Join our crazy adventures in Northern California, parenting three girls (born in just 4 years) exploring fun, food and family living in YOLO County, California #Davis #Sacramento #giveaways #events #travel #lifestyle
I was given complimentary products to facilitate this review post. All opinions are 100% my own and may not reflect that of the company described.
Fancy loose-leaf teas, a travel tea tumbler and tea maker might make you think this is a post about the Mother's Day gift I received.
It's not.
This is what my husband wants to receive for Father's Day!
He is one of those strange ones who sticks his nose up to coffee, and instead would prefer a loose-leaf oolong or earl grey tea.
My hubby has a pretty strict routine for preparing his tea.
The water has to be set at the correct temperature, depending on the type of tea (green, black, oolong, etc) so as not to scorch the tea, and the timer set for just the right brewing duration.
Tea bags? What's that!
(he calls it "tea dust")
All this to say, that his tea brewing equipment needs to work well for him to give his "thumbs up" approval and the Trudeau Tea Maker and Tea Tumbler got TWO thumbs up - (I couldn't wait until Father's Day to give it to him)
The stainless steel basket insert is perfectly constructed to handle your finest loose-leaf teas - unlike some other tea makers we've tried that's holes are so large little bits of tea leaves will be floating in your cup - NO Thanks!
Another one of his usual complains about teaware, is that many brew barely a small 6oz. cup of tea, which is too quickly enjoyed.
The Trudeau Tea Maker boasts a full 20 oz. so you can have a cup and share one with your partner!
Enjoy freshly brewed tea with your partner!
If I'm nice and buy him some new oolong, he promised to make me a cup, here's to hoping!
So, the trial run worked out great. Perfectly brewed loose-leaf tea in a super easy to clean tea maker (only a few parts that come out easily and a quick handwash to clean).
I love that the heat resistant canister allows you to see the beautiful color of your tea which adds to the relaxing experience of drinking tea.
I
don't have any photos of the Tea Tumbler in actual use, because my husband
quickly snatched it up, took it to his work and has been using it
since.
His report however, is that it works great with is loose-leaf stash of tea at work and the insert is large enough that the tea leaves have room to unfurl and reach their full brewing potential. Yayyy!
So, you're thinking how can you find out more about these awesome tea brewing products?
Well, check out Trudeau's website here, or follow them on their social media outlets below to find out more!
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ElevateSalads #CollectiveBias
I really wish there was a drive-thru sushi restaurant, or vegetarian wrap to-go establishment somewhere on my route from home to my daughter's preschool, library, T-ball practice, playdates, gym, instead of the standard burger joint.
With three daughters under the age of six, there is little time for cold-pressing our own juice, or milking a cow for raw milk, or picking our own blueberries for their antioxidant power.
It's just not realistic.
With a little planning ahead, a healthier eating pattern for us moms and dads who are constantly on the go, is actually achievable.
I've started slow, but am actually doing it - and have toned up and lost pounds by following a few of these simple steps, which started by exploring all theelevĀte salad options at Costco.
Step 1. Pack Your Lunch The Night Before
This may seem like a no-brainer, but when I start my morning running, because my youngest - 2 years old - woke up with wet sheets, and I forgot I had to finish drying my 5yr old's Tball uniform for her game today, and then missed the email that it's "Crazy Hair Day" at preschool in one hour = no healthy lunch today!
This is precisely why we end up going through the fast food drive-thru between picking up my daughter from preschool and taking her to the library, then TBall practice - I didn't plan ahead.
A simple salad, like the one above can be packed in a lunch bag with an ice pack and will stay fresh for hours.
You know, not just any salad from the grocery store will provide you with the protein and carbohydrates you need to stay going all day.
Many of the cheap brands are filled with....well fillers, and super fatty and sugary salad dressings. So, please read the label.
Step 2. Find Healthy Lunch Options At Costco
I, recently found a great option for a super convenient, healthy lunch on the go at Costco - elevĀte salads - perfect for when I don't have time to chop, slice, bottle and seal my lunch!
Why did I choose elevĀte?
Here are my reasons for grabbing a ReadyPac elevĀte off the shelf:
Non-GMO
8 Ready-To-Eat Salad Options - including fully recyclable packaging and soy based ink printing
Lots of antioxidant / superfood rich ingredients
High in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids
IT-HAS-IT'S-OWN-FORK!
Only $3.24 per serving is an affordable lunch in my book!
...and it honestly tastes great, like, fancy restaurant yummy!
If you're like me, Costco can often seem daunting in it's organization of where they put and move items.
However, each time I've been to shop, the elevĀte salads are always in the same area. Go to the back of Costco, across from the Deli in the refrigerated aisle (pictured above)...near the cheese and meat section.
Easy-peasy. Now the only thing you have to decide is....
Nutty Cranberry or Spinach Pow!
Step 3. Get The Kids On Board
My girls are great at eating samples
helping me shop, but when it came to choosing a salad they just said
"whatever one you want, mama" - and off they went to run the shopping
cart down the aisle like Danica Patrickwannabes.
When
I re-directed them back to the two salad options, they did end up
choosing the pretty shiny cranberry option, aka. Nutty Cranberry - and I'm glad they did.
It's so important to talk to your kiddos about healthy food options, starting at an early age, and why certain foods are better than othersin a way they can understand.
So, we talk to our girls about foods that have protein to help build big, strong muscles and carbohydrates to give the girls energy to play!
I will say that my 2 year old was the biggest fan of this salad.... and there is proof for once:
The Bookend: "Where you get that from, mommy?"
Me: "I got it from Costco"
The Bookend: "I LIKE THAT!"
Isn't she cute?
Step 4.Enjoy Healthy Food On-The-Go
We heard that a local art museum, was opening it's doors in Sacramento for a family-fun day last weekend, and since we hadn't visited before we figured this was the best chance to go on the cheap!
I packed the kids a lunch, since it was the end of the month, and we didn't have extra money to spend on a lunch out.
Hey! Score! I had two elevĀte salads left from our Costco run, so packed those for me and daddy.
We had an amazing family experience at the art museum, plus had a picnic lunch which cost us next to nothing and saved about $45 bucks, which is what we would have spent at the museum cafe for 5 of us!
Sweet!
So, follow my lead and start planning ahead and packing meals, because I promise you...anything from your pantry or fridge is probably better for you than a fast-food burger is.
Tell me now, how could you argue with this little face who loves this salad and keeps telling me it's her favorite!
Hurry, someone, tell me where to hide my salads, so she won't eat them all!
To learn more about elevĀte salads, follow along at:
The Purex® brand provided me with a sample of Purex® plus Clorox 2® detergent in exchange for a product review. However all the opinions expressed here are my own.
Okay, I think I'm pretty sure I begin 99% of my posts with:
"Because I have three little girls under age of 5....."
You may tire of hearing it, but the majority of my life experiences right now center around something having to do with my three little tater tots, so that's what I write about.
Can you guess what one of the things I spend the most time on currently is?
That's right, laundry! With three little girls (there I go again...) that enjoy multiple wardrobe changes in a mere hour, and refuse to wear aprons or bibs, you can imagine how much laundry we go through. So, we need detergent that works...and works the first time because in California with our water shortages, we can't afford multiple rinses!
Have you ever used a laundry detergent that might as well have just been water, because it did absolutely nothing to clean your clothing? Or, the opposite? A laundry detergent that was so harsh, it turned your colors three shades lighter and added a year's worth of wear in just one wash?
Not 30 minutes after I received a sample of this Purex plus Clorox 2, stain fighting detergent, my 3 year old dropped her hot dog, yes, doused in ketchup, down the front of her shirt - no kidding. So, I put the detergent to the test, took some photos of the BEFORE (above) and threw it in the laundry to see if these color safe stain fighters really worked.
As you can see, the ketchup stain was lifted off completely! I was very excited to see how well the Purex plus Clorox 2 worked, without soaking or scrubbing or bleaching.
Want more? I've got more!
Now, the pretty little pineapple shirt above, was brand new, and somehow my 2 year old got to the cherries from the Farmer's Market before I could grab her and completely stained the front of her tank top. I honestly thought there was no way cherry stains would come out - but Purex plus Clorox 2 totally worked on the cherry stains like they were a piece of cake.
The BEFORE/AFTER photos were taken in two areas of the house, so there is some lighting differences - however again the detergent worked really well on this colored shirt and only lifted the actual cherry stain.
Be sure to check back with me next week to see how well Purex plus Clorox 2 did at tackling waffle, syrup and fried chicken grease off this red shirt my toddler is wearing!
Oh, and if you'd like a chance to try out the Purex plus Clorox 2 detergent on your family's clothes enter to win a bottle below!
Happy Stain Fighting, to YOU!
~ GIVEAWAY ~
Prize: 1 Bottle of Purex plus Clorox2 (3 winners will be chosen)
I was given a promotional item to facilitate this review. As always, all opinions are 100% my own and may not reflect that of the company described.
I try to limit my intake of fast food, but if we're being honest...once in awhile it's just something I need to do on a busy day.
When we're an hour past lunchtime, because we stayed too long at the library, and my girls need to eat before we rush home for naptime.
Del Taco, here we come.
Del Taco, has been one of my family's preferred drive-thru locations, since I was a kid growing up in Southern CA. I've always been a fan of the classic grilled chicken soft taco at Del Taco, but it never crossed my mind as being somewhere I'd go for breakfast.
A few weeks ago, I was supposed to work at my daughter's preschool earlier than normal, so figured we'd have a special mommy/daughter breakfast date at Del Taco.
Okay, I have to say it. I really thought my little gal would order a breakfast taco, but at 8:00am, she insisted on a bean and cheese burrito,.....WHAT?
I think I went a little overboard and tried, well, like almost everything on the breakfast menu, myself!
See. I told you.
I think maybe I ordered too many items, because my Mexican Chorizo tacos weren't super hot, and I think the flavor lost some of it's punch because of it.
They were good, but not amazing. I would have liked some deeper spice and seasoning - they were a little to similar to regular sausage for me.
We did however LOVE the savory bacon flavor of the Mini Bacon Quesadilla for only $.79!
Also, I was pleasantly surprised at the 100% Arabica Bean Coffee I ordered.
It was hot, super fresh, and gave me the pep I needed to work at my daughter's preschool for the next few hours.
.....and $1.49 for coffee is my kind of deal!
The employees at the Davis, CA location where we visited were nothing short of incredibly sweet and pleasant and helpful, and nice, and .....okay you get the idea. The guy behind the counter, suggested lots of breakfast options, and was very patient with me when I was trying to figure out what my daughter wanted to order.
Okay, so maybe I didn't order EVERYTHING on the menu, because there really is lots to choose from. Next time, I want to try the Carne Asada Steak Breakfast Taco, that sounds good. It's worth checking out, if you're in the mood for something NEW and interesting for your breakfast on the go routine! And the prices are super affordable - which is probably why I'll keep going back and trying new breakfast menu items.
Of course an added perk, was being able to enjoy one-on-one time with my preschooler, without the chaos distractions of her two younger sisters!
Who knew that Del Taco would be our new, quiet, breakfast hideout?
Go check out the FREE hashbrown deal today, grab a Chorizo Breakfast Taco (only $1) and come back here and tell me what you think in a blog comment below!
I was given a promotional item to faciliatate this review. As as always my opinions stated here are 100% my own and may not reflect that of the company described.
It's summertime, people! Well, maybe not officially, but here in Northern California with temps reaching almost 90, it sure FEELS like summertime, baby!
So, you'd better get shopping (like I had to) because the kiddos are going to be asking for their shorts, tank tops and dresses really soon.
True to form, when it arrived, she immediately put on the dress and started twirling around (above photo) and has not taken it off since.
Okay, well we did have to draw a line at putting on actual pajamas for bedtime... but in the morning, it's Watermelon Dress time again.
My 5 year old, also browsed Children's Place summer collection, and decided on this duo herself - a sleeveless racerback top with a cute pineapple print and matching Tiered Eyelet Skirt.
I was really impressed by the quality of theAzul Girls Tiered Eyelet Skirt it's not that flimsy see-through fabric that looks like it will wear out after the first wash.
We've already washed it and it's a really nice quality of 100% cotton that held up perfectly. I don't love the super duper short skirts on my ladies, so this one is the perfect length.
I think we might need one more online shopping trip, because now my oldest is requesting a Watermelon Dress just like her sister!
Until then, she's gonna have to be satisfied with her cool pineapple outfit,donning her new pair of sunglasses from Children's Place and keeping cool in the shade.
Big Sister H. is wearing:Girls Butterfly Aviator Sunglasses $2.99!
I think she's got this one in the bag!
There's lots of fruity fun at Children's Place this year, so go now and check out the fun stuff for summer!
