Alive! Expo 2015 (With Promo Code!)

*I am being provided passes to attend this years Expo and a portion of my ticket sales inexchange for this announcement. All opinions are my own. 

Alive! Expo is back at the Georgia World Congress Center and is poised to be the best one yet! Alive! Expo is a one weekend, two day event that is packed with interactive demos, live health lectures from industry leaders, workshops, and kids activities that the whole family can enjoy! 

Each year thousands of consumers attend Alive! Expo events to learn how to integrate health and wellness into environmentally responsible, green living and to create a positive impact on the world as a whole. Attendees get a chance to experience all the newest and best natural, organic, green and eco products for your home and their entire family, even the pets! 

The Low Down:
Drawing over 200 national and local companies representing many industries including: Natural & Organic Foods; Natural & Organic Personal Care/Natural Beauty; Vitamins & Supplements; Alternative & Herbal Medicines; Natural & Eco Pet Products; Green Home & Eco Household Products; Eco Fashion & Accessories; Books/Videos; Sportswear; Health/Fitness/Gyms and Yoga/Pilates Studios; Natural Spa Products & Services; Recycled Products & Environmentally Friendly Products; Hybrid & Electric Cars; and much, much more!

When & Where:

May 2 & 3, 2015
Saturday: 11:00am - 7:00pm
Sunday: 11:00am - 6:00pm

Georgia World Congress Center
Hall C4
Corner of Northside Drive & Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd.
235 Northside Drive
Atlanta, Georgia 30313

Ticket Info:

General admission for Saturday or Sunday is $10.00. General Admission ticket includes admission to the Expo Show floor, Exhibiting Companies, Educational Lectures from Industry Experts plus Demonstrations.

VIP admission for either Saturday or Sunday is $35.00 and includes admission to the Expo Show floor, Exhibiting Companies, Educational Lectures from Industry Experts, Demonstrations PLUS a VIP Gift Bag filled with full size natural & organic products from companies present and not present at the Alive! Expo — VIP Gift Bag valued at $100+.

Children 12 and under — FREE general admission
Military with a Valid ID — FREE general admission

My Favorite Part:

Being able to check out so many of the eco friendly companies and products in one place is huge for me! I love being able to talk to the reps and find out more about their philosophies and business practices as well as the products. Plus, proceeds from Alive! Expo benefit various local non-profits in Atlanta, GA including Project Green.

Discounts:

As a reader of RMM, you are lucky enough to be able to take advantage of a special discount offer! Use promo code: render to get $5 off your admission price! Thats half off a general admission ticket! You can purchase tickets HERE!

Reindog Parade @ATLBotanical Garden

Dogs in costume – what could be more adorable? Find out in person at the sixth annual Reindog Parade on Saturday, December 7! The only day of the year that four-legged pals are allowed to set paw in the Atlanta Botanical Garden, the event, which begins at 11 a.m., invites pups clad in their finest holiday attire parade across a stage before a panel of judges to compete for prizes – or just to show off for fun.
Categories include Best Puppy, Best Adult, Best Botanical, Best Dog-Owner Dress-alike, Best Dog Pack, and ultimately, Best in Show. TV and radio personality Holly Firfer will emcee the competition.

While you are there, check out the Doggie Expo! This year's Expo offers canine-related products, services and information, warm refreshments will be available under the Pup Tent, and participants may have photos of their dogs made with botanical Saint Nick.

All dogs participating in the parade must pre-register online between November 1 and December 3. The cost, in addition to regular Garden admission, is $15 per dog, or $18 at the door (maximum two dogs per owner).

Reindog Parade joins the Garden’s array of holiday offerings this year, including the third annual Garden Lights, Holiday Nights November 16 - January 4 featuring botanical-inspired displays created with more than 1 million lights.

The mission of the Atlanta Botanical Garden is to develop and maintain plant collections for display, education, research, conservation and enjoyment. The Garden is located at 1345 Piedmont Ave. NE in Midtown, between 14th Street and Monroe Drive. The Garden is open from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (till 10 p.m. Thursdays). Admission is $18.95 adults, $12.95 children 3-12, free to children under 3 and Garden members. For more information visit atlantabotanicalgarden.org or phone 404.876.5859. 

Müller Yogurt Makes Mama Happy (With A Giveaway!)

I am a self professed yogurt enthusiast. I could eat more yogurt than could possible be healthy for a single person even when I try to limit myself. I even prefer yogurt to ice cream. Yes, I know, I make a lousy woman.

Still, yogurt is my number one vice. So, recently, when I was contacted to try out the new Müller Yogurts, I jumped all over it like white on rice. I was sent a selection of the new line of Müller yogurts, produced by Quaker, to try out and let you know what I thought.

Müller Corner features creamy, smooth vanilla or plain low-fat yogurt with a mix-in of fresh strawberry or blueberry toppings. Or you can go crunchy and choose Choco Flakes, Crispy Crunch, Crunchy Granola or Choco Balls. The first one I tried was the Müller Greek Corner in Honeyed Apricot and oh my goodness, I was addicted at first bite. It has the wonderful texture of Greek yogurt but the honeyed sweet taste of a much sweeter yogurt. Even my mother liked the taste of the Greek yogurt in the Müller Corner when she usually won't touch Greek yogurt with a stick. A definite hit!

After that was so good, I immediately tried one of the Müller FrütUp cups to see if they were as good and not only was it good, it was even better than the Corner variety! For the Müller FrütUp variety, a creamy smooth low- fat yogurt is topped with light, fluffy fruit mousse that is absolutely divine! My favorite is the Peach Passion Fruit. I swear its better than any yogurt I've ever tried. Even the Luscious Lemon flavor is awesome and lemon yogurt is hard to make just right. 

Oh, and did I mention that Müller yogurts are not only certified Kosher but also free of preservatives and high fructose corn syrup? Total. Win. Can I get an amen?

Wondering where to pick up some of your very own? You can find a handy "where to buy" feature on the Muller Quaker website. rvatives and high fructose corn syrup

I am also lucky enough to be able to give away 10 coupons for free Muller yogurt to two lucky Render Me Mama readers! All you have to do is either "Like" Render Me Mama on Facebook or let me know in the comments below what your all time favorite snack is! I will pick a winner on May 31st so be sure to get your entries in soon! (Be sure to use your real email address when you comment so I can contact you!)

Alive! Expo is Coming in Atlanta for All your Green Living Needs!

Alive! Expo, the Southeast’s only and longest-running natural products, green living & total wellness

event will return to the Georgia World Congress Center on May 4th and 5th.  My father and I attended this expo last year and got some great information on all the things that Atlanta and beyond has to offer in the health, wellness, and green living arena. The Alive! expo features health & wellness industry experts, eco companies and natural product manufacturers, fitness and cooking demonstrations, kids’ fitness stations, live health lectures and over 100 vendors so there is definitely something for every one.

“In the nine years that we’ve been producing Alive! Expo, we’ve seen Atlanta become increasingly interested in seeking wellness through a natural and organic approach to a healthy lifestyle,” says Alive! Expo founder and owner Patrycja Siewert Towns. “This means people are seeking out more 'whole foods' from local farmers and product manufacturers but also seeking preventative measures and natural alternatives for health issues; this excitement and interest is palpable at each Alive! Expo and this year will be more engaging than ever.”

At the event, natural and eco product companies will interact with consumers and buyers for local natural food stores; give the latest advice, product samples and information directly to the event attendees. Additionally, there will be wellness lectures, cooking classes, massage stations and fitness demonstrations all weekend long.  Ex Atlanta Falcons fullback, Ovie Mughelli, will once again join Alive! Expo with the “Ovie Mughelli Foundation’s “Recycle on the Run” exhibit, where kids run drills and learn about the importance of fitness, wellness and recycling and being eco friendly.

This year also, a portion of ticket proceeds from Alive! Expo will benefit Project Green, a non-profit founded by Patrycja Siewert Towns, and other non-profits soon to be announced. Project Green is a 501c3 whose mission is to protect green space for future generations and invest in “A Green Tomorrow”. Project Green will develop “Back to Basic” Summer Camps for under-served children and teens. These eco-camps will focus on building self-esteem and awareness of the environment by incorporating challenging and fun activities.

Attendees are encouraged to bring canned food items to the Alive! Expo which will be donated to the Atlanta Food Bank and Hosea Feed the Hungry; the organizations for which Alive! Expo collected over 2,000 pounds of food at last year’s event and over 10,000 pounds of food over the past years.

Event Information

Date/ Times:

Saturday, May 4, 2013 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, May 5, 2013 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m

Address:

Georgia World Congress Center, Hall A2 (across from Philips Arena) 285 Andrew Young Intl Blvd, Atlanta, GA 30313

Ticket Information:

Available at www.AliveExpo.com, One-day General Admission is $10 at the door or $5 in advance online. Active Military and Kids (ages 16 and under) are invited to attend for free. A discounted parking coupon is also available through www.AliveExpo.com

Home Made Gummies #HomemadeConvenience

For the first installment of the home made convenience foods that I promised last week, I figured we could start with the snacky type stuff and work our way up to the foods eventually. Convenience snacks, especially those for kids, are a huge money hole. Even with coupons they are generally much more expensive that the kind you can make yourself and they don't contain all the nastiness that the store bought ones do. Plus, you can get your kid involved in making them with you and they might learn a little something themselves.

I will say this though, don't go crazy making huge batches of this type of thing. It is different with the foods that you can freeze and keep fresh but if you make a gazillion pounds of home made gummies, and your kids don't eat them withing a month, you have to throw them out and you've wasted money. These are quick and easy, you should be able to make them every other week.

Now, I have said before I am crazy about ingredients but we are not vegetarians. So if you are, this recipe may not work for you. If you are vegan, it definitely won't work. Why? Because of the gelatin required to make these set. I did do a little Google- ing though and found this vegan recipe that looks almost as easy and uses no animal by-products.

Ok, time to gather your ingredients. If you are thrify like me, you should be able to get this stuff for pennies. Even if you aren't into the coupon thing, its maybe a couple of dollars. Here is a pretty good place to stock up like I was talking about.

What you'll need:

1/3c Frozen 100% juice concentrate
2-3 .5 oz envelopes of unflavored gelatin (found in the canning or jelly aisle)
Silicone mold

I usually buy variety of flavors and make two flavors at a time. I also almost always buy the Old Orchard brand because it has a lid that you can reseal. 1/3c is only about 2.5 oz and the juice is sold in 11 oz cans so being able to reseal it or transfer it to another container to keep in the freezer is a must. You could always just make juice with whats left too.

Your mold can be any size you wish your gummies to be but I tend to prefer smaller ones. You can usually find them in bakery stores or Walmart pretty easy.

Once you gathered your ingredients, get out a pot, put your juice concentrate in it, and then sprinkle the gelatin over the cold concentrate. Let it sit for a few minutes before you turn on the heat. I'm not sure why this makes a difference but it totally does. Science!

After it has sat for a few minutes, put the pot over medium heat and stir until the gelatin has completely dissolved. Then, pour or spoon it into your molds. I have heard of people pouring the liquid into a measuring cup with a spout to make this easier but I am too lazy to dirty another dish for gummies so I use a spoon and it works great.

Let them cool and set on the counter until they release from the mold easily and enjoy! I portion them out in to tiny plastic Ziploc bags (get them in the jewelry section) so they are more convenient to carry and portion out.

Personally, the boys and I like these a lot more than the store bought gummies. They have more flavor and a better texture. I think your kids will find the same and you will have saved money and made their snack a little healthier! Next time, I'll share my fruit leather recipe. Its a similar snack but a little more labor intensive.  A very little.

Let me know if you try these and what your favorite flavor is!

5 Ways to Naturally Boost Your Immune System

Its coming. The dreaded cold and flu season. Its the time of year that some people dread for the months prior. They freak out and jump at the first chance they get to get the flu shot.

I am not one of those people. I avoid drugs as much as I can in any given situation if there is a more natural and reasonable option than pumping myself full of chemicals and toxins. I am the one who is always all up in your Facebook telling you how to get rid of your child's teething pain or your sinus infection*.

The cold and flu season is no different. There is always a reason your immune system allowed those sickies into your system and most likely it is because there is a deficiency somewhere. Of course the long winter months also ust take a toll on us as humans and that can affect everything from your mood to your health.

The thing is, its pretty simple to give your immune system a little boost to keep up and keep you going. Here are 5 ways to easily boost your immune system for the fall and winter months. Be sure and so you will have it handy!

1. Take a little Vitamin D. That good ole vitamin that our body makes so readily in the sunnier months dramatically decreases in the winter months. Partly because we stay more covered up and partly because the Sun has moved a little farther away making it harder for our bodies to process the light and create vitamin D. Supplementing with vitamin D is never a bad idea but it is especially needed during the flu season. Vitamin D can slash your risk of getting the flu by 42 percent has been tested to be 800% more effective than vaccines at preventing influenza infections in children.

2. Add some virgin coconut oil. Lauric acid, a rare saturated fat found in virgin coconut oil, helps to boost the immune system and protects it from a variety of illnesses and diseases. It also promotes good heart health, lowers cholesterol and speeds up the metabolism. The human body converts lauric acid into monolaurin which helps in dealing with viruses and bacteria causing diseases such as herpes, influenza, cytomegalovirus, and even HIV. Coconut oil can be added to any food but my favorite is to toss grilled or roasted veggies in it and serve them.

3. Garlic it up! Now, before you crinkle up your nose at this one, consider that you can get garlic in capsule form that won't make you smell or you can just make a conscious effort to add it a little more liberally when you do use it. Garlic is a powerful immune booster that stimulates the body's production of infection-fighting white cells, boosts natural killer cell activity, and increases the efficiency of antibody production.

4. Keep up with your omega-3 fatty acids. Unlike many other vitamins and nutrients, the body cannot make its own omega-3's. When taken together with vitamin E, the omega-3 fatty acids in flax oil and fatty fish act as immune boosters by increasing the activity of phagocytes, the white blood cells that eat up bacteria. Omega-3s are especially beneficial if you have other chronic inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis or lupus, as well.

5. Get more sleep. The easiest and cheapest way to boost your immune system is to hit the hay a little earlier. In simple terms, sleep deprivation suppresses immune system function and keeps your body from creating the antibodies it needs to help keep you healthy.

*Man made drugs do have their place in this world. You should also always consult your doctor if you are on drugs before starting any other treatments! I am so not a doctor.

All images found via Google

Seasoning Cast Iron Skillets (Not As Hard As You Think)

So, I posted the other day about how we have switched from using non- stick cookware to cast iron and why. Something that apparently a lot of people are curious about. What you seem to be even more curious about is the part where I mentioned "seasoning" the cast iron. I got at least 4 messages about that. I guess its a term that I grew up with, so I didn't think anything of it.

(Image via Amazon.com)

Seasoning a cast iron skillet is what makes it naturally non- stick. Think about cast iron and the texture, do you think food is going to stick to it? It totally is. A lot. So, you have to apply a layer of something slick to make your food not stick. Some manufacturers sell pre- seasoned cookware. I am not a huge fan of their seasoning. Its generally okay for the first use or so but then you are going to want to season it yourself to make the surface more durable.

What do you season with? Odds are your grandparents used lard but you can use any kind of natural oil like vegetable or coconut. Overall, Crisco makes for the best taste but something more like coconut oil will be much more healthy. Once you have picked out your oil of choice, just follow these simple steps:

1. Coat the inside of the skillet or pan with the oil. You can do the outside of the skillet as well if you want a uniform look or are a messy cook. It will also prevent the outside of your cookware from rusting over time but it isn't necessary for use. Obviously. It doesn't need to be a particularly thick, heavy coating either. I use a paper towel dipped in oil and then gently wipe the entire surface.
2. Place the skillet or pan upside down in a preheated 350 degree oven. I would highly recommend putting a piece of foil or something on the rack underneath you cast iron. This will keep your oven from getting all oily and possibly catching fire. Major plus.
3. Let cast iron "cook" in the oven for about an hour and then turn the oven off and let the cast iron cool in the oven*.

Voila! Your cast iron is ready to use! Personally, I would recommend repeating the above steps once or twice for the most even coverage and durable surface for cooking. You will also have to occasionally reseason your cast iron if you don't keep it clean or cook a lot of acidic type foods in them. Basically, if your foods start to stick, its time to reseason.

A few other helpful hints about cast iron:

• All that is needed to clean a properly seasoned cast iron skillet is hot water. Seriously. Using harsh cleaners will strip your surface and the dishwasher is a definite no- go as it will rust your cookware quickly. If something is stuck, you can use a heavy duty scrubber or a special cast iron scraper but if things are sticking that badly, its time to reseason.
• Don't ever leave standing water in your cast iron. Just like an old bumper, water is not any kind of metal surface's friend.
• You should never use your cast iron to store food. Remove food from the cast iron cookware as soon as it is cooked to prevent any damage to the pan or your seasoning.
• You can get cast iron to replace any of your cooking utensils. They make them in all shapes and sizes from skillets to bread pans. (My favorite by far is the bread pan!)

So, there you have it! The basic ins and outs of cast iron cook ware. If you haven't made the switch yet, but are considering it or have quesions, just let me know either in the comments or through my contact tab and I will try to answer as best I can. I am knowledgable but far from an expert.

*- Please, please, please, don't ever just grab a heated cast iron skillet and be sure your kids know not to touch too. Test it with a drop of water or finger before you try to pick it up. Cast iron stays hot for a while after its been heated which is good for cooking but bad for your sensitive hands. Pot holders are a necessity.

Homemade Chocolate Syrup

I have been looking for an alternative to the HFCS laden Hershey's chocolate syrup for a very long time. I would even go as far as to say years. Even when I cut out everything else with HFCS in it, I had to have my chocolate syrup. I am a chocolate milk fan and Hershey's had always been my go to. I make coffee with occasionally too and let me tell you, on ice that is the best summer cooler ever.

I have tried all of the organic and "natural" brands that are out there and lets face it, they just don't compare. They are too watered down or too bitter. Just not the same. So, I turned to the homemade recipes. Yeah, some of those have been total fiascoes. Some of the recipes were bad, some of them were just way too expensive, some of them burned quickly and some of them were just plain gross. I did learn a little each time though, about what temperature sugar burns at and how to cool things properly and that milk is never needed to add to milk. That last one was an ugly discovery.

This weekend though, I was messing around on Pinterest and came across a pin for a homemade chocolate syrup I had not seen before. Posted to the blog One Good Thing by Jillee, but originally from Glorious Treats, it was way more simple than a few of the others I had seen and it was ingredients I actually have on hand so I decided to just try it out really quick. Quick it was too.

Homemade Chocolate Syrup
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I use Ghirardelli)
1 cup water
dash of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

In a small saucepan, add sugar, cocoa, and salt.  Whisk together gently.  Add water.  Bring mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally.  Reduce heat and cook 1 minute.  Remove from heat and add vanilla.  Cool.  Store in the refrigerator. 

Easy Peasy, right? Best of all it is the closest to the name brand syrup as I have gotten! It is a little thinner but just as tasty.

The only thing I would  add or change:

• Be to be sure be sure you stir the water into the sugar mix well before you add heat, otherwise you risk your sugar burning before it ever gets started.  
• Heat slowly and stir almost constantly! There again, you don't want that burned sugar taste. 
• Once it starts to boil, just take it off the heat immediately. It will cook the rest of the way off the heat.
• Last, once that one minute is up, pour it into something else to cool. Bonus points if you put that container into an ice bath. The fast it cools, the better the consistency.
• Personally, I will add half as much vanilla next time. That is kind of a personal taste thing though.

So, there you have it! The best homemade chocolate syrup that I have been able to find. I put mine into a spare picnic ketchup bottle (the kind you can get two for a buck) and just keep a plastic baggie over the top to store it in the fridge.

Like it? Now all you have to do is

Making Your Own Playdough

When I was a kid, my most favorite thing to play with was playdough. I would sit and play as long as I could stand the smell but eventually I would get awful migraines and I wasn't allowed to play with it any more. You know the smell I'm talking about. Playdough, of all brands, has that smell. Its distinct and strong.

As I started working in childcare when I got older, that smell followed me every where I went and it still gave me a headache like no other. Still, it wasn't until D started getting to the age where he was more interested in playing with it that I started looking into what was actually in it that made me ill. I knew that its labelled non-toxic but that smell was just too much.

Apparently I am the only person on the internet that it does that to. Great. Add it to the list.

I did however find out that regular playdough contains petroleum distillates which is part of the smell (think kerosene odor) and is also not recommended for skin contact or the inevitable toddler taste test. If fact, the CDC recommends immediate medical attention with the ingestion of any amount of petroleum distillates and avoiding any kind of skin contact. It also attacks the respiratory system and the central nervous system so that explains my headaches.

So, yeah. Needless to say, I went looking for a more natural solution. Over the years I have tested and deleted or changed tons of playdough recipes. From the edible kinds to the good smelling to the completely useless. These are some of my favorites. Of course, I wouldn't make all of them at once. Try one and see how you like it. Next time, try a different one. The best thing is that they are all so cheap, they are easy to toss when they get gross or start to dry out.

Regular Homemade Playdough- This is the closest in consistency and moldability to the store bought kind. Kind of a pain to make though.

1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup salt
1/2 cup water
1/2 tablespoon oil
1/2 tsp cream of tartar
a few drops of food coloring

Mix all but the last ingredient in a small saucepan. Cook over a very low heat until it turns into a dough (it’ll take just a few minutes). Knead the dough on a floured surface until cool enough for kids to touch. Separate the dough into as many colors as you want to make. Put just a few drops of coloring in each ball and knead until evenly mixed.

Peanut Butter Playdough- This is one that people always seem to make fun of me for. I always get the "you're crazy" or "no thanks" when I talk about this one but not with the others. I have never figured out why exactly but I do. Its a huge hit with the boys because they can play with it and snack on it at the same time and it tastes amazingly good!

1 cup peanut butter (Don't use the natural kind with the oil on top. Just trust me.)
1/2 cup honey
2 cups powdered sugar

Mix peanut butter and honey in a bowl and add powdered sugar until you get the right consistency. Let it sit for a few minutes to settle before playing. You can add more honey or powdered sugar as needed to make the consistency just right. Of course, if have a peanut allergy in the house sunflower butter works just as well. Store in an airtight container or plastic baggie with air sucked out of the bag.

Salt Dough- This is not going to taste good. Technically I guess its edible but seriously? Gross. This actually dries out pretty quick too so its more a one day dough. You can keep adding water to it to make it last a little longer though. You can also make ornaments and decorations out of this dough by cooking it.

1/4 cup salt
1 cup flour
1/4 cup water

Mix the flour and salt in a bowl then add water. Knead and squeeze the dough to make a clay consistency. You may need to add more water.

Sand Dough- This is kind of like the Moon Sand stuff thats so hot right now. Not my favorite because its messy.

1/2 cup sand
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup boiling water

Mix ingredients together and knead. Carefully. You just put boiling water on it.


Gingerbread Play Dough- This one smells and tastes great. We use it most around the holidays but its nice all year. It makes a really cute class gift too.

2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 tbsp. ground ginger
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 cup water

Mix together and knead until smooth.

For almost all of these (except the edible ones) you can divide into sections, then knead in food coloring (liquid or paste). Kids love making the white play dough change colors. Use unsweetened Kool-Aid for color and scent. Add glitter for sparkly play dough. Get creative with and have fun!

Want to keep track of these?Pin It

DIY Milk Jug Lunch Container

Okay, lets be honest, we all know that sandwich baggies are bad for the environment. That much plastic headed to the landfills is no good. No good for anybody. Are they convenient? Yes. Are they healthy? Not really. Are they sometimes unavoidable? Yeah, okay, I'll admit they are. If you had the chance to make a sandwich container out of something that almost all of you have in your homes right now in less than five minutes, would you?

I came across this idea on Pinterest* a few weeks ago and thought it sounded too easy to be true. Making a reusable, washable sandwich container out of a milk jug? I'm game. Here is how I did it:


1. Take an ordinary milk jug. One with out milk in it is best. Less messy. If it has milk in it, chug it until its gone. Then rinse it out. No need for a deep clean, thats easier to accomplish later.

2. This marker isn't wholly necessary but it is for this tutorial because otherwise I couldn't explain it well. You are going to want to leave one of the full, flat sides intact. and cut the handle bit off.  Cut down the spout and around the handle as close as you can and throw that part away. Now is the time to clean out the bottom of the jug with soap and hot water.

3. Now, look at the bit of jug that is left. There are seams that hold the sides of the jug together and a weird seam that goes around the bottom of the jug holding the bottom bit to the top bit. Usually the part under this seam is textured so look for that. You are going to cut straight down the side seams to the top of the bottom- attaching seam and stop. Do all four sides. Then, just round off the edges to make them easier to fold in on each other, remembering to leave one of the full, flat sides in tact.

4. Fold the four flaps in on themselves to crate your sandwich box! Tada! Told you it was going to be easy. You can use really anything to keep the lid of your box closed. Tape, velcro, or if you are lucky enough to have a snap press, that would work well too. You can always decorate your box if you want to also.

The box is big enough to hold a sandwich and a few other things. Maybe a cheese stick or snack of some sort. Its not air tight though, so you can't freeze sandwiches and I wouldn't suggest taking them camping or anything but I am a fast fan of these little upcycled boxes!


Like this tutorial? Pin It



*You can view the original post that was pinned here

Chickenpalooza

We, as a family, are omnivores. We love our fruits and veggies but we also like our meat. We typically really only eat one meaty meal a day unless we have it on hand which is kind of becoming more of a problem here lately. Meat.. is expensive. Chicken is expensive. Especially fresh chicken. In fact, I haven't seen fresh (unfrozen) chicken breast for under 2.99/lb in awhile. Sure you can buy the stuff that has been frozen, delivered to the store and then thawed to be put out ( did you know that chicken is already two weeks old when you buy?? Two weeks!) Not to mention all the solvents and "broths" they have been "enhanced" with.
No,  I'm talking about real chicken.

That is, until last week. When I was given the opportunity to review 40lbs of fresh, boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Yes, 40 pounds. You see, I had the fine luck of working with Zaycon Foods. Zaycon Foods' chicken is 100% natural with no added hormones, additives or artificial ingredients. Never frozen. The chicken I received from Zaycon Foods was only 5 days old.

With that being said, let me tell you a little about Zaycon. This company is based out of Washington state and is steadily expanding into the Southeast; Zaycon Foods. Founded in 2009, Zaycon Foods offers fresh meats and other products directly to consumers at wholesale prices. They bring products direct from the farm / processor (or as nearly as direct as possible). The products are as fresh as if you had your own farm, but of course way less messy. They sell food products only by the case. No extra costs for handling.

You can imagine how fresh and wonderful this chicken tasted. Go ahead and imagine the best chicken at the finest restaurant and multiply how good that tasted by a thousand. Seriously the best chicken I have ever tasted. Plus, these chicken breasts are huge. Like, intimidatingly huge. Ok, maybe not intimidatingly but still big enough for one whole breast to feed to fullness my family of four plus my mother a fried chicken dinner. Impressive, no?

Now, I do have to be honest with you, 40lbs of chicken is a lot of chicken and since this chicken is packed to skimp on cost to the consumer, you do have to do a little prep work. There is no bringing the box in an sticking it in the refrigerator until you use it all. Unless of course you intend on having a block party and cooking it soon. For one, the box is huge. It took up one whole shelve in my refrigerator. Not a bad thing considering the cost but still not totally handy for long term storage.

The other thing you need to prepare for is to do some prep work on the chicken. They come as untrimmed whole breasts so they need to be cut apart and trimmed before cooked or frozen. It took me a couple of hours to trim and prep them though which is not bad considering how many of them there were!

What did you do with the 40lbs of chicken breasts from Zaycon Foods you ask? Well, here is a breakdown for you (after splitting and trimming of course):

• Put all the trimmings in some water to boil for a few hours with some celery, carrots and onion to make a rich broth to have on hand for soups and whatnot. 
• Wrapped about 3/4 of the breasts and stuck them in the freezer. They will still be way better for you and way better tasting than the store bought kind even having been frozen.
• Grilled some for dinner the night we got them. So. delicious.
• Cut into strips and fried a few the next night for dinner. Again. Melt in your mouth taste.
• Put a few in the crock-pot with some of the homemade broth and cooked them on low for about 8 hours. This made the broth richer and made some perfect, falling apart chicken to make chicken salad and quesadillas with. (4 breasts made three days worth of food for us.) - I did this twice!

As you can see, 40lbs of chicken is enough to last you quite awhile. The best part about that? The price of the chicken. Zaycon Foods sells their chicken breast cases (like this one) for around 1.65/lb. So, not only are you getting a superior product and supporting local farms/ facilites, but you are also getting an amazing price!


Ready to get started and check out what Zaycon Foods is bringing to your neck of the woods? Register HERE and get ready to save on some amazing, fresh foods for your family!

*I was provided the 40lb case of super awesome chicken breasts by Zaycon Foods at no charge for the process of this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.

Produce for Kids- Win a $50 Grocery Card!

Produce for Kids, a year round resource for healthy meal planning and family nutrition, is launching its largest Get Healthy, Give Hope campaign to date, raising money for Children’s Miracle Network® Hospitals across the county.

Produce for Kids® promotes the benefits of healthy eating and
supports worthy causes for children. The program educates
shoppers about healthy eating through promotional campaigns in
retail grocery produce departments across the country and online at
www.produceforkids.org. These campaigns combine advertising, instore
display materials, public relations and social media marketing
to reach families.

Working with 16 supermarket grocery store chains across the country to help spread the word about their new campaign, there are lots of ways to get involved and even more ways to win some really awesome prizes!




 First, Produce for Kids is holding an amazing sweepstakes on their website with totally awesome prizes like Interactive gaming systems, kitchen cookware sets and chances to win grocery gift cards! The best part is how easy it is to win these great prizes all while helping to spread the word about the program!


Here is the exciting part for you! I have an additional $50 grocery gift card to give to one of you! To make this super simple, there are two ways to enter to win:


1. Visit the Ideal Meals page and leave a comment below with your favorite Ideal Meal. (Ideal Meals are newly created for each campaign and are simple recipe ideas that feature campaign produce sponsors and encourage healthy eating among families!)

2. Stop by and "like" the Produce for Kids Facebook page to stay up to date on all the amazing recipes and ideas as they come up! Be sure to leave a comment here letting me know you did this though or you won't get the entry!

Bonus entries:

~Tweet about this program using the hashtag #healthyeating and leave a link to the tweet in the comments.

 ~Follow Render Me Mama in one of the following ways: GFC, RSS feed or email subscription and let me know what you choose. (1 entry each!)


Good luck! I will draw the winner on June 28th at 6pm! Be sure your email address is available either in your profile or in your comment or I won't be able to reach you if you win!

Stonyfield Farms Won My Heart

Sound a little dramatic? Maybe. How? They sent me some coupons to try their Oikos Greek Yogurt and YoBaby yogurt for the monster. Now, if you have been around long, you know I am trying to lose a little weight and be healthier in my food choices. Which, I am happy to say has been going.. okay. Not great. I will not hit my goal but I am happy enough with the progress so it all works out.

Anyway, one of the things that has been suggested to me over and over has been Greek yogurt. It is high in protein, low in sugar and low carb among other fabulous things. A perfect dieting breakfast. Thing is though, I have tried so many different varieties and only found that it has been too sour for me. Most Greek yogurts leave that weird, gritty, sour taste in your mouth, right? I thought they were all that way until I tried the Oikos. It really was tasty. The fruity stuff on the bottom was just the right amount to balance out the tart in the yogurt and it was was creamier than anything I had tried so far. So now, I'm hooked.

What else is cool about the Oikos brand? Its organic! Winning! Its also the only Greek yogurt available nationally which means all of you can try it!

Then there is the YoBaby yogurt. Which, if you have a baby or toddler that has had yogurt, you are probably familiar with. If not, you should be. Organic (win), and made with whole milk (double win) for babies growing brain, its perfect for babies and kids. Now, I was around before they did the overhaul on the YoBaby line. It used to be thinner consistency and sold in 6 packs. Honestly though, I really do prefer the thicker yogurt for babies. It makes it way less messy and I feel like I can let K feed it to himself without making a huge mess. I do wish they would bring back the 6 packs though instead of four. Both of my boys have always preferred the YoBaby yogurts. Even now, D would rather have the YoBaby than the "kids" yogurt they have.


Of course they also have YoToddler available too with slightly more "sophisticated" flavors for older kids. Another favorite around here, too, is the 3 in 1 yogurt meals they have available. Which is a mix of fruit, vegetable and yogurt. Stonyfield also has other varieties of their yogurts including soy and drinkable yogurt smoothies.

So, there you have it! Stoneyfield brand yogurts are perfect for any family. A little something for mama on a diet and a perfect snack for the kids.

Do you want to win a pack of coupons from Stonyfield Farms to try these out for yourself? I thought so.

Here is how to enter:

1. You must follow Render Me Mama via GFC and leave a comment saying you do. (Mandatory) *1 entry

2. Like Render Me Mama on Facebook . Leave a comment saying you did so with your First name. *1 entry

3.  Like Stonyfield Farm on Facebook. *1 entry each.

4. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Leave a comment with a link to your tweet. You can do this once a day. *1 entry per tweet

5. Subscribe to my feed either by RSS or Email. Don't forget to click the confirmation link it sends you! *2 entries each. (Leave two separate comments!)


Be sure that your email address is displayed in your profile you that you leave it in the comment or I won't be able to reach you if you won! I will draw the winning number via Random.org On Tuesday the 7th at 6 pm and email the winner. Good luck!

* THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!! OURSAFEHAVEN, CHECK YOUR EMAIL!*

*I was sent vouchers to sample both the Oikos and YoBaby line from StonyField for this review. All opinions are definitely mine and brutally honest.

Final "Green Your Scene" Winner!

Well, ladies and gentlemen, the Scott Naturals fun has come to an end! Just to review, over the last month we learned was to green your cleaning habits, ways to green your ride, we talked about ways to keep your yard greener by being greener and finally we talked about ways to get your kids involved in going green. I know I have learned a few things and I hope all of you have too!

The final Scott Naturals Prize Pack goes to:

You have 24 hours to respond to my email and send your street address to me at Amy @ RenderMeMama (dot) com to claim your prize! Hurry! Go!

Thank you to everyone that participated in the giveaways and I hope you all remembered to click the link to donate to the National Wildlife Federation. Did you forget? OR want to click now? THIS LINK is the one you need! Hopefully I will be able to update everyone on how much we were able to raise soon! Thanks again and keep on "Greening Your Scene"!

Green Your Scene: Getting Your Kids Involved *Last Giveaway!*

Are you  ready for the last week of the "Green You Scene" series?? I don't know about you guys but I have had a blast learning about super easy ways to go green! If you have missed out, the first week we talked about great ways to green your cleaning habits. The second week we talked about ways to green your ride. Then, last week, we talked about ways to keep your yard greener by being greener!

Along with each week's post, I have also been giving away an awesome prize pack from Scott Naturals. This prize pack is packed with all kinds of awesome goodies that will make your house a little greener. For free! So, before we get started, lets announce the winner of last week's "Green Your Scene" Scott Naturals prize pack!

Congrats To gmmerrell, who said:

You have 24 hours to respond to my email and send your street address to me at Amy @ RenderMeMama (dot) com to claim your prize! Hurry! Go!

So, this week I am going to share some ways I have been able to get D into helping keep things green around the house. K, well, he is 19 months. Everything is "NO!" still. I'll work on him later. Point is, if D can manage these things at 3 years old, so can big kids.

The first thing he helps with is by being in charge of our reusable bags. He is "in charge" of getting them out of the van when we get to the store, he helps me put away the groceries and then he puts them back in the van for the next trip. It may not be exactly green in the short run but it is starting a habit that will last (hopefully) his entire life.

We also make sure to remind him to turn off the lights, television and electronic toys when he is done with them. Saving energy is a big thing in our house. Both for the environment and cost!

D has also been very involved in helping me with our garden. We talk about the plants and how they grow. He helps me with the planting and the watering. He is mad excited about the tomatoes and strawberries we have already and it has made him even more interested in learning about all kinds of growing things!

For older kids, it is obviously easier to get them involved in being green. There are cool crafts you can do to help them learn, they can help with recycling and participate in group and activities geared towards kids.

Now for the fun part. Our family has been asked to participate in the Scott Naturals 4-Week Test Drive.  In honor of Earth Month, the Scott Naturals brand is challenging Americans to take an easy green step by testing out its line of hybrid paper products: bath tissue, paper towels, flush-able wipes and napkins. If everyone that visited Google today took the 4-Week Test Drive there’d be 4,414,400 trees saved. 

As part of this project, Scott Naturals will be making a donation to the National Wildlife Federation. For every unique click-thru to THIS LINK, Scott Naturals will donate $1 (up to $25,000 total) to the National Wildlife Federation. Sweet, right? All you have to do is click!

I also have four huge prize packs to give away (one a week) to a lucky RMM reader! This prize pack includes a full size package of napkins, toilet paper, paper towels and moist, flush-able wipes. Don't tell me those are things you would rather pay for when you can win them.

How to enter (These have changed! Pay attention!):


1. You must follow Render Me Mama via GFC and leave a comment saying you do. (Mandatory) *1 entry


2. Visit Scott Naturals and take the 4 week test drive pledge (all you have to do is click and you even get some sweet coupons just for doing that. Plus, you just donated a dollar to the NWF!). Leave a comment saying you did so. *1 entry


3. Click the link of above (or here) to donate a dollar to the National Wildlife Federation. This is going to have to be an honor system thing here ladies and gents but seriously.. if you are going to lie about clicking a link to donate a buck to a charity so you can win some paper products (sweet as they may be), you need a life. *1 entry


4. Like my Facebook page to stay updated and leave your first name & last initial or your page name. *2 entries (Be sure and leave two comments to get both entries!)


5. Subscribe to Render Me Mama to be delivered via email (Over there ---> ) and be sure to confirm it. *5 entries. (Be sure and leave five comments to get all entries!)


I will draw the winning number via Random.org next Monday. Don't be discouraged if you don't win this week though, come back next week for more going green wisdom and another chance to win an awesome prize pack! Good luck!

*THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED! THANK YOU TO ALL THAT ENTERED!*

*I was given the opportunity to review the Scott Naturals line and compensated for my time as part of this post. All opinions and tips are mine.

Green Your Scene: Week Three! *Giveaway*

Here we are! Week three of the "Green You Scene" series. Remember from past two weeks we are talking all things going green. 

The good news is that there are a ton of really simple, non intrusive ways we can all do to help out. Once a week, for the next four weeks, I am going to share some of those you all. Easy peasy. I will tackle your house, your car, your yard and finally getting your kids involved in going green.  Plus, thanks to TheMotherhood and Scott Naturals, I will also be having a super sweet giveaway each week! (From last week's post)

Lets start off this week by announcing the winner of last weeks super sweet prize pack from Scott Naturals!

Congrats To Nana who said:

Send your street address to me at Amy @ RenderMeMama (dot) com to claim your prize!

This week we are greening your greens! Your yard can be a tricky one to keep green. The first way to help out, is to rely more on your own elbow grease. Get out the clippers and trim that bush by hand. Till your garden the old fashioned way. Did you know they make push lawnmowers that are lighter, easier to use and only need maintenance every 3- 10 years? Bonus: No emissions. Can't do without the power? Use a 2 cycle instead of 4 for gasoline engines or look into the electric models now available.

How you mow your grass also makes a difference. Cut your grass frequently with a sharp-blade mower only removing one-third of grass and return clippings to the yard for added nourishment. Plus, if the clippings remain in your yard, you are saving the lawn bags and trash dispensing that goes along with that. You can also use the lawn clippings in a compost pile that can be used to fertilize your plants and bushes.

Adjust your watering schedule and level based on the season. Water less in your region's rainy season and more in the drier months. Water early in the day to reduce loss from wind and evaporation and to keep from burning the leaves of your precious plants. Use collected rainwater when you can to water your plants and save potentially hundred of gallons of water a year.


Finally, understand the climate of your area and what is best, naturally, for your yard. Knowing what kind of grass you have will help you know how much to water it and when to water it, helping you conserve water. Plant trees, shrubs, and flowers that thrive in the environment of your yard. Plants unsuited to your environment will require more work and chemical type interventions to keep them thriving. The idea is to create a yard that looks good and is also naturally bountiful.


Now for the fun part. Our family has been asked to participate in the Scott Naturals 4-Week Test Drive.  In honor of Earth Month, the Scott Naturals brand is challenging Americans to take an easy green step by testing out its line of hybrid paper products: bath tissue, paper towels, flush-able wipes and napkins. If everyone that visited Google today took the 4-Week Test Drive there’d be 4,414,400 trees saved. 

As part of this project, Scott Naturals will be making a donation to the National Wildlife Federation. For every unique click-thru to THIS LINK, Scott Naturals will donate $1 (up to $25,000 total) to the National Wildlife Federation. Sweet, right? All you have to do is click!

I also have four huge prize packs to give away (one a week) to a lucky RMM reader! This prize pack includes a full size package of napkins, toilet paper, paper towels and moist, flush-able wipes. Don't tell me those are things you would rather pay for when you can win them.

How to enter (These have changed! Pay attention!):


1. You must follow Render Me Mama via GFC and leave a comment saying you do. (Mandatory) *1 entry


2. Visit Scott Naturals and take the 4 week test drive pledge (all you have to do is click and you even get some sweet coupons just for doing that. Plus, you just donated a dollar to the NWF!). Leave a comment saying you did so. *1 entry


3. Click the link of above (or here) to donate a dollar to the National Wildlife Federation. This is going to have to be an honor system thing here ladies and gents but seriously.. if you are going to lie about clicking a link to donate a buck to a charity so you can win some paper products (sweet as they may be), you need a life. *1 entry


4. Like my Facebook page to stay updated and leave your first name & last initial or your page name. *2 entries (Be sure and leave two comments to get both entries!)


5. Subscribe to Render Me Mama to be delivered via email (Over there ---> ) and be sure to confirm it. *5 entries. (Be sure and leave five comments to get all entries!)


I will draw the winning number via Random.org next Monday at 6pm (EST). Don't be discouraged if you don't win this week though, come back next week for more going green wisdom and another chance to win an awesome prize pack! Good luck!

*CLOSED! Come back tomorrow for another chance!*

*I was given the opportunity to review the Scott Naturals line and compensated for my time as part of this post. All opinions and tips are mine.

Earth Day Sharsies!

 

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

Hey all! I hope you are all having a wonderful Earth Day so far!The boys and I are out on adventure today doing some fun Earth Day activities. More on that another day.

Instead of the typical preachy "you should be greener or you don't care about our future" post, I am going to open up the floor to you! Leave me a comment with what YOU are doing today in honor of Earth Day. My favorite three answers will win a little prize, so make it fun! (and be sure your email is in your profile!)

*Don't forget to check out B kind 2 Earth Day on Facebook to keep track of some of the fun things others are doing in your state.

Green Your Scene: Week Two! *Giveaway!*

Here we are! Week two of the "Green You Scene" series. Remember from last week we are talking all things going green. 

The good news is that there are a ton of really simple, non intrusive ways we can all do to help out. Once a week, for the next four weeks, I am going to share some of those you all. Easy peasy. I will tackle your house, your car, your yard and finally getting your kids involved in going green.  Plus, thanks to TheMotherhood and Scott Naturals, I will also be having a super sweet giveaway each week! (From last week's post)

Lets start off this week by announcing the winner of last weeks super sweet prize pack from Scott Naturals!

Congrats To Ness who said:

Send your street address to me at Amy @ RenderMeMama (dot) com to claim your prize!

This week we are focusing on your going green with your car. Now, you might think short of trading in your car for a fancy hybrid, there isn't much you can do to green your car. While hybrids are a great way to cut down on gas mileage and help out with the ever thinning ozone, that isn't the only way to make sure you are being as green as possible from A to B.


They way you drive has a lot to do with your fuel economy. Ever been riding with someone and been a little scared for your life? Yeah, avoid the way they drive. Cut back on quick starts and slamming on the brakes and (here is a shocker) go the speed limit. Speeding greatly reduces your MPG and the bigger the car you drive, the bigger of an effect it has on the planet. Also, drive wise and minimize unnecessary miles by doing errands in one trip, getting good directions, and calling ahead.


Keep your car in good running order. That tune up or oil change you have been putting off for months? Get it done. It will help your engine run better and help lower that MPG ratio. 25% better and that is nothing to sneeze at! Also, keep your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Treehugger.com says "If every American's tires were properly inflated we could save around 2 billion gallons of gas each year!". Thats.. a lot of gas!

The one I am particularly bad about is the AC. Leaving it off can greatly improve your MPG and your emissions output. I know this. I do but I also hate being hot and so do my kids. Its a lot easier in the spring time to drive with the windows down comfortably but lets face it, when its 110 outside like it is in the summer here, that just isn't going to cut it. Something to remember though. 


Then of course there is some more of the obvious ones like taking public transit, walking when you can and carpooling. My personal favorite idea is telecommuting. Working from home sounds like a win-win to me!


Now for the fun part. Our family has been asked to participate in the Scott Naturals 4-Week Test Drive.  In honor of Earth Month, the Scott Naturals brand is challenging Americans to take an easy green step by testing out its line of hybrid paper products: bath tissue, paper towels, flush-able wipes and napkins. If everyone that visited Google today took the 4-Week Test Drive there’d be 4,414,400 trees saved. 

As part of this project, Scott Naturals will be making a donation to the National Wildlife Federation. For every unique click-thru to THIS LINK, Scott Naturals will donate $1 (up to $25,000 total) to the National Wildlife Federation. Sweet, right? All you have to do is click!

I also have four huge prize packs to give away (one a week) to a lucky RMM reader! This prize pack includes a full size package of napkins, toilet paper, paper towels and moist, flush-able wipes. Don't tell me those are things you would rather pay for when you can win them.

How to enter (These have changed! Pay attention!):


1. You must follow Render Me Mama via GFC and leave a comment saying you do. (Mandatory) *1 entry


2. Visit Scott Naturals and take the 4 week test drive pledge (all you have to do is click and you even get some sweet coupons just for doing that. Plus, you just donated a dollar to the NWF!). Leave a comment saying you did so. *1 entry


3. Click the link of above (or here) to donate a dollar to the National Wildlife Federation. This is going to have to be an honor system thing here ladies and gents but seriously.. if you are going to lie about clicking a link to donate a buck to a charity so you can win some paper prodcuts (sweet as they may be), you need a life. *1 entry


4. Like my Facebook page to stay updated and leave your first name & last initial or your page name. *2 entries (Be sure and leave two comments to get both entries!)


5. Like B Kind 2 Earth Day on Facebook and leave one green idea on their wall. Be sure you tag me in the post so I know who you are and leave a comment letting me know you did! (This is way easier than you think) *2 entries


I will draw the winning number via Random.org next Monday at 6:00pm EST. Don't be discouraged if you don't win this week though, come back next week for more going green wisdom and another chance to win an awesome prize pack! Good luck!

*I was given the opportunity to review the Scott Naturals line and compensated for my time as part of this post. All opinions and tips are mine.