Most mommas I know, including myself, struggle with weight issues. Unless you’re like some of the amazing skinnier-than-before-they-were-moms that I know {not to name any names.} Whether it’s weight gain in general or problem areas, it’s hard to lose the weight after we’ve had kids. Even after I lost the baby weight I had gained when I was pregnant with Miss A I still had some lingering jiggly bits around my middle that no amount of Jillian Michaels workouts or Weight Watchers programs could take off {and I loved both}.

Perhaps like you, there were times when I wished I had a magical machine in my closet that I could step into really quick and just tone up that area. While I don’t personally own something like that or know any magic tricks, not even the basic ones, I am excited to find out that there are machines like the ones in my daydreams that are non-surgical and reduce the fat in trouble areas of both women and men.

CoolSculpting® is the safe, effective and non-invasive way to reduce fat in common trouble areas that tend to be diet- and exercise-resistant. It is an FDA-cleared procedure that gently and effectively reduces fat in problem areas of the body. This results in noticeable, natural-looking fat reduction in the treated areas. What makes CoolSculpting® different than other fat reduction procedures is its patented cooling technology that targets and eliminates fat cells.

During the procedure, a non-invasive applicator delivers precisely controlled cooling to target and eliminate fat cells in specific areas of your body. When fat cells are exposed to cooling, it triggers a process of natural removal, which gradually reduces the thickness of the fat layer. The result is a reduction in fat bulges that is visible in most patients in two months. Isn’t that cool?

Here’s a video that breaks down the CoolSculpting® Treatment process:

In case you were wondering, it is a medical fact that fat is uniquely susceptible to extreme cold. Basically CoolSculpting® turns the fat cold, the fat cells crystallize, break down, and then naturally eliminated by your body.

The treatments are about an hour per treated area and typically are very calm, people have been known to check email, read, and rest while undergoing treatment. It’s nice to know that there is minimal discomfort, and most patients resume their regular activity immediately after treatment. Being a mom there’s no time for pain and resting, so it’s a great alternative to surgical methods.

Just like any program results are long lasting and sustainable with a healthy lifestyle. CoolSculpting® is a premium procedure, only offered through top doctors across the country. Go to CoolSculpting.com to locate a treatment center and join the conversation on Facebook.

I have not personally tried the CoolSculpting® procedure but it sounds great for after I lose some of this baby weight from Baby C and I would definitely consider it, again in conjunction with a healthy diet and being active. All those things go hand-in-hand.

The best part is… you can win a CoolSculpting® Treatment! This contest is being held on 14 other blogs. One winner from the group will receive a CoolSculpting treatment (valued at $1500). Use the form below to enter!!!

*Disclaimer: CoolSculpting® is not intended as a weight-reduction program or for overweight individuals. The grand prize winner must first be assessed by a CoolSculpting® provider of ZELTIQ’s choosing to ensure he/she is a good candidate for the procedure. If the grand prize winner is not assessed as a good candidate, he/she will not be eligible for the treatment portion of the grand prize. The best CoolSculpting® candidates are near their ideal body weight with bulges of diet- and exercise-resistant fat.

This is a sponsored post, I have received compensation to write for CoolSculpting® however I think it’s a really great program and my honest opinions of the program are expressed above. Yours may vary.

Well, maybe not every single little detail, but the important ones like who I met, why I was in San Jose, and of course what the flavor of my martini was.

Let’s start from the beginning-ish….

I first met with the amazing PR company for Invisalign at Bloggy Boot Camp Atlanta. Although I had heard of them well before. I signed up to attend their Invisalign Teen Mom breakfast for more information on their program and was excited at everything I was hearing, I immediately thought, ” I need to be a part of this program.” And to be candid I do not feel that way about every opportunity that is presented to me.

After touching base a couple more times throughout the conference and through emails after the conference I was given the opportunity to write this sponsored post: Invisalign – The Real Tooth Fairy. Which, mind you, was a really fun post to create and I loved the little Tooth Fairy I produced as well. From that post I was hoping it would not only showcase my fun writing skills and passion for what I do, but also let Invisalign and their PR reps know that I was interested in their Mom Advisory Board program.

Well, I guess it worked. A few months later I was contacted by email to visit Invisalign headquarters in San Jose to learn more about the process, discuss more details, and best of all, meet my co-horts in the program.

Here are a few pictures of my visit to Invisalign :

Joining me on this new round of bloggers are (in order from the photo above): Ciaran from Momfluential, {me}, Carmen from Mom To The Screaming Masses and Trisha from 24/7 Moms. I had a great time getting to know these ladies, the founder and one of her great PR staffers, and some welcoming folks at the Invisalign Headquarters. I look forward to working with everyone I met this weekend and hope you’re just as excited as I am!

Since I’m on the Invisalign Mom Advisory Board I’ve been educated on Invisalign and know quite a bit about everything from how the aligners are made to who make good candidates and more. In order to help parents and teens even more, I’m going through the process myself so I’ll have first-hand experience to speak on. How cool is that?!?!

Occasionally you’ll see some posts, tweets, videos, and maybe even giveaways from me for Invisalign, I hope that you feel free to ask me questions in my comments or if you’re shy like me {yeah right!}, you can email me any questions you may have as well. If I don’t know I have access to the amazing people at Invisalign who do.

Thank you for always supporting me with my projects. I’m very excited to see how I can help you find out more information to make the best, most educated choices for family. I’ll be posting information from my consultation in the next post so subscribe to my feed if you want to be alerted when it posts on my site.

Also check out Invisalign on Facebook and Twitter:

I am a member of the Invisalign Mom Advisory Board, I receive complimentary Invisalign treatment, but am posting my own, personal opinions. 

• it’s quicker to grab fast food or pop something into the microwave
• it’s cheaper
• we don’t want to make a whole separate meal if we’re not having the same thing they are

Now the list goes on, as we all know reasons pile up, but Kidfresh, a foodline designed for kids ages 2 to 8 years has developed meals that are affordable, microwaveable, and 100% natural. At about $3.49, Kidfresh meals tout that they are made with all-natural ingredients, trans-fat/corn syrup/ filler/ artificial coloring/ free. But do they taste good??

Miss A doesn’t like pasta {I know!! What kid doesn’t like pasta?!?!},  so we didn’t even try them with her because we knew what the verdict would be. Baby C, on the other hand, eats almost everything we put in front of her, especially carbs. The first try I gave Baby C Kidfresh’s Spaghetti Loops Bolognese, unfortunately she didn’t care for these so I ended up discarding most of the meal, but as we all know just because a kid doesn’t eat doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try again. The next time I tried their Wagon Wheels Mac + Cheese {these are the only two options my grocer carries,}. As soon as I took these noodles out of the microwave I could smell the real cheese {you know how it smells different than the processed stuff,} and it was delightful, and even though I wanted to munch on it I restrained myself. Baby C gobbled it up until she was full and I saved the leftovers for the next day. She wasn’t loving the leftovers, however when I gave her the Mac + Cheese again a couple of weeks later she ate almost the entire dish, I attribute her finickiness to being a toddler.

My favorite thing about Kidfresh aside from how awesomely healthy the meals are is that they are good portions, the Mac + Cheese didn’t come drenched in cheese, it was just the right amount, encouraging my kids to eat but not stuff themselves.

Personally I’d love to try the 4 other flavors that Kidfresh makes, so I hope that EarthFare Huntersville stocks them up {hint, hint}. However I love that I have a quick, healthy option for Baby C when I need something fast and I don’t have to go with the alternative, or at least it gives me another meal for the food queue.

P.S. They sneak in extra veggies too!! Shhhh, don’t tell the kids!

You can find Kidfresh meals by heading to their website here: http://www.kidfresh.com. Enter your zip code where it says “Find a store” and voila! If there’s not a store near you that carries it, speak with your grocer, they may look into it.

Check Kidfresh out on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Kidfreshfoods and Twitter: http://twitter.com/KidfreshFoods for more info and for a $1 off coupon good through July 31, 2012 be one of the first 10 people to leave a comment here on which would be your favorite flavor meal, and I’ll email you for your address.

We received meals from Kidfresh in order to complete our honest review. All of the opinions above are my own honest opinions, however yours may vary.

Make sure I have daily devotions, if I can’t do them in the mornings then at least sometime throughout the day

-It’s very important for me to have time with God and to make Him more of a priority this year.

Take time for me. As a mom who puts herself on the back burner {can you relate?}, I am promising myself to work less, get more sleep, drink more water, eat healthier, and, dare I say it, even pamper myself once and a while.

Be the best mom I can be. Having more silly moments with the girls, creating and maintaining a close circle of healthy, supportive, fun, good friends for them to play with, and also making sure they are healthy inside and out as well.

Which brings me to mention Trop50. Baby C has never took to the bottle, unfortunately when I was nursing hubby did not get to help feed her, and I made sure I was always somewhat close-by in case she needed to be fed. She never took formula and more importantly when I weaned her she did not want to have anything to do with cow’s milk. We tried everything, bottle, sippy cup, and even medicine dropper, she just wasn’t going for it. Because Calcium is such an important vitamin we consulted with our pediatrician and he suggested other ways for her to get the nutrients she needed. One way was to introduce Calcium enriched orange juice (among other ways).

{The Trop50 version below is not the Calcium, Vitamin-D version they also sell.}

That’s where Trop50 comes in. Tropicana is a well-known brand that produces a great line of juice beverages and have recently created Trop50, the juice beverage that offers 50% less sugar, and 50% less calories with no artificial sweeteners. Which, for a mom who is trying to make sure their child gets enough Calcium, but not overdo the sugar intake, is perfect. I am happy with this new line that I can easily purchase in my local grocery store and that helps me accomplish part of one of my resolutions for 2012.

What are your resolutions? Head over to Trop50′s Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/Trop50Resolutions to enter their True Resolutions contest and celebrate the real reasons behind New Year’s resolutions. Share your secret motivation and earn a coupon for $1 off Trop50 for yourself and $.50¢ off coupons for up to 50 of your friends! Whether you submit a resolution or not, you can also enter their sweepstakes to win a $1,000 gift card!

Happy New Year!!!

This post is sponsored by Trop50, I received compensation for this post, however all thoughts and opinions expressed above are my own. Your opinions may vary.

I’m admittedly a bit of a self-help fanatic. I’ve read numerous books and I’ve used a few different productivity software programs. Mindbloom looks like nothing I have encountered. It includes points, a gaming system, and an immersive, multimedia environment centered around your life tree. The branches of the tree are based on the areas of your life that you want to improve. You can choose as many or as few as you want. They include: Career, Creativity, Finances, Health, Lifestyle, Relationships, and Spirituality.

After you pick your life areas, you add the actions that you need to take to improve that area. You can create your own action or choose from the tool’s many suggested actions. For example, in the Health area, under Nutrition, there’s a pre-loaded action called: “Drink Water”. You can then schedule the actions on a calendar.

As you do your good deeds, log in, and record what you’ve done, you earn seeds which are like points that can be used to redeem things. You can use the points to unlock songs for inspiration or send a friend sunshine or water for their life tree.

Here is a great video to help understand what Mindbloom is:

Inspirational Aspects
I like how Mindbloom incorporates inspiration. It’s been something that I feel other personal improvement systems have lacked. Typically, they offer no more than quotes. Mindbloom has images, quotes, and even songs to provide a kind of inspirational slideshow to encourage you. What inspires one person may be drastically different from what might get someone else going. With this in mind, Mindbloom allows members to upload their own images or music. Logging in and seeing a picture that reminds you of your goal or hearing an inspirational song could have a big impact on your overall success.

The Bloom App’s Reminders
The recently launched Bloom app for iPods and iPhones will help extend the benefits of Mindbloom. The app’s reminders may be entire system’s most powerful feature. Getting a reminder to stay on track with that new habit could make all the difference in the battle to make a change stick. It’s easy to forget that new commitment you’ve made when you get back into the groove of your regular day. An occasional buzz from your phone could shake you out of your routine and remind you to incorporate that new habit.

The Mindbloom program for your laptop or desktop computer if mostly free. It includes that great immersive experience that I described. There’s also a paid pro version that gives you access to all of the music and all of the images. The mobile iPhone app (Bloom) is free as well, but it seems to focus on just the inspiration and reminder aspects.

With any self-improvement system, book, or app of any kind, it all comes down to your likelihood to use it on a regular basis. I feel that Mindbloom’s social capabilities, tied into sites that you’re already engaged in, and the Bloom app’s reminders may be the biggest strengths to make it a winning software. Try it out and see if you can make those changes in your life that you’ve been putting off.

Learn more about Mindbloom from their website: http://www.mindbloom.com/ and check them out on Facebook too: http://www.facebook.com/mindbloom

This is a sponsored post and I was able to try the Mindbloom program for free in order to complete this review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this post are my own, honest opinions. Yours may vary.

Thanks to MommyB, I also got a chance to step up my yoga mat. I’d been using the same one day after day for who knows how long, and I didn’t realize how worn out it had become until I unfurled my new Northern Lights mat from Aurorae Yoga.

Measuring 72″ long x 24″ wide, the Aurorae mat is about four inches longer than a standard mat, which doesn’t seem like much but makes a difference: I’m no longer having to hop back throughout a DVD or class so that my hands stay on the mat. Similarly, the 5 mm thickness seems incrementally cushier than normal mats but the difference is undeniable. My knees, creaky old things that don’t like repeated contact with cold floors, no longer scream after a session. And where I was once uncomfortably aware of my sit-bones and the base of my neck during the relaxation phase at the end of a session, I’m now supported and comfortable, and able to actually let go.

The mat’s thickness and grip make it much easier to really dig in your fingers and toes to support your weight, and slipping is minimal.

So strictly based on performance, we have a winner in the Aurorae mat… but wait! There’s more! The Northern Lights model also scores big points for aesthetics and eco-friendliness.

Mimicking the serenely undulating dance of the aurora borealis (but also echoing the recent ombre craze that’s been happening, at least in my mind), the Northern Lights mats come in five richly toned colors and no two mats are exactly the same. The colors are identified with certain characteristics, so that you can choose a mat that signifies the qualities you want to evoke/boost with your workout. The top of the mat is strategically emblazoned with Aurorae’s logo to create a point of focus, to aid with balance (brilliant). And in spite of its extra length and thickness, it easily rolls tight and is not noticeably heavier than my old mat.

Aurorae mats are made from PER Eco Safe material, and are biodegradable and phthalate-free. There was none of that wretched plastic off-gassing odor when I opened the package. I still flipped it over the clothesline to let it relax and air out, but I didn’t feel like I had to, to avoid breathing in chemicals.

Basically, I’ve learned that a good mat is essential to really getting the most from your yoga workout, and post-workout relaxation poses. I feel like I can perform the poses better and hold them longer without straining or slipping. The fact that the mats are eco-conscious, pretty, affordable and from a company that appears to really appreciate its customers? Incredibly awesome and totally welcome bonuses.

Aurorae Yoga supplies are sold through Amazon and ship for free when spending more than $25. Add it to your wish list today!

Disclosure: I received an Aurorae yoga mat to review; no other compensation was received. This mat was put through the paces of many hours of Rodney Yee DVDs and YMCA yoga sessions; therefore all thoughts and opinions are thorough, honest, and entirely my own.

Robin Elton is a real food advocate, wilderness champion and Honey Badger Mom of three. She blogs about the life non-toxic, the restorative benefits of the outdoors, and the power of play at simple. green. organic. happy.

These are some of the points we always hear about breastfeeding, but there are some things people don’t tell you. At least, they never told me, and now I’m sharing them with you.

1. It can be boring. Sure, breastfeeding helps you feel a sense of bonding with baby, but if your baby cluster feeds and you’re nursing frequently for long periods of time, it gets boring. Really boring. So grab your laptop, a book or magazine, watch TV, balance your checkbook, whatever it takes to avoid total boredom.

2. Baby may be attached to your breast for a LONG time. There are days you may get nothing done except nursing. All day. Frequently. My daughter, born in July, often nurses on and off for an hour or more and then only waits 30-60 minutes (or less) before demanding more.

3. Sometimes, you just don’t want to. This can be true when you’re extremely tired or your toddler is screaming about something he wants, and your baby decides you must feed her.

4. For such a natural thing, it sure isn’t easy. There can be issues with latching, positions, breast infections and blocked ducts, chapped and cracked nipples…and the list goes on. Funny how no one mentions these things when they talk about how great breastfeeding is.

5. Bottle is baby’s enemy. My baby doesn’t want a bottle, even though it has breast milk in it. I’ve tried the “tricks” others have mentioned to me – having any one but me give it to her, positioning it from the arm pit, switching bottles/nipples, giving it to her cold, etc. Nada. She just doesn’t want it.

6. It is a contact sport. That’s right – while nursing, baby will pump his or her little fists into your breast, pounding on it like it’s a drum and kick her feet, repeatedly, into your torso. Oh, and repeatedly (and quickly) pull her mouth off roughly, stretching your nipple, and reattach.

7. It will hurt. In addition to the fun of #4 and #6, your back, shoulders and even your wrist (from cupping your breast for a good latch) will ache.

8. It can be intimidating to nurse in public. For the most part, I’ve been going to the car to nurse when I’m out with my daughter. However, I have whipped out my cover and nursed in a restaurant, during a playgroup and in a grocery store. And even though I’m covered up, some people still stare and act as if I shouldn’t be doing what I’m doing.

Don’t get me wrong – I’m grateful breastfeeding is working out for me and my daughter so far, but I must admit there are days when I think it would be easier and more convenient to give her formula (which can have its own challenges).

What have you experienced with breastfeeding that you wish someone had told you? What tips do you have for breastfeeding mamas?

After a 10+ years communications career, Jamie K. recently took on her toughest job yet – as a full-time CFO (chief family officer). Currently, she lives in Alabama with her husband, an officer in the Air Force, and her toddler son and newborn daughter, who are her toughest bosses yet.

Recently, I was offered the chance to try out h20, a natural spring water from Canada, and I found that I really loved the taste of. I kid you not, it’s up there will my all-time favorite {or favourite if you’re from CA} waters, very crisp and totally refreshing, plus, it does NOT come in a plastic bottle, hooray!!

I’m not completely eco-friendly, however I do like to recycle and try to do my part. h2o’s packaging is 100% paper, from “responsibly sourced well managed forests, a renewable resource, unlike plastic bottles made from oil”.  And in my opinion the packaging is pretty too, see:

Here are some really great facts that I love about h2o and some random ones I found out on my own too:

• h2o keeps contents safe up to 5 years compared to the 2 year shelf-life of plastic bottles
• h2o does not roll around in the car if you drop it on the ground like other water bottles {yes this did actually happen to me}
• h2o has “wings” {aka the flaps at the top that kids can hang on to so they don’t squeeze the drink} like our favorite paper milk and juice box containers
• h2o, even though the bottle is not see-through, has really great packaging so those of you who are bothered by not being able to “see” what you are drinking can look down the top and see for yourself, crystal clear.

This great water is available for purchase on their website http://www.h2Ospringwater.com in singles and packs, and in single 16.9 ounce bottles at Super K-marts. Pricing is average in my opinion and for the taste of the water I’d personally pay a little more than they are asking, but that may just be my superior taste buds talking

Also, h2O has also launched a special online sweepstakes. One winner is randomly chosen every 2 days to win a Rio DVD and a 6-pack of h2O natural spring water. Check out rules and enter at h2Ospringwater.com now through September 30, 2011 (at 11:59 p.m. PST).

Do you have a favorite spring water? If so, what brand is it?

I received samples from h2o and their partners in order to complete this review. The samples in no way effect my opinions on the product. The words above are my own, completely honest opinions. Thank you for taking the time to read the review and if you have any questions or comments I would love to hear them! 

I know some of you may be perfectly happy with the way you look and to that I say, “Rock on mommas!!” But for those of you who aren’t quite there yet, I encourage you to get active and would love it if you follow my “Get Fit” Journey.

I know I can be happy with my mommy body, stretch marks, changes from pregnancies, nursing and all, and I’m excited to get there with the help of Champions Sports Performance.

From the minute I walked into Champions Sports Performance & Training Center facilities I was shocked. Not only is their location a great renovation, but it offers almost everything you could want in a work out location. From a Purotion FTS suspension training system {that will impress you}, spin bikes by Momentum, and a 40-yard acceleration indoor track there are many different ways to get a great workout, so you never get bored, not to mention the rest of their equipment and classes.

At Champions you don’t have to be active in sports to train like an athlete. I went in practically sedentary, minus chasing after the kiddos and even at my level the basic warm up was challenging but not overwhelming. The amazing trainers and staff at Champions not only encourage me to keep going, but they taught me the correct form so I got the most out of my workout without hurting myself.

Champions  Sports Performance & Training Center is based on several dynamic training programs that teach you amazing form in a high energy way. I really enjoyed training at Champions personally and could tell that even with a few sessions I was getting a great workout, improving my cardio and strength and on my way to losing the extra pounds that I’m ready to say goodbye to.

Interested in finding out more about Champions Sports Performance & Training Center in the Cornelius/Lake Norman NC area? Head on over to their website: http://www.championssportsperformance.com/ and take a look for yourself. You’ll be impressed at what they have to offer, I know I am.

{They also offer a GREAT kids program for children ages 5 and up, I have heard nothing but good things from the families I’ve met there and Amy from Macaroni Kid Lake Norman check out her posts and learn more about summer camps and the Parisi Speed School side of Champions:  http://lakenorman.macaronikid.com/article/132592/champions-sports-performance}

What are you waiting for? Channel your inner athlete with Champions!

I received personal training sessions in order to complete this review. My opinions are in no way influenced by this and are my honest opinions. Yours may vary.

{cue mist and dreamy music} It all started on a normal day, hanging around the house. I had noticed a funny taste in my mouth after I had eaten a snack. I could swear it was medicinal in flavor but hadn’t had any medicine in my system for a while. I figured it may be the awesome new Trident Vitality gum that I had bought recently. So, I just went on with my day, but every time I ate something the aftertaste was always the medicine taste.

When DaddyB got home I asked him if he experienced the bad aftertaste since he had been chewing the gum as well and unfortunately he said, “No.” So that led me straight back to square one. After giving it another day, being the webby girl that I am I HAD to google bad taste, and I found a lot of different research from metallic when you’re pregnant to of course halitosis, I did for a quick minute think, “Oh no I’d better not be pregnant {we’re “officially” done}” and I knew this was something different than plain bad breath.

I continued to search the web and stumbled across my now arch Nemesis…PINE NUTS!!! Okay to be fair it’s not directly the pine nut’s fault. Basically in my search I found that pine nuts, if expired {yes much to my surprise they have an expiration date very soon after purchasing} can cause a bad aftertaste in your mouth. The aftertaste can last as long as a day or even longer lasting 3 weeks, depending on how many you eat.

Thank goodness I only had a handful because the party in my mouth was not a good one and lasted for about a week. The culprit behind the bad taste of expired pine nuts are triglycerides and oxidation. After the expiration date pine nuts turn “bad” or “sour” if you will, just like any other food. With pine nuts you cannot taste when they go “bad”, so checking the expiration date is imperative, unless you want to use the “Pine Nut Diet”, as I like to call it.

Luckily, the taste has finally gone away and my taste buds are back to their normal selves. Do I dare eat pine nuts again?? Well perhaps, but not right away, I’m a little nervous!!

Have you ever experienced this with pine nuts? How about any other adverse reactions with different foods??