A Halloween Alternative to Candy?

Halloween is freaking me out!! There's so much candy and I can't stand it. I just want to eat all of it. And you know how horrible that is - for oh so many reasons.

But what if we didn't pass out candy on Halloween? My family was adamant that we'd be the "nerd family" if we passed out crafts, stickers, or toys.

But what about better than candy - Clif bars? Did you know that Clif KidZ bars came in a spooky Full Moon Brownie flavor?

The name surely fits in with the Halloween spirit - and so does the wrapper. And they're big enough that one per trick or treater makes perfect sense.

Not only that but they are organic, contain whole grains, vitamins and minerals. If you've bought protein bars in the past then you know Clif bars are tasty - and full of good stuff, not a lot of bad.

And rest assured that the Full Moon Brownies taste great too. My kids loved them. And if we can get our act together in time next year, I'd definitely consider handing them out.

*We received complimentary Clif Kidz bars for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own. Please consult the package or Clif website for nutritional information.

Savvy Rest Organic Pillow Giveaway!

If you haven't cleaned up your home and started to prepare for winter - let me encourage you to do it today! Toss old magazines, clean out clutter, and consider changing your bed linens.

Everybody could use a new pillow! And what's better than organic pillows from Savvy Rest?  Check out my review of their organic wool pillow here: 

• http://thesuburbanjungle.blogspot.com/2011/10/savvy-rest-organic-pillow-review.html

One Suburban Jungle Reader is going to win their own Savvy Rest Organic Pillow. All you need to do is fill out the rafflecopter form below. If you'd like more information about Savvy Rest - Check out Savvy Rest on Facebook.

*Disclosure: Savvy Rest provided me with an Organic pillow to review free of charge. All opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced by Savvy Rest. The winner will be selected by random.org and notified by email (by me.) This contest is open to continental US residents age 18 and up. Savvy Rest will ship the prize to the winner. No purchase is necessary to enter. The winner may select either a standard or queen size pillow. 

How do you decide when your family is complete?

Whenever someone has a new baby, I love to hold them and smell their skin. I love that new baby smell. And that's when the questions begin...

Doesn't this make you want another one? Umm...no! It seems to offend new moms when you start going on and on about how you NEVER want to have a baby again!

Probably not the best timing, and people take this issue very seriously. So how do you decide when your family is complete? This is such a personal decision and no two people come to the same conclusion.

For me, I was done after the first few weeks of my first pregnancy. The vomit, the achy bones, and all-out tiredness did me in. Then I went through an extremely long labor (including a 4 hour pushing period - actually, 3 hrs 47 minutes but I reserve the right to round up!) and decided I would NEVER be pregnant again.

4 Weeks after my son's birth, I start menstruating again. I bawled on the floor, rolling and convulsing. My husband thought I was just PMSing, but I was going nuts because I knew it meant I could get pregnant again.

In case you're wondering, the doctors told me that getting your period back so early means you have enough body fat to support nursing and a pregnancy. Bonus! Strike Three against more children. Yep, I was one of those that gained 60 pounds during pregnancy.

Fast forward 7 or 8 months and I finally felt like I had figured out the whole motherhood thing. I was happy with my one-child decision. People would always ask when we were planning to have another and my husband would answer "when they'll be 2 years apart" and I would pretend not to hear them and walk away.

Nobody wants to hear that you hated being pregnant, that raising babies while your husband travels 6 days a week is hard, and that you hate what babies do to your body. Not even me - and I was the one who was living that reality!

Then I got soft and thought, "wouldn't it be great to have another baby?" Ha! I'm joking! I got pregnant by accident. I became a statistic.

I cried. I vomited. I laid on the ground. My babies were set to be 17 months apart. This is not what I wanted! At all!!!


Imagine my excitement when the doctor called me to tell me that my baby most likely had downs syndrome. A few inconclusive tests later, I decided to let it go and hope for the best. She was fine.

In the delivery room, I begged the doctor to run through the specifics of a tubal ligation. It was after 2 am and she didn't have time to answer my questions. She was a jerk. So I didn't want her doing the surgery anyway.

You know the options, right? Or do you? There are so many new options now, and you should check into them.

In the end, my husband underwent a vasectomy - just a few short months after our second child was born. But that didn't end it for me.

Every year, I meet a couple that had a baby years after a "successful" vasectomy and I grab my chest in angst.  It seems to happen most often when their oldest kids are in high school. I'm not trying to freak you out - I'm just stating what I've seen.

I'm taking it as an omen, and I am still looking at surgical options for myself. I am THAT serious about not having another baby.

But even if you had 6 joyous pregnancies with glowing skin, boundless energy, simple deliveries, no stretch marks, and colic free nights; it has to end sometime. If you thought contraceptives, hormone pills  and scary injections were the only ways we have to control our families destiny, you'd be mistaken. Times have changed. Do some research and be ready when you talk to your doctor.

It's your choice and you get to decide what is right for you! And for the record - I hope you had or will have glowing rosebud pregnancies.

I'm curious to know: How and when do you decide your family is complete? Join the conversation and be entered to WIN the designer handbag of your choice (Up to a $500 value) from Essure!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Essure. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Contest Rules.

Marzetti Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip Review

Want a quick and easy way to get your kids to eat more veggies? You know what's coming - try dips. But if you're a health conscious mom like me, then you probably shutter at the very thought of adding chemically laden dips to your fresh veggies.


Then again, if you've grown up in America, then dips are probably a regular part of your life.  Either way, they don't have to be a bad thing.


We had the opportunity to purchase and review Marzetti Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip and the results were actually quite surprising. 


The first thing that surprised me was how readily available these dips were. I thought I'd be scouring the stores hunting for just one tub of dip. I was wrong. All of the major stores I shop regularly, had the dip. And not just one lonely expired tub.


They had a whole row - with all 5 flavors. Now it was going to get tough. I actually had to choose! I stood in the aisle alternating between Cucumber Dill Feta and Spinach Artichoke. 


We eventually agreed on Cucumber Dill Feta. It seemed to be the most versatile for what we had planned that week. And we made plans for this dip.


I offered to to my children with cucumber slices and carrots. They liked it. They have been weaned off of Ranch dressing for quite a while, so they were excited to have another white, creamy dip instead of just plain veggies.


It was creamy and delicious. It would be hard to find someone that didn't like this dip!


Let me offer a few suggestions on other way to use the Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip. I know veggies and crudites are a simple answer. You could also dip chips (oh the humanity!) but did you know that the Otria dips also taste great in sandwiches (as in - an alternative to mayo.)


They can also be used as pizza sauce or to make salads or appetizers like cucumber sandwiches. I even used it with fish tacos. It has the right zip for seafood. 


They're full of great flavor - and as far as dips go, seem to be relatively light in calories. 


The Otria dip we sampled had 30 calories per Tablespoon (60 calories per 2 Tpsp suggested serving size.) Because it's made from greek yogurt, it also had 2g of protein and 2% of your daily RDA of calcium. And 1 gram of sugar (in case you're one of the crazies that care - like me!)


It also contains 200mg of Omega-3 per serving (from fish oil - note: *this dip is not vegetarian*)


I scoured the ingredients - because that's what I do - and most of the ingredients I am pretty familiar with. I have to be honest when I say I'm not excited to see sodium benzoate and autolyzed yeast extract. The good news: they are listed toward the end and that means their percentage is pretty low. And I would venture to guess that there are worse offenders in the shelf stable dips on the market.


Did I mention you find the Otria dips in the cold sections of the produce department? Or at least that's where I found it. 


All-in-all, we really liked the Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dips. We thought the cucumber dill feta tasted great and would take center stage on a crudites tray or add a special zip to sandwiches and appetizers.


I'm still thinking about the spinach artichoke flavor. You know how amazing that combination can be! Maybe I'll add it to your Thanksgiving menu this year. What do you think?


Do you have any thoughts on the new Otria Dips? What would you use them for?


I was one of the bloggers selected by T. Marzetti Company and Clever Girls Collective to host a Marzetti Otria Greek Yogurt Veggie Dip review. They provided me with product to test and compensation for my time. However, my opinions are entirely my own.

Savvy Rest Organic Pillow Review

A good pillow is paramount if you want a good night's rest. Or maybe you're like me and you use pillows for more than just sleeping. Either way, finding a good pillow is super important. 


I've been on the hunt for a good great pillow for quite a while. That's when I came across Savvy Rest and their line of organic pillows. Organic pillows? I've said it before and I'll say it again - what you put ON your body is as important as what you put IN your body. Plus, organic practices are just better for everyone.


I was fortunate to be able to use the Organic Wool Pillow from Savvy Rest. I chose it because I have never had a wool pillow before and it is supposed to improve air flow and stabilize temperatures.  Since none of my family members sleep with blankets in our very underheated home and I still find them in buckets of sweat, I thought this might be a good pillow to have around.


Here are my thoughts:
The pillow was big and luxurious. It was very soft and comfortable. I like that it came with it's own zippered pillowcase. After removing it from the package I noticed that it smelled different from other pillows I have purchased. I've never seen/touched/used a wool pillow before, so it was new to me. 


It instantly became my favorite pillow - but not for sleeping. I really need a flat pillow for sleeping. I don't know what' wrong with me, but any fluff and I'm unable to sleep. But I loved this pillow for everything else - watching movies, reading books, when I want to work on the computer in my robe with a pillow and blanket. Basically, ever where I use pillows and want some extra dimension. 


I love that it's made from organic materials and that it's so comfy. I can't wait to have my kids try it out this summer when they get extremely hot at night.


You can find more information about their organic pillows online or at Savvy Rest on Facebook. 


*Disclosure: Savvy Rest provided me with an Organic pillow to review free of charge. All opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced by Savvy Rest.

Xia-Xia Review & Giveaway

Do you recognize this crab? If your children watch any television, than I bet you do! My kids have been asking for these for awhile - but there not even in stores yet! They're called Xia-Xia (that's shah-shah) and they are hot stuff!

First of all, let me just tell you that they are made by the same company that makes Zhu Zhu pets and those guys know how to make hot toys for kids. Remember how crazy zhu zhu pets were a few Christmas' ago??!!

My kids got one zhu zhu for Christmas that year and it was a miracle that we even had one! And as miracles would go - they got to try the Xia-Xia hermit crabs before they even hit stores.

They loved them. They traded shells back and forth - filled them with little "surprises" and built them houses. They do come with their own playsets like the Cocacobana playset here:

or the confetti cottage playset here:

My kids were not that "into" the playsets. They did use the cottage for storing shells, but they spend so many hours building forts and castles it was just natural to incorporate the Xia-Xa into their usual creations. 

The Xia-Xia are crazy. They are colorful and wild. They dance and skitter about. They can all share shells - they all fit on any crab. And the shells can hold things. That was the biggest draw for my kids. That and the "little friends." They are such little hoarders collectors.

And of course, they brought them on the bus and got everybody jealous. Now moms are calling me wondering where we got them - they've looked everywhere and can't find them. Watch out around the holidays! 

They are due to hit shelves in November, but you have the chance to win (1) Xia-Xia and (1) Shell here! This contest is open to US residents 18 and up. Enter by filling out the form below:

*I received complimentary Xia-Xia toys for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own and were not influenced by Cepia. 

Can Bone Broth be an Effective alternative to Recovery shakes?

Something about dried protein isolate just rubs me the wrong way. Like powdered milk (or 1%, 2% milk...but I've lost that battle) it just screams oxidation. But if you read anything fitness related, experts agree that a recovery drink is crucial to maximizing your muscle recovery.

I'm all about muscle recovery - and muscle building. But is there a whole foods way to get instant protein into your body? What about bone broths?

I have plenty of this on hand and I make more all the time. After some digging online, it seems that bone broth IS an acceptable alternative. It's loaded with collagen, gelatin, protein, calcium and a host of other vitamins and minerals.

The challenge - drinking it after a strenuous workout. Exercise steals my appetite and I could go hours (maybe even a whole day) without eating after a tough workout. My body just isn't interested.

Today was the day. I made chicken soup last night and simmered the carcass overnight, so I had fresh broth waiting when I finished my workout.

Admittedly, it was odd to drink "soup" after a workout. I wasn't hungry and it was odd to be eating (drinking.)  But in all other ways it was fine. I'm going to keep it up for the next few weeks and see if I can't increase my muscle building by adding in the "recovery drink."

Harvesting Sunflower Seeds

Now that it's October, much of the gardening fun is over....or is it? Now is the perfect time to gather seeds. If you have flowers in your garden or have left any plants that bolted - you can collect the seeds.

Today, we picked a whole bucket full of Marigold heads and plucked seeds from the Sunflower. This is a perfect way to include kids in your gardening. They love to pick seeds - smash them, make crafts out of them, feed animals. Whatever. It's all a good excuse to get outside.

My kids have gathered all of our flower seeds and herb seeds for next year and even a few rogue pumpkin seeds. Now we just need to roast these sunflower seeds and wait for spring....

MyClyns Food Wash Review

By the time we bring home our fruits and veggies, they have been touched by countless hands, boxes, trucks, and chemicals. It's no secret that US and International growers use a host of pesticides and fertilizers to grow the food we eat, but there's also a ton of dirt and microorganisms.

We grow organic goodies in our garden, but I'm always amazed how much dirt comes off of our little berries. And berries never touch the ground. What about potatoes and carrots?

So the obvious thought is to wash our produce, right? Easy enough. But is it enough? I've always wondered. Especially since we don't buy all organic food and most of the food we buy is traveling a long distance to get here - being touched by infected people, riding in a shopping cart!!! Yummy!

We had the chance to try MyClyns - a 100% natural food wash spray. According to the manufacturer, MyClyns removes 98% more chemicals, was, and contaminants than water alone.

I was interested, but I was scared to use it. I read the ingredients. Then I read them again. I was really hesitant to put anything "extra" on to my produce. But the ingredient list really did look fine to me.

So I went for it. The first shock - the food wash is a little "soapy". And you only need a small amount. But it washes off clean and leaves no after taste or films.

I gladly used it on the organic carrots I pulled from the garden. Something about pulling mud caked carrots from the ground just makes you want to be sure they get "clean."

I also used them on our apples. We eat a lot of apples and they are part of the dirty dozen, so it was nice to have the extra help removing the wax and residues.

All-in-all, I really liked MyClyns and I could imagine the 12 oz spray bottle lasting a long time. We eat a lot of produce, but a little spray really does go a long way. I also appreciate that the spray is organic and vegan. That's always a good thing!

One last thought - if you find you really love product, you might be able to turn it into a career. Check out opportunities with the Union Springs Team.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Hero Moms - Do you know one?

Every mom is a hero, right? In my opinion, if your kids are healthy and mostly happy, then you are a world-class hero. Heck, sometimes even waking up after a difficult night of "motherhood" makes you a hero.

But what about real heroes? You know - the type that Save people. Like doctors, fire fighters, and soldiers. I'm just an ordinary mom, but I have been a life saving hero exactly once.

Three years ago we had a park play date with friends. We were going to this huge, amazing park for the first time. Apparently, we weren't the only ones that thought it was amazing because a private school brought all of their 5th graders on a field trip to the park that same day.

Since my kids were 2 and 4, I tried diligently to keep them on the kiddie side of the park. Away from the big 5th graders. But my son just kept trying to run off into the bigger area.

Always on top of where they were (I used to be quite the helicopter mom, just saying) I grabbed my daughter and followed him under the equipment to the big slides. And that's when I sensed a problem.

With my son just ahead of me and out of sight - I saw an 11 year-old girl hanging from the bottom of the play structure. Her eyes were bulging from her face and a belt was wrapped tightly around her neck; the other end was fastened through the holes of the floor above. Her friends were gathered around.

I instantly put my daughter on the ground and tried to get the belt loose from her neck. It was too tight from her weight. So I grabbed her and lifted her above my chest. I somehow manage to support her weight on my upper body and used my hands to remove the belt. Her friends were talking - telling me they told her not to do it, it wasn't their idea, etc.

I think this is a good time to point out that I am about the size of an average 5th or 6th grader. I'm small. And when I let her down, I realized that she was actually bigger than me. She looked at me with absolute fear. Then they all ran off. And I was in shock that I had lifted and held her all on my own.

I gathered up my children and went to find the field trip chaperones. They were not in the park. They were about a football field's length away, smoking down by the river. I told them what had happened and they confronted the girl.

Apparently, her brother had taught her about "choking" over the weekend and she wanted to show her friends. All I could think was "holy crap, what if my son had obeyed me that day?" What if he hadn't run over to the big side of the park?

She most likely would have died.  So I guess I was a hero. It wasn't on purpose. I just acted on instinct and even though these were the days when I couldn't even do "girl" pushups, I lifted/freed someone larger than me and saved their life. Never underestimate what you can really do.

Perhaps you know a heroic mom or see one when you look in the mirror. Share your story and be entered for a chance to win $2,500 cash from Allstate. Plus four runner-ups will receive a $100 Visa Gift Card. *The five finalists will be chosen from the Entries receiving the most votes.  

 

One of the most important things any mom can do is purchase life insurance. Allstate has been helping to protect families’ futures with a range of life insurance products for over 50 years. To get a quote visit allstate.com/life

Disclosure: This is post is Sponsored by Allstate. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own. Official Contest Rules

The ZoneFast Weight Loss Program Review & #Giveaway

Losing weight and getting fit should be easy, but as we all know - it's not. With all the information floating around, it can get pretty confusing (carbs are bad, some carbs are good, don't eat eggs, eat eggs but not the yolks, eat the whole egg!). Eventually, most of us come to some version of this questions "what in the world CAN we eat!?"


I recently had the opportunity to review The ZoneFast Weight Loss Program and was shocked at what it contained and the information I received. I'll tell you why in a moment. Take a look below to see what the program entails:

The ZoneFast Weight Loss Program contains 2 weeks of Zone Foods. When I opened the first week worth of food, my jaw dropped to the floor. I couldn't believe how many carbs were in this box! White carbs! More than I would ever eat in a week! And there were cookies and bars. And cinnamon buns! 


I went to show my husband and explained that this was how much you needed to eat for a week. His response? That's all? Hmmm.... Clearly we had two different opinions.


But then I dove into he Healthy recipe booklet and the Losing Weight is Easy as 1-2-3 guide and it all made sense. You build your meals around the carbs provided. But even though the zone foods look like no-no white carbs - they were packed with protein and calorie controlled. 


The Zone diet centers on lowering inflammation by eating the correct proportions of the right foods. It all makes sense and is a great concept. In my own life, I would have had a very hard time eating all of the pizza crusts, cinnamon buns, breads, and cookies - but for most American's, I bet they would receive the food and think "Thank goodness I can still eat the things I like." 


They've just been changed. They still taste good but contain more protein and are more filling. My husband thought they were very satisfying. And that's saying something.


If you combine the Zone Foods with the Recipes given, you can plan out a whole two weeks worth of meals and be completely covered. No guessing what to eat. No wondering if something is "okay." It's all laid out for you.


My favorite part of the Zone plan was the Omega Rx and Zone Polyphenols. I really think these are important nutrients - especially considering the standard American diet and the need to balance inflammation. I give them 2 thumbs up and like that you get fresh vitamins each week so you can easily stay on track. 


I did not utilize the free Zone coach - but it's nice to have that option. Oh and in case you were wondering - my husband did lose about 5 pounds. 


If you'd like to purchase The ZoneFast Weight Loss program - there is a 25% discount code:  FT251011 valid until October 13th. Look for codes and updates on twitter with @drbarrysears and @thezonediet.


(3) Suburban Jungle readers will also have the chance to WIN The ZoneFast Weight Loss Program (a $179 value!) This contest is open to Canadian and US Residents 18 years of age and older.


To Enter: Fill out the form below




*I received a complimentary two weeks of the ZoneFast program for review purposes. All opinions expressed are my own - please contact your own doctor before making any diet/health/fitness decisions.

Gratitude - A fundamental key to finding yourself

Growing up, I wasn't very happy with my life. I grew up in a very poor neighborhood, surrounded by burn-outs and losers.  My home was less than a block away from two very active bars, so drunkards and stoners walked past my house every day.

Our home was burglarized and vandalized. Some of our friends were horribly abused. Misery was everywhere.

But then something amazing happened. I went to my first summer camp and realized life could be good. Really good. The world was filled with nature and life. There were people that had goals, dreams, and good intentions.

I never stopped going to summer camps after that. And I never stopped dreaming of a life away from the small little town filled with gloom.

I left home the day after I turned 17 and never looked back. I was now part of the good life. I worked hard and eventually settled into a secure suburban life. But all around me, women were complaining.

They had too much to clean, not enough time, not enough this or that. I've seen how bad life can really be, and to be honest it wasn't my own life that was bad. I have seen how people really live. And I know what suffering looks like.

I decided to look at the blessings in my life instead of the troubles. Yes, I have loads and loads of laundry to wash every week. But I am so grateful that I can afford to buy my children clothes.

And I'm so grateful that they are healthy enough to run around outside and strew mud throughout my house! I'm so grateful that they are even here!

Having an attitude of gratitude has helped me to grow as a person and really find what matters in life. And I hope it can help you as well.

Remember the saying; You are what you eat? It's true. And so is the saying; You are what you think.If you reflect on the things you are grateful for, you will enjoy them more.

And the more you surround yourself with positive things (people, thoughts, plans) the happier your life will be.

Next time you are scraping food off of dirty dishes - remember how wonderful it is that your family had the chance to eat a healthy meal.

Find the blessings in your life, reflect on them, and enjoy the life you've been given.

I'm curious to know: What has inspired you to grow as a person? By replying you will be entered to win one of two prizes! First Prize: $150 to a Local Spa, plus $50 Gift Certificate to the CerraBoutique. Second Prize: One of Five $100 Gift Certificate to the CerraBoutique.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cerra. The opinions and text are all mine. Official Contest Rules.

The CALABOT DIY Robot - Review & Giveaway

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

My kids absolutely love to create. There are mornings I wake up and find the table littered with crafts. And the recycling bin empty....

The fact is, kids are extremely creative and they can spend hours working on a project. As we head into winter, I think it's important for parents to stock up on "media-free" activities that will help our children learn and grow. And have fun!

If you have boys, I am going to guess that they love robots. My son L-O-V-E-S robots. And how much more awesome could it get than being able to build your own robot.

We were fortunate to be able to review the CALABOT; a DIY robot from Calafant, a German toy maker specializing in cardboard kits for children.

The CALABOT is 2.5 feet talland comes with a built-in backpack and pocket in the front. Whoever designed this clearly had young children in mind. How many times have your squinkies, lego guys, or polly pockets found a "home" or mode of transport in another toy? Clearly, this robot design was well thought out.

My son loaded it up with lego guys that could spring out into battle - trojan horse anyone?

He goes together pretty easily, but the construction does require patience and following directions. Anyone have kids that could benefit from learning these skills? That's what I thought!

Your child has a ton of options too. You can build the robot and play with it.You can build it, play with it, take it apart, take it out again later and rebuild it. You could build it, decorate it, and keep it put together. So many choices!

This is what the CALABOT looks like put together:

And this is what he looks like decorated:

Pretty cool, huh? We put the CALABOT together and played with it as a robot/monster/attack machine. In a few weeks, I will take it apart and store it for awhile. Then when it's cold and yuck-o, I am going to bring it out, let him rebuild and then decorate it. The recycling bin will be in danger again....

You can really get this toy to last and bring a lot of entertainment value. But don't just take my word for it. You can find the Calabot on Amazon and at CreativeToyShop.com. 

And one Suburban Jungle reader is going to WIN their own Calabot DIY robot! Just enter using the form below.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

4 Hours with Nothing to Do

Both of my kids are in school. Every day. Excuse me for a second while I do this - Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!


It's not that I don't love my kids or like spending time with them. It's just that once you've experienced silence, you remember how much it rocked.

So my son is gone all day long and my daughter is gone for a little under 3 hours. I have been looking forward to uninterrupted time all summer long, but I think my husband saw it differently.

He approached me the week before school started and said something like, "So you're going to have 4 hours with nothing to do every day."

Um, no. I have just under 3 hours and I will not be doing "nothing." I still have the same amount of stuff to do every day. I will just get to do 3 hours worth alone.  It's not like a crawl back into bed once the bus pulls away (great idea by the way.)


I spend about an hour of that time exercising and getting myself ready. I take my kids to the bus stop in my PJs. They are still young enough that it's not embarrassing for them yet.

And I'm old enough that I don't care. Actually, I've never cared about being seeing in my jammies. After the workout, I clean the house. I make phone calls, check email, blog a bit, organize closets, work in the yard, make repairs, catch up on my to-do lists, and sometimes I volunteer at school.

Then I pick up my daughter, and my life is back to it's child-included normalcy. That time still included errands and cleaning. But it also includes games, stories, homework, and family time.

4 hours with nothing to do!  I'm loving my few hours of busy quiet.

Gaining Weight From Exercise...

When you start exercising, your weight should surely go down, right? Well - I have been exercising a minimum of 3 times per week for the last 13 months and over that time, my weight did steadily go down.

But 44 days ago, I started an extreme (every day) workout program (it last 90 days, half-way there - woo!) and over that 44 days, I have gained 5 pounds. This is a solid, legit 5 pounds. 

It's not because I'm wearing jeans and sweaters instead of shorts and tanks. It's not because I'm PMSing or drinking extra water. This is real weight. It's on me....

Luckily, I've been tracking my weight and body fat percentage every day for the last year, so I have some clue as to what's happening.

I know that about 4 pounds of that weight IS lean body tissues (muscle, bone, tendons, fluids...) and around a pound of it is fat. What the Junk! I didn't start exercising to gain fat! 


But this is the riff. In order to gain muscle, you do need to gain fat. This is crap, but it's how our bodies work - blame insulin, the liver, or whatever you want. It just is. I fought this for over a year. I was diligently trying to gain muscle and not gain fat. It took me a year to lose 10% of my body fat.

I made strength gains and leaned up my body over that year, but for a year's worth of work - it wasn't that great. So it was time to choose one or the other - muscle gain or fat loss.

Bring on the muscle!

Over the last 44 days, I have made HUGE strength gains. I'm doing full sets of clapping pushups. Holding hand stands and trying (but failing) to walk on those hands! I can do jumping squats and lunges for what seems like forever. I can swing huge weights like dead cats. And I can survive an hour long tabata circuit.

I've made big gains. And I've gained real muscle mass. Who knew?

So where is the muscle? It's mostly in my back, shoulders and rear. I can see it in my rear and my back. Seriously, if you were sliding into mom butt territory, I may have finally figured out the cure. Email me and I'll tell you how! I have personally lifted my butt and gained a noticeable amount of "roundness." Just saying.

Having said all that, it's scary to gain weight as a female. I like the strength, but the whole concept still freaks me out.

In case you're wondering, junk food had absolutely nothing to do with my weight gain. I don't eat that type of food. In fact, I almost completely cured myself of my candy addiction over these last 44 days. I may occasionally have candy, but nothing like before and I have went as long as 8 days without any sweets or junk.  (That's huge for me by the way!)

Actually, my diet is probably 95% clean - all unprocessed, lots of fruits, veggies and nuts. All real food. The fact is, I have been working out hard. And I have been super hungry.

I'm not used to being that hungry and I actually started to freak out thinking I might be preggers. That would be the shock of a lifetime. It's almost impossible (Thank God!!!) but I have been all-out ravenous.

Shredded muscles need food! 

So what's next? I'm going to stick with this 90 day program and gain as much muscle as it takes. Once it's done, I'm going to cut myself back down - still working out hard at least 3-4 days a week to maintain as much muscle as possible, but with some decent cardio to lose those last bits of chub.

Then I'll mix it up again. That's how I roll. I'm committed to working out regularly for the rest of my life. It's do or die. Not "die" die. But it's be healthy or suck. Does that make better sense?

I may take it easy and just enjoy exercise for a few weeks. Or I might kick it up even more and start doing one-armed push ups, weighted pull ups, crazy scorpion yoga poses, and walking all over the place on my hands. A girl can dream right?

A New Spin on the Cookie Exchange: Host a Chex Party Mix-Change! & Chex $20 Visa Gift Card #Giveaway

Fall means it's time to bring the parties indoors. That means football games, movie nights, game nights, and of course snacks. It also means bake sales and cookie exchanges. But what if you didn't exchange cookies? What if you made super cool Chex party mix packages?

Do you know how easy that would be? And do you know how cool it would be wrapped them up in cute pacakages and tried some of the newest flavors?

• Original Chex Party Mix – A tried and true classic of many holiday gatherings.
• Chex PB & Chocolate Blast – Is there really a better combination than peanut butter and chocolate? Yes, when Chex cereal is added!
• Chex Pumpkin Pie Crunch – Mix things up and try this mouthwatering alternative to the beloved holiday pie.
• Hot Buttered Yum Chex Mix – A combination of cinnamon, brown sugar, honey and marshmallows blend effortlessly together in a crazy-delicious, gluten free crunchy mix.
• Chex Caramel Chocolate Drizzles – Melted chocolate, chewy caramel and a delightful crunch carry this gluten-free party mix recipe from microwave to table in 15 minutes.

You can easily put together any of these great combinations. And One Suburban Jungle reader is going to win this awesome Chex prize package:

What's included:

• 5 boxes of Chex cereal to create Chex Party Mix recipes
• 5 featured Chex Party Mix recipes
• 10 takeout containers so your guests can take their Chex Party Mix to-go
• $20 Visa gift card to purchase recipe ingredients and decorating supplies

To Enter: Fill out the Form Below:



Disclosure: The Chex Party Mix-Change product, information, and giveaway have been provided by Chex through MyBlogSpark.

The Couponizer - Review & #Giveaway

Sponsored by Tomoson.com

I'd like to tell you I was organized and bought everything with a coupon, but it's just not the case. Coupons have always frustrated me. I lose them. I get to the store and realize - "I've got a coupon for that....and it's at home." Or I have the coupon with me, but it's somewhere in my purse.

Over the last few years, I have made baby steps toward being a more organized shopper. I even make a list every week. It's just that I lose that list 70% of the time. And I've gotten better at throwing away coupons right away if there is a slim chance I'll ever use them. That one step really cuts down on stress/clutter.

But what about the coupons I do save? They go in a zip bag in my purse. All lumped together. Some expired. Some stuck to each other....none of them organized.

In my quest for coupon sanity, I recently got my hands on the 10th Anniversary Edition of the Couponizer. To be honest, the whole concept scared me a little. I've seen the "coupon shows" and I know what "coupon binders" look like. I didn't want to haul a big binder full of coupons through the store.

Thankfully, the Couponizer wasn't a "binder". But it was pretty hefty. It can hold all of my coupons and more. The Couponizer is a bound booklet with 3 sections for coupons and sleeves for loyalty cards, shopping lists, coupon sorting mat, scissors and carrying bag.

Here are my thoughts:

• The shopping list keeper rocks! I am always losing my shopping list and I love having it stuck in the binder. 
• I think the loyalty card holder is fantastic. I can't tell you how many times I hand my kids my purse and ask them to dig for my loyalty cards just before I hit the register. It's sad. Now I can have them in one easy-to-find place. 
• I gave the coupon sorting mat to my kids. They used it to make their own grocery lists. To me, it creates an "extra step" and isn't necessary.
• I love that this set comes with a scissors and room to store it. I also added my calculator into this space. It's so nice to have everything right at hand
• There is a ton of room for coupons and they are all organized by category. I will only keep coupons I'll actually use in here, so it should never be busting at the seams. In my opinion, there may be a few too many categories and I'd love to rip some of them out to make the booklet smaller. 
• It's really cool that the binder has a separate restaurant, shopping, and rebates section. Having everything in one place is such an advantage!

I really liked this coupon organizer. I am hope, hope, hoping I can keep it organized and that I will be able to downgrade my shopping stress by using it. 

It is large (like a paperback book) and may not fit in all purses. I upgraded purses for the winter (bigger so it can hold mittens) and it fits the couponizer just fine, but it does not fit in my "usual"  purse. 

All-in-all, I think it's a great product and just might be what you need to get yourself organized. And organization does save money! 

You can buy the couponizer here for $19.99. You also have the chance to win one! One Suburban Jungle reader will win a Couponizer of their own. Fill out the form below to be entered to win.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Are You Adding Arsenic to Your Garden?

Apple seeds (pips) contain Arsenic. And a pretty decent amount. But what happens when you put your apple cores into the compost bin? In our family, we eat at least 3-4 apples a day. Each core goes into the compost and eventually makes it into the garden.

Does that mean we are adding arsenic to our garden soil? After so much debate over the right wood/nails/screws to build our garden beds (to avoid arsenic and other toxins) it's a valid concern.

But in my research to determine which boards to use, I found out the ground already has a considerable amount of arsenic. And what happens at orchards where hundreds of apples are lost to the ground, worms, blights - they all end up back in the soil. Apples have been composted for years.

I decided not to worry about it. The pips may add arsenic. Or they may fully degrade and microorganisms might change the make up entirely. Who knows. 

The New Season of The Biggest Loser - Are you Interested?

After 11 seasons, I was pretty sure I was finished with The Biggest Loser. Last season was kind of boring, and how many years can someone watch the same story....

I decided I was done. Done, done, done. I was about to erase it from our DVR when I realized it was only days away from starting. I was back in.

I counted down the days and prepared myself to be annoyed. I decided to spend some quality time on the treadmill during the show so I wouldn't be wasting 2 hours on the couch. Seriously - does the show have to be 2 hours!

Here are my thoughts:

Thank God Brett and Cara are gone. They were annoying trainers. And I'm cool with Jillian being gone too. The show started with some exciting Military tanks and aircraft, but I kept thinking - are we, the taxpayers, paying for this military presence?

In some way, I'm sure we are. And that's more annoying than the product placements in the show. Thankfully, this first episode did not contain any product placements. There was crying though. I can understand it in the beginning when the guys are carrying too much fat (and that means too much estrogen) but it better end soon.

All of the teams went right for Bob, but I would have chosen Dolvett. He's ripped! I'm not sure what to make of Anna yet, but I do think it's unfair that the teams are grouped by age.

The older men have a chance, but the older women are fighting a hormone battle that just isn't fair. This is not a deal breaker for me. Fairness on The Biggest Loser isn't really what it's all about. Unless you're talking about the time Tara ran the marathon and won - but lost $10,000 because Helen was a b**ch and ate a cupcake against her.

That kind of unfairness just sucks.

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed the first episode. There was intense exercise, people doing things they never thought they could, no product endorsements, and a lot of big numbers at the weigh-in.

I'm optimistic that this season will be good -without a lot of cheesy endorsements, crying and "poor me" drama. I want to see people change their lives. And I want to learn something new from these trainers. This season, I hope they actually spend some quality time on food education - not just talking about "snacks" or products they endorse. I want to see what they are really feeding these people. And I'd like to see what the trainers eat themselves.

Oh, and I'd love to see the contestants do some actual work. There is a reason why so many Americans are overweight. 80% of it has to do with food. But a lot of it has to do with the lack of actual work. Instead of sweating on the treadmill, why not have these guys dig ditches, build buildings, clear brush and debris - heavy, massively huge calorie burning work.

Just a thought....

Jenna McCarthy's "If it Was Easy, They'd Call The Whole Damn Thing a Honeymoon" is now available!

Remember the funny bit about marriage from Jenna McCarthy? Well - her book is now available! It promises to be a riotous look at marriage! Really - you can't take it sooo seriously or you won't make it through with your sanity.

I'm just starting the book today and will let you know what I think. In the meantime, check out the trailer here:



Don’t forget to google Zestra after you finish watching this video... or better yet, check out the link on Jenna’s homepage http://www.jennamccarthy.com/.

Cluttering the internet...

Today I needed to search the internet for real life, tax related information. The "real" site I was looking for didn't even make it onto the first google search page. How sad.

Do you know what was on the first page? Tons of scam sites. On the second page? Reviews, random thoughts, and finally the real info I needed.

It makes me wonder if we are ruining the internet. It's such a fantastic tool for finding information. It's something I wouldn't want to be without. But if we keep adding more and more fluff, are we diluting the benefit?

What if no one can find true information because there is so much junk? Should we all stop blogging? Or at least stop blogging about random topics (like this?) Just a thought...

Good Night Garden

The garden is pretty much finished for the year. I'm still pulling out zucchini, raspberries, and swiss chard - but everything else is gone and the garden has returned to a muddy, black pit of dirt and leaves.

It's amazing to think it was once vibrant and teeming with veggies. It's really ugly when it's just dirt and leaves. Oh well. It will soon be covered with snow, and I'll be busy planning for next year. I am looking forward to a hefty swiss chard crop and tons o' berries!

Adding more Omega-3 to your diet may be easier than you think!

We all know how important it is to get Omega-3 fatty acids into our diets. Unfortunately, that's just not happening for most people. Especially children.

There are 3 types of Omega-3 Fatty Acids: DHA, EPA, and ALA. DHA  is structurally important to the health of our eyes, brain, and heart. And it's something our bodies can NOT make.

To keep it simple, most DHA comes from the sea. Specifically algae - which is eaten by fish. When we eat those fish (or the green algae itself) we incorporate that DHA into our bodies.

Did I just lose you at algae? Or maybe fish? Let me try to convince you that fish doesn't have to be gross. It doesn't have to be slimy or smelly or anything but tasty, healthy food.

My kids love to eat fish, but if you ask them - they might make an "ew" face. I think it comes from T.V. They know they are supposed to make that face.

If you have kids and have a hard time getting them to eat foods rich in Omega-3, let me offer a super tasty (and easy) recipe that will help you in your quest for healthier eating.

Super Tasty Fish Tacos (recipe for 4 tacos)

Ingredients:
4 whole grain tortillas
2-3 Cod fillets (medium sized, frozen)
Tomatoes, Guacamole (or just smashed Avocado), Lettuce, Salsa, Cheese for toppings
Baja Fish Sauce:
1/2 cup sour cream (you may use fat-free if you want)
1/2 cup mayo
2 tsp hot sauce
1/2 tsp ground red pepper (or cayenne if you have it)
drizzle of lime juice
pinch of white pepper
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp dill
(add fresh cilantro if you have it and feel free to add more hot sauce or a minced habenero if you want it hotter. Kids don't always like extra "heat" but grownups might.)


Directions:
Mix up the Baja Fish Sauce. Taste it and adjust to your spice preference. Let it hang out in the fridge to marry the flavors while you prepare the fish.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Spray a pan with olive oil and place frozen fish into the oven. Cook for 12-14 minutes. If you happen to have fresh fish, adjust the time down. The fish is done when if flakes with a fork.

Assemble the tacos like you would any other taco. A little sauce, half a fish filet and as much tomato, guacamole, lettuce, etc that you want. Then enjoy!

You can substitute any fish into this recipe. The white fish work best but also have less DHA. Cod does have a significant amount of Omega-3 and has a more white-fish taste. You could also bread and/or fry the fish if you prefer. You could even substitute shrimp or scallops.

Even easier - you could make fish tacos for dinner and serve breakfast with DHA fortified milk or eggs.
Try to incorporate more healthy Omega-3 Rich foods into all of your meals.

A little bit at each meal will add up. Please feel free to share your omega-3 recipes and tips below.

Share how you sneak Omega-3’s into your family’s diet for a chance to win a $500 Grocery Shopping Spree!


DHA belongs to a category of healthy fatty acids known as Omega-3's. DHA is a major structural fat in the body, and has been shown to support brain, heart and eye health. Not only is DHA found in foods like salmon and eggs, but it can also be found in Horizon® Organic Milk enhanced with DHA Omega-3. Learn more about Horizon’s commitment to healthy families at http://www.horizondairy.com/everyday-nutrition/dha-omega-3/

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Horizon.  The opinions expressed by me do not necessarily reflect the view of the Horizon Organic brand.

Eggland's Best Susan G Komen Support & #Giveaway

Now through November 15th, Eggland's Best will be supporting Susan G Komen for the Cure by turning their EB stamp on each egg Pink - and donating $50,000.

My daughter squealed when she noticed we had "pink" eggs. She even wanted to keep the pink labeled carton.

Supporting healthy initiatives (like SGK) is something you would expect from Eggland's Best.

It can be hard to know what you are buying at the grocery store, but Eggland's Best clearly states on their cartons what they feed their chickens - all vegetarian diets.

And their eggs taste great. You can get involved in the Part of Being the Best is Doing Good Program by checking it out here:  http://www.egglandsbest.com/news/egglands-goes-pink.aspx. 


One Suburban Jungle reader is also going to win an Eggland's Best Prize Package. The prize package includes: an eco bag, plush egg, spatula, and Eggland's Best Free product coupon.

To Enter to win: Fill out the Rafflecopter form below:




*Eggland's best provided me with VIP coupons and the prize for this giveaway. EB will ship the prize directly to the winner.