National Women's Health Week is May 10-16- Tips for staying healthy #NWHW

Did you know that Mother's Day kicks of the 16th annual National Women's Health Week? As women, especially moms, it is so important to take charge of our health. I am officially in my forties and have been staying active in keeping up with different areas that affect my overall health and well being. Regular doctor's visits, a healthy diet and exercise are a must as well as a good oral care regimen. I just went to my doctor last week to get labs done and learn the latest updates on my current health. It turns out that my vitamin D levels have dropped extremely low again. Normal levels are between 30-100 and mine was at 19. I'm so glad I met with my doctor and found this out. It explained a lot in regards to how I have been feeling lately. I can now take the steps necessary to get my levels back up so I can have the energy to do all that I have to each day. 

To inspire women to lead a healthier lifestyle, Colgate recommends women follow these small steps provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health:

1. Visit a doctor or nurse to receive regular checkups and preventive screenings. Schedule your annual well-woman visit on National Women’s Checkup Day, Monday, May 11. Use this time to discuss your health goals, concerns or questions.
2. Get active. Try to incorporate more physical activity into your daily routine. Walk or bike to work or park your car further away from your destination.
3. Eat healthy. Making healthier food choices can be as simple as using a smaller plate at meals to help control portions or choosing water instead of soda and other sugary drinks.
4. Pay attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress. Try and set aside at least 15 minutes each day in your busy schedule to do something for yourself.
5. Avoid unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, texting while driving, and not wearing a seatbelt or bicycle helmet.

Be sure to follow Women's Health on Twitter  and Facebook for important updates and take the pledge to help take control of your health. As women, we have to be strong and present for so many people, we must not forget about ourselves. Wishing you all a very Happy Mother's Day! xo

Celiac Awareness Month with Tandoor Chef Gluten Free Entrees

Are you or any of your family members on a gluten free diet? It seems as if many people are going gluten free either because of Celiac disease or just out of personal health concerns. Tandoor Chef, the #1 frozen Indian food in the US, is a great option to incorporate into your gluten free lifestyle. They offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options--15 gluten free options to be exact! The varieties include:

Tandoori Chicken Wings, Lamb Vindaloo, Masala Dosa, Chicken Tikka Masala,
Chicken Tandoori with Spinach, Chicken Curry, Chicken Biryani, Vegetable Pad Thai, Balanced Vegetarian Vegetable Korma, Balanced Vegetarian Paneer Tikka Masala, Balanced Vegetarian Mutter Paneer, Balanced Vegetarian Palak Paneer,
Chicken Pad Thai, Palak Paneer, and Channa Masala.

My personal favorite it the Chicken Tikka Masala variety. This is the only frozen meal I have ever tasted that compares to what you would get in a fine restaurant or cook yourself at home. The best part is that you can enjoy all of the authentic Indian flavor in the comfort of your own home with no cooking! I just can't get over how juicy and succulent the chicken pieces are and how much flavor is packed into the sauce. The rice tastes as if you just scooped it fresh out of a rice cooker. I love that they use all real ingredients. It gets 5 stars from me!

Look at all of that REAL food! 

Tandoor Chef will have a special page on their website where readers can guess weekly what the gluten free dish of the week is. Every week, we will choose one winner from those who answered correctly and they will win a month supply of Tandoor Chef. The contest is going on from May 4th - June 1st.

Be sure to visit Tandoor Chef on their website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for product updates and promotions.

I was provided with product coupons to purchase items and post an honest review. All opinions are my own as always.

Grilled Rib-eye Steaks and Colorful Peppers Recipe

Grilling season is here and probably never ended for some. We grill year 'round since grilling doesn't always mean outdoors. If my husband isn't around to man the charcoal grill, I take matters into my own hands with my trusty cast iron stove-top grill. We are very particular when it comes to the quality of our meats, specifically beef. We love the selection available at our local Sam's Club. They have everything from T-bone, Rib-eye, Strips, roasts and stew beef. I'm a sucker for a thick rib-eye and Sam's Club steaks never disappoint! Their beef is so good that they don't require a lot of seasoning at all. That says a lot coming from a Guyanese woman who believes in her seasoning. The flavor of the beef is comparable to what you get at the finest steak houses.

I tried a recipe provided from to me courtesy of beef check off. I did make a couple of changes and used Rib-eye steaks instead of T-bone steaks and used an indoor cast iron grill instead of an outdoor charcoal/gas grill.

Grilled Beef Steak and Colorful Peppers

Ingredients

2 beef T-bone steaks from Sam’s Club
2 small bell peppers, quartered

Parsley Pesto:
½ cup packed fresh Italian parsley leaves
4 large cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

1. Place pesto ingredients in food processor or blender container. Cover; process until parsley is finely chopped, stopping and scraping side of bowl as needed. 2. Spread pesto generously on both sides of beef steaks and bell peppers. Place steaks and peppers on grid over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill, covered, 11 to 16 minutes (over medium heat on preheated gas grill, 15 to 19 minutes) for medium rare (145°F) to medium (160°F) doneness and until peppers are tender, turning occasionally. 3. Remove bones; carve steaks into slices. Season with salt and pepper, as desired. Serve beef with peppers.

I made some cheese and spinach stuffed mushrooms and grilled some asparagus to go along with the rib-eyes and it was a meal fit for a King (and Queen). My husband was so impressed by how flavorful the beef was and showed appreciation for it by not using steak sauce. We all enjoyed the juicy, tender goodness and look forward to making this again real soon. If you haven't purchased beef from Sam's Club before, you are missing out. Go check them out soon. You won't be disappointed!

Look at all of this glorious beef! Insert all the heart-eyed emojis :)

As a Cargill Beef Ambassador, I accept complimentary products to try, but opinions are always 100% my own.

Mother's Day Gift Idea | CLEAN Fragrances for Body & Home #ad

I don't know about you, but when it comes to shopping for Mother's Day, I often feel overwhelmed. I like giving high-end, quality gifts to show my appreciation for the important moms in my life. However, I still have the hardest time picking out the right gift. No worries this year, CLEAN Body and Home Fragrances are here to save me from the shopping stress. Just the name "CLEAN" makes me feel good and I am sure the special moms in my life will agree. These premium products stand behind their name, CLEAN- Simple, Nostalgic and Conscious. The packaging is very attractive and is sure to make any mom feel extra special. 

I love the selection of fragrances- Warm Cotton, Air, Cool Cotton, Skin and Rain, Fresh Laundry and more. They are soothing yet invigorating at the same time. The Warm Cotton is the BEST! I love how simple and clean it smells (pun intended).

Let Mom find her own unique scent with the CLEAN Rollerball Collection which includes 5 scents; each can be worn alone or layered for a new experience. I personally love to mix fragrances, so this is perfect for me. 

PRICING: $18.00 / 5 x .17 Fl. Oz.

Availability: CleanPerfume.com

The CLEAN Warm Cotton Home Collection candle and reed diffuser are perfect for moms who love a fragrance-filled room. After all of the stresses of the day, these are perfect items to create a calm and peaceful aroma in any room. CLEAN Home Fragrances scents include; Warm Cotton, Rain, Skin and Fresh Laundry. I am putting the Fresh Laundry scent collection on my wish list. I am a sucker for that type of fragrance!

PRICING:
Home Candle: $40.00 / 7.5 Oz.
Home Reed Diffuser: $42.00 / 5.0 Fl. Oz.
Home Linen & Room Spray: $34.00 / 5.75 Fl. Oz.
AVAILABILITY: CleanPerfume.com

If you are searching for luxury items for mom, look no further. CLEAN Body and Home Fragrances have you covered. Be sure to follow CLEAN on Facebook and Twitter for product promotions and updates.

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

Instrumental Beauty Sonic Facial Brush Review #ad

I have been seeing commercials for years about those sonic facial brushes and I never really thought I needed one. I have pretty good skin and I have my daily regimen that works (or so I thought). I got the opportunity to review the Instrumental Beauty sonic facial brush and decided to have an open mind. What does a sonic brush even do? Well, it uses sonic vibration technology to penetrate your pores to remove impurities that regular face washing misses. All this time I was thinking that my every day face washing routine was more than enough. Boy, was I wrong!

This amazing sonic facial brush has a sleek design and comes with 2 ultra soft bristle pads that fit securely on its own caddy/charging station. When I held the brush in my hand for the first time, I had to figure out how to charge it. It showed no battery unit from the outside. It is actually inside and the unit is made to be waterproof which means you can take it on the shower. This is especially helpful if you are using it on your neck.

The instructions state that you must charge the unit for the first time for 16 hours. It lights up in a bright blue so you might want to leave it charging in a room that you are not trying to sleep in. The brush has 3 speeds and it is very important to not use a lot of pressure when you put it against your skin. Trust me on that one! Also, make sure you are generous with the amount of water you put on the bristles. A dry brush will make you feel like you are scraping your skin. Again, trust me on that! You can use your favorite face wash or soap with this brush and you are well on your way to the most clean and smooth skin ever!

Speaking of soap, you must try out Yardley of London's New Nourishing Elements Artisan Soap. it is made with 100% sustainable vegetable oils, natural butters and botanicals. They are extra gentle on all skin types and are cruelty-free and biodegradable. They are available in in 2 varieties; Lavender & Rosemary and Oat, Milk & Honey. They retail for $4.99 for a 3-pack and can be found at drugstores nationwide. The Oat, Milk & Honey is my favorite!

Okay, back to the brush--- Once I figured out how the speeds worked as well as how much face wash I needed, I was well on my way to glowing skin. This brush is especially good because it has a built-in timer that pauses the unit for a couple seconds to remind you when it is time to move bristles to another area of your skin. I have been using my sonic facial brush once a day and I especially love the convenience of taking it in the shower with me. Overall, I really love the Instrumental Beauty sonic facial brush and highly recommend it to anyone looking for one. It would even make a nice Mother's Day gift.

The Instrumental Beauty Sonic Facial Brush can be purchased at select drugstores and at InstrumentalBeauty.com for $80.00.

I received a sonic facial brush unit and soap samples for review purposes. All opinions are 100% my own as always.