Morning Energy Helps for the Busy Homeschooling Mom #NewBreakfastRoutine #Ad #cbias

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NewBreakfastRoutine #CollectiveBias

As a homeschooling mom of many, it can sometimes be a challenge to make time to form morning routines that will give me the energy and good attitude I need to run an organized household. Some days, getting even a short walk outside in the fresh air is an accomplishment. I recently discovered two new products at Target that are great for moms like me---moms who are "on the go" without having to actually go anywhere.

There are four new flavors of V8 out in their Veggie Blends line: Carrot Mango, Purple Power, Healthy Greens, and Golden Goodness. My Target had all four to choose from so I grabbed Carrot Mango. BelVita has recently released a line of Mini Breakfast Biscuits including Chocolate and Mixed Berry varieties. I knew our family would love both so I picked up a box of each.

Earlier this week, I visited a special section in Target where there were several new products featured to help shoppers with their 2015 goals. Check out the display at the back of your local Target to find V8 Veggie Blends and BelVita Bites.

Here are some money saving offers coming up at Target:

BelVita Bites offer--available through Jan. 31st

V8 Cartwheel offer--starts Jan. 25th

V8 Cartwheel offer--starts Feb. 23rd

One of my big goals for this coming year is to spend more time doing fun organized lessons with the kids in our homeschool. This notebook is my most important tool when it comes to keeping all our plans straight and scheduled out. 

Another goal I have is to plan healthy but frugal meals to keep us on budget. I like to sit down one morning a week while the kids are working on lessons and write out my menu plan and grocery list. I try to use up things we already have in the kitchen so there's very little waste. A breakfast of V8 Blends and Mini Breakfast Biscuits is an excellent non-messy and energy-packed meal to eat while I'm writing out my plans.

Made with 75% vegetable & fruit juices and 25% pure water, these V8 beverages are a healthy blend of vegetables with a little fruit. There is one full serving of vegetables, 60 calories or less, and no sugar added in every 8oz. cup. With no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, V8 Veggie Blends are an excellent source of antioxidant vitamins A, C, & E.

With 20g of whole grain, BelVita Bites provide four hours of energy to keep you going in the morning. They contain no high fructose corn syrup, no partially hydrogenated oils, and no artificial colors or sweeteners. 

Do you normally eat breakfast? What goals do you have for 2015 that need some healthy fuel to help you accomplish them?

THM Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy & THM Bigelow Sweet Tea with Natural Sweetener Truvia #SweetWarmUp #Ad

 This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SweetWarmUp #CollectiveBias

Today was such a beautiful day here in Northwest Arkansas and all I wanted to do was sit outside with my book and my sweet tea and enjoy the sunshine! As a homeschooling mom of a large family, I don't get a whole lot of "me time". When I do, it seems I'm always wanting tea, hot or cold, and a sweet snack. However, these kinds of treats don't always fit in with my goals for a healthy and fit figure through the Trim Healthy Mama eating plan. Thankfully, I recently discovered Truvia, and paired with my favorite flavors of Bigelow tea, I can enjoy my tea and treats guilt free!

Last week, a few of the kids and I went shopping at Target for some essentials, as well as to use some coupons I'd been hanging on to. We picked up Truvia in the baking aisle. They carried both the boxes of packets and the canister.

We are all tea fanatics and the kids love to look over the different varieties and choose their favorites. A couple we like especially are Bigelow's Vanilla Chai and Earl Grey. You can find your own coupon here. You can also save 10% on a Truvia purchase through the Cartwheel mobile app, as well as request a free sample at Truvia.com/freesample. 

I'll admit it---I've got a sweet tea addiction! Bigelow's Constant Comment is one of my favorites for cold tea as it's flavored with delicious spices and orange that really make for a refreshing drink. I make it in a gallon jug with five tea bags and four packets of Truvia. It's wonderful!

Another one of my favorite "me moments" involves hot tea, a sweet snack, and my book. Snuggled up in bed with a favorite story, I can think of nothing more relaxing! I often like to use a special tea cup and saucer set to remind me that this is my own time. My mom gifted me with this set when we went to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home in Mansfield, MO last fall. Both the Wilders and Jane Austen's family used the Blue Willow pattern so this set is especially dear to me.

I've recently discovered a great way to make chocolate peanut butter candy with Truvia. Not only is it delicious, it actually contains ingredients that are beneficial to your health. With calorie-free Truvia, you can indulge all you want. Since these are so rich, you really only need a couple pieces to satisfy that sweet tooth! I made these little Razorback chocolates because I was looking for a candy mold to pour my mixture into when I came across my Razorback gelatin mold. Perfect!

Good For You Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy

1/2 c. natural peanut butter

1/2 c. coconut oil

1/4 c. baking cocoa

1/8 c. Truvia

Melt all ingredients in a saucepan and stir until Truvia is dissolved. Pour into a plastic mold, cupcake liners, or onto a plastic plate or tray. Freeze until hard and store in the fridge or freezer. This will melt into a puddle quickly if you leave it out!

I'd love to hear about how you spend your "me time", as well as find out how you like the candy recipe. Make sure to let me know in the comment section below.

Looking for some great Trim Healthy Mama Recipes? Try these! 

THM Lunches & Dinners

Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken
Pork Egg Roll in a Bowl
Spaghetti Squash Casserole (No Pasta Spaghetti)
20 Squash Recipes
Baked Spinach and Pepperjack Chicken

THM Breakfasts

List of THM Breakfast Ideas
Chicken Ranch Omelette

THM Treats
Chocolate Peanut Butter Candy

THM Misc.
Homemade Ranch Dressing
Make Your Own Chicken Stock & Broth
Zesty Burger Spread

Max Lucado's Before Amen: Family Christian's 2015 Book of the Year

This is a sponsored post for Family Christian. All opinions are honest and are my own.

Family Christian has just announced their 2015 Book of the Year: Max Lucado's Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer. 

"We selected Before Amen as our 2015 Book of the Year because not only is Max Lucado a trusted pastor and author on the topic of prayer, but his words throughout this guide will inspire you and anyone you know to improve their prayer life."

I had the opportunity to receive a free review copy and, having not read anything by Lucado for a good 12 years or more, was pleasantly surprised by the easy-going tone and light-hearted wit in this little book.

Before starting the book, I wrote down my thoughts on prayer:

Although I don't spend as much time in Bible study as I'd like, I feel like my "prayer life" is strong. I go to God in need, just as much as I go to him in thanks. In fact, I probably thank him more, lately, than anything else. When I feel his Spirit nudging me to pray, I'm faithful the majority of the time. Without my prayer life, I don't think I'd feel close to God right now, as everything else seems far less grounded than my being able to talk to God anytime and anywhere.

Recently, my eight-year-old daughter, Selah, and I were discussing prayer and Bible reading. I told her how essential prayer is to our relationship with God. Not everyone can have daily Bible study time, but just about everyone can pray. Like Lucado points out, there's no need to be profound. Prayer is a simple conversation.

"Prayer, for most of us, is not a matter of a month-long retreat or even an hour of meditation. Prayer is conversation with God while driving to work or awaiting an appointment or before interacting with a client. Prayer can be the internal voice that directs the external action." ~page 7

Regarding prayer, Before Amen reinforced truths I know and practice. However, there was a great little section on guilt that really spoke to me. Lucado explained how guilt is God's idea and how it reveals to us the difference between who we are and who God wants us to be. It prods us to repentance. While I often deal with unnecessary guilt for things that are really out of my control, it's refreshing to be encouraged to put guilt in its proper place and understand that it can be beneficial. More than that, its nice to see someone not trying to talk me out of my guilt and blaming it on the enemy trying to discourage me at every turn. Funny how much "God stuff" we blame on the devil.

A special component of the book that I appreciate is the in-depth study guide, as well as the "prayer strengths" guide, that makes up two-thirds of the book. More than just a few discussion topics, there are sections for each chapter that provide the reader with the opportunity to pull the most possible from the reading. Whether you're studying alone or in a small group, definitely take the time to go through the study sections. They'll help you examine your current prayer habits, strengths and weaknesses, and stir up a desire to kick the good stuff up a notch or two!

Book Description: "We all pray ... some. We pray to stay sober, centered, or solvent. When the lump is deemed malignant. When the money runs out before the month does. When the marriage is falling apart. We pray. But wouldn’t we like to pray more? Better? Stronger? With more fire, faith, and fervency? We aren’t the first to struggle with prayer. The first followers of Jesus needed prayer guidance too. In fact, prayer is the only tutorial they ever requested. And Jesus gave them a prayer. Not a lecture on prayer. Not the doctrine of prayer. He gave them a quotable, repeatable, portable prayer. Couldn’t we use the same? 

In Before Amen, bestselling author Max Lucado joins readers on a journey to the very heart of biblical prayer, offering hope for doubts and confidence even for prayer wimps. Distilling prayers in the Bible down to one pocket-sized prayer, Max reminds readers that prayer is not a privilege for the pious nor the art of a chosen few. Prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. Let the conversation begin."

Congratulations to Max Lucado and his team for an excellent and encouraging book---Family Christian's top choice for the coming year! Have you read Before Amen? What's been your favorite Christian book lately?