Have YOU Tried Honey Bunches of Oats Lately? @HBOats #HoneyBunchesGreek

Honey Bunches of Oats recently sent us their newest variety of cereal, Honey Bunches of Oats Greek Honey Crunch , to try.  As a family we eat a lot of cereal, and honestly I buy a lot of the sugary cereals I loved as a kid.  But apparently I've done some things right in teaching my kids about eating better than I do/did because when given the choice they often pick something I NEVER would have touched as a kid.  They pick things with 'fiber' or 'nut' etc in the name.  Now mind you I realize that even the best cereal isn't a completely rounded meal so I do try to get them to do a small bowl and add a fruit and usually a yogurt.  Still, I do feel better when the cereal is of the better variety.  But I have to admit that Honey Bunches of Oats, is NOT something I would try, for myself normally.  But the Greek Honey Crunch actually looked pretty good when I opened the box for my kids.

So, I took a minute and sat down and had a bowl with the boys.  And it WAS good.  Like, we ate the whole box in one morning and the boys asked when I was going to buy it again good?  Like they've already nagged me about getting it again because my last two cereal purchases have come from a store with only generic brand cereal options.

So if you or your kids are like I am and tend to require a coma inducing amount of sugar in your cereal to actually make you stop to eat breakfast, check out Honey Bunches of Oats Greek Honey Crunch.  It really has a great level of taste and sweetness but I think it's still mellow enough that you could easily add fresh fruit to it if you enjoy your cereal that way without having too many conflicting flavors.  

Get your crew moving with over 2/3 of your recommended daily servings of whole grain, 12 essential vitamins and minerals, 5g protein and just 230 calories in a 1c serving of Honey Bunches of Oats Greek Honey Crunch.

Be sure to stop by and learn more about Honey Bunches of Oats Greek Honey Cruch and the rest of the Honey Bunches of Oats line at the Honey Bunches of Oats website, the HoneyBunches of Oats Twitter account (@HBOats), and the Honey Bunches of Oats Facebook page.

 

Have YOU tried Honey Bunches of Oats Greek Honey Crunch?  I'd love to hear what you thought of it.


I am part of the Mom It Forward blogger network. Mom It Forward and Honey Bunches of Oats partnered in support of this campaign. Honey Bunches of Oats compensated me for participation in this campaign. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Be a Champion

Get your yogurt on with Chobani.  Enter to win samples of their unique and delicious flavors on the Chobani Facebook page!

Million Step Challenge with @BestBuyWOLF #MillionSteps

This month I recommitted to my journey to get healthier.  I lost 50 pounds in 2012 and felt great.  Then I fell of the wagon so to speak.  It's really hard to explain how or why I let it happen.  With knowing that it's really not that hard and  feel great when I eat well and move more you'd think I wouldn't let it get so out of control.  But I do, I did.  I gained over 15 pounds back in the same time it took me to lose 50.  I guess the upside is I'm still ahead of the game!  

So I know, it's cliche to vow to get healthy in January.  But that's exactly what I've done and thanks to Best Buy and their challenge to the Best Buy Blogging Board I've had the chance to try a few new tools.

Recently I spent an entire day playing with the Cusinart: Compact Juice Extractor.  I think I bought more fruit and vegetables than I ever have in a single shopping trip.  I think I also  cleaned and peeled and sliced more than I ever have before too.

I'm not sure we're going to be juicing on a regular basis because it really is a lot of work.  But the Cusinart Compact Juice Extractor was beyond easy to use.  It made zero mess (outside the machine) and I really thought cleaning the machine was easy. 

Because we've never done anything like this and we are all fairly picky eaters I thought many of the 'recipes' sounded risky.  So we experimented by juicing each item individually. We tasted each one and then each of us mixed up our own creations.

My personal favorite was just the straight orange juice.  We got about 32 ounces from a full bag of oranges but it was the best (pulpfree) OJ I've ever had.  Thirty two ounces was simply not enough to go around.

And for dessert (because we didn't want anything to go to waste, right?) we made smoothies.  Or something sort of like smoothies because I don't ever actually have ice in the house.

Stawberry banana....yum!

Like I said I'm not sure we'll be juicing regularly anytime soon, but it was a great reminder of how delicious simple, clean eating can be!!  

And don't forget to follow @BestBuyWolf or #MillionSteps on Twitter to see how the Blogging Board is doing on the Million Step Challenge!!

If getting healthier is on your list of things to do this year, check out these great Best Buy coupons for savings on tools to help YOU reach your goal!

I have been compensated for this post, however all opinions expressed are my own.
 


 

Ooops! Wordless Wednesday 1- 23-13 w/Linky #WW

So in the name of being real, I'm sharing my 'Oops' this week.  This was actually a couple weeks ago and I keep forgetting to share but I totally blew off the dishes one night and had someone come over the next night so I shoved the pot in the oven to hide it...and then totally forgot about it for a couple more days....

Someone tell me I'm not the only one who's done something so nasty!

Getting Healthier in 2013 Can Be Easier with Best Buy

This January Best Buy is excited to have the nine members of our Blogging Board participating in a Million Steps Challenge.  I'm afraid I have to admit that so far I haven't done too well in contributing.  Between fighting a sinus infection and the boys being sick, I haven't moved much at ALL!   Some of the other ladies are doing great though and seeing their first week reports is motivating me to stop making excuses!  
In addition to tracking our steps with our FitBit Ultra's, we're also tracking either with the FitBit Aria.  I'm sad to say I've gained back entirely too much of the weight I lost in the first part of 2012.  It isn't really fair how much thought it takes to lose it and how mindlessly you can put it back on.
We're also trying Juicing this month so look for posts on update on ALL of these healthy help products you can find at Best Buy this month!



I have been compensated for this post, however all opinions expressed are my own.

Let's Fight Holiday Fat Together

In the holiday season it's easy to fall off the weight loss wagon.  It is so hard to resist many holiday treats.  From homemade cookies to eggnog, Christmas is not exactly a low fat holiday.  If you're like so many people, you're already thinking about how you'll resolve to be healthier in the new year.   But that doesn't mean you should just throw all sensibility to the wind.  But you can enjoy your holiday as long as you're mindful of your eating and continue to exercise you'll be ahead of the game come January 1!


I've found some great helpful tips, recipes and exercises online at Let's Fight Holiday Fat.  Here are some of my favorites:

Don’t attend a party starving (from Heathy Tips for Staying Lean During the Holidays)

If your calendar tends to fill-up with holiday parties during the month of December and you are worried about sticking to your healthy eating routine, don’t go to the parties when you haven’t eaten anything for hours.  If you are really hungry, you will tend to eat anything you can get your hands on, which will leave you overeating in no time!  Instead, have a small healthy snack before you go, such as an apple with a tablespoon of peanut butter, yogurt with some fruit, or a quarter cup of almonds. When you arrive at the party, practice portion control, choosing a small (handful) size of your favorite foods, or if you must, of all the menu items, so you get a little taste of everything. By practicing proper portion control, you will be able to enjoy your favorite foods, without depriving yourself. 

I've found this to be a huge help in my own weight loss journey.  It's surprising how many times you can arrive at a party truly hungry.  It makes it so  hard to resist often high calorie appetizers.  If you're not feeling deprived it's much easier to just give the special treats a little taste rather than over indulging in unhealthy choices. 

 Another great idea is to make a dish of your own to share.  This way you know what you're eating and can count on having at least one healthy option.  If you could use some inspiration, check out the recipes here.

Stress Relief (from How to Have a Healthy Holiday)

Eating right and exercising will play a big part in keeping holiday stress at bay. Keeping stress levels low  also helps prevent weight gain. However, if the stress creeps in, there are several strategies you can use to relax. 

Say No: Don’t feel pressured to say yes to every invitation. Or, make a brief appearance at a celebration and then go home to relax. Your friends and family will appreciate having a happier, more relaxed you, even if that means skipping a party or two. 

Time vs Money:  If a lack of time is a stressor during the holidays, fork over a bit of extra cash to have someone wrap gifts for you or clean the house before guests arrive. If money is tight, get creative and make homemade gifts or send a thoughtful, handwritten card. 

Remember Your Values: Find ways to remind yourself what the holiday season is really about – giving and enjoying others’ company. Volunteer at a homeless shelter with your family. Take a minute to thank someone for their help. Pause to take a few deep breaths and know the stress will pass. 

I don't know about you, but I'm a big stress eater.  This is something I've been working hard at changing.  If you're a stress eater you'll want to find a stress reducer that works for you.  I find exercising a great stress relief but sometimes when you're feeling down its hard to get motivated to move.  Try finding a partner to help support you in your journey.  I've found that a little kick in the pants from a friend telling me "you'll feel better if you just do it" really can make the difference some days.  If you really can't find it in yourself to shake the stress for a workout, you might try something else that relaxes you.  For me this can be anything from a long hot shower to reading or watching mindless TV.  But controlling stress with the tips above will go a long way in helping you feel better this season.

When it comes to exercise you'll want to find something that you truly enjoy doing.  For some people that's running, many love Zumba, but I love a great strength workout.  I found some great ones at Let's Fight Holiday Fat.

If you could use some help staying on track sign up for Let's Fight Holiday Fat for great exercises, recipes and other tips.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for alli. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.

Celebrate with a Christmas Ice Cream Cake from Baskin-Robbins

Christmas is full of traditions.  Many of us will hustle and bustle these last few days before the holidays to be sure we do all the things that make Christmas FEEL like Christmas to us.  I love some of the traditions I had with my family growing up but when I started my own family I haven't kept all my parents traditions going, and I've started many of my own with my kids.  Sometimes its good to try something new, even in a very traditional season.  You never know what you might miss if you're not open to new things.  For instance these adorable and tastey new ice cream cakes available at Baskin-Robbins, the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops. Available now at participating Baskin- Robbins’ locations nationwide, these ho-ho-holiday cakes make for perfect gifts or delectable additions to any holiday party. Guests can customize each cake by choosing their favorite ice cream flavor, including December’s Flavor of the Month, Mint Chocolate Chip, a classic flavor featuring mint-flavored ice cream with semi-sweet chocolate chips. 


The eye-catching holiday cakes feature a unique dome shape available from Baskin-Robbins. The fanciful holiday designs include:
• Snowman Cake: Get into the holiday season with this holly jolly snowman cake, made with a layer of cake and any ice cream flavor. 
• Santa Cake: Complete your collection with the Santa Cake. This treat will be the life of the party and can serve as the centerpiece for any holiday celebration. 
• Elf Cake: For any dessert table in need of a little extra help, the Elf Cake is a delicious addition that can be customized with a layer of cake and any of Baskin-Robbins’ ice cream flavors. 

Baskin-Robbins’ Snowman, Santa and Elf cakes each serve 8-12 people and have a suggested retail price of $26.99 during the month of December. (My location was selling for $23.99.)

For guests looking for a smaller treat, Baskin- Robbins is also offering Snowman and Snow Woman Individual Treats.  Guests can pick their favorite Baskin-Robbins flavor and turn it into a snowman almost too cute to eat. The Snowman and Snow Woman Individual Treats are available at participating Baskin-Robbins shops and have a suggested retail price of $2.49.

Still need some last minute stocking stuffers?  Why not give the gift of ice cream with a Baskin-Robbins gift card? Gift cards can be purchased in any amount between $2 and $100 at participating Baskin-Robbins shops or online at www.BaskinRobbins.com and never expire. 

We recently stopped by our local Baskin-Robbins and picked up the adorable Elf Cake.  The boys LOVED it.  It was recommended that we call ahead and order but I wasn't totally sure when I would have the time to stop by to pick it up so I just went and bought from what they had premade.  They had this Elf Cake and a Santa Cake in the freezer ready made.  I try to limit the amount of artificial red coloring the boys get so I opted for the Elf and we were not disappointed.

 

I grew up having ice cream cakes regularly for birthdays and we often found that they could be really difficult to cut right out of the freezer.  But I didn't even think about that when I pulled this one out and cut it right away.  It cut easily.  If you have trouble let the cake sit for a few minutes or run your knife under hot water.  I think the frosting would have cut cleaner if I'd have let it sit out of the freezer for a little bit.  It was fairly messy cutting it full frozen but what can I say, when it comes to ice cream, I'm rarely patient.

I have to admit it feels a little weird cutting to somethings head but once I cut the first piece above and it couldn't look me in the eye anymore, it got easier! And it was so worth it.  Since we bought a premade one we didn't get to customize it with our choice of flavors but that's probably best in our family since the only thing we can agree on when it comes to ice cream is that we LOVE ice cream.  This cake was vanilla ice cream and chocolate cake.  A great simple, delicious combo! I'm not sure I could have done any better if I'd have designed it.

For whatever reason our store didn't have any of the individual snowman treats so we opted for these individual sized treats.

These were made with Oreo ice cream and chocolate cake and they were soooo delicious.  I love these because they're portion controlled.  I didn't think to get a shot with one of them with something for size comparison but they were probably an inch tall, an inch wide and a couple inches long. 

Stop by Baskin-Robbins for a holiday ice cream cake and start some traditions with your family today!!


Follow Baskin-Robbins on Facebook: www.facebook.com/baskinrobbinsUS  and Twitter: @BaskinRobbins
I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Baskin-Robbins. I received a gift card to facilitate my shopping experience and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

Make Time for a Meal Together with Darden Restaurants This Holiday Season

This holiday season among the hustle and bustle it is important not to forget the real reason for the season.  Sometimes that means taking a break and just refocusing.  One good way to do this is getting together for a family meal.  If you will be hosting a holiday meal give yourself a chance to sit down and be served before the big day.  Grab the family and head out to a favorite restaurant and relax for a bit.  This may even give you a chance to go over plans with your family and how everyone will be expected to help pitch in.

I admit, I won't be hosting Christmas dinner and other than having a mountain of presents to wrap and having to bake a few cookies for the jolly one, I don't have too much left I HAVE to do.  But we still plan to get out this weekend and spend some checking out Christmas lights.  I hope this tour ends with us close to Olive Garden so I can enjoy a nice meal with the family before I stay up into the wee hours wrapping gifts.  If only I could find the gift card I KNOW I already have...
 
If you're looking for something special to buy ME for Christmas, I can always use another Darden gift card.  Two of my favorite restaurants are part of the Darden group.  And I've never been to the others as I'm not aware of any of them near by but based on my love of Olive Garden and Red Lobster I would guess that I'd love them too.  I love getting gift cards as gifts, since they are always the right size and never have to be returned.  I especially love restaurant gift cards because it means I can take the family out to dinner without feeling guilty.  I don't think there is anything better than the gift of guilt free family time!

Which of the Darden restaurants is YOUR favorite?


For a limited time this holiday season, customers can receive a $5 bonus coupon* for every $25 gift card purchased at Olive Garden, Red Lobster or LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants. Visit the Darden gift card website to get yours today!  *Bonus card is valid 1/1/13 – 2/13/13 for $5 off the purchase of two adult entrées.

Red Lobster

Olive Garden

LongHorn Steakhouse

For a limited time this holiday season, customers can receive a $5 bonus coupon* for every $25 gift card purchased at Olive Garden, Red Lobster or LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants. Visit the Darden gift card website to get yours today!




*Bonus card is valid 1/1/13 – 2/13/13 for $5 off the purchase of two adult entrées.

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Darden. I received a promotional item as a thank-you for participating.

Get Unleashed ! #milkunleashed

As a full time working mom of three kids, I have to prioritize.  It's simply impossible to do and be EVERYTHING with just 24 hours a day.  When three days a week starting with THREE stops to drop each of the kids at a different location all before 8 am and multiple nights of activities, we don't have a lot of down time.  So I have to decide that it's OK to let some things slide.  So yes there's often laundry on my couch. Hey, most of the time its folded. And if you're lucky I'll remember to put away the underwear before you come over, I'm totally not afraid to admit that.  What I DO hate to admit is when our hectic schedule affects how I take care of my family.  Sometimes the nonstop running ends up meaning that I'm not feeding the kids the things their little bodies need everyday.  And if you're a mom, you KNOW what kind of torture mom guilt can be. So whenever I find something new that helps me easily do better in taking care of my family's health, I get excited.  This year I have worked hard to do better about eating better even on the run.  We take stuff with us more so that we aren't stuck in the fast food trap as often.  But it can be hard to travel with some of the healthiest options.  Some of our favorite fruits and veggies aren't super travel friendly but we do our best to work with what we can.  But the hardest thing for me is getting our daily doses of dairy while we're on the go.  Sometimes it's just not possible to travel with a cooler, at least until I grow those extra arms I've been dreaming about, I can only carry so much.  And honestly even with a cooler toting around milk or yogurt makes me a little nervous.  That's why when I recently learned of shelf safe milk, I may have been a little giddy!

I'm really not sure how I'd never heard of this since I'm told its been around longer than I have. One carton of shelf safe milk has eight grams of protein and nine essential nutrients – calcium, A, D and B12, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, riboflavin, niacin and zinc.  Ultra pasteurization and special Tetra Pak eco-friendly cartons keep the milk safe for families to enjoy anytime, anywhere. 

Being able to have shelf safe milk on hand means not having to panic when I realize that the milk in the fridge has expired and the boys REALLY want a bowl of cereal.  It also means I can always grab more milk while we're at the store...just in case and not have to worry about whether it will actually fit in the refrigerator.

But it wasn't until I visited Milk Unleashed to find out where to buy shelf safe milk that my new love fully blossomed.  You see, I can buy milk, even Hershey's Chocolate (as well as white and strawberry) at my most absolute favoritest place to shop...ever...Amazon.com.  Yup, I can now stock up on chocolate milk anytime, anywhere and my kids can enjoy it anytime, anywhere without worry of keeping it refrigerated (until it's been opened).



How could shelf safe milk help make your life easier?

Be sure to check out  Milk Unleashed  on Twitter and Facebook!

This blog post is part of a paid SocialMoms and Milk Unleashed blogging program. The opinions and ideas expressed here are my own. 

Celebrate National Bread Month With a Sandwich Today!

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the sandwich!  I know this is true but it's hard to imagine life without sandwiches.  I suppose if I was sent back in time 250 years, the sandwich would probably be the least of the things I would truly miss but there are many reasons to love sandwiches:

• Sandwiches are one of the easiest, most versatile and convenient ways to make a healthy meal for individuals or families. 
• Bread is the most important ingredient in making a healthy and delicious sandwich; it is the foundation of a great meal any time of day. 
• The complex carbohydrates in bread and other grain-based foods provide lasting energy the human body needs on a daily basis.

As a busy mom sandwiches are just for lunch in our house.  They're a great way to give the kids a well rounded meal when there's literally NO time to get dinner on the table.  Given the right combination of sandwich options I think my kids would happily eat sandwiches for every meal of the day.  My kids love the ole stand by peanut butter and jelly (well one likes pb&j, two opt for JUST pb).  They also love grilled cheese and lately have even started getting in to adding extras to their grilled cheese like ham or bacon, and one will even add tomato!

But me, while I do have an occasional PB&J, I like my sandwiches more like The Pastrami Reuben created by Celebrity Chef Bryan Voltaggio.  Doesn't it look amazing.  Messy...buy amazing. 
Click the image to visit the recipe page.





  I'm not sure I'm up for The Banana, PB & Honey, also created by Celebrity Chef Bryan Voltaggio but I think the kids might like it!!  Might just have to try it next weekend.  It IS all stuff they love...peanut butter, bananas and honey.  I think the only thing that might make them love the sound of it more...Nutella.

Click the image to visit the recipe page.

Ok so these particular sandwiches are probably not the ideal meal solution to fit into my current meal plans with Weight Watchers but if you're into making healthier choices there are tons of great sandwich options out there.  I love a lean sliced turkey sandwich with light mayo.  It's low in points but full of great hunger fighting protein. 

What are some of your  favorite sandwich creations?  Do you sandwich at dinner time or only lunchtime?



Learn more about the Grain Foods Foundation and the benefits of enriched or whole grains:

About the Grain Foods Foundation
The Grain Foods Foundation, a joint venture of members of the milling, baking and allied industries
formed in 2004, is dedicated to advancing the public’s understanding of the beneficial role grain-based foods play in the human diet and a healthy lifestyle. Directed by a board of trustees, funding for the Foundation is provided through voluntary donations from grain-based food companies and issupplemented by industry associations. For more information about the Grain Foods Foundation, visit gowiththegrain.org, facebook.com/gowiththegrain or twitter.com/gowiththegrain.
 
About White Bread/Enriched Grains:
➢ White bread – whether it be sliced or as rolls and buns – is enriched, meaning that B vitamins
including thiamin, and riboflavin have been added back in approximately double the amount of whole
grains and niacin has been added back in its original amount.
➢ Folic acid is fortified to over twice the amount found in whole grains.
➢ Enriched grains are the primary source of folic acid in Americans’ diets and, according to the CDC,
have been credited with a 36 percent reduction in birth defects since the FDA mandated fortification
of enriched grains in 1998.
➢ Enriched grains are also a major source of iron in the diets of most Americans and are a good source of complex carbohydrates.

About Whole Grains:
➢ Whole grains are a good source of complex carbohydrates, numerous vitamins and minerals, and are naturally low in fat.
➢ Whole grains are a good source of fiber and other important nutrients, such as selenium, potassium and magnesium.
➢ Whole grains may lower risk of heart disease, some cancers and diabetes as well as other disorders, such as hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome and diverticular disease.


I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of the Grain Foods Foundation. I received a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

UNJUNK Your Halloween with UNREAL Candy #getunreal

Story behind UNREAL:
UNREAL™ exists because a thirteen year old boy asked one Halloween why candy needs to be so unhealthy. After an argument with his father, he did a bit of research only to find that candy is filled with bad things like hydrogenated oils and artificial colors and flavors. And what’s worse, he found out that those ingredients don’t make candy taste better, they simply make it cheaper to produce.
Nicky believed that candy without the junk could be made and that it would taste better. And he and his father and brother decided to prove it.
And they did.
UNREAL™ provides many of the great flavor combinations we love in our treats, but without the corn syrup, without the partially hydrogenated oils, without the GMOs, without the artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, and with 40% less sugar per serving on average. The key ingredients are responsibly sourced, and the candy is available in the stores we all shop, at a price point we can all afford.

This weekend we'll be sharing UNREAL Candy with our friends in a Halloween inspired get together.  Our family has already tried UNREAL and learned how good candy can be when it's UNJUNKED.  Have you?

Disclosure: We've been provided with supplies and product to host a get together. All opinions are my own.