15 Summer Activities To Help Your Kids Appreciate Nature

Hi there!

Today I'm sharing a guest post. "An outdoor enthusiast, Joe is the lead editor at Nature Rated; a website which rates and reviews the best outdoor gear for people who quickly want to know what to get. He believes in no fluff, to the point reviews, which help you choose the right gear for your next adventure.

Whenever daily life gets him down he heads to the nearest lake or river with his kayak and camera spending time recharging his batteries."

Enjoy!!! 

What are your kids doing this Summer? 

For many of us Summer time with the kids is a time to enjoy the outdoors, the sunshine and if you're lucky the ocean.
As much as kids love Summer holidays, keeping them busy can be a real chore! If you've not got the luxury of a Summer camp then it's up to you as parent to find things for the youngsters to keep busy with.

Failing that, your kids might spend all their time in front of a computer, tablet, phone or other screen and research has shown that spending too much time in front of a screen can have a detrimental effect on the health and wellbeing of children.

Studies have shown that taking part in nature-based activities helps people who are suffering from mental ill-health and can contribute to a reduction in levels of anxiety, stress, and depression. In fact, a daily walk in nature has showed decreased activity in a region of the brain associated with a key factor in depression.

One in four people are estimated to experience bouts of mental ill health and it's on the rise. Prescription medication of antidepressants are also at a record high level and the demand for more invasive treatments are also on the rise. Health and social care commissioners are examining and commissioning different options for cost effective services for mental health and one of these options is a daily walk of 90 minutes or more. We need to learn from the past when kids got excited to spend their time climbing trees and building dens rather than spending hours inside.

Joe at Nature Rated understands this all too well and has put together an infographic on 15 Summer activities to help your kids appreciate nature.

This is what it looks like:

From baking a blackberry pie to constructing a pond or insect hotel, there's plenty for the youngsters to get up to. Head on over to his site for step by step instructions to get your kids out and about enjoying nature.

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Rotisserie Chicken Hack with Gold Peak Tea and Jewel-Osco!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. 

and The Coca-Cola Company, all opinions are mine alone. 

#ServeWithACoke #Jewel #CollectiveBias

Hi there!

By now I think we all know that I don't like to cook.  But, I can heat up a mean rotisserie chicken LOL!

No really - I can.

Jewel offers the Signature Meal Deals, which is a super great deal if you have a large family like me! It comes with a rotisserie chicken (or a bucket of chicken), two (2) 1-lb sides from the deli and a 64oz Gold Peak Tea of your choice!

The convenience of a pre-cooked, whole chicken is awesome. Going on a picnic? Don't feel like cooking? Just grab this meal deal and dinner is already ready! I will say that I like to play with the flavor a bit. It's super easy to update the flavor of a pre-cooked chicken - just add whatever you want to it! This is what I do:

I transfer the chicken into a small aluminum roasting pan, including the stock from the original chicken container.

I put several shakes of salt, pepper and rosemary on the inside of the chicken. And then rub the same mix into the skin. (I like salt, but I'm not trying to die. I think I put around 10 shakes over the whole chicken. It might sound like a lot - but it's not that much. Maybe equivalent to 1 teaspoon, but don't quote me on that.)

I chop up half and onion and 3 cloves of garlic. I put half the the chopped veggies on the inside of the chicken and smear the rest on top of the chicken.

I let mine sit like this overnight, but if you don't have time for that, no big deal. You can cook it right away!

After marinating until dinnertime the following night, I threw it in the oven, still covered in foil to keep the moisture in, on 325 for about 45 minutes.

And done! Serve with your favorite sides from Jewel Osco and some delicious Gold Peak Tea and your dinner will be so delicious!!!

BTW - This Gold Peak Tea is AMAZING!!! I chose the Green Tea flavor. It's like the perfect tea to go with chicken - super light and refreshing and not too sweet! Tea goes with any meal, really. It's the perfect family drink! Everyone can have it!

Get to your nearest Jewel-Osco and grab a Signature Meal Deal and a super yummy Gold Peak Tea! The perfect, quick, summertime meal! Find your nearest Jewel-Osco HERE.

Until next time!

xoxo,

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#LKEVERYDAY - Lorissa's Kitchen Helps Pack In The Protein!

 

 Hi there!

The 4 flavors I tried.  The Szechuan Peppercorn was my favorite!

I'll be honest - I'm not a big meat eater. I'm kind of carbs all day, err'day. Hence my weight LOL. But I know I need to eat more protein. But meat takes a lot of effort to cook and, let's be serious - I hate cooking.  

So, I'm happy to try out anything that means I can eat a little healthier without having to put in too much extra effort. In comes Lorissa's Kitchen!  

Because I'm not much of a meat-eater, I was actually surprised that a few people I know have already tried Lorissa's Kitchen meat snacks and had nothing but good feedback on it! 

My Sister-In-Law, Branwyn, follows a strict Gluten-Free diet due to Celiac Disease and she'd already tried a few of these flavors. Together, we tested the Sweet Chili Pork flavor and it tasted like spicy bacon! Pretty good!

Brawnyn giving my brother a quick snack 

while he was on baby duty on the 4th of July

My friend Vanessa saw the first post I made on Facebook about this brand and said she LOVED Lorissa's Kitchen! I was shocked! 

But I guess I shouldn't be - the ones I tested are actually really good! 

Look at these cutie pies testing out the snacks! 

Some highlights about this brand, besides providing 10 to11 grams of protein per serving, are:

• All animals are raised responsibly and are antibiotic free
• There are no added growth hormones, nitrites, no added MSG and no preservatives
• They are Gluten Free
• They are super portable (in a resealable bag) making it much easier to get protein into your diet every day

I totally recommend trying these out! I know a few people who saw my first post that were ready to try them out immediately! They are available for purchase at Target or on Amazon! 

If you've already tried them, I'd love to hear what you think and which flavor was your favorite! Leave me a comment!

Until next time,

xoxo

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Guest Post - Best Skincare Routine for Dry Skin

Hi there!

This guest post was written by Lisa Haiden of http://www.naturalskincaresolution.com

Are you in a search of the best skincare routine for dry skin? Our team has done a thorough research to provide you with the most useful answers, tips and tricks. Keep on reading to find out more about this skin type and the best way to deal with it. These healthy habits will help you hydrate your skin and feel more confident with its condition.  

Watch for Signs of Dryness

The first step you need to take before anything is watching out the reasons and signs of dryness on your skin. If it’s too dry, reddish and irritated then perhaps your skin is damaged because of wrong eating routine, products or even allergies. This is the case when you must visit a dermatologist to find out the main problem. The most common symptoms of dry skin are a feeling a kind of tightness or itchiness. If there are rough patches, flaking, or even cracking and bleeding on your face then you are recommended to use special face masks, body lotions, moisturizers and variety of healing products to make your skin as healthy as possible.

Know the Causes

Secondly, try to find out the main causes of dryness if they are not connected with the common skincare methods you use. Perhaps one of the biggest reasons why your skin is dry is harsh environmental factors or your bad habits. Spending much time under the rays of sun, smoking, drinking too much alcohol and poor hydrating can make your skin become drier and drier every day. In order to solve this problem you must have a proper skincare routine.

What to Do?

Now, let’s pass on to the most important tip. First, moisturize, moisturize and again moisturize. This is the most important thing you can do with your dry skin to bring it to a possible level of softness and smoothness. Fight again redness with the help of subtle face masks and toners after every cleansing. Avid using scented soups as they are mostly irritating not only for the exquisite surface of your face but also for your entire body. That is to say, cleanse gently using cleansers free of harsh soaps, alcohol or benzoyl peroxide. Never forget about moisturizing after each wash. Then use SPF creams as UV rays are too harsh for dry skin. While oily skin has something to protect itself dry skin needs extra-care to keep its elasticity, shine and freshness. Use the best over the counter anti wrinkle cream or special face oils that contain natural vitamins and go for face massages to avoid early wrinkles. As for the usage of toners, you may either use them or not. It’s option and is up to you. Toner is a water-based skin product that follows your cleanser, like the last step in washing your face. Finally, update your skincare routine according to the seasons of the year. Summer skincare routine can greatly differ from winter skincare tricks as each season has its influences and effects on your skin.

Until next time,

xoxo

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Lorac's Beauty and the Beast Palette

Hi there!

Let's be honest. I didn't NEED this palette. But - just look at it!!! I HAD TO HAVE IT!

I'm going to make this short -

The pigmentation of the shadows is really good. One swipe with your finger will get you a pretty opaque application. 

But it's very powdery. There is a good amount of fallout from each swipe - more than I'm used to, or really like, when it comes to my shadows. With the glittery colors, if you blow on your swatch, the glitter will just blow right off! 

But the colors are still really pretty and you get a good color payoff.  So just be careful when applying - be sure to tap your brush and maybe consider perfecting your skin AFTER you do your eyes to avoid a difficult to clean mess.

The palette is reasonably priced I - $48. I bought mine from Lorac directly, but you can also get it at Ulta.

I'm a sucker for stuff like this.  The packaging looking like a book and having a red ribbon, like a bookmark, is SO Belle!!! I just love it!

If you get it, tag me in your photos! I'll try to post some looks with this soon!

Until next time,

xoxo

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A Quick Trip To The Makeup Show 2017

Hi there!

I decided to hit up The Makeup Show today at Revel Fulton Market. I've gone to this several times and it's always worth the trip for the savings you get! Last year I went as press, but this year the Press Preview was on Father's Day and I just couldn't leave my husband on Father's Day after the amazing Mother's Day he made sure I had!!!

So I decided to just buy a 1-Day ticket at the door. Sounds simple right?

Wrong.

Today was one of those days when I really needed to get my life together! Here's all the stuff that went wrong with my trip to The Makeup Show:

I actually got recognized TWICE! I was shocked anyone would ever know who I am! But Tayy at the LipBar followed me on Instagram and another YouTuber named Michelle told me she's watched my channel as we walked by eachother near the SmashBox booth.  

I forgot my business cards. The makeup show requires you show some sort of proof you work in "the industry." A business card is enough. I was 2/3 of the way to my friends house - slated to arrive EARLY (which for me is basically unheard of) - when I realized I'd forgotten my business cards! So I had to go alllllllll the way home. Because I live in Chicago and traffic is ridiculous at all hours of the day, I ended up picking Vanessa up 30 minutes late. 
There was no parking. This is no surprise, really. The show was at Revel Fulton Market, which is in the West Loop, an area that is extremely crowded. There was no parking nearby so I parked about a mile away and we Uber'd to the show. Simple! Ummm, no. Remember those business cards?
I forgot them again!!!!! In my damn car, which was a mile away! Thankfully the lady at the counter took pity on me and took Vanessa's word that I should be allowed in!

My MAC Purchases

But they didn't take my credit card!!!! I only have a Discover Card. My husband gave it to me for all my charges. It's all I got! Problem? Some places won't accept Discover - LIKE THE MAKEUP SHOW!!! (And Makeup Forever, which I discovered later.) I did not have enough cash on me to cover the ticket. Thankfully Vanessa saved my ass for the 2nd time in 30 seconds and paid for me. She said I could Chase Pay her back the $60. No problem, right???

He found a T-Rex! They loved him at this booth!

Except I couldn't remember my Chase login!!! I tried every password and capital letter and symbol combination I could think of too. NOTHING! Thank God for PayPal!!!

OK - after that, it went fairly smoothly (except that hiccup at Makeup Forever which left me with nada, but that's ok!)

He had fun swatching all the Blues he could find in the display at this booth

Oh wait! I brought a 5 year old!!! Maybe if I'd brought my daughter it would have been different, but my son was having none of this show and kept asking me when we were leaving LOL! Saving grace - he got a lot of attention from the ladies and people offered him enough candy that I was able to make it to all the booths I wanted to despite his complaining.

Overall, it was a quick, but fun visit! I got just a few really cool items! I think I'll make a Haul Video to show how the aqua color palettes I got from Mehron work.

I bought all 5 palettes for $120 so I can up my face painting game! 

The colors are INSANE! 

Until next time,

xoxo

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Swimming Like a Mermaid with AquaMermaid

Hi there! 

Didn't every little girl want to be a mermaid after seeing "The Little Mermaid"??? Ariel is definitely one of my favorite princesses! And I had a chance to discover that being a mermaid is HARD WORK!!!

Aquamermaid.com gave me and my Sister-In-Law the chance to swim like a mermaid - tail and all - and it was really fun!!!

Sad part - I hardly have ANY PHOTOS!!!  

I bought a disposable water camera and NONE of the photos came out!!! I'm so bummed! I searched the #Aquamermaid hashtag on Instagram to see if anyone from our class shared the group photos, and thankfully I was able to find two of our group. #Hashtaghaters - this is why they are useful!!!

I'd also asked someone to take a few snaps of me in my tail on my cell phone before I left.  So this is all I can show you.

But if you're looking for a fun time with your friends and a CRAZY core workout, you should try this class!

It was HARD! You'd never realize how difficult it is to stay afloat without being able to use your feet. If your core is weak - LIKE MINE!!! - you will struggle a little bit. But it's still fun! By the end of the class I felt comfortable enough to do some forward and backward flips and was able to use the synchronized swimming techniques they teach to keep myself afloat.

A class is $60 and this is the layout of the hour:

-5 min Tails choice, How to wear and take care of your mermaid tail

-10 min Swimming warm up without the tail, Swimming level evaluation

-5 min Swimming with the mermaid tail and floaters

-10 min Swimming without floaters

-20 min Swimming techniques

-5 min Games and free swim

-5 min Take your own photos

I do wish the photos could have been at the beginning before my hair was a mess and some of my makeup washed off, but  we made it work afterward.

I should have listened to my Husband and got a GoPro - but I was feeling cheap LOL! But now you know - don't trust a disposable camera!

So contact Nora at Aquamermaid to schedule your class! You can even schedule a private party with all your friends! Try it out!

Until next time!

xoxo

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