Nutri Ninja and Ninja Blender with Auto-iQ Review

Recently, we overworked our humble little blender and it quit on us. We asked it to make too may shakes, smoothies and cold-coffee drinks. I think that Dan and I had received it when we were first married over a decade ago.  So, I guess it had a good run and now we needed a new blender.  Every time I would visit the store determined to make a purchase - I would change my mind and return home empty handed. I just didn't want to put time and money into a blender that wouldn't last through all of the work we needed out of one. We needed something durable, strong and efficient. It needed to blend shakes while still leaving them thick but still be powerful enough to crush ice.  In a way, we needed it to be intelligent enough to just read our minds and know what we wanted it to do.   Also, I needed a new food processor as someone (me) accidentally dropped mine down the stairs.

The Ninja Blender System with Auto-iQ seemed to be our answer.  It sounded great and has quite a  list of impressive features. As we unpacked the box, we quickly realized that this was a heavy-duty, serious business blender!

Auto-iQ

Auto-iQ™ programs do the work for you—there's no more need to shake, stir, or mix. Simply select your favorite Auto-iQ™ program and in seconds you're ready to Jump-Start your day!

This was important to us as it eliminated the guess work.  Our previous blender had a handful of buttons which we randomly used but were never sure when to use which button or how long to hold it down.

Nutrient and Vitamin Extraction

Ninja® Auto-iQ™ Technology combined with Pro Extractor Blades™ and Ninja® power break down whole foods, ice & seeds for maximum nutrient & vitamin extraction in the Nutri Ninja® Cups.

We loved this added benefit! Not only are we wanting foods and drinks that we can enjoy - we also make an effort to intake the right nutrients for our bodies which includes a lot of fun homemade smoothies and juices. The Nutri Ninja uses the same base as the blender and we can use either attachment seamlessly which helps to keep clutter down while still enjoying several appliances in one.

Smoothie Recipes:

Healthy Fruit Smoothies: 35 Low Calorie, Healthy Smoothies Made With Your Favorite Fruits

Chocolate Green Smoothies and Other Green Smoothies That Actually Taste Good

Superfood Smoothies: 100 Delicious, Energizing and Nutrient-dense Recipes

Precision Processing

You do not need to be a seasoned chef or a skilled knife handler to prepare delicious meals. Our Auto-iQ™ Pulse setting delivers timed, consistent, precision chopping so you never have to worry about over processing. Get even, consistent chopping and mixing results, every time. The precision processing function is great for quickly chopping vegetables for soups or to top salads, making food prep easy!

The processor that someone (me - I'm always dropping things) dropped down the basement stairs and completely destroyed was older and a little temperamental. It seemed a bit sluggish and I'm sure I never used it correctly. The Ninja has spoiled me and now I don't feel so bad for dropping my food processor. The pulse was amazing for creating delicious treats, dips and truffles this holiday season! It also had a blade for my dough!

I love that we were able to get so much usage from our Ninja Blender set. However, if you don't need all of the accessories you can find a set the fits your kitchen and lifestyle. Check out the Nutri Ninja Blender Duo with Auto-iQ here.











I received this product for review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Policy here.

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Whiter teeth for the new year! Luster Pro Light Review

This morning, Savannah asked me why my teeth were so white! She seemed amazed, confused and curious as she leaned toward me and examined my mouth. I drink a lot of coffee and love sweetened tea which means that I have to put some effort into keeping my teeth from staining. I use whitening treatments and I consistently use whitening toothpastes. This month, I set out to brighten my smile for the new year and find out how to get whiter teeth fast! So I swapped out my beloved whitening strips for a quicker method. It's difficult to completely combat the staining that my favorite drinks cause - but I've finally found a great set of products to counteract the effects of my java habit.

The first is Luster Premium White's Pro Light. I've seen similar products and have always hesitated to purchase them since the whitening strips were working find and I wasn't sure how a light was going to whiten my teeth. Now I wish I had tried this a long time ago because I could have had a much whiter smile in just 60 minutes!

Luster Pro Light

• Visibly whitens teeth in as little as 30 minutes
• Works 2X faster than strips and trays
• Does not cause tooth sensitivity
• Enamel Safe
• Includes flexible whitening options so you can whiten on your schedule
• Features the same light-activated whitening technology found in dental offices
• Includes a gentle, cleaning mouth rinse to pre-treat teeth and a whitening gel with active dental peroxide to whiten surface and deep stains

You can choose a time frame that fits your needs and schedule. I opted to whiten my teeth in a one hour period. This means that for one hour, I did up to 20 of the 2 minute treatments. I actually lost count and may have only completed 18 or 19, but it didn't matter. The results were enough to satisfy me and not worry about 1 or 2 missing treatments.

3 Easy Steps to a Beautifully Whiter Smile:

1. Rinse with the Accelerator Mouth Rinse
2. Brush with the Super Whitener Gel
3. Apply the Activating Whitening Light

Repeat steps 1-3 as-needed to achieve your desired whitening results

I loved the ease of using Luster Pro Light but was worried that it would irritate my teeth or cause them to be sensitive, especially since I did the 1 hour whitening treatment.  I haven't had any sensitivity issues with it and love the quick results. 

Where can I buy Luster Pro Light?

You can find Luster Pro Light on Amazon! Click here to find our more about Luster Pro light and other items offered by Luster Premium White.










This post contains affiliate links. Please read my Disclosure Policy here.

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Day at the Beach - Holiday Toy List

In a way, this play set made me desperately wish we were at the beach! The bright colors really pulled me away from the gloomy winter days that we've been having and into the memories of our trips to the ocean.

Day at the Beach is a magnetic building set that features a walk-up cafe window, surf shop double doors, lifeguard stand, surfboard workshop, food prep kitchen, cafe seating, surf scene, beach gear, rescue gear, outfits, tools, and yummy food!

This is a high quality construction set that allows children to not only create their own stories but to re-imagine and re-design the scene each time they play. The kids had a great time constructing different layouts. The Day at the Beach was designed with girls in mind, but Joey enjoyed playing with the set as well.

I like how easy it is to assemble and disassemble. It was easy for the kids to create different scenes and then to pack up and store once playtime was over.

Build a Scene and Imagine Countless Stories!

Emily and Lucas can’t wait for their day at the beach working at the surfside café and shop. Between running the café window, the surf shop register, and the lifeguard stand, there is always action to keep them busy. After the lunch rush, they catch a few waves to try out Emily's latest surfboard designs.

Day at the Beach includes:

• Emily and Lucas dolls
• 10 illustrated building panels
• More than 40 action packed magnetic accessories

Rich Imaginative Play

Build & Imagine play-sets contain illustrated scenes that children can build, decorate, and use as a backdrop for imaginative play with the included dolls. We call them StoryWalls, because it’s like building a storybook setting in 3-D and then jumping in to play!

Open-Ended Building

With Build & Imagine StoryWalls, kids aren’t limited to one design—they can quickly reconstruct the structure into whatever design suits them. They can also change the context of their story with magnetic accessories that stick to the floors, walls, and dolls. Or combine multiple play-sets to build a larger scene.

Develops Foundational Skills

The layered play experience creates long-term engagement to hold your child’s attention and helps to develop foundational language and engineering skills, including spatial reasoning, problem solving, and creativity.

Build & Imagine offers several different StoryWalls. You can find them here. This is a toy that I've used in our classroom for downtime and to entertain young children in my care. It's great for the imagination and entertainment!

Build & Imagine StoryWalls develop early engineering skills including:

• Spatial Reasoning
• Experimentation
• Creativity & Design

Build & Imagine StoryWalls are easy to setup, cleanup, and store. The panels allow for limitless combinations, and you can expand your structure and story with additional sets.

I was provide a Build & Imagine Day at the Beach StoryWall for review purposes. All opinions are my own.

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Pirate Pursuit - Holiday Toy List

This past summer, we took a short ride on a "pirate ship" during our beach vacation. Ever since then, Joey has been fascinated with anything and everything pirate. So, he was excited when Pirate Pursuit arrived.

Pirate Pursuit is a pirate track game with a wind-up pirate galleon to sail around the treasure island. Be the first player to fill your loot bag with coins from the treasure chest before the pirates catch up with you in their galleon! For 2 to 4 players. Contents: game board, wind-up pirate galleon, 4 loot bag boards, 24 play coins, 4 pirate counters with stands, dice, dice shaker, guide.

Each players chooses a character and a loot bag. The goal is to fill your loot bag with coins first. Players take turns rolling the die and moving across the board trying to collect coins and not lose any!



We often do a family-game-night with the extended family. I think I'll take this along next time for the children to play! Want to try Pirate Pursuit? You can find it on
Amazon!

Random Like: You know how a lot of board games fold up and fit inside their box? I thought it was neat that the Pirate Pursuit board went together and disassembled like a puzzle! Four pieces fit together to make the board and are then easily taken apart for storage. It always drives me nuts when a board game finally breaks in half from overuse or misuse. I thought that was a neat way of designing the game board.






* I received Pirate Pursuit for review. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy here.

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Mexican Train Game - Holiday Toy List

I was so excited to finally have the chance to play the Mexican Train game. My dad has talked about it for several years after having a co-worker introduce him to it. He loves this game and hadn't been able to find the 'right one'. He had wanted all of us to play this for a family-game-night, but I guess it just isn't the same if you don't have the original. Now, we have the original Mexican Train game and all is right with the world.

It's been quite a while since I've played any sort of game that involved dominoes and Joey heard the word 'train', so he was in! The game is fun and a little addicting. It can also last for quite a while just depending on how things go. So, do prepare yourself for that!

The object of the game is to keep your train moving all the way to victory! Lay out a chain of dominoes (called trains) from the center domino piece, or add pieces to the group’s common chain (The Mexican Train). The first player to finish playing wins! There are many ways to block the trains along the way – so beware of obstacles!

Want to try the Mexican Train game for yourself? You can find the Mexican Train game by Tactic on Amazon. Mexican Train Game

* I received the Mexican Train game for review. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy here.

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Radio Flyer 2-in-1 Journey Wagon - Holiday Toy List!

The Radio Flyer 2-in-1 Journey Wagon is one of my top picks for this year's Holiday Toy List. It's versatile, easy to store and transport - and the kids love the different seating options.

Having a 2-in-1 Journey wagon comes in handy whether you have one, two or three children in tow.  The versatility allows the bigger kids to pile in when the seats are folded down or we can bring the seats up and safely buckle the two-year-old. It give him a place to comfortably sit and feel like a big boy with his own seat and cup holder. I like that this model also has cup holders on the front of the wagon for my water bottle, smoothie or coffee.

When I was a youngster, I had a Radio Flyer Wagon as well. I loved my wagon! It served as a vehicle (I would make my brother and sister push it from behind while I steered it with the handle), I used it as a "pioneer wagon" where I made bricks (which were actually just globs of mud), and it was a tent once I stacked outdoor furniture and plastic swimming pools over it. My fondest memories were of my mother pulling my siblings and I in it as we walked (she walked and tugged and pulled) to Grandma's house.

My children have enjoyed playing with Radio Flyer 2-in-1 Journey Wagon, riding it in, pulling their younger cousins around the yard and using it for trips to the library. Imagine it loaded with books! I think Savannah feels very much like Matilda walking down the sidewalk with a wagon full of books behind her.

It's also great for toting items (and kiddos) around during trips to the playground, park, amusement parks, festivals, fairs, etc...

The The Radio Flyer 2-in-1 Journey Wagon features:

• 2 wagons in 1-seats fold up or down for a comfortable ride or maximum hauling capacity
• Seatbelts for added safety,8.5" quiet ride tires
• 4 cup holders for easy access to drinks and snacks
• Extra-long handle folds over for easy storage
• Extra under seat storage

You can snatch up your Radion Flyer 2-in-1 Journey Wagon on Amazon!

* I received the Radio Flyer 2-in-1 Journey Wagon for review. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy here.

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SpyX Roll-In Spy Bug and Long Range Walkie Talkies

Joey believes that he is crafty, clever and sneaky. At the age of 7, he hasn't mastered being crafty enough to fool mom and dad but he enjoys it. As sneaky as he is, or believes himself to be, I wasn't sure if he would fully enjoy a set of SpyX toys. They were something that I would have loved as a kid but I didn't know if kids these days were really into walkie talkies and spying on their parents. Oh was I wrong. So wrong.

We recently received a pair of SpyX Long Range Walkie Talkies and a SpyX Roll-In Spy Bug. The first day, Savannah and Joey played with the walkie talkies nonstop. They hid from each other and used them in the basement. They took them outside and pretended to be on a secret mission of some sort. At night, they took them to bed and chatted for a bit before mom and dad decided it was time to sleep.

I guess that with the use of cell phones, I hadn't imaged that kids would find walkie talkies so neat. The SpyX Long Range Walkie Talkies have become a prized toy. I like that it's something they can play with together, bond and create memories. I also like that it helps to expand their imaginative play.

It was also nice to bring them along when I run on a local track. It kept the kids busy as they ran around and tested the signal strength and began a new "mission". Unfortunately, the walkie talkies did not work from one end of our small town to the other end. They were disappointed in that - but hey, from one end of the neighborhood to the other was pretty good.

They also had a lot of fun with the SpyX Roll-In Spy Bug.  Oh how sneaky they thought they were when they'd slowly place it in the room where adults were and sliver out the door.  Their giggles and laughter were priceless.  The SpyX Roll-In Spy Bug was pretty interesting.  They could place or roll the bug in it's desired location and then, using the receiver, listen to conversation up to 50 feet away.

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Hotel Breakers at Cedar Point - Renovations for 2015!

I've had the opportunity to enjoy several getaways to Hotel Breakers at Cedar Point over the past few years.  Hotel Breakers is a historic beachfront hotel located at Cedar Point amusement park.  Guests can enjoy gorgeous views of Lake Erie and short walks to all that Cedar Point has to offer.  

I've personally enjoyed the history that is evident at Hotel Breakers.  Opening its doors in 1905, Hotel Breakers boasted 600 rooms and accumulated a guest list that included Annie Oakely, Theodore Roosevelt, John D. Rockefeller, Helen Keller, and Dwight D. Eisenhower.

This resort, which holds so much history - has undergone several renovations and changes since its debut.  This fall and winter - it will again see many changes.  A few weeks ago, I was able to experience a glimpse of the exciting updates you can expect for 2015.

We were able to spend a few nights enjoying an updated standard room with two queen beds.  It was an amazing and unexpected change.  The decor has a more vibrant and beachy-feel that reminds you that you are here for some fun and relaxation. 

In 2015, guests will experience a completely renovated Hotel Breakers. The renovations will result with fewer guest rooms (going from 650 down to 511), a completely redesigned entrance, new furniture, bedding, flat-screen TVs and more.

I look forward to exploring all of the renovations throughout the hotel and property in 2015!

Updated: New Video Link!






*I was provided accommodations at Hotel Breakers. All opinions are my own.

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Watch over your loved ones with Folr!

Savannah has recently dropped a few hints that she would love to have a cell phone. Her cousins have one and she would like to have one so that she can, among other things, text with them. It is hard for me to imagine that she's old enough to have a cell phone. Yet, I've been weighing the benefits of her request.

Though she spends most of her time with me - it would be nice to have an easy way to quickly reach her when she isn't with me. A quick call or text could let me know exactly where she is or where she is going. Though, if she's anything like me - she'll likely forget to text when she arrives at or leaves her destination. We've recently found an app that helps me with that task. Folr. Folr has been great for our recent field trips and travels. It allows our loved ones to keep up with our location throughout the day or trip - without us needing to constantly check in with a call or text.

I've found Folr to be an added parenting tool.  I like that with Folr, I get real-time, detailed information on the location of my loved ones. I can also get a detailed location history. Did she really go straight to Grandma's or did she stop and get ice-cream on the way?  I can also use it as a babysitter or nanny monitor.  Are they going where we agreed they could go?  

Folr Features I Love

Compatibility

Easily installed on any mobile device (smartphone or tablet) and operating system (iOS or Android)

It's Free

We've tried a few apps that required a fee to use and ended up being a little more difficult to use.  We needed to log onto a separate site using a computer in order to view maps and track locations. I wanted the option of looking down at my phone and getting the information in an instant. Folr allows that.  I can quickly open the app and view the user along with their locations within seconds.  You can find it at the App Store and at Play Store.

Easy to Use

Users can select whom they wish to follow straight from their phones' contacts.  If I forget to text Dan and let him know that we've left the museum - he can quickly check his phone to see if we are on the road and on our way home.  He can also pre-set the times that he knows we will be out and about.

Follow and be Followed

There are two lists, a list of those who the user follows, and a list of those who want to follow the user.

Detailed Location History

Users can review the detailed history of the followed throughout the day and up to a whole year.

Privacy

I very much enjoyed that it was also private. I didn't need to jump through hoops to make sure the correct settings were applied to ensure that strangers weren't accessing the map of our movements.  There are also options for deciding when you can be followed.  You can activate or deactivate the days-of-week and the hours-of-day that your device can be tracked.

Various Uses

Folr is perfect not only for tracking your family but can also be used by institutions (i.e. attendance-taking in schools) and social purposes (i.e. locate friends nearby).  I love the grouping feature. We often visit amusement parks or other travel locations with a large group of family members. I am able to use the app as a family locator.  I can set groups within Folr and assign everyone to a specific group. I can have a group that focuses on our household and a group that contains our extended family. I can also have a group for workout groups that I may run or bike with.

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Summer is over and we are back in school!

Though Summer hasn't technically ended, our Summer schedule has and we are now back into our homeschool routine. I'm always excited to begin a new school year, but sad to say 'goodbye' to our Summer fun. I think this past Summer was one of our busiest and most enjoyable.

It seems as if we spent half of our Summer at the ballpark. Savannah loves softball and played her final year in Rookie League. Joey isn't as big of a fan of baseball - but played another year in the Rookie League as well.

We started the Summer with a family-vacation to Destin, Florida where we had a very fun and relaxing week on the beach. It was of course, a very long drive from Indiana to Florida. So, Savannah took her Acer C720P Chromebook! Her Chromebook has become one of her go-to items for learning new things as well as entertainment.  When she found out that we were going to Florida - she used the Acer C720P Chromebook to research information about our destination.  The Chromebook went in her busy-bag for entertainment and came in handy when we spent a rainy evening in the condo.

We also made several trips to Kings Island and Cedar Point!  Both are amazingly, fun amusement parks in Ohio.   We all enjoy the coasters, thrill rides and water parks that they have to offer.

Joey loves trains - and we were able to take a short ride on another train this past Summer. It's always so much fun. I'm constantly amazed at the number of kids that are so interested in locomotives.

We also learned a lot!  Though we don't have homeschool classes during the Summer months - we encourage a lifestyle of learning.  Access to information on the internet has helped fuel our children's hunger for knowledge and the desire to know how things work.  Savannah loves learning new things and having the Chromebook has really opened the door for her to learn more on the various subjects that interest her. She has spent a lot of time researching information on Laura Ingalls Wilder and Abraham Lincoln. And we can't forget Minecraft. Minecraft made its way into our home this Summer. Using her Chromebook, Savannah has found a lot of tips and information about this new favorite game.

Now that school is back in full-swing, Savannah is using the Chromebook to begin collecting information for her home-state project. I've been looking forward to this project since we began to homeschool. In fourth grade, I also had to complete a project gathering information on my home-state - Indiana. Now, Savannah gets to explore her state. We plan to travel to various historic locations throughout the state for this project and use the Chromebook to help us with this journey.

Looking for a Chromebook? Click the image below to find great deals on Amazon! Don't forget to Join The Intel Fan Advocate Experience

I am in a partnership with Intel. Through this partnership I gain access to content, product, or other forms of value. This is a sponsored post - all views are my own.









{This post contains affiliate links. Please read the A Bloggy Mom Disclosure Policy here.}

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Robot Turtles - Teaching Kids Coding Concepts

We've spent the past few days playing with and enjoying Robot Turtles™ by ThinkFun®.  Robot Turtles is the first board game to teach coding skills to kids as young as four!  Teaches coding skills to children?  Yes!

I was intrigued when Robot Turtles was first introduced to me because it is very important to me that I keep my kids up-to-date with technology and instill in them an entrepreneurial spirit. Not only do I want them to be able to use technology - but I want them to have an in-depth understanding of it. So, I was fascinated by the thought of using a board game to teach coding/programming concepts.

“Learning how to code is an essential 21st century skill and not just for designing apps and video games,” said Bill Ritchie, ThinkFun President and Co-Founder. “You learn how to break big problems into small steps, work backwards and visualize multiple solutions. You learn to persevere, to experiment and be patient. Robot Turtles teaches these life essentials to the youngest kids who stand to benefit the most.”

In programming - the programmer tells the computer what to do using code. The computer then follows the commands set forth by the programmer. In Robot Turtles, the child plays the role of programmer while a parent or older sibling acts as the computer and follows commands given by the programmer.

How to Play

• Your child chooses one of four colorful turtles and a corresponding jewel.
• Your child then places them in different spots on the game board.
• Your child then uses the playing cards to navigate you through the board in an effort to help the turtle reach the jewel. The cards direct you either left, right or forward.
• You then follow your child's command and move closer to the jewel.

Your child will sharpen their problem-solving skills when they encounter obstacles along the way that they must maneuver around to help their turtle reach the jewel.

Robot Turtles was awarded a “Best Toy for Kids” by the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association.  Robot Turtles began as a Kickstarter sensation. The goal to raise $25,000 and produce 1,000 games turned into $631,000 and 25,000 games as passionate parents from 65 countries kicked in support to make Robot Turtles a reality, and the game sold out. Robot Turtles is now available at Target stores nationwide and on Amazon and Target.com.

Find Robot Turles using our affiliate Amazon or Target.

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Effortless Meals with Walmart & Coca Cola

Thank you to Coca-Cola for sponsoring this post!

Summer is the busiest time of year for our family.  I always, naively, believe that Summer will be relaxing and I'll have time to try a dozen new recipes and bake all sorts of pies.  Yet - somehow - life always gets in the way.  We have baseball games nearly four nights a week, family reunions, vacations, special trips - and the list goes on.

It's also a little bit more difficult for me to want to be in the kitchen planning and preparing a large meal each night during the Summer.  I've little time to do it - and I'd rather spend as much time outdoors with the kids as I possibly can.  These days go by much too quickly!

So, my time and energy are each stretched to the limit during this time of year.  That's why I've very much enjoyed having the opportunity to take advantage of the Effortless Meals from Coca-Cola and Walmart.  I think it actually spoiled me - just a little.

Coca-Cola and Walmart introduce "effortless meals", a delicious, easy and affordable meal solution for busy moms everywhere. Located exclusively in the Walmart Deli.

Busy day at the ballpark?  No time to make a meal?  Would rather spend an extra hour at the park than go home and prep for dinner?  No problem!  Stop by Walmart, pick up a Rotisserie Chicken Meal (my favorite), a Pizza Meal (the kid's favorite) or a Sandwich Meal.  Remember to add a Coca-Cola to unlock My Coke Rewards Bonus Points!

The Effortless Meals were also great for impromptu trips to the park. Meaning, I hadn't planned ahead and had not prepared any type of picnic-type foods.  The kids and I could quickly run into Walmart, choose our favorite sandwich with chips and Coca-Cola - then head to the park for an afternoon of fun!

We also took several trips this Summer and used the Effortless Meals to help with our food budget during travel.  It was cheaper for us to grab an Effortless Meal (and faster) than other places we might have chosen to eat.  We could pick up a wraps, salads, chicken and take it back to our hotel for a night 'in'.  It's nice having another budget-friendly food option to add to our travel ideas.  Savannah and Joey weren't sure if they would enjoy the wraps - but they loved them and keep asking me to make them at home! 

If you're a part of the My Coke Rewards program - make sure to bundle your meals to Unlock MCR Bonus Points!

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Review: Fitness and motivation with the funtastic Runtastic!

Over the past few months, I have been keeping track of my fitness routine with Runtastic. What's Runtastic? I'm thrilled that you've asked - and I barely know where to begin!

Runtastic is a family of apps that track your workouts whether it be running, cycling, skiing or walking. In fact, they track more than just that short list. I'm routinely using the original Runtastic Pro, Road Bike Pro, Pedometer Pro, Squats Pro, Push-Ups Pro, Sit-Ups Pro and Six Pack.  You can view all of their available apps here.

The Runtastic app tracks sports and fitness activities – such as running, jogging, biking and walking – utilizing GPS technology to help you build healthy lifestyle habits and reach exercise goals! What’s more? Runtastic has recently been revamped to enhance your user experience! Take Runtastic out for a run and enjoy our new and improved app design and navigation, optimized features and new functionality.

When I first began reviewing Runtastic, I had no idea the depth of their network. I assumed it was much like other apps that I rotate between using when I run. It's not. Runtastic makes it possible to compare my workout history with my current sessions. It tracks my records and even sends me an encouraging email when I've set new personal records. Runtastic tracks distance, average speed, elevation, calories burned, pace and duration

At the moment, I'm exclusively using Runtastic apps to track my workouts and using Runtastic.com to record my sessions.  Though I'm a very active person - I think that Runtastic has encouraged me to be even more active.  It's encouraging to get an email from Runtastic letting me know that I've set another personal record.  I also love the weekly email letting me know know how much I've been active compared to previous weeks.  It always sends me straight to Runtastic.com to compare my workouts and the notes I left about the session.  Was it sunny, rainy or humid the day I broke a personal record?  What notes did I leave on the workout that took me a bit longer to complete? 

I've found new "excuses" to be active. I'm always turning daily activities into an opportunity to work out (such as making the bed can be an abdominal workout) - but now, I've started to take over other household work that I had typically left alone. I think that Dan has enjoyed my volunteering to push-mow our lawn so that I can test the Pedometer Pro app and track my steps.  I had never once considered the amount of steps or mileage I could cover in doing this activity.  Now, I'm disappointed if I see that he has cut the grass before I've had a chance to get to it.

If you decide to check out Runtastic - add me as a friend!  Runtastic allows you to cheer each other on during workouts.  I love this feature!  I feel that I do better when I have people encouraging me to stay fit and this is such a neat thing to be able to do when you see that your friends are out and working hard to get fit or stay fit.

*I was provided the use of various Runtastic Pro apps and a Gold Membership for review purposes. As always, opinions are my own. Please read my disclosure policy here.

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Enter the Fruit Shoot Have a Ball Stunt Hunt #StuntHunt!

Fruit Shoot is currently celebrating imaginative activities with a really fun competition! Enter a video of your children doing amazing stunts in the Fruit Shoot 'Have a Ball' #StuntHunt! Be sure to check the bottom of this post for instructions on how to enter!



Fruit Shoot is a fun hydration drink is perfect for energetic, independent kids who desire fun on the go. It contains real fruit juice, natural flavors, no high-fructose corn syrup, and no added sugar.



Fruit Shoot was a win/win for us. Savannah and Joey enjoyed trying the fun flavors that Robinson's Fruit Shoot offers: Orange, Apple, Berry Burst and Strawberry Raspberry! I love that Fruit Shoot contains no fructose corn syrup.

Fruit Shoot lets moms balance the hydration their kids need with the taste that they love, making hydration fun for kids and easy for moms.

I love that Fruit Shoot also features an innovative no-spill cap (no more juice stains in the car!) making it easy for kids to be independent while on the go. These vibrant fun colored bottles come in tasty flavors of Orange, Apple, Berry Burst and Strawberry/Raspberry. You are welcome to purchase any of the flavors in both the regular and low sugar varieties.

Check out Savannah and Joey's video: Fruit Shoot Knock Out!

Enter the 'Have a Ball Stunt Hunt'

The 'Have a Ball Stunt Hunt' competition is a great demonstration of Fruit Shoot’s commitment to imaginative play and has a reward that is priceless. Here’s how it works:

1. Visit the contest homepage to upload a video of your kids showing off their best tricks, stunts, and super-cool abilities with a Fruit Shoot bottle and any ball. To qualify, please make sure your video is under 30 seconds. Check out the stunt video we have already souped-up for inspiration!

2. Share your video with friends and family and encourage them to vote for your video.

3. Every week, we’ll chose a winning video, give it the full-on Hollywood special effects treatment, and release it on our contest homepage for the world to see!

Entrants will receive a free bottle of Fruit Shoot when entering the contest. Entrants will also receive a Waboba ball anytime they buy 6 bottles of Fruit Shoot in-store.




Thank you to Fruit Shoot for sponsoring today’s post, but my love for their juice and endorsing children’s imaginations is all my own!

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Lundby Smaland Dollhouse

We are loving our new Lundby Smaland Dollhouse! This modern living dollhouse comes with the most gorgeous wall and floor patterns as well as being pre-wired for electric! This amazing feature allowed us to light the house with hanging lamps, floor lamps and a bathroom vanity.

The Smaland comes with 6 rooms, a stair case, windows that open and a balcony with french doors! Separate room kits are available to match your style and allow the kids to feel as if they are decorating a real modern home.

Savannah, who is 9 years old, loved decorating and organizing each room. The rooms contain so much detail, from the floor to the ceiling. One room had soft, plush carpet - while checkered patterns and designs made to look like wood-flooring were in the other rooms.

Not only are the rooms detailed - but so are the decorative items you can purchase to adorn your Smaland Dollhouse. The kitchen appliances are modern and the furniture is trendy. Everything looks like something you would walk into a store to purchase for your own home.

Savannah has spent hours playing with the Smaland Dollhouse - and Joey has enjoyed it as well.  I think the amount of accessories that are available really amazed the kids.  They loved the small toothbrushes, cups, flowers, picture frames, flat screen television - just to name a few!

I believe you can even buy additional rooms to place underneath the six original rooms - as well as a garden to attach on the outside. Lundby has really thought of everything! Make sure and browse all their room kits to find what fits your child's style and imagination! They will love the details of the Smaland Dollhouse!

I was provided with a Lundby Smaland Dollhouse for review purposes. As always, opinions are my own.
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy here.

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