Just Juice.

Hope you guys enjoyed the brussels sprout ideas this week. Unfortunately, I think I might be the only person who actually juices them though -- at least when it comes to photographic proof :) So I won't be able to do a 'juice' installation, but I still want to give you guys some Instagram Inspiration this week. If you remember from when we talked about eating our colors, all green fruits/veggies have the same overall good health benefits, with each of them having their own little goodies. So here's some green juice. ENJOY!

@alkalinesister -- chard, cucumber, kale, celery, lemon, ginger, carrot
and some green herbs

@djcrazysanchez -- spinach, lime, cucumber and granny smith apples

@freshncrunchy - celery, radishes, lemon, pear, kale and herbs

@aniiit -- chard, celery, spinach, granny smith apples, brocolli

@juliebkolstad

@mealsfullofcolor -- lettuce, lemon, apple, ginger, nectarine

@simonnnn -- spinach, lemon, pear, cucumber and kale

What are some of your favorite green combos?

More Brussels.

So for all of you that are still pretty skeptical about whether brussels sprouts are really worth trying -- or retrying for all of you that have written them off in the past -- I've put together a little Instagram Inspiration from some new people that I've found. It looks like I'm not the only one crazy about these little green guys. I'd love to get some feedback or recipe ideas from you guys. ENJOY!

@allyskitchen -- skewered and ready to go. These would be great
to throw on the grill or even roast them this way with some seasoning.

@cloalpz -- throw in some zucchini and shredded sprouts and plop
an egg on top for a great breakfast 'hash'.

@miss_chanhna -- by far my favorite idea, brussels with cheese + bacon.
These would make great little appetizers for guests.

@kalecrush -- she prefers freezing hers and then plopping them in her
smoothies or thawing them out for salads.  Even though you lose some
of the nutritional value by freezing, you'll always have them on hand!

@mariannlouise -- seasoned and ready to roast

@bok72 -- some oil + fixins and you're ready to saute them up!

So have you been inspired yet to try some brussels?

Recipes: Brussels Sprouts.

I'm not gonna lie -- my brussels sprouts the other night looked nothing like this -- but were just as yummy. I wish I could say that I made the recipe up myself, but alas, I am a HUGE fan of Pinterest when it comes to recipes. It's way easier for me to browse thru and 'pin' stuff then it is to write something down that I randomly found on the internet. Although, I've made myself a vow this last week while trying to make a grocery list. I think I'm going to start writing my recipes down on cards and sticking them in a box. I feel like it'll be much easier to make a weekly meal plan and shop for the ingredients. It never fails, I always buy random ingredients when I'm at the store, but I don't ever buy them with an actual meal in mind -- and I'm definitely not creative like my mom when it comes to just throwing a bunch of stuff together to get an amazing meal. Here's some fun inspiration for you guys when cooking up your yummy brussels sprouts. Sadly, most people WAY over cook them and create mush, which is why most people don't like them. ENJOY!

Pinterest: Garlic and Herb Stuffed Brussels Sprouts -- this is what I made
the other night and though it was a tad time consuming, it went great
with the stuffed shells recipe that I made too!

Pinterest: Brussels Sprouts Breakfast Hash + Egg

Brussels Sprout + Strawberry Salad

Pinterest: Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Chicken Sausage Pasta

Pinterest: Brussels Sprout Citrus Salad

Do you have any fun recipes for Brussels Sprouts?

Brussels Sprouts.

Anyone have any idea what these alien looking veggies are? Well, if you were paying attention -- the headline kind of gives it away, but if you weren't, these are brussels sprouts. When I started getting everything ready for this week's blog topic, I stumbled across these pictures of sprouts still on the stalk! I guess it's a pretty common sight at farmer's markets, Trader Joe's and other countries. As someone who has eaten them all their life, I feel like I've been sheltered from their awesomeness. Can't wait to get my hands on an actual fresh stalk, but for now, loose ones will have to do.

Growing up, my mom always made brussels sprouts and I really liked them. It never occurred to me that other kids my age either didn't get them regularly or plain hated them until I was much older. I can remember several occasions when I'd have friends over for dinner and they'd turn their noses up at the mention of brussels sprouts. Up until just recently, I haven't made any -- in fact, the only reason I've bought any lately was to throw them in my Breville and add them to my juices for a 'green' item. That is, until last night :) I'll tell you about my fun recipe tomorrow when I share some cooking inspiration, but today, I want to focus on all the benefits for these little guys.

• They are an excellent source of Vitamin C (50 milligrams per 1/2 cup, which is about 80% of your daily recommended intake) -- studies in Europe have shown that people with high blood levels of Vitamin C are less at risk for heart disease.  
• The Vitamin A/C, lutein and zeaxanthin help fight off cataracts and other eye diseases.
• They are also a HUGE source of Vitamin K (which builds bone) with up to 6x the daily amount!
• Brussels sprouts have a strong level of antioxidants that help get rid of free radicals in our systems which lead to cancer and other debilitating diseases.
• They have a low GL which makes them great for those with diabetes -- this paired with it's high levels of soluble fiber, help to give your blood sugar a slow rise.
• Brussels sprouts help aid in digestion since they have alot of fiber in them. Because of this though, they tend to cause gas and bloating if you're bodies system is already backed up and unhealthy. The high amounts of fiber though will help you stay fuller longer and aid in weight loss.
• They're a low carb food and 1/3 of the calories come from protein.
• They are rich in potassium which helps to reduce your blood pressure levels. 
• High levels of Omega-3's -- if you eat 1.5 cups (100 calories worth), you're looking at roughly 1/3 of your recommended intake for the day. 

Additional Sources: WHFoods -- BeWellBuzz -- Nutrition & You

So now we know why they're good for us, but what's the best way to buy them and store them? You can't possibly get them any fresher then buying them still on the stalk. If you're like me and haven't been able to find them like this, you're next best bet is to find them on ice. Those that are sold at room temperature tend to go bad quickly. Signs of bad brussels sprouts include: strong odor, yellow or wilted leaves, and if they're puffy/soft to the touch. It's best to buy them in an unpackaged form so you can really see what you're getting. If you plan on cutting them in half to cook or roast, try buying them all in similar sizes so they cook at the same rate. If you must buy them in packages, make sure you open the package when you get home and weed out any bad ones -- repackage them in a perforated plastic bag or veggie bag if you have one on hand. They'll store for 3 to 5 days like this. Don't bother washing or trimming them until you're ready to use them, otherwise they'll go bad quicker. And obviously, store them in the fridge and not at room temperature.

Stick around for some recipes tomorrow and feel free to share some of your own!

Review: TriCalm.

I've recently over the last several months come across a website called Moms Meet that brings everyday moms and brands together for the benefit of everyone. There's two different programs that they offer -- one for moms who lead groups and one for mom bloggers. I have been approved to fit into both :) I'm not complaining. A couple times a month, I get emails from MM to 'apply' for sampling events to do with my group. To be honest, I didn't have a mom 'group' prior to signing up with MM, but that's the beauty of it. They aren't looking for mom's that have been meeting for years -- if anything, they're looking for people to start new mommy groups for the sake of trying out products. I've applied for about a dozen opportunities and have only been approved for two in a group (Earth's Best Organic Baby Food Pouches and Wholesome Sweetners agave nectar) and one as a blogger (TriCalm).

Low Down: TriCalm is a steroid free anti-itch gel that helps with the discomfort of rashes, poison ivy, hives, sunburn, bug bites, allergic reactions and other skin issues. It's not meant to just simply numb the problem, but to relieve the symptoms associated with whatever is bothering you. It's been FDA approved for adults and kiddos alike. And it's not suppose to dry out your skin -- it actually can be used to relieve eczema-related symptoms and dry skin dilemmas. What makes it work so great? (pulled from website) "TriCalm's formula contains COSMEDERM-7, a compound of strontium, a naturally occurring element found in leafy green vegetables" along with a bunch of other goodies. Click here for the science.

Testimonal(s): I had the opportunity to use this for a couple months before my review was due -- and I must say, I found it to be useful for several different issues that we had over that time period. Every time I turn around, the kiddo had some sort of bite or scrape that needed to be patched up. I personally used it on a very angry sunburn that I had via the tanning bed right around Christmas time. Alas, I did not get photos of any of these. I don't know where my brain was on that one?! Fortunately for me though, my neighbor's one-year old broke out in an unknown rash all over the back of his legs and his cheeks. The doctor's didn't really know what was wrong and offer several solutions -- and I offered the use of my TriCalm tube :) I think the pictures speak for themselves. She used it 2x a day for 3 days -- and it literally looks amazing! Click on the shots to get a better look.

Before

After

Giveaway: I don't know about you, but even if I hadn't had any personal experience with the product, I'd be a believer that there's some good stuff in it! The great thing about the Mom's Meet program is you don't have to take my word for it! They've asked me to do a giveaway for my readers and the best part is, I get to choose not just one, but TWO winners! I'll be choosing one from my blog and one from my Instagram feed -- leave a comment below with your email address (for me to contact if you win) and why you want to try TriCalm for yourself? I'll give you guys till Feb 8th to plea your case and in the meantime, check out their Facebook page :)

**Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product. 

Review: Cuppow

Have you ever found a product that was so simple and so useful (not to mention almost life changing) that you wondered aloud to yourself "why didn't I think of that?". Meet Cuppow -- rhymes with WOW. Enough said.

About: From what I gather from their (limited) website and their Facebook page, Cuppow took off back in January of last year and has made a huge impact on the market and their home state of Massachusetts. The infographic below sums up what one small company with a passion can do in just 10 months and this was before the holidays even hit! I can't imagine where they are now! I love their philosophy of having a "commitment to developing and maintaining the best localized supply chain possible" by sourcing as much as they can from vendors around them.

(click to view larger/readable version)

The Goods: So what is Cuppow? They are fantastic lids ($7.99/each) made from recyclable, BPA free plastic that convert canning jars into spill free adult sippy cups! What? True story. I told you this was life changing stuff! They come in two versions -- one for regular mouth jars which allows you to drink with a straw and wide mouth jars which just has a thick slit for drinking. Up until just recently, they only came in a clear version, but they now carry a royal blue color in the regular mouth (5% of the proceeds benefit the Alliance for the Great Lakes organization) and an orange color in the wide mouth (5% of the proceeds benefit domestic Hurricane Sandy relief efforts). AND they're packaging has been revamped several times over the last year to help them reduce the amount of material they use!

This is a shot I snagged from their Facebook page -- it shows their first
packaging event back in January. All their friends/family rallied behind
them to help get this first run launched!

Final Thoughts: I really can't say enough good things about my Cuppow lids. Eco Friendly? Check. Easy to use and clean? Check. Stimulating the local economy? Check. Life changing for those of us that drink out of mason jars every single day and always spill them in the car because they don't properly fit in our cup holders? Check. Maybe that last one is just for me, but either way, I'm a lifer :)

Recently started making my own chai tea lattes at home instead of
running thru Starbucks every morning. Taste WAY better!

Anyone else love their Cuppow lids?

**Disclaimer: This box and all the items within were kindly sent to me to review by Cuppow. All products that are mentioned and reviewed on my blog are my own personal and honest opinions, or those of someone I've shared my goodies with. I am not being compensated additionally for my thoughts or posted reviews -- whether good, bad or indifferent. 

EYC Fridays: Smoothie Edition.

Last day of smoothies (for now) I promise. It's just been so hard to resist since it's all I've been looking at for the last month on my Instagram feed. Between that and all the vegetarian/vegan goodness that comes across it, you'd think that I'd be healthy via osmosis. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way. But a girl can dream can't she? These are just a few more smoothie inspirations that really pack in the colors. ENJOY!

@jem_ini

@myhealthydish_

@ethicalveganweb

@simplegreensmoothies

@nature_vs_nurture

@simplegreensmoothies

@xo_dominichulinda -- she also has a website!

@veganyackattack

And I'm done. Hope you enjoyed all the smoothie inspiration this week!

Smoothie Inspiration.

I know that Thursdays are usually all about juicing inspiration, but I want to keep the smoothie movement going strong this week. When you think of green smoothies, you probably picture it being, well, green in color, but that's not the case. A green smoothie can be any color, as long as it has something green in it :) And I'm sure you know, there are tons of options available if you just get creative. Here are a few more of my Instagram friends that have joined the challenge! ENJOY!

@kirkerlove

@sproutedlife

@veganyackattack

@stayinghealthyandfit

@xo_dominichulinda

@xo_dominichulinda -- couldn't decide, so picked two :)

@veggietorials and veggietorials.com

@veganyackattack -- doubled up again, couldn't pick :)

Wish so badly I could find some place that made green smoothies local!