(Thank you for reading this sponsored post! While I was compensated for this post, I love sharing products that my family uses every day! Hope it helps ward off the holiday sickies for you, too!)

It’s the holiday season and keeping them family healthy is at the top of my Christmas list! We’ve got Christmas concerts, family parties, service opportunities … no time to be sick!

After a less than ideal end to our Thanksgiving festivities (a puking two year old and six hour car ride home from Las Vegas), this mama declared war against germs and holiday sickies. Our family goes back to the basics when a family member gets sick in hopes the rest of us can avoid it!

Here’s our battle plan for the uninfected: fluids, rest, vitamins/supplements, and some extra love and care. Very similar to if you are already sick. Doesn’t hurt to give your immune system extra boosts! I’ll walk you through the low down!

Ways to support your immune system during the holidays!

Vitamins/Supplements

Have you heard of elderberries? It is our secret weapon this year! Some day I will be crunchy enough to make my own elderberry juice, but until then it is Amazon Prime to the rescue. This holiday season we are taking Vita Miracle Elderberry Gummies for immune support.  It has Vitamin C and Zinc with no artificial sweeteners or colors. Best part? They taste good! My kids ask to take to them. I love that I can get a discounted price with Subscribe and Save on Amazon, too!

Fluids

I revert back to tracking water when sickness hits.  It’s so easy to get dehydrated without realizing it. Plus, I want to be hydrated at my best if the flu hits me! I also order a bag of lemons (Smiths Grocery Pickup/Delivery to the rescue) to squeeze into my water. Gives me a little more Vitamin C and helps to detox any of the bad stuff!

Rest

Bring on the naps! You are less likely to get sick if you are well-rested. And if you do get sick – you will heal more quickly if you are getting enough sleep! I wash all our bedding (get rid of those germs, right?) and make up our beds as cozy as we can. And if the sickness includes vomit – that includes a throne of sheets and towels! Much easier to toss a layer in the washing machine than remake an entire bed.

Healthy, Healing Food and Grocery Pick Up

While we were making our long car ride back from Las Vegas and my two year old was thankfully sleeping, I was shopping on the Smith’s Grocery Pick Up App as fast as my fingers would go. Sometimes we do delivery, but since my husband was home, we selected pick up and had an arsenal of gatorade, pedialyte, saltines, oranges, probiotics, kefir, yogurt, bananas, applesauce, etc. awaiting us by the time we got home. Bless, bless, bless grocery pick up and delivery! It’s nice to be fully stocked up with supplies without spending an hour in the grocery store.

Humidifier

I run humidifiers in several rooms in our home when sickness hits. I’ll add oils like lavender and OnGuard to give immune support.

Thankfully, only my 2 year old was hit with this barf bug over Thanksgiving. Crossing my fingers that all of our immune system supporting habits will keep us feeling good during the holidays!

What are your family’s healthy tips for the holidays?

The post Keeping Healthy for the Holidays appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

When I was a college student, a massage at an honest to goodness spa (scented candles, heated tables, the works!) was the ultimate luxury. As soon as we were married, I let John know that massage gift certificates were welcome on any occasion.

It wasn’t until I had our second baby that I had an epiphany. Massage was no longer simply a luxury, it was a necessity that I needed to work into our budget! Here are some of the real reasons that I try to get a massage several times a year even on a tight budget.

1. I’m a Mom and a blogger. I’ve nursed three babies for a combined total of five years. Sadly, my shoulders are stuck in the nursing hunch even though I am no longer nursing. Typing for hours a day on my lap top does not help that. Add in car pool and rush hour stop and go traffic – my neck and shoulders are a hot mess. The result – I’ve got problems with pinched nerves and subsequently problems with numbness in my hand. No good! Regular massage helps to work out those tight spots!
2. I’m exercising and weight-lifting. My trainer has been telling me for years that massage will help my weight loss. Massage directly impacts the circulatory system. Getting a monthly massage (I wish! I’m working towards it!) helps to rest and relax those hard-working muscles that are working over time.
3. I have a hard time sleeping. I’d attribute this to 8 years of waking up with children during the night, but I was a terrible sleeper before that anyway. There’s a reason you practically fall asleep on the massage table! Massage gives your mind and body permission to move into that meditative and restorative space.
4. It’s cold and flu season and I have two children in school. Did you know that massage can increase your disease-fighting white blood cells? Talk about an immune boost! Not to mention that it helps decrease stress, too!
5. I want to my body to last the next 70 years! I am turning 34 on Friday (gasp!) and my body sadly isn’t want it used to be. Three pregnancies and a busy mom lifestyle has taken its toll. I’m proud of what this ole’ body has accomplished and it’s time to say thanks by taking better care of it. That means treating it to the pampering AND restorative maintenance of a massage!                 

Do any of those reasons apply to you? If so, you need to come to the Mountainside Spa Grand Opening Event on September 10th.  They will spoil you silly with free mini facials as well as seated massages. I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek of the brand new spa and experience the Mountainside Retreat – a massage with a facial. It was 75 minutes of pure heaven. My masseuse, Ezralea, had me in a state of complete relaxation. It was the perfect combination of firm and soft touch. I had been at the hospital all week helping my mom after surgery for her broken leg. Needless to say, I melted into that heated massage table. It was my first time on a heated massage table and I must say that I am hooked!

If you’ve never had a facial in combination with a massage, you need to treat yourself! My favorite part of the facial was the Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant and the heated towels. My skin is still feeling silky smooth a week later! So important to me that they use an organic skincare line like Eminence.

One of the things that I love most about Mountainside Spa is that there is something for everyone in every price range. Whether you just need a 25 minute chair massage on your lunch break or if you would like to indulge in the 2.5 hour Nordic retreat, these ladies have just what your body needs. Their online booking system is easy to use and you’ll be set up with what you need in no time.

The location is perfect! Mountainside Spa is nestled in Old Mill in Cottonwood Heights (6556 South Big Cottonwood Canyon Road Suite 700) with some of my favorite restaurants – Happy Sumo, Thai Basil, and Cafe Zupas to name a few. Hello date night! Mountainside Spa has other locations up the canyon in Alta. I love that they’ve brought some of that spa on the slopes charm down to the valley for us to enjoy year round.

Be sure to spoil yourself at their grand opening on Thursday September 10th from 11-7 pm. Your body will thank you! More info about the grand opening here. Stay in touch with them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter so you don’t miss out on any pampering news!

Thrilled to be part of a blog campaign for this local Utah business. To facilitate this review, I received a spa package as well as product to use at home. All love of massages and opinions are my own. 

The post The Real Reason You Need a Massage + Grand Opening of Mountainside Spa appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

I met the lovely Carissa of Carissamiss.com at Roots Tech earlier this month. Best words to describe her: vibrant, passionate, and full of knowledge. This girl knows her stuff and loves to share it.  Love her DIY fashion style (check out her insta feed!) and her creativity (adore these FREE glitter animal silhouette printables). But that is not what we are going to talk about today. Carissa is guest posting to share with us the meal plan that has changed her life. A lucky reader is going to win that meal plan and daily subscription! Be sure to enter at the end of this post.

Hi everyone, I’m Carissa and I blog at Carissamiss.com. I have had amazing success since starting to eat healthy. My changes have cured my migraines, helped me lose weight, and improved my overall energy. I want to share how easy it is to eat healthy! I’ve worked really hard to put together a meal plan that does all the work for you and pleases the whole family so you don’t have to cook two different meals for every meal. Keep on reading to learn more!

We want to get you excited about eating healthy! Enter to win a What to Eat Daily subscription and access my 30 day meal plan for ONE YEAR! That’s over $100 value! Scroll to enter

I’ve partnered with What to Eat Daily to give you easy access and planning with my menu. Simply CLICK HERE to subscribe and you’ll not only have access to my menu but THOUSANDS of other great recipes.

Here’s a glimpse into what you can expect from my Menu:

Once you SIGN UP you’ll be able to completely customize the menu and switch out days, serving sizes, and swap out individual ingredients if you want. You can easily load your shopping list and then head to the store.

You can see the menu at a glance, get nutrition information for each recipe.

I’m working on getting photos of each recipe uploaded as well. The best part? You get access to the FREE APP that lets you do all your shopping without printing off/writing down and losing lists.

DON’T WAIT! I’m offering 20% off for my readers so SIGN UP and get cooking! 

2 lucky winners will get 1 year’s subscription to What to Eat Daily

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Eating healthy with Carissa from Carissamiss.com + $100 Meal Plan Giveaway appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Time to get excited for all the races coming up in the spring and summer! I’ve been pretty solid in the 5K camp (Love the Color Run and Running with Angels at Thanksgiving Point!), but I think I’ve found the 14.5 mile run to initiate me into longer distances – the Temple to Temple Run!

Mark your calendar and come join me on the Provo River Trail and Murdock Canal Trail to run from the Timpanogos Temple to the Provo Temple.  I’ve jogged on other portions of the Provo River Trail and loved it!

Proceeds from the run go to LDS Charities. LDS Charities is near and dear to my heart. They have world-wide humanitarian programs that include Clean Water, Emergency Response, Immunization, Neonatal Resuscitation Training, Vision Care, Wheelchairs, and Community Projects. Being involved with these activities, LDS Charities seeks “to ensure that all of our humanitarian initiatives are built upon the principles of personal responsibility, community support, self-reliance, and sustainability.”

I love that my participation in the Temple to Temple Run will help support these initiatives! In graduate school, I had planned on spending a summer working in Romanian orphanages, but ended up staying home and starting a family of my own instead. Humanitarian problems still speak to my heart and I am glad that I can help in a small way like this until the day that I can help in a big way!

Here are the details:

Temple to Temple Run

Date: Saturday, May, 16, 20115

Time: 8 am

Location: Drop off at Timpanogos Temple in American Fork, UT, and pick up at Provo Temple in Provo, UT.

Register for the Temple to Temple Run

Forward10 is good for $10 off a group of 4 registration

Forward5 is good for $5 off an individual registration

Be sure to follow I Run Utah to find out about all the races this year!

Now friends, I am in my comfort zone with 5Ks and I love all the advice you gave me about them a few years back (Tips and Tricks for Running Your First 5K).  It’s February, what should I be doing to train for this big race in May. Training tips and race day tips are much appreciated!

What are your favorite races to run in Utah?

Have you been able to be a part of humanitarian efforts?  I would love to hear about it!

The post Temple to Temple Run 2015 with LDS Charities + Discount Code appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Station Park is Farmington’s hidden gem and I am so excited to give you a little sneak peek into some of my favorite things there. Be sure to enter to win the $300+ prize package from Station Park’s amazing businesses (scroll to the bottom)! If you need a date night with the hubby (hello couples massage!) or you are looking for something fun to do with the kids (ice skating and yummy cobbler!), Station Park is your place.

My first Station Park experience was in November for the dessert restaurant Cobbler Cove’s grand opening. I immediately fell in love with the thousands of twinkle lights, the family friendly activities, and all my dining and entertainment options. I’ve visited several times sense then and it just gets better every time!  I love Station Park so much that I invited 50 Utah bloggers and Instagrammers to experience it for themselves. Here are the top ten reasons to visit Station Park that I shared with them and that I am now excited to share with you!

1. This cobbler! I have to start with this yummy cobbler as that is how we began our evening at Station Park.  Check out the #cobblercove and #stationpark on Instagram to see all the fun we had and their reviews of Cobbler Cove! My favorite is the chocolate cobbler with mixed berries topped with Farr’s vanilla ice cream and an oat crumble. There are 15 flavors to choose from as well as a myriad of tasty toppings and sauces. Next time I am going to try out the pineapple!

Cobbler Cove is brand new to Station Park and has the coziest dining room complete with a couch in front of a fireplace as well as seating that faces out to the beautiful surroundings of Station Park. One of my favorite things about Cobbler Cove is that they try to use local fruit as much as possible – go local! Be sure to check it out on your next visit to Station Park!

2. The fountains. Think Bellagio in Vegas and Disney fountain shows – just as amazing! You can see them anytime, but there are amazing shows on the hour to the music of Van Halen and Adele. Check out this night-time instagram video of the fountains by Like Mother Like Daughter. You need to see the fountains at day and night for the full effect!

3. The family-friendly amenities. With upscale retail, dining and entertainment, a children’s play area, an outdoor winter skating rink, and a world-class show fountain – there is definitely something for everyone. Station Park expertly combines luxe surroundings with family-friendly amenities. Did you know that there are darling wooden toys for children to play with in the lululemon dressing room? That scores them major mommy points in my book! My daughter gets so bored while I am trying on clothes and I love that lululemon came up with a solution! I am sure that my kids will be making full use of the playground this summer while my husband and I trade off shopping, too.

Photo courtesy of Station Park

4. The restaurants. Station Park boasts over 20 restaurants from casual to fine-dining. One that I am excited to try is ParkStone and they are included in our giveaway! Love the location by the fountains and the beautiful indoor/outdoor seating areas. ParkStone, like Cobbler Cove, likes to spotlight local and fresh ingredients. Looking forward to trying their asparagus fries and the spicy egg and bacon burger – yum! For a review of Parkstone check out The Morrell Tale. The pictures look scrumptious!

Photo courtesy of Station Park

5. The community activities. From free Family First Mondays to free exercise classes at lululemon every Saturday morning, there is something going on at Station Park every week. Family First Mondays are filled with activities, entertainment, and discounts that your kids are going to love. For special event dates, be sure to check out the schedule on Station Park’s web-site.

I love that the classes at lululemon are taught by local exercise experts from places like Dance Factory, Crossfit, and Centered City Yoga. Stop by this Saturday at 8 am and check them out for yourself. You can even get a sneak peak of the classes from the videos on their facebook page.

6. The shopping. With over 45 stores, Station Park is a shopper’s dream! One of my favorite stores there is DownEast Basics. Remember all the darling finds I made with Alicia from Chic on a Shoe String? I love this purse and these pants that I discovered Saturday night. I am excited to go back since their new line launched TODAY! Check out their online and in-store specials!

7. The convenience. You will want to shop, stay, and play at this beautiful shopping and entertainment destination right off of I-15 with easy access to Front Runner. Literally five minutes off the freeway. I live in Utah County and I have already been up to Station Park three times since Thanksgiving – worth the drive! Station Park has their own hotel in the works – it is going to make the perfect staycation! Putting it on my bucket list.

Photo courtesy of Station Park

8. The luxe. I love that Station Park is the complete package – a movie theater, a gym, restaurants, shops, and outdoor entertainment. The beauty of Station Park is that they didn’t stop at convenience, location, and selection. Station Park takes it up a notch to provide you with a luxe shopping experience. One of my new favorite places to walk through at Station Park is the concierge area. Isn’t it beautiful?

And the luxe carries over to the stores. I went gaga over these light fixtures at lululemon and Sanctuary Aveda.

9.  The spa. Speaking of luxe, a trip to Station Park wouldn’t be complete without stopping by Sanctuary Aveda. Can I describe you to my dream day? Shop til I drop in the morning with a lunch at ParkStone (remember that amazing hamburger and appetizer!!!). Next, a deep-tissue massage at Sanctuary Aveda followed by a movie at the Cinemark. Top it off with chocolate raspberry cobbler by the fire and I am set!

One feature of the spa that a fellow blogger and I were loving is the membership service. Typically with a membership service you get a monthly massage. At Sanctuary Aveda, you can select from several services including a facial or pedicure. Fun to mix it up a little!

10. The date nights. Doesn’t every thing I mention sound perfect for date nights? Hello Valentines! Spoil your kids with ice staking and a movie in the early afternoon and then come back for a massage and cobbler by the fire at night. One date night that is on my list this year are the cooking classes at Harmon’s. Love the variety that they offer!

Now, for what you have been waiting for! The giveaway!

Whether you are checking out the latest in fashion at DownEast Basics, dining at the ParkStone wood-fire grill, grabbing groceries at Harmon’s, working out with lululemon on Saturday morning, or having a spa day at Sanctuary Aveda, you are going to want to cap off your fun with fresh-baked cobbler from Station Park’s newest dessert restaurant Cobbler Cove! You are going to want to cozy up by their fireplace and enjoy America’s favorite dessert.

One lucky reader is going to be spoiled with some of our favorite things from Station Park!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I organized an event for bloggers and instagrammers for this post. We received complimentary cobbler and hot chocolate to review. Thank you Station Park and Cobbler Cove!

The post Cobbler Cove and My Station Park + $300 Valentines Giveaway appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

We are a group of bloggers who love to blog about food!  Each month we decide on an all-famous National Monthly Food Holiday to will base our recipes around. This month’s the ingredient is oatmeal.  Yes, January is National Oatmeal Month along with a whole array of other delightful things!! Get excited!

We hope you all enjoy our delicious oatmeal treats this month and come back to see what we bring for you next month.  If you are a blogger and would like to join our group and blog along with us, come join our Facebook page Foodie Extravaganza.  We would love to have you! If you’re a spectator looking for delicious tid-bits check out our Foodie Extravaganza Pinterest Board! Looking for our previous parties? Check them out HERE. Be sure to enter the rafflecopter giveaway below for the fabulous Oatrageous Oatmeal cookbook by Kathy Hester!

Without further adieu, here is my twist on oats!

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. So many yummy possibilities. This Blueberry Oatmeal Super Smoothie is fun way to get some extra nutrients into my kiddos before school. Oats are a staple at our house and so I loved discovering that they make a great smoothie ingredient. The blender chops up the oats very finely so you get the nutrition of oatmeal – in a smoothie!

Blueberry Oatmeal Super Smoothie
Yields 4 cups

1/2 cup ice cubes
2 very ripe frozen bananas
4 ounces fresh or frozen blackberries (or substitute with berries of choice!)
2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
1/3 cup old fashioned oats
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup coconut water

Place all the ingredients into a blender and blitz on high speed for a few minutes. Serve with optional garnish of banana slices and a drizzle of honey.

As you can see – this smoothie was a success at our house and is an old family favorite. Using frozen bananas and berries vs. fresh definitely gives it more of the smoothie texture. I love that the smoothie contains so many ingredients that I can feel good about giving my children. The oats and peanut butter fill their tummies and the fruits load them up with vitamins and minerals for the day. There aren’t huge amounts of each of the ingredients in the smoothie, but it sure beats a bowl of sugary cereal! Plus they think they are getting a treat for breakfast – can’t beat that.

Here are some of the benefits:

Calcium, from the milk

Vitamin D

Fiber, from the banana, blackberries, and oats

Protein, from the milk and peanut butter

Vitamin C, from the blackberries

In addition, you get all the health benefits from coconut water, too! Coconut water raises your metabolism, boosts your immune system, fights viruses, and aids in digestion!

Another of my favorite oatmeal breakfast recipes is my super easy Overnight Baked Oatmeal. I love that it uses fruit as a natural sweetener instead of a lot of extra sugar.And if you are looking for more berry recipes – the Quinoa Blueberry Breakfast is uber healthy! You can indulge and still be healthy with my Healthier Blueberry Crepes, too.

Be sure to check out these other yummy oatmeal recipes and enter the giveaway below!

Mushroom Ginger Congee / Culinary Adventures with Camilla
Little Debbie Oatmeal Creme Pies / Making Miracles
Southwestern Oatmeal Cakes / A Day in the Life on the Farm
Oatmeal Pancakes / Sew You Think You Can Cook
Savory Ginger Lemon Oat Porridge / The Joyful Foodie
Chickpea Veggie Soup / Food Lust People Love
Salted Vanilla Oatmeal Cookies / Baking in Pyjamas
Berry Oatmeal Super Smoothie / Keep Moving Forward With Me
Bacon Whole Grain Granola Bars / Pantry Friendly Cooking
Apple Pie Overnight Oats / Wallflour Girl
Homemade Cranberry Almond Granola / Rhubarb and Honey
Mango Poppyseed Oat Muffins / The Sweet {Tooth} Life
Brown Sugar Barbecue Meatballs / Fearlessly Creative Mammas
Oat Cinnamon Rolls / Passion Kneaded
Peanut Butter Oat Snack Balls / Mrs. Penguin
Mini Oatmeal Meatballs / The Freshman Cook
Monster Cookie Granola / From Gate to Plate

The oat-guru Kathy Hester has been so generous in donating one of her books to one of our lucky Foodie Extravaganza readers. With her book OATrageous Oatmeals: Delicious & Surprising Plant-Based Dishes From This Humble, Heart-Healthy Grain (affiliate link), you will learn how to use heart-healthy oatmeal in new and exciting ways! You can find recipes such as Steel-cut Oat Sausage Crumbles, Chickpea Veggie Soup, and Blackberry Mojito Overnight Oats. Now go enter this awesome giveaway because I’m super jealous that I can’t enter! If you don’t win, feel free to grab the link from above to purchase your own! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions: This giveaway is open to residents of the United States and Canada only, age 18 and older. The OATragous Oatmeals Cookbook giveaway runs from Wednesday, January 7, 2015 12:00am ET through Thursday, January 15, 2015 12:00am ET. Winners will be randomly chosen and announced on January 16, 2015. Winners will also be contacted by email and will have 24 hours to respond to the email. If a winner does not respond in that time a new winner will be chosen. 

What is your favorite oat recipe?

What breakfast disappears fastest at your house?

Did you make a healthy resolution this year?

The post Berry Oatmeal Super Smoothie + Giveaway #FoodieExtravaganza appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

How many times has this scene happened at your house? It’s 9 pm. Your child has a high fever or other worrisome symptoms and you are wondering how late the Instacare is open and if you should take them in. Or how about this one – it’s Christmas eve and your child just bonked his head on the edge of the fireplace. Does he need stitches?

Can’t even count the number of holidays where someone has gotten sick and we’ve checked out of the festivities to research symptoms and instacare options. This year that changed. On the 4th of July a family member wasn’t feeling well. From our lawn chairs where we were watching the children play in the sprinklers, I was able to check her symptoms, find the nearest Instacare that was open, check their wait times, and make her an appointment. All without missing a second of this 4th of July fun.

What was once a complicated process was made easy peasy with the new Intermountain Healthcare Health Hub App. No need to interrupt the family festivities, make calls, and borrow a computer or phone book. It could all done from my smart phone in a matter of minutes.

I drove my family member to the Instacare where we were able to get right in since we had prescheduled our appointment and they already had our information. The doctor was able to help us with the problem and send us on our way with a prescription. We were back to the family before the 4th of July bbq and fireworks!

You can see why I recommend the Health Hub App to all of my family now. As a mom of three kids, I am busy and looking for anything that will make my life easier! You can download the app for free here.

Want to know more? Here are 10 features and benefits the new app provides:

·        GermWatch: Find out how prevalent various germs are in Utah, and see how their activity level is trending. Learn about symptoms, how germs are spread, treatments, vaccinations, and when you should contact your doctor.

·         InstaCare and KidsCare urgent care centers:  Hold your place in line before you arrive and compare wait times by Utah location.  Also find KidsCare after-hours clinics in Utah and information for making appointments.

·       My Health: Users can access the password-protected My Health patient portal, where they can securely message their Intermountain doctor, check lab results and other parts of their medical records with Intermountain Healthcare, and review benefits and claims.

·        First aid: Get first aid tips for common injuries such as sprains, burns, cuts, etc.

·        Prescription refills: Request refills at Intermountain pharmacies and check the status of prescription requests.

·        Symptoms: Search for adult or child/baby symptoms by key word, body area, or alphabetically by topic.  Find out when you should see a doctor or call 911. Learn about self-care options.

·        Doctors: Find doctors by name, specialty, hospital, clinic, location, and save your doctors to your“favorites” for quick reference later.

·        Locations: Find Intermountain hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies near you and save your favorites for quick reference later.

·        Pay bills: Pay Intermountain Healthcare bills by credit card or eCheck.

·        Send wishes: Send cards with personalized messages directly to patients in Intermountain hospitals.

 For information on other Intermountain Healthcare mobile apps,  visit http://www./Intermountain.com/mobile.

Download Health Hub now and give it a try. Now for the fun part. In addition to having a little more peace of mind over the holidays, when you download the Health Hub app, you can enter to win a $250 Target Gift Card! Check out the details below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you or your family ever gotten sick on a holiday?

What apps make your life easier?

This is a sponsored post. All opinions and experiences are my own. I love sharing what keeps my family moving forward!

The post My favorite health app and a $250 Target giveaway appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

This year has been so incredible busy and I have been blessed with amazing opportunities! When I saw the prompt from SITS Girls to blog about 10 Things I am Grateful For, I just had to join in. Thanksgiving is still two months away, but it is so important to have gratitude in our hearts all year long. As I wrote my list, I was reminded that there are many more things than ten that I have to be grateful for. So here is just a snipped of the gratitude in my heart this week:

1. Cortland. I am grateful for this little man and his love of learning. His preschool was canceled this week so we spent the day exploring The Leonardo in downtown Salt Lake. The one on one time was just what we needed.

2. Lily. I am grateful for her creativity. She is in her element in artistic environments like the one we discovered at Provo’s Chalk the Block. She sees and creates beauty around her.

3. I am grateful for General Conference twice a year – an event in the LDS Church where we gather to learn from our worldwide church leaders. This year I collaborated with other LDS bloggers and came up with a myriad of resources and ideas to #sharethegood and help better prepare our families for General Conference. (We are also giving away over $400 in gift cards and fabulous products!)

4. Family History. I am grateful that I have always had a desire to learn about my roots and where I come from. My mom is the second cutie from the right, isn’t she adorable? I’ve been blessed with many opportunities to study my family’s history and I hope to continue to do so with my own children! Right now, I am indexing on Family Search and it is fascinating! Plus it is easy service!

5. Travel. Oh how I love to travel! I am thankful for our family adventures! We go to Bear Lake each year with my extended family. I love seeing my children exploring out in nature and discovering new things.

6. Health. Health is something I have taken for granted. I’m relooking at my relationship with food. Grateful for fuel for my body like these delicious Bear Lake raspberries!

7. My husband. This man tops the list of what I am grateful for! He is incredible supportive of my hopes and dreams. Best father and husband that our little family could ask for!

8. Creativity in the World. I am constantly amazed by the creativity and brilliance of those around me. We visited the Midway Ice Caves in Heber City this past winter and they truly took my breath away. Much gratitude to those who think outside the box and share their visions with others!

9. Lifelong Friends. I know that I hit in the jackpot with friends. I met these lovely ladies in college when we all worked on the newspaper together. They accepted me and all of my quirks and have been there for me ever since! Whenever we get together, we are able to start right back where we left off. They inspire, they make me laugh, they make my life better.

10. Kyler. And last, but not least. My little ray of sunshine. This little man’s energy and excitement for life simultaneously rejuvenate and exhaust me every day. Love him to pieces.

Check out the other lists of gratitude at the SITS Link Up!

What are you grateful for today?

The post My List of Gratitude #SITS appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Last summer I learned how important it is to pack the right products on vacation for a child who has eczema. On a week-long vacation to Bear Lake, Utah, my daughter’s eczema flared up with a vengeance possibly due to the sunscreen, bug spray, generic soaps, etc. that we applied to her each day. Instead of protecting her skin, the products may have caused her skin to become even more sensitive and raw.

Bear Lake is a small, vacation town with a general store not quite stocked with eczema essentials. We made an unplanned trip to Logan an hour away to raid the Smith’s skincare aisle for anything that would help. I tossed anything that said eczema into my cart because we were desperate at that point since my poor girl was miserable. Back at the cabin, we tried all the different products and aside from the Aveeno Soothing Bath Treatment, she did not get much relief. Bath time was great, but what to do during our days on the lake?

The next day my mom came into town and gave us some lotion from Sego Lily Soap to try. The mixture of shea butter, cocoa butter, sweet almond oil, coconut oil, and beeswax did the trick! It soothed her skin enough for her to enjoy the vacation! Since our trip last summer, I have made it my mission to search out products ahead of time that will work for my daughter’s skin on vacation. We just got back from a 10-day eczema-free trip to Florida where we tried out many products with smashing success! Here are some of my fabulous finds!

1. Swim Zip UV Swimwear

Easiest way to protect eczema-sensitive skin – cover it up! My daughter’s problem areas are on her back and torso under her arms. In a typical swimsuit these areas would need to be covered with sunscreen.

With a Swim Zip swimsuit, my girl is UV protected with no need for extra lotions or spray! Lily selected the Splish Splash design from Swim Zip – I’ve been wanting to try this line ever since I saw Swim Zip on Shark Tank. Besides the awesome UPF  and UV protection, as a mom I loved the zipper that made it easy for Lily to put-on and take-off. Lily stayed cool and looked adorable every day at the water parks.

Another great brand swimsuit brand that I am going to try for my kids is Cabana Life. Zulily is having a fantastic sale right now with free shipping on these darling suits that provide great coverage as well.

2. Plain Jane soap from Sego Lily Soap

For bath time, I brought my daughter’s Plain Jane soap from Sego Lily Soap. I wasn’t taking any chances with generic hotel soap like in the past! This soap is perfect for Lily’s skin sensitivities because there are no colors or fragrances added. It is an unscented goat milk soap that I buy just for her (although I have quite the collection of Sego Lily Soaps for myself!).

3. The Solid Lotion Twist Up Stick from Sego Lily Soap

The Solid Lotion Twist Up Stick from Sego Lily Soap was one of the first items I packed after our wonderful experiences with it last summer. Lily had a minor eczema flare up before the trip, but after a few applications of this lotion it cleared right up and didn’t affect her on the trip. So glad that I had it, though, just in case!

The lotion is a rich blend of Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Sweet Almond oil, Coconut oil and beeswax. All the good things in a luxury lotion, without the water. When you pit it on, let it set for a few minutes to allow the oils sink in so you don’t feel too greasy. It lasts on your skin for hours. This lotion has been the only lotion that has soothed my daughter’s eczema consistently! It comes in natural lavender, natural vanilla, or unscented. We get the unscented!

4. Thinkbaby sunscreen SPF50+ benefiting LIVESTRONG,

For sunscreen, I decided to try out Thinkbaby sunscreen because it has no parabens or toxic chemicals with a non-oily feel. We used this on Lily’s face and sensitive parts of her arms.

Thanks to all of these wonderful products, I am happy to say that we left our Walt Disney World vacation eczema free! What a relief to have my daughter comfortable during the trip! Every case of eczema is different and you need to find what works for you, but I hope I’ve given you some hope!

What are your must-have skin products that you take on vacation?

This post contains affiliate links. I love sharing products that have worked for me! 

The post Vacation Essentials for Children with Eczema appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

I recently had the chance to learn more about the Weigh to Health Program from Intermountain Healthcare. I spent the evening with a nutritionist and trainer getting excited about small changes that will make a big difference in my family’s health and wellness.

The nutritionist spoiled us with a fast and easy meal that even children will love. We went over the Weigh to Health Program step by step to see how easily it can fit into our day to day lives.

I am excited to be offering four entries to the program to four lucky readers!

Fill out the form below for a chance to be entered into the Weigh to Health® program from Intermountain Live Well!

The Weigh to Health® program can help you feel better every day. You’ll learn how to make changes in your life that will help you lose extra weight. Those same changes will also help you:

• Have more energy

• Be more confident

• Reduce stress

• Sleep better

• Be more active

• Manage chronic health conditions

We’re giving away four (4) entries to the program. Enter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rafflecopter – Giveaway
www.rafflecopter.com

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Just wrapped an incredibly inspiring weekend at a blog conference in Salt Lake City. I stayed at my mom’s house to lessen the commute and got to enjoy some great breakfast chats with her over this yummy dish – Breakfast Quinoa with Blueberries. We are both a few weeks into the The Fast Metabolism Diet (see how I lost 5 lbs in a week!). During Phase 1 grains and fruits are important – making this breakfast the perfect way to start your day! Quinoa definitely makes an appearance in our dinner and snack menu plans. Quinoa and Parmesan Cheese-Stuffed Tomatoes – yes, please! But I have yet to try quinoa for breakfast so I was intrigued when my mom shared this dish with me.

The dish is so simple to make!

Arrowhead Mills Organic Gluten-Free Quinoa Rice & Shine Hot Cereal

1 cup of rinsed blueberries
Stevia
Cinnamon

Prepare according to the box instructions. Just add water – it’s super simple! Mix with fresh blueberries and top with sprinkles of cinnamon and Stevia. Enjoy!

I love recipes like this for Phase 1 of Haylie Pomeroy’s Fast Metabolism Diet. The quinoa adds a slightly nutty taste and the protein keeps you full for much longer.

You can find the Quinoa Rice and Shine at Harmon’s or also on Amazon.com at the link below. Love free shipping and you get 5 percent off when you add it to your subscribe and save order!

I am still loving this book and the results I am seeing from it! I took a mini-break while I was at the blogging conference, but now I am back on board!

This post contains affiliate links to Amazon.com. I love getting my groceries delivered right to my order so I am happy to share!

Linking up with Nomday Monday!

What are your favorite healthy breakfast recipes?

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One of my favorite memories from last year was running The Color Run with Lily, my six year old. The Color Run is definitely a family-friendly race and we saw tons of families on the course.

We had so much fun that it is already on our calendar – August 23 in Salt Lake City! The 2014 Kaleidoscope Tour is going to be big – new t-shirts, new headbands, new wristbands, and they’ve added sling bags for everyone that is registered! Check it out:

Did you know that The Color Run is the single largest event series in the United States? I believe it! These people know how to party! Here are my tips for running The Color Run with children.

1. Bring sunglasses or goggles, My daughter was concerned about the color dust getting in her eyes and borrowed my sun glasses at the start of the race. We also had bandanas to cover our mouths during some of the extra colorful times.

2. Be flexible. My daughter loved running under the arches and when race works tossed colors at us, but the color sprayers were not her favorite. We avoided the sprayers at her request after the first one and lingered longer under each of the color arches. Your child may be different! Be ready to have fun in many different ways! Don’t be afraid to jump right in and get covered with color.

3. Do a few practice runs before hand to prepare for the 5k. My daughter and I took a few short runs together before the race. We still ended up doing a lot of walking, but we had a blast!

4. Dress the part. Grab anything white (that you don’t mind getting colored) from your closet. The more fun the better. Tutus are completely acceptable. Make sure to bring an older pair of running shoes that can get colorful, too.

5. Have towels on hand for the car-ride home. There were drying stations at the race, but it is still a good idea to cover up your car seats just in case!

6. HAVE FUN! Arrive early and stay later for the dance parties. Lily loved meeting the Utah Jazz dancers.

The race is untimed and geared toward runners/walkers of every level! If this is your first race check out my blog post on 5K Tips and Tricks!

Sign up and join me in the fun! My readers can use the code COLOR5OFF to get $5 off their registration! The code is good for ANY CITY so you can join the party from any of the races around the country. Be sure to type the code in instead of copy/pasting. Sign up before May 1st because that is when the prices go up! Prices are cheaper if you join with a team as well. Plus it is more fun with friends!

The race is untimed and geared toward runners/walkers of every level! If this is your first race check out my blog post on 5K Tips and Tricks!

Are you running The Color Run this year?

What is your favorite Utah race?

Thanks to The Color Run for providing me tickets to run the race! I only write about events and products that my family and I personally love. This post contains affiliate links.

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This month we are swapping greens into our meals thanks to Green Moms Meet and Fresh Express! From breakfast, to snack, to lunch, to dinner … I am excited to transform some of our favorite meals into healthier salads. We started our week with this delicious Tex Mex Salad! All you need is:

Fresh Express Tex Mex Salad

Fresh Express 50/50 Mix

Lake Country Asiago Cheese from Costco

Grape Tomatoes

Black Beans (drained)

Corn

Southwest Tortilla Chips

Lime for squeezing

Add all the ingredients together and enjoy! Simple, right?

Now I need to find 29 days more worth of salad swaps! Luckily, I am not alone in this endeavor. Fresh Express has made it uber easy for me and has even created an app to help me add greens to my daily meal plan.

I’ve been playing with it all morning and I love the suggestions! Once you sign in, you can select certain meals that you crave – from Chicken Alfredo to Grilled Cheese – and Fresh Express will provide you with a healthier green alternative. Know what my guilty pleasure is? Junior Bacon Cheeseburgers from Wendy’s! Clicked on it in the app and I was immediately directed to a yummy recipe! Try it here.

The app also helps you track your calories and exercise – perfect for me because I am headed to Florida in six weeks and getting in shape! Now for my favorite part, you can input the codes from your Fresh Express salad bags and they will send you valuable coupons. Win – win!

To prepare for my month of salad swaps I headed to Target to stock up on Fresh Express salads. Holy salads! I was greeted with a wall of options – more than even fit in my picture! Loved the variety from Baby Kale to Spinach to Spring mixes and more. These salads are all table ready. Fresh Express salads are thoroughly washed, rinsed, and gently dried, then sealed in patented “Keep-Crisp®” breathable bags to keep their just-picked freshness, without preservatives.

Yesterday we began our salad swap! One of my favorite ways to add veggies to breakfast is by adding them to eggs. I sauteed onions, grape tomatoes, and Fresh Express spinach before adding my eggs in to scramble. So simple and so delicious.

I’ve also been known to sneak greens into smoothies. So easy to add a handful of spinach or baby kale – especially when Fresh Express does the prewashing and drying for you!. Here is one of my favorite green smoothies – this recipe has lots of yummy mix and match options! My Berry Oatmeal Smoothie would also be delicious with some baby kale thrown in – I am excited to try it.

And if you are looking for a delicious seafood salad – check out my Grilled Tilapia Salad that can be made with Fresh Express baby kale. It is one of our family favorites!

Do I have you seeing green yet? Join in on the 30-day Salad Swap challenge and be sure to download your free app to help get you started!

Be sure to LIKE Fresh Express on Facebook to stay up to date on their latest offers! You can also follow Fresh Express on Pinterest for a plethora of salad recipes and ideas! They have a board for every month of they year – check it out!

You can stock up on your own Fresh Express salad kits with coupons available from Green Moms Meet.
I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC. or the manufacturer of the product.

What is your favorite salad?

How do you get greens into your family’s diet?

The post Fresh Express Tex Mex Salad + Coupons and a free app! appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

This pretty little package arrived in the mail for me over the holiday season. Today I tried my first treatment with the LED Kit for teeth whitening from Smile Brilliant. As a blogger attending events, I would love to have a pearly-white smile so I jumped at the chance to try out this highly-rated teeth whitening kit.

• My LED Kit came with:
• High Intensity LED Accelerator Light – Accelerates the tooth whitening process
• Teeth Whitening Gel Pen – Easy to use 4 ml whitening pen with a brush on applicator containing the 22 percent professional strength whitening gel.
• Lip & Cheek Protector – Upper and lower protective mouth trays to prevent gel mess
• Detailed Instructional Brochure – Picture and instruction guide to using the LED teeth whitening kit effectively.
• 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee!

The brochure was very detailed and easy to follow. With some clicks of the whitening pen, I was on  my way to saying hello to whiter and brighter teeth! The gel smoothed easily over my teeth and I was able to get the lip and cheek protectors easily into place. The high intensity LED accelerator light fit comfortably in my mouth. Now came the fun part, watching my favorite BBC shows while the teeth whitening magic happened!

I have sensitive teeth so I only left the gel on for 25 minutes. Normal sessions can last from 20 minutes to 3 hours depending on the level of your teeth sensitivity. My teeth felt fine afterward so next time I am going to try a little longer. One teeth whitening pen has 7 applications so I plan on gradually increasing the amount of time. I noticed that my teeth were slightly whiter after just one application – nice! Can’t wait to try more applications.

Smile Brilliant competitively prices their LED teeth whitening system so it is affordable to those on a budget. I appreciated their live support on their web-site. Instant answers to your questions – that’s great service.

One of my lucky readers is going to one a LED teeth whitening system of their own! Just enter in the widget below!

Be sure to show Smile Brilliant some social media love!:

Become a Fan on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/SmileBrilliant

“Follow” Smile Brilliant on Twitter: 

https://twitter.com/SBwhitening

Subscribe to Smile Brilliant Promotions 
http://www.smilebrilliant.com/giveaway

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The post Smile Brilliant Teeth Whitening Review and Giveaway! appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Welcome to my first Taste Test Tuesday! My husband and I like to think of ourselves as foodies and we are always on the look out for new recipes and products to try. Sometimes they are healthy …. sometimes not. This week’s just so happen to be healthy. Here are two of our favorite food finds:

Whenever I receive a package of food to review, some of it always seems to make its way into my husband’s hands. Last week, John took some of my KIND Bars as a snack for his day hike. Here is what he thought:

“The Pomegranate Blueberry Pistachio KIND Bar had the perfect mix of nuts and fruits.  The flavor of the nuts mingled with the fruit in a way that it wasn’t too sweet. Just how I like it. Even though the bar was in my pocket during the three-hour hike up Y Mountain, it didn’t crumble. It held it’s shape; yet, it was not hard to bite into. After eating the bar, I had just the energy I needed to finish the hike. It makes a great trail bar and it’s easier to pack than a bag of granola.”

I managed to take back a KIND Bar of my own to sample. After a treadmill workout today, I had the Madagascar Vanilla Almond Bar as my snack. With 7 grams of protein it was the perfect pick me up. I love that the bars are all natural and GMO free. One of KIND’s mottos is that if you can’t pronounce it, it shouldn’t go in your body. Amen to that!

As you may have noticed, I like to support companies who have a cause and who are working to make a difference. This month KIND Healthy Snacks has teamed up with Dr. Elizabeth Thompson, radiation oncologist and founder of BFFL Co to offer a limited-edition BreastBFFL Bag for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The limited edition Breast BFFLBag contains all the essential items a women needs during the first days following breast cancer surgery including KIND bars, a toiletries kit, amusement pack, skinceuticals, comfort pillow, drainage pack, collapsible water bottle, and expandable folder for important paperwork. I purchased a similar (but not nearly as nice!) comfort bag for my grandmother when she was fighting cancer and she loved it.

Here is how you can get involved:

• ·         For every bag sold in October, KIND will donate an extra $5 to Friends Fighting Breast Cancer. You can purchase the bag for a woman in your life who is recovering from breast cancer or “Do the KIND Thing” by purchasing one to be donated to an anonymous, deserving patient.

• ·         Within each of the donated bags, KIND will be including words of encouragement. Submit your note to one of these brave women by emailing bfflco@kindsnacks.com and KIND will be sure it makes its way to a deserving patient. You can also leave a note on KIND’s Facebook wall.

_______________________________________________________________________

Moving on from snacks to meals! My favorite meal by far this week was Apple Chicken Hash by Clean Simple Foodie. If you are not following Clean Simple Foodie on Instagram, you are missing out. This meal was the perfect fall dish with sweet potatoes, onions, apples, and chicken sausage. I varied slightly from the recipe and used Simply Balanced Spinach & Garlic Chicken Sausage from Target. It made for a flavorful and delicious substitution.

My husband and children enjoyed it as well – especially my two year old! It didn’t take too long to make and it is definitely being put on the meal rotation.

_________________________________________________________________________

What are your favorite snacks?

What is your favorite fall dish?

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The post Taste Test Tuesday – KIND Bar Review & Sweet Potato Apple Chicken Hash appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

After my last session, my trainer recommended trying out new workout classes and finding one that I love. With the start of the school year, I’ve been slacking a little too much in the workout department and I knew it was time to mix it up! I was invited to an evening at Cardio Barre at Quarry Bend and knew that, since I am a former dancer, this kind of workout would be right up my alley!

Cardio Barre is a high energy/no impact exercise class that combines barre work and light weights with continual fat burning motion. With it being a few years since my last releve’ and plie’, I wondered how I would fare with the rest of the class. Fortunately for me, our instructor was amazing. She kept the class moving at a fast pace, but explained as well as demonstrated all of the moves perfectly. She helped many of us adjust our positions and achieve a better stretch without taking away from the flow of the class. I had no time to feel uncomfortable and was swept up in the fun and frenzy of cardio barre immediately.

During our hour-long workout, we completed toning and resistance exercises for the butt, legs, torso and arms. Loved working on sculpting my muscles while getting cardio in at the same time. There was just enough barre work and ballet terms to engage me as a former dancer, but not enough that your every-day girl off the street would be lost and uninterested.

The stylish studio is brand new and in the shopping center at Quarry Bend. The silver ceiling fans were so appreciated during the workout. Have I mentioned that they also offer childcare? Seriously – you need to check this place out!

Our blogger’s night at Cardio Barre Quarry Bend was also hosted by Red Mango and Lole. Lole’s fitness wear is absolutely darling and now I am dying to visit their new store in South Jordan. Their clothes are the perfect combination between style and function – just what you need when you workout!

This weekend is the perfect time to check out if Cardio Barre will be as awesome of a fit for you as it is for me. From September 13th-September 15th, Cardio Barre Quarry Bend will be donating 50 percent of all proceeds to a little girl in need. Brylee is a darling three year old with cancer and I am so proud of Cardio Barre for stepping in and helping to make some of her sweet dreams come true! You can find out more about the fundraiser here. Treat yourself to an amazing workout this weekend and check it out!

Have you ever tried Cardio Barre?

What do you look for in workout apparel?

What is your favorite workout?

The post Mixing it up with Cardio Barre appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

A few months back I participated in a Woolzies Giveaway. My blogger friends raved about their Woolzies and I couldn’t wait to try them on my own. My oldest child has eczema so I am always on the lookout for more natural products that won’t irritate her skin. The less chemicals the better!

Now what are Woolzies, you ask? Woolzies are 100% pure New Zealand wool dryer balls that do everything that conventional fabric softeners do plus they reduce drying time by 25 percent. I do several loads a day so a shorter dryer time makes my life a lot easier. They are also money back guaranteed to last for at least 1,000 loads! That means more money to set aside for our Disney trip!   Woolzies have no chemicals at all and are also hypoallergenic. This is very important to me when it comes to my daughter’s eczema.

I tossed my Woolzies in several loads today and the first thing I noticed was how quiet they are. I can’t even hear them in there. I’ve tried other kinds of dryer balls in the past and there is typically added noise, so I am quite pleased there is no noise with the Woolzies! The load definitely dried quickly and came out soft and static-free.

You can purchase your own Woolzies at their web-site as well as Amazon.com. Be sure to follow along with them on Facebook and Twitter, too!

What product can’t you live without in your laundry room?

What are your favorite natural products?

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The post Time and money-saving laundry products with Woolzies appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

1. Baby Comfy Nose Nasal Aspirator

With my babies, I had such a hard time with the blue nasal aspirators that we received at the hospital. It was awkward for me to use and my babes were not fans of them either. Lucky for me, new products have been developed since my first baby! I have used a similar product to the baby comfy nose nasal aspirator and it is a great concept. It is a much gentler way to relieve your baby’s nose congestion. My favorite thing about this product is that it is dishwasher safe. Much more hygienic than my bulb aspirator and easier to clean!

2.  Be Kool Soft Gel Sheets

My older children love Be Kool Soft Gel Sheets. You can get them on Amazon.com or at Wal-mart. The Disney characters printed on the gel sheets make them more fun for the children to put on. I even used a gel sheet on myself last time I had a fever. It was definitely soothing!

3.. Honey

Local honey is one of my favorite cough soothers for after my children have turned one. It helps to coat their throats and they love the sweetness. My middle child asks for honey whenever he has a cough.

4. Lemon Orange Ginger Honey Drink

My friend Sari shared with me a recipe for an awesome Lemon/Orange/Ginger/Honey drink. I have made it for myself and my children. The Vitamin C combined with the ginger and honey is a great combination for fighting off colds. It’s also an easy week to get more clear liquids into your child and keep them hydrated.

What are your favorite items/foods to have on hand for when your children are sick?

What are your favorite natural remedies?

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The post Tips for a well-stocked medicine cabinet appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

School will be starting soon and I am already missing these summer smiles! My oldest will be in first grade this year- these cute boys and I will definitely miss her. We are in the midst of back to school shopping and prep. From scheduling car pools to attempting to get back into the school routine, there are so many details to check off of the list.

As you know, I am a big fan of subscription services. Love having boxes of necessities and niceties show up on my door step, especially with busy school season quickly approaching. This month I had the chance to try out a new service by FlossAndBrush.com.

(This is a sponsored post brought to you by FlossAndBrush.com and Mom it Forward. All opinions and cute children are mine).

Did you know that the American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every three months? FlossAndBrush.com makes it easy to always have new toothbrushes every three months. How? By paying just $1.00 per month, per person in your family,  FlossAndBrush.com will ship a box of fresh, quality toothbrushes and floss to your home – one for each member of your family. I love that the tooth brushes that are age specific, too. Simple, right?

FlossAndBrush.com offers four different packages for adults, youth, and children including one with whitening gel. You can see all the specifics for the packages here. The tooth brushes are made in America and they come in several different designs.

You better believe that I am excited not to have to remember when to replace my kiddos’ tooth brushes for the next year. I have a little surprise for you, too. A lucky fan will get the chance to win this practical luxury as well.

Here’s what the folks at FlossAndBrush.com are allowing me to spoil one of you with :

Prize: The giveaway is valued at $107 and includes the following:

• 1 Free Annual FAB Membership (every three months, a new toothbrush and 3 month supply of floss will arrive at your doorstep)

• 1 Free Annual FAB + White4Life Memberships (this includes not only a toothbrush and floss every three months but each shipment will also include FAB’s professional grade whitening to be used in custom whitening trays)

Requirements:

1. Visit FAB’s Pinterest page and repin an image from any one of the “Smile Boards” that makes you smile. Include a description in your pin that explains why it makes you smile. Include the #FABsmile hashtag in the pin. OR, pin your own image to Pinterest of something that makes you smile. Be sure to include the description along with the #FABsmile hashtag. OR, post a photo to Instagram and describe why that photo makes you #FABsmile. Include the #FABsmile hashtag in your Instagram update. Come back to this post and share the link to the pin/Instagram photo in order to enter for a chance to win.

2. Sign up for FlossAndBrush.com’s mailing list here.

For additional entries you can also check out FlossAndBrush.com’s media pages. Come back and leave a comment for each follow.

•  FAB Facebook 

• FAB Instagram

• FAB Pinterest

• Twitter: @FABdental

Giveaway will end August 24th at midnight

What makes you smile?

The post You Make Me Smile – FlossAndBrush.com Giveaway appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.

Today I needed some major Cool Mom Points (CMP). In between salvaging my neglected house from the weekend of sickies and refereeing the children who had been cooped up for way too long inside, I read a fabulous post by The House of Smiths. While a puppy is not in our immediate future, I did hope that a fun trip to Jamba Juice and the park would earn me some quick points!

My babies love their fruit smoothies and I’ve been dying to try out the new Fruit and Veggie Smoothies as part of the Mom’s Meet program. I’m a green smoothie gal myself – love me some kale – but it’s always nice to get the kiddos on board with the veggies, too. I had my husband order me the new Tropical Harvest smoothie. It’s made with a fusion of mangos, peaches, and passion mango juice blended with juices from butternut squash, sweet potato, and carrot. Packed with Vitamins A & C. I’ve never had butternut squash and sweet potato in a smoothie so I was intrigued as to what it would taste like. At first sip – I was certain my husband had handed me his smoothie instead. The flavor was oh so delicious and refreshing – this mama couldn’t even taste a hint of veggies. Major bonus points!

I peeked over at my children to see how they were liking the Jamba Kids Berry Beet It! Smoothies. Their smoothies were made with a delicious blend of strawberries, mangos, bananas, and mixed berry juice with carrots, beets, broccoli, spinach, kale, and lettuce. Standing ovation for a smoothie that is an  excellent source of Vitamins A, C, B6 and fiber! My kids devoured their smoothies. It was hard to sneak one away from them to get a sip. Inwardly I was celebrating the two servings of fruits and one serving of veggies in each of their smoothies. Even better, their smoothies were made from only real, whole fruit and vegetable juice—no added sugar.

As the mom to an adorable three year old who is often quite selective with his food, those servings of fruits and veggies mean a lot. Especially when he happily drinks it and asks for more! That’s my kind of snack! You can even pair a smoothie with one of the whole grain items and make it into a Kid’s Meal. Perfect for a summer meal on the go.

All three of their Jamba Kids smoothies quickly disappeared during the ride to one of our favorite playgrounds. It seemed the fitting conclusion to our Jamba Juice evening. Jamba Juice is a proud sponsor of “Team Up for a Healthy America” in the fight against childhood obesity. For our family, the more we can get outside to run, jump, and play the better! Fueled by their smoothies, Lily, Cort, and Kyle played happily all over the park (and quickly fell asleep when we got home!) Thanks Jamba Juice for a yummy and healthy family night that earned me some Cool Mom Points! If you want to treat your children to more delicious fruits and veggies you can connect with Jamba Juice on Facebook and Twitter!

What is your favorite Jamba Juice flavor?

Do you drink fruit and veggie smoothies?

How do you help your kiddos eat fruits and veggies? (I love links! Always looking for ideas!

The post Family Night with Jamba Juice appeared first on KeepMovingForwardWithMe.