Bali makes me say, ahhhhhhhhhh
Source: mynewsletterbuilder.com via Cocoa on Pinterest
Archives for January 2013
Nutri Bullet – What is All the Hype?
I purchased this a few weeks ago from Bed, Bath and Beyond as a way to drink more fruits and vegetables. It is not a juicer but an extractor that makes smoothies. The NutriBullet comes two blades, 3 cups for making various quantities and a recipe book. There are a number of recipes to choose from so there is no opportunity to make the same smoothie twice unless you find your favorite. I was a little reluctant with mixing vegetables and fruit. To my surprise the concoction was very good, even the kids tried it. My first smoothie consisted of kale, bananas, strawberries, blueberries and water.
It is simple to use with a few twists of the cup you a delicious and nutritious smoothie. I have since made a smoothie with all fruit: strawberries, mango and banana. The NutriBullet comes with two lids so it is easy to make ahead and store in the refrigerator. I definitely say it was worth the investment and anything that helps my kids to ingest vegetables works for me.
eMeals—Chilled Out Chicken Salad
This weekend I printed my eMeals Low Fat Meal Plan menu for this week and decided to shop for Meals 1, 2, and 7. The chicken salad was delicious, the apples added texture and sweetness to the salad. I realized with some of the ingredients listed the fat-free versions were not available. For this recipe, I tweaked it a bit by using the Perdue Chicken Selects Grilled Chicken and since I could not find fat free mayonnaise the light mayonnaise was a substitute. My 6 year old tried the salad and liked it. Although, she took a few bites it was progress compared to her usual chicken nugget meal.
Meal 1
Chilled-Out Chicken Salad
Pita Rounds
Grapes
3.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast
1 c chopped green apple
1 c minced celery
1 c FF mayo
(2 t tarragon, 1 t salt, ½ t pepper)
12 oz package pita bread, cut into wedges
1 lb seedless grapes
Boil chicken until done. Drain, cool, and finely chop.
Reserve 4 c chopped chicken for MEAL 3. Combine
chicken, apple, celery, mayonnaise, tarragon, salt and pepper.
Stir to combine, adding more mayonnaise, if desired.
Serve with pita wedges, and grapes.
eMeals: Meal Planning Made Simple
I am a working mom with two kids so for me dinnertime equals time-consuming, chaotic planning! I feel like this meal planning has saved my day, evening and week! The hardest part of my work week is scheduling nutritional, quick and tasty meals. My ideal is to cook one meal that the kids will at least try and hopefully eat. Hence, saving me from a world of “double meals” that consists of unhealthy processed chicken or fish products and unhealthy carbohydrate side dishes. eMeals provide a weekly shopping list and each of the meals outlined.
eMeals gives you the option of selecting 10 different options for meal planning: classic, clean eating, simple gourmet, paleo, low car, low fat, portion control, natural and organic, gluten free and vegetarian. The meal plans provide a lot of diversity in meal planning for a variety of dietary needs, choice and requirements. Another nice feature is users can also customize the recipe according to their family size and local grocery store. Each week you are sent an email with seven recipes, a grocery list and weekly specials at the selected grocery store. Initially I selected the classic meal plan however after reviewing a menu, I thought the meals were a bit too much for a picky 12 year old and 6 year old. After reviewing other meal plans, I changed my meal plan to the low fat meal plan. The meals for this week look really easy, simple ingredients, and familiar entrees.
eMeals allows you to review menus as well as change your meal plan. In the event, you decide to change your meal plan after subscribing carefully review the menus and then save your selection. My change in menu plan has my account restricted for any other changes until February 21st.
One of my goals in using the eMeals is work toward a healthy meal planning system as well as reducing unnecessary calories with processed quick food selections.
Lose Weight-Get Healthy #gethealthy Did you know eliminating 500 calories each day will help you reach this goal? 
Here are a few recipes that are under 400 calories per servings and under $4. Just think about how much we consume in fast food calories on a monthly basis. 
Get Organized-#get organized If you are like me I spend a significant amount of time making multiple trips to the grocery store on the weekend. This becomes very frustrating especially when I forget items, why because I refuse to use a shopping list. eMeals will allow me to plan and organize my shopping habits. eMeals saves the day with this FANTASTIC printable shopping list: 
The testimonials from eMeals users gives you another reason to check out this planning system: 
Money- #getthrifty
In the new year, are you looking for a way to maintain a workable family budget? eMeals provides this simple budget form. I am looking forward to grocery shopping this weekend with my shopping list and plans to make at least 4 of the 7 meals on the low fat meal plan. My blog posts will follow with updates on the recipes and our progress toward #gethealthy, #getorganized, and #getthrifty for a NEW YEAR, NEW YOU!
For CocoaMommy readers, just click the eMeals link below the icon and you can save 15% off of your eMeals subscription using the promotional code: NEWYEAR.
For Fellow Bloggers, click on the eMeals Blogger Network widget on the right to start subscribing. One last request, don’t forget to add CocoaMommy to the “How Did You Hear About Us” field.
Pinterest Wednesday- Did You Know?
Scandal Recap 1/17/13
photo credit:abc.go.com
Let’s see where do I begin. Yes, Fitz has woke up however there was so much flashbacking I hope I can cover the full episode. It opens with #Edison accusing #Liv of having an affair with #Fitz…WOW!. Liv does what she does best – she lies to #Edison’s face.
FLASHBACK: 2 years ago, 35 days before the election. We learn that the election was down to him gaining 80 plus electoral votes and guess which state was important, OHIO! The secret team included Cyrus, Liv, Mellie, Verna and big man HOLLIS! Hollis suggested that they can hire someone for a grand to rig the election. Liv is up in arms about the suggestion as well as Cyrus. There is obvious bad blood between Fitz and his father as he wanted no parts of soliciting his Fitz Sr (2 terms governor, 3 terms Senator). The stakes were high and they thought this was the only way aside from rigging the election. The affair was heating up during this time in the election.
Doctor gives the prognosis, the frontal lobe damage he sustained from the gunshot wound is eye popping. Changes in personality, no speech, simple tasks like walking almost impossible. It really sounds sketchy that he will ever regain his full capacity. Well, let Madam President has issued a statement to members of the cabinet and guess who has walked into the room, #Fitz of course. Fitz is definitely not pleased with Mellie forging his signature however getting Madam President out of the oval office is a much better.
FLASHBACK: 27 days before the election and in walks Fitz Sr. His father is the charismatic version of his DNA and definitely was built for politics. Fitz Sr. sits down with the secret group and has the entire room wrapped around his finger. Fitz is definitely not warming up to Fitz Sr. Fitz Sr. was definitely not the meek and mild politician and then Fitz Jr. starts slinging his father’s dirty laundry at the table. It was clear there was no love lost with his Fitz Sr. not showing up this was yet again another Mellie debacle to invite Fitz Sr. Mellie catches Fitz on the elevator with #Liv and she thinks #Fitz is coming on to Liv because had a little too much to drink. Wow, she really didn’t know the full story at that time. Mellie hugs #Liv
#Fitz is back to work however it is obvious the effects are weighing heavy. His meeting with senior staff ends with Sally helping him finish his sentence. Definitely, not a good look! OUCH!
FLASHBACK: 26 days before the election. Cyrus is pushing to consider Hollis’ offer. Fitz Sr. is pushing for finding dirt on the opponent, Reston. Liv puts together Harrison, Abby and Huck to find the dirt on Reston. The secret team meets after hours with Hollis, Verna, Mellie, Cyrus, and Liv to reconsider rigging the election.
Sally is still in cahoots with Hollis by updating him on #Fitz’s condition. Hollis wants to see him “crash and burn”! Interesting considering they were once friends and now he is hiring assassin.
FLASHBACK: 22 days before the election and still 7 points down in the numbers for election. He and Liv go head to head on his motivation for running. He was fighting to be better than his father.
Cyrus has realized that Fitz is no condition to continue on. Fitz insists doing a live press conference with questions. It is definitely against the better judgement of Fitz and Liv.
FLASHBACK: 14 days before election. All the dirt on Reston is tossed around and Fitz is coached on how to handle the debate. He actually defied the strategy of slinging his opponent’s dirty laundry. He kept the campaign clean with a show of emotion from his side. His father was not pleased with his choice and they both went at one another’s throat. Fitz despied his father’s political tactics and his father viewed him as weak and not worthy. Wow, what a dysfunctional father/son relationship.
Liv again coaches Fitz on how to handle his live press conference with questions. He aced the conference and Sally issued his reinstatement letter. Fitz is back and Sally finally admits it was not easy being President.
FLASHBACK: 7 days before the election and the secret team converges again. Hollis pushes the idea of rigging the election harder. Liv is the hold out. Fitz Sr. dies and Liv is finally convinced that Fitz wants it.
Edison shows up again and apologizes for all of his previous rants. He pours his heart out to Liv and professes his love for her. Then Edison tells Liv he wants to MARRY her! Mellie is spilling over with gratitude for Fitz’s condition, when she asked what did he want, his response was “I WANT A DIVORCE.” Her look spells STUNNED!
FLASHBACK: 4 days before the election Fitz’s chances of winning are a long shot without Ohio and the city of Defiance is the key to winning. 1 day before the election Liv goes in with the secret team and the scheme.
Thursday, January 24th at 10PM EST tune in…..
Inauguration 2013: Faith in America’s Future
I wish we could be here but we will tune in from home!
Source: facebook.com via NBC News on Pinterest
MLK Day of Service: January 21, 2013
Source: casefoundation.org via The Case Foundation on Pinterest
Do You Believe in Guardian Angels?
photocredit: msnbc.com
After my evening workout I get in and learn that a kindergarten student has gone missing. The first thing that hit me was the fact that I have a 6 year old kindergarten student. I could not figure out why there was no Amber Alert notification? Shortly after 8:30 the tv broadcasting stopped for the Amber Alert announcement, 5yo Nailla Robinson. My cell phone sent the alert via a text message on my phone. The missing child was dropped off in the morning by her parent. Then an unknown woman arrived shortly after, signed the log in principal’s office as “Tiffany” and identified herself as the child’s mother. She went to the classroom removed the child and left the premises. The details were so sketchy, no one saw how the woman left the school grounds. As more details unfolded I learned why the Amber Alert was so delayed, the school was not aware the child was missing until early afternoon when the daycare provider came to pick her up.
As a parent my first thought was why did the school not ask for some form identification? Are schools too relaxed when dealing with female caretakers/guardians? is there an assumption that we pose no threat to children because we are least likely to be profiled as predators? Why did the substitute teacher not get an announcement that a parent was coming to the classroom. I remember in my son’s previous charter school parents were not allowed in the classroom under any circumstances. The announcement may have triggered the fact this woman was an impostor in front of the child.
I remember the day one of my mommy friends picked up my 6 year old from a daycare facility. I gave the director her name, cell number and the specific time frame she would arrive. It never occurred to me to ask my friend if they asked her for identification. Shortly after the news unraveled the vague details I went through the list of “pickup” people on our list and I instructed my 6 year old she is under no circumstances to go with anyone not on the list. She is not to leave and demand that the school call me immediately. It’s a shame to take measures like this with our children at such a young age but I no longer trust that everyone within the schools will properly adhere to the proper procedures. The following morning I wrote my DD’s teacher a letter expressing my concern in light of Monday’s incident and wanted to ensure that our pick-up are properly documented. I further stated that if these arrangements change I will write a note of permission or call the school directly. I am not saying there are flaws and lack of understanding at every school however as a parent you can never be too sure when it comes to protecting your children. This breach in security should have triggered major flaws in their existing system and initiated some form of reprimand for those involved.
Facebook friends were sharing the Amber Alert within their timelines in the hope that this child was found safely. The next morning as I turned on the early morning local news, breaking news story was the “Missing Child Found Safe” and was being taken to CHOP. This was the best news a parent could hope for as well as the surrounding community. I can’t imagine anyone not being affected by this story. When I heard the details on how she was found it was beyond words. A man was on his way to work and he heard sounds coming from a nearby field and there she was hiding under the playground equipment.
Later that evening the “Good Samaritan” was speaking at a press conference in which he explained hearing the sounds and knowing immediately it was a cry. When he investigated he found Nailla shivering and crying wearing only a tshirt. She had gone missing for almost 24 hours. Who was this Good Samaritan? I learned he was a 27 year old, married, father of 2 children, a son and daughter. The one statement that was so heartfelt from this father was when he picked up the child, the first thing he thought about was his own daughter. He wrapped her in his coat to keep her warm until help arrived. He was unaware that the Philadelphia Police were looking for a missing child.
Who was this “Good Samaritan”, his name is Nelson Mandela Myers. I think he is a real life “Guardian Angel”! If a child is ever in need I would hope there are more kind individuals to rescue them like Mr. Myers. He should be the “Person of the Week” in my book.
