packing healthy lunches on the go with Glad {review and giveaway}


At the beginning of this year I set some goals for myself. Most of them involved being a healthier, more “put together” version of myself. A quest to be healthy, be a great teacher at school and still maintain order and stability at home as a wife and mother. Sure, I think we can do it all, it just takes some planning. Okay, it takes tons of planning.

In my quest I’ve incorporated a few tips and tricks into my daily routines to help keep me on track. It’s easy to eat healthy, if I plan to eat healthy. If I don’t plan well, I end up grabbing something on the go or picking up food in the cafeteria. So how do I plan to eat healthy and follow through? It’s simple, I started prepping my lunch the night before and storing them in Glad food storage containers. Each morning, I just grab my pre-made lunch and I’m out the door. On time, most days, I might add.

One of my favorite Glad storage containers is the Glad To Go Lunch. I can make a big healthy salad the night before and store it in the Glad To Go Lunch container until the next day. The container has a handy salad dressing cup that attaches to the lid. No worrying about the dressing making my salad ingredients soggy or taking a whole bottle of dressing with me. Truly, convenience at its finest.

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This salad is full of healthy ingredients like baby spinach, strawberries, Feta cheese,  and toasted almonds. The Glad containers snap tight and the To Go Lunch containers are large, giving me plenty of room for lunch-sized portions.

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I also love the Glad Entree container. They come in packs of five and are perfect for on-the-go lunches or snacks. I use these more than any other container. I cut up a big bowl of fresh fruit on Sunday and divide it amongst the containers to take with me throughout the week. I tend to reach for the snack that is most convenient between meals, with this on hand it isn’t hard to make a healthy choice.

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They are the perfect size to hold enough to snack on throughout the day. I also love them for leftovers and entree-sized portions that Allen and I can grab and go with the next morning. If you have young children, you can add silicon cups and it instantly turns into a divided container. The silicon baking cups will provide fun pops of color and you can pack a healthy lunch. It’s just the right size for perfect portions.

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I stay busy and if I had to pack my lunch each morning, I’d end up eating cafeteria food every day. Instead, I plan ahead with this handy Glad food storage containers and manage to have a healthy lunch and snacks throughout the day.

Want to check out great Glad products and win???

  1. Go to www.glad.com/food-storage/mom-made/pinterest/ to Inspire your Lunch with Glad.
  2. Create your own Pinterest board for a chance to win weekly prizes.

Timing of the Pinterest Board Contest: 3/18 – 4/28 Steps in entering the contest: Step 1: Click the Glad photo in the gallery ( www.glad.com/food-storage/mom-made/pinterest ) that most inspires you to get started pinning. Step 2: Choose “create new board” in the dropdown menu of the Pinterest pop up screen. Title your new board “Inspired Lunches” Step 3: Find at least 4 photos anywhere on the web that fits the theme of “Inspired Lunches” and pin them to your new board. Include #gladinspiredlunches in your photo description. Step 4: Once you’ve pinned 5 photos (including one from the Glad Pinterest Gallery) come back to ( www.glad.com/food-storage/mom-made/pinterest ) submit your board.

If you make a pinboard in the Glad contest, share your pinboard URL in the comments—I’d love to see what you’ve done! In addition, I’m always looking for inspiration so tell me how you make your inspired lunches.

Visit Glad’s page on BlogHer for more ideas!

Custom Stampers from Wishing Tree Designs

I love it when I come across something and it turns out to be one of those things I never knew I always wanted. That was the case with my new address stamp from Wishing Tree Designs. I’ve seen people rave about these, but I thought it wasn’t something that I really needed. I was completely wrong.

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It is so handy and practical and I know exactly what I’ll be giving as housewarming gifts from now on. The stamps are self inking, which means no messy stamp pads to handle. They are also completely customizable. Don’t need an address stamp? They come in a variety of options, for teachers, weddings,  thank-you’s,  new arrivals, even a cute design to stamp on top of meals you take to friends and family.

I went with a circular design, with our address and last name in the middle. I was so pleased with the quality of this product, the ease of ordering, and the design.

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Here’s a better look at the design since I had to blur out part of the one above.

 

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I also ordered two cute, non-customized stamps. I can use them with my self-inking stamper by simply switching the stamp.

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The inks can be ordered in a variety of different colors and switched out too!

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The best news? Wishing Tree Designs is offering each of you 25% your purchase from their site. They have a variety of invitations, greeting cards, and stationery, as well as these must-have stampers. Just enter the code Greenhouse at checkout to receive 25% off your order.

What are you waiting for? Click here to get started and you’ll have your custom stamper in no time.

 

I was given the stamper to review along with the other products  featured in this post, I was not compensated in any other way. This is a product I stand behind for quality, ease of use and design.

Title: 3-in-1: From Fashion to Laundry {review&giveaway}

 

When it comes to fashion there are few things I love more than versatility. I can justify a purchase quickly if I know it can carry me through several seasons and be styled in more than one way. My latest versatile purchase? A pair of mint skinny jeans. I’ve been wearing them this season with thick navy sweaters and a leopard print scarf over bold patterns. I never dreamed I would love a pair of skinny jeans but I am smitten with this particular pair.

As the days warm and the fashion brightens, I’ll be using this pair of jeans to carry me into spring, as well. Inspired by the 3-in-1 aspect of the Tide Pods, I used the one pair of jeans to create three different looks for spring. I paired the jeans with clothes that would carry over into spring. My first look was a bright coral top with mint skinny jeans and crocheted wedge shoes. The coral and mint combination is a little more daring than my normal style but it just reminds me so much of spring.

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I dressed the jeans down for my next look, paired with a chambray shirt and sandals. Such an easy outfit that I can throw on for a day of shopping or running errands, even with a busy toddler.

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My third look consisted of a navy and mint top with my favorite pair of peep-toe pumps. Perfect for a girls night out or a date with Allen.

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Who doesn’t love a great 3-in-1? I could throw these jeans on for a nice dinner date or for a girls shopping trip. I also adore pieces that are machine washable. Life is busy, I’m chasing a toddler most days and my schedule leaves little time for dropping off clothing at the cleaners and picking it up days later. I love that they can come in handy for so many of life’s special days. Just like my trusted Tide Pods laundry detergent. I can’t help but love a product that keeps my favorite clothes looking new after many washes. Pop in a whole new kind of clean with Tide Pods.

 

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This amazing three-in-one product is perfect for keeping my clothes looking their best. Each pac boasts of a detergent that cleans, brightens, and fights stains. Tide Pods are packaged in individual pacs that make washing clothes a little easier. No messy powders, no sticky liquids, just toss in the pac with your load of laundry and you’re set. Such a practical alternative to washing powders and detergents that require measuring and pouring. Pop this pac into your washing machine to help your clothes stand out. Tide Pods may be small, but they pack a powerful punch. One pac removes more stains than 6 caps of the leading bargain brand. (Based on stain removal performance of one pac of Tide Pods vs. 6 doses of the leading liquid bargain brand base variant in a standard top loading machine.) The pacs take cleaning to the next level, they are the only 3-in-1 chamber on the market, setting the standard for the next generation of detergents. As always, use caution around children and make sure they are stored out of the reach of curious toddler hands. 


 

Tell me about something in your wardrobe that’s versatile and provides 3-in-1 style. By leaving a comment, you’ll be entered for the chance to win a Visa gift card for $100. Pop In. Stand Out.

 

Rules

No duplicate comments. You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

  1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post.

  2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion, including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post.

  3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post.

  4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 2/19/13 – 3/19/13.

Be sure to visit the Tide Pods brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

 

sleep tips & soothing relief from st. joseph’s {giveaway}


Some days it seems like a blur and others it seems like an eternity has passed since Braylen was born. I may have forgotten some of the details in between (which is why I’m thankful to have this blog), I may have forgotten some of the sleepless nights, but I may never forget the overwhelming feeling that being a new mom brings. Don’t get me wrong, I was overjoyed, over the moon happy when I first laid eyes on her in that hospital room. I was in love, in a love like I had never felt before.

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However, I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that I also felt clueless when it came to raising a child. How in the world could I protect this tiny little girl from everything and everyone? How would I know all the right things to do? I don’t think any parenting class in the world can prepare for you for the mix of emotions that floods you when you step outside that hospital door for the first time, with your first child.

Thankfully, those feelings subsided as I realized that a mothers instinct kicks in faster than anything else I’ve ever experienced. Soon, I was a pro (or so it seemed to me), I could change the diaper of a sleeping baby without even waking her up. I could make a bottle in the wee hours of the morning while soothing a hungry infant. I learned her cries and figured out just what she needed.

Those first few days and even weeks were tough, but they were some of the sweetest days of my life. Those first few weeks were important to me. I knew I wanted her to be on a schedule, I had read books about sleep training before she was born. Thankfully, the key to getting Braylen to sleep through the night was simple; she wanted to be swaddled. Allen and I both learned to swaddle like a pro, we would wrap her up snugly and she would sleep for hours. It was my saving grace. And soon she big enough for swaddle blankets and zip-up swaddles. Then on to sleep sacks and eventually transitioning completely away from anything that resembled a swaddle. From that day on, every friend that becomes a new mom gets a swaddling blanket and a note from me that shares our sleeping success story.

As she grew and the new mom fears subsided I also learned tips and tricks that helped to calm her when she was upset. One common problem in infants is gas, when their little tummies are upset no amount of swaddling or rocking can calm them like gas drops. I want to introduce St. Joseph Infants’ Gas Relief drops to you. They work quickly to break down gas bubbles that cause discomfort and when your infant is in pain, you want something that works as quickly as possible. Rest assured, these drops are safe to use at every feeding, and are free of any dyes, alcohol or saccharin. That’s refreshing for any new mom.

You can follow this link to print a $3.00 coupon.

Tell me, What is your #1 Tip for a new mom? Answer this question in the comment section below for a chance to win 3 packages of St. Joseph Infants’ Gas Relief Drops. That’s one for you and two to share with friends!

Sweepstakes Rules
No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

  1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
  2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
  3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
  4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 2/6-2/28.

Be sure to visit the sponsor’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

Clean It Up and Fight Back with Clorox {Review and $1,000 Giveaway}

I clearly remember when we brought BK home from the hospital. I was convinced that I would somehow find a way to protect her from each and every germ-wielding hand that came near. But, if you’ve had a baby you know, the influx of people in and out of your house and hospital room in those first few weeks is tiring. I didn’t know what people had touched before coming into our house. I know it’s not intentional, but we pick up germs everywhere we go and most of the time we don’t even realize.

I stocked up on hand sanitizer, placed hand soap at each and every sink, and quickly directed arriving guests, friends and family members to the nearest sink. It didn’t take long until it was clear to me that we would need something more, I purchased trusted Clorox Disinfecting Wipes and Clorox Cleaner with Bleach to fight the surface germs. I was instantly a believer. Nearly three years later, we’re still using those same products to fight germs in our home. This year, it was the dreaded flu. It’s especially important for me to ensure that I take care of all the germs I pick up at school. I don’t want to be the one bringing them into our home now.

I use the wipes on just about everything and it’s important to remember to “think outside the countertop.” You all probably know exactly what I mean, we wipe down the countertops in the kitchen on a daily basis with disinfectants and cleaners. But there are other “hot spots” in our homes that carry germs as well, like toys, door knobs, light switches, faucets and the remote control. The Clorox Disinfecting wipes make it easy to quickly wipe down those surfaces as well.

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It’s also important to remember that we can’t fight all germs by simply washing them away. Sometimes germs get to us, no matter how hard we try to avoid them. Give yourself the best chance possible to fight off nasty flu-causing germs by eating healthy, getting plenty of sleep and exercising. It’s important that our bodies are in the best physical shape to fight germs and bacteria as they come our way.

As a kindergarten teacher and a mother to a toddler, I find myself reminding children throughout the day to cough in their elbow rather than their hand, to wash their hands after they cough or sneeze. Simple germ-fighting tools that can go a long way in preventing the spread of germs. Sometimes adults forget too, but it’s a proactive way to limit the spread of germs. And hand washing? We’re in such a hurry that we don’t always devote the entire 20 seconds to washing or the additional time to allow the water to warm up. It’s a simple step that could keep you and your loved ones healthy. In a season where the flu is spreading rapidly, we should be armed with all of the knowledge to fight the spread and the necessary precautions.

Clorox stands behind their commitment to fight germs and bacteria and empowers people to keep their families healthy. Visit Clorox.com to learn more about the importance of disinfecting and other tips for keeping you and your family happy and healthy.

 

*Use as directed


Which are your favorite Clorox cleaning products that help keep you and your family healthy? Answer for a chance to win a $1,000 Visa Gift Card.

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

  1. a. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
  2. b. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
  3. c. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
  4. d. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 1/24-2/28

Be sure to visit the sponsor’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

Spotlight On: Epiphanie Clover & new camera gear

I ended my nearly year-long search for the perfect camera bag a few days after Christmas. I can’t tell you how many different bags I found while I scoured the internet. I went from from very popular camera bags to reading tutorials on how to make your own. Here’s the thing, my photography is strictly amateur, for my own family and blog purposes. I was a little torn about whether or not I actually wanted to take the plunge and purchase a pricey camera bag. Ultimately, I thought about the fact that I need to take better care of my camera gear, tossing it in my purse just isn’t going to work.

I went back and forth on the different options. Remember, I’m terribly indecisive. I had basically made my decision, then completely changed my mind after talking with Nina.  By the way, she has the best gift recommendations and authentic reviews, if you aren’t following her blog, you’re missing out.

All of that to say, my search ended with the Epiphanie Clover bag in fuchsia.

I was thrilled with the bag. It is big enough to function as more than just a camera bag. I can use it during trips, as a carry-on bag, and it can also serve as a diaper bag/purse while still functioning as a camera bag.

It easily held:

  • Canon Rebel T3i
  • 18-55 mm kit lens
  • 50 mm lens
  • 55-250 mm lens
  • Erin Condren Life Planner
  • 15″ Macbook Pro

While I’m talking about camera bags, let’s talk about the gear. For my birthday, I upgraded to the T3i, I had the most basic Rebel and it was a little worn out. I upgraded through the Canon loyalty program. You can send your old camera in and upgrade at a discounted price through this program, it’s worth checking into if you’re in the market to upgrade with Canon.

Another new addition to my camera gear is the 55-250mm telescopic lens. This lens was a Christmas gift from Allen and I am excited to put it to good use. I knew it would be important to have a telescopic lens as Braylen gets older and has school programs, recitals, etc, and I have ben eyeing them for sometime. The particular lens is lightweight and easy to use, so it’s perfect for what I need, photography-wise.

Just a quick disclaimer: I am not being compensated for this post. I didn’t receive the camera bag, camera or any of the gear to review. 

Mary Kay Makeup and a Giveaway

When the great people at Mary Kay sent me this box of goodies I felt like a kid at Christmas time. I had so much fun experimenting with the colors and trying out the skin care products. Seriously, look at all of the fun products that sent me to play with.

It’s no secret that I love Mary Kay products; you even saw a few of my favorites when I told you what was in my makeup bag. I remember my mom buying me Mary Kay when I first started wearing makeup; it’s a company she has always loved as well. And when as I started purchasing makeup for myself I couldn’t help but go back to the familiar Mary Kay brand.

The brand has evolved over the years and boasts of a mineral makeup line that is one of the best on the market today. Full of vitamins and antioxidants, rich colors and unbeatable quality, Mary Kay products are a must-have.

I had so much fun playing with the colors and creating different looks for myself. This is one of my favorite anytime looks I created. Mary Kay products do a great job of giving me just enough color and coverage and can easily go from day to night.



The products featured in the look above are:

  • Golden Vanilla, Sweet Plum and Black Pearl mineral eye color
  • Mango Tango NouriShine Plus™ lip gloss
  • Lash Primer and Ultimate Mascara in Black
  • Shy Blush mineral cheek color
  • And the smoothness can be attributed to the Mary Kay TimeWise® Microdermabrasion set. It has worked miracles for my skin, and I still can’t believe how soft and smooth it made my face feel after the first week of use.
I wanted to take a moment and tell you about some of the other great products I tried from Mary Kay.

Mary Kay® Compact Mini The mini compact is refillable and can hold three eyeshadows and one blush. It has a mirror and well beneath the colors to hold brushes. It is perfect for on-the-go or for your makeup bag. I have a combination of eye color and blush that I use on a near-daily basis. I call it my go-to look. For me, it’s easy to put those colors in the compact so they are easily accessible when I’m getting ready each morning.



Mary Kay® Mineral Eye Color in Golden Vanilla, Truffle, Lavender Fog, Midnight Star, Sweet Plum and Black Pearl – I was sent the mineral eye makeup in these particular colors, and I had a great time experimenting with the different hues. In the picture I’m wearing Golden Vanilla, Sweet Plum and Black Pearl. I’m a huge fan of mineral foundation, and I found that the eye shadows provide the same lasting, weightless coverage as the foundation. It doesn’t crease like normal eyeshadow and it contains Vitamins A, C and E. The mineral eye shadows are more vibrant than my normal eyeshadow and stay on until the end of the day.

Mary Kay® Mineral Cheek Color in Shy Blush- I smiled when I saw this in my package of Mary Kay goodies because it’s the exact color I was already using. It gives my cheeks the perfect amount of color and goes on smoothly and evenly. It fits perfectly into my mini-compact, and I love that the color lasts throughout the day.

Mary Kay® NouriShine Plus™ Lip Gloss in Mango Tango, Rock ‘n’ Red and Café Au Lait- I’ve also been using the NouriShine lip gloss in Café Au Lait; I was excited to see it in my package as well. I’m not very brave when it comes to lip color choices, but I fell in love with the Mango Tango. They give me lots of color and just the right amount of shine for me. The added antioxdiants and botanical extracts leave my lips feeling smooth and conditioned.


I was also sent several different mascaras to try:

Mary Kay® Lash Love™ Mascara and Waterproof Mascara in Black- The brush on this mascara is my favorite. It did a great job of separating and refining my lashes to give me a natural look of length and volume. The Waterproof version was basically my bff this summer. The Alabama humidity can really ruin good eye makeup but it was no match for this mascara.

Mary Kay® Ultimate Mascara™ in Black- Mary Kay describes this product as “boldly voluptuous” and once you try it you’ll understand why. I’m lacking in the eyelash department, it seems my brother inherited all of those genes in our family. I love that this mascara gave me length and volume.

Mary Kay® Lash Primer- The primer was added to my makeup routine, and it helps my mascara stay on longer while curling and condition the lashes. It’s definitely a must-have in your beauty collection.

TimeWise® Microdermabrasion Set- I generally take a very minimalistic approach when it comes to skin care. I wash my face in the shower and apply some type of moisturizer before I put my makeup on each morning. I had no idea what I was missing out on until Mary Kay sent me this set to try.
It’s a two-step system:
Step 1: Refine. Refine is acts as an exfoliator. I just keep this in the shower and use it a few times each week. After the first application I noticed my skin felt smoother. It uses the key exfoliating ingredient used by dermatologists to remove dead skin cells.
Step 2: Replenish. This serum leaves skin feeling soft and smooth. I love how easy it is to apply and how soft it makes my skin feel.


I am so happy to share with you that BlogHer is going to give one of my lucky readers their very own Mary Kay gift basket.

Just comment and tell me the greatest beauty tip you’ve learned for an opportunity to win a fabulous Mary Kay gift basket. Each comment counts as an entry in the sweepstakes.

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 19 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 11/19/12-12/31/12.

Be sure to visit the Mary Kay page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

I was provided with Mary Kay products to use and review, and was compensated for this post, however all opinions are my own.

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