Finding Ways to Live a Healthier Lifestyle #HealthyChoices

The day you realize you need to make healthier choices for your family can be a liberating one. After doing a funny post on the giant tub of cheese balls my husband bought our son while I was at work I had a mini melt down after realizing, really thats what we are eating. That night I threw out over $50 of junk food that was in the house. Then cried that that money was hard earned. Its crazy feeling to realize that we eat junk just because we are so busy. Its no longer my excuse that we can't be healthier just because we are busy.

My Mom has told me about Healthy Choice Top Chef Meals and Healthy Choice Greek Frozen Yogurt since she has made many lifestyle changes to live a happier healthy life. She knows I can be a picky eater and how busy I am so I would enjoy them. When she mentioned there was also a $1 off coupon that I could print and take with me, I was sold! I am a money saving Mom and I do enjoy trying new foods.

I ran to Kinkos to print my coupons (my ink was out but for $1 off each on the 8 items I planned to buy it was worth the extra trip). Then I headed to Walmart to shop for the Healthy Choice food and pick up a few other items I need. There is a coupon you can print for your shopping trip on my blog side bar.

The Healthy Choice Top Chef Crustless Pot Pie taste wonderful!

One of the first items I noticed in the Healthy Choice Top Chef line was the one that said Winner on it. Its a Crustless Chicken Pot Pie. I have loved pot pie since I was a little kid and really wanted to try this one. I saw several other entrees I wanted to try included Italian inspired food. I am often finding myself popping in the microwave a fattening and quick bite to eat on the way to work or fast food while at work. These choices are not making me happy. I want to eat food that taste great and is a healthier choice for my busy life.

One of the biggest struggles for me and making healthier choices is dessert. I find myself buying ice cream, cake and other items that should not be eaten everyday. When I come home from work on a night shift I want to enjoy a sweet treat while I relax and watch a movie. Having an option that actually taste good is what I need. I searched for the Healthy Choice Dark Fudge Swirl flavor in the Greek Frozen Yogurt but it was out of stock in two stores. This tells me it must be good if people are buying it. I bought 4 other flavors of the Greek Frozen Yogurt since I had my coupons.

Living a healthy life not only includes eating affordable healthy meals but it also means have a happy positive attitude. I have my own personal slogan that I tell myself all the time, "P for Positive". Anytime I feel flustered or something arises that can be seen as negative I look for any part of it that can be seen as positive. I have this little Bee card hanging in my office and on my phone. I look at it as a reminder that a mind set can be the center of a healthy life.

Other ways I make lifestyle choices to be healthy and positive is gardening. Being outside and growing food we can eat is very rewarding. It is not an instant thing but one that takes time and care. My son loves to help water the plants and pick the produce when its ready. This year we moved from a big house with a yard and garden beds to a condo with a tiny patio. We did not let this bring us down but we looked at it as an opportunity to learn about container gardening and concentrate on a few plants rather than many.

Since I am so busy working all the time I am not the type of person who will go to the gym on my days off. I feel like those days I need to spend with my son having fun. If I do some stretching and light strength training at home my son can be there on his mat mimicking me and having fun. He does the cutest little sit ups! I am not on a path of lose a bunch of weight really fast but a path to make healthier choices to live a healthier lifestyle.

My son of course had to try what he assumed was ice cream. He loved the raspberry and strawberry flavors of the Greek Frozen Yogurt. In my free time I like to stay active with my son by doing outdoor activities. We live in CA and there is plenty of sunny days to spend outside. I bought a frisbee and a kite to take to the park on my next day off to run around and have fun with. When my family is included in my healthy choices it makes me happier, and a happy Mom is always a good thing!

I now have better choices of food in my freezer and cupboards. I do not feel overwhelmed with junk and needing to throw everything away. Sometimes just tossing the unhealthy stuff and realizing you made the choice to bring the junk food in will help you realize to bring better choices in next time. Living a healthy life is all about the choices big and small we make each day. #HealthyChoices

You can read my Google+ story about my trip to Walmart to buy items that help me make healthy choices.

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 ConAgra Foods #cbias #SocialFabric
All opinions expressed in this post are my own.

My Personal Dance Party to Celebrate Justin Timberlake The 20/20 Experience CD

There are two "Justin's" that come to my mind when someone mentions music by Justin. Most people will say  Bieber but for me its Justin Timberlake. JT is the "Justin" of my generation. I have many fun memories of his music playing during happy times. For me the "Rock Your Body" song is epic because I was 21 when it was being played all the time. I can recall many awesome times going out dancing with friends and the song would come on and the whole place would go crazy! Anytime I hear it on the radio I have to dance! 

When I heard the Justin Timberlake was releasing a new album I squealed! I have seen all the movies he has made and love his music. Dont even ask me about "Cry Me a River" I will sing it like a crazy lady and even act it out for you. I was so excited after the many years of him not making an album to see what he music would be like after he has matured a little. 

Excited to be getting my CD for only $7! 

I headed to Walmart to pick up the CD before work so I would have it the day it came out. I had to listen to it that day! I have purposely not listened to it online or read any reviews so I would have a fresh mind to hearing it for the first time. When I got to Walmart I saw that the new Justin Timberlake The 20/20 Experience CD was on sale for $7. For the first week of the CD launch March 19 - March 24 the JT album will be on sale for $7. I was so thrilled with the price of the album I bought two of them so I could give one to a friend. 

Since I am now a Mom I do not go out to clubs dancing. I decided I would have my own little personal at home club night with a mocktail drink to celebrate the album. I purchased 7up soda to make the base of my mocktail since the CD is only $7 for the first week. I went online to find a recipe for a mocktail on the 7up website. 

Mock Pink Champagne Recipe:

1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup orange juice
2 cups cranberry juice
1 cup pineapple juice
4 cups 7UP®

Combine the ingredients served chilled and enjoy while listening to your Justin Timberlake 20/20 Experience CD

After my drink was made I was ready to sit back and enjoy the music. I listened to the album once through while enjoying my mocktail to see which ones I liked the most. The second time there was dancing, LOTS of dancing! I had the music up a little too loud since my son did wake up and wanted to dance too! My son loves to dance more than me and its possible he might be better at it than me. 

Had to rock the glasses to have my 20/20 vision! 

My favorite songs are Suit & Tie and Mirrors. Suit and Tie is like the grown up Rock Your Body. Its like he is still that hot guy that dances but hes sophisticated, I LOVE IT! Mirrors is a great song, good lyrics and one that I can see myself singing to all the time. Don't Hold The Wall was a nice mix of beats I liked the flow of it. That Girl is a sweet love song, a rhythm and blues feel to it. I liked the Pusher Love Girl too, love can feel very addicting! There are a few song that I listen to but were not my favorites but all albums have those songs, after all its JT so I still love listening. 

Look for the JT The 20/20 Experience in Walmart stores from now until March 24th to get the CD for only $7.

If your a Justin Timberlake fan you more than likely know about his Facebook fan page and Twitter but if your not definitely check it out. If you have not heard his older music you will still enjoy his new album. Might be a good time to give the "Justin" of my generation a try!

You can read my Google+ story about my shopping trip to Walmart for the new #JT2020 CD. 

*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 #JT2020  #cbias #SocialFabric All opinions in this post are my own.

Kidorable Backpack Review and Giveaway

Spring is right around the corner and that means getting out more and more with your little ones. If you are looking for a toddler sized backpack for the beach, the park, a picnic, school or an outing for the day Kidorable has some great ones. Here are a few examples of some cute ones, these could also make a great Easter gift!

Butterfly Backpack

Pirate Backpack

Ashley examining her new Ballerina Backpack!

My daughter, the baby of the family, is at the age where a diaper bag is not always needed on a short day trip. I like something compact and personal for each of my children to carry so they know which bag is theirs to hold things like snacks, toys, water bottles and whatever else they may need to keep them happy.


We just love our Kidorable Backpack and feel so lucky we get to take it on our next adventure! And luck you...Now through March 23rd, you can purchase your little one a backpack for 20% off by using code BACKPACK88 at checkout on www.kidorable.com

GIVEAWAY
Win a Kidorable Backpack for your little one

Enter in the Rafflecopter form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway 



 *Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts March 19 2013 and ends on April 3, 2013 at 12:01 am EST. Winner will be emailed and has 72 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize. I was sent a product to review for this post.

Monday Morning Coupons

Cleaning, Polishing... Stain Removal

• $10.00 off (1) BREEZE Litter System
• $1.00 off on one (1) lb of Butterball Deli Meats
• $1.00 off purchase of any Jif Hazelnut Spread
• $0.75 off any TWO Windex Glass cleaning products
• $0.75 off any TWO Windex Multi-Surface products
• $1.50 off any TWO Windex Electronics cleaners
• $0.75 off 1 Scrubbing Bubbles Fresh Brush product
• $0.55 off any Scrubbing Bubbles Vanish Drop-ins
• $0.75 off 1 Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel
• $0.50 off Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner
• $0.50 off 1 Scrubbing Bubbles All Purpose Cleaner
• $0.75 off 1 Scrubbing Bubbles Auto Cleaner Refill
• $1.00 off TWO Scrubbing Bubbles bathroom cleaners
• $1.50 off any TWO Pledge Furniture Care products
• $1.00 off any Pledge or Armstrong Floor Cleaner
• $0.50 off any Pledge Multi Surface product
• $0.75 off any TWO Shout Color Catcher
• $0.75 off any TWO Shout Laundry products

Food

• $1.00 off Jennie-O Turkey Bacon 12 oz
• $0.55 off HORMEL™ COUNTRY CROCK Side dish
• $2.00 off HORMEL CURE 81 Boneless Ham
• $1.00 off JENNIE-O Turkey Breakfast Sausage Roll
• $0.55 off ONE Pepperidge Farm Ecce Panis breads
• $1.00 off (1) package of Campbell's Go Soup
• $3.00 off any 2 Yes To Grapefruit Items
• $0.50 off 1 LAND O LAKES Half Stick Butter
• $0.55 off any ONE (1) package of Armour Pepperoni

Misc

• $2.00 off any Citracal product
• $4.00 off Zegerid OTC 42 ct only

Top O' the Mornin' to ya!

We love any excuse to celebrate around here and St Patrick's Day is a great excuse! In celebration of the big day boys and I decorated these Leprechaun masks I got for only 50 cents a piece at a craft store.

I just grabbed a few things like markers, bingo dobbers, glue, some clover shaped confetti and let them do their thing!

I assisted Liam a bit on the clover shaped confetti and the glue, he was getting impatient.

My little Leprechauns!! Liam refused to put his mask on his face for a picture, what a stinker!

Happy St. Patty's Day Everyone! 

Hope you eat lots of green food and drink lots of green drinks (we add green food coloring to everything today) and enjoy yourself today!

Oh and don't forget to wear GREEN!!!!

Frugal Friday Coupons!

Cleaning (& Mats)

• $2.00 off Armstrong Concentrated Floor Cleaner
• $0.60 off ONE KLEENEX Hand Towels
• $0.50 off one Woolite Carpet & Upholstery Cleaner
• $2.00 off Any ONE package of GOODNITES Bed Mats

Toys: Play-doh, dolls, fugures...

• $1.00 off any one MY LITTLE PONY Figure
• $5.00 off LITTLE PONY WALKIN TALKIN PINKIE PIE Toy
• $2.00 off BABY ALIVE KICKS & CUDDLES NEWBORNS Doll
• $5.00 off one NERF N-STRIKE ELITE ROUGHCUT Blaster
• $5.00 off one SESAME STREET LOL ELMO Toy
• $2.00 off MR. POTATO HEAD toy
• $2.00 off 1 PLAY-DOH Playsets
• $1.00 off PLAY-DOH Case of Colors 10-Pack
• $2.00 off PLAYSKOOL HEROES™ Toys

Games

• $5.00 off Draw Something or Words with Friends
• $3.00 off CANDY LAND or CHUTES AND LADDERS game
• $3.00 off one OPERATION Game or BATTLESHIP Game

Food & Drink...

• $2.00 off 1 CARNATION Breakfast Essentials product
• $1.00 off any Folgers Gourmet Selections Coffee
• FREE Uncle Ben's Rice Cup with 3 Ready Rice
• $0.75 off French's Dijon or Honey Dijon Mustard
• $1.00 off ANY TWO Danimals Squeezables Multipacks
• $1.00 off ANY TWO Danimals Crunchers™ Multipacks
• $0.75 off $5.00 in Weight Watchers products

DVDs & Blu-rays

• $5.00 off Won't Back Down on DVD or Blu-ray
• $5.00 off Ice Age:Continental Drift DVD or Blu-ray
• $5.00 off Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days on dvd
• $2.00 off Rio on Blu-ray™ + DVD + Digital Copy
• $2.00 off The Sandlot 20th Anniversary Blu-ray
• $2.00 off Diary of a Wimpy Kid Rodrick Rules

Personal Care

• $2.00 off L'Oreal Healthy Look Creme Hair Color
• $1.00 off any one EcoTools product

Friday's business is just not happening today

{Liam sitting in my lap this morning smashing goldfish crackers while I attempt to work on the computer}

We are all a bit under the weather and that means whiny kids, snotty noses and lots of wanting to sit on mom's lap. 

Any and all attempts at getting anything done today is out the window...so is the life of a mom...

Have a Happy Weekend Everyone!!

~ Sam

Wordless Wednesday

I am lucky enough to be their Mother.

~ Sam

DIY Owl Snack Jar

I love to put snacks and treats in fun and interesting jars for myself and my kids.

 So I took an empty Owl lotion container, a jar and spray paint and here are the results.

I love how bright and cheerful it turned out and how it looks on my counter top!

Who wants ordinary when you can easily create something like this!

Puppet Monsters Review and Giveaway

My son has seen the commercial  for these puppets many times on tv. He always makes me watch the whole commercial then tells me how cool they are and how monsters say "Raaaaaaaw".  The puppet is a hat that kids wear and put their fingers into the hand holes. Super easy to use and can be fun imaginary play. I let my son select the one he wanted, which was the red one. I like the yellow one too since it looks like a bird.

The puppets come with a base puppet and you can buy accessory kits to make different faces on your puppet. The hands, eyes, mouth and hat/horns are easy on and off like using a button on a coat. When you order your Puppet Monster online you get a free accessory kit with your order.

We had fun playing with the Puppet Monster. We took turns wearing the hat and giving puppet shows. The best was when he surprised his Dad with it and yelled Rooooaaaarrr like a monster. Then he took off the hat and told his Dad, its ok it me not a real monster. Hes so funny. He even likes to wear it as a regular hat when we go out. We do get looks and giggles though.

You can take advantage of a special offer for our readers for your order with promo code PUPPET at check out for an extra $5 off.

GIVEAWAY You can enter for a chance to win your own Puppet Monster for your child. 


a Rafflecopter giveaway








 *Limited to US residents 18 years old and above. Giveaway starts March 9, 2 2013 and ends on March 24,  2013 at 12:01 am EST. Winner will be emailed and has 72 hours to respond before another winner is selected. I was not paid for this giveaway or post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others. The sponsor is responsible for providing the prize. I was sent a product to review for this post.

Cowboy Dinner with Silver Spur Smoked Whole Chicken #MealsTogether

My family loves to eat chicken. We have it at least every other night. There are so many ways to cook it and many options to serve with it. Since I have started working I do not have as much time to cook whole chickens like I have in the past. There is a great flavor that comes with whole chicken that you can't get in breast or legs. I have been looking for a product that is easy to make and with great flavor for chicken. When I heard about Silver Spur Smoked Whole Chicken at Sam's Club I knew I had to try it.

Dinnertime can be more than just a time to eat, we like to have themes and make it fun. We eat everyday of course but that does not mean we cannot make it a reason to celebrate. My son LOVES cowboys, Woody the cowboy from Toy Story and horses. He has the boots, hat, toys and yells YeeHaw when he rides his stuffed giraffe around the house. He even thinks he Papa (his grandpa on my side of the family) is a cowboy since I did not know how to explain where Texas is. I told him its where the cowboys who ride horses live. So he know thinks his Papa is a cowboy and last time I was on the phone with my Dad my son asked me about Papa's horse lol.

We decide to have a Cowboy Dinner this week to make an everyday dinner a special occasion. We planned our menu around the new Silver Spur Smoked Whole Chicken. I was thrilled to be able to have a premade flavored chicken to just stick in the oven to reheat giving me time to make delicious side dishes.

For my Cowboy Dinner I will be serving:
Silver Spur Smoked Whole Chicken
Jalapeno Cornbread
Hasselback Garlic Potatoes
Ranch Beans with Sauteed Red Onion
Corn on the Cob

Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins Recipe

• 1 cup ground cornmeal
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons diced jalapeno peppers (seeds removed)
• 1/3 cup corn kernels (can or fresh)
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

-Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.

-In a large bowl, mix together the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl beat the eggs with a whisk until the yolks and whites are blended then whisk in the milk. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Then add the corn kernels and diced jalapeno. Pour into cupcake liners half full. Add shredded cheddar cheese to the tops of the muffins and 

bake.

-Cook for 20-25 minutes until toothpick can be placed in and come out clean. 

1. 
   
2. There is a brand of Ranch Beans is very special to me. My Mom served these all the time when I was a kid with potatoes and chicken. I absolutely love them and the flavor brings back a million memories of summer nights of BBQ and swimming. I love it when a flavor of food can make you feel sentimental. I plan to make the Silver Spur Chicken flavor one that brings back memories of fun dinners with my son.

The easiest part of the whole meal was the Silver Spur Chicken. I opened the package placed into a glass cooking dish and cooked it until it was warm. The aroma of the smoked chicken cooking filled the house, it smelled like a BBQ. My whole family loved the dinner. The chicken was delicious and I told my husband I made it myself. I let him think I had for about half of the meal but did tell him it was a premade chicken when he grew suspicious of how good it was lol.

We had a wonderful night having a cowboy dinner party. My son ate so much food he took a nap after dinner! In theme with the dinner my husband and I watched a cowboy movie, True Grit with Matt Damon. I have a celebrity crush on Matt Damon that makes my husband laugh! We plan to buy more of the Silver Spur Smoked Whole Chicken next time we are at Sam's Club. I have a few more recipes and theme dinner ideas I would love to share with family and friends.

This was so cute, he was saying MMMM and had his eyes closed. My boy loves good chicken.

If you live in CA or TX you can try Silver Spur Smoked Whole Chicken at Sam's Club today, Saturday March 9th 2013. Most Sam's Club sampling run from 1pm to 4pm. Other areas of the US will have this delicious chicken in stores soon.

You can read my Google+ Story about the Silver Spur Demo I attended at Sam's Club.

*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 the makers of Silver Spur Chicken. #cbias #SocialFabric #MealsTogether. All opinons expressed in this post are my own.

Frugal Friday Coupons!

Diapers Galore...

• $2.00 off ONE Pampers Easy Ups Trainers
• $1.50 off ONE Pampers Swaddlers Diapers
• $1.50 off ONE Pampers Cruisers Diapers

Personal Care

• $1.00 off Any One (1) Caress 6ct Bar or Larger
• $1.00 off one Bronkaid product
• $10.00 off your next purchase of alli
• $2.00 off ONE (1) NUTRISSE haircolor
• $5.00 off any TWO (2) Almay Cosmetic Product
• $1.00 off Rimmel Bronzing Product

Food Stuffs

• $1.00 off Truvia OR Truvia Baking Blend with sugar
• Buy Spooners cereal, get 1 Spooners cereal free
• $1.00 off HORMEL COMPLEATS meal
• $0.75 off 1 YoBaby or YoToddler Organic Yogurt

Cleaning

• $1.00 off any one Soft Scrub cleaner product

While waiting for the Spring flowers

Spring is in full swing at our house and it feels like we are finally getting out of the winter blues, well trying to at least. Here in Washington the winter months are long and Spring takes a while to get here even when it officially starts. We have been cooped up in the house for what feels like forever, I have been trying to keep the boys busy.

We color, play hide and seek, build forts, watch movies and enjoy playing the Wii and all of the Wii games we can get our hands on. The boys love the fact that they can get up and "Just Dance" and I love the idea that they are not sitting around playing video games. The Wii is interactive and it gets them up and moving. By the end of their play time they are a bit wiped out and ready to slow it down. I love the energy burner that the it can be for them and balanced with other activities it can really keep them busy on these cold and wet days. I also like that sometimes I can get a few things done while they get in a game or two, and we all know that time doesn't come often!

Not only do the boys like to play it together but we often have a family fun night of bowling and tennis. It is not just for kids and now that the Wii U is out it is looking more and more enticing for our family. It has a touch screen controller, precision motion controls, and full HD graphics, all things that make my husband say "we need that".

Although Spring is right around the corner and we are dying to get outside more often it is great to have ways to keep ourselves busy. I am always looking for fun and interactive things to do with my bunch, they are busy boys with lots of energy to burn.


*This is a sponsored post.. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others.

A Girl and A Dog wait for a Boy and a School Bus

Everyday Ashley and Chewie (Boston Terrier/French Bulldog) wait for JJ to come off of the school bus after a day at Kindergarten. 

They wait together in the window hoping to catch a glimpse of the big yellow bus. 

It is so sweet and melts my heart every single time.

A Quick and Healthy Meal with Minute Rice #LoveEveryMinute

Like many families these days we have a full schedule daily, and every other Wednesday after dinner I have a standing meeting as a member of the board at my son's preschool. Making a delicious, quick and healthy dinner can be a challenge on those days. I feel like I am always trying to rush out the door right after dinner ends, the easier and quicker the better for me on those days. For a quick dinner the other night I made Teriyaki Steak and green beans served over Minute Ready to Serve White Rice. Growing up my husband says he had rice with almost every meal (he is 1/4 Japaneses) and now it is a staple item at our house, along with steak and some sort of a vegetable to go along with it. So it was a no brainer for me when it came time to prepare my meal with Minute Ready-To-Serve Rice!

Teriyaki Steak and Green Beans over Rice

• Thin cut steak (your choice)
• Teriyaki Sauce (for marinating and serving)
• Green beans
• Minute Ready to Serve White Rice

I soaked the steak in the teriyaki marinade for about 2 hours in the fridge before I cooked it to really capture the taste. In reality you can cook the steak immediately after you soak it if you are really looking to save time.

While the steak cooked on the stove I cut and cooked the green beans in the oven at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

The last thing to do was pop in the microwave the Minute Ready to Serve White Rice, it cooked so fast and looked great! Normally making the rice is a process and can take upwards of 30 minutes at our house, the 1 minute rice was a time saver for sure!

I topped our Minute Rice with the green beans and teriyaki steak. It was a huge hit at our house with my husband and I. Our children were a little less impressed with the mixing of the white rice, green beans and steak. I put each item separately on their little plates and they ate it right up. I love it when a meal comes together that we  can all enjoy and is both quick and healthy.

Minute® Ready to Serve Rice is an ideal portable solution for lunch or breakfast because you can eat it on the go, straight from the cup. In just 60 seconds, you have fully cooked rice for any meal or snack. You’ll never get bored with your lunch since there are 10 flavorful and wholesome varieties. If you’re looking for a healthy option, Minute® Ready to Serve Rice provides easy portion control since it’s conveniently packaged in two individual single-serve cups.
Visit http://www.minuterice.com/ for recipes, including Minute® Ready to Serve Stir it Up recipe ideas and more information about the Minute® Rice family of products.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Minute® Ready to Serve Rice.