No Bake Energy Bites

categories: Mama's Recipes

These are the perfect bite sized snack for those forever hungry toddlers. Those growth spurts can cause their tiny tummies to be as hungry as a 16 year old boy! Help satisfy your child’s hungry with these healthy, easy and fun snacks.

Ingredients:

1 cup dry oats (we used Bakery On Main’s Rolled Oats)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup ground flax seed
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup of honey
1 tablespoon of chia seeds
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

Mix all of the ingredients into a large mixing bowl
1. Children love to dump in the ingredients. Make a game of counting the ingredients. If they are older work on spelling them outloud and if younger work on colors and textures (smooth, sticky, grainy…)
Once mixed well place into the fridge for at 30-45 minutes and let cool/set.
Take out of fridge and roll into small balls
1. Kids can help with this task. Rolling takes some skill, so don’t let them become discouraged with how theirs may turn out. If you have a melon-baller spoon this may help with shaping them if their developing fine motor skills are getting them frustrated.
Store in a sealed container in the fridge.

Makes approximately 2 dozen depending on how large you make them.

Kids in the Kitchen

20
May
2016

Helen Henny Chuck E Cheese Giveaway

categories: Giveaway

Hosted by MomJunky

We often talk about Crunchy Moms, but what about Crunchy Dads? Does that special man in your life love many of the same things that make Moms crunchy? Does Dad love the benefits of babywearing and wear baby in the carrier too? Does he enjoy cloth diapering as well? If you answered yes, then your baby may have a Crunchy Dad! Eating well, wearing baby, cloth diapers and loving a Green parenting lifestyle are for both parents. It’s why I’m proud to have this giveaway focused on prizes just for Dad! Companies included have products that are great for Dad, baby and the environment. Check them out:

Father’s Day is quickly approaching! Looking for some Prizes for the Green Dad in your life? Here are some great prizes. The “Real Men Wear Babies” T-shirt from FreeSoul Designs features a burly man wearing his sweet little one in a baby carrier. Every Mom knows what makes baby happy…makes Dad happy. He may even have his own carrier in his favorite print and a few babywearing selfies on his phone. Free Soul Designs thought of every body type and this shirt goes all the way from Small – 3XXX and are also available in long sleeve.

Geffen Baby has some of the most absorbent prefolds and boosters on the market! Made in the USA with their unique 60% Hemp 40% Organic Cotton, these diapers are both eco-friendly and a great addition to a Crunchy Dad’s stash. Made in the USA these products also help our carbon footprint by not requiring transport from a country overseas to the USA. Included in this prize package is a Fleece Prefold and pack of 3 Super Absorbers in the winner’s choice of size. You can find them at my affiliates Geffen Baby and Diaper Junction.

What Father’s Day Giveaway is complete without a Custom Embroidered Darth Vader Fleece Diaper Cover? Monkee Bumz is a WAHM shop offering IMO some of the most adorable custom
embroidered fleece cloth diaper covers available! In addition to diaper
covers, this shop based out of VA has hooded towels, gifts and
children’s clothing. Find her etsy shop full of really great products and make sure to “heart” it to see new items as they arrive!.

Being a Dad is hard work. Luckily, Garden of Life (my favorite place for prenatals) also makes Men’s vitamins! With Organic, Vegan, Raw, Non GMO, Gluten-Free and Soy-Free products, there is something for everyone. The winner will receive both a MyKind Men’s Once Daily Multivitamin -and- a Dr. Formulated Probiotic. Find their products right on their website or on my affiliate and favorite place to shop, Amazon for a huge selection and fast shipping.

For the Giveaway! One lucky person will win this entire bundle of goodies valued at over $150. Giveaway is open to legal residents of USA/Canada 18+. Void where prohibited.

Entry -Form Disclosure; This is not a sponsored post. This post may contain
affiliate links. This giveaway is in no way
associated with, sponsored, administered, or endorsed by Facebook,
Twitter, Google, Pinterest or any other social media network. Open to
USA and Canadian residents only , must be 18+. Confirmed Winner(s) will
be
contacted through email and have 48 hours to respond before a new winner
will be drawn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. The
disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade
Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements
and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions about this event contact Mama Banana’s Adventures at: MamaBananasAdventures@gmail.com

19
May
2016

How to Score Big with Groupon Coupons

categories: Reviews

Groupon Coupons

You have probably heard about Groupon by this point. They are a huge online resource that allows you to get great bargains on a local and national scale, much like many other coupon sites which can be found here if you fancy exploring all of the options out there. From clothing to events, you can find a real bargain. At one point I exhausted all the massage therapy coupons within a 20 miles radius of me! The deals were just too good to pass up. Something a lot of people, including myself until recently, don’t know about is Groupons Coupons!

My generation, along with most computer knowledgeable people, will search for online coupon codes before making a purchase from websites similar to Deals4Boomers, I hear they have a great range of coupons. It can never hurt to look. I do this while shopping online and while in a physical line at the store waiting to check out. When you go to Groupon.com/coupons you will find verified coupons. So many times I find coupon code after code to find out they are not real, expired or fake. Such a bummer. No more disappointment when you use Groupon.com/coupons!

Follow Groupon on Twitter & Facebook for Sweet Deals

Some of examples of retailers with coupons currently on Groupon are:

Some examples of actual coupon deals are:

15% off Famous Footwear
10% off Barnes and Nobles
40-60% off Children’s Place
25% off select items at Toys R Us

With new deals constantly rolling out and updating, you have to keep checking back. This is a website that you will definitely want to bookmark to click to fast. There are alternatives to groupon coupons. I recently used a promo code via rideshare and got some money back! It was great!

Which coupon are you going to use first?

16
May
2016

Aroma Scents USA Review

categories: Reviews

Aroma Scents USA Review

Review

Written by: Mama Marquardt

Aroma Sense

At Home Spa Experience

As a new mom I find it hard to find any time for myself. I have a new appreciation for the basic, maybe even boring everyday tasks that I get to do by myself. Who would have thought that going to the grocery store alone or enjoying a cup of coffee in a quite house would feel like a vacation. It’s these little things I miss the most about my pre-motherhood life. I try very hard to avoid using herbal remedies like those you can get from budbuddies to help me relax, because I know that even though they do an amazing job of helping you de-stress, they’re not usually recommended for mums. Maybe if I have a weekend to myself! I’d definitely have to use marijuana bags if I was to use these herbal remedies, as I don’t want my kids accidentally getting their hands on it. I never get a moment to myself with these terrors, though! It’s not often I get to shower by myself, I usually have my daughter in a activity gym in the bathroom; where apparently the acoustics are amazing for screaming. So when I do get to step away and enjoy a shower to myself I take advantage and drag that into the longest shower ever. That’s when I decided that if a shower was going to be “my” time then I’m going to make a luxurious experience; I got new fluffy towels and invested a Aroma Sense Shower Head.

About Aroma Sense

Refresh~ De-stress~ Breathe

“A shower experience like no other, Aroma Sense shower will stimulate your senses and revitalize you to help you de-stress.” – Aroma Sense Website. Adding luxury to your everyday life with Aroma Sense vitamin C enhanced and aromatherapy shower. Aroma Sense promotes healthier skin and hair while generating antioxidants. Not only does it eliminate chlorine it also boosts your water pressure. The shower head has a simple clean design that has been manufactured with high quality standards. The Opus wall mounted Vitamin C Shower Head includes 2 Micro fabric filters and 1 vitamin C cartridge. Aroma Sense has six different cartridges to choose from Lemon, Citrus Mango, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Jasmine and Neutral. Lemon oil is rich in antioxidants and can increase alertness and concentration as well as helps reduce the symptoms of insomnia. Mango oil can assist in relief from digestive conditions, heart health as well as protect dry cracked skin. Eucalyptus oil is an antibacterial, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and natural decongestant. Eucalyptus stimulates mental activity and increases blood flow to the brain. Lavender strengthens the immune system while calming anxiety, improving blood circulation and helps in treating migraines, headaches and emotional stress. Jasmine hydrates your skin, provides relief from coughing as well as snoring by clearing out congestion. Jasmine brings forth positive emotions and can induce feelings of romance. All of these aromatherapy cartridges enhances your shower experience and stimulates relaxation. The neutral cartridge is for those who prefer not to have aromatherapy but still want the benefits of vitamin C. Each filter cartridge should be replaced within 60-90 days depending on your usage. You get to customize your shower experience by choosing which cartridge works best for you.

Follow Aroma Sense

Facebook Pinterest Twitter Google+ Instagram

This Mamas Experience

Upon receiving my Aroma Sense shower head I was immediately impressed with the design, its stainless steel with head backed up

a beautiful satin nickel finish. It came with clear instructions and was very easy it install and is ready to use immediately after installation. The first thing I noticed was my water pressure, talk about amazing; it’s powerful yet soft and relaxing. You don’t need the aromatherapy to help you unwind; the water pressure from the laser cut spray plate will make it feel like spa jets in your shower. The scented cartridges leave a subtle but noticeable scent that lingers in the bathroom as well as on your skin. Vitamin C neutralizes the chlorine in the water I’ve noticed it helps leave my skin softer, not only after my shower but throughout the day. Although the Aroma Sense shower head reduces water consumption by 25% I do find myself taking longer showers, so I can’t say I’m necessarily conserving water. I had the Lemon and the Eucalyptus cartridges to choose from and decided to use the eucalyptus since I had a bit of a head cold. First I want to tell you how amazing the eucalyptus smells. The eucalyptus has helped with my congestion and achy muscles. I am relaxed and energized out of the shower and ready to face the day.

I feel that we as a society overextend ourselves and can lead very stressful lives. We all need something to help us unwind and help clear our minds and I feel the Aroma Sense shower head is perfect for that. If this is something that’s not for you, but you’re looking for ways to destress your life, perhaps the medicinal use of marijuana might be an avenue you’d like to take. Cannabis is proven to reduce levels of stress and the associated ailments that come with it. You might not be ready for the strongest indica strain, but there are plenty of strains that are specially tailored for the reduction of stress. It’s recommended that you do your research before deciding whether cannabis is the right option for you. You may not think it, but cannabis has been known to help people who have particular problems with their mental or physical health. There are many different ways that can help to ease the thought of you taking this substance, as smoking it through this lava lamp bong could help give you something else to focus on during your consumption to make you feel better. This is just one option and there are many others that you can consider too, but doing research beforehand is paramount. You are not adding an extra task to your day; you are simply enhancing a routine you are already in.

14
May
2016

Capresso Triple Brew Coffee Maker Giveaway

categories: Giveaway

Capresso Triple Brew Coffee Maker Giveaway

giveaway 1

Capresso makes top of the line products for consumers who expect the best. When you buy a Capresso machine you know you are investing in a machine that was made with the best parts and designed with the user in mind. The Triple Brew is no exception. This amazing machine not only makes coffee but tea as well. You can brew by cup or by carafe, so that no matter how many cups you are jonesing for, the Triple Brew has your back. Easy to use and easy to clean, the Triple Brew will be your new favorite appliance.
If you don’t get your hands on this Capresso machine, don’t be disheartened; there are plenty of other quality machines that are available on the market for you to take a look at. You might want to take a look at some reviews to make an educated decision on the right coffee maker for you; for example, take a look at The Best Super Automatic Espresso Machine Review by an Expert for a well-detailed report on this particular espresso machine.

Enter below for your chance to win a Triple Brew! Value of $180

Click here to purchase a Capresso Triple Brew

Capresso Triple Brew Coffee & Tea Maker Giveaway

MamatheFox and all participating bloggers are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

12
May
2016

Modern Oats Giveaway

categories: Giveaway

Modern Oats Giveaway

Giveaway

Read more about Modern Oats by clicking here

Get a fun new Baby Led Weaning Recipe using Modern Oats by clicking here

Welcome to the It’s a Jungle Out There Giveaway Hop!

Brought to you by: On Honeysuckle Hill

hop

Modern Oats Giveaway

MamatheFox and all other participating bloggers are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

10
May
2016

Capresso Triple Brew Maker Review

categories: Reviews

Capresso Triple Brew Maker Review

review

Capresso makes beautiful, high quality coffee equipment for home or business use. Their innovative coffee makers, espresso machines, Coffee Grinders and other kitchen electronics are a step above and a trusted brand. Being in business since 1994 they are now a top-self brand that you will want to display in your home. They have been widely featured on shows like The Today Show, Good Morning America, Food Network and featured in print such as The Oprah Magazine, The New York Times and Modern Bride. Without a doubt, once you use a Capresso product, you will be as addicted to them as you are to your coffee. You might also want to look around for some of the other best coffee maker options to see how others compare to your current machine!

The Capresso Triple Brew Maker is the product that can be used in most every household. It features something I have never seen in other coffee makers – the triple options! The Triple Brew Maker can make a single cup of coffee, a pot (partial or full) or a cup of tea.

triple brew in kitchen capresso

Single Cup:

Single cup coffee makers are so hot right now. We all need to get that quick cup of coffee in the mornings. It helps us feel sort of alive and less angry at my kids waking me up (or maybe it’s just me). I have been using a single cup coffee maker by Capresso for a while now and its worked like a dream. But some days are “those days” and I just need more than 1 cup! Or its a weekend and my husband is home and wants a cup or two with me. I hate having 2 machines out on my counter its silly and a waste of space in my opinion. This is where the Triple Brew makes the perfect fit. I can make my single cup coffee on the days when I just want a cup, but later have the option to make a full or partial carafe when we need more.

The factory setting for the small is 4 oz. This can be programmed to brew 4 oz to 16 oz.
The factory setting for the large is 8 oz. This can be programmed to brew 4 oz to 16 oz.

Carafe (pot of coffee):

With the Triple Brew system I am able to control how much coffee I make. I do this based on how much water I pour into the reservoir. The amount of water will gauge how much coffee is brewed. If I fill it half way, it will make half a carafe. If I fill it all the way, it will make a full carafe – you get my drift. It’s custom abilities makes it perfect for the days I want 2 cups but don’t have them time to brew 2 single cups. Or I want to fill my extra large coffee cup all the way, which when using a single cup machine never fills it with enough liquid courage. The reservoir is clearly marked making it super easy to use.

Factory setting is to brew 42 oz. This cannot be reset. However, it can only make as much coffee as there is water in the tank.

Tea:

Once the afternoon hits I am ready for a warm cup of tea. I want that warm, soothing flavor and don’t have the room to store a tea pot! They are so cute and fun to display, but they also collect dust and I don’t have the extra storage to use them. I don’t trust microwaving a cup of water, I am worried it will explode or not be hot enough. When I used my past coffee makers to run through hot water I would have to run it 1 or 2 times to get the coffee flavored water out first before I could get a fresh, clear cup of hot water. Now that I use the Triple Brew all of the above hick-ups are gone! The Triple Brew comes with 2 filters, one for coffee and one for tea. I use the black colored one for coffee and the gray colored one for tea. This way when the water pushed through I never have to worry about coffee flavored water. Its such a simple just genius design. You can place a bag or tea or loose tea in the filter. Then as the after passes through you can instantly have tea. Or you can just run hot water through the tea filter and use a tea bag in your our mug. Both work great, its a comes down to a matter of personal preference really.

The factory setting it to brew 8 oz. This can be programmed to brew 4 oz to 16 oz.

How to push in filter

with mug

No matter if you prefer coffee or tea, this is the machine for you!

<br />

10
May
2016

Modern Oats Review

categories: Reviews

Modern Oats Review

review Modern Oats

Written by: Marquardt Chick

all oats

I was never a “breakfast” person. I was among the estimated 31 million Americans that skip the most important meal of the day. Breakfast provides energy to keep you going through the day and can help maintain a balanced diet. So many of us aren’t hungry or simply don’t have the time with our busy schedules to eat in the morning. I didn’t start my day with breakfast until I got pregnant, then skipping breakfast wasn’t an option. I was hungry in the morning and now that I wasn’t just eating for myself I was growing a human and needed something that would fill me up and provide the nutrients I needed for my growing baby. After having my daughter making sure I ate in the morning became so important since I was still 100% providing the nutrients for my child while balancing my new role as a mom. Convenience became key to what I ate in the morning. I wish I had discovered Modern Oats in those first few weeks of motherhood.

About Modern Oats

Modern Oats has one simple goal: Change people’s perception of “old fashioned” oatmeal. If you have tried Modern Oats you will know that they are succeeding in this goal. Founded in 2013, Modern Oats is taking a boring breakfast up a notch. Starting with the highest grade of gluten-free, Non-GMO Verified perfect oats and paring with delicious blends of fruits and nuts. Modern Oats has carefully chosen family farmers and plant in fields where no wheat is subject to cross contamination. Modern Oats knows that an estimated 21,000,000 Americans require Gluten-Free diet and they are Certified Gluten Free. Modern Oats is Vegan certified and also carries “Non-GMO Project Verified Seal”. Meaning their verification is an assurance that a product has been produced according to consensus-based best practices for GMO avoidance. They have something for all pallets with amazing flavors such as Nuts & Seeds (Oregon hazelnuts, flax seeds, almonds and hemp seeds), 5 Berry (blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries and California almonds and pecans), Mango Blackberry (Philippine mango, Washington State blackberries, cranberries along with flax, pumpkin and sunflower seeds), Goji Blueberry (Goji berries, Wild Blueberries, Saskatoon berries and seeds, Chocolate Cherry (Chocolate, cocoa nibs, Oregon Cherries, flax seeds and coconut), Apple Walnut along with new flavors Vermont Maple and Coconut Almond. Making this a healthy easy meal, for at home or on the go with recyclable portable cups. There is no excuses’ for skipping breakfast or any meal, these are so easy to keep at your desk or in your bag.

This Mamas Experience

After reading articles like this Ultimate Baby Led Weaning Guide, I decided led weaning would be the right option for my daughter. As my daughter hit eight months my world took a turn as my mother needed major heart surgery. This led to a ton of stress as well as many hours away from my daughter. As any nursing mother knows this can lead to a dramatic decrease in milk supply. That’s when oatmeal became an everyday staple for me. Oatmeal has so many health benefits such as lowers cholesterol, it’s high in fiber which is hearth healthy and can reduce the risk of high blood pressure. Oatmeal is full of antioxidants and can boost your immune system. After doing my research, oatmeal is recommended as a way to increase a nursing mother’s milk supply. It boosts your iron levels and also has a calming effect and increases relaxation. Taking this into consideration, I made sure in include oatmeal as one of my meals every day. This sounds great in theory, but let’s be honest; oatmeal everyday can be so boring. That’s when I found Modern Oats. They have eight different flavors that I didn’t have to eat the same oatmeal day after day. Although I’m not going to lie, the Coconut Almond is my favorite and I can eat it every day. Every cup is jam packed with flavor and filling enough to be its own meal. I love that they are individually packaged, making it really convenient to eat at home or to take with you.

Each cup also has a recipe to turn your oatmeal into cookies, making breakfast or just a health snack even easier. Modern Oats has many recipes listed on their website and encourages you to create your own recipes. I got creative and made Carrot & Apple Cookies. Not only are these easy to make, they are also a great food option for my daughter since she can easily hold them herself.

Click here to see an awesome Baby Led Weaning Recipe using these Oats!

10
May
2016

HumBird Cloth Diaper Giveaway

categories: Giveaway

Getting rid of the overnight disposable diaper can be the final hurdle for cloth diapering parents. While cloth diapers during the day are changed frequently, an overnight diaper must last…well, overnight. HumBird Cloth Diapers are designed to do just that! With a well designed overnight hybrid cloth diaper and reasonably priced, high quality wool covers, wool wraps, longies and AI2 diapers HumBird offers an impressive range of high-absorbency diapers. With worldwide shipping as low as $3.70, they arrive fast and easy on the wallet. How do you overnight cloth diaper?

What’s to Love? In addition to adorable prints, embroidery and a selection of upcycled fabrics, HumBird diapers are well constructed and come with many layers of absorbency. The combination of a hybrid fitted diaper plus wool cover make a great system. Haven’t tried wool? It’s easy! While the wool is not by itself waterproof, lanolizing the diaper makes it both a breathable and water resistant layer over the high-absorbency fitted diaper. Features include:

Fitted Diaper:

One-size construction fits approximately 11-35/40 pounds. (seen on my 20lb baby here)
Organic hemp/bamboo materials for ultra absorbency
Three rows of Two rise snaps
Crossover Waist Snaps
10 Waist Snaps
Includes THREE inserts!! (Sandwich soaker, doubler and booster)
CSPC Compliant
Super absorbent, requires prepping as any natural fiber does.
Inserts can be folded and configured for custom absorbency.
Up to 15 layers of absorbency with all inserts!
Gentle and effective elastic leaves my baby with zero red marks!

Wool Cover:

Body: 100% Wool from the EU
Waist and Legs (black part) 100% Organic Wool Jersey from Denmark!
Breathable
Waterproof once lanolized
Wool is thin enough to be worn under clothing (although with the fitted it can get chunky)
Posesses antimicrobial properties
Serged at Seams, quality construction and extra effort! No corners cut here.
Contoured stitching in groin area allows diaper to bend and fold where needed.

For the Giveaway! One lucky Worldwide resident will win an Overnight Hybrid diaper plus Model 3 Cover in Girl or Neutral. Legal residents 18+, void where prohibited.

Disclosure; This is not a sponsored post. This giveaway is in no way associated with, sponsored, administered, or
endorsed by Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest, Instagram or any other social
media network. Open Worldwide. The Winner will be contacted through email and have 48 hours to respond before a
new winner will be drawn. Void where prohibited
by law. The sponsor will be responsible for product fulfillment to
winner(s) of the giveaway. The disclosure is done in accordance with the
Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of
Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. For questions please contact MamaBananasAdventures@gmail.com Participating bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment, or lost or stolen prizes.