How to Get Your H20

It’s free.


It’s readily available.


It’s fat free, calorie free and absolutely necessary for good health.


But no matter how many reasons and times I read it and hear it, I just can’t make myself drink the amount I should.


Yep, it’s water.

I’ve tried many ways including using a big jug (you know the one that looks like a Sparkletts’ jug, chugged water before each meal and my favorite method that worked for my grandmother – putting rubber bands around my water bottle to keep up with the number of times that I had filled it up throughout the day…but somehow I always end up at the end of the day counting up like 2 whole glasses of water – if that.


Since none of the personal tips were working for me, I decided to go to the source. Understand – I actually like the taste of water, but there’s just some issue with me drinking it. I love lemonade, tea and ironically I normally order water with lemon when I dine out , but for some reason I have to do a little something to the “home” supply to liven in up. Once I started to investigate, I realized there were actually a lot of options AND none of them required me to add sugar. Actually many of them added a lot of good stuff like vitamins and lose weight. 


So this mama was on to her next challenge, “what’s the best H20 Helper?”


Skinny Girl Daily Vitamin Power Packets

I already love me some Bethenny Frankel and my Skinny Girl Margaritas, so I figured that in the spirit of a little foul-mouthed love, I’d love me some Skinny Girl Daily water enhancers. Designed to fix the things that women want most like ENERGY, CALMNESS and healthy HAIR AND NAILS, it seemed like a marriage in heaven for me. I’ll admit, I didn’t consume so many of these that I started to look and feel like a Barbie, but the flavor tasted good and made water a little easier to take down. And maybe since it was well branded with a certain “Skinny Girl” it made me think I was doing something positive – which I was since its sweetened with agave and chock full of vitamins and nutrients (beyond your basics daily vitamins and the enhancers included in my roundup). Unfortunately, these aren’t sitting in my grocery store, so going online or a specialty drug store is necessary to get your dose of SG daily. However, you can get a multipack as well as a variety pack of all the Skinny Girl products…(more than you ever thought possible.)

Crystal Light Energy Packets

If I actually consumed the amount of coffee that I needed to really give me energy, I’m sure I’d be hooked up to a java IV. Since my body can’t take that much caffeine, I have to look for other ways to keep me going to get everything done that is necessary every day. With the words “energy” across the packaging and my favorite flavor of “wild strawberry,” I had to throw this one in the basket for a try. And it was good. Good enough I bought this was twice to keep in my bag in case I was out and needed a little “something.” Again, I don’t know how much energy it gave me or if my brain was just happy to make me thing so, but at only a few dollars for a box and only five calories – it’s a good keeper to have on hand when you want Kool-Aid, but need something that won’t make you look like the Kool-Aid Man.


Mio Liquid Enhancer

I was intrigued when I heard about the little “Mio,” so I looked for this one at the store and instantly brought it home to try. The thought of something that was not a powder, but a liquid that I could put it my drink only a squirt at a time was super. Especially since I always forget to take that first drink off my water bottle and make a mess when I used the powders. A MiO is sweetened with sucralose, a calorie-free, artificial sweetener that is 600 times sweeter than sugar. To maintain color and freshness, MiO does use certain preservatives and artificial colorings. While I’m a little leery of the artificially coloring in my white kitchen, the color of the “sweet tea” (which I have yet to try), does make it a little more believable that it could substitute my favorite southern beverage.


So what was the best? While I think the Skinny Girl Dailys were my favorite for getting lots of healthy benefits including drinking my water, the Crystal Lights are always on sale and readily available. I’ve got a cabinet full of them including my favorite drink option when I was pregnant their mocktail line. (It was the only way I got my mojito fix for nine months and coincidentally was the healthiest I’ve been in years.)


Hope one of these gives you a little H20 help.


Disclaimer: I received complimentary Skinny Girl Daily packets for purposes of this review. However, the opinions stated are all my own. 

Cake-off Faceoff: Kroger's Bringing Hope to the Table

 Everybody likes the idea of a cake competition – until of course you are the decorator and you have about as much talent as the size of one of those icing tip thingies. But all is fun and games when you are doing something good to help others. Last week Kroger hosted the sixth Annual “Bringing Hope to the Table” Cake-off with local media personalities (including yours truly!) The invited media personalities were paired with a Kroger pastry chef, supplies and one hour to compete against other outlets for the “Ace of Cakes” title and a $1,000 donation in their name to the North Texas Food Bank and Tarrant Area Food Bank.

While I  love watching my Food Network and all my experience eating cakes and cupcakes, I didn’t have much to work off of except the provided theme: “hope,” “family,” and “happiness.” And being matched up against some of the best reporters in DFW like Melissa Newton, Arnold Wayne Jones, CW33s EyeopenerTeam, Dallas Observer's drinks and eats diva and others wasn’t so easy either, but a little bit of love, courage and the opportunity to raise awareness for a very worthwhile campaign were enough to get me through the competition for my fourth time.

Kroger's Cake Off Kicks Off the Bringing Hope to the Table Campaign. You can help now until June 9 to fight hunger.

Interested to see who won? Take a look at some of these cakes and let me know if you agree in the judges’ decision!

Want to be a part of the fun? Then buy up those yellow tags! The “Bringing Hope to the Table” gives shoppers the opportunity to help raise money for the North Texas Food Bank and Tarrant Area Food Bank and their programs that support local food-insecure families, seniors and children. From now until June 9, 2012 customers can purchase a variety of tagged products and a percentage of the sale will benefit the food banks. This year, the “Bringing Hope to the Table” campaign is expected to raise more than $125,000 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. So do your part and buy your groceries at Kroger while you make a difference in DFW. 

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Are you facing the challenge of motherhood? Then join us on mamachallenge.com...because there's no bigger challenge than being a mama.

Wholly Moly! Making Healthy & Quick Dinners Possible with Dips?

If you’ve spent anytime following me, you know I like to eat.

Unfortunately, while cooking sounds like it could be fun, time seems to get in the way for my battle to make a meal that’s healthy, quick (like 20 minutes quick) and of course, tasty. So when I got an invitation to attend a cooking class hosted by Wholly Guacamole to get some tips on “dinner dilemmas,” I was quick to RSVP since I need all the help I can get. However, while I am a fan of all things made with guacamole or salsa, I was intrigued to learn how I could make that spread for a week’s worth of dinner hearing the complaints of empty stomachs.

The 20-count mom class seemed to be ready to learn any new ideas about getting healthy and  quick meals on the table for their family. And after an afternoon of learning basic cooking skills, a few test recipes for appetizers, entrees and even a few cocktails, I was quite surprised on all the different uses of “salsa.” I mean, really, a drink? Yes, we actually made two including a cocovado using Wholly Guacamole and coconuts and placing a dollop of Mango Wholly Salsa before pouring champagne. (At this point I became a believer since cooking started with a cocktail!)

Throughout the afternoon, I learned other great recipes including apps like Island Mango Shrimp and my personal favorite, roasted tomato, goat cheese and feta bruschetta. Besides being fun to say 10 times, the combo of goat cheese, feta and a little balsamic glaze made it hard to just eat one (so I ate like three.) We also gave dinner staples like chicken breast and meatloaf a makeover with a few new ingredients. However, it was the vanilla ice cream topped with warm Pineapple Wholly Salsa that really sank the deal…it was so good I ate it before I ate my lunch!

After the cooking class, I was full, happy and empowered to take this “mama challenge” and try it on my most cynical critics – my family.  So equipped with one of each of the products, I went home to make dinner for my family. Ready to make something new and not to be wasteful, I was going to incorporate my salsas into as many meals as possible.  

The first night: The most obvious use would be Mexican food and since I already had fajitas thawed, there wasn’t much I could do. However, I used the pico and guacamole mix to create cute little appetizer cups that included a perfect bite of everything you eat in a fajita all in a baked chip. While not that original, it was very tasty. When my husband asked for a little more heat, we pulled out the Hot Salsa. Good Dinner. Happy Family.

The next night I worked to expand the menu and decided to conquer pork tenderloin paired with the Pineapple Wholly Salsa, mashed potatoes and broccoli. It took about 10 minutes to prepare everything and about an hour to cook. My husband even complimented me on the presentation on this one. Again, Good Dinner. Happy Family.

While I could go through a list of all the great things I made, I think it’s obvious that Wholly Guacamole and Salsa line is a lot more than just dip. Don’t believe me, then take your own challenge. Go to their Facebook or webpage for a good coupon you can use today and get cooking.

While there’s another reason why they call it “Wholly,” after this challenge I know why I call it “Holy Wholly Guacamole.” And hopefully your family will too. 

Disclaimer: I was a special guest of Wholly Guacamole and received products to sample these recipes. However, the comments here are all my own. 

Make Mealtime Madness a Thing of the Past: The Mom 100 Cookbook

Type in the words “Menu planner template” in Google and see how many different versions are out there for moms to try to tackle that daily question, “What’s for dinner?” Even with the hundreds of cookbooks (yes, that is the truth) that I own, the biggest challenges in our household every night is how to make a dinner that’s creative, cost-effective, quick, healthy and tasty. It’s not that I don’t have recipes, it’s just that everything else gets in the way of me trying to tap into my inner June Cleaver. After a long day, it’s hard to deliver the goods and then get to all the other things that need to get done. But I can’t even eat the same 7 meals a week. But let’s be honest, the kids probably don’t care if dinner was showcased in this month’s Food and Wine Magazine.

What’s a mom to do? 

THE MOM 100 COOKBOOK: 100 Recipes Every Mom Needs in Her Back Pocket by Cookstr.com founding editor-in-chief and mother of 2, Katie Workman, promises that no meal will be boring ever again! She delivers solutions to the 20 most common cooking dilemmas that every modern mom faces, providing recipes and tips for parents who are so baffled by their kids’ food preferences that mealtime has become a minefield. Because Katie knows what it’s like to be a mom in the kitchen, her recipes also include special Fork in the Road suggestions (which lets you make one basic dish while still catering to different tastes,) as well as Make Ahead sidebars (recipes you can prepare in advance and store in the fridge or freezer for a quick, tasty, and healthy meal during the hectic week) and What the Kids Can Do sidebars (so instead of them getting in your way, you can include the kids in cooking dinner!)

THE MOM 100 COOKBOOK presents 5 solutions to each of the 20 most common kitchen dilemmas, including: The Overnight Vegetarian Convert; Salad-Rejectors; Breakfast on a Harried School Morning; The Fish-o-Phobe; Snacks That Don’t Come in a Crinkly Bag. 

Each of the 100 recipes is complemented by mouthwatering color photographs taken by Todd Coleman, executive food editor of Saveur magazine. The result is an attractive, easy to understand, indispensible resource that every mom will be grateful for every day of the week. Just one glance at this beautiful book, and I’m sure you will agree with Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis, and Ina Garten – who are among her biggest fans!

Recipes highlights include:

• A mouth-watering Brisket that will please husband and kids alike (and also provides leftovers for sandwiches and a soup – recipes included.)
• Roast Chicken Pieces with 5 options for rubs (because, really, who has time to roast a whole chicken after work?!) 
• Healthy, but tasty & fun snacks like Chickpea Poppers.   
• Simple and quick additions to regular dinner sides, like goat cheese or Dijon mustard in Mashed Potatoes.
• And an award-winning (from everyone who has tried it) One-Skillet Cheesy Beefy Casserole! A delicious meal with only 1 pan to clean!

So the real question remains. Is it really any good? These familiar foodies think so: 

     “One of the best cookbook authors of her generation, Katie Workman is the perfect person to help moms everywhere get delicious meals to the table. I’m waiting for my invitation to her ‘taco night.’” — BOBBY FLAY

     “These are the 100 recipes everyone needs! They’re the classics your family wants with the volume turned up.” — INA GARTEN

     “The recipes in Katie Workman’s smart, sassy new cookbook will have even picky eaters asking for seconds!” — GIADA DE LAURENTIS

And to get a quick taste as to what the book offers, here’s a link to 10 quick tips in the kitchen: http://youtu.be/n0jXx_vK40U

Ready to get your copy of your new solution to mealtime madness? You can get it now on Amazon.com or  get your own signed copy from Katie Workman on May 24 from 4:30 – 5:30 pm. Then stay for cooking class at 6:30 pm at the Central Market in Plano as part the store’s 10th anniversary celebration. 

Hope that this one ends up in your back pocket (or at least as part of your quick reference shelf.)

DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of The Mom 100 Cookbook for consideration of a review. However, all the comments listed here are my own. 

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/05/06/3934736/may-is-national-smile-month-let.html#storylink=cpy

Get a picture-perfect smile!

There's a month designated for everything nowadays, but this month was new one for me... May is National Smile Month! And considering I'm always working to make my coffee and wine tinted teeth look like they belong on the front page of a celebrity magazine at home WITHOUT SPENDING MUCH MONEY. So when I got a few tips from a dentist to make my teeth look great without a treatment or service, I was excited to share these with you. But after I did a little more research on this dentist office, I found out this was no normal dentist and it's possible to get those pearly whites - looking a lot more white at home with a home kit!

First, because I can't keep a secret, I had to share the juicy stuff. After a little Googling I discovered this dentist was in CHICAGO...so immediately, I started to delete her info since I wouldn't be traveling out of state just to do a crown. However, it was the words "SPA" in Mitchell Dental Spa that really peaked my interest. While you get your dentistry, you can get a facial, massage or botox while you are laying horizontal in the chair waiting for your cavity to get filled. BRILLIANT! So the question remains, when are these guys coming to DFW? 

Second, the free way to get your teeth picture-perfect for National Smile Month, check out these great tips: 

A great smile can go a long way when it comes to making a first impression. White, bright teeth and a wide smile convey an air of confidence that is important in any situation, from a job interview to a first date. Teeth whitening procedures are certainly effective, but small daily steps can also be helpful and less expensive.  

1.) WEAR LIPSTICKS THAT CONTAIN A HINT OF BLUE—Blue tones around the mouth can make teeth appear whiter, so when shopping for new makeup, consider red lipstick with blue undertones.  These will make your smile appear brighter by offsetting any yellow coloration in the teeth.  Coral and orange based lipsticks can make the teeth appear more yellow, so avoid these if you are self-conscious about your pearly whites.

2.) SNACK ON CRUNCHY FRUITS AND VEGGIES –Mildly abrasive fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots or celery not only provide the body with essential nutrients, but also act as a natural toothbrush by gently scrubbing off small bits of plaque that have gathered on the teeth and gums.

3.) SWISH WITH WATER AFTER DRINKING TEA OR COFFEE—Coffee, tea and other dark liquids can stain the teeth and leave them looking dingy. To prevent discoloration, simply swish water around in your mouth immediately after consuming a staining liquid.

4.) CHEW SUGARLESS GUM CONTAINING XYLITOL—Xylitol, a naturally occurring sugar substitute, has been added to many sugar-free gums as a sweetening agent, but it also has healthful properties. Chewing a gum containing xylitol, such as Trident, has been shown to reduce the levels of harmful oral bacteria, reducing the likelihood of developing cavities.

5.) BRUSH TEETH BEFORE GOING FOR A RUN—Running dries out the mouth and any plaque that already exists on the gumline will tend to dry out and calcify, resulting in discoloration and even gum disease. A quick brush before leaving for a run can help solve this problem.

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: 

While I have tried some reasonably good teeth whitening systems at home, it always seems after I wear the trays or gel on my teeth for an hour, the next morning when I turn on my friend Keurig that it seems like I just wasted the treatment from the night before. So when the IntelliWHITE Pro Whitening Kit system appeared on my doorstep, I figured it would end up in the drawer with the other products. But in addition to the bumpers that keep you from getting the ointment on your tongue this kit gives you an eraser pen to use after your coffee, wine and any other foods that stain your teeth. And best of all, the actual IntelliWHITE Pro Whitening Kit (retailing online for $70 for two packages - buy one, get one free) seems to work well and I give it a pretty good challenge!

 No matter what, remember the best way to celebrate Smile Month is to SMILE! Besides, it increases your face value.

Looking for a better way for a picture-perfect celebrity smile? May is SMILE MONTH so make sure you give those teeth a little extra love!

DISCLAIMER: I received IntelliWHITE Pro Whitening Kit for consideration of a review. However, all the comments listed here are my own. 

Pin It To Get The Perfect Mom's Day Gift

Every Mother’s Day everyone scrambles to get the right Mother’s Day gift. Although I have received a good one or two myself (my husband surprised me the year right before my was born with a pair of diamond earrings in my Sunday paper), for the most part it’s like Forrest Gump said, “you never know what you’re gonna get: (and in some cases, not get.) 

So rather than scour the planet to try to figure out what you think mom wants for Mother’s Day, I’m going to tell you exactly what to do to get it right this Mother’s Day... 

Go to Pinterest. You’ll find the motherload (yes, that was the perfect pun!) 

Yep, this social media site (whose users are 70 percent women in the U.S. according to Mashable) is going to give you a full listing of everything you can think of to get for mom and probably at every price point. Don’t know if your mom is on Pinterest or know she doesn’t have an account? Don’t worry: just get one for yourself and type in “Mother’s Day” to get tons of ideas that you can make or buy just to make your mom feel special this Mother’s Day. 

First thing you should know is Mother’s Day isn’t really about what you get her. Yep, while jewelry, purses and all that is nice, you can get away with a lot cheaper items and get big brownie points. A meal, a craft or a keepsake may make take you a little time, but remember, the gift is about letting her know how much you appreciate her. However, if your mama has been screaming for a new Louis Vuitton (like I have) and you’ve got the cash to splurge, don’t worry, you’ll still get your bonus points and a lot more too if you get if for her (honey, this special note was just for you.) 

Here’s just a few pins I’ve come across that might make good Mother’s Day gifts for mom, grandma, etc. And if you’re like me and you get to purchase your own gift and then let everyone know what they got you, there’s even a few ideas just for Mother’s Day for you to give to your kiddos one day to show them how this whole Mother’s Day thing is supposed to work. 

        

      

    

So to all your mamas out there, I hope this post helps to create your perfect Mother’s Day! 

Go Green Without (Really) Doing Anything

To recognize Earth Day, April 22, I felt I needed to do something environmentally impactful like start a compost pile or quit using disposable diapers. Unfortunately, my time and patience kept me from being the good example I intended to be. Instead I decided it was possible to still be a good patron of Mother Earth by just making a few changes with my family’s everyday that make tomorrow even better.


Turn in your toothbrush for the World Centric Compostable Toothbrush & Compostable Travel Case

With four people and several toothbrushes a year (and several multiples for us in different bathrooms), we are looking at around 20 toothbrushes just for our family. According to research reports, approximately 450 million toothbrushes are landfilled every year in the Unites States. 


Using a compostable toothbrush shows that you care about the environment and about properly disposing of waste. This BPI certified compostable toothbrush and compostable travel case are made from Ingeo™ (derived from plants), instead of petroleum based plastics. Bristles are not compostable. You can break off the head to compost the handle and travel case within 6 months in a commercial composting facility. You can also send them your old toothbrush and travel case for composting.

Cash in your carpet cleaner for CLEAN+GREEN Auto Odor Eliminator, Cleaner and Stain Remover

Source: mamachallenge.com via Autumn on Pinterest

We love our dog, Birddie. She’s a great dog and thankfully, she’s potty-trained, but sometimes there are accidents that must be cleaned in the house and sometimes in the car. When I take her to the vet or the groomer, she leaves a special scent that I’d rather bottle up and never open again. But to find something that can clean the problem and not run us out of the room/car with the fumes is an issue. Clean+Green line of cleaners provides a nice alternative to clean up the mess, the smell and not wonder if my pet or my kiddos are going to get sick if they inhale any poisonous fumes.

Used by pet and cleaning professionals, this professional strength product uses exclusive patented encapsulation technology and advanced eliminator formula. It’s made of natural ingredients like purified water, cane sugar derivatives, a proprietary blend of botanical extracts and hydrated cellulose (plant-derived cleaning agents), and a natural propellant – nitrogen. It’s environmentally non-toxic, non-flammable, non-corrosive, non-carcinogenic, biodegradable and natural propellant.


And good for me, it’s quick and easy; working on contact - no need to soak, scrub or rinse.

Trade in your Zip Lock for the Sandwich Sack SnackTaxi

Every day I pack a lunch for my three-year old so I try to make it easy for him and his teachers for cleanup. Unfortunately just like me, every day millions of plastic sandwich bags end up in U.S. landfills. So when I had to consider this Velcro sack. This stylish, reusable bag combines the convenience of a plastic bag with the durability of a food container and comes in several designs. Each one keeps up to 1,000 plastic bags out of landfills and is perfectly sized to carry your favorite sandwich. A Velcro® closure keeps contents securely inside, and they are flexible enough to fit into a wide range of backpacks, totes and diaper bags.

And did I mention you can put it in the washer – not the dishwasher, but the washing machine? (So one less thing for you to clean!)

Throw in the towel for Marcal Small Steps Napkins

Source: mamachallenge.com via Autumn on Pinterest

With two kids and a dog, we use a lot of napkins. Actually, did you know the average person uses six paper napkins daily.  So when I came across Marcal’s Small Steps® 100% recycled “green” napkins, it was exactly what I needed. And best of all, it wasn’t much more than are normal budget napkin. Another great features it that there is a drawstring to close the bag, so unlike my normal brand, I have napkins loose and getting wrinkled in the cabinet. Marcal’s Small Step Napkins are 100% recycled, hypoallergenic, free of dyes and fragrances and is manufactured without chlorine bleaching.

See? It is possible to make a little impact even if it’s just one toothbrush, napkin, sandwich bag or cleaner at a time. Little changes can make a big difference.

Happy Earth Day!

Disclaimer: I was provided the toothbrush, Auto Pet Odor Eliminator, and sandwich sack for consideration of this review. However, the opinions presented are all my own.