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Losing The Blogging Weight with Mangodrin

By on May 7, 2013 in Busy Mom Living The Dream, Sponsored, Survival Guide for Busy Moms

You’ve probably heard of women trying to lose the “baby weight”, and may have fought the battle yourself to shed extra pounds that stick around way too long after the birth of your youngest child.

Not me.

Losing the baby weight was easier for me than losing the blogging weight.  After giving birth to three babies in two years, the only time I ever sat still was to nurse or rock them to sleep.  I was regimented in my nighttime routine of bathing and getting the babies off to sleep by 7:00PM  before collapsing into bed myself by 9.  So even if I woke up for feedings at midnight, I still had a good three hours of sleep under my eyes.

When my baby girl turned four I began blogging, and that’s when the weight came on. Routine bedtime became a thing of the past for me while I stayed up writing until 2 in the morning with potato chips beckoning me from the pantry.

My constant state of motion turned sedentary and food companies began sending me samples of the latest products to review for my blog.

Although I may not be considered “obese”, at 127 pounds I’m well over my target weight of 115.  Fortunately, the ladies of RECESS are giving me a jump start on my plan to get lean for bikini season with their #MangoChallenge 30-Day Challenge to “lose the blogging weight”.  At a recent Blogger Event at our local GNC Store, I discovered that I’m not the only blogger with this problem.

African Mango

RECESS Blogger Event for Mangodrin at GNC

I heard about the African Mango first on the Dr. Oz Show and thought about trying it out.  Mangrodrin is an all-natural patented formula made by a local nutraceutical company truDERMA and promises that I’ll lose “up to 28 pounds in 10 weeks”.

I’m in.

Follow me during the month as I work towards 115 pounds with Mangodrin’s #MangoChallenge.  I’m one of about twelve bloggers participating in the weight loss challenge, so if you want to check in on their progress or read about their individual struggles, head over to RECESS.

Join The #MangoChallenge

I love it when businesses want to share discounts and coupons with my readers.  During my #MangoChallenge I’m passing on a special discount for 30% off your entire order of Mangodrin.  This is a great opportunity if you would like to join me and share your results along the way.  This promotion is for online sales only by using THANKYOU in the coupon code section during checkout.

African Mango Mangodrin

use coupon code THANKYOU during checkout for 30% off your entire purchase

 

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Organic Coconut Chocolate with Pyure Organic Stevia Sweetener

By on October 18, 2012 in Dessert Recipes, Recipes, Sponsored

I’ll never buy chocolate again.  This recipe for Organic Coconut Chocolate made with Pyure Organic Stevia Sweetener takes minutes to prepare and can cure the biggest of chocolate cravings without the guilt.

Pyure Organic Stevia

Pyure Organic Stevia

Organic Coconut Chocolate Recipe

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Organic Coconut Chocolate with Pyure Organic Stevia

Organic Coconut Chocolate with Pyure Organic Stevia

Ingredients

  • organic virgin coconut oil- 1/2 cup
  • organic unsweetened cocoa powder- 1/2 cup
  • Pyure Organic Stevia Sweetener- 6 tablespoons
  • organic vanilla extract- 1 teaspoon

Instructions

  1. Mix together coconut oil and cocoa powder until smooth.
  2. Add Pyure Organic Stevia and vanilla then stir until smooth.
  3. Pour into individual molds or shallow tray.
  4. Transfer to refrigerator to hardened.
http://tonispilsbury.com/organic-coconut-chocolate-recipe/

 

All Natural and Healthy

Over the past three years, I’ve consciously worked to lower sugar in my diet.  Aside from the history of diabetes in my family, I’ve come to understand the overall negative side effects of a diet rich in sugar.Virgin Coconut Oil

Pyure Organic Stevia Sweetener is an all-natural sweetener derived from a plant.  Instead of a sweetener substitute, stevia can actually be termed a supplement with many reported health benefits including lower blood pressure and blood sugar.

Stevia is gluten-free and calorie-free making it a preferred sweetener for many dieters or people managing diabetes.

Coconut oil is another healthy diet supplement with reported health benefits including increased metabolism for weight loss, lowering of cholesterol and immune system support.

With my Organic Coconut Chocolate Recipe using Pyure Organic Stevia, next time I’m craving chocolate, I’ll be guilt-free knowing that this chocolate is actually healthy for me.

 

Organic Coconut Chocolate Recipe Photo Tutorial

Organic Coconut chocolate recipe

How To Make Organic Coconut Chocolate

 

Virgin Coconut Oil

Virgin Coconut Oil

 

How To make coconut chocolate

Mix coconut oil and cocoa powder together until smooth

 

coconut chocolate recipe

Mix until smooth

 

stevia

Add Pyure Organic Stevia Sweetener

 

Mix Pyure Organic Stevia Sweetener into mixture until smooth

 

Vanilla

 

Pour into shallow tray or individual molds.

 

Refrigerate until hard.

 

Organic Coconut chocolate recipe

The Health Food Chocolate

 

 

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Dippable Appetizer with Kraft Anything Dressing

By on October 7, 2012 in Sponsored

Home Entertaining

I’ll admit that I do a lot of entertaining in my home.  Whether it’s a “Mom’s Night Out” party or family gathering, I love to share food and time with the people I care about the most.

The fact is, I’m not a “chips and dip” kind of gal.  I can’t set out a bag of potato chips and then call it a party.

At the same time, I’m a busy on-the-go mom with a lot on my plate (pun intended).  Therefore, I’m always looking for delicious and classy appetizers that are easy to prepare in very little time.

Reuben Appetizer

Reuben Dips with Kraft Thousand Island Anything Dressing

Easy and Delicious Appetizers

While shopping for an upcoming get-together, Walmart was hosting demonstrations for Kraft Anything Dressing to use in dippable appetizers.  Prior to the demonstration, I had never really thought of Kraft Dressing for anything but salads.

But the demonstration got me to thinking; and I quickly came up with the idea for my Reuben Dips.  I grabbed a bottle of Kraft Thousand Island Anything Dressing then headed off to the deli for some shaved pastrami and Swiss cheese.  After swinging by the bakery section for some mini bread sticks, I was set for a visually inspiring and delicious snack for my friends… not to mention, easy.

Kraft Anything Dressing

Shopping at Walmart for party food and supplies

 

Kraft Anything Dressing in Thousand Island

For more photos from my shopping trip to Walmart, check out my Google+ photo album here.

 

The Recipe

If you’re hosting a party or family gathering, here’s my recipe for Reuben Dips that is sure to not disappoint.

Reuben Dips using Kraft Anything Dressing in Thousand Island

 

Reuben Dips Recipe:

Ingredients:

  1. Kraft Pourable Anything Dressing- Thousand Island
  2. Shaved Deli Pastrami- 1/2 pound
  3. Swiss Cheese- 1/2 pound
  4. Mini Bread Sticks (the perfect ones are found in the salad dressing isle close by Kraft Dressings)
  5. Spring Salad Mix (optional)

Ingredients

Directions:

  1. Slice cheese into strips
  2. Wrap a cheese slice around the tip of the bread stick
  3. Wrap a slice of pastrami over the cheese; the pastrami is moist enough to stick
  4. Spread salad mix over plate
  5. Place each wrapped bread stick on top of the salad
  6. Pour dressing into dipping bowl
  7. Serve

Kraft Anything Dressing in Thousand Island

 

Dip!

 

To find out if there is a demonstration at Walmart in your are for Kraft Anything Dressing, visit In Store Now.  And, to find more recipe ideas, follow Kraft on Twitter at @KraftDressing or on Facebook.

 

I am a member of the Collective Bias Social Fabric Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and Kraft #cbias #socialfabric.

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Champions For Kids Donation Drive

By on September 29, 2012 in Sponsored

Making Any Event An Opportunity To Give

I enjoy getting the ladies together in my home from time to time to unwind, mingle and have silly girl fun.  Sometimes I make the party into a play date for the kids at the same time.  But whatever the occasion, I never miss the opportunity to turn any event into a simple fundraiser for my community.

Moms Night Out Party

Moms Night Out Party

 

As the Co-Founder of Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation, I know all too well that half of the challenge for any fundraiser is getting people to the event.  So if people will be in my home anyhow for a party, it’s so easy to hold a donation drive at the same time.

Last December I had many local female bloggers here in my home to sample holiday food and wine.  After putting together the party details- food, wine, games, invitations, etc., I simply sent out an email to the attendees letting them know that I would be collecting food for my local food bank if anyone wanted to bring a donation.  As a prize for the person who brought the most food to donate, I gave away a beautiful apron.

Blogger Party

Blogger Party

 

I think that by turning the simplest of events into a small donation drive, I’m making it easier for friends to be philanthropic.  While someone may not think its worth it to drive a small bag of food to their local food bank, they may bring one to a party they were planning to attend anyhow knowing that their small donation will be combined into a much larger donation.  And what’s even better is they don’t have to drive it to the food bank themselves, I’m taking time out of my schedule to do so.

Champions For Kids

This past weekend, I held an intimate afternoon party in my home to talk about a business opportunity for bloggers.  The ladies and I enjoyed some food, drinks and girl talk while the kids had fun collecting and sorting donated items for our Champions For Kids donation drive.

Champion for Kids

My girls sort donated items for our Champion for Kids donation drive

 

Champions for Kids is a national non-profit working to improve the lives of children across the country.  As part of this campaign with Dial Soap, Champion for Kids is encouraging people- like me- to make a difference by holding donation drives for hygiene products to donate to local schools or children’s shelters in need.

Because I was already having this party in my home, I figured this was the perfect opportunity to hold Simple Service Project for Champion for Kids at the same time.  I emailed guests before the party to let each one know that I would be collecting items to donate to our local charity, Safe Nest.

 

Planning The Party

Just like any party, I started with invitations letting my friends know about the party.  I let everyone know on the invitation that I was collecting hygiene products for my own Champion for Kids donation drive, and that I had a special prize to give away to whomever brought the most donations.

Planning the food was simple, with some cupcakes, cheese tray and other goodies from my shopping trip to Walmart.  I was able to purchase my own Dial Soaps and other hygiene items for my donation to the drive and the party food and drinks at the same time.  Check out more photos from my shopping trip in my Google+ photo album here:

Google+ photo album

 

It could be me, but I feel like everyone enjoyed the party more knowing that we were doing something for the children in our community at the same time.

 

I encourage anyone who is having a party in their home to Dial Into Giving with Champion for Kids by turning any small event into an opportunity to hold a small donation drive for the local community.

For more information about Champions For Kids, visit championsforkids.org, Twitter or Facebook.

 

I am a member of the Collective Bias Social Fabric Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and Dial Soaps #DialCFK #CBias #SocialFabric but the views and opinions expressed here are very much my own.

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