POSTS TAGGED : sponsored

Product Review: Tea Time

Anyone who knows me can vouch for the fact that I am an avid coffee drinker. Some may even go so far as to say I’m a little addicted. I’ll just say I like it…a lot. So, when I was approached to try some new tea, I was a little skeptical. How good could a cup of tea actually taste? Since my new mantra for 2014 is to try new things, I thought why not. Plus, the woman who asked me sells the Steeped Tea, Inc. products with her young daughter. I thought it is just great that she is teaching her daughter the skills of business through something they both enjoy…tea. I just couldn’t say no!

On the rare occasion I do have a cup of tea, it is usually from your standard tea bag you can pick up at any grocery store. So, this was my first time actually seeping tea. I chose to test out the Cinnamon Stick Green Tea as my afternoon pick me up, in place of another cup of coffee.tea3

The tea comes in an easy to open resealable pouch. You just measure one teaspoon and put it in mesh ball infuser.  It was not only easy to fill, but also had a little hook to attach to the side of my cup so I didn’t have to go fishing inside a hot mug to yank it out. Once I seeped it for the recommended two minutes, I simply unhooked the latch and was able to enjoy my cup of green tea. tea2

The tea had a nice scent, not too overpowering, yet enough to know there was a hint of cinnamon. The taste was not only light, but also still gave me just the right boost of energy I needed to get through the rest of my day.

I’ve had plenty of other green teas before and some of the tastes are so strong they make you want to spit them out right away. That was certainly not the case with this Steeped Tea. I enjoyed my first cup so much I rebrewed the infuser again (it says up to three rebrews on the package).

Once I again, I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome. I’ve never tried to rebrew a regular tea bag, but my guess is, it probably wouldn’t taste so good!

So, would I recommend Steeped Tea? Definitely. Will I try it again? For sure. Should you try it too? Absolutely, especially if you’re looking for a smooth tea with great flavor.  *This is a sponsored posttea1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let Your Kids Leap Ahead This Summer

It’s almost here. It’s the time of year kids look forward to all year long…summer.  Its three months of fun without going to school and without having to set an alarm. But, just because kids are turning off their alarm clocks, doesn’t mean they should be turning off their brains too. Three months is a long time to go without learning something, don’t you think?

As parents, we continuously hear about how we should always read to our kids. But, what about helping them keep up in math too? It’s just as important. During the summer, there is plenty of time to slip in some math lessons to keep their brains fresh and help them get ahead for the fall. Leap Ahead is a great online program that offers just that, without breaking the bank. Problem solving, algebra, and geometry are just a few of the topics covered.

If your child is entering grades three through nine, this is a great opportunity. LeapAhead! Online Summer Math Program even offers a gifted program for parents and children who want a greater challenge. Whichever program you choose, there are plenty of exercisesto keep your child’s mind active.

Summer Practice = Fall Success

Why not take advantage today?

 

*This is a sponsored post

Finding the Best Diaper Bag

   It’s one of the most important things you will buy as a new mom. Is it a car seat? No. What about the crib? No.  Drum roll please….It is the almighty diaper bag! I never thought it was such an important part of the mommy experience, but it really is. Your life and your kids’ lives are pretty much in that bag 24/7. Diapers, bottles, formula, toys, clothes, wallet…you name it and its there.

   Some moms still carry a pocketbook along with their diaper bags. I ditch the pocketbook when I have the kids because it’s just one more thing to lug around. These days diaper bags are so trendy that you really don’t have to bring along the pocketbook. I’ve had some serious bag envy when I see other mommas with diaper bags nicer than any pocketbook that is collecting dust in my closet. Don’t get me wrong, some of these will put you back a few boxes of diapers. But, if you’re not going to carry a pocketbook, it may really be worth it. If you don’t want to shell out the cash, you could always put it on a registry or a little wish list too! You never know what people will buy for you if you just ask them!
–Kristina
(sponsored post)

Time to Play Dress Up

   New Year’s Eve is almost here. If you’re lucky enough, maybe you have plans to go to a party where crayons aren’t a staple. If you are, then you better take advantage and play dress up. If you have little girls you probably play dress up all the time. No matter how old you are, there’s something magical about slipping on a dress and some high heels, especially if you’re usually walking around in jeans and sneakers. It really makes you feel like a woman.

   If you’re not used to dressing up, you may actually find yourself at a loss for what to wear. I remember going shopping last year for post maternity clothes. I felt like I needed my own personal shopper. Sometimes you get so caught up with being a mom that you forget what’s hot and what’s not, all you know is that you are falling under the “not” column more often. I found the best bet is to check out some popular stores and see what you “should” be wearing and then modify it for what you can wear and afford. As long as you don’t get stopped by the fashion police, you should be alright!
–Kristina
(sponsored post)

Ready, Set, Shop!

   I love to shop. I know a lot of women out there are with me on this one. I think there’s just something in our DNA. Whether its jeans, shirts, dresses, or jackets, there’s just something about buying a new item. If you’re lucky enough to do it without kids, it takes on a magic of its own. If you can’t swing that, online shopping really isn’t a bad way to go. I have to admit before kids I never really bought clothing online. But, once you have kids, you do a lot of things you never did before.

   To be honest, online shopping is really not bad and is so much easier when you have kids. You don’t have to lug around the stroller. You don’t have to stop at every potty in the mall, and you can browse for as long as you want without a salesperson bugging you or your child having the meltdown of the century. I’ve really come to like it, especially around the holidays when the stores are so crazy with super long lines. If you’re lucky enough to get free shipping, there’s really no reason not to try it. A warning though…once you do, you may get hooked.

–Kristina
(sponsored post)

These Boots Were Made for Walking

   Okay, so winter is almost here and that means spending more time indoors…or does it? If you’re like me, you love to go for walks when the sun is shining with a nice warm breeze blowing through your hair. When the mercury starts to drop sometimes my initiative to get up and go is more like a no go. But, there are plenty of people out there who don’t let old man winter change their walking plans.
   If you’re one of those people, I really envy you. I know you bundle yourselves up and walk even faster to keep away the winter chill. That’s actually one plus for walking in the winter. At least you move a little faster!  Just like the song goes, there are plenty of boots that are made for walking too. You just have to find the right ones. There are plenty of cute ones for women and some real nice rugged looking ones for guys too. Maybe that’s what I need to get me moving in the right direction this winter. Lord knows it beats racking up the miles on the treadmill! Talk about boring with a capital “B”. We’ll see what happens!

It’s Time to Face Winter

   Like it or not, winter will be here before you know it. If you haven’t already, that means finally having to say goodbye to our tank tops and flip flops (tear drop), and saying hello to our jackets and boots. The only good thing about the weather getting colder is that it gives me a good excuse to go shopping.  Not like I really need an excuse, but everyone has to get some new clothes for the new season, right? Exactly, that’s what I thought.
   So, what kind of things do you look for when shopping for the next few months of winter that lie ahead of us? Well, besides picking up some new sweaters and boots, a staple of any winter wardrobe is a good jacket. You have to stay warm when the chill hits. There’s nothing worse than walking around in the cold and being cold. Trust me, I’ve been there, done that. If you’re not one to actually go out and buy yourself some new stuff, then why not put it on your Christmas list? Who knows, maybe you’ll find it under your tree. You can ask Santa; just make sure you’ve been nice over the past year and not naughty!

Gearing Up for Winter

   I’ll admit it; I’m not a big fan of winter. I’ll take a day on the beach over a snowball fight any day. But, I know plenty of people who love to hit the slopes as soon as there’s enough snow coating the ground. Kudos to you! I know you guys have to wrap yourselves up in a lot of layers and take a lot of time bundling up and keeping warm.  As with any other activity or outing, you have to put a lot of thought into what kind of outdoor gear you’ll be sporting. There are the hats, the gloves, the scarves, the snow pants, the footwear…the list goes on and on. It’s not like the summer when you can throw on a pair of shorts and flip flops and run out the door!
    From what I hear from a lot of you winter outdoor lovers, waterproof clothing is a staple of your wardrobe. To my summer loving surprise, a lot of those warm and waterproof jackets and other gear are actually stylish. Who knew? Maybe I haven’t been giving winter a fair shake all these years! Maybe one way to warm up to winter is through a shopping trip. What do you think?

Put a Label on It

   One of my most favorite things to do over the holidays is wrap Christmas presents. I like to wait for the kids to go to bed (really how much wrapping will you get accomplished otherwise?), get a cup of cocoa or glass of wine (usually number two), put on some holiday tunes, and get wrapping. Like I’ve said before sometimes you need to pack up those gifts and ship them off to grandma’s house. If you want to make sure they get over the meadow and through the woods, you better make sure you put a label on it. 
   Those labels are also good if you have to organize stuff. Honestly, what momma out there doesn’t have some organizing to do? Unless your name is Martha Stewart, I’m sure a little labeling wouldn’t hurt  any of us in the organization department! Labels are great when it comes to organizing your kids old clothes or toys, especially if you’re planning on handing them down to a family member or friend. At least this way you find those size 3 shirts without going through all of those storage bins in the basement! Just think of all the time you can save. Time to go label some more stuff and get organized!

Running Low on Ink is Annoying

    It’s one of life’s little annoyances. You’ve either spent the better part of your day writing up some important stuff or downloading some pictures when you go to hit the print button and the finished product comes out blank. If you’re like me, you’ve ignored the “low ink” messages for the last twenty or so prints and now that you really need it, you’re out of ink. If you’re also like me, you always forget to write down the kind of ink you need so that once you get to the store you have no idea what to get. Epic fail…how annoying!
   So here are some simple tips. First of all, don’t ignore those ink warnings. It would just save a lot of time and aggravation to replace the cartridge when you’re supposed to. It’s like filling your gas tank before you hit “E”. Contrary to what you might believe, “E” does not stand for excellent, at least not in this case. Number two, write down what you’re supposed to get before you head out to the store. Think of it as if you’re going out to the grocery store. I know it sounds easy, but sometimes the easiest things are the hardest!