Skincare + the Sea

Hey, guys! I'm popping in quickly today to share a post about skin care. This post is not sponsored, but I was sent some neat skincare items to try and give my real opinions on. I don't normally do review posts anymore, but when I was contacted by a long-time reader (Michelle) about her company's (Spa Technologies) products -- it felt like a good fit.

As you know, I try to do things naturally in many regards in our family. This goes with cleaning supplies for both the home and body, kids, etc. Spa Technologies makes high quality skincare products from organically sourced seaweeds and botanicals. It's been doing so since 1991. The products are also all paraffin and sulfate free, so you can see why this is right up my alley.

What I tried:

Revitalizing Sea Cleanse -- deeply cleans pores and is made of organic Laminaria Algae. Good for oily skin like mine. Smells amazing.

Micro Pearl Exfoliator -- dermabrasion with micro pearl particles, pumice, and bamboo. This was my favorite product of all. You only need to use it a couple times a week. Smells like citrus and peppermint.

Sea Clay Mask -- purifies pores and works against bacterial growth and sebum production. I used this once a week and the essential oils made my skin feel absolutely fresh and cleaned out.

Skin Calming Booster -- has concentrated omegas and liquid oxygen to soothe inflammation and sensitive skin. I also thought it was cool that it has probiotics and seaweed extracts to topically nourish the skin. I put this on before my moisturizer as an extra, well, boost.

pH Purifying Cream -- works to clear pores using salicylic acid and red clay. Also helps fight breakouts, which I'm prone to. Skin has a soft and matte finish that's a nice base for applying makeup (well, the little makeup I do wear).

I don't have dramatic before and after photos for you. That's because honestly, pregnancy is messing up my skin more than normal right now. But the changes I saw while using the products were subtle. I mean that in a good way, though. After using them, I did feel less irritation and my skin just felt really clean and fresh. It was also far less irritated than normal, and I credit that to the ingredients and to the specific formulas I tried which were chosen for me by Michelle.

I am basically giving myself a spa level facial throughout the week!

As you can imagine, with such quality ingredients and good sourcing practices, the products do come with a higher price tag than you might be used to if you shop the drug store on the regular. That's where I have trouble these days. I recognize that you get what you pay for in many regards, but budget constraints are real. I see Spa Technologies products in a luxury category for myself personally.

That said, I could see myself buying these products instead of getting facials at my local spa, which I tend to do twice a year as a gift to myself. It costs hundreds . . . but instead of putting all my eggs in one basket and getting pampered twice a year . . . I could keep the goodness going all the time.

Plus, I have tons of the products left after using them for a couple months. That's the benefit of more concentrated ingredients -- a little of the product goes a long way.

See?

Overall, if you are looking for very naturally sourced skincare products that have a strong history, I recommend browsing around on Spa Technologies. Their laboratory is located in my home state of New York. Their products can be found in resort hotels and spas, medicinal spas, and certain retail boutiques. And also online, of course. If you are interested -- right now they're running a special with 30 percent off their enzyme and AHA perfecting masks.

Happy Wednesday! And thank you to Michelle for introducing me to these products!

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What's In My Makeup "Bag"

I love peeking into the lives of others and seeing what they use for their everyday routines. As you know, I keep all my makeup in my rotating organizer. I do use most everything I have, but if I had to pick my 10 MVPs, for travel or something (what's that, again?), here's what I'd choose.

Note: I've provided the Amazon links here for reference. Some of them are good deals, but others are much cheaper at Target or Ulta.

// Neutrogena Hydro Boost Tint -- This foundation feels like a second skin. I haven't had any breakouts, and I think it has the perfect amount of coverage. A bit more than a sheer but not at all heavy like fuller-coverage varieties. #4 Nude works best for my skin tone.

// Soap + Glory Hocus Focus -- This overall illuminator is a game-changer for me. I mix it about half and half with my foundation, and it seriously mutes all my flaws, almost like an Instagram filter. A little goes a long way.

// Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer -- I'll occasionally use this liquid concealer instead of foundation, if I want a more natural look. It's light diffusing, complete coverage, and super light-weight. I use the color medium-light.

// Neutrogena Hydro Boost Concealer -- Again, this product is infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid and it goes on really smooth. It's also cost-friendly. Light works best for my complexion.

// NYX Eyebrow Pencils -- I have mentioned before that I have a touch of trichotillomania, where I rub and pull at my eyebrows. I have lots of weird bald patches as a result. I don't LOVE drawing in my eyebrows, especially so dark, but I feel self-conscious without doing so. Anyway, I've used lots of expensive pencils . . . but with how much I use, I've been loving NYX. I use all different ones in their collection and usually a blend medium and dark browns.

// Soap + Glory Sexy Mother Pucker -- My sister-in-law introduced me to this lip gloss. I love it. It's plumping, so there is a slight tingling, which is weird. But the SMELL! My absolute favorite color is Rose + Shine (very natural and light). If I'm going out, I'll use Plumsup for a bit darker color. Very sheer and shiny.

// Burt's Bees Peppermint Balm -- But my go-to for lips is simply the basic balm by Burt's Bees. I've been using it literally forever. It works far better than any other brand at keeping my lips soft and hydrated.

// NYX Illuminating Sticks -- I use these creams as blush and highlighter, if I'm feeling fancy. Just a bit of Pinkie Dust on the apples of my cheeks. Then Pearl Pink Lace in the corners of my eyes, cheekbone, etc. In general, I love NYX for trying new colors because it's inexpensive and good quality.

// Benefit They're Real Mascara -- This mascara is good at defining and building lashes. I can't say that it blows my mind, but I am always underwhelmed with mascaras. I would say it's my favorite in a long time. I also like Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara.

// NYX Setting Spray (Dewy Finish) -- I'm new to setting sprays, but I picked this one up a few weeks ago at Target. I like it. It does set my makeup while giving me a more natural finish. It also just feels nice to spray on after application.

I'll share my favorite skincare products next week. I have quite a routine going these days, and my skin is looking amazing (at least for me). It's also nice to have a ritual at night and feel like I'm regularly taking time for self-care.

Have a great weekend! It's nearly 60 degrees here right now and is supposed to plummet to -15 this weekend. What in the world?!

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6 Foods That Make My Life Easier

I still love Aldi, but there are several foods that I've had to shop elsewhere for recently. Eloise has been a picky eater since, well, forever. But it was especially bad in the last four months. She would literally not eat anything. In retrospect, I do think a lot of it has to do with the fact that she has 16 teeth when many of her peers have far fewer. Poor girl has probably been in pain for a long while.

That said, I have slowly found some things she loves to eat. As much as I'd like to say they're all whole foods, I have also had to rely on a few "products" if you will. But I'll get to those in a minute. Let's just jump in . . . and I'd love to hear your make-life-easier food suggestions.

I've included Amazon links so you can check out more reviews, ingredients, and just more general info. Always price-compare, as I've found that grocery of Amazon can either be good deals or AWFUL.

JUST. Mayo

There are a variety of flavors of this mayo. Stephen and I are addicted to chipotle mayos of various brands. The just. chipotle mayo is consistently the least expensive and gets high marks on taste. It's also vegan -- at least I know that several varieties of it are. Another favorite is the sriracha. We put it on veggie burgers, use it as dip for fries, and as a spread for sandwiches.

Don Pepino Pizza Sauce

Our family absolutely loves Don Pepino's pizza sauce. Stephen it biased, since it's made in NJ. It's slightly more expensive than some store brand sauces I buy, but the texture and flavor make it worth it in my opinion (especially since homemade pizza costs so much less than takeout). I know I included the Amazon link, but I highly recommend checking your bulk stores for this brand as well. I once found GIGANTIC tins of it at Sam's that I then divided into smaller portions and froze.

Mueslix, etc.

I don't necessarily endorse this brand of muesli over another (there are SO MANY). I'm just addicted to the stuff. I have a thing for cereal and I feel like this is healthier than other varieties I enjoy. I used to make my own muesli, but these days I haven't made time for it. Hoping to get back into that mode at the start of the new year, though.

Stonyfield Whole Milk Yogurt

Here's one of those foods that Eloise will eat without fail almost every day. So, we have had this issue where she doesn't want to drink milk since her first birthday. Not that she necessarily HAS to drink milk, but I think it's a good source of calcium and protein in a vegetarian diet. Anyway, we're working on the drinking milk thing. In the meantime, she's been eating this yogurt and having cheese sticks. I've made my own yogurt in the past (and love it!), but she digs this flavor.

Kodiak Cakes

And this is often Eloise's lunch. I know, I know. I mean, it's protein waffles. Sort of strange to push on a toddler. But she likes muffin texture, and I like that Kodiak Cakes has added protein and it's fast. It also comes in fun flavors -- of which we like chocolate and peanut butter best. Have you guys tried this stuff? I want to get plain buttermilk next.


Bob's Red Mill Soup Mixes

These dry soup mixes have been A LIFESAVER and have massively improved our slow cooking dinners. We got into a soup and chili rut, so I decided to branch out one day and buy a few different varieties. Anyway, this one is my favorite. The prices on these guys on Amazon aren't good, so I include the link only for reference, ingredients, and such.

You must try this recipe on the back of the bag, by the way.


And if you DO plan to try it, I recommend adding a can of coconut milk in place of two cups of water and added a heaping tablespoon of miso to the mix. I like adding the gourmet mix of mushrooms I get at Wegmans and plenty of fresh ginger.

Related:

Expanding Our Homemade Pantry
Homemade Almond Milk
Our Go-To Pizza Dough
Homemade Ciabatta Bread
Homemade Muesli
Adventures in Cereal-Making
Homemade Bagels
White + Whole Wheat No Knead Loaf
Three Seed Crackers
Homemade Flax Crackers
Homemade Pancake/Waffle Mix
Awesome Couscous Crackers
My Favorite Hummus
Stephen’s Homemade Pickles
Homemade Applesauce
Red Curry Kimchi

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Weight Watchers, Month One + Weight

Alright. So, I've received TONS of questions about Weight Watchers. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around writing a post that will encompass absolutely everything. So, I thought I'd answer some of the most frequently asked questions. Just a reminder -- this post is not at all sponsored or associated with the Weight Watchers brand. I am doing this entirely on my own.

BTW: Check out my $4 vintage Levi's mom jeans! Still not sure if I'm on board with this trend, but I figured I'd give it a try.

Q: Why did you sign up for Weight Watchers? Doesn't MyFitnessPal/etc. do the same thing for free?

There are many calorie counting services that are free. I've used them. But, and as I've written in the past, I dealt with an eating disorder for a long period of time. Counting calories actually gets me back in this place that I think I should avoid. The whole obsession with calories in foods.

You could argue, and some have, that WW is just another way of counting something. I have less awareness, though, of what exactly the numbers mean. It isn't calories. It has more to do with the mix of calories, fat, fiber, and other nutrition factors in food. I could eat TONS of healthy foods and fill my stomach and still be low on points. Or I could eat a couple candy bars and be over my budget in two minutes.

For me, that makes the difference. If you aren't bothered my calorie counting, MyFitnessPal is a really great, straightforward tool.

Q: Is it hard to calculate points if you make a lot of your food from scratch?

Yes and no. Like, the tool is there. You can enter each and every ingredient in your dinner or dessert. Enter the number of portions it makes and -- BOOM -- get the magic point number. I was good at doing that for a while. Then I started resenting having to enter each and every ingredient in my longer recipes. It does take time, energy, and motivation to do that if you cook so much from scratch like I do.

I do feel like it promotes eating a lot of packaged things that are easier to count. I don't think that's a good thing.

Q: Do you really track everything, every single day?

No. I was doing really well for the first three weeks and it's gotten away from me. But the thing is, it is super easy to keep track using the app on my phone. I wasn't logging into the website. I was using the app almost exclusively. Why, then, am I not logging everything? I think the novelty of being on a program wore off. That's part of it.

And I also think cooking from scratch is hard. I was making lots of recipes after being more regimented and eating just, like, an apple or two eggs, etc. It's a pain to go in and create all my recipes for all my meals every single day. So, I need to strike a balance with that if I want to continue.

That said, the app is really easy. You can scan foods in your pantry, which is handy if you are just going to make a sandwich or eat a packaged snack.

Q: How many points do you get? Do you feel it's enough?

I personally get 36 points a day. I know some people who get like 24. Others who get 40+. I think the point value has to do with a complex mix of things, like how much you weigh, how much you want to lose, if you're a man/woman, if you're breastfeeding (and how much!), how much you exercise, etc.

On top of that, you get a weekly stipend of 35 points you can divide evenly or use in one shot. And then on top of that, you can get extra points when you exercise. On an average "good" day, I tend to eat around 46 points. So, figure I get 36 plus 5 from my weekly plus another 5 from exercise. And I do feel like this is enough food, at least at this stage.

Q: Isn't it just another way of restricting food?

Someone on Instagram made a comment about Weight Watchers being restrictive eating. I actually couldn't disagree more -- at least in some respects. Yes, you get a daily limit of points. Yes, you -- therefore -- tend to not eat so much of certain foods and more of others.

But restrictive? No. Not really. If you've seen Oprah on the commercials, she explains that she loves eating chips. You can eat chips and any other foods you desire on the plan. In moderation.

I have a lot of friends following Whole 30 who rave about that diet. And it sounds amazing for a variety of reason. Heck, I tried it one month a long, long time ago. But THAT is restrictive, especially for vegetarians. With WW, there are absolutely no foods that are off limits. There are no foods that you are told you can't eat. And, yeah, maybe there's both some good and bad in that.

Q: How much weight have you lost? How much do you have left to lose?

I have stalled out a bit. I started January at 148 pounds. I am now 145. So, I have lost three pounds and holding. I haven't lost weight in a couple weeks, though. I'm slightly annoyed. But I also know I haven't been tracking as carefully, I've been indulging a bit more (Super Bowl fondue, anyone?)

My goal weight is 135 (or so). So, I have 10 pounds left to lose. I wrote a post all about how I had ditched the scale long ago. I want you guys to understand I am not obsessed with these numbers. But I also genuinely feel like if I do not at least work back to losing some of the 20 pounds I've gained in recently years that it will be a slippery slope.

I weighed 125 before I got pregnant with Ada, but I was running constantly, eating a mostly vegan diet, and -- well -- didn't have two kids back then. I ended up being around 130-132 after Ada weaned. Then during all the struggles getting/staying pregnant, I hovered between 138-140. Anyway, 135 is a good fighting weight for me. I think 125, though still in a very healthy range (definitely not high school skinny!), just isn't maintainable along with enjoying food and spending the most time with my family.

Q: Is Weight Watchers worth it? Will you continue?

I think WW has been worth it so far. I am disappointed that I allowed myself to get off track simply by being lazy about tracking. I would like to continue until I lose the 10 additional pounds I've set out to lose. I know weight isn't everything, but I also know that I do have excess weight that isn't muscle. I won't obsess necessarily on the exact number on my scale . . . I have several pairs of pants I'd like to use for my measure.

I don't know how following the numbers will work with marathon training (more on that soon!), though. I need to evaluate how to get the best nutrition and may need to go over some times.

Do you follow Weight Watchers? What do you think I left out? And what else would you guys like to know in my next post?

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Leaf Nature Review + Why I'm Returning

Hopping on to give you guys that review on the Bellabeat Leaf Nature (I have the Rose Gold edition) fitness tracking device. I had very high hopes for this gorgeous piece of smart jewelry. I've wanted it for a few years and -- yes -- I bought it with my own money. So, this review is unbiased.

You can wear it as a necklace, bracelet, clip it on to your clothing, etc. I even bought some cute accessories for it on Etsy!

But here's the deal.

And why -- sadly -- I am returning it:



PROS 

• It's beautiful
• You can wear it many different ways
• It tracks you steps, sleep, breathing, menstrual cycle, etc.
• Its app is relatively user-friendly 
• Did I mention how pretty it is?!

CONS 

• Leaf Nature cannot get wet. (The Leaf Urban can, however.) 
• Doesn't allow you to override for running steps (see video for explanation)
• Has issues with tracking sleep
• Breathing tracking can be random
• Clunky in that you have to always mark in app how you're wearing it
• Customer service is just OK, not great

WHY I'M RETURNING

Ultimately, I decided to return this tracker because there are others out there that do more for a similar price point. If the Leaf's app gave me the ability to override steps to account for the miles I've run in a day, I may have kept it. But it doesn't. Instead, I spend my days frustrated that I cannot meet my step goal on the screen when I've obviously already met it in real life. And customer service is vague about when developments will be made.

In the end, the Leaf Nature is a nice fitness tracker that looks gorgeous . . . but it just doesn't have enough power for me.

Do you have the Leaf? I'm majorly sad to return!

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Trying Hello Fresh (Again) + Giveaway

It's no secret that we've been pretty busy these last several months. What I haven't told you is that many nights it's felt like we were drowning. I've been really tired, Ada's been cranky, and Stephen's been, well, coaching late nights and Saturdays. Nothing the typical family doesn't deal with -- but it was really taking a toll on family dinner time, which I think made the situation so much worse. Gathering together at the dinner table even just a few nights a week helps our family stay connected and sane.

Truth time: I slacked on making dinners, big time. And the dinners I was making were the same old ones I've been making for the last several years. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. But with food -- a rut is never good. We were bored. In desperation I went searching for help one night and then remembered that years ago I had reviewed Hello Fresh when they first unveiled their vegetarian meal options.

So, I decided to sign up for the service myself (so, this is an unsponsored review, just FYI) and see how it's changed over the years. I actually used a code from a friend and got $40 off my first order (more details later). Here's what we've been eating, what we think of the freshness/quality, and if we'll sign on to do more weeks.

Our Meals 

What I noticed first and foremost is that the packaging has majorly improved from when I reviewed them back in 2012. Everything used to be wrapped in plastic. Now much is in recyclable cardboard and some stuff, like kale, is just out within the box. So, that's a huge step in the right direction.

We get our UPS deliveries very late in the day (6PM), so I was concerned that the food wouldn't be fresh/cold enough with the heat wave, but it was just fine with the cold pack. And another change from 2012 is that I didn't need to be around for delivery. Score!

Here's what we got in our box. Everything was separated by recipe and all the instructions were clearly indicated on easy-to-follow recipe cards.

#1: Sweet Potato Niçoise Salad

I'm not big on eating a salad for dinner. But with all the variety in this mix -- and the lemon-dijon dressing -- I didn't feel like it was lacking. The veggies included: Sweet Potato, Persian Cucumber, Lemon, Red Onion, Parsley, Garlic, Chickpeas, Green Beans, Dijon Mustard Glass Jar, Grape Tomatoes, Spring Mix. The only thing with this dinner that frustrated me is that I didn't feel like it came with enough greens. This meal took less than half an hour to make and had 22 grams of protein per serving.

You can read more details here.


#2: Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl

This one was Stephen's favorite of the bunch. It was bursting with olives, feta, and kale chips. So many different flavors and textures. And then you have the quinoa, which is something that Ada loves to eat. This meal only took about 20 minutes to make and had a nice 17 grams of protein per serving.

You can read more details here.


#3: Rigatoni Al Forno

Oh, man, oh, man. You guys. I loved this recipe. And I don't really like pasta. Roasted eggplant is such a rich ingredient. Add that to big noodles tossed with homemade tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella? AND then you add a crispy topping of panko and parmesan? I was in heaven. This meal took around a half hour to make and boasted a whopping 32 grams of protein per serving.

You can read more details here.

Verdict?

Overall, we were impressed enough with the service to give it another week's try. We should be receiving our food tonight -- which means dinner is already planned! I have had mixed feelings about trying a service like this because I really do know how to meal plan. I've done it successfully for years. I also love and know how to cook my own meals. But I will say that the variety and fresh recipe ideas did inspire me to branch out a bit with the other meals in the week.

I guess I think these sorts of services serve a purpose. Like, right now we are really stretched to the max -- and I need help in this area. Once the baby comes, I could also see this being a good option for the first several months versus getting caught up in a takeout cycle. I also like that there's no huge commitment. If we decide to get back on track on our own, we simply pause/cancel the service by Wednesday. Done.

$40 Off Your First Delivery

Are you interested in giving a meal service like Hello Fresh a try? Like I said, I was resisting this whole trend because I felt like it was too expensive, especially considering I'd need to spend time cooking anyway. But it has turned out to be a bit of fresh air that we've needed to get back into the cooking routine again. It's definitely less expensive than takeout and -- being in my third trimester -- it helps motivate me to quickly throw something together so we can get back at family dinners.

If you'd like to try it for yourself, you can get $40 off your first delivery.

Visit Hello Fresh and use code YCEAHR at the checkout.

Or Win a FREE Box

I also have a FREE box of food to give away to one lucky winner.

• Leave a comment below telling me what meal services you've tried or how you've otherwise fought your way out of a food rut. 
• I'll need your email address or some other way to contact you. 
• I'll announce the winner next Wednesday, June 8th.

More soon!

Many of you seemed interested in this whole concept when I posted my meals to Instagram. I'll probably do another post on this week's delivery soon. I'll cover more about how we're fitting it into our tight food budget, as well as how we're modifying the meals to meet the needs of an athlete, a third trimester pregnant woman, and a hungry preschooler.

I may also pause my service and try out Blue Apron or another service sometime soon to compare. Do you have any suggestions?

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PinkBlush Maternity + $75 Giveaway

Did you guys see my 23 week update? I dressed up for my bump shot. With a little help, that is. PinkBlush Maternity -- a small family owned and operated company -- recently contacted me to see if I wanted to check out some of their cute maternity clothes for growing bumps. Ummmm. Yes, please. I need fashion help like crazy these days.

I haven't invested in much clothing this time around because I'm mostly home and don't fit in anything from Ada's pregnancy, so it was a treat thinking about how to look nice in my current body for a change. I wore this Navy Blue + Floral Chiffon maternity dress out to brunch and a movie with Stephen Sunday morning, and I felt like a real lady in it.

Photos!

I love the cut and print of this dress. Like I said, I feel really pretty in it -- even though my roots are looking wicked awful these days and my body is somewhat unrecognizable to me. The fabric is a great weight for transitioning from spring into summer. I chose a size medium, and I'd say that the sizing is right on with what I would expect. Just a bit roomy so I have space to fill up the belly until June.

So, if you're looking for some trendy maternity clothes, check out PinkBlush. They are running a 25 percent off sitewide sale right now using the code SPRINGISHERE. Not pregnant? They also offer a ton of cute and affordable clothing options for women, plus sizes, nursing women, babies, accessories, and more.

// GIVEAWAY

Now is your chance to browse PinkBlush for yourself! Leave a comment below with the words "I'm Blushing!" to be entered for a giveaway that will earn you a $75 gift card. Make sure you leave some way for me to contact you.

Winner will be chosen via random number generator next Tuesday, March 8th, and you'll receive your gift card within 24 hours via email.

Disclosure: I received a dress from PinkBlush Maternity for review purposes. My opinions are my own.

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Creating Our Family Cookbook

One of the projects I've wanted to start for a while is collecting recipes in a book to have around the house. I picked up a cheap cookbook with refillable recipe cards the other day and got started. I mean, reading recipes on my phone is fine and all, but I want a physical something around the house . . . a something to pass down someday when this blog is digital history.

Sort of like my great grandmother's book from 1914!

I'm starting slowly by entering what foods we make most frequently. I have a lot of these recipes committed to memory, but it's been nice to say "I'm going out to do X. Stephen -- could you and Ada make Cornbread from the cookbook?"

What's inside:

• Kefir Pancakes
• Kefir Cornbread (sharing this one soon!)
• Vegan Chocolate Cake/Cupcakes
• Pumpkin Pizza Dough
• Homemade Bagels
• Pecan Chocolate Chippers
• Vegan Brownies

I try to write in two recipes a week that we've made. Cooking is more of an experimental thing for us, so I think the book will likely consist primarily of biscuits, cookies, cakes, breads, and other baked goods. And that's cool. That's what I like to do most!

Do you guys have physical cookbooks of your favorite recipes? How do you manage them? A lot of people have suggested I just print off my recipes and put them in a book. But I sort of like having the handwritten recipe cards. Guess I'm just old fashioned.

Mamma Chia Review

In other food news, if you follow me on Instagram, you know that I got the opportunity to try out some Mamma Chia foods recently. I had actually bought a few bars on my own before, so I was excited to see what the rest of the line was like. For those of you who aren't familiar, Mamma Chia incorporates chia seeds into tasty + organic beverages, squeeze packs, bars, etc.

Of everything I tried, their new Cherry Beet Chia Squeeze was my favorite (Ada's too!). The bars are also a good, low-sugar treat to pack in your bag for snack emergencies. Yes. Emergencies. That's a thing. I promise you.


And I love how their new line of beverages incorporates greens -- something I don't always get enough of in my diet these days.


I know some people don't love the texture of chia seeds, but it's an ingredient we've incorporated into our foods for years. My suggestion? If you want the benefits of a chia drink -- try drinking it through a straw. That way you get all the good stuff -- Omega-3s, plant protein, veggies, fruits, etc. -- without the texture being as much of an issue.

Have you guys tried Mamma Chia? 

I was sent the products you see above for this review. My opinions are my own, and I'll be quite honest: This stuff truly is good. I'll be stocking up on some of those squeeze packs on my next grocery run.

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snu:mee baby 3-in-1 music box // review

While we're on all things baby, I have a review for you guys today. The folks at Baby Stars - rock2sleep recently contacted me to see if I wanted to review their baby monitor + music box + mp3 player called snu:mee. This product has gained some real popularity among music-loving parents in Europe. Now? It's soon making its debut in the United States.

Take a look:

The very first thing I discovered after I charged mine up is that the sound on this thing is amazing. The tones come through crystal clear, so apart from any baby monitor functionality, it truly is a great music player. The pre-loaded songs are soothing versions of rock + pop hits, very similar to those Rockabye Baby! CDs that Stephen and I love. My favorite pre-load is actually the sound of a hairdryer -- it's the perfect white noise.

You can also transfer songs from your own music library onto the device along with audiobooks. Another cool feature? You can even record your own voice. So, if you are going on a business trip or just want to do something personal, your baby will be able to hear your voice. (And speaking of that, you can also talk real-time through the device to coax your child back in to bed!)

What else I like: You can place your snu:mee in a bunch of adorable sleeves that coordinate with your nursery décor.


Some features:

• Baby monitor with up to 300m signal range
• Feature packed MP3 player
• Free app for iOS and Android
• 60 decibel volume limiter for babies' sensitive hearing
• Headphone connector
• Sleep timer allowing you to decide how long the music plays
• Wi-Fi music streaming
• Secure connection
• Variety of cuddly sleeves to choose from
• 4GB memory, enough for more than 500 songs

Here you can see it in action:



My only critique is that I wish snu:mee came with a dedicated listening device for the monitor portion. Using my iPhone -- while convenient at times -- doesn't make me feel entirely comfortable, especially for overnights. I'm old school in that way, I suppose. I am the kind of mom who wants to hear absolutely everything going on in my baby's room at all times. I think I would use this as a monitor for an older baby or toddler and a more traditional one for a newborn.

That being said, the free app for controlling the device is easy to use and lets you connect with your home wifi or a dedicated wifi just with the device. You can do anything from load songs to listen in with ease.

Oh! And Ada enjoys listening to the tunes, so the monitor can grow with older kids like her, too. She could use it as an mp3 player in her room to play her favorite music (which right now is garage rock like Ty Segall, thanks to Stephen). Definitely a baby monitor for the modern age.

// Again, snu:mee is launching soon in the United States via crowdsourcing campaign on Indiegogo. If this kind of device looks cool to you -- you can get it now at a special early bird price (just $79 with April delivery!) through the campaign.

Thanks to Baby Stars for providing the snu:mee. Opinions on this product are my own.

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AT&T 2015 Gift Guide + Giveaway

Disclosure: I received product in exchange for this post. All opinions are 100% my own.

Have you ever regifted something? You know what I mean. Like that label maker Dr. Tim Whatley gave to Jerry in Seinfeld? I’m not going to lie. I’m totally guilty. One year for Christmas I was given not one, not two, but THREE fondue pots! (Seriously.) So, if you have received a fondue pot from me, yes. I regifted it to you. Sorry! I hope knowing doesn’t make those melty beer + cheese fondues any less tasty.

I’m writing today in partnership with AT&T to share some presents your friends and family definitely won’t want to regift. Its 12 Days of Giving program is all about the best and brightest way to “mobilize your world for the holidays.”

I’ll be reviewing one of the featured products today, but you can check out AT&T’s 2015 Gift Guide for more ideas! And visit the Holiday Hub for more blog posts, news, and other information.

LG G Pad X 10.1 // Review

I was given the LG G Pad X 10.1 device to review for this post. Talk about a great gift. When I opened the package, I was immediately struck by how wide the screen is in landscape orientation. It’s absolutely perfect for watching movies and television shows (like my favorite: Fixer Upper!). Better yet, it comes with the DIRECTV app that lets you watch shows you DVR, live television, movies, and more.

The system runs all my Google apps, so I’m able to get in a little work on the device on the couch or wherever I find myself. The system is intuitive and easy to use right out of the box. Holds a charge really well, too.



More Specs:

• 10.1 inch (1920 x 1200 pixels) resolution IPS LCD screen 
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 2.26 GHz quad-core processor 
• 2GB of RAM 
• 32GB of internal storage with microSD expansion card slot 
• Android 5.1.1 Lollipop operating system 
• 7400 mAh battery 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1, GPS 
• 2 megapixel front facing camera and rear 8 megapixel camera  

Bottom line: If you’re looking for a gift for your media-crazed loved ones, this one is a winner.

Giveaway + Sweeps

Would you like to win a LG G Pad X 10.1?

Well, here’s your chance: Just leave a comment below telling me something you’ve regifted. Or maybe tell me about something you know you got as a regift. Make sure you leave some way to contact you. This giveaway is only open to US residents.

Want to win other cool stuff? AT&T is hosting the #ATTGiftSweeps Holiday sweepstakes -- 12 days of daily sweepstakes -- running between December 1st and 12th. You'll have a chance to win daily prizes that include fitness wearables, smartphones, tablets, and accessories.

You can learn how to enter at EnterToWin.ATT.com. And don’t forget to follow @ATT on Twitter and join the conversation on Facebook.

Happy Sunday, and good luck!

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Magformers // Review + Giveaway [Closed]

I think by now most parents know about the whole magnetic blocks craze, right? We were given a small set of Magformers when Ada turned two, and we’ve been hooked on them ever since. In fact, we expanded our fleet last spring. Out of all of Ada’s toys, the Magformers have stayed in the rotation, growing with her as she as gone from toddler to preschooler (and I’m sure well beyond).

Magformers recently contacted me to see if we’d be interested in doing a review of their 100-piece Inspire set. Since we’ve been buying and using their brand for years, I felt it would be a good fit for the blog + something I’d love to share with you. The set comes with 13 different geometric shapes, including diamonds, sectors, arches, mini sectors, super squares, super triangles, super sectors, super arches, and mini arches.

It’s also features . . .

• BPA-free plastic
• "Neodymium Rare-Earth Magnets for guaranteed connectivity"
• Compatability with all other Magformers sets
• Fun pastel colors

You know, so you can build stuff like THIS:


I’ve purchased other types of magnetic tiles before, and -- as I wrote on Instagram -- I wasn’t impressed. We’re definitely solidified as a Magformers family by now. I especially like that the blocks are open for easy handling, which makes them good for a wide range of ages. Oh, and Ada had a ball with the larger blocks in this set since we’d never played with them before. Heck, I think Stephen and I enjoy making things with them as much (if not more so!) as Ada does.

Of course, Ada's really into pink and purple these days (they were my favorites at age 4). So, she likes to build all pink thinks or all purple things. She’s also tried cramming her Barbies into the castle. It doesn’t work out so well, but we’ve built a few large towers that

Above anything else, we all love the multicolor light-up pieces! You can have them go through a rainbow of colors or switch them on to just one. They are rechargeable using your computer and a USB cable.


Seriously. The first time we used them, we all Ooooooooooo’ed and Ahhhhhhhhh’ed.

Here’s just some of the different shapes. (Ada wouldn’t give up the rest!)


The set also comes with a handy instruction book with lots of design ideas. We made a lot of them, but then Ada wanted to go rogue and build a barn for some of her figurines. I love watching her creativity when she plays with Magformers. And she’s definitely engaging in more than simple play -- her fine motor skills are getting a workout. She’s also getting some basic geometry, among other concepts.

OK. They are also just FUN.

(Pieces from our other sets -- classic rainbow -- are also mixed in:)


Cleanup is a breeze with these guys. We have a bin in our living room and just toss them in there each night. Come to think of it, the Magformers are the only toy we keep on the main level of our house. And that’s probably because you’ll always catch our guests playing with them, too. (My father-in-law is a huge fan.) And when we choose toys to bring on vacation, we always bring along a good number of these.

// GIVEAWAY

The kind folks at Magformers are giving away a 62-piece Rainbow Set (!!!) to one lucky reader!

Simply leave a comment with your name, an email address (or other method of contact), what you’d build with your child, and check back next Friday (9/18) for the winner who will be chosen using a random number generator.

PS: You can connect with Magformers on Facebook.

Good luck! 

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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My Skincare Routine

Throughout my entire post-puberty life, I’ve battled with my skin. I had tons of acne in high school that continued through college and then into my twenties. After my pregnancy with Ada, somehow I’ve noticed fewer breakouts. When I do get some zits, they’re usually those huge ones on my jawline. Come to think of it, though, I haven’t had any of those in quite some time.

Regardless, I thought I’d write a quick ditty on my skincare routine because I received some serious compliments yesterday. The kind that made me blush and nervous giggle. Mind you, these comments weren’t from guys looking to flirt or anything like that. The first was the 30-something woman at the hospital lab desk and the second was the checkout lady in her fifties at Wegmans.

After seeing my license, they each said something like:

“You’re almost 32? I thought you were in your early twenties!”

Wow. I mean, just . . . wow.

CLEANSING, ETC.

OK. So, bragging over (but -- c’mon -- I’m struggled with my skin for SO LONG, it’s nice to hear something flattering!), I have made some changes in my skincare routine this year. I’m wondering if it has had any positive impact on my overall complexion. (FYI: My skin is generally combination with more oil on my forehead and nose.)

Here are the products I use on a daily basis. I usually wash my face with the cleanser before bed, followed by the toner and moisturizer.

• Avalon Organics Vit. C Gel Cleanser
• Avalon Organics Vit. C Balancing Toner
• Avalon Organics Vit. C Oil-Free Moisturizer

The line consists of a number of other products, including this Avalon Face Serum I’m thinking of ordering to try out. I noticed a change in the softness and clarity of my skin almost immediately after using all the things in combination. What I like best about these cleaners and lotions besides the results is that they’re 100 percent vegetarian and 70 percent organic. No animal testing either!

EXFOLIATION

After working out in the morning, I usually use St. Ives Apricot Scrub. Now, I’m kind of angry after doing a little research for this post. I’ve been using this scrub since I was a teenager. I’m talking half my life, and it wasn’t tested on animals back then. I haven’t thought to look at the package in ages, but I just uncovered that somewhere along the way, they started testing on animals! I guess after I use up my last bit I’ll try to find a new (sans-microbeads) exfoliator. Grr.

Anyone have a good recommendation?

MAKEUP

Most days, I don’t wear foundation or anything besides moisturizer or sunscreen on my face. (And mascara. Always mascara.) If I’m going to go do something nice or just feel like putting on makeup, I use Too Faced Beauty Balm in vanilla glow.


They don’t test on animals according to this PETA database, so that’s always a bonus. But that’s pretty much it. I’d say I put on BB cream about three or four times a week.

SUNCARE

As far as the sun goes, I try to seek shade as often as possible. I run before 10AM or after 6PM on most days. When we go to the beach, I’m under the umbrella 90 percent of the time. I wear hats otherwise. If I can’t avoid the sun, I usually just slap on some of Ada’s Babyganics Sunscreen SPF 50. It goes on pretty thick and white, but if I rub in in well, it’s not terribly noticeable.


I may check out Lavanila’s Healthy Sunscreen SPF 40. Like Babyganics, it’s mineral-based -- but has less white residue. The only problem is that it’s really expensive and I’ve read it doesn’t handle well with sweat.

I’d love recommendations for a good sport sunblock that is natural, handles loads of sweat, and is cruelty-free.

OTHER STUFF

Otherwise, I just drink lots of water, try to eat loads of fruits + veggies, and get good sleep most nights. I don’t drink any caffeine, I exercise, and -- as I already mentioned -- I do try to stay out of the sun when I can avoid it. I also use the Freeman Dead Sea Minerals Mask (that’s why my face is blue in that first photo) every week or two just for fun. I like how it smells. That’s good enough reason, right?

What’s your skincare routine?

* Links to products above are Amazon Affiliates. Thanks for supporting (never)homemaker. And I genuinely hope you found this post helpful. These are all products I have purchased and tested myself and have used everyday . . . in some cases for over a decade. 

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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Moen’s Fabulously Functional Hensley Faucet

One of the first improvements we made in the kitchen in our previous home was switching out the faucet. So, when we moved into our new place last year, I was definitely frustrated with the trade down to a standard faucet. I don’t know about you, but since I cook and bake so often -- my kitchen is regularly a mess. The biggest culprit? Dishes upon dishes that need to be washed after each mix, whisk, and meal.

When BlogHer offered me the chance to try one of Moen’s new faucets, I eagerly jumped at the opportunity. We’ve been slowly updating our kitchen and hadn’t yet made it to the faucet, but we had already considered a Moen because it happens to be the #1 faucet brand in North America. I recently shared with you guys the progress we’ve made, so here’s a photo of the kitchen in its current glory!


I chose the Hensley faucet for our space. There are tons of awesome designs and options to choose from out of Moen’s fleet. What I like about the Hensley is its classic lines and elegant structure. The brushed nickel goes well with our new refrigerator . . . and -- honestly -- it’s just a lot of fun to use.

• The sleek design is as functional as it is pretty. I love the high arching neck that allows me to wash a variety of pots and pans without splashing water everywhere. 
• The hose smoothly retracts back into its original position on its own. Having the spray mechanism right there is so much more convenient than reading for a separate handheld sprayer.
• While we’re talking about spraying, I love the options of regular flow, spray, and even stop. Whatever I need is just the touch of one button.
• And the finish has Microban® infused in it, which means it has some serious 24/7 antimicrobial protection. Essential in the sink area, which happens to also be the dirtiest place in the home. 

Besides all the mechanics, this faucet has totally transformed the sink area from a design standpoint. It’s like jewelry or something. Bling. Our old faucet surely had some style, but its profile was quite miniscule. The worst part? The hose was always getting kinked when I’d go to spray my pots and pans.

Here’s the before and after:

In the end, I couldn’t be happier with our newest addition. It’s beautiful, functional, and fabulous. I’d love to know what faucets you have in your kitchens (or on your wish lists!). Do you, like me, think the pull-down sprayer is a must?

Check out the faucets on the Moen website and leave a comment below to enter for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card!

Entry Instructions:

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 (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. 

The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 5/4/15 – 5/31/15.

Be sure to visit the Moen brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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Review: Pizza Hut + Udi’s GF Pizza

Growing up geographically isolated in the north mountains of Pennsylvania, we didn’t have a lot of restaurants. I mean, there were definitely some -- a local sub shop, the bakery adjoining the bowling alley, the “famous” diner, and my favorite bagel place. When we wanted pizza? It was one hundred percent Pizza Hut! In fact, Pizza Hut might actually be responsible for my love of reading and writing, since I participated in its BookIt program way back when:

Reading for pizza -- that’s a beautiful thing.


When BlogHer gave me the opportunity to try out Pizza Hut’s® new "Gluten-Free Pizza", through its partnership with Udi's® and their certified gluten-free crust, I was super excited. Now that we live in an area that was once dominated by Italians, I haven’t had their pizza as often. But those taste buds of mine have a definite nostalgic craving from time to time.

At the present moment, the gluten-free pizzas are available in a 10-inch small size. I spoke with the manager at our location, and she mentioned that there have been quite a few people coming in and ordering the GF option lately. She was actually thrilled to hear I was reviewing it because she’s seen such a positive response and wants to get the word out.

Cool, but how does it taste?


First, we got our pie home and it was the perfect size for a mommy and me lunch. Well, and a few slices leftover for Stephen to sample as well. I will admit I was expecting a crust more like Pizza Hut’s pan pizzas -- so if that could ever happen, I’d be totally wowed! That being said, the thin and crispy crust was delicious with all the flavor I remember of Pizza Hut.

And Ada ate her whole slice, so that’s a good review in itself.


Though we aren’t a gluten-free family, we know many who do follow this diet and, well, it’s really a lifestyle. It’s nice to have gluten-free options on the go as much as it is to have vegetarian and vegan options. I like how both chain restaurants, like Pizza Hut, and local eateries are recognizing different diets and catering their menus accordingly.

Now, SheKnows is hosting a sweepstakes! One reader will win a $100 Pizza Hut gift card to use at any Pizza Hut locations. To enter for a chance to win tell me, who would you share your "Gluten-Free Pizza" with?

Entry Instructions:

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 (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 2/23/2015 – 3/16/2015.

Be sure to visit the Pizza Hut’s brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

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Our Weekend + Laughing Cow (Review)

Our weekend was out of this world. We rarely have babysitting, so we took full advantage of the time my in-laws gave us to get out and do things adults do around town. And we were lucky to have our weekend extended by a snow day on Monday. There are certainly tough parts of living on a teacher + tenuous freelance salary, but family time isn’t one of them.

Friday night Stephen and I ran 3 miles together in negative wind chills and snow drifts. We had hoped to go farther, but the wind was seriously brutal, so it was just nice to get out for a bit. Then we dressed up as much as we could (brrrr) and went to one of our favorite restaurants for dinner. I indulged in a girly martini, a brie platter appetizer, a huge veggie burger with sweet potato fries, and -- of course -- dessert, which was a delicious vegan peanut butter pie.

Saturday I had plans with my friend Elisabeth. We headed to this local antique market to look for home decor and other random items. I think we found more weird stuff than we had imagined. I ended up finding a nice spring coverlet for our bed . . . and this stuff:


Then Stephen and I went to see American Sniper. I get there’s criticism about this movie. That it left out a lot and presented the “enemy” as one-dimensional, etc. At the same time, I also don’t know if the time allowed for deeper development since the focus was more on Chris Kyle versus the war itself. I’m conflicted. Anyway, I thought it was quite good, albeit upsetting at many points. (What did you think?) We also checked out a local brewery and ate our favorite grilled pizza.

Then Sunday we both got in some running before the big storm. Afterward, I suggested we try out the cross-country skis our friends gave us over the summer. It was so much fun! My in-laws had to leave before the storm hit, so we cooked during Ada’s nap so we could have treats for the Super Bowl. The end of that game was sort of nuts, right?

Monday = snow day. We bundled up early and pulled Ada around on the sled for a few miles (I clipped on the skis again). Then we mostly organized and cleaned to get ready for the week. And here we are today with a 2-hour delay. Only problem this time is that Ada’s preschool is closed. Grr.

LAUGHING COW

Laughing Cow sent me some of their cheese wedges to try in exchange for a review + healthy recipe, and I was happy to oblige. I used to buy their original Swiss cheese wedges when I worked my desk job because I’d keep crackers at my desk. They spread so easily! Being familiar with the product already, I was excited to try the new flavor -- Spicy Pepper Jack -- as well as one I hadn’t had before -- Garlic + Herb.

Here’s how I reinvented one of my favorite snacks using the cheese, which has less than half the calories of the mayo I’d usually use in this recipe. The finished deviled eggs are incredible. They have a HUGE kick to them -- and you guys know how much I loved my hardboiled eggs for quick, portable protein!

// SPICY DEVILED EGGS

You need:

• 2 hardboiled eggs
• 1 Pepper Jack wedge
• Teaspoon water
• Paprika

Method:

1. Slice eggs in half, gently remove the yolks and place in a bowl.
2. Add the cheese wedge to the bowl and blend with a fork.
3. Add a couple teaspoons of water and keep blending until you reach a creamy consistency.
4. Scoop filling back into eggs.
5. Sprinkle with paprika.

How was your weekend? 

And have you tried Laughing Cow?

The Laughing Cow® provided me with product and a $50 gift card for this review. However, thoughts and opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of the brand.

Like what you just read? You can subscribe to the feed of these posts or follow us on Twitter or Facebook to be the first to know what the (never home)makers are up to. And we’ll love you forever!

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