Introducing CAULIPOWER Chicken Tenders! No Cluckin' Way!

This post is sponsored by CAULIPOWER Chicken Tenders but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.


Why do they want dinner every single night? You ever seen that meme floating around? I'm pretty sure us mamas ask ourselves this every single day. I open the freezer each morning with a big sigh and a grumble trying to figure out something that will be quick and easy to toss together for dinner, but will be filling, nutritious and delicious as well. With my daughter on the swim team, dinner is coming later and later every night, so meal planning is really up in the air most days right now. Because she has practice before and after school, she is famished by the time she gets home. She doesn't want to wait long for me to make a complicated meal, and if I do, she's reaching for something that has little or no nutritional value just to get something in her belly as soon as she walks in the door. As a mom, that bothers me. Thankfully, there's a brand new solution that has mamas like me rejoicing. Introducing new CAULIPOWER Chicken Tenders.

 
CAULIPOWER Chicken Tenders are the only BAKED, not fried, chicken tenders that you'll find in the freezer aisle. The crispy coating is packed with cauliflower and other gluten-free goodness, which helps them to bake up tasty, juicy, and to a golden perfection.

The nuggets are made with premium chicken that are all-natural, raised with no antibiotics ever, and cage-free. Because the chicken tenders are baked instead of fried, they contain 86% less fat, and the entire bag is only 490 calories, making it the lowest calorie chicken tender in the freezer. That will have you saying "No Cluckin' Way!"

I have several bags of CAULIPOWER Chicken Tenders stashed in my freezer for those super busy nights when we're coming in late from swim practice and Allison needs dinner in a hurry. I have her CAULIPOWER Chicken Tenders out of the oven in 15 minutes, usually paired a quick side of steamed veggies, making it our go-to for a quick, satisfying meal solution.

You can find CAULIPOWER Chicken Tenders in 2 flavor varieties: Original and Spicy(ish). We found ours in the freezer aisle at our local Kroger store.

Trust me busy mamas. You're going to want to stash a few bags of CAULIPOWER Chicken Tenders in your freezer to help save you time and stress on meal planning. CLICK HERE for a valuable $2 coupon to save you money on your next purchase of CAULIPOWER Chicken tenders!

Indulge in a Sweeter World with Stevita Naturals

Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.


Some of you may know that I cut refined sugar from my diet earlier this year. I came out of a 3 year remission from my autoimmune disorder, and since refined sugars are a big culprit in causing inflammation in the body, I needed to make some drastic dietary changes in an effort to get myself healthy again. Additionally, around the time I fell out of remission, my 14 year old nephew was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, so I have been doing a lot of research and experimenting with foods that won't cause blood sugar levels to spike or cause my body to attack itself. We're kind of a hot mess in this family right now, but with a few dietary changes, I'm certain we'll have better control of our health in no time.

I have dabbled off and on with using stevia in the kitchen for the past few years, and while I haven't fully mastered using it as a sugar substitute in my baking, I have come up with a few recipes that I have been really pleased with the end result by incorporating a little stevia into the mix. I recently heard about Stevita Naturals and after browsing through their website, was really impressed with the large assortment of products they offer that are sweetened with stevia and not refined sugars.

Here's the thing that I love about stevia: it's up to 300 times sweeter than sucrose, which makes it an excellent sugar substitute, it contains 0 calories, and has natural anti-inflammatory properties. Also, since it does not cause blood sugar levels to spike, it's great for my diabetic nephew to use so he can still indulge in sweet treats without having to worry about his health. 

There was a question on what kinds of treats could be placed in my nephew's stocking this year, since his favorite chocolate candy is now out of the question. The solution is actually a very simple one: Stevita Naturals Sugar Free Hard Candy. 

Stevita Naturals Hard Candy is the first sugar free candy that I've tried and actually really enjoyed. Available in 4 classic flavors: strawberry, cherry, grape and orange, all delicious, but it's the orange flavored candies that I can't seem to get enough of lately. I think I'm going to need MY stocking filled with it this Christmas! Here's an interesting tidbit: Stevita Naturals Hard Candies were the first stevia-sweetened candy on the market. Since it's sweetened with 100% certified organic fair trade Brazilian stevia extract and non-GMO isomalt from cane sugar, it's ideal for people with dietary restrictions, allergies, food sensitivities, and those who are into clean eating. Here are some more great things about Stevita Naturals Hard Candy:

• Gluten Free
• Low Calorie
• 0 Net Carbs
• Paleo Friendly
• Contains 0 Artificial Ingredients
• Non-GMO
• No Artificial Preservatives

I've been playing around in the kitchen with Stevita Naturals products, and thought I'd share a few really easy recipes that I concocted that are perfect for the fall season. This is the time of year that guests like to pop over without much notice, but no worries. You can whip up tea and rice pudding in a jiffy with the quick recipes below so you have something fresh on hand to serve your guests:

 

Yield: Serves 4 Author: Theresa M

Cranberry Splash Tea

 

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 cups water
• 2 black tea bags
• 1 cup diet cranberry juice
• 6 drops Organic Stevita Liquid Drops

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Place teabags into a pitcher. Bring the water to a boil, then pour into pitcher with the teabags and allow to steep 3-5 minutes. 
2. Remove teabags from pitcher. Stir in the cranberry juice and Stevita Liquid Drops. 
3. Serve warm or over ice.

Yield: Serves 4Author: Theresa M

Minute Rice Pudding

 

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup instant brown rice
• 3/4 cup dried fruit (I used dried cranberries and raisins)
• (1) 3.5 ounce box vanilla sugar free instant pudding mix
• 2 cups milk
• 1 tsp Stevita Organic Spoonable Stevia
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Bring the water to a boil. Once boiling, stir in the instant rice, return to a boil, cover, then reduce heat and let rice simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand covered for an additional 5 minutes.
2. While rice is cooking, pour milk into a medium sized bowl. Using a wire whisk, beat the pudding into the milk for 2 minutes. Stir in the Stevita Organic Stevia and ground cinnamon, then place the bowl in the refrigerator, allowing pudding to set for 5 minutes.
3. Once set, remove pudding from fridge. Stir in the cooked rice and dried fruit. 
4. Spoon pudding into individual cups. Top with a sprinkle of more cinnamon if desired. Serve.

Stevita Naturals offers quite a few products that can really sweeten up your world, from liquid and spoonable stevia, to candies, cocoa powders and creamers. I'm still familiarizing myself with all of their products, but I have a few more recipe ideas in the works that I'll be experimenting with over the next few weeks and plan to share with you here on the blog once I've got them perfected. In the meantime, be sure to head over to the Stevita Naturals website to learn more about their products and why making the switch from refined sugar to stevia is a great choice for all.

Have you tried stevia? What's your favorite recipe to incorporate it into?

Tailgating Done Right with Jersey Mike's!

This post is sponsored by Jersey Mike's but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.



With the return of the football season, we're welcoming the return of tailgating as well. We're pretty lucky to live a few blocks from the university, so when there is a home game, you're most likely going to find us parked on campus, rubbing elbows with fellow friends and fans alike. When there isn't a home game, we'll drive down to Mariah's university and partake in their football shindigs. It's a given that during the fall, Saturday is strictly for tailgating here.

We all know that the best part of tailgating is the food! It always amazes me to see people who bring their grills, or even set up an entire working kitchen from their trucks, but this girl right here likes to keep the food good and simple. When I head to the game, I want to be footloose and fancy-free. I don't want to mess with slaving away in my kitchen all morning prepping tailgating food, or have to mess with lugging a grill to the game. When I return home for the night, I'm tired. I don't want to have to wash out the slow cooker or pots and pans. That's just too much work when you just want to have a day of fun with your friends, rooting for your team. That's why I'm kind of obsessed with Jersey Mike's catering.

With Jersey Mike's catering, I can place my order online the night before the game, and it's ready for pick-up the next morning. I can just swing by Jersey Mike's on my way to the game and know that I've got a delicious spread that's going to thrill my friends and family. The best part is, I didn't have to lift a finger to put it together.

Using Jersey Mike's online catering service is as easy as it gets. Last weekend, I chose to order Subs By The Box, which feeds 10 people. With this option, I could choose 4 different sandwich options, so I could offer a wide variety to our tailgating guests. Because my guests all have different dietary needs, I really appreciate that I can customize each sandwich pick, like leaving off the oils, adding pickles, or getting gluten-free bread for my friends who have a gluten intolerance.

In addition to their scrumptious sub sandwiches, Jersey Mike's also has a good variety of sides and beverages to round out your tailgating needs. I added several bags of chips, a cookie tray, and bottles of water and tea, so the only thing I had to do as far as putting the tailgating meal together was dump a bag of ice into the cooler. Does it really get any easier than that?

When we don't need to feed as many people, Jersey Mike's also offers Subs by the Bag and Personalized Lunchboxes. I like the personalized lunchboxes for when we're tailgating out of town, since we don't need to feed a crowd. We can just order for our individual needs and hit the road.

The cold subs and sides that we get from Jersey Mike's catering menu are perfect to take along to your tailgate, picnic, or family road trip.

If you're looking to do tailgating done right, make sure you bookmark Jersey Mike's website for your catering needs. Your guests will love the tasty food, and you'll love the ease and convenience of not having to stress yourself out over meal prep and cleanup. Be sure to make Jersey Mike's a part of your team for your next tailgating or picnic needs.

What's your favorite sandwich from Jersey Mike's?

Now You Can Experience the Pain Relief Revolution with CBDMEDIC!

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by CBDMEDIC but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.


Little known fact about me: When I was in kindergarten, I developed arthritis. I remember vividly the pain shooting through the tops of my feet all the way to my hipbones. My mom went into a panic because I sat on the ground crying in excruciating pain claiming I couldn't walk. She was truly terrified I had lost mobility in my legs. She scooped me up and took me straight to the emergency room only be told, "She's faking it." Can you believe that!? Not satisfied with their diagnosis, we set off on a journey of hopping from one doctor to the next in hopes of finding out why I was in such pain. Disgustingly enough, we had another doctor insist I was just looking for attention, a few told my mom it was just "growing pains" and nothing to worry about, and then we found someone who finally took us seriously and diagnosed me with juvenile arthritis. Back then, there wasn't much in the way of treatments, but a recommendation to smooth some stinky over-the-counter cream over my joints when the pain got bad. Also, not to worry as I would eventually outgrow the condition.

I went through my youth suffering through severe attacks in my feet and legs quite often. I'd lay on my stomach and fall asleep in a tear soaked pillow while rubbing my legs back and forth over the bed trying to massage the pain away. Sadly, I never did outgrow the arthritis, and to this day I still find myself rubbing my legs back and forth over my bed, even when I'm not in an arthritic flare. Old habits die hard! While I still get those sharp pains in my feet, shins, knees and hips, as I've aged I also developed arthritis in my hands, wrists and elbows. It's a pretty sad state for someone who hasn't even hit her 40's yet!

For almost 35 years, I have tried almost every cream on the market or natural remedy in hopes of finding something to help ease those sharp joint pains. Some provide relief, others are straight trash. Lately though, I've been hearing a lot about CBD products and how they can help people find a natural pain relief solution. It's something that has intrigued me for a little while, so after doing some research, I decided to head to my local CVS pharmacy and purchase CBDMEDIC Arthritis Pain Relief.

 
Why did I opt to purchase CBDMEDIC? Because their products are the first family of topical medications that combine highly effective analgesic ingredients (like menthol and camphor) with hemp oil or extract and other natural emollients to provide safe, powerful, and effective pain relief. And because they have “CBD” as an ingredient- a THC-free cannabinoid-rich hemp extractor oil from the Cannabis sativa L. plant that’s a natural alternative for pain relief.

With the seasons on the verge of changing, it didn't take long for my feet and knees to flare with arthritis, so I actually couldn't wait to break out the tube of CBDMEDIC Arthritis Pain Relief. What immediately stood out to me was how incredibly quickly the cream absorbed into the skin without leaving behind any residue or stickiness, and it didn't leave my skin feeling oily or greasy. It did have somewhat of a powerful menthol scent, but it faded within minutes of application. Also, I did notice most of my arthritis pain drastically subsided within minutes of absorption, something that I've never experienced in all of my years as an arthritis sufferer. 

Aside from the impressive pain relief results, what I also love about CBDMEDIC:

● Products are made with all natural ingredients

● Products have been developed & manufactured with  years of pharmaceutical experience 

● THC-free, safe and legal CBD hemp oil

● Powerful and effective

● Not tested on animals

● Made in the USA

As someone who has spent the majority of her life plagued by arthritis, I am truly blown away by the results I have received from CBDMEDIC Arthritis Pain Relief. CBDMEDIC also offers two other products for acute pain relief: Back & Neck Pain Relief as well as Active Sport™ Pain Relief. You can learn more about the specific ingredients found within each of the 3 products HERE. 

If you suffer from arthritis like I do, I highly encourage you to head to your local CVS pharmacy and pick up a tube of CBDMEDIC Arthritis Pain Relief. It only took one application of the cream to have me sold on its effectiveness at providing fast, natural pain relief and I will never go back to my old remedies again!

Do you suffer from arthritis?

Brita Filtering Bottle - My Simple Swap for a Sustainable Future #SwapforSustainability

Disclosure- This post is sponsored by Brita but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.


Staying active is important to my family. Staying hydrated is really important to us, too. We're always on the go, and I'm just going to admit that while I try to be an Eco-warrior, sometimes I fall a little flat and grab plastic bottles of water for our on-the-go adventures as I'm headed out of the door. That's something that bothers me, especially since I know that 2,000 plastic bottles are used every second in the U.S. and 70% of them are not even recycled. While we all deserve cleaner, great-tasting water, we shouldn't have to trash the planet to get it. That's why I'm doing my part and am making the Swap for Sustainability.

I have just purchased a Brita Filtering Bottle for everyone in my house, so whether we're at home or on-the-go, we have a better alternative for reducing waste and living a more sustainable life.

The 20 ounce Brita Filtering Bottle filters water as you drink through the straw, so you can enjoy great-tasting water anytime, anywhere without waste.

The Brita Filtering Bottle offers a unique stainless steel design that features double wall insulation to keep water cold for up to 24 hours, so my family can enjoy crisp, refreshing water at home or while out enjoying the great outdoors.

As a mom, it makes me happy to see our youth taking a more proactive approach to cleaning up our environment, and my daughter is no exception. She was really excited to get her hands on her new Brita Filtering Bottle and couldn't wait to fill it up, then head out for a walk in the park. Our park does offer plenty of water fountains, but if I'm being honest, the water is less than tasty. However, the Brita Filtering Bottle comes with a replaceable filter that reduces chlorine taste and odor, leaving the fountain water tasting just as refreshing as bottled, but without the waste. 

I like taking my Brita Filtering Bottle to the dog park too.

The attached handle makes it easy for me to hold the bottle with ease in one hand, while holding the dog's leashes in the other. When you have two rambunctious dogs to control, you really appreciate the little things in life like this that much more.

The Brita Filtering Bottle has quickly become a staple in our outdoor adventures, workout session, the office, and both girls keep theirs tucked into their backpacks for a quick refresher at school.

It makes my heart happy to know that my family has all jumped on board and are as excited about our Swap for Sustainability. Since the Brita Filtering Bottle can replace up to 1,800 water bottles a year, it's really helping my family do its part to live a more Eco-friendly, sustainable lifestyle.

If you're looking to reduce your single-use plastic consumption, I highly recommend making the Swap for Sustainability by grabbing a your own Brita Filtering Bottle. You can find it in an assortment of fun colors HERE.

What kind of sustainable swaps has your family made?

Experience the Magic of the Live Adaptation of Aladdin on Blu-ray & DVD September 10!

Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.


I can show you the world. Shining, shimmering, splendid.... As one who lives to travel, it's no wonder that Aladdin has been one of my all time favorite movies. I can still feel the excitement I had walking into the theater with my girlfriends to catch the animated classic way back in 1992, and my love for Aladdin has been going strong ever since. On our recent trip to NY, I wasn't leaving without seeing Aladdin on Broadway. Yes, I went to the show wearing my animated shirt, looking 100% like a tourist. But who cares!? I was just as giddy going into the play that day as I was 17 years ago walking into the movie theater. 

I don't make any secrets about my love for Aladdin, so when I heard that the animated classic was getting a live adaptation... oh, my heart almost couldn't take it. I loaded up my girls and we hit the theater full force, ready to immerse ourselves magic, love, and music. The soundtrack has been playing in my home nonstop since this summer as we've been eagerly awaiting the release of the live-action film on Blu-ray and DVD. If you're on the same carpet as us, the good news is, the wait is almost over. Disney's Live Action Aladdin will be available to purchase on Blu-ray and DVD, this Tuesday, September 10! 

If you missed it in the theaters, now's your chance to get your hands on a copy and find out what you've been missing out on. While it doesn't 100% stick to the original animated version, I loved the changes made for the live-action version and the new song Speechless added to the soundtrack was a welcome addition that my family couldn't get enough of. I think fans of the animated classic as well as new viewers alike are all going to agree that Live-action Aladdin is one of the best films of 2019! I've already got this weekend's movie night all planned out, and it involves genies, flying carpets, magic, mystery and romance. 

The live-action adaptation of the animated classic, Aladdin, lands in homes on Digital and Movies Anywhere August 27 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD September 10. Starring Will Smith, Naomi Scott and Mena Massoud, the release includes all new bonus features, such as deleted scenes, a blooper reel and more!

The release of the live-action adventure coincides with the addition of the original animated classic to the highly celebrated Walt Disney Signature Collection, granting Aladdin fans everywhere the opportunity to own both magical movies. In 4K for the first time, the new release features all new bonus content, including alternate endings! 

If you're looking for a special treat to go with your new Aladdin Blu-ray or DVD, why now try this yummy Genie's Fig Jam Cookies recipe from 2 Geeks Who Eat:

Here's a fun craft for the kids to try also:

Disney's Live-action Aladdin will be available this Tuesday, September 10 to purchase on Blu-ray and DVD. Don't let the magic pass you by. Be sure to grab your copy, available at most major retailers nationwide. 


 

Why It's Time To Upgrade To A Digital Frame #NixplaySeed

Disclosure- I received the mentioned product courtesy of the sponsor for the the purpose of this review. All opinions are genuine, based on my experience with the product, and have not been influenced by promotional items.

"We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone." -Katie Thurmes

It's no secret that I LOVE snapping photos of things that make me really happy. I am by no means a professional photographer, but that doesn't stop me from whipping out my camera every chance I get to capture moments in time that I want to relive again and again. While I do a lot of food photography as paid work here on the blog, what truly interests me is travel photography. Every time we vacation, in addition to the touristy, family friendly stops we schedule, I also do research of spots in those areas that might have interesting landscapes and buildings for photographing and add them to our itinerary. Y'all remember The Wonderful Barn fiasco from Ireland last year? That was a purely selfish stop on my part just because I wanted photos of an odd looking barn. (In my defense, it didn't detour us from our road trip route.) 

We've been pretty fortunate to travel to some amazing places as a family, so naturally I have about a billion photos, give or take, that we like to scroll through every year before embarking on our next vacay. My walls are covered with some of my favorite snaps, while the rest are doomed to a fate of living in my computer photo files until we all have time to sit down and look at them together. In July, as we finished our yearly round of family photo viewing time, my husband casually mentioned that we should get a digital photo frame so we could enjoy our snaps every day. As fate would have it, while we were traveling through the east coast, Nixplay reached out to see if I would be interested in trying their Nixplay Seed Digital Photo Frame. Yes, please!

I'm going to start this by admitting that I am technologically challenged. If it involves electronics, I usually wait until Jason can set it up for me, otherwise I end up as a frustrated, crying mess on the floor within minutes. So, I left the box sitting on my counter for 4 days, eyeing it with suspicion before biting the bullet and attempting to set it up myself. To my delight, I had my Nixplay Seed all set up and running in under 15 minutes. And that's with photos loaded on and ready for viewing! So easy a caveman can do it? Nah, so easy Theresa can do it fits much better here! 

What do I think now that I've had a week to sit down and play with it and tweak the settings to my liking? I am absolutely loving it! Let me tell you about the pros and cons:

Pros:

• Easy set up and easy to use
• High-resolution IPS display allows for clear and colorful photos
• Slim Size - 10.20x6.69x.98 inches and weighs only 480g
• 8GB Storage- holds up to 20,000 photos
• Built-in Hu Motion Sensor allows for the frame to go into sleep mode when movement is not detected in the room
• Ability to upload photos from different devices and social media channels, such as Facebook, Instagram, Google Photos and Dropbox
• Use the Nixplay app to quickly upload your cell phone camera photos directly to the frame
• Easily upload and share new photos with family members who do not live nearby or aren't on social media
• The frame works in both portrait and landscape mode

Con: Only one that I could find and that it is not battery operated. Since it does have to be plugged into an outlet to run, it limits my options on where I can display the frame in my home. 


This is how the Nixplay Seed works- Sign up for an account on the Nixplay website. From your settings, you can upload photos directly from your computer, or connect your social media accounts to directly upload photos to your Nixplay frame from those accounts.

The website is pretty straightforward and simple to navigate. You can click Playlists, Albums, or the Social Media tab and within seconds you are ready to load new content to your frame. If you opt to use your phone, it's really just as simple as using the app to upload.

Simply open the app (available for both Apple and Google devices), then click the + sign at the bottom center of your screen. After that, click where you'd like to upload photos from- the photo library, which you'll be able to pull from your camera or social media channels from here, or from your Cloud.

Select which photos you'd like to add, tap done, then boom. Photos start syncing to your frame (as long as it's connected to wi-fi). Easy, peasy! In the settings, there are several options to customize your frame to your liking, such as by shuffling the photos or playing them in the order you uploaded them, the style of how one photo fades into the next, and how long you'd like a photo displayed on the screen before it changes to the next. It also comes with a little remote that you can use to power on the frame, skip or go back, or pause your photos.

The frame is awesome for looking back through your memories, but it's also a great idea to gift to a loved one. Mariah just moved into her first apartment off-campus and gets a little home sick every now and again. She sometimes texts me and asks to send her a photo of the dogs because she's missing them. With the Nixplay Seed, I don't have to text her photos. I can just upload new pics and they'll be sent directly to her frame. How cool is that!?

It's also great for people who aren't on social media. My mother-law- is so old school, she doesn't have a cell phone and refuses to create a Facebook account. I have to email her photos, and since the files are so large, they take forever to download to her server. I'm thinking for Christmas, I'm buying her a Nixplay Seed to save us both a headache when she wants new pictures of her grandbabies!

Overall, I am highly impressed with my Nixplay Seed Digital Frame. It's never too early to start thinking about the holidays, and I think this frame would make a wonderful gift for any photo lover. I did see on their website that the Nixplay Seed 8 inch, 10 inch Ultra and Wave 13 inch widescreen are 25% off until August 25, 2019, so if you're in the market for a digital frame, now's the time to make that purchase. 


  

Who would you gift a Nixplay Seed to, or would you keep it for yourself?