>U Mom Knows Best: February 2021

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Keep Safe This Cold & Flu Season With Kid Friendly Soaps & Sanitizers

This cold and flu season help your children properly wash their hands with some fun kid-friendly soap and sanitizers.

This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I received samples of the following products

 It's cold and flu season again and many parents are still struggling to get children to properly wash their hands. So these new soaps and hand sanitizers will make hand-washing fun for kids! So they will want to wash their hands and may just spend more time scrubbing away the dirt and germs off their hands. From soap tablets to color-changing soap, there is a fun array of soaps and hand sanitizers that will not only leave kid's hands clean but will also give them a fun tactile activity.

 As a parent to five kids, I know the frustration of getting kids to wash their hands. You hear them in the bathroom after they go potty and you never hear them turn on the water to wash their hands. So you are constantly reminding them to head back to the bathroom to wash their hands. This is after they have placed their germy hands on the bathroom doorknob. I still have to remind my teen boys to soap up and wash their hands. 

 Or they come home from school or outdoor play and they do a quick hand washing that does not meet the proper handwashing technique of sing happy birthday 2 times. So you send them back to the sink to lather up with soap once again. You want to keep your kids healthy during cold and flu season. Handwashing is one of the many ways to take care of all those nasty germs. If only there was an easier way to get kids excited about cleaning their hands!

Natural Products That You Need For Cold & Flu Season

Kid-Friendly Soaps & Sanitizers

 I have discovered some amazing products that might just get your children excited about using soap and water on their hands. These kid-friendly soaps and sanitizers will not only clean their hands but they will also wash away many of the germs that cause them to be sick. From color-changing soap to scented hand sanitizers, these handwashing products will keep kids scrubbing longer and make it fun to wash the dirt off their hands.

 Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty just introduced a brand-new line of soaps and sanitizers that combine Crazy Aaron's amazing color technology to make handwashing a fun experience for kids. These color-changing kid-friendly soaps and hand sanitizer are made with gentle and effective ingredients. So kids will want to use these fun products to get the germs off their hands.

 Give children an extra reason to wash their hands! Created using Hypercolor technology, Crazy Arron's color-changing natural foam soap is a blast to use. Watch as it changes from blue, pink, or green to white in your hands to let kids know when they have thoroughly scrubbed. The soap rinses clear and smells terrific, too! The Color Hand Sanitizer encourages kids to sanitize their hands with a colorful creation. Made from top-quality ingredients, this fresh gel features layers of colors and shimmering glitter. The fun designs on the bottles encourage kids to pick them up to kill the nasty germs that make them sick. 

 From the award-winning brand WeCool, a leader in the slime and arts & crafts categories, CRAZY CLEANZ 20 Second Soap is a portable soap that will encourage kids to lather up. These individually wrapped soap tablets can be used at home and on the go. Kids will have fun adding water to the tablets to create a fun way to wash their hands. The 20 Second Soap uses no harsh chemicals and does not irritate the skin. Each package is filled with a variety of shapes that kids can use at home or at school to wash the dirt and germs off their hands.

 Crazy Cleanz 20 Second Soap is powerfully formulated to kill bacteria & germs on contact within 20 seconds of handwashing. Crazy Cleanz 20 Second Soap makes hand washing more fun!

 Crazy Cleanz also makes fun portable hand sanitizer that kids can attach to their backpack so they will always have a way to sanitize their hands wherever they are. The Crazy Cleanz hand sanitizers are colorful and make killing the germs on kid's hands so easy. 

 Crazy Cleanz Hand Sanitizer is made of a unique formula of 62% Ethyl Alcohol that is powerful in helping reduce bacteria on contact yet gentle for use on delicate hands. Suitable for all ages of children and adults.

"Pikotaro," the YouTube sensation who brought the "PPAP" song (“Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen!”),  is back – with a new version of his famous song to promote proper hand-washing as well as a new hand soap, PIKOWash! This hand and body soap creates a rich lather to cut dirt and grime on the skin. The soap contains olive oil to gently moisturize the skin. So kid's skin will be clean and smooth. 

 Pikotaro's newest video will promote proper handwashing in a fun and engaging way. A portion of all sales of the PIKOWash soap will be donated to charities for children. I love that the soap comes wrapped up in a fun package. 

  SPLATZ, the first innovation from One Fun, are eco-friendly bubbles of pure hand soap that literally SPLAT! when kids squeeze them underwater. Developed by an entrepreneurial designer (and MOM) and two Harvard/MIT scientists using a patent-pending formula and made in the USA with all-natural ingredients, these irresistible balls of fun change the way kids think about washing their hands.


Which fun product will you be buying to encourage your children to wash their hands?

Washing the dirt and germs off your hands is just one of the many steps to keeping your family healthy during cold and flu season. So equip your sinks with some fun and colorful soap products. You may just have to tell your kids to stop washing their hands so often, not! That would be a wonderful problem to have. Teach your kids at a young age that handwashing is a good thing.










Tuesday, February 16, 2021

NO BAKE CHOCOLATE-DIPPED PEANUT BUTTER PROTEIN CANDY

 These no-bake treats are so delicious & loaded with healthy chocolate protein goodness. They are perfect for holiday treats.


  I can say that chocolate and peanut butter are some of my top flavor combos. There is just something about peanut butter dipped in chocolate that is a taste that I can't get enough of. The strange thing is I do not like the taste of peanut butter by itself. I also can't stand the smell of peanut butter straight from the jar. When my kids eat a peanut butter sandwich, they know to stay away from me as their peanut butter breath annoys me.

 Combine the gooey peanut butter and sweet chocolate taste together and I am licking the spoon. I just love chocolate peanut butter ice cream, vegan for me and peanut butter cookies dipped in chocolate. I also love chocolate peanut butter protein smoothies. I make my peanut butter chocolate smoothies with an amazingly rich chocolate protein powder that is so delicious. 

The Best Allergy-Friendly Protein powder

 Nuzest makes a vegan protein powder that I can enjoy on my dairy-free diet. It was about three years ago when I decided to use a whey-based protein powder that led to my discovery of my dairy allergy. I did not know at the time that I was allergic to milk but after 6 months of severe asthma attacks, I realized that dairy was the cause. It was a blood food allergy test that confirmed my dairy allergy.

 I love that Nuzest is an allergy-friendly plant-based protein powder. Nuzest is made from simple clean ingredients like the best pea protein. Nuzest also has no added sugar which makes it a low-carb food item that is perfect for the Keto diet. This delicious creamy protein is gluten-free and soy-free. Each of Nuzest's dairy-free protein powders has 20 grams of vegan protein. You will love all their yummy flavors like creamy vanilla, strawberry, and rich chocolate.

 One scoop of Nuzest protein powder and a scoop of peanut butter powder is all I need to make a delicious chocolate peanut butter smoothie.  To add additional nutrition like fiber and antioxidants to my protein smoothie, I like to add a cup of frozen blueberries. Blueberries blend nicely in a chocolate smoothie and don't leave a fruity taste. So I end up with a creamy peanut butter smoothie. 

Nuzest vegan protein is available in many delicious flavors. Use my coupon code MOMKNOWSBEST15 to save 15% off your purchase HERE


Protein Powder Adds Protein To Sweet Treats

 I like adding protein powder to recipes like vegan chocolate pancakes, gluten-free brownies, and this NO BAKE CHOCOLATE DIPPED PEANUT BUTTER PROTEIN CANDY recipe. Protein powder adds protein and fiber to make my recipes healthy. The best part is my kids still enjoy their favorite treats and this mom snuck some extra nutrition into their bodies.

NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE-DIPPED PEANUT BUTTER PROTEIN CANDY IS

+ Plant-based

+ Vegan

+ Dairy-free

+ Gluten-free

+ Loaded with protein

+ Full of chocolate & peanut butter flavor

+ A guilt-free treat

+ Delicious

+ Easy to make

+ No Bake

+ Made with wholesome ingredients

A guilt-free treat for the holidays

 So if you are looking for a sweet treat that is full of healthy ingredients, then you need to make these delicious chocolate peanut butter treats. You will love that these healthier treats are no-bake so they can be made year-round. The chocolate treats have amazing peanut butter flavor and are so fun to make. This is a healthy treat that the kids can help you make. 

Sprinkles are optional

 Sprinkles are optional on these no-bake chocolate-dipped peanut butter protein treats. I think that the sprinkles add a nice look to the candy. You can shape these treats into many different shapes. I like making mine in a patty shape but you can roll the chocolate dough into balls or logs. No matter what shape you mold these treats into they will be super delicious and loaded with the power of protein. 

Nuzest vegan protein is available in many delicious flavors. Use my coupon code MOMKNOWSBEST15 to save 15% off your purchase HERE

Pin this on Pinterest to make later

Check out some other holiday treats made with protein powder

+ Dairy-Free Vegan Chocolate Protein Pancakes ~ https://www.momknowsbest.net/2017/05/dairy-free-vegetarian-chocolate-protein.html


+ Dairy-Free Peanut Butter Pretzel Protein Biteshttps://www.momknowsbest.net/2018/01/peanut-butter-pretzel-protein-bites.html

+ Gluten-Free Chocolate Mocha Protein Brownieshttps://www.momknowsbest.net/2017/10/gluten-free-chocolate-mocha-protein.html

Get The Recipe

NO-BAKE CHOCOLATE-DIPPED PEANUT BUTTER PROTEIN CANDY

Ingredients

1/2 cup chocolate protein powder 

2/3 cup peanut butter

3 oz vegan chocolate chips 

1 tablespoon coconut oil

Instructions

Microwave the peanut butter until easily stir-able. Stir the protein powder and peanut butter together to form a dough. If too wet, add a little more protein powder; if too dry, add a little oil. Using your hands roll the dough into balls and flatten them. Place the candy on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and place it in the freezer for 15 minutes. Place the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 1 minute. Stir and microwave in 30-second increments until melted  Dip the candy in the melted chocolate, then place on a tray lined with parchment or wax paper. Add sprinkles if desired. Refrigerate or freeze to set.

Monday, February 15, 2021

STOP EXERCISING! The Way You Are Doing it Now ~ Book Review

Sponsored Post

 Could the way you are exercising be the cause of why you are not losing weight? 


 If you have been following me for some time, then you know that I am passionate about exercise. Some people, like my husband, may call me crazy when it comes to my love of fitness. I simply love working out as it makes me feel so good. Sure, there are many times that I don't want to get on my NordicTrack elliptical or head outside to run, but once I get my body in motion I have fun. I know that the music that I listen to has a big part in why I find exercise fun. 

 So when I saw the title of this book ~ STOP EXERCISING! The Way You Are Doing it Now, I just had to read it. Since I am a fitness influencer, I want to give you the best fitness advice and I just had to discover if maybe I was approaching this exercise thing the wrong way. There is so much fitness advice out there and I knew that I could always learn from another person's view on fitness. Especially when a fitness book is published by one of the top 5 personal trainers in Toronto. 

 Before I dive into my review of this book about exercise, I want to introduce you to the author of the book. So below I include some information about the author of STOP EXERCISING! The Way You Are Doing it Now.

 Igor Klibanov is a fitness professional, author of numerous books, and speaker with extensive experience helping busy professionals lose weight, improve their energy, and stay injury-free. His main focus is on promoting exercise, targeted nutrition, and therapeutic supplementation.

A fitness book that is worth reading!

 You may have noticed that I don't do many book reviews on Mom Knows Best. I am not a book reader and prefer to spend my time doing anything else but not reading a book. The only books that I tend to read are kids' books to my granddaughter. So when I started reading this book about exercise I thought I would just read a little bit a night. 

 Once I started reading STOP EXERCISING, I just could not put the book down as it was filled with plenty of useful information about health and fitness. The first part of the book had a question that I just had to know the answer to.

How is it possible to gain fat when you are exercising & eating right?

 Igor gave me part of the answer ~ Fat loss is not just about exercise and nutrition I had to continue to read the book to find out more as I promote that exercise and eating healthy food will help you lose weight. So I just need to know more so I could share this information with the people that I am encouraging to get healthy. I too wanted to discover more as I struggle with excess fat in my middle section.

"You don’t just need to lose weight to be healthy. You need to first be healthy to lose weight.”

Diana Schwarzbein, M.D., from Santa Barbara, California

Eight Chapters of Fitness and Health Advice

The STOP EXERCISING book had eight chapters and each chapter was filled with information that made perfect sense to the why so many people struggle with losing weight and gaining fat loss. All chapters of this book had information that I myself needed to put into practice. Some chapters like chapter 4, were ones that I really needed to work on. Since I want you to read this book, I will only discuss the information that I learned from chapter 4. Later on in this article, I will share with you how you can get a free copy of this book.

STOP EXERCISING! The Way You Are Doing it Now


CHAPTER 1 ~ Is Stress Making Your Pants Tight?

CHAPTER 2 ~ Is Weight Gain Giving You a Belly Ache?

CHAPTER 3 ~ Hormones More Important than Calories

CHAPTER 4 ~ Sleep-Eat-Supplement

CHAPTER 5 ~ Plan to Progress

CHAPTER 6 ~ Stand up Straight!

CHAPTER 7 ~ TIME

CHAPTER 8 ~ Motivation: Basically, Shut Up and Get it Done!

 My worse unhealthy habit is sleep. I am not a fan of sleep. I have a hard time falling asleep most nights despite following these 12 Tips To Get A Better Night Of Sleep. So I have to force myself to go to bed every night. I am a night owl and tend to stay up past midnight which according to Igor could be the very thing that is to blame for the excess fat in my stomach. I already knew that I needed to get better at sleep but I learned from this book that I should be getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night.

 So my restless 6 hours or less of sleep were only part of the picture when it came to improving my sleep habits to improve my health. I learned that other things that I did in my bedroom were affecting my production of melatonin. My lack of melatonin affects my hormones in my body that in return affects my health.

A dark room is best for sleep

Chapter four informed me that if I wanted to increase my melatonin production it meant that I needed to sleep in a dark room. That meant turning off that alarm clock with the bright red light and closing the curtains. I already leave my cellphone and other devices downstairs so I was doing something right. I could also increase my melatonin production with a snack of turkey and tomatoes!

  A high melatonin level would help my cortisol level be lower. Which helps with losing that fat. Cortisol is a hormone that is discussed in chapter one and it has to do with stress. Chapter one Is Stress Making Your Pants Tight? really opened my eyes to how stress can really mess with your plan to lose weight. 

 I really enjoyed reading this book and I will be implementing much of it into my life and sharing the info in my fitness articles. This book gives you practical advice and the motivation to succeed in the war of the battle of the bulge.

  Click HERE for a FREE digital copy of the book STOP EXERCISING! The Way You Are Doing it Now



Maintaining Healthy Digestion With Kyo-Dophilus Pro+ Synbiotic

 I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

 I have been taking probiotics for quite some time. I used to think that eating yogurt was a great way to get good bacteria into my body as yogurt was made with active cultures. I also thought that I only needed to eat yogurt when I was taking antibiotics or having digestive problems. Boy was my thinking ever wrong so many years ago. This was long before probiotics were the popular supplement for digestive issues. I am not even sure if the word probiotic was listed on the container of yogurt as all I remember was live active cultures.

 So when I learned about probiotic supplements in 2015 and how they could help my digestion, I knew that I had to try this healthy gut supplement. I was glad that I tried probiotics as they have made such a difference in my health. Then over the past 6 years, I learned even more about probiotics and prebiotics. At one time I think I was taking two separate supplements for my gut health, one being a probiotic and the other being a prebiotic. If you are getting confused over these two terms, I don't blame you. Back then, I too had a hard time understanding the terms probiotic and prebiotic. Probiotic is the good bacteria and prebiotic is the food for the bacteria.

Kyo-Dophilus Pro+ Synbiotic Equals Healthy Digestion

 I am glad that Kyo-Dophilus® Pro+ Synbiotic makes maintaining healthy digestion a simple thing. I no longer have to take two different supplements to keep my gut healthy. I love that I can chew a delicious berry tablet at any time during the day and feed my gut the good bacteria that it needs to be happy.

Synbiotic is a term that is used for probiotics and prebiotics that are combined together. Kyo-Dophilus specially selected a prebiotic and a community of nine probiotic strains including The Friendly Trio® and put these good things into a tasty chewable tablet so you can keep your digestive system healthy. I love that these delicious tablets can be enjoyed at any time, with or without a meal. So I can take my supplement when it is convenient in my day. 

Check out My Daily Health Routines That I Practice

 I really love that this supplement for healthy digestion is dairy-free as my dairy allergy does not allow me to enjoy yogurt. The Kyo-Dophilus® Pro+ Synbiotic is also soy-free and gluten-free. It also has no artificial colors or flavors. I really love that the digestive health tablets come in single-serving packets, so I can grab one as I head upstairs to my office. These packets will be great when I start traveling later this year. 

The best part is this supplement tastes good and keeps my digestion system happy. After taking the synbiotic for two weeks in the morning with my breakfast, I noticed that I became more regular in my bathroom habits, so I got my number 2 done before I went out running. Sure the first couple of days when I took these berry smoothie flavored tablets, I had some gas but that was just my body getting used to the added fiber. 

 I am a firm believer in daily probiotics as gut health is important beyond not having digestion problems. They say that your overall health is connected to the health of your gut. This makes sense as your gut is where your food starts before the nutrients go to the rest of your body. So if there are bad bacteria guys down there, that could not be helpful for a healthy body. By giving your gut some friendly bacteria that could even help your immune system. So if you want to have a happy healthy digestive system and help the overall health of your body, you should check out Kyo-Dophilus Pro+ Synbiotic. 

Discover more here ~ Probiotics.com 

Facts about Kyo-Dophilus® Pro+ Synbiotic ~ *These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.



• Kyo-Dophilus Pro+ Synbiotic are great-tasting chewable tablets that are easy to take and convenient they come in single-serving packets and do not require refrigeration.

• Synbiotic is a term used for probiotics and prebiotics, which are combined to provide a synergistic beneficial effect in the microbiome.

• Kyo-Dophilus Pro+ Synbiotic contains a community of nine different probiotic strains (including The Friendly Trio), 20 billion CFU, and 2 g of prebiotic.

• The prebiotic in Pro+ Synbiotic, BioEcolians, contributes to the population of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria species by feeding the good bacteria to help maintain bacterial balance.

• BioEcolians Prebiotic has been clinically studied and documented to significantly aid in digestive support.

• Kyo-Dophilus Pro+ Synbiotic can help maintain good colon health, relieve occasional digestive discomfort, and restore and balance beneficial bacteria.*

• A balanced digestive system also promotes a healthy immune response and inhibits the growth of bad bacteria.*

• It is Non-GMO and free of soy, gluten, dairy, and artificial colors and flavors.

• Kyo-Dophilus Pro+ Synbiotic typically retails for $43.99


 It is so easy to take care of your digestive system when you have 2 delicious tasting tablets. I like taking my Pro+ Synbiotic in the morning with my breakfast but the time of day does not really matter. Nor does it matter whether you take this supplement with food. I find that taking my synbiotic at the same time not only helps me to remember to take it but it helps with my body's regularity in the bathroom department. So treat your body right and keep your gut happy!

Discover more here ~ Probiotics.com 



My Daily Health Routines That I Practice

 I like to start my day with a focus on healthy. My daily routine includes prayer, hydration, body movement, a healthy breakfast, caffeine, and taking supplements.

This page may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases 

 I believe that starting your day with a plan, even before you get out of bed, can make a great difference in how you function for the day. These past 11 months have been different, to say the least, in how I have structured my days. I have always been a homebody but now that my whole family is at home all day, it has taken me some time to adjust. Once I realized ways to control my anxiety things got better. One of the ways that I have had to adjust the most is restructuring my Monday - Friday days.

 In the past, my husband would leave for work and the kids would hop on the yellow bus to go to school. Now they don't leave the house and I have made many changes in the past year to keep myself from going crazy. Don't get me wrong, I love my family but for many years it was just me in the house from 8-4. The house was quiet and I loved having it all to myself. This was my well-deserved time, after raising 5 kids. I had been a full-time mom for 23 years when my youngest went to school. So it was nice to have time for me during the day. 

 Over a year ago when the family left for the day, I had a schedule and structure. Then the Covid pandemic started and I had to do things differently. It started with me moving my workspace to my master bathroom as my husband was on the phone with work all day downstairs. I knew that having a daily healthy routine was going to crucial to my well-being if I was going to survive the noise and chaos in my house. So I started to put more focus on my health practices and realized that I could be a great influence to those who now had time on their hands to focus on their health, now that so many people were working from home.

My Healthy Day Routine- Weekday Edition

7:30- 8:00 AM ~ My alarm clock goes off at 7:30 AM every morning but I don't get out of bed until 8:00 AM. This drives my husband crazy as he does not start work until 8 and has his alarm set for 7:45. He wants those extra 15 minutes of sleep and can't understand why I don't get out of bed when my alarm buzzes. I am not a morning person and I will spend those 30 minutes in prayer with God and asking for His guidance for my day.

8:00 - 8:30 AM ~ I then put on my workout clothes and head downstairs to rehydrate my body with a big glass of water. I take my ClearLung supplement and some sort of energy supplement that contains 80 mg of caffeine. I need energy for my exercise as I don't like to eat before I exercise. The ClearLungs helps with my asthma and makes it easier for me to workout.

 These are my favorite socks to wear when I go running. These socks are so comfortable to wear and keep my feet cool and dry. I really the targeted compression that the socks have. When I am done exercising I keep my Feetures on as they feel so good to wear. These socks give my feet a mini foot massage! They are the only athletic sock that I will wear.


8:30- 9:15 AM ~ Time for my daily exercise. I like exercising first thing in the morning as I have found that morning exercise gets my body and brain going for the day. If the weather is nice outside, I will lace up my Brooks Anthem running shoes. These are the only running shoes that I will wear as they fit like a glove. If the weather is cold or windy, I will workout inside on the NordicTrack elliptical. Even on nice days, I have been preferring my NordicTrack as the iFit program really motivates me to challenge my body with an intense workout. Find out why I chose to purchase a NordicTrack over other fitness equipment.

9:15-9:30 AM ~ Breakfast time! During the week, my normal breakfast is a superfood protein smoothie. Before you say, that must be boring, I choose to drink a smoothie that I make with protein powder and some superfood ingredients as it is a great way to give my muscles and body important nutrition. I do make my breakfast smoothie with different flavors of vegan protein powder and fruits so I can experience different flavors every day. Use MKB15 to save 15% on my favorite plant-based protein powder.

 I find that a superfood smoothie helps me get a lot of nutrition in one glass. Since I don't eat meat and I gave my muscles a great workout, extra protein is crucial to my body. I will add flax meal, matcha powder, a green or red powder, and a fiber supplement to my smoothie. My favorite fiber supplement has prebiotics in it and helps me to be regular in my bathroom habits so I am able to do number two at the same time every day. This is important so I can go before I go out running.  

Use code MOMKNOBEST10 to save money on this amazing supplement  

9:30- 9:45AM ~ Supplements! I daily take a couple of supplements on a regular basis for health reasons and then there are the supplements that I am trying for research purposes. I love sampling new supplements to see how they can benefit my body. Here is my list of supplements for ladies over 50. Most of the supplements that I take are for my overall health but there is some like turmeric that I take for my joints so I can keep running.

 Another must-have supplement that I take daily is a quality probiotic. I discovered probiotics many years ago before they became the popular supplement to take. I am a huge supporter of probiotics as I have seen them do wonders for my body and my boys. Once I started myself and my boys on a daily probiotic, the weekly stomach problems like constipation and tummy aches went away. My boys no longer complained of their stomach hurting and I noticed that they had fewer episodes of puking when compared to their older siblings. 

 A probiotic that I am loving is Kyo-Dophilus® Pro+ Synbiotic. There are so many reasons why I love this chewable Synbiotic. One of them is the delicious berry taste that makes taking this supplement a joy. Head over HERE to see my full review of the Kyo-Dophilus® Pro+ Synbiotic.

10:00- 12:30 PM ~ Answering emails. A big part of my job as a blogger is answering emails and promoting posts. So this can take time. Since my kids are doing online school, I like to break up my workday so I can be there for them. For the most part, since my kids are older, they don't need help with school but they like to come upstairs to talk to me during their breaks. I am no longer working in my master bathroom as I moved to my college son's room when he went back to school. You have to check out how I made this bedroom into an office that looks like a tropical beach

12:30- 1:00 PM ~ Coffee Break and lunchtime. I have a late coffee break and also use this time to pick up my boy's meals at their school. During the pandemic time, the city is giving all kids free breakfast and lunch. So three days a week I pick up two days worth of meals for my boys. Then I come home, put the food away, and grab a cup of coffee along with a protein bar. Then I head back upstairs for several more hours of work.

1:00- 6:00 PM ~ Writing time. I use this time mostly for writing articles but since my boys finish school at 3PM it can mean that I am also spending time with them. I also grab my lunch during this time. Today for lunch I had a plant-based sausage, greens, carrots, sliced peppers, an avocado, and a slice of focaccia

6:00- 11:00 PM ~ My workday is done. I then head downstairs to clean up the kitchen and spend time with the family. Since I have a late lunch, I will have a late dinner or just a snack. On Tuesday and Thursday night, I will do 30 minutes of body strengthening exercises. I started lifting weights almost 2 years ago and I was amazed at how it helped toned my body. You need to check out my 6 months before and after photos.

Then I head to bed around 11 PM after a night of chilling on the couch watching tv with the family.  





Thursday, February 11, 2021

9 Healthy Allergy Friendly Treats For Valentines Day

  Looking for some delicious treats for Valentine's Day that are allergy-friendly? Check out these healthy recipes.

 Show the ones you love this Valentine's Day with some delicious treats. I have made a list of my favorite dairy-free recipes so those with food allergies can indulge in some yummy treats. These recipes are loaded with flavor. Some of the recipes are made with vegan chocolate as chocolate is a must for this holiday. So say I love you with these delicious recipes.

Easy Chocolate Strawberry Pita Dessert

 Nothing says 'I love you' like chocolate and strawberries! For Valentine's Day, make this adorable dessert in minutes using pita bread.

https://www.momknowsbest.net/2021/01/easy-chocolate-strawberry-pita-dessert.html


Dairy-Free Vegan Chocolate Protein Pancakes

Delicious chocolate pancakes for breakfast that are loaded with protein and fiber. Healthy and so yummy!

https://www.momknowsbest.net/2017/05/dairy-free-vegetarian-chocolate-protein.html


The Best No-Bake High Fiber Breakfast Granola Bars

These tasty granola bars are a perfect way to sneak fiber into your diet.  These delicious No-Bake High Fiber Breakfast Granola Bars taste better than the store-bought fiber bars.

https://www.momknowsbest.net/2019/12/the-best-no-bake-high-fiber-breakfast.html


Dairy-Free Homemade Doughnuts Made In The Air Fryer

Air Fryer Doughnuts are way healthier and these are made without any dairy products. So now those with a dairy allergy can enjoy doughnuts.

https://www.momknowsbest.net/2020/06/dairy-free-homemade-doughnuts-made-in.html


Gluten-Free Chocolate Mocha Protein Brownies

Brownies that are delicious and good for you. Unbelievable!

https://www.momknowsbest.net/2017/10/gluten-free-chocolate-mocha-protein.html

 

Sugar-Free Vegan Cinnamon Rolls With a Pretzel Topping

A sweet cinnamon roll recipe with a crunchy pretzel topping. Sugar-free and delicious.

https://www.momknowsbest.net/2019/12/sugar-free-vegan-cinnamon-rolls-with.html

 


Vegan Sugar-Free Keto Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

The perfect holiday treat for someone who has dietary restrictions. Loaded with creamy peanut butter and chocolate.

https://www.momknowsbest.net/2020/01/homemade-vegan-sugar-free-chocolate.html


No Peel Summer Apple Crisp Recipe

An easy healthy way to enjoy the taste of apple pie without all the work. Full of flavor and healthy ingredients.

https://www.momknowsbest.net/2020/06/no-peel-apple-crisp-recipe-with-knively.html


Whipped Dalgona Coffee Made With Instant Coffee


 Dalgona coffee is a whipped, frothy iced coffee drink made with instant coffee, sugar, water, and milk. This recipe is made with dairy-free ingredients.

https://www.momknowsbest.net/2020/09/whipped-dalgona-coffee-made-with.html 


So go ahead and indulge in a yummy treat for Valentine's Day! 


Tuesday, February 9, 2021

Tips to Arrange a Party For Your Kid in Budget



Organizing a nice and simple birthday party for your kid can be quite a straightforward effort for strengthening your bonds with your child. The first thing you got to keep in mind while arranging a party is that the kids get to make memories that they will cherish for a longer period of time. But keeping all things aside, organizing an indoor party for your kid is quite a hectic job, more when you are also on a tight budget. In this case, you can opt for Hobby Lobby promo codes using which you can easily get flat 40% off on party supplies, home decor, plush animals, and much more.

Here's a list of tips and tricks to arranging an indoor party for your kid in budget:

1. Plan the event

 It may look obvious but that's the first step in the case of organizing a party, not only a birthday party but also any kind of event you ought to host. Make a checklist of things you need to buy and props you already have. This will surely make your whole process go in quite an organized way.

2. Set a budget

 Might not look like at first but soon you will realize that you have overspent so having set up a proper budget beforehand will be helpful for you to decide how much you can spend and how much you will have in remaining. But by no means, you should feel like you need to have a big budget to give your kid a memorable and enjoyable day.

3. Theme selection

 Probably one of the easy parts of the job but surely an important one cause you are not just planning a party for your kid, you ought to make it memorable for him/her and also their friends. So first you gotta decide what your kids love most, maybe superheroes or maybe some kind of sports. Surrounding that factor, you will be arranging the whole party.

4. Invite list

 Make sure you know all your kid's friend names or you can even get it from your kid after all it's his/her party so you can't leave out any of their close friends. Then you have to invite them one by one and also make sure who is coming and who are not and based on that you can make a proper attendees list.

5. Finding a venue

 Now with all the previously said things done, you need to decide on a venue. You are looking to ​keep it indoor so you can always look for your own home but in case if you don't have much space available then you can ring some venues close to your location that will be eligible to host an indoor party. You need to check with them whether that desired date of yours is available or not for booking and if yes, what are the time slots. Staples offering amazing discounts on office supplies, decorating accessories is surely something worth looking for.

6. Planning the menu

 Most likely if you have booked a venue, they will be providing the food but still, if you have any dietary requirements you need to inform them beforehand to get prepared. If you are doing it in your own house then you can plan the menu and make sure that you include your kid's input in this part of the plan. Because he/she is also a kid so it's obvious that they know what kind of goods they like or not. Don't make it too complex, keep it simple yet fun and delicious.

7. Get A Cake

 Blowing out candles, cutting the cake and everyone clapping, this picture can never get old and especially in the case of a kid. So make sure you bring your kid's favorite one and this time quite a large one cause there will be many similar ones to your kids. In case, the venue is providing then make sure to tell them your specifications and also the time when they will be serving it.

8. Engaging activities

 You need to have lots of simple yet funny gaming activities for your esteemed little guests cause they get easily bored so it's very important to keep them occupied and engaged the whole time. You won't be needing any extra expenses for that, you just need to use your creative mind a bit and you will get lots of ideas like musical chairs, passing the ball and many more.

 In case you want other ideas, you can opt for high-quality custom inflatables which will provide the children with fun time without the parents being involved. Kids are crazy about colorful and themed bouncy houses, but will also be super excited for waterslides, trampolines, or an engaging tossing game

9. Entertainment

 For some special entertainment, you can hire some professional entertainers like magicians, puppeteers and trust me it will bring a lot more fun to the party and joy to all the kid's faces. And the main thing is they also don't charge much these days so it will easily fit your budget. You can even hire someone to walk around in those big fluffy character costumes to have fun with the kids or even you yourself can do it.

10. Small appreciation gift

 You can arrange small party boxes which can be made by yourself at home for all the kids who have come to celebrate this special day for your kid and make this event so much memorable. You need not put big and small expensive gifts in those boxes, just some small toys, and some chocolates will surely do the job. And it will surely be appreciated by those kid's parents as well. Michaels providing numerous offers on gifts and kid's accessories to choose from will surely be ​an option.

11. Have a companion

You can't be expected to do all these things on your own and make no mistake so it is very much advised to take someone along through the whole process so that they can help you out and take some load off you. The obvious choice will be your better half but if that option is not available for whatever reason, you can always go for a friend or even your kid's best friend's parents.

 Last but not the least, it's a party for your kid so you can also be expected to have fun and enjoy afterall you know how much hard work you have put into organizing it. So if the event goes just like planned, it's a win-win situation for you and even if something doesn't go as planned, don't panic it will be surely sorted out. And while planning the whole process, don't forget to look for discounts and coupons while making purchases for the event cause they will surely help you a lot in keeping things in budget.

The Rigoglioso HEPA Carbon Filter Air Purifier Helps My Asthma

 Using a portable air purifier helps me manage my asthma 

 The past three years have been a learning experience for me after I was diagnosed with asthma. I have been for a long time wondering if my dry uncontrollable cough was asthma. Since I never had any wheezing symptoms I just told myself that it was just seasonal allergies. I remember many years ago on the fourth of July when my daughter was rushed to the emergency room because she was having trouble breathing and being diagnosed with asthma. Months before, the pediatrician said she did not have asthma when I told the doctor about her having trouble breathing while exercising as again she did not have the symptom of wheezing. So when I too started experiencing shortness of breath when exercising three years ago, I started to wonder, could it be asthma?

Asthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways leading to the lungs to become inflamed.

 That was just the beginning of learning about asthma and the things that were triggering my asthma attacks. I learned that my many asthma triggers were smoke, fragrances, cleaning chemicals, dust, cold air, humidity, exercise, and food allergies. For the most part, allergy medicines were helping me control my asthmatic cough so it was only happening a couple times a week. Then three years ago, I became very sick with an uncontrollable cough that left me gasping for air. This cough was also affecting my sleep so I had to sleep sitting up. I knew that I had to see a doctor about getting an asthma diagnosis but I put it off as I did not want to take prescription asthma medications. I wanted to manage asthma naturally. So I did some research on asthma and discovered that a milk allergy could be the cause of my severe asthma symptoms. I eliminated dairy from my diet and the asthmatic cough started to improve. Through a food allergy blood test, I got my confirmation that my dairy lactose issue was instead a dairy allergy. One of the main symptoms of my dairy allergy is asthma flare-ups.

 As with other chronic conditions, a person’s asthma will flare from time to time, usually as a result of exposure to a trigger. Triggers can vary between people but could include exercise, smoke, or particular allergens

A HEPA Carbon Filter Air Purifier helps me manage my asthma naturally

 Since so many of my asthma triggers are airborne, I knew that using an Air Purifier could help with my breathing issues. Using a high-quality air purifier in the home would clean the air of the allergens that were causing my asthma attacks. So a couple of years ago, I purchased a device to clean the air and placed it in my bedroom. Once I regularly started using the air purifier, I noticed that I slept better especially since I was not waking up several times a night coughing. This air purifier was awesome to have in my bedroom last summer when the smoke from the wildfires was making the air quality bad. The only complaint that I had about my air purification system was it was big and bulky. So it was a pain to move around the house. I wanted to clean the air in the room that I was in and this air purificator was heavy to lug up and down the stairs.

 So I needed a portable air purifier system to clean the air throughout the house. Sure I would love a whole-house air purifier or an air cleaning system in each room of the house but that could get quite expensive. So I decided instead to purchase an air purifier machine that was lightweight so I could easily move it around the house. The Rigoglioso SY908 Ture HEPA Carbon Filter Air Purifier is a lightweight but powerful air purifying device that I can move around the house. That way I can keep the air clean of my asthma triggers in whatever room I was in.

 When my Rigoglioso arrived, I was skeptical that such a small air device could be effective in cleaning the air. I was excited to try the Rigoglioso SY908 Ture HEPA Carbon Filter Air Purifier in my new home office. My day workspace was not a big space so a compact air purifier was perfect for keeping the air clean. 

  I selected the Rigoglioso as it had some awesome features like a touch screen and three speeds. It was the three different timers that I was really excited about. That meant that I could save money on energy costs since the air purifier could have the capability to shut off after 2,4, or 8 hours of use. Just look at the other amazing features of this small air purification device.

Rigoglioso SY908 Ture HEPA Carbon Filter Air Purifier 

+ Touch screen, 100% Ozone Free, 360°Purification Performance

+ 3 Fan speeds, Nightlight, Timer 2H 4H 8H

+ H13 TRUE HEPA Filter, Captures 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns in the air

+ Save Energy Costs, Clean air up to 167 ft², consumes as little as 7W

+ Buy it HERE

Does it clean the air?

 There are many ways to tell if your air is getting cleaned from an air purifier system. From noticing that your allergy symptoms are improving to not coughing. Maybe your headaches are decreasing or you are sleeping better or having fewer asthma flare-ups. The question is how could I test this air cleaner device when I was not having any asthma problems or the air quality was not bad outside? 

 My husband helped me solve that question the first day that I used the Rigoglioso Carbon Filter Air Purifier. I was in the living room and my husband decided to use this stinky lotion that makes me cough. One smell of this lotion makes me gagged and cough. So I placed the Rigoglioso Air Purifier next to me and turned it on high. Within minutes the lotion smell was gone and I did not experience that annoying asthmatic cough. I was amazed that this small air purifier could clean the air quickly.

Chemical fragrances are an asthma trigger

  For as long as I can remember, fragrances and perfumes have bothered me. When I was younger certain fragrances like my husband's after-shave would make me sick to my stomach, so he had to switch to fragrance-free personal care products. Then as I got older chemical fragrances would make me cough, which I later learned was an asthma symptom so I tried to eliminate all chemical fragrances from my home. Eliminating asthma triggers is not easy when there is a virus pandemic as one needs to use hand sanitizer. The alcohol in hand sanitizer is a trigger for my asthma. So my family uses it only when they can't wash their hands. 

 Why I Choose To Ban Toxic Chemicals In My Life

 We had a plumbing issue in our house and had to shut off the water for two days since we could not get a plumber in right away. Thankfully we had big camping water containers for our water needs but since the water was not warm, we had to use hand sanitizer if we left the house. Having the Rigoglioso near me eliminated the chemical smell quickly when my boys used the hand sanitizer. This amazing purifier device also kept the air clean while the plumbers did the welding work on the pipes. That way the chemicals that the plumbers were using did not trigger an asthma attack.

Other features that made the Rigoglioso HEPA Air Purifier a joy to use 

 Having asthma means I have to be proactive in my daily health care. Since so many of my asthma triggers are airborne, I am not always able to avoid them. So I have to check the air quality outside before I go running, especially in the summer when forest fires are common. While exercise is beneficial to managing my asthma, poor air quality can make it hard for me to breathe. So I like using air purifiers to clean the air inside the home. An air purifier that is easy to use is always a good choice.

Ten Tips For Exercising With Asthma

 

 The Rigoglioso HEPA Carbon Filter Air Purifier is simple to use and I love that it has a touch-screen display. This air purifier is also quiet so running it does not bother my sleep. It also has a timer option that I can choose to let it run from 2 - 8 hours. With a touch of a button, I can turn the soft blue LED light into a dim sleep mode light. The filters are also super easy to replace and last for 6 months. The air filters are high-efficiency carbon filters. 

 For now, I am using this compact air purifier in my office but when the weather gets warmer, I will use it throughout the house. That way I can open up windows and not have to worry about spring allergies. I love my fresh air! I am a person who prefers to sleep with the window open even in the winter. So if you are looking for a compact yet powerful air purifier, you need to take a look at the Rigoglioso HEPA Carbon Filter Air Purifier system. Clean air is a beautiful thing.



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