Mommy Has to Work

Green Giant Veggie Snack Chips (giveaway)#MyBlogSpark #spon

September 26, 2013 By Anne

I am working with MyBlogSpark, Publix and Green Giant in this campaign.

I love chips so it’s only natural that my kids love chips. I love the salt and the crunch – YUMM!

I don’t love all the junk, fat and calories that are in chips. hey are just not a healthy snack even though they are oh so tasty!!

Thankfully, Green Giant has come out with some fabulous new chips that are full of salt, crunch and full of good stuff!! Stuff like roasted bell peppers and sweet potatoes!

If you like chips you have to check out Green Giant™ Veggie Snack Chips.

I took them to the bus stop for the moms and dads to try!!

There are four flavors to try. Try them all!!

o Green Giant™ Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips – Zesty Cheddar Flavor

o Green Giant™ Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips – Sea Salt

o Green Giant™ Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips – Garden Ranch Flavor

o Green Giant™ Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips – Barbeque

These are made with real vegatables and only around 17 grams of whole grain per serving depending on the flavor. And they have 40% less fat than regular potato chips. How can you resist?

The best part? They taste great!! I tried all the flavors and loved them all. My favorite though is the Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips.
If you like to try new things I would also recommend trying these with your chicken for dinner. Just pick a flavor and crunch them pretty fine. Then coat your chicken breasts with them and bake as normal. I tried it with the Barbeque and the Garden Ranch Flavors.

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I also have some samples and a $25 Publix Gift card to give to one Mommy Has to Work reader!!
Check out Publix and Green Giant on Facebook too!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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!

Keep Your Back in Good Shape with These Health Tips

September 26, 2013 By Anne

This is a partnered guest post.

For people with active lifestyles it is sometimes easy to push too hard and end up with back injuries. Back pain can be caused by a variety of different things, but there are many steps that can be taken to avoid or alleviate it. Doing these may even help one alleviate some persistent shoulder blade pain.

Posture

In order to minimize back pain it is important to keep posture in mind. Bad posture can be remedied with a few simple adjustments. If standing for long periods of time, keep one foot in front of the other with the knees slightly bent to take pressure off of the lower back. If possible, elevate one foot at a time on a small step stool or ladder. It is also helpful to keep the pelvis in a neutral position. When sitting, it is important to keep the knees level to or slightly above the hips to support the lower back. It is also beneficial to find a chair with good lumbar support or place a pillow in the curve of the back for support. If possible, periodically change positions to keep the back from becoming too strained. When using a tablet or smart phone always raise the device so the neck is not bent. Placing pillows beneath or between the knees when sleeping can help reduce pressure on the back as well.

Healthy Body Weight

Carrying extra weight unbalances the body’s center of gravity and puts strain on the back. It is important to stay within ten pounds of the ideal weight. This can be achieved through exercise, but it is important to find the safest exercises to practice that will not injure the back. Proper exercise, like yoga, swimming, and walking, can help with weight loss and back strain.

Moderation

Pushing too hard while exercising can cause pain and serious injury, so it’s important to take things slowly. Instead of exercising for several hours one or two days a week, try working out one or two hours four or five days a week. Don’t over-exert at the gym. Start slowly and work up to big weights. Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Lifting

Improper lifting technique can be very dangerous for the back. To avoid this strain try to find a partner to help lift heavy objects. If this is not possible try to push or slide the object. If lifting is the only available option, always squat down, get a solid grip on the object, and lift straight upward using the legs to do the work. Carry objects as close to the body as possible and keep the head up at all times.

Smoking

There are numerous health risks linked to smoking and back pain can be worsened by the habit. Smokers tend to experience more back pain than non-smokers because nicotine restricts blood flow to the discs that cushion the spine.

This article was contributed on behalf of Gulf Coast Spine Care, the number one treatment provider for spinal stenosis.

Anne

Protecting Your Treasured Possessions

September 25, 2013 By Anne

This is a partnered guest post.

We all love our homes and spend hundreds, if not thousands, on all kinds of improvements and additions to make them not only look nice, but to make them feel like a home. After a long day at work you want to be excited about getting back to your home because you like it, not just because you’re tired from work. As such, it’s important that we may particular attention to the contents.

Expensive flat screen 3D televisions are all the rage and it seems like everyone has gadgets galore dotted around the home with smartphones, tablet computers and music players everywhere you look. The problem is, thieves are aware of this too and, having spent so much on your possessions already you really need to look into Budget Direct building insurance to cover them all.

Installing a security system is a great way of not only deterring thieves, but also to keep your home and contents insurance premium down to as little as possible.

Another really good way of bringing the cost down is to increase the deductible. This is very similar to the excess on your car insurance, whereby you have to pay a fee and then if the costs exceed this amount the insurers will pay the rest. For example, if you have a deductible of $500, the insurers will pay for anything over that.

Experts suggest that you should break down your home insurance into four sections – the structure of your house, your belongings, your liability to others and your living expenses in the event that you have to move out of your home while any work is done.

Rather than looking at the insurance quote as a valuation of your property and possessions, you should think of the quote as an idea as to how much you would have to spend to replace your possessions in a like-for-like sense. Gadgets, furniture and other essential possessions don’t come cheaply, so take a look at the option of replacement-value insurance.

If you live in an area that is known for flooding, then it could be worth investing in flood protection. If water levels rise and your home becomes at risk, the last thing you want is for your home and all of the possessions to be ruined and you having to pay for all new furniture and flooring.