I Like it in the Can, #MyDietCoke!

August 22, 2013 By Anne

I am working in the  Diet Coke Brand Ambassador Program. I received samples to review as part of this program.

I’ve been a Diet Coke ~~addict~~ fan for a long as I can remember. Diet Coke has been around for 30 years and it still is the best diet cola around, in my opinion anyway. If I can’t have my Diet Coke then I won’t have any soda.

For me, Diet Coke is best enjoyed right of the can. I don’t know what it is but I only like it from a can, not a bottle. A fountain soda is okay too. When I worked at the office I would bring two cans with m everyday. One would be my wake up drink. No coffee for me. And the other was my afternoon pick me up.

Have you seen the new 7.5 ounce cans? They are perfect for a pick me up when you don’t want a full size can.

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!

Fruttare Frozen Pops

August 12, 2013 By Anne

Summer is here and so is the hot weather! But wait! That also means some great frozen pops to enjoy!!

Who doesn’t like ice cream on a hot day?

While I love it too, I like my children to eat healthy versions too. That’s where Fruttare Frozen Fruit Bars come in.

We were sent coupons to get free Fruttare bars at the store. I choose the Peach and Milk first.

Wildly popular in 15 countries around the globe, the Fruttare Frozen Fruit Bars are now available for the first time in the U.S. The brand contains two varieties – the Fruttare Fruit and Juice Bars and the Fruttare Fruit and Milk Bars, which are the first nationally available line of fruit and milk bars.

Fruttare Fruit and Milk Bars are made with real fruit and creamy milk, and are available in four delicious varieties:

Fruttare Strawberry and Milk

Fruttare Coconut and Milk

Fruttare Banana and Milk

Fruttare Peach and Milk

Fruttare Fruit and Juice Bars are made with real fruit, and are available in four refreshing varieties:

· Fruttare Strawberry

· Fruttare Orange

· Fruttare Mango

· Fruttare Lime

The Peach and Milk was wonderful! It so creamy and refreshing. Unfortunatley no one else in my family liked them. I think I need to have them try them again…

The next time I went to the store I picked up the Banana and Milk. Again my family must only like chocolate frozen pops….

My neighbor’s boy loved the banana though and while talking with another neighbor she mentioned they love the Fruttare bars.

I think next time I will get the Fruttare juice bars to try.

Have you tried the new Fruttare bars?

I received coupons to get free items. All opinions are my own.

Anne

Green Giants Veggie Snacks Have #GiantFlavor

August 8, 2013 By Anne

I am a snacker. I admit it. I love to snack. Not going into an office everyday leaves me home alone with a lot of snacks. That is scary. I need to find healthy snacks that taste as good as the unhealthy snacks. That can be tricky.

When asked to review the new Green Giant™ Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chip – Garden Ranch and Green Giant Multigrain Sweet Potato Chip – Barbecue, how could I refuse?

You can see how wrinkled the bags are especially the Veggie Tortilla Chips. I’ve been eating them non-stop.

My favorite snacks are crunchy snacks and chips are top of the list. This was a perfect scenario. My first taste test was the Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips in Garden Ranch. Wow – talk about flavor! I love being able to see all the veggies in the chip.

See all that flavor in there?

The Veggie Tortilla Chips have whole grain corn, red and green peppers, broccoli, tomatoes and carrots. Yumm, lots of veggies and flavor in one little chip! Plus there is only 130 in one serving with 18 grams of whole grain and 0 trans fat.

The Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips have yummy sweet potatoes and whole grain corn flour and other spices. These were just as tasty as any BBQ chip but with that extra sweetness of the sweet potato. The Sweet Potato Chips have 120 calories per serving, 14 grams whole grain and 0 trans fat.

While checking out Green Giant’s Facebook page I was checking out some delicious snacking recipes. I found this one and think I will make it for our next game night.

1 can (11 oz) Green Giant® SteamCrisp® Mexicorn® whole kernel corn, red and green peppers, drained
1 medium tomato, seeded, chopped
2 medium green onions, sliced (2 tablespoons)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 medium avocado, pitted, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 bag (5 oz) Green Giant® garden ranch roasted veggie tortilla chips

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What is your favorite type of snack?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Anne

Weight Loss is Hard After 40

July 30, 2013 By Anne

  This is a partnered post.

(This picture was taken last year. I was asked by a friend if I was pregnant…)

I’ve been trying to lose weight most of my life. I’m a size 8-10 and have been for a while. The highest I got was a size 12. Not bad. I would be happy at a size 8 -10 if I didn’t have my tummy. I joined a the WW program a few months ago and love the online program for keeping track of what you eat and how much you exercise. I feel weird about talking to others about it because I only need to lose like 10-15 pounds. I lost 5 pounds and then gained a few back during vacation even though I was very picky about what I ate and still exercised while away.

I’m tempted to try other programs but I really want to just eat healthy and exercise but it seems like that’s not good enough for my over 40 body! It’s so much harder after 40. Last year I had three people ask me if I was pregnant!! Really?

So I’ve been researching weight loss after 40 and I’m doing most everything. Watching what I eat, eating smaller meals more often, walking or exercise videos and lots of water. I would love to just take a weight loss pill but worry about side effects. The only thing I lack is using weights more often. I do use them with my videos but I prefer to walk. I’ve been looking closely at herbal weight loss.
I guess my biggest issue is my belly fat! I want to get rid of belly fat. Doesn’t every woman? I will continue to eat better and do my sits and hope that my 10 pounds will slowly come off.

Does anyone have tips for the over 40 crowd?

Anne

Cadbury High Tea Party #CadburyHighTea

July 25, 2013 By Anne

I received a party kit as part of a promotional program with Cadbury and MomSelect.

I had signed up to host a Mother and Daughter Cadbury Tea Party awhile back and was excited to learn I would be a host! The Cadbury Ice Cream was scheduled to come the day after we left for vacation so I am so thankful that my neighbor was able to get it in my freezer for me. We came home to a freezer full of ice cream and a box full of hats and tea cups!

We had the party this past Saturday and I invited several mommys and daughters and of course my own mom. I wanted to come up with a few games to play as well. I waited until the morning of to google some tea party games but that was no problem. I found some easy ones to incorporate into the party.

I served cookies, pastries, pretzels and chips with dip and of course the main treat Cadbury Ice Cream Bars. Oh and tea!

The first game we played was toss the button into the tea cups. The one I found online used pennies but I liked the idea of using buttons and we have quite a few pretty ones the girls liked.

Two girls could not make it but the four that did had a great time!

Another cute game was stack the sugar cubes. I didn’t even realize they sold these.

I took out my grandmother’s china for the moms and used my lace tablecloth. Here is my mom with a lovely hat!

The girls with the tea. I should have just served them water but I thought they might like to at least try the tea with lots of sugar!

And the main treat Cadbury Ice Cream bars! We had four to choose from. Royal Dark, Vanilla Chocolate, English Toffee and Caramello. All were hits! My daughter and my favorite was the Royal Dark. I loved the creamy dark chocolate over the rich vanilla ice cream. Yumm! My husband loved the English Toffee. (yes I let him try one)

The moms liked the fact that the bars were not too big. Perfect for a snack.