3 Reasons Why Family Meals Are So Important

I received this product for free from Moms Meet to use and post my honest opinions.  Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

Summer is still in full swing.  And if you're from the Carolinas, you know the heat down South is nothing to play with.  One of the measures I've been taking to keep the house cool is taking a break a from turning on my stove. I may not be cooking as often these days, thanks to Wildscape, family dinners have been going strong still.  Eating dinner as a family is the one thing, I refuse to give up. While there are tons of scientific and medical studies about how beneficial family dinners can be for children, I'm sharing 3 of my own personal reasons why family meals are so important for my family.

How To Protect Your Family's Immune Systems During Cold & Flu Season

I received this product for free from Moms Meet to use and post my honest opinions.  Compensation for this post was provided and this post may contain affiliate links.

It's officially my favorite season of the year- Autumn!  Unfortunately with the start of my favorite season also comes the start of my least favorite time of the year- cold and flu season.  In the past, cold and flu season has always been brutal for us.  Remember that one year we ended up in the hospital because JJ caught the flu twice and it turned into pneumonia?  This year we're protecting our immune systems and getting them in tiptop shape with the help of our new secret weapon- Sambucol Black Elderberry Gummies- and a few simple but effective steps.

Tropical Fruit Popcorn Bars

This post is sponsored by Moms Meet and Palm Oil Health.  Compensation for this post was provided and I may receive a commission for purchases made through some of the links in this post.

Summer Break is finally here!!  I wanted to make a special dessert/snack to help us celebrate the end of another successful school year.  When I was a kid my mom used to let us pop our own popcorn as a treat for special moments like getting a good grade on a test or family movie night.  So it's only seemed fitting that I introduce this tradition to my kids.  Of course, we put our own twist on it by ditching the canola oil for Malaysian Red Palm Oil and kicked things up a notch by turning our popcorn into tropical fruit popcorn bars.

Finding Fuel For My Inner Fire After My Breast Cancer Scare

This post is sponsored by Moms Meet and Fuel For Fire®.  Compensation for this post was provided and I may receive a commission for purchases made through some of the links in this post.

"It is not light that we need, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder.  We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake." -Frederick Douglass

Sometimes we're forced into darkness not to find light but find fuel for our inner fire.  My light went out about two months ago when I woke and found on my inner right breast.  At first, I wasn't overly concerned about it.  I thought it might have been more a bump caused by the bra had worn and accidentally fell asleep in.  I did start to worry when said lump doubled in size and started to be very painful and tender to the touch.

How To Make A Milkshake Using Hazelnut Spread

This post is sponsored by Moms Meet and Once Again Nut Butter. Compensation for this post was provided and I may receive a commission for purchases made through some of the links in this post.

The first day of summer might still be a month away, but down here in the Carolinas, things have already started to heat up.   We have officially crossed over into the 90 degrees and above territory.  If you're already looking for something to help you beat the heat, you're in luck today.  I'm sharing a recipe for one of the most delicious and easiest ice-cold milkshakes to make using Once Again Nut Butter's hazelnut spread.

Cheddar Crusted Chicken Nuggets

This post is sponsored by Moms Meet and Brandless.  I may get a commission for purchases made through some of the links in this post. 

There are few things that I love more than experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.  Sometimes the recipes work out, sometimes they don't.  Thankfully, it worked it out this time around.  I kept this recipe super simple using only three ingredients - chicken breasts, cheddar flavored Cheese Duck Crackers from Brandless and an egg.

Easy Cajun Shrimp Vegetable Fried Yellow Rice

This post is sponsored by Moms Meet and the Flavor Your Life campaign.  Also, I may get a commission for purchases or clicks made through some of the links in this post.

"In the kitchen, wrist twistin' like it's stir fry."🎧🎤  Okay, so I wasn't making stir fry like Migos did (see here).  However, I was definitely in the kitchen and my wrist was definitely twisting as I made what has become one of my favorite go-to one pot meals.

via GIPHY

Because flavor is the spice of life and I despise doing the dishes, I make a big skillet of my Cajun Shrimp Vegetable Fried Yellow Rice at least once a week.  I'm so excited to finally be sharing it with y'all so that you can flavor your life. 

Falling Into Autumn With prAna

I received this 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 are my own.

Somebody call up the press!  Fall weather has officially made it to the Carolinas!  This is huge because October 2016 had us still in shorts and t-shirts.  In case you're new around here, autumn is one of my two favorite seasons of the year because I get to pull out my favorite wardrobe pieces.  This past April, prAna and I showed you all how to mom in comfort and style, well today we're showing you how to keep your fall style cozy, simple but still stylish.

In The Kitchen With Sun Basket

I received this product for free from Moms Meet to use and post my honest opinions.  Compensation for this post was provided and this post may contain affiliate links.

If there's one room in our home that I spend a lot of time in it's the kitchen.  Because there are some pretty serious food allergies in our family, I cook breakfast, lunch and dinner mostly from scratch every day.  When 2017 started, one of my goals was that I wanted to start mixing things up in the kitchen and exposing my family to new dishes.  So I was excited when Moms Meet reached out and offered us a chance to try out a Sun Basket Meal Kit.  I was delighted to find that they have meal options to suit a variety of dietary needs and restrictions.

How To Mom In Comfort & Style

Disclosure: I received this 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 are my own.

There was a time when I didn't mind sacrificing comfort for style.  These days not so much.  I'm a mom of two who works from home, volunteers in my community and more.  With so much on my plate and constantly being on the go, I'm dressing in clothing that is comfortable, but still stylish.  Over the years I've learned that beauty doesn't haven't to equal pain and looking great doesn't have to equal being uncomfortable.  This is why I was delighted to partner with Moms Meet and prAna to try out some of their clothing. 

Hail Merry® Merry Bites™

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

Whether for myself or my kids, I am always on the hunt for nutritious snacks that are not only good for us, but tasty too.  Lat month Moms Meet asked if I would be interested in trying Hail Merry's Merry Bites.  And after reading about Hail Merry's Merry Bites and doing a little research to see what other moms were saying about them, I said yes.  My package arrived about two weeks ago and I'm so glad that I decided to give them a try.  Keep scrolling to find see the adorable package they sent me as well as my first impression and unboxing video!

What I Received

Before I get into exactly what in my package, can we take a moment to admire how pretty the Hail Merry tin is?  How adorable is this tin?  The lid features the Hail Merry Queen surrounded by stars and "Raw Love" underneath while the side of the actual tin is decorated with the words "Vegan," "Raw," and "Gluten-Free" all separate by cute little blue hears.  And the use of our nation's patriotic colors only adds to the cuteness factor.  I think this is probably the cutest package I've "ever received from a sponsor.  Other companies should definitely take note.

Nestled inside of this cute tin were the following:

• 1 Hail Merry fitted baseball cap


• 1 Hail Merry poncho style t-shirt


• 1 Caramel Sea Salt Merry Bites sample pack


• 1 Pure Vanilla Macaroon Merry Bites sample pack


• 1 Lemon Macaroon Merry Bites sample pack


• 1 Salted Brownie Merry Bites sample pack


• 1 Dark Chocolate Macaroon Merry Bites sample pack


• 1 Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Merry Bites sample pack


• 1 Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Merry Bites full-size sample


• 1 Hail Merry information pamphlet


• 2 Hail Merry roller durby girl temporary tattoos


• 2 Hail Merry Merry Bites coupons

What I Liked

What liked right away about the Merry Bites was that they were gluten-free, vegan and made from 100% plant-based ingredients.  There weren't any artificial preservatives, high fructose corn syrup or other not so healthy ingredients.  Merry Bites are certified vegan, C.L.E.A.N., gluten-free, peanut-free (they contain almonds though), paleo-friendly and Non-GMO verified.  In the spirit of full disclosure Moo nor JJ could try these because they are allergic to almonds in addition to peanuts.  However, if they weren't this is exactly the snack I'd purchase for them.

I enjoyed that the Merry Bites came in six different flavor varities: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Caramel Sea Salt, Salted Brownie, Pure Vanilla Macaroon, Lemon Macaroon, and Dark Chocolate Macaroon.  Out of all six flavors my absolute favorites were the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Dark Chocolate Macaroon and Caramel Sea Salt.  I don't think you can wrong with those flavors if you're looking to just taste test Merry Bites for yourself.  The shredded coconut and coconut oil made these so moist and almost melt in your mouth soft, chewy and the maple syrup along with the vanilla add just the right amount of sweetness.

I was definitely bummed when all of my Merry Bites were gone. Thankfully, they threw in some coupons for some more.  I can't wait to scurry to my local Whole Foods or Fresh Market to pick up some.  I've already raved about how much I liked the packaging.  Seriously they had everything packed away so neatly.  And the t-shirt was wrapped in a cute ribbon that I will be repurposing as a hair ribbon for my puff. #NaturalHairLife  Check out my First Impression and Unboxing video below to see all of my reactions to the different flavors.

Visit HailMerry.com/where-to-buy to find out if a grocer near you sells Merry Bites.  Trust me you want regret trying them.  If you don't have stores near you that sell these be sure to put in a request.  You can also keep up with Hail Merry and any future product releases by giving them a like on Facebook, following them on Twitter or following them on Instagram.

And if you do get a chance to try Merry Bites or any of the other Hail Merry products-Miracle Tarts and Mini Miracle Tarts-feel to stop by and let me know how you liked them.

What is your favorite healthy snack?

Rainbow Light Power Sours and Bear Essentials Multivitamin Gummies

Disclosure: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, 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 opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

As parents it's important to make sure that our children are getting the right amount of nutrition so that they can grow up healthy and strong.  Whether or not your child is a picky eater, it can be hard to make sure that they are getting all of their vitamins through their food on a daily basis.  Thankfully, there are a variety of multivitamins available to pick up the slack so to speak.  Speaking of multivitamins, we recently got the opportunity to try out Rainbow Light Power Sours and Bear Essentials Multivitamin Gummies.  You can find out what we liked about each multivitamin below.

What We Liked Most

One of the first things I liked about the Power Sours and Bear Essentials was the packaging.  The all of the important information such as quantity, flavors, etc is easy to read.  There's nothing more frustrating than having to pick through tiny text to find out what flavor a product is or what's the net weight, etc.  The actual plastic pouches that the vitamins come are super easy to open.  This is great when you have children who want to be independent and open their own vitamins.

Plus, who has time to wrestle with hard to open packaging or hunt down scissors everyday?  Not I.  We all liked that the multivitamin gummies looked and tasted like candy.  If you've ever had to give a child medicine, you know it can be a very difficult task.  By making the vitamins gummies with a sweet and sour flavor, Rainbow Light helped to make vitamins more appealing to my kids and their taste buds.

Speaking of taste, I liked that there are NO artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners used in these vitamins.   Personally, I feel that artificial ingredients subtract from the nutrients of vitamins (and food in general) when used.  I felt confident that my kids were getting all of their vitamins and no harmful stuff.

Power Sours and Bear Essentials both support optimal growth and development which is huge for me having a special needs child with developmental issues.  I like that he's getting additional nutrients to support his development.  They also promote healthy bones, brain and eyes as well as balance energy.

And of the biggest reasons we'll be ordering more Power Sours and Bear Essentials is that they are gluten-free and soy-free.  Both of my kids are allergic to gluten and JJ is also highly allergic to soy.  It's been a struggle in the past to find vitamins that were both gluten-free and soy-free.

Overall, we really enjoyed trying out the Rainbow Light Power Sours and Bear Essential Multivitamin Gummies.  The only complaints came from Moo.  Her issue was she felt like she wasn't getting the same amount of vitamins with the Bear Essentials because there were only three bears to a pack whereas, the Power Sours were four to a pack.  I did explain to her that the bears were much larger than the Power Sours and so everything did in fact equal out and she wasn't getting swindled. LOL.

So, if you're in the market for a new multivitamin for your littles be sure to give these a try. The Power Sours are $17.99/box and the Bear Essentials are $18.49/box.  Be sure to check out the Rainbow Light official website and you can find them on Facebook and Twitter.

How do you make sure your kids are getting all of their vitamins?

Xlear Care Kit

Disclosure:  I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer.  My opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of May Media Group LLC or Xlear, Inc.

I'm always on the lookout for products made with natural ingredients.  Why?  Well, I believe that products made from and with natural ingredients are better for our bodies than those made from artificial and/or harsh chemicals.  A few years ago I was introduced to Xlear, Inc. through Moms Meet and loved them.  So, I jumped at the chance to try out the products from their Xlear Care Kit.

What Was In My Kit

• Spry Bamboo Toothbrush
• Spry Oral Rinse (Spearmint flavor)
• Two Xlear Nasal Spray
• Two Spry Gems Mints (Lemon Creme and Berry flavors)
• Spry Gum (Peppermint flavor)

What I Liked

I've been using my Xlear Care Kit products for a little over a month now and I love them.  As a whole, I love that all of the products are made using natural ingredients, especially xylitol.  As I mentioned before I am very big fan of products with natural ingredients because they are often times better and less harmful for our bodies in my experience.  I also loved that because none of the products I received contained harsh chemicals, my whole family could use them!

The nasal spray is safe for daily use and helps to get rid of congestion, which is really great when you have allergies.  If you follow the dosage instructions on the box, your nasal spray should last you about to 2-3 months.

The toothpaste and oral rinse both had a great taste.  I really loved that the oral rinse had a lot of herbal extracts that I was familiar with like aloe vera, chamomile and even echinacea.  Growing up my mom always kept a few aloe plants on hand not only for personal hygiene, but medical purposes and she swore by echinacea for helping the body to fight off germs.  In comparison to other toothpaste brands, I think Spry is just as good at getting my family's teeth clean.

The gum and gem mints were the kids' favorites.  One of my pet peeve about other breath mints are that they can be too hard or too hot ( or spicy as Moo calls it).  Not the case with the gems, they crunch easily and thanks to the xylitol, a naturally occurring sweetener, they have a nice sweet taste and no burn,   The gum flavoring really lasts a super long time.  I strongly dislike when I chew a piece of gum and after two minutes the flavor gone.  Not a problem with the Spry Gum.

Love the toothbrush.  How awesome is it that I have a bamboo toothbrush now?!  Moo was a bit jealous when she found out there was only one of them in our box and that Mommy was not sharing it with her.

What I Didn't Like

The one complaint that I would have about my Xlear Care Kit is that the oral rinse is a little spicy according to Moo.  I'm not sure what they could to do to tone down the burn a little bit.  But as I said earlier, we love this kit.

How To Get Your Own Kit

Interested in trying out any of these Xlear/Spry products for yourself?  Well click here and use code SAVE50 to get your $65 Xlear Care Kit for only $25!  Talk about a great deal.

Also, don't forget to check out Xlear on Facebook, Twitter and Xlear.com to stay updated on new products as well as to find out where Spry products are sold in your area. 

Do you prefer products with all natural ingredients?

NoGii: Healthy Gluten-Free Snacks For Families On The Go

Disclosure:  I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer.  My opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of May Media Group LLC or NoGii.

Whether you're a family of one or four snacking healthy while on the go can be challenging.  As a wife, mommy of two and blogger I stay on the go quite a bit.  When hunger strikes while out and about it can be tempting to just settle for a junk food run at the gas station.  Thankfully, the lovely folks at Moms Meet have introduced me and the Mr to our new favorite healthy and gluten-free on-the-go snack brand- NoGii (noh-jee).

My goodies

A line of certified gluten-free protein bars, paleo bars and protein powders, NoGii has a variety of options and flavors for active families like mine to enjoy.  I was lucky enough to get try out their full product line with the exception of their Cocoa Chocolate Whey & Quinoa Protein and Cookies & Creme D'Lites.  They even sent me a copy of The G-Free Diet: A Gluten-Free Survival Guide by Elisabeth Hasselbeck and a Live Gluten-Free tee.

What I Loved

• Gluten-Free:  For thousands of people eating foods with gluten can be life-threatening or cause severe illness.  Some of you may know that my children, Moo and JJ, are allergic to gluten.  Therefore, it's very important that anything they consume food that are gluten-free.  My husband and I have made the choice to also eat gluten-free 95% of the time as well.  (I'm still working on giving up Twizzlers and biscuits.)

• Family Friendly:  NoGii's products are safe for kids and can be enjoyed by the whole family.  No harmful chemicals or steroids to worry about.  Remember a family that snacks healthy together stays healthy together!

• Variety:  While NoGii offers only bars and Whey & Quinoa Protein, they have a good variety when it comes to flavors.  The Mr. YUMMommy's favorite was the Rocky Road Super Protein Bar.  I'm pretty sure he 80% of the box.  My favorites were the Nuts About Nuts Paleo Bar, Cookies & Creme Super Protein Bar and the Chocolate Caramel Bliss Protein D'Lites.  I'm also a fan of their Vanilla Whey & Quinoa Protein Powder.  I usually have it in the form of a smoothie for breakfast and after my evening workouts.  You can check out the other flavors below.

• Mom Made/Created:  NoGii is the brainchild of Elisabeth Hasselbeck.  So of you may remember her a former host of the award winning talk show The View.  She was also a contestant on Survivor. Elisabeth is also a wife, mom and New York Times best-selling author.  Diagnosed with celiac disease, she became committed to not only raising awareness about the illness, but to creating products that were gluten-free for others who are allergic to gluten or suffer from celiac disease as well.  I have to say that she did a great job and it's great to be supporting a fellow mompreneur.

• Packaging: I love that the packaging is sleek and the color schemes are kept simple.  The flavors and brand logo are easily identifiable.  The bars are easy to open which is important because who has time to struggle with opening up packaging?

What I Didn't Like

• Nuts & Dairy:  While the paleo bars are peanut free, they still contained nuts.  And the protein bars contained peanuts (some) and diary.  Unfortunately the kids weren't able to try any of the bars due to their dairy and nut allergies.  Additionally, JJ has an allergy to soy.  In the future I would love to see NoGii offer a nut and dairy free bar as well as soy free option.

Overall, I am very impressed with NoGii and have already added them to our regular grocery shopping list for myself and the Mr.  If you'd like to try out NoGii, check out your local Harris Teeter, Walgreens or use their store locator  to find out what store near you sells their products.

Don't forget to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay up to date on new product offerings and more.   Also, be sure to enter the NoGii Tablesetters Contest.  You could win a trip to New York City with an opportunity to meet and have lunch with Elisabeth Hasselbeck.  Enter here before the contest ends on July 31, 2015.  Good luck and happy snacking!
  

What is your favorite on-the-go healthy snack?

WORLDFOODS: Exploring The World Through Food

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received this product directly from the manufacturer.  As a Moms Meet blogger, I agreed to sample this product and post my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are 100% my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product!

What's almost better than exploring the world?  Exploring the world through food, of course!  For the last month and a half, our family has been exploring the world through food thanks to WORLDFOODS.  Being a household where three out four of us battles food allergies, it is quite challenging to explore foreign cuisines.  Or least it was challenging until we were introduced the WORLDFOODS cooking sauces and marinades. 

What We Got

• Indian Tandoori Marinade & Stir-fry:  This was everybody's favorite of the four sauces we received.  It was spicy, but not hot and also had a hint of sweetness.  I definitely consider the Tandoori to be an all-purpose sauce.  We used it to marinate chicken breast for roasting and I even tried some as a dipping sauce for my french fries.
• Malaysian Rendang Curry Cooking Sauce:  The Rendang reminded me of a cross between an herbal rub and a gravy.  I referred to it as a meat gravy.  It's very rich in flavor and perfect for smothering meats in.  This sauce smells absolutely divine as it cooks.  The herbs give off a great aroma.  My husband really enjoyed this one.
• Thai Green Curry Cooking Sauce:  We had never tried green curry before using the Thai Green Curry Cooking Sauce from WORLDFOODS.  In my mind, I was expecting it to be more on the spicy side but was pleasantly surprised by the sweetness.  This sauce pairs well with chicken and rice.
• Thai Turmeric Lemon Grass Marinade & Stir-fry: While the kids and the Mr weren't fans of this one, I was.  I tried this sauce as both a marinade and for a stir-fry.  It works well as either and goes great with chicken or turkey.  I loved the burst of lemon grass flavor that you get right before the spiciness hits.
• Recipe Notebook:  I love that I have a place to keep all the recipes I created in one place.  It's small enough to put in my wallet for grocery store runs.

What We Loved 

First and foremost, we loved that all these products were allergen and gluten free!  No dairy, no nuts, no wheat, etc.  Also, WORLDFOODS products don't have any added oils, trans fat or preservatives.  No need to worry about artificial ingredients or food flavor enhancers because they use 100% all natural ingredients.

I loved that all of the sauces cooked well whether I was cooking it on the stove top or using it as a marinate to roast my meats.  The flavors were delicious and not bland at all.  You could really taste the spices and subtle hints of other main ingredients.  They weren't overpowering.

I loved that each sauce could be used for multiple purposes.  Having the flexibility to create a variety of dishes is very important for me since I cook on a daily basis.  I was able to switch up dishes, but still have those great flavors that we loved.

With over 65 sauces, dips and marinades, I'm excited to try the remaining 61!  We've experienced flavors from Thailand, Malaysia and India, but are excited to try out some of WORLDFOODS Indonesian, Cambodian and Chinese inspired products.  Thankfully, several of our local stores offer WORLDFOODS products, but even if they didn't the quality is worth ordering online and paying shipping.  

You can check here to see if there are any stores in your area that sell WORLDFOODS products.  While you're online be sure to pick this $1 off coupon so that you can save a little money, too!  You can also 'Like' them on Facebook to stay up to date on sales, new offerings and more.

Do you cook foreign foods or using foreign ingredients in your meals?

#WOWSummit 2014: 3 Reasons I'm Going

Have you heard the new?  Yours truly has been invited to attend WOW Summit 2014, November 7-9th in Orlando, Florida thanks to Moms Meet.  For those of you not familiar, WOW Summit is a conference designed for moms (and dads) who are interested in living and raising families in a healthy/natural lifestyle. Today, I'm sharing my 3 reasons for why I'm going and why you should plan on attending too.

The Experts

When it comes to healthy living I feel like there is still so much out there for me to learn, especially when you have family with some many allergies like mine.  Therefore, what better way to learn more about how I can make this journey to living a healthy and balanced lifestyle than by taking a few notes from the real experts.  I'm also working on a list of questions in case there are Q&A opportunities at the end of each session. My three sessions that I am really looking forward to sitting in on are: 

The Brands

As a blogger having the opportunity to interact with representatives from brands like Zevia and KIWI Shop, just to name a few, can be like the winning the networking lottery in many ways.  We're no longer just a face on a social media page or a name on a blog.  Likewise, we get the chance to really feel out brands we already like and make connections with new brands that we may have never tried before.

As mom, I get to really ask the hard questions like "Is your product really made of all natural ingredients?" or make suggestions like "Have you thought about adding gluten-free and/or dairy-free products to your line?"  At the end of the day what I've learned in the past through my interaction with brands face to face is that they really value the feedback of their consumers.  They're about making sure that they are providing the best products that they can and what better way to do that than with feedback from the families who buying their merchandise.

The Moms

Did you know there's going to be a poolside cocktail party and a Mom's Night Out comedy show at WOW Summit 2014?!  Listen I love my kids, but sometimes I need be around other moms (and dads) for some grown up talk.  I'm anxious to see if I'll run into any familiar faces from the blogging world and excited at the possibility of making new friends with both bloggers and non-bloggers.  I'll have my phone, contact cards and an address book with tons of ink pens handy to exchange emails, blog urls and phone numbers.

How Can You Attend WOW Summit 2014?

So now that I've told you my top 3 reasons for heading to WOW Summit 2014, I hope that I've piqued your interest and that you're now planning to attend as well.  Still need a little extra motivation?  What if I told you that you could save 50% off your ticket price with their early bird special ($75) by registering by July 31st!  Regular tickets are $150 otherwise.

You'll also be entered for a chance to win tickets to Walt Disney World Resort if you purchase an early bird ticket.  Still need more incentive?  Use promo code Summit-STW046 and receive 20% your ticket price for both early bird and regular tickets. 

Now for the really good news . . .   Moms Meet has been generous and gracious enough offer me the opportunity to give YUMMommy readers a chance to enter to win a ticket to WOW Summit 2014!  I can't wait to see which one of you YUMMs will be hanging out with me in Orlando this November.  Just check out the Rafflecopter form below to enter.  The giveaway will end August 18th at 11:59 PM.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fresh Express 30-Day Salad Swap

Disclosure:  This post is sponsored by the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received this product directly from the manufacturer.  As a Moms Meet blogger, I agreed to sample this product and post my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are 100% my own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product!

Let's face it, eating healthy is really a struggle for some of us and our families.  The biggest reason I've heard for this is that eating healthy requires sacrificing great taste.  The next biggest reason was cost.  A lot of us are under the influence that it costs a fortune to eat better.  So, when I was asked if I wanted to join in the Fresh Express 30-Day Salad Swap, I said yes.  I agreed for the following reasons:

1: I was already familiar with the Fresh Express brand.  They are my go-to for ready made salad blends.

2:  They have great quality.  All of their salads come washed, rinsed, dried and packaged in their patented "Keep-Crisp®" breathable bags and are preservative free.
3:  Fresh Express offers an awesome selection of different salad mixes and recently released a variety of ready-to-eat salad kits.  They even have a USDA-Certified Organic line!

4: Depending on the salad and retailer Fresh Express salads will run you between $2-4 per bag, which is a steal compared to $5 per person at a restaurant for full-size salads.  (You can score a $0.55 off coupon for a limited time here.)

Using the Salad Swap app and website, I have been able to check out all of the different salads I can create and swap out regular meals for.  Let me tell y'all, the possibilities are endless.  We are on Day 20 and haven't gotten tired of salad yet!  We've been alternating between swapping a regular lunch or dinner meal for one of the salad creations.  So, if we had a Caesar salad on Monday for lunch and Tuesday, we had my favorite, taco salads for dinner.  Check out the recipe below.

Ingredients

1 bag of Fresh Express Premium Romaine salad mix

1 bag of tortilla chips (fat free or organic if possible)

1 bag of Mexican (or soy) cheese blend

1 jar of salsa

1 pack of ground turkey

Instructions

1- Brown turkey in a pan using medium to medium-high heat.

2- While turkey is browning, preheat oven to 300 degrees.

3- When turkey is almost completely browned, heat tortilla chips in the oven for 2-5 minutes.  Drain turkey and return to pan with the heat off.

4- Arrange 15-20 tortilla chips to cover the bottom of each plate.  Top with a handful of roughly chopped Fresh Express salad mix (I just used my hands and broke apart the lettuce a little bit).  Next sprinkle on a 1/3 cup of ground turkey.  Finish off with 1/4 cup of shredded cheese and 1 1/2 tablespoons of salsa.

There you have it, a yummy meal under 600 calories.  This meal was a total of  roughly $18 with taxes (salad $2.99, cheese $2.50, salsa $2, ground turkey $7, and tortilla chips $2) to make and we had leftovers that will be used for lunch.  So, that's a little of over $2 per person each day!  Much cheaper than eating out.

I challenge all of you to take the Fresh Express 30-Day Salad Swap.  Get the coupon mention aboved, download the app (or sign-up on the website), and start eating healthier today!  Don't forget to follow Fresh Express on Pinterest and Facebook for more inspiration, savings and more!

Xlear SparX

There's no denying the fact that Moo definitely has a bit of a sweet tooth.  I'll admit that she gets it from me.  However, like any responsible parent, I'm very cautious of giving her candy and actively monitor her sugar intake.  I'm always looking for treats that are sweet 'tasting' but minus all those not so good for body or teeth ingredients when she asks for candy.  So, I was excited when we got two samples of SparX (Citrus & Fruit flavors) by Xlear to try out.

I'm not sure why I never tried SparX before now, but I wish had and will be buying these from now on.  If your family is a fan of the Runts candies then you will surely enjoy the SparX candies.  These are actually softer and slightly chewy.  So, you don't have to worry anybody chipping a tooth trying to crunch hard candy.  This is a huge deal for me because I come from a family with soft and sensitive teeth.

Also, what I like about SparX is that this candy is dentist approved!  Unlike other candies, SparX doesn't have artificial sweeteners.  They're made with xylitol, a plant-based sweetener   What's so special about xylitol?  Well, it's actually been shown to strengthen tooth enamel instead of weakening it.  Pretty sweet huh?

Show me a parent who wouldn't want their kids munching on candy that will actually make their teeth stronger and I'll show you a flying pig.  Another issue with traditional candies is that they're not healthy for kids and adults with blood sugar and insulin production conditions like diabetes.  Well, the xylitol won't interfere with that.  It's a safe treat that you and your kids can enjoy without worry of anybody's blood sugar levels shooting through the roof.

SparX Candy comes in three flavors- Berry, Citrus and Fruit.  There are not artificial flavors or coloring added.  Moo, JJ and I have definitely enjoyed popping these.  No, we didn't share with the Mr.  Next time.

Certainly want to Xlear and Mom Meets for introducing us this goodness.  You all know, I worry enough about my kids when it comes to their food allergies and fitting into our Green lifestyle.  I just hope that more companies will look into putting out more healthier sweets options like this in the future.  Be sure to visit Xlear on Facebook and find out more about their other products.  They also sent JJ some Kid's Spry Tooth Gel.  So, be on the lookout for a review on that later.  I would definitely recommend stuffing a few tubs of SparX in the kids' stockings this year and see how they like it!

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer.  As a Moms Meet blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog.  My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.