Double Dipped French Toast Is Back At IHOP (For A Limited Time)

IHOP restaurants are bringing back their newest innovation, Double Dipped French Toast-- soft brioche bread first dipped in vanilla batter, then dipped a second time in a coating of corn flakes and oatmeal and griddled perfectly to a crispy golden-brown, raising the bar for French toast at an affordable price.

Double Dipped French Toast is yet another example of why America turns to IHOP for breakfast any time of day—and has for over 57 years.  When it was introduced last summer, it became one of our most popular dishes, and guests have been eagerly awaiting its return. And it’s back in two new sweetly indulgent varieties:

Blackberry & Vanilla – Thick slices of Brioche bread dipped in our vanilla batter, then in cornflakes and oatmeal, griddled, and topped with plump blackberries and drizzled with vanilla sauce.

Banana, Peanut Butter & Chocolate – Thick slices of Brioche bread dipped in vanilla batter, then in cornflakes and oatmeal, griddled, and topped with sliced fresh bananas, chocolate chips and a drizzle of peanut butter sauce.

Guests can enjoy two slices of hand-crafted Double-Dipped French Toast any time of day as part of a combo with eggs, done the way they like them, their choice of crispy bacon, pork sausage links or a slice of grilled ham, and IHOP restaurants' signature golden hash browns;  or as an entrée stacked three slices high.

Double Dipped French toast will be available at participating IHOP restaurants between February 15 and April 10, 2016.

Celebrating Your Mom on her Birthday

A mother is truly an angel on earth, and throughout our lives she’s the one making sure every one of our birthdays is celebrated as it should be. Now that we know how much work goes into motherhood, it’s high time to return the favor and give Mom the birthday celebration she deserves. Use these heartfelt ideas and make her feel amazing on her special day.

A Surprise Knock at the Door

If you live far away from your mom, try your hardest to shock her with a surprise visit. If you’re planning far enough in advance, book a flight or make any necessary travel arrangements. Once you arrive, head over to her house and knock on the door. Tape a bow to the top of your head, and wait for the look on her face when she opens up the front door—you’ll definitely be her favorite present this year. If you have siblings, try to coordinate with them to have your visits coincide. She’ll be so delighted to have all of her kids home at once.

Floral Fun

Who doesn’t love the fragrant scent and colorful vibrancy of beautiful bouquets? Stick with a classic celebration tactic and send along your sweetest sentiments in the form of a birthday flower delivery. Whether you send along an arrangement to her office or her front door, every time she sees the colorful petals she’ll experience a rush of happiness—exactly what Mom deserves on her birthday. Make sure you add a heartfelt note that will bring a happy tear to her eye and let her know how thankful you are to have been blessed with such a wonderful mother.

A Special Lunch Date

If you live in the same city as your mom, make sure you take her out for a surprise luncheon. If she’s still working, head over to her office and pick her up for a fun mother-daughter date. If she’s at home, consider picking something up and delivering it to her. If you’re in another city or you can’t get over in time to celebrate with her during the middle of the day, call in her favorite order to her favorite takeout spot, pay for delivery, and wait for her call of thanks when she finds the feast at her front door.

A Subscription Just for Her

One of the best gift ideas you can find for your mom is a subscription box you know she’ll love. If she’s always been a makeup maven that loves trying out all the new cosmetic releases, get her signed up for BirchBox. This popular service will deliver a box of the latest makeup samples to hit the market every month. If your mom loves to get her hands messy in the kitchen, check out Blue Apron. This organic food delivery system will send boxes filled with fresh ingredients and unique recipes each week to make sure she keeps her spatula skills in fine form.

A Mother-Daughter Pampering Day

Moms new and old can appreciate this awesome gift idea. Kick your feet up together and head to a massage parlor or spa resort to have a day of mother and daughter pampering. Whether you two elect for full body massages, manicures, or facials, treating your mom to some luxury treatments and your loving company will combine for a wonderful birthday treat she’ll truly appreciate. If you have a daughter, take her along as well for a multi-generational day of laughter and destressing.

Giving Back

This a great idea if you’re struggling to come up with a gift for the woman who has everything. If your mother has worked to instill a sense of generosity in you, show her the lessons stuck by donating money to a charity in her honor. Whether it’s a local cause you know she’s passionate about or an organization you know will do a world of good, she will no doubt appreciate your thoughtful gift idea.

Make sure your mom is properly celebrated on her birthday this year with any one of these fun surprise ideas and make sure her day is as special as she is.

Bring The Spa Home For Less This Valentine's Day

One of the things I'm sure many moms can agree on is that we never take enough for ourselves. We are constantly trying to shuttle kids around, cook, clean, tackling mountains of laundry, and we tend to feel frazzled by dinnertime. Going to a spa sounds like a great idea, but the reality is that it's just not doable for most of us. Besides the cost involved, there is that time issue. Well why not bring the spa home to you? 

By having some simple items, you can feel pampered and relaxed without stepping foot outside of your home.

The Home Spa Treatment System by Instrumental Beauty is a great first step. This amazing tool is a 4-in-1 and is made for your body, face and feet. It has 4 attachment heads that include an over-sized rotary brush for the body, smaller one for face, a micro-dermabrasion sponge and a pedi smoothing stone.

This tool come with 4 AA batteries and packs a lot of power. It is a great way to feel like you had a mini spa session. It scrubs away dead skin to reveal your natural glow and to restore smoothness. I keep mine on the side of my tub for daily use, because why not! This home spa system can be purchased for only $30. I know you or someone you love is worth that. I'm sure you will not get any type of spa service for that price. Also to go along with your spa system, you need a good bath and shower gel. The Yardley Lavender and Rosemary is perfect! It is made with lavender essential oil and will calm your senses. At only $4.99, it's a great value. Definitely way less than the boutique brands, and just as effective. It's available at Walgreens, Rite-Aid, Publix and more.

Make sure you don't forget your lips. Yes, even your lips should be pampered. Lypsyl Ultra Soothing lip balm is a simple way to make your lips kissably soft and smooth. Formulated from all-natural, pure Swedish beeswax, and a combination of natural and therapeutic ingredients like organic Shea butter, coconut oil, Vitamin E and Vitamin A, Lypsyl provides unsurpassed moisture and lip protection. It’s only $2.99 and comes in Chamomile & Honey or Original Mint. You can purchase it at Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Rite-Aid and other retailers nationwide.

These items would make a great gift for Valentine's Day or as a just because gift. I'm thinking ahead of Mother's Day as well. Don't forget your co-workers, moms, sisters, girlfriends, teachers and YOURSELF!

I received product samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own as always.  

Keeping Up With Your Exercise Goals Without Accidents #TryImpressa

Today's post is sponsored by Poise, but all opinions are my own

We just started the second month of 2016 and I am doing my best to keep up with a healthy routine that includes a good diet, drinking tons of water and exercising as much as I can. I admit, I have had several slip-ups and have to get myself back on track. One road-block, or what feels like one, is in the exercise department. It's not that I don't want to do it or don't have the motivation,  it's something totally embarrassing. Sometimes when I run on the treadmill or jump on the trampoline... well... I leak a little pee. There, I said it! I feel a slight urge that I need to go, but it's a leak. It is best known as Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI). Thirty-five million women experience SUI, a common type of bladder leakage, which can be triggered by coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting or even exercise. UGH!

So what do you do about a problem like this? It's actually easy. You run to Walmart to the feminine products aisle and grab a Poise Impressa Bladder Support Sizing Kit. Yeah, I know it doesn't sound sexy at all, but let me tell you, this can be the answer! This product by Poise is made to be used like you would a tampon and can help prevent leaks from happening in the first place. Genius, huh? The Poise Impressa sizing kit comes with 2 of all 3 sizes to help you figure out what size you actually need. Note: they do not absorb like a tampon would since they are designed exclusively to help prevent light bladder leakage.

I am so happy that there is a solution that can give you back your freedom to be as active as you'd like. Oh, and just in the event you have to cough, sneeze or laugh. My daughters have a little joke that every time we start telling stories and I am about to break out into laughter, they ask, "Do you have your Poise?". I have come to the point of having no shame about what is happening to my body. I am lucky that this product works for me. I suggest you give it a try for yourself. If you have any doubts, you can discuss it with your doctor. Also be sure to grab a coupon here. 

Check out this short video of these women sharing their stories.


For more details about Impressa, visit their website and be sure to follow Poise on Facebook and Twitter for product promotions and updates.

Home Cleaning as a Life Lesson for Kids

Home cleaning can be both a blessing and a trial, especially if children are involved. But what you have never thought of is making your kids a part of the home cleaning process and making it both productive and fun for all parties involved. Kids can despise cleaning, yes, especially since it goes against everything they are investing every single waking moment in: making messes and not cleaning up after themselves. But when it comes to the greater good, you should try and make them compromise for the one cleaning and help you with it – and the results can be uncanny.

Roleplay
One way to get children really invested in helping you get the home clean is giving them roles. Make it a game for them, have them do assignments and give them rewards – this is how they spend their video game time, so they should be accustomed to doing it, but only this time their own imagination will be in charge of keeping them entertained. Give your son “missions” and your daughter “responsibilities” and see how they change and act their parts to fulfil the given assignment.

Dress-up
You can combine the roleplay with actual costumes! Kids will love to really pretend to be in other people’s shoes. One of kids’ best pastime is pretending they are adults, so give them adult roles and adult clothes and see how they will do their best to play out the role of their lives. Don’t underestimate the power of their imagination and how it can stimulate them to do real chores with actual desire.

Teaching Responsibility
The house cleaning can be a very good way to introduce the children to adult life and show them why doing what they are doing is important. Don’t treat them as kids, treat them as learning adults and explain how if the floor is not vacuumed, the house will be consumed in dust mites that carry diseases and spoil the quality of life in the house. Give them reasons to resent dirt and reasons to actually want the place to be clean. When a kid wants something, you know that the kid will get it, even if it has to do it itself. Also, the earlier the child starts getting used to chores, the less complaining there will be once it starts growing up, and not to mention that much more work will be actually done – imagine all the responsibilities that will be taken off your own hands!

Cleaning the house can show your kids what to expect one day when they are away from home, away from mommy’s cleaning services, and it will be up to them to keep their surroundings dirt-free. It is a life lesson like any other, but if you get them invested successfully, then you will soon have not children, but small adults running around, helping you around the house, full of desire to learn. Teach them enough and one day you will be able to sleep peacefully at night, certain that they will be able to take care of themselves.

Read more helpful cleaning related tips on: Notting Hill Cleaner Ltd.