Summer Tips for Feeling Fresh with Caress

I am a sponsored blog partner with Mirum.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

Oh boy, it is gonna be a hot one.  This summer has already started to shows its true colors.  With temperatures roaring into the 100s, it is impossible to get anywhere feeling fresh.

But do not let the heat stop you from enjoying summer, instead beat the heat with these tips:

1)  Hydration-Lack of water can cause fatigue to your mind and body.  Water cools your body off and cleanses it from toxins.  Stay hydrated by drinking water all throughout your day and not waiting until your body is thirsty.

2)  Clothes-Access your day.  Will be outside or indoors?  Can you wear sleeveless or short sleeve?  Can you wear shorts, skirts, or dresses?  Wear loose fitting clothing when possible.  I sweat easily, so I like to carry a spare shirt.

You can feel "out-of-the-shower-fresh" any time of day with NEW Caress® Botanical Body Sprays.

Caress Pink Peony Botanical Body Spray - Top note: White Orchid, Heart note: Pink Peony, Base Note: Tonka Beans

Caress Sweet Violet Botanical Body Spray: Top note: Tangerine, Heart Note: Sweet Violet, Base Note: Musk

Caress Mediterranean Lotus Botanical Body Spray: Top note: Bergamot, Heart note: Mediterranean Lotus, Base note: Amber

A body spray for every side of summer you will be in, leaving you feeling fresh any time of day.

3)  Mood-Don't let heat ruin your mood, instead jam to the Caress-inspired Pandora playlists.  Your state of mind can make or break your day, embrace each note as it hits you.  Smell good and feel even better.  So pick up Caress at H-E-B and get down with the freshness.

Pamper, Caress, and Self Care Talk #CaressLovesTX2018

Turning the BIG FOUR - OH has me doing a lot of thinking.  In previous years I have made New Years resolutions, but this year I am reevaluating.  Not a one year resolution but more about what am I doing for my entire life.  I seem to feel like I have been moving in the right direction.

This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Mirum.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

Let's talk about Self Care.  What does that even mean?  I stopped to think about the last few years.  I realized that even though I have been promoting others to self care as part of my nurturing character, I sort of became too busy for myself.  Don't get me wrong, I tried but others always came first.  But self care is important.  Did you know most moms put themselves last?  That is even if we make our own lists.  We put others first.  It is in our nature.  Think about this-You cannot take care of others, if you fall ill or have a mental breakdown.  Ok, I may be exaggerating a little bit but really do not let yourself get to the point of no return.  So how do we do it?  Reevaluate.

Let's start with pampering yourself.  How often do you pamper yourself?  Never, wow.  That does not shock me.  Some may say sometimes, and rare few will say that they always do.  Pampering does not have to be hard, time consuming, or costly.

1)  Bath-How often can you say you were able to just take a warm bath?  It helps me relax not just my body but also my mind.  I always make the excuse that I do not have time, though.

2)  Shower-Ok, I know you shower.  But are you always in a rush?  Do you jump in and just give the major parts a rinse.

I am guilty.  Just like most moms, I make several excuses.  I have a lot of things to do and never have enough time.  Not enough time for ME.  I am changing my mindset.

Baths aren't just to relax the kids before bedtime.  They can also be for this mami to relax after a hard day of mommy duties, work, and life.

Instead of getting the kids ready first and leaving myself for last, I will go first.  That way I can get up, take my shower, take my time as I get ready, and be able to smell the flowers.  Be selfish and take an extra 10 minutes to yourself.  You deserve it. 

Caress beauty bars and body washes can help keep us pampered.  Caress body wash and beauty bar fragrances are crafted by the world’s best perfumers to transform your daily shower into an indulging experience that will make you feel special every day.

• Save $1 when you buy any ONE (1) Caress® Body Wash or Bar Soap. “Look for H-E-B Yellow coupon in-store and digital coupon. Redeem in store. Offer valid 1/17/18 – 1/30/18”

On your next trip to H-E-B stop to check out all the fine fragrances of Caress' body washes and beauty bars, so you can get pampered with your favorite scents.

What fragrance or scent relaxes you the most?

Rub a Dove, Dove #HEBBabyDove

With a splish and a splash, I get a flash of my beautiful dove of when we welcomed her to the world.

This is a sponsored post by Mirum Shopper.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience. 

No one ever tells you all their tips, tricks, and secrets on how to get through the first year.  Some lessons you just have to learn on your own.  What works for one parent may not be the same that works for others. 

Tell me about it.  I have two totally different babies.  One hated baths and the other hates to get out.  But you know what happens when a water baby stays in the water too long, your skin prunes up.  Sitting in the bathtub in warm water for long periods of time everyday can cause your babies skin to dry up.  If you have a sensitive skin baby like I do, this is not good.

Dove-the personal care brand we trust for our skin now has a new line for our babies.

Did you know baby’s skin loses moisture up to 5 times faster than yours?  Baby Dove goes beyond mild and gentle to replenish essential moisture & nutrients.  

Whether it’s tear-free tip to toe wash during baby bath time, or a soothing lotion afterwards, Baby Dove gives you confidence that you’re providing the best care for your baby's skin. 

Keeping your baby's skin moisturized is as easy as with Baby Dove.

The wash is both tear free and moisturizing so it doesn't deplete your little one's skin like other soaps.  It's always a good idea to apply lotion after every bath to help lock in moisture.


Baby Dove is now available at H-E-B. 

BFree Gluten-Free Breads

Do you suffer from a bloated stomach after eating?  Have you had that checked?  I was having serious problems with my stomach and I really did not know why.  I tried no soda, no eggs, and nothing really helped.  I got allergy tested and it turns out some of the food I was eating was making my stomach swell.  Ever heard of gluten-free?

Thanks to BFree for sending sample product to review.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

You really need to listen to your body when it gives you warning signs.  The warning signs can be flagging some serious issues.  Many people now suffer from a lot of allergies, one being food allergy to dairy, egg, wheat, gluten, etc.  This is not a new craze people are doing.  This is how people have to learn to eat in order to stay healthy.

BFree products are not only high fiber and low fat, and completely vegan.  They carry a variety of products:

-Wraps (multi-grain/sweet potato/quinoa and chia seed)

-Pita bread

-Hot Dog buns (plain/seeded)

-rolls (white/brown seeded)

-sandwich bread (white/brown seeded)

-bagel (multi-seeded/plain)

I was pretty skeptical about how this bread was going to taste but I was ready to try it.  We were really impressed by the taste.  We really did some sampling, trying it with different dishes.  I did not tell the family the ingredients of the bread.  No one complained.  Everyone ate their food.  They did not notice any difference.  That is really good because my daughter is allergic to eggs and I have to always be careful with what she eats too.  I don't have to worry about the ingredients because they are Non-GMO.  This bread did not crack or crumble either.  I am also glad that this bread is available at our local H-E-B.

For more information, go to bfreefoods.com.

Traveling Mommy On-The-Go Tips

This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with LALA Yogurt Smoothies and WeAllGrow Latina Network.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

My job has me traveling for the next year.  When I first found out, I freaked out.  This mom has two school aged kids with busy schedules and routines to keep.  How was I going to keep up with it all? 

I had to come up with ways of making my mommy duties easier and get them taken care of.  I did not want anything to get missed.  Nothing to fall in between the cracks.  You know a mom's job is never done.  Our job is 24/7, working round the clock everyday, all day.  It was hard at first but I found a way to make it all work.  How? 

On-The-Go Tips-

1)  Calendar-I keep a tight schedule.  So booking everything in a shared calendar helps keep everyone on track.  I even schedule "me" time.  I also post a weekly calendar on our chalkboard wall for a more visual "don't forget" reminder. 

2)  List-Since I have been flying in just on the weekends, I make a list of all the things that need to be done.  This way I don't forget anything.  I cross things off as we get them taken care of.  Most things can be done as a family and they added to our day.  I don't stress over things that don't get crossed off.  I just add them to my "honey-do" list for my husband.

3)  Prep-A few things that have saved me is prepping for the time I am going to be away. 


-Laundry-My daughter wears uniforms.  I make sure to wash all her uniforms and leave them ready to go for dad.  If there are days with special wear, I put the entire outfit together and pin the note with it.

-Cleaning-Chores are delegated and everyone pitches in to help.  We do it Saturday mornings.  This is a good way to get the family up and moving.  And since we do it together, we get it done faster.

-Food-We grocery shop together before I have to fly back out.  We make it a family game.  Everyone is in charge of getting certain things on our grocery list.  We split up in teams.  My daughter loves those little HEB trainer carts.  We make sure to get plenty of on-the-go snacks for the family.  One of our favorites is LALA yogurts made with real fruit. 

My son can pack these in his backpack and take it on the bus with him.  No more skipping breakfast for him.  My daughter enjoys her LALA for her afterschool snack.  I like drinking LALA 100 Calories Yogurt Smoothies after the gym.  The perfect recovery after my workout.  I don't have to worry about all the calories, fat and sugar because they are only 100 calories and fat free.

LALA fuels us for our day.  It is one less thing I have to worry about these days.  I have enough on my plate.  The kids love the taste and I know it is good nutrition for their bodies.

This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with LALA Yogurt Smoothies and WeAllGrow Latina Network. All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

My job has me traveling for the next year. When I first found out, I freaked out. This mom has two school aged kids with busy schedules and routines to keep. How was I going to keep up with it all?

I had to come up with ways of making my mommy duties easier and get them taken care of. I did not want anything to get missed. Nothing to fall in between the cracks. You know a mom's job is never done. Our job is 24/7, working round the clock everyday, all day. It was hard at first but I found a way to make it all work. How?

On-The-Go Tips-

1) Calendar-I keep a tight schedule. So booking everything in a shared calendar helps keep everyone on track. I even schedule "me" time. I also post a weekly calendar on our chalkboard wall for a more visual "don't forget" reminder.

2) List-Since I have been flying in just on the weekends, I make a list of all the things that need to be done. This way I don't forget anything. I cross things off as we get them taken care of. Most things can be done as a family and they added to our day. I don't stress over things that don't get crossed off. I just add them to my "honey-do" list for my husband.

3) Prep-A few things that have saved me is prepping for the time I am going to be away.


-Laundry-My daughter wears uniforms. I make sure to wash all her uniforms and leave them ready to go for dad. If there are days with special wear, I put the entire outfit together and pin the note with it.

-Cleaning-Chores are delegated and everyone pitches in to help. We do it Saturday mornings. This is a good way to get the family up and moving. And since we do it together, we get it done faster.

-Food-We grocery shop together before I have to fly back out. We make it a family game. Everyone is in charge of getting certain things on our grocery list. We split up in teams. My daughter loves those little HEB trainer carts. We make sure to get plenty of on-the-go snacks for the family. One of our favorites is LALA yogurts made with real fruit.

My son can pack these in his backpack and take it on the bus with him. No more skipping breakfast for him. My daughter enjoys her LALA for her afterschool snack. I like drinking LALA 100 Calories Yogurt Smoothies after the gym. The perfect recovery after my workout. I don't have to worry about all the calories, fat and sugar because they are only 100 calories and fat free.

LALA fuels us for our day. It is one less thing I have to worry about these days. I have enough on my plate. The kids love the taste and I know it is good nutrition for their bodies.

This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with LALA Yogurt Smoothies and WeAllGrow Latina Network. All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

My job has me traveling for the next year. When I first found out, I freaked out. This mom has two school aged kids with busy schedules and routines to keep. How was I going to keep up with it all?

I had to come up with ways of making my mommy duties easier and get them taken care of. I did not want anything to get missed. Nothing to fall in between the cracks. You know a mom's job is never done. Our job is 24/7, working round the clock everyday, all day. It was hard at first but I found a way to make it all work. How?

On-The-Go Tips-

1) Calendar-I keep a tight schedule. So booking everything in a shared calendar helps keep everyone on track. I even schedule "me" time. I also post a weekly calendar on our chalkboard wall for a more visual "don't forget" reminder.

2) List-Since I have been flying in just on the weekends, I make a list of all the things that need to be done. This way I don't forget anything. I cross things off as we get them taken care of. Most things can be done as a family and they added to our day. I don't stress over things that don't get crossed off. I just add them to my "honey-do" list for my husband.

3) Prep-A few things that have saved me is prepping for the time I am going to be away.


-Laundry-My daughter wears uniforms. I make sure to wash all her uniforms and leave them ready to go for dad. If there are days with special wear, I put the entire outfit together and pin the note with it.

-Cleaning-Chores are delegated and everyone pitches in to help. We do it Saturday mornings. This is a good way to get the family up and moving. And since we do it together, we get it done faster.

-Food-We grocery shop together before I have to fly back out. We make it a family game. Everyone is in charge of getting certain things on our grocery list. We split up in teams. My daughter loves those little HEB trainer carts. We make sure to get plenty of on-the-go snacks for the family. One of our favorites is LALA yogurts made with real fruit.

My son can pack these in his backpack and take it on the bus with him. No more skipping breakfast for him. My daughter enjoys her LALA for her afterschool snack. I like drinking LALA 100 Calories Yogurt Smoothies after the gym. The perfect recovery after my workout. I don't have to worry about all the calories, fat and sugar because they are only 100 calories and fat free.

LALA fuels us for our day. It is one less thing I have to worry about these days. I have enough on my plate. The kids love the taste and I know it is good nutrition for their bodies.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of LALA® Yogurt Smoothies and WeAllGrow Latina Network. The opinions and text are all mine.

PRESSELS™ Review

***Disclosure-Sample product was received to review.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

Do you like Pretzels?  We love to snacks on them.  I was recently introduced to a new product available here in Houston at HEB stores.

Introducing PRESSELS™, a new approach to the classic pretzel . These baked, thin, crispy pretzel chips recently made its debut in the US with Houston being one of the first markets to have the product on shelves.

Available in three flavors, Original, Everything and Sesame.

-all-natural 

-non-GMO certified

-no food coloring

-no artificial flavors

-no cholesterol

-no preservatives

-zero Trans fat

-80% less fat than regular potato chips.  

These are so good.  I like that they are thin and crispy.  My toddler loved them.  Perfect and bite size for her to snack on.  My favorite was the Original, but all 3 flavors were good.  They are great for dipping too.  I like my pretzels with mustard.  Don't judge me, try it.

HEB~New THAT Green Sauce Review

Are you a salsa person?  When you hit a restaurant, ever wonder how they made that sauce.  Wish you could buy it.  Here is THAT Green Sauce at HEB.  It is made with jalapenos and poblano peppers.

My thoughts-My husband does not like avocados, and def does not like guacamole.  When we go to restaurants he always asks if there is avocados in the ingredients used.  And no sauce can top his mommas. I popped this open and guess what?  My husband, hard to please, liked it.  We all did.  It was great on eggs in the morning, or with chips at snack time.  Even my 13 yr old said it was good.

***Disclosure-No compensation was received.  Sample provided to review.

HEB~All Natural Central Market Organics Italian Soda Review

Italian soda bottled at the source and imported directly from Italy.  It is fruity, sparkling and perfectly crisp.  They are sweetened with pure organic sugar for natural flavor. 

Available in:
-Pomegranate
-Blood Orange
-Ruby Red Grapefruit
-Prickly Pear
-and more

My thoughts-I like Italian soda.  I did not know HEB carried it.  They are perfect for parties.  Adding a little bit of sliced fruit can make a better presentation for any party.  Italian soda is not like carbonated sodas we are used to.  My son introduced me to Italian soda when he took a French course over the summer 2 yrs ago.  And he kept asking me to buy him some and did not know where to find it. 

***Disclosure-No compensation was received.  Sample provided for review.

HEB~Snickerdoodle Review

New HEB cookies.  They are made with all natural ingredients.  No artificial colors or preservatives.
-Snickerdoodle
-Lemon White Chocolate Crisps,
-Texas Almond Crunch
-White Chocolate Caramel Chips

My thoughts-I like these cookies.  I like that they come in stackable tubs.  I like that the ingredients are natural.  These are great for taking on the go, outtings, or trips for snacks.  This tub had a short life at house because we all liked them. 

***Disclosure-Sample product received to review.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

HEB~EverVescence Review

Anti-Aging Clay Mask with concentrated Plant Stem Cells
-Absorbs impurities and tightens pores
-Leaves skin radiant-looking
-Free from parabens, sulfates, synthetic, fragrances, synthetic dyes and petro-chemicals

My thoughts-So who can afford to go to a spa with these kinda gas prices we are having.  More and more we are having to reinvent our budgets, at least I know I am.  But like many, I want to pamper myself.  It can become expensive if you try to buy a spa day or spa products.  I like that HEB has a line of products that include cleanser, mask, scrub, moisturizer, serum, and eye cream.  I can do my own pampering for a small cost within my own budget.  I like how easy the mask was to use.  I left it on for 10 minutes.  It didnt get nasty like some I have tried.  And it was not slimy either.  Check out the results.  It did not leave me any redness and it did not irritate my skin. 


***Disclosure-No compensation was received.  Sample product received to review.

Support March of Dimes March for Babies-HEB

Shop for Groceries and Support March for Babies at your local H-E-B or Central Market Store!

Now through March 29, you can shop at your local H-E-B or Central Market stores and support the March of Dimes by purchasing a $1, $3 or $5 coupon through the Customer Donation Program. H-E-B has stores in more than 150 communities across the state of Texas.

Last year through the Customer Donation Program, H-E-B raised $145,000 to support March of Dimes March for Babies. Help us continue to support healthy babies in Texas!