ReSqueeze & a Giveaway!

**Disclaimer: I have received products to try from ReSqueeze & am simply sharing my personal opinion which may vary from yours. I was not compensated for this review.

My kids are huge fans of any food that comes in a squeezable pouch. (Especially applesauces & yogurts!) And i have to say that they're perfect for school lunches & snacks on the go. But I've always thought it would be great, if they could enjoy some homemade yogurt or even a smoothie the same way.

ReSqueeze is perfect for making those healthier treats at home & enjoying them wherever you want. I can't even begin to express my utter love for these reusable pouches. They've gotten us through soft food diets (doctor's orders), car rides, school lunches, tornado watches in the basement, what seems like never ending sicknesses & numerous snack times. Now I'm to the point where I wonder how I ever got by without them! Actually, I know how. I was forever cringing at ingredients & prices of all the things my kids wanted, just because they came in a pouch. Occasionally ,but usually also reluctantly, I obliged (which makes me cringe again).

But what's so great about ReSqueeze is how it suits just about everybody. From mealtimes for babies, snacks for toddlers, as part of school lunches & as a healthy alternative for busy moms on the go. We've had smoothies, applesauce & other pureed fruits (mango is my fave!), homemade yogurt & even the occasional milkshake in our ReSqueeze pouches. And yes, they are freezable. I like to keep a couple in the freezer for my daughters lunch. That way it doubles as an ice pack & is thawed to perfection by the time she gets to eat. 

Hayden & Paige, enjoying a smoothie on the porch swing.

ReSqueeze was created by Laura & Brandon Hightower, as a solution to making mealtimes easier (& cleaner) for their young son. Which of course means that it was realistically (& thoughtfully) designed. The edges are rounded to prevent any poking or scratching. The fill opening is extra wide so you can very easily pour or spoon your desired foods inside. Colorful & fun graphics are perfect for young children (& being able to find them in my black hole of a bag). There's even a place to label & date the contents, which can easily be done with a dry erase marker. 

Now I know you're wondering how much of a pain they are to clean! Well, they're not. My 8 year old helps with dishes sometimes & even she has no problems cleaning ReSqueeze. They're easy to wash in warm soapy water (especially if you still happen to have a bottle brush - for when your kids accidentally leave their lunch bags at school), or even the top rack of your dishwasher. It really doesn't get any easier than that!

Made from durable BPA & Phthalate free plastic, ReSqueeze boasts a sturdy double zip closure & can hold up to 6oz. And yes, the double zip closure has passed the quality control test administered by all three of my kids (ages 8, 4 & 2). Which is a lot more than I can say for some of those store bought pouches filled with applesauce. Of course my initial fear was that since they are reusable, I was sure my kids would throw the caps away since that's what they were used to. I'm happy to report that they haven't, but even if they did, replacement caps are only $0.25 a piece. (Set of 4 ReSqueeze pouches retails for $14.99, set of 8 retails for $24.99.)

Can't wait to try ReSqueeze?

One lucky winner will receive a 4 pack of ReSqueeze Reusable Pouches!  

The giveaway will conclude on at 12:00 a.m. est on Monday 6/2/14. Winners will be announced via rafflecopter & in a separate blog post which will be published no later than 3:00 p.m. on Monday 6/2/14. Winners will also be notified via email & announced on the Smith and Blessings facebook page. Winners will have 48 hours to submit shipping information, which will then be passed on to ReSqueeze for distribution of product. If 48 hours has lapsed, a new winner will be picked & then will also have 48 hours to submit their information. Smith and Blessings is not responsible for prize shipment.

*Giveaway open to U.S. residents only. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Keep up with the latest from ReSqueeze on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Pinterest.

  

PicturesOnGold.com Giveaway Winner!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 Our winner has been chosen, congrats to Linda B.! 

Work It Wednesday: Be Sun Smart With These 5 Tips!

With warm weather officially here, my family has been spending time outdoors as much as possible. But even though the sun may not always be blazing down on us, that doesn't mean that precautionary measures shouldn't be taken. And that goes for us parents too.

•First things first, be sure to check the UV Index for your area & try to avoid the outdoors when it's at it's highest. (Generally between 10AM-2PM.)

•Don't forget the sunscreen! We never let our kids go out with anything less than an SPF50, so why should we go out with anything less than an SPF30? Just be sure to choose a waterproof formula because chances are that if we're outside, we're working up a sweat! (Don't forget to reapply as needed too.)

•Hat's on! Sure a baseball cap will help block some of the rays from your face, but what about your ears & neck? If you have a bucket hat or one with a wide brim, wear that instead. 

•Grab those shades! I almost always wear sunglasses when I'm outside. If not, I'd be squinting like crazy to block out the glare. 

•Protect your pucker & use a lip balm with added SPF. I know this is something that most people never think of, I was one of them myself. Until the day I got sunburnt on my lips. Um...ouch! Now I make it a point to always wear it when I go out during the day whether it's summertime or not. 

Tasty Tuesday: Roasted Garlic Shrimp

Since I've been making a conscious effort to eat better, the strangest thing has happened. I have been wanting seafood. For the record, I do eat a bit of seafood (cod, salmon, shrimp, scallops, tuna & crab cakes - not plain crab). But for as little as I eat, I prepare it myself even less. So for me to want shrimp, buy it, prepare it & plan to make it all again as soon as I go grocery shopping...what is going on here?! Well, whatever it is, it can stick around because this Roasted Garlic Shrimp is amazingly delicious!

*Please remember to use desired amounts.

•medium shrimp, peeled & deveined

•fresh garlic, minced

•paprika

•cayenne pepper

•sea salt

•coarse black pepper

•olive oil

•fresh lemon, halved

•aluminum foil

- In a larger bowl, combine paprika, cayenne pepper, sea salt & coarse black pepper. 

- Add minced garlic (don't skimp on this key ingredient), juice from at least half a lemon, olive oil (I went pretty heavy on this because I wanted a "sauce" to blend with my whole grain & wild rice and roasted asparagus - but the amount is completely up to you) & shrimp. 

- Thoroughly mix until shrimp is evenly coated.

- Cover & allow to marinate in the refrigerator at least 20-25 min. 

- Preheat oven to 450º & line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. 

- If you went light on the olive oil in your marinade, you will need to spread a bit on your aluminum foil to help prevent the shrimp from sticking. 

- Roast the shrimp along with any extra marinade in the oven for 5-7 min. or until it turns pink. Just be sure to not overcook it. 
- Serve with lemon wedges.

Enjoy! 

Motivating Monday: Zig Ziglar Quote

Simple Sunday: Happy Mother's Day

Flowers for mom!

Snacktastic Saturday: Black Bean Brownies

I have been trying to get my oldest to eat more vegetables for what seems like an eternity. So I've resorted to what any other mom would do, I sneak them in in the most unlikely places.

You should probably know that this recipe works on husbands too.  

•1 can black beans, drained & rinsed
•3Tbsp. canola oil
•3 eggs
•1/3C. (heaping) cocoa powder
•3/4C. brown sugar
•1tsp. vanilla
•1/2tsp. baking powder
•1/8tsp. salt
•1-4tsp. instant coffee, if desired (I prefer a mocha flavor.)
•3/4-1C. mini chocolate chips
•nonstick cooking spray

-Spray a 9x9 or 8x8 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
-Combine all ingredients except the mini chocolate chips in a food processor. 
-Pulse until ingredients are thoroughly blended. 
-If you are adding the instant coffee, start by adding 1tsp. & then adjust according to taste after pulsing again to combine. 
-Before pouring batter into prepared pan, stir in at least half of the mini chocolate chips to the mixture. 
-Before baking, top the batter with the remaining mini chocolate chips. 
-Bake at 350º for roughly 22-28 min. 
-Allow to cool for at least 15 min. before slicing.

Enjoy!