Navigation

Archive | FOOD AND DRINK

#SummerCravings with Stonyfield + prAna [Giveaway]

June 8, 2016 21

Giveaway SummerCravings with prAna - 1

What do you crave this summer? What I’m craving right now is my summer vacation to North Carolina. All I can think about is a pair of comfy, sexy jeans that can be worn to the farmer’s market in the morning, a beautiful hike in the afternoon, and seamlessly transition to an evening at the winery. Those are three of my favorite summer activities, which I look forward to every year as the days get longer and the weather balmier. The abundance of fresh veggies, outdoor exercise, friendly people, and the feel-good food that comes out of a trip to the farmer’s market and hike just can’t be beat, in my opinion. It’s a great family activity that I often do with both my son and husband.

While my family is on vacation, we spend mornings at the market picking up fresh bread, cheese, and herbs to make a tasty dip, then spend the afternoon hiking one of our favorite mountain trails, only to be finished off with a relaxing evening next to the bubbling river at the winery. Is there a more perfect way to relax than sipping good wine and enjoying homemade, healthy treats? It’s one of my family’s favorite ways to spend a day there. We all love these little getaways—even my 15 year old, who spends our winery time either sketching on the mountainside above the winery or reading a book while he literally sits on a rock in the river.

Giveaway SummerCravings with prAna - 2

Whether I’m just stopping by the farm stands near home on the weekend, or going to the market near the vineyards during our vacation, I like to be dressed for the occasion. I tend to favor simple, classic wardrobe items from brands who focus on sustainability and natural materials. I appreciate being able to get clothes that suit my lifestyle and which work with my values. Right now the item of clothing that is in top rotation is the Kara Jean from prAna. Versatile, comfortable, and fashionable, they’re made with 75% organic cotton denim and come in a wide variety of colors and even prints!

I can see these working really well with a simple tee for daytime, layered with a button-down shirt, or dressed up a little with a cute blouse for dinner and drinks. prAna has been mentioned by me before, because they’re a company that really gets it; they value sustainability and well-made products. Their organic cotton collection definitely has some of the most stylish earth-friendly clothing I’ve laid eyes on. Colorful, pretty, and practical, I’d wear it every day; clothing that makes me happy and works with the kind of life I live.

Giveaway SummerCravings with prAna - 3

One of my other #SummerCravings which I like to indulge both at home and on vacation is a delicious bit of Greek-style yogurt. The best brand for this, in my opinion, is Stonyfield Organic. They have a wide range of yogurts, from 0% to full fat, plain or flavored, and even with fruit and chia seed additions! Best of all, the milk comes from pasture-raised cows, and is free of pesticides and antibiotics. For a savory treat, I love a little whole-milk Greek yogurt mixed with fresh herbs from the garden or farmer’s market, to go with a yummy baguette and glass of wine. On days I’m looking for a simple, healthy dessert, the yogurt with fruit add-ins is such a delight. Stonyfield is definitely a major player in creating satisfying summer snacks for me and my family.

Yogurt

Today prAna and is offering one of my lucky readers (U.S. only) a chance to win their own pair of Kara Jeans (value $89), to get you through the summer months in comfort and style.

To enter, leave a comment telling me what your #SummerCravings are and how you’re going to indulge them. The winner will be announced on June 30th!

Even if you don’t win, you can enjoy 15% off any purchase from prAna, with code: SCS16JELY

This offer is valid from now through July 7th, 2016. Code cannot be used for gift certificates, or in combination with any other offers.

Good luck!

This post is sponsored by Stonyfield and prAna – all opinions expressed are my own.

Wild Selections® Solid White Albacore Tuna is Perfect for Lunch!

April 18, 2016 0

Wild Selections® Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water 1

Since I am so busy during the week, I really don’t have time to stop in the middle of my work day to make lunch. This means that I have had to come up with several make-ahead lunches that I can grab in between conference calls and projects. One of my favorites is Wild Selection® Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water on a bed of lettuce. Wild Selection® Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water is one of my favorites because inside you will find delicious, delicate tuna that comes from all-natural sources. There are three ingredients: white tuna, water, and salt. That’s it! Every can of tuna is Non-GMO verified too. Now, I obviously love the product, but what really gets me feeling passionate is the philosophy of the company behind the fish!

People talk a lot about sustainability nowadays but for the folks at Wild Selections, it is their entire business model. The entire product line is the only one in the world that is Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified as sustainable seafood. You can trust that the blue MSC eco-label on every can means that the fish inside only comes from well managed fisheries and healthy fish stocks. For even more proof, just log onto the Wild Selections website and actually see where the fish in your can was caught! If we want our oceans to be teeming with life in the future, everyone should start to follow Wild Selections’ lead.

Wild Selections® Solid White Albacore Tuna in Water

Their commitment to ocean health and sustainability goes beyond just their products. For every can of Wild Selection Premium Seafood sold, they donate 13 cents to the World Wildlife Fund for marine conservation and to fishery improvement projects all over America. Wild Selections projects that by 2018, they will have donated a total of $1 Million towards saving our oceans. Partnerships between companies like Wild Selection and organizations like the World Wildlife Fund are helping lead the way to a sustainable tomorrow.

Wild Selections wants to make it as easy as possible for you to find their fantastic products. Check out their store locator to find stores where Wild Selections Seafood is sold. There are many other products available, including salmon, sardines, and shrimp. And you can be sure that every one is as environmentally friendly as their tuna!

Wild-Selections®-Solid-WhitIf you want to learn more about how Wild Selections is helping to save our oceans with sustainable fishing, you can check out this infographic. Or you could visit their YouTube Channel to learn more about their partnership with the World Wildlife Fund and Marine Stewardship Council.

When all is said and done, it is just a delicious product. And one that will help you do your part to save our planet. You can’t ask for more than that!

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

New: Stonyfield Organic Fruit Snacks!

October 14, 2015 0

Stonyfield Gummies 2

What kiddo doesn’t love fruit snacks? Now, you can feel happy about giving your kids this sweet treat. Stonyfield’s new organic fruit snacks are made using real fruit and vegetable juice and are free from artificial flavors, preservatives and GMOs. And they are shaped like cows too!

We excited to receive a delivery of the fruit snacks and we loved both the strawberry and mixed berry! They taste great and have a great consistency too!

Wouldn’t these treats be fun to add to your Halloween party goody bags? I think they would be a hit!

 

This post was written in partnership with Stonyfield – all opinions are my own.

Sick of PB&J? 3 Delicious Organic Lunchbox Lunch Upgrades

September 29, 2015 1

lunch-box-200762_1280

Sometimes making a simple sandwich is just the easiest, but if your student is sick of seeing the standard PB&J in his lunchbox (or you’re sick of making it!) it’s time for a box-lunch upgrade! Read on for three new lunchbox standards that we love in our home and think you will too.

#1 Wraps and Burritos
Wraps are a great way to get a few servings of healthy vegetables into your kid’s day. I like to make extra chicken breast at dinner the night before and combine it with cucumbers, avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots—you name it!—into a hearty wrap the next day. Make sure to include a healthy fat like avocado and a protein like garbanzo beans or feta cheese so that your student gets a balanced meal. Burritos are one of my all time favorite lunch foods and I haven’t met a kid yet who didn’t like them, too! Create a healthy version by combining black beans and brown rice and a sprinkling of cheese. Send some avocado slices, lettuce, or tomatoes in a separate container and the meal is complete.

#2 Homemade Soup
Hearty, homemade soups and chillis are a great winter lunch to send to school with your kid. The next time you make a big pot for the family, portion some out into jars or Pyrex containers and freeze or store the portions in the fridge. On lunch morning, simply heat up the soup and pack it in a thermos. Add a slice of seedy, whole grain bread and the meal is complete!

#3 The Re-done Lunchable
Instead of serving your kids the highly-packaged, preservative-laden lunchables that come from the grocery store, create your own using healthy ingredients. Put together whole grain crackers and cheese with fruit and nuts or hummus with carrots, celery, pita bread, and almonds for a more filling, much more nutritious alternative.

What are your favorite organic lunches to send to school with your little ones? What’s the new PB&J in your household?

How to Reduce Waste this School Year

August 31, 2015 0

How to Reduce Waste this School Year

Back-to-school time is a lot like Christmas—there’s excitement, stress, and a lot of buying. Most parents with school-aged children have spent a small fortune on school supplies and snacks at the beginning of the year only to discover a mountain of barely-used pencils and notebooks at the end of the year—not to mention a car littered with fruit snack wrappers. As parents, we lead by example, and the practices we employ today will rub off on our kids. Here are 4 simple ways to reduce waste this school year and set a green example for your kids.

#1 Avoid Buying in Bulk
Those bulk packages of pens, notebooks, snacks, and juice boxes are tempting, but the truth is that many of these products are sold cheaply in bulk because they’re unhealthy, cheaply made, or don’t follow environmentally-friendly productions standards. Instead, compile a list of everything you need based on all your kids’ school supply sheets and look for supplies that are made from recycled materials or that can be recycled or refilled later. As far as snacks, shopping locally for healthy fruits and veggies and setting aside a couple hours a week to bake a batch of granola or whole grain muffins to send the school will ensure that your kids eat healthy without creating a ton of trash.

#2 Use Resusable Lunchware
The average American family creates 4,320 pieces of unnecessary lunch waste, mostly plastic packaging. That adds up to a lot of trash in the landfills and ocean with a lot of dollars down the toilet. Instead of buying pre-packaged snacks and milks and sending lunches to school in brown bags and plastic baggies, purchase non-toxic, reusable lunch boxes and snack cups for your kids to take lunch to school in and send water and milk in stainless steel bottles. Throw in a cloth napkin and reusable cutlery and you’ll eliminate ALL of the 4,320 pieces of lunch waste your family would normally produce!

#3 Choose Minimally Packaged Products
When possible, buy notebooks and supplies that don’t come in plastic wrappers or extra boxes, which are totally unnecessary. Every piece of non-degradable plastic trash that you throw away ends up in a landfill or adding to the island of trash in the ocean.

#4 Green Your School Commute
A great, easy way to reduce your carbon footprint is by having your kids walk, bike, or ride the bus to school. Walking or biking will give kids a little exercise to boost their energy and sharpness before class and let them enjoy the outdoors at the same time. If safety is a concern where you live, walk or bike your kids to school instead of driving them, or see if another student who already walks to school has a parent who can tag along.

What are some simple ways your family has reduced waste during the school year?

Older posts Newer posts