In the morning, there isn’t a lot of time to get breakfast ready. Yes, I wish I was that mom that woke up an hour earlier than the rest of the house and made fluffy pancakes with freshly squeezed orange juice, but I don’t know that woman and I don’t think I ever will.

I wake up and I get to work. There’s only so much time to get the kids ready and then I have to start writing for my three websites. It’s rough. So I need something quick and easy. Cereal usually works but 5 months straight of Chex can get a bit boring.

Well I’m tipping my hat to Bear Naked and Kashi GoLean granola bars. They give me the taste I want, the nutrients I need and put no stress on my schedule. I make my tea, grab a bar and get to business.

Bear Naked bars come in three flavors: Fruit + Nut, Chocolaty Chery, and Tropical Fruit.  These gems are have NO artificial flavors, cholesterol, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup and preservatives. You CANNOT beat that.

Kashi GoLean Crunchy bars are filled with yummy goodness as well. Just LISTEN to the different flavors they come in: Chocolate Almond, Chocolate Caramel, Chocolate Peanut, Chocolate Pretzel and Chocolate Coffee Cake. Unbelievable!

Don’t limit these treats to the early morning. You can very easily throw these in your purse and eat them as a snack while on the go. My children enjoy munching on them while we run around as a family – which makes it easier for me to get my errands done.

Have you tried either brand? Which is your favorite flavor?

* Companies sent samples to review

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Earlier in the week, I was invited to attend an event hosted by Molly Ringwald and Ragu. The pair have teamed up to promote the ‘Recipe for a Good Start’ contest — a nationwide search for moms and their recipe for giving their kids a good start in life. The winner will receive a $5,000 scholarship for his/her child!! If that isn’t a reason to enter, I don’t know what would be.

Click here to get started.

During the event, several mommy bloggers got to hear Molly talk about why she decided to join Ragu for this initative.

“I might be known for my roles in movies and on TV, but my most important role is being a mom. I am so proud to partner with Ragu to recognize all the special things that parents do to give their kids a good start — like helping them with their homework, encouraging them to play outside and making sure their kids eat their veggies.

Thanks to Ragu, my family gets a delicious, nutritious meal and I get extra time to do the things I know will give my children a good start — like finger painting and family reading time.”

(24/7 Victoria, New York Chica)

(Role Mommy)

After her presentation, we got to make lasagna using no boil noodles (I LOVE THOSE) and Ragu sauce. Here’s the recipe.

Then naturally we were able to sit down and taste our creation. Leading the conversation around the dinner table was Food Network chef Marcela Valladolid. Her show, which films in San Diego, revolves around Mexican cuisine and has been picked up for a second season. Congrats to Marcela!

Are you looking for a few easy to make recipes using Ragu sauce? No problem! They have an entire section dedicated to sharing tips on their website. Click here to check it out.

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While many women focus on treating aging skin from the outside with topical solutions, many don’t think about feeding your skin from the inside-out to prevent the dreaded signs of aging. Paula Simpson – expert nutritionist – offered some of the best foods to beautify your skin from the inside-out and her tips on how to get the most from them.

Salmon: Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, this cold water fish is high in protein and B-12 vitamin to nourish skin and keep it plump and youthful, helping to reduce wrinkles!

Paula recommends: baking, steaming or grilling in order to preserve omega-3s and to keep down your total fat intake.

Broccoli: Packed with vitamins A and C which regulates production of sebum, this dark green veggie provides powerful anti-oxidants to help the skin stay radiant.

Tomato: Antioxidant compounds found in tomatoes and similar fruits and veggies fight damage caused by free radicals which makes the skin look younger and more radiant.

Paula recommends: drinking nutri-cosmetic beauty drinks which combine tomato, broccoli and powerful superfruits which cleanse the system and the skin of toxins.

Melon: Properties of melons like cantaloupe are high in vitamin C and contain no fat or cholesterol. They’re also packed with beta-carotene which has been proven to brighten skin and heal some of the sun’s photo-aging damage.

Paula recommends: fill up on melon early in the morning without the need for sugary juices, this will get you energized and improve the skin’s structure and firmness.

Avocado: Provides essential fatty acids (good fat) which have been proven to help skin glow.

Paula recommends: adding a half an avocado to salads to get your dose of good fat and also stay fuller longer.

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Yesterday I was invited to attend a blogger event with Nutella. Confession time: I’ve never tried the spread before because I thought having chocolate for breakfast was a bit indulgent. NEWS FLASH: there is no CHOCOLATE in Nutella! What? All these years I’ve been looking down on those families who enjoyed the tasty treat. For nothing.

That was the first eye opener of the day. Remember when I went to Costa Rica last year with my husband? We were staying in a hotel owned by a couple from Holland. When it was breakfast time, they placed Nutella and bread on the table and I didn’t give it a shot. After yesterday’s meeting, I regretted that decision. I could have been using this product for over a year if I just loosened up a bit. Lesson learned – let’s move on.

Do you have a child who gives you a hard time at breakfast? How about one who doesn’t want to eat whole grains? A tablespoon of Nutella will fix those issues right up.

(24/7 Victoria, Classy Mommy, Next Kid Thing, Complicated Mama)
I was insanely sick yesterday – will post more about that later

Nutella is a tasty unique spread made with quality ingredients, including roasted hazelnuts, skim milk and a hint of cocoa. That’s what makes it look like chocolate. Very deceptive. Made with more than 50 hazelnuts in every jar, Nutella hazelnut spread does not contain any artificial colors or preservatives.

Have a kid who is allergic to peanuts? No problem!! The spread does not contain peanuts or peanut ingredients, nor does the product come in contact with peanuts during manufacturing.

A jar will run you about $3.49. If you go to a LARGER retailer (like Target or Walmart) you might get it for less.

So what do you think? Will you give Nutella a shot? Are you already using the spread?

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How very exciting! Yesterday Samsung offered the press an exclusive preview of their eReader. The company combined over one million electronic titles, advanced handwriting capabilities and WiFi connectivity into a single, easy-to-use device that allows users to read, write and share on the go.

I’m in!

Samsung even formed a partnership with Barnes & Noble to provide the eCommerce storefront for the Samsung eReader. Users can access Barnes & Noble’s expansive digital library of more than 1 million eBooks, eMagazines and eNewspapers.

So why is this eReader different and the better buy? Because of its electromagnetic resonance (EMR) stylus pen. This EMR stylus allows you to TAKE NOTES on the page. Don’t you do that? My books are always filled with highlighted text and notes along the margins. You can even record your thoughts and interpretations while reading. HELLO! How exciting.

I just love technology.

So what do you think? Are you planning on purchasing an eReader? If you’d like to sign up to be notified when the product actually launches, click here.

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Mediterranean Munchies: Serves: 1 Total calories: 405

• Spoon 1/2 c store-bought hummus (208) into a bowl
• Add 1 c carrot sticks (45) and 1 c red pepper strips (39)
• Serve with 6 whole wheat crackers (113)

Cheese Lover’s Snack: Serves: 1 Total calories per serving: 400

• Slice 1 oz Cheddar cheese (110) and 1 oz Brie cheese (100)
• Serve with 4 Triscuits, reduced fat (70)
• Enjoy with one 5 oz glass of white or red wine (120)

Sweet Yogurt Treat: Serves: 1 Total calories per serving: 406

• In a bowl, layer one 5.3 oz container fat-free Greek-style yogurt (92)
• Add 1 c blueberries (84)
• Top with 1/2 c low-fat store-bought granola (188)
• Drizzle with 2 tsp honey (42)

Want more options? How about 22 more? Click here to visit Prevention to see their full list.

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