Think KIDS Protein Bars Review

** We received samples of Think KIDS Protein bars via Moms Meet, to hand out to friends and to try in exchange for our opinions. **

We were all so excited to try the thinkKIDS protein bars! We already read about them, found them online and picked out what we expected to be our favorites so when our package arrived, I waited for the kids to come home from school so we could open them up and start trying them out!

We did only receive one flavor which was Cookies and Creme. But, thinkKIDS offers 4 other varieties and they all sound delightfully yummy! 

Chocolate Chip

Peanut Butter Cup

Cinnamon Sugar Cookie

Vanilla Cupcake

(and of course, the Cookies and Creme!) 

I'm In Love With Luvo

** I receive products for free in return for reviews as part of the Mom's Meet Blogger Program. All opinions are my own. **

I am one of those moms who isn't really into buying frozen prepared foods or snacks very often. I don't mind a few boxes of frozen snacks for one of our famous sleepover parties. Our freezers are filled with meat, veggies, bags of strawberries, fresh pasta, Girl Scout cookies, and some of our favorite bread we travel several miles to buy. I enjoy cooking and baking although, I didn't always! Back when my husband and I had our first baby and we both worked all of the time, the fanciest I got was a box of Hamburger Helper or Tuna Helper with some added ingredients! But, I don't even "cook" those anymore either!

Much like every other parent, I rarely have time to eat. If I do, it's whatever is left in the pan or whatever I could sneak before serving everybody else. On the busiest of evenings, I'm lucky to get a handful of pistachios and string cheese. Along with my diet of coffee, well, pots of coffee, I'm lucky to get a meal, much less 3 meals a day. That's where Luvo comes in!

Luvo has a few different, very healthy, nutritious, and yummy options available. I was lucky enough to try the Steam In Pouch Meals.

These are the varieties I tried but there are much more! Each one of these boxes includes a full serving of vegetables, grains, and quality proteins. They are flash frozen in their own top secret steam in pouch packaging and they are super simple to throw in the oven and knock a few more things off of your to-do list while you wait!

Once the timer goes off, you just remove, let the steam pouch sit for a couple of minutes, open, and gently slide on your plate and you have a fabulous entree that looks like you made from scratch! 

They actually slide out quite easily and surprisingly, the sides won't mix up together and you won't have a big, mushy mess of everything, This is not what I expected, to be honest! 

You can see the broccoli and cauliflower really look freshly steamed! Not to mention, everything tastes like real food. You would never know they came from the freezer. I think that was the most amazing part to me. Although, I am really digging these steam pouches! The rice, beans, all of the sides and sauces taste homemade and I have yet to have a pouch not cook evenly. 

It's hard to pick a favorite but if I had too, it would be the Red Wine Braised Beef and Polenta with Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Butternut Squash, and Cranberries. I always assume that any beef that comes in a box or from a freezer or a can of any kind, will taste like that beef stew from a can but, this is so flavorful and just melts in your mouth! Not to mention, all of the flavors blend together so well!

Another bonus with Luvo meals is that they stack nicely in your freezer. So, you can stock up and be sure to have at least one for each of your most hectic nights! 

I haven't tried any other Luvo products just yet, even though I would love too! I haven't had any luck finding them in a store near me but I have a feeling they will be there very soon. 

Luvo also offers Bowls which come in a paperboard bowl and also have a good variety so everyone is certain to find at least 3 or 5 that would please their palate! 

They also offer Planted Bowls that are also Non GMO, vegan, and gluten-free. 

One of the other reasons I am actually loving Luvo is that they are very active on social media! You can find them in all of the usual places and you can find out about Twitter parties, giveaways, new products, and free shipping and other deals! (Yes, you can actually buy Luvo meals online if you can't find them in a store near you! Or if you just feel like having them sent directly to your house!) 

Follow Luvo on Twitter!

and on Facebook!

and on Instagram! 

and Pinterest!

Moms Meet Wow Summit 2016

One of the best things about being a blogger is the community. I am always excited to attend conferences and meet fellow bloggers, successful bloggers, hear the speakers, take lots and LOTS of notes, and learn as much as possible from every person I meet. Of course, there are always a lot of perks to conferences and summits but, it's such a great experience to be able to sit down and meet so many people who are all striving for the same thing you are.

I have been a Moms Meet Blogger for quite some time now but, before this, I was (and I still am), a Mom Ambassador. If you're not familiar with Moms Meet or Mom Ambassadors, you should check them out and sign up if you fit either or both of these categories.

If you have some friends in your community, maybe you meet other parents while participating in soccer, baseball, your school's PTA (PTO), Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts troops, or even just at your local park, you could organize a "Mom Group". (Our group's name is actually, "Not Just 4 Moms".) The sky is the limit for what your group could do. For instance, you could help create events in your community, host fundraisers for your community or take on a project such as, cleaning the park, holding swap meets, or just to have a meeting once or twice a month so you can unwind and chat with other moms who know what it's like and have some snacks. (Or adult beverages!) Maybe your group will want to trade coupons, talk about new products on the market, give each other advice on what to use for different issues. Maybe your child has sensitive skin, or maybe you have a gluten allergy. Where do you go? Do you have any friends who deal with your same concerns?

Moms Meet comes into play for our mom groups/parenting groups, by offering "samplings". Brands like to get the word out about their products and they want people to buy them. Naturally! So, Moms Meet will send you emails with different samplings that are available and you could decide to apply or decline the application for your group. If you're chosen, the brand/sponsor will send you a box filled with whatever goodies they are trying to get the word out about, sometimes some fab prizes for you to giveaway during your meeting, coupons, samples, and full size products to use during your meeting. I have seen an ENORMOUS variety of products over the years. For instance, Mom Ambassadors recently sampled brands such as; Ragu, Dr Bronners, Ohso Chocolate, Nail Med products, Mrs Thinsters Cookie Chips, I mean, the list just keeps going and going.

The brands and products that you will have the opportunity to sample and share are great for people who focus on green living, organic, vitamins, probiotics, all the good stuff! Of course, you will be asked to take a few photos, fill out surveys, make a few social media posts, so the brands and Moms Meet can get your group's feedback on what you sampled. Don't have a mom's group and don't want to start one? There are opportunities for bloggers as well! You can apply for this in the same place you would a Mom Ambassador!

So, so far so good, eh? I know, it's like the best partnership to make when you are a blogger or in charge of a mom group! Yes, there is more!! A few years ago, Wow Summit came to life!! This is one of my most very favorite blogger and mom conferences I have ever been to! (Yes, you can join and attend whether you are a blogger or not!) You don't even have to be in a mom group or in charge of one! This is geared towards MOMS.

Every year, usually right at the end of summer/beginning of fall, Mom's Meet holds a 2 day summit called, Wow Summit. (As my mom always says, "Mom is wow, upside down!") This year this will be taking place in the DC area on October 7-8.

What do we do at Wow Summit? Well, basically everything fun! We have workshops for bloggers, workshops for moms, speaker sessions, a cocktail party the night before, meetings, a hall filled with sponsors galore! The sponsors will be there for both days to discuss what they have that I am certain you will be very interested in! You can try samples of their new products, grab some coupons, some of them even offer goody bags, and best of all, you get to talk with their reps and they really want to know what you are looking for and what you would like to buy and try! If you're a blogger, this is an excellent time to exchange some business cards!

Oh, there are also goody bags! Or swag bags, whatever you like to call these bags that are filled with samples, coupons, brochures, products, and swag, just for you to try. (If you receive goodies from sponsors, don't forget to thank them on social media, maybe give a shout out or 2 to the ones you really fell in love with, maybe share a picture, a blog post, and of course, talk with your friends and group about what you tried!) I have been to 2 Wow Summits and I have to say, the goody bags are phenomenal! I didn't make it last year due to transportation and the West Coast thing. (I'm over here in PA so, I kind of didn't get to make plans in time for California!) But, I can tell you that we left with far more than we arrived with in prior years!

I don't know about you but, I am more apt to purchase and do business with a brand who took their time to talk with me and sponsor such an awesome event like, Wow Summit. I know those brands are sincere and truly want to know my opinions and ideas and my business and that is who gets my business first. We have way to many sponsors to list here, so, I'm just going to link the list for you to check out here.

If you follow me on social media, you have probably already seen me running all over, tagging our sponsors and thanking them and talking them up because, most of them are brands we already use and love at our house. Like, National Geographic, Dr Bronners, Mrs Thinsters Cookie Chips, Solgar, Nordic Naturals, Go Organically, and Biokleen. (If you check out the list above on the link, Mom's Meet made a very thorough list with all of their social media buttons to make it easy on you!)

Ok, so, now how do you sign up and register?

You just grab a pass here! (I'll have a discount code for you down below too!)

Want to check out some of my favorite parts of Wow Summit 14? It was in Orlando, Florida, so, we took the whole family with for a 10 day vacation!!

One of my all time favorites! Sweet leaf Stevia! They had so many samples and we were able to sample their Sweet Drops and grab recipe cards while we were walking around, checking out all of the sponsors. We order Water Drops regularly. (If you want your kids or even your husband or yourself to drink more water but it's just so plain, you must rush over to their website and have a blast choosing flavors that I promise, will make every glass of water taste like a rainbow!

One of the neatest tables of them all! Kiwi! You probably know them by their magazine! If you don't, you have to check them out. They publish one of the best mom mags there is and every issue is chock full of tips, advice, information, recipes, lunch and snack ideas... I save the copies I have for future reference. 

This is the neatest flower I think I ever saw. A very sweet, older gentleman was selling these for donations on the street and I just couldn't help it. We "purchased" several of them and I still have them and they are still in perfect condition. 

Some more goodies we received at Wow Summit! Primal Pit Paste, Produce For Kids, and Nordic Naturals are just some of my favorite companies. All 3 are very active on social media and always available to answer questions and concerns! (That is one of my biggest "things". I will drop everything and run to the brands who spend their time getting to know their customers and fans!

This was one of the bags I received filled with samples and products!! 

I love both Mrs Thinsters Cookie Chips and Dippin Chips! They had the coolest reps at Wow Summit and gave us a full bag of each in our goody bags! 

We stayed at a campground in Kissimmee which was just a few minutes away from Wow Summit, This car show which happened every single night while we were there, was one of the highlights of our vacation! This was just one of my most favorites!

Are you still here?
Well, thanks for reading my memories and checking out some of my favorite parts of 2014! But, you kind of have to hurry to get on over to Moms Meet to register for this year's Wow Summit!! You won't be disappointed!!

If I Could Be Anywhere, I Would Be...

Ever since I was a little girl who wanted to grow up to be Holly Hobbie or Laura Ingalls, I wanted to travel to some of the most mysterious and alluring places. Here I am at 41 and I haven't left the continent yet! I dreamed of Austria, Hungary, (my ancestors came to the United States from there!), Poland, Russia, Australia, Iceland, Italy, Holland, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark, and The Netherlands, 

I devoured every book, rushed to the library to borrow any VHS tapes I could find about any of these faraway places, I anxiously awaited assignments in school where we could choose a country to learn and write about. I even started listening to shortwave radio stations from as many countries as I could pick up on my little transistor like radios. Even today, I will sit and watch other people's vacations on Youtube and if you check my viewing history, you'll find every documentary known to man, (or the world wide web)

I started to collect pen pals from these places, but the only friends who would write back were from Russia and Indiana. (Yes, I know Indiana is part of the United States!) but, one of the pen pal organizations I signed up with, paired me up with a girl named, Anna Laybarger, from Indiana. (By the way, if Anna is reading this or somebody who knows her is, please let her know I think about her a lot and would love to reconnect!) 

As I got older and had children of my own, I still long to visit these enchanting places. Maybe even more so now, since I can search for anything I want to know and find images, facts, people, video, the whole world is at my fingertips. As much as the internet fascinates me, I long for the days when we had to use encyclopedias, imagine, write letters and mail postcards.. So, I try to keep doing things this way so that my children have those same experiences. 

Since I am older and my budget for travel is limited, (for now.), I have found that there are just as many extraordinary places right here in my own country, (The United States). There are so many places I would like to see across this country. I do hope that someday, I can travel through each state and eat the local food, shop at the mom and pop shops, check out the local attractions and ride any roller coasters they may have there!

I was recently asked to write a post about where I would like to go for vacation and after thinking about this for a few days, I decided that I would be thrilled to drive cross country. Williamsburg, VA was at the top of my list until I decided that maybe, if I zig zag and plan accordingly, I can hit all of the spots I have on my list and find all of the treasures I can. Maybe a scavenger hunt kind of vacation? I do love scavenger hunts so, that just might end up being what my change jars get cashed in for.

Now I can't get Depeche Mode's, "Get your kicks on Route 66" out of my head! I will probably stay away from Route 66 if I can, just because that will be all I hear!

I don't know how much time I would need to get across the country and back and visit every state I wish to visit. I plan on camping whenever possible and eating all of the local food and shopping at all of the unique shops. (Lewes, Delaware is one of my favorites for things like this!) But, since Wow Summit takes place in San Diego this year, I just may have to drive from Pennsylvania to Chicago (after a few zig zags of course!) and hop onto Route 66.

Well it winds from Chicago to L. A.
More than two thousand miles all the way
Get your kicks on Route 66

Well it goes to St. Louis, down to Missouri
Oklahoma City looks oh, so pretty
You'll see Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico
Flagstaff, Arizona, don't forget Wynonna
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino

ProFlowers created this totally fun campaign, #MySummerStaycation. All you have to do is share your dream getaway on social media and don't forget to add the hashtag: #MySummerStaycation!

Kiwi's Next Great Young Chef Contest

I will be entering this awesome contest, one day! As soon as I can figure out how to work this new camcorder, I'm in! (Well, my kids will be.) I have watched a lot of the entries over the years and I am clueless as to how to edit, add music and do al of the fancy things they do but, we are mega foodies and love to cook and bake!

Anyway, from now through July 5, 2015, you and your little ones, have the opportunity to become, Kiwi's Next Great Young Chef! 

This is an annual contest and there are 3 categories to choose from! (Yes! A new category has been added for this year's contest! Cooking Together!)

Ages 4 to 8
Ages 9 to 14 and the new category for this year,
Cooking Together!

All you have to do to enter is check out the sponsors, create a recipe using products from the sponsors and create your video! This years sponsors are 2 yummy brands that we use at home, Bob's Red Mill and Nielsen Massey.

Bob's Red Mill, sells some of the best flours, seeds, granola, cereals, beans, mixes, oats, grains and gluten free products that are available on the market! We use a lot of their products and not only do they sell fabulous products, they are a brand you can trust. As they say, "Whole grains from the heart!" They are very active on social media and you can also find some scrumptious recipe ideas on their site!

Nielsen Massey, has been crafting the world's finest vanillas and flavors since 1907! Their products are enjoyed by restaurant and bakery chefs, manufacturers of premium foods, gourmet food shops and grocers and home consumers looking to enhance their fine cooking and baking.

Once you have your video complete, just upload your video and your recipe here! You have some time to get your video in, through July 5th. Voting will begin on July 31, 2015.

One winner in each category will be chosen and each winner will receive a prize pack from each sponsor, $1000 and a feature in Kiwi Magazine.

You can read the official rules and regulations here. 

Good luck to those who enter and if you aren't entering, please be sure to check back with Kiwi Magazine when the voting begins!

Veri Is So Very Tasty And A Giveaway For You!

** I received free products and coupons thanks to the Mom's Meet Blogger program and Veri Soda. All statements and opinions are my own. **



One thing you won't usually find in my house, is soda. I'm not a big soda drinker and I try to keep it from my kids as much as possible. We do have a lot of family gatherings, picnics, birthday parties, even PPV boxing parties. So, you might find a 12 pack or a case of regular soda for guests and our son will have a couple and be ecstatically happy because, he loves soda. Another reason we won't have soda in our house so often.... he will drink it all if it's here!

Deegan can't understand why his big brother is acting so ecstatically happy right now! But, Aaron read his fortune and said it reads, "You will be able to drink more soda now." Lol!


I was lucky enough to have this opportunity to try Veri Soda and we had 4 packs of all of their flavors, delivered to the house! Along with coupons good for free 4 packs! Naturally, soda in the house means, party! So, that's what we did :)





 

Here is our oldest son, going crazy because he is allowed to have soda lol!


 We are fortunate enough to have sleepovers, craft parties, all kinds of fun kid parties and our 2 middle children just love having friends over! Of course, when there are a bunch of kids running through the house, they have to eat and drink something, right? I usually try to go all out and do a theme for each sleepover and have a snack buffet or a DIY pizza and salad party, whatever the kids think of, we try to make it possible.


I am an organic/all natural mom for the most part, there are exceptions at times but we are keen on organic, healthy snacks and goodies. I have found over the years that almost every guest we have over is totally floored by how delicious and scrumptious all natural can be and I am always asked, "Where did you find this?". The organic soda was a huge hit and something needed because, I really don't like having to keep things from my kids that I know they enjoy and do deserve. I am just not satisfied with what is in regular or diet mainstream sodas.


I understand that water, juice and smoothies can get to be boring and it is nice to have a treat once in awhile. Which is why I was so happy to be able to allow my kids the opportunity to try Veri Soda and we can keep this in the house more often then regular sodas that I have to ration and feel guilty for denying my kids, in a way. Veri Soda has only good ingredients, it's also organic and non GMO and only 60 calories per serving! I don't think we even have a specific favorite, although, I believe Lemon Lime went first! Orange is quite scrumptious! Veri also has cola and ginger ale. We happen to love them all!


The bartender in me, (yes, I have been a bartender for 20+ years. Unfortunately, I recently had to give this job up for now, due to new injuries and worsening of my disorders/illnesses.) BUT, I love that Veri makes organic soda an option for patrons.  (Stay tuned for recipes and photos to be added ;) :)


I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet Blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog.  My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product. 

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Harvestland Review AND A Giveaway!

* I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product. *


How could I pass up on a brand who says, "Eat Like Your Ancestors"? I mean, that alone like, totally won me over!!
Not just that, but you can find some mighty tasty recipes on their site, errr, I'm sorry, "Old Time Recipes" < another winning tagline in my book! Especially in this day and age when there are so many icky headlines each day about how somebody found this or that in their food, or somebody did an experiment on this and found that this is bad...  How about we play it safe and just stick with what our ancestors ate, eh?



Some information about, Harvestand:

• No Antibiotics Ever
• Fed All-Vegetarian Diet With No Animal By-Products
• Raised Cage Free

With the HARVESTLAND® brand, the only thing you'll ever get is purely all-natural* chicken. We also know our chicken needs to taste good, too. So we pay attention to the little details, right down to the USDA Process Verified "Tenderness Guarantee" on our boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
HARVESTLAND® Turkey
Raised to the same high standards as our chicken, HARVESTLAND® turkey is fed an all-vegetarian diet with no antibiotics ever. And, of course, no hormones or steroids**.
HARVESTLAND® Pork
The latest addition to the HARVESTLAND® brand. Raised on family farms in the Midwest, fed an all-vegetarian diet with no animal by-products, our hogs never, ever receive antibiotics, hormones or steroids**.
HARVESTLAND® Organic Chicken
Our USDA-certified organic chicken represents our highest commitment to providing you the most-natural food. Raised without antibiotics on all-vegetarian diet of certified organic ingredients, our organic chickens live in a free-range environment on organic farms.

I had a bit of a time trying to track, Harvestland down but I ended up calling my local Redner's and finally demanding that they get this product in a little more often then when it's just on sale. (For the record, I live near absolutely nothing lol! Harvestland IS sold at Redners and Walmart... Redners just opened up not to long ago, about 15 miles from me and they always have a couple select Harvestland products in stock but they are still learning. Now, they have Harvestland chicken breast and chicken legs at all times because I finally drove them crazy!)


When I did find them, I was delighted and so excited that I gave up 1 of my coupons to the cashier that night because I went on and on and on about how wonderful this brand was and why I was grabbing 5 packs and using the coupons they provided! She was such a patient and kind cashier I just had to share. (I had a few other coupons, had to do a price check on Harvestland because the sale price wasn't marked on the packages and I had a cart full of groceries, it was the least I could do.)

Oh, before I get to crazy here about Harvestland chicken, turkey and pork products, I have to tell you about the packaging!!

If I could have jumped up and down, I would have! (I have medical issues with my bones, tissues, tendons, neuro chronic pain arthritis fibro RSD MS blah blah blah so, I actually can't jump up and down, lol!) But, there are times I am so excited about what may seem to be the tiniest things to some and since I can't jump up and down, I kind of scream and giggle and yell things like, "OH MY GOD! Didja see this??" and yes, my husband usually just rolls his eyes and ends up calling me a nerd. My kids all laugh and they get excited to and then it's just a big old family cheer about weather models, a new cooking trick or utensil or uhhh the way my chicken breast was packaged.


Ok, so, the chicken breasts come inside a package, right? But, this next part is unreal.... The chicken breasts are then packaged separately in their very own packs so that you don't have to repackage them or even waste or anything crazy like that! YES, you heard me correctly, THE INDIVIDUAL CHICKEN BREASTS ARE WRAPPED UP SEPARATELY INSIDE THE PACK!
Do you realize what this means? Well, let me tell you what it means! It means, you can open these when you get home from the store and freeze them separately and defrost separately. You can grill one up for a lovely grilled chicken salad for lunch while the kids are in school or you can use 1 and a half packs and not have to bag up the other half and use tomorrow. The possibilities are endless really and yes, so exciting! (You can also just take 1 out so you can make the best chicken salad ever. You know that kind that has all of the neat stuff inside that only you eat and you don't want to waste it so you just want to make a small amount?)


I planned a week's worth of meals ahead of time to use our new chicken. (Yes, I would have loved to try their kielbasa and turkey however, my closest Redners does not carry these products, YET. But, I found a Redners who does and they are just a little further away.)  I asked the kiddos what they would like to use our new chicken for and they helped plan our meals. (I found that the more I include them in meal planning and preparing, the better chances I have of them actually eating those meals.)


We are big fans of Frontier Soups so, we rummaged through our leftover bags (I'm between orders!) to find a suitable soup for our freezing cold, windy, snowy night's dinner. This winter has been a pain, I don't remember a colder, windier winter. I do remember snowier winters but we have had snow and ice storms almost every other day since we came home from Wow Summit, in November! So, we have been eating lots and lots of soup!

Frontier Soups are very versatile. You can add chicken or shrimp or whatever your soup lovin heart desires! We chose their South of the Border Tortilla Soup and added Harvestland chicken that I roasted in the oven for 30 minutes at 400 degrees. (I usually only use olive oil, salt and pepper.)

I can sum this meal and Harvestland chicken up in one sentence.Our 11 year old son said, "MOM! Now, this, is what chicken should always taste like!"


He's right.  I didn't really expect such a difference in taste. I was way wrong for thinking that. I seriously don't recall a time we had chicken this good and I can't imagine eating anything but Harvestland chicken. Our 8 year old even went crazy and said, "You should always get this chicken now! It tastes like real chicken!" That was night #1.


I had one chicken breast left from the first pack so, I decided to keep an extra one out of the second pack for chicken quesadillas for the next day. ( A snow day, like every other Monday this winter.) and who doesn't love quesadillas? Plus, we had leftover soup too! (Yes, I use paper plates on busy days, lol!)

I usually roast the chicken but sometimes I will use my George Foreman grill to make the chicken and I always use the Foreman grill for quesadillas! They are fast, easy to make and much healthier. These are also made to order since some like, "little chicken" some like, "extra chicken", some like, "no cheese" and some like, "extra cheese", so basically, I'm at the grill  until every single quesadilla is done and everybody is almost finished. This was another success story! Our 4 year old who is super picky, he even ate some of the chicken he keeps hearing everybody rave about!


I was starting to think that maybe the fact that Harvestland was the talk of the town at the moment, (ok, the talk of our house..), that maybe that was somehow feeding into the almost Hollywood esque type of comments, eyes popping out of our heads, it was starting to look like we were all in some commercial. So, I defrosted our normal brand of chicken and decided to make some chicken karaage.


I thought if I make 2 pans of chicken karaage, one of Harvestland and one of our normal brand, I could tell for sure if all of the cravings and late night leftover snacks was all just in our heads or was this real.....


I marinated the chicken in Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki, for about an hour. Then, I coated chicken pieces in a cornstarch, planko and spices mix and then I baked at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes.


I did make more of these and fried them in olive oil and just used cornstarch after receiving a better recipe and they turned out just as good, if not better!

Of course I knew which pan was different and even though I could tell the difference right away and yes, it is a very big difference, I still thought, maybe this is in my head. Well, sure enough, EVERYBODY could tell the difference. I quizzed each member of the family and unfortunately, the Harvestland pan disappeared and all we had left was our normal chicken. I got stuck eating some of that and after eating Harvestland, not even a vat of teriyaki sauce was going to save it.


Next up was chicken cordon bleu!


I cooked the chicken in a frying pan with olive oil, salt and pepper and then added chicken stock, garlic onions, cooked a bit more and then added swiss cheese and then ham.
This is always a hit for the grown ups at our house! The kids will eat it just fine as long as I make some without swiss cheese and ham.

(Yes, I know, paper plates again. It was a super busy week!)


I know this is super long, I promise you are almost at the very end. I just have one more picture to share with you and this was our chicken and waffles dinner.



I don't know if this is a Pennsylvania thing but, we eat chicken and gravy over waffles here. I did add veggies and made a thicker gravy with some hidden ingredients like, parsley, garlic, rosemary and a few other herbs I had leftover. I was making some bland waffles and I'm all about flavor!!
No leftovers after this dinner. None at all and sadly, this was our night to bid farewell to our Harvestland stash. (Until I get back to Redners of course!)

I did receive coupons that were good for $5 off of my purchase of Harvestland products and I used a few and gave a gift to my cashier and I am reluctantly saving 3 to give to one very lucky reader!!

I also received the cutest, old fashioned magnet timer and my new favorite set of measuring cups! They are copper and so pretty!! Both of these items fit Harvestland's whole brand and I appreciate these extra gifts very much!

These coupons expire on 5/31/2015 and can be used wherever Harvestland is sold. (I can find them at Walmart and Redners but I think if you check their site, they are available at more stores!)

The winner will receive all 3 coupons and you will probably have a wrinkled envelope, the wrinkles will be my dried up tears since I parted with these but, I really think something this awesome must be shared ;)

If you are not going to enter the giveaway, kindly check out Harvestland's social networks!

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Instagram

Google+


Now, for the giveaway!
Good luck!!
















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Monk Fruit in the Raw Review

** I received a sample of this product from Monk Fruit in the Raw through the Moms Meet Blogger program, in return for my honest review. **

I am always on the lookout for healthier products to replace things that aren't so healthy. I think we're doing pretty good here, we still need about 20% replaced. (even if only some of the time!)
Of course I was very eager to try, Monk Fruit in the Raw. Moms Meet hosted a webinar and we were able to learn all about this brand and what benefits our families would get from this. Naturally, I was enthusiastic when our package came, after hearing and reading all about this zero calorie sweetener, I already had a few recipes I wanted to replace half of the sugar in.
(Monk Fruit in the Raw is great as a sugar substitute! Again, it is no calorie and all natural!) You can use it in your coffee, tea, even cocktails! Speaking of that, I have been a bartender for 20 years and love using, Sugar in the Raw to rim glasses with! Guess what? Same company!
If you would like to use Monk Fruit in the Raw for baking, they do suggest you only replace half of the amount of sugar! Regular sugar is very crucial to baked goods browning, moisture and rising.
Monk Fruit in the Raw is naturally sweeter than sugar. It is blended with maltodextrin, a natural ingredient. This blend helps create the perfect balance of sweetness, making it easier to pour and measure.

Of course, the possibilities are endless with, Monk Fruit in the Raw for recipes.

You can find lots and lots of recipes on their website. Recipes ranging from, pumpkin pie frappe to cranberry pear relish to peppermint brownies! I am on a mission to try all of the beverage recipes they have on their website ;)
You can also find out where to buy their products and find some coupons! (That's always helpful, especially when trying new products!)
I did replace regular sugar in my morning coffee with, Monk Fruit in the Raw packets and thought it tasted plenty sweet and although I love sugar, I continue to replace sugar at least every other day, sometimes, every other cup of coffee. (It's better than nothing, right?)
Oh, one packet also goes a long, long way when you use it on cereal, oatmeal or even berries for breakfast!
We decided we would try the Monk Fruit in the Raw Bakers Bag out for our special, soft, sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles.
I was a bit worried about how these would turn out. I figured they would be fine but I wasn't sure if my husband and the kids would be able to tell a difference. I replaced exactly half of the sugar with, Monk Fruit in the Raw and kept it a secret. (I don't know why, but sometimes if I tell them that I am trying something new or adding something, the assume it will be different and make decisions before actually trying it.)

Here is our soft sugar cookie recipe:

1 cup of butter (softened)
3/4 cup sugar (do half sugar and half Monk Fruit in the Raw! I promise you won't be able to tell!)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups of flour
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt


In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
Combine the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Gradually add to the creamed mixture.
Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until light, golden brown.
Remove to wire racks and cool.

I use a few different icing recipes, sometimes, it just depends on the ingredients we have available at the time/ Other times, we just choose whichever we're in te mood for.
The icing recipe we used for our, Monk Fruit in the Raw cookies:

2 egg whites
1/4 ts[ salt
1/4 cup sugar (I also switched a couple teaspoonfuls of sugar for Monk Fruit in the Raw.)
3/4 cup light corn syrup
1 tsp vanilla

Beat eggs and salt until foamy.
Add sugar, beat until still peaks form.
Bring corn syrup to boil over medium to medium high heat and pour into mixture.
Add vanilla and continue to beat until you have stiff peaks.

We use all kinds of colored sprinkles, non perils. red hots, whatever we feel like decorating our cookies with. The little ones usually take care of the sprinkle part, which is nice because I do love extra sprinkles!

These tasted just as deliciously sweet as they do with sugar.
Nobody was able to tell the difference, so, I will be replacing   half of the sugar in all of our baking recipes!!

Have you ever tried to make a switch to a zero calorie sweetener? How did it turn out?

Moms Meet Wow Summit is Less Then A Month Away!!

I have been working like crazy to get everything caught up and done in time for Moms Meet's #WOWsummit, I am going on a few hours of sleep most nights and drinking twice the amount of coffee!!
On top of that, I am still trying to get our newest website started. I have a few notebooks worth of posts but I'm afraid to start posting there until I find a very cool design or cab save the money to pay somebody to design my new site. All of this has to wait until AFTER Wow Summit, which is ok, because I am so anxious for Orlando and having this extra week of summer, that everything else has been sorta put on the backburner. (Other then regular old errands, housework, kid stuff, blogging and connecting with brands that I absolutely love to pieces!!)
You know, typical mommy stuff!
These last few weeks before we head on to Florida is just getting crazier and crazier and crazier! I keep writing to do lists and more work comes in and more school and sports related stuff with the little ones and the last week before we leave, the kids have 3 doctor appointments, 3 dentist appointments, 3 eye doctor appointments and I have 4 appointments. AAAAHHHHH!!! ;)
I thought it would be wise to cram it all in before we go so that when we come back, life will be sort of easy for a while. (At least a little bit!)
I am starting to wonder if I should just reschedule all of these appointments and wait until we come home. But, we are in PA and our winter in 2013/2014 was pretty brutal. So far, meteorologists are warning of an even worse winter this season, and it wasn't a super warm summer and our fall started very fast and pretty cold! (We already had to use our coal heat a few times because the temperature dropped pretty fast!)
SOOOO, what is the point of this post?? I think the point is, I COULD USE SOME TIPS!!!!
What is it like in Orlando?
Where should we stay?
What should we do?
Where should we stop on our way there and back?
(Oh, and don't worry! I am very careful about advertising online about when we won't be home. I am just to excited about attending my first Wow Summit and meeting some of our favorite brands, I can't help it! BUT, we have house sitters and a very cute, cuddly pitbull who happens to not take to kindly to bad people. So, we are good!)
Anyway, back to Orlando. I have never been there! I was never in Florida and never really thought about going but since Moms Meet asked me to attend, I have been learning all about this wonderful state and city and now I wish I had visited before.
We know for a fact that we will be visiting, Disney! That just has to happen. Genevive would never, ever let us go anywhere near Florida, without going at least twice.
One thing I am trying to find, are discounts for Disney! I have to admit, I was not expecting the prices I found and I have yet to find a legitimate discount, through any travel agent or discount website.
The next definite day trip is, Lego Land! I did find discounts for Lego Land. (hint: if you are ever looking for discounts, check your kids' Lego Magazines!) I always see the coupons in the kiddos magazines so luckily, we found 1 so far that expires in March of next year so we should be good there! 
We are planning to stay at the Nick Hotel and surprise the kids with this. (Especially since they already know what is going on with Disney and Lego Land) I have been reading mixed reviews and I am getting a little bit nervous about paying a rather (to me), large amount of money for a hotel room. We are usually camping so this is kind of new to us and I was a bit floored by the prices. However, they do have some nice deals!!
I want this trip to be the best ever for all of us, especially the kids. I am planning and hoping and praying like crazy, that this will be the trip of a lifetime for them and will give them something to talk about for the rest of their lives.
Moms Meet Wow Summit will be taking place, November 7th, 8th and 9th, so I will be busy those days. That's when my husband gets to have the 3 little ones with him! (Hahaha!!) I'm sure they will have plenty of fun. If we stay at Nick Hotel, they will have enough to do right there that they won't need to leave the premises. They have a huge pool, waterparks, basketball courts, restaurants, playgrounds, even a mall! So, that will probably be where we spend most of our time.
If you have ever been to Orlando, or live there, please help us plan our itinerary!!
I would love any comments, tips, suggestions, for places to eat, sightsee, play, visit, wherever. Oh, and especially any money saving tips!
I have a couple, Entertainment Books and I will be checking Groupon and other deal sites for some gift cards and places to eat and things to do.  But, any other pointers are very much appreciated!
Please also comment and let me know if you will be attending, Wow Summit too! I am counting down the days and hoping to meet other like minded moms and bloggers and of course, looking forward to meeting the brands we already use and buy as well as brands we haven't tried yet.
I trust Moms Meet and have had nothing but wonderful experiences with everything we have learned about, tried and been introduced too. So, I know they will take care of us super well!

One of the Best Inventions of All Time! Kupp Review

I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetsSM blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

 We received these adorable glasses in the mail and as soon as I opened the box to see what we would find inside, Deegan, (our 4 year old), squealed with delight and grabbed the cute little box that his favorite color, red, was in. 

We immediately opened the red Kupp and filled it with his favorite, iced tea. His little eyes sparkled and he giggled and shrieked and took very good care of his new little red glass with a handle that made him a "big boy".
He already had everything planned out, who would get what color, what color would his nieces use when they come to visit, (Yes, I am a YOUNG grandma ;) and he drank anything I would fill his new best friend with, (which is why I kept re filling it with ice water!) He just loves, loves, loves his new glass and I wash it several times a day so that he can use it, every time he has a drink. 

He carries it with him as if it is a stuffed toy, he handles it so well, hanging onto the handle, uses a coaster and turns into quite the tiny gentleman when he uses it. 
It is absolutely the most cutest thing I believe I have ever seen! 
Our 7 year old, Genevive, is the same way with her yellow cup. She just has to have this glass at all times and she even does little curtsies and acts like a precious, little princess when she sips milk and lemonade. 

Aaron, is 11 but he is still a little boy, (thank goodness! Time goes by, way, way, way to fast.) But, he took kindly to the blue glass and actually the orange glass. He likes to draw and draw and draw and then, draw some more...so, Mr. Sophisticated, loves to sit at the kitchen table and hang out with mommy, while I am having coffee and working on my to do lists, bills, laptop or whatever paperwork is getting done at the time. He also enjoys sitting with mom and dad after dinner while we have coffee, (yes, I am an addict!!) and discuss more about the day or near future plans, that didn't get addressed during dinner. 
I noticed big, big, BIG changes to all of our little ones' attitudes immediately after receiving this package from, Kupp. I am more then grateful for this product for many reasons. 
One of the best things that came from this review was the fact that we don't need any sippy cups, at all anymore. Deegan was still using a sippy cup sometimes and we have been trying to get him to just do away with them for good. Nothing seemed to work. He was able to use regular glasses and cups just fine but he still needed his favorite Spiderman cup. He doesn't use any anymore, he is only interested in his red Kupp. 
I'm certain that your children, boys or girls will fall in love with their very own, personalized glasses and some of the sweetest and most awesome things will come from such a simple, little product. 
On top of all of the benefits I mentioned, these are super easy to clean, easy to keep clean, brightly colored and just plain old, cute! I even adore the packages these come in. 
This again, just proves to me that sometimes the tiniest of things are the most valuable and teach the best lessons.

About The Kupp:

I was happy to read how, Kupp, originally started! 
Kate Oliver, became aware of all of the harmful chemicals that children are exposed to daily and the fact that they are also super messy! While raising 3 boys of her own, she realized how much fun it is to have a sink full of dirty glasses and finding treasure troves of plastic parts and cups through the house. (Who doesn't love that?) All of this inspired her to create some cool glasses for her boys, each their own personalized color, which would end up creating a cleaner kitchen and much less plastic!

 The Kupp’, a six ounce BPA free kids drinking glass with a colorful silicone sleeve, is designed for children three and older. Produced in Europe and the US, the glass and the sleeve adhere to the strictest quality standards for both the US and Europe. The Kupp’ glass is certified lead and cadmium free, made from a pure soda-lime formula and completely dishwasher safe. The grip-friendly silicon sleeve is BPA/BPS free, medical food grade silicon and comes in a range of colors. You won’t find a better made cup for children.

Do you have any of these for your children? Please comment and let us know what you think!!




You can connect with the Kupp online and on  Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook. 

Dave's Killer Bread Review and Recipes

Disclaimer: I received this product free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.



I just love bread, rolls, the seedier, the better. (and the healthier the better of course!) But, I eat it plain, with butter, with peanut butter, with salad, soup, in soup, with spaghetti, I mean, it's an everyday staple at our house and it is something I have been wishing to find a better option for. 
I received a box of 2 loaves of, Dave's Killer Bread and not only is the packaging fun, the little book I received with them is super cool! I was also surprised that I could actually smell the bread as soon as I opened the box, yes, through the plastic! I live in Pennsylvania so, it came pretty far and still smelled fresh! 

We go through loaves and loaves of bread every week at our house and I really, really wish for healthier options for all of us. Unfortunately, there aren't any retailers who sell, Dave's Killer Bread, near us, however, they do offer options to buy online. (They are a little pricier for us East Coasters but, after trying this bread, I think it's an option we will be using at least once a month.)
Dave's Killer Bread mentions that they are, "The Best Bread in the Universe", I have to agree 110% with this statement. I don't know if I have ever eaten such a hearty, seedy, delicious, low calorie or even high calorie bread such as this before. (I can even taste it while I type this and I miss it so very much!)
My husband is even in love with this bread and he isn't often one who goes head over heels for anything lol! But, he used up most of the bread for his fancy fried egg sandwiches and regular, old, hard boiled egg sandwiches. He insists it is the ONLY bread to be used for such a #Killereggsandwich. 

I believe this is just a simple recipe but I told him I would share it. (He won't give me his fried egg sandwich recipe until I order more so, I will share hopefully very soon!)

He uses mayonnaise and slices up a couple hard boiled eggs and places them between the 2 pieces of, Dave's Killer Bread, and VOILA!

I hard boil my eggs like this:

I put the room temperature eggs in a large pot, fill with water and set on the stove. 

I usually set between medium and high and wait for the water to come to a rolling boil.. 

I set the timer for 10 minutes and let it boil away.

When 10 minutes is up, I turn the burner off but allow the pot of water and eggs to sit for an additional 7 to 10 minutes.

After the additional sitting time, I place the pot in the sink and run cold water over the eggs until they are nice and cold.

This has always been the best way for me to achieve the best, most peelable, perfect yolk, eggs. 

The kids took a liking to it super quick, peanut butter tastes divine on Dave's Killer Bread. So does peanut butter and marshmellow cream, (my personal favorite!). We also made some amazingly scrumptious, #Killerturkeybaconclubs that seriously topped any turkey bacon clubs I ever tried and yes, I try every diner's turkey bacon club, anywhere we go. 

I really love this bread for home made croutons! I didn't have to add anything but, salt and pepper and olive oil of course!
They keep very well and they don't require a lot of preparation or anything and they taste amazing!!
I just cut up the heels of the bread and a few slices of each type that we received to do our review and threw in a baking dish.

I set the oven at 250 degrees and just checked every 10 minutes or so, stirred them up and added salt and pepper a little at a time until they were crispy and ready for salad!
Oh, I almost forgot, Dave's Killer Bread is not only tasty and healthy and low calorie, it is all organic and non GMO. (They are verified through The Non GMO Project and even though I prefer to believe the brands themselves rather then the Non GMO Project and their "labels", I have to throw that in there because I know there are fans of the Non GMO Project.) I must also mention that I would feel perfectly safe and fine purchasing and consuming, Dave's Killer Bread without that label. Because, I trust them as a brand and I don't put a lot of faith into a third party getting between me and the brand themselves. 
Now, onto some real fascinating  facts about, Dave's Killer Bread as a company. They believe in, "Second Chances" and they don't just say this, they believe it and they are all action, not just talk. 
As a matter of fact, 30% of their employees are ex felons, including, Dave himself.  You can read more about their story, here. 

This is something that is also important to me, even if I am not an ex felon, I firmly believe that they should be given second chances too. This wonderful gesture and part of Dave's Killer Bread's history, is a very important reason as to why I will trust this brand and purchase their products. (and Dave, if you are reading this, please come to PA! I would be purchasing much more often then our once a month "treat" for ourselves!!)

You can learn more about their company in this video:




 I don't know what there is NOT to love about this product or company. They even have clever names for their bread, like, Blues Bread, The Good Seed, Rockin Rye and Spelt. (Those are just a few of my favorites!)
 You can connect with Dave's Killer Bread on Facebook and Twitter.
 Have you tried, Dave's Killer Bread?
 Please comment and let us know what you thought! Which is your favorite?

We Fell in Love with WorldFoods Sauces

 I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetsSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Medai Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

I was more then thrilled to have this opportunity to try, WorldFoods Fusion of Flavors cooking sauces! 

I love to cook and try to attempt something new, whether it's a new style, flavor, food, as often as I can. (of course the kids sometimes end up giving new dinners just 1 or 2 stars) But, we're on a roll lately with our pile of, "Yes! Try again!" or "Yum! Add to our regular menu" recipes. 

So far, everything I've tried with, WorldFoods cooking sauces has been a hit!

We love Asian and Indian foods and I do use a couple of those awesome meal/ingredient delivery services. This is a fun way to try new recipes, not to mention, receive ingredients that I would otherwise have to drive an hour one way to purchase. 

They usually have a good variety of Asian dishes so we often end up making again and again and changing some of the ingredients to fit our family and eating style better. 

Our package of WorldFoods sauces arrived just in time to try that evening and all I have to say is, WOW!

We received a really cool little book to write notes and our favorite recipes and tips inside, (yes, it is almost filled! I love recipes and notes!)

Indian Tandoori marinade and stir fry sauce, Thai Galangai Lemon Grass stir fry sauce, Thai Green Curry cooking sauce and Malaysian Style Rendang Curry cooking sauce. 

As you can see from the photos, Indian Tandoori was our first choice!

I was already planning on chicken that evening, so I used olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper with the chicken and  waited until it was cooked through, then added, Indian Tandoori sauce. (I'm a bit of a messy cook, so of course a few drops landed on the counter lol!) I wanted more to spill after I tried it because it was definitely full of flavor and had such a sweet yet tangy taste!
I also made some couscous and added spinach with the couscous, during the last few minutes in boiling water, and VOILA! 

Genevive, our 7 year old, went absolutely nutty over this chicken! 
I even tried some of the sauces as dipping sauces when I make homemade fried chicken (baked, not really fried) and homemade chicken fingers. (Yes, I'm a dipper!)
Another quick and painless recipe we tried was just as yummy as our Indian Tandoori chicken.

I used Thai Green Curry cooking sauce for this fabulous chicken stir fry dish! (I added 2 tablespoons of peanut butter and some soy sauce as well)
I changed this recipe from an original recipe I used before and liked that I could use the Thai Green Curry sauce which has lemon grass already in it! It's rare I come across lemon grass at my "local" grocery store, so this was a blessing!
I stir fried yellow bell pepper and mushrooms with olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper and added kale with this, rather then noodles. 
Then I stir fried the cubed chicken with olive oil, salt and pepper and then added the Thai Green  Curry sauce, peanut butter and soy sauce.
The amount of real flavors in these sauces are just amazingly good. It really helps make your homemade meals taste more "gourmet" and is much better then take out or restaurant food. 
I can pronounce every ingredient and I know what the ingredients are. 
For instance, Indian Tandoori sauce has ;
water, dried chili, sugar, coconut milk, salt, garlic, lime juice, tapioca starch, dried birds eye chili, citric acid, cumin, coriander seeds, black pepper, cloves, turmeric and cinnamon.
I absolutely go crazy over brands that actually try and help people eat healthier and not have to sacrifice flavor. WorldFoods does just that!
The other reason we will be using their cooking sauces and marinades from now on, is because all WorldFoods recipes contain ;
No artificial colors, no artificial flavoring, no artificial preservatives, no cholesterol, no corn/maize, no egg, no gluten, no milk/lactose, no peanuts, no sesame, no soya and non GMO.
I also really enjoy their website where you can find tons of recipes!
We have some of these allergies in our house so WorldFoods is a perfect fit!

100-percent natural, fresh ingredients to create each of its unique flavors.

Currently the brand offers 65 different sauces, dips, and marinades all inspired by the tastes of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, China, and India.

These sauces are perfect for individuals with dietary constraints. Each of their products are allergen and gluten free!

Free of added oil, trans fat, artificial ingredients, preservatives, or food flavor enhancers.

The retail price for WORLDFOODS sauces varies based on retailer. To find a store near your visit: worldfoods.com.my/wf/where_to_buy/index.php.