Welch's Refreshingly Simple

I was granted the opportunity to try this product and I was very happy with the taste and the ingredients on the label. The taste is delicious for both adults and children. I tried the mango peach but plan on trying all the other flavors. My 4 year old daughter loved it and asks for it by name now. If you see it at the supermarket, definitely check it out! You wont be disappointed.

POPSUGAR Must Have Box April 2015

I was surprised this month to receive the April Box so early in the month. This is my second box so far and I am happy with it. There were some good items in this box and I am very satisfied with this box. 

For those of you that don't know, the Popsugar Must Have Box is a monthly box of fabulous essentials delivered straight to your door. The cost of the box is 39.95 per month. You can get yours here. Use code REFER5 to save $5 off your first box.

The first item is the Produce Candle: Rhubarb Spring Candle. This candle smells like a crispy, sunny spring day. It is made with natural soy wax. The candle is well made and a perfect size to keep on your kitchen table or window ledge. Retail price: $20. 

The next product is the Potting Shed Creation: Garden in a Bag Basil. Even though the instructions seem a little complicated, I think its worth the try to have fresh basil in my house and I am going to try to use it. Retail price: $10.

The next product is the Flip & Tumble 24-7 Bag. I think this bag is great because it is easy to open and easy to fold up. It can fit in your purse and is durable enough to carry groceries. Retail price: $12. This box also contains a 20% off coupon code to Flip & Tumble. 

The next product is the One Love Organics: Gardenia + Tea Antioxidant Body Serum. I have never used a serum on my skin after showering but this one seems light and the fragrance is really nice so I am going to give it a try. Retail Price: $39. 

The next product is the Dabney Lee Dottie Umbrella. This is my favorite item in the box. The color and pattern is really attractive and spring-like making it perfect for an April box. It is a well made umbrella and opens and closes with the press of button. Retail Price: $20

This box comes with a $25 gift card to Mott 50 as the Special Extra. I checked out their website and they have stylish clothing with 50 UPF (ultraviolet protection factor). 

This box has retail value of $101 which seems fair to me. The umbrella and the candle were my favorite products in the box but I also liked the other products. I hope you enjoyed this review! Check back next month for the May box review. 

Here is the sneak peek! 

POPSUGAR Must Have Box March 2015

I finally received my first POPSUGAR Must Have Box! I was very excited to open it. I wasn't very surprised because the March box has been out for a couple of weeks but I was still happy to have it.

The Popsugar Must Have Box is a monthly box of fabulous essentials delivered straight to your door. The cost of the box is 39.95 per month. You can get yours here. Use code REFER5 to save $5 off your first box.

PopSugar Must Have March 2015 Box

The first product is Halfpops (Halfpopped Popcorn) which is a gluten-free snack that tastes great. Sugg. Retail: $1.69, I had some as a snack and it was really good and satisfied my hunger for a bit. 

The next product is the Bliss Micromagic Microdermabrasion Treatment. Sugg. Retail: $48

This is a full sized product and its made by Bliss which is one of my favorite skin care brands. It contains volcanic pumice and soothing aloe to gently massage on the face so you can have that spa-feeling right at home. I was happy with this product.

Next is the Knock Knock What to Pack Pad Sugg. Retail $7

I liked this pad because I always make my own when I take a trip so this will come in handy. It comes with 60 sheets so you can share some with a friend. 

Next is the Wet Brush (The Squirt) Sugg. Retail $4.99

This brush has flexible bristles and states it can be used on wet or dry hair. I think its a great brush for traveling or to keep in your purse or car. 

Another great product is the Greenmarket Purveying Co. The Archivist Lemon+Cucumber Reed Diffuser Kit. Sugg Retail $20

I used to use diffusers all the time and am happy that I have a new one. The fragrance is great!

The Popsugar Exclusive Item was the Samudra Pink Pina Zip Pouch. It is much bigger than I thought it would be. It's a good pouch to keep your beach stuff in such as lotions and sunscreens or maybe even a wet bikini. It can be used to keep travel items in or even to store your Ipad mini. Sugg. Retail $40

The last item (Special Extra) is the Benefit Cosmetic Roller Lash Mascara and POREfessional. It is considered a deluxe sample and has no suggested retail price.

Well that's everything. My favorite items are the Pink Pina Pouch and the Reed Diffuser. I actually liked the Bliss Micromagic Microdermabrasion but I'm not sure if I will use it. My least favorite item was the Wet Brush. The value of the box was around $120.00 dollars so it was well worth the $39.95 monthly price! Well I hope you enjoyed this review. Be sure to check back for the April Box!!


Sneak Peak for next month:

Food As Medicine

Welcome to my series on Food as Medicine!! I hope you join me on facebook to learn interesting facts on how what's in your local supermarket or farmer's market can help heal, prevent and improve any medical ailment you may have. Click here to view on facebook.

For the next 30 days or so, I would like to share a food a day and what medicinal properties it possesses. I have shared the various foods on facebook and would like to share them here as well.

1. Chia Seeds

So what is so healthy about Chia Seeds? 

*they are good for weight loss because they are high in fiber and make you feel full!
*they contain Omega-3 so they are great for your health and may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering cholesterol.
*they taste great and can be added to yogurt, fresh fruit and cereal
*they give you an energy boost from natural sources, in face Chia means "strength"
*they are high in calcium so they are great for bone and teeth health

Be sure to pick some up and add them to your diet 
Note: if you allergic to sesame or mustard seed or are on blood pressure medication or blood thinners be sure to see your doctor first.

2. Kale

So why is Kale good for you?

*Kale is high in fiber and contains antioxidants
*Kale is high in Vitamin C, K, A and Calcium
*Kale is an anti-inflammatory food meaning it can help prevent autoimmune disease and other disease like arthritis and asthma
*Kale is a detox food meaning it produces enzymes that your liver can use to fight cancer and other disease.
Try to include it in your diet 

3. Coconut Water

Did you know that coconut water was using during the wars, such as the Vietnam war,  as an intravenous hydration fluid in some developing countries where medical saline was unavailable? It contains the chemical equivalent as human plasma and, unless the coconut has been opened, it is considered to be sterile.

So why is it healthy? 
*Coconut water has high potassium and may be a natural way to raise energy levels.
*It is low in calories and it healthier than consuming sugared sport drinks
*It is excellence for hydration and has been used for hydration for many years in other countries where water sources are sparse.
*It has anti-oxidant qualities that may play a role in anti-cancer and anti-aging
*Coconut water is excellent to add to shakes, especially to take the place of high sugar juices

4. Spinach

As most people know spinach is a very healthy food. What makes it so healthy? 

*it contains high levels of iron, calcium and vitamin A
*it also contains high levels of folate so its a good choice in pregnancy
*Rich in vitamins and minerals, it is also concentrated in health-promoting phytonutrients such as carotenoids (beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin) and flavonoids to provide you with powerful antioxidant protection.
*it has anti-inflammatory qualities so it protects against cardiovascular problems and cancer
Be sure to get your spinach and eat it raw, as a salad, or add it to sandwiches and omelets!

5. Blueberries

Whats so great about blueberries?

*they contain large amounts of antioxidants which means they may protect again heart disease, cancer and aging. They may even be able to help with cognitive skills and reduce cholesterol, raise HDL cholesterol, and lower triglycerides levels
*they are high in fiber and make great snacks
*kids love them!

6. Grapefruit

Another amazing food is grapefruit. The benefits of grapefruit:

*high in Vitamin C
*The rich pink and red colors of grapefruit are due to lycopene, a carotenoid phytonutrient. Lycopene appears to have anti-tumor activity. It may reduce a man's chance of prostate cancer.
*Grapefruit contains pectin, a form of soluble fiber that has been shown in animal studies to slow down the progression of atherosclerosis
Get yourselves some grapefruit! I had one tonight and it was delicious 

Stayed tuned everyday for new foods! 

Countdown to Halloween: Retro vs Modern Costumes

One of my favorite holidays is on its way...Halloween! I loved it as a kid and now its exciting to see how much my girls love it. The costumes have changed over the years but the fun has stayed the same. Trick or treating, Halloween parties and decorations have always been fun.

My Favorite Halloween Costume as a Kid: 
When I was 8 or 9 years old, my mom got me a Strawberry Shortcake costume and it basically was made up of a plastic mask and a plastic dress that tied in the back. I loved it and wore it for several years in a row! It looked like this:

My daughter has expressed some interest in being Strawberry Shortcake this year and right its a toss up between Strawberry Shortcake and a Bumble Bee.

Halloween of Recent Years:

For my daughter's first Halloween she was Sulley from Monster's Inc and last year she was a Ladybug. Her older big sister was a Pirate Girl and last year a Flamenco Dancer. Her other big sister was Tinkerbell and Ariel.

Sulley, Tinkerbell and Pirate

To Party or Not to Party: 

Last year I threw a party for the kids, it took alot of planning and time so I don't know if I will do it again this year but I'm thinking about it. The parents thanked me last year because Hurricane Sandy came on Halloween and the kids weren't able to go trick-or-treating so the party was their Halloween. 

What are your plans for Halloween? Any Parties? What was your favorite costume as a kid? What are your kids dressing up as? Leave a comment and let me know! The countdown to Halloween is here! We can't wait! New pics will soon follow.

Fall Fun: Apple Picking

Fall is almost officially upon us and I find myself trying to find fun activities to do with the kids. This year we plan to go apple and pumpkin picking. Here are some tips to keep the kiddies and parents happy.

Choosing an apple/pumpkin picking farm: 

1. Pick a farm close to where you live. Driving for many hours to a farm with children can be a difficult task. Try to keep the ride to an hour or less if possible. Your kids will be happy and so will you!

2. Pick a farm where you can pick-your-own. Pick-your-own (or PYO) farms are the most fun farms for kids. Reaching up into a tree and picking the best looking apples is fun for everyone. Going into the pumpkin patch is a great adventure for kids and they will get to experience the true energy of the season.

3. Pick a farm with a hayride. Hayrides are fun! Whether its a short ride to the best harvest or a long hay ride around the entire farm, hayrides are like a roller coaster of the farm.

4. Extra stuff. There are farms that have petting zoos, cider markets, small restaurants and even entertainment!

Apple-Picking schedule

Don't pick from the ground! 

The hubby getting the hard-to-reach apples

Apples make her happy!

Get Inspired Pin Party!

I was invited to participate in a pinning party. Please read below to find out how to get involved! And NOW our Featured PIN"s will be a REQUIRED re-pin in order to link-up the following week! That means, if you are Featured, and we have 60 link-up's that weekend, your PIN will be RE-PINNED 66 times including the hosts & co-hosts. The number of times your Featured Pin will get re-pinned depends on the amount of link-ups we have that week.   LOTS AND LOTS of exposure for your blog. What do you all think about that?  

Here's more on what's changing!

1. You can now link-up ANY pins that you'd like with the exception of Giveaways.
2. This hop will now be featured on 6 blogs! We have added 3 WEEKLY co-host spots. <---WOW :D
3. The weekly co-hosts will be selecting the FEATURED PINS at each week's party.
4. Every week, each FEATURED PINNER will be given the option to co-host the FOLLOWING week's party! :)

Yes, we're making it MORE FUN to Link-up with us :)