Keep Your New Year's Resolution but Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth with @GODIVA Masterpieces!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

With New Year’s resolutions at the top of everyone’s mind, eating healthy and avoiding sweets is one of the highest on the list for most people.

But I for one like to eat everything IN MODERATION. I love my sweets but I also love eating lots of fruits and vegetables and other healthy foods.

So when I have a sweets craving I reach for my new favorite chocolates: GODIVA’s newest collections, GODIVA Masterpieces! These Masterpieces are made up of individually wrapped pieces of classic flavors and are great for indulging in that little bit of sweetness because they’re less than 50 calories per serving!

When you just want the quality dark chocolate or milk chocolate of GODIVA, the Masterpieces collection is the perfect choice. Filled with delectable chocolate ganache, hazelnut ganache, and caramel, these make the perfect dessert or snack anytime you have a craving.

My favorite are by far the Milk Chocolate Caramel Lions of Belgium (although I do LOVE the Dark Chocolate ones as well)! I just love the creamy, sweet caramel in these Masterpieces. It satisfies my sweet tooth every time (with just ONE!) and I don't have to worry about ruining my diet because they are only 50 calories per piece!!!

So if you like to indulge once in awhile but are on the healthy eating track, try out the GODIVA Masterpieces! They are so sweet and delicious - you can eat just one and be satisfied at only 50 calories per piece!

Buy It:

You can purchase GODIVA Masterpieces online or at a local retailer.

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Tackle Your New Year’s Resolutions with @NinjaKitchen Products!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

If your New Year's Resolution is “I WANT TO BE HEALTHY!”, then I have the perfect products from Ninja to help you tackle that New Year's Resolution this year!

It’s easy to prepare healthy creations with these two new Ninja appliances:

Ninja® Intelli-Sense™ Kitchen System with Auto-Spiralizer™

The Ninja® Intelli-Sense™ Kitchen System with Auto-Spiralizer™ was named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things in 2017! It features one smart base that transforms into four high-performance appliances. Smart Vessel Recognition displays a menu of pre-set programs on the intuitive and easy-to-clean touchscreen.

Other features include:

• 12 Smart Programs: Chef-designed automatic recipe creations deliver optimal results every time. Precisely calibrated patterns of pulsing and pausing combined with ideal speed, power and torque for each attachment create everything from fresh salsa and pizza dough to margaritas and decadent ice creams—all it takes is a simple tap.
• Smart Vessel Recognition: In a snap, Ninja’s Smart Vessel Recognition Technology automatically senses which vessel is attached to the base and the touchscreen changes to display a customized menu of Smart Programs on the touchscreen, enabling one Smart Base to become four high-performance appliances.
• Intuitive Touchscreen: The sleek, flat screen responds to your touch and lets you select between vessel-specific Smart Programs and manual options. And the durable, easy-to-clean screen stands up to everyday kitchen wear and tear.
• 1200-watt base with four interchangeable vessels: 72 oz. Total Crushing® Blender, 64 oz. Precision Processor™, 24 oz. Single-Serve Cup, and Auto-Spiralizer.

I have long been a fan of making healthy shakes in my Ninja blender. It is powerful, grinds and makes shakes in seconds and is so great for other things too! I also use the processor often for making different recipes and for processing oatmeal, nuts and making baby food! Now, with the included spiralizer I can make so many other fun things and I LOVE the touchscreen!

You can purchase for $199.75 from the NinjaKitchen website. 

Ninja® Cooking System with Auto-iQ™

The Ninja® Cooking System with Auto-iQ™ is actually four appliances built into one: a slow cooker, a stove top for searing and sautéing, a steamer, and an oven for baking.

I have been needing a new slow cooker for a long time now and this is the king of all slow cookers because it so much more!!! It is FOUR appliances built into one: a slow cooker; a stove top for searing and sautéing; a steamer; and an oven for baking!

The Auto-iQ™ Technology features more than 80 pre-programmed recipes. The included cookbook serves as your guide; just select a recipe number, add ingredients, and let Auto-iQ™ cook for you. It is like a robot for my kitchen and I love the extra help!!! You can choose from quick meals, layered bowls, poached infusions, and grains.

Plus, Triple Fusion Heat®: Compared to traditional slow cooker’s that only heat from the side, Ninja’s Triple Fusion Heat® brings bottom, side, and steam heat together for easy one-pot meals.

And the Auto Stay-Warm and programmable digital timer is so great for when I am at work or out running errands and want to start or stop my slow cooker!

It also features a 6-quart nonstick dishwasher-safe pot, glass lid with handle, steaming/roasting rack, and 100+ recipe cookbook with over 80 Auto-iQ recipes.

If you love using your slow cooker at home for meals like I do, then this Ninja Cooking System is a must have in your kitchen!!

You can purchase the Ninja® Cooking System with Auto-iQ for $149.99 from the NinjaKitchen website.

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Fulfill New Year's Goals with @CarringtonFarms Products!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

How are your New Year's Resolutions going for you so far this year? 

One of mine is to exercise more and eat more "better-for-you" foods. The exercise is going well, the better-for-you foods is off and on depending on the day and week. I really want to get more consistent with eating well and this year one of my favorite companies, Carrington Farms, is helping me with with a more balanced diet.

Our family LOVES their Organic Ghee Clarified Butterand Organic Coconut Oil and we have really tried hard to make the switch to these two products for all our baking, greasing, buttering and oiling needs!

Carrington Farms Organic Ghee Clarified Butter is gluten-free, containing no casein, whey or lactose. Ghee is an ancient food that contains significant levels of Vitamin A, D and E as well as Linoleic Acid to help balance cholesterol levels. The clarified butter is also known to reduce inflammation and increase energy.

We love using this Ghee on our pancakes, waffles, toast and on steamed vegetables! It's been a great addition to our daily foods!

MSRP: $14.99 www.carringtonfarms.com

And the product from Carrington Farms that we probably use most is their Organic Coconut Oil! It is made from only the freshest certified organic coconuts.

With no trans and hydrogenated fats, Carrington Farms Virgin Coconut Oil is a delicious replacement for butter or fat; sauté vegetables, roast sweet potatoes, add to smoothies or mix into cereal, or even use in baked goods and over popcorn! Not only that, but you can use coconut oil as a hair conditioner, natural moisturizer, teeth whitener and more.

I feel like we use Coconut Oil for almost everything - from popping our popcorn on Sunday nights to mixing with our essential oils, using on our skin or greasing a pan! It used often and we love it!

MSRP: $19.99 www.CarringtonFarms.com

So if you are looking to make the switch to better-for-you products this New Year, check out Carrington Farms! There products are trustworthy, organic and delicious all at the same time!

Buy It:

You can purchase all these products and many more from www.CarringtonFarms.com

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Get Back on Track for Your Healthy New Year's Resolution!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Well it has been a little over a month since the official start to the New Year and your New Year's resolution to get healthy, eat right and lose weight!

How are you doing????

I can admit I am not doing as well as I would like! With a week long all you can eat vacation, stress and a long winter, I have not been eating very well or losing the weight I would like to lose as fast I would like to lose it! 

But I am determined to stay the path and keep on with the healthy track I am on! There are so many delicious, nutritious and healthy companies out there helping me on my way! Check out some of my favorites below: 

Gaea Organic Olive Snack Packs: 

Gaea’s NEW Organic Olive Snack Packs contain small but mighty olives that are 100% natural, contain zero additives or preservatives, provide a ton of energy AND conquer your salty cravings.

Gaea’s Organic Olive Snack Packs are a convenient way to enjoy organic olives on the go! 100% natural, containing zero additives or preservatives and very low salinity, the organic olives are packed in a handy re-sealable package, without liquid, allowing the convenience of snacking now and later.

Additionally, each 2.3oz snack pack is only 80 or 140 calories– perfect for low-calorie healthy snacking! Organic olives are a source of dietary fiber and copper, rich in vitamin E and contain mono-unsaturated fatty acids and polyphenols. Full of authentic Greek flavors, delicious and the perfect healthy and low calorie snack for anytime of the day! Two varieties are available: GAEA Organic Pitted Halkidiki Green Olives and GAEA Organic Pitted Kalamata Olives.

MSRP: $2.99/2.3oz 

I also love their Organic Olive Oil for all my healthy cooking and baking!

This superb Organic, Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the result of a long-standing collaboration between GAEA and a carefully selected network of organic producers who cultivate their olive trees with pure sustainable methods and according to the national and international standards of organic farming, handling and production.

Carrington Farms Organic Coconut Oil & Ghee 

Carrington Farms NEW Organic Coconut Oil & Ghee is a healthy substitute for butter when cooking. It contains the same health benefits as Carrington Farms’ New Organic Ghee Clarified Butter, with the addition of high levels of Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT) as a result of the Coconut Oil balance.

I love using this to butter our steamed veggies, cook with and even bake with!

MSRP: $12.99

I also love Carrington Farms Organic Coconut Oil and Ghee separately! Carrington Farm's Organic Ghee is Better for you than butter and is an ancient ‘health food’ that contains significant levels of Vitamin A, D and E! Ghee is a clarified butter that is heart healthy and contains Linoleic Acid to help balance cholesterol levels and is known to reduce inflammation and increase energy!

And the Carrington Farm's cold-pressed Organic Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil is the most nutritious oil. The unrefined Organic Extra-Virgin Coconut Oil is simply pressed and packaged so it retains its original nutrient content, flavor and color and is perfect for high heat cooking up to 350 F.

It is a delicious replacement for butter or fat; sauteed vegetables, roast sweet potatoes, add to smoothies or mix into cereal and is great in baked goods and over popcorn!

So check out these awesome products and keep up the great work on your New Year's Resolutions!! 

(Or get back on track today!!)

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

@HalosFun New Year's Gift Box #Giveaway

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

As I have mentioned before and you may have seen in stores - Halos are in season November through May! These are definitely a family favorite and such a sweet, healthy snack!!!

Sweet, seedless and easy to peel, Halos are easy to pack in lunches, great to share at kid’s activities and sporting events, and make a healthy snack choice any time of the day. Additionally, Wonderful Halos mandarins are a healthy alternative, delivering vitamin C in about 50 calories. With the New Year upon us, Halos truly are the perfect snack solution.

As you make New Year's resolutions to eat healthier, lose weight and snack smart, Wonderful Halos mandarins are the perfect solution and helper towards that resolution!

I know I am getting and eating these cute and tasty mandarins while I can!

Buy It:

You can purchase Halos Mandarins at your local retailer

Win It:

Wonderful Halos is generously offering (1) Wonderful Halos New Year’s Gift Box (includes fun family activity, craft and recipe idea cards; a Halos branded flash drive with the ideas; a Halos branded halo and wings t-shirt; a Halos branded container; and free Halos coupons) to a lucky winner!

Enter here for a chance to win:

(1) Wonderful Halos New Year’s Gift Box 
which includes:

• Fun family activity, craft and recipe idea cards
• Halos branded flash drive with the ideas
• Halos branded halo and wings t-shirt
• Halos branded container
• Free Halos coupons

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* Thank you to Wonderful Halos for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Reduce Stress This Year with a Himalayan Salt Lamp from @LevoitHealth

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

I don't think there is one person out there that can say they aren't stressed at some point in their day or week. I know one of my goals this year is to focus on staying calm (especially with my children!) and bringing less "stuff" into my life that just creates stress.

And when I fail at reducing my stress on my own, I turn to my beautiful new Aria Himalayan crystal salt lamp from Levoit. After a long, stressful day, the Salt Lamp’s calming amber glow soothes my weary spirits and reduces my stress levels.

And that is not all it does! Himalayan Salt is one of the precious and purest gifts of nature. This Salt Lamp emits negative ions that fight against electromagnetic radiation and fights fatigue and sluggishness; improves health ability; increase the flow of oxygen to the brain; protects against germs in the air; increases work productivity and creativity; improves bone strength; helps me sleep better & wake refreshed AND soothes allergies.

AND this Salt Lamp counteracts harmful smog produced by your electronic appliances through natural ionization. This hand-mined Himalayan basket-style crystal salt lamp is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs surrounding water molecules in the air. Using the small amount of heat produced from its light bulb, the lamp evaporates the water attracted to the crystals. The evaporated water is negatively ionized; negatively ionized particles attract pollution and other harmful contaminants and allergens, pulling them out of the air so you breathe easier and feel recharged.

I would call this little beauty AMAZING!

Plus, I LOVE the simple touch control button to adjust the brightness level of the lamp to suit your mood. Whether you’d prefer a luminous glow for relaxing, soft illumination to lull yourself to a serene slumber, or any level in between, you’ll always find your perfect balance.

I love the look of this Salt Lamp compared with others I have seen because it is not bulky and I don't worry about it getting knocked over. It fits great with any decor and is so soothing and beautiful when the light is on! Even my husband is addicted and has it turned on whenever he is around!

Buy It:

You can purchase the Levoit Aria Himalayan Crystal Salt Lamp for $79.99 from Amazon.com

* Thank you to Levoit for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Let Karcher Help You Keep Your Cleaning Resolutions This Year!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Are you a cleaning fanatic? I know I definitely am not but I have gotten better over the years as I have transitioned to being a mom, wife and homeowner.

However, according to a new global survey conducted by YouGov Plc for Kärcher, the global leader in cleaning technology, other Americans also really take pride in their homes. The survey revealed more than 8 in 10 Americans (81 percent) feel it is important to keep their home clean, and 43 percent report cleaning their home regularly even if things do not appear dirty.

However, cleaning is hardly a favorite American pastime. Seventy percent of Americans—and 75 percent of baby boomers 55 years or older—feel that cleaning is a hassle but must be done.

Thankfully, Kärcher’s mission is to help their customers make their homes cleaner, quicker. With more than 1,600 patents and designs, they are constantly innovating their technology, service and design to anticipate our customers' needs—whatever their personal habits and cleaning preferences may be.

One area I really need clean more often is our family vehicle! With three little children, it is constantly messy and dirty and it is definitely embarrassing to pick someone up in this vehicle! My New Year's Resolution is to clean the car more often and I am actually excited to do it because I have the Kärcher Multi-purpose vacuum cleaner!

It is so great for cleaning floor mats, seats, air vents, cup holders and dashboard. This lightweight, easy to maneuver wet/dry vacuum has accessories to gently reach and remove crumbs, dust and lint from both fabric seats and leather upholstery. Kärcher multi-purpose vacuum cleaners are extremely robust and ideally equipped for quick and thorough cleaning of all areas around the house or outside, e.g. cellars, garages or terraces. Whether fine, coarse, wet or dry: thanks to the range of practical features, all types of dirt are easily removed. And the exceptionally high suction power and specially developed nozzles enable even large dirt particles to be easily picked up.

I no longer dread cleaning my car - it is now easy, swift and even a little fun using my new Kärcher vacuum cleaner! This is one resolution I am determined to keep this year!!

Buy It:

You can purchase the Kärcher Multi-purpose vacuum cleaner starting at $129.99 from the Kärcher online shop.

* Thank you to Karcher for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Re-Commit To Your Resolutions With the Help of Stop & Shop!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

It's three months into the year and about that time to give yourself a reality check about your New Year's Resolutions! Are you eating healthier? Are you losing weight? Are you exercising more?

If you aren't actively reaching for your goals, the good news is that you still have a lot of year left! It isn't too late to start NOW!

And Stop & Shop is ready to help you with their 375 retail stores throughout New England, New York and New Jersey. They offer many organic and healthy food choices. Whether the resolution is to lose weight, eat healthier or snack smarter, Stop & Shop offers great products to meet all those goals!

Stop & Shop offers some tasty organic foods that my family has really been enjoying from snacks to spices, they have a great selection and it can really help inspire some tasty and healthy meal ideas!

I love that they offer such a wide range of organic and natural products! The Vitamin D was great as we wait for the sun to appear on a regular basis. And the spices are something I use every day!

And for snacks and baking, we use the peanut butter, granola, and blue agave nectar! Such great healthy items!

Nothing makes me happier than when I go into a grocery store and know that I can find whatever I need...and have it be organic! I really appreciate retailers that are caring about our bodies and health!

Thank you Stop & Shop for being one of those great, caring retailers!!!

Buy It:

You can purchase all Nature's Promise products at your local Stop & Shop

* Thank you to Stop & Shop for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Stay on Top of Your Resolutions & Reach Your Fitness Goals with @fitbit

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

We are mid-way through February and people are starting to reflect and work to stay on top of their resolutions. I know I am trying to! I haven't quite reached where I wanted to be at this point with my weight loss but I have come a long way, worked hard at my diet and been pretty consistent with workouts.

But I will admit that I think I may be in a weight loss rut. And I know I am not alone! People can often feel discouraged by resolutions, especially considering how they held up in 2015, but Fitbit recently conducted a survey* that revealed insights on how people can hold themselves accountable to their resolutions and trends for 2016.

Below are some of the findings from 2015 resolutions and trends for 2016:

In 2015, 94% of Fitbit device users surveyed made a health and fitness resolution, with the majority hoping to exercise more, followed closely by losing weight, making healthier food choices and getting more sleep/rest

o 71% said that sharing their resolutions with others had an impact on achieving them and relied most on their significant others and friends to hold them accountable

o 92% said they believe Fitbit helped with their resolutions. The top ways Fitbit helped users was through added motivation, increased activity level awareness, and social accountability. 

o 51% of users who resolved to exercise more achieved their goal

- 58% said they believe their Fitbit tracker had a lot of impact in keeping their health and fitness resolutions and not giving up on them

Trends for 2016 show that fitness is still very top of mind for resolution goals as more than 78% said losing weight was the top resolution followed by: 

o 51% resolving to shape up/tone body 

o 49% striving to exercise more often

o 48% making healthier food choices

* This information was determined from a Fitbit device user survey conducted November 2015.

As demonstrated by the survey data above, you can better stick to fitness resolutions when you’re more aware of your activity, motivated by a clear goal, and sharing resolutions with your friends and family.

I have definitely found this to be true with my FitBit Charge HR! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT and wear it everyday, all day! It has kept me motivated to keep moving throughout the day, reach my fitness goals and get more sleep at night...which I really need! Plus, it works great with my other fitness and diet apps to help me eat healthier, keep track of my calories and help with my weight loss!

The Fitbit Charge HR™ is an advanced fitness tracker that delivers PurePulse continuous wrist-based heart rate tracking, all-day activity tracking, and Caller ID for active consumers looking to track workouts and activity to push their fitness further.

PurePulse HR technology automatically tracks heart rate all-day and during exercise and helps you monitor workout intensity, get better calorie-burn, and get all-day insights without need for uncomfortable chest straps

SmartTrack automatically recognizes select exercises and records it in the Fitbit app, giving users credit for their most active moments, so they are more informed to be able to reach their goals. It effortlessly identifies and records continuous movement activities like biking, hiking, running and sports like basketball, soccer and tennis.

Plus, I can see all day activity stats, like steps, distance, calories burned and floors climbed right on my wrist. I can easily push a button right on the Fitbit and see all my data for the day in one place without even having to pull out my phone!

One of my favorite features is automatic sleep tracking that shows me how long and well I slept! With three small children it is definitely interesting to see how much sleep I get each night and the quality of that sleep! It is one of my goals this year to get more sleep so the Fitbit has been really helpful with this goal as well!

Plus, my Fitbit syncs wirelessly with 200+ devices so you can access stats and motivational interactive tools without having to plug in!

Best of all, it comes in my favorite color - PURPLE - so I get to show off my personality as well as stay fit and active! It is super comfortable to wear and the battery life is awesome!

The Fitbit ChargeHR has kept me motivated, kept track of my activity and diet and even tells me the time :) This is by far one of my favorite products of the year!

Buy It:

You can purchase the Fitbit Charge HR for $149.95 from the Fitbit online store and it comes in 5 colors: black, plum, NEW blue, tangerine, and teal

* Thank you to Fitbit for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*