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- Elderberry Wellness Syrup contains the elderberry extract but includes honey, spices to help soothe those already have colds or sore throats. It is taken every 4 hours.
- Elderberry Extract is made from pure American elderberries and contains no other ingredients and contains more antioxidants than any berry making them a superfruit. The extract only needs to be consumed once a day for adults and twice for children.
- Original –>Stress- Relieving and Energizing
- Peppermint –>Stress- Relieving and Refreshing
- Sweet Rose –>Stress- Relieving and Magical
- Honey Chamomile –>Stress- Relieving and Restorative
- Raspberry Peach –>Stress- Relieving and Detoxifying
- Pomegranate Green –>Stress- Relieving and Invigorating
- Red Mango–>Stress- Relieving and Nurturing
Accurate Results with the Tuberculosis Blood Test
October 5th, 2015I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for the TB Blood Test. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.
Many do not know that I work in the medical field in addition to being a musician. Yes. Not only do I have a music degree but I have a minor in chemistry and am a certified pharmacy technician. Many do not know about my day job but like anyone in the medical field, I have to comply with yearly exams and vaccinations, even though I do not directly work with patients.
When working in a hospital it is not always for certain that one would be in contact with an infected patient. It is satisfying knowing that a tubercolsis (TB) test or flu shot can help protect during any season of life especially when I have daily contact with family and loved ones. I know that I was to try to protect my family as much as I can, but even so, things can happen and I can always welcome help.
Even though I no longer work AT the hospital but remotely, I still need to take care of myself and my family especially during the back-to-school season. A few weeks back I had my TB skin test, which requires the nurse to inject tuberculin under the skin, creating a small bump. I then reported back to the clinic after 3 days to have the physician assess the area to see if I was infected. My test was negative but a few days later, the area itched like crazy. I get irritated receiving the skin test and wished there were an easier way.
Little did I know that there is a blood test I could take to help diagnose tuberculosis (TB) infection. It is considered a major scientific advance over the 110-year-old skin test, giving greater accuracy and a more reliable result. I completely did not know that a skin test was considered more of a subjective test. The blood test is proved to be the more objective form of testing, giving a more accurate result.
So, did this make me paranoid? Could I really have tuberculosis and not really know it because I could have a false test. I have heard that sometimes people have a false positive as well, but that has not really happened to me. I was just happy to know that I have the option NEXT year to go to the doctor’s office which requires only a 3ml draw of fresh blood regardless of patient age or immune status. The huge plus for me is the convenience of only ONE visit to the office because I usually have to go everywhere with my 3 little ones.
Do you work in a hospital setting and required to take the TB test? Check out the TB Blood Test site for more information and see how much easier it is to get more accurate results, especially if a previous tuberculosis vaccination has been received.
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World Vegetarian Day with Zoës Kitchen #LiveMediterranean
October 1st, 2015
If you have been following my Instagram feed lately you can tell that I have been enjoying a little more vegetarian and Mediterranean fare. After having my third baby, I am ready to eat lighter and move the pounds out of the way. I know that when I eat more veggies I feel a lot better all around. One of the things I like towards the beginning of each pregnancy is Mediterranean fare and then it quickly goes out the window during the second trimester. Needless to say, when I regain my senses or have my baby, my palate is restored.
World Vegetarian Day is today, October 1st, and it is a kick-off to Vegetarian Awareness Month. Have you ever been vegetarian for one day? How about a whole month? You can easily take a pledge and make it happen especially if you have places to dine like Zoës Kitchen. Any place that offers a variety of dishes for vegetarians is good in my books. I actually was a vegetarian for a whole two years before eating meat again once I met my husband. I remember those years being amazing!
As part of the kick-off to World Vegetarian Day, I was invited to try out the vegetarian dishes available at Zoës Kitchen. If you have never visited a Zoës Kitchen, it is a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant with made-from-scratch recipes prepared daily. When the manager explained how every dish is prepared daily, I was really impressed because fast is not usually paired with fresh. Zoës Kitchen originated in the South and consists of recipes created by the owner’s family recipes.
While I lived in Houston all my life, I never visisted a Zoës Kitchen until now and I was impressed by how fresh every dish we received to taste. I was smitten and was almost saddened there was not a location near where we lived but now we had an excuse to go the location closer to our church.
As we sat at the restaurant, Imani, the manager explained the menu to us, showing us where all the vegetarian options were located. Many of the menu items we found out could be made vegetarian if needed or desired but even so all menu items were very well labeled with a big yellow V indicating a vegetarian dish. It was really hard to chose which dish to try first but we started of with Zoës Kitchen newest appetizer offering: the Hummus trio.
We received a regular hummus, pesto hummus, and red pepper hummus which was slightly spicy. It was served with cucumbers and pita triangles and drizzled with oil. My husband and I really like hummus so starting us with a variety is the way to go. The basil pesto was probably my favorite because of how savory it was but the original hummus was creamy that it could have eaily been a tie.
The next dish we received could have easily been a meal in itself. Even though I like quinoa, I have not embraced it as much as I should. Zoës Kitchen offers a unique Quinoa Salad that is packed with lots of veggies and presented so beautifully with a lemony vinaigrette. Even my husband thought it was tasty which says a lot coming from my meat-loving husband.
If you have a meat pizza lover in your family, the Veggie Pita Pizza could convince them to eat more veggies. There were hearty portions of spinach combined with mozzarella layered on top of marinara and a pita pocket, including caramelized onions and mushrooms as additional toppings. The flavor of the pizza was fresh with lots of basil and garlic. I was really surprised at how sturdy the pita pocket was and I made a mental note to place them on my grocery list.
One of my favorite dishes I tried were the Veggie Kabobs which were probably the tastiest charbroiled veggies I have tasted in a while. The portabella mushrooms, zucchini, onions, and peppers were sprinkled with Zoës Kitchen’s signature herb blend along with some lemon juice and olive oil. Everything was so juicy and savory especially paired with the braised white beans that accompanied the kabobs. Who says vegetarians don’t get protein? The braised beans were probably some of the tastiest beans my husband and I have tasted. It was seasoned with rosemary and were so creamy despite there not being any cream included in the recipe.
In addition to the starters, soups, sandwiches, and entrees, there were assortment of sides for any vegetarian to choose from and to have the option of interchanging with certain dishes that already came with sides. For example, we tried the Spinach Roll-ups which are basically tortillas filled with spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes and feta. I thought of my toddler girls when tasting these because they are easy to hold and eat especially with the dipping salsa. That dish had the option of having a side so we chose the potato salad that is not cream based. There was also an option for fruit or a marinated slaw as well.
If we had a chance we could have stayed longer to go through the whole menu but we definitely had an idea of what Zoës Kitchen offers for vegetarians or even for anyone wanting to go vegetarian for just one day. Even so, the Mediterranean diet has been proven to be one of the healthiest so you can’t go wrong.
Need inspiration for going vegetarian? If you are active on social media, use the hashtag #vegetarian, #WorldVegetarianDay, #livemediterranean and take a glimpse of what others enjoy. It might just convince you to do it several days a week. If you get a chance, try a local Zoës Kitchen and let me know what you think. I know my mom is a big fan.
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Nutrexin Alum-Free Roll-On Deodorant and GIVEAWAY #NutrexinUSA #MomsMeet
September 29th, 2015
One of the things I constantly am on the look for is having as many beauty products with unwanted chemicals that my body does not need. I might not be the epitome of a healthy person but my desire is always there and I am always striving, maybe just not as hard as others. Either way, I love discovering new products that will not continue to make my body toxic and one of the products I’ve always had a hard time with is deodorant.
While many say that deodorant is not necessary, I agree to some point but only because I believe that those that lead a clean, healthy and limited processed foods way of life might not need it. I believe we only need deodorant because our bodies emit toxins and make us smelly when we smell.
Does anyone agree? I remember at one point a year after college doing a detox with my mother for 10 days and only eating clean foods for 2 years. We both agreed that our sweat was not smelly but sweet in fact, but yes, I know you are cringing at the moment hearing this description but I believe in it.
In fact, one of the things that proved me right was one of the facts I learned reviewing this product. The primary cause of strong-smelling perspiration is bacterial flora. Sweat is naturally odorless, but when it reaches the skin’s surface, bacteria that normally live on the skin digest sweat and excrete the strong-smelling waste associated with smelly sweat.One of the thing I really enjoy being a part of Moms Meet as an ambassador is being introduced to new products like Nutrexin Alum-Free Roll-On Deodorant.
The Nutrexin product line was born from Nature’s First Apothecary, Switzerland’s leading provider of natural medicines. Their team of health care professionals has over 90 years of experience working with homeopathic remedies, herbal formulas and body care products. Nutrexin has been a best-selling brand in Europe for close to 10 years and is being newly released in the US marketplace this year. Their unique formulas have been developed in the belief that everybody has the natural power and ability to be healthy and stay healthy.
When I started using it I was surprised that the deodorant did not really have a scent. While the ingredients are mostly composed of sage, witch hazel, and other plant extracts to provide beneficial anti-microbial effects and protection against the emergence of bacteria. What does Alum-Free mean? It means that this deodorant is aluminum free which is a primary ingredient found in deodorants on the shelf AND are proven to be very toxin to our healths. Nutrexin deodorant is also free of fragrances, preservatives, and artificial colors.
As I continued to use it in the past 2 weeks, I have noticed that it did its work and kept me protected 24 hours! If it is one thing I know, is that my goal lately is to become Ph balanced and be more alkaline and not acidic but that comes with time and diet so there is a goal in mind. Meanwhile, this deodorant helps with every day hygiene worries. I am a happy mom and I look forward making this product a permanent one in my cabinet.
If you have had a desire to start throwing out the cheap deodorant in your bathroom in exchange for a more natural one, check out Nutrexin and see what other products they offer. I have been happy with the ones the company has sent me already.
If you decide you want to try, take advantage of the 20% using the code MOMS1015.
I am also giving away one bottle for someone to try.
LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW LETTING ME KNOW WHAT PRODUCT YOU WISH YOU COULD REPLACE FROM YOUR BATHROOM CABINET
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.
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Natural Products Expo Recap – Beauty and Health – Part One (2 Giveaways)
September 28th, 2015
I cannot believe that it has been 2 weekends since I traveled to Baltimore to experience the Natural Products Expo. Ever since we moved to Pennsylvania 4 years ago, I have been wanting to attend but the time was not right. I either had a new baby or my husband had a prior work commitment. Either way, even though I had another baby this year, I was determined to make it happen. Since my husband is a pro taking car of our older girls, he was in charge of them while I traveled to Baltimore with my newborn.
I had contemplated going with a group of bloggers or going for a day, but I knew I would regret not going for more than one day, so I booked a night in a hotel and stayed about 15 minutes away from the convention. Since I attended the expo as press, I decided that I could park near the convention center to make travel easier especially since I had the baby with me. The Natural Products Expo started on a Thursday and went through Saturday afternoon so I decided to go Friday and Saturday.
No one is allowed to take any large bags or strollers, so I took my Ergo Baby carrier and purse and started my adventure within the center. When I looked at the floor plan I was shocked with how many companies participated in this three-day event. Almost 8,000 companies were represented in several categories around several floors of the convention center. It was very important to know where exactly I wanted to start first.
I started several weeks before the expo planning on the companies I wanted to visit and connect with and then I tried to familiarize myself with the floor plan but really not knowing how everything would be set up. I had made some appointments with brands to chat about their brand and how they had come to be. I kept all my appointments and then continued the rest of the Expo discovering new companies.
How was it with a baby strapped to me? It was actually easier than I anticipated. The baby slept 3 hours at a time and woke up to feed. I really did not take breaks to eat because time seemed to move really fast so I just snacked on samples that brands had available at their booths. While that was not enough for a lunch, I was determined to be on schedule.
The NEXT Pavilion was one of my favorite exhibit halls because it was full of the most innovative products that are new to the marketplace. I discovered many that I recorded and others I had a chance to chat about their vision and goals. One of the companies I enjoyed chatting with was Rodger who is the co-founder of Norm’s Farms in North Carolina.
Norm’s Farms is known for their large crops of elderberry which is mostly grown in Missouri but now is also grown in family farms in Pittsboro, North Carolina to maintain the large demand for this wonderful superfruit. My family and I actually started taking elderberry syrup last fall to build up our immune system in order to prevent any colds during the winter. The syrup was delicious made with berries, spices and honey. When I tried Norm’s Farm’s syrup and extract, I knew I had to make a regular in my supplement cabinet.
Elderberry is packed with Vitamins A, B, and C, iron, potassium and powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins. All these help to support the immune system and also energize which is something this momma definitely needs! There are two products that Norm’s Farms offers called Elderberry Wellness Syrup and Elderberry Extract.
What a great supplement to consume as a family and it is great tasting too. I have to tell my girls it is not candy because they ask for it all the time.
Want a chance to try these bottles? If you are a US reader enter the giveaway below.
The prize is provided by Norm’s Farms and only requires that you sign up for their newsletter which will provide you with everything about Norm’s Farms. I am excited to know more about their company especially since they desire for others to grow and cultivate elderberries! I know some moms who would be interested in this!
Another product that piqued my interest at the Next Pavilion was a beauty product called HiQ Cosmetics. At the moment the company is featuring an anti-aging facial serum that contains a unique blend of antioxidants, plant extracts, and skin-friendly vitamins which also includes Coenzyme Q10 also known as CoQ10.
The creators of this unique skin care regime both worked within the science field and were challenged to come up with a product that contained a variety of ingredients that were safe for the skin but that did not contain any artificial fillers like products on the market like parabens, synthetic dyes, or fragrances. I loved looking through the list of ingredients that each bottle contains because it definitely has ingredients I would have no qualms putting on my skin.
The serum is placed in a nice black bottle from high quality European glass instead of plastic to prevent and avoid any unwanted chemicals like BPA to leak into the serum. Another plus is that this product has not gone through any animal testing and is vegan, non-gmo, gluten-free, and made of organic certified ingredients.
Want to try this product? Enter the giveaway below to receive a sample of this skin regime.
Disclosure: I attended the expo as a member of the press and received a pass to attend. Products given above are donated to facilitate review. All opinions are my own.
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Organic India Tulsi Tea to Relieve Stress #OrganicIndia #MomsMeet
September 23rd, 2015
Now that fall has arrived it is time to bring in the warm beverages. If you looked at my pantry and excess stash you would immediately see that I am a tea and coffee fanatic. There is always some tea to try or a tea that sounds delightful. It does not matter if it is white, black, green, red or herbal, the box just needs to read tea and I am smitten. Although I am a collector of teas for enjoyment, I enjoy and love having teas for medicinal purposes.
Along with the nicer weather also comes cold season. I am always on the lookout for medicinal herbs, teas, syrups, tonics to give our family in order to prevent serious colds or ailments in our home. My husband is one to immediately seek pills and medicine to fix his ailments, but he knows that I will be bringing him some tea to help his colds and sore throats.
I recently was introduced to Organic India Tulsi tea as a Moms Meet Ambassador and as I learned about their product I found out that Tulsi tea is considered India’s “Queen of Herbs” for more than 5,000 years and has been revered as one of the most sacred herbs in India which I never knew! Although they have over 20 delicious flavors, I received a eight of their teas that I thoroughly enjoyed. They are:
Tulsi tea tastes great and offers stress relief, increased energy, and a boost to your natural immune system. Although I had heard of Tulsi or Holy Basil, I never knew it had three variety of leaves called Rama, Vana, and Krishna. Each variety has a slightly different look, taste, and smell and when combined, create a perfectly balanced herbal infusion with great health benefits.
Now that I had THREE children in my home, the amount of stress has increased simply because I am trying to find a balance but this tea comes in perfect timing because what I learned even more is that modern research has classified Tulsi as an adaptogenic herb. Adaptogens have been shown to support the body’s natural immune system while relieving the body’s negative reaction to stress. Adaptogenic herbs have been used in traditional Ayurvedic and Chinese herbal medicines for thousands of years to promote and maintain wellness. Many adaptogenic herbs have been referred to by herbalists as rejuvenate herbs, qi tonic herbs, rasayanas or restorative herbs. They help the body adapt to environmental, physical and emotional stressors, support normal functions, and restore balance.
Okay moms, does this not sound like the most ideal tea for our stage in life? Each tea comes with specific details it benefits and aid. Since I am nursing, I still looked up herbs that would not inhibit milk production so I did not taste all the teas but I will be in the future. In the meantime, the teas I did enjoy like the Raspberry Peach was delightful and even great in my morning smoothie.
Organic India Tulsi Tea is USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Kosher and Halal certified, gluten-free, and vegan. One box of Tulsi Tea retails for $5.99. If you want more information check out Organic India’s website or learn more online on Facebook and Twitter.
Save 20% on Organic India products by using the codekiwi20. This code is for one-time use only. Be sure to share this with your readers as well!
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
