, visit:

https://www.dailysunshinesmoothie.com/

Baby Shower Essentials #Giveaway - ends 8/31

2017-08-14T06:30:00.000-05:00

I'm officially through having babies. But, I still like to hold them and think about how just three short years ago I was flipping through catalogs, trying to find the best baby gear for my little minion.

Well, instead I'll pass along the gift to you, since I'm not having anymore, there is this awesome giveaway for all the essentials you'll need Mommy Scene's Baby Shower Essentials & top picks for feeding, clothing, diapering, and setting up baby's nursery!

Don't miss entering this fabulous Baby Shower Essentials Giveaway for the chance to win these must-have baby products!

Baby Shower Essentials Giveaway - Prize Collection

LILLEbaby COMPLETE Airflow Baby Carrier
Baby K'tan Chevron Diaper Bag
Babo Botanicals Convenient 3-in-1 Cleansing Wipes
Revelae Kids Cozy Sleeper
Yummi Pouch Brights Reusable Food Pouches & Cloth Snack Bags
Pacific Baby Bamboo Feeding Spoons
Baby Comfy Kit:Â Snot Trap Baby Comfy Nasal Aspirator - Baby Comfy Nail Deluxe Safety Clipper - Baby Comfy Hydrator - Baby Comfy Gummi Chewy Jewelry
Active Essentials Unscented Healing Baby Balm
Crane Drop Humidifier
Cover My Heart Chevron Nursing Cover
NogginStik Developmental Light-up Rattle
BabyIt Perineal Massage & Postpartum Comfort Gel
TottigoÂ Pack 'n Potty Travel Potty Seat
One Z Pillow for Nursing & Support
NOURISH by BeliBea Pumping/Nursing Bra
Snuggle Me Organic Co-Sleeping Baby Lounger
Buttons DiapersÂ Trial Pack of Diapers (1 Cover + 3 Inserts) + Hanging Wet/Dry Bag

This giveaway is coordinated by Mommy Scene and is open to US entries ages 18 and older. No purchase required to enter. One (1) winner will be randomly chosen and contacted through e-mail, and their name displayed on the giveaway widget after the giveaway ends on 8/31/17. Mommy Scene and participating blogs are not responsible for fulfilling brand-sponsored prizes. Prizes will be shipped directly from each brand.

Now don't you think it's time you enter to win? A super easy Rafflecopter entry form is below.

GOOD LUCK!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Kids Love To Decorate for July 4th with Oriental Trading!

2017-06-26T13:00:00.000-05:00

I received complimentary items in order to facilitate this article. However, all opinions are 100% my own and not influenced by the company described.

With three girls, and the oldest just entering first grade, holidays in our home are always an excuse to decorate and celebrate.

My girls love to dress up our yard, windows, and their rooms with fun and colorful flair, and this Fourth of July is no different.

If I'm being honest, we frequent our local discount store, to find outdoor and indoor decorations and it can be hit or miss. Often, we find cute stuff we can use to decorate, but other times it's picked over and only the "junk" is left.

If we are a little late in the season to shop, hands down, Oriental Trading is always a sure bet to find exactly what we need for July 4th decorations.

With three kids, it's often frustrating to navigate traditional stores, up and down the aisles, trying to find the perfect decorations, and of course unlimited amounts of...

"Don't touch that!!!!"

So, when I'm at my wits end, I can search by theme, or type of item, online at Oriental Trading. Which saves my stress meter for keeping my kids from burning themselves with sparklers or the hot lava dripping from toasting marshmallows!

Get your backyard ready for #4thofjuly with the #peanutsgang decorations! Thanks @orientaltrading for the awesome flair #sponsored You can get your #orientaltrading here: http://www.orientaltrading.com/party-supplies/party-themes/patriotic-a1-554606.fltr

A post shared by Shiloh K (@mckinneymommas) on Jun 25, 2017 at 1:17pm PDT

It's not too late, you can still order 4th of July decor that will arrive in time for your festivities - if you order by June 28th midnight Central Time!

Click here to find all your July 4th decor: http://www.orientaltrading.com/party-supplies/party-themes/patriotic-a1-554606.fltr

Forget The Fidget Spinners, Give Me Safe Toys!

2017-06-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

I received a sample of this item from the company to facilitate a review. I was not paid for this article and all opinions are 100% my own.

If you have children of, well almost any age, you know what a fidget spinner is, right?
When my kindergartner came home a few weeks before school let out for summer, and said, "MOM, I really want a fidget spinner" I began to do some light research.

Often, I entertain these whims, as long as it doesn't cost a fortune. However, in this case, I really didn't see any benefit for my daughter in using this toy, so I held out.

I'm so glad we did, because now I'm reading more about how some of the cheaper versions of fidget spinners are being made with toxic materials and unsafe paint for children.

It makes me thankful for companies like Pebble, that make ethically and environmentally safe toys, like this Rainbow Bunny Rattle (pictured below). Their toys are made from 100% cotton (+polyester fill) so you don't have to worry about your child's safety if they happen to munch on it. They are totally safe, and can be thrown in the washing machine afterward!

Here's my little peanut at naptime, cozying up to her new Pebble Rainbow Bunny Rattle, which I kind of want to ~~steal~~ borrow from her. The texture of the crochet feels so nice for kids who need some sensory exploration.

One touch, and you can tell it was made from very talented artisan craftworkers.

Pebble toys are guaranteed fair trade and made in Bangladesh, and their production centers provide 100 jobs per community, not to mention offer preschool and daycare for the moms who work there.

So, instead of paying for silly toys like fidget spinners that are potentially made with toxic paints that could harm your child, grandchild, niece or nephew - check out Pebble and help provide a family in rural Bangladesh a future.

You can find Pebble products at over 800 retailers, including:

https://www.thegrommet.com/pebble-crocheted-rattles
http://www.kahiniwalla.com/

The Gruffalo DVD #Giveaway + OMG Giveaway Hop

2017-03-17T01:53:00.000-05:00

I was given a complimentary copy of this product for purposes of review. All opinions are 100% my own, and I do not give positive reviews to products I would not use in my own household.

What would you do if you were the smallest animal in the deep dark forest, and all the other animals are bigger, stronger and faster than you?

To survive, the small must use quick thinking, wit and a whole lot of courage to stand up to the "giants" in the forest.

When I saw The Gruffalo for the first time, I assumed it would be a scary, silly story. Not so, surprisingly, it was quite inspirational!

Keep Reading To Enter A Giveaway Below.........

This story is actually a wonderful metaphor for children at school, facing a bully on the playground - or an adult in the workplace who has to use quick thinking to maneuver around a mean boss or coworker.

This magical tale, captivated all three of my girls (ages 6, 4 and 2) as they watched a brave little mouse, create a story that keeps him from being eaten by a hungry fox, owl, and snake who think he'd be a delicious snack!

After watching The Gruffalo, based on the award winning picture book by Julia Donaldson, countless times, both my girls and I were thrilled when we heard there was a sequel to The Gruffalo.....The Gruffalo's Child.

It's just as fun and the animation is beautiful and captivating, when the Gruffalo's child goes out on an adventure to find this invincible mouse that her father has told her stories about.

With narration by amazing voices like Helena Bonham Carter (Harry Potter) and Robbie Coltrane, you're sure to stay engaged in the storyline.

If you haven't had the chance to watch these amazing movies, I'm going to give you the chance to WIN a bundle of BOTH, The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child (a $20 value) as part of the #OMGhop!

After entering my giveaway below, be sure to "hop" around to all the other #rvm #OMGhop giveaways on the linky to try your hand at winning some other amazing prizes.

Enter to Win

Prize: Combo DVD Pack - The Gruffalo & The Gruffalo's Child

Giveaway begins 3/17/17 and ends 3/31/17
Only US entrants 18+ are eligible to enter
Easy one mandatory entry on Rafflecopter form below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An InLinkz Link-up

How to Be More Optimistic This Spring - 7 Tips & Tricks!

2017-03-15T00:39:00.000-05:00

Ugh!

I had the hardest time waking up my 6, 4 and 2 year old for school this morning, after we set our clocks forward for daylight savings.

I'm hoping that tomorrow morning will be a little easier, because I honestly felt like I was torturing the poor girls by waking them up when all they wanted to do was sleep - which normally is not the case.

Typically I'm woken by my 2 year old, walking into my room at 6am, but this morning she brought me her alarm clock owl saying, "It's green mom, but I want to go back to bed, please" - poor baby!

I felt quite resentful all day about the time change, and I think my babies did too.

It's important while trying to work with a new time schedule to attempt to see the good, and remain optimistic about the season coming up.

Here are some great tips from Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services on focusing on the positive as spring is around the corner.

1. Focus on the good.

“A daily exercise I often have my patients do is keep an appreciation or gratitude journal. When you focus on all the things to be happy for in your life then more great things come. Think generally and use your senses. What do you appreciate seeing, smelling, touching, tasting, listening to? Write it down. Within a few weeks you'll train the mind to pivot to an appreciate thought when a negative thought comes,” explains Dr. Hafeez.

2. Make plans.

Making plans to see relatives, to see a new exhibit a movie or to travel gets our mind moving forward towards something positive that we can be hopeful and optimistic about. Dr. Hafeez suggests making plans to do 3 things per month for the next 3 months. “Choose things that you know will bring you joy and then go do them! Feeling excited about what is coming and talking about how fun it will be keeps us optimistic and forward moving,” says Dr. Hafeez.

3. Control what you can, delegate the rest!

We get pessimistic and worry about the worst possible outcomes when we realize that we cannot control every detail. This leads to anxiety and an even stronger feeling of having to control conditions, and even others. According to Dr. Hafeez, this is a trap. “Figure out what needs to get done. What actions you can take. Then let go of anything else that is beyond your control with faith that everything will turn out fine. Envision the desired outcome,” advises Dr. Hafeez.

4. Limit your news watching and avoid it before bed.

“There is a very common pattern I see people falling into,” says Hafeez. “People awaken and immediately reach for their smartphone for news headlines. They then turn on the TV news as background noise. They listen to news in their cars, have news alerts going off on their phones all day, catch the evening news and then the 11pm news before bed. No wonder they're less optimistic! What you choose to look at will impact your mood. Remember, good news doesn’t get ratings,” she adds.

5. Don’t snooze. Instead just breathe.

When the alarm goes off give yourself a few minutes to just lie there, eyes closed focused on your breathing. Breathe in counting to 4 and then breathe out. Do a mental scan of your entire body from head to toe thanking your cells for restoring you as you slept. “Deep breathing is a form of meditation and in the morning, you have a small window of opportunity to decide what kind of day you want it to be,” says Dr. Hafeez.

6. Distract yourself with something that requires focus.

The key here is to pick something you truly enjoy doing and do it daily. It can be painting, coloring, yoga, a 20-minute walk or jog, listening to music and dancing around your living room. “When you are fully engaged in something, you can’t ruminate which leads to pessimism,” explains Dr. Hafeez.

7. Make feeling good top priority.

When you commit to feeling good you instantly start to think more optimistically. According to Dr. Hafeez, when you’re mindful of your own negativity and shift to a better feeling positive thought you feel powerful. You’ll feel like you can conquer anything when you can master your own mindset.

Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is a NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens.

Dr. Hafeez masterfully applies her years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today’s common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…). In addition, Dr. Hafeez works with individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, attention and memory problems, and abuse. Dr. Hafeez often shares her credible expertise to various news outlets in New York City and frequently appears on CNN and Dr.Oz.

Connect with her via twitter @comprehendMind or www .comprehendthemind.com

Bring Your Memories To Life! Canvas Factory Prints + #Giveaway

2016-10-30T00:15:00.001-05:00

I received a complimentary product to facilitate this review. As always all opinions are 100% my own and not influenced by the company described.

What good does it do you to have thousands of digital photos sitting around on your hard drive?

Nada. Nothing. Zip!

So why don't you choose a few of your favorites from this year and get them printed onto canvas and hanging on your wall for all your friends and family to see?

Bring Your Memories To Life

That's what I finally did.

It's difficult to find a photo of the whole family where we're smiling and all looking at the camera, but after a bit of searching I finally found something I thought was "wall-worthy."

The ordering process at Canvas Factory was a breeze - and a 16x20 is on SALE right now for only $35.70!

The canvas print is stretched across a 1.2" frame, which looks great placed directly on the wall.

That's my favorite thing about canvas prints! There's no fuss with centering, choosing a mat, glass, frame color, etc.

What's better:

It's ready to hang on the wall the moment it arrives!

Now, if you want to get creative, there are many more options than a typical single canvas print.

There's this cool Split Photo Canvas Print (pictured above) where you split one photo into multiple canvases for a striking artistic effect on your wall.

I think this will be my next project for over the mantle.

The final product on the wall makes me so happy when I walk by it on the way to my room each night.

I've gotten so many compliments from people who say, "These look great! This reminds me that I need to get my photos printed and on the wall too."

So, what are you waiting for? Set those family photos free from your computer, and display them proudly on the wall!

You can shop for your favorite canvas design at: www.canvasfactory.com

Enter To Win

(1) 16x20'' custom made canvas

$129.00 Value!

Complete easy Rafflecopter Form below for your chance to win!
Giveaway ends, November 19th, 2016
Winner must be a US Resident 18+

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How To Make A DIY Halloween Wreath

2016-10-08T00:18:00.000-05:00

I'll be the first to say I'm not very crafty.

My mom is. My sister is. I'm am not.

However, I decided to throw caution to the wind this year and attempt a DIY Halloween Wreath.

Turned out to be super easy, and found all the supplies I needed at Oriental Trading!

Here's what I used:

- Large White Foam Wreath - $6.99
- Black Tulle Roll - $9.99 (but there was TONS left over for future projects)
- Black Chevron Burlap - $8.99
- Spider Pumpkin PushIns - $8.99

Note: In the photos you'll see a few other items I also received from Oriental Trading that I planned to use in my wreath, but in the end I decided that simple was better.

The hot glue gun was my best friend in this project.

I started with just a little line of hot glue to attach the burlap ribbon, and began wrapping. Every inch or so, I'd add another line of glue to secure the ribbon on the back side of the wreath.

Totally simple!

The next part I was slightly nervous about, since I'm not a bow making kind of girl.

However, a simple search online popped up quite a few results for "How To Make a Burlap Bow" and I followed the simple instructions.

Yahoo! A bow was made! Now all I had to do was hot glue the bow to the bottom of the wreath.

Not too shabby.

By this time, I was getting pretty excited about hanging this wreath on my front door, as I had never made a DIY wreath before!

The final product was classy, and not too scary, put placing the spider push pins, added an element of spook that was just right for my three little girls.

The spiders were a great touch for a Halloween wreath, for a home with young children were you don't want things to get TOO scary.................YET!'

I'm convinced that Oriental Trading has just about anything you need for decorating all year round, and also the supplies you need for making your own seasonal decorations!

It worked for me!

Disney On Ice "Passport To Adventure" Bay Area Discount Code!

2016-09-30T00:26:00.000-05:00

I may be eligible to receive complimentary tickets to the event described below, for posting about this event. However, all opinions stated are 100% my own and not influenced by the company described.

I don't get to take my kids to many PAID attractions, with the graduate school repayments, student loans, preschool tuition, healthy organic food and music classes piling up.

However, I'm pretty sure that a Disney on Ice event would be absoultely magical for them to attend.

So, with an upcoming event being only an hour and 15 minutes away, I think I'm going to try and take them for their very first LIVE Ice Skating Show!

BAY AREA LOCATIONS

Two Locations in the Bay Area will be hosting Disney On Ice "Passport To Adventure":

SAP Center Oct. 19th - 23rd, 2016
Oracle Arena Oct. 26-30th, 2016

Come celebrate some of the most memorable Disney tales with all your favorite characters in Disney On Ice presents Passport to Adventure.

Join Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, Daisy and Goofy through timeless worlds of Disney's The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, and Disney's Frozen.

You'll be able to explore African Pride Lands with Simba, Timon and Pumbaa, voyage under the sea to Ariel's mystical underwater kingdom and tour through London with Peter Pan and Wendy before flying to Neverland to meet up with Tinker Bell.

Last but not least, you can travel to Arendelle for an extraordinary adventure with Anna and Elsa, Kristoff and everyone's favorite snowman Olaf, as they journey to discover that true love is the most magical power of all.

Want a Discount Code for 25% OFF Tickets today?

Use Promo Code: MOM2

CLICK HERE for tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.com/Disney-On-Ice-presents-Passport-To-tickets/artist/1704479

Mom Outfit Elevated With prAna Sustainable Clothing #Giveaway

2016-09-11T01:37:00.000-05:00

I received this product for free from #MomsMeet (momsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own #MMLovesprAna.

I'm a mom.

But, before I was a mom, I was my own person. A woman with some pretty unique style when it came to clothing.

I don't like to wear "mom clothes" but when I'm stretching across the second row of my minivan to buckle the carseat in the third row, I like to wear at least movable, aka. comfortable clothes.

KEEP READING for your chance to WIN the sustainable clothing prAna outfit I'm wearing.....

photo credit: my 5 year old daughter :-)

Have I found my happy medium brand? The cross between stylish and comfortable, plus sustainable?

I'm definitely NOT a fashionista, but still refuse to wear sweatpants to the grocery store.

I want something that's easy to throw on and move around in, but that doesn't say "I've given up."

Wearing this prAna Devan Henley seriously feels like drawing yourself a warm silk bath and being surrounded in silky smooth warmth.

It's one of those clothing items that just separate themselves from the rest, when you put it on, you can feel the quality of the design and craftsmen(women?)ship that just makes it sing.

It's not bulky, but it's warm. The organic cotton/jersey blend is perfect for the crisp fall weather we're about to experience!

Don't even get me started on these Mantra pants, made with soft hemp.

So, I rarely am able to find clothing that fit by just by ordering them online. I have some weird hip to waist ratio or something. All that to say, these Mantra pants fit me perfectly.

For reference: I'm 5'3, 125lbs...and typically wear a medium in pants (I have a thick-ish waist), however, I followed the sizing guide on the prAna website and ordered a XS which fit me perfectly (I'm often a Petite Medium in other brands).

It's still fairly hot up here in Northern CA, but I find myself checking the weather station each morning hoping it's pants weather because all I want to wear is Mantra!

Both the prAna Devan Henley and Mantra Pant are totally transferrable from a yoga class to the grocery store or library.

In fact, the Mantra pant could be paired with a nice blouse for a night out on the town with your partner, which I'm planning to do next week!

As you can see in the above photo, my reality is kids jumping all over me when I'm trying to relax or meditate, so at least my clothing can pamper me with the comfort of their design.

I'm sold on the classic and moveable style of prAna!

Oh yes. It's the small things that count these days, when I'm pressed for time in the morning to drop off the kiddos at Kindergarten.

prAna makes me happy to not have to stress about what to wear. I'll just throw on this Devan Henley and Mantra Pant and get going with ease and style.

Now who wants to buy me one in every color?!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Legends of Wine at America's Farm To Fork Capital - Sept 16

2016-08-19T01:20:00.000-05:00

I received complimentary admission to the event described below to facilitate this post. All opinions however are 100% my own and not influenced by the company or event sponsors depicted.

There's no such thing as too much wine.........................

That was my opinion, until I attended Legends of Wine at Sacramento's Farm-To-Fork Festival!

Wait, can I take that back?

I stand firm, there's IS no such thing as too much wine!

Could there be a better setting, to sample award winning wine and artisan cheese than the west steps of the California State Capitol Building?

I think not.

The Legends of Wine event is held in conjunction with America's Farm-To-Fork Festival in Sacramento and honestly, I don't think I've been to a more magical wine tasting event.

... and if wine wasn't enough ...

Don't EVEN get me started about the cheese that was out for display, beautiful artisan selections were located throughout the event to pair with wine samplings.

Can someone say, CALIFORNIA CHEESE?

Lots and lots of local California-made cheese. Stinky cheese, firm cheese, salty and sweet.

They all showed up for Legends of Wine!

The gorgeous cheese wheel shown above from Bravo Farms in the Central Valley, was literally the size of a watermelon.

This firm Silver Mountain Cheddar was perfectly crumbly, and tasted of brown butter and caramel sauce.

Yum.

Beautiful tables (above) set with local farm-to-table produce were abundant at the event, which added to the ambiance.

The outdoor venue, along with the farm-to-table emphasis made me feel like anyone who loves wine and local produce could feel comfortable at this celebration.

However, knowing that the wines and parings were chosen by culinary geniuses, Darrell Corti and David Berkley, I'm confident that even the finest wine connoisseur would enjoy the event.

So, if you've been debating whether or not to attend Sacramento's Legends of Wine, on September 16th this year...debate no longer.

I will leave you with these photos to solidify your choice in saying "YES" to experiencing America's Farm-To-Fork, Legends of Wine celebration this year!

Chocolate. Caramel. Sea Salt.

Need I say more?

Yummy #nongmo french bread was given to us upon arrival. Only issue was that I didn't have anywhere to put my bread and wine glass, so had to juggle them for a bit until I finished the delicious bread.

I think it would have been nice to have a bag or something to put all the swag and extra items in. Other than the juggle, everything tasted delicious and the slight inconvenience was worth it.

There was lovely piano music being played all evening, which added to the relaxing atmosphere of the Capitol steps, as well as tall bistro style tables which allowed for an easy flow to and from wine and cheese tasting stations.

Brownie.

Meringue.

Pomegranate arils on a spoon? Heck, yeah!

Finally, as the evening continued - being on the steps of the Capitol building as the sun set, with a glass of fantastic wine in hand was pure magic.

If I could suggest an event to attend this year. I'd suggest this one.

You can grab your tickets here!

(and you can thank me later, heh!)

Summer Fairy Garden Party Supplies

2016-07-05T19:09:00.004-05:00

I received a promotional item from the company described to facilitate this post. As always, all opinions are 100% my own and may not reflect that of the company.

The warm weather is here, and I'm getting ready to throw a Summer Fairy Garden Party!

Doesn't that sound like fun?

Fairy and Gnome Garden - available at www.orientaltrading.com

When spring started to roll around, my 4 and 5 year old, decided to plant a little wildflower garden around the stump of a tree in our front yard.

As the flowers began to bloom, they got the idea of adding little door at the base of the tree, sand dollars for stepping stones and a miniature mailbox for the fairies to receive little letters from friends.

They've had such a fun time checking on their little fairy garden, I thought it would be nice to share the idea with their buddies in a themed playdate this summer.

Fairy Bendables - available at www.orientaltrading.com

I plan to invite a few of my daughters' little friends over for a summer picnic and provide them with these little Fairy Bendables (shown above) for their very own fairy gardens at home.

I found some cute decor at Oriental Trading and would love to decorate the backyard patio for this Summer Fairy Garden Party with the following bright, colorful and whimsical summer party decorations:

To start the mood off right, I'd have Mini Star Wands available for each party attendee on the way in (picture: top right) to begin the magic!

The Bright Party Lanterns (picture: bottom left) would look amazing strung from the trees in our backyard. While the patio table would be set with Tropical Floral Centerpieces (picture: top left) and Tropical Folding Fans (picture: bottom right).

If you're planning a summer party, picnic or birthday party, be sure to check out the affordable Summer Party Supplies section at Oriental Trading.

What summer fun can you have with Oriental Trading?

My Kids Favorite Treats Are Vegan? #HailMerry #MomsMeet

2016-06-19T02:11:00.003-05:00

Don't these girls look pretty content?

It's because they're holding a stash of tasty award-winning snacks from Hail Merry®.

Shhh...please, don't tell them that they're Certified Vegan, Kosher, Dairy-Free, Grain-Free, Peanut-Free, Gluten-Free and Non-GMO because they taste FULL of fresh yummy goodness!

...and I mean who could resist a treat that has a tattoo as rad as this "Non-GMO" Roller Derby girl.

My girls instantly fell in love with Ms. Non-GMO and had to put on the tattoos right away. I won't lie I felt pretty awesome sporting mine too!

What's better is that I felt really good about letting my girls snack on these
Merry Bites™ because they don't have highly-refined sugar or flour and include raw plant-based oils that are important for their growing bodies.

In our home, we don't believe in non-fat foods - unless they're naturally occurring. Instead, if you do your research, you'll learn that the body benefits from healthy fats in moderation.

The process some companies go through to remove fat, with machines that spin them so fast that their natural structure breaks down and separates, seems so wrong to me.

Merry Bites™ are created in a women-owned ((fist bump)) kitchen by dehydrating at a low-temperature. Traditional snack baking at high heats removes much of the beneficial properties of the raw oils and ingredients - which just doesn't make sense, now does it.

Because of this process, Hail Merry® cookies are totally FRESH, and won't sit on your self for months and be okay - and that's totally okay with me.

I'd rather have to refrigerate a product, knowing that all the natural occurring health benefits remain intact, than to have a snack that can sit on my shelf for a year because of all the junk preservatives it contains.

You can find Merry Bites™ in these awesome flavors:

Lemon Macaroon
Caramel Sea Salt *my favorite*
Salted Brownie
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough *my girls favorite*
Pure Vanilla Macaroon and
Dark Chocolate Macaroon

So, while refrigeration is recommended when storing these tasty non-GMO treats, the cookies are best enjoyed at room temperature.

EXPERIMENT

(Cold or Room Temp - trying it two ways)

#1. Straight from the fridge
#2. Leaving it on the counter for 30 minutes before eating

.....................Ugh, the waiting is the hardest part.

RESULTS

#1. The cold, straight-from-the-fridge version was good, but kind of flaky, and primarily the coconut flavor was prominent. Some of the other flavors couldn't break through, and weren't fully developed in my opinion.

#2. When the cookies are left on the counter, and reach room temperature, the coconut oils in the product begin to melt (at 76 degrees), so the Merry Bites™will essentially melt in your mouth. ALL of the flavors come together and really sing, especially in the Caramel Sea Salt!

CONCLUSION

Set those sweet babies on the dang counter before enjoying!

If you haven't already stumbled across Hail Merry® products at your local grocery store, you can find out which store near you carries these delicious treats at: http://www.hailmerry.com/where-to-buy

Learn More about Hail Merry®

Twitter: @hailmerrysnacks
Instagram: instagram.com/hailmerrysnacks
Facebook: facebook.com/hailmerry

Not a joke.

The girls just got themselves into this peaceful, loving embrace after I let them taste the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Merry Bites™.

Maybe because they were made using Fair Trade Certified™ dark cocoa, they're feeling the world love.

Or, maybe just because they're my weird little kids.

I received product for free from Moms Meet, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted here are my own.

Stress "Less" Father's Day With Trudeau

2016-06-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

I was given complimentary products to facilitate this review post. All opinions are 100% my own and may not reflect that of the company described.

Fancy loose-leaf teas, a travel tea tumbler and tea maker might make you think this is a post about the Mother's Day gift I received.

It's not.

This is what my husband wants to receive for Father's Day!

He is one of those strange ones who sticks his nose up to coffee, and instead would prefer a loose-leaf oolong or earl grey tea.

My hubby has a pretty strict routine for preparing his tea.

The water has to be set at the correct temperature, depending on the type of tea (green, black, oolong, etc) so as not to scorch the tea, and the timer set for just the right brewing duration.

Tea bags? What's that!

(he calls it "tea dust")

All this to say, that his tea brewing equipment needs to work well for him to give his "thumbs up" approval and the Trudeau Tea Maker and Tea Tumbler got TWO thumbs up - (I couldn't wait until Father's Day to give it to him)

The stainless steel basket insert is perfectly constructed to handle your finest loose-leaf teas - unlike some other tea makers we've tried that's holes are so large little bits of tea leaves will be floating in your cup - NO Thanks!

Another one of his usual complains about teaware, is that many brew barely a small 6oz. cup of tea, which is too quickly enjoyed.

The Trudeau Tea Maker boasts a full 20 oz. so you can have a cup and share one with your partner!

Enjoy freshly brewed tea with your partner!

If I'm nice and buy him some new oolong, he promised to make me a cup, here's to hoping!

So, the trial run worked out great. Perfectly brewed loose-leaf tea in a super easy to clean tea maker (only a few parts that come out easily and a quick handwash to clean).

I love that the heat resistant canister allows you to see the beautiful color of your tea which adds to the relaxing experience of drinking tea.

I don't have any photos of the Tea Tumbler in actual use, because my husband quickly snatched it up, took it to his work and has been using it since.

His report however, is that it works great with is loose-leaf stash of tea at work and the insert is large enough that the tea leaves have room to unfurl and reach their full brewing potential.

Yayyy!

So, you're thinking how can you find out more about these awesome tea brewing products?

Well, check out Trudeau's website here, or follow them on their social media outlets below to find out more!

Signing off now, I'm off to brew MY favorite loose leaf tea - Jasmine Oolong in my husband's new Tea Brewer - shhhhhhhhh, don't tell him!

Healthy Lunch Choices For An Active LIfestyle

2016-06-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ElevateSalads #CollectiveBias

I really wish there was a drive-thru sushi restaurant, or vegetarian wrap to-go establishment somewhere on my route from home to my daughter's preschool, library, T-ball practice, playdates, gym, instead of the standard burger joint.

With three daughters under the age of six, there is little time for cold-pressing our own juice, or milking a cow for raw milk, or picking our own blueberries for their antioxidant power.

It's just not realistic.

With a little planning ahead, a healthier eating pattern for us moms and dads who are constantly on the go, is actually achievable.

I've started slow, but am actually doing it - and have toned up and lost pounds by following a few of these simple steps, which started by exploring all the elevĀte salad options at Costco.

Step 1. Pack Your Lunch The Night Before

This may seem like a no-brainer, but when I start my morning running, because my youngest - 2 years old - woke up with wet sheets, and I forgot I had to finish drying my 5yr old's Tball uniform for her game today, and then missed the email that it's "Crazy Hair Day" at preschool in one hour = no healthy lunch today!

This is precisely why we end up going through the fast food drive-thru between picking up my daughter from preschool and taking her to the library, then TBall practice - I didn't plan ahead.

A simple salad, like the one above can be packed in a lunch bag with an ice pack and will stay fresh for hours.

You know, not just any salad from the grocery store will provide you with the protein and carbohydrates you need to stay going all day.

Many of the cheap brands are filled with....well fillers, and super fatty and sugary salad dressings. So, please read the label.

Step 2. Find Healthy Lunch Options At Costco

I, recently found a great option for a super convenient, healthy lunch on the go at Costco - elevĀte salads - perfect for when I don't have time to chop, slice, bottle and seal my lunch!

Why did I choose elevĀte?

Here are my reasons for grabbing a ReadyPac elevĀte off the shelf:

Non-GMO
8 Ready-To-Eat Salad Options - including fully recyclable packaging and soy based ink printing
Lots of antioxidant / superfood rich ingredients
High in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids
IT-HAS-IT'S-OWN-FORK!
Only $3.24 per serving is an affordable lunch in my book!

...and it honestly tastes great, like, fancy restaurant yummy!

If you're like me, Costco can often seem daunting in it's organization of where they put and move items.

However, each time I've been to shop, the elevĀte salads are always in the same area. Go to the back of Costco, across from the Deli in the refrigerated aisle (pictured above)...near the cheese and meat section.

Easy-peasy. Now the only thing you have to decide is....

Nutty Cranberry or Spinach Pow!

Step 3. Get The Kids On Board

My girls are great at ~~eating samples~~ helping me shop, but when it came to choosing a salad they just said "whatever one you want, mama" - and off they went to run the shopping cart down the aisle like Danica Patrick wannabes.

When I re-directed them back to the two salad options, they did end up choosing the pretty shiny cranberry option, aka. Nutty Cranberry - and I'm glad they did.

It's so important to talk to your kiddos about healthy food options, starting at an early age, and why certain foods are better than others in a way they can understand.

So, we talk to our girls about foods that have protein to help build big, strong muscles and carbohydrates to give the girls energy to play!

I will say that my 2 year old was the biggest fan of this salad.... and there is proof for once:

The Bookend: "Where you get that from, mommy?"

Me: "I got it from Costco"

The Bookend: "I LIKE THAT!"

Isn't she cute?

Step 4. Enjoy Healthy Food On-The-Go

We heard that a local art museum, was opening it's doors in Sacramento for a family-fun day last weekend, and since we hadn't visited before we figured this was the best chance to go on the cheap!

I packed the kids a lunch, since it was the end of the month, and we didn't have extra money to spend on a lunch out.

Hey! Score! I had two elevĀte salads left from our Costco run, so packed those for me and daddy.

We had an amazing family experience at the art museum, plus had a picnic lunch which cost us next to nothing and saved about $45 bucks, which is what we would have spent at the museum cafe for 5 of us!

Sweet!

So, follow my lead and start planning ahead and packing meals, because I promise you...anything from your pantry or fridge is probably better for you than a fast-food burger is.

Tell me now, how could you argue with this little face who loves this salad and keeps telling me it's her favorite!

Hurry, someone, tell me where to hide my salads, so she won't eat them all!

To learn more about elevĀte salads, follow along at:

elevĀte on Facebook

elevĀte on Twitter

elevĀte on Instagram

...and I'll meet you there - where yummy meets convenience!

Do you have any tips or tricks for eating healthy when you're on the go with an active lifestyle?

Please, share them with me in a comment below!

Which Detergent Works on 100 Different Stains? #PurexPlusClorox2 + #Giveaway

2016-05-31T00:50:00.000-05:00

The Purex® brand provided me with a sample of Purex® plus Clorox 2® detergent in exchange for a product review. However all the opinions expressed here are my own.

Okay, I think I'm pretty sure I begin 99% of my posts with:

"Because I have three little girls under age of 5....."

You may tire of hearing it, but the majority of my life experiences right now center around something having to do with my three little tater tots, so that's what I write about.

Can you guess what one of the things I spend the most time on currently is?

That's right, laundry! With three little girls (there I go again...) that enjoy multiple wardrobe changes in a mere hour, and refuse to wear aprons or bibs, you can imagine how much laundry we go through.

So, we need detergent that works...and works the first time because in California with our water shortages, we can't afford multiple rinses!

Have you ever used a laundry detergent that might as well have just been water, because it did absolutely nothing to clean your clothing?

Or, the opposite? A laundry detergent that was so harsh, it turned your colors three shades lighter and added a year's worth of wear in just one wash?

I have.

Purex^® plus Clorox 2^® is not one of those, and I'll show you just what I mean.

Not 30 minutes after I received a sample of this Purex plus Clorox 2, stain fighting detergent, my 3 year old dropped her hot dog, yes, doused in ketchup, down the front of her shirt - no kidding.

So, I put the detergent to the test, took some photos of the BEFORE (above) and threw it in the laundry to see if these color safe stain fighters really worked.

As you can see, the ketchup stain was lifted off completely!

I was very excited to see how well the Purex plus Clorox 2 worked, without soaking or scrubbing or bleaching.

Want more? I've got more!

Now, the pretty little pineapple shirt above, was brand new, and somehow my 2 year old got to the cherries from the Farmer's Market before I could grab her and completely stained the front of her tank top.

I honestly thought there was no way cherry stains would come out - but
Purex plus Clorox 2 totally worked on the cherry stains like they were a piece of cake.

The BEFORE/AFTER photos were taken in two areas of the house, so there is some lighting differences - however again the detergent worked really well on this colored shirt and only lifted the actual cherry stain.

Be sure to check back with me next week to see how well Purex plus Clorox 2 did at tackling waffle, syrup and fried chicken grease off this red shirt my toddler is wearing!

Oh, and if you'd like a chance to try out the Purex plus Clorox 2 detergent on your family's clothes enter to win a bottle below!

Happy Stain Fighting, to YOU!

~ GIVEAWAY ~

Prize: 1 Bottle of Purex plus Clorox2 (3 winners will be chosen)

Only 1 mandatory entry
ends June 24th, 2016 at 11:59pm
US Resident, 18+ ONLY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Breakfast Date With My Preschooler at Del Taco

2016-05-26T17:19:00.000-05:00

I was given a promotional item to facilitate this review. As always, all opinions are 100% my own and may not reflect that of the company described.

I try to limit my intake of fast food, but if we're being honest...once in awhile it's just something I need to do on a busy day.

When we're an hour past lunchtime, because we stayed too long at the library, and my girls need to eat before we rush home for naptime.

Del Taco, here we come.

Del Taco, has been one of my family's preferred drive-thru locations, since I was a kid growing up in Southern CA.

I've always been a fan of the classic grilled chicken soft taco at Del Taco, but it never crossed my mind as being somewhere I'd go for breakfast.

When I saw, that Del Taco had FREE Hashbrowns if you order 2 NEW Chorizo Breakfast Taco's, I figured I'd finally make a trip specifically for breakfast.

A few weeks ago, I was supposed to work at my daughter's preschool earlier than normal, so figured we'd have a special mommy/daughter breakfast date at Del Taco.

Okay, I have to say it. I really thought my little gal would order a breakfast taco, but at 8:00am, she insisted on a bean and cheese burrito,.....WHAT?

I think I went a little overboard and tried, well, like almost everything on the breakfast menu, myself!

See. I told you.

I think maybe I ordered too many items, because my Mexican Chorizo tacos weren't super hot, and I think the flavor lost some of it's punch because of it.

They were good, but not amazing. I would have liked some deeper spice and seasoning - they were a little to similar to regular sausage for me.

We did however LOVE the savory bacon flavor of the Mini Bacon Quesadilla for only $.79!

Also, I was pleasantly surprised at the 100% Arabica Bean Coffee I ordered.

It was hot, super fresh, and gave me the pep I needed to work at my daughter's preschool for the next few hours.

.....and $1.49 for coffee is my kind of deal!

The employees at the Davis, CA location where we visited were nothing short of incredibly sweet and pleasant and helpful, and nice, and .....okay you get the idea.

The guy behind the counter, suggested lots of breakfast options, and was very patient with me when I was trying to figure out what my daughter wanted to order.

Okay, so maybe I didn't order EVERYTHING on the menu, because there really is lots to choose from.

Next time, I want to try the Carne Asada Steak Breakfast Taco, that sounds good.

It's worth checking out, if you're in the mood for something NEW and interesting for your breakfast on the go routine!

And the prices are super affordable - which is probably why I'll keep going back and trying new breakfast menu items.

Of course an added perk, was being able to enjoy one-on-one time with my preschooler, without the ~~chaos~~ distractions of her two younger sisters!

Who knew that Del Taco would be our new, quiet, breakfast hideout?

It's our new favorite breakfast place, shhhhhhhh, don't tell anyone our secret!

Go check out the FREE hashbrown deal today, grab a Chorizo Breakfast Taco (only $1) and come back here and tell me what you think in a blog comment below!

Watermelon Dresses & Pineapple Tops, Oh My!

2016-05-12T00:14:00.000-05:00

I was given a promotional item to faciliatate this review. As as always my opinions stated here are 100% my own and may not reflect that of the company described.

It's summertime, people!

Well, maybe not officially, but here in Northern California with temps reaching almost 90, it sure FEELS like summertime, baby!

So, you'd better get shopping (like I had to) because the kiddos are going to be asking for their shorts, tank tops and dresses really soon.

I let my 3 & 1/2 year old take a browse online at the summer selections at Children's Place, and she fell absolutely in love with this Toddler Girls Sweet Photo-Real Watermelon Skater Dress.

True to form, when it arrived, she immediately put on the dress and started twirling around (above photo) and has not taken it off since.

Okay, well we did have to draw a line at putting on actual pajamas for bedtime... but in the morning, it's Watermelon Dress time again.

My 5 year old, also browsed Children's Place summer collection, and decided on this duo herself - a sleeveless racerback top with a cute pineapple print and matching Tiered Eyelet Skirt.

I was really impressed by the quality of the Azul Girls Tiered Eyelet Skirt it's not that flimsy see-through fabric that looks like it will wear out after the first wash.

We've already washed it and it's a really nice quality of 100% cotton that held up perfectly. I don't love the super duper short skirts on my ladies, so this one is the perfect length.

I think we might need one more online shopping trip, because now my oldest is requesting a Watermelon Dress just like her sister!

Until then, she's gonna have to be satisfied with her cool pineapple outfit, donning her new pair of sunglasses from Children's Place and keeping cool in the shade.

Big Sister H. is wearing: Girls Butterfly Aviator Sunglasses $2.99!

I think she's got this one in the bag!

There's lots of fruity fun at Children's Place this year, so go now and check out the fun stuff for summer!

Your kids will thank you - promise!

Happy Summer to All!

E-Hydrate Portable Protein for Adults & KIDS! + #Giveaway

2016-04-24T05:30:00.000-05:00

I received complimentary products to facilitate this review from the sponsor of #MomsMeet program (greenmomsmeet.com), May Media Group, LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use the product and post my opinions on my blog. My opinions may not reflect those of May Media Group, LLC nor the manufacturer.

I'm starting to think my three girls are the most active children on the face of the earth.

They seriously, don't stop expelling energy for a single moment during the day.

From parks, to school, to T-Ball, the gym, birthday parties and playdates, they are always on the move.

Sometimes, I feel like they need a little more than water, in this hot Northern California heat to hydrate them.

Keep reading for a chance to WIN these products to try yourself!

E-Hydrate has both an adult and kid-friendly hydration, nutrition and protein line that all taste great!

After the girls expend all their energy on the T-ball field, I like to give them some protein to help keep them strong and E-Hydrate has created the perfect products for this.

KIDS Protein On-the-Go provides:

10 grams of protein (only 70 calories)
only 4 grams of sugar
certified gluten-free
portable & recyclable pouches
more electrolytes than leading sports drinks

My girls absolutely LOVED the E-hydrate Kids Protein shake in the to-go bottle that you just add water to, shake and ~~guzzle~~ enjoy straight from the bottle.

Their favorite flavor was Cinnamon Roll, of course, and after sharing a bottle, asked for more!

When my oldest kiddo is in preschool, I try to fit in a gym class a few times a week. Often, I'm running from the gym, back to preschool to pick her up, then to the park, and errands.

I don't have time to go home to mix up a protein shake for myself, to re-build muscle so was very excited to find E-hydrate's Protein On-The-Go pouch, in Chocolate and Vanilla.

It's super easy and convenient!

All you have to do is pour water into the pouch that comes with pre-measured protein powder inside, shake it, and drink in it's very own portable bottle.

Wow, 25 grams of protein in each serving is pretty good.

Okay, I may not look terribly happy in the photo here, but I'm REALLY just freaking tired, after a 6 mile elliptical run at the gym.

The Protein On-The-Go was exactly what I needed to fill me up to go pick up the kiddo from preschool, hang out at the park, and grab some lunch at the store before heading home.

What's more important is that it actually tastes good and isn't strangely grainy like some protein shakes are.

I was supposed to save a bottle to see what my husband thought about it after his workout, but err....um....I liked the chocolate so much that I took the vanilla the next day to the gym with me.

Sorry, hubby.

I almost forgot to mention, they have a KIDS Natural drink mix that provides daily recommended amounts of vitamins B, C, D, and more electrolytes than the leading sports drink - with ZERO grams of sugar and no caffeine.

Flavors, that can simply be mixed into juice or water are:

Grape
Strawberry Lemonade
Fruit Punch and Apple

These are great for a hot day, when the girls have been running around in the heat to help re-hydrate their tiny bodies.

Want to know more?

Connect with E-hydrate online to find their latest products and get special offers at E-hydrate.com!

Psst! Be sure to use my exclusive promo code: THANKS20 for 20% off your order!

~ ENTER MY GIVEAWAY ~

a $50 Value!

Enter to win (2) E-hydrate Ultimate Sample Packs, each including:

(2) Protein On-the-Go pouches

(4) Hydration Drink Mix Sticks

(4) Kids Hydration Drink Mix Sticks

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