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Desserts

Grain Dairy and Egg Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

January 30, 2014

These cookies are grain, dairy and egg free and yet you wouldn’t even know it! Ok maybe a little if you’re able to eat regular flour, eggs and milk chocolate!

But I’m not able to eat those foods right now so I’ve come up with this simple grain, gluten, dairy and egg free chocolate chip cookies recipe that you will enjoy.

Ingredients:

½ cup almond flour

½ cup coconut flour

¼ cup grape seed oil

½ cup coconut palm sugar

1 cup dark chocolate chips

¼ cup unsweetened applesauce

1 “flax egg” – 3 tbsp warm water mixed with 1 tbsp flax meal; let sit for 5 minutes until gel-like.

Instructions:

Mix together the oil/butter and sugar, followed by the applesauce and “flax egg”. Add the flours and mix until well blended. Add the chocolate chips.

Using about a teaspoon of dough, roll into a ball and flatten slightly. These cookies don’t spread so you want to flatten them a little before baking.

Bake at 350 for 12 minutes. Let cool before touching otherwise they will crumble. Enjoy!

Beauty

5 Ways to Better Skin this Winter

January 29, 2014

Is your skin extremely dry with this brutally cold winter?

It’s tough to avoid the elements… I often wish I could snap my fingers and be on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean or French Polynesian Islands… but that is highly unlikely! You don’t need much to have glorious skin during the winter months – there are ways to having better skin this winter. Read our winter skin tips and if you have any tips to share, please do so in the comments!

Here are 5 Ways to Better Skin this Winter:

1. Moisturize

Yes you should moisturize all year round but during winter minds, you will need a little more protection from the cold harsh elements. You may look for an oil-based moisturizer that is non-clogging containing almond, avocado or Vitamin E oil. Some people swear by using coconut oil to hydrate skin because it conditions, moisturizes, and softens skin and doesn’t contain petroleum by-products like many commercial moisturizers.

2. Wear SPF

Sunscreen isn’t just for summer – the sun’s rays can still damage your skin during winter months. Use a sunscreen moisturizer on your face about 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply frequently if you stay outside for several hours (if you’re a brave ski bunny!)

3. Wear Gloves

The skin on your hands is thinner than on other part body of your and has fewer oil glands so you need to keep your hands moisturized during winter months. I try to protect my hands at home by wearing rubber gloves when I’m doing dishes or cleaning. At night, slather a good hand cream and put on a cotton glove and wear overnight.

4. Don’t take long hot baths

As tempting as it may be, a hot shower or bath can strip away moisture by breaking down lipid barriers in the skin so keep showers short. If you must take a bath, make sure the water is lukewarm and add oatmeal or baking soda to help soothe itchy skin. Don’t rub with a towel after your bath either – pat dry.

5. Humidify

The indoors can also be dry because of the furnace working all day. Adding a humidifier will put more moisture in the air, helping your skin from drying. You can also add a bowl of water in your bedroom to help you sleep better at night, or even around the house if you don’t have a humidifier.

House & Home

5 Tips on Getting Your Family Life Organized

January 28, 2014

I’m not the most organized person… I’m not horrible at keeping our busy family’s schedule in order but I could definitely use some improvement and family organization tips. I find that I’m much more productive if I have a good plan to get my family organized.

Between appointments for four family members, school schedules, hockey games and other extra curricular activities, it can be quite a challenge to keep your family life organized!

Here are 5 tips on getting your family life organized:

1. Use a main extra-large calendar in your kitchen.

I have too many calendars here and there – a day planner, a small calendar for my purse, one on my phone and another in my office. I need to consolidate all of those calendars into one main calendar in the kitchen so that everyone can add to and follow. I don’t want to be asked, “what time is the hockey game on Saturday?” Just go look at the calendar!

2. Use meal plans – and create a grocery list from that meal plan for the week.

I’m guilty of running to the grocery store practically every day buying ingredients for dinner that night. I do plan as best as possible but sometimes we’re in the mood for something different to eat, or I just don’t feel like cooking something. But I try to keep to the weekly meal plan to make those late afternoons a little easier. I also keep Friday or Saturday night open for take-out. I can’t cook every night of the week, who do you think I am?

3. Use To-do lists for the week.

I find it daunting sometimes to get everything done on a to-do list in one day. There are some things that need to get done but others than can be pushed until later in the week.

4. Have a family chore list.

When you divide the chores between partners, it will make life a little bit easier. Get your kids to do chores by using a kids’ chore chart. Weekdays are all about schedules – it’s the only way things can get done. My kids need to follow a chart like this – I’m going to try using it for them to clean up their rooms, the basement play area as well as making their beds.

5. Set a homework schedule or ‘quiet time’ for the kids.

That means, no TV, devices, video games, etc. after 7pm or between 5 and 6pm. I have a chalkboard in the kitchen with an after-school schedule laid out so that the kids know what to expect and it seems to work well. I’ve offered some tips on ways to limit screen time for children as it seems to have become a major source of stress for parents everywhere!

How do you get your family life organized?

House & Home

Get Yourself Organized with HP

January 27, 2014

Does being an organized person come naturally? Or does it take some practice and good technology?

I’m trying to get myself re-organized… I say re-organized because I’m usually on top of things… until life gets a little extra crazy and things start to pile up. It’s that time again when heaping piles paper in my home office and kitchen nook are taking over. Let me back track.

I had purchased a kitchen corner desk so that the kids could use it as a workspace to do their homework, rather than on our kitchen table. We don’t have formal dining space so the kitchen is it for this busy (and messy) famiy of four. That kitchen corner has now because the spot to throw things on! Lists, calendars, school papers, homework, hockey schedules…

Let’s not even start with my home office. I have papers that I’ve kept for years – why don’t I throw any of it out? Despite the filing cabinets and storage units, my office needs a complete overhaul.

When I had the opportunity to try out the HP Photosmart 7520 e-All-in-One printer, I thought it could help get me organized, especially with HP’s online design portal, Snapfish.

Snapfish is a great resource – it offers a bunch of free downloadable and printable templates in bold, attractive designs and fun patterns. There you can download and print 2014 Calendars, To-Do Lists, Meal Planners, Family Chores Lists and more… see THIS is where I need the most help in organization! Snapfish also has free printables for every occasion and worksheets and colouring pages too.

The HP Photosmart 7520 e-All-in-One allows you to print, copy, scan to email, fax, and access web content on the 4.3-inch colour touchscreen. The built-in ePrint app lets you print from your smartphone or tablet from virtually anywhere.

It’s very simple to set up the printer – it’s easy to navigate through the initial setup screens, with help from the instructions on the setup driver disc.

I had some fun printing out some charts and meal plans with my new printer. I also printed some Minecraft-themed signs, colouring pages and crafts for my son’s birthday party.

How do you get yourself organized? Do you use lists, meal plans and calendars to get yourself organized?

Disclosure: HP products mentioned in this post were supplied by HP Canada.

5 Tips on Getting Your Family Life Organized

Shopping

BlackBerry Z30 Review

January 24, 2014

My first smart phone was a BlackBerry Bold and I absolutely loved the keypad. But after switching to an Android, I quickly came to realize that once you go to a larger screen, it’s difficult to ever go back.

I had chance to try out the BlackBerry Z30 which has a much larger screen, coming in at 5 inches with a 1,280 by 720 Super AMOLED panel. The display seems a little less sharp in colour than my current phone however viewing angles are good because of this blue-like tint.

It’s a sturdy phone too, weighing in at 170 grams. I like the back side of it too – has a good feel.

The BlackBerry Hub is still superb compared to other phones; it keeps your inbox organized in the most efficient way, which makes it still #1 in terms of using it as a business phone. Keeping track of emails, messages, social media all in one section, the Hub still reigns supreme.

If you’re using the phone mainly for business and spend your time going from one email account to another, BBM and social media, it’s a wonderful device. I’d stress, for business – apps are not so accessible on the BB platform… which is probably a good thing if you’re using the phone strictly for work purposes. You shouldn’t be playing Candy Crush anyway! And Instagram lovers would probably miss using this app as it’s not available on BlackBerry.

What I like about the Z30 is the keypad – it seems like the keys are spaced out a little better than other keypads, which comes in handy if you use the phone for emailing and texting quite a bit.

The BlackBerry Z30 has an 8-megapixel main camera and is easy to use. The quality is good with proper lighting, otherwise it has an LED flash. And with a good battery life, the phone can last all day before charging up again.

All in all, I’d recommend this phone but more for business use than for someone looking to use it for games and apps.

lifestyle

Bloggers Event with Downy (Video)

January 23, 2014

Last month I attended a bloggers event with Downy hosted by Glam Canada at the Spoke Club in Toronto. Sue Phillips, a scent/perfume expert from New York, chatted with us about fragrance.

We filled out a questionnaire to discover our own “inner scent personality” – Woody, Fresh, Floral and Oriental. Then we were able to smell various scents and learned about combining them, just as they do in perfumeries in France… ooh la la!

Downy Infusions™ fabric softener with Downy Unstopables™ scent beads used together make for some lovely smelling clothes, scents that do last several days.

Here’s a video of the event… do you notice something about the video?

Health

Winter Means Dry Skin: How to Treat Eczema

January 21, 2014

With winter comes super dry skin… and for me, unfortunately, the eczema on my hand flares up.

What is eczema?

Eczema is a long-lasting skin condition that can come and go – it’s the most common form is atopic dermatitis. Your skin can become itchy, red, scaly and irritated. Often you’ll scratch the area and make it worse… I know first hand… pun intended.

Although people of any age may be affected by eczema, infants and young children seem to get it most. In fact, eczema is the most common skin problem in children under the age of 12.

About 80% of atopic eczema cases start before they are 5 years old! So eczema in kids is definitely a concern for many parents, especially because eczema gets worse in the winter.

I have gone to dermatologists before to help with my skin issues, and I have tried many products as well to help with the dryness and eczema on my hands.

Doesn’t it look awful? This is what happens when I don’t constantly moisturize my hands. So when I had the opportunity to try new products from POLYSPORIN® ECZEMA ESSENTIALS™, I was willing to give it a shot.

The Daily Moisturizing Cream has Colloidal Oatmeal which helps smooth and comfort itchy, scratchy, and dry skin. I found it to be non-greasy and left my skin feeling smooth and moisturized.

The Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream should be used sparingly a few times a day only as it contains hydrocorstisone, a steroid hormone. This is a cream that should be used with flare-ups only, not longer than seven days. I found the anti-itch cream was absorbed into my affected hand within a minute and helped the appearance of the dryness immediately.

The Daily Body Wash moisturizes while gently cleansing even the most dry, sensitive skin and is ideal for eczema-prone skin. It has a formula contains a lipid, humectants, emollient and botanical blend to help retain moisture essential for healthy-looking skin. It’s gentle enough for everyday use, especially as a hand-wash too and is suitable for children.

Luckily I don’t have to worry about my kids because they don’t suffer like I do but I’m sure this will help many other children who have eczema.

Disclosure: I am part of the the POLYSPORIN^® Eczema Essentials^TMBlogger Campaign with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.

Contest

Healthy Recipes for the Family Plus a Giveaway!

January 20, 2014

With the winter season comes the inevitable colds and flu… but with healthy nutrition and taking vitamins, you can protect yourself from the nasty viruses going around.

As a busy mom, preparing healthy snacks and meals for your children and keeping up their immune function can be a challenge. Sixty-seven per cent of Canadian moms with kids 10 and under say healthy meals for their kids are often compromised because of busy and hectic schedules, a new survey commissioned by Bayer Healthcare Consumer Care reveals.

Here is a quick and healthy recipe that the whole family will enjoy.

Seared Cherry Tomato Pasta

Prep time: 15 minutes Total Time: 15 minutes Portion Size: 4

Ingredients:

12 oz (340 g) spaghettini – since I’m sensitive to wheat, rice and spelt, I’ve substituted with corn pasta – the kids won’t even know the difference

2 tbsp (30 mL) olive oil

2 cups (500 mL) cherry tomatoes, halved

1/2 tsp (2 mL) salt

3 cloves garlic, sliced

1 pinch crushed hot pepper flakes

1/3 cup (75 mL) grated parmesan cheese (this can be added later if you’re dairy free like I am)

1/4 cup (60 mL) chopped fresh basil

Preparation:

In large pot of boiling lightly salted water, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Meanwhile, in large skillet, heat 1 tbsp of the oil over medium-high heat; sauté tomatoes until lightly seared, about 1 minute. Sprinkle with salt and toss to coat (you may add a tbsp of bread crumbs if you wish).

Remove from pan and set aside. Add remaining oil to pan; cook garlic and hot pepper flakes over medium heat until fragrant and softened, about 2 minutes. Add tomato mixture, pasta and reserved pasta water, stirring to combine. Toss with Parmesan cheese and basil.

*Recipe courtesy of CanadianLiving.com

To give your children an extra immunity boost, FLINTSTONES™ Gummies Plus Immunity Support is now available in Canada. Here are some more easy and healthy recipes for your family, including Chicken and Tzatziki Pita Oockets and Herb Baked Chicken and Vegetables, download and/or print these fabulous recipes.

ENTER TO WIN

We are giving one lucky reader a fun-filled package to celebrate the launch of the new Flintstones Gummies Plus Immunity Support. Enter to win a family pack of tickets to the Royal Ontario Museum and food delivery of smoothie ingredients from Grocery Gateway along with a recipe.

Go back to the Stone Age and learn about the dinosaurs who roamed the earth at the Royal Ontario Museum. Make sure the family is well fueled by making healthy and delicious smoothies as a morning or afternoon treat.

Use the Rafflecopter below to enter this giveaway:

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Good luck!

Books & Music

THE NUT JOB Stars Answer Mom Blogger Questions (Video)

January 17, 2014

In animated 3D, THE NUT JOB is an action-packed comedy in fictional Oakton that follows the travails of Surly (voiced by Will Arnett), a mischievous squirrel, and his rat friend Buddy, who plan a nut store heist of outrageous proportions and unwittingly find themselves embroiled in a much more complicated and hilarious adventure.

Katherine Heigl also stars in the film. See what she and Arnett had to say about their new film and watch them answer some of your most pressing questions.

THE NUT JOB opens in theatres nationwide today.

Contest

Win Joseph Nogucci Elephant Memory Stone Bracelets (Giveaway)

January 16, 2014

Gemstones, gems, semi-precious or precious, crystals – they all come from our earth and many believe they carry fields of energy. Each stone is made up of minute crystals which are in constant motion and emit an energy signature or frequency. The gemstone’s colour and its play of light can stimulate or calm, purify or heal.

Ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans have used gemstones for healing in multiple ways. I seem to be drawn to certain stones and have my own collection.

The Elephant Memory Stone collection from Joseph Nogucci features a variety of colors of semi-precious stones in Winter Colors accented with a, rhodium filled elephant charm and branded rhodium filled logo plate.

The elephant icon was chosen to ensure that you will never forget to strive towards those goals you have set for yourself in the new year, as well as remember to celebrate precious moments or milestones as they happen. The different coloured semi-precious stones were selected to represent different feelings and moods.

Red Coral – Love

Purple Amethyst – Friendship

White Jade – Renewal

Blue Turquoise – Freedom

Iron Stone – Perseverance

Green Rec. Malachite – Success and Health

Brown Persian Gult Acate – Peace

Whether you are celebrating the birth of a new family member or a promotion at work, the elephant memory stone collection will keep this happy memory alive within you and ensure that you never forget.

ENTER TO WIN

One lucky reader will win THREE Joseph Nogucci Elephant Memory Stone bracelets (retail value $44 each)!

Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter this giveaway.

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Good luck!