I have been more or less sticking to the Keto way of eating for the last 8 months. I have lost over 50 pounds, but something I really miss is my sweets. So much so that I cheat about once a month and eat something I shouldn’t.
When I do this, it usually kicks me out of ketosis and I have a week of starting over. That is why I am so happy to have now found Sans Sucre dessert mixes. They make it easy to get my sweets fix while still staying in ketosis.
Brownie Mixes
The first dessert that I made was the milk chocolate brownies. These have a net carb count of 14 for 1/8 of the package. Honestly, all I needed was a little nibble to curb my sweet tooth.
The mousse mixes were a little more complicated to make, but just as delicious! These desserts are only 4 to 6 net carbs per serving! Be sure to watch how fast you are whipping them though, as you can easily over whip the mousse. This is delicious though, with my favorite flavor being the key lime! Yum!
About Sans Sucre
If you didn’t know, Sans Sucre is French for ‘Sugar Free’. They are the only sugar free AND gluten free baking mixes that are sweetened with the all-natural Stevia and they are easy to make (only requiring water and vegetable oil). They are perfect for Diabetics, gluten intolerance or for baking for someone with dietary needs.
Every summer we go to the local Renaissance Faire. It is something we look forward to all year long, but this year, we decided to keep the fun going by creating one at home. Here are a few things you can do to create your very own Renaissance Faire at home.
Set Up A Kingdom
With the help of many different Melissa & Doug castle sets, put together a large kingdom, with four different castles. The subjects of each one can visit each other and travel across the kingdom. Kids will have fun each becoming the ruler of their lands and visiting other lands within the Kingdom. When we set ours up, each castle has it’s own activity for the faire. One in the kitchen for cooking fun, one in the play room for imaginative fun, one at the dining room table for coloring and creating fun, and one in the living room for building fun!
Make Your Own Cinnamon Almonds With Your Parents
Our favorite treat at the Renaissance Faire is cinnamon almonds. No matter what, we are sure to pick up a bag of these when we go. They are the perfect snack to munch on while watching the jousting and browsing the shops. Come to find out, they are really easy to make too!
Ingredients
1 egg white
1 teaspoon cold water
4 cups whole almonds
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Directions
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Lightly grease a 10 x 15 inch pan.
Lightly beat the egg white; add water, and beat until frothy but not stiff. Add the nuts, and stir until well coated.
Mix the sugar, salt, and cinnamon, and sprinkle over the nuts. Shake in a bag with mixture to coat, and spread evenly on the prepared pan.
Bake for 1 hour in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally, until golden. Allow to cool, then store nuts in airtight containers.
These were really simple and fun to make! Kids will love shaking the bag to coat their almonds. The best part? They were super delicious too!
Battle A Dragon One on One – Or With A Friend
When you think of knights in medieval times, what comes to mind first? For us it is jousting and battling a dragon! Melissa & Doug has some great knight costumes and an incredible giant dragon plush that are perfect for setting the scene! These costumes come with everything your little one needs to transform in to a knight! Not only is there a super durable tunic, you also get a “chain mail” helmet, soft sword, and soft shield. They will easily be able to best the dragon and save their kingdom with this outfit! And if you have a rocking horse they can ride in on, even better.
Create Your Own Crown
If you have little girls like I do, no castle is complete without a princess. A fun way to get in the spirit of a Renaissance Faire is to have your little ones create their very own crown. You can head here to find an free printable template or just use construction paper. To decorate the crown, your kids can use things like crayons, markers, glitter, and stickers. Let them use their imaginations – the sky is the limit! Little boys can get in on the fun as well and create a prince crown.
Build A Castle
Yes, you read that right. With the Melissa and Doug Medieval Castle Indoor Playhouse, kids can build their very own castle! They might need a little help from an adult, but the instructions are really easy to follow. They will love getting a hands on experience. Plus, there is nothing like playing in castle that you built with your own two hands, is there? I think not!
What else would you include in your renaissance faire day? Let me know in the comments!
We travel a lot, and it is hard to keep the kids entertained while on-the-go. That is where PLAYMOBIL carry cases come in to the picture! These cases are the perfect size to take some fun toys along with us. They will easily fit in a backpack, suit case, or even in my young daughters’ hands! When we go to stay at a hotel, they each take a case with them – packed with PLAYMOBIL fun!
These new Carry Cases are perfect for imaginative play on-the-go. In hotels, airplanes, even in the car – these have been a huge hit with my girls! Something that I really love about these cases is that they come with several toys and figures inside, but there is still more room for additional ones. The PLAYMOBIL carry cases are truly ideal for travel with young kids.
Four New Carry Case Options
PLAYMOBIL Go-Kart Carry Case: Zoom to the finish line with the Go-Kart Carry Case. Test your skills as you weave in and out of the cones. When playtime is over, simply store the pieces inside the case for next time! Set includes racer, racecar, traffic cones, gas can, and other accessories.
PLAYMOBIL Camping Adventure Carry Case: Sleep among the stars with the Camping Adventure Carry Case. You can spend the day canoeing down the river or stop to catch a fish for dinner. Before you head to bed, share exciting stories around the campfire. When playtime is over, simply store the pieces inside the case for next time! Set includes two campers, tent, canoe, campfire, backpacks, binoculars, fish, and other accessories.
PLAYMOBIL Magical Mermaids Carry Case: Explore an enchanted underwater world with the Magical Mermaids Carry Case. Open the large shell to reveal a shiny pearl! When playtime is over, simply store the pieces inside the case for next time! Set includes two mermaids, seahorses, dolphin, large shell, crab, starfish, coral, hair clips, and other accessories.
PLAYMOBIL Music Class Carry Case: Find the melody with the Music Class Carry Case. Bang away at the drums or try your hand at the guitar. When playtime is over, simply store the pieces inside the case for next time! Set includes music teacher, three music students, keyboard, drums, guitar, tambourine, maracas, and other accessories.
Welcome to my pull list for new comic book day – August 22nd, 2018 (8/22/18). You probably know that I am quite the comic book collector! I love reading them, and talking about them! So many great comics are coming out this week. Like, so many.
Don’t miss out on my live chats over on YouTube to find out what books I am loving and not loving. This is something I do weekly, on Wednesdays (AKA new comic book day) at 1pm EST. We usually also get super off topic and talk about random things, but we still have a great time!
Marvel
Avengers #6: This is one of my favorite series right now.
Life of Captain Marvel #2: I really enjoyed the first one of the series. I love getting to know Carol Danvers on a deeper level.
Mr. and Mrs. X #2: I adore Gambit and Rogue. This series is everything to me, of course.
Punisher #1: Punisher is ruthless. That is what I love about him. Excited to check out his new series.
West Coast Avengers #1: I keep going back and forth on this one. I may or may not pick it up. I am going to browse it first.
X-Men Red #7
DC
Justice League Dark #2
Suicide Squad Annual #1
Other
Rick And Morty Vs Dungeons And Dragons #1 (Of 4): I love Rick and Morty so…yes please!
Ducktales #11: One that my kids love!
Did I miss a comic you plan to pick up this week? Let me know in the comments – and tell me why I should try it!
I don’t know about your kids, but somehow mine are always going through backpacks and lunch totes. They spill on them, tear them, and who knows what else. We normally have to replace them once in the middle of the year, and at the beginning of every year. When I asked my youngest what kind of bag she wanted this year, PJ Masks was the first thing she said. So we were thrilled when a back to school PJ Masks package showed up at our front door – complete with an adorable PJ Masks hologram backpack & lunch tote!
PJ Masks Clothing
The first day of school is really important, so kids should always dress the part. Lucky for us parents there are tons of PJ Masks t-shirts and clothing to choose from. Since it is a big Disney Junior hit, there is clothing for boys and girls. My daughters will be heading off to school with some “super” new PJ Masks shirts.
School Supplies
You can’t head back to school without pens, pencils, and all that sort of fun stuff. Well, PJ Masks has you covered when it comes to stationary kits too, so don’t worry. My daughter can’t wait to show off her themed ruler, markers, and yes, even a sticker kit, when she starts school this year.
“PJ Masks continues to be super popular with preschoolers everywhere and we’re excited to introduce engaging new ways for them to head back to school with Catboy, Gekko and Owlette this year,” said eOne’s Joan Grasso, SVP, Licensing – North America, Family & Brands. “The new line-up includes offerings that invite fans to learn, have fun adventures and share their love for their favorite show.”
And More!
Good2Grow – Juice offerings available in 100% Apple with no added sugar and Fruit Fusion, an organic low-sugar juice, varieties. Each bottle features a PJ Masks character head topper.
Just Play – An assortment of PJ Masks toys, including Romeo’s Lab Playset with two levels of play and light and sound control panel and Super Moon Adventure HQ Rocket with lights and sound.
SG Companies – Catboy and Gekko lace-free, multi-colored LED light-up sneakers to help kids get off on the right foot for back to school.
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing – New books to take readers on exciting PJ Masks adventures, including the shaped book Super Moon Adventure and the Ready-To-Read title Race to the Moon.
VTech – Electronic Learning Aids, including Time to Be a Hero Learning Tablet™ with all three PJ Masks and Learning Watches, each featuring a different hero.
Kids like superheroes, so what could be better for tykes than becoming superheroes themselves? That’s what happens at night for young friends Connor, Amaya and Greg. When they put on their pyjamas and activate their animal amulets, they turn into their alter egos — Catboy, Owlette and Gekko — before embarking on adventures that are filled with action. Along the way, they solve mysteries and learn valuable lessons. The animated series is based on the `Les Pyjamasques’ book series by French author Romuald Racioppo.
Zonderkidz is partnering with me for a super fun giveaway!
My girls are starting to read books on their own now, so we have been collecting a lot of new ones. Ones with harder words, but words that they can still figure out on their own. The book Fiona the Hippo was sent to us this month and quickly became one of my 7 year old’s favorites! There are no exceptionally hard words, and at this point it is memorization for her. She just loves sitting down with her little sister and reading to her! This is the perfect book for young readers.
About the Book
Fiona the Hippo tells the story of Fiona, the adorable internet sensation from the Cincinnati Zoo who captured hearts around the world with her inspiring story and plucky personality. Born prematurely, at only 29 pounds, Fiona was not expected to live. But her spunk and determination helped her thrive and become a happy, healthy hippopotamus. With every challenge she faced, Fiona let out a snort, wiggled her ears, and said “I’ve got this.” And she did! In this delightful story, inspired by the real adventure of this heroic hippo, join Fiona and her lovable animal friends at the zoo as she is introduced to the world in this whimsical and inspiring tale of perseverance and friendship.
Richard Cowdrey’s favorite things to draw and paint are the common things seen everywhere in nature. He especially enjoys capturing the expressions, eyes, and gestures of both humans and animals. Drawing and painting Fiona was challenging as the hippopotamus is a very unique yet beautiful creature! Richard’s bestselling children’s books include Legend of the Candy Cane, Bad Dog, Marley, and A Very Marley Christmas.
I love a good Philly Cheesesteak, but with keto and low carb eating, no bread is allowed. I thought about a way to get around this. First, I tried 90 second keto bread. It was good. Really good.
But I wanted something a little different. Then I realized I could use all my favorite cheesesteak ingredients to make a meatloaf. This recipe is really easy, and super yummy! Best of all, it is totally low carb and keto approved!
Ingredients
1.5 lbs ground beef
1 chopped bell pepper
1 egg
1/2 cup cubed mozzarella cheese
1 diced medium sized onion
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup cubed cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon ground oregano
I highly recommend buying block cheese and cutting it up yourself. You would be surprised by how many hidden carbs are in pre-shredded or pre-cubed cheeses to stop them from sticking.
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Combine ground beef, oregano, Parmesan cheese, and egg in a bowl. Mix well.
Add in peppers, onions, and cheeses. Mix well.
Press in to a greased loaf pan.
Bake for 60 minutes.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 60 minutes
Total Carbs: 5 carbs per serving
This dinner recipe is something that I just came up with on my own. It is something that the entire family enjoys. In fact, my 7 year old asks for it at least once a week. She can even help me make it by chopping up the cheese and veggies if I ask her to.
On occasion, we switch up the ingredients. Once we added in bacon bits and WOW it was really good! Check out the video to see just how easy this is below.
Keto Approved Philly Cheesesteak Meatloaf Recipe
A delicious meatloaf that tastes just like a philly cheesesteak!
1.5 lbs ground beef
1 chopped bell pepper
1 egg
1 diced medium sized onion
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon ground oregano
1/2 cup cubed mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup cubed cheddar cheese
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Combine ground beef, oregano, Parmesan cheese, and egg in a bowl. Mix well.
Add in peppers, onions, and cheeses. Mix well.
Press in to a greased loaf pan.
Bake for 60 minutes.
This recipe can be easily modified by adding more vegetables, or removing any that are in it.
Thank you to GameStop for gifting us a Wii U. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.
You probably already know that the Smiths are a family of gamers. We own pretty much every console out there, and use them on a daily basis. My girls are 5 and 7 years old and their personal favorite is the Wii U. If we allowed them to play it all day, every day, they totally would. In fact there probably (definitely) have been days like that – don’t judge. I sat them down and asked them to pick out their favorite Wii U games to play so that I could share them with you. They narrowed them down to 10 and I have to say, I love all the games they chose too!
TIP: Head to your local GameStop (or shop online) for some amazing deals on pre-owned games. If you are a PowerUp Rewards member, which you totally should be, you can pretty much always get even better deals. Like buy two, get one free on all pre-owned games. That is my personal favorite deal to take advantage of. Not to mention, you get more value when you trade in games. You can even save on pre-owned gaming consoles. It is totally a no brainer.
Minecraft
Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures. Explore randomly-generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles. Play in Creative Mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs. Craft, create, and explore alone, or with up to four players in split-screen and up to eight online.
This is my girls’ favorite game. Hands down. They spend hours playing it. And honestly, it is teaching them a lot. They are learning about how things work, and improving their hand eye coordination. My husband and I have been shocked by how much they are learning and how good this game has actually been for them.
Super Mario Maker
The Mario experience of your dreams has arrived and is bursting with creativity… including yours! Play a near-limitless number of intensely creative Super Mario levels from players around the world. It’s easy enough to create your own levels with the Wii U GamePad controller that it may feel like you’re simply sketching out your ideas on paper, but you can now bring enemies and objects into a playable course in ways you could only dream of before. What was impossible in traditional Mario games is now impossibly fun, so let your imagination run wild!
My daughters are always creating levels that are literally impossible, and they find it hilarious. My husband and I have so much fun trying to beat their levels and stump them with our own. This is a great family game!
Mario Kart 8
Feel the rush as your kart rockets across the ceiling! Race upside-down and along walls on anti-gravity tracks in the most action-fueled Mario Kart game yet! Take on racers across the globe and share videos of your greatest moments via Mario Kart TV. This is a game that we all have so much fun playing! We battle it out in all of the modes, and somehow I pretty much always lose. But that is OK because I adore watching my girls have the time of their life playing!
Yoshi’s Woolly World
Embark on a new Yoshi adventure in a world made from yarn, cloth and textiles. Explore the world by using yarn to weave wool patterns and warp pipes to reach new areas, and gleefully unravel its secrets and puzzles by pulling yarn walls apart. Add a little color to Yoshi’s life with a spectrum of yarn balls. Then team up with a friend to have a ball together in this wild and woolly world.
My girls could play this game for hours on end. And they have gotten really good at it. My husband and I enjoy sitting back and watching them play it together quite often. The controls are easy for kids to pick up on.
Just Dance
Just Dance 2015 is the latest, most awesome-filled version of the world’s #1 dance game! Bringing new moves and game modes to over 40 top tracks, Just Dance 2015 features hit songs like “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, “Burn”” by Ellie Goulding, and legendary favorites like “Walk This Way” by Run DMC & Aerosmith, with more tracks to be announced very soon. There are a million reasons to play and a million stories to be created with Just Dance 2015!
All dance games are super fun with kids. Trust me. My 7 year old tries REALLY hard, and I love watching her. While my 5 year old could care less to match the moves and just kind of does her own thing. My husband and I sit back and watch and just laugh and laugh. Every now and then we jump in and play too.
My daughters love the show Adventure Time, so this quickly became one of their favorite games. At first, we really had to help them with the controls, but they easily figured them out after a few times playing. If you are a fan of the show, you will love this game.
Mario Party 10
Bowser crashes the latest Mario Party, the first installment of the series on the Wii U console. In the new Bowser Party Mini-games, play as Bowser himself and face off against up to four others playing as Mario and friends. Control Bowser using the buttons, motion controls and touch screen of the Wii U GamePad controller in different ways, and wreak havoc as Bowser in each mini-game while the other players strive to survive.
This is another four player couch co-op, so you know it is a hit in our house! We play it at least twice a week. Of course, we have to rotate who is Bowser because, for some reason, the girls always fight over being him. Even though he always loses. Well, almost always.
We are such big fans of this game in our house because we love LEGOs. We not only get to build some of our favorite characters, but we get to play them as well. My 5 year old adores UniKitty! Her favorite part of the game is that she can teleport in to UniKitty’s world. And me being a collector, I just want to complete ALL the missions and collect ALL the things. I am still working on that….
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse
Do you have the magic touch? Then guide Kirby as he sets off on grand adventures in a hand-sculpted clay world. Draw lines on the touch screen of the Wii U GamePad controller to create rainbow-colored clay ropes to move Kirby around freely, or tap him to attack enemies or blast through obstacles. Transformations include a submarine, rocket and tank. In underwater levels, Kirby dons a swim mask. If his power level gets too low, a clay bandage appears on his head.
This is another game that we can all play together. We rotate who gets to be Kirby, of course, but we have a blast no matter what character we play. I love that we can all actively help complete a level. This is a must for families who love to game together!
Super Mario 3D World
Work together with your friends or compete for the crown in the first multiplayer 3D Mario game for the Wii U console. In the Super Mario 3D World game, players can choose to play as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, or Toad. This game is a total blast. We played it all the way through (twice) as a family. I love that it is a couch co-op for a family of four because there are not many of those. My girls love becoming kitties. It is their favorite part of the game. Hands down.
Don’t forget to show pre-owned at GameStop! You are sure to save so much money on deals you never thought possible! This holiday season, you can pick up a pre-owned console and whole collection of games for a price you could never imagine.
Back to school time is here! I love my kids but I am excited for them to get back to school. And I am sure most parents, and maybe some kids, feel the same way. I put together some things that just might make your life easier when the time comes. These will help your kids get ready to be back at school, and parents too. This guide includes affiliate links.
LEGO Classic Bricks and Gears Kit
Children can get ready to head back to the classroom while they build, learn, and fuel their imagination with this LEGO® Classic 10712 Bricks and Gears set. Features bright and colorful LEGO® pieces that allow for open-ended creative play. My daughters could spend all day using their minds and coming up with all sorts of creations with LEGOs. In fact, I have let them do just that several times.
Drynk Beverage Containers
Not all beverage tumblers are created equal. Only Drynk comes with two different lids to suit kids’ drinking styles. The Sipper’s magnet keeps the hinged lid open while drinking so it doesn’t bump noses. The Gulper’s wide mouth is great for sports drinks, or for sharing drinks with the pair of accompanying cups. Which also helps cut down on spreading colds and germs. Of course, each Drynk keeps hot drinks hot for up to 12 hours and cold ones cold for up to 18 hours. The coolest part? A built-in coaster prevents spills. Drynks come in a range of fun colors and two sizes for all ages.
Botley
Children as young as 5 can learn to code with Botley, the next-generation coding robot. Botley teaches kids coding fundamentals through tactile play but with his advanced features he’ll grow with them for many fun years to come. Botley is ready to use right out of the box, 100% screen free and is the only robot that includes a 77-piece activity set!
Pendulonium STEM Challenge
Physics fundamentals become fun through this hands-on activity set. Challenges kids to send the included launch balls flying toward goal cups and targets with the help of a three-piece adjustable pendulum. What seems like a collection of simple tasks will actually challenge each child’s engineering, problem solving, and critical thinking skills as they play around with early physics concepts such as force and momentum in search of the ideal solution. In addition to using their brains, kids will also have to make careful use of their muscles—the pendulum in the Pendulonium STEM Challenge is completely kid-powered, and helps build hand-eye coordination and muscle control without the need for extra batteries, springs, or rubber bands.
Send your children back-to-school with a durable, top-quality backpack that supports children with rare diseases! Comfortable, roomy, and sturdy, Fenrici Backpacks offer schoolchildren an ideal backpack for carrying all of their necessities with ease. The best part? Kids know that they have made a difference in another child’s life. Designed with deep mesh side pockets with strong elastic opening to keep a water bottle in place, and a well-padded back panel, wide mesh shoulder straps, and adjustable sternum strap to help reduce strain and keep your kid comfortable. Plus, reflector strips are strategically placed on the front and back so your child is visible in the dark. 5% of net proceeds is donated to non-profit Global Genes to fund the research and education for childhood rare diseases. Fenrici Backpacks can be purchased online at www.fenrici.com and www.amazon.com.
BugBand DEET-Free Towelettes
Keep mosquitoes away this Fall when playing sports outdoors with BugBand Towelettes! The BugBand Towelette is a very handy, easy-to use method of applying Geraniol DEET-FREE insect repellent for heavy duty insect protection. Easy to tuck in a backpack or sports bag, the towelettes are lightweight and take up very little space! Safe and effective, the towelettes allow for exact application of Geraniol lotion on exposed skin. They’re ideal for using around your face or neck without over-applying. The towelettes can be folded and stored in the foil container for future use. Safe for the entire family, even pets!
Do you have any back to school tips or items to share?
Welcome to my pull list for new comic book day (8/15/18). You probably know that I am quite the comic book collector! I love reading them, and talking about them! Don’t miss out on my live chats over on YouTube to find out what books I am loving and not loving. This is something I do weekly, on Wednesdays (AKA new comic book day) at 1pm EST. We usually also get super off topic and talk about random things, but we still have a great time! This is what I plan to pick up this week. What are you getting? Don’t forget to support your local comic book shop!
Marvel
Astonishing X-Men Annual #1: You can’t go wrong with the X-Men!
Extermination #1 (of #5): I am really excited to check this out! Have been waiting for it for a long time!
Tony Stark Iron Man #3: I love me some sassy Tony Stark. So far, so good with this series!
DC
Batgirl #25: A DC character that I actually really like is Batgirl. I haven’t read this series, but I am thinking about picking it up should there be a good starting point.
Batman #53: Who doesn’t love Batman? He has always been a favorite of mine (in DC standards anyways). Something about his villains…
Justice League #6: This is still low enough in the series that I might pick them all up and read the whole series.
Teen Titans Go #29: My kids love this one!
Other
My Little Pony Ponyville Mysteries #4: This one is for my girls! My 7 year old reads this series herself.
Gideon Falls #6: I keep hearing amazing things about this series.
Steven Universe #19: This is one of my favorite shows. I need to start reading this comic.
Did I miss a comic you plan to pick up this week? Let me know in the comments – and tell me why I should try it!
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