Easy Ways To Entertain In The Summertime

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx.com.

Summertime is in full swing all across the country. Families everywhere are vacationing, road-tripping, relaxing and entertaining. Summer seems to be one of the best times of year to entertain family and friends. It's always fun to hang out at the pool, play cornhole, badminton, volleyball, and of course, have water balloon fights!

It's not really summer unless you have something delicious sizzling away on the grill. We grill out almost daily, and especially love burgers, chops, steaks, and veggies. The scent of char-grilled meat makes everyone's mouth water. You definitely can't live in the South and have a meal without a glass of ice cold sweet tea to wash down all of that good food.

One thing I find important when it comes to summer entertaining is to keep it simple. Don't stress out and think you need to break out the fancy dishes and glasses to enjoy a meal together. We are all about casual dining! Sitting out on the back porch is where you'll find us.

Nothing says back porch sittin' like a cold glass of sweet tea. I know a lot of people who love a good glass of it but complain that they don't know how to make it properly. Well, a great solution to that is by using Southern Breeze Cold Brew sweet tea bags. They are made to where you simply place one bag in a glass and add cold water. In five minutes you will have the perfectly sweetened glass of iced tea, just add ice!

We absolutely love the taste of peach tea in the summer. The Southern Breeze peach tea does not disappoint! I love garnishing with fresh peach slices and a sprig of mint. Doesn't it look refreshing? It has the perfect balance of sweetness with a good hit of peach flavor with zero calories and zero sugar. If you're up for a cocktail, you can add a shot of whiskey. Yum! Right now you can get FREE shipping on your first order of Southern Breeze cold brew tea, available in original, peach, raspberry, and half tea, half lemonade.

Do you love a good steak? We are huge fans of the perfect ribeye on the grill. Of course, quality is everything. We received the most mouth-watering selection of meats for our summer grilling from Fareway Meat Market. Our date night bundle included two 12-ounce beef ribeye steaks, two 10-ounce Iowa pork chops, two 8-ounce America's cut boneless pork chops, 85% Butcher’s Blend Ground Beef (1 lb.) and Premium Steak Burgers (4 patties). We knew immediately that the ribeyes were going to be the first to hit the grill! 

I couldn't believe how thick they were. These beauties had the perfect amount of fat marbling to indicate that you were going to have one tender, juicy steak. Even when I was handling the beef with the tongs, I could feel how soft the meat was.

Look at this gorgeous beef! I cooked it to medium-rare. The flavor of the beef itself was outstanding. If you appreciate the natural taste of beef, you will know that this is the good stuff!

Sometimes in the summer, we like salads with grilled steak on top. It gives the balance of lighter fare with a bit of heartiness. If you hate going inside the store, you can order meat online with Fareway Meat Market. You will not regret using this meat delivery service. They send you only the finest cuts of meat. Enter code “meatlover” to receive $20 off your first order! 

By the way, if you need a tasty pre-dinner snack that won't make you feel guilty, you must try out Popchips in the many varieties they offer. I couldn't wait to dig in to the zesty jalapeño cheddar popchips. This is the first time I have ever eaten chips that actually taste like you cut open a jalapeño, shredded your own cheddar, and combined them into a chip. The flavor explodes in your mouth! You won't have any greasy residue left on your hands either, because popchips are never fried.

You can't beat healthy snacks made with real ingredients. Make sure you grab a few bags from your local grocer. You will want to try them all!

We hope you enjoy the rest of the summer before the craziness of back-to-school takes over. Now that we have shared some of our summer favorites, what are some of yours?

Airfree Air Purifiers 40% Off July 4th Sale

Can y'all believe it is JULY already? It is hot, hot, HOT out there! I often think the hotter it gets, the worse allergy symptoms seem to be. Right now is the best time to take advantage of the Airfree Air Purifier July 4th sale running now until July 9, 2018 at 23:59 PM.

They are offering 40% off on their most popular air purifier models:

Airfree Iris 3000
Original Price: $329.00
4th of July Price: $199.00

Airfree T800
Original Price: $159.00
4th of July Price: $99.00

You can find these incredible prices by shopping online at major retailers like: Bed Bath and Beyond, Home Depot, Wayfair, Amazon and by visiting their website at Airfee.com.  A complete list of participating websites can be found at Airfree.com.

Airfree products reduce microbiological contamination in the air naturally, without using chemicals or filters.  Airfree’s exclusive technology works by eliminating microorganisms and allergens using heat, destroying them in a fraction of a second. Depending on the model, between 14,000 and 20,000 liters of air pass through the Airfree device every hour, treating all the air in the room in a very short space of time. The process works in much the same way as sterilizing water by boiling it; when water is boiled, the microorganisms it contains are eliminated.

Airfree continually draws in air from the room, heating it to over 400 ºF and instantly sterilizing it. The purified air is then cooled inside the device before being returned to the room. The entire process is completely silent and requires no maintenance, not even the occasional replacement of parts. All you have to do is switch the device on and leave it on to perform the task.

The Iris 3000 standalone model is recommended for rooms up to 650sqft., weighs only 3.3 pounds, is guaranteed for 2 years, has a low energy consumption of 44 watts, uses 120 volts of electricity and offers users exclusive multicolor light option.

The T800 standalone model is recommended for rooms up to 180sqft., weighs only 1.5 pounds, is guaranteed for 2 years, has a low energy consumption of 33 watts, and uses only 110-127 volts of electricity.

We have owned air purifiers from Airfree for a couple years now and they are fantastic! I especially love that there is no maintenance and the unit it silent. It works so well for allergy and asthma sufferers. If you have been considering getting an air purifier or even upgrading, Airfree is the way to go!

Find Out How SafetyPIN Can Help Keep Your Family Safe

Today's conversation is a sponsored post in partnership with BraVoMark and SafetyPin Technologies.

Do you ever think about how much you use the internet and social media? Most of us are connected with thousands of people online, and there is that chance you might some day meet one of these virtual "friends". It is a scary thought that it is possible that some people might not ending up being who they portray themselves as on social media. There is also those times where you have to research for in-home childcare, pet sitting or those for-sale ad sites, and it's hard to know who you can trust. This is where SafetyPIN comes in.

What is SafetyPIN?

It’s like a virtual trust badge and the best way to know someone you met online is safe to meet offline. They can be assured that you are, too.

SafetyPIN's proprietary 4-pronged process screens criminal, financial, and personal history, and combines those with a behavioral profile. If you meet their criteria, you’re awarded a unique SafetyPIN you can share with people on sites like Care.com, pet sitting services, elder care, Airbnb, local sellers, and even your favorite dating sites.

The behavioral questionnaire was developed with criminal profilers, and a clinical psychologist to weed out people who may present a danger (even if they don’t have a criminal record). SafetyPIN holders are regularly rescreened, and SafetyPIN is revoked if they no longer meet requirements.

You can ask for one/use one anywhere: babysitting, pet sitting, elder care, Craigslist, Airbnb, HomeAway, Bumble, Match… One SafetyPIN, unlimited places.

Your private information is never shared with other party, and all personal data is encrypted and follows best practices for security. Also, you control who can verify your SafetyPIN.

It only costs $1 to apply, and $6 for the first 6 months. Less than $5/month after that. You can cancel your membership at any time.

How to get started with SafetyPIN

If you need to get someone to apply, and pay themselves, just send this link.

Want to you want to pay for a SafetyPIN for your babysitter, nanny, or someone else? Simply go to getasafetypin.com and register (if you’re already a member, simply log in). Once you’re signed in, choose “Vouchers” from the drop-down menu, and follow the prompts. Enter their information and your payment information and SafetyPIN takes care of the rest. (You can pay for just the application fee or you can cover their membership for as long as you choose.)

Check out the video below for more information.



We definitely wouldn't want anyone in our home or around the family without asking for a SafetyPIN! Thanks for stopping by today.

Get a Healthy Renovated House with These Zero-VOC Interior Paints

Renovating your house is always an exciting task. Nonetheless, this does not mean that you should not think about your health and your safety as well. Choosing your paint is an essential step in this process, and you should make sure that you select a color that does not have too many volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Today we will talk about some of the most significant alternatives when it comes to paint that does not use volatile organic compounds. You should also keep in mind that low-VOC paint usually has less than 250 g/L. If a paint claims that it is zero-VOC, it is required to have less than 5 g/L VOC.

Milk Paint

The paint from Old-Fashioned Milk Paint is fantastic if you want to go organic when painting your home. This paint calls itself “The Greenest Paint There Is,” and according to the company, the same ingredients are used in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

The base paint has components such as minerals or milk protein, and they are all completely biodegradable. However, a drawback could be the fact that there aren’t too many colors available. You can choose to mix specific colors with white so that you get different shades.

Sherwin-Williams

This brand is well known, so you shouldn’t have any problems when it comes to finding it in a store near you. This acrylic latex paint is zero-VOC, and it also has an ingredient that is anti-microbial. This means that using this paint should reduce mold growth and your walls will remain cleaner and healthier for a longer time.

YOLO Colorhouse

YOLO Colorhouse started with 49 shades, and they managed to add more than 40 new colors since then. This paint is created without using formaldehyde, phthalates, carcinogens or VOCs. This brand does more than that. The containers for YOLO Colorhouse are made out of recycled plastic, and the labels use recycled material as well. The ink for the labels is soy ink, and the products are shipped with vehicles that use biodiesel fuel.

Behr Premium Plus Enamel Low luster

If you want to have numerous alternatives, then you should choose Behr which is a brand that offers more than 4000 different colors, and they contain flat interior, semi-gloss, eggshell and base finishes. All products have zero-VOC versions, and you can find the perfect shade by using the color finder at Behr.com. Their website also offers pictures of rooms that were renovated using their paints, so you could see an idea for your house right there if you are not feeling inspired.

Benjamin Moore Natura/Aura

This paint brand has been around for more than two hundred years, but it managed to keep up with the latest needs. Therefore, Benjamin Moore included a line of Natural Waterborne paint, which contains the entire range of colors, without using any volatile organic compounds. Another advantage of this brand is the fact that it does not need a primer on most surfaces.

Hotel Transylvania 3 Summer Vacation With Entenmann's Giveaway

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, will be in theaters July 13, 2018. It's definitely a great idea for a hot summer day thing-to-do indoors. In collaboration with Sony Pictures Animation, Entenmann’s® is launching a frightfully fun promotion to celebrate the theatrical release of Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation! 

From May 28, 2018 to August 3, 2018, fans will receive $5.00 off a movie ticket to see the film with the purchase of three five-count specially marked Entenmann’s® Little Bites® or eight-count specially marked Entenmann’s® Donuts. So now you can have delicious snacks on hand that will add up to saving money on a movie ticket. 

Entenmann’s® Little Bites® are the perfect pre-portioned pouches of delicious baked snacks made with real ingredients like blueberries, strawberries, and banana. YUM! 

With most varieties at less than 200 calories per pouch, Little Bites® Muffins are a good source of calcium and vitamin D, and contain no high fructose corn syrup or trans fat, making them a snack kids will love and a choice parents can feel good about. 

And those Entenmann's donuts are a family favorite in our household. Choose from cake donuts, rich frosted, crumb, and variety packs. 

For more information about the promotion and to access fun – and free! – Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation activities, and to redeem the promotional offer, please visit https://www.littlebites.com/hotel-transylvania-3. 

About Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, in theaters July 13, 2018:

In Sony Pictures Animation’s Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation, join our favorite monster family as they embark on a vacation on a luxury monster cruise ship so Drac can take a summer vacation from providing everyone else's vacation at the hotel.   It’s smooth sailing for Drac’s Pack as the monsters indulge in all of the shipboard fun the cruise has to offer, from monster volleyball to exotic excursions, and catching up on their moon tans. But the dream vacation takes a dangerous turn when Mavis realizes Drac has fallen for the human captain of the ship, Ericka, who holds a mysterious secret that threatens them all. Directed by Genndy Tartakovsky and written by Genndy Tartakovsky and Michael McCullers, the film is produced by Michelle Murdocca.

Giveaway: One lucky Mom Files reader will win a $25 Visa digital gift card and (3) coupons for $7.00 off the purchase of any Entenmann’s® products. Enter below: a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only and ends on July 14, 2018. Must follow rules in Rafflecopter. One winner will be chosen randomly. Mom Files is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. Good luck!

The coupons for product redemption, information, and gift card have been provided by Entenmann’s® so that I could try the product and share my thoughts and information about Entenmann’s®. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions of Entenmann’s®.

7 Ways You Can Improve Your Health And Fitness Without Really Trying

Wouldn’t it be great if we could start improving our health and fitness today without breaking the bank or making too much of an effort? If this sounds good to you, then read on to find out more.

1.  Go meat-free (not just on Monday) – Consuming meat, in particular red meat, is associated with a greater risk of developing coronary heart disease and a higher risk of stroke. With so many meat-free alternatives out there, you could experiment with a veggie burger or perhaps try a tofu steak to help cut out some cholesterol today.
 

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2. Fill up with some H2O – There are so many ways to jazz up some boring water, and work your way to drinking your eight glasses per day. Cucumber water is not just for the spa; keep some in the fridge for some refreshing hydration at any time. Why not try making your own ice cubes with a twist? Put berries or herbs in the tray and freeze them – simple. Pop them in your water for a delicious and cooling treat all at zero calories! 

3. Drink less alcohol (sorry about this one) - as much as we love an indulgent glass of wine, regular consumption can trigger an inflammatory response making our skin look red and irritated. Try to limit it to the occasional treat to keep our skin and our waistlines in tip-top shape. 

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4. Get some more Zzzzz’s – Getting your daily dose of beauty sleep can be easier said than done. Carving out some time for some quality rest can decrease your blood pressure and your risk of obesity, giving you the perfect excuse to linger in bed a little bit longer. 

5. The power of positive thought – Committing to improving our behavior and developing better habits can be optimized by including mindfulness in our daily routine. There are a number of apps out there such as Headspace, that can guide us through some gentle meditation and help us develop a positive attitude in as little as 10 minutes per day. 

6.  Power Purchase - Invest in a Bowflex Max Trainer for a total body workout from the comfort of your own home, so no need for any expensive gym memberships. This clever piece of equipment gives you a total body workout, engaging all muscles groups and with the handy 14 minute interval workout, you can easily fit this in between your morning coffee and checking your emails. There are a few different trainers available and you can read about all of these at: http://www.allworkoutroutines.com/home-fitness/bowflex-max-trainer-reviews

7. Cull some calories - Knowing your daily calorie requirements can help you monitor your overall intake, and encourage you to eat for your body’s needs. Apps such as MyFitnessPal allow you to track your daily intake, and it even sends you uplifting notifications when you are meeting your dietary and fitness goals, making this the perfect pocket companion! Some of the best calorie counter apps can be found here: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/5-best-calorie-counters

So there you have it, seven handy hints to make some life-changing improvements requiring little to no effort, wouldn’t it be great if all of life was this easy? 

One Small Fee With Jenny Life Can Help Ease Your Stress

This is a sponsored post with Jenny Life Insurance and BraVoMark. All opinions are my own.

Do you ever sit around and think about special family memories, or even future grandchildren? Our home is filled with beautiful photos or mementos that remind us of some of the most fun times, and big celebrations together. It also gets me to thinking about what will happen if I were to suddenly die. I know this isn't a fun conversation to have, but it's very necessary. I mean, my youngest child is only 10 and still has a way to go before he becomes a self-sufficient adult. He still has to graduate high school, and go to college.

I try not to be overly obsessed with leaving my family behind, but it's so important to know that they won't have to worry about money. You may have read some of my previous posts about Jenny Life Insurance. It is a convenient way to get life insurance with ease from the Jenny Life app, on either Apple or Android devices. Visit this post to see how you can get started.

The cost benefit of a small monthly fee to save your family from years of potential finance stress.

Do you have any idea of what it costs to take care of everything when a loved one passes away? Look at some of these findings from Jenny Life...

• Americans die with an average debt of $62,000. source 
• A funeral runs between $7,000 to $10,000. 
• Parents paid an average of $15,895 for full-time infant care.
• According to salary.com, a stay-at-home mom's medium average salary would be $143,102 if you calculated costs. source

All of this is overwhelming when you think about it. What will surprise you is that life insurance isn't as expensive as you might think. One small fee every month will give you the peace of mind you should have in regards to your family. Knowing that your family isn't stuck with a financial burden after your death is priceless! 

If you don't have life insurance, we suggest you check out Jenny Life for yourself. Visit Jenny Life online for more information. You can also find them on Facebook & Twitter.

4 Ways To Achieve A Healthier Lifestyle As A Family

This post is sponsored by Natrol but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

Summertime is in full swing for many of us with school being out. Most parents have registered the kids for summer camps/activities, made vacation plans, or are simply doing the local staycation. Whatever your plans are, the kids will be ready for some fun!

Something we all have in common as parents is we want our families to be happy and healthy. Sometimes it's a bit of a challenge to get the kids on board for the healthy part. Today we will share some tips on how you can achieve a healthier lifestyle together as a family.

1. Play together! 

Whether you are at the beach, or the backyard, there are many opportunities to get active. Try challenging the kids to a race. It's a great way to get your heart pumping, and your entire body moving. Make a game out of collecting rocks or shells. Before you know it, you all would have walked more than you realized.

2. Hold a family meeting

Make it a priority each month to hold a family meeting with everyone present. It doesn't have to be super long or in a formal setting. Discuss your financial and personal goals, as well your health goals. Have each family member document those goals. Charts are a great idea for younger children. Make those health goals a top priority!

3. Meal plan together

Instead of listening to the kids whine about dinner, include them! Have each person choose a theme for a particular day of the week, and go from there. Whether it's Meatless Monday or Taco Tuesday, everyone can state their likes or dislikes and agree on the menu collectively. Kids tend to be more interested in food when they were involved in picking out or planning the meal.

4. Hold each other accountable for making healthier choices

Make plans to hold each other accountable for drinking a certain amount of water each day, exercising, and taking daily multi-vitamins like Natrol Gummies. As a matter of fact, Natrol Multi Gummies are made with 26 fruits and veggies! Plus, they’re made with organic ingredients, are non-GMO, gelatin-free and vegetarian.

*As parents, we are pleased that Natrol Gummies are not only good for you, but they also taste great! They aren't super chewy so they don't tend to stick to your teeth. There is a formula for everyone in the family with the Women's Multi, Men's Multi, and Kid's Multi.

Natrol gummies are a great way to get those extra daily vitamins and minerals you might be lacking from you diet. If you're shopping and stop by the supplement aisle, just look for the purple top. We hope you and your family have a safe, happy, and healthy summer!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any diseases.

How to Avoid Postpartum Depression

Having a baby can be one of the best experiences that you will have in life. The problem with pregnancy, however, is that it eventually ends when you have your baby. This shouldn’t be a problem when you are then presented with a baby to look after, but sadly all over the world, mothers experience postpartum depression. This type of depression is a very serious illness, and understanding the signs is very important. In this article, we are going to go through some of the ways that you can help yourself to avoid postpartum depression so keep reading if you’d like to find out more.

Photo by Omar Lopez on Unsplash

Get Some Exercise

One of the best things that you can do when you are going through your postpartum period is to get some exercise. Although you will be busy with a newborn, you’ll benefit from taking a short walk each day or doing something which requires you to lift your energy levels a little. You’ll find that your mood will slightly improve as you achieve these goals.

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Stay Healthy

We all know that sleeping properly can be very difficult when you have a newborn baby but if you are able to get a reasonable amount of sleep then you’ll likely feel a lot better about yourself. You should also make sure to keep up a healthy diet to avoid spiraling into a depressive state. If you can, take a break and cook yourself or your partner a nice meal while they look after the baby.

Talk to Someone

If you think that you are beginning to show signs of postpartum depression, you need to make sure that you talk to someone. Ignoring the problem can only make it worse so try your best to talk to a friend, a parent or a partner. If none of these things are working, try talking to an online therapist. Websites like AskaCoach offer great therapists that specialize in depression that can help you through this hard time.

Focus on Yourself

You need to focus on your baby and looking after it, but you should also make sure to spend some time focusing on yourself. If you can avoid it, don’t do anything that will take your attention away from recovering from childbirth. This involves making big life decisions such as moving house or getting yourself a new job. Focus on your family and what you need to do, and don’t let yourself get stressed out by other aspects of your life that can wait.

Research

Our final tip for preventing postpartum depression is to do your research. You should make sure that you know everything about this illness so that you can identify when you are starting to feel a bit down or depressed. There are plenty of resources that will help you to identify the signs and might even help you to understand when a friend is going through this illness.

Although these tips might not stop postpartum depression completely, they might be able to help along the way.

Easy Ways to Add Value to Your Home

Are you looking to sell your home in the near future? Then we are sure you will want to try and make as much money as you possibly can on it! There are lots of easy ways in which you can increase the price of your property without having to spend a fortune.  We will take you through our top tips on how you can do this, but without having to get pricey contractors involved.

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Start with the Exterior 

The first thing that people will see when they arrive at your home for a viewing is the exterior and so you will want to make sure that this is pristine, and looks like a home where people will want to instantly move into. As soon as they see your home, they will be thinking about how much you are asking for and whether they think this price is justified. Start with little tasks such as weeding the garden, fixing the fence, and adding a fresh coat of paint to any outside windows. These little things can make a big difference!

Structural problems can also significantly decrease the value of your home, and the big one here to think about is the roof. The roof also makes up the outside exterior of your home, so it will clearly be visible to anyone viewing it, and will also most likely impact how much they want to offer. Before you start to allow viewings of your home, have any roof work repaired, and clear the drains and gutters to improve its appearance.

Finally, to complete your outdoor space, you will want to think about having some type of storage available as this will be a big selling point in your home. We would suggest getting a steel building as these are extremely cost-effective, easy to build and you don’t have to worry about labor costs. Plus, they can even be used as a garage. Armstrong Steel wrote a very useful article about how a steel building can increase a property’s value here: http://armstrongsteel.com/network/steel-building-insider/steel-building-increase-property-value/#.WxfqOEgvyUk

Brighten Up Your Home

One of the biggest things that can add value to your home is the amount of light coming in. A room that has a lot of light coming in instantly feels bigger, and so this is a cheap and easy way to increase your home’s value. A few easy things that can ensure more light is coming into your home is cleaning your windows, installing bright energy efficient lights, and installing a skylight or sliding patio doors.

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Decorating and Flooring

You would be surprised by how much value can be added to your home simply for painting a wall that is slightly drab! If you are going to be painting your home to up its value, make sure to go for neutral colors and avoid using any bright colors and this will probably be unappealing to the majority of buyers out there. The same can also be said if you are going to be replacing carpets.

Adding value to your home doesn't have to be anything over-the-top or costly. Thanks for stopping by!

Cooking For Performance: Fueling Your Teen Athlete

There are parents out there who have to feed teen athletes that need to perform. The right diet can help take your teen’s athletic performance to the next level. A small improvement can be the difference between your teen being recruited by colleges or ending their athletic career in high school. A great diet cannot make up for hard work in the gym, and on the practice field. Diet can only set your teen up for success as your performance is directly correlated to your overall diet. The following are tips that will help you cook for your teen to perform to the best of their ability.

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Let Them Define Their Goals

A diet that works for one type of athlete might be too high or low in calories and other nutrients. Wrestlers might be trying to drop weight in a healthy manner, while a football player wants to gain weight without losing foot speed. Goals can change from season to season so make sure that you are up to date with what your athlete wants to accomplish. This can be done as a family as accountability when it comes to diet, and is important especially if your teen wants to become an elite athlete. If you have more than one athlete, then you are going to be doing much more cooking. As a parent, you need to set your children up for success.

Do Some Research

Far too many people do not know how to eat for performance, and they usually just eat to survive. The right ratios of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates differ from sport to sport. Do not try out a fad diet on your young athlete, but rather feed them natural foods and avoid overly processed options. The internet is full of dietary programs for people trying to accomplish a variety of goals. If you do not trust internet experts it can be wise to go make an appointment with a nutritionist. This professional can help you by letting you know what to cook, and can even give you options that will make meal prepping quite easy.

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Use Healthy Alternatives To Cook With

Coconut oil’s uses and benefits are immense with the oil being great for the skin and hair. This is also a great alternative to cooking rather than using vegetable or canola oil. Many people think that it will impact the taste to the point of being bad tasting, but this could not be further from the truth. Other ingredients you can swap out is grain pasta. You can opt for a "riced" cauliflower instead. Small tweaks to certain recipes can make the diet of the entire family much healthier without sacrificing good tasting food. A general rule of thumb is to avoid processed foods, and have a diet full of fruits as well as vegetables. Lean proteins like chicken, bison, fish, and some cuts of red meat can help maximize protein without consuming high levels of fat.

Fuel your teen athlete appropriately and watch them reach their full athletic potential! Sometimes all your diet needs is a few tweaks to take your game to the next level.

Travel Planning To Greece (Guest Post)

Planning for your next vacation can be both a fun and stressful time, especially if you are planning on visiting a new country. Perhaps you are bored of the countryside back home or the standard beach holidays in the U.S.?. Maybe you want to find something new and exciting such as some mykonos vacation rental, or the temples of Athens, but you are not sure where to start or how you would even navigate around a new country.

For this piece, we are going to look at Greece as a destination for new visitors. Perhaps some returning visitors will also find it useful. We have come up with some facts about the country that can help you, along with some of the most popular destinations. Also, you will find out how you can get to them and what there is to see in each location. We will focus on the most popular destinations and with this, you can make some detailed and informative travel plans for yourself.

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Some facts and figures:

The national language of Greece is Greek, with many areas having their own regional dialects. These are only spoken and not written dialects, however, in more popular tourist locations you will be able to find information, guides and tours in an abundance of languages with English being the most predominant.

The country has over 2,000 islands off the coast of Greece. Many of these islands are uninhabited, and even fewer are visited by tourist but in this location.  You can find an abundance of water and outdoor activities, along with plenty more activities to that can take place on the beach or on the mainland within the national parks.

Some 98% of the population say that they are Orthodox Christia, and this influence you will see in the architecture, conversations, and politics of the country.

Transport and accommodation are readily available in the tourist areas of the country. This can range from a basic hostel room to 5-star resorts and villas depending on the location and your budget. Athens acts as the main transport hub and we will talk about that next.

Athens:

Besides the islands of Greece, Athens is the most popular destination for visitors in Greece.  It is the place you will most likely disembark from international, and most national flights. Athens can be used as the transport base or the rest of the country or can be the sole destination that you visit, as it has a lot to offer.

It is both the largest city and the capital of the country. Athens has plenty to offer any visitor to the city. It is very modern and has everything a major city has to offer from accommodations to local and international cuisine, and more.
From Athens, you can take day trips to surrounding areas such as Cape Sounion, the home of the temple of Poseidon, and Acropolis, the ancient seat of Greek power. The city has done a great job of preserving its ancient history and developing a modern city.

Transport to the island or the mountainous north can be easily organized as part of a tour or individually depending on your time and organizational skills. Some of the islands can also be reached from the airport in Athens.

The islands of Greece:

As stated earlier, most of the islands can be reached by ferries which disembark from ports along the Greek coast, while some of the larger islands can be reached by plane or once on the island, by internal ferries.

Crete: 

This is the biggest of all the islands, and is reached by both boat and ferry. Most popular for its beaches and nightlife, you will find plenty to keep you occupied. Water sports varying from fishing to diving can be organized from the island as well as trips to other islands. Many posts recommend anything from one to two weeks on the island, depending on your interests. Other popular activities include checking out the many museums on the island, and the hiking trails that criss-cross the island.

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Rhodes:

Probably most famous for its history and as being the home to the statue of Rhodes, this island caters more for the history buffs among you who also enjoy the sun all year. The medieval city and the museums are the most popular destinations.

Following this, you can search the cobbled streets for some local cuisine and wine with each island having their own special blends and flavors. With influences of Roman, Greek and Byzantine history, or those wanting to relax and unwind with the more tranquil island experience, this I the island for you. Rhodes is most easily accessed by ferry with daily departures.

Mykonos:

A beach and nightlife haven, Mykonos is an ever the prime destination for those who want to have the more popular Mediterranean experience of lazy beach days, and exciting nightlife opportunities. With countless beaches and inlets to discover, you can spend a few weeks here on a different beachs and secluded areas.

Be sure to check out the windmills and local food tours, which are some of the most popular activities to get up to on the island. This island is best reached by ferry.

We hope some of the information we have provided helps you with your travel planning and first visit to Greece. It will more than likely not be your last!