A Moment For Me (aka, Mom Timeout)

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. 

All opinions are mine alone. #ArtisanFlavors #CollectiveBias

Motherhood is a strange thing, ya know? There are moments of complete, overwhelming love for your babies, where you want nothing but to hold them as close as possible. Then there are moments of complete, overwhelming chaos, where you want nothing but to get as far away as possible for a little break. Am I right, Moms? 

Since motherhood is such a demanding job, I think it's essential to take a break. Actually plan time away, not just running out the door in sheer exhaustion when your husband gets home from work. Putting yourself in "mommy timeout" is essential. Thankfully, my husband is very gracious and seems to be able to tell when I need a good timeout for myself. 

My favorite way to spend that time, is on the lake. There's nothing more relaxing to me than to be on the water. And there's no treat I'd rather have out there with me, than some delicious ice cream.

My new favorite? Nestlé® Häagen Dazs new artisan collection. I bought nearly the entire line, because it all looked so good when I was at Walmart! Let me tell you, it's even better than it looks. The Tres Leches Brigadeiro didn't last very long during my moment for me...
My personal favorite is the Banana Rum Jam. It reminds me of Bananas Foster, which is one of my favorite desserts. Ginger Molasses Cookie and Chocolate Caramelized Oat have been tasted, right out of the container, of course, and are hard to beat. 

Do you take time for yourself to get away? Studies have shown that vacation makes employees perform better at their jobs. These little mini-vacations for mom are so good for the soul and I think, really help me to be a better mom. 

You don't have to take a whole afternoon on the lake, either. It could be a walk around the block. A pedicure. A cup of coffee, finished while still warm at the coffee shop, or even just an little time in your backyard with a good book. 

Haagen Dazs is helping you treat yourself with this awesome giveaway! 

Häagen Dazs #ArtisanFlavors Contest

Whatever it may be, make sure you take a "moment for me" to recharge those mom batteries. Your family will thank you for it! 

Do you give yourself mom timeouts? What is your favorite moment for me? 

Check out Nestlé® Häagen Dazs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for more info about their new Artisan Collection! 

Art Of Entertaining with Estancia

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ArtOfEntertaining #CollectiveBias The following content is intended for readers who are 21 or older.

The Art of Entertaining with Estancia

#ArtOfEntertaining #CollectiveBias

There's not much I'm more enthusiastic about than entertaining. I love having people over, cooking delicious food and making a swoon worthy spread. Over the weekend, we had a wine tasting party, complete with pairings and blind tastings.  When we moved to California in 2007, we weren't big wine drinkers. That quickly changed after many Saturdays spent in Napa, tasting all the delicious varieties that the west coast had to offer. We developed a love for California Cabernets, with Estancia being a favorite. Estancia Vineyards started in Monterey, California, where the midday heat, along with morning and afternoon fog, create a perfect grape growing climate.

There is nothing, in my mind, that goes better with wine than cheese. We've been known to have post-bedtime date nights, with just that for dinner! Creating a great cheese spread isn't that difficult. You'll need several varieties of cheese, some labels you can write on and some condiments. Some type of nuts, dried fruit and some prosciutto or smoked sausage is perfect. You'll want make sure there is a variety of soft and hard cheeses. For this party, I used smoked gouda, jarlsberg swiss, blue, cranberry cinnamon goat cheese and a caramel apple brie. I made the brie myself, simply wrapping a wheel of brie up in a piece of puff pastry and baking it. After it was done, I topped it with caramel sauce and diced apple, them stuck it back in the oven for about 5 minutes. It's my absolute favorite! 

There are plenty of options for the actual board you present on. I found this slate cheese board that I love and it's nice because you don't have to worry about it breaking when people hit a knife into it. 

Since it's Valentine's Day this week, I decided we definitely needed to sip some red wine with a heart shaped box of chocolates, right?!

Along with those chocolates, I made chocolate cheesecake bars and they were amazing. (You can find the easy recipe a bit further down in this post!) I also used some crunchy breadsticks and wrapped each one in a thin slice of prosciutto, which pairs well with Pinot Noir. 
When people are drinking a bit of wine, I like to have some bread around. A little bit of good olive oil, with some spices sprinkled in, makes for a simple, yet delicious appetizer for in between tastes.  

Now for a really fun part, blind tasting. I love doing this, especially with people who swear by expensive wine. To see them pick the $10-$15 bottle over the $50 one is so fun. Have some cards available for people to write down their thoughts, put 3-5 bottles in paper bags (making sure no one can see the labels!) and pour everyone a taste. Allow everyone to vote on each bottle and compare the results. You may have a new favorite wine!

Now let's talk about these Chocolate Cheesecake Bars...they're so good and so easy, so you will definitely want to make these. 

They start with a crust layer, made out of cake mix. 

Top that with a cheesecake filling,

Then finish with some more of the crust mix, crumbled on top. Bake, cool, cut and serve. That easy! 

Ingredients:

Crust layer:
1 box chocolate cake mix 
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg

Cheesecake layer:
1 8oz package cream cheese
1 Tbsp. milk
1 egg
1 cup sugar

Directions:
Mix crust, reserving 1 cup. Press into 9x13 and bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Whip filling until fluffy. Spread onto baked crust and top with reserved crust mixture. Bake for 25 minutes, cooling completely before cutting into squares.

Hopefully these tips will help you host your very own wine tasting party! Whether it's a romantic Valentine's tasting for 2, or a party with lots of your friends, wine tasting is a fun way to inspire, entertain and enjoy time together. 

You can probably tell that my favorite pairing is cabernet with brie cheese or chocolate. What is your favorite wine and food pairing? 

Inspire your table tonight with Estancia! Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook. 

Vacation Entertainment and Beyond: LeapPad3

This post is part of a sponsored campaign with LeapFrog and MomSelect. All opinions are my own.

Anyone else have electronic loving kids like I do? They love playing games on our phones and iPads, but it's always scary to me what they can quickly find online that isn't good for them. Before we went on our cruise a couple weeks ago, I got this LeapPad3. I knew we would need some distractions since we would be traveling in the car, eating in a restaurant every meal and waiting in some lines. The LeapPad3 did the trick!

First, there are personalized profiles for every child. That means they can both play the same games, but keep track of their own progress and learning within their profile. And my is this nice when you have a 6 and 2 year old. The 6 year old cares about every score and level, where the 2 year old just wants to undo it all.

If you have any of the LeapFrog DVD's, you'll recognize some of the learning songs. Our favorite? Punc, punc, punctuation. 

There are several built in apps for music, games and learning. There is also an app store, where you can buy eBooks, videos, games and 800+ educational apps fit for your child's learning level. The parent settings allow you to control what is bought as well as what is seen over wi-fi. Yes, it is wi-fi compatible and only allows age appropriate videos from the web. 

One of my favorite features, is the built in camera. You can take photos and video, as well as selfies while relaxing in the Caribbean. 

And pictures of your little brother right out of bed. These pictures can then be decorated and edited to make them their own!

As you can see, the LeapPad3 was very handy on our vacation. I love that it wasn't just entertainment, but that my boys are learning math, reading, writing and more from it!

If you have a little electronic lover, the LeapPad3 is sure to make them and you both happy. With LeapFrog's durability, we were able to carry (and drop) this thing all over our vacation without a problem. The LeapFrog3 5" touchscreen tablet has a retail value of $99 and is available in 3 colors. I would definitely recommend it to those of you with young kids!

Teeth in Training

Did you know brushing should begin as soon as your babies first tooth comes in? I totally didn't with my firstborn. 3 months into motherhood, I was still busy trying to get into routine and back to normal. By about 5 months or so, I realized we needed another toothbrush in the mix! Luckily, with baby #2, we were well prepared when that first tooth came in. 
Compared to your tooth enamel, your baby's is 50% thinner. That's why you need expert protection! The little mouth experts ™ at Aquafresh have specially formulated their training toothpaste to be just what your baby's little teeth need. 

Callan thinks brushing his teeth is so much fun, especially when big brother is brushing his right next to him. He loves stand on the stool, even though he can barely see over the sink. He also loves to brush himself. I take a turn, then he takes a turn. Making brushing a fun routine is essential to keeping your kids teeth healthy!
Fluoride-free and safe to swallow (when used as directed), you can feel good about your little one using Aquafresh training toothpaste. With no artificial colors or preservatives, it's a natural choice, too. It's all we've used for our little guys until they learn to spit and we have 2 little mouthfuls of healthy teeth!

Have a baby 2 or under? Head over here for a coupon to try Aquafresh for your little one! 

Please use product as directed on label.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Aquafresh through their partnership with POPSUGAR. While I was compensated by POPSUGAR to write a post about Aquafresh, all opinions are my own.

My Healthy Home with Ology

I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser. #WalgreensOlogy

Since moving into our house back in December, we've been cleaning things out, trying to get rid of stuff we don't need. We both tend to be "savers" and I don't mean that in a good financial sense kind of way. We've gotten to the point, after several moves, that we just don't want to move this stuff around anymore. We just want an organized, healthy home. We've been slowly but surely, weeding through unnecessary things and and giving things to people that may need them. 

In all of this cleaning out and organizing, I've been doing actual cleaning as well. In our quest to be eating as healthy and naturally as possible, I've been paying a lot of attention to chemicals and processed foods. Why haven't I been looking at the labels on the back of my cleaners? I'm wiping these chemicals on the counters that my kids pick up food from and the bathtubs they sit in. It's actually so gross! 

After being introduced to the Ology line at Walgreens, I decided to give it a try. Now, Walgreens isn't somewhere that I would automatically think of as having natural products. Wrong. The Ology line is very large and has not only cleaners and detergent,  but paper towels, toilet paper and tissues. My store didn't have everything from the line yet, but they also make shampoo, hand soaps, paper plates, napkins and much more. 

Ology products contain no ammonia, bleach, parabens, formaldehyde, artificial dyes or fragrances. The wonderful thing about these Ology products doesn't stop at their ingredients, though. They're tree free, not tested on animals and are cost effective. With these products I bought, I got $8 back on my Walgreens Balance Rewards card! 

These products fit right into our goal of a more natural, healthy lifestyle. Sometimes, eating healthy is much more expensive than junk food. I didn't find that comparison with the Ology products. They are very comparable in price to other products I buy and the sales at Walgreens are fantastic. I so appreciate Walgreens for actually making it easy for us to care better for our bodies, our homes and our environment. 

You can find Ology products at your local Walgreens right in the aisle with their counterparts. No searching around the store for a natural section. 

You can check out more about Ology products in this "Mom's Cool Things" video from Walgreens.

Make a Caramel Macchiato at Home {with Verismo}

Did y'all know that I used to be a Barista? Yep. Through nursing school, I wore that Starbucks apron proudly. I loved making fancy drinks, seeing regular customers and of course, drinking all that coffee myself. I loved that job so much, that after I graduated and worked as a nurse, I kept working there. I would open at 4am and do a 4 hour shift before my nursing shift started. It was awesome. Until I realized that I couldn't go on very little sleep anymore, no matter how much coffee I drank. 

10 years later, I'm still a huge fan of the good ole joe. But probably the last coffee drinker on the face of the planet to not have a single cup coffee maker. Until now. I just got the Starbucks Verismo brewer from Staples. And take a look, it's champagne! 

This beautiful little machine makes a darn good cup of coffee. The House Blend pods are my favorite variety for a good cup of coffee in the morning. 

But, the barista in me loves this machine for more than just a good cup of coffee. The Verismo won my heart when it gave me a Starbucks Caramel Macchiato at 7am, while I was in my bathrobe. See, the Verismo has Milk Pods and Espresso Pods that let you create a "fancy drink" right in your own house. 

First up, I bought a bottle of Starbucks Vanilla Syrup. It's the same thing they use behind the counter and it comes in a bottle big enough to basically last your whole life. Put a Tablespoon of that stuff in your cup and get to brewing. 

The milk pod actually makes the milk froth up a bit, creating a thin layer of foam on top. When the milk pod is done, run the espresso pod right on top. You know what's next. Ooey gooey caramel. You can use the stuff you find with the ice cream toppings, or make your own. Give a generous drizzle of that stuff over the top and you're ready to serve! 
At 7am, when I just finished packing lunches, fixing breakfasts and am about to start on the mountain of laundry, a fancy coffee is just what I need. And I love that I can make it now in the comfort of my own robe! 

Now that the weather is warming up, the Verismo would be perfect for an iced drink as well! Put your vanilla in the bottom of a 12 oz glass, as you would in a hot caramel macchiato. Fill the glass halfway with ice, then almost to the top with the milk of your choice. Brew one Verismo espresso pod and pour it through the center of your drink. Drizzle with the caramel and enjoy! 

I am so excited to keep trying new drinks in the Verismo. I will also be impress guests this weekend with some coffee alongside dessert! 

I was given the above Verismo brewer by Staples in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own. 

Business Casual with Hanes

It's not a much talked about thing on this blog, but there happens to be another fashion lover in my house. My hubby. He doesn't really call himself that, but deep down, he has to know it. He loves shopping (but only for himself!) and likes to be wearing current, trendy clothing. Well, so long as he doesn't have to wear skinny jeans.

I would say his style is conservative meets preppy. He has a lot of classic pieces, that he wears with trendier ones for a more up to date look. He is lucky enough to get to wear jeans to work a lot, so this is his "business casual" most days. (Lucky, I know!) 

This is a current favorite sweater of his that he added a pop of color to with a Hanes ColorBlend t-shirt. The new ColorBlend shirts are the brands softest tee yet. They're perfect for adding a little something to your man's look. 

With a modern fit, tagless design and a price point under $5, you're going to want to head to Walmart or Hanes.com and stock up. The shirts are available in a large range of sizes and colors:

• Chili Pepper Natural Heather (Currently wearing)
• Medium Green Heather
• Vermillion Orange
• Ebony (Black)
• Navy Heather
• Caribbean Blue Heather
• Oxford Grey

These perfect layering tees will be perfect for spring! The soft material of these t-shirts is thick enough to be worn all on their own. Hanes has also improved the construction detail for more durability, giving it even more bang for your buck. 

Check out Hanes on Facebook and Twitter to see all about their new ComfortBlend t-shirts! 
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Pistachios For a Healthy Body

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Pistachio Health Institute.

It's no secret that abs are made in the kitchen. I wish I could whip up a pack of them as quickly as I can a batch of cookies, but that's neither here nor there. I've been on a mostly "clean eating" journey for a about a year now and I can't say enough good things about it. I can see a difference when I fall off the wagon and I can definitely feel a difference when I'm being good.

One area I feel is so important to me staying on track, is snacking. I eat in between every meal. Something small, healthy and fiber filled to keep me feeling full. Pistachios are a perfect snack to help you fuel up with fiber. With 12% of your daily value in one serving, you're well on your way to meeting the day's quota. And speaking of serving, you get about 49 kernels per ounce with pistachios, compared to 23 almonds or 18 cashews. I'll take the one with more, please. 

While it isn't a related to the health of the food, I like to eat something that looks good. I think pistachios are one of the prettiest foods. The purple and green fit right in on Pantone's colors of 2014! 

Pistachios are a delicious snack all on their own. I love their "portion control shell", as I call it. Makes you slow down while eating, which allows you to actually feel when you're full. They're also a fantastic addition to a salad, for a little added protein and crunch. 

Along with a healthy diet, I try to workout daily to keep my body as healthy and fit as possible. I have a whole lot of motivation right now, as swimsuit season is right around the corner! I don't always have time for a long workout, though and that's okay! Doing something is much better than doing nothing. It's proven that a workout will enhance your mood. If I workout first thing in the morning, not only is my mood better all day, but my food choices also are. 

Celebrity trainer Valerie Waters shares some great tips that she uses to keep stars fit and healthy, that can be beneficial for all of us!  

Need some motivation to get your body healthy? Enter to win the Shine like the Stars Sweepstakes pack from the Pistachio Health Institute! 

3 winners will receive “Shine like the Stars Sweepstakes” prize packs, which include:

• (1) Valslides autographed by celebrity fitness trainer, Valerie Waters
• (1) Valerie Waters workout DVD
• (1) Valerie Waters workout instructions
• (1) Pistachio Health tote bag
• (1) Pistachio Health nut container
• (3) 8 oz. bags of pistachios
• (1) $100 VISA Gift Card

To enter, like the Pistachio Health Institute Facebook page and enter your info to win! Participants may enter once a day for the duration of the Sweepstakes. The Sweepstakes will end at 3:00 p.m. PDT on Friday, February 14, 2014.

What are you doing to get fit in 2014? 

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Pistachio Health Institute.