I am SO excited to get to try my new “toys” from Harbinger Fitness. Not only does Harbinger make the best weight lifting gloves in the business, their other items are also of the best quality out there. Since I have become a mom working out has fallen a bit to the wayside but this makes it easy to work out at home. Here is what I have to get my pre-baby body back:


Heavy Resistance Cables
6 lb weighted fitness ball with velcro strap
2lb weighted pvc rope

The workout possibilities with these tools are endless. Just to get a feel for each item I had my other half demonstrate each cable, ball and rope for me—since then they have been used numerous times. We both love Harbinger Fitness. Stay in touch with the brilliant folks at Harbinger by visiting their blog, facebook account or follow them on Twitter.

If you are going to eat cookies—

Why not indulge in healthy ones? Ope’s cookies makes actual good for you cookies that you can appreciate the flavor and not feel guilty after eating. The secret to these cookies? Their vegan approach totally free of animal products and totally organic! Using such ingredients makes their cookies have no cholesterol, no trans fat, no refined carbs or sugar, no eggs, dairy or butter, kosher, low-calorie and deliciously yummy. My favorite was the Chocolate Walnut—with vegan chocolate chips, organic walnuts in a oatmeal dough.

Natural Cuddles

Environmentally friendly, 100% organic Indian cotton clothes for your baby. Take a peek at these one of a kind onesies, pants, and Kimono’s from Natural Cuddles. They are so soft and smooth your child won’t even know they have clothes on. The pants are made with a very nice and comfortable loose fit, with nothing tight around the ankles so your child can motor around the house in ease. Natural Cuddles also has very cute and innocent Kimono’s for either a boy or a girl. The Kimono’s are used so that in the early stages your baby doesn’t have to have anything stretching over their head to get dressed. The Kimono wraps around your baby for easy access and comfort. Finally, the onesies are a Mother and Father’s best friend in the beginning. These onesies from Natural Cuddle are very soft, made with organic Indian cotton and the fasteners are nickel free. The makers of Natural Cuddles also took into consideration for diaper space in all of their products so nothing is ever tight on your child. Take a peek at the picture below to see all the unique designs and colors of some of their baby products my child is going love.

MyPacifier

Personalized pacifiers, what a concept!!!! You will never have to try and figure out what pacifier is your child’s when you’re at a family event with 6 or more other children. You will automatically know what pacifier is your child’s if you personalize your child’s pacifier from MyPacifier. MyPacifier is the first company to sell personalized pacifiers in the United States and they do a fabulous job. You are able to put your child’s name or even a phrase on the pacifier to make it unique and cute. I decided to put the nick name we came up with for our child since we do not whether our child is a boy or a girl yet. The word or phrase we put on our pacifiers is “Peanut” because he or she is our little peanut right now. You are able to choose from orthodontic, symmetrical, and round pacifiers. You also have many different color choices and you can choose from silicone and latex nipples as well.

Sun-Maid homemade

I am a dried fruit freak and when I think raisins I think Sun-Maid!! This classic brand of raisins is the absolute best and they provide the highest quality of raisins and other dried fruits (try their tropical blend). Longing for an old favorite I made “Classic Raisin Oatmeal Cookies” taking the recipe exactly from the extensive recipe section on the Sun-Maid website. Here is the recipe:

Classic Raisin Oatmeal Cookies
Preparation time: About 10 minutes
Baking time: 15 minutes

Ingredients
3/4 cup softened butter or margarine
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup milk
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups quick or old-fashioned oats
1 cup Sun-Maid Natural Raisins
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:
HEAT oven to 350 F.
BEAT butter, brown sugar, granulated sugar, milk, egg and vanilla until light and fluffy.
COMBINE flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt.
ADD to butter mixture and mix well.
STIR in oats, raisins and nuts, if using. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto greased cookie sheets.
BAKE 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from cookie sheets.
COOL on wire racks.

The cookies turned out just like I remembered them, moist and chewy with bursts of raisins throughout giving it just the right amount of sweetness! Check out other ways to incorporate raisins in your diet from taking their snack packs along with you to making their Broccoli Raisin salad!

Kernel Season’s

This great seasoning collection by Kernel Season’s may be branded towards popcorn but let me tell you these amazing flavors have so many more uses. I started out with a big bowl of plain popcorn and tried the nacho cheddar and kettle corn. The kettle corn tasted both sweet and salty with just a few shakes to enhance my snacking. Once I got to the nacho cheese I had so many images flowing through my head for that one—on top of veggies, on top of baked potatoes, spice up plain eggs—the possibilities are endless! Their whole lineup of these amazing spice blends will make your tastebuds very happy! I also love that Kernel Season’s blends are healthy with ¼ teaspoon containing only 5 calories= total calorie bargain!

Kazana Whole Foods

I was lucky enough to be able to try the foods by Kazana Whole Foods. Kazana is a family company inspired by the whole in the market for quality protein bars and to incorporate the concepts of Ayurveda, a Natural Healthcare System practiced in India. Kazana products are packed with natural, premium and healthy ingredients. They are constantly working to bring you the best and the latest in herbs as well as other quality ingredients. I tried the Cocoa Chip Kazana Bars and for a true chocoholic I was immediately impressed by the way this bar tasted so rich and chocolately packed with nuts and dark chocolate yet was so good for you. These bars are a great way to celebrate the goodness of cocoa and bringing it into your diet in the right way. I also munched the Kazana Exotic Cashews. Cashews are my FAVORITE nut. If you have good ones they are rich, with a smooth nutty, buttery taste to them. Kazana’s did not disappoint me to say the least, their cashews are available in two flavors: Himalayan Secret or Sweet 'N' Sour. I refuse to pick a favorite- they were both heavenly and I could not put them down. Check out Kazana for yourself.

Bedding Arrival!

My gorgeous baby bedding set has arrived! As always with CSN stores I was not disapointed in any part of my experience. The ordering was easy, they have great deals, customer service is top notch, variety is amazing and shipping was very fast. They always let you know how soon it will ship, if its in stock etc... Plus since I spent over 69.00 it qualified for free shipping which made their price MUCH better than the other places I looked. As you probably read before I went with the Bedtime Originals Baby Zoo Bedding. Not being able to see it in person I relied on the description and it was better than described. The actual blanket/ quilt is so soft and plush with microfiber details. The animals are heavily stiched to stand the wear and tear of children and the designs are so cute! I love the earth tones and will be able to liven it up in the room with bright greens and animal prints. I am so happy with my choice! They have so many accessories to match this set and so many other sets as well. Check out CSN for all your shopping needs!

I'll Admit it--

It may be a little soon to be ordering a potty bench BUT when I see something that is trendy and cool for baby I have to have it! Boon has the hands down coolest stuff- everything they have has a modern twist that makes it fit perfectly into your home. I fell madly in love with this green potty bench (didn't know that was possible) and knew it would be the potty bench we used since the color matched perfectly with our newly renovated bathroom. I love the color choices they offer and just the overall look of their products. Most importantly, this potty bench is extremely functional as well-- it has two enclosed side storage spaces for supplies, a pull out drawer for eay clean-up and a stool that supports up to 300 pounds-- there is even a toilet paper holder and removable shield. Visit Boons website and you will be amazed at the great products they have for baby. As for other baby accessories I will be ordering "Flo" next in that same green. You can also get Boon updates on their News Blog, Facebook Page and Twitter!

So-Yah

I have declared my love for Shirataki Noodles many a time so I am pleased to let you know that House Foods has come out with a line up of already prepared Shirataki Noodle dishes. The flavors are Creamy Coconut Curry and Red Vindaloo Curry. The great thing about these meals is that they are portion sized, calorie controlled (150-190 calories) and very easy to prepare! There is always a lot of confusion when it comes to preparing Shirataki Noodles so this takes the guess work out of it and even tops it with a yummy sauce. I am very partial to the Creamy Coconut Curry—it rocked my socks off! The Red Vindaloo Curry is also good and very spicy! I would buy the Creamy Curry Coconut on a regular basis to tote along to work. Generally, when you eat a dish with the words “Creamy”, “Coconut” and “Curry” in them you are looking at hundreds or even thousands of calories so these are perfect dishes without a splurge! Get them now and also pick up some regular Shirataki Noodles and make some of my recipes using them. Delish!

Bouncing Frogs in my mailbox!

OH MY GOSH! I was very pleasantly surprised yesterday when I opened a box with the softest, fluffiest, and most luxurious burp cloths and baby blankets you could ever imagine. I received these soft to a touch items from Bouncing Frogs; they are my idol! I really could not believe how soft these items were. The burp cloths are amazing my children will never have a ruby red face from wiping up spit and whatever else may project out of their mouth. The burps cloths are a very reasonable size as well at 9 inches by 15 inches these cloths are a perfect fit on anyone’s shoulder. These cloths not only feel soft and look great but they are super absorbent and do their job very well. Bouncing Frog’s have a variety of different colors you have to choose from, I received a very nice tone of brown and white with dimples on one side to give the cloth a nice unique look and feel. If you’re a soon to be mother or already are a mother you really need to see for yourself what I’m raving about these cloths are a nursery must have. Now, onto the blanket; I thought Bouncing Frogs could not get any softer than the burp cloths, but I was wrong the blanket made from the same materials (minky fabric on one side and plush on the other) as the burp cloth was even softer. I think it’s because it’s bigger in size and just makes it feel softer because of that. Speaking of the size the blanket is 29 inches by 34 inches - just the right size to wrap your precious child up to keep them safe and warm. The blankets have an added extra bonus they are handmade with a lot of love. Both items come with a tag attached to a ribbon to explain how to wash them. The burp cloths and blankets are machine washable and wash after wash come out looking and feeling like new. If you have not stopped reading this already and went to check out Bouncing Frogs website you really should, they have many other great products and they are coming out with a organic bedding line in the near future.

Baby Bedding Alert!

We just finished painting and wrapping up the nursery-- it is adorable. It has motivated me to get serious and start making choices! I just ordered my crib bedding set from CSN Baby. As you all know I am in love with the CSN stores-- they have so many and choices ranging from Bathroom Vanities, to Kitchenware to Baby Stuff! Its your one stop shop! About my bedding-- its too cute! I knew that whether it was a boy or a girl the animal theme was for me! I chose the "Bedtime Originals Baby Zoo Crib Bedding Collection" set with the jungle theme and warm earth tones. More details to come when I get my cute as pie bedding set-- until then go check out the CSN store lineup!

Indulging is FUN!

Do you love fudge? Read on! I was able to try Grandma Ruby’s signature fudge creations this weekend. I received a sampler box and it was definitely fudge worth raving about! Each decadent flavor that I unwrapped tasted just like the description and more. I tried Caramel Almond Cheesecake, Raspberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Turtle, Butter Pecan, Cookies N Cream, Lemon Meringue Cheesecake, Caramel Apple, Chocolate, Maple, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Heath English Toffee and Butter Cream with Walnuts. Yes, I did try each and every flavor! They were all heavenly. Jumping onto Grandma’s website you will see that on top of each of those luscious flavors they have so much more to offer—toffee, chocolate covered sunflower seeds, diabetic treats, moose poop, bear poop (go check out the “poops” for yourself) and coffee/ teas. If I had to pick a favorite it would be a tight race between the Chocolate Turtle, Cookies N Cream, Chocolate Peanut butter and the Heath English Toffee. The Chocolate Turtle won my heart though! Grandma Ruby’s fudge is made with the finest real ingredients which made up with classic chocolate, melted caramel combo topped with pecans. Just check out the picture, then place your order online. Order just one pound now and they will send you a bag of chocolate covered sunflower seeds for free.

A Stinky Situation!

Do you ever have towels that have that icky, musty scent to them? I have a whole bunch of towels that I have shoved to the bottom of the pile for just that reason. Smelly Washer has just the solution- Smelly Towel!!! Smelly Towel is a unique formula that naturall refreshes your mildew-smelling towels or even clothing. It has a great scent too that just adds to the freshness of your fabrics and makes them smell like new again. All you have to do is add a teaspoon of Smelly Towel to your full load of laundry and they will come out smelling totally refreshed. As maintenance, you can add a half teaspoon to loads in the future. I dug out those mangy towels and with many doubts washed them as the directions said—I was AMAZED at the results. These towels are like new again! I am so disappointed that I did not find this product earlier, I have retired so many towels to the car washing rag bin for this reason alone. Want to win your own bottle?! Smelly Washer is going to send one lucky reader a bottle of Smelly Towel to banish their smells away. To be the winner you must first, visit the Smelly Washer website. Then, send me an email (fitinmilwaukee@live.com) telling me something interesting you learned on the Smelly Washer website. In addition, copy at least three of your friends on the email so they know about Smelly Washer as well (please include the link to the website in the body of the email). You may send me an email every single day as an entry—the person who has copied the most friends on the email will be my winner! Hurry—you only have until Friday June 18th at midnight to get your last email in my box! Good luck!

Wake Up Muffins

Wake up and smell the………. MUFFINS!! Wake Up Muffins are made from scratch with a lot of love. These muffins are shipped fresh and ready to eat right out of the package. They have all of my favorite flavors to choose from like blueberry, strawberry, and morning glory. My favorite out of the three are the classic blueberry and the morning glories made with cinnamon, carrots (YUM), raisins, apples, walnuts, and coconuts. What a great way to jump start your busy day than with an all in one powerful morning glory muffin.

Lansinoh

If your looking for excellent quality feeding supplies after or even before your child is born you need to take a peek at Lansinoh’s website. Lansinoh has a variety of feeding supplies to make your life a lot easier and relaxed when it comes to feeding time. Before you know it you’re changing another diaper again and again and again make life gentler on your child by using Lansinoh Clean & Condition Cloths they will clean up any type of mess your baby produces. Then, almost every child gets diaper rash at some point in time Lansinoh has a non-greasy Diaper Rash ointment that goes on gentle and smooth for your baby’s delicate and soft skin. This ointment is wonderful it goes on white so you know the areas that you still need to get but the great part is that once you rub it in, it turns clear so you do not have messy hands or get it all over your baby’s clothes. If you like what you’re reading you really need to check it out. Thanks Lansinoh!!

Where Am I?

You will be literally questioning whether you are in a 5-star restaurant or if the meal you are eating was made right in your own kitchen. Chicago Steaks has as a fresh line of retail products that you can purchase online some being Hispanic and Latin flavored, some traditional American favorites, all a hit in my house. The quality of meat that you will get from Chicago Steaks is the highest quality available in your meat case. Not only is the quality great but the work has been done for you—the ribs are pre-marinated with a delicious sauce complete in a special cooking sauce, the fajita diced beef is spiced and ready to go—everything they have is simple and delicious. I was able to cook a rack of ribs from Chicago Steaks right there in my oven. They came in a pouch that I was able to put on a pan and directly into the oven. The sauce was perfect with a bit of a kick but also a sweetness to it. I generally don’t cook ribs at home because of the mess, time and expense but I have found the perfect solution for the perfect at home rib dinner. I served them with some sautéed baby potatoes and side salads. Splitting the rack of ribs we were stuffed! One rack will easily feed two very hungry (and one pregnant) people! I also have the beef skirt steak, pork shoulder butt and diced pre-seasoned taco beef which just happens to be on the menu tonight. I am confident that any meat I get from Chicago Steak will be unsurpassed in quality since they have been serving restaurants, hotels and other institutions for over 40 years. They take pride in providing the best products at a reasonable price which we can all appreciate right now.

The Red Envelope

The Red Envelope is my new go to for every occasion whether it be cute baby gifts or any other special day. Their site has it conveniently broken down into easy go-to categories like Fathers day, special occasions (fathers day, anniversary, birthday, congratulations, graduation, housewarming etc etc etc!) for her, for him, jewelry, baby & kids, for the home—just to name a few! Right now The Red Envelope is offering a 10% off deal—I don’t know how long this is running for so order soon! Just enter “SAVE10” during checkout and save—perfect for Father’s Day (June 20th by the way). Onto my order, I got the Twilight Turtle Nightlight and it is adorable. Before I go onto that I have to say the customer service and packaging was magnificent. The box arrived quickly and beautifully packaged—nestled safely inside the shipping box was a giant red box complete with an ivory ribbon and a coordinating card. As I opened the box I saw how nicely the inside was wrapped as well with ivory tissue paper and a gold sticker securing the wrapping. My Twilight Turtle Nightlight was safe and sound in the box. I would be proud sending anyone a gift from The Red Envelope—it looked very sophisticated! The Twilight Turtle Nightlight is even better than the display picture portrays. The body of the turtle is soft and plush and the light escaping holes on the back are star shaped making the ceiling glow lightly like a planetarium. The light feature has three colors: white, green and blue. The light also automatically shuts off after 45 minutes—plus it even had my first battery already installed for immediate use. When the baby gets older I can pull out the included illustrated star guide and talk about the different constellations.

Producing the Finest

Toffee, toffee, and more great toffee. Vern’s Toffee House sent me a sampling of their one of a kind California almond toffee. The toffee looked so nice I wasn’t sure if I should even eat it!!!! HA yeah right, once I ate one piece I kept eating and ate the entire box. I think the ingredient that makes Vern’s Toffee so mouth watering and rich is the fresh sweet cream butter they use. Try out Vern’s for yourself; you don’t know what you’re missing.

Specific Cravings

I was so excited to try Michelina's frozen meals--- perfect for taking to work AND they cater to my very specific pregnancy cravings! They have tons and tons of entrees to choose from in their various product lines that include: Authentico, Traiditional Recipes, Lean Gourmet, Budget Gourmet, Snack Rolls as well as a bunch of new products. The meal I chose was Spaghetti Marinara-- the saucy was sweet with a good tomato tang and the noodles were cooked perfectly. The whole meal only had 250 calories which isn't bad at all for a pasta dish! If you are concerned about the healthy options Michelina's impressed me again by having a "Healthy Options" section right there on the main page where you can dial down entrees by Allergens, Calories, Fat or Sodium. Their Lean Gourmet line is ALWAYS a great choice for a delicious on the go meal. Their site is so up to date with descriptions of each meal along with the nutrition facts so you can make informed decisions. Michelina's makes their meals taste so good by adding fresh ingredients for the best test and topping it with love!

Amazing Smoked Flavor

One of the best EVER beef jerky flavors I have ever had is the Brown Sugar and Honey Beef Jerky from Tillamook Country Smoker. The sweet yet smoked flavor of this Jerky is OUT OF THIS WORLD. If I was rich I would eat this every day as a late afternoon snack it’s that good. The mixture of the tender premium beef, brown sugar and honey tied together with the smoked flavor is delicious; I couldn’t do any better myself!!!!! :) Tillamook also has many other great flavors like teriyaki, old fashioned, sea salt and pepper and many more. Probably my second favorite is a tie between the teriyaki and old fashioned; I cannot decide which one I like better. Try them out yourself and tell me which one out of the two you like better; I guarantee you won’t be able to pick as well. Tillamook’s Jerky is 97% fat free and hold onto you’re seats for this one MSG free as well.

Healthy Baking Mixes?!

I know the idea of a healthy baking mix seems impossible but Among Friends has created just that! These mixes are focused on healthy, homemade, nutritious treats for your family. Each mix is made from very best ingredients - organic whole grains, unsulfured, unsweetened fruits and spices, and pure chocolate! Yum! They have a chocolate chip cookie mix, oatmeal raisin (pictured), chococrinkles, oats granola bars and fruit crisp mix! I made the oatmeal raisin-- it was simple and they turned out delicious! Check them out for yourself.

Natural Dentist

Environmentally safe, great tasting toothpaste and mouthwash. The Natural Dentist has created a toothpaste and mouthwash that is effective on your teeth and made from safe natural ingredients. I have a quick question for all my readers; do you know how your mouth feels when you just get a cleaning at the dentist? We’ll if you use both the Natural Dentists mouthwash and toothpaste one right after the other your mouth and teeth will feel as clean as leaving the dentist after your 6 month cleaning. Also if you’re a floss user you might want to put down the floss and try the Natural Dentist’s Stim-U-Dent plaque removers made from biodegradable basswood. Check it out you will not be disappointed with your NATURAL FRESH BREATH!!

Cool sweepstakes alert! Rudi’s Organic Bakery has partnered with Applegate Farms toi give away eco-friendly block party kits through their “Rock the Block Sweepstakes”. I am a LOVER of Rudi’s Organic Bakery goods and your block party comes complete with all natural, organic hot dogs and hamburgers, Rudi’s buns, a grill dome ceramic cooker, beverages, Clementine Art Supplies, a compost bin, an iPod Nano filled with music AND $200 in cash! Rush over and enter right now!

Unique Father’s Day Idea!

This weekend I got a great gift in the mail from Gourmet Station, “Fine Dining Delivered”. When they say “Fine” they mean it! In my pack created for two was 2 Certified Angus Beef Steaks with Baby New Potatoes AND Appetizer: Bruschetta & Tarts, Bread: Loaf Baguettes, Dessert: Crème Brulee Parfait and even a Beverage: St. Ives Coffee to pair perfectly with my luscious Crème Brulee Parfait! This particular dinner is called Wild West T-Bone Steak Dinner gift in case you want this same lineup but they have tons of others to choose from! While I was enjoying my Steak Dinner Gift I thought who would love this even more?! DAD!! Of course! I don’t know a Dad who would not enjoy and remember a Food Gift like this one or you can give him a Steak Dinner Dining Gift Certificate, Food of the Month, Soup Gift, Dessert of the Month or tons of other Gourmet Delivered Meals By Mail! The great thing about this dinner is that it was at a high restaurant quality and so easy to prepare. We put the T-Bones right on the grill and just heated up the rest, it turned out amazing.

Gluten Free and Kosher Candy….

If you have any allergies to certain products, or you are Vegan, or only eat kosher products. Then you will be extremely excited when I tell you that Illinois Nut and Candy company has you in mind. They have all sorts of nuts, chocolates, and candy that are casein free, food dye free, gluten free, organic, lactose free, sugar free, and vegan friendly. I got to try a variety of their rich and creamy chocolates and my favorite roasted cashews and almonds that are to die for. They also sent me a bag of caramel corn. Let me tell you being pregnant I have tried things that I never thought I would and I have been mixing caramel corn with cheese popcorn and boy oh boy is it ever good. So I took the caramel corn that Illinois Nut and Candy send me and mixed it with some cheese popcorn from the store and it was delicious. I do want to mention that the caramel corn is lactose free for those of you who were curious. They have over 50 different items to choose from take a minute to peek at there website you will not be disappointed.

Salad Fixings Galore

Croutons, cranberries, crispy onions, glazed walnuts, tortilla strips, all sound like a party on a salad to me. Well, I don’t know about all of my readers out there, but I like a little crunch, flavor, and kick to my salads and Fresh Gourmet makes it happen. I can choose from ranch, butter & garlic, Caesar, or just go with the good old fashioned seasoned croutons. My favorite is the old fashioned seasoned with enough seasoning to give every bite of my salad a little kick. If you want some sweetness to your salad try adding the unbelievable rich tasting glazed walnut, or throw on a few cranberries, or dump a hand full of golden raisins. It’s your choice with Fresh Gourmet they thought of it all!!!!

Natural Art Supplies

Check this out!!! All Natural Modeling dough by Clementine Art made from flour, water, salt, soybean oil, cream of tartar, and natural colors and scents (turmeric, carmine and spinach). The smell of the strawberry, lemon and lime modeling dough smells so good you want to eat it instead of play with it. The dough will not crumble no matter how much you stretch it, pound it and mold it. You can wash it out of clothes with soap and warm water (BONUS). Since this dough is all natural it will stay good and stretchy for about 12 months if the cover is sealed correctly. Finally, look at the cool design of these natural soy crayons they work just as great if not better than the name brand crayons. They also have a unique shape to fit in your child’s hand comfortably.

Cupola Clouds and Cookies

If you’re looking for a sweet, light treat to sink your taste buds into any time of the day try a Cupola cookie from Cupoladua Oven. These light, airy cookies are perfect as a snack by themselves or with a hot cup of coco. The Chai Pistachio Cupola are my favorite they are made with a base of garbanzo bean flour and egg whites, then injected with black tea, spices, and the flavor of pistachios. I have also tried these cookies crushed up and sprinkled on the top of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, WOW what a fantastic mix. The Cupoladua Oven also makes Smoked Gouda Cupola Clouds made with artisan gouda. These clouds are crunchy and very high in calcium and protein.

Tommee Tippee Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to "Big Money R" for winning the Tommee Tippee Giveaway. You will be getting the 3 pack 5 oz. Closer to Nature Bottle Set. Just send me your address and I will get your great prize in the mail. In the meantime, check out Tommee Tippee's website! Happy Saturday everyone!

Rando’s Bakery

When I was contemplating what I wanted for dinner last night I knew it had to be a homemade meatball sub! Using Butterballs turkey meatballs, my very own marinara sauce and Rando’s Italian bread it was hands down the perfect sandwich. The best part about these Rando Bakery Italian bread loaves is that they are par-baked meaning you have to finish the baking process leaving you with a fresh, hot, crispy on the outside- chewy on the inside piece of bread. Their HAND-MADE bread only needs to be heated in a 425 degree oven for 10 short minutes and you have a little slice of heaven. Not to mention the delicious smell that lingers in your kitchen. They have quite a few varieties like white (pictured), seeded and whole wheat. I am a huge fan of their unique 50% cooking process because the bread tasted fresh out of the oven and the homemade taste was stupendous. I have not had bakery bread that compared in a really long time.

Last Night

Was a very good night. Wanna know why??? My bassinet from CSN arrived! A couple of days ago I posted and showed you the one that I ordered and how great it is, well it is even better in person. It is so sturdy and looks so nice with all high quality pieces. Here is the direct link right to the bassinet and right now it is on a huge sale plus you get free shipping, talk about smart shopping! Another thing I love is that this bassinet is very gender neutral in ecru color and a waffle fabric for durability. So if you are like me and do not know the gender or you plan on having more than one child this bassinet is perfect. The sleeping area of the bassinet is very roomy while the whole bassinet is a great size to have right next to your bedside in those first months. I can not wait to use this bassinet and it is one I can be proud of that blends right in with the décor of my bedroom. CSN is one of my new favorite online retailers, when I say they have EVERYTHING I mean EVERYTHING. I signed up to get their emails and they send special offers and updates. Also, you can not beat their prices—super competitive with great sales and lots of items offer free shipping. So if you are looking for anything from baby to kitchenware to outdoors they have it. Go on the main CSN site and there is a link to get right to their other 200+ stores.

Butterball

When I think of Butterball I think of Thanksgiving and giant tasty turkeys! You HAVE to have a Butterball turkey on Thanksgiving. Butterball is not just whole turkeys though—they have a full lineup of healthy, daily selections for everyones taste buds. Just check out my sandwich below featuring Butterball Extra Thin Sliced Lunchmeat. Just like you get shaved at the deli counter this oven roasted turkey makes the perfect sandwich. Another great thing is that unlike other deli meats turkey is actually great for you—7 whole slices of this deli meat contains just 60 calories and 8 grams of protein, a total calorie bargain! So check out my lunch today and drool, then run to your grocery store and pick up a container of turkey deli meat for your summer sandwiches. While you are there check out all the other items that Butterball has to offer like roasts, tenderloins, whole breasts, breast cuts, wings, drumsticks, ground turkey, meatballs, mignons, burgers, sausage and bacon. In the next few weeks you are going to see Butterball making a lot of appearances on my blog. I love their ground turkey for tacos, sloppy joe’s, chili etc… The turkey burgers are great on the grill and I am obsessed with the meatballs for a healthy twist on a meatball sub, spaghetti or in the crock pot. Really, the possibilities with Butterball’s lineup is totally endless.

Tigernuts

Europe (specifically Spain) sent me a sampling of their famous Tigernuts. If you’re not familiar with Tigernuts, I will fill your mind with knowledge. A Tigernut is a very unique small tuber, not a nut, which has a bit of a sweet taste to it. The look is similar to a nut and has a bumpy but rather smooth outer shell and softer middle. The benefits of eating Tigernuts are to help prevent heart attacks, thrombosis, and reduce the risk of suffering colon cancer. The Tigernut is very high in fiber, protein, and natural sugars. It is also rich in minerals like potassium, phosphorous, and vitamin E and C. The Tigernuts are grown organically with no use of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers. How do you eat them? I like to eat them right out of the bag just like a nut. You can use the actual Tigernut or the juices from the “nut” in a lot of different styles of recipes like, steak dinners, brownies, drinks, etc. I also was very excited to try out the Tigernut soap; it was so soft and the aroma of the soap was so strong I could smell it throughout the house for hours, I love it. If you have not tried a Tigernut you really need to, you’re missing out!!!!

Pin Straight

Check out my pretty new Hana Hot Iron from Missiko! Not only is it stylish with its flashy pink color it works wonders on hair. Hana makes high quality professional flat irons. I have naturally wavy hair as you can see below and the iron makes it seriously pin straight. Why? Probably because of the high ceramic content and all the top of the line components that go into these great irons. Also, I loved that after ironing my hair felt healthier—not damaged and fried. I found out that the “Advanced Fusion Molding” that Hana uses accelerated negative ion output to REPAIR your hair follicles and sealing in natural oils. My hair really looked and felt soft, healthy and had a great shine! This professional tool has many more great features including: color protection, floating plates great for any hair texture, adjustable heat, heats in seconds, ergonomic grip, grooves to keep hair from pulling, hanging loop, energy efficient and has a warranty. Mine came with a matching pink storage bag (heat proof) and silicone mat (heat proof). Now, log onto the Missiko site and find the right hot iron for you! They have tons to pick from and their website descriptions include honest customer reviews and extensive descriptions.

Tried and True Sugar Free Granola


As requested by reader B. Garland here is a great recipe that I love for homemade granola. You can make this ahead and store in a container for up to 1-2 weeks, that is if it lasts that long!
Tried and True SF Granola
You will need the following ingredients:
• 6 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• ½ cup sliced almonds (or nuts of choice)
• ½ cup coarsely chopped pecans (or nuts of choice)
• ½ cup sugar equivalent
• 1/3 cup unsalted sunflower seeds (if desired)
• ½ cup sugar free maple syrup (I also have a recipe to make your own)
• 3/4 cup water
• 1/8 cup canola oil
• ½ cup dried fruit (if desired)
Now preheat your oven to 250. Take your dry ingredients—oats, nuts, seeds (omit dried fruit) and stir them together in a giant mixing bowl. Then get your wet ingredients all mixed together in another bowl (maple syrup, water, oil)—pour this mix over the dry ingredients stirring along the way. It will get hard to stir, make sure all the ingredients are incorporated and plop it onto a big baking sheet (pam sprayed). Spread the layer thin as possible and bake for about an hour, stir and bake for another 30 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Immediately add your dried fruit and let sit until cool. Store once it is at room temperature in an airtight container.

Easy to Find Pacifier

That’s right you heard me; there is an easy to find Pacifier out on the market called Paci-Plushies. What the creators of Paci-Plushies did was attach a small, plush animal at the end of the pacifier making it easy to find when you or your child sets it somewhere and also makes it very easy for your baby to place it in their mouth. These small plush animals are able to attach to most name brand pacifiers; what a PLUS!!! When you clean the pacifier you are also able to clean the plush toy as well by throwing it into the wash machine. The pacifiers are 100% BPA and Phthalate free. The soft and adorable plush animal toy will also make a great addition to the rest of the stuffed animals your child will collect over the years and provide a source of comfort as well.