Healthy After School Snacks

I received this product for free from Moms Meet to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided in the form of a gift card.

    The boys are back in school and we all are so happy! The boys were getting bored and mom needed some quiet time. It is amazing how much noise two boys can make. I do love my boys but those hours that they are at school keeps me sane and also allow time to get some work done. When the boys get home from school, I am happy to see them. The boys always talk to me about their day as they are washing their hands so they can have a snack. It seems like they don't get enough to eat at school as they are so hungry when they get home. I always try to give my boys a healthy snack so it does not spoil their appetite for dinner. The 10-year-old ( in the white shirt) is also a picky eater and on the small side. His 9-year-old brother ( in the blue shirt) is 3 inches taller and 20 pounds heavier.  So my motto with the picky eater is "make every calorie count." 

   So when it comes to snack food, I buy healthy snacks that taste good. As this mom knows if it does not taste good, they won't eat it. So when my boys saw me taking pictures of the Lundberg Family Farms Grounded Snacks Red Rice & Quinoa Tortilla Chips, they were excited to try them as they don't get tortilla chips that often. I don't buy chips so the only time they get them is at parties or at a friends house. I think the colored bags and the picture of the chips on the bag are what enticed them. It seems like they always want to eat when I am taking pictures.

This mom was happy that they wanted to try the chips. I was even amazed that the picky child wanted to try them. So I gave them both a chip to sample and waited for their reaction. I tasted one too and they had a great taste. I knew that the 9-year-old would like them as he is my healthy eater. I never have to remind him to eat fruit. The other boy may like something one day and the next day he says it tastes different. Both boys ate their chip and wanted more. In fact, I had to stop them from eating the chips long enough to get a picture. Once I got the picture those two ate the whole bag of   Red Rice & Quinoa Tortilla Chips. I managed to grab a few for myself before those two started fighting over the crumbs. The 10-year-old said, "I love the taste of Pink Himalaya Salt!" The next thing that I knew, those two boys were trying to decide which bag to try next. The one thing that I love about these chips is how flavorful they are without having a lot of sodium in them.

I love that my boys are enjoying a snack that is made with whole grains. The USDA Certified Organic ingredients are awesome too! When the older son started reading the ingredients, he said: " mom they put organic in front of every word." I told that is because every ingredient is organic and they are also GMO-free. I just love that my boys are excited to learn about nutrition. I am trying to teach them how each food helps their body. So they know that these chips have iron in them that is good for their blood, protein for their muscles, and whole grains for energy. These chips are also gluten free and vegan.

The next day the boys decided to try the Cinnamon Sugar flavor. They did share with me this time and I think the picky eater ate the most chips. I am glad they don't care for spicy food so I will get the Ancho Chile bag all to myself. The boys proved me wrong on that assumption of spicy food. When I opened up the Ancho Chile flavor, they wanted to try one and they loved the mild spicy sweet flavor. Even my husband loved this flavor and he usually won't try food made with quinoa. Now I have to buy more of these. Maybe then I will get more than a couple of chips.

These delicious chips also come in French

Onion and Aged White Cheddar too. I am glad they sell these chips at the Sprouts near me and on Amazon as the boys want me to buy more.  To find a store near you that sells, Lundberg Family Farms Grounded Snacks Red Rice & Quinoa Tortilla Chips visit:

http://www.lundberg.com/where-to-buy/

Connect with Lundberg Family Farms online to

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About Lundberg Family Farms Grounded Snacks

Red Rice & Quinoa Tortilla Chips

• Lundberg Family Farms is dedicated to remaining a family-owned,

independent company committed to farming practices that fuel a

healthier planet.

• They are passionate about taking the organic grains they grow and

pairing them with the most unique and flavorful organic spices from

around the world.

• The Red Rice & Quinoa Tortilla Chips are USDA Certified Organic,

whole grain, gluten free, allergen free, Non-GMO Project Verified,

vegan, and kosher.

• They are available in five flavors: Cinnamon Sugar, Ancho Chile, French

Onion, Aged White Cheddar, and Pink Himalayan Salt.

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Workout Tips For Stay At Home Moms

Enjoying a workout at the park while the boys play.

 My kids go to school so I have no excuse when it comes to working out. I have the time to go to the gym or go running. I have many friends with little kids who always complain that they wish they had time to work out.  I remember when my kids were little and how tough getting some exercise was. I knew that exercise was important not only for my health but also my mind. So I always made sure to workout at least three times a week and some days I had to be creative in order to get that exercise as it was not always easy exercising with little kids. I want to share some of my ways stay at home moms can get that healthy exercise and stop making excuses. The best part is you don't need a gym membership or have to work around your husband's schedule.

Stroller Walking

   My favorite and easiest way to exercise when my kids were little was walking. I would put my child in the stroller and we would go for a fast walk. To make my walk easier, I would park my open stroller by the front door so it was always ready to go. I would always try to walk right after my kids ate so they would not get hungry during the walk as it was a pain to find somewhere to nurse the baby. As my kids got older, they still rode in the stroller until they were 5 years old. My kids learned that mom was walking and they were riding. To make my kids enjoy our walks we would walk to the park for playtime. I always choose a park that was far away from the house so I got my exercise. The park would be great for ensuring the kids took a nap on the walk home. I also had a twin stroller for the youngest two boys as they were 16 months apart. The twin stroller gave me a great workout. If you have a store nearby, then walk to the store for exercise when you need just a couple items.

Tip: Make sure you eat a healthy snack before walking so you have the energy.

Sponsored post: I received samples of  Nuzest's Just Fruit & Veggie to facilitate this post.

Working Out Indoors

Walking was my favorite way to exercise but on days it was too cold or windy, I would put on music and just dance. My kids loved this dancing time with mom. My house has stairs so I would also walk up and down the stairs. My boys had such fun chasing mom up and down the stairs. You can also use a workout DVD to help with your exercise.

Tip: Make a game of cleaning up toys during this time. See how fast you and the kids can run the toys upstairs to their bedroom/playroom.

 I know how busy moms are with kids and finding time to eat healthy can be tough. So instead of eating those chicken nuggets, make yourself a smoothie that requires no blender. I really love Nuzest's Just Fruit & Veggie. This delicious smoothie has 5 fruits + 5 veggies in each serving so there is no need for chopping up those fruits, as who has that kind of time. I just place two scoops in a shaker cup of almond milk and I have a meal in a glass with 14 grams of protein, fiber, and all those fruits & veggies. The Wild Berry flavor tastes like a strawberry milkshake (dairy-free of course.) All three flavors are gluten-free, soy-free, GMO-free, dairy-free, and 100% vegan.

Tip: Exercising three days a week for 30 minutes keeps your body healthy. For weight loss do five days for 45 minutes each time.

Park Exercise

Have fun at the park with the kids. Hanging on the monkey bars is great for your stomach muscles and arms. If you are able, try to do some pull-ups. Climb up the slides and play tag with the kids. Swinging is also great exercise. When you kids want you to push them on the swings, get some leg lunges in. I like to also do laps around the park/playground equipment. Bring a jump rope and kettlebell weights with. The key is to keep moving. You can also do this workout in your backyard while the kids play on the swingset. If you are in your own yard, you will feel more comfortable in moving more. Put on the headphones and march in place for on song then do the monkey bars. March in place again and then do the kettlebells and so on.

Home Exercise Equipment

If your children take naps this is a good choice as you can run on a treadmill. My boys were not nappers so I did not use any exercise equipment. I found it impossible to work out on machines when the kids were awake as I had to worry about their safety. My boys wanted to use the machines as I was using them and telling them no and get away made the workout useless.

Swiming

This is good if your kids are older and good swimmers. When my boys are in the pool, I do arm and leg exercises and also treading water while watching them at the same time. Water has a great resistance to work those muscles. I also run and jump in place in the water. My boys love when I use them as my weights in the water. I lift them up and down in the water for great arm and stomach exercise. They also love having swimming races.

Bike riding

This is also best with older kids who can bike for one or more miles. They ride their bikes and you walk fast trying to keep up with them. You can also get a bike trailer for the kids to ride in while you bike. 

These are just some of the ways that I would exercise when my boys were little. I still do some of them when the boys are home from school. I never used a gym when my boys were little as it cost too much money nor did I rely on my husband to watch the kids. I just made exercise an important part of my life like eating, sleeping, and brushing my teeth. Our bodies need exercise to stay healthy as well as good food. We moms need to take the time to take care of ourselves even are super busy moms. Exercising and eating healthy will not only keep us well but it will make us feel good. You might even lose all the baby weight from many years ago. So stop making excuses and go for a walk today.  Then grab a protein smoothie as extra protein will help tone those muscles. 

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Wyndham Albuquerque Hotel VIP Event

A favorite Albuquerque hotel has a new name and a new look!

      Last night the younger boys and I had an opportunity to check out the newly remodeled
 Wyndham Albuquerque Hotel. Most people in Albuquerque know this hotel for its wonderful indoor waterpark. I am excited to tell you that this hotel has new owners and a newly remodeled contemporary look. I am in love with the colors and designs that they selected. I was not able to get a picture of the rooms but they were very fancy. The rooms had new granite vanities and tile floors. Once my family has a chance to stay at the hotel, I will update this post with a video review of the rooms. My boys want to stay the night at this hotel so they can enjoy the indoor waterpark.

     I love that this place serves wonderful coffee.

   The breakfast area has a nice contemporary look. I just love the wall.

  The wall behind the check-in desk changes colors!

   This was my favorite part of the hotel. These are full body massage chairs and are available to Wyndham rewards members to use for free. I just love that you can customize the massage chair to certain body parts.

I sure enjoyed a massage!

The boys and I enjoyed our night at the hotel and will be booking a night or two here so we can enjoy the water park.

        The indoor waterpark is our favorite part of this hotel. The Wyndham Albuquerque has rooms available for Balloon Fiesta and you will like the prices of the rooms.

Biking To Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta #BalloonFiesta

   The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 2017 is happening very soon! I just can't wait to see all those hot air balloons in the sky. The 46th annual event will feature more than 500 hot air balloons and lots of people. The Balloon Fiesta can have crowds of 80,000 people so that means lots of cars and traffic.  There are ways to avoid the traffic and the long lines to park and I am going to share my favorite way to get to the Balloon Fiesta. My favorite way to get to Balloon Fiesta is by bike and it is a 15-30 minute trip. If you choose to bike you not only get some great exercise but you also save $10 on parking and the stress of waiting forever in the long lines of traffic. There is even free valet parking for your bike which is staffed by local bicycle group volunteers.

Biking to the Balloon Fiesta is a great way to avoid congested traffic and parking conditions near Balloon Fiesta Park. My son and I biked to the event a couple of years ago and discovered a bike trail that runs along the AMAFCA North Diversion Channel and crosses underneath Paseo del Norte and Alameda Blvd. This trail continues north where it crosses from the west side to the east side ending just north of the Balloon Museum. There you will find the Bike Valet staffed by local bicycle group volunteers. There are many bike trails in Albuquerque that lead to this bike trail but I found an easier way to get to this trail and it involves way less bicycling time too. You simply put your bike in or on your car and park at the Los Ranchos/Journal Rail Runner station. The bike trail begins at that station. I recommend using this method on on the weekends and as it might be hard to find a parking spot during the week with people taking the train to work. 

      I biked this trail last weekend and it only took me 15 minutes to get to the Balloon Fiesta park. The best part about this trail is you don't even have to ride with traffic as it is bike trails all the way. I am going to share some tips on how to bike safely to the park.  Since the balloons go up way early in the morning you will be biking in the dark so other than making sure your tires have air, make sure you have lights on your bike. Please remember when you ride to the morning sessions you will be arriving in the dark and when you leave the evening sessions you will be leaving in the dark. I recommend both a back tail light and front headlight as the trail will be dark. I also recommend a LED Light Reflective Safety Vest for great eye-catching visibility in the dark. I discovered a vest that works great for biking and running. This vest is lightweight and comfortable. I really like the way the LED lights light up my body so I can be seen by other bikers. My younger boys want to borrow my safety vest for their Halloween costume this year. It is adjustable so it will fit them and it will make trick or treating safer too. 

Other tips that I have for biking to the Balloon Fiesta are 

Dress Warm in Layers  It can be quite chilly in the early morning so make sure you are dressed warm and don't forget the gloves. As Albuquerque warms up once the sun comes out you can then shed some of the layers of clothes for your bike ride back to your car. 

Wear a Helmet  Always be safe when bike riding and protect your head with a bike helmet.

Bring Water  Even though it is cold out you will need water as you are exercising.

Bring a Backpack  A backpack is great to carry your water and snacks in. Make sure there is room to put any clothes that you take off like a sweatshirt as it warms up.

Take Along Snacks  You will need some snacks to give you the energy to bike back to your car, of course, you can always buy some food at the Fiesta.

Money  You will need money to get into the Fiesta and to buy great food like breakfast burritos and New Mexico Pinon coffee.

Bike Baskets  These are nice to have but not necessary. I do a lot of bike riding and use my baskets for trips to the grocery store. If you have a basket or pouch, bring it to carry back any souvenirs. The backpack is also good for this.

CellPhone  I know most people don't leave the house without this. The phone is not only great for calls but also for all the pictures you will be taking. So bring a portable charger too. A camera also works great too. Who remembers the day when the Balloon Fiesta sold disposable cameras and film?

So considered biking this year to Balloon Fiesta and avoid all the traffic. You will get some great exercise and save money too. Check out all the below links for more information on the Balloon Fiesta and biking. I also included some links to bike maps and trails in Albuquerque just in case you want a great workout and want to bike all the way from your house. 

Official website of Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta  http://www.balloonfiesta.com/

Balloon Fiesta guest guide for biking  http://www.balloonfiesta.com/guest-guide/bike-valet

Map of Albuquerque multi-user trails to the bike valet parking 

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?msa=0&z=12&ie=UTF8&mid=1cd55qy6WawFxomvN7bkgUkG0Yvo

Los Ranchos/Journal Rail Runner station info  

http://www.nmrailrunner.com/stations/los-ranchos-journal-center/los-ranchos-jc-bus-connections

Photo from the Balloon Fiesta nighttime glow. 

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Using Natural Mineral Salts To Prevent Body Odor

I know longer use traditional deodorant!

      Sponsored post: I received samples of Crystal Essence mineral deodorant to facilitate this post.

  Most people have a hard time giving up traditional deodorant as they don't want to be that person who stinks. We all have experienced standing in line next to someone who forgot to wear deodorant and it was not a pleasant experience. I remember back in middle school a teacher who had a terrible sweating problem. This teacher sweated so bad that he would have huge wet spots on his shirt. This teacher also liked to use his arms when talking and he would walk around the room. It was awful when he would stand next to you. This was way before those clinical deodorants so I am sure the teacher just lived with this problem. So I get it when people say they won't give up their chemical based deodorant. I guess since I work at home, it was easier for me to make the switch.

  So I have been trying different brands and types of natural deodorants so I could see how each one works.  Last month I tried a solid type of natural deodorant and they work great until winter time. In the winter I get frustrated as the solids need warmth to spread so I have to hold in under my arm for 30 seconds for it to spread. So when I discovered a roll-on mineral deodorant I knew I had to give it a try. I like scent under my arm so I liked that Crystal Essence came in scents like lavender, vanilla, pomegranate, and chamomile. I also liked that the fragrance was from natural scents. I admit I was I little hesitant in trying this roll-on as it was made from salt. My sensitive skin doesn't like salt, I have broken out in rashes from playing with salt play dough and from my own sweat. So the first time I applied Crystal Essence, I made sure to stay home for a while just in case I had to wash it off. I was pleasantly surprised that I had no irritation that day. Maybe because it is made from mineral salt.

Crystal™ is the world's leading natural mineral salt deodorant. It works to prevent odor while other products attempt to mask it or plug pores with harsh chemicals like aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium. Crystal is a hypoallergenic deodorant that is safe, healthy, and totally effective

  I really like how easy the roll-on went on, it did feel a bit wet but it dried in less than 30 seconds. The fragrance was light but had a nice scent to it. In fact, it may have been too light for me as I caught myself smelling my pits to make sure I did not stink. The good news is my pits did not have any bad smell. The next day I applied the roll-on again when I went out running and my pits did not sweat nor stink afterward. I think the lavender is my favorite scent so far.

  The one thing that I have noticed about using natural roll-on deodorant is my pits do stink when I forget to apply the product in the morning. Tip: Crystal Essence works better with clean arm pits so make sure to wash them before applying. When I used the chemical stuff, I could skip a day or two and not stink. Makes one wonder about how strong those chemicals are. So since I tend to forget to apply my natural product, I keep one in the car and by my computer downstairs in addition to one in my bathroom. I do the same with my lotion as life gets busy and I just forget. So if I had to choose which form of natural deodorant was my favorite, I like the solids for their amazing scents. The roll-on form is great for ease of use, especially in the winter. It is all about personal preference as to which type to use. The roll-on leaves no white residue either so when I am wearing a sleeve less dress, the Crystal Essence with be my choice of deodorant.

  My advice for those who are still hesitant about switching to natural deodorants is to try one on a day off from work to see how your body adapts. Then make sure to carry the product in your purse to reapply if needed. Sometimes it can take a week for your body to get used to the switch but if you want to get those harsh chemicals out of your body then you have to give it a try.

Want more information about Crystal Essence roll-on mineral deodorant?

                                             http://www.thecrystal.com/

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