Superfoods that your family needs to be healthy! A guest post!

I am so honored today to have Cassie Brewer as a Guest Blogger! Cassie is the blogger over at  http://cassiembrewer.weebly.com/ and, In my opinion, one super cool chick!

 

Please swing over and follow Cassie on twitter HERE! You can read more about Cassie at the end of the post!

 

Without further delay...Here are the Superfoods Your Family Needs to be Healthy!

You want all the members of your family to grow healthy and strong, and you also want to maintain your well-being, right? Forget fast food and focus on superfoods. Here are important nutrients found in superfoods that should form part of your family’s diet.

Click HERE to be one step closer to better health for you family!

MealEnders Signaling Lozenges, Review & Giveaway!

** I was provided samples to try and test from MealEnders but was not compensated for my review.

I have to say, I was pretty jazzed to try these things. I think that I have tried every diet pill, product,
miracle, and program out there but “signaling lozenges”…those were new to me.  For all of my life I have known that it was my willpower that was my crutch to weight loss. Not only can I not say no to that one extra sweet but I also am a LOVER of food so –if something is good- I will continue to eat until I am beyond stuffed.  These sweet little packages promise to deliver on both of my trouble areas with no drugs nor harmful stimulants so I thought, why not?!

When I said that my diet failures are all due to my lack of willpower, it actually turns out that I was wrong -there are more factors keeping me from losing weight!  If a diet were simply about 1 thing, we would all be skinny and thin and no one would need “diet supplements”!  It turns out that there are actually behavioral factors, sensory factors, and psychological factors too which keep us from diet success.  We all think that we HAVE to eat at a certain amount of food per day, we think that we need to eat at specific times (even if we are not hungry), and let’s face it – we ALL want to cheat on healthy eating.

It is actually your brain that tells you to eat or not to eat and not your stomach. Your stomach may send the signal that it’s hungry or full—but it’s your brain that says to stop eating.  This is why we continue to eat to the point where we say we are “beyond stuffed”! It takes a while for our stomach to send the signal and then time for our brain to process and to let us know that we are full. During this process,  we simply continue to eat past full until our brain finally tells us to stop! That’s why these Meal Enders work in a much different way than your typical “diet” product. Most products focus on fighting hunger through the stomach but these fight overeating through your mind and that is totally the help that I need!
 

The inside is where the magic happens

These lozenges come in 4 flavors citrus, cinnamon, mocha, and Chocolate Mint.  They have a sweet candy like coating on the outside and then the inside (the magic behind the method)…it’s like something I have never experienced before!  You simply pop one of these guys into your mouth and let the lozenge melt away. At first, you will get the sweetness of the outer coating which helps with your sweet tooth (or am I the only one with that) and then, seconds later,  your mouth will erupt with a tingling sensation. Truth be told, It almost feels like your mouth is going numb – but it’s not. The tingling feeling  will last for about 10-15 minutes and after meals will give you the appropriate time for your “full” signals to reach your brain and tell your hand to “PUT DOWN THE FORK”! 
These work at the end of a meal, at snack time, when you have the urge to cheat, or just when you need a sweet pick me up! They not only signal to your brain the end of a meal and give you time to process the “full” sensation BUT they give you the time to rethink that cupcake! They work best when they are combined with a healthy diet and exercise.

You can order these little babies on their website at www.mealenders.com.

Now that you know a little about them…would you like to win some? You will win 4 packages of
lozenges – 1 in each flavor!  They will be shipped to you directly from Meal Enders! Hurry up and enter  to win TODAY! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get your REAL Party on!

Woot! Woot! Let's get this Friday started. Let's Get Real is all about Healthy Living. That's right! It's all about Real Food, fitness, health and wellness, and home life tips and tricks from Real people. That's you! Grab a cup of coffee (or other preferred beverage ). Relax into a comfy spot and take some time to get to know the great folks that link up here.

Click on this link and get your REAL Party Started!

10 MUST HAVE ITEMS for a Cozy Snow Day!

It's official, winter has set in and, in Ohio, it isn't letting go! Today is yet another snow day and while the kids are off playing...I had a little time to search the web. I was loading a few coupons and doing some light reading (code talk for playing games) and an ad on the side of my screen showed an amazingly soft looking bed. This bed looked NOTHING like my horribly messy and mismatched bed. This one looked to be freshly made and was adorned with gorgeous pillows and a cashmere throw. It truly looked like it was welcoming me in.....I repeat, this looks NOTHING like my bed! So, I decided to stray from my busywork and do a little searching for 10 items that would make ANY snow day... a perfect day! Here they are in no particular order!

1. A beautiful BIG breakfast. I recently made a fun batch of Crepes that the kids fell in love with. They are easy to make AND a great way to start a snow day - You can grab the recipe HERE.
2. A Warm and Snuggly Bed! - this is the photo that started it all This bedding set from Parachute Is now on my MUST BUY list! It is a duvet cover so can be placed around any comforter - talk about a quick change for the bedroom! PLUS this bedding set has a purpose! For every Venice set purchased, Parachute Homes will donate a life-saving malaria net to Nothing But Nets - Almost 1600 so far!
3. Great movies – Ever since I found out that our new Sony BDPS5200 3D Blu-ray Disc Player with Wi-Fi also streams, I have become addicted to Netflix and Amazon Prime. I tried the Roku Stick first but had no luck with the signal. This was WAY faster to set up, gets a great signal, and also plays Blu-ray discs! It is actually saving us money too because we were able to cut down on our cable!  Join Amazon Prime - You Can Watch Over 40,000 Movies & TV Shows Anytime - Start Free 30 day Trial Now! It's awesome and the yearly fee is only $99! It covers tons of free apps, free movies, series, and books and also streams to my blue ray player, laptops, kindles, and phone!
4.  A steaming bowl of soup!  Check out my super easy recipe for Black Bean Soup - HERE! This ORGANIC soup has only a few ingredients and is a family pleaser. It is also fun to make a “buffet” of toppings so each person can jazz it up on their own!
5. A nice bowl of Ice Cream! Since I try to be as healthy as possible - even my "cheat meals" sometimes are healthy. This rich and creamy ice cream is actually made from frozen bananas and is AH-MAZING! Grab the recipe HERE and while you are at it, you might as well make some of this homemade Chocolate Sauce. It's too easy, super healthy for you AND you can make it both low-carb and VEGAN. Check it out HERE
6. Hot Cocoa – or coffee! I never really was much of a coffee drinker…it’s too bitter for me BUT I can’t resisit a great cup of cocoa with the kids. Since I am committed to an organic lifestyle, not just any cocoa will do –  luckily for me the new Keurig 2.0 K350 Brewing System allows me to make a batch big enough for the whole family and will keep it warm in the decanter PLUS there are organic options available!
7. A mini- spa day experience! I have a 6 year old daughter so a spa day is a great way to spend an afternoon bonding with the mini and a super relaxing way for mommy to spend a snow day! Going to the spa is WAY too pricey for me so I have found MANY DIY spa alternatives that are organic, easy to make, and CHEAP! Check out a few here- Anti-Aging Mask, Cellulite busting Vanilla Latte Body Scrub, DIY Body Slimming Weightloss Wraps, Sweet Hot Cocoa Body Scrub, DIY Self Tanner  
8. An AMAZING candle! While this goes for any day, there is something about drinking a warm cup of cocoa (or playing spa day) next to an awesome smelling candle!  I found this gorgeous beauty on the Parachute website…While it is a bit of a “splurge” candle for the every day, for a relaxing day, it is a MUST HAVE in Lavender & Eucalyptus! Again, PARACHUTE is a place you can feel good about splurging at! Check out how they give back HERE 
9. A glass (or two) of great vino! Okay, so I can’t endulge while the 5 kiddos are running around the house BUT I can partake after bed time ! There is an awesome company out there now  called Club W where you can have a  wine shipped to your house. This truly is perfect for yourself or as a gift  for a friend! Right now, you can get HALF OFF Your first month! Click HERE to learn more

10.   This one is a bonus – MY FAMILY! The crepes, the movies, the spa day, and even the warm and snuggly bed wouldn’t be the same without my husband and my 5 munchkins. They make everyday special – even when we are trapped inside watching the snow fall!

I hope that you enjoyed my list. These 11 things make any snow day bearable and honestly make them go buy too fast. WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR A COZY SNOW DAY?

*This post was not sponsored by any companies nor was I paid to promote these items. These are items that I use, want, or have fallen in love with. If you do make any purchases from the links contained, I will make a small commission. Thank you in advance.

NUGO - my Vegan protein CRUSH - Review!

* I was not compensated in any way for this review. I simply LOVE NuGo and wanted to share. All bars purchased were purchased by me. If you purchase from any of the links below, I will make a small percentage of your purchase. Thank you in advance!

Move over hubby - I have moved on! Okay, I guess that isn't fair...he is the one who brought home my very first NUGO bar and from that day on, I have been in love!

You may ask why I am so passionate about a protein bar..and I get why I might sound silly confessing my love to a bar but I assure you, it isn't just any bar. This bar is packed with great ingredients, a great protein pick me up, free of artificial stuff, and covered in rich chocolate. Let's face it, most protein bars aren't very tasty,  have the consistency of old chewing gum, and are actually NOT healthy for you! See how your bar stacks up!  Next time you grab a quick  with protein fix, flip over your bar and you may find artificial ingredients, chemicals, and tons of calories. That just wouldn't do for us, my family was  in search of something better - something organic, healthy, AND that tasted good - ALL AT A GREAT PRICE! Was that too much to ask?

Luckily, Nugo bars were able to meet ALL of my family's taste, cost, & dietary NEEDS! Nugo is a great company that understands  that we all have different needs but we ALL want our food to taste GOOD! Their product line has Organic Options, Low Carb Options, Gluten Free Bars, High protein Bars, VEGAN bars, soy free bars, diet bars & more (sounds a little like Captain Dan in Forrest Gump - but there are tons of options!). The flavors are amazing and the ingredient list is even better-they are even working to ensure that there ingredients are all NON GMO! They have some of the bars and lines approved non-gmo and are working there way through to ensure that we are getting only the best stuff - and if that wasn't enough they are all certified Kosher! You can even help them out by signing an online petition to create an FDA standard for Dark Chocolate HERE.

If you are managing diabetes, you DEFINITELY want to look into the NuGo Slim line! Check out how it stacks up against one of the better known "diabetic approved bars. NuGo has fewer ingredients, MORE PROTIEN, less sugar and NO artificial ingredients!


Graph taken from the Nugo Website - see more information  HERE



My FAVORITE!

I have to gush about my favorite bar...The NuGo Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzel with Sea Salt. I have to admit it - I normally do not like Dark Chocolate but the combination in this bar makes it totally work for me! My husband prefers the Nugo GoOrganic Double Dark Chocolate but who c'mon, what girl can say no to chocolate covered pretzels?! Anyway, on the outside it looks like it could be just another protein bar but the inside...that is where the difference is! This thing is PACKED with texture- It's almost like eating and adult rice-krispy treat! My absolute favorite part is that there are NO ARTFIFICIAL sweeteners - even in their slim and low carb bars! That means no upset tummy nor any of those "warnings" about upset intestinal systems..(eh hem) which are featured on many of the best selling low carb brands!

Tastes like a Girl Scout Thin Mint - ONLY BETTER!

Gluten FREE and VEGAN!

 

These bars are so easy to pack for work snacks, a quick meal fix, safe enough to share with your kids (no seriously, your kids WILL steal them so hide them!), and cost under $2 a bar.  Since each bar has heart healthy protein, it is even a great way to refuel after a workout!

Check your local grocery store or health food store to see what options may be available. You can also order them online- even from AMAZON and Walgreens!  Check out some of the flavors and styles below.

The following (and TONS more are available at Walgreens Health & Wellness

NuGo Smarte Carb Low-Carb Bars Peanut Butter Crunch
NuGo Family Natural Bars NuGo Coffee
NuGo Family Natural Bars NuGo Orange Smoothie
NuGo Organic Nutrition Bars Double Dark Chocolate
NuGo Stronger Protein Bars Peanut Cluster
NuGo Dark Natural Bars Pretzel Chocolate
NuGo Stronger Protein Bars Cookies n Cream
NuGo Organic Nutrition Bars Dark Chocolate Almond

Or check out AMAZON!

The Let's Get REAL Bloghop is Happening NOW!

Woot! Woot! Let's get this Friday started. Let's Get Real is all about Healthy Living. That's right! It's all about Real Food, fitness, health and wellness, and home life tips and tricks from Real people. That's you! Grab a cup of coffee (or other preferred beverage ). Relax into a comfy spot and take some time to get to know the great folks that link up here.

Click HERE to get your party started!

5 minute easy to make Healthy HUMMUS

Great as a dip, spread, or meal starter!

Getting your children to eat healthy is no easy task but for this mom, it is a priority. Over time, I have found recipes that they enjoy and are so easy to make....this hummus dip is certainly one of them!


CLICK HERE TO GET THE RECIPE and start SNACKING!

The Let's Get Real Party is LIVE!

Let's get this Friday started. Let's Get Real is all about Healthy Living. That's right! It's all about Real Food, fitness, health and wellness, and home life tips and tricks from Real people. That's you! Grab a cup of coffee (or other preferred beverage ). Relax into a comfy spot and take some time to get to know the great folks that link up here.
This week we have a new look and a new permanent Host.  We are excited to have Heather from Frugal Fit Family joining us each week.  What does this mean to you?  More exposure! You will now be seen on 5 blogs and this week with our special co-host.......you will be seen on 6 blogs! 

Click HERE To get to the party!

 

 

Easy Chocolate Covered Strawberry Smoothie made with Orgain! Vegan & Organic On the Go!

One thing that I quickly learned about an "organic" lifestyle is that it isn't always easy to grab something on the go!  When we first began our journey, I was a work at home mom with 5 kids who was able to make most of our food from home and had time to pre plan snacks and trips (seriously, we bought almost nothing pre-packaged)....after returning to work outside of the home, I found myself returning to old habits by grabbing junk at the store on my way to work.

I am and have been passionate about only eating organically and couldn't believe that I was just grabbing any old snack so long as I saw the words "all-Natural" on the label. Now, I know better I know why to choose organic instead of all-natural (read more about why to choose organic not all-natural here) but when in a pinch, I was desperate. I already had a jug of protein powder at home but the extra 5 minutes sometimes just wasn't there to whip up something good.

Success ON THE GO!

I finally made the conscious effort to hit the health food store the other day to find something that I could grab on the run. I saw some brands that "looked" like they fit what I was looking for...protein, plant-based, vegan, easy...but quickly saw that most didn't stack up (and some tasted GROSS). I made my way to the refrigerated section and was soooo happy to find something that is now my Go-to! I found Orgain ready to drink shakes - they even had a Vegan option (not my favorite BUT it was good)! The best part was that I went through the aisles a bit deeper and found that they also sell their plant based protein powder in a creamy chocolate fudge flavor that I could whip up while at home (it saves some money).

A little about Orgain - They are a great company! Their plant-based line is RAW, Vegan, Gluten Free, Lactose Free, GMO Free, nothing artificial and it's Soy Free. Now that you know what it doesn't have...here is what it does have - Sprouted Brown Rice Protein, Chia Protein, Hemp Protein, Organic Fiber and only 4 grams of Fat Per Serving. They have a Vegan Line, A Kids Line, Nutritional Shakes, Protein Powders, Ready to go shakes and even a HIGH Protein Line with 25 grams of protein per serving!

Here is one of my favorite recipes that I make with the Orgain Powder - no worries, you can always just add water to 2 scoops and it still tastes great!

 

The Chocolate Covered Strawberry Protein Smoothie

 

2 scoops of Orgain Creamy Chocolate Fudge - see below for variation

8 ounces of water or milk

1/4 cup of strawberries (fresh or frozen)

1/2 banana (freeze it first for a milkshake like shake!)

1 teaspoon of Honey (not necessary)

 

If you are not using orgain - you can still enjoy the chocolate covered strawberry protein shake! You can follow the directions of your favorite protein powder or...

 

1/2 cup greek yogurt

1/2 banana (frozen is best!)

1/2 cup strawberries

1 tbsp honey

                                    1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder                                     

1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk (or milk of your choice)

 

You may ask..."why a banana in a chocolate covered shake recipe?" and "why frozen"! Let me tell you why, it is AMAZING! Freezing your banana over night then adding it to your shake gives it an "ice cream like" consistency and makes it rich and creamy.

See my HOMEMADE HEALTHY ICE CREAM HERE!

 

You will see other recipes that have tons of ingredients and different additives to give you energy and fiber BUT you don't need to do that with Orgain. It already has great stuff in it!


Check Out Orgain Products below by clicking on them!  I hope you enjoy your smoothie!

They may a line specifically for kids, high protein items, powders, nutritional shakes, and even VEGAN options too!


Vegan Options!

Vegan!

High Protein!

I was not paid nor reimbursed in any way for my Orgain purchases.  I am simply a fan. The links contained are affiliate links and if you purchase from them, I will receive a small commission.

DIY Organic Anti-Aging Mask Recipe

Okay, I am not embarrassed to say it, my 30's are hitting me pretty hard. Until a year or so ago, I had not a wrinkle worry in the world but now I see lines between my eyebrows and parenthesis beside my lips that shouldn't be there.

As many of you may know, I am CHEAP (you can sugar coat it with frugal) and also trying to live an organic lifestyle. When it came to my hunt for an effective wrinkle cream...these two did not seem to go together. I searched online and found TONS of high priced serums, scrubs, and lotions but why spend all that money?  I then scoured the aisles at my local Health Food Store but I was looking in the wrong place! I was searching the bath and body section when I should have been shopping in the produce aisles.

YOU MAY WONDER WHY I CHOOSE ORGANIC MAKEUP SKINCARE? While a lot of people understand going organic with my foods, some really don’t see the point in selecting only organic makeups and skin care items.  I was the same way until I realized that my skin is a conductor NOT a carrier! Your skin is actually the largest organ of your body so whatever you apply to your skin gets absorbed into your bloodstream. Here I was ridding my family of chemicals only to pile them back into my system through my make up, soaps, and lotions. It was the same as working out at the gym only to stop at the Mexican place immediately afterwards (not that I haven’t done that). Studies actually have shown that chemicals contained in a mother's makeup can be present in their newborn or unborn child!

WHAT DO  I AVOID?
There is a lot of research on this subject and depending on who you read….it could be everything down to water. Here is a great list from Be Naturally You about what to avoid TOP 10 CHEMICALS TO AVOID! Many of the chemicals have been linked to cancers and carry warnings from the Cancer Society.

So now you know WHY I am avoiding chemicals and you also know that I was desperately searching for something that fit my budget and my organic mission..Thankfully, this Anti-Aging Wrinkle Recipe does BOTH and so much more!

DIY ORGANIC ANTI-AGING MASK RECIPE

Total spent - under $4.00!

To make this mask you will need the following:
1 Avocado
1 Banana
1 Teaspoon of Honey
1/2 Orange (squeezed)
If you are going 4 VEGAN - omit the honey! It's still a powerful mask!

Kinda looks like a shopping list, right?! Check out why each of these make the list. Don't worry, you can make this mask without some ingredients or just combine your favorite 2! Each one serves a purpose but each one is amazing alone too!

Avocado -Many anti-aging skin care products use avocado oil for its anti-aging properties! It is able to fight off trauma that is done to our skin in everyday life and it also helps to leave a youthful glow! They are also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which is anti-inflammatory (inflammation leads to aged looking skin) and are even said to improve elasticity and deeply moisturize the skin!
Banana - Bananas are rich in several vitamins that help to rejuvenate the skin!
Honey -moisturizing and anti-bacterial abilities
Orange Juice - Vitamin C is needed for the collegan making process and it's a powerful antioxidant which helps undo damage.

Now...You are Ready to Make it! SIMPLY ADD THE INGREDIENTS INTO A BOWL AND SMASH!

Time to get your Frugal Spa ON!

1. Start by placing a damp warm washcloth on your face. This will cause your pores to open up and absorb all of the goodness you are about to put on your skin.
2. Apply the mask and allow it to sit for about 15-20 minutes.
3. Remove the mask with warm water.
4. Admire your fresh skin!
5. You can do this a few times a week for a beautiful glowing complexion!

Want to see more Organic and Natural Beauty Tips?

Here are a FEW DIY Slimming & Weightloss Wrap Recipes!
Here are 8 reasons why I am coconutty for Coconut in my Beauty Routine!
Looking for GREEN Beauty on a Budget?! Check it out!

I hope you enjoy your mask! Please remember to follow me on Social Media for more DIY & Organic Beauty and Living Tips!

Not so interested in DIY? Here are a few great product solutions!

40% off Jason Organic Products at House of Nutrition