Try Mary's Gone Crackers for Healthier, Plant-Based Snacking

About a month ago, I had a real awakening in regards to my health. I made a drastic change in my diet which included eliminating meat, eggs and dairy. While I am still working out the little kinks here and there, a plant-based diet has been a necessary shift that I am committing myself to.  My family decided together that we will all take part on this journey to better health. 

One of the biggest changes for us has been what we snack on. I think snacks have been the trickiest for us since we all love our share of junk food. We have really cleaned up our act and have discovered some new things we love. Mary's Gone Crackers are a delicious, savory snack that really does cure your craving for something a little salty and crunchy. 

Mary’s Gone Crackers products are minimally processed from consciously and sustainably sourced ingredients. These healthy choices are not only good for our bodies, but also healthy for the planet. It's comforting to read the ingredients on the box and actually recognize all of them. 

What do they taste like? The real thin crackers have a unique texture, crunch and taste that make them irresistible. The olive oil and cracked black pepper variety is my family's top pick. If you like the taste of freshly cracked pepper, you will love these. We were all so surprised that these gluten-free crackers don't taste like dried out cardboard as many GF snacks do. 

Mary's Gone Crackers snacks come in so many varieties and flavors. They are perfect for everyday snacking, charcuterie boards and for when you are on-the-go. Organic, vegan, cruelty-free, and Non-GMO certified, these crispy, crunchy, and delicious crackers will go great with your favorite cheeses and jams. 

If you are on the hunt for healthier plant-powered snacks for yourself or your family, you must try these crackers. I want to try all of their amazing varieties. Learn more here. Many thanks to Mary's Gone Crackers for the product samples to try. We love them! 

Cold Stone Creamery is celebrating National Ice Cream Day on Sunday, July 17

Cold Stone Creamery is celebrating National Ice Cream Day on Sunday, July 17 with a few delicious offerings that will keep ice cream lovers coming back for more!  

Get ready to celebrate with a special offer that will be loaded on to the Cold Stone app! Simply download the app, create an account and a sweet deal will appear on Sunday, July 17! 

And since one day is never enough to enjoy ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery, free delivery will be available for online orders placed on ColdStoneCreamery.com all weekend long, July 15 - July 17!

In addition, National Ice Cream Day is made that much sweeter this year as Cold Stone Creamery celebrates alongside OREO® in honor of their 110th birthday this year! 

To commemorate this incredible milestone, Cold Stone Creamery is featuring two new OREO® Creations made with the always in-demand OREO® Crème Ice Cream throughout this seasonal promotion. 

A smooth and creamy treat for the eyes and the tastebuds, the OREO® Cookie Goldmine Creation™ features OREO® Crème Ice Cream, OREO® Cookies, Golden OREO® Cookies and Caramel.

Nothing says “party!” like confetti and sprinkles! The two come together in our OREO® Cookie Confetti & Crème™ made with OREO® Crème Ice Cream, OREO® Cookies, Rainbow Sprinkles and Fudge!

The OREO® Crème Ice Cream and Creations™ will be available in Cold Stone Creamery® stores nationwide until August 30.

Summer Camp Essentials: Outdoor Health & Safety Checklist

Many kids are getting ready to head to camp this summer and enjoy the great outdoors – but coming down with a sunburn or a painful bug bite can easily put a damper on their day, and even cause long term illness. 

MedStar Health shares the checklist below to help parents pack the essentials for any outdoor adventure: 

Bug Spray 

Your kids will most likely explore spaces occupied by creatures such as ants, spiders, flies, bees, mosquitoes and ticks, which can cause harmful rashes, or serious illness (such as Lyme disease). Make sure they apply bug spray on their exposed skin and clothes before venturing outdoors. Children should also have long pants and long sleeved, lightweight clothing options to wear on hikes to help decrease the risk of insect bites. It is also important to teach your children how to check for ticks each night.

Calamine Lotion

Bug bites are very common during the summer months.  When bites occur despite use of bug spray, calamine lotion can be applied to ease itchiness and irritation.  Be sure your child knows to notify staff if there are any signs of infection, such as oozing, pain, increasing redness of the  area affected, so they can be seen and treated for a possible infection. 

Sunscreen 

A sunburn can creep up on you, especially during a hike! Medical experts recommend the use of sunscreen lotion with an SPF of 30 or higher for any extended outdoor activity. It’s also important to reapply sunscreen every two hours - more frequently if you’ve been sweating or swimming. 

Sunglasses

Sun exposure damages the eyes as well as the skin. The best way to protect your eyes is to wear sunglasses that provide 99-100% UVA and UVB protection. This will greatly reduce sun exposure that can lead to cataracts and other forms of eye damage.

Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen 

Sunburn can be painful and uncomfortable so acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used to help alleviate the pain or discomfort.  Sun poisoning can cause a range of symptoms including headache, fever, nausea and fatigue so young campers should know to reach out to an adult if they have these symptoms along with a significant sunburn, as they might need additional treatment. 

First Aid Kit

Not only will a great first aid kit help you with injuries that commonly occur while out camping, but it can keep you prepared for survival situations that might arise while you are on your trip.

Refillable water bottle

Staying hydrated is extremely important, especially with increased outdoor activities over the summer.  Be sure your child knows to drink at least 3 bottles per day.  Help them get into the fun of having it with them all day by decorating it themselves with stickers and such.

The Fresh Market Kicks off 40th Anniversary Celebration

The Fresh Market, Inc. is kicking off the best summer celebration ever and marking a milestone in the company’s history. The company will commemorate its 40th anniversary beginning on July 1 with an array of special deals, a 4th of July meal, and exclusive products for its guests – including a chance to win the golden ticket and a $40 gift card through two anniversary chocolate bars! 

Special, limited-edition product offerings

The retailer is selling a curated collection of exclusive items created in partnership with its vendors that can only be found at The Fresh Market for a limited time. Those include:

Special Anniversary Wine: Exit 96 Anniversary Edition

Special Anniversary Ruby Red Bouquet

Poppy Hand-Crafted Pimento Cheese Honey Butter Popcorn

Homestead Raspberry Lemonade

TFM Celebration Crunch Snack Mix

Anniversary Elevated Bacon Cheddar Burger

Le Fermier Lavender Yogurt

Killer Brownie Cookies and Cream special edition

Pimento Cheese Panini

Thomas Sauce kabobs

“Our goal at The Fresh Market is to make every season special for our guests, and our 40th anniversary is one we want to make especially memorable!” said CEO Jason Potter. “Our team has curated these one-of-a-kind commemorative products and offers that not only embody the origins of our brand, but more importantly, we know guests will really enjoy.”

A complete list of all 40th anniversary products, including recipes and a history of the company, can be found in The Fresh Market Magazine’s special July edition. 

Win the Golden Ticket!

Beginning July 5 and while supplies last, The Fresh Market will also introduce two Anniversary Chocolate Bars in Dark Chocolate Himalayan Sea Salt and Toffee Pretzel Sea Salt flavors. Guests have a chance to win a $40 TFM gift card if their package has a golden ticket inside! There is a 1:24 chance of winning and supplies are limited.

Save Even More

The Fresh Market also recently introduced its first loyalty program, the Ultimate Loyalty Experience, where guests can save even more during on items throughout the store with special loyalty pricing that’s only available for members. Sign up is free and takes seconds!

Count on Gourmet Gift Baskets for Your Summer Gifting Needs

Father's Day is this Sunday, June 19th. For any of your last-minute gifting needs, or even as a belated gift, be sure to keep Gourmet Gift Baskets in mind. There is always something for any taste from sweets, chocolates, wine, savory meats and cheeses, and more. 

I wanted to share what's new for '22 -- Father’s Day Chai & Bundt Cakes, $99.99 

This Father's Day Chai and Bundt Cake Collection includes six mini-bundt cakes, in flavors: vanilla with strawberry inclusions, cinnamon coffee cake, and lemon poppyseed. They taste like they came fresh from the bakery. 

This fabulous gift also includes chai tea concentrate, which the gift recipient can combine with 1/2 cup of cold or hot milk to make the perfect Chai drink to complement these delectable desserts.

This basket is perfect to cure any sweet tooth, and a great choice for my husband who enjoys tea and cake. The round basket is a plus. It's nice for serving up some tasty treats. 

Every gift from Gourmet Gift Baskets is carefully hand-packed and shipped properly to ensure the perfect presentation and freshness. These gift baskets are so well received. and you don't have to do any of the work. A greeting card is attached to the package, so all you have to do is choose, click, and send. 

So if you are doing any gifting this summer, give Gourmet Gift Baskets a try. Perfect for holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, graduation, get well soon, or my personal favorite, just because! 

Thank you Gourmet Gift Baskets for providing a gift sample for us to enjoy. 

Shelly