Munk Pack - 18g Protein Cookies

Munk Pack protein cookies are a great alternative to keep around during the upcoming holidays to cure those sweet cravings. These are great for on the trail, after a work out, breakfast, office or school.

They are gluten free, vegan, non-GMO, no sugar alcohols, good source of fiber, no soy, no dairy, and no cholesterol. The cookies come in four flavors: Coconut White Chip Macadamia, Double Dark Chocolate, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, or Oatmeal Raisin Spice. These are minimally processed, without the additives and fillers found in most snacks.

The cookies go for around $1.68 ea. or a six pack goes for around $16.79. Munk Pack cookies are sold at some Whole Foods, Target, and Big Y's in Connecticut. To find out more about the brand, or where to purchase in your area, please go to: https://munkpack.com/

Munk Pack was kind enough to send me some cookies over to check out for ourselves. I hit the trail with my kids and we tested these out. My 6 year old daughter opted for the Oatmeal Raisin Spice and she ate the whole thing except for one tiny piece. My 4 year old son picked the Double Dark Chocolate and he was not that into it (the sugar count was not high enough for him), and he gave it back to me. They are soft, fresh, and they have a little texture and crunch depending which one you choose.

It's a great alternative to a protein bar or protein shake, and these are easy to carry around. Plus, the fiber in them will provide sustainable energy to get you to the next meal and/or snack. I would have to say Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate were my fave but I'm not an Oatmeal Spice lover, but my daughter liked it. Bottom line, a brand worth checking out.

"For all life's adventure's"

Thanks Munk Pack!

Zombie Rolo Pretzel Eyeballs

These are really quick yummy easy treats that only take a few minutes to make. I am going to be reading to the 1st grade class on Monday and I am going to bring in these nut-free treats in for the kids. This is also a really easy treat the kids can help make at home. The only part they would need help with is pressing in the eyeballs.

All you need are a few things:
Mini Pretzels
Rolo's
Candy eyeballs
Icing

Lay your pretzels out on the tray, place rolo on top

Melt in oven at 350 for 3 minutes

Remove pretzels from oven and press in eyeballs

Cool in freezer

Add icing on eyeballs

Enjoy!

Osmotics Colour Verite Discovery Collection

Help fight the signs of aging. Osmotics has a full range of anti-aging skincare to visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles. The Colour Verite Discovery Collection offers sheer colors to to enhance skin tone, not cover it. It is a five piece set and it's all liquid as opposed to powder.

I have never used all liquid before, so this was a new experience for me. I had the impression I was not going to like it because I was going to feel tacky by the end. Surprisingly, it's not tacky at all. It's a very natural look, and the simple steps make it easy to do on the run. It's not as long of a commitment as powder is to apply. Overall, I was impressed by the collection.

The Discovery Collection goes for $98 and it comes in light, medium, or deep. I tried the medium and it was a good match. It comes in a cute shiny purple bag wrapped in purple tissue paper and contains the following:

Inner Light Bio Defense Primer - Blurs lines and imperfections
Real Skin Flawless Facial Tint SPF 45 - Sheer protective tint and sun screen to prevent aging
Concealer and So Much More - conceal under-eye discoloration and even skin tone (will not settle in fine lines)
Radiance Illuminating Blush - Natural fruit extracts to enhance radiance and fight signs of aging
Healthy Lips Line Smoothing Color - color is called Bare only Better and its moisture rich to hydrate and plump for fuller looking lips

To find out more about the brand or order online, please go to: http://www.osmotics.com/colour-verite/

The brand can also be found at Nordstrom and Soft Surroundings around Connecticut.

I liked the product, but for $98 I think it's an expensive price tag for a natural look. Call me old school, but I like my powders.

Thanks Osmotics for sending this over!

Models Own - Nail, Makeup, and Beauty

Models Own offers British beauty at really affordable prices. They just started selling exclusively at Ulta this year, and Ulta is having a great sale right now on the brand.

Titan Teaberry Jumbo Stick Matte Lipstick on sale at Ulta for $4.89 ea

The company was originally founded in 2008 with a focus on nail polish, now the brand has over 650 products to pick from. Tons of palettes for under $10, sick nail colors (like mirror reflect chrome polish), face glitter for Halloween, and Matte Liquid Lipstick (with a hint of mint) to name a few fun products they have available.

The Jumbo Stick Matte Lipstick is available in six colors.

Models Own was kind enough to send me some products over to check out for myself. For the price, this is really decent quality stuff. The palettes are nice quality and attractive packaging, with mirrors, and applicators included. The highlighters and eyeshadow palettes get high ratings as well with the Ulta reviewers.

On sale at Ulta now for $9.09

The Grand Finale Loose Powder leaves a velvet texture and a light finish to keep your face in it's place. The powder is called Translucent.

I love all the colors! The A.M. Kit has tons of neutrals which I LOVE!, and the Sculp & Glow kit is great for fair to medium skin tones, while the Rock Star palette offers daring night colors to kick it up. I recommend a eye lid base for the darker shadows so they don't crease.

To find out more about Models Own, you can go to: https://www.modelsownit.com/

The better place to go is Ulta, where you can purchase in US currency: http://www.ulta.com/brand/models-own

On sale at Ulta now for $12.59

On sale at Ulta now for $11.89 

On sale at Ulta now for $12.59 

Surya Brasil - Exotic Animals Nail Polishes

If you love animals as much as I do, you should check out this Exotic Animal non-toxic nail polish collection by Surya Brasil. They offer 16 vibrant colors to pick from all inspired by splashes of nature with colors like: Peacock, Flamingo, White Tiger & Dark Blue Angelfish to name a few. They are all 7-Free, certified Cruelty Free, Vegan, and Leaping Bunny.

Peacock (bright metallic blue)

These go for $12 each and you can order them here: https://www.suryabrasilproducts.com/collections/nail-care

They bottles are really nice and capped with a wooden top that has a sunshine heart on the top. The brush evenly distributes the polish with a nice finish. Quick drying time a bonus!

Surya Brasil products are created with ingredients from the Amazon Rainforest and natural botanicals from around the world. They are committed to creating the best natural, organic and vegan lifestyle products that promote health, wellness and sustainability. They offer a full line of hair car and body care products as well.

Thank You Surya Brasil!

Eclectus Parrot (deep dark red)

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Yannick's Healthy Oatmeal Pancakes

I've never really been a pancake girl. I can count on one hand the number of times I've probably ordered pancakes in my life or craved them enough to make them. I might have a bite of the kids if we are out for breakfast. But Labor Day weekend, that all changed for me. We had a huge group of friends and family at our families farm in Upstate New York to celebrate the holiday weekend. One morning we looked and saw my nephew eating these pancakes. We starting asking questions. Where did you get those? They look good. Who made them?

Finding recipes like this is one of my favorite things in life. Stumbling upon greatness is always a pleasure. We were excited to get the recipe and try it at home. They are FABULOUS. I have eaten more pancakes since Labor Day than I have eaten in my entire life. The oatmeal in them sticks to your ribs and it keeps us satisfied for the morning. Even the kids are eating them??! They only take 5 minutes to blend together and you can freeze them for later or on the run.

Whole Wheat is always a better alternative than white flour because white flour is heavily refined & processed. Whole wheat flour also has more fiber, better to regulate blood sugar (keeps your body satisfied longer), and it has more vitamin content than white flour.

You can change the recipe to different flavors like banana, or add cinnamon etc. I am stuck on blueberry so far. We are going through our frozen Summer blueberries that we picked in July like crazy.

Yannika's Healthy Oatmeal Pancakes

3/4 cup quick oats
3/4 cup milk
1 egg
1/3 cup wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar

I use a handful of blueberries.
Toss everything in blender and mix for a minute. Cook them like regular pancakes.

Thanks for sharing the recipe Brooklyn and Yannick :)

Enjoy!

Almay Mascara - One Coat Mega Volume

Almay has a new innovative megaphone brush mascara designed to make every lash shout out. I took a step away from the department store mascara's to try this mascara out.

• The brush has a flared design to maximize formula pick up and delivery to lashes
• Film formers and triple wax complex for soft, buildable volume
• Hypoallergenic
• Doctor tested, opthalmologist tested

For more drama, sweep outer lashes with flared end of brush. For more volume, pre-load lashes with extra mascara using flat end of brush before combing through lashes.

The brush takes some getting used to because of the shape. It's not the standard round brush so since it's angled, you have to use it differently to get the results your looking for. I was able to get the look I like after a few coats with working the brush around a few different ways. It's a little more complicated that I would like because of the brush, but it goes on smoothly with no clumping. I had to do a Qtip cleanup afterwards. It lasted all day without flaking. For a fraction of the price of department store mascara's, this is a nice alternative choice once you get used to the brush.

The Mega Volume mascara goes for $7.49 each and it's available in waterproof. Currently on special at Ulta, buy one get one 50% off. 

To find out more about Almay mascara, please go to: http://www.almay.com/products/eyes/mascara.aspx

Almay can be purchased at stores like CVS, Kmart, Target, Ulta, Walgreens and more. To get the complete list of where it can be purchased, you can go to: http://www.almay.com/where-to-buy.aspx

Thanks Almay for sending these!