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- Valid for 15% off at prAna.com
- One-time use per customer
- Not valid for Influencers, on Gift Certificates or with any other offers
- Valid thru May 30, 2016
- (2) Protein On-the-Go pouches (Chocolate and Vanilla)
- (4) Hydration Drink Mix sticks (Lemon-Lime, Red Berry, Orange, and Grape)
- (4) KIDS Hydration Drink Mix sticks (Strawberry Lemonade, Fruit Punch, Grape, and Apple)
- 1/3 cup giardiniera, store bought, chopped
- 2 Tablespoons black olives, chopped
- 2 Tablespoons roasted red peppers, chopped
- 1 Tablespoon banana peppers, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon extra olive oil
- Favorite Sabra hummus
- Chop all the ingredients and add to a bowl.
- Mix well until combined and then add as a topping to your favorite Sabra hummus.
- Dig in.
- This adorable gift set includes: the Hey, Diddle, Diddle Singalong Storybook in your choice hardcover or board book, an ultra-soft 9” black-and-white Mary Meyer cow named Sweet Constance (age-rating: 0+), two egg shakers, and a digital download of the song “Hey, Diddle, Diddle.”Link to store page: https://www.musictogether.com/store/hey-diddle-diddle/#hey-diddle-diddle-gift-set
- Want to try a class for free? Check this link: www.musictogether.com/momsmeet
- Download the “Hello Everybody” app (free) to get eight Music Together songs that you can listen and sing along to, whether you’re at home or on the go. Our sing-along feature lets you show or hide on-screen lyrics, plus you can control the volume of the vocals—or turn them off to hear an instrumental-only track and make up your own words. Use your device’s camera to make your own family music videos and share them with your friends. The app also includes a digital version of one of our award-winning Singalong Storybooks, Hello, Everybody, based on the beloved “Hello Song.”
- Download from the App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id1019486012
Comfy, Chic Everyday Clothing with PrAna + Giveaway #MMWearsPrana
April 22nd, 2016I have been working from home almost 8 years now and I am always challenged to find the best work space and the best method to stay inspired. One of the things that I forget to do is to make sure to immediately get dressed for the day first thing in the morning. While pajamas would be ideal everyday clothing, it does not make for a productive environment. I personally feel like a slob and I end up being unproductive because all I want is to be in bed catching a few more hours of sleep. It really makes a difference when I take a shower and ready my day with a nice outfit.
Don’t get me wrong though. I don’t get in a business suit to make my work day better. Sometimes just a simple outfit with makeup and a comfy up-do makes a world of difference. My husband can tell you how it works for me, truly! If I had my way I would be in yoga pants every day but it is not logically. I want to be able to look representable when I go pick up my daughter from school or even look nice at a playground.
It is my preference though. I know many do not feel the same way.
Is it too hard to ask for comfy clothing that is also stylish? Jeans tend to be heavy and hot on my legs and something I like soft stretchy cotton to move with my girls and about my daily life. I am not a hipster nor do I have a Bohemian style. In fact, I am not quite sure what my style I am but I like nice clothing.
I’ve always heard about PrAna clothing but had never had the chance to try until just recently as part of Moms Meet. Here I thought their clothing was meant for people who loved yoga but in fact PrAna offers more than that. They offer sustainable and stylish clothing for any moment of the day whether I am hiking, exercising, or active with my littles. I would say that is perfect for everyday clothing!
While I did not receive an outfit for exercise, I was able to try something more stylish like the Kara Jean and Liana Sweater. I chose my favorite color jeans in cargo green and a dusted blush color in the sweater. When I received it I was excited! I was able to wear the sweater to a conference. It made me feel comfy yet stylish.
Unfortunately the jeans were a too low-rise for me The length of the jeans was real long but I usually have an issue finding jeans for my leg length. They are a soft stretch denim that is 75% organic cotton with foldable cuffs that accent a slim fit. I liked how they felt on my legs and they stretched nicely but hopefully I can try them in a couple of months to see if they fit better.
The Liana Sweater, made of hemp and organic cotton, was a nice color and I was real excited for the asymmetrical hem and wide neck because I always feel like I am wearing something closed up. The only issue is that since it is a light sweater knit, it caught on many things like my ring, or my kids toys when they came up to me or I even got caught with something hanging from a door. Seriously. While I was not excited for that, it made me wish I had chosen something else, but I DID enjoy wearing this light sweater. I hope that it lasts a little longer because it is great every day.
Thanks PrAna for letting me try a new outfit! Next I need to try the skirts and dresses!
Enter to win the SAME outfit I chose. Open to US readers. If you want to order ANYTHING else from PrAna, then use my CODE MMS16SK for:
Discount code details:
Disclosure: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program (greenmomsmeet.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 opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.
Disclosure: There are affiliate links that give me a small percentage if you purchase with my link.
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E-Hydrate for Active Families + Giveaway #MomsMeet
April 20th, 2016
Winter is completely behind us despite it just snowing last week. Hopefully I am not jinxing us, but this only means that we are going to be outdoors a lot more!! I realized yesterday that my whole family has been a little stir crazy. We love being out and being active or just going places. Since I am pretty active, it has made my girls conditioned to be that way. I love knowing and seeing that we are an active family but it also means I need to make sure we have our essentials.
When we go out for the day or even just an afternoon, I really try to pack our lunches. I fill our water bottles, make sandwiches, bag some veggies and even some pretzels to make sure my girls are not hungry come lunch time or even snack time. Since my girls are burning energy running and climbing, I make sure they are getting enough protein. Sometimes I fall into a habit of giving them empty calories that only end in a sugar crash or with cranky kids.
Moms, I assure you, make sure your kids, like us, have protein every 3-4 hours. Since January, my husband and I have followed the same routine of eating protein with some veggies, fruit, or grain to give us energy and we have seen some awesome results. Well, we have tried to implement the same with our girls and there are days I am more successful at it than others but I start over the next day.
As a Moms Meet Ambassador, I love getting the chance to sample and review products because it teaches me about new products that are perfect for my family, like E-Hydrate. E-hydrate Protein On-The-Go is made from natural ingredients and provides essential electrolytes in an attractive and tasty way.
Each pouch contains 25 grams of protein and is delivered in a ready to mix pouch with a powder that dissolves quickly. Instructions are super easy with water added halfway to mix and then more water added to the brim to enjoy as a meal supplement. It has 1.5 grams of fat and 150 calories a pouch. While it is NOT dairy-free it is gluten-free and has a mixture of sweeteners. I personally do not like that it has fructose AND sugar in the ingredient list and would much prefer JUST stevia and erythritol, so hopefully in the future they can make a sugar-free option.
This pouch is also available for kids and only delivers 10 grams of protein per pouch. Both girls enjoyed tasting a chocolate and cinnamon bun flavored pouch. They know how to drink from pouches but since it is a 1.34 ounce long pouch it might be a little to long for toddlers little hands but they manages and required a bit of help at the end. Either way, they were fans and thanked me for the treat. HA! Little did they know they were receiving electrolytes and protein. Speaking of protein, my stomach very much welcomed this drink. I did not get a stomach especially since I am normally lactose-intolerant. I also tend to get sugar crashes when I have certain protein bars or powders. This is a plus!
E-hydrate Adult Hydration Drink Mix and KIDS Hydration Drink Mix are also pretty delicious. Since summer will prove to be a hot one, I want my girls to receive recommended daily amounts of B, C, and D vitamins, minerals, and more electrolytes to keep them healthy and hydrated. I love the fact that these specific products are sweetened with all natural Stevia leaf extract and only have one carbohydrate and zero grams of sugar. E-hydrate KIDS Hydration Drink Mix has only 15 calories and is caffeine and taurine-free, while E-hydrate’s Adult Hydration Drink Mix only has four calories and 40mg of caffeine. This product is one I will definitely revisit.
A single pouch of E-hydrate’s Protein On-the-Go retails for $3.49 and a 3-pack box retails for $11.49. A 10-pack box of the Adult Hydration Drink Mix retails for $9.99 and a 10-pack box of the KIDS Hydration Drink Mix retails for $9.99.
Want a chance to try them yourselves? You can try them NOW by using the PROMO code MOMSMEET for 20% on your first order & you can enter to be the ONE lucky reader to win TWO E-hydrate Ultimate Sample Packs!
A single pack is valued at $25, so the total prize is valued at $50. Each sample pack contains:
I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program (greenmomsmeet.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 opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.
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Mediterranean Giardiniera Topped Hummus #UnOfficialMeal
April 18th, 2016Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with Sabra. All opinions, photos and ideas are my own.
In a household of energetic toddlers, my mission has been to make sure that my family is eating healthy. Sometimes, having a meal together is not always successful, so I try to make unofficial meals to sneak in what I think is healthy for my girls and our family. Fresh and roasted veggies are usually my way of inviting hungry girls to snack on food that is best for them when they rather be eating something for fun. Eating to live and to nourish our bodies is slowly but surely becoming more of a mission in our home.
When I am planning my meals for the week I usually try to even plan for the times that my family might be hungry which is usually always after breakfast or before dinner. Even having fresh fruits or veggies can make for a quick snack for kids and even for me if I have not eaten well for breakfast.
We spend a lot of time outdoors and usually I do not always have time to make lunches for us all, so bringing something that is easy but not exactly during an official meal is ideal. My daughters love digging into food with their hands and when I prepare roasted veggies with fresh veggies, they are MUCH more likely to consume it than if I had it during lunch or dinner.
I love bringing a container of Sabra’s Lemon Twist, Garlic or even the Classic Hummus along with pretzels and veggies for the girls and I to graze on while they are busily running around the park. We take some time out to just enjoy a favorite snack before our normal meals and it is fun just digging into hummus.
My family and I like pickled foods on most occasions so I created a Mediterranean Giardiniera as a nice topping for our favorite Sabra hummus. I took 1/4 cup of jarred giardiniera and chopped it up and mixed in chopped black olives, roasted bell pepper, garlic powder, oregano,sea salt, and olive oil and it was a great topping for our favorite hummus.
I then roast broccoli, one of my girls favorite veggies. I love seeing my girls stuffing themselves with veggies and if it means I roast them more often for them to consume it more, then I am set. It is so easy too! I simply spray broccoli florets with olive oil spray and sprinkle with a bit of garlic powder and sea salt and cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes.
I am always looking for opportunities for my daughters to entertain themselves quietly while I make dinner and having a plate of veggies with hummus works really well. I love watching them digging in and chatting with each other about how tasty the snack is. Even better. I love watching my husband coming in from work and immediately digging in because I know he had an early lunch so a surprise unofficial meal is welcomed. Eating fresh together as a family makes me a happy person.
Adopt this moment into your home whether it is in the early afternoon or before dinner, it will be a nice way of gathering your family together and in an impromptu way. Start your Unofficial Meal in your home and share with me how it goes!
Ingredients
Instructions
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Bath Time Fun with The First Years Disney Baby Toys
April 13th, 2016
Bath time used to be a fun event for me when I just had one child. Yes, really. Now that I have three little ones, trying to figure out the best time and how many to put in the bathtub at the same time is always my dilemma. The desire to have clean kids outweighs the exhaustion I feel just thinking of bath time with my kiddos. Let’s just say that a glass of wine or two awaits after the whole process.
I am sure that my girls are no different from any young child. They love being in the water, playing, splashing and pretending to be characters from movies like my girls do. After watching The Little Mermaid, my girls are nonstop trying to be mermaids in a bathtub.
Um, yeah. Imagine to my dismay when I turn my back and half the water is on the floor OUTSIDE the bathtub, but I guess it would not be fun if they were not able to splash, am I right. I have to overlook it sometimes and repeat to myself that this toddler stage will end some day, and then I will miss it. So then, I soak it up. Yep.
If you did not remember, or if this is your first time reading, I have three lovely girls. My oldest is 4 and my middle daughter is 3. Everyone thinks right off the bat that they are twins but they are not. My youngest is almost 9 months old and she is seriously trying to catch up and I am trying to enjoy my baby. Recently, I have been trying to bathe all three girls when I am alone home. Since my youngest is sitting up pretty well, I bathe her and then get the girls to play while I dry and clothe the baby.
What keeps them distracted? Toys of course! Any toy that spews jets of water is hilarious to my girls and I love hearing them create stories just playing the water. Since both my girls are FANS of The Little Mermaid, the girls have been enjoying the newest First Years Disney Baby Little Mermaid bath toys. It was a little hard to get the girls to share Ariel, but with everything, it is a teaching moment or moments. I was most interested in seeing how my little baby would react to fun colorful toys.
On another evening I was able to simply just bathe my youngest and she definitely like the plastic toys . It was fun seeing her gnaw at them instead of squeezing, especially since she is teething. She is also now able to scoot forward so I was happy that she would not bang her head on the spout. The First Years also came out with fun bath toys from Finding Nemo. We already had Nemo and his dad and Dory, so it was nice to add the spout cover with Nemo. It is a bright ocean colored cover and fun to have in our bath tub.
After the girls bathe, they each have responsibilities in order to help mommy. They each love playing with their bath towels so I help them ring it out and they hang them to dry on The First Years Helping Hands. Each hand has a suction cup that is attached to the shower wall and can hold small towels and bath sponges. I like having colorful toys to keep the girls entertained I just make sure we don’t have too many because the clean up is a pain.
Having these plus some swimsuits makes for a perfect rainy day activity too! Pretending to go to the beach is always a fun time to be had by all.
The First Years Disney Baby Bath Toys can be found at Toys ‘R Us and on Amazon.
Disclosure: I was provided samples to test out with my girls. All opinions and reviews are my own. There are affiliate links in this post that give me a small percentage if you choose to purchase through my link. Thanks!
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Music Together- Music Classes for Toddlers and Babies {Giveaway}
April 7th, 2016Music classes are great for babies and toddlers and help with their mental development. Introducing music at an early age allows children to be better well-rounded individuals for the future.
I now have three little ones under the age of 5 living under my roof. How to I structure life you might ask? Well, that is a good question that you can ask me later. HA! There are some things I know I want my kids to be exposed at a young age and one of the activities we like doing involves music. My husband and I are both musically-inclined so we do have music on all day, sing hymns and kids songs, and yes, there are plenty of princess songs performed in our home on a daily basis. It is incredible what happens when music is introduced at a young age. Music classes can be taught by parents with great guides, or the option is being a part of a course curriculum with homework given to parents.
We started music in our home as soon as our oldest was born and have slowly chosen to continue that in different ways by introducing different music genres in order for my girls to get used to styles, rhythms and more. Once my middle daughter was born we started attending music classes to introduce a group setting and so the girls could be taught other songs and activities.
After a season, we stopped due to it repetitiveness noticing that my children were getting as bored as me with the same material being taught for 10 lessons through. That is probably the biggest issue I see when it comes to teaching children is making sure that new material, at least 1-2 songs or activities are being introduced every 2 classes.
Now that we have a third girl in our life I start thinking of starting new classes especially since my girls are busy. My oldest is in school, I can take my youngest and youngest to a class and alternate with rhythms and songs in our home. We recently were able to check Tempo: Music Therapy Classes in West Chester, PA. We had received a packet of music and material to prepare for the class beforehand so the girls were at least familiar with some of the songs.
They use the Music Together Curriculum that teaches from babyhood through the early elementary years. In family classes, adults learn together with their children and then re-create the fun at home with recordings and songbooks. Music Together’s curriculum for schools is deeply integrated into the classroom experience all day long and then continues at home as family members use music and home materials to further engage children—and experience some of the fun, too!
I personally had not come across Music Together classes and that they are found in more than 2500 communities in 41 countries around the world. That is staggering and amazing! For moms in MY area, there are at least 5 -7 music studios in the Exton / West Chester / Malvern area. If you want to find one close to you, use the class locator to find one nearest to you. Music Together offers fun family music classes. Each week, communities of families share songs, instrument play, rhythm chants, and movement activities in a playful, nonperformance-oriented setting. It’s 45 minutes of pure fun with your child every week!
All three girls loved and enjoyed every part of the new music class. There were NEW instruments introduced that I do not have at home and it allowed for each of them to play them along with some music. We were a total of 5 kids with my 3 girls so our class was small, but I heard there were at least 3 other families missing. Even so, the class went well and it was structured well.
What do you get when you join a music session with your kids? Each semester, you’ll receive copies of the recording used in class, a beautifully illustrated songbook with notation and activities to try at home, parent education materials, and exclusive access to digital music downloads, bonus activities, and more on their online Family Music Zone. Tuition for a ten-week Music Together semester varies by location, but averages about $180-$200. Tuition includes weekly classes, at-home materials, and access to the online parents-only website with bonus activities and digital versions of the songs.
Win a Hey, Diddle, Diddle Singalong Storybook Gift Set ($28.00 value)
LEAVE COMMENT BELOW TELLING ME YOUR FAVORITE MUSICAL!
Free Music Together Class for my readers
Music Together’s Hello Everybody App for iPhone, iPad, or iPod 
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.
