Valentine's Day with VitaTops

I recently had the chance to try VitaTops Deep Chocolate muffin tops and was blown away. For 100 calories I need to have something substantial, not just one little bite of chocolate or a single truffle. VitaTops fit the bill-they are light and fluffy, loaded with vitamins and minerals while still being decadent. They are located in the freezer section and wrapped individually so you can always have them on-hand for whenever a craving hits. I prepared mine right in my toaster and the smell of the warmed up chocolate chips was an added bonus.

I decided to make a healthy snack for my kids for a Valentine's Day treat. First, I warmed up my VitaTop in the toaster, then topped it with almond butter and sprinkled coconut shavings and chocolate covered sunflower seeds on top. Festive without being toxic! The kids flipped out and I felt good about serving them something that wasn't loaded with artificial flavors and high fructose corn syrup. (Chocolate covered sunflower seeds are from Trader Joe's and coloring is from tumeric, beet and red cabbage powder, FYI)

Post Halloween come down with Crispy Green

If you're anything like me, you are happy that the week following Halloween is over. The candy negotiations have lessened, I have secretly thrown out all the Twizzlers and Whoppers and only a few Dum Dums remain at the bottom of my son's pumpkin. It is time for an overhaul! Especially before the holidays and unhealthy eating try to sneak back into our lives. Enter: Crispy Green! Crispy Green is packaged fresh fruit that has been freeze dried. Nothing else.

We love the apple for my kids, my daughter is still too young for regular apples because they are choking hazards but these apples basically melt in her mouth and I love that they are simply Fuji apples, nothing else. There is ever only one thing on their ingredient list-the actual fruit itself. Imagine that! ;)

To encourage healthy snacking, we have them placed in a basket on a lower shelf in our kitchen. Kids should be able to have things they like at plain view. This way my son feels empowered to help himself and snack healthy. A couple bags of these are always floating around my purse and car-excellent to keep on hand for the adults and kids alike.

Find out where to buy Crispy Green here and happy snacking.

new rituals with essential oils

I started researching essential oils (other than Oregano) at the end of last year and dove in to the world of doTERRA shortly after. I am slowly building my collection but have already found ways to incorporate these oils into my daily life!

-Lemon and Wild Orange in my water as a detox (make sure to only use glass, not plastic! the oils will draw the toxins out of plastic and into the water...not good!)
-Oregano on Jonas' feet when he has a cough or cold
-Eucalyptus and Lemon blended with coconut oil to rub on Jonas' back and chest to reduce mucus and make it easier for him to breathe
-Lemon and warm water to clean the carpet in my house
-Peppermint for upset stomach, a pick me up or fresh breath
-Lavender in Jonas' bath to help calm him down, for cuts and scrapes or put behind my ears to help me fall asleep
-I gave my bottle of Frankincense to help with my mom's arthritis in her fingers. It's working!
-Past Tense for headaches
-DigestZen for upset stomach
-OnGuard for everything during the cold season!! Rub it on my neck and chest to keep me healthy or fight a bug. Also it smells incredible.

I have a long list of oils I want to buy next. Do you use EO? Have any favorite uses?