Ashley, Author at Embracing Beauty

Fast Facts About the ALL-NEW Nutrisystem Fast 5

January 9, 2014 by Ashley 35 Comments

This post brought to you by Nutrisystem . All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you ready to try a new way to lose weight? I am too…well, almost. I’m due to have a baby in a few weeks, then a few weeks after that I’ll be ready! I’ve wanted to try Nutrisystem® for a long time and I was just about to commit when I found out I was pregnant. Seriously, I had to call to stop my shipment from arriving. I was thiiiiis close. Now that I’m towards the end of my pregnancy I’m thinking about Nutrisystem again. I’m not wanting to lose weight for selfish and superficial reasons but because I genuinely want to be healthy and have energy to enjoy caring for my family. While looking into Nutrisystem again I’ve found that they have a great new program called Nutrisystem® My Way®.

Nutrisystem My Way is tailored to each person’s metabolism, supposedly providing the right amount of nutrients and calories needed for success. How cool is that? With a science-based algorithm to determine each individual’s approximate metabolism rate, Nutrisystem My Way is able to create a customized program tailored to his or her needs.

In addition to the personalized meal plan, people are given specific exercise instructions to help boost their fat metabolism so that they’ll burn fat more efficiently. As time goes on and people lose weight they’re encouraged to check in from time to time with a Nutrisystem counselor so that their meal and exercise plan can be adjusted to their changing metabolism. I don’t know about you but that sounds pretty incredible. I want someone to tell me exactly what to do and when. I don’t want to have another thing to think about, especially with a newborn for care for!

The Nutrisystem Fast 5 is a one week jump-start kit to get you started with a bang. It’s currently being offered for free with the purchase of the new 28-day My Way program and is guaranteed to help you lose 5 pounds in your first week!* Guaranteed, I like the sound of that. *Results vary depending on starting weight, adherence to the program and other factors. If you’re not 100% satisfied, call within 14 days and return the remaining food for a full refund plus return shipping. First order only.

The Fast 5 features 7 breakfasts, lunches and dinners that were specially selected to get your weight loss jump-started. You’ll also receive Nutrisystem’s great, new shakes that were specially formulated to fight off hunger and boost metabolism. The Fast 5 week program is designed to set you on your way to the 28-day My Way program more motivated than ever!

Just talking about it has me motivated! What about you, have you tried Nutrisystem before? If not, do you think you’d like to?

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: Nutrisystem, Weight Loss

Teaching Children Responsibility

January 9, 2014 by Ashley Leave a Comment

This post was written by Jo and I hope you’ll enjoy it!

I have always said that I am a Marketer by Trade and a writer by nature. I have always dabbled here and there along the way but being a writer for me is not an option but rather an inherent part of who I am.

– Jo Whitehead

One of the things that all parents have in common is that we want the best for our children and for them to grow into responsible, confident adults, but unfortunately don’t always know quite where to start. Responsibility is a life skill and not necessarily a personality trait. It is something that can be taught. Something that can be instilled – but it’s our job to teach it to them.

It would be unfair of us one day to expect our teenage child to behave responsibly if he or she was never taught the basics and given the opportunity to put it into practice. The trick is to start early and as they grow older to increase the level of responsibility accordingly. A good age to start is when your child is a toddler.

As long as there is housework to be done, there are plenty of teaching opportunities available. Make housework a team effort and make it fun. Yes, the chores may take longer, but not only will you land up with a clean house, but children who realise and understand that they are part of a unit and need to pull their weight too.

If you want your children to act responsibly you need to act responsibly too so that they are able to model your behaviour. For example, once you have finished eating dinner, insist that each family member takes their plate through to the kitchen and places it in the sink or the dishwasher. Make sure your child sees you placing your soiled clothing in the laundry hamper and help him or her to do the same.

Reflect on your behaviour and see if there’s anything that needs changing. If you are the type that enjoys being at the mall shopping, at the bowling alley or batting cages playing, or any other place for hours on end, don’t force your child to stay with you while you ‘unwind’, but rather spend some time with them and once they’ve gone to bed you can shop or play games online. There are many apps available for shopping and several for playing games. Or perhaps you have the opposite problem. Perhaps you spend plenty of time online shopping and keeping up to date with social media on your mobile phone? Schedule a time each day when the children are at school or having a nap to check your newsfeed and not while you should be spending time with them. Your children need to realize that they are important and that you take your responsibility as a parent seriously.

And finally, remember to praise your children for acting responsibly. Children thrive on praise and when you praise them, suddenly chores don’t feel so much like work. A positive attitude goes a long way.

Visit TheHappyHousewife.com to get a printable list of age-appropriate chores for children.

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: Children, kids

January Photo a Day Challenge 2013

January 1, 2014 by Ashley 15 Comments

It’s time to begin our monthly Photo a Day Challenge! Whether you’re new or returning, welcome to our January Photo a Day Challenge!

Did you play along with us before or are you a photo-a-day newbie? If you’re a regular photo-a-day’er or if this is your first challenge we welcome you to join us and jump right in! This is all for fun so if you skip a day or two or ten you can make them up later or just forget about them. There is absolutely no pressure! Really. This is just a fun way to slow down and focus on the beauty in life. Every day moments in life are beautiful!

Each month I enjoy looking at all of your fun pictures and get to know some of you better. Ya’ll are getting really creative with your photos and I just love it! I try and make my way around and comment or like everyone’s pictures every day or so but this group is getting too big so please don’t be offended if I miss yours. Also, if you participate, take just a moment and try to encourage another fellow photo-a-day’er by commenting or liking their photo. I’m sure they would appreciate a follow too!

How to participate:

All it takes to join in is to simply take a photo and post it on a social media site with the hashtag #EmbracingBeauty. I’m using Instagram and sometimes I’ll post them on Twitter and Facebook too. When you tag your photos with the #EmbracingBeauty hashtag they’ll join the list of photos under the #EmbracingBeauty hashtag (Facebook now allows hashtags so don’t forget to tag the photos you post on there too!).

If you’re stuck on a day and can’t think of a picture to do for it you can email me and ask me if I have any ideas or take a look at the pictures of others who are participating. I’m always amazed at how the same word can mean so many different things to different people; it’s great! To see the photos of everyone who is playing along simply click on the “#EmbracingBeauty” on your given site. This is so much fun!!

What’s new this month? A Contest!

One winner will be awarded a $10 Amazon gift card each week for the most creative/best looking photo. This is just meant to add a little fun to the challenge! The winner will be chosen from a panel of unbiased friends of mine. I’ll contact the winner via one of the means they entered the contest {Instagram, Twitter, Google+, or Facebook} and they’ll have three days to reply with their email address in order to claim their prize. If a prize goes unclaimed, a second winner won’t be chosen.

Because of this new weekly contest, I need permission to share the winner’s post on my blog and possibly social media outlets so if you use the hashtag #EmbracingBeauty please know that this is a possibility. On the bright side, you’ll get $10 for allowing me to share your winning photo.

{I’m likely going to have a baby this month so please forgive me if there is a week or two without a winner announced. I promise I’ll make sure to go back and award those prizes!}

Good luck!

Who’s ready to join me?

Filed Under: Photo A Day, Photo a Day Tagged With: Photo a Day Challenge

P&G and Walgreens #OnMyWay2Fab Giveaway Ends 1/6

December 26, 2013 by Ashley 101 Comments

Disclosure: I received complementary products to write this post but no compensation was received and all opinions remain my own.

P&G, Walgreens, and Tim Gunn have partnered to help us get on our way to looking fabulous for the holidays! They’re showcasing some of the wonderful products that can be found right inside Walgreens stores. I’ve received all of these products and you have the opportunity to as well. Check the bottom of this post for a giveaway.

This Fab Bag {valued at over $85} includes the following:

– COVERGIRL Bombshell Lip Perfection Lipstick
– COVERGIRL Bombshell Volume by LashBlast Mascara: The two-step Bombshell Boost System combines extreme volume with an intensifying top coat for big, sexy bombshell lashes. Step One: Apply the extreme volume basecoat. Step Two: Finish with the intensifying top coat.
– COVERGIRL truMAGIC Pore Minimizer
– Crest 3D White 1 Hour Express Whitestrips
– Pantene Damage Detox Cream: Pantene Damage Detox Cream is designed to reset damaged hair to look and feel like new.
– Crest 3D White Vivid Radiant Mint
– Oral B Toothbrush Advantage 3D White Vivid Soft
– Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash
– Venus and Olay Sugarberry Exfoliate Razor: The Venus & Olay razor’s 5-blade technology exfoliates for surface skin renewal, while Sugarberry-scented Olay Moisture Bars help lock in skin’s moisture for less dryness*verses Venus Breeze over time.
– Olay Regenerist Microsculpting Cream: It penetrates rapidly to deliver anti-aging ingredients 10 layers deep into skin’s surface.
– Delish Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel: Indulge yourself with a taste of creamy German milk chocolate. This chocolate bar is a decadent treat made with real Black Forest milk combined with sweet caramel and a touch of salt -hat are guaranteed to ignite your senses.
– Studio 35 Nail Polish Remover Pads
– Studio 35 Blender Brush: The perfect tool designed to create a flawless look. The foam tip utilizes an exclusive micro-pore formulation that will not absorb too much liquid makeup, while the infused vitamin E provides a superbly smooth surface for application.

One lucky reader will win a Fab Bag containing all the goodies above. Oh, and did you know that this same Fab Bag is the one that will be featured during the People’s Choice Awards?! How cool is that?

~~This giveaway is open to those 18 years and older who have a US address. Enter via the Refflecopter below and if you have any questions feel free to email me. Good luck!~~

Update: This giveaway is now over and out of 800+ entries, Stephanie S. is our winner!! Congratulations, Stephanie!

Filed Under: Giveaways, Makeup, Skincare Tagged With: Giveaways

Merry Christmas 2013!

December 24, 2013 by Ashley 8 Comments

May God fill your life with peace, love, and joy this holiday season and throughout the new year!

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas!

Filed Under: Life Lately Tagged With: Christmas

Get Moving with Best Buy & Shine Elegant Wearable Tracker

December 23, 2013 by Ashley 40 Comments

Disclosure: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

Not everyone is naturally drawn to yoga, to exercise, or even to movement. For most of us, it takes continual motivation to stay active. That motivation may be to remain in shape, to stay healthy so we’ll live longer, or just to have enough energy to chase after our young kids.

If you find yourself with a sedentary job like I do, you may want to get in a few extra movements in each day to just maintain your current weight. But what’s a good, simple, and inexpensive way to exercise? What about walking? It seems simple enough and it’s free!

Heart.org has some wonderful inspiration to get people walking. Check out all the benefits walking has to offer:

It’s Easy

– Walking is the simplest way to start and continue a fitness journey.

– Walking costs nothing to get started.

– Walking has the lowest dropout rate of any type of exercise.

– Walking is easy and safe.

It Works

– Studies show that for every hour of walking, life expectancy may increase by two hours.

– Walking for as few as 30 minutes a day provides heart health benefits.

– Walking is the single most effective form of exercise to achieve heart health.

It Pays

– Physically active people save $500 a year in healthcare costs.

– Employers can save $16 for every $1 they spend on health and wellness.

– Fitness programs have reduced employer healthcare costs by 20 – 55%.

– Reducing just one health risk in the workplace increases productivity by 9%.

– Reducing one health risk decreases absenteeism by 2%.

Many of my friends walk daily and enjoy that quiet time alone or the bonding time with their families. Several of them have encouraged me to take up this hobby explaining how good it makes them feel physically and how that time out of the house helps clear their head. While I don’t always want to do the work, a clear head and feeling better about myself physically sound like a great reason to get out and walk.

I’ve asked my walking friends if they used a pedometer to keep track of how far they’re walking each day and one friend told me about an incredible little gadget she picked up at Best Buy. It’s called a Shine Elegant Wearable Tracker. It’s the tiny little device pictured above. Isn’t it lovely? It’s totally not like the pedometers I’ve had in the past! Plus, Shine is exclusively available in additional colors at Best Buy including Silver, Black, Champagne and Topaz.

Shine is a tiny little device that’s built to empower people to be more proactive with their personal health. I was fortunate enough for Best Buy to give me one of these little motivators to review.

What does it track?

– Steps
– Activities {such as swimming, biking, tennis, etc.}
– Sleep
– Calories

Additional features:

– It has a built-in clock
– It’s waterproof

Extra Accessories:

– Leather bands
– Sports band
– Necklace

Dimensions:

– Width 27.5mm
– Depth 3.3mm
– Height 27.5mm {& a weight of 9.4g}

Because the Shine is so small {about the size of a quarter} and so light that it’s barely noticeable. The sports band is easily adjustable to fit the smallest or largest of wrists. I love that there is no charging required! All it takes is a coin cell battery that is replaced approximately every four months.

One of my favorite features is how it syncs automatically when you lay it on top of a device where you have the Shine app installed. It’s so easy! Plus, it makes it fun to set goals and track progress.

Okay, my absolute favorite features is how it doesn’t look like an activity tracker! It easily blends in with other jewelry with the sports band and with the leather band I’m sure it would look just like a watch. No one would have to know that I was tracking anything. I love that!

If you’re looking for a Christmas present or New Years Resolution present for yourself, check out the Shine Elegant Wearable Tracker from Best Buy. I think you’ll like it!

Filed Under: Body, Tips Tagged With: Best Buy, Exercise

Save Big with Carter’s Friends and Family Sale! #CartersFam

December 22, 2013 by Ashley 20 Comments

I participated in an Influencer Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Carter’s. I received a gift card to facilitate my shopping trip and to thank me for participating.

As we enter the last days before Christmas, the pressure is mounting to find the perfect gift for everyone on our list. Teachers, babysitters, co-workers, parents, cousins, and aunts and uncles. Oh, the pressure! Well, I have an idea to help any last minute shoppers save on gifts for kids. When people asked me what I wanted my daughter to have for Christmas I told them the type of clothes she needed and the size….oh, and books! My girl loves to read. While toys and gadgets may be the thing we first think of when buying gifts it’s important to not forget some of the staples, like fuzzy fleece pjs, warm jackets, new socks, and tiny mittens.

Carter’s, has adorable and affordable gifts for all the little people on your Christmas list. I don’t know about you but I’ve had to buy for a bazillion baby showers this winter and I still have a few more to go. Carter’s is a one stop shop for any children’s clothing sizes newborn-7.

Do you love Carter’s like I do? If so, you’ll want to take advantage of Carter’s Friends & Family sale like I did this past weekend. I spent $100 and. I. racked. up!! I left with 14 pieces of clothing, one bracelet, one necklace, and 4 cute hair bows all for just under $100 plus tax.

This is only one of the many cute outfits I bought! Her velvet pants, ruffled shirt, and glitter trimmed black sweater make for a great Christmas outfit that she can wear all winter.

Here’s another view of it.

Okay, back to the sale. Carter’s Friends & Family Event is taking place from 12/19 – 12/24 and there are some HUGE markdowns taking place. Many of the sales racks were marked 70% off! Plus, to make your shopping a little sweeter I have a 25% off coupon to share with you.

Fine print: The above-mentioned coupon excludes clearance, doorbusters & Carter’s at Home. This promotion is available both in-store and online {but isn’t it so much more fun to shop in-store when it comes to babies and kids clothes?}.

Check out this adorable denim dress! I was so upset that they didn’t have it in the size I needed for my daughter. Mark my words, I will be back….it’s just too cute not to come back and get.

Not to mention that when I come back I’ll have a free $20 to spend where I “earned” it from spending $100 this visit!

Let’s sum up the sale:

-Up to 70% off
-Extra 25% off coupon
-Earn $10 for every $50 you spend
-Super cute clothes that everyone will love!

Ready to shop? You can find a Carter’s store near you with the Carter’s store locator tool or you can visit Carter’s online to check out all this seasons adorable styles. Either way, happy shopping!!

Filed Under: Fashion Tagged With: Carters, Mom Central

Get Quick Care at CVS MinuteClinic #MC

December 22, 2013 by Ashley 29 Comments

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for CVS MinuteClinic. I received promotional items as a thank you for participating.

My entire family was just hit hard with a massive 48 hour stomach bug. 48 hours seems like a short period of time unless you have the bug. I’ll spare you the details but It. Was. Rough! Luckily for us our CVS is just up the road and has a MinuteClinic inside.

The MinuteClinic is a walk-in clinic located in select CVS/pharmacy stores in 28 states and DC. They are open seven days a week and they even have evening hours. The best part is, you don’t need to make an appointment! In the past I was able to go in and get a flu shot one evening while my husband was able to be home and watch my daughter for me. That was so convenient! It was much nicer than making an appointment, dealing with a little one in a germ-filled waiting room, and then trying to keep her still and my arm relaxed while I get a shot. Just thinking of that scenario makes me nervous!

The MinuteClinic is a convenient and affordable option. It may be hard to get a last minute appointment at your doctor’s office {or an evening appointment!} and the ER and urgent care/med express centers have much longer wait times and higher costs. CVS is a great one-stop shop for all of your cold and flu needs! You can get diagnosed, get your prescription, get over the counter meds, and stock up on chicken noodle soup and Gatorade while you’re there.

Cold and flu symptoms can be quite similar so check out this great chart below to determine if you have the common cold or if you are actually suffering from the flu! {Feel free to bookmark this page or pin this chart for an easy reference later.}

I hope that you and your family are staying well this winter but if you get under the weather don’t forget to check and see if you have a MinuteClinic near you. Follow @MinuteClinic on Twitter to stay connected with MinuteClinic!

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: cvs, Mom Central

ICaughtSanta and You Can Too!

December 20, 2013 by Ashley Leave a Comment

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial from ICaughtSanta.com in partnership with Tomoson. I also received the below picture for free in exchange for my honest thoughts on the website.

Here is a picture that we snapped at my in-laws and with a little magic via ICaughtSanta.com that picture can now be used to “prove” that there is a reindeer with a red nose. Do you want to make a personalized photo with a reindeer in your yard or Santa smiling in your living room? Here’s how:

Upload your photo that you want Santa to magically appear in to ICaughtSanta.com. The hardest part is choosing which photo you want to use and the rest of the instructions are pretty self explanatory.
You can select from twenty different Santa/Rudolph poses. He could be sleeping on the couch, giving you a kiss, or posing with your family for a Christmas photo. You can change his size, location, brightness of the picture, and even add a fun border.
Proceed to checkout and pay only $9.99 for your personalized photo.
Check your email for your photo that you may then share, download, and purchase copies of!

Do you send Christmas cards/eCards? Now you can add Santa or a reindeer to your Christmas cards!

You can save 25% off your personalized photo when you use the promo code #Santa25.

{I can’t help but mention that I don’t think it’s a good idea to lie to your kids. Doing it for “fun” and pretend is one thing but honestly trying to deceive your children seems wrong to me. Okay, I said it, I won’t lecture. I know many disagree with me and to each their own but I just had to include that disclaimer.}

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Filed Under: Tips Tagged With: Santa

Cord Blood Banking #CordBlood411

December 19, 2013 by Ashley 23 Comments

I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for the Cord Blood Registry. I received promotional item to thank me for my participation.

When bringing a new one into the world there are a million things to consider. From nursery decorations, to breast or bottle, to swaddle or not to swaddle, and to bank cord blood or not. The last one I mentioned, to bank cord blood or not, doesn’t get discussed as much as other new mom issues but I think it’s an important one to be discussed.

If you’re a regular reader, you’re already aware that I’m having a baby next month, Lord willing. I mention it every other post, I don’t know how you could miss it. 🙂 That means it’s time for my husband and I to set down and decide whether or not we’re going to set aside the cord blood for later use in our family or if we’re going to donate it.

I’m embarrassed to say that I wasn’t as familiar with cord blood banking when I had my daughter. We looked at the price tag {which was hefty} and chose not to save it but I assumed the hospital would save it and donate it on our behalf for public use. This is a precious commodity and it never crossed my mind that it would just be thrown away. This time we’re either going to make the plans ahead of time to donate it or to keep for us. There won’t be any waste this time!

Before I go into the details of what cord blood banking is for those who don’t know I have to tell you that the hefty price I mentioned earlier has gone down quite a bit. It’s now around $1,700 {with a $130 yearly banking fee} as opposed to the $5,000 it was when my daughter was born. $2,000 is still nothing to sneeze at but hopefully this drop in price will help make it more affordable for families to take advantage of. Donating cord blood is completely free though!

Through the Newborn Possibilities Program, Cord Blood Registry offers free cord blood and cord tissue processing with five years of storage to families with a medical need so that they may use the newborn stem cells now or in the near future. To date, the Newborn Possibilities Program has processed and saved stem cells for nearly 5,000 children.

What’s the Big Deal?

Stem cells are immature cells that have the ability to become other kinds of cells that form organs and tissues. They are powerful, unique cells that are the building blocks of the body.

After a baby is born and the umbilical cord has been clamped and cut, some blood remains in the blood vessels of the placenta and the attached portion of the umbilical cord. This cord blood is rich in powerful hematopoietic (blood-forming) stem cells.

Cord blood stem cells have been used in the treatment of more than 80 conditions and are currently being evaluated in FDA-regulated clinical trials for their potential regenerative ability in common health issues including autism, cerebral palsy, pediatric stroke and traumatic brain injury.

Who “Banks” the Blood?

The Cord Blood Registry (CBR) is the world’s largest family cord blood bank and the first and only newborn stem cell bank to pioneer FDA-regulated clinical trials with leading medical centers.

Is Cord Blood Banking Right for You?

Here are some things to read over to see if this may be right for your family.

– Consider the future: Regenerative medicine is a new approach to treatment focused on promoting normal function in the human body through cell based therapies in which stem cells play a vital role. In fact, many believe that regenerative medicine will revolutionize healthcare. Emerging research suggest that stem cells from cord blood have advantages over other stem cell sources in regenerative therapies. The clinical use of stem cells has grown each year, increasing the likelihood that you or a member of your family could benefit from the newborn stem cells you bank.
– Know your family history: Does your family have a history of illnesses for which newborn stem cells are currently being used or studied? If so, you may well benefit from banking cord blood for the conditions treated today, but importantly, for conditions that are currently being studied through clinical research.
– Know your options: The primary options for cord blood banking are to store your stem cells with a family bank or to donate to a public bank. Family banking offers storage of cord blood stem cells for the family’s exclusive use. This costs a one time processing fee and an annual storage fee. Free banking is available for families with a medical need. Public donation allows you to donate stem cells to help someone in need. Later down the road you may be able to access your donation if you need it but there’s no guarantee that your donation will be available for you.
– Talk to your doctor: If you think cord blood banking is something you’d like to do, it is important to discuss it with your physician. They’ll help you sort through your options and will also work with you and the hospital to ensure you have what is needed at the time of delivery for a smooth collection.

Right after birth is the only time to gather this potentially life-saving blood. Choosing to bank or not is a huge decision so I urge you, if you’re considering CBR, to take your time and read over all the facts that way you and your family can make the best decision for your family. To check out more information, visit CordBlood.com.

Filed Under: Life Lately, Tips Tagged With: Mom Central