Fresh & Clean with Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser

This is a sponsored post written by me in behalf of Waterpik; all opinions are my own.

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#NewAgeInWaterFlossing #ad

When I was 15 I got braces and a palatal expander and braces which I had to wear for 2 and 1/2 long long years. I became very anal about brushing my teeth and flossing (yes I was that girl who carried her toothbrush in her purse and brushed after lunch – and any other time after I ate.) Due to the sensitivity of my mouth from soo many procedures flossing became literally a pain. My gums would bleed on a daily basis and my mouth would be sore, yet I continued like a good orthodontic patient and continued my regular brushing and flossing pattern.
Fast forward a few years (ok more then a few) I am still brushing and flossing constantly. I still have my bottom retainer, and flossing can be a bit difficult, (ever tried to get a floss pik or regular floss under a retainer? Impossible!) and with my daughter being new to the braces world, I knew that trying out a waterpik would be a great idea for us. I must say I am incredibly impressed with the Aquarius Professional Water flosser.  

The easy and more effective way to floss™, the Waterpik® Aquarius™ Professional Water Flosser  is the most advanced water flosser ever. It is clinically proven up to 50% more effective for improving gum health vs. string floss and proven to remove up to 99.9% of plaque from treated areas in 3 seconds.

Featuring a new compact and contemporary design, the Aquarius includes on/off water control on the handle, an LED information panel, and 7 water flosser tips. New pulse-modulation technology provides maximum plaque removal (Floss Mode) and enhanced gum stimulation and improved circulation (Hydro-Pulse Massage Mode). The convenient one-minute timer with a 30-second pacer ensures thorough water flossing of all areas.

The Waterpik® Aquarius™ Water Flosser (WP-660) is perfect for anyone with braces, implants, crowns, bridges, or periodontal pockets. And Waterpik® Water Flossers are the only brand clinically proven to be more effective than traditional dental floss and Sonicare® Air Floss for reducing plaque, gingivitis, and gum disease.

 #NewAgeInWaterFlossing #ad

The benefits of using a water flosser vs string floss is amazing to me – especially for those who have braces. I know before I had my braces taken off I was very concerned about plaque build up around the metal pieces of my braces.. thus why I carried my toothbrush with me everywhere. I don’t want my daughter to have to deal with the same, and so far it’s been an amazing difference with not only how her teeth look, but the time she takes in the bathroom flossing (and we know how long girls take to get ready!) Here are some additional benefits of the Aquarius Water Flosser:

Benefits

  • Effective Plaque Removal – Proven to remove up to 99.9% of plaque from treated areas in three seconds (there is NO WAY a string floss could do that!!)
  • Healthier Gums – Clinically proven up to 50% more effective for improving gum health vs. string floss
  • Ideal for Implants – Clinically proven up to 2X as effective for improving gum health around implants vs. string floss
  • Essential for Braces – Clinically proven up to 3X as effective for removing plaque around braces vs. string floss
  • Removes plaque and debris deep between teeth and below the gum line where brushing and traditional flossing can’t reach
  • Massages and stimulates gums to enhance circulation and keep your gums strong and healthy
  • Great for people with crowns, bridges, veneers and other dental work
  • Leaves your mouth feeling incredibly fresh and clean
  • Healthier Gums Guaranteed in 14 days or your money back

#NewAgeInWaterFlossing #ad

 

Want to try one for yourself?   Head on over to Waterpik’s website  -they are offering all of you free shipping on their products through March 31,2014.  All you have to do is enter in the code FREESHIPWP660!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Waterpik.

Posted in Fitness/Health, Reviews/Giveaways | 36 Comments

MONSTER JAM! is coming to Cincinnati – win tickets to the show!!

#MonsterJam #cincinnati #CincyMonsterJam

Monster Jam is the most exciting form of family motorsports entertainment on the planet.  The stars of the show are the biggest performers on four wheels: the Monster Jam trucks! The twelve-feet-tall, ten-thousand-pound machines will bring you to your feet, racing and ripping up a custom-designed track full of obstacles to soar over – OR smash through.The 2014 touring season brings more Monster Jam excitement providing entertainment tailored perfectly for your family’s budget, and these colorful, larger-than-life beasts are sure to capture the hearts of both young and old.

Monster Jam, sanctioned by the United States Hot Rod Association®, is the most popular monster truck tour, performing to over 4 million fans annually at the most prestigious arenas and stadiums throughout the world. Monster Jam® shows consist of three main fan-favorite elements – the pit party, racing and freestyle. The pit party gives all fans a chance to meet the stars of Monster Jam up-close while taking pictures and getting autographs.

 US Bank Arena Dates and Times:

April 4-6, 2014

Friday April 4th Showtime: 7:30 p.m.

Saturday April 5th Showtimes: 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Sunday April 6th Showtime: 2:00 p.m.

 

Special Insider Pricing:

Kid’s tickets start at just $10! Adult tickets start at just $20! – No code needed!

(Prices exclude Front Row or Gold Circle seats.  No double discounts.  Child discount applies to children ages 2-12.  Service charges, handling, and facility fees may apply.  All seats $3 more the day of the show.)

#CincyMonsterJam #MonsterJam #Cincinnati

Giveaway Details:

Prize: 1 lucky winner will receive 4 tickets to Monster Jam at US Bank Arena, Cincinnati, OH for the April 6, 2014, 2:00 pm show only. Tickets will be available for pick  up at US Bank Arena’s Will Call prior to the show. Winner will need to show a photo ID at pick up.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Posted in Cincinnati, Reviews/Giveaways | 5 Comments

#ad: Gluten Free Cooking with Tyson Grilled Chicken Breast Fillets

#CBIAS #cookitGF #ad #shop

#CollectiveBias

 You see in the news, on T.V, Facebook and all over Pinterest about gluten free living. Sometimes the press plays it off like a new fad diet, but gluten free living is a life saver for many people. A glutenfree diet is a diet that excludes the protein glutenGluten is found in grains such as wheat, barley, rye and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye). A glutenfree diet is used to treat celiac disease. Celiac disease is a condition that damages the lining of the small intestine and prevents it from absorbing parts of food that are important for staying healthy. I’ve had many readers reach out asking for more quick and easy gluten free recipes #CookitGF and with the help of Tyson we’ve came up with a great quick and easy gluten-free chicken taco!

 

When I see a healthy food frozen I get excited! That means less prep work for me, less time in the kitchen and more time doing other things I love. So finding out that Tyson has gluten-free grilled chicken breast fillets gets me excited. I found them at Sam’s Club, who is actually featuring the gluten-free chicken breast fillets in-store with a demo on March 6th and March 8th; you can find a list of participating stores here.

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What I love about the frozen chicken is all it needs to do is be heated and served. This recipe literally takes minutes and can be used in so many ways. Tacos are always a family favorite, so we like to get creative. I was able to find both hard and soft gluten-free taco shells (yay!) and taco seasoning (yay!). As I was researching I was amazed at how many things we eat on a daily basis includes gluten that you wouldn’t even think about.

#ad #CookItGF #cbias #shop #glutenfree #tacos #recipe #glutenfreerecipes

I think one of the great things about going gluten-free is the taste is still phenomenal! My little taste tester was more then happy to dig into some tacos after school, even though she was a bit leery because she thought it might be ‘diet’ food. Needless to say Tyson has done it once again!

#ad #CookItGF #shop #cbias

Posted in Fitness/Health, Recipes | 8 Comments

Great Grapefruit Facts & Basket Giveaway

One thing I love for breakfast is fruit – especially a fruit salad. I had the opportunity to sample the Scarlett’s Grapefruit recently and I have to admit, it was the highlight of my breakfast for nearly a week (then I ran out). I used a tiny bit of sugar to rid of the bitterness of the fruit, but it was absolutely delicious and fulfilling for a breakfast, as well as a snack. Grapefruit has many great health benefits, which I decided to share with you below. You can also enter to win a grapefruit basket prize pack of your own.
#Scarletts #grapefruit #healthy #breakfast

 

History

Grapefruits have a rather recent history, having been discovered in Barbados in the 18th century. Many botanists think the grapefruit was actually the result of a natural cross breeding which occurred between the orange and the pomelo, a citrus fruit that was brought from Indonesia to Barbados in the 17th century.
The resulting fruit was given the name “grapefruit” in 1814 in Jamaica, a name which reflects the way it’s arranged when it grows—hanging in clusters just like grapes.
Grapefruit trees were planted in Florida in the early 19th century, although they did not become a viable commercial crop until later that century. Florida is still a major producer of grapefruits, as is California, Arizona and Texas. Other countries that produce grapefruits commercially include Israel, South Africa and Brazil.

Health benefits of Grapefruit

  • Delicious, grapefruit is very low in calories, consists of just 42 calories per 100 g. Nonetheless; it is rich in dietary insoluble fiber pectin, which by acting as a bulk laxative helps to protect the colon mucous membrane by decreasing exposure time to toxic substances in the colon as well as binding to cancer-causing chemicals in the colon.
  • Pectin has also been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels by decreasing re-absorption of cholesterol binding bile acids in the colon.
  • The fruit contains very good levels of vitamin-A (provides about 1150 IU per 100g), and flavonoid antioxidants such as naringenin, and naringin. Besides, it is a moderate source of lycopene, beta-carotene, xanthin and lutein. Studies suggest that these compounds have antioxidant properties and are essential for vision. The total antioxidant strength measured in terms of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of grapefruit is 1548 µmol TE/100 g.
  • Further, vitamin A is also required maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in vitamin-A, and flavonoids helps to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
  • It is an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin-C; providing about 52% of DRI. Vitamin-C is a powerful natural anti-oxidant and helps the body develop resistance against infectious agents and scavenge harmful free radicals. It, furthermore, is required for the maintenance of healthy connective tissue and aids in early wound healing. It also facilitates dietary iron absorption from the intestine.
  • 100 g of fresh fruit contains about 135 mg of potassium electrolyte. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids, helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure through countering sodium effects.
  • Red varieties of grapefruits are especially rich in the most powerful flavonoid antioxidant, lycopene. Studies have shown that lycopene protects skin damage from UV rays, and offers protection against prostate cancer.
  • Additionally, it contains moderate levels of B-complex group of vitamins such as folates, riboflavin, pyridoxine, and thiamin in addition to some resourceful minerals such as iron, calcium, copper, and phosphorus.

#grapefruit #healthy #breakfast #win

A Few Quick Serving Ideas
  • Grapefruit sections add a tangy spark to green salads.
  • Instead of your morning glass of OJ, have a glass of grapefruit juice.
  • Combine diced grapefruit with cilantro and chili peppers to make a unique salsa.
  • To enjoy a salad with a tropical flair, combine chopped grapefruit pieces, cooked shrimp and avocadoes and serve on a bed of romaine lettuce.

 

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Posted in Fitness/Health | 38 Comments

Fitness Friday: Best Arm Toning Work Outs

We’ve talked about how lifting weights and doing weight training can help speed up weight loss. But one very important work out you need to do along with getting that weight off, is toning.  We’ve all seen the flabby arms of women who have lost weight quickly, and sometimes it looks worse after the weight loss then before. Making sure to tone your muscles while working on losing the weight is very important.

 

Here’s a list of some great Arm Toning Work Outs: Trainer tip: To boost your calorie burn and see results faster, march or jump in place for 2 minutes after completing each move.

Roll-the-Ball with Uneven Push-Up

Best for: Those who need upper body strength. (Tip: you can use a soccer ball, stack of books, or a medicine ball to create the uneven surface.)
How to do it: Get into plank and put right hand on the ball, left hand on the floor. Squeeze your abs and shoulders as you lower towards the floor, keeping elbows in. Push back up and pass the ball to the other side. Do at least 5 on each side.

Pilates Boxing

Best for: Pilates and Yoga fans who want to burn fat.
How to do it: Standing with feet a hips-width apart, bend your knees and hinge forward from your waist, maintaining a neutral spine. Raise fists to your shoulders and, keeping elbows up, box your right hand forward, clenching your abs. Bring hands to center and switch. Box on each side 20 times.

Clean and Press Windmill

Best for: Those who want to work their legs and gluts too.
How to do it: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, a free weight between them. Push hips back to lower into squat and grab weight with left hand. Push through feet and rise to standing, lifting weight toward left shoulder and up overhead. Bend at waist to right, allowing right foot to turn out; right hand is on inside of right leg. Continue to bend sideways, sliding right hand down to foot, keeping left hand overhead. Reverse movement to return to squat. Switch sides and repeat.

Hip Heist Push-Up

Best for: Those who want arms like Jillian Michaels.
How to do it: Get into “up” part of a push-up; lower chest and bend elbows to 90 degrees. Lift right hand and left foot, rotating upper body to the right while bringing left knee across body toward right armpit. Pivot on right foot and continue rotating torso until you’re face up. Lift hips until torso is in tabletop position. Lift left hand and right foot, rotating upper body to right, pivoting on left foot until you are back in the “up” part of a push-up.

Biceps and Arm Circles

Best for: Exercisers who want a full-body strength workout.
How to do it: Stand with legs slightly wider than hip-width, a 5- to 8-pound dumbbell in each hand, elbows bent and palms up. Keeping spine straight, squat and circle left hand up and in toward your shoulder in a circular motion (as if beckoning someone toward you); reverse to lower hand. Do 16 reps, then switch sides and repeat.

Triceps Swing

Best for: Eliminating “bat wings”
How to do it: Lie face up with feet on floor, knees bent, a 5-lb dumbbell in each hand. Keep them a few inches off floor. Keeping arms straight, raise left arm over chest while right arm stays over head. Lower to start and repeat. Do 15 reps with left arm, then switch sides. Do 2-3 sets.

Kickback with a Twist

Best for: Firm, sleek triceps
How to do it: Holding a 5- to 8-pound dumbbell in each hand, arms by your sides, stand with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart. Keeping your back straight, bend your legs slightly and lean forward from the waist until your torso is nearly parallel to the ground. Raise your elbows until your upper arms are even with your back. Your elbows should be bent to 45-degree angles with your palms facing each other. Keeping your upper arms still, extend both hands behind you, then rotate your wrists so that your palms are up. Turn your palms back to face each other and bend your elbows to bring weights back toward your body to complete the rep. Do 3 sets of 15 reps.

Get-Up Plank

Best for: Getting a strong back and shoulders.
How to do it: Begin in a modified side-plank position with legs stacked and knees bent. Hold a kettlebell (or a water bottle) in your right hand, with your right elbow bent and weight resting against your forearm. Lift your hips so your body is straight from knees to shoulders, pressing kettlebell up to the ceiling. Do 3 sets on each side.

Split Squat Rotation

Best for: Leg, glute, and arm strengthening
How to do it: Stand with feet together, holding a 5- to 10-lb medicine ball (you can also use a soccer ball or a stack of books) at chest. Step left foot back and lower into squat with right knee bent. Push into right leg, straightening both legs while twisting torso to push medicine ball over right shoulder; return to previous position. Continue for 30 seconds; switch sides and repeat.

Opposite Arm & Leg Lift

Best for: Arm and leg strengthening that stretches your back
How to do it: From all fours, reach your right arm forward; at the same time, stretch your left leg back and flex your foot. Hold for 5 seconds, then release and repeat using the left arm and right leg; that’s one rep. Do 10 to 15 reps.

Bicep Curl with Alternating Lunge

Best for: A firmer lower body and long and lean arms
How to do it: Stand with knees slightly bent, holding a dumbbell or water bottle in each hand. Step forward with your right leg, and lower into lunge position (don’t let front knee go past toes). Simultaneously tighten left bicep and curl left hand toward chest. Repeat on each side.

 

What are some of your favorite arm toning work outs?

 

Posted in Fitness Friday, Fitness/Health | 3 Comments