Happy Halloween from the Mahoney family!
Friday, October 31, 2014
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Enjoy Yummy Chocolates Made From Sustainable Cocoa With Nestlé Cocoa Plan This Halloween
*Disclosure: I received a sample of the product for the purpose of a review. No monetary compensation was provided. All opinions stated are my own.
To say I love candy would be an understatement. I really, really love it, and that means I probably eat more of it than I should. With Halloween less than a week away, candy is definitely at the front of my mind right now. I know that I am not the only one with a sweet tooth. Did you know that demand for chocolate has doubled over the past 20 years, but the supply of cocoa beans has remained the same? Tough economic conditions, poor social conditions for farmers, and lower-yielding crops have put the future of cocoa at chocolate at risk. Can you imagine a Halloween without chocolate? That's a scary thought! Thankfully, Nestlé has a plan in place to help sustainably source the cocoa it uses in many of their famous chocolate candies, through the Nestlé Cocoa Plan.
It is a long road for the cocoa to make it into the tasty chocolate bars we so love to eat. Most of the cocoa production is centered primarily in West Africa, starting out as just a pod on a tree. It takes 400 cocoa beans to make just 1 pound of chocolate, and with the world consuming over 3 million tons of cocoa annually, it's no wonder the supply is dwindling. Since 2009, Nestlé Cocoa Plan has been sourcing sustainable cocoa so that 53 million U.S. households can continue to enjoy their favorite Nestlé chocolates for generations to come.
The Nestlé Cocoa Plan is protecting the future of Cocoa by:
- Training 33,000+ farmers in sustainable farming practices.
- Providing over 1 million disease-resistant, higher-yielding cocoa plantlets to farmers.
- Investing $120 million to improve cocoa sustainability globally.
- Initially source 80 tons of cocoa by the end of 2014.
- Build or refurbish 40 schools in the Ivory Coast for children in cocoa farming communities.
This Halloween, we want to support brands that practice making products with sustainable cocoa, but trying to differentiate between companies who do or do not can be a challenge. The easiest way to tell is by looking on the bag for one of these 4 labels:
We will be passing out Nestlé CRUNCH to our trick-or-treaters, but the following candies are also made with sustainable cocoa:
- Nestlé Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups
- Hershey's Bliss
- Dagoba Organic
- Schaffen Berger
- DOVE Dark Chocolate
You can also find sustainable cocoa in other non-candy products as well:
- Hot cocoa, such as Nestlé Hot Cocoa
- Chocolate milk, such as Nestlé Nesquik Ready-to-drink and powder
- Cocoa powder
- Baking Chocolate, like Nestlé Toll House Morsels (Dark and milk chocolate)
If you would like to learn more about sustainable cocoa, you can read more at the Nestlé Cocoa Plan website.
To say I love candy would be an understatement. I really, really love it, and that means I probably eat more of it than I should. With Halloween less than a week away, candy is definitely at the front of my mind right now. I know that I am not the only one with a sweet tooth. Did you know that demand for chocolate has doubled over the past 20 years, but the supply of cocoa beans has remained the same? Tough economic conditions, poor social conditions for farmers, and lower-yielding crops have put the future of cocoa at chocolate at risk. Can you imagine a Halloween without chocolate? That's a scary thought! Thankfully, Nestlé has a plan in place to help sustainably source the cocoa it uses in many of their famous chocolate candies, through the Nestlé Cocoa Plan.
It is a long road for the cocoa to make it into the tasty chocolate bars we so love to eat. Most of the cocoa production is centered primarily in West Africa, starting out as just a pod on a tree. It takes 400 cocoa beans to make just 1 pound of chocolate, and with the world consuming over 3 million tons of cocoa annually, it's no wonder the supply is dwindling. Since 2009, Nestlé Cocoa Plan has been sourcing sustainable cocoa so that 53 million U.S. households can continue to enjoy their favorite Nestlé chocolates for generations to come.
The Nestlé Cocoa Plan is protecting the future of Cocoa by:
- Training 33,000+ farmers in sustainable farming practices.
- Providing over 1 million disease-resistant, higher-yielding cocoa plantlets to farmers.
- Investing $120 million to improve cocoa sustainability globally.
- Initially source 80 tons of cocoa by the end of 2014.
- Build or refurbish 40 schools in the Ivory Coast for children in cocoa farming communities.
This Halloween, we want to support brands that practice making products with sustainable cocoa, but trying to differentiate between companies who do or do not can be a challenge. The easiest way to tell is by looking on the bag for one of these 4 labels:
- Nestlé Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups
- Hershey's Bliss
- Dagoba Organic
- Schaffen Berger
- DOVE Dark Chocolate
You can also find sustainable cocoa in other non-candy products as well:
- Hot cocoa, such as Nestlé Hot Cocoa
- Chocolate milk, such as Nestlé Nesquik Ready-to-drink and powder
- Cocoa powder
- Baking Chocolate, like Nestlé Toll House Morsels (Dark and milk chocolate)
If you would like to learn more about sustainable cocoa, you can read more at the Nestlé Cocoa Plan website.
What kind of candy are you passing out this Halloween?
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Painted Olaf Pumpkin
I'm getting back into the grind of things after being M.I.A. for almost a week. We just got home from vacation and now I definitely need a vacation from my vacation. I am exhausted! I can't wait to catch up with you all again, so I'll be making the rounds to visit you all over the next day or so :) I have A LOT to catch up on, so today's post is short and simple.
I hate carving pumpkins. I only cut those babies open for the seeds. So, every year I take a mini pumpkin and decorate it with some paint and a few other mixed media objects. Since we just got back from Disney, I thought I'd share with you the painted pumpkin I made for Allison this year. We made Olaf from Frozen.
All we needed was a few mini pumpkins close to Olaf's body shapes, some paint, pipe cleaners, and a few poms and we got to work.
Start by painting your pumpkins white. When dry, paint on Olaf's face. Someone with a steady hand could probably do a better job here, but hey. I'm not the best painter out there, so you get what you get. Twist a bit of orange pipe cleaner until you get the shape of a carrot. Glue it on the face. Next, glue all 3 pumpkins together with hot glue. Cut your brown (I only had black, so that's what he ended up with) pipe cleaner arms and hands and twist together, then glue on. Cut and glue a few strands of pipe cleaner for the hair. Glue on a few black poms down the center. I didn't know what to do for feet, so I just cut a large marshmallow in half and glued those on.
Then, Olaf was done. This can be made fairly quickly. It took about a day to get it all put together, but most of the time spent was waiting for the paint to dry.
I hate carving pumpkins. I only cut those babies open for the seeds. So, every year I take a mini pumpkin and decorate it with some paint and a few other mixed media objects. Since we just got back from Disney, I thought I'd share with you the painted pumpkin I made for Allison this year. We made Olaf from Frozen.
All we needed was a few mini pumpkins close to Olaf's body shapes, some paint, pipe cleaners, and a few poms and we got to work.
Start by painting your pumpkins white. When dry, paint on Olaf's face. Someone with a steady hand could probably do a better job here, but hey. I'm not the best painter out there, so you get what you get. Twist a bit of orange pipe cleaner until you get the shape of a carrot. Glue it on the face. Next, glue all 3 pumpkins together with hot glue. Cut your brown (I only had black, so that's what he ended up with) pipe cleaner arms and hands and twist together, then glue on. Cut and glue a few strands of pipe cleaner for the hair. Glue on a few black poms down the center. I didn't know what to do for feet, so I just cut a large marshmallow in half and glued those on.
Then, Olaf was done. This can be made fairly quickly. It took about a day to get it all put together, but most of the time spent was waiting for the paint to dry.
Did you carve or paint your pumpkins this year?
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Wordless Wednesday ~ Down On The Farm
Cousins enjoying a little time terrorizing chasing ducks and roosters on the farm :)
Friday, October 17, 2014
Music Made Me Do It! SOL REPUBLIC’s Saviors of Sound Share Stories of Musical Inspiration #MMMDI {Giveaway}
As a music lover, some days I feel I breathe music. I don't think I could go a day without it. I start my day with turning on the car radio while driving my girls to school. I get moving to the music while cleaning. I sweat it out during my hip hop fitness classes. Music motivates and inspires. It evokes passion, joy, sorrow and amusement, as well as a wide range of pure emotions. It can be a voice when we don't have one of our own, conveying thoughts for us. Music has a way of touching us, and even has the ability to make us step out of our comfort zone, encouraging us to try new things.
Has music ever inspired you to do something like that? Over the next month, SOL REPUBLIC 's Saviors of Sound will be sharing their stories about how music has enabled them to amazing things, from the incredible to the cringe-worthy in their first ever campaign, Music Made Me Do It (#MMMDI). Athlete Michael Phelps and DJ/Producer/Dim Mak Records Founder Steve Aoki are two of the SOL REPUBLIC SOS involved with the project. Everyone is encouraged to view the #MMMDI video below, then share your #MMMDI moment.
For me, music has helped me lose 15 pounds this year. When I go to the gym, the music is pumping and it gets me to work harder. It even made me sign up for the hip hop fitness class. I can't dance. At all. Watching the girls move and shake to hip hop beats was a bit intimidating to me. But the music drew me in, and before I knew it, I was hooked and started going to 3 classes a week. The workouts are intense, and soon I saw the weight just melting off. Hurray for fun music that is making me get fit and healthy!
Now that I've shared my #MMMDI moment, I want you to share yours! As a special treat, those of you who do share your Music Made Me Do It #MMMDI moment will have the chance to Win the Ultimate SOL REPUBLIC Prize Pack!
Giveaway includes:
You can learn more about each prize here: http://solrepublic.com/shop/
To enter, you MUST share a text or photo Music Made Me Do It moment on one of your social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, G+, Instagram) AND tag it #MMMDI. Submissions can be anything you choose that has been motivated by music. Has it inspired you to travel across the country? Join a team? Profess your undying love to the girl next door?
The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S.A. and Canada, 18+. No PO Boxes will be accepted. The giveaway will run through 11/3. Winners will have 48 hours to respond to winning email or they forfeit the prize and a new winner will be selected.
*Please make sure you are properly completing each task you claim an entry for. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
I can't wait to hear all the #MMMDI stories you share!
***If you cannot leave a blog post comment due to my registered user poster restrictions, you can leave your link ANDcomment on THIS Facebook post. https://www.facebook.com/TheresasMixedNuts/posts/702462349830261. If you do not include your #MMMDI link and comment (the same way everyone else has to post a blog comment) your entry Will Not Count!
***Your comment MUST include a link to you #MMMDI social share. Those that do not include the link will NOT count, and those entries will be void!!! This includes the Facebook comment for those who can not comment on my blog***
Has music ever inspired you to do something like that? Over the next month, SOL REPUBLIC 's Saviors of Sound will be sharing their stories about how music has enabled them to amazing things, from the incredible to the cringe-worthy in their first ever campaign, Music Made Me Do It (#MMMDI). Athlete Michael Phelps and DJ/Producer/Dim Mak Records Founder Steve Aoki are two of the SOL REPUBLIC SOS involved with the project. Everyone is encouraged to view the #MMMDI video below, then share your #MMMDI moment.
For me, music has helped me lose 15 pounds this year. When I go to the gym, the music is pumping and it gets me to work harder. It even made me sign up for the hip hop fitness class. I can't dance. At all. Watching the girls move and shake to hip hop beats was a bit intimidating to me. But the music drew me in, and before I knew it, I was hooked and started going to 3 classes a week. The workouts are intense, and soon I saw the weight just melting off. Hurray for fun music that is making me get fit and healthy!
Now that I've shared my #MMMDI moment, I want you to share yours! As a special treat, those of you who do share your Music Made Me Do It #MMMDI moment will have the chance to Win the Ultimate SOL REPUBLIC Prize Pack!
Giveaway includes:
- 1 SOL REPUBLIC Deck speaker
- 1 SOL REPUBLIC Punk speaker
- 1 SOL REPUBLIC tracks air wireless headphone
- 1 SOL REPUBLIC Tracks on-ear headphone
- 1 SOL REPUBLIC Relays in- ear headphone
- 1 SOL REPUBLIC Master Tracks over-ear headphone
You can learn more about each prize here: http://solrepublic.com/shop/
To enter, you MUST share a text or photo Music Made Me Do It moment on one of your social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, G+, Instagram) AND tag it #MMMDI. Submissions can be anything you choose that has been motivated by music. Has it inspired you to travel across the country? Join a team? Profess your undying love to the girl next door?
The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S.A. and Canada, 18+. No PO Boxes will be accepted. The giveaway will run through 11/3. Winners will have 48 hours to respond to winning email or they forfeit the prize and a new winner will be selected.
*Please make sure you are properly completing each task you claim an entry for. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
I can't wait to hear all the #MMMDI stories you share!
***If you cannot leave a blog post comment due to my registered user poster restrictions, you can leave your link ANDcomment on THIS Facebook post. https://www.facebook.com/TheresasMixedNuts/posts/702462349830261. If you do not include your #MMMDI link and comment (the same way everyone else has to post a blog comment) your entry Will Not Count!
***Your comment MUST include a link to you #MMMDI social share. Those that do not include the link will NOT count, and those entries will be void!!! This includes the Facebook comment for those who can not comment on my blog***
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Wordless Wednesday ~ Pumpkin Farm
 |
| That's a big pumpkin! |
 | ||||
| Is it just me, or do these look like those little mushroom guys from Mario Brothers? |
My aunt has a pumpkin farm that we love to visit every year. It's one of the highlights of fall for us.
Have you been to a pumpkin farm or pumpkin patch this year?
They're BAAAACK! Retro Big G Monsters Cereals & Snacks #retromonstercereal #PlatefullCoOp #paid
Disclosure:The information and prize pack have been provided by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op.
You've heard it before, but I'll say it again. I ADORE Halloween! When I was a kid, it really did rank right up there with Christmas for me. I always looked forward to those crummy, cheap plastic Halloween costumes, candy swapping with my siblings, and horror movies! Though I don't remember too many of the costumes, what candy I got in my basket, or which horror movies had me biting my nails down to the nubs, the one thing I do still remember getting excited over was the limited edition Monsters Cereals that General Mills brought out every fall. Count Chocula, Franken Berry, and Boo Berry. Oh, how I couldn't wait for my mom to stock up on them each year! Now, they are back for the Halloween season, and you can pick up your favorite Monster cereal at Target in cool retro boxes!
The Retro Monsters are back! Count Chocula, Boo Berry and Franken Berry cereals are once again hitting the shelves at Target in their retro packaging and they’ve brought Monsters snack items for you to enjoy as well. Try Count Chocula Treats, Boo Berry Fruit Roll-Ups and Franken Berry Fruit Roll-Ups in special retro packaging, found exclusively at Target.
Perfect for nostalgic cereal fans and Halloween lovers, Monsters cereals and snacks are fun for the whole family.
As tasty as the cereal is on its own, we decided to try out a new recipe using the Monster cereals. We had some extra ice cream left over in our freezer from my nephew's birthday party, so we decided to whip up some Franken Berry Blizzard Treats.
Ingredients:
2 cups vanilla ice cream
3/4 cup Franken Berry cereal
1/4 cup milk
Directions:
Place all ingredients into a blender, and pulse until combined.
Pour into 2 small or 1 large glass.
Garnish with extra cereal pieces.
Serve immediately.
Once you are done with the cereal, there's even more fun. Flip the box over and grab yourself a fun Halloween cut out mask! Each box has a mask of its respective monster. When I was a kid, we would have cut the masks out, then changed them out to try to trick the neighbors into giving us more candy! Especially those who passed out the full sized candy bars :)
You can find all the retro Big G Monsters Cereals and snacks at your local Target store. If you would like to learn more, be sure to visit the website.
Besides candy, what was your favorite Halloween treat when you were a kid?
You've heard it before, but I'll say it again. I ADORE Halloween! When I was a kid, it really did rank right up there with Christmas for me. I always looked forward to those crummy, cheap plastic Halloween costumes, candy swapping with my siblings, and horror movies! Though I don't remember too many of the costumes, what candy I got in my basket, or which horror movies had me biting my nails down to the nubs, the one thing I do still remember getting excited over was the limited edition Monsters Cereals that General Mills brought out every fall. Count Chocula, Franken Berry, and Boo Berry. Oh, how I couldn't wait for my mom to stock up on them each year! Now, they are back for the Halloween season, and you can pick up your favorite Monster cereal at Target in cool retro boxes!
The Retro Monsters are back! Count Chocula, Boo Berry and Franken Berry cereals are once again hitting the shelves at Target in their retro packaging and they’ve brought Monsters snack items for you to enjoy as well. Try Count Chocula Treats, Boo Berry Fruit Roll-Ups and Franken Berry Fruit Roll-Ups in special retro packaging, found exclusively at Target.
Perfect for nostalgic cereal fans and Halloween lovers, Monsters cereals and snacks are fun for the whole family.
As tasty as the cereal is on its own, we decided to try out a new recipe using the Monster cereals. We had some extra ice cream left over in our freezer from my nephew's birthday party, so we decided to whip up some Franken Berry Blizzard Treats.
Ingredients:
2 cups vanilla ice cream
3/4 cup Franken Berry cereal
1/4 cup milk
Directions:
Place all ingredients into a blender, and pulse until combined.
Pour into 2 small or 1 large glass.
Garnish with extra cereal pieces.
Serve immediately.
Once you are done with the cereal, there's even more fun. Flip the box over and grab yourself a fun Halloween cut out mask! Each box has a mask of its respective monster. When I was a kid, we would have cut the masks out, then changed them out to try to trick the neighbors into giving us more candy! Especially those who passed out the full sized candy bars :)
You can find all the retro Big G Monsters Cereals and snacks at your local Target store. If you would like to learn more, be sure to visit the website.
Besides candy, what was your favorite Halloween treat when you were a kid?
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
TruMoo Orange Scream Is All Treat, No Tricks! #TruMooTreats #ad
This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of TruMoo. All opinions are 100% mine.
Ingredients:
Directions:
TruMoo Orange Scream is only available for a limited time, so be sure to grab yours soon so you can create some fun Halloween inspired recipes.
Halloween is right around the corner, and our little goblins have sweet snacks on their mind a lot lately. While I do let my kids indulge in a few extra sweet treats this time of year, I also want to encourage them to look towards healthy snack options as well as the occasional cookie or candy apple. TruMoo is the perfect solution, because it has the sweet taste my kids crave, but also contains 8 essential nutrients, so I feel good giving them what they want, and knowing they are getting what their bodies need at the same time. Every glass starts with fresh, pure milk from your trusted dairy. Each flavored milk is sweetened with just enough sugar and doesn't contain high fructose corn syrup. It contains no artificial growth hormones, no HFCS and has the delicious chocolate taste kids love. In time for Halloween, Orange Scream TruMoo is now available in the dairy case!
TruMoo Orange Scream has the delicious flavor of orange creamsicles, so my kids feel like they are getting an ice cream treat in milk form! We decided to play around with the Orange Scream flavor and incorporate it into some holiday desserts. My girls really liked helping prepare these easy to make Candy Corn Dessert Shooters. They are so simple, my 10 year old could make the entire dessert on her own, and they are the perfect size for a small snack!
Ingredients:
2 cups TruMoo Orange Scream flavored milk
1 4 serving size box of vanilla pudding mix
1/2 cup of yellow colored cookies (any brand will do, as long as they are yellow)
whipped cream topping
Directions:
Combine pudding mix with TruMoo Orange Scream milk. Whisk together for 2 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes.
Crush cookies into crumb bits (I use the old plastic bag and rolling pin method)
Put 1 to 2 tablespoons of crushed cookies into the bottom of a dessert glass.
Next, layer on 2 tablespoons of the pudding mixture.
Finally, top with whipped cream.
Serve immediately with some colorful mini spoons.
TruMoo Orange Scream is only available for a limited time, so be sure to grab yours soon so you can create some fun Halloween inspired recipes.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Jolly Rancher Poisoned Candy Apples
I find it funny that most of my friends on Facebook are constantly tagging me in their fun Halloween finds. All year long people are sending me suggestions for our annual Halloween party. My daughter recently found this Jolly Rancher hard candy recipe that she was dying for me to make. Some of you probably saw it floating around on your own Facebook walls at some point.
Reading through the comments, it didn't seem quite as simple as the title suggests. The candies would go back to a rock hard solid after cooling, which would make it difficult to bite through. Off to Google I went to find an alternative recipe that would make my daughter happy, while keeping her teeth in tact. It took me some time to hunt down a basic outline of how to make these because I had to sift through many suggestions of how to use melted Jolly Ranchers with marijuana. Yep, you learn something new every day. Thanks Google.
After a bit of reading, and some trial and error, I found a suitable recipe for these Poison Candy Apples made with melted Jolly Rancher Candy.
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Unwrap 20 Jolly Ranchers candies, sticking with the same flavor for each. I used cherry on the red and green apple on the green. Place in an oven safe pan with 1/3 cup of corn syrup. Place pan in oven so candy can start to melt. After about 3 minutes, stir candy and return to oven for another 2 minutes, or until they are completely melted.
The above recipe called for edible glitter, which I couldn't find in my area. I did have some edible luster dust, which I immediately added to the melted mixture.
Insert 6 inch lollipop sticks into apples and either dip apples into mixture, or using a spoon, pour melted candy over apples.
Place apples on waxed paper and allow to cool.
*With the use of corn syrup, the Jolly Ranchers do not return to their completely hardened state. They now have a chewy gummy bear consistency.
*Yes, I took a healthy treat and *gasp* made it unhealthy with the use of candy. Sue me. It's Halloween time and is a treat, and should be eaten as such. Not every day.
The end result was just what my daughter was hoping it would be. A little messy to eat, but so delicious! A fun treat to serve up to your Halloween party guests!
What is your favorite Halloween treat?
Reading through the comments, it didn't seem quite as simple as the title suggests. The candies would go back to a rock hard solid after cooling, which would make it difficult to bite through. Off to Google I went to find an alternative recipe that would make my daughter happy, while keeping her teeth in tact. It took me some time to hunt down a basic outline of how to make these because I had to sift through many suggestions of how to use melted Jolly Ranchers with marijuana. Yep, you learn something new every day. Thanks Google.
After a bit of reading, and some trial and error, I found a suitable recipe for these Poison Candy Apples made with melted Jolly Rancher Candy.
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Unwrap 20 Jolly Ranchers candies, sticking with the same flavor for each. I used cherry on the red and green apple on the green. Place in an oven safe pan with 1/3 cup of corn syrup. Place pan in oven so candy can start to melt. After about 3 minutes, stir candy and return to oven for another 2 minutes, or until they are completely melted.
The above recipe called for edible glitter, which I couldn't find in my area. I did have some edible luster dust, which I immediately added to the melted mixture.
 |
| You can see the shiny sparkles from the luster dust here. |
Insert 6 inch lollipop sticks into apples and either dip apples into mixture, or using a spoon, pour melted candy over apples.
Place apples on waxed paper and allow to cool.
*With the use of corn syrup, the Jolly Ranchers do not return to their completely hardened state. They now have a chewy gummy bear consistency.
*Yes, I took a healthy treat and *gasp* made it unhealthy with the use of candy. Sue me. It's Halloween time and is a treat, and should be eaten as such. Not every day.
The end result was just what my daughter was hoping it would be. A little messy to eat, but so delicious! A fun treat to serve up to your Halloween party guests!
What is your favorite Halloween treat?
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Sunday, October 5, 2014
NeoCell Keratin Hair Volumizer Improves Hair From The Inside Out
*Disclosure- I received a sample product to help facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.
Rip! Yank! Tear! These are universal words that every mom knows and associates with playing beauty parlor with their kids. Children love giving mama a new look, and mine are no exception. For 15 years my poor hair hasn't had much of a break, unless we are talking about all the strands my kids break right off my head.
In all seriousness though, hair thinning, loss, and lack of nutrients is something many of us experience naturally, and is definitely common with aging. Taking care of my skin and hair has always been important to me, but even more so now that I am in my mid 30's. These past few years I have noticed a few more strands of hair come out in the shower and on my hairbrush than I used to lose. And though I try to eat nutrient rich foods to keep my body nourished, some days my hair still feels dry and brittle. It's becoming apparent that I need an extra boost to help get my hair in its best shape. Since I am a huge fan of NeoCell's beauty care products, it was only natural that I turned to them for hair help.
One of NeoCell's newest products is the Keratin Hair Volumizer. It is an all-natural nutraceutical solution for strong, lustrous, and abundant hair, containing clinically proven ingredients to enhance hair strength and reduce hair loss from every day activities*
Cynatine HNS Solubilized Keratin: The ability to convert natural keratin into a functional form that is bio-available to the body is a recent advancement. Cynatine HNS® is solubilized enabling it to be both bioactive and bioavailable in the body, which allows it to bind with hair. Cynatine HNS® has been clinically proven to reduce hair loss from washing, improve hair strength and improve the brightness and luster of hair.*
Hydrolyzed Super Collagen: Hydrolyzed Super Collagen™ is a structural component of hair, skin and nail health. Super Collagen™ is a rich source of glycine, proline, alanine and hydroxyproline, which are the main constituents of collagen in the hair. Research suggests that collagen supplementation stimulates fibroblasts at the hair root, resulting in increased diameter of the hair shaft. NeoCell's pharmaceutical grade Super Collagen™ is enzymatically hydrolyzed, providing a collagen amino acid ratio with low molecular weight for maximum bioavailability.*
Amla Extract: Amla, or Indian Gooseberry, has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine for its anti-aging properties. Amla provides high concentrations of Vitamin C and and has been revered for being a powerful antioxidant.*
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is an important part of optimal collagen formation.*
I have been using NeoCell Keratin Hair Volumizer supplements for a few weeks now, and can definitely see an improvement in my hair's health already. It is naturally shiny now, without having to add shine enhancing serums that I normally put in my hair daily. When my daughter was "fixing" my hair the other day, even she noticed a difference. "How did you get your hair so shiny and soft!?" she said. With my NeoCell Keratin Hair Valumizer supplements, of course! I have lost a lot of hair since being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis a few years ago, so it is going to take a bit more time to see a difference in hair volume, but so far, I am very pleased with the results.
I am taking 2 capsules twice a day. I like that they are easy to swallow, however, they do have a bit of a pungent taste to them. Thankfully, you only get a quick taste, since it goes away quickly after swallowing the capsules. Each container has 60 capsules, which is a 2 week supply. You can find them at Amazon.com, as well as Walgreens, CVS/pharmacy, and the Vitamin Shoppe.
If you would like to learn more about the Keratin Hair Volumizer, or any of the other fabulous beauty products NeoCell offers, visit them on their website.
(*- The statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.)
WIN IT!
One lucky Theresa's Mixed Nuts reader is going to win NeoCell Keratin Hair Volumizer!
The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S., 18+. NO PO Boxes will be accepted. The giveaway will run through 10/20/2014. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning email or a new winner will be selected.
**All entries are verified. Please make sure you are following all task guidelines you claim entries for. Failure to do so will result in your entries being removed from the form.
Rip! Yank! Tear! These are universal words that every mom knows and associates with playing beauty parlor with their kids. Children love giving mama a new look, and mine are no exception. For 15 years my poor hair hasn't had much of a break, unless we are talking about all the strands my kids break right off my head.
In all seriousness though, hair thinning, loss, and lack of nutrients is something many of us experience naturally, and is definitely common with aging. Taking care of my skin and hair has always been important to me, but even more so now that I am in my mid 30's. These past few years I have noticed a few more strands of hair come out in the shower and on my hairbrush than I used to lose. And though I try to eat nutrient rich foods to keep my body nourished, some days my hair still feels dry and brittle. It's becoming apparent that I need an extra boost to help get my hair in its best shape. Since I am a huge fan of NeoCell's beauty care products, it was only natural that I turned to them for hair help.
One of NeoCell's newest products is the Keratin Hair Volumizer. It is an all-natural nutraceutical solution for strong, lustrous, and abundant hair, containing clinically proven ingredients to enhance hair strength and reduce hair loss from every day activities*
Cynatine HNS Solubilized Keratin: The ability to convert natural keratin into a functional form that is bio-available to the body is a recent advancement. Cynatine HNS® is solubilized enabling it to be both bioactive and bioavailable in the body, which allows it to bind with hair. Cynatine HNS® has been clinically proven to reduce hair loss from washing, improve hair strength and improve the brightness and luster of hair.*
Hydrolyzed Super Collagen: Hydrolyzed Super Collagen™ is a structural component of hair, skin and nail health. Super Collagen™ is a rich source of glycine, proline, alanine and hydroxyproline, which are the main constituents of collagen in the hair. Research suggests that collagen supplementation stimulates fibroblasts at the hair root, resulting in increased diameter of the hair shaft. NeoCell's pharmaceutical grade Super Collagen™ is enzymatically hydrolyzed, providing a collagen amino acid ratio with low molecular weight for maximum bioavailability.*
Amla Extract: Amla, or Indian Gooseberry, has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine for its anti-aging properties. Amla provides high concentrations of Vitamin C and and has been revered for being a powerful antioxidant.*
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an antioxidant that is an important part of optimal collagen formation.*
I have been using NeoCell Keratin Hair Volumizer supplements for a few weeks now, and can definitely see an improvement in my hair's health already. It is naturally shiny now, without having to add shine enhancing serums that I normally put in my hair daily. When my daughter was "fixing" my hair the other day, even she noticed a difference. "How did you get your hair so shiny and soft!?" she said. With my NeoCell Keratin Hair Valumizer supplements, of course! I have lost a lot of hair since being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis a few years ago, so it is going to take a bit more time to see a difference in hair volume, but so far, I am very pleased with the results.
I am taking 2 capsules twice a day. I like that they are easy to swallow, however, they do have a bit of a pungent taste to them. Thankfully, you only get a quick taste, since it goes away quickly after swallowing the capsules. Each container has 60 capsules, which is a 2 week supply. You can find them at Amazon.com, as well as Walgreens, CVS/pharmacy, and the Vitamin Shoppe.
If you would like to learn more about the Keratin Hair Volumizer, or any of the other fabulous beauty products NeoCell offers, visit them on their website.
(*- The statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.)
WIN IT!
One lucky Theresa's Mixed Nuts reader is going to win NeoCell Keratin Hair Volumizer!
The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S., 18+. NO PO Boxes will be accepted. The giveaway will run through 10/20/2014. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning email or a new winner will be selected.
**All entries are verified. Please make sure you are following all task guidelines you claim entries for. Failure to do so will result in your entries being removed from the form.
Indulge In Fall Scents With Good Earth Beauty Pumpkin Chai Shampoo & Conditioner
*Disclosure- I received a sample product to help facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.
No doubt about it, fall is the most gorgeous month. The reds, oranges and yellows make the world so beautiful. The pumpkins, hay bales, and mums add a perfect touch to our outdoor decor. But what I think I love the most about the season, that doesn't seem to get as much attention as the lovely colors, are the scents of fall. The crisp air, burning leaves, pine cones. Those are some of my favorites. I just want to bottle it up and sniff it year round! Now I can, with Good Earth Beauty!
Good Earth Beauty is an all natural and organic beauty shop. They have an extensive line of products for hair, cosmetics, bath and body, baby, pets and more! They pride themselves on hand selecting and personally testing the products that they sell. Many of the products they offer are made in the U.S.A, and they do not carry anything that is tested on animals. This is a company that I feel great about supporting! I recently had the opportunity to test some of their Good Earth Beauty Exclusive Shampoo and Conditioner.
I chose the Good Earth Beauty Pumpkin Chai Restorative Natural Shampoo and Pumpkin Chai Silky Hair Conditioner. I love scented products, and really wanted to try a yummy fall favorite scent, and these did NOT disappoint! To say they smell amazing would be an understatement. It combines the scent of pumpkin with a touch of warm spices. Shampooing in a steamy shower with the delicious aroma wafting around is so soothing! I hate to get out now! I was a little confused with how well the shampoo was going to work at first. It looked a bit watery in the bottle, and I was worried I was going to have to use a lot to get my hair washed. That fear was quickly put to rest when I realized that you don't need much (I used about 2 quarter sized dollops) because it lathers up really well. The conditioner has a nice, thick consistency, and everything rinses out easily, leaving your hair smooth, clean, and smelling fabulous!
Ingredients: Shampoo- Organic Herbal infusion, Organuc aloe barbadensis leaf juice (aloe vera), cocamidpropyl betaine (from coconuts), cocamide MIPA, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate (Foaming agent - NOT a sulfate), panthenol (vitamin b05), wildcrafted achillea millefolium (yarrow), wheat germ oil, olive oil, rose hip oil, borage oil, orange peel tincture, oregano oil, tea tree oil, leucidal liquid (plant derived preservative)
Conditioner: Organic Herbal infusion, Organuc aloe barbadensis leaf juice (aloe vera), cetearyl alcohol (plant derived), jojoba oil, sesame seed oil, avocado oil, olive fruit oil, evening primrose oil, coconut oil, shea butter, starflower seed oil, polysorbate-60 (plant derived), panthenol (vitamin b5), kosher vegetable glycerin (plant derived), leucidal liquid (plant derived preservative), collodial oatmeal, citric acid
The Pumpkin Chai shampoo and conditioner are exclusive products to Good Earth Beauty. They have a retail of $15 for each 8oz bottle. Through fall, Good Earth Beauty is offering you a 10% discount with code mixednuts10! They also offer FREE SHIPPING in the U.S.A. These would make wonderful stocking stuffers, as would many of the other products in their Gift Shop!
If you would like to learn more about the Good Earth Beauty Pumpkin Chai Shampoo and Conditioner, or to check out the full line of Good Earth Beauty products, be sure to visit their website.
WIN IT!
One lucky Theresa's Mixed Nuts reader is going to win Good Earth Beauty Pumpkin Chai Shampoo and Conditioner!
The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S., 18+. NO PO Boxes will be accepted. The giveaway will run through 10/21/2014. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning email or a new winner will be selected.
**All entries are verified. Please make sure you are following all task guidelines you claim entries for. Failure to do so will result in your entries being removed from the form.
No doubt about it, fall is the most gorgeous month. The reds, oranges and yellows make the world so beautiful. The pumpkins, hay bales, and mums add a perfect touch to our outdoor decor. But what I think I love the most about the season, that doesn't seem to get as much attention as the lovely colors, are the scents of fall. The crisp air, burning leaves, pine cones. Those are some of my favorites. I just want to bottle it up and sniff it year round! Now I can, with Good Earth Beauty!
Good Earth Beauty is an all natural and organic beauty shop. They have an extensive line of products for hair, cosmetics, bath and body, baby, pets and more! They pride themselves on hand selecting and personally testing the products that they sell. Many of the products they offer are made in the U.S.A, and they do not carry anything that is tested on animals. This is a company that I feel great about supporting! I recently had the opportunity to test some of their Good Earth Beauty Exclusive Shampoo and Conditioner.
I chose the Good Earth Beauty Pumpkin Chai Restorative Natural Shampoo and Pumpkin Chai Silky Hair Conditioner. I love scented products, and really wanted to try a yummy fall favorite scent, and these did NOT disappoint! To say they smell amazing would be an understatement. It combines the scent of pumpkin with a touch of warm spices. Shampooing in a steamy shower with the delicious aroma wafting around is so soothing! I hate to get out now! I was a little confused with how well the shampoo was going to work at first. It looked a bit watery in the bottle, and I was worried I was going to have to use a lot to get my hair washed. That fear was quickly put to rest when I realized that you don't need much (I used about 2 quarter sized dollops) because it lathers up really well. The conditioner has a nice, thick consistency, and everything rinses out easily, leaving your hair smooth, clean, and smelling fabulous!
Ingredients: Shampoo- Organic Herbal infusion, Organuc aloe barbadensis leaf juice (aloe vera), cocamidpropyl betaine (from coconuts), cocamide MIPA, disodium laureth sulfosuccinate (Foaming agent - NOT a sulfate), panthenol (vitamin b05), wildcrafted achillea millefolium (yarrow), wheat germ oil, olive oil, rose hip oil, borage oil, orange peel tincture, oregano oil, tea tree oil, leucidal liquid (plant derived preservative)
Conditioner: Organic Herbal infusion, Organuc aloe barbadensis leaf juice (aloe vera), cetearyl alcohol (plant derived), jojoba oil, sesame seed oil, avocado oil, olive fruit oil, evening primrose oil, coconut oil, shea butter, starflower seed oil, polysorbate-60 (plant derived), panthenol (vitamin b5), kosher vegetable glycerin (plant derived), leucidal liquid (plant derived preservative), collodial oatmeal, citric acid
The Pumpkin Chai shampoo and conditioner are exclusive products to Good Earth Beauty. They have a retail of $15 for each 8oz bottle. Through fall, Good Earth Beauty is offering you a 10% discount with code mixednuts10! They also offer FREE SHIPPING in the U.S.A. These would make wonderful stocking stuffers, as would many of the other products in their Gift Shop!
If you would like to learn more about the Good Earth Beauty Pumpkin Chai Shampoo and Conditioner, or to check out the full line of Good Earth Beauty products, be sure to visit their website.
What is your favorite fall scent?
WIN IT!
One lucky Theresa's Mixed Nuts reader is going to win Good Earth Beauty Pumpkin Chai Shampoo and Conditioner!
The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S., 18+. NO PO Boxes will be accepted. The giveaway will run through 10/21/2014. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to winning email or a new winner will be selected.
**All entries are verified. Please make sure you are following all task guidelines you claim entries for. Failure to do so will result in your entries being removed from the form.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
PB Crave Offers a Delicious Twist on Peanut Butter
*Disclosure- I received a sample product to help facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.
If I could only pick one food to eat for the rest of my life, I'd probably pick peanut butter. I seriously love the stuff, as does my family. It can be used in so many different recipes: sandwiches, cookies, candies, dip, and of course, it is fantastic all on its own (who here hasn't eaten a huge chunk off a spoon!?) and it is definitely a staple item in our cabinets! Creamy or chunky, I'll take either. But I recently had my mind blown when PB Crave asked me if I would like to sample some of their peanut butter varieties.
They totally had me at "peanut butter", but when I saw the flavors, drool may or may not have started to run out of my mouth. PB Crave is available in 4 different flavors:
Coco Bananas: A tropical blend of yummy bananas, coco and wild honey that adds a taste of island paradise to any PB&J.
Choco Choco: A double dose of semi-sweet and rich dark chocolate with premium peanut butter and wild honey.
Razzle Dazzle: A twisted blend of natural peanut butter, red raspberry, wild honey, white chocolate and rich dreamy darkness.
Cookie Nookie: A mouthwatering mix of chocolate chips, cookie dough flavor, wild honey and premium peanut butter.
Every jar lives up to its name! You can taste the bananas, raspberries, cookies and chocolate in each bite! The flavors are strong, but not overwhelming. Each unique flavor gives the peanut butter a tasty kick that has you craving more! (Probably whey they call it PB Crave, huh?)
Other than the amazing flavor varieties, what I was really impressed with was PB Crave is all-natural. It does NOT contain hydrogenated oils or artificial flavors, zero syrups including high fructose corn syrup, and it is gluten-free and cholesterol free, making it the perfect healthy snack!
On top of all that, PB Crave is making a difference in the world. They have a goal of saving the lives of 2 million children by giving 2% of the profits from every jar of peanut butter to Project Peanut Butter, a non-profit organization focused on treating malnourished children. Around the world, malnutrition is the leading cause of death for children under the age of 5, but it doesn't have to be. Your purchase of PB Crave can help change the world!
I hadn't heard of PB Crave until they sent the samples, so my mind was running with all the recipes that I could create with the yummy varieties. After quite a bit of sampling and debating, it came down to these Cookie Nookie Mini Peanut Butter Cheesecakes.
Ingredients:
Crust:
1 cup chocolate cookie wafers, crushed to fine crumbs
2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Filling:
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup PB Crave Cookie Nookie Peanut Butter
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp milk
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350° F. Lightly grease 12 muffin cups with cooking spray and place each in muffin tin.
Mix cookie crumbs and butter until well blended. Using your fingers, press 1 tablespoon into the bottom of each muffin cup.
Bake 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Beat cream cheese, sugar and peanut butter on medium speed until combined, scraping bowl if necessary. Add egg and vanilla, and mix until combined.
Top each crust with about 2 tablespoons of filling. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, or until set.
Cool in pan for 1 hour, then cover and refrigerate for at lease 2 more hours.
Before serving, top with mini chocolate chips, if desired.
If I could only pick one food to eat for the rest of my life, I'd probably pick peanut butter. I seriously love the stuff, as does my family. It can be used in so many different recipes: sandwiches, cookies, candies, dip, and of course, it is fantastic all on its own (who here hasn't eaten a huge chunk off a spoon!?) and it is definitely a staple item in our cabinets! Creamy or chunky, I'll take either. But I recently had my mind blown when PB Crave asked me if I would like to sample some of their peanut butter varieties.
They totally had me at "peanut butter", but when I saw the flavors, drool may or may not have started to run out of my mouth. PB Crave is available in 4 different flavors:
Coco Bananas: A tropical blend of yummy bananas, coco and wild honey that adds a taste of island paradise to any PB&J.
Choco Choco: A double dose of semi-sweet and rich dark chocolate with premium peanut butter and wild honey.
Razzle Dazzle: A twisted blend of natural peanut butter, red raspberry, wild honey, white chocolate and rich dreamy darkness.
Cookie Nookie: A mouthwatering mix of chocolate chips, cookie dough flavor, wild honey and premium peanut butter.
Every jar lives up to its name! You can taste the bananas, raspberries, cookies and chocolate in each bite! The flavors are strong, but not overwhelming. Each unique flavor gives the peanut butter a tasty kick that has you craving more! (Probably whey they call it PB Crave, huh?)
Other than the amazing flavor varieties, what I was really impressed with was PB Crave is all-natural. It does NOT contain hydrogenated oils or artificial flavors, zero syrups including high fructose corn syrup, and it is gluten-free and cholesterol free, making it the perfect healthy snack!
On top of all that, PB Crave is making a difference in the world. They have a goal of saving the lives of 2 million children by giving 2% of the profits from every jar of peanut butter to Project Peanut Butter, a non-profit organization focused on treating malnourished children. Around the world, malnutrition is the leading cause of death for children under the age of 5, but it doesn't have to be. Your purchase of PB Crave can help change the world!
I hadn't heard of PB Crave until they sent the samples, so my mind was running with all the recipes that I could create with the yummy varieties. After quite a bit of sampling and debating, it came down to these Cookie Nookie Mini Peanut Butter Cheesecakes.
Ingredients:
Crust:
1 cup chocolate cookie wafers, crushed to fine crumbs
2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
Filling:
8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup PB Crave Cookie Nookie Peanut Butter
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp milk
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350° F. Lightly grease 12 muffin cups with cooking spray and place each in muffin tin.
Mix cookie crumbs and butter until well blended. Using your fingers, press 1 tablespoon into the bottom of each muffin cup.
Bake 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
Beat cream cheese, sugar and peanut butter on medium speed until combined, scraping bowl if necessary. Add egg and vanilla, and mix until combined.
Top each crust with about 2 tablespoons of filling. Bake 18 to 20 minutes, or until set.
Cool in pan for 1 hour, then cover and refrigerate for at lease 2 more hours.
Before serving, top with mini chocolate chips, if desired.
My youngest daughter said "I hate cheesecake, but these taste awesome!" upon sampling one. And she is hard to please, so you know these have got to be good! You can get some great recipes right on the PB Crave website too!
I do want to point out, it is common for the natural ingredients to separate. I was a bit thrown when I saw some liquid on top of the peanut butter, but after a quick stir with a butter knife everything jived together again.
PB Crave is currently available at Walmart and Cost Plus World Market. You can also find them on Amazon. If you plan on picking up a jar at your local store, make sure to grab the printable 75¢ coupon on the PB Crave home page.
If you would like to learn more, visit the PB Crave website.
Which PB Crave flavor would you like to try most?
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