Sharing A to Z

How to calm your sweet tooth

Stephanie | February 21, 2015

Unfortunately, I have a sweet tooth and sometimes get some serious sugar cravings! While eating healthy and clean has helped it a lot, I still get an occasional craving. After indulging over the holidays, I (like most people) am trying to get back to healthy eating. Therefore, I thought I would share some tricks that have worked to calm my sweet tooth. I hope they work for you, too!

Tips to calm your sweet tooth:

Eat a piece of fruit. After all, it is nature’s candy! An apple with peanut butter is one of my (and my children’s) favorite snacks.
Try some medjool dates. These are my secret weapon when I really need something sweet. They can be eaten alone (caution: they can have a pit) or they can be blended into smoothies or other recipes.
Drink coffee or tea. Peppermint tea helps to curb cravings or you can find a blend that tastes sweet.
Brush your teeth. This signifies to your body you are done eating. It also makes most things taste different and hopefully will help deter you from eating that sweet.
Make a healthy, but sweet smoothie or treat. These are my favorite healthy “cookies” and chocolate mocha smoothie.
Make real (not microwave) popcorn. When I get into a real snacky mood, I like to eat popcorn. My favorite recipe is here.
Eat some homemade trail mix. You can mix any nuts and dried fruit for a yummy treat!
Try chewing gum.
Distract yourself: go for a walk, call a friend, take a bath, dance, nap, declutter – do anything to get you out of the kitchen and your mind of off whatever you are craving.
If all of these options fail, have a piece of quality dark chocolate and let it melt in your mouth.

If you are still having your sweet craving, have just a small piece of whatever you are craving. Eat it slowly and savor it. You only live once!

If you are constantly craving sugar, it might be useful to do a reset or detox from sugar. You can read about one of my favorite ways to rest your cravings here.

Do you have any tips to help calm your unhealthy cravings? I’d love for you to share them in the comments below or on social media.

Sweetly yours,
Stephanie

**This post is part of the 52 Blogger Project! You can see a list of all the posts here.

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Planning for your trip to Disney

Stephanie | February 19, 2015

Are you planning a trip to Disney? Below are my tips and tricks that I have compiled from several mommies (including myself) that have made frequent trips to Disney World. Living in Florida, we have the luxury of going to Disney as a fun weekend adventure, so have tested out these tips more than once! I hope they help you, too.

Tips for your trip to Disney:

Pre-plan: I suppose if you know that you won’t be back at Disney for many years, this is a given. However, living in the sunshine state, I never did much planning because I knew we would be back. This wasn’t great thinking as we mainly ended up wandering around and not using any Fast Passes (more on that later). Therefore, we didn’t see much of the park. The last time we went, I made sure to plan as much as possible and we saw so much more!
If possible, stay at a hotel on property: Transportation is easier, you get wristbands that store your information, you may be able to see the fireworks from your hotel and the on property hotels I have stay at are amazing. You can see some of the hotels we visited here.
Use Disney’s online planning resource.
Reserve your three Fast Passes: They help you alleviate some wait time for attractions by selecting an hour window to visit the attraction. You get three a day per park. A “cast member” at Epcot said you can go to a Fast Pass station and book more, so long as you only have three at a time per day. (I didn’t test this out, however.)
Pick out a few must-see rides: if each person in your party gets to visit one or two of the rides they really wanted to see, everyone is happier. It also helps planning Fast Passess. If you aren’t able to get a Fast Pass for a must-see ride, I recommend getting to the park as soon as it opens (taking into account time to park and ride the shuttle) and going their first.
Think about character dinning: A few times we spent one day at the park and then next morning, we had a character breakfast. I think my children enjoyed this as much as Disney World! Make sure you check where the restaurant is located when you schedule your character dining. Some need a park ticket for entry to the restaurant while others are located in hotels on property. These can book up quickly so start looking at least three months in advance.
Pack snacks. This is especially useful if you are going to Disney for a few days. Prices there are a little expensive. We packed dry cereal, fruit and protein bars (see my favorite snack bars and meal replacement bars by clicking the links) for a quick breakfast. We also packed them for a quick snack in the park between meals.
For younger children, pack a stroller. Most likely, you will be doing a lot of walking and have very long days. Even my seven year old was glad we brought the sit and stand. The are so many stroller parking areas available (this is Disney after all) and I haven’t had an issue leaving my big bags (see next tip) in the stroller. It also provides a nice spot to hold drinks and other items.
Pack a bag or backpack. This comes in hand to store jackets, snacks, water, sunblock, baby wipes (am I the only one still obsessed with these even after my kids are potty-trained?!?!) and whatever else you may need. I had a small purse that I always carried with me and left a backpack in the stroller.
Bring water bottles. This isn’t a necessity, but if you are bringing a stroller, why not?
Band-aids are good to bring. They don’t take up much room and you will be prepared for blisters or any other scrapes.
Bring your camera. There are so many photo opportunities!
Wear comfortable shoes.
If rain is in the forecast (or even if it isn’t), bring a cheap fold up poncho. You can get them at Target or a drug store for a few dollars. Disney poncho’s are very expensive! It is good to note, that in summer, it rains almost daily in Florida, but just for a short time.
Bring sunblock, sunglasses and/or hats! The Florida sun is hot!

Try to plan your trip as well as possible. However, when you get there, remember things won’t go exactly as planned. Try not to get too stressed, as you are in the most magical place on earth (and they most likely sell whatever you forgot).

Here is a quick summary of the tips that need done early in your planning.

Do you have any questions or Disney tips? I’d love to hear them below or on social media!

Safe travels,
Stephanie

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Joining a network marketing company

Stephanie | February 14, 2015

Are you considering joining a network marketing company? Recently, two of my friends contacted me because they were thinking about joining a network marketing company. They knew I had experience with several network marketing companies and wanted to know my advice. One of them specifically asked me because she is the “non-salesy” type like me. This made me think that others could benefit from some things I have learned along the way. It also made me stop and think about how many network marketing companies I have worked with (or at least learned about). That number is six. Six network marketing companies. I won’t bore you with my backstory (maybe I will in another post), but suffice it to say, I feel I am semi-well versed in this subject. So, here is my review and tips of network marketing.

First, most network marketing companies are wonderful opportunities to be in business for yourself. You can dictate when you work and how hard you work. You can also dictate (for the most part) who is on your team. They can provide this wonderful freedom that so many desire. However, there are some things to consider.

How much do you know about the company you are joining? Have you tried the products? Do they work? Are you passionate about the products and company? If you answered no to any of these questions, please get to know the company you are considering. Learn about the quality of their products and how they test the quality of their products. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? If you don’t like their products, I strongly suggest finding another company (unless you are a wonderful sales person and they have an unsurpassed compensation plan).
How well do you know and like the person you are joining under? You don’t necessarily have to work with the person you sign under, but it can really be good for you and for your business if you work as a team and use them as a resource. It is even better if they are local and you can attend meetings together; host joint events and gather to plan and discuss ideas.
Do you have to make a specific purchase each month or in a rolling month period? In my experience with all of my prior companies, you need to have monthly (or bi-monthly) sales of a certain number to remain active. However, my current company does not do this. (If you are interested in learning more about my current company, you can read more about them here and here.)
How well do you know and like the company? What do they stand for? What kind of testing do they use on their products? While these questions may not be a deciding factor, to me they are important. For example, one reason I decided to stop utilizing one company was because I was learning more about toxins and natural products. Their products didn’t align with those desires.

There you have it. Those are some things to think about before joining a network marketing company. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to discuss further. I would love to help you make a more informed decision! Are you currently in network marketing? If so, do you have any tips to add?

Best of luck!

Strawberry Chocolate Champagne Truffles

Stephanie | February 12, 2015

Welcome to the last day of our Valentine dessert recipes!
You can check the linky below to see all of the delicious desserts from all of our wonderful blogger. Today, we have Strawberry Chocolate Champagne Truffles! To get the recipe, click here.

Wine Suggestions for Valentine’s Day

Stephanie | February 11, 2015

Do you like wine? If so, do you know what wine you will be enjoying on Valentine’s Day? A while ago, I used to walk into the wine aisle and just stare at the brands, varieties and bottles of wine. However, because a few family members joined the alcohol industry, I have tried and enjoyed my share of wine. For those that haven’t (or for those that have and just want to know another wine lover’s picks), I wanted to share a few that we thought you (and your significant other) may enjoy for Valentine’s Day.

Wine Suggestions for Valentine’s Day (or any occasion)

1. Rosatello is a sparkling Rosé with strawberry and raspberry flavors to refresh your palate. However, it is not too sweet (my husband enjoys it and he is a red wine snob).

2. Dreaming Tree Crush – this is one of my favorite wines. Dave Matthews is part of the wine making process (but that isn’t only why I like it). It is a red blend with a light and mild flavor of smoky berries and raspberry. It is perfect for those that are making the switch to red or people who just want something light and fun to drink.

3. Ruffino makes some wonderful Italian wines at various price points. We had the pleasure of visiting Italy and their winery this summer (the blog post is coming) and I love the way they make wine in Italy. They have such a wonderful appreciation for Mother Earth (Mama natura). Ruffino Prosecco is a nice sparkling wine, if you enjoy that.

5. LaMarca is a prosecco, too. It has apple, peach and honeysuckle flavors.

6. Apothic Red is another fruit forward red blend. There is cab, syrah, merlot and zin in this beauty.

7. Lindemans’ Lambic – while this isn’t technically a wine, it does not taste like beer, and it is one of my favorite adult beverages, so I wanted to include it in this list. Have you tried it? It is so good! They have different flavors, but raspberry and cherry are my favorite.

What are your favorite wines?

Cheers,
Stephanie

Peanut Butter Chocolate Hand Pies

Stephanie | February 11, 2015

Welcome to day 11 of our blogger Valentine’s Day dessert special! I am so honored to be part of such a lovely group of bloggers. We have been sharing such yummy recipes. Please check the previous day posts (some are here and here) and the link party below. Today we have Peanut Butter Chocolate Hand Pies.

When you think of Valentine’s Day, what do you think of? Love? Cupid? Candy? Two things I think of that go great together are: peanut butter and chocolate!
Today, Naomi over at This Roller Coaster Called Life shares a recipe for Peanut Butter Chocolate Hand Pies.

Frozen Raspberry White Hot Chocolate

Stephanie | February 10, 2015

Today, we are back with another wonderful Valentine’s Day treat. If you are new to the party, you can click here or here for some recipes we shared earlier this week or check the link party below. For day 10 we have Frozen Raspberry White Hot Chocolate.

Frozen drinks are such delicious treats. This frozen raspberry white hot chocolate is the perfect blend of sweet, rich and creamy. Dolled up with some whipped cream and some heart sprinkles, it’s a fun dessert for Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart. For the recipe, click here: http://sweetpenniesfromheaven.com/frozen-raspberry-white-h…/

Strawberry Pretzel Pie

Stephanie | February 9, 2015

This strawberry pretzel pie recipe was created by combining my favorite parts of two desserts from my childhood. I also tried to make this dessert healthier than the original recipes. The result is an easy, delicious healthier treat. I hope you enjoy it, too!

Strawberry Pretzel Pie

2 cups crushed pretzels (I use whole wheat pretzels)
3/4 cup of room temperature butter (if you forget to set it out like me, you can melt it)
3 TBS sugar or coconut sugar
Approximately 1 cup of strawberry yogurt (you can use soy or coconut yogurt, too)
8 strawberries

*Please try to use organic ingredients whenever possible

Mix the pretzels, butter and sugar.
Press into a 9×13 pan.
Bake at 400 for 8 minutes and cool.
Once cooled, add yogurt to your desired thickness.
Add strawberries.

It is delicious with my homemade whipped cream. Have you tried to give a healthier make over to any of your favorite recipes? I would love to hear about it in the comments or on social media!

You can also half the recipe and make it in a smaller pan, too! I am all about portion control!

All my best,
Stephanie

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Valentine’s Candy Bark

Stephanie | February 8, 2015

Welcome back to the sweet party! Today is day 8 and we have a festive Valentine’s Candy Bark recipe to share with you!

Candy bark is such an easy treat to make. Whether you need to whip up a quick dessert for a class or office party or you just want to let the kids get creative in the kitchen, a bark recipe is the way to go. This pretty pink Valentine’s Candy Bark is chock full of goodies — white chocolate, M&Ms and red sugar. Yum!

Hop on over to visit Donella at Wife Mom Geek for the recipe: http://wifemomgeek.com/valentines-candy-bark/

Wine soaked chocolate covered strawberries

Stephanie | February 7, 2015

Welcome to day 7 of our Valentine’s day dessert party! Today we have Wine Soaked Chocolate Covered Strawberries. Strawberries and chocolate are practically synonymous with Valentine’s Day in my book!

When I think of Valentine’s Day, I think of wine, chocolate and strawberries. It’s strawberry time again right now in Florida and what better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day (and our 20th anniversary) than with wine soaked chocolate covered strawberries. These are a few of my favorite things! If you are on the Weight Watcher’s plan, you can still enjoy these, too! Find out more at Just Plum Crazy!