Family * Travel * Food

Introducing Waffullicious Waffles from IHOP

IHOP restaurants have actually taken a giant step in waffle development with “Waffullicious Waffles”: for the first time, those same great ingredients guests love on top of their waffle are now baked right in, so each bite of a Waffullicious Waffle is filled with the same terrific flavor inside every bite as well as on top.

Waffullicious Waffles come in two distinctive, delicious varieties—one savory and one sweet:
Bac’ n’ Cheddar:  A traditional thick, crispy Belgian waffle with savory chopped hickory bacon and cheddar cheese baked-in, then topped with bacon pieces. This one totally has my name all over it! 

Very Blueberry Cheesecake:  A traditional thick, crispy Belgian waffle with plump blueberries and NY cheesecake pieces baked-in, then topped with cheesecake pieces & blueberries in lightly sweetened syrup. Hmm, maybe a half order of the first variety and a half of this one might be a good savory and sweet combo! 

Waffullicious Waffles will be available in restaurants for a limited time beginning September 8 through November 2, 2014. They can be ordered as a separate menu item, or as a half waffle served with one of IHOP’s famous 2 egg any style made to order combo breakfasts, all served with hash browns:

  • Ultimate Bacon & Sausage Combo
  • Ham & Eggs Combo
  • Bacon & Eggs Combo
  • Sausage & Eggs Combo.
  • Regular Combo
  • Egg Combo

For more information or to find an IHOP restaurant near you, please visit www.IHOP.com.  Follow IHOP on Facebook and Twitter.
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Belli Birthday Bash- Hurry and Save 30% Storewide (Sept 8-23)

I have been using Belli Skincare products for over a month now and LOVE the results. I finally got the Healthy Glow Facial Hydrator to go along with my Anti-Blemish Facial Wash Value Duo. It is everything I would expect from the Belli brand. It gives me the perfect amount of moisture without being heavy or sticky. My skin feels baby soft! 

Starting today, September 8th until the 23rd, Belli Skincare is having a Belli Birthday Bash. 
It may be Belli’s birthday, but the gifts are for you! Belli Skincare is proud to partner with like-minded mom and baby brands to celebrate our birthday and the full pregnancy to motherhood experience with a sitewide sale and online giveaways at www.belliskincare.com  

Visit the Belli website to enjoy 30% savings sitewide on Belli Skincare products with promo code (BDAYBASH30). Enter daily to win exciting sponsored product giveaways from prestige mom and baby brands.  Participating brands include Healthy Mama, Pretty Pushers, Guava Family, Birds & Bees Teas, Angelcare, Swaddle Designs and Sticky Bellies.

Each day a different prize and/or gift certificate will be featured from a variety of brands.  On the final two days of the event (September 22nd and 23rd), there will be registration for a Grand Prize Package  which features prizes from all of the Belli Birthday Bash event sponsors.  One lucky winner will take home the Grand Prize package valued at over $1,200 in mom and baby products.

I received product samples in exchange for promoting the Belli Birthday Bash. All opinions are my own as always.
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Susan Posnick Cosmetics keep me looking my best when I'm on-the-go #ad

School has been back in session for 2 weeks now and I feel like I am even busier with the kids gone. I have to really use my time wisely if I plan to get anything accomplished. It feels like my morning is 30 minutes long and I have to get myself together before I hit the carpool line. One thing I believe in strongly is always being put together and wearing just enough makeup to look polished. I received an assortment of products from Susan Posnick Cosmetics to test out. They are designed with busy women in mind and offer a convenient solution for a quick fix on-the-go including sun protection. It's as if these products had ME in mind!
These are the items I received as well as my personal thoughts--
Susan Posnick COLORFLO ($68.00 / SusanPosnick.com) is a luxurious mineral foundation with sun protection in a simple self-dispensing refillable brush that will not clog pores or irritate sensitive skin.  COLORFLO is available in 12 shades for every skin tone, plus the perfect Shimmer and the ideal Bronzer. I received the M9 color which is like a caramel. I was really afraid this would be too light for me. Turns out that it blends perfectly with my skin, even after my tan from the beach! I adore the all-in-one brush and really love the light, flawless coverage it provides. I can truly say that this is the quickest way to apply a mineral foundation. 

The multi-purpose Susan Posnick COLORME ($32.00 / SusanPosnick.com) provides lush color to cheeks, eyes, and anywhere else you desire a lush blush. This travel-friendly makeup comes in a self-dispensing post with a attached puff and mirror for easy application, anywhere. I received this one in the color, Camelia. It is a soft, shimmery pink that really showcased my tan skin. It adds very subtle color, while brightening my cheeks. I really love the ease of application and it really works nicely for days I don't have time to apply eye shadow. 

Easily go from day to night with Susan Posnick COLOREYEDEFINE ($26.00 / SusanPosnick.com), A slender pencil comprised of an angled liner think enought to define, yet soft enought to blend as a shadow. It includes a self-dispensing eye shadow that compliments the liner color. I received the platinum/gold shade. I was impressed with the coverage and wear this shadow provides. It lasts all day and blends easily. I think the liner color is too light. I would have really loved to try this in a brown or black. Overall, very convenient item to have in my bag. 

Susan Posnick COLORESSENTIAL ($21.00 / SusanPosnick.com) for a rich lip color, enhanced with olive oil and vitamins to keep lips moisturized. I received 2 shades in Dubai (nude) and Shanghai (soft pink). I love that their lip color shades are named after famous cities. I have used many premium lip colors in the past and these really are amazing. I found that they are very moisturizing last for hours. I usually have issues with these types of lipsticks drying my lips out, but not this time. I really do love how well the colors worked on my darker skin. The nude shade is my new favorite! 
I am very happy with all of the products I have received and get so many compliments on how gorgeous my makeup looks. I love that all of the colors blend so well with my complexion. I am usually leery of lighter colors, but every product worked out well. I intend to purchase the refill of the COLORFLO foundation and also some of the red/brown shades of COLORESSENTIAL Lipsticks. I can have a complete, natural makeup look in under 5 minutes. I love that all of the products are easy to stash in my cosmetic bag that can go with me. This will make packing for trips a whole lot easier.
Check out Susan Posnick Cosmetics on their website and connect on Facebook and Twitter for products promotions and updates.

I received complimentary cosmetics in exchange for an honest review. As always, all opinions are my own. 
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Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free for back-to-school (Giveaway) #ad

I received some yummy samples to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own as always. 
I have noticed that so many of my friends and family have transitioned to gluten-free foods for a variety of health reasons. I have considered it for my family, but we are big on texture. Gluten-free has tasted like cardboard in the past and that has turned us off. When I did some research on gluten-free Canyon Bakehouse breads, I was drawn in to the fact that they say their breads are soft and have a texture close to traditional breads. I just had to find out for myself. I received a nice assortment of breads for my family to try out including: Cinnamon Raisin, Mountain White, 7-Grain and Cranberry Canyon Crunch Muffins.
I decided to start with the Cinnamon Raisin bread for breakfast. I like my bread toasted so I popped it in on a low setting before I spread a thin layer of butter on it. I took a bite and then another. I was indeed shocked that it had the same texture that I am used to with cinnamon raisin bread. Also, it wasn't overly sweet which is good.

The next one I tried was the 7-Grain bread. I made a sandwich for lunch and decided to try a tiny corner without toasting it. I think I am still too new to gluten-free bread so I toasted it lightly. That did the trick! It tasted like a rich Artisan bread I would buy from a bakery. It was really hearty and filling. I can't believe that this regular bread eater might just be convinced to make the switch! I searched the store locator to see if there were any stores in my area that carry them and to my surprise, I found 4 locations. You can also order baked goods directly from the website. Right now, they have a special if you order "one of everything", you can get $5 off.  They even have a page dedicated to recipes using their products. I think there will be some cinnamon raisin French toast being made in the near future.

At school about 2 students in each classroom have a food allergy. To help parents prepare for the school year, here’s our checklist for staying safe with food allergies:

Tips for Staying Safe at School With Food Allergies

  • Keep teachers and staff in the know – Set up a meeting before the first day of school with your child’s teacher, the school nurse and principal to talk about your child’s allergies.
  • Provide a list of safe and unsafe foods for your child – Especially with gluten allergies, many people don’t understand what it is or where it can be found. Creating a quick run-down of foods to avoid will eliminate fear or confusion on the school’s part.
  • Make an allergy action plan – Provide the school staff with medical information, emergency contact info and a food allergy action plan in case your child has a reaction at school.
  • Attitude is everything – Along with school staff, it’s important to talk to your child about the allergy so he/she understands it. If you don’t treat the allergy as something “weird” then they won’t feel embarrassed.
Try these gluten-free breakfast ideas: 
  • Cinnamon Raisin bread with almond butter or peanut butter.  Canyon’s Tip: choose all-natural nut butters to avoid harmful trans fats. 
  • Mountain White cheese and avocado sandwich.  Canyon’s Tip: Avocados are a great source of healthy fat for energy and keeps the belly full.   
  • 7-Grain toast with a slice of turkey. Canyon’s Tip: lunch foods (ie: turkey) make great breakfast foods since they’re low sugar and full of protein.
  • Cranberry Canyon Crunch Muffin with a hard-boiled egg.  Canyon’s Tip: hard-boil a bunch of eggs on Sunday for quicker prep each morning.
Do you want to try out Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-free breads for yourself? One Mom Files reader will win an assortment of baked goods including: Cinnamon Raisin, Mountain White, 7-Grain and Cranberry Canyon Crunch Muffins. Enter below: a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to US Residents only and will end on September 11, 2014. Two winners will be chosen at random and will be contacted via email. Mom files is not responsible for any lost or stolen prizes. *Prizes may vary.
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Beauty and the Bees Real Beer Shampoo & Conditioner Bar Review

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

For most of my life, my hair has been very healthy and pretty. I have noticed that in the last 2 years or so, something changed. My guess is it has something to do with hormones and getting older. ((SIGH)) I was very curious about the Real Beer shampoo and conditioner bars from Beauty and the Bees. They claim they will give your hair natural gloss and shine. Also, I confess, they had me at beer! I couldn't wait to put it to the test. 
I received some instructions and tips to learn how to properly use these products. Having shampoo and conditioner in a bar form is really different from traditional bottles of the liquid type. One bit of advice that stuck out to me was to be careful not to use too much of the conditioner since it is very concentrated. I wet my hair as usual and applied the shampoo bar evenly. It had a very minimal fragrance and lathered fairly well. It rinsed out really well and I then carefully applied the conditioner. I concentrated more in the ends of my hair since my hair is not overly dry. I was afraid of over-conditioning my roots which would make my hair appear greasy. I could feel how rich the conditioner was and it was a good thing to go easy! After rinsing it out, towel drying, blow drying and curling, my hair was luxuriously soft and shiny. I am so pleased with the results and have used the products three times so far. You should have a better understanding of how much to use by your third use according to the tip sheet. 

About the Beer Shampoo + Conditioner Bars:
Beauty & the Bees handmade, solid beer shampoo and beer conditioner bars are rich in plant and nut oils, hops and beer. Beer has been famed for generations for its ability to leave hair bouncy, shiny and full of body, and these bars are chockablock with it - brewed naturally by small, local breweries in Tasmania. The bars follow an entirely sulfate and chemical-free recipe that has been traditionally handmade for centuries, using the finest natural conditioning plant oils such as castor, olive and coconut.

Where to purchase:
Beauty & the Bees handmade skin and hair care products are as special as the island they come from: Tasmania, Australia. The pioneer of all-natural beauty line from Tasmania has launched its U.S. division now available on Etsy, BeautyandtheBees.net and Amazon.

My overall opinion:
I love that there is nothing to throw away once the bars are used up. No waste and no harm to our earth. My husband keeps commenting on how gorgeous my hair has been looking. I recommend giving these products a try if you are looking for a natural alternative. I am very satisfied! Be sure to connect with Beauty and the Bees on Facebook for product updates and promotions.
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