Mix My Own Review
November 30, 2013

Mix My Own Review

Mix My Own is a company that lets you create your own healthy cereal or muesli. They recently contacted me to see if I would like to create a bag of cereal and try it out. I had fun checking out the site and adding in my favorite items. First of all, when you go to the Mix My Own site, you are able to choose your cereal base. Options include five grain muesli base, a gluten-free option, coconut granola and more. I went with the standard five grain muesli base. Then, you can add other types of grains such as kamut puffs, basmati rice, wheat germ, maple granola and more. Next, you can add the dried fruit that you would like. This is where I went a little crazy! I got peaches, apricots, freeze dried kiwi, freeze dried raspberries, tart cherries and pears. I love dried fruit so I knew that this would be perfect for me. Then, you can choose if you want any nuts or seeds including almonds, chia seeds, flax, peanuts and more. Finally, you can choose if you want any powders

Post Thanksgiving Leftover Ideas
November 29, 2013

Post Thanksgiving Leftover Ideas

I love Thanksgiving for spending time with family, shopping, spending time together but of course can’t forget about the food. Food is what brings family together. After the main Thanksgiving meal, you may be left with a ton of leftovers that you may not know what to do with exactly. I am here to give you some ideas!   1.  Turkey  sandwiches Pacific  surprised me with a package of their organic Thanksgiving products including chicken broth, gravy and cranberry sauce. I would use these products to make turkey sandwiches complete with cranberry sauce, whole grain bread, turkey and gravy. These products are organic and can be found at Whole Foods   2.  Turkey  A La King My dad makes my siblings and I this and it is simple but so good. You just combine mixed vegetables, gravy and turkey, heat it up and serve over an open faced sandwich.   3.  Mashed Potato Bowl I like combining foods post-Thanksgiving into a delicious meal. I combine mashed potatoes, my mom’s sweet and

Sibu Beauty Review
November 29, 2013

Sibu Beauty Review

I have seen Sibu products on other blogs for years now and was always interested in these beauty items. Sibu products are made out of sea buckthorn berry. Before researching it, I did not know what that was. It is a Himalayan berry that is known as the “beauty berry” in Europe and Asia . It has 190 bioactive compounds that help to restore, revitalize and protect your skin. They nourish your hair, skin and nails and are rich in essential fatty acids and antioxidants. The company offers a variety of skin cleansers, moisturizers and other treatments. For my review, I chose the Sibu facial cream, body cream, exfoliating scrub and facial cleanser to try out. The facial cream is moisturizing and has a light citrus scent. My skin is dry and this cream was moisturizing enough to keep my skin moist. It is not greasy and is not sticky either. A 1 oz bottle retails for $20.95. The body cream is one of my favorite products because it is so moisturizing. It would also be great

November 28, 2013

Check This Out Before Black Friday Shopping!

Again, Happy Thanksgiving! If you plan to go Black Friday shopping this year like I do, make sure you check out Amazon first.  Often times, Amazon matches other stores Black Friday prices or beats them. Last year, I got a surround sound blu-ray speaker system for less money than I would have paid by waiting in line on Black Friday in the freezing cold. Just an FYI, I always make sure to check out Amazon's prices before I go Black Friday shopping to see if I can save myself any money. Good luck! Let me know how you do!

Wishing You a Happy Thanksgiving!
November 28, 2013

Wishing You a Happy Thanksgiving!

Our Thanksgiving meal last year I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families. As usual, Troy and I are spending the earlier part of the day with my family and the afternoon/evening with his. Pecan pie for Thanksgiving 2012 I love everything about Thanksgiving. The traditions, the food, the shopping and time with family. I get so excited for the holidays and love the whole season. Thanksgiving meal 2011 Wishing you and your family an excellent Thanksgiving. Eat a lot and enjoy!

1015 Store Review- Everything $10 to $15
November 27, 2013

1015 Store Review- Everything $10 to $15

I have such a neat store to introduce to you. It is called the 1015 Store and everything is $10 or $15!! That means you can get pants, dresses, skirts, shirts and more for just $10-$15 each. I was so excited to find this store since I love a bargain. For my review, I chose a fuchsia maxi skirt which is very comfortable. For $15, you can’t beat it! I also chose this teal and black striped maxi dress. Right now, the store is having a big sale and most of the dresses are $7-$10. I’m having fun checking out these very inexpensive dresses. Also, click the banner above to receive an additional 10% off your purchase. This is a fabulous d eal and would make a great holiday present for any woman in your life. Here are some of my other favorite 1015 items: Can you believe that everything is $15 or less?? 

Bestowed Box Review
November 26, 2013

Bestowed Box Review

I have worked with Bestowed a few times now and think that they have a fun, healthy box of snacks and products for an affordable price. Again, they are a monthly subscription service that sends different foods each month. Here is what was in this Bestowed box: Wild Garden Hummus Dip : My husband is beyond obsessed with hummus and I love that this hummus is shelf stable for some protein on the go. This is great with veggies, tortilla chips or pretzels. Crunchmaster Multi-seed Crackers : I love these gluten-free crackers! I have bought them and reviewed them in the past and think that they taste great. LifeIce : These 30 calorie mini-popsicles are so fun! I love the idea of having a small treat when you want one. Eat Green Tea : These are edible green tea leaves. As we know, green tea is full of antioxidants so this is a good way to get in your daily dose. Nektar Honey Crystals Perfect Fuel Chocolate: As an athlete, I often times need extra nutrients

Silver Apple Boutique Review and Giveaway
November 26, 2013

Silver Apple Boutique Review and Giveaway

Silver Apple Boutique is a company that sells women’s fashion clothing, shoes and accessories. I have wanted a long skirt for quite some time now and chose a couple of maxi skirts to review along with a pair of funky leggings. I love the white stripe maxi skirt. I wore this to work and loved how comfortable it is. I love maxi skirts and dresses because they look nice but are about as comfy as pajamas. Something that I discovered about maxi skirts is that you can wear a pair of leggings underneath them to keep warm. You can wear these maxi skirts in the summer with a tank top or in the winter with a sweater, boots and leggings. I also chose the Aztec print leggings which are only $10. They have a silkier feel than other leggings and are made of polyester and spandex. These are fun and I would wear them with a longer sweater over it. Silver AppleBoutique has many cute clothing and accessory items. They are all very affordable at about $10-30 per item. Gift G

Mighty Leaf Green Tea Latte Giveaway
November 25, 2013

Mighty Leaf Green Tea Latte Giveaway

I have worked with Mighty Leaf tea a few times in the past and really like their teas . They make quality teas that taste great. My favorite Mighty Leaf tea is the organic detox infusion which is decaf and a light tea great for the morning or late evenings when I like a decaf tea. I was contacted by Mighty Leaf to review an item on from their Holiday gift items. I chose the GreenTea Latte set. With this set, you can make a hot or iced green tea latte. I chose this set because it seemed unique and I had not tried this Matcha Green Tea Latte & Frappe Mix yet. You can make it using regular milk or soy milk (almond or coconut would probably work as well). It comes with a Bodum milk frother, glass breaker and 2 glasses.   Other items on the Mighty Leaf Holiday list are the TeaTop Brew Mug. I have tried this myself and really like it. The mug holds your tea bag in place in the mug so that you do not have to fish for it when you want to get it out. Another item is the Sweet

PR Bar Review
November 24, 2013

PR Bar Review

I was recently contacted by PRBars to try their nutrition bars and review them here on the blog. With a name like PR, of course I had to try them. Every runner wants a PR! The bars come in different flavors including apple pie, yogurt berry, iced brownie, chocolate peanut and double chocolate. They all sounded great to me. I shared a few of these bars with my sister who is a dental assistant and many times, only has a couple minutes to eat for lunch. I knew that these would be good for her since they are quick to eat and provide a boost of nutrition. My favorite bar flavor was the apple pie. It is coated in an icing and is chewy. One bar has 200 calories, 6 grams fat, 160 mg sodium, 1 g fiber, 15 g sugar and 15 g protein. When I look for a bar, I want it to be around 200 calories and have at least 8 grams of protein so this one fits the bill.   Unfortunately, the ingredient list was less impressive. It contains multiple unnatural ingredients including palm oil, soy leci

Karina Dresses Review
November 23, 2013

Karina Dresses Review

Karina is a company that sells all different types of ladylike and very feminine dresses. They sell mostly simple styles that would all be appropriate for work. I think that these dresses would be most appropriate for women ages 30+. For my review, I chose the Adrienne dress in black. This dress comes in many different colors including lavender, red, chocolate and more. It has ¾ length sleeves and has a V in the front and the back of the dress. It is stretchy which would be great for wearing on a holiday or during a holiday party when you eat a lot for added comfort. I will be able to wear this dress to work which is great. This dress is simple enough to be worn with anything, yet sophisticated enough to be dressed up. Gift Guide Idea This would make a fun gift for many different people. I think that it would be great for a mom, sister or an aunt. Check out the many different styles available because there are options for many different kinds of people.

Skora Running Shoes Review and Giveaway
November 22, 2013

Skora Running Shoes Review and Giveaway

Today, I have a very fun review and giveaway to share with you. I recently discovered Skora Running shoes which are similar to minimalist shoes that come in different styles and colors. Skora shoes were created out of necessity. The creator, David Sypniewski, was injured for 18 months and decided to create a shoe that would help him heal. These shoes are similar to running barefoot. The idea behind them is that when a foot is allowed to run using it’s natural form, it will hit the ground with the whole foot instead of just the heel and help him to run longer without pain. For my review, I decided to give the Phase Skora shoes a try. They are made with a minimal single-layer mesh upper and have laminated reflective details. They have asymmetric lacing system and unique IBR outsole. They have a Injection Blown Rubber platform which gives abrasion resistance, grip and compression with lower density and weight than rubber.   I chose this model because I loved the fun co

Vasque Shoes Review
November 21, 2013

Vasque Shoes Review

My husband was so excited to be able to review these shoes. I am sent many more products to review than him so when I told him that he could choose some shoes to test out, he loved it. Vasque is a company that sells hiking shoes and boots, trail running shoes and gear for backpacking and adventures. Troy was sent the Pendulum shoes in a black and blue combination. These are the newest trail running shoes from Vasque and are the lightest shoes that they have to offer. This shoe keeps the foot close to the ground so that you strike the ground naturally. These shoes can be purchased from Backcountry.com for $93. My husband really likes them. They have less of the trail shoe/book look and more like regular running shoes. He has been wearing them for a couple of weeks now and thinks that they are very comfortable. Troy likes to run on the grass so that his knee does not hurt and although that is not a trail, these shoes are still beneficial on the wet grass. My parent’s

Girls Day Out Review and Giveaway
November 20, 2013

Girls Day Out Review and Giveaway

Today, I turn 24 years old! I have to work today but my mom is making a great meal this evening for me and on Friday, my husband is having a little party!! _____________________________________________________________________ I found the Etsy shop Girls Day Out on another blog and really liked what they had to offer. They have a variety of classy, vintage looking jewelry. For my review, I was sent the anchor earrings and the Mia necklace. The earrings are small posts and look great with many different outfits. These earrings retail for only $12. The necklace retails for $32 which seems like a great deal. It is inspired by the 1920’s with rhinestones set in antique brass with an antique brass chain. I think that this necklace would be really cute to wear out on a date or to a fancier event with a nice dress. With all the excitement from the Great Gatsby movie, this necklace is even more fun. The package from Girls Day Out shipped very quickly and was nicely wrapp

Febreeze Holiday Scents Review
November 19, 2013

Febreeze Holiday Scents Review

It has always fascinated me that a smell can make you recall certain memories. A certain smell reminds my of my Busia’s (grandma in Polish) house. Abercrombie and Fitch cologne will always remind me of when I first met my husband. A certain scent can bring up memories that you have not thought about in a long time. It is truly amazing. Certain scents always remind me of the holidays. I was sent some of the Febreeze holiday scents as part of a SheSpeaks campaign to try out and they have helped to get me excited for the holidays. The holiday cider scent smells great! Febreeze scents are typically too strong for my tastes to be plugged in permanently so I prefer to plug them in for about a day and then unplug them for a day or so. This helps keep the scent not too strong as well as makes it last longer. With my Febreeze holiday scents, I was sent a cute 3D book including Christmas displays and the different Febreeze scents (as seen in the pictures). Winter and Holid

Paws ‘n Silk Review and Giveaway
November 18, 2013

Paws ‘n Silk Review and Giveaway

Ava and Jaxen are pretty darn excited for this review. They were recently sent a pet bed from Paws ‘n Silk to try out. The bed is made of denim and comes in all different sizes depending on the size of your pet. We were sent the 4 bolster day bed in a size small. The bed retails for $165. This bed comes unassembled but it was not too difficult to put together. A few minutes later, my dog’s dream bed was made. They have been living in this bed! I set it over a heat vent for them since they are big babies with the cold and they have a blanket on top of the bed. It seems to be very durable which is very important to me since my girl Ava loves to rip apart pet beds (so bad!!). It is comfortable and they both love laying in it. Paws‘n Silk also sells a raincoat, a denim coat and a 3 bolster travel bed. This bed is really neat because it can be put in the back seat of your car for your pet to get comfortable while traveling. This is important to me since sometimes my dogs

Bolthouse Farms Limited Time Holiday Drinks
November 17, 2013

Bolthouse Farms Limited Time Holiday Drinks

Ahhh! The holidays are coming so soon. Bolthouse Farms recently came out with their seasonal flavors of beverages and I was sent some to try. These drinks come in 32 ounce size or 52 ounces. Peppermint Mocha - This beverage combines low-fat milk, coffee, whey protein, cocoa and peppermint extract for a tasty holiday beverage. While it is tasty cold, I think it would be good hot as well. Holiday Nog - This holiday nog tastes like eggnog but is so much healthier. It is made with low-fat milk and has only 80 calories per serving. I’ve added it to my coffee for some holiday flavor. Pumpkin Spice Latte - Pumpkin spice lattes are so popular in this fall! This smoothie drink is tasty with pumpkin spice flavors. It is made of milk, coffee, pumpkin, whey protein and has added vitamins and minerals. One cup has 130 calories, 7 grams protein, 2.5 grams of fat and 20 grams of sugar. While this is high in sugar, it makes a nice treat to have on occasion. I love that this contains p

Homemade Sauerkraut
November 16, 2013

Homemade Sauerkraut

First of all, a big happy birthday to my Dad! We are celebrating his birthday up North hunting! _____________________________________________________________________ I am so excited to share this post with you! I have wanted to make homemade sauerkraut for two years now and finally got the chance to do so. I am Polish and German and grew up eating sauerkraut my entire life. We eat it even on our holidays and is a food that my family and I loves. When I started my dietetic internship two years ago, one of the interns named Alice told me that she makes homemade sauerkraut and how it is very simple. I was intrigued and I knew that I wanted to make it myself. Fast forward to a few weeks ago when my dad asked if I wanted to make homemade sauerkraut with him. He bought large vintage crocks off of Craigslist to make the kraut in and we set a date to make the kraut. Sauerkraut only contains two ingredients: cabbage and salt. That’s it! It is full of probiotics which are the h