Why Do I Run?

   People ask me all the time why do I run and those usually are the people who hate to run. One of the main reasons I run is for exercise. Running provides me with an intense workout that helps me keep in shape. I used to just fast walk, but once I hit the big 40 it was hard to stay in shape with just walking. I put on five pounds, all in my stomach, and I did not like what I saw in the mirror. So I started running. I had done a lot of running in my younger days but kids came along and made it harder to run. The last two kids were so close in age that made it even more difficult to get out running. So when kid number four went to school, I started running again.

I discovered the joys or running again and love how running made me feel. Running also helped my mind too. I also took up creating this website at the same time I started running. I discovered how running helps me to think so much better, in fact, I plan my next post when I am out running. I am able to write better after I get a good run in. Running helps me to have energy long after I run.

I also run to stay young looking. I look young for my age and I do believe that running, along with eating healthy keeps me young looking. Running also helps me to eat healthy. I feel great about myself after running so that helps me to make wise choices with food.

 I run because it is fun. Yes after you have been running for a while it becomes fun. Running also allows me to enter races and have the fun of winning. My teen son and I love to enter races just for the sake of winning. He is a fast runner and always wins in his age category. I tend to win in my age category too. The picture below is from a race we did a couple of years ago on Thanksgiving. This race was in Joplin, Mo. and it was very cold that day.

Here is a photo from a race that my son wanted to do. It was one where you had to run through mud and climb things. My son loved this race, me not so much. I just had a hard time in the mud as it felt so gross.

Some people run as it allows them to eat more. This use to be the case with me, but once I hit 40 that all changed. I now find that I have to run and eat healthy to stay in shape.

              So do you like to run? Tell me why you run.

Discover New Airy And Light Scents With Renuzit® Sensitive Scents & A Giveaway

Are you bothered by the scent of  strong air fresheners? Then check out new Renuzit® Sensitive Scents.

  Most air fresheners, especially the plug in ones, are too strong smelling for me. Their strong scent bothers my allergies and makes me cough. I want my house to smell nice so I usually use the air fresheners in rooms of my home that I don't spend a lot of time in, like the bathrooms. That way I can still enjoy the scent, but at a distance. So when Renuzit came out with their new Sensitive Scents, I was excited to give them a try. I was a little bit apprehensive to try the Renuzit Sensitive Scents as my seasonal allergies were bothering me. I was already coughing from that and I did not want anything else to bother me. I was worried that the scents from the products might be too strong, but I was pleasantly surprised at how light the scents were.

  I was sent three different types of the Renuzit® Sensitive Scents products to use and experience in my home. The Sensitive Scents come in three types of products- adjustable cones, a plug-in warming unit and trigger spray. These three products are available in three different scents. I just love the names that Renuzit gave to the scents and the designs on the packages look so refreshing and airy.                                 Check out the different scents

     Pure Water Blossom & Cucumber  
Enjoy delicate floral essences with the crisp freshness of cucumber

     Pure Ocean Breeze
No matter how far you live from the ocean, you can still relish in its light and airy scents

      Pure White Pear & Lavender
Savor the succulent combination of sweet pears and heavenly lavender


   The first product that I tried was the trigger deodorizing spray in the Pure White Pear & Lavender scent. I sprayed it into the air and inhaled the scent. The scent was light but still fragrant. It had a nice natural lavender aroma to it. I could use this one in the bedroom and spray it before bed as the scent would help me drift off to sleep.

  I placed the Pure Water Blossom & Cucumber adjustable scent cone in my bathroom. The scent was floral like being in a field of flowers. This one would do a great job of keeping my bathroom smelling nice and it lasts up to 4 weeks.

  The Pure Ocean Breeze scent reminded me of laundry day and my boys enjoyed the scent that came from the universal oil warmer. I place the universal oil warmer in the hallway near their bedrooms so they could enjoy it as they drifted off to sleep.

  The best part of these new products is that I could be in the same room and enjoy the wonderful aroma. The scents were not strong and they did not make me cough. I am so glad that Renuzit came up with light scents for us sensitive people. I can now make my home smell wonderful.These long lasting scents are available in stores now!

                                     www.renuzit.com/sensitive-scents

                                   Giveaway

I have 2 coupons for free Renuzit® Sensitive Scents to giveaway to one lucky reader. Just enter on the giveaway 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.

No-bake Healthy Protein Bites & Giveaway

These tasty bites will give you a boost of energy and are so easy to make.

   I have a sweet tooth and will eat cookies if they are in the house. So I try not to bring cookies into the house. Over the holidays, I gained five pounds from the cookies people gave us. I have discovered a way to satisfy my sweet tooth with a healthy snack that is easy to make. These protein bites are great substitutes for granola and protein bars. I will serve these to my boys for an after school snack and they love them.They are also great for breakfast too. My youngest boy does not eat meat and will only eat yogurt and peanut butter for protein so I love that he is getting some extra protein with this healthy snack. These protein bites are easy to make and you can vary the flavor by using vanilla or chocolate protein powder. I made mine with extra chocolate as I used chocolate peanut butter and chocolate protein powder along with chocolate chips. I also snuck some green veggies into my protein bites without my boys knowing as I used Garden Of Life Raw Protein & greens chocolate protein powder. This delicious plant-based protein power has green veggies in it along with probiotics and omegas and the cool thing is it does not taste like green veggies. It tastes like chocolate milk. This protein powder also comes in vanilla and lightly sweetened. You can see my review of this protein powder at the below link and enter to win a canister through 2/24/2016.
 http://www.momknowsbest.net/2016/01/how-to-make-green-smoothie-that-does.html

                                No-bake Healthy Protein Bites

1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup chocolate or vanilla protein powder, I like Garden Of Life Raw Protein & greens
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 T chia seeds
1/2 cup smooth natural peanut butter (or any nut butter)*
3 T natural honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/3 cup raisins, chocolate chips, craisins or preferred add-in

2-4 T liquid (almond milk, milk, water etc...)

1. Add oats, protein powder, cinnamon and chia seeds to a large bowl.
2. Add in peanut butter, honey and vanilla extract. Stir to combine.
3. Add in raisins (or preferred add-in). Mixture should be slightly sticky but still crumbly.
4. Slowly add in liquid 1 tablespoon at a time and using hands (get dirty!) combine until it comes together in a sticky ball that holds together. If mixture is too dry, add in more liquid but not so much that it won't hold shape.
5.Place in a container to set in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
6. Store in fridge until ready to eat. Makes 16-20 bites.

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.

Soft Chewy Pretzel Bread Made With A Bread Maker

This bread is so delightfully chewy and tastes just like a soft pretzel. One bite is all it takes to add this bread to your favorite baking recipes. Recipe can be made with a bread machine.

   My family loves it when I make baked soft pretzels. They love them fresh out of the oven as who can resist warm bread sprinkled with salt. So when I saw this wonderful recipe for pretzel bread, I just had to make it. A loaf of bread that tastes like a pretzel sounded so yummy to me. This pretzel loaf would be great for making sandwiches or just eating fresh from the oven. I found this salty chewy bread so much easier to make than regular pretzels as I didn't have to shape the dough into pretzel shapes. I just had to form the dough into one loaf and that was so easy to do. I find shaping dough so relaxing, how about you?

Bread that tastes like a warm soft pretzel

  I like to use my bread maker when I make bread as it makes things so much easier. I just put the ingredients in the machine and press start. The bread machine does all the mixing, kneading, and rising for me. An hour and a half later the dough is ready for me to shape into a delicious loaf of bread. If you don't have a bread machine, you can just mix, knead, and raise the bread yourself. The first rise of the dough is for about an hour or until doubles in size. The second rise of the dough, after shaped into a ball, is much shorter. The second dough only rises for as long as it takes to boil the pretzel water. 

 The first time I made this bread, I allowed it to rise for over an hour, as I had to pick up my son from school, and my bread did not form and bake properly. It tasted wonderful but did not look nice. My husband likes it when my recipes don't give me picture-perfect results as he knows that I will make the recipe again. He knows that means he gets to eat the food twice.

Soft Chewy Pretzel Bread 

+ Tastes like a pretzel

+ So Delicious

+ Is Soft

+ Is Chewy

+ Salty

+ Can be made in the oven or a bread machine

No bread machine is needed

  If you don't have a bread machine, don't worry as I included directions to make this soft chew bread by hand. You will just need to allow the dough to rise in a warm place. If you have a dough-proofing setting on your stove, lucky you! If not then you can raise the pretzel dough near a warm sunny window or inside your oven. My oven dough-raising method is easy. Just place the bowl of bread dough in the oven and turn on the oven light. Then with the oven door closed, turn on the oven for a few minutes and then turn it off. This then gets the oven to a perfect temperature for bread dough to rise. Leave the dough inside the turned-off oven for an hour or until the dough is doubled in size.

Form the dough into a ball

 So let's begin to make the pretzel bread. Make the dough and allow it to rise. Then form the dough into a round loaf. Forming a round loaf is simple place the dough on a baking mat and using your hands shape it into a ball. Kneading the bread dough into a ball is so easy to do. This brings me back to my childhood when I played with clay.

Let the dough rise

 Once the bread is formed into a ball, place it on a baking sheet that is lined with a baking mat. Then cover the dough with a damp towel and allow it to rise while you preheat the oven to 400 F and prepare the pretzel boil water.

Soak the bread in the soda water

Once the water boils, make sure to place the dough top side down first. Just pick up the silicone mat to help place the dough into the water. While the bread dough is in the water, use a ladle and spoon the water over the dough. That way all the dough gets the soda water on it. After three minutes, take the dough out carefully with some large spatulas and place the dough on a lightly oiled baking sheet or line it with a silicone baking mat. You can gently reshape the dough if needed to look nicer. Sprinkle salt over the dough and bake.

Make sure to pin this delicious recipe for later

Soft Chewy Pretzel Bread

Author: Mom Knows Best

This bread is so delightfully chewy and tastes just like a pretzel. The dough can be made in a bread machine!

ingredients:

• ½ cup warm water, between 105 and 110 F
• 2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1¼ teaspoons salt
• 4 cups flour

For the pretzel boil

• 2 quarts water
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons baking soda

For topping

• pretzel salt or coarse salt

instructions:

How to cook Soft Chewy Pretzel Bread

1. Place the yeast and the warm water and yeast in a large bowl, stir well. Let this sit for 5 minutes.
2. Then add the remaining ingredients to the bowl and mix well. If your dough seems sticky add more flour one tablespoon at a time.
3. Place the dough on a floured surface and knead it for 5 minutes. To knead the dough is to simply play with it for a while with your hands.
4. Let the dough rise in a warm place for an hour.
5. If you are using a bread machine: Add the water, milk, flour, sugar, yeast, and salt to the pan of your bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select the “Dough” cycle and hit start. Allow the cycle to complete. Do not bake the bread in the machine. Allow the bread machine to rise the dough
6. When the dough is done rising and doubled in size, form the dough into a round loaf and place on a baking sheet that is lined with a baking mat. 
7. Cover the formed dough with a slightly damp towel and set aside.
8.  Preheat the oven to 400F and bring 2 quarts of water to a boil in a large pan. Once the water boils, add the brown sugar and baking soda and stir. Gently lift the loaf of dough and ease into the water top side down first. Let simmer for 3 minutes. While the dough is simmering, use a ladle and spoon the soda water over the bread. Carefully lift the dough out of the water using spatulas.
9.  Place the dough onto a baking sheet that is lined with a baking mat or nonstick foil. You can reshape the dough if needed.
10. Sprinkle the loaf with coarse salt. Then use a sharp knife and slice 1/4 in thick lines to form an X.
11.  Bake for 35 minutes or until brown.
12. Store any leftovers in a paper bag as plastic will make the bread soggy.

Created using The Recipes Generator

Label Daddy Labels Are The Best for Summer Camp And More

My boys are going to camp this summer so I will be labeling all their items with Label Daddy labels!

Save 25% on Label Daddy labels! Label Daddy is the number one solution for labeling your belongings! Their exclusive laminated coating gives labels an extra layer of protection and is a must for camp! Remember to label all clothing, sports equipment, electronics, and other personal belongings your kids bring to school, camp, sports leagues, day care, vacation, and other places. Label Daddy labels keep them from getting lost or mixed up with others. These labels are great for adults too! -- Put them on your sunglass/eyeglass case, phone, camera, sports equipment, tablet, e-reader, hats, clothing, and more.

These labels are super durable peel-and-stick washable labels -- they're washer/dryer safe, microwave safe, dishwasher safe and UV resistant! Label Daddy labels are also fun and attractive. You design your own labels! Pick from tons of colors, sizes and logos, including Disney and Marvel characters, MLB, NBA, and NHL team logos, other sport and fun logos, and more. These labels are made in the USA and shipped directly to you worldwide.

Save 25% on your entire Label Daddy order - this is the best discount available anywhere. Use code USFAMILY25 at checkout. www.usfamily25.labeldaddy.com

How To Make an Easy DIY Compost Bin

   I have always wanted to compost my food scraps as it is so better for the environment as it cuts down on the trash that goes to the landfill. I already do plenty of recycling and wanted to do more.  The problem was I made excuses and did not know where to start. I finally did some research and found how easy composting could be. I also discovered that I could make my own compost bin, with a lid, that would make composting more desirable as I always hated open compost piles. My compost bin is so easy to make and all you need is an outdoor trash container that has a tight- fitting lid. You can purchase one for under $10.00 too.

  People compost for different reasons, but most do it for the great soil for their garden. Now I don't have a garden, yet, but that is something I would like to have in the future. The main reason I want to compost is to keep all the food waste out of the landfill. I also see this as a great learning experience for my boys.

  Making this compost bin is so simple all you need is a sturdy trash container and a drill. You simply drill holes, using your drill, along the sides of your trash can, as well as on the lid and on the bottom of the trash can. Our trash can turned composting bin has approximately 20 – 25 holes total. Then you place the container on a platform so it can properly drain. You can make something with a couple of bricks. Once the container is done you simply fill it up with some dirt, I used a bag that I had leftover from a previous project, and items from the below list. Just make sure to stir it and add water every time you add items to it. I like to keep a shovel near the bin so I can stir up the compost.

   Now that you have learned how to make an easy compost bin, it is time to learn what can be composted into your bin. I was amazed to learn all the different items that can and can't be composted. I like to collect my food scraps in a small indoor container and then add them to my outdoor compost bin about  once a week. I like using a stainless steel container with a lid and a charcoal filter as it keeps the odors inside the container. I bought mine online here Here but you could make something similar with a plastic coffee can.

Items to compost

Coffee ground and filters

· Fruits and vegetables

· Egg shells

· Grass clipping

· Leaves

· Nut shells

· Shredded newspapers

· Fireplace ashes

Dryer lint

Tea Leaves

Flowers, Leaves & Cuttings

                                       Items not to compost
                                            Meat or fish bones

· Yard trimmings that have been treated with chemicals

· Pet waste

· Plants that are diseased 

Dairy Products

I am still new to composting so I am still learning about adding items to my compost bin. My neighbour, who is my go to person for composting, has told me to try and balance the food waste ratio to the paper ratio to get a good mix. I am hoping that my compost bin does a good job and I can tend to it regularly. It will be exciting to show my boys how the items break down and turn into soil.

Do you compost?  Have any composting tips you’d like to share? Feel free to share your tips as I can use all the help with my composting.