Food, Giveaways, Sponsored

Warm Up With Boulder Organic Soup

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Disclosure: I received samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

With the chilly temperatures we have been experiencing, soup is an especially appealing meal option. While homemade soup is always nice, sometimes it is just more convenient to have a quicker option on hand. We recently tried Boulder Organic Foods Organic Chicken Quinoa & Kale Soup, which we found in the refrigerated deli section at our local Whole Foods.

Check out this “clean” ingredient list: Chicken Bone Broth* (Filtered Water, Chicken Bone Broth Base* (Chicken Bone Broth*, Chicken Fat*, Sea Salt, Vegetable Stock*, [Onion*, Carrot*, Celery*, Tomato*], Bay Leaf* Garlic Powder*, Black Pepper Extract)), Tomatoes* (Tomatoes*, Water, Citric Acid, Calcium Chloride), Onion*, Chicken Meat* (Chicken Meat*, Water, Rice Starch*, Sea Salt), Navy Beans*, Carrots*, Quinoa*, Kale*, Garlic*, Extra Virgin Olive Oil*, Spices*, Sea Salt,Red Chili Pepper Flakes* *Organic

I like how this soup tastes fresh and is not overly salty like other packaged soups. The quinoa still had a nice bite and the chicken bone broth had a good flavor. I also liked how the kale added some “greens” to the soup. Each container of soup is 24 oz. and contains three servings.

Boulder Organic Foods makes eight delicious varieties of soup:

  • Organic Chicken Quinoa & Kale Soup
  • Organic Green Chile Corn Chowder
  • Organic Minestrone Soup
  • Organic Potato Leek Soup
  • Organic Chicken Noodle Soup
  • Organic Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
  • Organic Creamy Autumn Squash Soup
  • Organic Red Lentil Dahl Soup

Boulder Organic Soups can be found at stores across the United States. Go here to find out where you can find their soups near you.

Giveaway Time

Enter to win three vouchers for free Boulder Organic Soup (up to $30 value)!

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The Importance Of Having A Support System To Prevent ACEs #FindYour3

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This post is made possible with support from the American Academy of Pediatrics through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All opinions are my own.

What are ACEs?

Have you ever heard of the term ACEs? ACEs is an acronym that stands for “Adverse Childhood Experiences.” ACEs are traumatic events that occur in childhood, including violence, abuse, or having family members with mental health or substance abuse problems. Until recently, I was not familiar with the term ACEs. However, ACEs are quite prevalent in our society, with 61% of adults reporting they had at least one ACE and 16% reporting they had four or more types of ACEs. 

Even if you’ve never experienced an ACE, listen up because their impact on individuals can impact communities, which in turn, affects you, too. Luckily, YOU can be part of the solution.

It is important to recognize the presence of ACEs because the toxic stress caused by ACEs can potentially have a significant negative impact on a person’s well-being as an adult. These harmful effects are far-reaching and can range from depression to obesity to heart disease to substance misuse. There have been studies that show that preventing ACEs can help decrease the likelihood of experiencing chronic health problems, mental illness, and substance misuse as an adult. See the charts below for some recent statistics: 

For further information regarding ACEs click here.

What Can Be Done To Prevent ACEs? #FindYour3

Because the causes of ACEs are largely societal and systemic, trying to prevent them seems like an overwhelming task. While there are certainly broad policy changes that need to be made by employers, legislators, and healthcare providers, we as individuals also have an important role to play. 

The ultimate goal is to create safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments for all children. Establishing these healthy relationships and environments goes a long way in the prevention of ACEs and their potentially harmful consequences.  And this is where you can be involved…

#FindYour3

The American Academy of Pediatrics and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention want to encourage everyone to identify three people or resources they can rely on to create the safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments that are necessary to prevent ACEs. Examples of such positive role models can be anyone you interact with, including teachers, pastors, coaches, or neighbors. Having three people or organizations that you can turn to and rely on can make a huge difference in coping with problems. 

I am so grateful that my kids are fortunate to have a network of trusted adults in their lives in addition to their dad and me. My kids’ support system includes their grandparents, school teachers, youth group leaders, basketball and soccer coaches, and scout leaders. As a parent, I think it is important to have a discussion with your children to help them identify their “three.”  That way, they will know exactly whom they can trust if and when problems develop.

In addition, it is also important to think about how we can be part of someone else’s network of “three.” As a paraeducator at a public elementary school, I see how my everyday interactions with students in the classroom can make a positive impact on a child’s life. While everyone has a unique role, if we work together as a community, we can create the support systems that are necessary to prevent ACEs.

So think about it right now and tell me: who are your three?

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Vacation

Cachuma Lake Eagle Cruise Tips

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During our yurt stay at Cachuma Lake, we made advanced reservations to take a nature cruise. Since it happened in December, it was called the Eagle Cruise. Cachuma Lake in Santa Barbara County is man-made, but it is quite large. We were told that the cruise would take about two hours (it ended up being about 1 hour and 45 minutes).

The weather was nice and clear. It was a lot colder when we were in the middle of the lake than when we were on shore, so be sure to bundle up!

The boat is quite spacious. There are thirty swivel seats which are quite convenient for bird-spotting. There is no restroom onboard, so make sure to go before boarding.

If you are age 12 or under, you are required to wear a life jacket while on the boat. If you are over 12, you just need to keep it nearby. n was not too happy about this rule, but it is a good precaution.

They had enough binoculars for all the passengers to borrow. They were good ones, too!

Our tour guide was a park ranger who was quite knowledgeable about all of the birds and other wildlife that we saw. We also happened to go during their annual bird-counting day, so there was another ranger who recorded all of the birds that we saw.

Here are just a few of the birds that we spotted. We also saw multiple hawks, coots, and many others I do not remember the names of. I do not believe we saw any eagles, however.

On the way back to our campsite, there was a flock of what I think are turkey vultures?

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Book Review, Sponsored

Still: (7 Ways To Find Calm In The Chaos) Review

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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

We all experience difficulties in life. The difference is how we handle these difficulties and who we turn to. In Still, 7 Ways To Find Calm In The Chaos, Jenny L. Donnelly provides an outline as to how we can experience authentic rest in Jesus. Donnelly is almost alarmingly candid in sharing about her own life experiences and how she dealt with them. However, it is through her unabashed openness that the reader is able to see how God was able to transform her from the inside out.

For each of the seven ways Donnelly lays out to find calm, there are examples from the Bible as well as examples from her own life. There are thought-provoking questions and blank spaces for reflective journaling. I believe that this book would be helpful for everyone, whether they are currently in a season of “chaos” or not. We all know that the storms of life will come at some point, so studying what the Bible has to say about how we should handle them will ultimately be invaluable.

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Giveaways, Reviews, Sponsored

Organize Your Kitchen With Zoku Neat Stack Containers

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Disclosure: I received a sample product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

It seems like I am constantly in search of new organizing products, especially for the kitchen. The beginning of the year is always a good time to go through and edit the random, mismatched food containers that somehow seem to multiply. If you are looking for containers that do not take up a lot of room, the Zoku Neat Stack Nesting Container Set is your answer. Aptly named, these containers truly do stack and nest very neatly!

This 11-piece container set includes:

  • 1x 3 cup
  • 1x 4 cup
  • 1x 5 cup
  • 2x 1.5 cup
  • 1x Neat Stack Freezer Pack (Snaps under the lid or can nest on top!)
  • 5x Lids

D has been trying to do more weekly meal prep lately. The Zoku Neat Stack containers are great for this because the containers are leakproof and come in all different sizes. These containers also come in handy to store leftovers. The Freezer Stack is convenient because it keeps food cold on the go.

It is also important to note that the Zoku Neat Stack containers are BPA and phthalate-free, microwave safe, freezer safe and dishwasher safe. Look for the Zoku Neat Stack Nesting Container Set on Amazon and the Zoku website.

Giveaway Time

Enter below to win a Zoku Neat Stack Container Set!

Win Zoku’s 11-pc Neat Stack #12
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Book Review, Sponsored

Raising the Challenging Child Review

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Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Raising the Challenging Child, by Karen Doyle Buckwalter, Debbie Reed, and Wendy Lyons Sunshine, is an excellent resource for parents who are searching for parenting advice. While I do not consider my own children particularly challenging (most of the time), the subtitle, “How to Minimize Meltdowns, Reduce Conflict, and Increase Cooperation” definitely caught my attention. I think these are things that all parents would like to do! The authors of this book work at Chaddock, a nonprofit organization dedicated to working with some of the most “challenging” kids in the nation for 150 years. I had never heard of this organization before, but after reading some of the real-life stories that are sprinkled throughout this book, it sounds like an amazing place.

The book is divided into three parts:

  • Be a Leader
  • Dig Deeper
  • Prepare for Success

Each chapter explores different challenges that both children and their parents face as they try to navigate life together. I like how the authors offer practical advice and solutions to these various problems. What I found especially helpful is that at the end of every chapter there is a chart with two columns: “Perhaps you’ve done this…” and “Instead, try this…” Then, under each column, there are sample scenarios that relate to a specific issue. I found myself relating to a lot in the first column, so it was interesting to see the recommended words and actions in the second column. I think that Raising The Challenging Child is a book that would be helpful to all parents because it contains hands-on strategies for increasing understanding between parent and child. This understanding can lead to building stronger family relationships, which is something for which we should all strive.

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Restaurant Reviews, Vacation

A December Visit to #TheRealSolvang

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While we stayed in a yurt at Cachuma Lake, we spent one afternoon in nearby Solvang. The last time we visited was about six years ago!

Copenhagen Sausage Garden

Our first stop was to eat lunch at Copenhagen Sausage Garden.

This outdoor restaurant is actually located between two buildings. You order and pay at the cash register and then find a seat among the picnic benches. It was pretty chilly that day, but there were some heat lamps that helped somewhat.

We ordered the four sausage sampler for $24.95. We chose the Rod Polse, Currywurst, Chicken Apple Sage and All-Beef Frank. In addition, we ordered a side order of fries and a soft pretzel.

Time to dig in!

There was a large variety of serve yourself dipping sauces. The flavors were interesting and it was fun to try them all out.

The pretzel was good, but the accompanying cheese sauce was a little disappointing since it was room temperature.

Aebelskiver Cafe

n started to not feel well all of a sudden, so I escorted him quickly to the car. While he rested, D and k brought back some aebelskivers from Aebelskiver Cafe, which I had seen on Yelp. I thought the aebelskivers were pretty good. However, D said he did not have a good feeling about the place, which was hidden in a strip mall and also offered Chinese food. I guess we will have to try another place next time.

Strolling Through Solvang

D’s co-worker’s relative owns this windmill-winery, so he stopped in out of curiosity.

Love the European-style architecture!

There were a lot of tempting offerings at the several bakeries around town, but we resisted.

Since n was feeling better, we walked up and down the main streets and did a little window shopping. It was fun to visit Solvang in December because the Christmas decorations added another layer of charm to the already charming village.

I was kind of surprised to see a brand new ramen restaurant, which seemed a little out of place.

Solvang is one of those touristy places in California that everyone should visit at least once. Be sure to add it to your itinerary if you are ever in the area!

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Family Field Trips, Sponsored

Fun With The Fam At Monster Jam

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Disclosure: I received tickets in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Monster Jam is coming to Anaheim, California! We attended opening night last Saturday, and there are more shows coming January 25, February 8, 22 and 23.

This was our first time attending Monster Jam, so we were not quite sure what to expect. The Pit Party (additional ticket required) is held in the Angels Stadium parking lot during the afternoon before the show. The monster trucks are on display so you can see how big they actually are. As you can see, the tires were taller than my son! The Pit Party also provides fans the opportunity to meet the drivers and collect autographs. The drivers I saw all seemed very gracious and willing to pose for pictures with the fans. There were also long lines for special Monster Jam merchandise.

In between the Pit Party and the show, we went back to our car to “tailgate”. (General parking is $25). Well, it was really more like we ate sandwiches, chips, carrots and fruit that I had packed from home.

Or seats were in the front row, but I think everyone had a pretty good view of the action. It might even be better to be a little higher up so that can you see the entire arena. It is amazing how they completely transformed the baseball stadium to a Monster Truck obstacle course of sorts.

The driver of Evolution was interviewed right next to us!

There were a few Motorcross riders to amp up the audience. I guess they have their own separate show.

There were three parts to the show. The first part consisted of head to head races. The second part required each truck to do two two-wheel tricks. The final part was a freestyle competition.

El Toro Loco, driven by a woman driver, did some crazy tricks!

The audience participates by rating each truck for parts two and three on a phone. Their scores are then totaled to determine the winner for the night. The kids liked this interactive aspect of the show.

One thing that kind of surprised me was how family-friendly the event was. There were a lot of families with small kids and I thought everything about the show was appropriate for all ages.

Be sure to bring earplugs and dress warmly. The ticket said Monster Jam is held rain or shine, so be prepared for that as well.

Purchase Tickets + Discount

Buy your tickets for Monster Jam here. Use discount code: MJMOM for $5 off per ticket.

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Book Review, Sponsored

On-The-Go Devotional For Teens Review

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Disclosure: I received a free sample in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

A common new year’s resolution for Christians is to spend more time in God’s word. On-The-Go Devotional, 200 Devotions For Teens, by Leslie Hudson, is a great way for teenagers to do just that. This compact book contains 200 short devotions divided into twenty topics. Theses topics, picked especially for teenagers, range from humility to forgiveness to friends to worry. Each one page devotion starts with a Bible verse, followed by a short life application. Each devotion then concludes with a few more Bible passages to go further in depth.

Since teens (and everyone else, for that matter) always seem to be busy and “on the go”, this book is a good resource to have on hand. The devotions show teenagers how applicable the Bible is to everyday life. A book like this can help develop the habit of reading the Bible on a daily basis instead of just on Sundays. If you have a teenager, this On-The-Go Devotional is worth checking out.

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Food, Reviews, Sponsored

New Year, New Natural Products: #NewHopeBloggerBox

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Disclosure: I received free samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It is always exciting when a New Hope Blogger Box is delivered to our doorstep. The natural product space is rapidly expanding, and I really enjoy making new discoveries and sharing them with others.

The most recent box I received had a good variety of products. Here are the contents, along with some of my observations:

  • RightRice (Thai Curry flavor): This “rice” is actually made from vegetables. The main ingredients include lentil flour, chickpea flour, pea fiber and rice flour. Each serving contains 5 grams of fiber (compared to 0 grams of fiber in white rice).
  • Bodylogix Vegan Protein: My husband is the big protein powder consumer in our household. He gave this one a thumbs up! The chia provides a nutty flavor, and there was not an unpleasant aftertaste as he has detected in other vegan protein powders.
  • CV Sciences Plus CBD Oil Capsules
  • Human Power of N Neo40: For daily heart & circulation support
  • Madhava Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil: We use olive oil all of the time, so I was excited to try this one. It won the Clean Label Purity Award and has been tested for 130 contaminants.
  • Natural Factors Organic Low FODMAP Reliefiber Powder: According to the packaging, this provides relief for constipation, diarrhea and bloating. It is naturally sourced from organic guar beans. Since I have not had these symptoms, I have yet to try it, but it is good to know there is a natural option.
  • Nature Nate’s Natural Raw & Unfiltered Honey: I used this sample for a salmon salad I made, and it tasted great!
  • Mother Raw Organic Caesar Style Dressing & Marinade: This dressing is gluten-free, vegan, peanut-free and canola-free. It contains olive oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and hemp seeds (among other natural ingredients). I like the idea of being able to use this as both a dressing and a marinade.
  • Torani Italian Syrups Dark Chocolate Puremade Sauce: I am a big fan of Torani Italian Syrups. However, I had never tried their sauces. This dark chocolate sauce is so good! Perfect on ice cream or added to a coffee drink. I like how it does not contain any artificial ingredients, too.

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