Posts by admin:
- NE-YO “Friend Like Me” (Aladdin)
- Jessie J “Part of Your World “(The Little Mermaid)
- Jason Derulo “Can You Feel the Love Tonight / Nants’ Ingonyama” (The Lion King)
- Gwen Stefani “The Rainbow Connection” (The Muppet Movie)
- Ariana Grande “Zero To Hero” (Hercules)
- Jhené Aiko “In a World of My Own/Very Good Advice” (Alice in Wonderland)
- Fall Out Boy “I Wan’na Be Like You (The Monkey Song)” (The Jungle Book)
- Tori Kelly “Colors of the Wind” (Pocahontas)
- Kacey Musgraves “A Spoonful of Sugar” (Mary Poppins)
- Charles Perry “Ev’rybody Wants To Be a Cat” (The Aristocats)
- Jessie Ware “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes” (Cinderella)
- Lucy Hale & Rascal Flatts “Let It Go” (Frozen)
- Various Artists “It’s a Small World”
- Bonus tracks on Deluxe CD, Vinyl, and Picture Disc:
- Brenna Whitaker “It’s Not Easy Being Green” (The Muppet Show)
- Yuna “A Whole New World” (Aladdin)
Easy to Follow Trim Healthy Mama and Cookbook + GIVEAWAY
November 10th, 2015I 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.
I am a mother of three and I like to eat.
Is this as good of a confession I can give? Is anyone out there like me?
I have been wanting to lose weight for a long time, probably forever, but mostly since I have had my children. Losing weight AFTER having a baby is probably the worst time ever especially after breastfeeding but many moms will tell me the opposite. You can eat clean and lose weight and yada yada yada. I WOULD be the one to lose my milk production if I stopped eating more frequent meals or letting go of some richer foods that I know would benefit the baby a lot more but who’s kidding me? I probably could use fewer meals to lose weight.
Truthfully is not about me at the moment and what I loved about the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle, is that the writers don’t make me feel guilty. Even before I accepted the campaign as a Moms Meet Ambassador, I had heard about Trim Healthy Mama. While for many it might seem like another craze, I have had close friends lose weight like never before. I have seen countless of womens’ before and after photos and am shocked at how this eating lifestyle is different than diets out in society.
While I’ve gone through diets and sometimes have felt deprived of food, I was eating types of food that were not as healthy for my body. In Trim Healthy Mama, you can eat from all food groups and not even feel deprived at all. What I loved in the new book was a section for nursing and pregnant mamas. There is a place for everyone in this eating lifestyle even when you think you are beyond hope.
After trying almost every fad diet out there, Serene Allison and Pearl Barrett, creators of the Trim Healthy Mama movement, took matters into their own hands. Through trial and error and much research, they created the Trim Healthy Mama Plan and companion cookbook, the breakthrough lifestyle program to help readers of all ages and stages get healthy, slim down, and keep off the weight once and for all.
The key to this eating lifestyle is the gentle and fun road to trim and healthy. It gives readers a unique way to lose weight and get healthy by eliminating sugar while still eating hearty, delicious food. The book includes menu plans, a list of super foods, time-saving tips, and pantry stocking and lifestyle advice to help readers reach their goals. The companion cookbook offers over 350 recipes to help readers successfully slim down while eating well. This plan is for anyone, from those who love to cook from scratch with the purest ingredients, to those who can barely boil water. It’s not just for crunchy, health food types, and you don’t have to be an exercise fanatic to make this work.
When I first came across Trim Healthy Mama, the recipes were in a large book but it was confusing. There are E, S, and FP meals which are otherwise known as ENERGETIC, SATISFYING, and FUEL-PULL recipes. Everything in their new book and cookbook is MUCH more understandable.
I love the colorful photographs for the recipes and I love that there are meal plans and recipes for crockpots. I made a 30-minute skillet meal and a crockpot meal and I really loved making. I love that there are Facebook groups for everyone in different stages of life. There is a Facebook support group for Trim Healthy Mama Beginners, Trim Healthy Mama experts, and Trim Healthy Mama Pregnant and Nursing Groups. The Trim Healthy Mamas will help you find your way out of the maze of diet foods, food fear, and miserable food bondage.
While I am not a master at it by far at all, I am slowly trying out new things but I am trying to find a support group with other moms. It does require a lot of time to plan and prepare, but at least I have the newest books to help me even faster this time.
Do you want to enter for a chance to get your OWN BOOK and COOKBOOK? Enter below:
The Trim Healthy Mama Plan retails for $19.99, and the Trim Healthy Mama Cookbook retails for $27.99 available everywhere books are sold.
Connect with the Trim Healthy Mamas online for the latest news and get exclusive access to discounts and special offers!
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Chemical-Free WaterWipes for your Baby’s Bum
November 9th, 2015This post was sponsored by WaterWipes as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. I received complimentary products to facilitate my review.
As a mother of three I should feel like a pro at everything right? Well, I definitely feel more comfortable about certain things when taking care of my girls. I know that the same schedule works for all my girls. It came naturally the third time around without having to do a refresher. I know that my kids sleep better when on their tummies and I also know what kind of cry my babies make when they are hungry and when they are colicky.
One thing that has been challenging for me is how to keep stay completely chemical free when using products for my children. While I incorporate natural ways of taking care of my girls there are just some products that I have kept as part of my life because it worked for me. Not only do I work full-time as a mommy but I also for a great company which keeps me really busy. I am comfortable calling myself part-time crunchy mama and am not hard on myself for not being completely chemical free in my home for now.
Both my older girls had sensitive skin and often got diaper rashes so while I could never do cloth diapers, I found the best brand diaper and wipes for their skin. It has worked for the past 4 years and I have not turned back. At one point I thought at saving money and not using regular on-the-shelf wipes, but after trying to make my own wipes, I was not happy and I gave up.
Recently, I was introduced to WaterWipes, which is a premium European brand and is a chemical free baby wipe that contains only two ingredients, 99.9% purified water and 0.1% grapefruit seed extract. How easy is that? I have never seen anything on the shelf besides brands provided by health stores or organic companies claiming their wipes to be all natural but I had not seen ANY wipe just completely made up of water and grapefruit seed extract.
The wipes last on the shelf for 15 months but once opened, they only last 1 month. As I shopped for groceries, I made my way down the baby aisle at GIANT and noticed that among the other wipes, WaterWipes called my name. I grabbed two 60-count packs and headed home to try them on my 3-month old daughter and almost 3-year-old.
The wipes have a clean smell but no perfumes or any preservatives. They are truly chemical free and did the job it was intended for on both my daughters. I keep one in my purse for messy cleanups during lunch and one in my changing room at home. While each pack costs $3.99 a pack, I did save a $1 buying it at GIANT using my store savings card. When you buy it, do not remove the wipes from the pack since it is already in a sterile environment. Allow wipes to stay in package and seal closed when finished.
These wipes are not only sold at GIANT but in many other stores, so use the store locator to find these wipes.
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We Love Disney Compilation Album for All Disney Lovers
November 6th, 2015I participated in the We Love Disney album review program as a member of One2One Network. I was provided an album to review but all opinions are my own.
I recently had the pleasure to listen to the newest album released by Verve and Walt Disney Records called We Love Disney. There is no question that my kids are fans of Disney anything so when I played this album, I wondered how many of the songs they would recognize from the movies they have already seen.
As musicians, my husband and I love to teach our girls to recognize instruments, voices and even songs. It is amazing what both of our girls recognize at ages 2 1/2 and 4. The album features the hottest artists from across the pop, rock, R&B, and country worlds delivering their own unique interpretations of classic Disney songs. What a compilation because it includes artists I am familiar with but none that my girls would know. Here is a list of the songs and artists that the album includes:
Here is a video of one of the songs:
I loved seeing my girls eyes light up as they heard The Little Mermaid and Aladdin songs. I could not get them to stop dancing and kept asking questions why the songs were being performed by other people and not their princesses. How funny. While I find myself humming these Disney songs ALL THE TIME, I know many people think that the songs are JUST for kids but in reality, if we grew up watching the same movies our kids are NOW watching, it would be a part of us now.
I loved having this compilation because I felt like it was and could be geared to teens and adults to enjoy listening to favorite songs they grew up with. My husband’s eyes glazed over just listening to Gwen Stefani perform “Rainbow Connection” from The Muppet Movie and I really enjoyed hearing Lucy Hale & Rascal Flatts sing their version of “Let It Go” from Frozen.
Not only is this great to listen to in the car but it is perfect for your fellow Disney lover for Christmas.
We Love Disney will also be available as a Collector’s Edition Box Set, which includes:
Purchase on iTunes or Amazon.
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Out & Active with JJ Cole at the JDRF One Walk
November 5th, 2015
This past weekend a group of ladies from the Philly Social Media Moms took their kids and strollers and bundled them for a 3 mile walk to raise money to help fund research that will impact the lives of the millions of children, adults, and families challenged by Type 1 Diabetes. As part of a team sponsored by JJ Cole, 13 women sported the Bundleme cover on their jogging strollers. They definitely looked ready to get the walk started.
Since I was not able to attend, I had a friend go in my stead and she shared her experience with her baby. Check out her story below. Thanks Kristin!
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Gloves, hat, socks, shoes, jacket…. Check, check, check. I have gone through this checklist every time I leave the house with my infant son for a cold day run. The amount of time it takes to pack and bundle him up can take the motivation right out of me to go exercise. Once bundled, he usually manages to take off a few articles of clothing during the run. Too many times I have tripped over my own two feet trying to secure a glove on my squirming child while running.
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to bundle my son up in the JJ Cole Urban Bundleme as I participated in the JDRF One Walk for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). My son stayed nice and warm wearing the JJ Cole Urban Bundleme in the color Stealth. This all-in-one kiddo sleeping bag slips right onto the stroller for an easy baby cover up in the cold.
The material is soft and light (great color options too!). The plush cover feels comfortable and snuggly. Then the easy zipper closure on each side keeps your baby warm without bulky jackets and boots. Taking him in and out of the Bundleme is easy. The longer length Urban Bundleme can even fit my three year old with room to spare! Overall, it has simplified my exercise process immensely.
The JJ Cole Urban Bundleme wasn’t the only impressive experience of the day. The JDRF One Walk brought hundreds of participants together for a common cause. Each year 40,000 people are diagnosed with T1D in the United States, 13,000 of which are children, giving this chronic disease the name “Juvenile Diabetes.” This organization funds research projects to propel the advancement for treatment and symptom control.
Bucks County Community College was a beautiful and serene setting to stroll with other families to raise awareness about this life consuming disease. Crossing the enormous inflatable finish line with so many other people who are somehow personally affected by this disease was a humbling experience.
Disclosure: The team was sponsored by JJ Cole. All opinions are solely by the writer.
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Mrs. Patel’s for Postpartum Recovery and Nursing Mothers + Giveaway
November 4th, 2015Can I announce that I am a proud mother of 3 girls? I am even more proud and blessed that I have been able to nurse my oldest daughters until the age of one and currently am nursing my youngest who is 3 months. While it has been a different experience with my third baby, I am happy that I get to hold my daughter next to me. While I have heard so many mothers have issues with breastfeeding, I always feared that I would be that mother.
The first two times I went through the process I was always stressing that I did not have enough supply. My m other would give me tips on what to eat, drink and even more how much sleep I needed in order to keep a healthy supply. Needless to say, I think the stress just made it worse and my oldest cried the most, which only made me wonder if I just did not have enough for her to eat.
Now that I have my third daughter, despite my being busier and perhaps more stressed than ever, I feel calm about having enough milk supply for my daughter. How ironic is that? I have had a most pleasant baby since starting to have children and I can only attribute that to knowing that I have to feed my baby and feed myself in order to have things go smoothly.
Several weeks back I was able to test new-to-me products made by Mrs. Patel’s that are all edible. Many are familiar with lactation cookies and fenugreek tabs for increasing milk supply but did you know that there are other herbs that are considered galactagogues? I know that at the store I have chosen one or two herbs like raspberry leaf and fenugreek to their magic but what I did not know is that in India, there have been different herbs used to help nursing mothers.
I am a big advocate of learning from other people’s cultures and how moms all over the world use natural ways to make great things happen, like increasing milk supply for little babies. Mrs. Patel’s has served in this capacity by introducing nursing moms to a system of traditional medicine called Ayurveda. Mrs. Patel’s is a company that is created by a fellow mom focusing on delicious treats and teas that help a nursing mother.
I had a chance to try the Fenugreek Bars that were encouraged to be consumed in the mornings. They are amazing and delicious bars that seem to good to be true. How can something so tasty be so great for my body? I received a combo box that included the regular fenugreek bars, chocolate, and peanut butter bars. I think it was a close tie between the chocolate and peanut bar but I would have one in the morning as a snack after breakfast with my coffee. Each bar is made with all natural ingredients like:
Wheat Flour, Almond Meal, Coconut, Ghee, Sugar, Milk, Fenugreek Flour, Poppy Seeds, Ginger, Peepramul, Powdered Gum & Cardamom. Peanut Butter Layer: Peanut Butter (Roasted Peanuts), Butter & Powdered Sugar. Chocolate Layer: Semi-Sweet Chocolate (Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Dextrose, Soy Lecithin), Vegetable Oil, Cinnamon & Ancho Chili Pepper.
I also got to try the Milk Water Chai Spice Tea which is a cleanser, detoxifier and also boost milk supply. It is a combination of rooibos tea with cinnamon, cloves, dill and more making it an ideal caffeine-free tea. It was definitely very aromatic and was super delicious hot and over ice with almond milk.
Munch Crunch was sent in a pouch ready to pour in my hand. Not only is it great for lactation but also for digestion. It is a combination of seeds and herbs that include sesame seeds, dill seeds, fennel, flax seeds, ajwain, turmeric & lemon. They were very tasty in my morning oatmeal and even sprinkled on my salads.
So how did it help my supply? I felt like it really boosted and naturally increased my supply. It helped me and forced me to pump in the evenings after the baby went to sleep in order to start my milk stash. I can’t help but think it has helped my daughter to be more satisfied after each feeding. I am thankful she is sleeping through the night now.
If you are a mother who is going back to work or struggling with supply, why not try something new to increase your milk supply? Want a chance to try one of Mrs. Patel’s products? Enter below for a chance to receive a box of Fenugreek Bars.
You can also use the code FIRSTORDER to receive 20% off your FIRST order.
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Disclosure: I received the products to review. All opinions are my own.
