Blog - This Talk Ain't Cheap!

Small Ways to Make Big Changes in the Products You Use

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FreeofSulfates #CollectiveBias

A few months ago I had one of those scary parenting moments. My daughter suddenly became sick and we couldn’t figure out why. She had a sore throat and was very congested and it looked like she just had a bad cold, but after weeks of not getting better, I took her to the doctor. Turns out she wasn’t really sick in the traditional sense. She didn’t have strep and her throat wasn’t red. She didn’t have anything wrong with her nose or ears. The doctor suggested it was probably allergies. Although my daughter never had allergies before, it made sense to me. Until it didn’t. She still didn’t get better and after several more days, my husband casually commented, “I bet it’s that slime she’s playing with that is making her sick.” Bingo! A light went on. Her symptoms came on just at the same time she started making homemade slime. I just knew she was probably allergic to the ingredients that she played with on a daily basis. We banned all those immediately and within a day, she was all better. Wow!

I’ve spent years purchasing products that were probably not good for us. I know that deep inside. It just wasn’t until the slime scare that I started paying more attention to what I was bringing into my home… and to what my kids were using.

I wanted to share with you some easy ways to make small changes that can make a big difference for you and your family.

CHECK THESE THINGS FIRST.

Body Products. What exactly are you putting on your body? You probably haven’t thought that much about it, right? It’s easy to start reading body care labels too and make some easy swaps. I’ve been a big fan of AVEENO® products for years and recently fell in love with their hair care products like sulfate-free AVEENO PURE RENEWAL® Shampoo and Conditioner. AVEENO PURE RENEWAL® Shampoo and Conditioner contains naturally derived cleansers and a sulfate free formula to gently cleanse your hair and scalp. Love the light scent and the way my hair doesn’t end up completely frizzy after I shampoo. It’s dye-free and paraben-free so your hair can go back to its naturally, healthy, balanced state. Always follow instructions on the packaging for best results. Try their line of lotions too… they’re fabulous and I always have a bottle on my nightstand.

Laundry Detergent. Start reading the labels on the products you are washing your clothes in. It seems silly, but you already know that anything that is ON your clothes will then be ON your body. You smell the scents, feel the fabrics, and nothing is more up-close-and-personal than your clothes. I’ve always been an all® laundry detergent fan, but I’ve recently started buying the new sulfate-free all® fresh clean ESSENTIALS®.

NEW sulfate free all® fresh clean ESSENTIALS® delivers a powerful clean without harshness. And who wants harsh on their clothes? Nope, you want a proven and effective deep cleaning and stain lifting product. all® fresh clean ESSENTIALS® includes the ingredients on the back of the bottle so you know exactly what is going into your family’s laundry.

Household Cleaners. We all know that there are safer cleaners out there. One thing I’ve been doing is making my own. There are so many natural cleaning products you probably already have in your home. Things like baking soda and white vinegar can clean almost anything. Try using them in your shower to get rid of mold, as a cleaning agent for carpet stains, and try the vinegar when cleaning your windows. Some vinegar and water in a spray bottle can get rid of most grime around the house… and you don’t have any chemical smells lingering.

CHECK THESE THINGS NEXT.

Air fresheners. It’s all too easy to grab some off-the-shelf air freshener, but it’s just as easy (and safer) to grab a few bottles of essential oils. Some lavender or lemon drops can freshen up your sofa, your bedding, even your towels. Take a spray bottle of fresh water and add some essential oils and spray on your smelly surfaces. Use it in those places that start to smell like mildew… the basement, the garage, the hall closet.

Makeup products. I already talked about your body products (like shampoo, conditioner, body lotion), but slowly start checking what makeup you are putting on your skin. Read labels! If you can’t pronounce the ingredients, chances are you probably shouldn’t have them seeping into your pores. I love mineral makeups and anything natural. I’m especially sensitive to my eye makeup. There are plenty of natural cosmetics out there. Take a look for yourself and start cutting out the chemical products you are using.

Water bottles. Yep… I’m going there. Go ahead and ditch the cases of water bottles you have. Not only are they probably full of toxins, but how often do you really recycle them? Plus, they take up space and cost money. Purchase a BPA-free reusable water bottle. Better yet, get one that has an infuser so you can add your own lemon, lime, or orange slices and create your own flavored water. SO much better for you and tastier too. I’ve started carrying around a reusable water bottle and I find that I’m drinking so much more water than when I was buying individual water bottles. And it’s healthier water, too.

It really isn’t that hard to make small changes that can have a BIG impact on your home and your health. Don’t do everything at once… start with one thing at a time and keep going. Small changes yield big results.

Try all® fresh clean ESSENTIALS® for yourself with this $0.50 coupon (while supplies last).

And save $1.00 on AVEENO PURE RENEWAL® Shampoo or Conditioner.

Shop at Walmart for the amazing all® fresh clean ESSENTIALS® (found on the top shelf in the laundry detergent aisle) and AVEENO PURE RENEWAL® Shampoo and Conditioner (found with traditional hair care products).

Learn more about the changes you can make and let me know one thing you’ve swapped out to create a safer home.

travel

Visiting Seattle with Kids

The first time I visited Seattle, I was on a weekend getaway with my husband. We chose the city because we both love going places we’ve never been before and I had never been to Seattle. We had a fantastic time and I knew I would want to go back with the entire family.

About a year later, we had the chance to take the kids for a weekend. My philosophy of traveling with kids is that there is always something to do no matter how old they are. Even though traveling with kids can sometimes be a headache, it builds incredible memories that will last a lifetime.

So let’s get to it… 10 things to do in Seattle with kids!

1. Pike Place Market

A trip to Seattle MUST include a visit (or two or three) to Pike Place Market. This is a combination open-air market and shopping mall with unique shops and eateries. No name brand stores here, but you will enjoy browsing all the knick knacks and homemade goods, not to mention the produce and fresh flowers available. Watch the fishmongers throw the fish at the corner fish market and grab some apple cider. You will see fruits and vegetables that you probably haven’t seen before and some pretty awesome crafts.

2. Bainbridge Island

Seattle is a seaport city so you can’t possibly visit without taking a trip across Puget Sound to Bainbridge Island. Ferries leave regularly and the ride will be as enjoyable as the island. This rustic little island has shopping and restaurants and is the perfect place to enjoy a long walk and relax by the bay. Get the kids some ice cream and make it a family day.

3. Boeing Factory Tour

We actually took the Boeing Factory Tour without the kids the first time we were in Seattle. But really… take the kids. You will actually get to see first hand and up close how airplanes are built. It’s fascinating and you will never look at an airplane the same way again. You don’t have to be an aviation fanatic to enjoy this tour. Wear comfortable shoes as you will be walking through the large hangers. We LOVED this tour!

4. Seattle Aquarium

It doesn’t matter how old you are, you will be fascinated by the Seattle Aquarium. They have such interesting exhibits and you will get the opportunity to learn more about Puget Sound. I love that they have live cams of several exhibits and you can take a look online and see the sea creatures you will be visiting. Check their event page before you go to see if they are having anything special going on. They also periodically have what they call “Meet us at the beach!” Naturalists from the Aquarium will be at local beaches during low tide to share their expertise about the sea. Super fun!

5. Smith Building

Forget the Space Needle and visit the Smith Tower instead. This art deco building and Seattle’s first skyscraper, has a 360 degree viewing platform and gives you an incredible view of Seattle and Puget Sound. The Smith Tower was developed by L.C. Smith, the man who started Smith Typewriters. If you are even a smidge a fan of the vintage typewriter, you’ll love visiting the gift shop. There is a fee to climb the vintage Otis elevators (complete with elevator operator) to the top, but it’s so worth it. The kids will love it. Oh, and there is a restaurant/bar at the top so you can sit and enjoy a bit or a drink while you take in the beauty of the city.

6. Underground Tour

The first time we visited Seattle, I thought this was silly and didn’t bother going. The second time, when we went back with the kids, we decided it would be fun for the family… it was! Definitely make time for Bill Speidel’s Underground Tour. There are a few different variations, but take the original. Yes… you do actually go underground – bring comfortable walking shoes. This isn’t a tour for strollers so make sure your kids are strong walkers. For those that don’t know, Seattle was originally a much lower city than it is today. I don’t want to give too much away because the tour will explain how Seattle built itself up on top of the original stores. Great tales for any history buff. Worth the price.

7. Seattle Great Wheel

Similar to the great wheel in Las Vegas, the Seattle Great Wheel is enormous and is located on Pier 57. Each gondola seats 8 people so take the whole family and get a bird’s eye view of Puget Sound. Not for those afraid of heights, but pretty awesome for the chance to ride one of the world’s largest Ferris Wheels.

8. Seattle Seahawks Game

I am not what you would consider a big sports fan, but when we are in strange cities, I do love to experience a game in their own stadium. It’s always fun to go sit with the local fans and root for the home team… even if the home team isn’t YOUR home team. When we were visiting Seattle, the Seahawks were in town and EVERYONE was dressed in blue and green. Grab tickets in advance (if you can) and make a point of spending an afternoon at CenturyLink Field.

9. Woodland Park Zoo

Yes… the zoo! Every single zoo I’ve been to is unique in its own way. You will see the traditional animals, but there are always unique exhibits to the local area that you won’t see anywhere else. The Woodland Park Zoo has a petting zoo, baby gorillas, you can experience the giraffe’s up close and personal, and learn how to care for animals from the zookeepers themselves. Check out their special events if you are planning a trip. Doesn’t matter what age your kids are… zoos are amazing places to visit!

10. Japanese Garden

Just beautiful! If you want a fantastic place to take photographs, this is it. The Seattle Japanese Garden gives complimentary tours with admission price or you can wander around on your own. Make sure to sign up for the Tea Ceremony (costs extra) but is so worth it to learn about the beautiful tradition of serving tea. Come ready to relax. Good walking shoes a must as some parts of the gardens are not accessible to strollers and wheelchairs.

Recipes

Decadent S’mores Ice Cream Parfaits Recipe

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SameTasteNewLook #CollectiveBias

I had you at… S’mores ice cream parfait… didn’t I?

You know all about Pi Day, right? On March 14 (3.14) we celebrate mathematics because 3.14 is the mathematical number for Pi. Last March 14, my daughter came home from school all excited because they had pies in her math class and she wouldn’t stop talking about the best chocolate pie she ever tasted. Now, my daughter doesn’t even like chocolate pies (which happen to be my absolute favorite), but this one she said I had to go out and buy right away. It ended up being an Edwards® Chocolate Pie. So yes, I ran to Walmart and bought one… and darn it, if that wasn’t one of the best chocolate pies I’ve ever had!

Now, Edwards® pies are our go-to when we are looking for an easy dessert idea for a birthday, graduation, retirement, or work or school event. I’d like to say I always keep one in the freezer, but that would be a lie. I can’t keep them at all… my kids will sniff out that pie even when I have it hidden under bags and bags of vegetables. If you’ve ever purchased an Edwards® pie before, watch out for their new look – new packaging but still the same great taste. You can find them at Walmart in the frozen dessert aisle.

One of their new flavors is the S’mores Pie. It reminded me of the yummy ice cream mud pies I used to make all the time. The problem is, those take a while to make and why go to all that trouble when half of your recipe has already been created perfectly for you? Since the school year is coming to a close, I thought I’d whip up some fun desserts for the kids… and ones that can be kept in the freezer for any time the urge for a decadent dessert strikes you.

So get ready to drool with these S’mores Ice Cream Parfaits.

Ingredients:

Edwards® S’mores Pie
Ice Cream (I like coffee, but you can also use chocolate or vanilla)
Whipped Cream
Sprinkles (or other dessert toppings)

I’m a big mason jar fan. I don’t know why other than they are incredibly versatile and look so darn cute. Desserts in mason jars? Oh yes! You can purchase these at Walmart in all different sizes.

So this is how I assemble these to best work when you are re-freezing.

Start with clean mason jars (use as small or as large as you like). I leave the coffee ice cream out for a while so it’s nice and soft. I want to add very soft ice cream to half of the mason jar so it completely covers the jar. It should look like the entire bottom half of the jar is full of ice cream.

Put the top back on the mason jars and stick them in the freezer. You want that ice cream to freeze back up again. If you are doing these for a special dessert, make sure you prepare the ice cream jars in the morning or the day before.

When ready to serve, take out the jars. Use a large spoon to dish out the Edwards® S’mores Pie and start filling the rest of the mason jar. Once filled, you can do 2 things: either put the top back on and refreeze with the pie inside the jar ( this is great to do if you really don’t want to spend time in the kitchen preparing dessert) OR, you can top with more ice cream, whipped cream and sprinkles and serve immediately. The combination of the frozen ice cream and the creaminess of the pie is a real treat. All your favorites in one decadent dessert.

Treat yourself for a job well-done. Believe me, after the last few weeks, I deserve this! I also picked up an Edwards® Keylime Pie to have just in case. It wasn’t easy to choose among all the flavors:

Edwards® Reese’s Peanut Butter Crème Pie
Edwards® Strawberry Crème Pie
Edwards® Vanilla Caramel Crème Pie
Edwards® Premium Pie Pumpkin
Edwards® Triple Coconut Pie
Edwards® Georgia Pecan Pie
Edwards® Lemon Meringue Pie
Edwards® Cookies N Crème Pie
Edwards® Turtle Crème Pie
Edwards® Key Lime Pie
Edwards® Premium Banana Crème Pie
Edwards® New York Style Cheesecake

Truth time… which pie would be your first choice?

books

Food on Foot – Book Review

I received an advanced copy of Food on Foot: A History of Eating on Trails and in the Wild for review. This post contains affiliate links.

Food on Foot: A History of Eating on Trails and in the Wild

Guess what we’ve been doing the last few days of Spring Break? If you guessed we were watching food shows you must know us really well. We get absorbed in food – the flavors, the preparation, and the fascination with foods from around the world. I had the chance to read Food on Foot: A History of Eating on Trails and in the Wild, by Demet Güzey. My pile of food books is piling up and I thought it was such a great idea for Demet to share this aspect of food that really never gets discussed. What DID people eat on those long treks exploring our country?

We all have special connections to food. We remember favorite cereals from when we were kids and chances are, there is still something that our mom (or dad) made that we can’t get enough of. Food plays such an important role in our day-to-day that it makes sense that it would be just as critical, even more so, for those living outdoors. Where do they get their food? Fish? Hunt? Do they bring it with them?

Demet Güzey, PhD., is a writer and lecturer on food and culture and it’s no surprise after reading her book that she is also an avid mountain hiker. But this book doesn’t just cover one aspect of eating outdoors, it covers the entire genre. Demet opens with a discussion on picnics and how they came about. She moves on to explorers, mountain expeditions, desert travel, and even army rations. I bet you never thought about food in this way. Hey, we all need to eat, right?

Some incredible facts you’ll read about in the book are:

trip-de-roche (a type of fungus found in the arctic) kept some of the Polar exlorers alive.
In the late 1700’s it was thought that lemons and limes might prevent scurvy but this wasn’t actually proven until the 1930’s.
The Bedu people of Arabia ate primarily bread and porridge. For every single meal. They were the most hospitable people and offered guests their food before they would eat themselves.
The military was the catalyst for some of our current food processes. American Gail Borden created the process of evaporation and canning milk. Freeze drying was developed during WWII.

The book is well-researched and reads like a combination of textbook and storybook. The tales of explorers and hikers are entertaining and you will learn quite a bit about different parts of the world and cultures. It will expand your food knowledge for sure.

If you are as interested in food as I am, you’ll want to pick up a copy of Food on Foot: A History of Eating on Trails and in the Wild. Such a great gift for foodies and adventurers.

family

5 Ways to Ditch Chronic Back Pain

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. All opinions are mine alone. #StopPainNow #CollectiveBias

I can’t even remember how long I’ve had back pain. I’m sure it must have started when I was pregnant with my first daughter and then proceeded to get worse in the other two pregnancies. Combine that with carrying around 3 kids for years, my horrible posture, and the fact that I work from home, I had to figure out how to ditch the chronic pain before it overwhelmed and debilitated me permanently.

I am way too busy to have to suffer with this. I don’t have time to focus on the pain. My husband has always had back pain as well and he carries heavy video equipment around for a living. We knew this just couldn’t go on any longer and we didn’t want to wake up in the morning dreading having to get ourselves out of bed.

I decided to do some research and figure out how we can not just tolerate the pain, but really overcome it. I’ve learned so much that I want to share. So here are my discoveries and ways you can alleviate back pain.

5 Ways to Alleviate Back Pain

1. Check your posture. I’m pretty sure I’ve never had good posture. I was the one everyone was always telling to straighten up and not be so hunched over. My husband tells me this almost every day. I’m not sure how this started, but I honestly have to make an effort each day to stand up straight. This isn’t an easy one to overcome because having poor posture means you can have everything from neck pain to back pain to headaches to shoulder pain… you get what I’m saying.

It’s a vicious cycle because when your back hurts, you tend to hunch since straightening it hurts even worse. So you are really just making it all worse and it is SO frustrating. You really have to make an effort every day to straighten up. The good thing about this is that it will probably make you look taller and thinner. Win- win!

Tip: To check if you have good posture, stand against a wall with your rear end, shoulders and head touching the wall. Your feet should be slightly away from the wall, not up against it. If the space from your back to the wall (and your neck to the wall) is more than 2 inches, you might have a posture problem.

2. Where are you sitting? I work from home, but this could go for everyone who sits at a job all day. I am one of those people who love to sit in bed with my laptop and work. It is SO bad for you. There is absolutely no support on my back. I also like to sit on the couch and that is just as bad. My dining room chairs are all wood and will kill my back and legs if I sit there for longer than a meal. I actually do have a desk but I rarely use it because it’s kind of tucked away in a dark room. So, one of the things I did was create a way to lessen the stress on my neck and back no matter where I decide to sit and work.a space in my bedroom at my vanity table so I could work there but also have the back support. I can’t stress how much sitting up straight and having that support makes a difference.

I’m sure you’ve seen these back rests around. You can pick them up from home stores or warehouse stores and they aren’t too expensive. It’s not the ideal for helping your back, but it does take some of the strain off if you absolutely have to sit in bed and work. I also drag it out to the couch sometimes when I’m working from there. They are much sturdier than regular pillows that you have to keep propping up behind you.

If you are sitting at a desk, please make sure you either have an ergonomically correct desk chair or at the very least, a chair with a high back. Those of us who sit a lot know that we tend to lose track of time and forget how long we really sit. I’ve started working and 3 hours later realized I haven’t moved.

Tip: Set your phone alarm to go off every 20 minutes. Get up and stretch. Touch your toes, bend your knees. Then go ahead and keep working. You will feel SO much better and your body will thank you.

3. Are you sleeping? A few years ago we were really complaining that we just couldn’t get a good night’s sleep and the back pain was really bad. We decided to invest in a memory foam mattress and it has been a huge life-saver. Not every memory foam mattress will work for every person, but when my kids were all ready for big girl beds, purchasing a top-notch and supportive mattress was a priority for us. Along with a great mattress, having a great pillow is also going to relieve a lot of the pain. The position of your neck will determine how much stress is on your spine. I went back and forth between wanting a flat pillow and wanting a huge, fluffy pillow. Turns out, I kind of needed something in between that would support my neck. I purchased one of those cooling gel pillows and I sleep through the night again.

Tip: If you are waking up at night often, chances are it’s your body’s way of telling you that you aren’t comfortable. I get really hot at night so I tend to kick off the covers. Therefore, even when it’s really cold out, I try and wear cooler pajamas. If you get cold at night, try an extra blanket. Turn the fan on, block out the light, do whatever you need to be comfortable. Lack of sleep isn’t going to do anything to help your pain.

4. Exercise. I know… I hate it too. But there are a few exercises that are especially focused on strengthening your back and you will be so happy you tried them.

These are some good ones for back pain especially:

Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Raise one knee into your chest, then do the other one. Go back and forth. I try and do these at least 4 times each.
Lie on your back, again with your knees bent and rotate them to the left and then to the right. Hold each turn for about 10 seconds. Love this one.
Get on your hands and knees and do the cat stretch. Just like a cat, you will want to arch your back, hold it for a few seconds and then push your tummy towards the floor in the opposite direction. This is awesome when your back is just killing you and you really need to stretch it out.

Tip: I also love doing a little weight training. I feel like when I’m stronger and my muscles are toned, my pain tends to subside. I use 5 lb weights but you can use whatever you feel works for you.

5. Find a great pain supplement. Seriously! Nobody should ever have to live with pain. While you are making adjustments to your lifestyle, it’s perfectly okay to want to take something. Curamin® Extra Strength 60 Count, has become my lifesaver. It is a dietary supplement that I found in Sprouts when I was stocking up on my weekly produce run. The first time I tried these I was really in a bad way. I had done something where I pinched my back and I literally could barely stand up straight. I am a huge skeptic when it comes to pain relievers but I downed 3 pills and went to bed. By morning my pain was gone. Not just a little bit… but G.O.N.E.

Have you heard of Curamin® Stop Pain Now? I’ve seen it around but didn’t realize what a treasure it is. Curamin is the #1 selling brand of pain relief. It is a safe, effective, non-addictive herbal formula. I’m not an over-the-counter pain relief type of person because I’m always worried about side effects. I feel much better taking an herbal formula and now that I know how well it works, I’d be lost without it. And just so you know, it is Vegan, non-GMO, and Kosher. You can take up to 3 tablets a day, either all at once or one pill three times a day.

Focusing more on my posture, supporting my back when I work, and keeping my Curamin handy has definitely made me much happier. No one should have to suffer through chronic back pain.

I’ve already recommended Curamin to some friends and I hope you’ll give it a try. You can find Curamin at health food stores nationwide. Check out this store list and see if you have a retailer near you.

parenting

Beware of Homemade Slime

homemade slime

I’m writing this to let you know our experience with homemade slime. I am not a doctor or a scientist or a chemist. I just don’t want what happened to my daughter to happen to anyone else.

If you have elementary age kids, you are probably familiar with the current slime obsession. My daughter and her friends became obsessed with it a few months ago and couldn’t get enough of it. So much so that they decided they would start making it themselves at home, a simple endeavor providing you have the right ingredients.

Basically, homemade slime consists of:

Borax
White Glue
Water
Shaving Cream
Food Coloring (optional)

You might have also heard how stores can’t even keep enough glue in stock. True story… we had a horrible time finding Elmer’s Glue at our local Walmart, Hobby Lobby and Target.

There are variations of the above for sure, but these ingredients are what my daughter and her friends were using to create their slime.

We are a pretty healthy family. We get our flu shots each year and my kids have never had strep or flu or bronchial illnesses. They have never had more than your basic cold that lasted a few days. When my 12 year old got sick, we thought it was the same basic cold. Symptoms were the same: cough, sore throat, stuffy nose. She was also complaining about headaches and general achiness. Assuming her symptoms would be relieved in a few days, we didn’t pay them much mind. Unfortunately, they didn’t go away. At all. Weeks later, we were still left wondering what on earth was going on. To the doctor we went. We had her take a throat culture, check her lungs, and ears and sinuses. She found nothing. Other than your basic cold symptoms, there wasn’t anything wrong with her on the surface.

You know how as a parent you just kind of the get the feeling that there is more to something than meets the eye? My husband was actually the one who connected the dots. He told me one night, “Do you think it could have something to do with the slime she’s been making?”

It was like a lightbulb went off. It kind of made sense all of a sudden. From that moment, we banned her from making, holding, touching or even looking at that darn slime.

The very next day, her headache went away. Her throat didn’t hurt anymore. She still had some congestion, but wasn’t coughing. Two days later, the congestion started going away. She was breathing better and talking better. No more achiness.

What the what??? Could the homemade slime have been poisoning my daughter?

Then this article started to make it around on some of my friends’ Facebook feeds: Schoolyard Slime Craze Risk to Children Says Experts.

So I started to investigate a little more about what on earth my child was getting into. What I found out was disturbing.

BORAX – From the website, CQ Concepts:

Boric acid, sodium borate, and sodium perborate are estimated to have a fatal dose from 0.1 to 0.5g/kg. These substances are toxic to all cells, and have a slow excretion rate through the kidneys. Kidney toxicity is the greatest, with liver fatty degeneration, cerebral edema, and gastroenteritis. Boric acid solutions used as an eye wash or on abraded skin are known to be especially toxic to infants, especially after repeated use due to its slow elimination rate.

GLUE – From the website, Mediline Plus:

Symptoms of breathing in (“sniffing”) glue fumes may include:

Anxiety
Convulsions (from breathing in large amounts)
Drunk, dazed, or dizzy appearance
Excitability
Headache
Irritability
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Red, runny nose
Low oxygen level in the blood and organs (respiratory failure)
Stupor
Seizures
Coma

SHAVING CREAM – From the website, How Stuff Works:

Propolene glycol is a humectant like glycerin, but unlike glycerin, it’s more frequently found in antifreeze and brake fluid. Triethanolamine, better known as TEA, is an emulsifying agent, meaning it helps keep the oil and water from separating. It’s also a very controversial ingredient in the cosmetic industry because not only is it a skin irritant, but many formulas containing TEA are found to be contaminated with nitrosamines, which are linked to cancer. Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulphate (SLES) are two more controversial skincare ingredients. These make a great lather, but they also have a number of health implications. Lauryl mimics estrogen, which is especially problematic for women, and laureth often hosts a known carcinogen called dioxane.

Scary stuff.

Toxic. Respiratory Failure. Seizures. Cancer. Coma.

No thank you! Can I ever be 100% sure that the homemade slime ingredients were causing my daughter’s illness? Probably not. But… one thing I’ve learned in 17 years of parenting is never to ignore your gut instinct… and ours said that making slime was hurting our kid.

All I can say is please be informed. What seemed so innocent turned out to be full of ingredients that are deadly. So even though these ingredients might have really had nothing to do with Lauryn being sick, the fact remains that these ingredients are dangerous and have no business being in the hands of children. Or anyone.

Have you had experience with similar symptoms? Would love to hear if this has happened to anyone else.

Recipes

How to Make the Best Coffee Latte at Home

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LatteMadeEasy #CollectiveBias

If you see me around town and I’m kind of grumpy, chances are I skipped my morning coffee. I rarely do but it does happen every now and then. I have tried to remedy this situation by prepping my coffee pot the night before so all we need to do is press “Brew” when we wake up. So far, so good. Since I work from home and don’t have time (or money) to spend at a coffee shop, I make sure I have what I need to make the best coffee latte at home.

How to Make the Best Coffee Latte at Home

Step 1: Start with a mug 3/4 full of your favorite coffee.

I love a good Colombian coffee. A medium blend is best for us since I hate weak coffee but I can’t stomach anything too strong either. I also hate fussing with things in the kitchen and when I want my coffee, I want it NOW. Flavored creamers are a staple in my house, but the new One Touch Latte™ from International Delight® takes your coffee to new heights. It’s the first frothing coffee creamer. How cool!

Step 2: Shake the One Touch Latte™ can.

Make sure to shake your can well so all that goodness inside mixes up right. Instructions are on the back of the can.

Step 3: Press and hold the can above the coffee for 5-7 seconds.

Check out the video below to find out exactly how to use these new One Touch Latte™ cans. It’s so easy that you will have a frothy yummy latte in seconds. You just press and hold for 5 – 7 seconds (but don’t insert the nozzle into the coffee). Not only does it look amazing… it tastes amazing. Each can has approximately 7 uses so stock up on all the flavors so you never run out.

The new One Touch Latte™ comes in three flavors: Vanilla, Caramel and Mocha so you can change your lattes up depending on your mood. I love a Vanilla Latte in the morning and Caramel or Mocha Lattes later in the day or in the evening. Yes, I DO drink coffee in the evenings and NO they don’t keep me up at night.

Morning Latte

Evening Latte

You can purchase these at Walmart in the milk/creamer aisle near all of the International Delight products.

I recommend purchasing all the flavors because if you’re like me, you don’t want to find yourself with an empty can first thing in the morning. It won’t bode well for the day. Trust me!

What is your favorite time of day to have a latte?

family organizing

Easy Refrigerator Organization

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #OrganizeWithBrilliance #CollectiveBias

I’ve been struggling for a long time to try and figure out how to better manage the space in my house. We have a starter house, meaning when we bought it we only expected to stay a few years and then move on to a larger home. That didn’t happen and 3 kids later, we are kind of busting at the seems here. Closet space is limited, bathroom space is limited, and kitchen space… well, don’t get me started. We cook a lot and you all know how much 3 kids eat, so I decided the kitchen would be the first space I tackle in a big way… starting with easy refrigeration organization so I don’t end up running out of food on those mornings when everyone in the family needs lunches packed.

Part of the problem I have is that everyone likes different foods. My grocery list is ridiculous and although I always buy the staples I need every week, it’s inevitable that I forget that Lauryn needs juice boxes and Amanda won’t eat certain types of cookies. Temera is picky and if she doesn’t have her favorites she won’t take anything at all. And breakfasts… oh please! The husband needs his yogurt and gets annoyed when the kids eat it all and leave him with nothing. So I decided to start from scratch and empty the entire fridge. Take it all out, do a deep clean and then make that overpriced appliance work for me!

Now I only want to do this once so I went about this with the idea that what we don’t see in the fridge doesn’t get eaten. It gets pushed in the back and then when we suddenly need sour cream, we dig deep and find something covered in green mold with an expiration date from 6 months ago. Nope… not going to happen anymore. I knew that in-fridge storage needed to happen and I started with the 10 Piece Rubbermaid® BRILLIANCE™ set. Why? Because I totally trust Rubbermaid® products and the BRILLIANCE™’s product features deliver in a way that other storage solutions do not. They are 100% leakproof, stain and odor resistant, they stack perfectly, and they are crystal clear! Meaning… we can actually SEE the food we are storing.

Easy Refrigerator Organization Steps

1. Take it all out! I mean, really… take out everything from your refrigerator. Have your kitchen or dining table free of anything else and have an area for each category (fruits, vegetables, dairy, snacks, breakfasts, etc.). Figure out what the best organization is for you and your family. I decided to have all my family’s grab-n-go items on one shelf smack in the middle of the refrigerator. That way, I won’t have to hear… “Mom, where is….?”

2. Do a deep clean! Really scrub that fridge down so you are starting with a spotless and odorless space.

3. Get your Rubbermaid® BRILLIANCE™ containers ready. I cleaned all mine in the dishwasher prior to using for the first time. Yep… they are dishwasher safe.

4. Fill your containers and if necessary, label them. The Rubbermaid® BRILLIANCE™ can also go in the freezer and since they don’t stain like other products do, you can go ahead and microwave those leftovers or casseroles right in the container. Just unlock the sides of the top before turning on the microwave. Tiny holes on the sides will let air circulate. Love that!

5. Start putting back your refrigerated products where you want them to go so that they are placed exactly where you will be able to see them and have easy access.

6. Stand back and look at how beautiful your refrigerator is. Your family will be so impressed!

While I DID get rid of a lot of old and outdated items, I found that the containers actually made the refrigerator look less crowded overall. And when you can easily see what you have, it makes it much easier to know what you need. I have found that when I give my kids their own grocery list to fill out, I can actually limit my shopping to once a week because I know I’m getting everything they need.

Print your own list and let each family member add to it during the week. (Click on image)

My family actually loved these containers so much they made me throw out ALL the old ones and just keep the Rubbermaid® BRILLIANCE™ ones. It does make it easier to rely on one awesome brand that can be used for everything: refrigerator, freezer, shelf storage, microwave, and is dishwasher safe.

Rubbermaid® BRILLIANCE™ is available nationwide at Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, Amazon, and other fine retailers.

How would you use the 10 Piece Rubbermaid® BRILLIANCE™ in your kitchen?

Learn more about Rubbermaid® BRILLIANCE™ on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube.

travel

We Took a Carnival Cruise – The Honest Review

Warning: this is a LONG post about our Carnival Cruise experience. There was so much to write about and I wanted to make sure you had ALL the information you needed. I am by no means a cruising expert, but I got tired of searching for cruise reviews and not finding anything specific. Feel free to bookmark this page and come back to it when you are ready to start planning your own cruise. If I remember anything else, I’ll add it in later.

I’ve cruised three times in my life. The first one just got my feet wet with a 3 day cruise to Mexico. We stopped in Ensenada, not a huge tourist destination, but it was fun and got me hooked on cruising. The second cruise I took was to Alaska. It was amazing, although I had three little kids with me at the time so all I remembered about the actual ship part was the fact that I was running after my kids the entire time.

The third cruise was this past December, a Carnival Cruise from New Orleans to the Western Caribbean. This time, the kids were old enough to have their own room, meaning I really got to experience the ship without being tugged on the entire time. There was a lot of good… and a little bad… and I kept wishing I had read some better written (and more honest) reviews before we set sail. Not that we wouldn’t have gone… it would just have been nice to be better prepared.

So, since nothing on this trip was sponsored, I’m sharing the things I wish I had known.

The Rooms

This was my first time sailing on Carnival. I’ve been on Royal Caribbean and Princess before, but the rooms on the Carnival Dream were the biggest so far. Our room had the two twin beds pushed together to make a king bed, and we had what could have been the 3rd bed as a sofa. What struck me most was that there were TWO bathrooms in the room. One had a sink, toilet and stand-up shower. The other had a sink and a tub/shower. Although it would have been nice to have two toilets, the fact that both my husband and I could get ready at the same time in the morning was a really nice bonus. The bathrooms are way too small for two people to be in at the same time. There were also two separate closets, another storage area where kept all our luggage, and an area with shelving for clothes. That was in addition to more drawer space and a desk. There was also a safe and a mini fridge. Pretty swanky. We had the opportunity to ask for bathrobes as well, but we decided we didn’t really need them. Oh yes… and the room had a hair dryer as well. One of the things I loved was the full dispenser of shampoo and body wash attached to the showers in both bathrooms. You don’t have to worry about carrying soap and shampoo with you… unless you want to. I still needed my conditioner.

My three girls had the room next to us. It looked exactly the same expect for the twin beds were left apart and the sofa was turned into a 3rd bed. Worked out perfectly!

One thing I wanted to add was that my in-laws were up on the 6th floor (we were on the 2nd) and they had a balcony room. Our room had an oversized window, which was great. It wasn’t a tiny porthole like we had on Princess, but they were able to actually sit out on the balcony of their room. Sounds great, right? Not so fast. How often do you really use the balcony? Unless you are spending the day in your cabin, it doesn’t get that much use. Also… the rooms with balconies were considerably smaller than our lower floor cabins. And they only had one bathroom!

The Food

Let’s talk food! When you are on a cruise, all the food is included. Kind of. There are other options for eating that actually DO cost money. On the Carnival Dream, there is a steakhouse where reservations are required. The price was $35 per person (not including beverages) and you could choose an appetizer, main course and dessert for that price. We thought about eating there one night instead of the dining room, but we ended up not doing it. The steaks that we had in the main dining room were actually really good. They were small, but the greatest thing about eating in the dining room or buffet is that you can order as many dishes as you like. If you want two steaks, you can order two steaks.

There was also a coffee bar that cost you money as well. You know, for those of you who can’t go a few days without your fancy coffee house drinks. My advice? Get creative. We went into the buffet room and filled a mug with half hot chocolate and half coffee. Voila… you have a pretty decent mocha. And it was FREE.

Also at the coffee bar, they served gelato (for a fee). Silly really when you can go get soft serve ice cream (in a cup or a cone) 24 hours a day for free! Yep… 24 HOURS A DAY!

Okay, back to the food. You have the option of eating in the main dining room or eating at the buffet. There are also other included dining options like 24 hour pizza (and it was amazing), a pasta restaurant (also included) and a 24 hour deli. They had a Mongolian Wok during lunch and also a Tandoori place open for lunch on the back deck. Several of the days they even grilled outdoors… hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages, chicken. Yum!

We decided to have dinner each night in the main dining room. The food was good… not great. Except for the night we were in Belize and they served lobster tails. Phenomenal. I was a little disappointed in the food to tell you the truth. I guess I expected a little better quality. The menu changed each night, although staples like salmon, steak, and chicken were available every night. The desserts left a lot to be desired. The chocolate mousse was great, the creme brulee not so much. My favorite meals were the lobster tails (of course) and the Beef Wellington. Delish!

We ended up having lunch at the buffet a few times… nothing special. Breakfast was the same whether you ate in the dining room or from the buffet. It really was just a matter of whether you wanted table service or to get it yourself. Bacon flowed freely… for those bacon lovers out there.

Like I said, the pizza was fantastic… and the pasta place was also a treat. The kids had reubens from the deli one day and said they were pretty great.

The Drinks

I am putting this as a separate category because there is a drink plan that you can purchase either prior to boarding or once you are on the ship. You have the option of a soda plan or an alcohol plan. For $5 a day (kids) or $7 a day (adults) you can drink soda until you float away. You will have to show your Sign & Sail card every time you request a soda and you’ll have to sign for it… but the only requirement is that you order sodas at least 5 minutes apart. They are on to you… they know you’ll end up getting drinks for everyone in your party and they are trying to avoid that happening.

The sodas on board cost $2.00… so if you are going to be drinking more than 2 or 3 a day, get the plan.

The alcohol plan costs $50 a day. On an 8 day cruise that will wrack up to an extra $400. Only you can decide if it’s worth it. The price of alcoholic drinks vary depending on what kind you are ordering. So… a regular drink can be anywhere from $7 – $12. If you are only getting an afternoon cocktail and then one with dinner, it’s not going to be worth shelling out the money for the plan. Believe me, I’m sure there were people who could have easily spent double that had they NOT gotten the alcohol plan.

So… water is free.

Not exciting, huh? Well, iced tea and lemonade are free as well and they are actually pretty good. I’m very picky about my lemonade but I really liked what they offered. You can go to the buffet any time of day or night and grab water, iced tea or lemonade. Even better if you bring your own water bottle so you can fill up.

On Board Activities

Each day you will receive a Fun Times newsletter in your room sometime in the early evening. This will tell you all about the next day of your cruise. If you are stopping at a port, you will get the rundown of when to debark and whether you will be leaving via gangway or tender. The tender is a boat that takes you from the ship into port on days when the ship drops anchor offshore. We only had to do this in Belize. It took about 20 minutes to get from the ship to shore and you will have to wait for a tender (boat) if there are a lot of people exiting the ship. The gangways were easier…you can get on and off whenever you like. More about the ports later.

That same newsletter also will list everything that is happening on the ship, from dining times to show times to classes and seminars and even movies.

One of our favorite things to do was watch the evening poolside movies. They had two different movies each evening and we would get blankets and lay on the lounge chairs on deck. Popcorn was free (as well as pizza and lemonade) and the movies were really good. One night was a double feature of The Avengers: Age of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War.

The big push on the ship was the Fun Shops. There was a gift shop, a candy shop, and a jewelry store. The jewelry store was constantly pushing their diamonds and other gems. All duty free. Great if you are from outside the USA, but I didn’t see any better prices than what we get here. I did buy a pair of Swarovski crystal earrings, however. They were pretty.

I thought the shops on our Princess cruise were much better… more variety for sure.

Every day there were trivia contests in one of the lounges. These were fun… but when all you win is a ship on a stick, it gets a little old. There were also some music trivia dance-offs and a lot of singers/bands in various lounges throughout the ship. They were pretty good if you want to just sit inside and listen to live music.

We didn’t get to the karaoke room but if you’re into that, they’ve got it.

We did go to several of the comedy nights. They have two different types (the PG13 version and the R rated version). We took the kids to the PG13 shows and we all really enjoyed them. Very funny… much better than some of the comedians I’ve seen here in Los Angeles.

If shows are your thing, they have those too. We only saw one of the live shows and it was a country show… songs and dancing. Not a huge country fan, but it was great for what it was. My in-laws went to one of the other shows and said it was fabulous. You kind of need to decide what your “thing” is. Do you like live shows, comedy, movies, music? There is something for everyone but you really can only choose one or two a night.

All in all, the activities are only as good as you want them to be. If you like to meet new people and are a joiner, you’ll love them. I’m not a meet-new-people kind of person so I preferred to hang out on deck reading a good book. (I read two of them.)

Excursions

Where do I begin? Excursions booked through the cruise line are expensive… especially if you are purchasing for a family of 5. The good thing about purchasing this way is that if there is any type of problem at all (we had one of our excursion cancelled unexpectedly) you are covered. For instance, we received an immediate refund of our excursion fee so we were able to purchase an alternate excursion. You do NOT need to purchase prior to boarding despite the push to do so. You can purchase excursions while on the ship. They will just be billed to your ship & sail card. Another benefit in booking through the cruise line is that if you get stuck on a trip and can’t make it back to the ship on time, the ship will wait for you prior to sailing. They will not wait if you book on your own. Also, when you are traveling to a strange area, it’s kind of scary to book excursions on your own. We had never been to these locations before so I was wary of booking direct with these tour companies. You just never know what you are going to get. My in-laws wanted to save money so they ended up booking direct and honestly, it turned out just fine. You might not get the exact same tour but you’ll get something pretty close… or even better.

To give you an idea, we ended up not doing an excursion on our first stop to Costa Maya, Mexico. We took a shuttle from the cruise terminal to downtown… although the “downtown” was just a strip along the beach with a bunch of the same shops you can find in downtown Los Angeles. The small beach strip was crowded and it’s not fun being solicited the entire time. Nobody told us we would be near a beach (when I think of “downtown” I think shopping area away from the beach) so we all wore jeans and sneakers. Costa Maya IS a beach town… book an excursion or bring your bathing suit and plan on having a beach day.

Our next stop was Mahogany Bay on Isle Roatan in Honduras. Beautiful place… must nicer than Costa Maya. We had booked a zip line and beach excursion and it did not disappoint. You absolutely can book this on your own or when you arrive at the port since the zip line place is literally right IN the port. We went on 6 zip lines and it was crazy fun. These went through the forest (and were really high… don’t do it if you are terrified of heights) and the last zip line dropped you off right on top of the beach restaurant. We brought our suits and sandals in our backpacks (that we were allowed to keep on our backs while zip lining) and we changed and spent the afternoon enjoying the gorgeous water of the bay. Super fun day!

Belize was up next and I was rather disappointed. I always heard that Belize was a fabulous resort destination, but the port where we docked was NOT in the resort area. We had booked an excursion to the Mayan ruins. Our original excursion was cancelled due to lack of participation, so we booked an alternate and it was probably a good thing. We had a great time at the ruins and had amazing, knowledgeable tour guides. We got to see a good part of the city too. The ruins made up for the fact that the rest of the city wasn’t very exciting. If I went back, I would probably schedule a snorkeling excursion instead.

Our last stop was Cozumel. One of my dreams has always been to swim with the dolphins. When I saw that this was one of the excursions, I booked it immediately. Now, there were a few different dolphin excursions you could book and I chose the one that also offered free snorkeling and water sports as well as a buffet lunch. Please be careful of what you are booking. Turns out, the “swimming” with dolphins was only a “wading” with dolphins and if you wanted to actually hold onto their fins and have them pull you through the water you were going to have to fork out more money. Even so, the ones that did cough up the extra $25 or so only were allowed one “swim” with them. We had a great time and the dolphins were spectacular. We got to kiss them and pet them and feed them… but no swim time. Also, our “excursion” was set at 4 hours meaning by the time we actually arrived at the location and had our safety briefing where we received our flotation device (come on… we barely stepped foot in the water) and then grabbed some lunch, we had used up our 4 hours and we didn’t even have time for the water sports. Sure, they were free BUT you had to pay for the use of the snorkels (unless you brought your own) and the paddle boards, kayaks etc. I’m sure we could have saved a TON of money just waiting until we were in port and scheduling this ourselves. One more peeve… the buffet was supposed to come with all you an drink (alcohol included) and nobody even mentioned that you had to go over to the bar to get the drinks (away from the buffet) and there was only one drink that was free. A margarita. Sheesh!

Spa

I do love a great massage. Too bad I didn’t get one on the Carnival Dream. In fact, I didn’t get one on the Princess cruise either. Prior to sailing, I had booked a couples massage for our last day at sea. I though it would be great to really relax before ending our vacation. While David enjoyed his massage, mine fell a little flat. It was relaxing, just not fabulous. I would give it a 6 out of 10. The real kicker, however, was that the spa got our appointment time wrong. We had booked it for 3pm and also got a confirmation on our first day for that 3pm time slot. The day of the appointment we got a call in our room at 2pm asking where we were. Huh? They told us to come to the spa right away. I was not happy as we were right in the middle of packing, but we went. The receptionist ended up giving us a 20% discount which was great… but I did NOT love the masseuses staring us down as we signed our receipt. FYI… 20% gratuity is already included in the price. Unless they did a phenomenal job (they didn’t) then don’t add any more to the tip.

My sister-in-law went to the hair salon twice and said she was happy with the service. The only icky part was them trying to sell her product. It’s a hard sell too… so be prepared to say NO. Or be prepared to pay an extra $50 for some special hair moisturizer that you will have to lug home in your suitcase.

Here’s a tip: save your money and grab a beachside massage at one of the ports. They were doing them at most of the places we stopped and I heard from other passengers they were fabulous.

Photos

Before you even show your passport and check in, you will be asked to smile for the camera. Photographers are all over the ship (and the gangway and the port) trying to capture all those wonderful memories you are making. Every single photo they take will wind up in the Pixel area of the ship… and you are welcome to purchase them for a small (ahem… large) fee. It borders on ridiculous. You’ll be eating dinner and someone will want to take your picture. You’ll be playing with your kids on deck and someone will want to take your picture. You will be asked when you get off the ship, when you get on the ship, photos with the Captain, photos with the pirate, photos, photos, photos. There are casual photos and formal photos. Make it stop!

We felt like we were always saying no to a photographer. We did end up purchasing the first photo we took as a family when we were boarding… and one formal photo of me and David, and another formal one of the girls. Lucky for us, we actually had a free photo since it was David’s birthday on board. The photos were okay. Good but not great.

Staff

Get to know the staff. The staff can make or break the trip… much like your waiter can make or break a dining experience. Everyone was very nice on Carnival, but there are definitely a lot of employees from other countries and many of them are not well versed in English. We had some communication issues with a photographer and one of the servers, but everyone else was friendly and spoke English well enough. The fun part was asking them about their home countries and why they wanted to work on a cruise ship. They are all very open to talking and getting to know you. Many of them have Facebook pages too so you can check out what other ships they’ve been on.

If you have questions about anything… please feel free to ask. I am very open to sharing our experience. Overall, we had a fantastic time. A much needed break and I really do love being on a cruise ship. Each one is a little different and there are a lot of choices out there. Happy to help if I can.

family

New Year – New Possibilities

It’s been a month since I wrote my last blog post. The thing is… I just wasn’t motivated. I also took a 2 week, much-needed, vacation. Offline. I don’t think I’ve ever been “officially” offline since I discovered Facebook. The problem with being on a cruise ship out at sea that doesn’t have free wi-fi is that you simply can’t connect. I was also told that the ports we stopped at (Mexico, Honduras, Belize) would all have free wi-fi. Wrong. None of those areas would connect for me. I gave up trying. And it was bliss.

The thing is… I didn’t really miss anything. After coming home and checking the thousands of emails that piled up, there weren’t any of them that were so important they couldn’t wait until I got home. Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and Pinterest moved along fine without my presence. There wasn’t anything important that I missed. And that told me one important thing…

I waste WAY too much time on social media.

Of course, we all know that we waste too much time. This just confirmed it for me. I used to tell myself that it was okay to be online all day because I work in social media. I read blog posts for a living. I have a blog network on Facebook. I plan a blog/social media conference every year so I have to know what is going on. But the truth is… all of the “work” takes only a few hours a day… not the 8 – 10 (or 12 – 16) hours that I tell myself it takes.

Seriously, what I have been doing with my time?

I don’t like resolutions. Hate them, in fact. I’m not too keen on goals either. Most of those resolutions and goals that are set don’t happen and you end up feeling disappointed in yourself. So this year I’m not setting goals or making resolutions. I’m focusing on living my life with less stress and more joy.

I always used to come up with a word of the year. This year, I’m not doing that. My philsophy this year is going to be:

If you are looking for something (anything) that is going to make 2017 a better year for you, my advice is this: stop looking. Open your heart to new experiences as they come. Be grateful for what you have and for those that love you. Stop obsessing over money and weight and family and all the other things that you want to change. Don’t be afraid to say no. Don’t be afraid to say yes. Listen to your instincts and let them steer your path. Do what feels good and right. If you aren’t sure about something, take a pass.

Opportunities abound and as my brother (who is so eloquent with his minimalist words) wrote in his holiday card this year…

PEACE – LOVE – and POSSIBILITIES

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