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FAMILY/ Spiritual/ Sponsored/ Uncategorized

Really Living In The Dash | Where Hope Grows Movie

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“This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Godspeed Pictures, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #wherehopegrowsmoviehttp://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to preview a super inspirational and touching movie called “Where Hope Grows.”

It is a movie about redemption, faith, love and hope.  It was exactly what my heart needed.

“Where Hope Grows” is about an ex-baseball player, Calvin Campbell, who is also an alcoholic and pretty much ruining his relationship with his adorable teenage daughter.  While grocery shopping, he bumps into a kid named Produce who has  a disability,  Down Syndrome to be exact, and is intrigued by how happy he always is.  They end up slowly building a friendship, and through that hope, faith, & love abound.

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There were many touching moments in the movie, (even a touch of romance) but a moment that really got to my heart was when Campbell asked Produce, while shopping at the grocery store,

“How Are You Doing?”

Produce answered:

“I’m Doing Good, Even When I’m Doing Bad, I’m Doing Good.”

Oh be still my heart.  My heart just melted when he said that because it reminded me of my sweet nephew who has autism–what one would consider a disability.  Over the last year before my sister put him on a special diet, he had severe tummy aches.  You could tell he was in so much pain, and he would stop his day to cry out, but then his little resilient self would go back to what he was doing and in no time his smile would com back. Even when he was doing bad, he was doing good.

My nephew is 4 and really amazing when it comes to learning to speak well.  Every time I see him I’m amazed at his communication skills.  That phrase above, the one that says “Even when I’m doing bad, I’m doing good,” I can just hear my nephew saying that someday when he is older because that is the type of human being he is growing into.  Thanks to the great love of his parents and our great God, he has this smile that just never quits, and a heart that is just full of joy.  Oh how I love him…can you tell?

I learn so much from my nephew’s resilience, and I learned much from this movie.

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I’ve been struggling quite a bit the last few months with physical symptoms related to medications I have to take due to my cancer history.  It has been really, really rough and continues to be on certain days. I have not talked a whole lot about it here at the blog as it has just been too raw to do that yet, but I do talk a lot about living new and living well here at New Nostalgia and although I am doing my best to do just that, I sure needed the inspiration this movie brought.  It was a beautiful reminder that optimism goes a long way, that choosing joy is possible when you have faith that God will work all things out for the good of His children, and that redemption is always offered no matter what ones’ life looks like or feels like.

If you too, need some inspiration, or just want to see a movie that is uplifting and joy-giving, view the movie trailer below and make sure you check your local theaters for availability and showtimes and go see the movie! The movie comes out May 15th.  

 

 

At the very end of the movie, I was struck with what was said.  They were talking about how life is meant to be lived and how there are dates on a tombstone that everyone will have, we will all have a start date and an end date, but we also all get a dash.  We must make that dash count.  We must live, really live.

Here’s to living, truly living, in the dash!

HEALTH/ Natural Products/ Sponsored/ Uncategorized

Steps To Living A Natural Healthy Life

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It is spring and nature is showing off!   I am super energized and inspired by everything green and beautiful! It has given me energy and motivation to get busy and check myself in the area of living naturally and in a healthful and mindful way.

I am going to tackle both my insides and outsides and want YOU to join with me!

Here is a list of things I am committing to doing in the next 4 weeks:

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1. Burt’s Bees 28 day Skin Renewal Challenge

Did you know your skin renews itself every 28 days? I didn’t, but now that I know that little tidbit, I am much more likely to stick with a skin care regime for much longer than I typically would.  I learned about this little 28 day tip from Burt’s Bees, who is having a Burt’s Bees 28 Day Skin Renewal challenge with their brand new line called Renewal.  Renewal works in harmony with your skin’s cycle, and in 28 days I’m expecting to have firmer, smoother, beautiful and healthy-looking skin — in fact, I expect to be just radiant!

Would you like to join me?  We could all become radiant together!  I’m even going to take a ‘before’ picture and post it below which I’m sure we are all just giddy about. What I am giddy about is the ‘after’ picture that I will share with you when the challenge is over.

 

2. Stretching Daily

I’m stiff.  I keep wanting to blame my pillow or my mattress or the medication that I take,  but really I think it just is being one year away from turning FORTY! Yep, I am now 39 years old and really cannot believe it! I don’t know if I like it or not. As a cancer survivor,  I love having the privilege of living this long, and I love feeling mature, (notice I said feeling, not being) but wow, time flies when you are having fun!  I think stretching and some light yoga is really going to help me feel better, younger and more healthy.

 

3. Walking 3x a week.

Springtime weather is the best for walking, I especially love walking in the evenings and have been making sure I walk at least every Wednesday, but my goal is 3x a week.  I have found that meeting up with a girlfriend to walk and talk is the most fun way to do it!

 

4. Lemon Water Daily

I love my cleansing lemon water, but I have been slacking on that.  When I don’t take the time to start my day with lemon water, I am not very mindful of how much water I drink during the day and it just goes downhill from there.  Time to get back on it!

 

5. Green’s Daily

This was one of my New Year’s Goals a couple of years ago and it was one of my favorites.  There are so many amazing nutrients in greens.  I categorize quite a few foods into what I call ‘greens’ from spinach in my smoothie to the spirulina in my drink mix to the seaweed wrapped around my sushi…  even my favorite kale chips.  Green plant food is just the BEST and so nourishing on the inside, which in turn makes you glow on the outside.

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Ingesting greens, drinking lemon water and getting the body moving through walking and stretching are all great ways to get the insides working.  When the insides are working, the outsides tend to look their best too.  But I am finding as I get closer to the big 4-0 I’m wanting a little extra help with my skin when it comes to firmness, texture and lines.

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My skin care has been consistent, but I having been doing it all wrong and for sure using the wrong products.  I’ve even been known to just use a hot wash cloth and water to wash my face.  If I’m in the shower, I use my natural body soap that is not made specifically for the face. Whoopsies! Not a good decision. I thought it was a good decision until I started using Burt’s Bees Renewal Cleanser and saw all that came off of my face onto my wash cloth.  I could tell I have not been cleansing completely and was in instant love with this face product.

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I am excited for the opportunity to take Burt’s Bees 28 Day Skin Renewal challenge, especially when I saw that Kimberly Snyder, nutritionist and author of The Beauty Detox, is one who took the challenge and has challenged others to do the same.  Her cleanse is complete and now she is challenging others to complete the cleanse and share using #28DayFaceCleanse.  If you want to join in on the fun and enter into the conversation, head over to Instagram or Twitter and share your ideas as well.  I’m super excited to see what everyone has to say.

I personally am hoping that Renewal Face Care will smooth my skin. These natural products are clinically shown to smooth skin, improve firmness and reduce the look of wrinkles in a few as 4 weeks!

How? From Burt’s Bees site:

“New natural Renewal Face Care with Wrinkle-smoothing White Hibiscus and intensively hydrating Apple take center stage in the Hibiscus and Apple Rejuvenating Complex. Within the line, this remarkable interaction plumps up cells to help reduce the look of lines and wrinkles, improve firmness, and makes skin appear smoother and more hydrated.”

Here is a bit more information about the products.  I  know once you read about them you will want to jump on board, too!

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{this is the best cleanser. It is thick and has little bits in it to gently exfoliate.  I also love how it smells}

Renewal Refining Cleanser

Help restore smoother, younger-looking skin with some of nature’s most powerful anti-aging ingredients. Cleanses deeply without stripping moisture and gently exfoliats to reveal smoother skin.

• Removes dirt, oil and make-up

• Gently exfoliates

• Improves skin texture when used as part of the RENEWAL regimen

• Soap Free
• Rinses Easily
• Noncomedogenic 
• Dermatologist Tested

 

Renewal Firming Day Lotion w/SPF 30

This lightweight, fast-absorbing moisturizer is clinically shown to help improve firmness and reduce the appearance of deep lines and wrinkles. SPF 30 protects against sun damage.

  • Immediately, skin appears smoother and hydrated
  • After 4 weeks, 87% of women saw a reduction in the appearance of lines and wrinkles
  • After 8 weeks, 96% of women saw a reduction in the appearance of lines and wrinkles and improved skin texture
  • Dermatologist tested
  • Noncomedogenic
  • Clinically shown to reduce look of deep wrinkles and help improve firmness

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{this serum makes my skin feel so soft and smooth, I think it is my favorite product in the whole line}

Renewal Intensive Firming Serum

Help restore the appearance of your skin’s smooth, firm texture with powerful natural anti-aging ingredients. This concentrated treatment serum is clinically shown to help improve firmness and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles.

• Immediately, skin appears smoother and hydrated

• After 4 weeks, over 90% of women saw a reduction in the appearance of lines and wrinkles

• After 8 weeks, over 94% of women saw a reduction in the appearance of lines and wrinkles and visibly firmer skin

• Noncomedogenic
• Dermatologist Tested

Clinically shown to reduce look of deep wrinkles
 and help improve firmness

 

Renewal Smoothing Eye Cream

Help restore the appearance of your delicate eye area with powerful natural anti-aging ingredients. This hydrating eye treatment is clinically shown to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, dark circles, and under-eye puffiness.

• After 4 weeks, 88% of women saw a reduction in the appearance of lines and wrinkles

• After 8 weeks, over 86% of women saw a reduction in the appearance of deep lines and wrinkles, dark circles and under-eye puffiness.

• Dermatologist Tested
• Ophthalmologist Tested 

Clinically shown to:
• Reduce look of deep wrinkles

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{I love going to bed with this luxurious creme on my face.  It makes my skin glow and look very healthy}

Renewal Firming Night Cream

Clinically shown to reduce the appearance of deep lines and wrinkles, this richly hydrating cream helps improve your skin’s smooth, firm texture while you sleep.

• Immediately, skin appears smoother and hydrated

• After 4 weeks, 82% of women saw a reduction in the appearance of lines and wrinkles

• After 8 weeks, 96% of women saw an improvement to skin texture.

• Dermatologist Tested

• Noncomedogenic

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{I put a little mascara and lip gloss on for you.  Without mascara you might not be able to see my eyes. The rest of my face has been cleaned and polished with Burt’s Bees Renewal line and left all natural. You are welcome.}

So here is my ‘before’ picture, which I am sure you just couldn’t wait for!   I will follow up with an ‘after’ picture when the challenge is up, and will even update you in-between via Facebook and Instagram on how it is going, so keep an eye out and be sure to join us if you’d like by clicking here.

IMG_4157{I had to end the post with this picture. It made me smile.  It has been in our bathroom for years, and she is now my little bee is almost 16 years old! I thought it was fun to put my products by this photo.}

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What would you want out of this line the most? Smoother skin? Less lines?  How about just knowing that this line is natural?

What are ways you want to live in a more healthy way? Can you relate to any I listed?

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Burt’s Bees. The opinions and text are all mine.

HOME/ Homemaking/ Sponsored

How To Make Laundry Work Without Working Harder

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Laundry is just one of those things in life that will never go away.  It is here to stay, so I like to look for ways to make laundry work without working harder.  I have found some ways to make laundry easier, look great, and smell amazing– and THAT makes me happy! Let me share some of those ways with you:

 

~Use sturdy, pretty baskets.

The top picture was taken before I had my oldest 2 start doing their own laundry.  As you can see, I had 3 smaller baskets where I would fold and put each child’s clothes, and they would put their own clothes away.  I folded in the living room so the clothes would not sit.  If they are out and about in my way, I will remember to tell the littles to put their clothes away. This system worked well when they were younger.  The larger basket was for Todd and I.  The medium basket held all socks.  They are all quality, sturdy baskets that are pretty and fun to use.

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~Buy a laundry sorter.

I have one like this one and I love it!  I do NOT sort according to color.  I sort according to each person in the family.  Mark it clearly so everyone knows where to put their dirty clothes.  I have mine labeled with each person’s name. I keep in a central location (in the main floor hallway) where I can keep an eye on it, and where it is easy for everyone to bring their dirties when asked.

 ~Kids 12 and older do their own.

This has changed my life and my relationship with laundry.  My two oldest do their own now.  It has saved my sanity and our relationship!  Now, if clean clothes are on the floor, it does not affect me or my sanity, as I am not the one who will have to re-wash them.  They now take much better care of their clothes.  The occasional times I surprise them and do it for them, they are much more grateful. Kids who are grateful that their laundry is done = winning!
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~Use laundry detergent that works…

There is nothing worse than paying for laundry detergent that does not work.  If I’m going to pay for detergent, I want everything that my new favorite detergent, method, has to offer.  I’ve been using method brand and have found it to be everything I need it to be. Here are a few of those things that are important to me:

 

*Concentrated –NEW 4x concentrated laundry detergent-naturally derived cleaning power that is tough on dirt and stains
*Naturally derived cleaning power– proven to remove tough dirt + stains
*Keeps colors bright + whites white
*Works great in cold water so you use less energy for every load
*Biodegradable and hypoallergenic formula
*Can also be used as a really effective pre-treat for stains

 

I especially love the last point.  I’m all about saving money by not having to buy pre-treatment for stains!
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~…and makes you happy

What makes me happy is bright colors, bottles that are designed well, and delicious fragrances.  Method brand brings a range of fragrances to the laundry aisle that tends to be filled with the same old, common laundry scents, but not method! They have a super unique and fun fragrances for everyone, and I love them all!  The free & clear is great for those like my oldest daughter, who prefers that her clothes do not have a scent, but if you are like me and love clothes that smell good, check out these fun fragrances!
Fruity  {ginger mango}

 

Floral  {spring garden}

 

Herbaceous-Woody {beach sage and fresh clover}
Free + Clear {no fragrance}

 

The design of the method bottle also makes me very happy.  There is no handle, which makes the bottles 100% recyclable and made with post-consumer recycled materials.  Usually the handle on bottles is what makes them not fully recyclable, so instead of a handle, method includes an easy-to-use grip on their cute bottles.  Brilliant!
imagePHOTO: COURTESY OF METHOD X ASOS

Speaking of design, method has collaborated with ASOS and came up with a super happy spring lineup.

Check it out: ASOS X method.

 

~If you have younger kids, use baskets or buckets for their soiled clothes

I have a dirty clothes bucket in their room for dirties and another for clean clothes that need hung up.  The goal is to keep clothes off the floor.  If your kids are old enough, teach them to hang up the clean clothes.  Give it as one of their 3 daily chores.

~Use hooks in closets for things like robes, coats, jackets.

These things are a pain to hang up on hangers and kids will struggle with that.  If an item is used almost daily, have a hook for it.

 

~When you see a part of the sorter get full, you know whose turn it is to do laundry.

My laundry sorter  has 4 bags hanging from it.  One for my 14-year-old, one for my 12-year-old, one for my 10-year-old, and husband and I share one. A full bag makes a perfect-sized full load.  I only have to worry about 2 of the 4, as the older two girls do their own.  I keep our sorter on the main floor in the hallway.

 

~Don’t sort laundry.

Unless we have a new item of clothing that I know will bleed when first washed, I don’t sort.  I think it is a waste of time.  I like to do loads according to person, not according to color.  It makes the folding and putting away so much easier when loads are according to person.  I’ve never had a problem, but do this at your own risk!

 

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~Have a hook for each person in the family to keep their towel.

I only wash towels once or twice a week.  I just grab them from the hooks in the bathroom and throw them right into the washer.  Yes, I wash the white towels with the black towels.  It works fine, but make sure to wash separately when brand new a few times.  We only have one bathroom with a shower, so the girls towels are the three on the hooks…they know what color is theirs.  Todd and I use white towels on hooks behind the door.

~Keep a sock basket.

Keep the sock basket in a central location, where all mismatched or found socks go.  Occasionally grab the basket and have child match any socks as a chore.
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So what do you think? Do some of these laundry tips make you happy?
What do you think of some of those amazing new scents from method?
Want a $3.00 off online coupon?  Click here and use coupon code THREEFORME.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

ANTI-PROCRASTINATION/ HOME/ Uncategorized

Anti-Procrastination Tuesday

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 Here Are My Goals…What Are Yours?

                                                                                                                              (please share!)

EVERY MONTH GOALS 2015

~Meaningful Marriage (Love Todd Well)

~Meaningful Parenting (Love Kids Well)

~Meaningful Home (Loving Home Environment + Beautiful Home Atmosphere)

~Computer Clutter (Notes, Reminders, Photos, Emails, Posts)

~Blog Posts In Order (Plan Ahead; Work Efficiently)

~Socialize (Social Media Flow + In Real Life Socializing With Loved Ones)

 

EVERY WEEK GOALS 2015

~Up Early Every Week Day (Start Day With God & What Matters)

~Blog Posts Planned For The Week (Work Efficiently)

~Home Blessing Hour (One Hour of Cleaning…Dust, Bathrooms, Sweep,  Mop, Vacuum)

~Date With One Of My 3 Lovelies (Girls are Growing Up. Do It Now!)

~Grocery List/Meal Plan (To Feed Them Well)

~Move Body (Walk, Yoga, Strength Training)

~Greens + Water Every Day (Hydrate + Nutrients)

~Clean Mama Monthly Rotating Cleaning goals

 

SPECIFIC GOALS LAST WEEK

~rescue hall cabinet and drawers

~call on kitchen update

~spring clean living room

 

SPECIFIC GOALS THIS WEEK

~finish weeding rock beds

~plan garden

Home Zone This Week: (15 minutes a day in said zone)

~upstairs landing/bathroom

 

Hot Spot This Week: (5 minutes a day in said hot spot)

~blankets

 

Computer Hot Spot: (getting my digital organization on!)

~stickies

 

Last Week’s Pin Accomplished:

Sauteed Cinnamon Apples

 

This Week’s Pin To Accomplish:

Best Yoga Poses To Relieve Stress

 

Last Week’s Most Clicked On Links:

beauty supplies2 (1 of 1)

 

Motherhood Hacks | The Quick Journey

 

40 Foods That Grow Well From Seed | Earning and Saving With Sarah Fuller

 

DIY Jewelry Organization 10

 

DIY Jewelry Organization | Vintage Zest

 

ChocoNana Pancakes | My Sister’s Pantry

 

DIY No-Slip Hangers on Diane's Vintage Zest!  #free #organization #tip 8

Budget Friendly No Slip Hangers | Vintage Zest

 

 

Framed Be Inspired

Featured/ Meals/ RECIPES

Chicken Fried Rice

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This recipe is a new staple at our house.  It tastes better than takeout and is much healthier, too.  You control the amount of oil and it uses brown rice for extra fiber.  It uses ingredients that most would already have on hand, and it is a recipe that the whole family loves and gets excited about.

It is super convenient to have a whole meal in one, as it contains protein from the meat, fiber from the brown rice, and even has your serving of vegetables. The recipe calls for uncooked chicken breast, but if you have leftover, already-cooked chicken, use that and make this meal SUPER easy!

For an extra special meal, try serving this with my Baked Vegetable Egg Rolls.

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Chicken Fried Rice

3 cups cooked long-grain brown rice (preferable leftover rice)

3/4 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced into 3/4 inch pieces

1 Tbsp sesame oil, divided

1 Tbsp canola oil (or coconut oil) divided

1 1/3 cups frozen peas and carrots blend

3 green onions, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 large eggs

3 Tbsp low- sodium soy sauce

Salt & Freshly Ground Pepper

Directions

In a large non-stick wok or skillet, heat 1 1/2 tsp sesame oil and 1 1/2 tsp of canola/coconut oil over medium-high heat.  Once hot, add chicken pieces, season lightly with salt and pepper and salute until cooked through, about 5-6 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.

Return skillet to medium-high heat, add remaining 1 1/2 tsp sesame oil and 1/12 tsp canola or coconut oil.  Add peas and carrots blend and green onions and salute 1 minute, then add garlic and salute 1 minute longer. Push veggies to edges of pan, add eggs in center and cook and scramble.  Return chicken to skillet along with rice.  Add in soy sauce and season with salt and pepper to taste.

HEALTH/ Uncategorized

Walk Out On Wednesdays

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It’s time to walk out on your family and friends! Bet you never thought you would read those words on this blog, huh?

I’m suggesting that you join me and other mom’s who are ready for some ‘me’ time on #walkoutwednesdays. It is springtime, and what better way to enjoy spring than on a walk with a friend, getting some much-needed ‘me’ time and exercise at the same time?

Did you know that the average mom only spends 15 minutes a day on themselves? That is must not enough! We do so very much for our families, from carpooling to all of those dinners, running errands…it seems to never stop… so how about a walk out? One that will benefit those much-loved friends and family members.

I’m learning if I don’t take care of myself, I won’t have my best to give to my family, and walking is one of my most favorite ways to take care of my body and mind. I’m especially excited as spring is here and I can leave my treadmill and walk out on my sweet family and into the beautiful outdoors.

Can’t seem to coordinate with a friend? Then walk out alone. Sometimes, especially for us introverts, ‘me time’ at times means alone time. You can walk with a friend, your husband, your dog, or just by yourself. Regardless, just do it!

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Here are a few amazing benefits of walking:

~improves heart health by increasing heart rate and circulation

~improves blood pressure

~engages ab muscles

~builds bone mass

~strengthens legs, including quadriceps, hip flexors and hamstrings

~reduces risk of osteoporosis

~works arm and shoulder muscles

~improves balance

~boosts endorphins, easing stress, tension, anger, fatigue and confusion in 10 minutes

{from everybodywalk.org}

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Omron Alvita Wireless Activity Tracker

A fun little tool I have been using on my walks is the Omron Alvita Wireless Activity Tracker. It is a small little tracker that I can just put in my pocket, in my purse or clip to my waistband. It keeps track of steps, aerobic steps, distance and calories. I just tap on the screen to see my progress, which is super fun and motivating!

OMRON

The Omron Alvita Wireless Activity Tracker is Bluetooth Smart. You can wirelessly sync your data to the Omron Fitness mobile app on your phone, where you can store months of data, view progress charts and graphs and set personal goals related to steps, miles and calories. It is super motivating to watch my daily, weekly and monthly progress!

How about you? Do you need some ‘me’ time? Is walking an exercise you think you would enjoy? Do you think it would be motivating to track your progress?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Omron. The opinions and text are all mine.

FUN/DIY/ Healthy Eating/ RECIPES/ Sides

Simple Mason Jar Salads

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Salads in a Mason Jar

I’ve seen these mason jar salads all over Pinterest and Instagram, and have been wanting to make them myself for quite a while now.  I love the idea of just grabbing a jar and having a healthy lunch or snack right at your fingertips.

These jars took just minutes to make. I decided to keep mine simple, which helped make the process super easy.

 I wanted to use ingredients that all members of my family would eat, as I hoped that having some beautiful jars of goodness in our refrigerator would encourage my 3 girls to grab one and eat up their veggies.

It worked, especially on my oldest girl who is a cross-country runner and is quite motivated to get her veggies in!  She loved these so much that she asked if she could take them in her school lunch instead of a sandwich.

 

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Salad in a Jar

I’ve seen quite elaborate salads- in- jars all over the internet, but I knew simple would work best for our family.  Most that I’ve seen put the dressing at the very bottom, then add veggies, a protein (beans or hard-boiled eggs) then the salad at the top.

Putting hearty vegetables in-between the dressing and the lettuce keeps the lettuce dry and makes them last 5-7 days in the refrigerator.  It is great for a to-go lunch or snack.

My family members all like a different dressing, so I skipped putting the dressing in the bottom.  We ended up eating most of these at home, where we could easily grab the dressing we liked, dump the jar onto a plate, and add any other toppings at the time of eating.

Really, for my family, the salad jars were a great way to present enticing, healthy, grab and go food.  I think it is worth the little bit of time to put the jars together to make this happen.

Sometimes when veggies just sit in their bags in the refrigerator, my girls are less likely to grab them and eat them. Having them in such pretty jars really made a difference in the number of vegetables we consumed that week.

I’ve written before about keeping fresh veggies cut in jars in our refrigerator.  Most weeks when I am making a salad for dinner, I will cut up extra vegetables and put them into jars–again–worth the extra time for my family to see healthy foods in our refrigerator.

They will not grab a cucumber and cut it up to eat it, but they will grab a jar of sliced cucumbers and munch away.

The week I made these jars, I made sure I had hard-boiled eggs peeled and chopped, ready to go as it is one of my families’ favorite salad toppings and a great way to add protein.

I also had red pepper slices and cooked peas, both in separate jars, which are two of my favorite salad toppings.

In my pantry, I had a large jar of croutons, a jar of dried cranberries & a jar of sunflower seeds, all of which are great salad toppings.

Jars a wonderful way to keep healthy ingredients at your fingertips, store ingredients so that they last a long time, and make the refrigerator and pantry look beautiful and organized.  I just love them!

Below is a list of salad ingredients that can be stored in jars to top your Simple Mason Jar Salad, or to make more elaborate Mason Jar Salads.

If you are wanting to make these with the dressing and all of the ingredients layered in the jar, make sure you buy large mouth jars and layer the ingredients in the right order.

 

Best Order:

Dressing, hearty vegetables (ones that can marinate in the dressing without breaking down like carrots, peppers, grape tomatoes, cucumbers), fruits, protein/carb (beans, pasta, chicken), dry toppings (seeds, croutons, dried fruit) then lettuce.

 

Ingredient Ideas for Mason Jar Salads

Shredded Rotisserie Chicken
Chopped Bacon
Whole-Wheat Bow-Tie Pasta
Sliced Strawberries
Blueberries
Grapes
Pineapple
Mandarin Oranges
Dried Cranberries
Avocado
Green Peppers
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Carrots
Peas
Radishes
Cucumber
Tomatoes
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Feta Cheese
Croutons
Sunflower Seeds
Sliced Almonds

 

Simple Mason Jar Salads

Here is how I made mine:

Cucumber

Shredded Carrots

Shredded Broccoli Stalks

Baby Spinach

Lettuce Mix

*all of my ingredients (except cucumber) came prepped in bags from Trader Joes- easy!

 

Directions:

Add ingredients in jars in the order given.  Put a lid on and store in refrigerator 5-7 days.

When ready to eat, take out, add whatever extra toppings you would like, add dressing & enjoy!

 


What about you?

Do you like the idea of having these available in your refrigerator ready to grab and eat?  Do you think it would motivate you to eat more veggies?

For a very detailed article on Mason Jar Salads, click here.

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