If there is one thing I love, it’s a delicious smoothie that taste like it’s a cheat meal, but it’s really overall healthy. There are lots of variations you can do to fit your diet, or your preferences, but the recipe below is my favorite.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup 1% low-fat milk (or almond or coconut milk)
If you’ve never tried Mighty Nut Powdered Peanut Butter you are missing out!
Peanut Butter & Co just launched Mighty Nut, their new powdered peanut butter! Each batch of Mighty Nut is created from quality USA grown peanuts. The peanuts are roasted, then pressed, to remove most of the fat. What remains is protein, fiber and delicious peanut buttery taste. Mighty Nut powdered peanut butter can be rehydrated and used as a spread or dip, or as an ingredient in baking, cooking or smoothies and it is available in four delightful varieties:
Original
Vanilla
Chocolate
Flax & Chia
You can win you’re own bottle of Mighty Nut Powdered Protein in the flavor of your choice, just retweet the tweet below! Contest ends: 11/7
One prize per person. If you win this giveaway, and have already won another prize from Mighty Nut through another blog, please disclose that you have already won so we can choose another winner
As you know October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month; this campaign is to help raise awareness of the disease which effects one in eight women in their lifetime. Though the statistics sound scary, the good news is that early detection saves lives. With education you can learn how to identify potential symptoms, and learn some preventative behaviors that can help reduce your risk.
There are a few things you can to do lower your risk factors for developing breast cancer; though none of these steps are guaranteed, they have been shown to significantly lower women’s chances of developing breast cancer. In fact, a self-breast exam is what saved my Grandma. She was doing an exam and noticed a small lump under her arm; knowing that this wasn’t something that had been there before, she made an appointment with her Doctor immediately, who confirmed our worse fears. But thankfully due to her preventative steps, we still have her here with us today!
Know Your Breast. Knowing how you breast are supposed to feel is one of the easiest ways to be proactive in early detection. If you are unsure how to preform your own self-breast exam, talk with your Doctor.
Get Moving!Exercising three or more hours per week can significantly decrease your chances of developing breast cancer. So take a walk, a bike ride, or hit the gym a few times a week. Keeping your weight in check is another very pro active step to prevention.
Try a Fresher, Healthy Diet. A low fat, high fiber diet (get those fruits and veggies in) avoiding processed foods, go organic when possible (avoiding pesticides) and cooking your food and storing it safely is also a step in the right direction.
Drop those Bad Habits. Everyone’s been telling you for years- but seriously stop smoking, and limit your alcohol intake.
Get Your Vitamin D. Studies have shown that low Vitamin D levels and higher risks of breast cancer go hand in hand. Plus Vitamin D helps regulate normal breast cell growth, so it’s a win/win.
De-Stress. Stress causes all kinds of health issues – though there isn’t any studies (that I’m aware of) that link stress and breast cancer, if it can reek havoc on your body, why couldn’t it? De-stressing not only makes your body feel better, but it gives you an emotional and mental ‘restart’ as well.
Aflac understands how life changing being diagnosed with breast cancer can be, so they have partnered with the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) again for its second annual “This Duck Wears Pink” campaign. Aflac is selling a variety of campaign-related merchandise including the plush duck, hats and a breast cancer ribbon pin, with all the net proceeds going to the AACR for the specific purpose of funding research aimed at finding a cure for breast cancer!
For most companies Fall is open enrollment season for health insurance – which means you can review your employers benefit offerings and choose the health insurance policy right for you. When considering all of your options, be sure to check out Aflac’s cancer policy. A cancer policy can be used not only for treatment expenses (which can be quite costly) not covered by major medical insurance, but also for things you don’t think about until you need it like extra child care cost that may be needed, transportation to and from treatments, and even everyday living expenses like your mortgage or grocery bill.
If you or a loved one does end up being diagnosed, the last thing you want to do is worry about your finances. A cancer insurance policy will help take away that worry, and allow you to concentrate on what is really important.
Not to mention that Aflac’s recently introduced One Day Pay initiative allows Alfac to process, approve and pay eligible claims in just a day so you can have the money you need immediately.
Check out this video to see how Aflac’s cancer insurance policy has helped policyholder Celia through her breast cancer journey.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Over the past few years I’ve really been trying to improve my photography skills;but I learned that the final results of a picture, are more than just learning your way around a camera – almost as important as taking the picture, is learning how to edit it.
I am going to admit, up until recently I didn’t use any fancy editing software – in fact, the paid PicMonkey subscription was as ‘professional’ as I got. But then I had a chance to try out Adobe Creative Cloud Photography – and I’m hooked.
The Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan is a 1 year subscription )encompassing Photoshop Creative Cloud and Lightroom Creative Cloud) to photography bliss. You can edit, organize and share your photos from anywhere on any device with the creative cloud.
“Take your best shot and make it even better with the Creative Cloud Photography plan.”
Whether you love sharing your work on social media with small edits or showcasing your work on a website with complete makeovers this is the software for you!
The Adobe CreativeSync technology is amazing because if you start a project on your computer, or on the web and you need to finish it on the go it automatically saves everywhere and you can continue it on your smartphone or tablet!
I love editing photos especially of my little loves – my kids and my nieces and nephews. You know with children you could get that ‘perfect’ shot, and it all be ruined by one of them closing their eyes, having a spot on their shirt, or their hair out of place. With Adobe Creative you can fix all that, plus add some extra bling when it needs it.
If you have a photography lover in your life, this would be the perfect Christmas gift – you can pick it up for a great price at Best Buy today!
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Luvs. All opinions are 100% mine.
As Moms we want to make sure to give our kids the best of everything in life – always have the right answers, feed them the right foods, send them to the right schools – and save money while doing it. That’s why I love affordable, dependable brands like Luvs. Luvs Super Absorbent diapers have a leakguard core, refasten-able stretch tabs (my favorite part), contoured shape (for a great fit) and a leak barrier where the leg gathers to keep the diaper from leaking.The Luvs Super Absorbentdiapers helps lock away wetness 2X better than other competitors. Luvs offers not only quality but savings as well.
Luvs is a brand that values Moms so much they’ve started the Luvs Loyalty Club. The Luvs Loyalty Club offers the latest offers and savings, exclusive access to news, tips, and articles available only to Luvs Club members! You can sign up for the Luvs Loyalty Club on the Walmart website – it’s super easy to sign up, just fill out your info, answer a few questions and your in! Right now registrants will be entered for a chance to win a years supply of Luvs,valued at $1000! (the drawing will take place in November, so hurry and register!) So go join the The Luvs Club now!
Come join us tomorrow 10/29 for the #LuvsClubParty at noon EST hosted by the @RookieMoms! The party will focus on great baby activities for fall, Halloween tips, adorable baby photos and of course some awesome prizes!!
Who isn’t excited for the new Star Wars movie opening on December 18th? That’s my birthday, so we’ve already decided that we will make it a Star Wars celebration!
What’s a celebration without treats right? I love these super cute and tasty Star Wars Mickey cookies! They are easy to make, and the kids are going to love helping decorate!
Cookie Recipe:
Cookie Ingredients:
5 C flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 C soft unsalted butter
2 C granulated sugar
4 eggs
– Cream the soft butter with the sugar until the combination is smooth not grainy to the touch in a mixing bowl.
-Add all 4 eggs at one time. Continue to mix.
-Add the vanilla. Continue mixing.
-Sift the four, baking powder, and salt together.
-Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture.
-Continue mixing to make sure all ingredients are thoroughly blended.
-Make the dough into a ball, wrap it in cling wrap completely covering the entire dough ball.
-Put in the refrigerator for about 6 hours or overnight. Check to see if the dough is firm.
-Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
-Pull the cookie dough out of the refrigerator and sit it out to soften up a bit.
– Put flour out on the wood cutting board, rub flour on the rolling pin, and work some flour into
the batter. (if needed)
-Roll the dough out on the cutting board and using the plaque cookie cutter begin to make your cookies.
-Line the cookie sheet with parchment paper.
-Using a metal spatula move the cut cookies to the parchment lined cookie sheet.
-Bake at 325 degrees for 8 minutes. Check to see if the cookies are thoroughly baked.
-Take the cookies off of the cookie sheet and put on a wire rack to cool completely.
(About 10 minutes).
Anakin & Princess Lela Icing Directions:
-Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl mixing on medium speed for 4 minutes. (except your food coloring)
-If icing is not stiff enough add 1/4 C powder sugar.
-Take out 2 TBSP of icing add several drops of blue gel food coloring. Stir to mix.
– Take out 3 TBSP of icing add several drops of brown gel food coloring. Stir to mix.
– Take out 3 TBSP of icing add several drops of grey gel food coloring. Stir to mix.
-Divide the remaining icing into two bowls.
– The first bowl add several drops of black gel food coloring. Stir to blend.
-In the second bowl, keep this bowl of icing white.
-Spoon each color of icing into individual frosting bags with a #5 tips. Twist the open end of the bag to push the icing to the tip.
Icing Directions:
Anakin Mickey
-Using the Anakin in the picture as the outline.
-Outline each of the Anakin cookies in white except for the ears and the top of the V-neck. Allow to dry for about 30 seconds before filling in the cookie. Fill in where the cookie has been outlined in white with the white thinner icing.* Allow to dry for about 30 seconds.
– *Squeeze the half of the white of the icing into a bowl then add 1 tsp of water to this and mix it in.
-Leave the rest of the icing in the frosting bag for later use on the cookies.
-Referring the Anakin /Mickey’s picture as an outline, draw a brown belt in the middle of the cookie . Outline the belt in brown then fill it in. Use the thicker icing.
-Outline the buckle on the belt and the detail on the shirt in grey icing and fill the buckle in with thicker grey icing. Allow for it to dry for 30 seconds. -Add a lite sabre in the blue, outlining and filling in with the thicker icing across the middle of Anakin’s body. Add a small square at the bottom of the lite sabre in grey, outline then fill it in with the same icing.
– Outline Mickey’s/Anakin’s ears & collar in black then after 30 seconds for drying fill in the ears and collar in the thinner black icing. – *Squeeze the half of the white of the icing into a bowl then add 1 tsp of water to this and mix it in.
Allow these cookies to dry from 5-10 hours
Princess Lela Minnie:
-Outline each of the Minnie/Princess Lela cookies (the top half) in black . Allow to dry for about 30 seconds. Fill in the top half of the cookies in with the black thinner icing.*
– *Squeeze the half of the icing into a bowl then add 1 tsp of water to this and mix it in.
-Leave the rest of the icing in the frosting bag for later use on the cookies.
-Outline the brown hair on Princess Lela, allow the 30 seconds to dry. Fill in the hair with the thinner brown icing. – *Squeeze the half of the icing into a bowl then add 1 tsp of water to this and mix it in.
-Follow the Minnie’s/ Princess Lela picture as an outline.
-Outline the bottom half of Minnie in white allow to dry to a few seconds before filling it in white thinner icing. Allow 30 seconds for this part to dry before moving on.
-Outline the top of Princess Lela’s dress in grey, (the shape of a V) allow the 30 seconds to dry. Fill in the “V” with the thinner grey icing. – *Squeeze the half of the icing into a bowl then add 1 tsp of water to this and mix it in.
-Allow these cookies to dry from 5-10 hours
Chewbacca & R2D2 Icing Directions:
-Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl mixing on medium speed for 4 minutes. (except your food coloring)
-If icing is not stiff enough add 1/4 C powder sugar.
-Take out 1 TBSP of icing add several drops of red gel food coloring. Stir to mix.
– Take out 3 TBSP of icing, add several drops of blue gel food coloring. Stir to mix.
-Divide the rest of the icing into three parts. In the first bowl add several drops of brown gel food coloring, stir to blend. -Divide the remaining 2/3 s icing into three equal parts.
-In the first bowl add several drops of grey gel food coloring, stirring to mix well.
-In the second bowl add several drops of black gel food coloring, stirring to mix well.
-In the third bowl keep this white.
-Spoon each color of icing into individual frosting bags with a #5 tips. Twist the open end of the bag to push the icing to the tip.
Mickey as Chewbacca
-Using the picture of the Mickey as Chewbacca as an outline.
-Outline each of the Mickey cookies in brown. Allow to dry for about 30 seconds. Fill in the cookies in with the brown thinner icing.* Allow to dry for about 30 seconds.
– *Squeeze the half of the brown icing into a bowl then add 1 tsp of water to this and mix it in.
-Leave the rest of the icing in the frosting bag for later use on the cookies.
-Further following Chewbacca’s picture as an outline, draw the shoulder belt in two separate lines in the white royal icing.
– Allow for the white belt to dry for 30 seconds.
-Add the brown belt loops to the white belt in the brown icing.
-Allow these cookies to dry from 5-10 hours
Mickey as R2D2
–Using the picture of the Mickey as R2D2 as an outline.
-Outline each of the R3D2 ears on the cookies in black. Allow to dry for about 30 seconds. Fill in the ears on the cookies with the black thinner icing.*
– *Squeeze the half of the black of the icing into a bowl then add 1 tsp of water to this and mix it in.
-Leave the rest of the icing in the frosting bag for later use on the cookies. Allow to dry for about 30 seconds.
-Follow the picture of R2D2as an outline.
-Outline the top half of R2D2 in grey icing. Allow several seconds for the outlining to dry.
– *Squeeze the half of the grey of the icing into a bowl then add 1 tsp of water to this and mix it in.
-Leave the rest of the icing in the frosting bag for later use on the cookies.
-Fill in the top half of R2D2 with the thinner grey icing. -Outline the bottom half of R2D2 in white icing. Allow 30 seconds to dry.
– *Squeeze the half of the white of the icing into a bowl then add 1 tsp of water to this and mix it in.
-Leave the rest of the icing in the frosting bag for later use on the cookies, -On the top half of the cookie near the top of the head add a small square in blue icing. Allow to dry for 30 seconds then add a small black dot.
-Just above the half way line between the grey and white halves add three small squares in blue icing. Allow 30 seconds for these to dry, One the third small blue square add a small red dot. Next to the small square with the red dot add a small grey dot. Allow it 30 seconds to dry before you add the smaller black dot. On the end of the head add a small square in the blue icing.
-Draw a line in the blue icing dividing the white bottom and grey top. In the white bottom half add three more lines in blue icing.
-Outline R2D2 the black icing.
-Allow these cookies to dry from 5-10 hours
There are a few things you can to do lower your risk factors for developing breast cancer; though none of these steps are guaranteed, they have been shown to significantly lower women’s chances of developing breast cancer. In fact, a self-breast exam is what saved my Grandma. She was doing an exam and noticed a small lump under her arm; knowing that this wasn’t something that had been there before, she made an appointment with her Doctor immediately, who confirmed our worse fears. But thankfully due to her preventative steps, we still have her here with us today!
