alternaVites - An Alternative to Sugary Vitamins

As a mom, I always want what is best for my kids.  Unfortunately, sometimes getting everything just perfect seems an impossibility and I'm forced to compromise.  Since the age of independence (about 3 in my house), nutrition has been one of those constant sources of frustration.  My girls both went through food jags when they were young where they would only eat one thing.  Whether it was only fruit, yogurt, cheese, or cereal, I knew that they weren't getting the nutrition they needed.  This is when I started periodically giving them vitamin supplements.  The problem I have with many vitamin supplements is that in addition to being loaded with the nutrients my kids need, they are also loaded with sugar they don't.  So, I was thrilled when I was offered an opportunity to try alternaVites.

Here's a little information about alternavites:

What is alternaVites for kids®?

alternaVites for kids is the only full spectrum children’s multivitamin & mineral designed to be sprinkled on the tongue (think pixie stick!). Using a proprietary blend of ingredients, alternaVites for kids contains essential vitamins & minerals specially formulated for children ages 4 & up. 

With alternaVites for kids, both parents and kids will be happy.  Parents can rest assured they’re giving their children a high quality, potent multi loaded with the nutrients they need and without the additives they don’t.  Kids will be thrilled not only with the delicious taste, but because it’s also really cool to take! alternaVites for kids turns taking vitamins from a chore to a treat!

How is the product unique?

Unlike typical children’s vitamins, alternaVites for kids:

•Melts in your mouth

•One-of-a-kind crystal powder delivery form

•Contains 0 grams of sugar

•Free of aspartame and high fructose corn syrup

•Does not contain artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or sweeteners.

•Is carefully formulated with ingredients that do not contain the major food allergens (egg, milk, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish, and shellfish)

•Has no animal products or by products

•Certified kosher pareve

•Comes in convenient, pre-measured daily dose packets

•

Key benefits

•Available in two awesome flavors: Strawberry Bubblegum & Raspberry Cotton Candy

•Tastes great and is cool to take

•Extremely versatile as it not only melts in mouth, but can also be mixed into yogurts, puddings, smoothies, and shakes

•Support for overall health and well-being

•Meets or exceeds the potencies of leading children’s multivitamin brands

•Patent pending formula

What I liked:

• No added sugar
• You can take it by the packet or mixed in a food
• The single serve packets are great for travel

What I didn't like:

• My kids didn't really like the taste.
• Personally, we found that the tastes combined with other foods and limited the ability to mix.
• There was more in the packet then we expected which made it hard for my kids to take it all.

What I would change:

• I might make it unflavored for easier mixing.
• I might make more flavors to increase the variety.
• I might make smaller packets that could be taken twice a day instead of just once.

Would you like to win a one month sample to try it for yourself?
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Even if you don't win, you are still a winner in my book.  Alternavites is offering you 20% off if you use the code moms20 at their site - http://www.alternavites.com/ .

Good luck!

*Disclaimer:  I received a sample of alternaVites to facilitate this review.  No other compensation was received.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  Information about alternaVites came directly from the sponsor. 

Wordless Wednesday

Peanut's first attempt at being the catcher . . . apparently we need to work on it a bit.  :)

Perfectly Shaped Burgers - Easy as Pie

Living on the lake, we get lots of visitors in the spring, summer and fall.  When people come to visit, they don't want to spend time inside preparing and eating meals if the weather is nice.  They would much rather be outside.  That is why we grill more often than not when the temperatures start to rise.

We grill everything that we can.  Hot dogs, hamburgers, brats, chicken, steak, potatoes, corn, pizza . . .  (If you have a good recipe for something grilled, then please share.  We'd love to try it!)  I do have to admit that my least favorite thing to grill is a hamburger.  The reason that I don't like to grill them is that they are too hard to form.  Too often my burgers are too fat in the middle.  That means that either the edges will be burnt or the middle won't be done enough for my liking.

So, I promised the girls that we could grill tonight for dinner before softball practice.  Pumpkin wants a hot dog and Peanut wants a hamburger.  I've spent part of this afternoon preparing for dinner.  I chopped the lettuce for the salad, made some potato salad (thanks for the instructions Mom!), made iced tea for myself, and decided to form the burgers.

While I was procrastinating, I decided to search how to make a hamburger.  I thought I'd run across some new combination of seasonings that would make an amazing burger that I'd have to try.  Instead, I came across another blogger who posted that she forms her burgers using lids.  LIDS!!!  Why didn't I think of that?  So, I grabbed my meat, plastic wrap, and lids of two different sizes and I formed burgers -  perfectly shaped, even in thickness, gorgeous burgers.   Now I can't wait for the kids to get home so we can grill them!  I'll let you know how they turn out. . .

Question:  Did everyone already know about this?  If so, why didn't anyone tell me???

Wordless Wednesday - Ready for Spring!

What I Won in the Mega Millions . . .

People are always telling me how lucky I am.  I can't even count the number of times that I have been told that I should buy a lottery ticket.  However, I am not a gambler.  I refuse to pay money to win something.

It isn't because I think that there is anything wrong with gambling.  I have lots of family and friends that play the lottery quite often.  My mother enjoys spending the occasional day at the local casino.  We used to live near the horse track and would go to the races for a day of family fun once or twice a year.  The reason that I don't gamble is that I think I have an addictive personality.   I can see myself buying a ticket, winning a small amount, then spending more and more trying to get that "high" that comes from a small (or large) windfall.

For my birthday last week, one of my best friends bought me a lottery ticket for the much talked about Mega Millions lottery drawing.  She knows that I don't gamble, but was hoping that my luck combined with her purchase would  result in a rapid cash influx.  We spent the day joking about whether or not I'd share with her if I won as well as what we would do with all that money.

Would I buy a new house?
Nope.  I love my house.  I couldn't ask for a better location or better neighbors.  I would do a little remodeling, but nothing hugely different than what we're hoping to do in the next few years anyway.  I would just have it done now rather than having to wait.

Would I buy a new car?
Yes.  Again, this isn't too different than what we're planning for anyway.  One of our cars has 230,000 miles on it and the other has around 150,000.   They certainly aren't spring chickens anymore.  However, even if we won, I think we'd only replace the older one right now.  Our newer car doesn't really give us any problems and we like it it.  It is comfortable, reliable, and what I'm used to.

What else would I spend my money on?
Nothing that I can think of.  I am not a huge spender.  I like the security of having money in the bank more than I like most things I can buy with it.  I don't have any dream items I've been coveting.  While I love the look of the rooms in a furniture store catalog, I also love the comfort of my mismatched, lived-in rooms.   I like the little stains and the memories of where they've come from.  Don't get me wrong . . . there are days when I get frustrated with the lack of perfection . . . but more often than not, I'm happy with what I have.

Would I share?
Of course!  However, I wouldn't share with anyone that expected it or claimed that they deserved it.  I would share with my family and friends that  know how to appreciate all the little things in life.  

So, what did I win with my ticket?
$3 :o)
The entertainment that came with the discussion of what I'd do with the winnings.
The realization that I really am as lucky as everyone says, just in a different way.  I have an AMAZING family, IRREPLACEABLE friends, and everything I need to make me HAPPY.

What more could a girl ask for!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

So, I'm a little late . . .

That shouldn't surprise anyone that knows me.

I guess I was having so much fun celebrating St. Patrick's Day that I just didn't get a chance to post about it until now.

There actually isn't that much to share . . . EXCEPT these:

Last year I saw the recipe on Smitten Kitchen after St. Patrick's Day and thought, "I need to remember this for next year!"  Surprisingly, this year I remembered.  When I searched a bit more I found almost the same recipe on Lemon-Sugar, but it made more frosting . . . and I LOVE frosting!  So, I used Erin's recipe and have to say that these may have been the best cupcakes I have ever made . . . maybe even eaten!   If you have a little extra time, Guiness, Jameson, and Bailey's, they are definitely worth the effort.

SmartStyleGuide.com

Do you ever feel like there just isn't enough time in the day?

Between taking care of my family, the house, and volunteering, it is hard to find time to take care of myself.   Even when I can find the time, I have a hard time finding the best products and styles.  I am not a fashion guru.  I won't be starting any trends anytime soon, so I need all the help I can get to find colors, shapes, and styles that work for my face shape, skin color, and lifestyle. 

Today I discovered SmartStyleGuide.com thanks to the people over at Sheblogs.org.  I've only been browsing for about 30 minutes, and have already bookmarked several articles that I want to go back to. 

Do you know how to look like a model in any picture?  I certainly don't!  (Which is why you won't see very many pictures of me here on my blog, facebook page, twitter, etc.)   SmartStyleGuide.com gives you seven quick and easy tips to make sure your next photograph is one that you'll want to show off.   

Are you looking for some new hair styling or removal products?  SmartStyleGuide.com has video reviews for several different Remington products from bloggers that I know and trust.   After Vera Sweeny's review, I might even be willing to try the Remington Smooth and Silky Epilator too! 

Spring is upon us, and I'm ready for a new hairstyle.  SmartStyleGuide.com has articles to help me find a hairstyle based on my face shape, my busy lifestyle, and all the latest trends.  I'm hoping to get in to see my hair stylist next week, and after reading these articles I think I might just come out with a whole new look that I'll love.

With simple and easy to understand articles, SmartStyleGuide.com is a great site for a busy mom like me.  It isn't overwhelming or filled with information and techniques that I won't be able to pull off.  Check out their site and their facebook page for some fun tips.  (You can also sign up for a chance to win a keratin therapy flat iron in the "Offers" section of the site.)  Have fun and go get FABULOUS!

*Disclaimer:  I may (or may not) receive a gift card for this post.  However, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

"Sweet" Easter Treats

One thing my kids don't need . . . CANDY!
Another . . . Toys (especially cheap junky ones).
A third . . . Clothes!  (Grandma loves clothes shopping for my monkeys and spoils them like crazy.)

So, what should I get them to put in their Easter baskets?  I've been scouring the web to find some new ideas and haven't come up with too much.  As of right now, I think their baskets will include:

• Books - They also have TONS of books already, but at least they are at an age where they read them over and over.  Besides, I can't ignore the educational value.  :o)
• Piggy Paint - My girls love having their nails painted, but I can't help but worry that they end up eating too much of the polish.  Since Piggy Paint is non toxic, it just makes me feel a little more comfortable with their painted nails.  Right now I can't decide between Little Chick, Beach Bum, and Sea Princess gift sets though.
• Barbie Clothes - My girls have too many Barbies to count, but they do love them and play with them nearly every day.  Unfortunately, most of the clothes that came with the dolls are starting to tear or fall apart.  The clothes that are in good shape are not very appropriate (IMHO).   When I've looked in stores, I haven't really found much that I have thought was cute, appropriate, and would last.  However, I've recently seen Barbie clothes on etsy that are much more modest and absolutely adorable.  I haven't ordered yet, so I can't speak for the quality, but it has to be better than the mass produced products in stores.   There are lots of sellers on etsy, but I personally like the look of the dresses from TheDesigningRose the best.

What are you including in your kids' Easter Baskets?

*Disclaimer:  All thoughts and opinions are my own.  I am not affiliated with Piggy Paint or TheDesigningRose.  I did not receive any compensation for this post.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

We love books!

We love reading!

We love Dr. Seuss!

Every time I read a Dr. Seuss story, I am amazed at the way he was able to introduce important and relevant topics into a storybook for children. His silly words and wild rhymes almost always seem to hold a deeper meaning for both children and adults. In honor of Dr. Seuss and Read Across America, I decided to send my kids to school with Dr. Seuss themed lunches for the latter half of this week. Did I change the world or the minds of my kids by doing it? I doubt it, but we sure did have fun. Here are some of the goodies my girls found packed in their lunches.

Hawaiian Punch Lemon and Berry Juice Drink has disguised itself as Pink Ink for my Yinks to drink. I was actually looking for Simply Raspberry Lemonade, but my store was out of it. I think the flatter surface of that bottle might be a little easier to work with.  The girls didn't seem to mind though.  They would ask for this to drink every day if I let them.  (Normally they only get 100% juice in their lunches.)

Could it get any easier than this? Colorful Goldfish crackers are just perfect for One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish!

Lunch just isn't a lunch without fruit. So, my girls got some Cat in the Hat hats made by alternating strawberries and bananas on a toothpick.

Blue Jell-O and a cute red Swedish Fish made a fun and tasty Fish in the Pot dessert for my girls. I thought about making my own Jello-O, but the pre-made stuff was even easier!

I REALLY wanted to do something Green Eggs and Ham, but had a very difficult time coming up with something. My girls don't really like real eggs . . . or ham for that matter. So, the cute eggs and bacon treat turned green. (Two pretzel sticks, a white candy melt and a green m&m are all it takes!) Green Eggs and Ham / Green Eggs and Bacon - It is almost the same.

I don't remember where I saw this one, but sometimes the easiest things are the most fun. My girls absolutely LOVED their Hop on Pop(corn).

I have always appreciated the message in the Butter Battle Book, both from a global and individual perspective. Because of that, I had to do something with it. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any amazing ideas to borrow and modify, and it was late at night so my creative juices weren't flowing. This was the best I could come up with, but at least the book and message made an appearance in their lunches.

I couldn't leave out the Grinch! Any meat will do for this one, but my girls prefer sandwich pepperoni as their roast beast.

One of the reasons that I love Dr. Seuss is that his words are so fun, free, and open to your own creativity. Schlopp could be just about anything (as long as there is a cherry on top!), so I chose granola (My girls love Bear Naked Vanilla Almond) with Yogurt and a Maraschino cherry on top. Peanut didn't end up eating hers because she didn't like the consistency of the granola. She said it was too mushy after sitting with yogurt on it all morning. Pumpkin ate all of hers though and actually requested it again the next day.

Trying to mix up the fruits, I made a rainbow of fruit on toothpicks as Truffula Fruits.

While Yertle the Turtle might not be the nicest turtle around, these adorable Yertle the Turtle breads were a huge hit! I got the recipe from Betty Crocker and modified it to make four smaller turtles rather than one large one. The turtles were still rather large for the girls to eat at lunch. Next time I think I'll try to make 8 instead. If you do make them smaller, be sure to decrease your cooking time. I didn't time mine. I just watched them and took them out when they looked golden brown.

Did you do anything fun to celebrate Dr. Seuss and Read Across America?  I'd love to see/hear all about it!


*Disclaimer:  Ideas for these projects came from my own inspiration, various bloggers, friends, websites, etc.  I spent so much time thinking, searching, taking notes and modifying, that I no longer know who deserves the original credit.  If you know the originator of one of these ideas and would like me to mention them here, please send me a message and let me know.  All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Freschetta - Rally for Real Pizza

Who wants pizza?

In my house, the answer to that question will always be a resounding "ME!" from every nook and cranny in every direction.  I swear my kids and husband could eat pizza every day for the rest of their lives and be happy.  However, I would like them to choose healthier options.  That is why we are reducing the frequency with which we go out to eat for Lent.  No more fast food meals between after school activities and errands.  No more splurging on our favorite fried appetizers and desserts.  We are going to eat better for 40(+) days and see if it sticks.

Not eating out means that we have to plan better as well as purchase and prepare more home-cooked meals.  While most of the meals I have on the schedule are meals "from scratch", we do have some days where a quick and easy meal might be all we can fit in together.  These are the times when a pizza would be perfect!  Add in a fresh salad and fruit and it is a meal that I am happy to serve my family (and they are happy to eat).

Because of our Lenten plan, I was so excited to see that Freschetta believes that frozen pizza shouldn’t simply taste better. It should be better!  I couldn't agree more.  My kids and husband aren't huge frozen pizza fans because many brands taste frozen, preserved, and not very fresh.  "Freschetta® frozen pizzas are made with top-quality ingredients and taste-tested recipes, just to make sure your pizza will always deliver Fresch® flavor."  It really is a difference that my family can taste.

In order to promote their fresher frozen pizza, Freschetta is holding a "Rally for Real Pizza" where you have the chance to win some of the best frozen pizza my family has ever tried.  Here are the details:

Date -	February 27, 2012 - March 30, 2012
What -	Rally for Real Pizza
Where -	From the comfort of your own home
Details -	www.Facebook.com/Freschettapizza

The makers of FRESCHETTA® products are asking fans to take a stand for FRESCH® pizza! Fans will be able to submit a photo to a Rally Mosaic on our Facebook Fan Page for a chance to win FRESCHETTA® pizza. Each week, they will select 100 winners to receive 5 FRESCHETTA® pizzas. On March 30, they will select 10 winners who will receive a year supply of FRESCHETTA® pizza.

 Sounds good to me!  So, head on over to Facebook.com/freschettapizza for your chance to win!


Disclosure:  I occasionally receive compensation in the form of products for posts. However, the opinions I share are solely my own.