Creamy Fruit Dip

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Florida Orange Juice for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I am trying to make healthier eating choices now that I am in my forties.  Seriously, I am.  I have not always been known as the healthiest eater.  My  beverage of choice in the morning is a diet coke.

But lately, I have been trying to drink more Florida Orange Juice or milk in the mornings.  I know that is a much better choice for me.

Especially after reading these facts about orange juice:

Did You Know These Facts About 100 Percent Orange Juice?

1.   One 8‐ounce serving of 100 percent orange juice is a good source of potassium and folate and an excellent source of vitamin C.

These are three important nutrients that are under consumed in the United States, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

2.   One serving of 100 percent orange juice is more nutrient dense than many commonly-consumed 100 percent fruit juices.[1]

A refreshing glass of 100 percent orange juice has no added sugars or artificial sweeteners, which may be found in many fruit juice cocktails and sports drinks.

3.  A key recommendation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is to increase fruit intake.

One 8-ounce glass of 100 percent orange juice provides half of the USDA-recommended daily fruit intake for most adults, based on a 2,000-calorie diet.

Here are also some helpful Nutrition Tips from Kathleen Zelman, MPH, RD:

·       Jumpstart your morning with a nutritious meal that includes protein, fruit and energizing nutrient-dense carbs.

o      Think you don’t have time for a complete breakfast? Blend your favorite fruit with 100 percent Florida orange juice and low-fat yogurt for a convenient, on-the-go smoothie.

o      Want to jazz up your weekend breakfast? Substitute 100 percent Florida orange juice for water in your pancake batter to give your meal a zesty, new taste.

·       When looking for a snack, think outside the box before trying to satisfy your cravings from roadside convenience stores or airport kiosks.

o      Plan ahead and take a cooler with portable, smart snacks that fit your on-the-go lifestyle like nuts, hummus with veggies, granola bars and 8-ounce cartons of 100 percent orange juice that will help give you the energy and nutrients you need to get through your travel day.

·       Outdoor grilling and dining is a great way for your family and friends to enjoy the warmer weather.

o      Protein is a vital part of your daily diet, as it provides nutrients and may help satisfy hunger longer than most fats or carbohydrates.

o      Choose leaner cuts of beef, pork, and poultry to grill and pair your protein with other nutrient-rich foods, such as high-fiber fruit, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats. Add 100 percent Florida orange juice to marinades for poultry and pork for a refreshing citrus zing and pour a glass of 100 percent orange juice to accompany your meal.

* Thirsty for more? Check out Florida Orange Juice on Facebook and Florida Orange Juice on Pinterest for more tips and expert nutrition advice.

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This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of VTechKids for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I was so thrilled that I got the chance to review the Switch & Go Dinos right in time for Eli’s 5th birthday!  I knew that he would love them!

We received Silver the T-Rex and Horns the Triceratops.

Eli was so excited when he opened them for his birthday!  He loves “transformers”, and I love how easily these toys transform from one figure to another.

He and his 8 year old brother, Adam, had a blast playing with them.  The coolest thing about this toy is that Vtech took two things that boys love, dinosaurs and cars, and put them together in one educational toy.

The LCD screen is interactive and your child can choose from different sets of eyes for the dinosaur and different sets of faces for the car. 

Plus, these toys have great sound effects that really bring the toys to life.  Eli loves the way the dinosaur “roars” and the car “revs” its engine.  The Dino actually exclaims over 30 different expressions!

Not only did Adam and Eli play with these toys for HOURS after Eli received them, but they also learned cool dinosaur facts as they played.  I love knowing that my boys playtime is educational too. :)

The four Starter Dinos: Sliver the T-Rex, T-Don the Pteranodon, Tonn the Stegosaurus, and Horns the Triceratops will be on-sale beginning May 21 exclusively at Amazon.com for a suggested retail price of $15.99.

So you can Buy today on Amazon!

Beginning June 18, they’ll be on sale at VTechKids.com for a suggested retail price of $15.99.

What little boy (or girl) do you have in your life that would love a Switch & Go Dino?

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Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope you have had a wonderful week.

Tomorrow, we are heading back to the Ky Opry to hear Jonathan perform in the semi-finals.  I am so excited about it, and I will be sure to share the results with you.  We are hoping he makes it to the finals next weekend.  Fun!

Today, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite bathroom “pins” from Pinterest.

This has to be one of the “freshest” bathrooms I have ever seen!

via http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2010/11/550_101290607.jpg

Here is what I love about this “Pin”…

*I love the cool, calming colors they used in this space.

*I love the use of that ladder for holding towels and bathroom supplies.  (I would have to be sure to secure the ladder to the wall or my boys would have that thing torn down in a heartbeat!)

*I love the medicine cabinets.  I am thinking of doing something like these in my boys’ bathroom to hide all the bathroom “uglies.”

*I love the use of dark contrasting colors in the ladder and the stool, plus the shots of color with lime green towels and bright flowers.

*I love that gorgeous tile floor, the wood treatment on the walls, and the vintage looking faucets.

*Did you notice those adorable little soap holders with lime green soap?  Gah!

The ONLY thing I would change about this space is the lighting.   I would place them a little lower and chose fixtures with a little more character.

What do you like or dislike about this bathroom space?

If you would like to follow me on Pinterest, click on the button below.

If you are not on Pinterest yet and would like an invite, just leave your email address in the comments, and I will send you one! 

Also, I am guest posting over at Just a Girl today!

I am talking about ways to develop friendships in blog world, come check it out!

One more thing!

I wanted to introduce a really cool new product to you…VECCO!

What’s Vecco?

Vecco is a painting technique for creating rugs and carpets inspired by you. With stencils,
colorant sprays and sealants, you make custom designs that’ll tie any room together.

Click on the ad to check them out!

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Last year, I posted about an online program that I fell in love with and started using with my boys called MyJobChart.com.

MyJobChart.com is running a wonderful new feature this month that I wanted to share with you…

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This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Walmart Foundation for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I love Walmart, don’t you?!

It is my “go to” place for all of the things I need each week.  What I love about Walmart is that it not only provides my family with the things I need, but it also helps those who are less fortunate to have the things that they need as well.

Like food.

Did you know that more than 50 Million Americans don’t know where their next meal will come from?  Mostly because of the high unemployment rate in our country. No job often means no food.  It breaks my heart to think of people, especially children, going to bed with empty stomachs.

That is why I am so happy to share with you a wonderful program from Walmart that allows you and me to fight against hunger.

[Read more...]

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This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of iBulb for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Spring makes my heart happy!

When I see my two favorite flowers, daffodils and tulips, blooming all around, I feel so full of joy. There is newness of life everywhere, and I am reminded of God’s unending love for me.

As I have been driving around lately, I have been admiring the gorgeous tulips springing up in people’s yards and beautiful landscapes. They stand up so straight and tall, it looks as if they are shouting, “Just look at me! Aren’t I beautiful!”

It seems I am constantly saying, “Hey boys, look at those tulips!” To which they reply with a lot of oohs and aahs.

I was so excited when I was given the chance to purchase some tulips for this post. I picked up three bunches (two white and one yellow) of fresh cut tulips at my local Kroger store.

I think tulips are easy to decorate with. They look beautiful no matter where you put them!

I had a large white bucket that I thought my tulips would look great in. So I placed all of my white tulips in it and placed it on the counter in my kitchen.

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I am so excited to share this unique giveaway with you today.

One of my wonderful sponsors, Jeanne, from Jeanne Oliver Designs is giving away

THREE spots to her online e-course “Building a Creatively Made Business.”

Jeanne is a very successful business woman and has a wealth of information to share with others who are considering starting an online business or fine-tuning the one they already have.

Here is a video description of the three week e-course beginning April 16th…

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Hey, Friends!

I have a great giveaway today that you are going to LOVE!

UPrinting is giving away

One 11”x 14”

Stretched Canvas Print!

{with 1.5” Gallery Wrap or 1.5” Museum Wrap (white or black)}

You can turn your favorite photo into a work of art!

Click on “READ MORE” to enter this fabulous giveaway!!!

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