Friday, December 13, 2019

European Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a Staple in the Propah Household

*This post was created in collaboration with Flavor Your Life and MomsMeet. All opinions are 100% my own.

I don't generally post fancy recipes on here because I am a "thrower together" on most occassions... but that said, I do cook a lot and have a healthy pantry packed with lots of good spices and flavors for the dishes that I do make. If someone were to ask me what one of my most used pantry items is, I would most definitely shout from the rooftops "OLIVE OIL"! Seriously, I use it for all sorts of dishes whether I am cooking or I want to add flavor to cold dishes and salads. MomsMeet and Flavor Your Life want you to feel the same way about European extra virgin olive oil.


For this post, I was gifted a 4-pack of delicious European Extra Virgin Olive Oil from Olitalia to use with vegetables, meat, pasta and fish... I was trying to think of a way that I could use this fancy EVOO in a recipe that I hadn't tried before. I would normally use olive oil on my roasted chickens, to sautee potatoes, brown up some garlic... you know what I'm saying. One thing I've never done, even though I absolutely love to eat it, is to make my own homemade hummus. Now that I have, I don't think I will ever go back to store bought. It's amazing. And I know the European Extra Virgin Olive Oil makes all the difference in the very simple recipe. You want to know how simple this recipe is? I can give it to you in my "throw together" way and it's super delicious... ready? Take one 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, 1/4 cup well-stirred tahini, 1 small minced garlic clove,  2 tablespoons european extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, Salt to taste, 2 to 3 tablespoons water, and blend it all in your food processor or blender. It's really that easy. I just hit the puree button on my blender, then was basically ready to serve. I drizzled some additional olive oil on top, added some paprika, pine nuts and thyme. Voila! I had some hummus. I must try Flavor Your Life's Red Bean Hummus recipe since I am now an official maker of hummus! The quality of the olive oil is important. You want the flavor to add to the dish and compliment the ingredients, not overpower it. It's why I add the cold pressed juice of olives (olive oil)... to my olive and feta mix as well. This tuna stuffed avacodo is next on my list of cold recipes to try!



"Olitalia believes all great cooking revolves around great oil. Olitalia is the #1 brand most used by chefs in Italy and is now available for home cooking in the US. Look for Olitalia at Eataly locations and be sure to follow on Instagram."
If you're not sure where to start, Flavor Your Life has great education on their site, you can learn how to cook with olive oil. It's easier than you think! Flavor Your Life has some awesome recipes to try and experiment with, which is all the fun of cooking, learning what works and what doesn't. I recommend taking a visit to the Flavor Your Life site to learn more about european extra virgin olive oil, how you can seamless introduce it into your cooking in new ways and how it will quickly become one of your pantry staples as well... so versatile and yummy!

Visit Flavor Your Life online, on Facebook and Twitter.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Strange Bird Beauty, Creating a Beauty Ritual

*I received product from Strange Bird Beauty in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% my own and as always, thank you for supporting Prim and Propah.

I was introduced to Strange Bird Beauty this Fall and immediately fell in love with the packaging and the name. We've always used the term "strange bird" in my family, sort of as a term of endearment and embracing the ways that we don't exactly conform to the norm. So when the team at SBB offered to send me their product line, a girl doesn't say no, especially when the line is made using naturally sourced, vegan, and Leaping Bunny certified ingredients. Moreover, the brand itself dedicates itself to the idea of your beauty routine being a ritual and from the product to the storytelling, Strange Bird is an absolute hit in my book... and this says a lot, I've tried a lot of products at this point so my eye has become a lot more discerning in recent history and reviews.


The Strange Bird product line currently features the Inner Clarity Cleanser, the Inner Balance Serum and the Inner Light Moisturizer. The sweet smelling combination of these luxury products has made for an incredible skincare routine. I don't want to compare something that naturally smells so sweet, to candy, but if you like a soft but sweet and delightful scented product, then Strange Bird's Skittle-esque line is amazing. I seriously covet this set, for fear it will run out too quickly.


The cleanser is gentle and something I found so interesting is that you can use it on wet or dry skin. Have I never tried something on my dry skin before? I haven't... which leads me to believe that I am not as wordly as I would think I am lol? Sigh. I do find that this product is on the pricier side, for a cleanser. Do I love that it's supercharged with quartz and I know that a lot of good energy was put into each tube? Heck yes I do. Do I also have two small children that have been known to squeeze a tube of Mama's skincare products out into a bath? Yes. When I am out of this phase of life, I would most certainly consider this cleanser as a purchase, because it really is a beautiful formulation, cleans my skin and leaves it looking glowing.

The serum is probably my favorite product of the trio. I felt like my skin bounced back from a rough day with a couple of uses of this delightful daily serum. Like was it possible for my skin to be tighter? I'm not sure but it sure seems that way. I used this after the cleanser and before the moisturizer, in a daily routine after my shower. It takes almost no time to absorb so you can move right on in your routine. It's infused with amethyst and oak, which speaks to me and serum like this, I would definitely plunk more money down for. This too is on the pricier side, but supporting small, indie beauty brands means spending money on the ingredients, the people and the effort it takes to create the products.

The Strange Bird Moisturizer has really been great, especially with the change in weather here in New England. You know when your skin just feels thirsty? That's been me lately. When I put on the Inner Light Moisurizer, it was almost as if my skin breathed a sigh of relief. It's light and absorbs fairly quickly, which I love especially on days where I want to apply makeup after. Soft and with that sweet smell consisten through the product line, this completes the trio perfectly. Again, this line is higher in price than some other products that I have tried and reviewed, but I do think that if you have the budget, the Strange Bird line is worth every penny.


So it's probably pretty clear that the Strange Bird line is a new favorite. Everything thing from the packaging, the thought exercises included in my shipment, the stickers! to the product themselves is so well thought out and mindful, which I love and appreciate. I really do appreciate indie beauty makers for their passion, the love of what they're doing and the variety that they are bringing to the market. Shopping small, in this way, makes me feel good. You know that every order that comes through, makes someone do a happy dance on the other end of it.






Sunday, November 24, 2019

It's Bathtime with cbdMD

*This post was created in collaboration with cbdMD and MomsMeet. I was sent product for free but all opinions are 100% my own.

At this stage in the game, I have tried a few CBD related products. From drops to tinctures to balms + lotions and back to gummies, I have worked CBD into my wellness routine in a couple different ways. I am a big proponent of CBD and I do recommend that you try it if you're an anxious person like me, or have other types of ailments that CBD might help but before I head into this review, please be aware that CBD related products are suppliments and not approved by the FDA. Personal experiences vary and I am in no way making any health claims. You want to be sure that you're purchasing your CBD products from trustworthy sources and not at your corner gas station. As with all things, use your head, do your research and trust your gut.


cbdMD sent me a cool little relaxation kit with their CBD bath bombs and cbd Oils, premium and PM Sleep Aid. cbdMD as a brand states their committment to a very strict process, holding their hemp growth and testing to the highest standards. You can learn about their process here. From poking around on the internet, I saw a lot of positive feedback for the brand itself so was excited to try their offerings.

The bath bombs are legit da bomb. I have to say that after my Monday evening HIIT class, a bath with one of these CBD bombs is ultra relaxing. Each bath bomb contains the following ingredients: Cannabidiol (CBD), Baking Soda, Citric Acid, Epsom Salt, Distilled Water, Essential Oils and Fragrances, and Food Coloring. I generally avoid fragrance as a rule but really did want to try these and I will most definitely treat myself to a bath bomb after a tough workout or a long day with the kids.




The oils I feel are generally on par with the other oils that I have tried in the past. I don't need help falling asleep as a rule but when I did try the PM formula, I was completely relaxed as I hit the hay. I don't know that I would take this all the time, as I do take a daily dose of CBD in oil or gummy form, so would limit it only for that reason. I do know many people who have a hard time sleeping and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them giving the cbdMD blend a try to see if it helps. From cbdMD: CBD PM blends cbdMD’s non-GMO, vegan, and THC-free CBD with melatonin – a hormone that helps regulate your sleep cycle – along with traditional ingredients such as chamomile flower, valerian root, and cascade hops. This powerful combination helps induce calm while promoting a more restful night’s sleep.


I know that from my personal experience, I have noticed CBD products helping me. The products from cbdMD are up to my standards and I would most definitely consider included the bath bombs especially into my routine. At a $9.99 price point, I find this very attainable and a treat on a bi monthly basis. Pricing on the other CBD products vary but I don't find them to be overpriced based on my research and experience with other products on the market. cbdMD also has a topical and a pet line that I would love to try, especially for my old pup who I'd like to keep calm and more comfortable as he's aging.


Use promo code MOMSMEET to save 15% on your cbdMD order at cbdmd.com. Offer ends March 31, 2020. Free shipping on all orders.


Thursday, November 14, 2019

Vintage Gardening Decoupage Heart Ornaments

This is my second year participating in a blogger ornament swap and with this craft, as with any other idea that is shaking around in my brain, turned out different but special in it's own way. I had picked up a vintage organic gardening book from a Little Free Library at our community farm. It's from the 1950's and has seen better day but I most definitely wanted to give it another life. I could have saved it for reference I suppose but I loved the idea of pieces of it being across the ocean, since my ornament partner is from the Isle of Man in England! It's actually super simple to create ornaments like this as long as you have a good base to build on!

I started by finding some of the pages with pretty illustrations or interesting words that jumped off the page. I then set up our watercolor station and while Teddy pained a big brown blob next to me, I painted the pages in different greens and yellows, a touch of blue here and there. I did this over and over until I had 4 or 5 pages of watercolor painted gardenining book pages. I let them dry and came back to the table an hour or so later.


After shredding the pages in different ways, or you could cut them if you like a more regimented look, I started gluing larger pieces onto ceramic hearts that I picked up at a local craft store. You could use any base, even the plastic DIY bulbs you're seeing around this time of year. Be sure to start with larger pieces as these will be the base and what peaks through your hero pieces, the ones that turned out the most pleasing to the eye. As an adhesive, I used a touch of tacky glue then glazed/sealed with modge podge, my go to.


I completed this process a few times with various pieces as well as some that I hadn't painted for a clean print look. What I love about using decopauge is that it's hard to mess it up. If you don't like the way that a piece looks, you can simply cover it with another and smooth it down (within reason). I created four ornaments and shipped them off to England with time to spare, I know I know, which is not usually how I operate! I am planning to make a version of these as gifts this year and can't wait to see what people think! I think that gifting handmade is one of the nicest things you can do in this consumer driven atmosphere, we call the holiday season.


You can find all the amazing ornaments in the swap, in the previous post so check out all the good stuff and leave some love for the ladies involved!



2019 Ornament Exchange Link Party

Welcome to the 2019 Ornament Exchange Link Party! It’s the fourth year of the blogger ornament exchange and you'll find hundreds of DIY ornament tutorials and inspiration. This link party runs from November 14th through December 14th, so make sure to come back to add as many handmade ornament tutorials before it closes!

This year, we have 38 talented bloggers hosting the handmade ornament exchange link party! The rules of the challenge were simple: create a handmade ornament for $15 or under, create a tutorial (all tutorials are linked below), and ship the ornament off to a new home!


2019 Ornament Exchange Long

ORNAMENT EXCHANGE LINK PARTY HOSTS

My Pinterventures •  Create and Babble • 2 Bees in a Pod
 Across the Boulevard •  Elle Marie Home  • Faeries and Fauna
Home on the Corner • This Autoimmune Life • Our Unschooling Journey
Domestic Deadline •  Inside the Fox Den • Intelligent Domestications
Cookies, Coffee and Crafts  • Munofore •  Rosewood and Grace
Raggedy Bits • Christmas Tree Lane •  Making Manzanita
 Mom Home Guide • From Evija with Love •  Red Cottage Chronicles
Coastal Bohemian • Our Crafty Mom •  Girl, Just DIY! •  Pixel Maven's Retreat
Prim and Propah •  Purple Hues and Me • Farm Girl Reformed • Eye Love Knots
Keys to InspirationCharleston CraftedSparkle Living
Interior Frugalista  • Love My Little Cottage •  My Family Thyme
Crafting a Family  •  All Things New Again  •  Just a Little Creativity

Ornament Title
One 2019 ornament image with link to your ornament tutorial
2019 Ornament Exchange Link Party
Share your handmade ornament tutorial on the link party below ⇓⇓ Add as many ornament tutorials as you like until December 14th.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter


Wednesday, October 2, 2019

Desert Essence Probiotic Hand Sanitizer

*This blog post was written in collaboration with Desert Essence and MomsMeet. All opinions are 100% my own and as always, thank you for supporting my blog!

You may remember awhile back I had first been introduced to Desert Essence Haircare, so when MomsMeet let me know about their new probiotic hand sanitizer, I was all in, tell me more! I keep a hand sanitizer on me at all times but I always have it in the back of my mind that washing your hands is the best, because hand sanitizer can often kill healthy bacteria along with the nasty germs... I don't know if I made that up in my head or if someone told me that, but it's what I'm operating on. OK I just researched it and yes, there are credible articles about too much hand sanitizer isn't the best thing.


This Desert Essence hand santizier is pure, potent hand sanitizer that kills 99.99% of germs while delivering good bacteria courtesy of probiotic-packed Kefir, which nourishes and conditions the skin. This in and of itself seems to solve the issue of killing good bacteria. They're using a patented technology to create a “membrane” around the probiotic to protect it from the antibacterial formula. Sounds very scientific am I right? Probiotic benefits will be delivered after the sanitizer activity completes. This means the sanitizer doesn’t kill the probiotic, and the probiotic doesn’t neutralize the sanitizer. The bad bacteria is eliminated, and the probiotic thrives. This isn't your run of the mill hand santizer and I'm here for it.


Add in the especially power combo of botanical extracts including Tea Tree Oil, Thyme, Elderberry and Echinacea also help reduce bacteria. On top of all this, these smell SO MUCH BETTER than the hand sanitizers you grab on the go or get out of dispensers at kid's museums and libraries lol. I've got a bottle in my purse and a couple around the house as well, especially right at the changing table Something tells me that these are my new go to!


Use promo code DEprobioticpower to get 30% off Desert Essence Probiotic Hand Sanitizers by clicking here or visiting desertessence.com




Tuesday, September 10, 2019

Keurig Up in the Propah House

*This post was brought to you by Keurig and Moms Meet. All opinions are 100% my own.

I was recently gifted the new Keurig® K-Duo Essentials™ Coffee Maker and let's just say that our coffee game is so much stronger (and easier) in this house. I have always wanted a Keurig but we drink enough coffee in the morning that we've always had a full pot of coffee type of coffee maker. But this appliance has really seemed to solve that problem!


We can make a full pot of coffee or on a morning when we're in a hurry, we can pop a K-cup in and be on the go. This has also solved an issue that I have in the afternoon. I might need a pick me up but I never want to make a full pot of coffee and waste a bunch but I can make myself one little cup and get that perk up... what I love is that I can make it strong or lighter just by changing the amount of ounces that I choose to brew. It's really such a perfect little set up. 


It's a great price point too, at just $99, you basically get two coffee makers for one, and it doesn't take up a ton of counter space, really. We're ready to stock up on K-cups, especially reusable ones (to save on trash in the landfills) and keep this caffiene party going. Check out the way you can purchase below and let me know what you think when you snag one of these babies!




Friday, August 30, 2019

Emotional Thoughts on the Spartan Race

So if you have been following me on social media or know me in real life, you probably know that for the better part of 2019, I have been pushing myself physically to, I guess you could call it training, to run the Spartan Sprint, a 3-4 mile trail run basically, with 20 obstacles sprinkled in. I never thought I would or could do something like this but I made friends with a fitness instructor (Hi Fawn!) and in a moment of weakness or rather strenght? I signed up for the Spartan Race. But what I gained in the past few months is more than just the accomplishment of running a race, or muscle mass lol,  I have a lot more to show for it than just that. 


So in 2007 I signed up for the Susan G Komen 3-day, 60 mile walk, raised the money and did it on my own. I made some friends along the way that weekend, one that I actually still sort of keep up with on instagram and what I'll always remember from those couple of days together is that we did something that was physically challenging (walking can be challenging when done in 20 mile chunks yes) and it bonded us together because when you do something that makes you tired and feel like quitting, having support there makes all the difference. We literally cried when we finished the 3-day, probably in part because we were so tired but also that we had done something that we felt was amazing. It will remain a vibrant set of memories in the bank in my brain for those reasons.


The reason I bring up the cancer walk and Spartan in the same blog post is because this first Sprint will have the same lasting effects in my memory. Some members of our team I had been regularly doing classes with at the gym, and we were friendly, talking about our kids and such, but once we started training for this race, we definitley kicked the friendships into high gear. Some members recruited other members, which widened this new friend circle and when it was all said and done, I have a bunch of new friends, who I am so proud of and who inspire me and yes, made me a little teary eyed on race day. When we look back on our lives, it will be the people and experiences that mean the most. Yes, that is cheezy but I am a sucker for some sappy memory making and getting mushy with people I care about... and guess what, this Spartan team is full of women I care about.


Our team effort wasn't without some snags, injuries and bumps in the road, but we supported eachother through the training, the days leading up to it, the race itseldf and now our group text is still all a buzz about the Spartan Fenway and the team we're creating for next June (where we're expanding our circle and some husbands might be hopping on board). We're real bonofide friends now, the hugs after the race were like F*&% Yeah we did this! It was really such an awesome feeling, one that has lasted me the past two weeks. I haven't felt so strong physically in a long time but really, that's just the icing on the cake. Sometimes when I think about the things I have experienced in life, I feel so lucky and you can add this one to the list of lasting impressions that will stand the test of time.


To Fawn, Val, Ali, Courtney, Marietta and Andree, Thank you for being the best and most supportive first Spartan race friends a girl could ever ask for! I look forward to our next adventures and perhaps creating new memories together in the future... and to the red headed man who boosted me over that wall, sir, I will never ever forget you, because you saved me from doing 30 burpees, which is apparently a love language.



*A huge thanks to Marietta's husband Nick who literally followed us as much as he could on the race trail to take more pictures than we could ever have hoped for, so much so that GIFs were able to be created. The memories were documented well and I can't stop being impressed by us!

Want to join our Spartan Teams for either Fenway in November or New England Sprint in June? Shoot me an email primandpropahgirl@gmail.com and I will send you an invite!


Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Once Again Nut Butters Elevating Our Snacking Game

*This post was created in collaboration with Moms Meet and Once Again Nut Butters. All opinions are 100% my own.

Once Again Nut Butters... how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Seriously, these folks sent me the mother load of nut butters and I have been having an absolute blast working them into our routine and my recipes. Let's get it out of the way right now. They are 100% delicious, each and every variety that they sent. We're talking their Almond Spread, we're talking smooth and chunky peanut butters, sunflower seed butter, almond butter, cashew butters and more. 


I almost immediately took the Amore almond spread with cocoa and made a batch of my "nice" cream! Frozen ripe bananas, almond milk, a touch of honey, and a few dollups of almond spread, a shake of ginger and blend away. My kids absolutely loved this new take on my nice cream because it's the most chocolatey version I've made thus far but I know that it was still not full of a disgusting amount of sugar and dairy, which sometimes irritates our stomachs. I might have tossed some dark chocolate chips and peanut butter into the finished product but hey, we're only human! The Once Again nut butters come from an employee owned factory operated on the idea of products created with integrity and our best interest in mind. The results reflect that. Their products are truly so yummy and their company is working on an awesome sustainability program, Honest in Trade.


As a more discerning consumer, it's important to me to find companies like Once Again. To be able to support a company that appreciates its customers, its employees and the environment, well, that's a dream for this mama. They are 100% employee owned, they donate to charities, they help their community, they have a "green team" to push being sustainable and eco-friendly and above all else, their products are the real (and very yummy) deal. We've already blazed through a variety of their products and even though I got this bundle from the brand, I plan to support them with my own money once I've run out. That's how much I appreciate Once Again and their nut butters... that's saying something!




Monday, August 12, 2019

Win a Weekend Getaway from Fatface USA!

*I created this blog post in partnership with FatfaceUSA. We are always partnering. They give me clothes that I love for free and I tell you how much I love their clothes. This post is to talk about a competition they're running! See below.


You know that I love Fatface. I was introduced to them on a blogger brunch shopping trip a couple of years ago and we have partnered, probably seasonally, since then. I was initially drawn to them because of their committment to sustainablility and their overall passion and authenticity as a brand but I've stuck around because I really have become so fond of the brand and the people behind the brand. When they reached out about this really cool competition they're running, I was like heck yeah, let's tell people about it... so let's get the deets, shall we?

Enter to Win!
Fatface has opened a slew of stores in the Northeaster United States and so this contest is for that market. I would most definitely travel to Newport, RI for the weekend getaway that Fatface has put together for one lucky winner- all you have to do? Is sign up for their email list. How easy right?

What you'll get: A weekend Break with Gurney's Resort, Dinner at Clarke Cooke House, a Rail Explorer's Experience and a $500 Fatface gift card to get you outfitted for the weekend away! You aren't going to regret winning this experience, that's for sure.

Me Wearing my newest Fatface duds


Enter to win by the end of August!

Thursday, August 8, 2019

Comcast Expands Internet Essentials!

*This post was created in collaboration with Comcast. All opinions are 100% my own.

I hopped on a conference call this week with Comcast NBCUniversal's Senior Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, David L. Cohen. He wanted to let us know that Comcast is taking it's amazing Internet Essentials program and expanding eligibility for it. I hadn't heardabout this program before but am incredibly imporessed with Comcast's committment to finding ways to ensure that those affected by the digital divide in our country, are able to have reliable access to internet services.


So take for instance, households in Palo Alto of Bethesda, these are low poverty areas, and only about 6% of the population do not have access to broadband at home compared to those linging in Trenton NJ or Flint MI, where there are high pverty rates, nearly 60% of the population do not have consistent access to the internet. That gap of more than 50 points defines the digital divide in this country. The more broadband technology advances, the more the gap widens.  Think of all the things you're doing with the internet, reading this blog post, doing school work, filling out work applications, reading educational articles, searching for healthy recipes, etc and so on. These are things that I personally take for granted because I have a laptop and great internet service that I am able to afford.

To date, Comcast has connected more than 8 million low income Americans in their homes, most connected for the first time in their lives. With the support of schools, teachers, libraries, non profits, government officials and more, the Comcast Internet Essentials program is reaching more and more people each day.

The program's eligibility requirements are expanidng to include many new enhancements that offer more and more Americans the opportunities to get internet and at a good speed. On the call, someone asked about a very specific area of the country and David was extremely keyed into the area and committed to following up on areas that may need to be reached with the program. I was, like I said, incredibly impressed and am going to put info below on how you or someone you know can apply to the Internet Essentials program. Eligible participants receive free digital literacy training, Internet service for $9.95/month and the opportunity to buy a laptop for less than $150. To me, this could make all the difference for families and individuals throughout the country!

You can find everything you need to know on the Internet Essentials website or by calling 1-855-8-INTERNET which is their dedicated hotline. Seriously something to consider because they are really making the internet and technology accessible to those that need it the most.



Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Cultivating Real Relationships with Brands that Care

As I have navigated the ever changing blogosphere and now the influencer environment, I have found it to be more and more important to align myself with brands that want to work with me for the right reasons and brands that help me represent what it is that is important to me as a human being of this Earth. I am a small beans type of blogger but I still get a boatload of emails with people wanting to send things or working with me for some reason or another. I am fairly good at weeding out what won't work for me or doesn't seem like a good fit but I think that I am even better at sustaining relationships with amazing brands that speak to me and appeal to my community of like minded people. There may be different reasons that I choose to work with someone but I always want to feel like it's a good fit for both parties. I am just going to shout out to some of the best and most sustained I've worked with because I can and I want to and they deserve it!

Wearing Liverpool Jeans, FatFace Top and Toms Shoes

When I set out to do my #OwnYourBodBabe day this past May, I wanted to make it special. As someone who has been blogging for over 9 years, I have had my fair share of free stuff but what I always want to do is to share in this journey and the fun stuff involved, whenever possible. I reached out to a few brands and had hopes of doing a couple of cool things but one of the most unexpected surprises was Liverpool Jeans not only hopping on board, but doing so really enthusiastically. For anyone who is out in the blogging world, you know how hard it can be to pitch ideas to potential partners. And if you aren't in the blogging world, I'll just say that you have to be really clear and precise about what you want to achieve when asking a brand to work with you on a project. With Liverpool Jeans, I described the #OwnYourBodBabe movement, and they absolutely loved it. They gave jeans to three OYBB participants (and me too!) with no asks or requirements, they just wanted to be involved! I look fantastic in their jeans and you would too, they offer an expanded size range to serve women of more sizes. Check out Liverpool Jeans today!

Own Your Bod, Babe was also supported by Follain, who donated an amazing set of their branded beauty products. I have worked with Follain in the past off and on and feel like I've had a great relationship with them over the years so to have them support me in OYBB, it was really great! For someone who was just willing to share a piece of themselves, they were able to also add a little selfcare. Again, another brand that jumped on board with a cause with nothing in it but to support me and a project I was working on! There are tons of other small beauty brands that have been amazing to Prim and Propah, so I should probably do a separate post for them but some that come to mind are Thesis Beauty, True Moringa, Erin's Faces, Organic Bath Co. and SaltyGirl Beauty, all of which I have met the owners/creators so feel super connected to them!


Wearing Crane and Lion

Along the same lines of owning your body, Crane and Lion has supported me in the past year or so, ever since I (a little abruptly) told their social media person that I'd like to see more images of people of different sizes. So they suggested that I wear Crane and Lion so I not only got to learn about a new brand, I got to show that this body is not only made to wear athleisure, it can look good in it too. This was the beginning of a great relationship with people from the brand and I am sure it will continue into the future. They are great people who create really quality clothes. I hope that they love working with me as much as I do them. I can't help but connect with people on the other end of emails. It's just in my dna apparently.
Wearing Peach
Peach and I have been committed to one another for two years this holiday season. They are a really great brand that just supports women, uplifts women, and creates amazing clothes for women. For example, I am considered an ambassador and with a lot of brands, I would assume, it's a pretty perfunctory business like relationship but not with Peach. They treat us, and their stylists, like a big family. They have invited us to take part in fashion shows, personal development seminars, Giving Back initiatives and more. Just to let you know, that's not the norm. It's pretty special. They genuinely care and that's the biggest reason I love working with them... and I have to say that all that aside, I wear Peach literally all the time. Comfy but cool, quality clothes will always be my thing.


I often visit a property here in Massachusetts called Marketstreet in Lynnfield, it's a fun place to spend the better part of a day shopping and there are two places that I ALWAYS stop at, Pia's and FatFace. Pia owns the most beautiful little shop with gorgeous decor and the most delightful selection of pretty clothes. The boys and I always stop in for some marshmellows she has on hand for guests and I usually pick something up (like this BB Dakota tee). She is so kind and really, I kid you not, we have become friends and all through blogging! She's an amazingly thoughtful and welcoming spirit. After visiting Pia, I usually hit FatFace, a UK based clothing store that creates really special clothing and cares a TON about making them in an ethical and sustainable way. They like what I do and I certainly like what they do, so we have been working together seasonally for a couple of years now and I love it. I know what I am getting with them and they know that I'll provide quality content that is a return on investment.

When I started this blog post, I was like Oh, I'll just highlight the brands that I really love but once I got started, it became apparent that I really do genuinely enjoy working with a lot the brands that I do. On my end, I am always striving to be professional but friendly, authentic while ensuring that I am trying to help each brand achieve its goals. On their end, a friendly, appreciative attittude always makes me want to continue working with them. As I have said many times over the past few years, it's all about creating a mutally beneficial relationship but moreover, creating something that is really aligned with my values, has become more and more important.


Has this been a fun forray into the blogging world? I feel like to people who don't "influence", it might seem like a foreign environment!


Friday, August 2, 2019

Medterra and Me!

*This post was created in collaboration with MedTerra and Moms Meet. All opinions are my own.

If you know me, you know that I am very much a believer in the power of CBD products in various forms. I've been using CBD oil for at least a year now and I definitely notice that it helps mitigate some of my base level anxiety. Because of this, I have recommended that friends and family try CBD because, in my opinion, it is a worthwhile suppliment to give a try, especially if you're like me and don't want to have to take something prescribed for anxiety, insomnia or the like. If you want to read a "what is CBD and what it's used for", this article from Harvard Medical School gives a quick overview that is informative and straight forward. I had never tried a tincture before so I used the MedTerra in my normal routine in place of the CBD oil that I usually use.... and I gotta say, the tincture is GREAT!


I find that this suppliment was just as good if not better at calming my tendencies to feel a bit anxious. I don't know if it's easy to explain my anxiety itself, especially to those that don't suffer from it at any level, but to reduce it to one sentence, I suffer an anxiety attack probably once every two-three years but usually, I am a constant worrier, like too much worry. The tincture strength MedTerra sent me was certainly a good one for me (1000mg) but it also comes in a lower and a higher dosage for those wanting to regulate more.

So now you're interested if it's something that could help you with worry or sleepless nights or maybe even joint pain? The Medterra products pass the test for quality as far as CBD products go. Grown and extracted in the USA, the Medterra quality CBD is fully compliant under the Kentucky Department of Agricultural Industrial Hemp Pilot Program and they are certified by the U.S. Hemp Authority. Their whole-plant, CO2 extraction allows them to draw CBD from the plant material and filter out unnatural substances, maximizing pure CBD concentration. Their CBD products are third-party tested, completely legal, contain 0% THC and so they are able to ship them to all 50 states and most international countries.

If you're looking to try CBD products, make sure you do your research and might even want to consult your physician just to ensure that you're in the right health to try a new suppliment. I asked my doctor and she said that it's not approved by the FDA as it's a suppliment but she didn't see any issues with me giving it a try. You want to take your health seriously and make educated decisions. That said, I do like the Medterra products and if you're looking for something for you or even your pets (yes, pets!) then you can use the discount provided below. Let me know what you think!

Use promo code MomsMeet to save 15% off your first Medterra order by clicking here!

Friday, June 28, 2019

Wildscape Meals on the Go with Me!

*I created this blog post in collaboration with Wildscape Meals and Moms Meet. All opinions are 100% mine and as always, thank you for supporting Prim and Propah!

For some reason, it's not in my wheelhouse to start trying all sort of new meal options even though, as you'll soon see, it would behoove me to do so. I was just introduced to Wildscape Food honestly, this is no lie, they have upped my on the go food game, and to be honest, my lunchtime food game as well. Really and truly, I am eating one as I write this blog post.


As a mother to two high energy, somewhat demanding and whiny, young boys, it's a miracle sometimes when I can give them a healthy lunch and manage to give myself one too. It's not out of the realm of possibility that I am the Mom that reheats an old cup of coffee and has that for lunch instead of actual sustenance (I do not recommend this)... what I am trying to say is that I don't often enough prioritize my own  nutritional needs during the day. I was able to pick up all of the options of Wildscape Foods frozen entrees to try over the past couple of weeks. They're different from other frozen food brands, in my opinion, in that they offer meals that are almost as if you made up some meals and froze them to eat in a week or two. They are chock full of big veggies, meat you can actually notice, whole grains and when you heat them up, it's like you're actually having a nice, decent sized meal... like maybe I'm actually taking care of myself lol. Like imagine if you went to a trendy restaurant to get one of their grain bowls? This is what I would imagine the frozen version would and I guess I don't have to imagine because Wildscape Foods is real y'all.


The options are pretty impressive too so if you stock up, you'll likely always have a nice set of choices in your freezer. You can check out all of the varieties and their recipes here, something I find refreshing is that you'll recognize all of the ingredients so you're pretty much guaranteed to be putting delicious and whole foods in your mouth!


OK and this could just be the reduce, reuse, recycle in me but the containers that these meals come in make the best little snack and leftover containers. I have already used these to take grapes to the park and to save some cherry tomatoes off the vine *chef's kiss*. I am really just very impressed with these little Wildscape Meals.



If you're interested in trying Wildscape Meals for yourself, find where they are carried near you!

Find Wildscape Meals on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram



Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Boundless Adventures with my Spartan Race Team!

*Boundless Adventures hosted this sweet group of ladies. All opinions are 100% my own. Thank you to Boundless Adventures for having this adventurous crew on site this weekend!

When I first heard of Boundless Adventures, it was a Hulu commercial and I was like what in the what now? Berlin, Ma is like a hop and a skip from my house and the Spartan race trainer in me was like "WE MUST GO THERE" and when the stars aligned, some of the "Yummie Mummies" made it their business to go on a little adventure with me! and spoiler alert: WE LOVED IT. I think pictures really explain this experience more than anything so I have just put a whole slew of some of my favorites in here so you can see what it looked like for us to do two of the nine courses. I'll just start by saying that the staff there are awesome, joyful, funny and most importantly, they are good at their jobs, helpful and know what they're talking about. We were 100% completely safe, secure and prepped for some awesome obstacles in the trees of Berlin, MA (right around the corner from the Solomon Pond Mall). You can find all the information on ticketing, hours, safety, videos and more on their user friendly website... and now on to the experience!


To say that we were empowered and felt powerful, would be an understatement. It was truly an exercise in mind over matter in some cases, we all encouraged one another (one friend referred to another as a doula helping her get through one of the apparatus) and it was just a really awesome experience for anyone who is looking to challenge themselves physically, mentally and overall to just have a really good time. I was wicked tired after the evening outing but I felt so good about bonding with new friends and old over some good old fashioned zip lining! We all talked about coming back to tackle the courses we didn't do and even bringing our husbands for date nights, that's how much we loved the experience. There were kids and adults of all shapes and sizes taking on the courses which range from beginner to experienced so don't be afraid to try it, there's something for everyone- I don't think you'd regret it!