Food Fun Family

Join the 30-Day Family Floss Challenge

Lolli — Fri, 19 Jan 2018 21:38:59 +0000

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of DenTek for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

I don’t know about you, but my own personal and my family’s dental health is one of those things that I’m concerned about but I don’t have a great track record of DOING much about. I mean, I brush and floss my teeth and use mouthwash daily. My kids are old enough to take care of their own teeth-cleaning routines (which is sometimes a scary, scary thought).

We take care of the basics, but I know that we could all do better in the dental health department, so when I was challenged to participate in the 30-Day Family Floss Challenge this January, I eagerly agreed. What better way to start the New Year off?

Before my family headed down to Florida for the holidays, I stopped by Walmart for some stocking stuffers, trip necessities, and other supplies. It’s been a tradition for years to include a new toothbrush in each family member’s stocking (my married daughter says that her husband thinks that my inclusion of a toothbrush with all of the Christmas candy is humorous).

This year, I not only stocked up on new toothbrushes, but on DenTek® floss picks as well. You can find DenTek® floss picks in Walmart’s Kids and Adult oral care sections at Walmart’s everyday low prices.

My daughters and I have been using floss picks for years, but like any other personal care routine, it’s easy to get out of the habit, and it can be even harder to start and stick with a new habit (thinking of those family members who haven’t used flossers regularly before). DenTek® Floss Picks make flossing my teeth so much easier than typical floss, and I admit it’s something I look forward to now instead of dreading or just feeling guilty about.

Do you have family members like mine who need to get in the habit of flossing their teeth? DenTek® is making it easier than ever to get in the habit of flossing regularly with their 30-Day Family Floss Challenge. The steps are not only easy, but fun!

Download the 30-Day Family Floss Challenge Calendar – The challenge goes through March 31, but you can start any day! Simply pick a day, and start recording your progress.
Take a selfie with those super flossed teeth and post your pic to Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. Tag your pic with @DenTek and hashtag #FamilyFlossChallenge.
Win Prizes! *No purchase necessary to participate or win. Visit dentekchallenge.com for official rules and more info.

We’ve printed off our calendar and posted it in the upstairs bathroom where most of us brush our teeth. We thought it was important to keep our tracker in a place where everyone could see it, and where the calendar itself would serve as a reminder to floss each day.

Every day, each family member is going to leave their own “mark” when they floss (you can decide what works best for your family….placing a sticker, writing initials down, assigning a symbol to each family member, etc). Then, weekly, we’ll have our own personal incentives for family members that meet the challenge (this is totally optional, but a fun way to customize the challenge and motivate your own family members even more).

Is your family ready to Join the 30 Day DenTek® Family Floss Challenge? Let me know if you have any tips or if you learn anything along the way. Good luck!

It’s Time to Get Your Game On for Back-to-School

Lolli — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 17:00:24 +0000

This post is sponsored by Kohl’s. I received the included back to school clothes and essentials as compensation.

I remember as a kid that I LOVED back-to-school shopping. I was the one time of the year (and often the ONLY time) when I could count on getting a few new outfits. I loved trying on new clothes and finding pants and shirts and shoes that were stylish, crisp, colorful and new.

Starting off that first day of school with a new outfit made me feel more confident and more ready to tackle the new year.

Now I’m on the other end of the back-to-school shopping spectrum, as a mom with 4 kids living at home (and teenagers at that!!). Let’s just say that back-to-school shopping is often NOT on my list of “fun things I am looking forward to doing.”

I love shopping for myself. Browsing the racks of clothes and trying on new styles is still as exciting as ever. But taking four kids out shopping and finding things they like (and I like, equally)? That can be a different story!

I decided to bite the bullet this back-to-school season and knock all of the school clothes shopping out in one trip to Kohl’s. What was I thinking? Taking four teenagers out to shop for clothes….two girls and two boys, all shopping in different departments?

Yes, it was a big undertaking, but we scored some amazing deals at Kohl’s and came home with outfits for each of the kids that they can wear during the first week of school and throughout the school year. And you know what? I actually had fun!

And now my kids are ready to tackle their new year of school, with both of my girls heading to new schools this year (one starting high school, and the other starting college!). They definitely have their “game face” ready to make a great first impression.

Our favorite deals? We loved all of the “two-for” shirt deals! Everyone scored some graphic tees for a great price. It was fun to see which styles “spoke” to each of the kids. I loved that I was happy with each of the things that they picked out, too!

The boys were in desperate need of some new jeans (because boys grow SO fast!) and we were thrilled to find jeans that were a great price and fit. And take my word for it…the boys are not always the easiest shoppers to please!

After we got home, I asked each of the kids to pick out their favorite outfit to take some back-to-school pictures. They definitely don’t want to wait til the first day of school to start enjoying their haul from Kohl’s…and I don’t blame them!

Are you getting ready to do some back-to-school shopping with your kids, too?

Check out Kohl’s Friends and Family Sale from August 17th-20th. Be sure to score 20% off using code SAVER at check out. You can also get $10 off any $50 kids clothing purchase between August 4-20 using promo code BTS10!

Check out the back to school selection here: https://www.kohls.com/sale-event/school.jsp and here: https://www.kohls.com/sale-event/kids-clothing.jsp

What is on your must-have back-to-school list?

My blog may contain links to other websites. I am not responsible for the privacy policies of those other websites. When you click on a link, your information may be collected by those websites so I encourage you to read their privacy policies.
Affiliate links are not associated with Kohl’s.

Fuel Your Adventure with Safeway this Summer #FuelURAdventure

Lolli — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 12:00:16 +0000

This is a sponsored conversation between myself and Safeway. All opinions are completely my own.

Summer….in one breath it’s the relaxing break we crave all school year long. And in another breath, it is absolutely exhausting!

Summertime is the time of mixed up schedules, early morning swim practices, summer reading, vacations, long, lazy play days with friends, and family adventures near home. We might not have to pack school lunches every morning like we do September through June, but we seem to require even more fuel to keep us chugging along (and cool!!) during the summer months.

One of the keys to fueling ALL our adventures, year-round, is starting off with a good breakfast every morning. My youngest son declared this week that Quaker Life Cereal is one of his favorites and I need to buy it more often. He likes to stay fueled with a bowl of cereal or two or three throughout the day!

I visited my local Safeway recently and couldn’t wait to share with you guys the exciting #FuelURAdventure campaign. Safeway is our one-stop-shop for everything we need to keep our family fueled for our summer-time adventures, whether that’s chilled bottles of water and Gatorade for hikes or swim meets or tasty breakfast to give us energy to start the day. One of my favorite summer-time “treats” are Tostitos Scoops with a big bowl of fresh salsa made with tomatoes and peppers from our garden (we’re still waiting on the tomatoes here…).

Now! Here’s the news I couldn’t wait to share with you!! To help celebrate summer adventures everywhere, Safeway is giving shoppers the chance to win a $500 grocery gift card! You can enter simply by sharing how you #FuelURAdventure with Safeway and participating PepsiCo products this summer.

How to #FuelURAdventure

Show your local Albertsons Companies store how you #FuelURAdventure for a chance to win a $500 grocery gift card. Entry is easy as 1-2-3:

1. Take a photo featuring one or more participating PepsiCo products (see below) showing how they fuel your summer adventure
2. Share the photo on Twitter or Instagram or the contest site by 8/17
3. Use #FuelURAdventure on Instagram or Twitter and don’t forget to tag your local store

For official rules and more details, visit the contest site here

BONUS: everyone is really a winner here, because you’ll earn 4x Gas Reward Points when you stock up on any of these items. (Restrictions and exclusions apply. See your local store for details.)

PepsiCo Participating Products:

Quaker Cap’n Crunch (14 oz.)
Gatorade G2 Lemon Lime (32 oz.)
Lay’s Classic Potato Chips (family size 10.75 oz.)
Tostitos Scoops (10 oz.)
Quaker Life Cereal (13 oz.)
Aquafina bottled water (24pk 16.9 oz. bottles)
Gatorade (32 oz.)
XL Sunchips Veggie Harvest Tomato Basil and Cheese (7 oz.)

I can find all these great products here in Washington D.C. at my local Safeway store – be sure to check out these great products at your local Albertsons Companies family of stores, including Albertsons, ACME Markets, Jewel-Osco, Vons, Pavilions, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Shaw’s, Star Market, United Supermarkets and Market Street.

So tell me, how will YOU fuel the rest of your summer with Safeway?

Connect with Safeway:

Comments submitted may be displayed on other websites owned by the sponsoring brand.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Safeway. The opinions and text are all mine.

Care For Your School With Box Tops for Education

Lolli — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 16:30:28 +0000

This is a sponsored post with compensation received from General Mills. As always, all opinions are my own.

Mom confession time: I am the mom who will dig through the recycling bin to snip off any Box Tops for Education that my family has missed. I’ve even been known to sneak a few Box Tops out of the neighbors’ recycle bins before they’re taken away. We even have Grandma collect them for us out of state, and I’ll pack plastic baggies full of Box Tops in my luggage after visiting her.

Box Tops are pretty amazing, if you ask me! I shop for the stuff I would normally buy, and the kids’ school gets 10 cents per Box Tops. It couldn’t be easier!

Box Tops are kind of a big deal in our house.

I’m still in denial that Back to School season is almost here. Didn’t we just start summer break?? There’s no use denying it or trying to avoid the inevitable. School will be back in session before we know it, which means back to school shopping and preparation time is NOW. That means stocking up on school supplies and filling the snack drawers in the kitchen with plenty of goodies for the kids’ lunches.

The Power of Box Tops

What makes Box Tops so incredible? Box Tops for Education helps schools do more for the KIDS. They can help provide more books and academic resources for students; they can help kids be more active with additional gym or playground equipment; they can help fund field trips or field days at school. There are so many ways that Box Tops help parents care for their school and the children it serves.

Did you know that you can search for collection drives from your child’s school, a school in your area, or just find a drive that resonates with you? Check out all of the options here: https://www.boxtops4education.com/clipboard Even though my kids are in middle and high school, I found our kids’ elementary school on the list, and love that they’re gathering Box Tops to help kids attend field trips. But if you’re like us and have kids in middle school or high school, you can still collect Box Tops!

CVS Extra Bucks Offer

While you’re out back to school shopping with your kids this month, be sure to stop by your local CVS. CVS is making it easier than ever to care for your family AND your classroom with everything you need to keep your kids focused, active, and prepared for the new school year. When you shop Box Top items at CVS this back to school season, you help supply schools with the equipment and tools they need to support each and every student!

Special Offer! CVS Extra Bucks Offer (8/20-8/27): Spend $30 on participating Box Tops products, get $10 ExtraBucks reward. So not only are you getting valuable Box Tops for your kids’ school, but you’re saving money on items for your family, too. We like loading up on cereals (my kids eat a TON of cereal!) and lunch box snacks like Mott’s fruit snacks or Fiber One bars.

What are your favorite products to stock up on to collect Box Tops? Is your school listed on the Box Tops site?

Connect with CVS and Box Tops for Education

Be sure to stay connected with Box Tops for Education on the web and social media!

Website: https://www.cvssavingscentral.com/shop-assets/04_GMS_H9273_GenMillsBTS/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btfe/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BoxTopsForEducation
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/boxtops/pins/

*Offer valid 8/20/17 – 8/27/17. $30 worth of participating General Mills BTFE products must be purchased in a single transaction with CVS card in order to receive 10 CVS ExtraBucks automatically at checkout. Net purchase determined after all discounts, offers and coupons. Each box top is worth 10 cents to redeeming school when clipped from box tops products and sent to the redeeming school. Only BTFE registered schools can redeem box tops. Limit $20,000 per school per year for box tops redeemed through the clip program. See www.boxtopsforeducation.com for program details.

What Would Your Dream Kitchen Makeover Look Like?

Lolli — Wed, 26 Apr 2017 14:56:09 +0000

It’s true. I’m dreaming of a kitchen makeover! This blog post has been sponsored by Wellborn Cabinet, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. #WinWithWellborn

Disclaimer: this is not my kitchen. I wish it was!

We’ve lived in our current house since April 1998. Our house was built in 1978, and the previous owners had not done much to update the house in the 20 years that they lived here. We’ve made several upgrades over the years (like replacing the mustard yellow linoleum for a much more pleasant-to-look-at wood grain laminate flooring) but the cabinets desperately need an upgrade. In fact, we started a DIY kitchen makeover in December and got as far as painting the walls. A fresh coat of paint DOES do wonders for a room, but there’s so much more we could do to update and upgrade the kitchen, which gets a lot of use in our house!

My dream kitchen makeover would consist of new cabinets (that’s first on the list for sure!), new counter tops, a new refrigerator with ice maker (we’ve never had one and have to make our own ice. It’s like we’re living in….the ice age or something!), a new range, and a new dishwasher. I can’t imagine how beautiful and functional our new kitchen would be and how much VALUE it would add to our nearly-40-year-old townhouse.

Wellborn Cabinet wants to give you your dream kitchen! Their Dream Kitchen Makeover contest is currently open for entries, and one grand-prize winner will receive a check up to $12,000 to create the kitchen of their dreams!

Why Wellborn? Not only does Wellborn Cabinet have options for all styles – whether you’re going for modern or traditional, country or elegant – but their cabinets are made in the USA with high quality components. Wellborn Cabinet has been a family-owned company since 1961, and they’ve got endless options and competitive pricing – perfect for making your dream kitchen a reality! Wellborn doesn’t stop at the kitchen, though. There are cabinets all over the house…laundry room cabinets, bathroom vanities, craft room or man cave cabinets! Where do you need new cabinets?

Enter to WIN Wellborn Cabinet’s Dream Kitchen Makeover:

Enter the Wellborn Cabinet contest HERE for a chance to win a beautiful kitchen! Entrants can register daily through August 22, 2017. How would YOU use your kitchen makeover if you won? After you enter, let me know in the comments below what you dream of doing in your kitchen!

Connect with Wellborn Cabinets:

Blog: https://wellbornblog.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/WellbornCabinetInc/
Twitter: twitter.com/WellbornCabinet
Instagram: instagram.com/wellborncabinet/
Pinterest: pinterest.com/wellborncabinet/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/wellborn-cabinet-inc
Google+: +wellborncabinets/posts
YouTube: youtube.com/user/WellbornCabinet

Ready to Experience the End of Dry Skin?

Lolli — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 15:48:54 +0000

This post is sponsored by Curél® but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I grew up in a pretty dry Western state, so I was accustomed to needing to apply lotion every day. Dry skin was a constant struggle for me, particularly my feet, hands, and elbows. When I moved to the East Coast, where we experience humid air about half of the year, I noticed that my skin wasn’t feeling as dry during the humid months. At the same time, though, I noticed that my skin felt DRIER than ever when winter came along and we no longer had the humid air.

During the winter months in particular, my elbows, hands, and feet get so dry that they are often painful. Have you ever had a similar problem?

This year, I started winter off with a new moisturizing routine, which included Curél® HYDRA THERAPY WET SKIN MOISTURIZER as part of my showering routine.

I was surprised that in my 42 years I had never considered the benefits of applying lotion right after showering or bathing. In my mind, my skin was already feeling moist (thanks to the warm water and shower gel I’d just used) but I’ve recently learned that after a shower is the BEST time to apply lotion.

Curious as to WHY it’s best to apply lotion right after showering? After taking a shower, your skin cells expand, providing an easy pathway for moisture into just-showered skin. Think of your skin like a sponge. When wet, your skin cells expand, providing an easy pathway for lotion to soak in. Curél® HYDRA THERAPY, with Advanced Ceramide Complex, penetrates deeply into the surface of the skin bringing moisture to the source of dryness.

So the next question is, what do ceramides do and why are they so good for your dry skin? Ceramides are found naturally in healthy skin, and are vital to maintaining your skin’s moisture barrier. When your skin loses ceramides, it becomes dry and damaged. Curél® HYDRA THERAPY WET SKIN MOISTURIZER, with Advanced Ceramide Complex, penetrates to the source of dryness, helping to replenish skin’s ceramide levels and repair the moisture barrier.

It’s easy to use Curél® HYDRA THERAPY WET SKIN MOISTURIZER. After finishing your shower or bath, apply Curél® HYDRA THERAPY to wet skin. It absorbs immediately and there’s no need to rinse off or wait for it to absorb. Remember that sponge analogy? Your wet skin actually helps it absorb faster!

Not only does it feel silky-smooth going on, but Curél® HYDRA THERAPY is totally greaseless and scent-free, so even my kids are ok with using it! I noticed a difference in my skin within just a few days of using Curél® HYDRA THERAPY. No longer do my hands feel dry or get cracked. I’ve even noticed that my feet are still feeling moisturized by the end of the day and I don’t feel a need to slather them with lotion before I put my feet under the covers at night (does anyone else hate the feeling of dry skin on sheets?).

I was interested to learn that, according to a survey that Curél® conducted with bloggers like me, 80% reported that they use a body moisturizer as part of their morning routine, but only 20% said that lotion was part of their bedtime routine. For as long as I can remember, my skin has been desperate for moisture at night, and the biggest difference I noticed while using Curél® HYDRA THERAPY was that my skin no longer felt so “thirsty” for moisture at night. That’s a huge thing for me to say!

Among the 40 bloggers surveyed (myself included!), 30% said that they experience dry skin everywhere, while 20% claimed arms and 43% claimed legs as their biggest problem spot. So where do you fall? Where are your skin’s trouble areas?

Enter to Win a $100 Visa Gift Card!

Let me know in the comments below what YOUR skin’s #1 problem spot and what your tips are for combating those tough spots. Each comment will automatically be entered to win a $100 Visa gift card. Good luck!

Entry Instructions:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#Sweeps” and “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post

3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post.

This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 3/2-3/31

Be sure to visit the brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!

Outdoor and Indoor is Not the Same – Says Me (and the Laws of Physics)

CandyMan — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 03:15:05 +0000

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Glad for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you’re like me, you have often switched to a roll of those plain black outdoor garbage bags for your kitchen garbage – not realizing the seemingly innocuous trade off you just made.

What is that “seemingly innocuous” trade off you ask? Parenthetically, I love the word “innocuous”, mainly because of a line from a very funny Will Ferrell movie. Ah yes, the trade off. Well, when you switch over to a big black outdoor trash bag, you are falling into the common trap and misconception that bigger is better and that outdoor is stronger than indoor. Wrong on both accounts.

Now, come with me as we explore the seemingly pedestrian and monotonous world of kitchen garbage bags.

Our kitchen garbage can is named “Ralphie,” like the boy who shoots his eye out with a BB-gun. Ralphie is pretty plain; he is brown, made of plastic and has the little foot pedal that lifts the lid. The lid often gets messed up and we end up lifting the lid with our hands, but you get the picture. We have to spray him with disinfectant all the time to suppress the toxicity of his inner fumes. Woo boy!

For many years, we have used these huge outdoor bags that are supposedly stronger and tougher (at least in my mind that was the idea). But, the issue is that these outdoor bags are not designed to handle anything but outdoor garbage, like paper, leaves, grass trimmings, etc. Those things aren’t the same as indoor garbage.

And that is exactly the point! Outdoor bags are made for things that don’t stink, don’t leak and don’t spill all over the kitchen floor. You wouldn’t carry a bowling ball in a lunchbox or pour a serving of soup into a napkin, so why would you put your stinky kitchen garbage into an outdoor garbage bag?

Enter the Glad KitchenPro “truly made for kitchen” garbage bag.

The Glad KitchenPro addresses several key deal breakers for those of us who produce more than their fair share of garbage.

First, Glad KitchenPro bags are bigger, so they can handle larger messes. I can’t deal with those tiny kitchen bags that you have to change every day. What a waste of time.

Second, they have 5-day odor control. The bags actually have Febreze odor neutralization built in. The KitchenPro keeps the whole smell thing quiet while it’s in the kitchen and then holds in the smell outside until garbage day. Once you put your garbage outside, it’s usually like ringing the dinner bell for critters. Think about that the next time you see that some critter has ripped into your plain black outdoor garbage bags and you have to go pick it up. With Glad KitchenPro the critters only smell the Febreze.

Lastly, who doesn’t love wiping up those leak trails from the kitchen garbage can to the back door or better yet, when you drip across the living room carpet. Oh yes, that’s a joy. When you see the leak protection in the KitchenPro, you’ll ask yourself who the village idiot is that sold you on those enormous outdoor bags that provide no more protection from leaks that a spaghetti strainer. (Oh, that idiot would be you).

It’s time to get on board. It’s time to rise up and refuse to believe the fake news that surrounds the world of garbage and garbage bags. Bigger is not better and outdoor is not stronger than indoor. It’s just the opposite. You can get the Glad KitchenPro at Target and save yourself from a continuing saga of stink and stench.

Picture yourself, your kids, your dog or cat, your iguana (if you have one) enjoying a nice luncheon and not a hint of kitchen garbage. Just the sweet aroma of cucumber sandwiches and fresh lemonade. Yes, that is what your life will be like when you make the switch to the Glad KitchenPro.

Glad KitchenPro is available at Target so head over there and stock up. Your nose will thank you.

6 Ways to Save Money on Crafting

Lolli — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 12:00:45 +0000

Crafting is a passion of many, but it can cost a ton of money. If I had my way, I would craft all day, but that can get super expensive. The key question is…how can you save money crafting? When it is a favorite pastime, you have to find ways to make it work financially for you. Here are 6 ways to save money on crafting.

#1. Sign up for text offers

Hobby Lobby and Joann Fabrics are great places to shop for crafting supplies. I noticed that when you sign up for their texting options, you get great offers! Signing up only takes a few minutes, but you can earn coupons up to 60% off. Truly a great way to save on crafting.

#2. Swap crafting supplies with someone else

Have you thought about this? Chances are that you have a ton of crafting supplies and so do your crafting friends. Don’t be afraid to swap crafting supplies with someone else. You will be able to get a few things you need without spending a dime.

#3. Shop the clearance aisle

I know this tip is no surprise to you, but it’s a great reminder. Shopping in the clearance aisle can save you so much on crafting supplies. Matter of fact, this is the only way I’ll shop for crafting supplies. I do not like paying full price for anything, especially when it comes to crafting supplies.

#4. Garage sales are your friend

When the summer months hit, I hit the garage sales for crafting supplies hard. Crafting supplies can always be found at garage sales. If you have a good imagination, you can get creative with what you find at garage sales. Buttons, fabric, ribbon, etc. are a few of the things I often find at garage sales.

#5. Look at second hand shops

As fun as it is to shop at crafting stores, don’t pass up second hand stores. Since people donate all of their junk, you could come into contact with crafters heaven. I LOVE looking around second hand shops to see what I can find to add to my crafting collection.

#6. Buy in bulk

Know other crafters in your area? Team up and buy crafting supplies in bulk. Auctions and online websites have crafting supplies for sale. It amazes me what I can find when I’m looking for something. Split the cost with your crafting friends or keep all of the supplies for yourself!

How do you save money on crafting?

Committing to Make a Change (You Can Do It, Too!)

Lolli — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 18:44:09 +0000

It’s a new year, which for many means a chance for a new start. A clean slate. I’ve never been a big fan of New Year’s Resolutions, but I do like to start the year off on a positive foot.

This year is already shaping up to be a big one for me, with a new family business launching in a few weeks. Starting a business is a lot of work, which takes both physical energy and brain power. Not only am I realizing that I need to take better care of myself physically to keep up with the demands of running a new business (in addition to everything else I’ve got going on), but I also need to pay particular attention to how I look, since the new business requires lots of pictures (and soon videos!) of me. Eek! I need to have energy left over to be present and available for my family. I need to feel AND look my best.

Now committing to make a change in my eating, sleeping, and exercise habits are not only for my personal well-being…it’s for the well-being of my business and my family life as well.

Making real changes in your daily habits and routines can be hard, and a real, lasting change doesn’t happen over night.

I started 2017 with a phone call with Jenny Craig. We talked about some of my problem areas, like snacking and sweets, and some of the goals I had for a healthier start to the new year. I mentioned to the consultant I spoke with that I’d been having constant knee pain, and was thrilled when she said that for every pound you lose, you relieve FOUR pounds of pressure from your knees.

Together, we planned my meals for the next 2 weeks (including allergies and personal preferences) and put an order in for my food. Then we set up a delivery date and scheduled my first Jenny Craig Anywhere consultant call for after the delivery.

Here’s a little bit of what I’ve learned about Jenny Craig:

Jenny Craig is a clinically proven and recommended weight-loss program designed to provide structure and support to help members lose weight and learn how to keep it off. The program takes a holistic approach to weight loss and weight management, focusing on food, body and mind.
Every member is paired with a dedicated consultant (either online/over the phone or locally in a Jenny Craig Center) who provides them with one-on-one support to identify their challenges and goals, and helps them to create unique weekly meal and activity plans.
Jenny Craig has more than 100 premium menu items to love in flavors you can’t resist, created by 40 professional chefs.
Consultants provide education on portion control, healthy eating habits and teach members strategies such as how to combine delicious Jenny Craig Meals and Snacks with Fresh & Free Additions that are rich in water and fiber to keep them feeling full longer with fewer calories.
Jenny Craig members can expect to lose an average of 1-2 pounds per week, which is a healthy range of weight loss.
For members who don’t live near a center, Jenny Craig Anywhere offers one-on-one support through consultations over the phone or via video chat.
Each week, your Consultant will work with you on your menu, discuss any challenges from the previous week and determine a plan for the week ahead. Plus, your consultant will keep track of your success with weekly weigh-ins and teach you how to self-monitor.

When my food arrived, I was so excited – it all looked and sounded so good! Because I keep myself really busy (don’t we all?) the idea of knowing exactly what I should eat throughout the day is so appealing to me. I’ve tried calorie counting before and frankly it drove me crazy. I love being able to look on my menu plan and see what I should eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

It really doesn’t get any easier than this to stay on track. In fact, as I’ve started the Jenny Craig program (more on that soon!) I’ve found it the easiest of any diet program I’ve ever been on. That by itself is a recipe for success. If something is easy to accomplish, I’m less likely to get discouraged and want to drop it all together.

Have you ever tried Jenny Craig? What was your experience?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Tips for Organizing the Kitchen Cabinets

Lolli — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 14:36:04 +0000

The day after Christmas, we started a couple of major projects in our house – all in an effort to be more organized and have our house in better shape for the new year.

The first project we undertook was to get our kitchen ready to paint and to renovate the cabinets. Although we’re still in the middle of the project, the first step we took – to get the cabinets organized – has made a huge difference in how our kitchen both feels and functions.

Whether you’re planning a kitchen remodel or just wanting to get order back in the kitchen, here are a few tips to follow:

Note: Amazon links are used within this post to point you towards some products I love.

Remove all the old dishes and other items

I am a person that has a hard time saying goodbye to items, even if I do not use them. However, getting rid of the unused items is super important. You cannot be organized when the cabinets are full of junk- so to speak. By removing all the old “items” you are making room to keep things organized. We’ve gathered a mishmash collection of cups, mugs, plates, silverware, etc. over the years and although it feels nice to have “plenty,” we’ve found that the mismatched dishes don’t stack well and take up more space than if we had the same number of the same dish.

Have a game plan ready

Have you seen all the awesome ways to organize your kitchen cabinets on Pinterest? Using hooks (I love this system!), pot racks (we’ve got something like this), baskets (functional and gorgeous!), shelves, spice racks and anything else you can get your hands on will help you stay organized in the kitchen. One of my favorite organizational tools in the kitchen is a Lazy Susan.

Keep inventory low

I have found that it is easier to keep inventory low in my kitchen cabinet. When you don’t have a ton in your cabinets, it’s much easier to organize. This is especially true if you have a smaller kitchen – less is more! I get frustrated and annoyed when I have too much stuff in my cabinets and I have found that this tip really works. I keep at least one dish for each person in the family. For example, one plate per person…plus a few extra for guests. I mean, I don’t need 5 sets of unused dishes in my cabinets.

Utilize the unique space in your kitchen

When I look in my kitchen, I try to embrace the unique shelves and space I have. When organizing, I try to find those unique spaces in which I can store things. If you look close enough, you may just find these unique spaces in your kitchen.

Keep your kitchen organized

The last step seems like the most reasonable step, but it makes the most sense. Once you get your kitchen organized, make sure to take the time to keep it this way. I set aside time each week to spend time organizing my kitchen. It only takes about 15-30 minutes to get things organized correctly in your kitchen.

What tips do you have for organizing the kitchen cabinets?