ST. JOHNS TOWN CENTER TO WELCOME TRUE FOOD KITCHEN THIS FALL 2018

June 21, 2018 By Marijean

ST. JOHNS TOWN CENTER TO WELCOME TRUE FOOD KITCHEN IN 2018

Health-driven seasonal kitchen and bar set to open in Jacksonville this Fall

Simon, a global leader in the ownership of premier shopping, dining, entertainment, and mixed-use destinations, today announced True Food Kitchen is slated to open at St. Johns Town Center in November 2018.

“We’re excited to bring our delicious healthful food and handcrafted beverages to St. Johns Town Center,” said Shannon Keller, vice president of marketing for True Food Kitchen. “The restaurant will be designed with the lively and active Jacksonville community in mind; where everyone is welcome to eat better, feel better and celebrate a passion for better living.”

True Food Kitchen is a restaurant inspired by a philosophy that food should make you feel better, not worse and that delicious dining and conscious nutrition can go hand in hand, without sacrificing flavor, creativity or indulgence. True Food Kitchen’s health-driven menu of seasonal dishes and natural beverages is guided by the principles of integrative medicine expert Dr. Andrew Weil’s anti-inflammatory food pyramid, which was created as a guide for those seeking the necessary foods needed to assist in achieving and maintaining optimum health.

The chef-led menu changes with the seasons to let guests experience great-tasting ingredients at the peak of their freshness and flavor, and offers a variety of gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan offerings among its signature dishes. The restaurant’s vibrant bars are brimming with innovative, handcrafted cocktails, wine and beer and natural refreshers made from freshly pressed fruit and vegetables.

“True Food Kitchen will be a terrific addition to St. Johns Town Center’s already impressive retail and dining lineup,” said Lindsey Jones, director of marketing and business development. “Guests will have the opportunity to experience the restaurant’s health-driven menu in a positively stunning environment.”

True Food Kitchen’s plans include a bright, vibrant dining area and open kitchen accompanied by a private and semi-private private dining room, covered patio and a large indoor bar.

For more information about True Food Kitchen opening at St. John’s Town Center, please visit www.truefoodkitchen.com/jacksonville.

About True Food Kitchen

Founded in Phoenix, Ariz. in 2008, True Food Kitchen is a restaurant and lifestyle brand inspired by the philosophy that food should make you feel better, not worse, and that great tasting food and thoughtfully crafted beverages can serve as the foundation for a life well lived. The restaurant brand is driven by a passionate collective of accomplished chefs, visionary restauranteurs, and a renowned doctor of integrative medicine – who believe delicious dining and conscious nutrition can go hand in hand, without sacrificing flavor, creativity or indulgence. True Food’s seasonal menu is guided by the principles of Dr. Andrew Weil’s anti-inflammatory food pyramid. True Food Kitchen emphasizes wholesome, simple ingredients with simple preparations to highlight the natural health benefits and flavors of each ingredient. From nutrient-dense staples and carefully sourced proteins to little-known superfoods, True Food Kitchen is committed to sourcing the most responsible, most creative, freshest in-season ingredients. True Food Kitchen has 23 locations in 10 states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia, with plans for additional locations throughout the U.S. in the coming year.

About Simon

Simon is a global leader in the ownership of premier shopping, dining, entertainment and mixed-use destinations and an S&P 100 company (Simon Property Group, NYSE: SPG). Our properties across North America, Europe, and Asia provide community gathering places for millions of people every day and generate billions in annual sales. For more information, visit simon.com.

Marijean

My name is MJ. I have two wonderful children and work part time as well as volunteer at my children's school.

Godparents Gift Inspiration Ideas

June 18, 2018 By Anne

Image Source: Deposit Photos

A godparent offers their godchild the chance to talk about the biggest concerns in life, and helps them figure out the answers to life’s greatest questions. Godparents are a model for any godchild, encouraging them to develop Christian values. Their godchild will learn how to be compassionate towards others, generous and kind. Your child’s godparents would pray for your child through their ups and downs, helping him in him journey.

One way to show your respect can be offering them a gift. In what follows, we will offer you a list of ideas that could help you decide which is the most suitable gift for your child’s godparents. Here you could find the best gifts for godparents. Mainly, in this situation, personalized gifts could be the best choice.

1.Personalized Glass or Mug

Are your kid’s godparents coffee lovers? How about tea lovers? If the answer to one of these is yes, then you should definitely consider purchasing them two personalized mugs. In this way, every morning, when they will sip on their coffee or tea, they’d think about their little godchild and how much they mean to them. Make sure you choose a suitable message to print on the mug to warm the godparents’ hearts.

2.Engraved Wooden Photo Frame

A picture is worth a thousand words. Therefore, you should consider framing one of the best pictures your child has with his/her godparents. They would be more than happy to place it on their nightstand. Make sure you engrave a heart-warming message on the frame, immortalizing their best moment together. You could consider a photo from your child’s baptism or one from their godmother or godfather’s birthday party.

3.Name a Star

Since godparents are so special, why not name a star after them? You could find an online guide to help you do that and obtain a certificate. In this way, one of the stars that shines at night would have your child’s godparents’ names. They would be thrilled with this present and very surprised.

4.Birth Flowers

Another inspired idea would be offering your kid’s godparents birth flowers. They could plant the seeds in a flower pot and take care of the flower that grows there. In this way, they would watch the flower grow just like they would watch their godchild grow. Godparents would be more than happy with this gift. Furthermore, this birth flower also helps them nurture their gardening skills, helping them stay active and enjoy the flowers in the garden.

5.Photo Upload Cushion

If you liked the photo idea but you think a normal photo is too mainstream, you should consider printing one on a cushion. Hence, your child’s godparents would decorate their living room sofa with a cushion, completing their collection. It is always nice to keep your dear ones close to you. You would definitely put a smile on their faces with this incredible gift.

6.Religious Gift

Since they are your child’s protectors, offering them the Bible would be suitable. Your little one’s godparents would pray for their godchild whenever they need it. Furthermore, they would also teach them about religion and how important their relationship with God is.

7.Personalized Glass Token

Both the godfather and godmother would be thrilled to receive such interesting gifts. Purchase them two glass tokens on which you can engrave “World’s best godmother” and “World’s best godfather” to make them feel complete for being part of your big family. They would proudly display these gifts in their living room for everyone to see, praising their godchild.

8.Personalized Scented Candle

The perfume of this candle will float in your kid’s godparents’ house. Make sure you print a funny message on the candle’s jar. Godparents would be thrilled to receive such a nice gift.

Irrespective whether it is your child’s godfather’s or godmother’s birthday or not, a gift is always a great idea to show your gratitude. You do not need a special occasion to offer someone gifts. Do not forget that godparents are spiritual parents for your little ones, being ready to help whenever your child needs them. Furthermore, they also teach him or her how to live his life in a Christian way, being close to God.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

Amber Necklace: My Mother’s Family Cure

June 14, 2018 By Anne

When I became a mom I felt that I was reasonably well off in the knowledge department. I was the oldest of seven children and pretty much helped raise the younger three. My mom was a very hands on mother, even well into adulthood. When I announced my pregnancy to the family, I could see in her eyes that she had been anticipating this day for quite some time. She bought me all the pregnancy and childbirth books. We bonded over delivery room horror stories and how much things had changed since she had us. In some sense, it was like we were both new to this modern mothering world.

When my baby came into the world, I felt that all of my worries had virtually melted away the moment we locked eyes with each other. The first few months were easy, but around the time she turned seven months, I became pregnant with her little brother. Eight weeks into the pregnancy and I was experiencing the worst headaches and nausea.

I could barely keep my eyes open without become so sensitized to the light that I would vomit from the pounding in my head. Coincidentally enough, as all trouble does, mine came in two. My oldest and newly eight month old baby was cutting her first tooth. She had stopped sleeping and replaced it’s peacefulness with the rings of terror known as an teething infant’s cry. I was miserable, I was tired, my baby was in pain, and I was on the verge of being hopeless.

During one of my many discussions with my mom, she told me about using amber stones when she had us. She said that she used them for a multitude of things such as headaches, teething, growing pains, immune boosters, and even to help with my little sister’s anxiety when she started preschool. I asked her what about amber made it so efficient and she said that it was a natural anti-inflammatory that was packed with antioxidants.

While doing more research, I found that it was the succinic acid inside of amber that made it so potent and efficient. Succinic acid is made from the oils found in sap from trees. Baltic amber, specifically, is made from the collected sap of conifer trees and is known to have the highest traces of this anti-inflammatory and antioxidant!

When amber is worn, the body is able to heat the bead, allowing for the succinic rich resin to seep through the bead’s surface and be absorbed into the bloodstream. Once absorbed, you start feeling the effects almost immediately. Due to its natural form, this anti-inflammatory is safe for people of all ages, making it the perfect solution for any family.

We ordered two necklaces from balticwonder.com and hoped for the best. After they arrived we were delighted to see how well they were made! The beads were beautiful and could even be worn as a fashion statement. I put the necklace around my little one’s ankle to prevent any choking hazard.

After wearing our necklaces for a few days, I had noticed that my headaches had greatly improved and because of that my nausea and subsided significantly. My little girl was noticeably happier and had started sleeping through the night after the second day. What I thought was going to be the roughest few months of my life ended up blowing over quickly, all thanks to Baltic amber.

If you’re wondering what this precious stone can do for you and your family, try out the amazing magic of Baltic amber for yourself today!

Anne

7 Etiquette Tips For Heirloom Engagement Rings

June 11, 2018 By Anne

Planning to pop the question with an heirloom engagement ring may be trickier than you think. Not only do you have to ask someone to hand over a piece of beloved jewellery, you also have to follow a certain amount of etiquette when it comes to resetting.

Here are a couple of golden rules for you to follow.

Ask both sides of the family.

A family heirloom ring can come from either your side of the family or your partner’s side. If you’re having a tough time deciding which side of the family the ring ought to come from, the best thing to do is not over think it. If you find there are several rings to choose from, pick one based on family tradition or history. If there isn’t a ring, you can take a look at an array of antique and vintage style engagement rings at Kalmar Antiques.

Know the history of the ring.

Do your best to learn about the history behind the ring before you even ask if you may have it. Knowing who it first belonged to or how it came into the family makes the proposal even more magical. Also, find out which part of the ring is the most special to the family, such as the diamond or the band. This will help for resetting purposes.

Don’t assume they’ll give you the ring.

Just because you do want to propose with an heirloom engagement ring, doesn’t mean it automatically becomes yours. Be sure to ask permission for the ring to be passed down. Meet with the family and let them know how important the ring is to you and to your beloved partner.

Don’t pressure the family for the ring.

Don’t pressure the family to hand the heirloom ring over to you. Keep in mind that the ring has probably been in the family for a long time, so the decision to pass it over may take some time.

Get the ring cleaned and checked.

Once you have permission to use the ring, have it cleaned and properly checked for loose or missing stones.

Ask before making changes.

Many people, upon receiving an heirloom ring, want to have it altered or reset, which can change the look of the ring completely. It’s a touchy subject for the owner of the ring, so follow etiquette and ask before making alterations. It’s easy enough to avoid hard feelings by having the conversation, just be honest about what you want to change or adjust.

Remember to say thank you!

Receiving a family heirloom engagement ring is a rather grand gesture. So, remember to let the family know just how grateful you are. Write a formal thank you note or present them with a token of your appreciation for making your proposal more meaningful.

Follow these etiquette tips and your proposal is sure to be special, and the ring treasured for even more generations to come.

Anne

ARM&HAMMER™ Foot Care Invisible Spray Body and Foot Powders Available Now

May 20, 2018 By Marijean

Are you tired of foot spray that always leaves a white residue and does not help with sweating/odor? I know I am! I was so happy to find out about ARM&HAMMER™ Foot Care Invisible Spray Body and Foot Powders. These spray products spray clear and will not leave a white residue on your body or clothes/shoes.

Sometimes it’s not always about seeing it to believe it! The new ARM&HAMMER™ Invisible Spray Body and Foot Powders offer a mess free, invisible application while absorbing sweat and moisture. That’s right, this formula tackles harsh odor without leaving any white mess on clothing, feet or shoes! Although these invisible spray powders are not noticeable to the eye, your other senses will certainly pick up on their fresh aroma.

ARM & HAMMER™ Invisible Foot Spray Powder, $6.99

First ever cake free invisible foot spray powder, leaving no white mess on clothes, shoes or feet

Sweat Activated Fresh Guard® Technology keeps feet feeling fresh all day

Ultra clear dry spray contains ARM&HAMMER™ Baking Soda and odor neutralizing ingredients to absorb moisture and sweat

Burst of cool fragrance lasts all day

Talc Free

ARM & HAMMER™ Invisible Body Spray Powder, $6.99

First ever cake free invisible body spray powder, leaving no white mess on clothes, shoes or body

Sweat Activated Fresh Guard® Technology keeps body feeling fresh all day

Ultra clear dry spray contains ARM&HAMMER™ Baking Soda and odor neutralizing ingredients to absorb moisture and sweat

Unisex spray

Talc Free

I received both of these and love them. When I know I am going to be on my feet all day I just give a spray to my feet and in my shoes and off I go. I love how the spray is clear, and there is no residue or mess. I love the body spray for when I work out. The spray dries once it hits the skin which is great. They both have a light pleasant smell. These new products are awesome and they will see you feeling dry and odor free.

The ARM&HAMMER™ Invisible Spray collection is available in May 2018 in the foot care aisle at Walmart and other select retailers.

*I received the above products in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.