Melinda's Fab Life!

Made the Leap to Wordpress!

2009-05-21T23:43:00.003-04:00

I FINALlY made the leap from Blogger to Wordpress!! Well, since I basically slaughtered my blogger page (trying to update the layout), and lost ALL of my followers, music playlist, picture, Blog Roll and who knows what else, I decided this was the perfect time to make the switch over. Also, don't forget about my GIVEAWAY!! So, please if you were following me before or if you are new, please come and check me out- because as of now, I have no followers! Boo. Hoo. http://melindasfabulouslife.wordpress.com/

Snikiddys for kids and for the kid in all of us!

2009-05-21T13:53:00.007-04:00

Lookie what was on my doorstep- Thanks Mary! :D

Of course, we couldn't wait to dig into the NACHO Cheese puffs! We ALL (including the dog) loved them! Yum! Founded in 2006 by Janet Owings and Mary Schulman, a mother/daughter team with a shared passion for children’s health, Snikiddy® is a brand of great tasting, family-friendly snack foods made from simple, wholesome and real ingredients. Snikiddy has also been featured on The View- Elisabeth Hasselbeck promoted these snacks for her G-Free diet and Rachel Ray featured the Mac N Cheese Puffs as snack of the day. Visit www.snikiddy.com and receive a $1 off coupon. ________________________________

We also tried the Pizza Puffs and boy they are so yummy!! They definitely tastes like pizza and melt in your mouth- I know a certain nephew (Austin) that would go crazy for these!! My nephew and niece are coming up next weekend (or is it this one?) and I am going to let them taste all of them and see what they think- I'll update once they try them all! The great thing about these Puffs are that they are made with REAL cheese ( I hate the artificial cheese- gross), 30% less fat & 20% fewer calories than other leading brands, Gluten & Wheat Free, No Preservatives, Low in Saturated Fat & cholesterol. What more can you ask for? _________________________________

Later on, we tried out all of the cookies- I promise you, there were NO complaints to be found, not a one! I have to say that my Favorite was the Oatmeal chocolate bites-I had to stop myself from eating ~~the entire box~~ too many! The hubby LOVED the chocolate chocolate and chocolate chip bites- there is maybe a handful left in each box now! Roscoe, our dog was begging of course, so we let him have an oatmeal since it seemed to have the least chocolate, which he proceeded to eat ~~swallow~~ quite happily. The great thing about these cookies are that they are made with whole wheat flour, real butter and unrefined cane sugar and a good source of whole grains and fiber- SERIOUSLY, where can you find cookies like that? I don't have kids but I will definitely be sharing these with some parents for their kids-I can't imagine any kids that wouldn't like these! And what is so great, is that you can practically find them EVERYWHERE! Whole Foods, Wegmans, even Toys R' Us and Amazon, and many more places!

Gym & A Giveaway!!

2009-05-21T13:39:00.004-04:00

What do you think about this as a Giveaway??

would you want it? tell me what you think

2 months free- I am going to check this out TODAY!!

So yesterday was my first day back at the gym and they let me have the one day free- I loved working out again! I stayed at the gym for 3 hours in total working out and I did the sauna for about 25 minutes or so. I had a raw crunch bar while I was waiting on Reggie to pick me up- I'm not sure if I am signing up with Tony's yet because I have a 2 months free coupon at PT Gym which I can WALK to if I want! So I'm seriously thinking about it! Today I threw my tennis' in the wash- they need some SERIOUS help or I am going to look at getting a new pair soon. I have another review to do today then I need to start painting the dining room before I hit up the gym with Reggie this afternoon. I will catch up with you girls later!♥

Better than Wine!♥

2009-05-21T13:03:00.009-04:00

Lookie what was on my doorstep this morning!!♥

Pom Wonderful + Daily Macrogreen powder = ♥ Pom & Water- loved it! There are antioxidants …and then there are ANTIOXIDANTS. Quite literally, some are better at neutralizing free radicals than others. Compare a glass of pomegranate juice and a glass of red wine. As for quantity, our tests found that ounce for ounce, pomegranate juice has 17% more polyphenol antioxidants than red wine. This not only suggests that pomegranate juice contains more polyphenol antioxidants than red wine, but also that each antioxidant molecule in pomegranate juice is more potent than the corresponding antioxidant molecule in red wine. POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice is the ONLY pomegranate juice backed by $25 million in medical research. Actually, we are the only pomegranate juice backed by any medical research at all.There has been a lot of talk lately about the role of pomegranates in promoting heart health, prostate health, and proper erectile function. But while these results are promising, keep in mind that all of the research has been done on POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice. Our juice comes from a unique pomegranate variety (the Wonderful), which is grown in a unique location (California), and which is juiced with proprietary technology (ours!). No other pomegranate juice can claim these distinctions, and no other brand has been clinically tested. ____________________________

I have to say that I loved the taste of Pom Wonderful- I tried it with my daily green powder and it definitely made it taste better! It's great with just water mixed in too! I think I will try it in a smoothie tomorrow- yum! :D

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More good news. 100% Pomegranate Juice: contains NO added sugars, preservatives or colors is a good source of potassium is gluten free is flash pasteurized to retain both flavor and nutrients is certified kosher

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A final word: maybe you’re on a diet (who isn’t?) and are worried about the calories and carbohydrates in pomegranate juice. Just remember that the carbohydrates are from naturally occurring fructose and glucose found in the fresh fruit. And that a single glass of delicious POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice won’t make you fat…but may help you be healthy. They have loads of great recipes for smoothies, mocktails, desserts, etc. so go check out www.pomwonderful.com !

Raw + working out = HAPPY!! :D

2009-05-20T14:16:00.000-04:00

The hubby is a little spoiled HA

The boy LOVES MixMyGranola :D

OG Yerba Mate Tea w/loads of cinnaMON! Snack

Veggies from "someone elses" garden- Mom bought for me

I'm loving my RAW veg soup- so YUM!

I was craving something sweet and thinking how

me & my Mom used to always bake when I was little..

95% Raw Banana Pudding

= AWESOME NANA Pudding!!!

Getting ready to meet my friend and hit up the gym! :D

Tuesday

I've been so busy lately with my To Do lists and errands, so this post is partly Tuesday and Today mixed. Yesterday I mowed the back lawn, made hair appt. for Wednesday, did TONS of laundy while I watched the Bachlorette- which I LOVED btw! I went walking with my friend for 2 hours, then Reggie and I hit up Lowes and got our paint for the den, then we went by his parents to pick up the veggies Mom had for me. We ended up eating dinner there- I had an avo + pest. free tomato + sea salt, couple handfuls raw brazil nuts and 4 fresh strawberries. Reggie had the squash casserole, green beans and red potatoes and cornbread- all fresh from the garden, fresh made.

Wednesday

Woke up at 7:20 today, had hair appt. at 9:00. When I got home I mowed the front lawn, made up our bed, did dishes, painted area in den, did MORE laundry, and made some more raw soup and raw Banana pudding- which btw if anyone would like the recipe, just ask! Now I'm going to take a nice bath so I can get ready to hit the gym! :D

Playing Catch up :D

2009-05-19T13:10:00.000-04:00

My "To Do" List for Tuesday

Samples from Murad Ruby Tuesday's Coupons- sign up for So Connected and get Dining coupons! My Daily Green Juice Cocktail :D

Making more cashew milk/mixed w/rice milk

Making RAW Soup- YUM!

Raw bar for energy before working out

My first watermelon for this year- I LOVE Watermelon! :D

Reggie saw this recipe in Sam's booklets they were handing out,

so we went home and cooked it together

along w/organic oven roasted potatoes & mac & cheese

I really don't think he liked it very much...

then we watched Survivor Finale & Reunion-gotta say I LOVE that my good ole' southern boy JT won BOTH the million & sprint fave!! I was so happy for him! :D

had a cup of OG Yerba Mate & rest of the Koka Moka ProBar while I watched

Got snacky- shouldn't have...but ate this teeny bag of chips- they were super yum!

So, Monday I was pretty busy which is why I am posting today. I did the dishes, stripped the beds, put some things away in the attic, started to mow the grass-but didn't have time because it was time to meet my friend to go work out. We power walked for 2 hours and afterward, Reggie picked me up and we went to Sam's and got a few groceries then headed home. Reggie saw a recipe that he wanted to try out, so we both cooked up a nice din. together- it was definitely a "MAN'S" Meal- not something that I would eat. I had some raw avo soup that I had made earlier for lunch- I had it for din also- very good! I FINALLY got some ECOS Laundry detergent from Sam's- the laundry was really starting to pile up! So last night, I put a load on as soon as we got home! On to another subject, I seriously am thinking of rejoining the gym- I REALLY miss working out with the weights, spin class, aerobics- I definitely need that type of environment to push myself- I am going with my friend on Wednesday and I am really thinking about signing up! :D

~xoxo~ Melinda

One more then I'm off to bed

2009-05-18T00:44:00.001-04:00

K. one more then I SERIOUSLY have to go to bed! The hubby is going to ~~kill~~ be annoyed with me! What do you think of this one? Yes, No? Wow, I just came back to edit this post- this one is not so cute- definitely changing that in the a.m.! Night my lovelies :D ~xoxo~

Signature testing

2009-05-18T00:40:00.000-04:00

K. how about this one? Let's try it out... which one do you like better? Maybe I should have gone with a darker color?

Learning how to add your signature!

2009-05-18T00:34:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited, I NOW have a signature! I am going to have to tweak it tomorrow though- it's not quite like I want it. If you would like a signature on your blog-just go to www.mylivesignature.com/ -it's SO easy! Have fun my lovelies! :D ~xoxo~

The Weekend and Ebay Listings :D

2009-05-17T18:49:00.000-04:00

Salvatore Ferragamo Designer shoes

made in Italy (now on Ebay) these are fabulous

but 6.5 are 1 size too small for me!

Lot of Sophie Kinsella Books = ULTIMATE Chick Lit

(now on Ebay) Brand New Sony Vaio Laptop (now on Ebay)

Worked SO hard today listing things on ebay, craigslist, organizing the closets & cleaning up

the construction mess in the back yard, but I feel so accomplished YAY!

Had a Tea break & caught up on my fave guilty show! :D

Brunch

Raw Vegan Nori Roll- only ate 1 b/c I lost my appetite The weekend has been so ~~crazy!~~ BUSY!! We tore down the siding on another part of the house, so it would be ready next. Reggie planted loofah seeds, spinach, organic kale, more cucumbers, red leaf spring greens- he already has the next batch going! I gave Roscoe a bath and did the dishes, helped Reggie clean the entire back yard. I organized both the coat closet and Reggies closet and listed several things on Ebay and some on craigslist. And finally I took a break and caught up on my Hills- it was so good and DRAMATIC as always! I've been doing great adding in my intense aerobics now and eating High Raw- this is my 5th day or so (can't remember) without coffee- I've been drinking lots of teas lately. Besides what is shown above, I had 2 Garden of Life Raw bars- I really don't eat much at all! Unfortunately, for some reason my efforts are NOT showing up on the scales or how my clothes are fitting- I may have to renew my membership at the gym if things don't change soon. I used to go to Spin classes and Aerobics every day and I was so toned and had no problem keeping my weight maintained, so I may be a gym rat again soon! Do any of you guys go to the gym or do your own routine/dvd workout at home and how does that work for you? I do have some great TaeBo and High intensity Aerobic Dvds I may just have to break out in the morning! As for me, I still have to go and wash/vacuum the Bronco so I can get it ready to put on Craigslist to sell before the summer then I'm going to do some aerobics. Hope you all have a fabulous night- toodles!:D

Eats for the Day :D

2009-05-15T20:22:00.000-04:00

Medora sent me some yummy samples to try out :D

2 cups Yerba Mate- morning & afternoon

juiced organic oranges= yummy raw juice!

My daily cocktail of Macrogreens & Juice

Snack to satisfy my sweet & salty cravings :D Fruity Salad for lunch Banana w/AB- EVERYONE has this combo on their blog.. So, I HAD to try it! It's yum!

Cukes, Avo & Cashew Butter for Din

<3 my Vitamix

My Friday Night Non-Alkie Cocktail

Got to keep the temple clean :D

Slept in until 10:45 this morning-I felt great! I was down 0.5 lb although I said I wasn't going to weigh yet HA. I put on tea and decided to do my intense aerobics-so I did weights/aerobics for 1 hour- I did some SERIOUS sweating, it was so much more fun than walking, I have to admit! My friend did email me back and I am going to meet up with her Monday to go walking. I paid a couple of bills and emailed my sister for most of the day- I was Super lazy today.

I did get to try out the variety of chips that Medora sent- Since I am trying to eat High Raw- I only took a bite of each especially since most were not Vegan. I did really like the Pogos in Jalapeno Flavor and Reggie ate the entire bag of Corners in Ranch flavor, but I did manage to get a bite- no wonder he liked them- they were super yum! They tasted like a healthier & yummier version of ranch doritos! My fave were the Sotos because they were vegan and they tasted super light which I liked- I snacked on a few of these! I definitely love chips and I love that these are way healthier than regular chips so I didn't feel quite as guilty haha. Plus these yummy chips are ALL Natural and can be purchased online at http://www.amazon.com/ .Check out all of the yummy flavors at www.medorasnacks.com !

Hope you all have a fabulous night :D

~xoxo~

Melinda

A slow day...

2009-05-14T20:24:00.001-04:00

I'm so tired of walking alone- hopefully I can start back

walking with my friend starting tomorrow

Eats for Today:

Bfast- 1 Garden of Life Chocolate Raspberry Bar, Tea w/cashew milk & OG agave

Lunch- Very few raw veggies- cukes, broc., mushrooms- all OG w/raw cashew dip

Snack- 1 cup OG Yerba Mate Tea w/raw cashew milk, OG cinnamon & OG agave

Snack- 1 Raw Crunch Goji Bar

Din- Small bowl Raw fruit salad (1 OG apple, 1 banana, OG Tahini, OG agave)

Snack- Another Garden of Life Raw Chocolate Raspberry bar (CRAVING chocolate:D)

Today is Day 2 of No Coffee, I've just been drinking teas and honestly I feel MORE energy instead of less, how weird is that?! I haven't even craved coffee in the afternoons like I normally do, so that is great. I don't know how I am progressing weight wise yet since I am on my mensies, I am going to wait and weigh around Monday or Tuesday of next week. I've been doing EVERYTHING that I know to do to lose this weight. Although, I know I could step it up on the exercise- I'm thinking about doing some intense aerobics in the a.m. to some music to get me motivated and save the power walking for the afternoon part. I'm really proud of myself for going back to eating High Raw, quitting coffee and exercising everyday. Today I did power walk for about an hour or more- I emailed my walking buddy and hopefully we can meet up tomorrow to walk for a few hours. Today has been kind of a slow day, so not much to post about- I plan on making myself a cup of yerba mate and watching the Survivor Finale tonight with the hubby and then going to bed. Hope you all have a ~~good~~ fabulous night! :D

RAW Crunch! :D

2009-05-14T15:02:00.000-04:00

Book about the RAW Crunch Diet

My Raw Crunch Bars came in- thanks for the fast shipping Kathy! :D

The first one I tried was the blueberry- om gosh, this is so yummy! Love the combo of sweet and salty- this is so good and it's ALL RAW!!

Look at all the yummy ingredients!

See for yourself

This one was on the bottom so that is why I didn't try it first- I was so excited to try this w/ the chocolate and I have to say this one was my fave!! Chocolate + fruit + nuts= HEAVEN! :D

This one was so yummy too hmmmm

Goji Berries- very good! Not a bad bar in the bunch!

More about Kathy:

Kathy has twelve years of experience in the fields of corrective and high performance exercise health and nutrition. An honors graduate from East Carolina University, Kathy has a Bachelors of Science degree in Cellular Biology. Following college she became a successful National Fitness America competitor, sports model and TV Personality. Recently, Kathy has founded Body Engineering, Inc. with the objective of establishing a company to manufacture her ultimate health food formula, trademarked as Raw Crunch® bars. In addition to her bars, Kathy is the author of The Raw Crunch Diet™ and producer of the Raw Crunch Workout™ DVD adding the final aspects to her wellness concept.

My take on the raw bars are that they are phenomenal- they taste so good, it's hard to believe that they are all raw and good for you! I always say the proof is in the pudidng and by the looks of Kathy, I'd say she is plenty of proof- I need to eat more raw crunch bars so I can get a banging body like hers! Go to www.kathyfeldman.com/ to read more about her Raw Crunch Diet and workout also- she also has a blog at http://rawcrunch.blogspot.com/. So check it out! :D

A Day of Obstacles...

2009-05-14T13:54:00.000-04:00

So, my day started with my friend that visits monthly

I was not feeling so hot, let me tell ya

I did exactly this with some OG yerba mate tea w/loads of cinnamon (helps w/pain)

& caught up on my Gossip Girl shows

Our new peeping Tom hehe

He was sooo cute! I gave him some leftover pizza, cornbread and spinach bites for him

now he will never leave haha :D

Lunchie- raw veggies & raw cashew dip

Daily MacroGreens w/Berry Boost YUM!

Mom gave me some avocados

Organic Fruit salad w/OG Tahini & agave- din

My garden- hubby ~~forced~~ reminded me that it needed weeding

Things I did yesterday:

Power walked/weights 1.5 hours

Dishes

2 Product Reviews

Bathed Roscoe

Made more Raw Cashew Dip

First Day COFFEE FREE!!!

Took my new Raw Vitamins (Garden of Life) & Daily MacroGreens Supplement

Watched Some Past Episodes (been recorded forever) of Gossip Girl

Watched Finale of America's Next Top Model! I wanted Alison to win! :(

FINALLY watched Amazing Race Finale!

Weeded the Garden

Emptied the Trash

Got in new products to review!

So Me, So Not Me = Me SO Bored!!

2009-05-13T17:15:00.001-04:00

So Not Me

So Me

So Not Me So Me

So Not Me

So Me

So Not Me

So Me

So Not Me

So Me

So Not Me

So Me

So Not Me

So Me

So Not Me

So Me

So Not Me

So Me

So Not Me

So Me

So Not Me

So me

It's Your Life Lyrics & Biggest Loser Winner!! :D

2009-05-13T13:47:00.000-04:00

This is one of the songs from Biggest Loser that they played on the Finale- Love it!!! Francesca Battistelli sings it, she is a christian singer- I'm just in love with this song- it is so inspirational! I am putting it on my page so I can listen to it EVERY day!!! I LOVE the Biggest Loser- I don't miss an episode EVER!! It's so motivating and inspiring- if these people can lose from upwards of 400-500 lbs down to in the 100-200's then we can all do accomplish the things in life that we desire- there is no such thing as CAN'T! I always say with GOD, ALL things are possible!!

This is the moment It’s on the line Which way you gonna fall? In the middle between Wrong and right But you know after all (Chorus)It’s your life What you gonna do? The world is watching you Every day the choices you make Say what you are and who Your heart beats for It’s an open door It’s your life Are you who you always said you would be? With a sinking feeling in your chest Always waiting for someone else to fix you Tell me when did you forget (Chorus) To live the way that you believe This is your opportunity To let your life be one that lights the way

My FIRST RAW Vitamins!! :D

2009-05-13T10:24:00.000-04:00

My packages came in yay!! Made with all raw ingredients & yummy!! Also, made with raw ingredients, PLUS it's chocolate! YUM!

Fact is, we’ve become a nation of eating fast, processed, prepared foods that are deplete of the vital nutrients we need. Some people are taking steps in the right direction by eating all raw foods or going vegetarian. But this group also is highly susceptible to nutrient deficiencies due to the lack of animal and dairy consumption. So Jordan Rubin, CEO and Founder of Garden of Life® decided to put our “advanced” technology to good use and developed the only raw, vegan, gluten and dairy-free line of specialized targeted nutrients. Vitamin Code™ RAW targeted nutrients are comprehensive, whole-food formulas made with RAW Food-Created Nutrients™. Cultivated with their unique Code Factors™ intact, the RAW Food-Created Nutrients enable natural recognition of nutrients by your body, just as nature intended. Code Factors, compounds found in food, are necessary for proper nutrient delivery. Enhancing these formulas is the addition of a RAW probiotic and enzyme blend along with a RAW organic fruit and vegetable blend for added nutritional support.

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I was so excited about the Garden of Life (RAW) Vitamin Code- especially since I am back to being a Raw Vegan- I definitely want to make sure I am going adequate proteins and nutrients that I may be missing out on. When I opened the bottles, I could tell that these were raw! They actually had a raw vegetable smell- but in a good way! One thing I noticed this morning (not to be grody) but my digestion was better than normal and today was my first day with NO COFFEE!! Usually when I quit coffee, I always have digestion & energy issues the first couple of days, but today I have plenty of energy and feel great!! I am going to continue taking the vitamins and update on how I am doing- I'm so excited about the results!

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Individuals who may benefit from Vitamin Code® RAW B-12 include (I have the highlighted symptoms! Scary! :(

Vegans or Strict Vegetarians - Vitamin B12 is found predominantly in animal and dairy products so this group may be especially prone to vitamin B12 deficiency which can potentially affect the brain and nervous system. At levels only slightly lower than normal, a range of symptoms such as occasional constipation, significant decrease in energy, and poor memory may be experienced. At levels only slightly lower than normal, a range of symptoms such as anemia, constipation, fatigue, depression, and poor memory may be experienced. Vitamin Code RAW B-12 is both Vegan and Vegetarian-friendly making it a great choice for those individuals. Elderly population Those with pernicious anemia, a form of megaloblastic anemia* Pregnant women Those with digestive problems, gastric bypass (may not be able to make enough vitamin B12) Vitamin Code® RAW B-12 Nature-Intended Benefits: RAW – Vegan Anemia Support* Metabolism† Mental and Physical Energy† Central Nervous System Health† Optimal Digestion†

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Now, onto the bars- these I ~~tore into~~ opened right away! I tried the Chocolate Raspberry right away- and it was soooo good!!! These will go well with my Yerba Mate Tea- hmmmm. I really liked the Apple Cinnamon as well- this would go great with tea also- definitely reminded me of Apple Pie- Yum! Before Power Walking/weights yesterday, I grabbed another one of the Chocolate Raspberry bars and it was just perfect! Overall, I love the raw bars, the vitamins already seem to be giving me good results- I definitely recommend you trying Garden of Life Products if you haven't already!

Visit http://www.thevitamincode.com/Coupon/tabid/1452/Default.aspx to get $5 off Multi-Vitamin Formulas Today!! Also, check out www.gardenoflifeusa.com to check out all of their great products!

Pro Bar Review :D

2009-05-13T08:56:00.001-04:00

So exciting!! A sampling with my Macrogreens = my breakfast :D

Made from whole, organic, raw foods, and 100 percent vegan, PROBAR is a natural alternative to other nutrition bars which contain unrecognizable, hard-to-pronounce ingredients. Not only are Art’s creations nutritious, but also they actually look appetizing – like real food! Just to top it off, they taste delicious too! ___________________________

So for my Review:

First of all, I loved that they are 70% raw- this is PERFECT for me!! I also love that each bar provides up to 6-7 grams fiber and 9-12 grams protein - since I am a vegetarian, essential protein is really important for me.

Sesame Goji- I loved the sesame and goji combination- this one was my favorite!

Maple Pecan - I could definitely taste the pecan in this bar- it reminded me of eating a slice of pecan pie, but better!

Koka Moka- Of course I love chocolate and it was chewy and chocolatey (is that a word? lol) so this ended up being one of my faves!

Cocoa Pistachio- Loved the combination of the cocoa and pistachio- salty and sweet at the same time- very yummy!

Superfood Slam - I have to say out of all 5 this was my least favorite- I know it's super healthy, but you could definitely taste the "green" in this, which is always hard for me to take. I would eat it just for the health benefits, not so much for the taste.

Overall, I really loved the Probars, they are all very chewy, filling and tasty! I could definitely use these on our biking/hiking trips, road trips, etc. You can find Probars at Whole Foods Market, Vitamin Shoppe, etc. or go to www.theprobar.com and check them out! Thanks again Kendall :D

What I've been up to :D

2009-05-12T15:10:00.001-04:00

SO looking forward to watching Biggest Loser!!!

Food shopping Yay! Reading Glamour w/daily greens :D My first cucumber!!

Cherry tomatoes!

Roscoe ~~stealing~~ sitting in my chair

Organic apple slices w/AB YUM!!

Organic Portabella w/raw sauce, sliced onions, nutritional yeast

Raw Veggies w/raw cashew dip

I had some organic Yerba Mate Tea (hubby's boxers- so comfy!)

and watched some T.V.

So to back track- Saturday, I helped my sister ~~throw out~~ organize things at my Mom's house- by the time we finished, it looked so awesome! My mom called while we were there and she was so happy that we were organizing for her- we left her a little note (she was in Cali. for Mother's Day with her Mom so we will have a belated Mother's Day for her when she gets back). After, we finished at my Mom's, I ended up getting to go back home with my sister to hang out some more- I was so excited! But first, we stopped to clean the church she goes to- it only took about 20 minutes, we just vacuumed and tidied up really quick. Then we headed back to her house -we were famished so we made ourselves some dinner- I had a huge organic salad. Unfortunately, Reggie decided to come sooner than we had predicted, so I didn't get to hang out as long as I wanted to, but we still had ~~too much~~ LOADS of fun the entire weekend!

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Sunday

I was so tired from staying up at my sisters and cleaning my Mom's house, that Sunday ended up being a really lazy day for me. I did manage to shave Roscoe and give him a bath- hopefully, that will cut down on all of the hair he sheds inside- which makes me have to clean constantly! I also recorded our weekly shows on the Replay TV and deleted some that I didn't need anymore.

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Monday

Slept in until 10:45- terrible! But I did alot on Monday! I cleaned the house from top to bottom- I did laundry and watched some sermons while I did, cleaned windows, dusted, wiped down the couches (Roscoe's hair sheds alot), dishes and watered the garden. I also walked for 2.5 hours while I talked to my sister. We watched Amazing Race and Survivor later that night. I also figured out something new on blogger BY MYSELF-yay for me!! :D Also added some music to my page which I've been wanting to do also!

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Tuesday

Got 3 different packages in today YAY!! The fed ex guy came right when I was getting out of the shower- really?? so I had to throw on a robe to meet him at the door- his exact wordswere "oh Lordy" I mean I had clothes on lol. Reggie picked me up at lunch and we went food shopping & grabbed him a sub at Publix. Oh, and I have about 45 organic okra plants coming up- speaking of which, I need to go water the garden! And I am going walking later. I've been doing great eating raw, I've been drinking my MacroGreens every day too. I am sure the weight will be dropping off soon- I think ~~decreasing~~ eliminating my coffee may be the next thing I need to do to help the weight loss.

This is a test...

2009-05-11T20:58:00.000-04:00

~~learning~~ testing something

Kaia Raw Granola- Yum!!

2009-05-10T12:02:00.000-04:00

So, I got my Raw Granola from Kaia Foods in that Nick sent me- thanks Nick!! :D

And since I had eaten bfast yet- I decided to break open the cinnamon raisin granola and it was AWESOME! I used my raw cashew milk- the combo was divine :) This morning, I had the dates & spices raw granola and it had such a good flavor- I love how chewy & tasty it is!

I also tried the cocoa bliss, but forgot to take a picture of it- I let my sister try some and she also loved it! I'm a big cocoa/chocolate lover so this was no surprise that this one was my fave! Cinnamon Raisin was RIGHT behind it though!

About kaia foods The Story. kaia foods was born in the summer of 2006 when Nick Kelley was hiking in the Weminuche Wilderness of Colorado with his friends Nina and Billy. Somewhere just below the tree line on a sun-drenched day, inspiration struck. He decided to leave behind the world of finance and follow his dream to make minimally processed, truly healthy food more readily available to everyone. Fifteen seconds later he passed a horseshoe on the trail (no joke!) and interpreted it to be a good sign for the journey ahead. Our premium raw granola is delicious and innovative. It is made with buckwheat, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, coconut, flax seeds, agave nectar (well known for its low glycemic properties), plus dried fruits and seasonings. kaia foods’ Premium Raw Granola is excellent straight out of the bag, or enjoyed with fresh fruit, milk, yogurt, raw nut milk, soymilk, and soygurt, too. Yum!

Benefits incredibly tasty! ‘au naturel’ or ‘raw’ (my fave part!) gluten-free vegan cholesterol-free high in fiber a complete protein jam-packed with many nutrients such as omega-3’s, potassium, iron, magnesium, manganese, copper, B vitamins, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants made with low-glycemic ingredients

I would definitely buy this raw granola- it didn't take much for breakfast because it is so filling so you only need a little. It fits perfectly into my diet with me trying to eat high raw- I give the granolas a thumbs up!! 1% of sales are donated to the UN's World Food program to alleviate hunger- how sweet is that! Plus the prices are great- you can check it out at http://www.kaiafoods.com/! Thanks again Nick- I really enjoyed the granolas :D

Girls Night YEAH!!!!

2009-05-10T10:52:00.000-04:00

So, this is how our night went down.. ready?... On the walk over to my brothers house To see his cute new puppies- awww this one loved me!

Resting my weary & dirty feet lol

I Heart fruit!!

I can almost taste them, yum!!

We walked into the woods...

and down by the barn where a mosquito landed on my head...see??

Katie walked with us and kept us feeling safe

We drove the tractor (NOT haha)

No way could I drive this huge beast!

I had to have a picture by the lake

Look at how great my Jane Iredale makeup held up- after over 2 hours of romping around- my sister totally loved it too!

First bottle popped in the freezer, second bottle- made a toast to 2009

bringing in awesome blessings!!

My makeup came in YAY!!

2009-05-08T10:29:00.000-04:00

So, my Jane Iredale makeup came in this week- I've been trying to find something to cover my sun spots better. Plus my Mom in law uses Jane Iredale and her makeup always looks really nice, so I thought I would try it out! An added bonus, is that their makeup is not tested on animals and contains no talc or parabens and has up to SPF 30 UVB/UVA protection which I need with my skin problems. I loved the way the Dream Tint smelled- it reminded me of the "new born baby smell"- very fresh and clean. It also blended well and didn't look cakey like other makeup I've used before- I can't stand that look. I definitely think that the Zap and Hide cover stick helped somehow reflect the light off of my sun spots because it covered them almost completely! It has 2 different ends, one is like a clear stick that you put on first, then you put on the concealer part- I tried this both ways before putting on the Dream Tint and after- for me, it worked well either way. Tea tree and lavender oils kill acne-causing bacteria, and ylang ylang helps balance oil production. Together, they lend the concealer a really lovely scent. I have to say I LOVED the powder too, it was not cakey and didn't settle into the fine lines like I've had other powders do. At the wedding reception, this girl that I practically grew up with, was asking my age, and I told her and she was surpirsed and said I looked like I was 20 years old(without telling the whole world my age) THAT is a compliment! I am sure the makeup helped!

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I am going to my sister's tonight and we are having a Girls Night In!!The boys are going to the races and won't be back home until around midnight-whoop whoop!! I am going to bring my Madame Madeline (love that name- so mysterious) eyelashes, my new makeup and some bubbly (sparkling cider lol) and we are going to hang out and watch chick shows/movies! I'm so excited! I have to go pack some things now! I'll update with pics soon :-)

Adam & Jamie are officially HITCHED!!

2009-05-08T08:59:00.000-04:00

Let's Get Wild!!

2009-05-07T11:35:00.000-04:00

So, yesterday was pretty uneventful- I did go to Big Lots with Mom and picked up two wedding shower gifts, wedding wrapping paper & bow, some badly needed clothes hangers and 2 photo albums. Mom bought me a Starbucks candy bar (that I didn't need) but I just took one teensy bite and saved the rest for Reggie. We stopped by BK so Mom could get a coffee, she offered me one, but I said no thanks- I'm really picky about what type of coffee I drink and BK just doesn't do it for me. I'm more of a Seattle's Best or Starbucks kind of gal or better yet just make it myself at home with the french press. Anyway, I was so tired for some reason, so I really didn't do much all day. Oh, I did make up the bed and put up some clothes, so there's that.

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Today (Thursday) however, I've been SO busy! Trying to get everything done before the wedding-I had to try on several dresses, trying to choose one- I finally found one that I like! So that is done! Then I had to make a casserole for the reception (to help out the family so they don't have to do everything) so I decided (since I have a HUGE bag of mozzerella and a TON of eggs that I need to use) to make a Quiche for the reception and one for Reggie and also an Organic Chicken (hormone free) and penne casserole- which is baking as I type. I am also making a pasta salad for the reception- I do worry that things will get cold and have to be reheated- hopefully, they have an oven.

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This morning, Fed-ex brought me a package from Wild Bar- I was so excited to try these bars! Especially since they fit right into my raw diet! I was just going to TASTE each bar- but I ended up eating BOTH bars for breakfast! They were so good- I definitely felt energized after eating them- especially with the cacao which eliminated my usual mid-morning coffee refill! Plus, these bad boys are raw, organic AND have 14 g of fiber per bar!!

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A little about Wild Bar from their website:

The WILDBAR is a 100% raw, organic, Kosher, non-GMO, whole food "meal in a bar" that combines raw cacao with a proprietary 1,500mg blend of Ancient Sun's fresh-dried wild blue-green algae and wild blue-green algae extract, as well as with selected superfoods, herbs and spices (see ingredient list below). WILDBAR's benefits include: increased mental and physical energy, heightened clarity and attention, elevated mood and sense of well-being (due to the significant concentrations of phenylethylamine - PEA (30mg PEA per bar) - in the raw cacao and the wild blue-green algae), strengthened immune function, and enhanced joint flexibility. The only sweetener used is all natural, dark blue agave nectar, which has an extremely low glycemic index.

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People who would like Wild Bars:

• Consumers seeking a whole food "meal in a bar" that is delicious, nutrient-rich and 100% raw

• Athletes, adventurers, back country packers and other active people who need sustained energy• Raw food aficionados who also want healthy fats, sustained energy and great taste

• People who love the taste of rich, dark chocolate, but want a healthy alternative

• Diabetics who need healthy, low glycemic foods

• Individuals and families wanting outstanding nutrition in a single bar

• People who want over 50% of their RDA in fiber and/or B-12 in a great-tasting bar

• People who want Omega-3 heart-healthy benefits in every bite

• People looking for a nutrient-rich meal that elevates their mood and sense of well being

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These bars are awesome and I would love to buy them in the future- right now, the only downside that I see is that they are a little pricey- but if compared to eating out, this is definitely alot healthier and better for your money. So go check out http://www.wildbar.info/ today!

I Heart Chobani :)

2009-05-07T08:05:00.000-04:00

So, my Chobani came in yesterday- thank you Morgan! I have never tried Chobani before- so I was super excited! It was still cold since it was tightly packed with ice packs all around- so I decided I would have one for a late snack. The first one I tried was the vanilla nonfat yogurt- I mixed some pineapple in and it was soooo good! I liked the creaminess and also the thickness of the yogurt- definitely different from the yogurts I normally eat. The peach was my all time favorite- and somehow I must have deleted the picture! Anyhoo, I added sliced bananas to it and it seriously tasted like banana pudding with a peach kick to it- LOVED it!! The hubby's favorite (yes, I do share HA) was the strawberry- I mixed his with some Zoe's Granola and another day I added pineapple- now that was like a dessert!

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These are great to take to work, the gym, on the road- they are the perfect size and very filling!

All Natural Live & Active Cultures Great source of protein Perfect way to increase energy Rich smooth creamy texture A great mid day snack Helps prevent the risk of Osteoporosis Includes (3) active probiotics Gluten free

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To find out where you can buy Chobani Greek Yogurt, check out http://www.chobani.com/ . They also have coupons on their website- so get a coupon and go try some for yourself!

Making Raw bars

2009-05-06T12:46:00.000-04:00

Since it was raining yesterday, I thought (since I was out of raw bars and was too lazy to go to the store) I would make my own raw bars. So I rounded up the ingredients I could find - cranberries (out of dates), raw almonds, raw walnuts, organic cocoa powder, coconut- at the end I decided to add in some organic chocolate and organic agave to sweeten it up- they turned out pretty good, but they're no LaraBars! Guess I'll have to make due until my raw bars come in. Speaking of things coming in the mail- I got in 2 packages today- I was so excited! I will be sharing my thoughts as soon as I try everything out!!

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My organic okra is coming up!! I'm so excited and also shocked that they came up! I also have baby tomatoes and baby cucumbers starting to grow now- I can't wait to start making some new raw recipes out of my organic veggies- yum!

Raw foods, house remodeling and doggie cone woes!

2009-05-05T10:30:00.000-04:00

Things I did Sunday and Monday

Moved sand to ungrassy areas on lawn (1.5 hours)

Mowed the lawn

Watered the garden

Gave Roscoe a bath/blowdry

Did laundry & dishes

Watched Marley & Me FINALLY- I cried at the ending :(

Watched Hells Kitchen, Survivor, Amazing Race with Reggie

Watched all of The Hills Season (LOVE The Hills!)

Had MacroGreens for Breakfast every day

Cleaned out my makeup bag

Cut Reggie's hair

Reggie helped me wax

FINALLY got the Sam's photo ordeal worked out- they had to refund me $$$$ for messing up my order

Had a hot bath/facial scrub/leave in conditioner

My NVEY Organics samples came in

Reggie had to pick Roscoe up a dog cone at the vets office- he kept biting- he HATES it!

Made Raw cashew dip w/fresh dill & Raw cashew milk for my coffee and teas

Had Yerba Mate tea with my raw cashew milk w/organic cinnamon- yummy!

Power walked both days for 1.5-2 hours w/weights

My awesome hubby picked up organic carrots, organic spring mix, avocados, bananas and pineapple for me- he is the best!! :)

Watched several Entertainment Tonight to free up space on hard drive

Recorded weekly shows on Replay TV

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Things I am looking forward to!

Going to the strawberry patch with Mom to pick strawberries! (We do this every year)

Going to Adam and Jamie's wedding on Thursday

My Larabars coming in!

Trying out my new eyeshadows

Going power walking today

Having some organic french press coffee with my raw cashew milk

My new Vitamin Drink for the Day!

2009-05-03T10:12:00.000-04:00

I was a little wary about trying the Macro Greens Superfood supplement even moreso than the Miracle Reds- Any time I have tried green drinks containing spirulina, barley, etc- they have been hard for me to even get down. That's why I was SO shocked that I really liked the Macro Greens- I juiced some apples (my Mom had given me a bag) and added 1 tbsp. to 1/2 glass apple juice, 1/2 glass water- my sister loved it too and surprisingly so did Reggie! He never likes to drink green drinks, so this is definitely going to be our new daily vitamin drink. I also was exhausted (from our 3 a.m. night before) and was going to have some coffee, but decided to try some of this instead- I could tell that this gave me a huge boost of energy!

It can also be added to smoothies or protein shake for a more filling meal. _________________________

THE MACRO GREENS™ STORY

A nutritional supplement that tastes great and is easy to prepare, Macro Greens™ was created in 1996 by fitness expert Sylvia Ortiz to help her son lose weight and since its introduction has become one of the most popular products in the rapidly growing nutritional supplements market.

He was depressed and on the road to health problems and Sylvia had been obese so she knew what he was experiencing. So for her son and herself, and so many others like them, she created Macro Greens™ . Astonishingly tasty when mixed with water or any non-citrus juice, Macro Greens™ is completely nutritious, builds health and cleanses the system. With Macro Greens™ , Sylvia’s son lost more than 65 lbs while lowering his body fat from 30 to 12 percent. Now he is a healthy young man with a new, positive self- image! With Macro Greens™ , Sylvia lost nearly 50 lbs. too. For these and other Miracle Reds® and Macro Greens™ success stories, click here.

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Great Benefits of Macro Greens:

Promotes Wellness

Boost Energy & Metabolism (I definitely need that!)

Strengthen Immune System

Detox and Cleanse Gently

Improve Digestion

Calm Food Cravings (another reason why I need this)

Lose Weight Naturally (Maybe this will help with those 10 lbs I want to lose!)

Stimulant-Free Energy

RAW SUPPLEMENT for all the raw foodists out there! I love eating mostly raw, so this was awesome news for me!

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Now the Miracle Reds Anti-oxidant Superfood Supplement was so yummy- I did add agave because I like my drinks with a sweet taste- this drink tasted alot like a fruit juice- I really loved it!

Great Benefits of Miracle Reds Food Supplement:

Super Anti-Aging Antioxidants (Definitely want this!)

Promotes Wellness

Boost Energy & Metabolism

Calms Food Cravings & Lose Weight naturally

Stimulant- Free & Gluten Free

Heart Healthy Plant Sterols and 1-3 Oat Beta Gluten

Strengthen Immune System

Fresh Berry Taste

Packed with Raw Food Power!

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Now, onto the Macro Greens & Miracle Reds Raw food Bars- first of all, I LOVE the fact that these are all raw also! I am really trying to stick to my all raw diet- usually about 85% raw- so this really fits into my diet! I absolutely loved all three bars and needless to say, I did NOT share these! lol My favorite had to be the Chocolate and Cinnamon Bar- yummy yum! All of the bars were gone within 5 days or less HA! The other great things about these bars besides being Raw, Vegan and yummy is that they are low glycemic, no wheat, gluten free, no preservatives, gmos, artificial colors, soy or corn. The Fresh Berri-Berri has 4 grams of fiber while the Chocolate & Cinnamon and Apple Lemon Ginger both have 6 grams of fiber- all of the bars are loaded with calcium and vitamin A.

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Honestly, I would buy all of Macro Life Naturals products in the future - I have NOTHING bad to say about any of their products-if you want to start getting that green drink and antioxidants and raw nutrients into your diet, I would definitely recommend these products! So, go check them out at http://www.macrolifenaturals.com/ .

Awesome Almonds- the title definitely FITS!

2009-05-03T09:53:00.000-04:00

So, remember my last post I had gotten my Awesome Almonds in the mail- I was so excited to try them! Becky and Austin happened to be over visiting for the weekend, so I thought it was the perfect time to break open the almonds and get everyone's feedback. So...we all tried one of each- I think everyone's favorite was the cinnamon vanilla, but personally I LOVED the cocoa java- yummy in my mouth! I can see how these would be totally addictive and dangerous for me to be around! I mixed all three varieties together and made Reggie up some snack bags- now that is quite a combination!

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Here's why they are so good... and good for you!

All natural ingredients: almonds, pure beet sugar, real vanilla extract, cinnamon, cocoa, coffee and orange juice. No partially hydrogenated oils. No trans fat. No artificial colors. Created by a board-certified family physician interested in nutrition for over 25 years. No added fats or artificial preservatives. Gluten-free: no wheat ingredients to aggravate celiac disease. Almonds offer protein, unsaturated fat, dietary fiber, vitamin E, magnesium, and calcium. Almonds are an awesome choice for people who want a heart healthy diet and maintain their weight. Kosher certified by KSA (Kosher Supervision of America) Certified vegan- no animal products are used. No dairy, no eggs.

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I would definitely buy these again-they would be great for on the road or hiking, before workng out or just for a pick me up snack! So, go to http://www.awesomealmonds.com/ to get yours!

Part 3 of my sister's visit- All Dolled up and no place to Go!

2009-05-02T21:51:00.000-04:00

A kiss for my sister for being the best sister ever!!! And we really didn't need to go any place- me and Becky can always make our own fun ANYWHERE- it's not about where you are or what you have, but what you do to make life fun! (I just made that up, does that even make sense? lol) We didn't even have to leave the house to have fun- although we did go walking- not sure that counts.

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So, me and Becky decided that we'd try out the lashes I got from Madame Madeline - we were SO excited to get all glammed up! I helped her put hers on and she did mine for me- remember guys, we are ameteurs, so be nice lol. We both tried the Ardell lashes- they were so glam and just what we wanted to be today! Isn't my sister just Gorgeous!! (you can check out her blog at http://mycrazylife-becky.blogspot.com/ ) They were really easy to apply and looked awesome on as you can tell by the pics! I would recommend these for going out on the town, events, parties- I can't wait to try out the others! If you are curious then check out http://www.madamemadeline.com/. They have some SERIOUS lashes- I have never seen so many different styles of lashes in my life! An added bonus is the low prices- they also have more natural lashes, human hair lashes, anything you could ask for!

Part 2 of my sister's visit!

2009-05-02T20:45:00.000-04:00

Reggie picked me up some organic spring mix, organic carrots, 1 pineapple, bunch bananas and bag of avocados and my sister pretty much the same too minus th avocados. We are going to set up a healthy eating plan/exercise and set a goal to lose 10 lbs! Summer time is right around the corner and here in South Georgia it's already hot enough to tan!

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Things I did today:

Power walked with my sister for 1 hour together (later I walked for 1 hour) while Austin skatedCleaned/organized the fridge thanks to my awesome sister!

Worked on Blog stuff

Glam makeovers & took loads of pics- more on that later...

Had french press coffee and 1 fig newton

fresh French Green Beans for lunch, big organic salad for dinner

Got my awesome almonds in the mail!

Fed the squirrels corn (found it in the fridge-unedible)

Talked to some nice neighbors when we stopped at a yardsale while out walking- tried out a brand new exercise bike they were selling

Did dishes

Did 1 load of laundry

Emptied the trash

Made organic paw raw burgers for the pooches

Watered the garden & flowers

FINALLY used my apple corer- I LOVE it!!

Juiced about 10 apples

Tried out my new macrogreens super food drink along with my sister and hubby

Weighed- yay it's going down!!

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Things I am looking forward to tonight:

Watching Marley & Me (We didn't have enough time to watch it)

spending time with the hubby

Getting some zzz's- not 3 a.m tonight!

How my Friday Night went down!

2009-05-02T19:13:00.000-04:00

We had TOO much fun Friday night- we ordered pizza & an order of crazy bread (I didn't eat any, it was SO hard to turn it down though!), rented 2 movies (Marley and Me & Yes Man) Yes Man was HILARIOUS- loved it! We ate and then hopped in the jacuzzi (Reggie's parents have the cadillac of Jacuzzis - it was as Austin would say AWESOME!! Next we watched Yes Man, it was so funny- we didn't get to bed until around 3 a.m!!

Bored at work = this random post :)

2009-05-01T15:41:00.000-04:00

Things I did today:

Dressed super casual for work mostly because the 'rents were gone yeah!!

Stopped @ a yardsale on the way back from lunch- found a Twister game for 1 buck!

Had a pistachio Larabar for a snack

Had Newman's organic french roast coffee for lunch, later had 3 small bananas w/organic french vanilla yogurt

Talked to my sis for about an hour on the phone while at work = naughty HA + I emailed her all day too lol- very slow day

Ran out of minutes on my phone- have to buy some more

Plucked my eyebrows at work, I was bored

Cleaned off Dad's desk a little

Washed the office dishes

Washed the dishes (@home) on my lunch break

Fed the pooches

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Things I am excited for:

Getting off of work today!!!

My sister, Becky coming up to visit!!

Some packages I am waiting on to arrive!

Watching some t.v or a movie tonight

Going power walking today!

Trying out the false eyelashes that I got in the mail this weekend

Having some (more) organic coffee this afternoon with my sister

Trying out my MacroGreens in a smoothie or some juice

TGIF!!!! :)

2009-05-01T09:44:00.000-04:00

Hey guys, I know everyone is super excited that it's FRIDAY!! Whoop whoop!! Even though I have loads of cleaning to do as soon as I get home this afternoon. My sister, Becky and her son Austin is coming up- she called me and she may even be coming up TONIGHT!! I was thinking if she comes up tonight we can do the hot tub, watch a movie, eat some grub. Btw, check out the first picture in this post- we have a extra Lazy squirrel at our office- he is laying down while he eats!! lol Reggie showed me and I thought it was so funny!

Things I did yesterday:

Power walked 1.5 hours

Planted 10 rows of organic okra

Watered the garden & flowers

Cooked spaghetti for Reggie- dinner

Gave my blog a facelift

Worked at the office for 5 hours

Ate: 1 raw bar, 1 organic apple, handful of raw pepitas, 2 cups organic coffee, 1/2 glass organic 2% milk & some organic chocolate chip Newmans own cookies

Check out Cupoladua Oven's post about me!!

2009-04-30T11:53:00.001-04:00

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Product Review- Melinda's Fab Life!

Looks like we're on a blogging roll this week. Melinda, from Melinda's Fab Life posted a review of our Cupola Cookies and Cupola Clouds today. Her favorites were our Smoked Gouda Cupola Clouds. You can check out Melinda's review here.We've been really happy about receiving interest from many foodie bloggers about our products. Since our products are available only at a limited number of retail locations (mostly on the East Coast), it's been great to be able to share our products with curious folks in other parts of the country too!

Posted by Stephanie from Cupoladua Oven at Thursday, April 30, 2009 0 comments Links to this post

Cupola Cookies and Clouds- melt in your mouth goodness! :)

2009-04-30T09:39:00.000-04:00

Recipe for one unique, creative and fun baked goods company (from www.cupoladuaoven.com )

ingredients:

1 mother

1 daughter

2 parts passion for baking

2 "really healthy" appetites

lots of edible ideas and the determination to share them with others

it all started in a kitchen much like yours. for years, we have been making our goodies for neighbors, co-workers and friends. barbecues, potlucks and other get togethers were great opportunities to try a new recipe or improve an existing one. we found it was always better if we baked for others, otherwise we ended up eating all the fruits of our labor ourselves. that led us to the idea of healthy baked goods- unique sweet and savory items that everyone can enjoy because they’re yummy and you know they’re healthy.

I was so excited to try out the Cupola Cookies and Cupola Clouds that Stephanie sent me from Cupoladua Oven! These are all natural, oven baked goodies-and also gluten free! Another awesome fact about Cupoladua Oven is that they work with Share Our Strength, an organization committed to making sure that no kid in America goes hungry- how sweet is that! It's great knowing that when you purchase these products that you are helping feed hungry children :)

So, onto my favorite part- the tasting! I made myself a yummy cup of coffee and placed the chocolate cashew cookie, espresso walnut, chai pistachio cookies and the smoked gouda clouds on a plate. Then it was tasting time...first, I tried the chocolate cashew cookie, VERY yummy with coffee mmmm..I also loved the espresso walnut and the chai pistachio- it had a similiar taste to chai tea, I loved the flavor of it combined with the coffee. Lastly, I tried the smoked gouda- I have to say this one was my favorite- really really yummy! It had an awesome taste- cheesy, smokey- later I let the hubby try them and, well he ate the WHOLE bag!! He said they melt in your mouth, apparentally!! lol Another great thing about these goodies are that they are so adorable set out- I am thinking these would be PERFECT for tea parties, spa day- I am so telling my Mom in law about these- we do lots of tea parties (it's another southern thing! lol) Oh, and I forgot to mention how LOW in calories both the cookies and clouds are- the cookies are only 11 calories and the clouds are even lower at 4 calories each- they are also both a great source of protein. Cupola cookies and clouds definitely get a big thumbs up from me!

Vintage Finds!!

2009-04-29T13:18:00.001-04:00

I checked the mail the other day and found a package from Divine Foods- maker of Boomi Bars & Organic PranaBar- Jianda sent me 1 bar of each. She sent me the cashew almond flavor for the PranaBar and the macadamia paradise for the Boomi Bar. I loved both bars, but I would have to say I would probably lean more towards the organic Prana bar because of it being 77% raw and it had a great flavor! The boomi bar was really good and nutty, I ate some of it for breakfast and gave Reggie the other 3/4 - he loved the boomi bar! I would most likely buy the PranaBar for me and buy the boomi bars for Reggie- they both make a very filling snack! The Prana Bars are also gluten free for those with intolerance to gluten; vegan, and soy free and also NO added sugars! They also have a low glycemic index which is great for those trying to lose some lbs.- like me. They come in apricot goji, apricot pumpkin, cinnamon apple, cashew almond, pear ginseng, and coconut acai. Their website is www.pranabars.com .The Boomi Bars have no preservatives, no sulfured fruit or GMO's and also is gluten free. They are kosher and vegetarian. Check out www.boomibar.com to see all of the different flavors!

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I have to say, I've been really tired lately- entertaining company is not easy, especially at day 3 now- fortunately, Carla is moving on to visit with my other sister, Liz, so that will give me a break soon. In exactly 4 hours HA!! I am meeting Liz at 5:30 today and then when I get back home, I plan on going food shopping. I was doing great eating mostly raw, until I ran out of groceries and after yesterdays trip shopping, I did NOT want to take Carla anywhere shopping again. Just to update you- she tried to buy everything in the store basically- she has a good income, but she doesn't know how to manage her money, so I had to talk with her and get her to put some unnecessary items back- I don't mind doing that to teach her, but at that point, I just wanted a break to do some shopping and we had to leave early because of it, but I did have a good time shopping regardless. Carla did actually help me find a vintage suitcase and a vintage dress- I found the 3 pair of vintage shoes (some old lady must have cleaned her closet out = one happy girl= ME! I was so excited!! I saw another vintage pair (actually Carla spotted them) that were made in Florence, they were Salvatore Ferragamos and I almost passed out (SERIOUSLY!) and found out that they wouldn't FIT! I almost started crying, we're talking $4.00 vintage Designer shoes here people! Anywho, I didn't buy them at first, then I decided to go back and get them so I could sell them on Ebay (make a few extra $$). We shopped for a couple of hours- which was good enough since I had found so many great things.

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I felt like I cleaned house ALL day long! I did laundry, weeded the flower beds/garden- Carla watered the flowers for me. I also cleaned the floors, stripped the beds, gave both dogs a bath outside (the best idea ever-no more dirty tubs!)

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I just met my sister Liz to drop Carla off with her-we are back home and I am going to relax, have a cup of coffee and go food shopping.

Day 3 of eating RAW!

2009-04-28T07:33:00.000-04:00

Today is day 3 of eating 85% raw and I feel alot better already! This morning I weighed in and was happy to see that my weight is going down and not UP! I got some new goodies in yesterday that I am excited about reviewing but you'll have to wait and see! Anyhoo, I am hoping to get so much done today- I will update later :)

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Breakfast - 1 organic banana with 1 cup organic french vanilla yogurt, 1 cup organic coffee

Snack- Raw vegan bar, 1 glass vitamin drink

Lunch- Dr. Kracker pumpkin seed crackers (2) with organic provolone cheese 1.5 slices & 1.5 organic orange slices

Snack- 1 cup organic coffee

Dinner - 1 pumpkin seed Dr. Kracker with 1/2 slice organic provolone, 1 raw bar and organic cottage cheese with organic orange slices (1 orange total)

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So far today, I have done laundry, watered the garden/flowers, dishes, gave Carla a facial/mask and she took a long bath. We put on some good beats like Beyonce and exercised with our weights for about 25 minutes and worked up a good sweat (I actually did another 20 minutes of dancing and lifting weights)- we will try to do that again this aftenoon. I weighed Carla in and she says that she has lost weight - like 11 lbs! Apparentally, she hasn't weighed in a month or so, so she didn't realize that she had lost- so she is already on her way! Around 5'ish Reggie is going to take us shopping. I talked to my sister, Becky for a while and we had a good chat- I am going to be hanging out with her this weekend so I will have some FUN posts- so come back and check it out! Carla is taking a nap now, so I think I will try to catch some zzz's myself really quick!

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So, I did take a 30 minute nap, I would have slept longer, but apparentally Carla locked herself out by accident and was knocking on the back door and that woke me up. Later, I made her some chai tea w/whipped cream and cinnamon and organic popcorn for both of us and we watched Material Girls, an ultimate chick flick! She liked the chai tea so much that she had another, and reused the tea bag, which I've never done before, but it works! I did Carla's makeup and we got ready to go shopping- we had so much fun- I found so much vintage stuff! A dress, 3 pairs of shoes in awesome condition, a round carryall. Carla found some shirts, skirt and a dressy outfit and some shoes and a pretty picture for her house- I did have to work with her on managing her money and put some things back because she wanted to buy everything! Reggie picked us up and we went home and had dinner, watched the Biggest Loser (I did weights and exercised during).

Makeovers and a trip to the Laundrimat!

2009-04-27T08:49:00.000-04:00

BEFORE...dun dun dun

AFTER!!

Look at how much HAPPIER she looks!

My Day

Today is day 2 for me trying to eat mostly raw. I was so exhausted this morning, Reggie woke me up at 6:30 because my sister was supposed to be coming by, but it's 8:50 and still no sign of her- darn I could have slept in! I have loads of things planned for today- Plant Garden seeds, weed flowerbeds/garden, Tan, go power walking and maybe watch a chick flick if I have time. Also, my sister is visiting this week, she usually stays with my Mom mostly but since my Mom is gone all of us girls and other family is helping to watch her- she has a chemical imbalance and needs someone to make sure she takes her meds and she also needs some motivating towards living a better, healthier life. She's had some issues with depression and not feeling good about herself. So we've all decided to step in and try to help her achieve her goals and get her excited about life- so I will be posting updates on how she is doing!

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Breakfast- French Vanilla Stonyfield yogurt with 2 organic bananas,1 cup organic coffee, 1 cup hot water with lemon and organic agave

Lunch- big organic green salad w/natural blue cheese, organic apricots (newmans own), organic tj walnuts w/organic balsamic vin.

Snack- 1 raw prana bar (chocolate and cinnamon)

Dinner - 1 raw prana bar- berri blast (more about these later!) & 1 raw prana bar- apple pie

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So, I didn't get half of the things done that I set out to do today- I did do some power walking, but mostly weights while my sister and I watched "My Fair Lady"- she's never seen it. Carla and I broke out the Tae Bo videos that my sister got for my birthday and we did about 10 minutes of it- I didn't want to overexert her, so we decided to take it slow. I did get loads of cleaning done though! I mopped the floors- my sister mopped a couple of rooms for me, I cleaned the front door/glass door, cleaned off the front porch and walkway and watered the flowers, dishes, and gave Roscoe another bath. My brother in law dropped Carla off, he came in and wanted to look at the remodeling we had done, so I gave him a glass of sweet tea (it's a southern thing ya'll) showed him around the house and we chatted some. He left and I gave my sister a makeover- more on that later. I sat down and went over her goals (decorate house, get a car, lose weight, go to Technical school, get a job, get married), daily routine, healthy eating plan and a monthly budget - it seemed to really help her and she wrote it all down in the journal so she can remember. We talked about her taking responsibility for her life and becoming independent and I told her if she worked hard at keeping her house clean/organized and work on her goals that Reggie and I would give her the Mazda for her to fix up like she wants. She was really excited and seems to want to start doing better- so we will keep praying for the best! She has been really great here and I am looking forward to her coming up and visiting more often!

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Reggie brought me home some things - french green beans and some philly cheese steak sandwiches from the office. For dinner I made brocolli & chicken stir-fry for Reggie & Carla- which they both really enjoyed. Around 9:00 we went to the laundrimat to wash a blanket and got home around 10:30- we were exhausted and ready to hit the bed!

Peeled snacks are my new friends!

2009-04-27T08:22:00.001-04:00

I've been seeing these Peeled snacks every where! Apparentally, they are on Oprah's O List, Rachel Ray, Liv Tyler- they all eat them and now I see why, they are yummy AND healthy! Christina from Peeled Snacks sent me a yummy selection to try for myself! I Loved all of the peeled snacks but my favorites would have to be the Pine-4- Pineapple and Apricot-a-Lot. The hubby liked the Go- Mango- man go, which is very name appropriate lol. These are perfect for road trips or plane rides- I will definitely take these with me next time we go biking and want

something to snack on! Plus there is no added sugar or fat which I do not need, thank you very

much! If you go to http://www.peeledsnacks.com/ and fill out their survey they are GIVING out $10 gift cards to use towards your next order!! I totally just went and got mine!!

Update!

2009-04-26T17:15:00.000-04:00

Guess what, my little darlings!! I am so excited because of the AMAZING progress on the hardiplank siding!! Reggie and Demetrius are getting a ridiculous amount of work done- it looks so good- later I will sneak out and get a picture for you to see!

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And another blessing, I talked to my sister, Shelly and some things she said and the way she said them really hurt my feelings and after I got off of the phone with her, I just started crying, I was so upset that I didn't even feel like eating or doing anything. I kept feeling something urge me to call her, but I really really didn't want to- I was so afraid that she would shoot down my feelings and say I was being overly dramatic. So after about an hour, I got up the courage to call her and tell her how I felt and how I was sad because we have been so distant for the past few years and how I missed how she used to do my hair and makeup like the perfect big sister (of course I cried halfway throught the conversation). She agreed that she felt left out sometimes with me and my other sister hanging out and I told her that I always wanted her to be a part of whatever we were doing-pj parties, shopping, spa days- but she had always turned me down and that I loved her just as much as my other sister, Becky. She said she would work on it and she wanted to start hanging out again- we had such a great talk and I felt such a weight lifted off of me! I imagine she felt better too, we just need to start letting out our feelings more and talk about things! Anyway, that was my second blessing for the day!!

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And I had a third blessing today! Lewis from LaraBar contacted me and offered to make me Fan of the Day so I'm super excited!! I LOVE Larabars! They are really a life saver when I am trying to eat all raw and I want something sweet!

________________________________

I'm also leaning towards going back to eating more raw- my weight is going up, up, up! Raw is the only thing that has allowed me to eat and still lose weight/maintain.

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Breakfast- 1 cup organic coffee, 2 organic bananas, 1 apple, organic tahini, organic madhava agave. 1 organic dried apple ring (Peeled Snacks)

Lunch- Big green organic salad with organic raisins, organic walnuts, amish blue cheese- no hormones or pesticides w/organic balsamic vin. dressing

Snack- 1 cup organic coffee

Dinner- same salad I had for lunch

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Well, I am going to do some more house cleaning- my sister, Carla is coming over tomorrow to visit through Wednesday so I want the house clean. I've already done laundry, washed the sheets, gave Lexi a bath and Roscoe 2 baths (he rolled in the dirt again) completed 1 product review in between, and dishes- I still have loads left to do and I also need to go power walking! Talk to you all soon!

P.S. I am using the lines to seperate my paragraphs- if anyone knows how to make everything not jumble together- please let me know! :-)

I love Ecos cleaning products! And an excuse to clean my house!

2009-04-26T14:40:00.001-04:00

From the website:

OUR PLEDGE We pledge that our products are environmentally responsible, work well and provide value. We will never test on animals or use animal ingredients. We will conduct business in a socially responsible manner that safeguards the earth.

OUR COMPANY In 1993, John E. Vlahakis founded Earth Friendly Products with a simple mission: To provide high quality cleaning products that: Are absolutely safe for your family, your pets and the environment. Are made with replenishable ingredients. Compete in performance, price and convenience.

Liz from Earth Friendly Products was so sweet and sent me a huge package of their different cleaners- I was so excited to use them! Since I stay at my computer desk so much (eating, drinking, doing reviews), between my hubby and I, we can mess it up pretty quickly, so it was pretty streaky and spotty looking before I used the Window Kleener on it. I was really curious how well it would clean our glass desk- it looked like night and day when I was finished! You can actually see the reflection of the computer monitor in the picture above- wow! I really like this window kleener, I also used it on all of my mirrors and there were no streaks, which by the way drive me insane! The ingredients included purified water, vinegar, ethanol derived from corn, and coconut based surfactant. I will be using this again today, because we've already messed up the desk again haha.

So, I also had dishes to do, so I whipped out the Natural Almond Dishmate- the first thing I notice was the smell- it smelled so fresh! It didn't take as much liquid to suds like my regular dish detergent (Costco's Kirkland brand)- I really liked that!

I absolutely loved the Laundry detergent in Lavendar scent- it smelled so clean and fresh! I love knowing that it has no chemicals or anything to make my skin break out- yay! The ingredients included coconut kernel oil-based surfactant, soap bark, chamomile, horsetail plant, lavender, rosemary, soy fabric softener, organic essential oil of lavender, purified water. Some other scents they carry are Magnolia and Lilies and Lemongrass- those sound like they would smell great! Along with a Free and clear and delicates liquid detergents.

My Mom in law gave me a big bag of non-organic apples and oranges the other day. I'm really weird about specifically eating ONLY organic foods- I hate even thinking about putting pesticides in my body. So, I was really excited about trying the Fruit and Vegetable Wash- I wanted some apple diced in my salad so I used the wash on the apple and scrubbed it and then washed it off with warm water. I loved the smell of the spray- it had really clean smell to it. The only things in the ingredient list are water, surfactant (plant derived) and citric acid. I will definitely be using this- especially since my Mom in law loves bringing me back things from the Farmers Market or grocery store and it's typically non organic- this will definitely come in handy!

I used the Orange Plus Cleaner ALOT! I cleaned the kitchen sink, bathroom sinks, kitchen counters, stovetop with this- it has a wonderful orange scent- my whole house smelled like oranges when I finished! I gave Roscoe a bath after rolling in the dirt and the bath tub was really gross and dirty and the Orange Plus took the grime right off! Reggie noticed- quote "Wow, did you clean the tub? lol The ingredients included Water, Pressed orange il and biodegradable surfactants (plant derived). I LOVE this stuff!

I will definitely be using all of these cleaners, once I run out I will have to restock! Definitely check out www.ecos.com their product selection is unbelievable! I didn't realize that they also have air freshners, bath tissue, toilet cleaner, stain and odor remover, even silver polish and furniture polish- the list goes on and on! Thanks again Earth Friendly Products!!

Doctor Kracker MADNESS!!

2009-04-25T17:39:00.000-04:00

From the Website: Inspired by the delicious traditional flatbreads of Germany, Dr. Kracker crackers are made with a blend of nature's best organic whole grains and seeds, then yeast-raised and artisan-baked to perfect crispness. Our Flatbreads and Snacker Krackers are 100% percent natural, and USDA certified organic. Because we make our crackers with organically grown cereal grains, whole, mineral-rich bran, and organic seeds, aside from being stupendously delicious, they're also an excellent source of fiber, protein, Omega-3 essential fatty acids, vitamins and iron.

Eaten alone or as a complement to your favorite cheeses, spreads, nut butters, and fresh vegetables and fruits, every Dr. Kracker cracker bursts with texture, character, and gusto! In five stupendous flavors: Klassic 3 Seed Pumpkin Cheddar Seeded Spelt Seedlander Sunflower Cheddar

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The nice folks over at Dr. Kracker sent me an ridiculous Selection of their crackers- what a lucky girl I am!! The first cracker that I had to try was the pumpkin cheddar- it just sounded like it would taste cheesy, so I made up some guacamole since I had zero hummus and dipped my cracker in- it was yummy and cheesy and crunchy and I loved the seeds in the cracker!

Fire Roasted Crisps- These did not last LONG!! Yummy, Yum Yum for my tummy! I threw these in my bag on the way to my Moms house because I could tell by the name that these krackers would taste just fine on their own and boy was I right! These are my favorite so far! Reggie loves all things hot and these did not dissapoint, I believe his exact words were, "These will make you slap your momma away from the table", a southern expression, which I do not use, but hey, I totally understood what he meant hehe. We also finished these off later with some Organic Tribe Hummus (Roasted Red pepper flavor)- wow, those two really compliment each other!

Maximus Hummus - After we finished off the last of the Fire roasted crisps, since we WERE having hummus, naturally these are the next ones that I chose to open. They had such a good flavor, they went really well with the hummus. I like to eat these on their own also. So far, I haven't met one Dr. Kracker that I didn't like. I'm definitely hooked now- plus they can be found at different places like Publix, Fresh Market, Whole Foods, Earth Fare and of course online at www.drkracker.com. These would be great for road trips, which we are well known for- I will definitely be bringing these on my next trip! Thanks again Dr. Kracker!!

Tea Parties and little girls

2009-04-25T16:59:00.000-04:00

So, Uncle Bobby and Dad came and picked me up for the Tea party today- Uncle Bobby was yelling at me from outside to hurry up lol (yes I am one of those type girls). I was trying to get Reggie to zip me up but he was working on the hardiplank with Demetrius and couldn't get it zipped, so I figured that I could find some one to help me! Once we got there, Dad and Uncle Bobby tried to no avail, then finally Judy came over and between the 3 of them they got me zipped up- it was SO funny! I wish I could have taped it- me standing in the carport, them pulling and pushing on me- especially 2 grown men at at Tea Party HILARIOUS! Anyway, so once I was zipped up properly, I joined the girls for the party- it was such a pretty setup- My Mom in law, June (Uncle Bobby's ex), Elaine (friend), Rebecca and Melody were all there- we had our own table. They had plenty of healthy food for me to choose from- cucumber sammies, strawberries, fruit salads, pineapple- it was a better selection than the previous years. I had a great time- and I got a FREE chocolate cake-they had a silent auction (all proceeds went to the Missions for the poor people in the Phillipines) and someone gave away a cake that they had already paid for- I knew Reggie and Demetrius would enjoy it. Next year, they are having a black and white theme- you know I will BE there!! I am so getting me an Audrey Hat to wear for that!

What the heck is with the blogger paragraph spacing?? This is a test..

2009-04-23T10:50:00.000-04:00

This is a test to see if I can get this blogger paragraph spacing thingie fixed- I hate that my posts look all jumbled and sloppy especially when I am trying to do product reviews.

So, this morning I weighed and even with all of the extra carbs I have been eating I haven't gained any but I haven't lost either. I am still working on adding more raw foods into my diet, although yesterday I did terrible, I drank way too much coffee (organic) and didn't eat enough raw or enough H20.

Anywho, we are going to my Moms this afternoon, all of the family will be there to send my Mom off for her California trip. I am going to make a pineapple/grape salad for the dinner. My Mom loved the goodie bag that I made for her- at least she won't have to worry about eating unhealthy airport food.

Okay, so let's see if this thing spaces the paragraphs correctly...I need to be wearing that tshirt right now lol

Yummy- Erin Bakers Cookies & Granola!

2009-04-23T08:14:00.000-04:00

Founded in 1994 by Erin Baker, Erin Baker's Wholesome Baked Goods continues to thrive as a

woman owned and operated business located in Bellingham, Washington. At Erin Baker's we are passionate about baking the healthy way. By using only the freshest wholesome ingredients we are able to create all natural products of exceptional quality. Everything we make is baked to order ensuring homemade freshness and great taste, perfect for life on the go. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, what better way to begin your day than with Erin Baker’s? Products include the Original Breakfast Cookie, Homestyle Granola, Ultra Protein Granola, Organic Brownie Bites, and Organic Breakfast Cookie Minis. Erin Baker’s family of products can be found in stores throughout the US or by ordering direct.

Lookie what I have!! I was so excited to try out Erin Baker's products- Erica sent me some yummy samples to try out! Of course, being the chocolate lover that I am, I HAD to try out the Double Chocolate Chunk Breakfast Cookie-my first thought is this cookie is so big I could share it with someone or save the other half for later. I really liked the taste of this cookie, very chewy and definitely filling! Some ingredients included are: whole grain oats, prune puree, brown rice syrup, chicory extract, molasses, cinnamon, chocolate chunks- it does include egg whites- so this is not a vegan friendly cookie for the vegans out there. I tried a little bite of the oatmeal raisin next and I really liked this cookie, I love that this is a healthier verson of the regular oatmeal raisin cookies that I always liked as a kid- these are really yummy! These breakfast cookies are all natural, no trans fat and no cholesterol AND they have 4-6 grams of Fiber per cookie depending on which flavor you try. With the granola, I chose to mix both packs of the Fruit & Nut and the Peanut Butter- but I could definitely tell that the peanut butter flavor was dominant- it was really yummy. The hubby would have liked this one for sure. The peanut butter granola was my favorite. Erin Baker's Granolas are made with organic whole grains, baked fresh in their own kitchen and sweetened with organic honey- for 1.5 oz- the fiber content ranged from 3-4 grams on these two flavors. Check out http://www.bbcookies.com/ to check it out for yourself!

My Way Cereal Review coming soon!!

2009-04-23T08:08:00.000-04:00

From the Website:

MyWayCereal.com is environmentally and socially responsible. It is in our mission to help our community while prospering in business. We have elected to donate a portion of all of our proceeds to benefit Hands On Miami, a non-profit organization dedicated to making Miami a better place to live, work, and play.

Sami, from My Way Cereal, sent my custom organic mix, it only took a couple of days for me to receive it, talk about fast shipping! I named mine "Melinda's Sassy Mix". I chose Organic multigrain harvest as my base, then added dates, raisins, almonds, dried bananas, coconut- yum! When I opened the package, I was surprised at how big the cylinder is, it was almost 1/2 size more bigger than Mix My Granola! I loved the taste of all of the fruits and cereal and it was very filling! I loved the fact that everything was all organic- that is always very important to me. They also have an extra option where you can add indulgences to your cereal like choco-cherries, choco-gojis, choco-macadamias, and even gummy bears! I have to say for the price I'd probably chooose My Way Cereal over Mix my Granola because I got more for the $$ and the fact that all of the ingredients are organic is an added bonus too! So, for all of you granola lovers, you should definitely check out their website http://mywaycereal.com/

HELP is on the Way!!! Yeah!

2009-04-22T23:11:00.000-04:00

Thanks to my inlaws for finding someone to help us this weeked installing hardi-plank siding, an answer to my prayers!!! I was at Mom's house cleaning (AGAIN- 3rd time this month!) I've been a little stressed about us doing it on our own- it's such a BIG job especially since we've never installed hardi plank before! So, this guy, Demetrius is coming this Saturday and Sunday to help Reggie, so hopefully our house will start looking like the above picture soon!! (minus the rocking chair and fake flowers HA) Anywho, I am super duper excited!! I am going to bed now, I hope I can sleep!

P.B Loco Earth Day, get a free jar!!

2009-04-22T15:48:00.001-04:00

Personally, I haven't ever tried P.B. Loco but I've seen it alot on other people's blogs- so I thought I'd post this special they are having for Earth Day, buy 3 get 1 FREE jar!

Order 3 jars of any flavors and receive a FREE jar of P.B.Loco's Classic Creamy, featuring our original formulation. Here's how: 1. Add 3 or more jars of PB at http://www.pbloco.com/. Click here to visit our online store. 2. Enter the coupon code EARTH. 3. Click on Recalculate to ensure that your free jar of Classic Creamy has been added to your order. Offer expires May 11, 2009.

Tuesday continued..

2009-04-22T09:19:00.000-04:00

Went to the viewing- I have a huge family, so it's always like a family reunion, meeting new people I've never met, new cousins. My sister invited some of them to our family reunion this Sunday- I have to go food shopping so I can cook something. After the viewing, the kids wanted to ride with Reggie and I, so we headed to my Mom's where we all proceeded to hang out until 11:30 a.m- we had an hour drive back home which is always hard. We had a great time with everyone, being silly and laughing alot- it's great seeing my family so much happier since all of the drama is now gone- I am so happy and thankful to GOD for everything! I love peacefullness and happiness and I don't like people who purposely try to break a family apart (it's a long story, believe me). Anywho, I didn't get to walk yesterday because I thought I had more time than I did! I was not happy about it either- I look forward to my daily exercise!

Monday & Tuesdays post combined!

2009-04-21T14:09:00.000-04:00

Things I did yesterday:

- Drank 8 glasses filtered H20

- Ate more raw (extra green salad)

- Hot bath w/epsom salts, lush bath bomb, EO bubble bath

- Gave Roscoe another bath

- Received more new products to review- coming soon!

-Power walked for 1.5 hours while talking to my Mom and friend Lisa and also prayed about our house while walking (biggest trial of my ENTIRE life! I have learned so much patience)

- Devoured the remaining Ginger O's - those things are SERIOUSLY addictive!!

- Watched Survivor with Reggie

- Recorded all of my fave shows on the Replay (it's just like Tivo pretty much)

- Blog hopped, finding new fun blogs to follow!

Things I did today (Tuesday):

- Gave myself a lemon peel

- Power walked 2 hours

- Washed and put up laundry

- Dishes

- Made my Mom a bag of goodies for her plane trip

- Fed the squirrels - Gave myself a pedicure

- Did White Brite on my teeth

- Cleaned off the computer desk

- Paid Discover Card and Land payments

- Sent a funny ecard to my sissies from Hallmark- java junkie rabbits haha

- Sent a sorry ecard to Reggie from Hallmark- got upset about the house, said things I shouldn't- I apologized :( So stressful, can't wait to finish this house!!

Still working on eating more raw, I need to lose about 8-10 more lbs! I am going to a viewing today- third cousin, he and my Dad were close friends- I'm not sure if I remember him.

Reggie parents took him to Cracker Barrell yesterday then went and bought him a new cell phone for work- so now he doesn't have to buy any more minutes for his track phone yay! And I can call him all I want without it charging HA!

Moving to WordPress- HELP!

2009-04-21T11:28:00.000-04:00

I want to move from Blogger to Word Press- does anyone have any experience with this? It just seems sooo complicated! Help!

oops, I left off one goal...

2009-04-20T15:16:00.001-04:00

To look as gorgeous as Cheryl Cole, SERIOUSLY, she is the most beautiful person I have EVER seen!! I just need to get some false eyelashes, hair extensions, oh well, a girl can dream right??

Madhava Agave Nectar = yumminess!

2009-04-20T14:59:00.001-04:00

(From the website)

The raw agave juice is regularly harvested from living plants by Indian peoples native to central Mexico. To do so, they must slice off the top of the plant and hollow out its core. Then the plant is capped with a stone. The pineapple shaped agave plant secretes its nectar into the center of the plant, rather than into flowers like most plants do. It collects in the hollow center for several days, after which the milky white "juice" is removed by ladle, one plant at a time. In a way it is similar to tapping a tree for maple syrup collection.

Limiting glucose consumption is a contemporary concern for many people. The introduction of this new sweetener is timely as it has a relatively low glycemic index due to its higher proportion of fructose and lower levels of glucose. This fact should prove attractive to those with special diet considerations or who monitor glucose intake.

This pure, unrefined sweetener is a great-tasting, economical alternative to all other sweeteners, granular or liquid, perfect for all around use. It has approx 1.4 x the sweetening power of white sugar. And, Agave Nectar's mild flavor doesn't vary widely which will lend a real consistency to recipes.

Briana from Madhava Agave sent me a nice package with 2 different kinds of their Agave to try out- yay for me! It was so easy for me to find things to add agave to, I put it on my fruit salad, in smoothies, I even mixed it in the balsamic vinegrette salad dressing and it just made the salad taste so much yummier! I love this agave- both the dark and light were great! I haven't tried yet, but I imagine this would be great to sweeten coffee and teas with also. Another great thing about Madhava Agave nectars, is that it is both organic AND kosher. I will definitely buy this agave in the future- I give it a thumbs up for sure!

Zoes Granola/Bars Review!

2009-04-20T14:34:00.001-04:00

Kim from Zoe Foods, sent me a generous package with various selections of granolas and zoe bars to try out- of course I was so excited, that the first bars I tried were..can you guess?? Of course, I tried the chocolate delight bar and a bite of the chocolate peanut butter crunch because I had to share with Reggie since he loves all things peanut butter! I loved both of them- I could definitely eat these before working out to give me energy- Reggie loved the peanut butter bar! I also shared the peanut butter paradise with Reggie- he liked it also- I liked the heavenly apple bar- it reminded me of eating apple pie, it would be great with coffee! I saved the granola for breakfast- I loved the combination of the granola with my fruit salad - very yummy combination! I would have to say after trying all three granolas that the Cinnamon Raisin was my favorite, then the Cranberries and currants, and last but definitely not least would be the Honey Almond- these were such yummy granolas and so filling too! They are very nutritious and all natural to boot! High in fiber ,protein, low in sodium and full of omega 3's- who knew that Zoes granola and bars are also Weight Watchers friendly- that is another added bonus! And another bonus, as if that isn't enough- is that they can be found at some Sam's clubs, http://www.amazon.com/, and also http://www.zoefoods.com/. I give them a thumbs up and I will definitely be purchasing in the near future!

Goals for taking better care of me!

2009-04-20T12:25:00.000-04:00

Okay, so if you read my last post, you saw that I have not been eating the best or treating myself so well- instead of a green salad I had organic cookies and organic milk for dinner (I realize that the fact that it is organic does not make it the healthiest choice- sometimes I fool myself into believing that). So here are some things I am going to start doing to be healthier inside and out!

- Drink Less coffee!!

- Drink more H20

- Eat 85% or more raw per day like I used to

- Go to bed earlier/take naps during the day

- Listen to more sermons/go to church regularly

- Accomplish more things at home - i.e. paint dr, kiltz trim, organize (help towards finishing house remodel so we can sell!!)

- Work from home- less stress (any ideas??)

- Do aerobic dvd in addition to power walking

- Have a spa day once per week- massage, facials, pedi/mani, teeth whitener, etc.

- Lose the last 10 lbs!!

- Sell Pump and scales for Dad on ebay and make $$$

So, starting today, I am going to do better!!

The weekend

2009-04-20T11:50:00.000-04:00

Saturday was busy, busy!! I did get my 2 hour power walk in- the girls called during (or rather,they put Andrew up to it) asking me to come over to hang out, but I was so tired and had planned on resting after my walking, so I had to decline. Mac and Reggie were able to get the most difficult sections done on the siding so that was a HUGE help to Reggie. I sent Mac home with 1/2 of a pineapple, because I know it is his fave! Anyway, things couldn't have gone smoother, so I was a happy girl! Sunday- I didn't do much, did alot of blog hopping, checking out new blogs to follow- if anyone is reading this, PLEASE become a FOLLOWER of my blog- I am only 3 weeks or so into this new blog, so I need some new peeps! I promise my life does get more interesting, especially once we get this house remodel done- we want to get back to traveling, going biking, working out together, maybe even get an airstream after we sell the house- I am SO ready for all of that!! I did do an hour or more of power walking and weights. I didn't eat well though (see below) Brekkie- zoes cereal w/1% organic milk, banana and apple fruit salad, organic coffee lunch- 1 avocado w/lime juice, salt w/multigrain, flax crackers, 1/2 container Naked Green Machine drink Snack- 1 glass You shake- chocolate flavored w/3 orange slices (that Reggie didn't eat)

Snack- 1/2 glass 1% organic milk w/6 Ginger O's (organic) Dinner- Ginger O's with 1/2 glass 1% organic milk (I think I ate about 10 of them argghh!!) Not a very healthy dinner - I had planned on a nice green salad with fruit but was too tired to make

Snack- 1 organic Newmans own dried apricot and dried apple ring Also, I called my Mom while I was walking and she sounded sad about not getting to see me before her flight to Cali, so I told her I would come down to visit with her on Thursday- I also have a goodie bag for her to bring with her on the plane, she will be excited! Monday- Well, I slept in until 11:00- woke up made my organic coffee and had brekkie. Now sitting here updating my blog. I have some reviews to do today, some garden seeds to plant, exercise and tearing off some siding and take a much needed bath later. So I guess I will get to it then! Brekkie- cranberries currants Zoe's cereal w/1% organic milk, fruit salad w/organic apples, organic banana and organic agave, organic tahini mixed, 1 cup organic coffee

Can't keep up!!

2009-04-18T14:31:00.000-04:00

My life is so busy that I can't even keep up!! Just a quick update about what is going on in my life- this morning my brother, Mac is here to help Reggie put up the hardi-board siding on the house. I've been busy as a bee helping my sister set up her new blog

( http://mycrazylife-Becky.blogspot.com/ - Please go check out her blog!) cleaning the house, washing the dog (he rolled in the dirt AGAIN!) doing laundry, mopping the floors, making the bed, dishes, cooking for them, and doing some product reviews. I plan on doing 2-3 hours of power walking and weights today and some more cleaning. The kids also came down from South Carolina and we went to the aquarium and to Turtle Park so I was over there for almost 2 days on top of being sick all last week, but I got paid for it so I'm not complaining! Hopefully, we can relax some and watch a movie tonight. I'm still weighing the same but hopefully this plateau will break soon- I've been eating really healthy and sticking to my exercise so I know it will pay off soon!! I also was able to try 2 more products from Newman's own and I loved both the raisins and cranberries-so yummy on fruit salad or a green salad! I am definitely now hooked on all of their products so far! I also need to get back to journalling what I eat but it's been so hectic lately, but I will post what I've eaten so far today.

Brekkie - Too much organic coffee, tiny bowl Zoes Cinnamon Raisin Cereal (Review coming soon)w/1% organic milk

Lunch - 1 organic banana, 1/2 organic apple w/organic tahini & organic agave nectar from Suzanne Specialties, organic newmans own raisins

Snack- 1 glass You shake- chocolate flavor, added organic coffee, 1% organic milk, some frozen strawberries, agave nectar

Snack- another You Shake- strawberry flavor

Dinner- Organic green salad with almonds, blue cheese, organic cranberries, organic apples w/organic balsamic vinegrette

Dessert- 7 Newman's own Ginger O's with 1/2 mug 1% organic milk

Product Review for You Bars

2009-04-18T13:17:00.000-04:00

From the You Bar Website:

After years of being enthusiastic consumers of commercially available nutrition bars, L.A. mom Ava and her USC business student son Anthony got fed up with buying mass-produced bars that reflected generic tastes. Ava wanted bars that weren't too sweet with loads of protein to fuel her days teaching snowboarding and bellydancing. Anthony, a marathon-running athlete, needed high carbs and no milk products (he's allergic). The nutrition bar craze went wild at the beginning of the new millennium, but the number of commercial bars Anthony and Ava (that's us!) could eat actually decreased....So we took the bar by the horns and began making our own nutrition bars at home. It was as though we'd died and gone to heaven, except for the dishes we had to clean! We finally had nutrition bars with the exact ingredients that we wanted free from preservatives and corn syrup, freshly made and as delicious as Mom Ava's fluffy wholegrain pancakes. And they never got boring either: smooth, crunchy, chewy, sweet and savoury to suit any mood!We began making customized nutrition bars for the rest of our family and friends' the response was great. (Dad didn't even mind the messy kitchen!) We learned we weren't the only ones fed up with eating mass produced bars. Almost everyone we knew lit up at the possibility of creating bars tailored to their own tastes and dietary dreams. And so You Bar was born.We've been making our own nutrition bars for over two years and now you can too. Try creating your own nutrition bar it's fun, easy, fresh and most importantly tastes like you want it to with the nutritional content that you choose. You are what you eat (as Nana used to say), so choose!

So, finally my review of the You Bars and shakes- Joel from You Bar sent me samples of both the shakes and the bars. I have to say that my favorite shake was the strawberry- I added some frozen strawberries, organic 1% milk and some of Suzanne Specialties organic agave nectar- it tasted like a strawberry milkshake! I also really liked the vanilla shake, because then I could just add strawberries and sweetener and it also ended up tasting like a strawberry milkshake. The chocolate was my least favorite (I know surprising! lol) but I think it was because I was trying to make it like a cappucino and added some organic coffee, then I also added strawberries and it gave it a funny after taste- but it was still good, I will leave the coffee out next time! The great thing about the shakes is that I would make a batch and it would make about 2.5 glasses so I would save 1 glass for a breakfast smoothie, so it really ends up being 2 for 1, which is a great deal. I also liked that the smoothies gave me so much energy, I would have one in the afternoon before power walking so it replaced my coffee (which is great because I really need to cut back on the coffee and have something more nutritious like a shake). Also, it helped me cut back on dinner because I was full from the shake- believe me, I could use more of that! lol

Now, on to the bars- I liked all of the bars, but my favorite was the honey cashew, I had it for breakfast one morning along with my pink grapefruit and bananas mixed w/agave nectar. I also liked the other two bars- chewy but sweet, great for a pick me up in the middle of the day when I normally get snacky at work. What is also very alluring is the fact that young celebs like Anna McCord from 90210 like the You bars too- especially since they have to keep that hollywood figure- I also like knowing that I am eating something healthy and not just eating junk calories.

If you like You Bars or would like to try them out, go to www.youbars.com and type in the code "fabulous" to get 5% off of your You Bar order! You can build your own bar or build your own shake- so go on over and check it out!

Suzanne Specialties Review!

2009-04-18T09:52:00.000-04:00

For over 20 years, Suzanne's Specialties has been producing an ever-growing line of all natural, vegan, & organic sweeteners, desserts, and toppings. Our Rice Nectar brown rice syrup is available in a variety of delicious fruited and naturally-flavored blends. Suzanne's Ricemellow Creme is the first (and only) all natural, vegan marshmallow creme. We offer a full line of traditional sweeteners including Organic Wildflower Honey and Organic Agave Syrup. Suzanne's offers delicious organic & vegan alternatives to refined sweeteners and sugary desserts. Our unique products are made with only the finest all natural ingredients.

Carl, from Suzanne Specialties ( http://www.suzannes-specialties.com/ ) sent me a generous package of some of their products. They have all kinds of fruit nectars, honey and even a chocolate nectar (how in the heck did I miss that one?? lol) I was so excited to try them out, so I got out the chocolate icecream and added some ricemellow cream on top- it was yummy!! The hubby liked it too, he added some organic chocolate syrup to his. The ricemellow is completely vegan and the ingredients include: Brown rice syrup, soy protein, natural flavors, natural gums- so everything is all natural, just the way I like it!

Next, I tried the Organic Agave Nectar- the first time, I added some to my bananas and pink grapefruit and it gave it such a great taste and I really am not a grapefruit type person. Later, I tried some in a smoothie to sweeten it- I only had to add a little because it seems to be sweeter than sugar- I would definitely use this because it made the smoothie taste better!

I also tried the brown rice nectar on a different morning on my pink grapefruit and bananas again- it was pretty good, I think the next thing I will try the brown rice nectar in will be rice crispies, I will have to update on how those turn out! All in all, I really liked all of Suzanne Specialties products and the fact that they are available in so many different stores makes it really convenient. They can be found at Whole Foods, Earth Fare, Wegmans, Wild Oats, Shaws, Hannaford, and PCC Natural Markets and of course online. I am definitely a fan of the organic agave and my hubby eats loads of icecream so the ricemellow was his fave! I give them a thumbs up!

Turtle Park!

2009-04-17T20:55:00.000-04:00

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!!!

2009-04-17T20:44:00.000-04:00

Odwalla Review!!

2009-04-15T10:37:00.001-04:00

Sarah from Odwalla was kind enough to send me some coupons for their Odwalla juices, so while I was at Publix, I decided to get the superfood juice. If you look past the green color and taste it, it is so yummy! Even Reggie drank some of it and liked it!

Superfood Ingredients: Apple Juice, Peach, Mango, Strawberry and banana purees, spirulina, soy lecithin, vitamin c, wheat grass, barley grass, wheat sprouts, jerusalem artichokes, Lemon bioflavanoids and nova scotia dulse.

I didn't even taste half of those green ingredients- it tasted mostly like a fruity smoothie. I would definitely buy these- they would be great for breakfast when I need to grab something quick!

Gnu Bars Review!!

2009-04-15T10:33:00.001-04:00

Gnu Foods is a small company that makes all natural, great tasting foods that help address specific nutritional needs and health conditions. It was founded in 2004 with the introduction of our first product, the Gnu Bar, a high fiber bar that promotes regularity and heart health. The people at the Gnu Foods was so nice and sent me a nice selection of bars to review! I was so happy to get my gnu bars in! I had seen these in Glamour magazine but have never tried them- the first one I tried was the cinnamon raisin bar, I have to tell you, it was so good! I felt like I was eating an oatmeal raisin cookie. Of course, I loved the chocolate brownie- I love chocolate and this bar did not dissapoint! It was great with a cup of coffee- I felt like I was having dessert, but without the sinful calories! I only ate a small piece of the peanut butter bar because I wanted to share with Reggie and that is his favorite- he gave it a 2 thumbs up and he is really picky so that tells you how good they are! I also tried the banana walnut which reminded me of banana bread and orange cranberry bar which was good also. In order of most fave to least fave:

1.) Chocolate Brownie

2.) Peanut Butter

3.) Oatmeal Raisin

4.) Banana Walnut

5.) Orange Cranberry

Check out the bars at http://www.gnufoods.com/

These bars are high in fiber - 12 grams fiber per bar! That is 50% of the daily value!

Vegan- no dairy/whey

Gnu Bars promote natural regularity and digestive health, gently and effectively Fiber helps lower cholesterol which is good for your heart Fiber absorbs and helps eliminate toxins from your body Fiber-rich foods aid in weight loss by making you feel fuller longer Only 130 - 140 Calories (varies by flavor) Great for our friends in the Weight Watchers® program ... do the math!

I didn't realize it worked for Weight Watchers peeps- I'll have to tell my Mother in law- she is in that program. I think she would like them. I will definitely buy Gnu bars again and recommend them to my friends and family.

Tribe Hummus is yummus! :-) Product Review

2009-04-14T21:40:00.000-04:00

Hummus is one of the most popular food products to emerge from the Mediterranean region. Hummus is an exotic blend of pureed chickpeas, lemon, sesame tahini, oil, and spices with added flavors such as roasted garlic, roasted red peppers, scallion and dill.Hummus (pronounced Hum-es) is traditionally used as a dip with pita bread, crackers or fresh cut veggies. Many people use hummus as a spread on sandwiches (instead of high cholesterol mayonnaise), as a topping on broiled fish or chicken, on baked potatoes instead of sour cream, or as the main ingredient in a vegetarian sandwich.Hummus contains no saturated fat or cholesterol and is high in protein and fiber. Unlike many foods that are good for you, hummus also tastes great. It is a perfect food for anyone who is concerned about eating well or who is on a low cholesterol diet and doesn't want to sacrifice flavor. At Tribe Hummus, we were the first to add a variety of exciting ingredients such as Roasted Garlic, Roasted Red Peppers, and Cracked Chili that helped to take the product from an ethnic item to a mainstream offering.

So, Pam from Tribe Hummus was kind enough to send me some free coupons to try out Tribe Hummus- so yesterday while I was at Publix, I ventured over to the cheese and dips section, just to see if we possibly had any- I couldn't believe my eyes, there right before me was Organic garlic hummus, Organic original hummus and Organic roasted red pepper hummus. I got the roasted red pepper hummus- as soon as I got home and put up the groceries, I tried it out and couldn't stop eating it- it was soooo good! And so much healthier than chips and dip! I am going to try it with some veggies maybe for lunch. I love the fact that it is organic- I don't have to worry about pesticides in my food. My hubby liked it too- I will definitely be buying the garlic hummus on my next trip to Publix- can't wait to try it!

Perfect Day!!

2009-04-14T21:27:00.000-04:00

I had the perfect day- went in to work about 9:00- I was only there for an hour then Mom wanted to go food shopping. So we went to Sams (Dad went with us) and to Publix. I loaded up at Sam's trying to prepare for my brother coming up this weekend to help put up the hardi-plank siding and Dad paid for my bill which came to about $100. That was so nice- I guesss he wanted to help towards the house- anyway, it was a nice start to my day! He went back to the office and Mom and I headed to Publix and then afterward we went back to her house to have lunch. I had some yogurt cheese with multi-grain crackers and some organic coffee. Reggie and Dad had grilled cheese and split pea soup. Afterward, Mom and I went back to town and went to T.J. Maxx and I found the cups that I have been wanting with our initials- I was SOOOO excited, you don't even know! lol Then, Mom found me and told me that they had an Audrey Hepburn painting that looked like "me"- when I saw it I just had to have it- I love Audrey! I can't wait to have my walk in closet and hang this painting in there along with my chandelier and setee- I have already envisioned it!

When I got home, there were 2 BIG packages waiting for me! From Gnu Bar and Zoe Foods- I was so excited- I ripped them open and..well you will have to see on my posts coming up. Sorry guys! lol

I had some organic carrots, organic parsley and some apples that needed using up so I made myself a juice- Parsley is a great blood cleanser. I definitely had loads of energy afterward! I did some laundry, emptied the trash, swept up some, did the dishes. It was such a great day!!

Organic Food Bars Review!!

2009-04-14T21:09:00.000-04:00

ORGANIC FOOD BAR is a tightly-knit family. Each person who works here at our headquarters in Southern California is member of that family. Most of our staff have been here for many years. That's because we all believe deeply in the vision of ORGANIC FOOD BAR. We pride ourselves in producing the best food bars in the world, and we work tirelessly to achieve that every day. Although, most of the time, it doesn’t feel like work. We love what we do, and we believe in the mission here. Interesting, isn’t it that when you truly love your work, it’s rarely a struggle to do it? We travel the world to source the finest ingredients to handcraft ORGANIC FOOD BAR products. All of our ingredients are certified organic (USDA & EEC 2091/2092) and kosher, and they are purchased fresh every month. We make our ORGANIC FOOD BARS “with lots of love” right here in our certified organic facility. The bottom line at ORGANIC FOOD BAR is that we focus on three simple things: our people, our product and our customers. By working with the best people, who genuinely enjoy their time here, we can produce the best product for you. From our family to yours, ORGANIC FOOD BAR. It's what's inside that counts.

I was so excited when Eric from Organic Food Bar was kind enough to send me some bars to sample, especially since I've never tried them before! He sent me 3 different varieties and several of each. Of course I tried the raw coconut bar first- see my review below!

Organic Raw Chocolate Coconut Bar

I really loved this bar- so yummy, I could definitely eat this all of the time!

Organic Cashew Butter, Organic Dates, Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Brown Rice Protein, Organic Dark Chocolate Chips – Non-Dairy (Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Chocolate Liquor, Organic Cocoa Butter, Non-GMO Soy Lecithin), Organic Coconut, Organic Bio SproutsTM – Quinoa, Organic Bio SproutsTM – Flax and Lots of Love! It also has 5 grams protein, 5 grams fiber, 4% calcium and 8% Iron. I love that it also is made with Bio-sprouts, not many bars have that.

One Organic Food Bar- Chocolate Macaroon Crunch

This bar was also really yummy- I shared it with the hubby, he liked it too- I would definitely buy this one! And this one is loaded with awesome ingredients- just look!

Certified Organic Ingredients: Organic Rice Syrup, Organic Coconut, Organic Coconut Almond Granola (Organic Rolled Oats, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Barley Flakes, Organic Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Organic Raisins, Organic Almonds, Organic Coconut, Organic Oat Bran, Organic Sunflower Seeds) Organic Agave Nectar, Organic Bio SproutsTM - Millet, Organic Chocolate Chips (Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Chocolate Liquor, Organic Cocoa Butter), Organic Acacia Fiber and Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086 (that's the good bacteria that our bodies need)

Organic Wild Blueberry

Ingredients Organic Almond Butter, Organic Blueberries (Organic Blueberries, Organic Evaporated Cane Juice, Organic Maple Syrup, (0,5%) Organic Sunflower Oil), Organic Dates, Organic Premium Blue Agave Nectar, Organic Bio SproutsTM - Flax, Organic Sesame seeds and Lots of Love!

This one is Vegan, 98% Raw- gotta love that! 28% Fiber, 10% Calcium, 10% Iron and 9 grams of organic protein- now that packs a punch!

I would definitely buy these bars again- I like the fact that the wild blueberry and the raw chocolate coconut bar are raw- but I still really liked the chocolate macaroon crunch too as did the hubby. So go out and try some of these great bars!

Newmans Own Organics Review!

2009-04-14T20:21:00.000-04:00

Here is a little about the company first- what an inspiring story!!

NEWMAN’S OWN® ORGANICS GOES BEYOND SNACK FOODS When Nell Newman and business partner Peter Meehan started Newman’s Own® Organics: The Second Generation in 1993, they were sure there was a market for organic snack foods, but they couldn’t have anticipated just how fast the demand for their products would grow. What started with pretzels and grew to include other snack foods has now expanded to many other organic items: coffee, tea, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, organic dried fruit, and pet food. The partners anticipate adding a number of new items each year in all these areas. Nell approached her father in 1992 about the possibility of an organic division. He offered to cover one year’s expenses for Nell and Peter to determine the feasibility of an organic product line under the Newman name. The one stipulation was that, once established, they would return the seed money, so that it could be added to his charity money. They not only managed to do this within a short period of time, but also became an independent company in late 2000. This had been the goal from the beginning. They were, though, committed to following the philanthropic role of Paul Newman and bringing out products that he was proud to have his name associated with. “Great tasting products that happen to be organic is our slogan,” says Nell. “It really says a lot about us. We’ve seen in recent years that people want to know more about the food they eat, not just how many calories a product contains. It’s becoming more important to them how ingredients are grown and processed on the way to their grocers' shelf. Once people see how much organic foods have improved since the early days of packaged `health' foods, we feel they'll seek them out.” When it comes to choosing what products are produced, personal preference comes into play. Through the year of research, Nell and Peter discovered that national pretzel sales were booming, but there were few organic pretzels available. It was “Pa” Newman’s love for pretzels that made them a perfect first choice when they launched the pretzels in fall, 1993. The pretzel line has expanded to thirteen varieties. "We focus on the kinds of products we loved as kids, but take them one step further by using the highest quality of available organic ingredients," says Meehan. "Our pretzels fast became the top sellers in the natural food industry." Nell's love of chocolate was a deciding factor in choosing organic chocolate bars, as the next product. The company was a pioneer in the natural food industry when it offered its first line of organic chocolate bars in 1995. In 2009 the company took their commitment to a better chocolate bar to the next level with its Signature Chocolate line, which carries the USDA Organic and RainForest Alliance Certified ™ seals. It wasn’t long before other chocolate items joined the bars: Champion Chip Cookies in several varieties; Newman-O’s, a crème filled chocolate cookie in six varieties; Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, Chocolate Mint Cups and Chocolate Carmel Cups. "What’s great about the chocolate line is that since the first bars, the cacao was and is grown in the ancient way so that no rain forests need be destroyed. We want to encourage this method by supporting the farmers economically," says Nell. The popular Fig Newman’s ™ came into being, thanks to “Pa” approaching the president of Nabisco (now Kraft) and the corporation’s cooperation. The name is being used under license from them. This was the first fig bar with organic figs, organic sugar, organic flour, and without hydrogenated oils. The line includes fat-free and low-fat versions, and, responding to consumers’ requests, a wheat-free, dairy free bar. Other pleasers in the cookie line are Alphabet Cookies in three varieties, Ginger-O’s, a ginger crème filled cookie, and Hermits, an old-fashioned spicy, chewy cookie in three flavors. The cookie line uses palm shortening. “People initially confused this ingredient with palm kernel oil,” say Nell. “Palm kernel oil is extracted from a nut and is generally solvent extracted and must be refined before use. Palm oil is extracted only from the fruit, like olive and avocado oil, and is not refined, only filtered and deodorized. Unlike butter, palm shortening is plant derived, so it has no cholesterol and is lower in saturated fat than butter. Although palm shortening has more saturated fat than partially hydrogenated shortening, it contains no trans-fatty acids. It makes an excellent tasting product and replaces a non-organic ingredient, conventional butter, while maintaining reasonable retail cost. We use palm oil that comes from large co-ops in Colombia. Our supplier, who is certified according to the standards of ProForest, is also participating in Alliance for Peace, funded by the U.S. Government to help small farmers who are supported by larger partners who supply them with seed, technical assistance and a market for their products.” “We couldn’t resist bringing out organic popcorn in dad’s honor,” says Nell. Pop’s Corn comes in three varieties. “We feel our popcorn is terrific on its own, but it’s fun to add favorite ingredients. We enjoy doing this in our family.” A line of organic mints was added recently to the candy line. They are available both in tins with colorful animal covers illustrating the flavors and four rolls in a bag with the familiar logo. Both lines come in Wintergreen, Cinnamon, Ginger, and Peppermint flavors. Soy Crisps, one the company’s newest items, come in four flavors and are a nice change from chips. Besides a tasty snack, they can be used in various recipes to add some crunch. In late 2002 Green Mountain Coffee, Inc., a leader in the specialty coffee industry, and Newman’s Own Organics signed an agreement for the coffee company to be the exclusive roaster, seller, and distributor of Newman’s Own Organics Fair Trade Certified™ coffees. Six original coffees have been created and are available in supermarkets, through the company’s catalog, and their e-store, http://www.greenmountaincoffee.com/. Through an alliance with 650 McDonald’s restaurants in the Northeast many new customers have had their first taste of the company’s fair trade coffee. Organic balsamic vinegar and organic olive oil joined the product line in 2003. “We know how many people enjoy making their own salad dressing once in awhile -- and use Pop’s the rest of the time,” comments Nell. “There are also many other uses for both the vinegar and oil in cooking and we wanted to offer an organic choice.” In 2004 a line of 100% organic dried fruits starring Raisins, Cranberries, Pitted Prunes, Apples, Apricots, and Berry Mix was added. Dried fruits are being used for multiple purposes from snack food to adding a special flavor to today’s ethnic recipes and family favorites, as well as a staple for bakers. Late in 2007 Nell and “Pa” Newman turned in their American Gothic garb for regal robes and scepter for their new distinctive packages for Newman’s Own Organics’ Royal Tea line. “We wanted to add tea to our product line for quite some time, but needed to find a company who has the experience to source and blend the high quality of organic tea we desired for our customers,” says Nell. “We’re delighted to have found the Harris Tea Company. A family run company for the past 67 years, the Harris Tea Company has over 200 years of tea procuring and blending experience. They know the tea plantations that our tea is sourced from, so we are able to offer quality organic tea to our consumers at reasonable costs.” There are three current organic offering in double chamber tea bags: Black Tea, Green Tea, and Family Size Black Tea Bags, perfect for preparing pitchers of iced tea. Nell and Peter have turned their attention to cats and dogs with the addition of their line of premium pet foods. “Pets have always been a part of our family life,” says Nell, who grew up with dogs, cats, birds, and an occasional snake. She currently has three pampered chickens, who follow her around. “We recognize that like the food we choose for ourselves, the food we chose for our pets will have a strong impact on their health. We are using the same quality of ingredients and careful manufacturing process that is used in our human food line,” she continues. The charity money generated by the sale of the pet food will help organizations that support animals’ well-being. The company’s growth process hasn’t been without its problems. An organic product is more expensive to produce. “We are constantly dealing with trying to keep our products competitive in the market, says Meehan. “We do, though, want to give consumers a viable alternative in the marketplace and are always searching for organic ingredients that can be cost-effective.” Packaging is another area that had to be addressed. The products are easily identified with the distinctive, eye-catching photo of an American Gothic "Pa" Newman and daughter Nell. Because the products are organic, consumers also expect them to be in completely recyclable packages. “We are regularly looking for materials that will keep our products fresh, allow for shipping, since so many are perishable, and meet consumer expectations,” states Meehan. “It can be a frustrating process as this can raise the price of products and then people won’t buy them.” Newman’s Own® Organics' products meet all the requirements of the USDA’s National Organic Program. Ingredients have been grown on farms that have not used artificial fertilizers or pesticides for three years or more. The farms and processors have also met the USDA’s organic standards. The products are sold nationwide in a number of mainstream supermarkets and in a large number of stores featuring natural and health foods. The pet foods are sold in specialty pet stores as well as many of the other outlets. The Newman’s Own® Organics Guide to the Good Life: Simple Measures that Benefit You and the Place You Live (Villard) written by Nell with Joseph D’Agnese was published in spring, 2003. It is filled with practical advice for improving the quality of one’s life and the environment without drastically altering one’s life. Packed with facts, anecdotes, humor, and a heavy dose of sanity, it is organized around the way people actually live, allowing readers to easily identify what areas of change are viable for them. The sale of Newman’s Own Organics products generates money for the Newman’s Own Foundation to give away. Since 1982 Paul Newman and the Newman’s Own Foundation have donated more than $250 million dollars to educational and charitable organizations worldwide.

NELL NEWMAN Nell Newman launched Newman's Own™ Organics: The Second Generation® with business partner Peter Meehan in 1993. Great tasting products that happen to be organic is the company's motto. She is the President of the company, which started as a division of Newman’s Own and has been an independent company since 2000. Nell’s responsibilities are in the areas of product development and marketing. The daughter of actors Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Nell had an early introduction to natural foods at their rural Connecticut home. The family had a garden, raised chickens, and Nell was taught to cook by her mother, as well as spending many hours fishing with her father. While in college, she continued to experiment in the kitchen, and is still the designated chef when home for family holiday dinners. Nell attended the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, graduating with a B.S. in human ecology. She worked briefly at the Environmental Defense Fund in New York, but, preferring a more rural environment, moved to Northern California. She was the Executive Director of the Ventana Wilderness Sanctuary, which was working to reestablish the bald eagle in central California. After two and a half years, she left Ventana Wilderness Sanctuary and began fundraising for the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group. Nell's commitment to organic foods and sustainable agriculture led her to convince her father to let her establish an organic division of Newman's Own. She won him over by creating a completely organic Thanksgiving dinner, and then suggesting organic food products for the Newman's Own line. "All of Newman's Own products are ones that Dad enjoyed, so we chose ones that he really loved," states Nell. She credits her parents, too, with teaching her by example to be socially responsible, politically involved, and philanthropic. An ardent supporter of sustainable agriculture, Nell has participated as a featured speaker and as a panel member talking about her commitment to organic products and producing snacks that appeal to the general public. "I have great expectations for our company" says Nell. "By utilizing organic ingredients, we’re supporting the environment through the growth of organic agriculture." Nell’s thoughts on how to make a difference are highlighted in her book, The Newman’s Own Organics Guide to a Good Life: Simple Measures That Benefit You and the Place You Live (Villard, 2003), written with science writer Joseph D’Agnese. It is filled with realistic, practical advice on why living a more environmentally conscious life helps us all.

So, finally my review- Sally from Newman's Own sent me a huge load of goodies to try out- thanks Sally!! I loved EVERY ONE of the products that I tried! The white cheddar soy crisps were awesome! I could easily replace these instead of chips and it would save me tons of calories- they totally satisfied my chip cravings! They are also gluten-free for those with gluten intolerance. Did I mention I ate the entire bag? oops..I will have to get some more- Reggie would have loved these with a nice wrap or sandwich.

White Cheddar Ingredients: Organic Low Fat Soy Flour, Organic Rice Flour, Salt, Seasoning (cheddar cheese [cultured milk, salt, enzymes], whey buttermilk, salt, disodium phosphate), Sunflower Oil. Serving Size: 1 oz, Calories per Serving: 120, Calories from fat: 35, Total Fat: 4g (saturated fat: .5gm, trans fat: 0g), Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 290mg, Total Carbohydrates: 13g (dietary fiber: 3g, sugars: 1g), Protein: 8g

I have eaten all but 2 hermits out of the 2 packs (Original and Ginger Hermits) Nell sent to me -they are sooo addictive but healthy- Ingredients for the ginger include organic Unbleached Wheat Flour, Organic Raisins, Organic Molasses, Organic Sugar, Organic Palm Fruit Oil, Oats, Organic Figs, Raisin Paste, Leavening (baking soda, monocalcium phosphate), Ginger and other Spices, Salt, Rice Bran Extract. Ginger: Serving Size: 1 cookie (22g), Calories per Serving: 80, Calories from fat: 15, Total Fat: 1.5g (saturated fat: 1gm), Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 65mg, Total Carbohydrates: 16g (dietary fiber less than 1g, sugars: 10g), Protein: 1g . They come in Original, Cinnamon and Ginger. They go great with coffee and I love eating them as a dessert. I also tried the Original and they are just as addictive- the ingredients are the same as the ginger with the ginger excluded. Serving Size: 1 cookie (22g), Calories per Serving: 80, Calories from fat: 15, Total Fat: 1.5g (saturated fat: 1gm), Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 65mg, Total Carbohydrates: 16g (dietary fiber less than 1g, sugars: 10g), Protein: 1g.

I plan on trying the Cinnamon next, I love cinnamon- I bet I could make a healthy icing to pour over a warmed cinnamon hermit and it could be my new healthy version of a cinnamon roll!

The Peanut Butter Newman O's are pretty much gone-I think there are 3 cookies left- We all loved these! Reggie and Roscoe included-Roscoe (our doggie) kept begging for these so we gave him a little bite as you can see in the picture he really enjoyed it hehe.

Ingredients: Organic Unbleached Wheat Flour, Organic Sugar, Canola Oil (Expeller Pressed), Organic Peanut Butter (Organic Roasted Peanuts, Organic Palm Oil, Salt), Partially Defatted Peanut Flour, Organic Palm Fruit Oil, Organic Cocoa, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Salt, Organic Unsweetened Chocolate, Natural Flavor, Organic Corn Starch, Baking Soda, Soy Lecithin (an Emulsifier). Serving Size-2 cookies -Calories 120 (calories from fat 50), Total Fat 5 g (saturated fat 1.5 g), Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 140m, Total Carbohydrates 18g (dietary fiber 1g, sugars 10g), Protein 2g

Orginal Newman-O's- these are my favorites, they replaced my oreos since they are so much healthier! Original Ingredients: Organic Unbleached Flour, Organic Sugar, Powdered Sugar, Organic Palm Oil, Canola Oil (Expeller Pressed), Organic Cocoa, Cocoa (Processed with Alkali), Organic Unsweetened Chocolate, Natural Flavor, Salt, Sodium Bicarbonate, Soy Lecithin, (an Emulsifier) Based on 2 cookies- Calories 130 (calories from fat 40), Total Fat 4.5g (saturated fat 1.5g), Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 85m, Total Carbohydrates 20g (dietary fiber 1g, sugar 10g), Protein 2g

I have to say I really love Newmans Own Organic Products-I even made my sister and her family an Easter Surprise Basket with lots of Newmans own products and she loved it! I plan on letting my Mom try some fig newtons and some other cookies to snack on for her plane trip coming up-she is going to see her Mom in California. Anywho, I still have more products to sample-I will update more later as I, my hubby and my family munch through all of these yummy goodies. Thanks Nell Newman!!

Easter at my Brothers

2009-04-14T07:17:00.000-04:00

We had so much fun at Easter! I baked homemade chocolate chip cookies and brought over 2 dozen candy filled eggs to hide for the kids. We had so much fun hiding the eggs and helping the kids find them! Reggie rode me on the 4-wheeler, we are definitely getting one once we move to the country! And I got to feed the cows and see the chickens- I can't wait to move to the country! I like the city for the Starbucks and shopping but once we move I will still be only 30 minutes away, so that is not too bad. We played dodgeball too and I managed not to get hit every game- I was glad to get in some exercise since I didn't get to do my power walking that day!

Jacksonville Zoo Trip with family!

2009-04-13T21:32:00.000-04:00

Went to the Jacksonville Zoo with some of the family on Saturday. We stopped and had breakfast at IHOP- we were being so silly! Everyone packed a picnic for later on- we wallked about 6 hours in total- everyone was SO exhausted. We rode the carousels and we even fed the giraffes- it was so much fun!