>U Mom Knows Best: June 2015

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Keep Your Money Safe From Thieves While Traveling With A Money Belt

    



     It is official! I am going to Blogger Bash and BlogHer. I am so excited that I get to go to New York for awesome blogging conferences. I am going all by myself, without the family, so it will be like a mini vacation. I get to attend fun blogging events and stay in a hotel all by myself. It is going to be so much fun. The only drawback is I will have to maneuver crowded airports and busy subways all by myself. I will of course protect my money, credit cards and other important items.



     I found a wonderful money belt that will not only keep my money hidden from thieves but it will also protect my credit cards from being electronically stolen. This travel belt will allow me to travel safe while keeping my money and other important items like credit cards and plane tickets safely hidden from criminals. The money belt has three zippered pockets and the inner pocket even has three separate pouches to put your  credits cards in. The inner credit card pocket has RFID blocking on it so sophisticated crooks can’t  scan your credit cards and steal your identity. The crook does not even have to be near your to scan your credit card. That is scary stuff, but it does not have to be when you wear the Merinte’s money belt. Traveling is suppose  to be fun so don’t let it turn into a 
nightmare.


   The Merinte’s money belt is easily worn underneath or outside your clothing. This lightweight belt even has a stop drop loop, that clicks over your belt, that will prevent a thief from getting your money if they cut the belt. The belt comes with an adjustable, stretchy waistband so it will fit almost anyone.  You can place items like cash, credit cards, plane tickets, and passports in the roomy pockets. You can even place your phone and small jewelry in the pockets.  Your items are then easy to access when you need them, no more having to digging through your suitcase when you need to present your airline tickets. I love that this belt also has breathable mesh on it as I will be traveling in July which is a hot humid month in New York. The pouch is even water resistant.  The money pouch is awesome for people to use in airports, bus stations, sporting events, and even everyday shopping.



    So protect your money and other important items when you travel. I don’t even want to think of being stranded in New York without my money, phone or credit card. I am going to be travel smart and wear the Merinte’s money belt while I am enjoying my time in New York. So if you want to be smart while traveling be sure to check out how you can get a money belt for yourself. Also you can save $5.00 of the price of the money belt by using code WRM8ACAR on Amazon.

                                           Visit Merinte’s website at
                   http://www.merseyleainternational.com/


You can also order the money belt on Amazon. This money belt comes with a 12 month faulty replacement guarantee. Use code WRM8ACAR to save $5.00.

“These opinions are my own and I was sent the above mentioned product in exchange for a honest review.”


Monday, June 29, 2015

Gluten Free Black Bean Brownies Made With Organically Grown Vanilla Bean Powder



     I am always looking for ways to make things that my kids enjoy healthy. My boys enjoy brownies and having brownies once in a while is ok, but I wanted to find a way to make them healthy so we could enjoy them more often. Also since my youngest boys are picky eaters, I am always looking for ways to sneak extra nutrition into their bodies. My youngest does not eat meat and does not like beans, so I am always looking for ways to get protein into his body. These black bean brownies and loaded with protein and are also low in sugar too. I used almond meal in my recipe instead of flour which makes these brownies gluten-free. I also used a different kind of vanilla in the recipe which gives them great creamy vanilla taste.



  The vanilla I used was Organically Grown Vanilla Bean Powder. This vanilla is in a powder form and comes from vanilla beans that are dried and made into a powder form. Since this is pure vanilla beans it gives a great rich creamy vanilla flavor to baked goods like cookies, cakes, brownies, and more. You can also use this vanilla powder when you make coffee.  Just add 1/2- 1 teaspoon to the ground coffee for great tasting vanilla coffee. Another benefit to vanilla powder is it has no alcohol in it making it great to use in recipes like ice cream. You are getting pure vanilla taste and no taste of the alcohol that vanilla extract has. You can also use this vanilla powder in homemade items like lotions as vanilla has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe inflamed ares of the skin. Vanilla also has a great scent too.




     Did you know that vanilla bean is high in many minerals such like potassium, iron, manganese and copper. Potassium is important for cell and body fluids that help control blood pressure and heart rate. Iron is important for red blood cell production. Manganese and copper are co-factors for the antioxidant enzyme. I did not know that either and according to USDA, vanilla bean is in the top 10 antioxidant foods. Vanilla also has antibacterial properties that help reduce skin infections and encourage wound healing.

    The vanilla powder that I used was grown on the Java Islands of Indonesia. The manufacture Sunny Day Organics, a family owned business, uses no chemical fertilizers and grinds the vanilla beans right before packaging to seal the freshness inside. This vanilla powder is gluten-free and vegan. I just love the intense vanilla flavor that this Organically Grown Vanilla Bean Powder gave to my brownies.


   You can find this wonderful tasting vanilla powder on Amazon and the company also offers a 100% money back guarantee so if you are not happy you can get your money back, no questions asked.



                                        Black Bean Brownies

                            1½ cup almond meal
                                          1½ teaspoon baking soda
                                          1½ teaspoon baking powder
                                           ½ teaspoon salt
                                           1 can black beans (15oz), drained
                                           1 cup dark chocolate chips
                                           ⅓ cup melted coconut oil
                                            ½ cup honey
                                           2 teaspoons Organically Grown Vanilla Bean Powder
                                           2 eggs


                       Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Lightly grease a brownie pan with coconut oil. Set aside.

In a medium bowl combine the almond meal, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave. I melt my chocolate by placing the chocolate in a dish and cooking for 2 minutes on high. Then stir the chocolate. Cook the chocolate for 30 more seconds and stir again until the chocolate is smooth.

In a high speed blender combine the drained beans, melted chocolate, coconut oil, honey, and vanilla powder. Blend on low speed until smooth.

Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients and mix. Add the eggs and mix until fully incorporated.
Pour into prepared pan.

Bake for 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool fully before cutting into squares.


"These opinions are my own and I was sent the above mentioned product to write this review."
                          

Friday, June 26, 2015

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies



   I love cookies and when I make them I tend to eat too many. I will snack on them all day. Snacking on cookies all day is not healthy for me and will make me fat. My solution to my cookie craving is to make healthy cookies that I can eat without feeling guilty. My cookies are loaded with whole grains and protein to fill me up with good nutrition. They are also low in sugar and fat. These cookies are also great to eat for breakfast too.



   So how do I make a peanut butter cookie low fat? My secret is PBfit Peanut Butter Powder. This powder is made from roasted peanuts and only has 4 grams of fat per serving compared to 16 grams of regular peanut butter. You are probably wondering how that is possible as peanuts are high in fat. PBfit takes peanuts and gently roasts them.  Then they extract 85% of the oil from the peanuts and grinds the peanuts into a powder. They add a pinch of sugar and a dash of salt to create a delicious powder that tastes like peanut butter.

   This yummy peanut powder is great to add to smoothies, yogurt, and oatmeal to add a flavor protein boost. You can also add PBfit to recipes like cookies, muffins, and pancakes to add a great peanut butter taste without adding fat. You can even make the powder into a spread to make a low fat peanut butter sandwich or a dip for apples. My boys love when I use PBfit to make them a chocolate peanut butter shake. Check out this wonderful low fat peanut butter powder and click on the below links.


                                                                   PBfit's Website

                                                               Check out PBfit on Facebook

                                           Check out PBfit on Twitter




         Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Breakfast Cookies

                                               1 cup no sugar applesauce
                                               1/4 cup sugar
                                               1/2 cup almond milk
                                               1 teaspoon vanilla
                                               1 egg
                                               1 1/2 cups almond flour
                                               1 1/2 cups Rolled Oats
                                               1 cup PBfit peanut butter powder
                                               3/4 cup flax meal
                                               1/2 teaspoon salt
                                               1/2 teaspoon baking soda
                                               3/4 cup chocolate chips
                                               1 cup unsalted raw sunflower seeds
 
       Directions

1) Lightly grease 3 baking sheets, or line them with parchment or silicone baking mats.
2) In a large bowl, mix the applesauce,  sugar, almond milk, vanilla, and egg together. Combine until smooth.
3) Combine together the almond flour, oats,Pbfit powder, flax meal, salt, and baking soda. Then add to applesauce mixture and mix well.
4) Add chocolate chips and sunflower seeds. Mix until ingredients are all combined.
5) Let the dough rest for 30 minutes or so at room temperature, for the oats to soften. Towards the end of the rest period, preheat the oven to 350°F.
5) Scoop the dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets. Flatten each ball of dough slightly. I like to put 12 cookies per baking sheet.
7) Bake the cookies for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown. Cool them on the baking sheets for 15 minutes or so, to allow them to set. Store in the fridge to keep fresh.

Makes 3 dozen cookies




"These opinions are my own and I received the above mentioned product in exchange for a review."

Free MET-Rx Bar



To get a Free MET-Rx Bar  at your favorite Kroger store, mine is Smiths, select your store and load it to your shoppers card! The coupon will only be available TODAY between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m.

Expires 6/12/15.



 Kroger • Baker’s • City Market • Dillons • Fred Meyer • Fry’s •Gerbes • Jay C • King Soopers • Owen’s • Pay Less • QFC • Ralphs • Smith’s


Thursday, June 25, 2015

Do You Want Younger Looking Skin? Transform Your Skin In 15 Days With StriVectin

 

  We are all looking for the fountain of youth as nobody likes what getting older does to your skin. Ask any lady if they would like to take years off their face skin. The answer would be yes. Who likes those fine lines and wrinkles that age and sun damage brings? I don’t like them one bit, if I could turn back the clock I would. Unfortunately, I can’t turn back the clock. I can use creams that will give me healthy, younger-looking skin. I am glad there are products that will help me reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

 However, before we dive deep into reviewing these products, I would like to tell you that if you do not wish to use any cream or ingredients to get rid of problems like fine lines, wrinkles, stretch marks, or even skin pigmentation, there are other methods available that you can use which are completely safe and require a very little to no work. One of these procedures is called Microneedling. Microneedling is a collagen induction therapy that involves the production of collagen protein that helps to rejuvenate the skin to make it more supple, smooth, and firm and help you get rid of fine lines, scars, and stretch marks, etc. The best thing about this procedure is that you don’t need help from a skin specialist as you can do it easily on your own. All you have to do is to get a peeling roller and start massaging your face. I’d recommend using DermRollers as I have found them to be one of the best rollers available in the market. Safe and easy to use at the prices that no one can beat.


  I discovered a wonderful new cream that said it will transform my skin in 15 days. This cream, called SD Advance, is made by StriVectin and is formulated with a patented NIA-114 technology which is a Collagex-CE-Complex Wrinkle Repair Complex. This hydrating moisturizer harnesses the latest advances in skincare science to target your collagen for powerful anti-aging benefits. I love that their research showed noticeable differences in 94% of ladies in just 15 days!**  In fifteen days,  94% of people saw skin that looked extremely nourished and 91% saw healthier-looking skin.**


   Strivectin is a company that believes in one thing “The Power Of What Works” and every formula they introduce is backed by clinical research. They have been in the skin care solutions for quite some time. They have 35 years of research, 30 independent clinical studies, 90 global patents, and 150 publish papers.


    My research of the company was enough for me to take the 15-day challenge. I looked at my face and chose one area that I wanted to see some results. My neck had these lines that bothered me. I assume these lines are the result of getting older. I took a picture of my neck before I started using StriVectin SD Advance so that way I could compare results to my 15 days later photo. The cream had a nice peppermint scent to it and made my skin feel so soft after I applied it to my neck. The box told me to use the cream both AM and PM for the best results. Take a look at my before and after photos. I am amazed at the results. I will continue using the cream on my neck and post an update in two weeks.


Before using StriVectin SD Advance


After using StriVectin SD Advance

So do want younger-looking skin? Will you take 15 days to transform your skin to healthy, younger 
looking skin?

                                  Check out StriVectin SD Advance on their website

*Based on silicone replica test after 15 days when used as directed

**Based on consumer evaluation data at 2 weeks when used as directed


Sponsored post  “ I received a sample of Strivectin SD Advance in exchange for an honest review.”

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Celebrate Your Baby With Basic Invite's Line Of Baby Stationery


This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Basic Invites.


       My daughter got married a couple of months ago. My daughter was my first child and this was the first wedding for our family. My daughter was also the first grandchild to get married so this day was a big event. Her wedding was an exciting time in my life.  My daughter and her husband want to have a baby when the time is right. I just can’t wait to be a grandma. When the time comes for me to be a grandma, I will be telling everyone all about it. A new baby in the family will be an exciting time.


      Having a baby is an exciting time. From the moment you get the positive pregnancy test to that first ultrasound, you want to tell all your friends and family everything about this bundle of joy. There are many important events during this special time, like the baby shower, that just require special unique cards. 


    Basic Invite is a great online store that has unique cards to help you tell everyone about important events in your baby's life. Events like the baby shower, the day your baby is born and their first birthday. Basic Event makes sharing your joy simple from the comfort of your house. This website allows you to customize your announcements to reflect your personal style. You can even order a sample of your card to see it before you buy it.


    One of your first announcements that require a special card is the baby shower. This is a wonderful day to share with others as they shower the baby with gifts. Make that moment for the mommy to be a little more special with a baby shower invitation that is unique and cute. The mom to be will want to save it forever to remember that day. Basic Invite has over 150 different cards to choose from to let people know about the baby shower. You choose how you want the card to look. Select from style, number of photos, paper type, and type of fold. Once you find the perfect card, you can then add the words and photos that make it your style. You can even select the colors and font of the text and change the color of the background. I love that you can order the amount you need, from 1 to 500 or more if needed.


   Your cute baby has arrived into this world and you want everyone to see how cute he or she is. When it comes to birth announcements you will want a card that is just as special as the new bundle of joy . With Basic Invite, you can even order the cards from your hospital room using those first photos. Sending the birth announcements is simple and Basic Invite has over 100 styles to choose from, both girls and boy styles. Once you find the perfect card that reflects your style, you can then personalize it with photos and all the important details of the baby's birth. The font of the text and colors of the card can be changed to make it your perfect card.




   Basic Invite also sells cards to invite everyone to to the baby's first birthday party as this day is just as special as the day they were born. The one year mark is a big deal, so make sure to start the celebration off right with a cute and unique first birthday invitation. I love that they have over 100 cards to choose from and that you can upload any photo or photos to the card. You design the card with all the details of the party and select how you want it to look. You can even receive your card order in 5 days!

Take a look at Basic Invite as it is a great place to customize the cards that tells everyone about your cute Bundle of Joy. Designing cards is easy as 1,2,3!

1. Select Your Colors
Don’t settle for a card that comes in 3 different colors! Each and every card at Basic invite can be customized with your choice of over 150 different colors so that you can find the perfect color to show off your  new bundle of joy. The color of each element such as borders, backgrounds, patterns, and text can also be personalized to your color choice.

2. Add Your Photos
Upload your photo to your card and get an instant preview online of your card with your photo. Once your photo is uploaded you can zoom in or out and position your photo so that you get it exactly how you want it. Basic Invite has instant online previews so there is no guesswork of what you card will look like. What you see on screen is exactly how your card will print. No one wants to receive his or her announcements only to find out that their photo cutoff.  There will be no disappointments when you order with Basic Invite.

3. Customize Your Text
The choice of fonts that are used on a Birth Announcement can make a big difference on how that card looks and what style of card you are trying to create. That is why Basic Invite allows you to change each line of a text to one of over 100 different font styles.

   So no matter which design you choose you will not be disappointed with the quality or the service. All cards are printed a high quality 120 lb. cardstock using the most state of the art digital offset press available. Basic invite is the perfect place to order all your cards. 



                                                               Birth Announcement Cards

Baby Shower Invitations

First Birthday Invitations


   

Submit Your Original Cupcake-themed Design For Duck Tape And Win $5,000


   I love cupcakes! I love eating them and I love buying items that have cupcakes on them. I am so excited that Duck Tape is coming out with tape with cupcakes on it. They need your help in designing the print of the cupcake on the Duck Tape. They are having a contest and one lucky winner is going to win $5,000. All you have to do to win is submit your original cupcake-themed design for an upcoming limited edition Duck Tape print.

  Duck Tape is partnering with The Kids In Need Foundation, a not for profit that provides free school supplies to kids who need them nationwide, and celebrating the 20th birthday of The Kids In Need Foundation with something sweet! They are giving one lucky crafter $5,000.


                                  Check out all the details at
                                  http://duckbrand.com/kidsinneed 




Afternoon Tea With Barista Break And Bake Scones







    I just love tea parties. There I place in my town that does an awesome job of tea parties. I have been there many times with my friends. The place serves tea and yummy finger foods. My favorite finger food that they serve is scones. They serve these delicious moist scones with lemon curd. I have tried making scones at home. Making scones is time consuming and mine never seem to taste good. My scones always come out like hard biscuits.  I just need to know the secret to making wonderful tasting scones like the ones they serve at my favorite tea shop. I just want to have a at home tea party with delicious moist scones.

    I finally discovered the secret to making great tasting baked-from-scratch scones. I go to the store and buy Barista Break And Bake Scones. These scones are not only delicious but they are simple to make. The scones come in a package and are ready to bake. You just open the package and break the dough apart. You can bake all eight scones or as many as you like. Then you place the dough pieces on a baking sheet and bake them for 13 minutes. The result is yummy moist scones. The package even includes a package of icing to put on the scones.  I just love how easy it is to make yummy scones for a at home tea party.




   I made the strawberry and crème scones but these yummy scones also come in flavors like blueberry and orange cranberry. Now I no longer have to visit the fancy tea shop to enjoy yummy tasting scones. When I gave my boys a scone for an afternoon treat, one of them said “these are the best things I have ever tasted.”  My husband even agreed that these scones tasted wonderful and he is not a scone fan. I guess the only scones he has ever had were the ones that tasted like hard biscuits. 


       Now you can enjoy a fresh baked scone (Orange Cranberry, Blueberry, and Strawberries & Crème) from the refrigerator to your oven in less time than it takes to brew a pot of coffee.



I found the Barista Break And Bake Scones at Walmart in the dairy section but click on this link to see where you can find these yummy scones.






Barista Break and Bake Scones

"These opinions are my own and I was sent the above mentioned product in exchange for a review."

Monday, June 22, 2015

American Well To The Rescue With My Running Accident

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with Mums the Word Network and Amwell. All opinions stated are my own.

Photo of blood on leg

     I was out running yesterday morning and minding my own business. I was listening to music and maintaining a great pace. Life was good until the sidewalk tripped me. Bam! I fell hard and scraped my leg pretty bad. There was blood running down my leg but that did not stop me from finishing my run. Sure I was in pain but I was not going let that stop me from getting my 5 miles in. It was not until I got home that I realized the scrape on my leg was bad. Once I cleaned up my leg and put many big bandages I thought my leg was OK. That was until the day wore on. I went shopping and the pain started setting in. I also fell hard on my bottom so that started to hurt. My injuries caused me to walk funny and my kids made fun of me. When I got home I took the bandages off, I then realized my injury was worse than I thought. It was 8 PM at night, so I could not visit the urgent care as it was closed. What was I going to do?



      I decided to video chat with a doctor online. I went to American Well website to see how I would be able to chat with a doctor to get the answers I needed to be able to take care of my injury. Once at the website, all I had to do was make an account and then I would be able to chat with a doctor in my town. Setting up the account was easy and I was able to download photos of my leg so the doctor could see my abrasion and be able to diagnose my injury. I knew that I would be speaking to a real doctor and knew that he/she would be able to tell me what I needed to do to take care of my hurting leg. While I was checking out the website I noticed that they take most insurance plans and they would give me a receipt, of my payment, to make a claim. If my insurance was not listed then I would just pay a fee to talk to the doctor. I liked that I could pay for this visit with my credit card.




     So how would I talk face to face with a doctor in the comfort of my home? All I had to do was allow the Amwell website to use my web camera. Once I registered, a 3-minute process, I was put into a computer waiting room. There were two people ahead of me and I was told I had a ten-minute wait. I could wait or have them text me when it was my turn. I decided to do other work on my computer while I waited. When the doctor was ready to chat with me, my web camera came on and I was able to see the doctors face. She asked me several questions about my injury and then asked to see my abrasion on my leg. I was able to show her my leg with the help of my web camera. The doctor took the time to explain to me why my leg was hurting. The doctor also told me how to take care of my leg so it would not get infected and she told me what to look for if it did get infected. I liked that I was able to see a doctor without having to leave my house. That was a relief as I did not want to visit the emergency room at 8 PM. I loved that it took 10 minutes of waiting instead of hours at an emergency room. Another cool thing is the doctors are available 24/7 and you don't have to leave your house.



Going to the doctor isn't fun. What if you didn't have to go anywhere?
With American Well, it's really that simple. Simply visit American Well or download their app. Once you sign up, you'll see a list of currently available doctors who are licensed in your state.
Doctors can diagnose, treat and even prescribe - all over secure video. After your visit, you'll receive a complete write up of what the doctor discussed and suggestions for treatment. If your doctor felt a prescription was needed, it will be waiting for you at your pharmacy!


Visit this link to see how American Well can help you next time you need to speak with a doctor.










Friday, June 19, 2015

Free ICE BREAKERS Cool Blasts At Smiths And Other Kroger Stores

To get a Free ICE BREAKERS Cool Blasts  at your favorite Kroger store, mine is Smiths, select your store and load it to your shoppers card! The coupon will only be available TODAY between 12:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m.

Expires 6/28/15


Kroger • Baker’s • City Market • Dillons • Fred Meyer • Fry’s •Gerbes • Jay C • King Soopers • Owen’s • Pay Less • QFC • Ralphs • Smith’s


Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream Worked Wonders On My Ugly Cracked Dry Heels & A Giveaway



      Summer is here and I love wearing sandals. The only problem is I have ugly looking heels on my feet. My heels are dry and cracked.  My feel are also very rough and my husband jokes with me and says I can sand wood with my dry heels. They are not pretty enough for wearing sandals. I have tried every kind of lotion and cream on them to try and get them soft. I my heels to be soft without and cracks on them. What does a girl have to do to get pretty feet?


   When a company asked me if I wanted to try their moisturizing cream, I of course said yes. I was sent a travel pouch that was filled with products made by Yu-Be, one of which was their Moisturizing Skin Cream. The travel pouch also contained a lip balm and samples of their body polish and body lotion. I was most interested in trying the moisturizing skin cream as they said it was effective on serious dry skin, that describes my heels.


      I just could not wait to see how this cream Invented by Japanese pharmacist Yoshikiyo Nowatari called Yu-Be (pronounced “YOO-BEE”) was going to work on my ugly dry cracked heels. The ingredients in the glycerin-based moisturizing cream are Vitamin E, Vitamin B2 and Camphor. The camphor gave the cream a nice scent. That night I follow their directions to get softer heels. I soaked my heels in water for a few minutes and then dried them. Then I applied the Yu-Be cream on my feet. The cream absorbed nicely and did not feel greasy. I then placed socks over my feet. I wore the socks on my feet overnight in hopes of soft feet. I have used other creams and worn socks and my feet still were dry in the morning so I sure hoped this cream worked as I wanted pretty feet.


I woke up the next morning and was surprised at how my feet looked and felt. The dry patches were gone and my feel felt a little softer. Here are my before and after photos.



             I think with a couple of more treatments, my feet will be sandal ready. I have never seen results like this when I used other creams. Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream is effective on serious dry skin and that sets it apart from other creams. This cream is also great for the whole body as it is labeled Head-To-Toe-Hydration. This cream will be great for my son who has sensitive skin and gets eczema. To get more information about this wonderful cream and other products the company sells visit the below links.




Do you have dry cracked ugly heels like mine? 


Giveaway

Enter to win a Yu-Be travel set that contains all the products that I received. Just enter on the form below and good luck!


             a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to US residents 18 years of age or older.  Chances of winning giveaway depends on number of entries. All entries will be verified. Winner will be notified within 24 hours of end of contest and will then have 48 hours to respond to the email or a new winner will be chosen. Sponsor is responsible for shipping out prize. Void where prohibited.

"These opinions are my own and I was sent the above mentioned product in exchange for a review."










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Mom knows best