Since starting to breastfeed 7 months ago, I have been starving! And I have been trying to fuel my body with healthy food for my baby and for myself. Where I once enjoyed my generous portion of ice cream (let’s be honest, I still have a little bit most nights), but I have found another healthy treat that satisfies! The IsaLean Chocolate Peanut Crunch Bar is the perfect mix of crunchy soft sweet and delectable. It almost tastes like a Reeses mixed with a Crunch bar. Yes it’s still a protein bar so it is a little bit different, but when trying to be healthy, these balanced less sugary snacks are the way to go! I carry one with me at all times in my diaper bag or purse.

• Tastes Great
• Healthy balanced fat, protein, and carbohydrate
• Convenient
• Low Glycemic
• Good for everyone, kids included
• 18 grams of protein

For more information on other great nutrition products visit this website. For Bethany’s story click here.

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This week we are going to share with you our “Updates” on our lives, our passions, and the new activities that will be filling our lives in 2017………I am passionate about people. As a wife and mom and grandma (aka Gammie to 9 incredibly cool grandchildren), I am still madly in love with my husband and I find joy in serving my family and in having a voice of influence in the lives of those I love. I am very careful to remain a “cheerful consultant” for my 4 adult daughters and 4 SILs. I hope to continue to be a person they feel comfortable calling on for advice or just to be available to be a listening ear. My first priority passion (even trumping my love for family) is my faith, my love for Jesus and my unquenchable thirst for reading and studying the bible. Out of this passion, I carefully choose how to prioritize my time commitments. Currently I spend a good deal of time in a leadership role in a large women’s bible study in my community. I also serve on a board of directors for a really cool ministry called “Gogo Grandmothers” (I often write about this on our blog). This ministry has opened my eyes and heart to the joy filled people in Malawi, Africa. Their ability to find joy and peace amidst their difficult circumstances is humbling and helps me keep my perspective on the “hardships” I sometimes face. I am on the go visiting the grandkids a few times each month and try to make sure I spend equal Gammie time with all of them. My best friend, (Poppa to the grands)tries to come on at least one of the road trips each month so that we can both stay …

A short while after I had my second daughter a former co-worker friend of mine contacted me. She, like me, had also been a teacher and, like me, decided to stay at home rather than return to teaching after the birth of her first baby. She raved about a Mommy and kid stroller fitness program she had joined called, Fit4Mom. She told me she was planning to become an instructor, and I should do it too.

She invited me to attend a class with her in San Diego. I went. I loved it. I immediately returned home to find out all about classes where I lived.

I attended for my free week, and knew THIS was where I wanted to be. I started with the intention of someday becoming an instructor, and a few months in I received my teaching certification!

I have been teaching classes now for almost 3 years, while breastfeeding, a third pregnancy, breastfeeding again, and now pushing 3 big girls around in my BOB stroller. Thankfully, one is now at school most days, so pushing 2 kids is a piece of cake!

I love Fit4Mom and their motto of “Strength in Motherhood.” It is truly a place of fitness, fun, and strength. It is where you will find your tribe, community, and have the opportunity to thrive as a mom alongside other strong moms!

Visit the Fit4Mom blog to find classes near you, read motivating blog posts, and join the community whether you are a member or not! If you don’t have classes in your area, I highly suggest you find out more about starting your own franchise. It is such an incredible program and there are moms everywhere looking for this type of community to find their place!

I also highly recommend the podcast, “…

I have a new favorite. Have you heard of this stuff?? It is AMAZING. 

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Why is it so good? It tastes good still like ice cream and is so much more healthy for you! It may not be as healthy on the wallet, but we all deserve a splurge once in a while right? It has more protein, less sugar, less fat, and only added natural sugars. And did I already say it tastes AMAZING?

INGREDIENTS:

 Milk and cream, eggs, erythritol, milk protein concentrate, brownie dough (flour [wheat], sugar, butter, cocoa [processed with alkali], soybean oil, white rice flour, vanilla extract, organic soy lecithin, salt), organic cane sugar, prebiotic fiber, high fat cocoa, vegetable glycerin, sea salt, natural flavors, organic carob gum, organic guar gum, organic stevia.

“so where’s the sugar?

In short, we use organic stevia. Stevia is a plant native to Paraguay that’s been used to sweeten foods and beverages for more than 200 years. And, because it’s so tasty, we use it as a sugar replacement. We also use Erythritol, which though it has a rather scientific-sounding name, is actually another all-natural sweetener found in fruits like pears and grapes. Though it’s technically a sugar alcohol, it’s unlike the others because erythritol doesn’t affect blood glucose or cause bloating.” -halo top website

Flavors

• vanilla bean
• chocolate
• mint chip
• cookies and cream
• cookie dough
• birthday cake
• pistachio
• red velvet
• oatmeal cookie
• peanut butter cup
• smores
• lemon cake
• sea salt caramel
• chocolate almond crunch
• strawberry
• black cherry
• chocolate mocha chip

Social

Instagram: @halotopcreamery

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HaloTop/

GO TRY SOME!

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If you are a mom or dad of young ones, like me, it might be hard to get out for date nights as often as you would like. Or maybe you are more of a homebody, trying to save money, or wanting to plan a GIRL’S NIGHT in!

Whatever your situation, here are some great ideas to spend time with your special someone at home on Valentine’s Day.

FOOD IDEAS:

Make a fun, easy dinner

Cook together

Cook something new, or a fancy dinner you don’t usually make, but really like!

Order in!

Have an indoor picnic

DESSERT and DRINKS:

Do a beer or wine tasting

Make ice cream sundaes

MOVIES:

Watch the first movie you ever watched together

Watch movie and make popcorn (pick the movie the day before so you don’t waste date night time picking a flick)

PLAY:

Play a game for 2 – Puzzles, Card Games, Boggle, Scattergories, Carcassone, Settlers of Catan

Play video games.

Trivia Game – How Well Do You Know Your Partner, How Well Do You Know Me?, Newlywed Game

ACTIVE:

Do a home workout together

Put the kids in the stroller and go on a walk around the neighborhood. But talk about YOU, not the kids!

Do yoga together

Do Karaoke. Seriously. YouTube “Karaoke Songs With Lyrics” and get singing!!

Do this silly couples challenge: Try to go all the way around your spouse without touching the ground. It’s really funny AND requires you get very close. Should start some sparks as you laugh!

ROMANTIC:

Look at your wedding album. Share your favorite moments.

Plan a date night for the future.

Plan a trip together.

Share your favorite thing about the other person. See how many things you can list!

We hope you enjoy this list and use some of …

This week we have had an emphasis on LOVE and SELF LOVE! Loving yourself is at the core of everything. Believing that you are worth love and knowing every day that you are loved by God should be like oxygen for your body, mind, and soul.

I love this quote by Charles Bukowski, “If you have the ability to love, love yourself first.”

Isn’t that a concept?

Love yourself first. If we don’t love ourselves first, we don’t feel our best, we don’t give our best.

This affects EVERYTHING: how we show up in our daily lives, how we love others, how we treat others, how we interact with our children,

So here’s my challenge for you this month. Take a look at how you are showing up. It starts with you. It starts with love.

What is one way you can love yourself better?

Is it the way you talk to yourself when you look in the mirror? Is it the way you fuel your body? Is it how you prioritize yourself and time for you?

Share ONE THING you plan to do to love yourself better so you can SHOW UP with your BEST SELF in February in the comments!

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Valentine’s Day is such a fun holiday for new recipes! This mix is sweet, crunchy, and delicious! It would be so cute bagged up for a little gift and is a fun way to give a sweet treat that is different than candy!

Valentine’s Day Chex Mix Ingredients:

2 Cups Cheerios

2 Cups Rice Chex

3 Cups Pretzel Thins

One Package (Approx 9) Honey Graham Crackers

1 Cup Ghirardelli White Chocolate Chips

1 Cup Valentine’s M&M’s

Red & Pink Sprinkles

Directions:

1. Place the Cheerios and Chex in a large bowl. Break the Pretzels and Graham Crackers into pieces and add into the same bowl. You want the bowl to be large enough to mix.
2. Put the 1 cup of chocolate chips into a glass bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir. Microwave for 15 seconds and stir. Microwave another 15 seconds and stir. You want the chocolate completely melted, but you need to be careful not to burn the white chocolate.
3. Pour the melted chocolate onto the chex mix and begin stirring right away. While the chocolate is still hot, pour the sprinkles and M&M’s into the bowl and continuing mixing.
4. Spread the coated chex mix onto a lined baking sheet and allow to cool. Place the chex mix into cute Valentine’s bags to gift or in a Ziploc to keep fresh.

Valentine's Day Chex Mix

 

Print

Author: Bekah

Recipe type: Dessert

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Cheerios
• 2 Cups Rice Chex
• 3 Cups Pretzel Thins (break into pieces)
• One Package (Approx 9) Honey Graham Crackers (break into pieces)
• 1 Cup Ghirardelli White Chocolate Chips
• 1 Cup Valentine's M&M's
• Red & Pink Sprinkles

Instructions

1. Place the Cheerios, Chex, Pretzels, and Graham Crackers in a large bowl. You want the bowl to be large enough to mix.
2. Put the 1 cup of