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.

Murchison-Hume: The Natural And Effective Way To A Beautifully Clean Home

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Moms Meet, May Media Group LLC, and Murchison-Hume.  I received this product free to facilitate this review.  All opinions are my own. 

Do you know what's in your cleaners?  Seriously, when was the last time you picked up a bottle of spray cleaner and read the ingredients?  Chances are there are a ton of harsh and harmful chemicals in it.  While I'm not above pulling out the disinfectant spray every now and again during cold season, for the part I do prefer to clean our home with products that have natural ingredients and that line up with our journey to living a healthier, more honest lifestyle.  Therefore, I was glad when Moms Meet reached out to see if I was interested in trying out the Murchison-Hume Home Starter Kit.

Murchison-Hume was started by former fashion editor Max Kater after doctors diagnosed Charlie, her son, with allergies to common household soaps and cleaning products.  "Armed with a mother's determination, I set out to create safe cleaning solutions for my son's sensitive skin that were simple to use (and actually worked).  As a mom of two kids with sensitive skin and allergies, I commend Max on taking matters into her hands and creating Murchison-Hume.  We moms will do anything for children including making a line of cleaning and personal care products made from naturally-derived ingredients. 

What I Received

Murchison-Hume not only specializes in cleaning products, but personal care products like hand soaps and pet wash as well.  Also, they have a variety of starter kits to choose from to suit your needs.  For my testing purposes I received the following cleaning products in my Murchison-Hume Home Starter Kit:

• Murchison-Hume Spit & Polish Stainless Steel Cleaner
• Murchison-Hume Everyday Furniture & Upholstery Cleaner
• Murchison-Hume Effortless Floor Cleaner
• Murchison-Hume Premium Glass Polish
• Murchison-Hume Counter Safe All-Purpose Cleaner
• Murchison-Hume Ladies' Bathroom Cleaner
• 1 Murchison-Hume Jute Tote

What I Liked & Didn't Like

Hands down the Murchison-Hume Counter Safe All-Purpose Cleaner was my favorite.  We are constantly busy here.  Therefore I can greatly appreciate the simplicity of an all-purpose cleaner.  Who has time to use a million and one different cleaners?  With this one cleaner, I can clean the stove top, the counters, coffee tables, TV stand, remotes and anything else with a hard surface.

I highly recommend ordering multiples of this spray because it will automatically become your go-to.  And the Australian White Grapefruit scent leaves your home smelling nice and fresh.  It also comes in an Original Fig scent.  So I'm ordering one of each.

My next favorite was Murchison-Hume Ladies' Bathroom Cleaner.  Bathrooms around here get dirty (and smelly) fast.  Thankfully this spray is a 2-in-1 because it's a surface cleaner and air freshener!  Talk about pulling double duty.  Be sure to follow the directions and leave this on for tough stains and stuck on dirt.  I chose to spray down the counters, sinks, tubs and outside toilet area and let the spray sit while I swept and cleaned the toilet bowl.

The dirt wiped away smoothly with no problems.  Although, you might have to put a little elbow grease in for the tub because we all tubs require a little more effort to clean.  I also received the Australian White Grapefruit scent for this one, but comes in Original Fig as well. 

Murchison-Hume Premium Glass Polish is a must-have in my book.  When you have as many mirrored and glass surfaces as we do, then you know that kids will be kids and smudge them all up every chance they get.  Also, you know that these surfaces can and will attract a good amount of dust.  Thankfully this spray is also a 2-in-1 because it not only polishes all of those sticky smudges from little fingers, but it works to prevent dust re-settling.

With four pairs of feet roaming through Casa de YUMMommy on a daily basis plus our battle against tracking in pet hair from our neighbors' dogs, our floors need daily love.  And now with JJ able to open up the frig and get what he wants whether he can actually carry it or not, our floors need love multiple times on some days.  The Murchison-Hume Effortless Floor Cleaner has really come in handy for both of these situations.   A little bit goes a long way with this floor cleaner.  So be sure to follow the directions and dilute the spray. 

Unfortunately I haven't gotten a chance to try out the Murchison-Hume Spit & Polish Stainless Steel Cleaner yet because our rental has zero stainless steel.  However, our house will have stainless steel appliances and I can't wait to if this works as well as the other products have.  I have no doubt that my kids' little fingers will be drawn to smudging up our appliances once we move.

While I liked the Murchison-Hume Everyday Furniture & Upholstery Cleaner, you really have to scrub, rinse and respray went it comes to lifting up darker stains like red drink.  Unfortunately JJ spilled some of his strawberry juice one day and it took two good scrubs and rinses to lift it out and in some areas the stain didn't lift completely.   

Lastly, I really love that fact that these products don't contain any harsh chemicals like ammonia, parabens, etc.  They also 100% cruelty-free and are made right here on American soil!  The packaging is recyclable, which is another huge plus for us since we're all about trying to live as Green and eco-friendly as possible for our family.

Overall, I'm very pleased with my Murchison-Hume Home Starter Kit and am purchasing more of these products.  I feel a lot better about using these products in our home in comparison to a few of our old ones.  Who says you need harmful chemicals to have a beautifully clean home?! You can stay up to date on new products and sales by following Murchison-Hume on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

How do you keep your home clean?  Share a cleaning tip below. 

#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!

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Getting Fruity With Del Monte® Fruit Burst® Squeezers and Mango Pineapple Fruit Cup® Snacks

Disclosure: The Del Monte® products, information, gift pack, and gift card have been provided by Del Monte®.  All opinions are 100% my own.

One of the responsibilities that I take the most serious as a mom (and wife) is providing my family with healthy food options.  As many of you know, I cook from scratch 7 days a week for my family.  So, when it comes to snack options, I enjoy picking foods that require little to no prep and absolutely no cooking!  This is why I was delighted when I got asked to try out the Del Monte® Fruit Burst® Squeezers and their new Mango Pineapple Fruit Cups® Snacks.

What I (we) Loved

Taste: We all loved the taste.  I have three favorite fruits-strawberries, mangoes and pineapples.  So, I really enjoyed the Mango Pineapple Fruit Cup® Snacks.  I've had my share of fruit salads/mixed fruits and I never thought to mix mango and pineapple together.

Moo's not a fan of pineapples, but to my surprise she liked them mixed with the mangoes.  JJ, who is a devoted banana lover, even got in on the action.  He's going through his picky eater stage and it was nice to see him trying something he has never had before.

So, as much as Moo loved the Fruit Cup® Snacks, she told me that her favorite were the Fruit Burst® Squeezers.  Y'all we got out package the day it started snowing before it got really bad out and by night fall she demolished a whole box by herself. (Note to self: hide all food packages from Moo in the future.)  We even made a special trip to Walmart yesterday to stock up on more.

Again healthy foods don't have to taste bad!!

They were sold out of Mixed Berry.  So, we got Blueberry instead.

Nutrition:  I come from a family that has been affected by generations of health issues caused by heredity, lack of exercise and mainly lack of getting good nutrition.  Therefore, it is very important for me to make sure that whatever I'm feeding myself and my family has good nutritional values. We only get one body and one life and it's important to take care of it by watching what we eat.

That said, I was happy that the Fruit Burst® contain 1 1/2 servings of fruit (Simply Fruit) or fruit and veggies (Fruit + Veggie).  They don't have high-fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors.  They also rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C.  There's nothing like being able to pronounce and know what all of the ingredients in our food are.

The Fruit Cup® Snacks are great source of Vitamin C.  They're also stored in a light syrup made from sugar and water and instead of high fructose corn syrup.  There's been a lot of dilemma over whether high fructose corn syrup being used in products and I'm glad to see that Del Monte is keeping simple by using a simple syrup instead.

Packaging:  We are an ecofriendly family.  So, I loved that the packaging is recyclable.  The Fruit Burst® pouches are also BPA free.  I love that the pouches are kid friendly as well.  This is something that I can pack lunchbox or throw in my purse and not have to worry about it spilling.

The Fruit Cup® Snacks are the perfect serving size and easy to open.  Thank goodness because I hate struggling with trying to open things.  These will definitely be staples in Moo's lunchbox when she starts kindergarten this August.

Price: Y'all already know that I'm a frugal shopper.  I don't like feeling as if I'm being robbed when I shop.  Both of these products are reasonably priced.  The Fruit Burst® Squeezers retail for $2.42 each and the Fruit Cup® Snacks retail for $1.98 each here at my local Walmart.  Honestly, you can't get much cheaper than for a prepared snack.

Variety:  The Fruit Burst® Squeezers come in two varieties.  You have the Simply Fruit (all fruits) variety in which you can choose form three flavors-Apple Cinnamon, Mixed Berry and Strawberry.  Then, there is the Fruit + Veggie (75% fruit, 25% veggie) variety with two flavors- Peach-Mango and Blueberry.  So, far we've tried the Mixed Berry, Peach-Mango and Blueberry flavors.

What I (we) Didn't Like

There wasn't anything that I didn't like about the products themselves.  Like, I said taste, price, nutrition and packaging all get a thumbs up from me and the family.  These products are recommended by me.  I encourage you to try them out.

 Also, I want to add that we make mini cobblers using some of the Mango Pineapple Fruit Cup® Snacks.  They came out very well and I will be sharing the recipe here on the blog next week.

Snack within a snack

Be sure to follow Del Monte® on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter to stay updated on exclusive offers, promotions and new product releases.  Also, one lucky YUMMommy reader will be winning 2 Del Monte® VIP coupons and a $25 Walmart gift card!!  So, be sure to use the Rafflecopter form below to enter if you're a US resident 18 & over.  Giveaway ends Tuesday, February 25th.

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Take It To The Park

Disclaimer:  This post is sponsored by Coca-Cola.  I was not compensated for this post.  All opinions are 100% my own.


We're in the thick of summer and there's only one place that my kids want to be-the park!  For JJ, the park is a place he can go and attempt to feast on sand candy. (Oh the anxiety I get with that kid.)  Moo on the other hand knows that the sand is not for eating and prefers to enjoy the challenges of the jungle gym like the monkey bars, going down the tall slide (she doesn't like heights) and climbing wall.

For me going to the park as a family is a magical experience.  JJ magically doesn't run the camera when I try snap pictures of him.  Moo magically transforms into this budding social butterfly.  And the fact that I'm usually able to better keep up with my two kids than some of the other parent are able to keep up with their one magically makes me feel less mommy guilt about other areas of motherhood that still need improvements on my part.

Most importantly what I love about the park is that we're out doing something that's healthy.  The kids and I are being active instead of just sitting on a couch watching tv all day or getting sucked into social media.  We're laughing, smiling, running around, swinging, making sand castles, throwing balls and bonding.  We're making memories and relishing just being able to be with each other.

Source

And living in the Queen City, we get a chance to explore several different parks.  We have two parks less than a 2 miles from our front door that we like to enjoy when it's not too hot or rainy out.  If we're looking for more of nature park to take in duck sightings or look for butterflies, there's always the beloved Freedom Park.  We don't get out there much because it's a bit of drive from our end of the city, but I would say that it's our favorite park to go to.  

It was the first park we took Moo to here.  I can still remember watching her as tried to take in the sights.  The dogs (she loves them even though she's allergic), the ducks and geese in the pond, the people fishing, the other kids...  And although the playground is always overcrowded and there's hardly room to move around, it's the one place she doesn't mind being around a lot of people.  I guess the excitement of having fun outweighs her dislike for large crowds.  She loves to walk over the bridge sometimes.

JJ's been a couple of times but I can't wait until he's older.  He'll really appreciate it then.  I already love it for him because there's hardly any sand.  Lots of grass, some concrete walkways and a mulch covered playground.  No fears of him eating any sand pies or cookies. LOL.

Enjoying the nature trail

I know that we often times feel like if we're not spending money on entertainment our kids won't enjoy it as much, but that's just not true.  Taking advantage of your local parks whenever possible is the best free fun you'll ever have as a family.  You'll have even more fun if you get out there and be active with them.  Don't just hold down the bench with the other parents.  

Some goodies from Coca-Cola that we enjoyed at the park

Get there and remember what it was like to be there age.  Rediscover that rush you felt knowing there was nothing but space for you to run around in and you could use your outside voice.  Make those memories now while you still can.  Cherish these moments while they're still happening.  Turn off the tvs and take it to the park people!

Need more of an incentive to get out and get active with the kiddies?  Well, I'm giving away a $20 Subway gift card and red &white beach ball thanks to my friends at Coca-Cola to one you lucky readers as of the America Is Your Park campaign.  All you have to do is snap and post a picture of you and/or your family being active at the park on Twitter or Instagram using hashtage #TakeItToThePark and tagging @yummommies!  Use the Rafflecopter widget below to record your entries.

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I can't wait to see all of your pics!  You can also help your park win $100,000 for help rebuild and enhance its features by voting for your favorite park here.  And don't forget to spread the word so that your park can win.

What's your and/or you're family's favorite thing about going to the park?

Counting Calories With Coca-Cola

Coming 2013, counting calories will be a little bit easier thanks to the folks over at Coca-Cola.  A few weeks ago, I was checking out their new blog, Unbottled, and read about how they are teaming up with the American Beverage Association and the cities of San Antonio and Chicago to roll out their new Calories Count™ Vending Program to assist with the cities' "wellness challenge."   The purpose of this challenge is to encourage city employees and their families to get healthier and shed a few pounds by being both active and cautious of the calories they in-take.

To do their part in helping Coca-Cola will display the number calories in each beverage selection offered in their vending machines.  By doing so, employees can choose the beverage that is just right for them.  These vending machines will be rolled out in San Antonio and Chicago first and will roll out through the US later next year.

See the calories displayed right there on the front of each drink selection

I for one am super excited about this.  My family and I try to lead an active and healthy lifestyle.  However, I don't go around memorizing all the calories that are in my favorite drinks and foods.  Having the calories displayed right there in front of me while I'm making my selection will help to me make better drink selections not just for myself but for children as well.  So, keep your eyes peeled for these next year!

Do you think more beverage companies should follow suit?

Disclaimer:  I was not compensated in any way for this post.  I just love Coca-Cola and thought this was great info to pass on!

5 Healthy Habits To Reduce Breast Cancer Risk

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  And I'm pretty sure we all know or have heard of someone who has had or has breast cancer.  I have personally talked about how my paternal grandmother losing her battle to breast cancer at a young age affected by father and his siblings as well as how those effects trickled down into my childhood.  However, what I want to everyone reading this post today to remember is that you have a fighting chance (males that included).  So I'm linking up with the BLM Girls Go Pink to share 5 healthy habits that can help your reduce your risk if breast cancer if you don't have it and help you to stick it to breast cancer if you do have it.

1-Eat Healthy: This is something that a lot of struggle with but the truth be told we are what we eat.  When we eat healthier foods our bodies our better able to fight our sickness and even cancer.  Plus, fruits and vegetables are very rich in antioxidants that help to fight cancer specifically.  One change that I've made is trying to Dr Oz's Anti-Cancer Breakfast Shake to help reduce my chances. Check out the recipe here.

2-Get Active:  Eating right alone won't make our bodies strong.  We have to turn off the tv and the computers and get out in the yard with the kids and run around.  Don't have kids?  Well, invest in a gym membership and get a workout buddy to help stay motivated.  Exercising our bodies not only helps us to keep our curves in shape but it also releases positive disease fighting hormones too.

3-Limit Drinks:  I'm not talking about KoolAid, juice or water either. Getting wasted (or tipsy) every night of the week might make you feel like the life of the party in the long term it's only destroying your body inside and preventing your immune system from being able to function properly.  As, with all things if you're going to have alcoholic beverages drink in moderation.

4-Touch Yourself:   Yep, you read correct.  Doing daily, weekly or bi-weekly self exams is the best way to catch breast cancer or changes in your breast period.  It's not just breast cancer that affects your breast.  Women and men can get cyst, scar tissues and more.  Don't know how to administer a self exam find out here.

5-Professional Checkups:  You may be doing your self exams at home, but you still need make checkups with your doctor every six and of course schedule your yearly mammograms.   Some of us are going miss lumps due to improper technique.  Others of us might just write a little lump off as having had too much caffeine   Whatever the case, a professional exam and mammogram are the only ways to be certain or not you have breast cancer.

Have you gotten your professional breast exam or mammogram?