Revive - My Word of the Year in 2019 & 4 Awesome Ways to Refresh Post Workout

This post is sponsored by Babbleboxx, regardless all opinions expressed here are completely my own.

So far in 2019 on social media I've seen a lot of people sharing their word of the year. I'm not sure if I just run in an inspirational circle or if this is a yearly trend I'm just now becoming aware of... BUT I'm loving the idea of letting go of resolutions and choosing to live with a word of intention instead. Setting up goals is great, no matter what you want to call it, but I feel like intentional living is so much more rewarding and beneficial in the long run! Since it seems to be the thing to do I decided this year I also want to live with intention, so I'm choosing a word to live by in 2019...

This year I've chosen REVIVE as my word to live by. As defined in Webster's Dictionary, this word means to "to return to life, become active or flourishing again". I think we all technically know the definition, it's a pretty simple word - but this year it means so much more to me. After years of being wrapped up in my daughter, my creations, and my businesses, I've decided to take some time to really bring life back into myself - mainly so I can be more present and enrich the lives of those around me.

While that may sound a little cheesy, it actually seems to have really made a huge impact on me already. My daily routine feels renewed, my body is enjoying being active, and it's truly refreshing to know that I'm doing things that are not only good for me - but good for my mind, body, soul, and family. Now you may be wondering what I've done to change things up?

Well, it's been a whopping transition across the board. I started with a daily commitment to do yoga, a weekly commitment to eating more well-rounded meals at home, a monthly commitment to be better at time management and to make time for myself, and a lifelong commitment to "flourish" and I'm hoping this commitment makes it so I'm able to help those around me do the same.

While it all sounds like fun and games, the reality is post workout I'm sore more often than not, some days I don't even want anything but cake to eat... and my mind is just tired. Even though we're not even two weeks into my lifestyle change, I've already had to forced myself to feel revived on occasion. On that note, I've been spending time thinking of ways I can easily encourage myself to revitalize after a work out and somehow Babbleboxx just knew I needed these things to reset my resolutions in my life. I feel like I need to share these essentials with you - because we all need to refresh and feel renewed, right?

As I mentioned I'm starting the year off on the right foot by implementing regular work out routines, which not only leave me feeling like I've accomplished something - these work outs also leave me feeling a little sore (in a good, "I did something good for me" type of way)! This Athlete Recovery Sleepwear from Under Armour is seriously the answer to my comfort-wear dreams. This cozy little jumpsuit is powered by Celliant within the fabric which has been determined by the FDA to increase localized circulation, leading to faster recovery.

That's all fine and dandy, but what's it mean? Basically, the fabric returns infrared energy to your body, boosting localized blood flow and increasing the amount of oxygen reaching your muscles to restore your muscles faster! Did you know your pjs could literally help restore and revive your body? Check out these super soft knit Under Armour sleepwear.

I'm also a huge fan of Under Armour undergarments so be sure to take a second to add something cozy to your cart to wear under your romper!

Next on my list of items to refresh your new year, AfterShokz Trekz Air Headphones. These little beauties are legitimately my favorite headphones I've ever used - ever. So comfortable resting on my ear not within and the quality of sound is incomparable. AfterShokz Trekz Air truly are the next generation of headphones - lightweight, allowing safety since you still have an open ear to stay aware of your surroundings, and producing amazing quality sound with bone conduction technology! I've legit never been more excited to share any item on my blog. I've used these daily since they arrived and can't recommend them enough.

From listening to my favorite inspirational podcasts to rocking out to some 90's tunes while working out, the AfterShokz Trekz Air have been a part of my "new me" daily and I have a feeling they'll continue to be a part of my routine for many years to come - built with titanium wherever possible, these beauties are durable and produce amazing sound quality... what else could a girl ask for?

Okay, well, maybe there's a few more things a girl could ask for... like pain relief post-workout! Ha. Y'all know that burn means you are working it good, but no one really likes having to walk like a cowboy the day after leg day. That's where Tiger Balm comes into the picture - helping provide relief for your muscles with penetrating heat. The Tiger Balm Patches providing a relief that can't be found elsewhere with contouring abilities and hydrogel technology, just peel and stick where you need relief the most.

The Tiger Balm Ultra is a stain-free ointment that contains the highest concentration of herbal ingredients to provide pain relief. That means whether your back or your joints or sore, Tiger Balm has the right amount of relief for you... and for me... and lord knows I need it.

The last item that came in this Renewing Babbleboxx was one I've actually used in the past in it's canned form and loved then... and I still love it now in these convenient little powder sticks too. CELSIUS On-The-Go Powder Sticks are basically amazing little pockets of energy. Available in Orange, Berry, Coconut and Cranberry Lemon - to provide you with just the right amount of variety while getting your daily boost. CELSIUS is the perfect on the go pick-me-up and based on my own personal experience it's most definitely just the right amount of torque to get my ball rolling in the mornings and to leave me feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.

So tell me, how do you revitalize and revive yourself? I'd love to hear in the comments below!

Fight the Flu Bug & Cold Viruses with These 4 Easy Tips to Keep You Healthy this Season!

This post is sponsored by Theraflu but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

It's that time of the year - well, there's technically lots of "that's" that I could be referring to... and while I wish this was all about pumpkin pie or christmas lights - today I'm talking about flu & cold season.

That's right, those nasty viruses and bugs are floating around and I'm doing my best to battle them before they hit our house. But, sometimes they sneak in to our house & we are feeling ill before we even realize it.

Instead of waiting it out, anytime I feel a scratch in my throat or start to get a cough - I take it on head first... I'm doing sick differently this year. Want to know how you can battle the bugs this year? Here's my list of ways to make sure you are truly "living your best life":

https://ooh.li/47334f1

1. Sip on this - Theraflu Powerpods are the answer to your sick woes. That's right, there is a new way to tackle the cold and flu season with Theraflu PowerPods — “do sick differently” and get fast relief, brewed instantly. Compatible with almost all single serve brewers, these little babies are literally brewed in seconds and SO valuable for those of us sniffling and sneezing already this season.

Whether you are just feeling it come on or in the thick of it, I suggest you head to Walmart and grab a pack of these handy little cups! Stick one in your brewer - Press. Sip. Relief - it's THAT easy!

They come in a night time formula to help you get some sleep by relieving your severe cold and flu symptoms including nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, headache, body aches and fever. Obviously, please only use as directed.

Want to learn more about these pods? Click here.

2. Use essential oils for everything - Next on my list for battling the cold season is essential oils. We use a variety of oils in our diffuser to keep the air fresh & clean in our house and we even apply some blends to our wrists on the toughest of days.

3. Sanitize after every outing - That's right, we bust out the hand sanitizer or wash our hands after we leave almost everywhere we go. I'm not a germaphobe but I do want to avoid getting sick so I help D learn to keep her hands clean. If we go to the library and do a lot of play time with the toys there, we ALWAYS make sure her hands are clean before we leave. Touching a cart at Walmart? Use the in-store provided wipes and avoid getting anyone else's germs! The way I look at it is, it's easy to clean two little hands or the cart... (or whatever else) but it's definitely not easy being sick.

4. Live healthy - This one may be obvious but a healthy diet & exercise are vital parts of keeping your immune system strong! In our house during flu & cold season we eat extra fruits and veggies and spend more time getting our heart racing - that way we are doing all we can to help our body thrive!

With that said, how do you plan on fighting the flu bug & cold viruses this year? Be sure to check out how Theraflu PowerPods could help you this season!

5 Million Products Donated by U by Kotex - & a BIG THANKS Because YOU Helped!

This post is sponsored by U by Kotex but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.


Being a girl comes with a lot of obstacles, we all know that. One that none of us should face is "period poverty".

What's that exactly? If you are a regular around here, you may have seen that I explained it last month on behalf of U by Kotex - but to summarize, ONE in FOUR women are having trouble gaining access to feminine products. Those women are missing out on life, because they don't have the items they need!

Instead of ignoring the problem U by Kotex founded The Alliance for Period Supplies and now helps women in need of products we all should have access to. They are making big strides on behalf of women and hopefully going to change the way this problem is handled. I think we all can agree, while we have tons of obstacles to face together, this is definitely one no woman should ever have to struggle with.

That's why I am so incredibly thankful for those that went out to Walmart & purchased U by Kotex products! I think we all should give ourselves a cheer, actually! (In case you need a refresher on what happened last month - U by Kotex decided for every purchase of their items, they would donate TWO U by Kotex Products to women in need. That's right, you literally helped a sister out last month while buying your preferred feminine products!

With that said, UbK & Walmart were able to donate a whopping 5 million Period Products to women in need as part of this initiative & Walmart's additional donation of $25K to the Alliance of Period Supplies was just awe-inspiring.

Interested in learning more about U by Kotex and The Alliance for Period Supplies? Find out more here & check out the UbK & Motrin offer!

Embracing Fall in Florida with these Fun Halloween Foods: Jack-O'-Lantern Snacks & Batty Bite Sweet Potato Fries

This post is sponsored by Bel Brands USA & Mini Babybel® Cheese, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

So... let's get real for a moment. Living in Florida has its advantages, sure - we all know the beach is great and palm trees are gorgeous. I don't take that for granted for even a second. I love it here...

Which is why I never thought I'd say this, but I kind of miss "home" - which to me really is just the midwest as a whole. Having lived in both Missouri and Oklahoma, I just feel connected to those center states and all their glory... It's probably a mixture of missing family & looking over old pictures and reflecting on fond memories, but the midwest really is & always will be "home" to me and I'm missing it tonight. Ironically, one of the things I miss the most about my home and my childhood spent in the midwest is FALL.

I mean, not just fall, I miss good ol' trees-changin'-color, boot-and-North-Face-wearin', crisp-fresh-air, running-wild-through-a-pumpkin-patch type of fall. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore Florida, but I certainly do miss certain aspects of "home".

Since we likely aren't relocating to the midwest anytime soon, we are doing our best to at least pretend it's fall here in Florida so Delainey gets a taste of all things amazingly autumn. So this weekend we turned our a/c down a little lower, made a little bonfire out back, and embraced what felt like a little breeze outside - we even have plans to set up a tent at some point and teach her about camping. Another way we are trying to bring out that fall feeling is to decorate & even eat fall themed foods.  So... along with our apple cider, we also decided to get festive with some appetizers and these little batty bites & jack-o'-lantern snacks were just too cute!

Since we're huge fans of cheese in this house, when we saw the adorable Fall/Halloween themed Mini Babybel® at Target, we knew we had made some new "friends".

Delainey is obsessed with the little faces on these guys and I'm obsessed with how delicious they are *and the fact that are 100% real cheese with no artificial growth hormones* - so it's a total win-win!

So... Whether you are having a little shin-dig or you just want to show your toddler what fall is about, you have to give these recipes a try (and you should most definitely snag the adorable Halloween Mini Babybel® from Target while you're at it)!

The best part is these delicious snacks are so easy to make, not to mention SO fun! So go ahead and add these two Sweet Potato fry recipes to your must try pins, because although they are simple both of these yummy dishes are sure to wow your fall loving friends, no matter where you are:

To create both of these recipes you will need:

One pack of the Mini Babybel® cheeses - You can find these adorable Halloween packaged Mini Babybels at Target!

2 sweet potatoes

Black olives

¾ cup all purpose flour (I used gluten free, you can use whatever works for your family!)

¼ cup breadcrumbs

1 egg

1 tbsp milk

High temperature Frying oil (corn, peanut, or vegetable)

Black pepper

Sea salt

Garlic

Red pepper

Parsley

Pumpkin spice

Paprika

Slice potatoes. One should be cut horizontally to form circular shapes resembling pumpkins. The other should be cut vertically to make the bat wings.

Now detail the potato slices by carving faces into the circular shapes and carving bat wings out of the longer sliced potatoes. Use half a long slice per wing for small wings or one full slice per wing for larger wings.

PREP FOR Jack-O'-Lanterns Snacks: (after carving their faces):
Place on tray lined with aluminum foil and set oven to 425. Rub each slice and each side with olive oil. Sprinkle on the salt, pepper, garlic, and paprika onto one side then flip it and sprinkle salt, pepper, garlic, and pumpkin spice onto the other. Put in oven for 15 minutes flipping half way through or until browned on the edges. Serve with Mini Babybel® and use the jack-o'-lantern as a delicious substitute for crackers!

PREP FOR Batty Bites:

Wings: Mix the flour, breadcrumbs and herbs (1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp sea salt, 1 tsp paprika, ½ tsp red pepper flakes, 2 tsp garlic, ½ tsp parsley) together in one shallow dish. Beat the egg and milk together in another shallow dish. 

Dip “bat wings” into flour, then egg mixture, then flour again. Place them on a tray lined with parchment paper after being battered to wait for your frying oil to heat up to 375 degrees (I used a corn and peanut oil blend). 

Drop the sweet potato wings one at a time into the hot oil and cook for approximately 7 minutes or until they look done, then take them out and place them on a paper towel and/or rack to allow oil to drain and for the wings to cool.

Presentation: Slide a toothpick through one side of your Mini Babybel® Cheese and out the other. Attach wings onto the toothpick. Place sliced olive pieces onto cheese to make kooky eyeballs. Add a red sauce to make teeth if you want. We used a chipotle apricot sauce which was a delicious extra touch on all of the sweet potato goodness!

So tell me, what do you miss about your hometown? What parts of fall are your favorite about the area you live in? I'm excited to hear! I also would love to hear what you think about these kooky & delicious recipes, leave me some love when you give them a try and in case you aren't stalking Cartwheel already, I wanted to mention you can score 10% off Mini Babybel Cartwheel offer that runs 10/7 through early November.

Be The Change: Here's How YOU Can Easily Help End Period Poverty

This post is sponsored by U by Kotex but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Oh dear... We've all been there - you knew you were expecting a visit, but Aunt Flo came early and it's not a pretty sight.

Ladies - it's happened to us all. Whether she came a day or early, or right on time, I believe we've all experienced that panicked feeling when it's that time of the month and you aren't fully prepared. Whether feminine supplies in your purse just happen to go missing or you totally spaced and forgot to grab a pack when you were doing your grocery shopping. It truly happens to the best of us.

While most of us can run to the store real quick and grab a pack of supplies to battle your monthly visitor - the reality for others is that panicked feeling is how they experience this time of the month - the whole time.

1 in 4 women have struggled to purchase these must-have items because of lack of income and resources, but U by Kotex is doing something to help those in need. he Alliance for Period Supplies is their answer to this problem in our society. Founded in May 2018, this organization helps ensure that individuals in need have access to essential period products so that they can participate in daily life.

I know, this is great to hear... but why am I sharing all of this? It's because YOU can help those in need too... and you don't even have to do anything more than you normally would!

What do I mean exactly? During the month of October, For every purchase of U by Kotex - U by Kotex will donate 2 products! How generous of them is that? I'm over here with both hands raised, praising this Alliance and thanking them for my fellow sisters in tough spots.

So whatcha waiting for? Now is the time to help those in need, by buying something you would already purchase anyways - so go ahead and visit Walmart.com and add a few packs to your cart now!

My Favorite Carb-Conscious Meal: Smothered Turkery Burgers & Carrot Fries

This post is sponsored by Jennie-O but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Summer is here and you know what that means; I'm working on my summer body... well, kind of. While I'm trying to get a little more active than normal, I'm still my regular ol' foodie self - but I'm realizing rolls don't necessarily look great in a bikini, so I'm doing my best to try and make smart choices when it comes to meal time. I guess you could say I'm not "dieting" but I'm watching what I'm eating.

I mean, eating vegetables, even if they are fried, is still eating vegetables, right?

That's why I'm sharing a couple of my favorite recent recipes with y'all today. While this meal is incredibly tasty, it's also better for you - which makes it one to add to your "make again" section of pinterest.

So what am I dishing up today? JENNIE-O® Seasoned Turkey Burgers smothered in delicious pineapple sauce, served on a bed of cabbage, & the side of the century - fried baby carrots!

For the pineapple sauce recipe you will need:

1/2 pineapple - cut & grilled
1/4 cup white onion
2 tbs cilantro
1/2 lime
2 tsp brown sugar
4 cup water
1/8 tsp ground ginger
2 cloves garlic
2 1/2 tbsp coconut vinegar
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

To make the sauce, cut and grill your pineapple, then blend all ingredients together in a blender or food processor. Now just saute and stir the mixture, on medium heat, until it meets a gravy-like consistency.

Let cool in fridge while you start the JENNIE-O® Seasoned Turkey Burgers on the grill & prepare as instructed (which means cooking to at least 165*F), then get the carrots started with the items below:

2 cups of baby carrots cut into long halves

For the dry dip, mix these items all together in one bowl:
3/4 tbsp bread crumbs
1 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp garlic
1/2 tsp paprika
salt and pepper to taste

For the wet dip, mix these together in another bowl:
2 eggs beaten
4 tbsp milk

Once cut, you'll want to dip the carrots in the dry mix first, then the wet mix, then the dry again. Line up on a baking sheet covered with wax paper until all carrots have been dipped. Fry in peanut oil at 350* degrees until crisped on the outside, which took our fryer about 6 minutes. Let cool a few minutes and serve.

Now it's time to plate everything, which means you may want to add these delicious extras to your burger, although they aren't at all necessary - they do add to the over all flavor and provide a nice little boost:
Slices of Gouda Cheese
Slices of Avocado
Cabbage Leaves for buns
A small amount of Cilantro to garnish

You'll just smother your turkey burger in the chilled Pineapple Sauce, once melting the cheese, and add an array of CARROTS that taste like delicious pockets of love to your plate & ENJOY!

So tell me, what is your favorite meal to make when you are watching your carbs? I'd love to add some additional recipes that still taste amazing without sacrificing my diet, so please share some of your favorites!

Live Your Best Life - Learn How You Can Live a Better Life in Seconds!

This post is sponsored by Activia but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. 

Let's be honest, most days I'm struggling to make sure Delainey and I both have pants on and our hair brushed whenever we leave the house. I'm pretty much a mess, even if it's hidden under a layer of foundation and a cute dress. I think all mamas with a toddler at home can probably relate.

She's going through this phase where she says "no" to almost everything, she has an opinion about things she never even minded previously, and on top of that, she's testing boundaries like it's her full time job. Basically, we've hit the terrible twos at 21 months old.

It's equal parts amazing and challenging to watch her learning and growing, she's becoming such a sassy, independent soul that is fearless and awe-inspiring, yet she still needs to be with me anytime I'm behind a closed door. I guess this is what parenthood is all about... the sweet moments come along with the sass. I'm just learning to deal with my mini-me and it's eye-opening, no doubt.

Speaking of eye-opening, I'm going to address something embarrassing... I've kind of let myself go as a mom... For a little bit there, I was eating what I wanted without regard, I wasn't sleeping much since I'm running the blog and Bloomology, and I hardly ever allowed myself time for me, I often share tips on how YOU can make time for yourself but I was having a real tough time taking my own advice... but now I'm working on that AND I'm not just saying that.

Starting this month, I've made a real effort to take a few seconds for me... each and every day. Wondering how you can take just SECONDS from your busy day and literally change your life? Here's one way I've found to treat myself and I think you should try this as well.

This goes without saying, but life is better when you learn to embrace the moment... sometimes that can be difficult without putting intention behind it. So lately I've been taking a deep breath and really taking in the view around me as I drink my Activia Probiotic Dailies.

Whether I'm at the beach and sipping one of these beauties as part of my breakfast or I'm spending time on the patio after dinner and enjoying a "dessert" that helps my gut, I'm a huge fan of these Activia Dailies and recommend all mamas add this tastiness to their routine. I also think every mama needs to take a deep breath & learn to embrace the moment while enjoying their Dailies, it's just good practice! I've been doing this for two weeks and I've noticed a difference, in my body and my spirit.

Are you in the same boat as me? Struggling with a tough toddler? Kinda feeling lost in motherhood? Start bettering your life with one tiny change at a time... adding Activia Dailies to your busy day and taking the time to take a deep breath shouldn't negatively effect what you're able to accomplish each day but it could help you be in the right mind to accomplish even more. So tell me, what do you do each day to better yourself?