Zim’s Max-Freeze

November 6, 2013 By Anne

So I guess not quite two years ago when we were moving I must have done something to my shoulder. After the move I noticed some pain and after a few months went to the doctor. I know I’m a procrastinater. I received a shot of cortisone then another a month or so later along with physical therapy. Then when it came back a cortisone shot into the muscle done in an out patient setting at the hospital. Now the pain is pretty much gone but I still get some soreness in that shoulder. The doctor said is most likely related and gave me some excereises to do and mentioned adding heat or ice for comfort.

I was happy to be sent some products to review. Zim’s sent me a Max-Freeze Roll On and Gel as well as their Crack Cream. I love the Roll On! My hubby just rolls it around and I get an instant cooling on my shoulder that seems to last a few hours.

Zim’s is made from natural based ingredients like aloe, arnica, Vitamin E and tea tree oil. And none of these harmful ingredients like parabens, sulfates or synthetic fragrances. It’s nice to know how natural it is.

I find I use it after yoga or running the vacuum. Activities that require more shoulder use.

If you suffer from muscle pain like I do check them out!

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!

Night Care Gel Heel Sock

November 4, 2013 By Anne

I am one of those people that always walk around barefoot. I guess from living in South Florida most of my life. I just love the feel of the grass on my feet. Unfortunately my feet don’t always look so pretty on my heels. They get dry and cracked more than I would like. I know a great way to fix that is putting cream on my heels and putting those comfy socks on. I own several pair of those white socks.

But….I can’t sleep with them on. My feet get all hot and I have to take them off in the middle of the night.

That’s why when I was sent a pair of Heel Socks to review I was so excited! There are no toes. Well I mean the socks do not cover my toes. So my toes can breath!

I received a NightCare Heel Treatment Kit to try. The kit came with a foot cream and some fancy leopard print heel socks. The heel of the socks are made out of Visco-GEL that provides deep softening and moisturizing of those hard and cracked heels. They have been tested by Dermatologists and have been deemed to deliver mineral oil to repair damaged skin. No additional lotion or skin cream required, although you can use if you want to.

I love them! I can wear them all night. My toes breath and my heels are on their way to being beautiful again! It is a little weird walking on them as there is the gel in the heel. The socks come in one size fits most and sell for around $19. I already told my husband that I want another pair for Christmas, though not in leopard print. I’m a plain Jane kind of gal. But these do make me feel a little spicy when I wear them!! 🙂

Anne

No Taste Like Home – Cook Book

October 24, 2013 By Anne

I was lucky enough to review another Southern Living Cookbooks, No Taste Like Home. I love the Southern Living Cookbooks. They have wonderful photos and lots of tips. This particular cookbook also includes a history around the recipe along with tidbits about the south and people from the south. I loved just going through the book and “exploring” the south at the same time.

I choose a recipe to make, the Cheesy Potato Soup. I thought this would perfect with the cool weather approaching.

Very easy to make!

Ingredients:
3 lbs baking potatoes (6 to 8 medium sized)
1 small white onion, finely chopped
4 cups of milk or half and half
1 10 3/4 oz can of cream of mushroom, chicken or potato soup. ( I used cream of chicken)
1 8oz package of processed cheese, like Velveeta, cubed
Round Buttery Crackers, or saltines
1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1. Peel potatoes and cut into bite size pieces. Boil potatoes and onion together in 6 qt pot with salted water for about 15-20 minutes or until tender. Drain and return to pot.
2. Add milk, can of soup and cheese to potato mixture and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, 4 minutes or until cheese melts. Add salt and pepper to taste.
3. Top with crackers and shredded cheese.

You have a nice warm meal to combat those chilly days.

Have you ever made a soup from scratch?

Anne

Quick Start Homemade – Cookbook

October 21, 2013 By Anne

School is back and so is the full fall schedule. Dinners can get old and time consuming. So do you do? Try new quick and exciting recipes!!

I received a new cook book to review, Quick Start Homemade from Southern Living. I love Southern Living Cookbooks. They always have easy to follow recipes, beautiful pictures and lots of tips and tricks.

The Quick Start Homemade Cookbook has over 180 recipes using everyday staples and ingredients like pasta, salad, store-bought pizza dough, eggs and rotisserie chicken. Items you can pick up easily and put together a great dinner.

Each nutritious recipe has been triple-tested by the Southern Living test kitchen and Quick-Start Homemade includes great pasta dishes like Skillet Ziti, made in half the time of baked, and Green Bean Pasta Salad with Lemon-Thyme Vinaigrette, a 30-minute recipe with an extra tip for preparing the recipe ahead of time and freshening up before serving. The “Pastry & Pizza Dough” chapter lets fresh pizza dough, piecrust dough or puff pastry do most of the work and features inventive pizza recipes perfect for a mid-week meal, as well as savory hand pies and pot pies. In “Rotisserie Chicken,” crowd-pleasing dinners like Chicken Enchiladas and Chicken Pot Pie with Cheddar Biscuits are no-hassle, but with a homemade touch.

I looked through the book and wanted something super easy. So I picked the Breakfast Pizza.

Here’s what you need:

1 – 8 oz can refrigerated crescent rolls

1 – lb. sausage( the book calls for hot, but I used mild)

(I also used 4 slices of bacon!)

1 – 28 oz package of frozen hash browns with onions and peppers

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

4 large eggs (I used 6)

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

Preheat oven to 375. Unroll crescent rolls and place in 13 x 9 baking dish. Bake for 5 minutes

Reduce oven to 350. Cook sausage over medium heat until it crumbles and is no longer pink. Drain and sprinkle over crust. I added my bacon here as well.

Prepare hash browns as directed and spoon over sausage and bacon. Sprinkle cheese over hash browns.

Whisk together eggs, milk and salt and pepper. Pour over cheese.

Bake 350 for 30-35 minutes or until set.

I had so many more pictures from beginning to end but my card was not in my camera so all those pictures I thought I had I didn’t. So this a picture of the leftovers that we have been eating since I made this on Friday. A great dish! The extra eggs and bacon was a big plus for my family.

I’m looking forward to trying more new and easy recipes!! No more boring dinners for us!

Anne

Is Your Cat A Light Weight?

October 9, 2013 By Anne

You know I have two cats, right? No? Well I do – Spice and Zena. We adopted them about two years ago and they are a big part of our family.

I love everything about our kitties except for the cat litter. I mean who really likes lugging those 45 pound boxes in the store, to the car, in the house and then pouring it into the pan? Anyone? I didn’t think so.

I was asked to review the New Tidy Cats Lightweight cat litter. Could id be possible? I light cat litter?

It is!! My daughter can even carry it!

Tidy Cats Lightweight is 50% lighter than most other brands is 99% dust free and has a money back guarantee. Awesome! But does it do it’s job….

Yes!! It does! I liked Tidy Cats before but always had another brand on hand. But really, I’m switching altogether. It’s hard to lift those heavy boxes to refill the litter box and this is so darn easy!

Do you have cats? Have you tried this? You have to at least try it!!