Get My Produce and Eat it Too with Fresh Juice Mixes

With spring time in full swing, I enjoy everything Mother Nature offers like al fresco dining, working in the yard and consuming fresh fruit. Unfortunately, my vegetable intake is not exactly what it should be, although I have very good intentions when I purchase produce for my family. Undoubtedly, I end up throwing some of it away since I can’t always get to cooking something with it before it goes south. It’s a never-ending cycle that many times the cost outweighs my want for fresh vegetables and fruit, and I end up with frozen and canned versions instead (despite the flavor, color and quality.) 

Blushing Orange Juice with
strawberries.

Trying to provide some suggestions to my “taste it vs. trash it” conundrum, someone suggested I juice my produce. Of course, I immediately struck down the idea. All I needed was another huge appliance to take up space that would be hard to clean and from what I had heard in the past, would probably not work well anyways. But when I got my hands on the Omega juicer, the size of the juicer surprised me - it was small although was little heavy (due to the amazing motor I would find out later). Now ready to juice, I purchased several different fruits and vegetables and waited for the “right time” to make it and then clean up the mess.

So when my husband asked for some orange juice, I immediately thought this was a good opportunity to test it out. The kitchen was already a mess from Saturday breakfast preparation, so it wouldn’t be a big deal. And since the kids were all up, I didn’t have to worry the loud sound from the juicer would wake anyone up. Best of all, I had some help if I couldn’t figure out how to put it all together. So I decided to take the plunge.

In only three minutes I was able to put it all together without any instructions, I was pleasantly surprised.

Not bad.

Next I turned it on ready to have the kids look at me in horror of the noise, but there was no real noise. Just a little hum of the motor.

Even better.

Then I let my son put in the fruit and in just a few moments, we had fresh, delicious orange juice that was amazing. So being huge fans of strawberries, we opted to try another. Again, in just a short bit, we were all sharing our version of a Blushing OJ with strawberries, raspberries, apples and oranges.

Fresh and fantastic.

With the small amount of leftover juice, as requested by my three year-old, we put them in ice cubes and made popsicles.

Healthy and delicious treat for later.

But knowing that there wasn't a secret maid button on the juicer, I knew the clean up was going to take forever. I “womaned” up to the sink and only five minutes later, everything was clean and drying.

Excellent.

I definitely am now one of those people that appreciates what a good, quality juicer can do. For instance my juicer is the Vert VRT330 Juicer - equipped with a 2-horsepower equivalent single-phase induction motor. This masticating juicer thoroughly chews up plant fibers to extract vitamins, enzymes, and minerals from fruits and vegetables, including wheatgrass and leafy greens. The Vert VRT330 Juicer dual-stage juicing system ensures maximum juice and extremely dry pulp, the first crushing stage extracts and the second pressing stage squeezes. Its Low Speed Technology System (LSTS) and low rotation speed of 80 RPMs result in minimal heat build up and oxidation which means higher quality juice, flavor, and nutrients. Best of all, the automatic pulp-ejection function allows for continuous juicing - compost the pulp, or better yet, use it to flavor soups, cakes, and more.

The Vert VRT330 Juicer also features an Automatic Wiping System that utilizes a silicone wiping blade, similar to a car's windshield wiper, to help keep the juicing screen free of excess pulp. Other highlights include built-in reverse mode to prevent food from getting stuck, heavy-duty construction, and quiet operation due to squeezing slowly rather than grinding at high speed like centrifugal juicers.

I’ve included the recipe we made as well as my next conquest, Sweet Spring Mix, which is a lot like the Dr. Oz’s Green Drink.

Blushing Orange Juice
3 oranges
1 apple
1 handful raspberries


Juice together in the order given; stir the juice to mix the flavors.

Sweet Spring Mix 

Sweet Spring Mix 
1 cucumber
1 carrot
1 green apple
¼ cup parsley
¼ cup mint
1 stalk of celery
½ inch of fresh ginger
½ lemon (peeled)


For more recipes or information about the Omega brand of juicers, visit http://www.omegajuicers.com.

Disclaimer:
I received an Omega juicer and examples of recipes for purposes of this review. However, the opinions are all my own.

Can a little dab of Nutella do-ya?

Ever had one of those days that everything was so perfectly aligned that it HAD to be right. That was today for me. I wasn't really even thinking about my next mamachallenge would be, however, the stars seemed to line up and tell me - chocolate was a good idea today. I'm sure most of you are thinking, first, "when is chocolate not a good idea?" and second, "do you really need a challenge to eat it?", but let me explain.

I had received a lovely box of Nutella to sample. Not that I really needed any convincing of that, but that idea of being challenged to eat Nutella for a quick breakfast option seemed like something I could easily achieve (sometimes it's the little things, right?) Anyhow, I started off making my son a waffle with a little spread of Nutella and a side of strawberries. It took about 2 minutes to be the mom of the world, so I was happy.

Source: Uploaded by user via Autumn on Pinterest

A few hours later while watching the news, recently released findings from the Archives of Internal Medicine reported that "individuals who consumed chocolate more frequently had a lower BMI than those who consumed it less often." At that moment, I had another reminder of that jar of Nutella sitting in the cabinet. Although I know that the report probably was talking about Nutella in the study, all of sudden Nutella was on the brain. B-A-D. So practicing a little discipline, I pulled out one single strawberry dabbed a little of the hazelnut-cocoa confection on it in efforts to rid myself of the craving (and besides, one bite wasn't going to kill me, right?)

Wrong. The Nutella took over. Well, the craving for Nutella increased. Of course, rather than just to throw it away (who would do that?), I decided the best way to part ways was just to use it up - quickly. After a few minutes on Google, I found thousands of recipes using my now adversary. I could make anything from goat-cheese Nutella grilled cheese to a delicious mole sauce. But being the good wife I am, I decided it was best to go for something that could be shared - Nutella Brownies.

There were thousands of those recipes, but it was the one from Bakingandboys.com that made the cut because it was only 5 ingredients + the Nutella. In 30 minutes, I had delicious, gooey, and perfect brownies. Best of all, the foil kept me from another dirty dish.

Source: Uploaded by user via Autumn on Pinterest

And did that nip the Nutella craving in the bud? I've eaten 1 1/2 brownies and it's not even dinner yet...perhaps it is time for my "only eat vegetables for 5 days challenge."

This review also was published on ModernMom.com at http://www.modernmom.com/blogs/autumn-reo/can-just-a-little-dab-of-nutella-be-enough.

SOS: Save our socks with ToeBlooms!

As a mom of a two kids, I’ve been through A LOT of socks. I mean a lot. It seems every time I purchased a box of diapers, I was also replenishing a supply of new socks. Thankfully, with a boy a pair of plain ole white socks wasn’t a huge concern, just an inconvenience. However, with a little princess now of eight months, white crews don’t cut it. I buy socks to match each outfit (yes, you know if you have a girl you also buy hair accessories and sometimes even blankets, too.) Unfortunately, after about six months trying to keep up with those cute socks was getting to be a real pain. Really. My son, who saw my frustration, told me that he was going to “get the sock monster” for eating all of Taylor’s socks!

Now with the spring approaching, socks seem to be less a real need to keep her toes warm, but more of an accessory with her cute outfits. However, even though I have several pairs of adorable shoes given to her as gifts, shoes aren’t as practical or advised until around the age of one. So what’s a mom to do?

TOE BLOOMS, I found, was my answer.

Photo courtesy of www.toeblooms.com

Photo courtesy of www.toeblooms.com 

Let me start – they aren’t the cheapest little things at around $23, but neither are all those bows and headbands I’ve been buying either. However, they are the cutest little “sock wraps” with bright colors and designs featuring big, beautiful flowers. And when your daughter’s name is rose, you can imagine that many of her outfits, accessories (and even her room) are all decked out with roses, so I was hooked instantly.

Toe Blooms are a must-have for moms tired of coming home with just one of baby’s shoes! This adorable line of stylish baby footwear stays on by wrapping securely around baby’s sweet feet and can be worn with or without socks (so she’s got her summer shoe wear too!) To get your pair, you can get them online on their cute website, www.toeblooms.com. (Be careful though, they have handbands to match!)

Photo courtesy of www.toeblooms.com 

****DISCLAIMER: I was provided a sample of ToeBlooms to try for myself. However, the claims made here and my review is all my own. *** 

A Diaper That Does it All - Diaperpods

No matter how prepared of a parent you are, every mother has been in one of those embarrassing moments… The one where your little one has left you a present and it seems to not only make a mess when you open it, but up his or her backside and maybe even the blanket and on your shirt. Even worse, it seems even when you feel like you get a handle on it, clean/change everything in sight and squirt on the sanitizer, the evidence of their little “package” still seems to lurk everywhere you smell.

Source: getontheshelf.com via Autumn on Pinterest

The other day when I got a pretty package in the mail from a company called Diaperpods, I wasn’t sure what I was opening. However, when I pulled out the instruction sheet, I found out it was a diaper with its own special package inside – a bag. I still wasn’t sure exactly how great this little guy was though until I put it to the test. In exactly one of the moments that could have been disastrous, all I had to do was break open the seal, pull open the bag, slide in the diaper and voila! A self-contained diaper mess all tied up in a little blue bag that actually smelled good. What a perfect diaper to use when you’re out of the house, especially like a public event or a friend’s house you don’t want to leave something like this behind. Actually, my pediatrician asks that we don’t leave a messy diaper in the trash in the office, so this would be the perfect solution!

But before you run to the store to get your package of Diaperpods, I have some bad news: you can’t buy these…yet. You can vote for them to “Get on the Shelf” at Walmart. Open for voting until April 3, it takes 1 click to tell the buyers at Walmart you want to make your life easier. Here’s the link to vote: http://getontheshelf.com/product/546/Diaperpods. Remember to do it now – voting ends April 3. 

****DISCLAIMER: I was provided a sample of Diaperpods to try out and to learn how they work. However, the claims made here and my review is all my own. *** 

Find a Baby Camera That Goes and Grows With You

With two kids, I have had experience with all types of baby products that work (and don’t work) for my family. I remember with my first born I was set on having a nice, wooden high-chair that could become a furniture piece that could grow old with our family. I spent a lot of money on it and while it does look pretty, it’s the $25 plastic high chair that was our saving grace.

One good purchase that lasted for both kids though has been my trusty camera monitor. Being a mom you know that there are times you just need to see your baby to feel like it’s okay to go back to sleep. Unfortunately, a monitor next to my bed isn’t the only place I want a camera but in other places like in the kitchen when I am cooking or the laundry room. Even more so I could even be able to peek on her when I am not home and other people are watching her…So I was back to the drawing board to find something that did what my camera did and more.

Then coincidently, I found exactly what I was looking for. A local company called ourbabycamera.com seemed to have merged my need for a baby camera monitor with my handy, dandy most-loved IPhone. How awesome is that…and even better my family could utilize it anytime they signed on.

Source: ourbabycamera.com via Autumn on Pinterest

My interest was piqued, so installation, here we come!

While the product had a reasonably sized instruction manual, it wasn’t necessary since it was pretty easy to hook up. I went online to the website and went through the process using their quick run through. After an hour or so, I had made the connection and downloaded one of four different apps to use on my IPhone (this is an additional cost from $2.99 – 19.99) and then I was up and going. Better yet, I wasn’t just up and going, I was able to have a secure look at my child and also allow only those I wanted to “check in” on my baby girl!

Source: ourbabycamera.com via Autumn on Pinterest

I figured out this camera wasn’t just a baby camera, but was the camera that grows with your kids. While I still have a few years to worry about curfews, the app even allows you to set up a function to email you when your kid walks through the door! (Basically, there’s no need to wait up because it will email you with a time when they come through the door. And if I had a babysitter I wanted to check in on, I had that too. GENIUS!

Now there’s one more way to stay connected with your smartphone, tablet and (even) your old school PC or Mac!

If you are interested in learning more about this camera ourbabycamera.com will be at the Dallas Kids Expo, March 24 at Dallas Market Hall. Word is ourbabycamera.com will be offering a special on the camera with installation if you want to pick up yours immediately! While you are there, also make plans to bring the kids for Bob the Builder, bounce houses and other fun entertainment. Mom and dad can also learn about other local DFW resources including other baby products like this. Tickets are $12 at the door and kids 12 and under get in free with a jar of peanut butter for the North Texas Food Bank. For more information about the Dallas Kids Expo, check out their website at www.dallaskidsexpo.com.

***Ourbabycamera.com supplied the camera and mounting equipment for this review. The purchase of the app for my IPhone as well as my reviews are all my own.

Organize the Chaos

Spring brings out the organizing bug in me. However, if you asked my husband and he would say I’m a freak about it all the time, but truly my intentions are good. I just want to run a well-oiled machine/household. Over the last few days I had begun my list of things I needed to purchase to be more organized when I was received a special invitation to get a sneak peak at the NEW Container Store in Arlington. I really couldn’t get more excited except that profits from sales during Grand Opening Weekend would benefit the local Junior League of Arlington, so it was a done deal that I was going to RSVP to this event. Oh what I didn’t know I was getting myself into.

During our tour of the new store during the blogger preview, I figured I could just bring in my list and mentally start shopping for those few things I needed. However, our hostess with the mostess pointed out a few things that honestly I didn’t know existed (like a special hook for basketballs, footballs, etc.). Needless to say my list was getting longer as I walked through the store. I couldn’t believe what all I ended up with in my basket and when I got home with my new goodies (both from my purchases and a nice bag of samples from Container Store), I was practically giddy.

So here’s your disclaimer now: If you want to see some great products that you didn’t know existed, but will never remember how you lived without them, then read on. If you aren’t excited by making life easier and better, then you’re probably not on the right blog…
Here’s a look at some of the coolest things in the world I got at the Container Store Opening Weekend in Arlington. While I didn’t buy everything in the list, I will tell you that if you need a day to just put all your stress behind you then spend a day at the Container Store. With the exception of the mass numbers of people in attendance for the grand opening weekend, I found the whole experience rather therapeutic. Just remember, CONTAIN YOURSELF! (For those of you who aren’t loyal shoppers, that’s actually their tagline!)

Packing Thing – Ball Holder Thingy – Real Name: Eagle Creek® Pack-It® Folder

Source: containerstore.com via Autumn on Pinterest

Cable Holders – Real Name: CableDrop™ Cord Clips

Source: containerstore.com via Autumn on Pinterest

Grid It – Real Name: GridIt!

Source: containerstore.com via Autumn on Pinterest

Boot Holders - Real Name: Boot Shapers

Source: containerstore.com via Autumn on Pinterest

Take care of my skin (the right way) for 1 month

During the month of my big 3-O, something less than magical happened to me: I found gray hairs (yep, that's plural) and I found wrinkles. Needless to say, getting older was taking its toll. It was then I also realized that being ignorant about what "stuff" I needed to be putting on my face was no longer a real option. I needed to take responsibility for the future in front of me and learn really what I was doing (or in my case, not doing) for my skin. 

So recently, when I got the opportunity to actually learn about how to take care of skin (rather than just randomly trying all the free products I got in my free Clinique Bonus bag), I was ecstatic. Finally after years of school, I felt like I was going to learn something I really should have learned when I was 12 - how to take care of my skin.

Let me be clear; I'm not completely stupid about skincare. I just have so many other things going on I don't take care of it the way I need to. Many times once I sit down it doesn't take long for my body to completely go limp and my eyeballs to roll into the back of head, so washing my face is not even an option. Then once I wake up in the morning, I'm happy to splash on some cleanser to get off the leftover mascara and baby slobber from yesterday and then slap on another topcoat (my husband's reference to foundation) to start it all over again the next day.

As part of Galleria Dallas' Beauty Live 2012, a three-day event totally devoted to all things beauty, The Body Shop had asked a few friendly volunteers to commit to a four-week test drive to use their products and then share what we thought when we were complete. Always happy to take on a challenge, I was happy to finally learn what type of skin I really had, what it really needed and most of all, what it was doing to my skin. After all with all the products out on the market with so many promises, I'm not sure what is really what I need. 

My consultant, Lori, was amazing. She sat me down, cleaned off my makeup and instantly got down and dirty about my skin. Once she was able to assess my skin type, she developed a custom skin care regime to help combat my problem areas and keep potential issues at bay. During our consultation, she told me about The Body Shop's commitment tofair trade practices and using natural products. Considering our skin absorbs almost 80 percent of what we put on it, I was happy to begin using products that were as healthy on the inside as they are the out (and mucho points for environmentally and economically friendly business!) And best of all -- she wrote on the bottles when and what order I needed to apply the products (who would have thought this would be so helpful.)

All I had to do was promise her that I would commit to a four-weeks, 2 times a day skincare regimen using the following products:  

1.   Seaweed Purifying Facial Cleanser $14.00

2.   Seaweed Pore-Cleansing Facial Exfoliator $15.00

3.   Seaweed Clarifying Toner $12.50

4.   Seaweed Mattifying Day Cream $16.50

5.   Seaweed Clarifying Night Treatment $20.00

6.   Seaweed Ionic Clay Mask $22.00

7.   Seaweed Pore Perfector $21.00

8.   Tea Tree Oil $ 9.00

9.   Vitamin E Eye Cream $18.00

          *******For a total of $150

Now that I have promised another human being, I'll be held accountable for being good to my skin (what a thought!) Best of all after being treated like a total queen, she let me know that anyone can come into the store and get the same type of one-on-one time to help you find what you need for your skin type. Two points!

So ready for the big reveal? You're gonna have to wait!

For my own benefit, I'm not going to post my before photo at this time, but I will tell you tell you that after four weeks, I hope to be happy to show you a great post-photo. Also, you can come out and see me talk about the product at BEAUTY LIVE at Galleria Dallas on March 19!