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Showing posts with label Save Some Money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Save Some Money. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Online Piano Lessons From Hoffman Academy

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% my own, and I have loved using their piano lessons with my own children.

I have always wanted my children to take piano lessons. I took them for many years, and I think there are so many benefits to learning an instrument. A couple of years ago, I was fortunate to learn about Hoffman Academy and my son had a blast taking their FREE piano lessons! If you are looking for a piano teacher, please meet one of my favorite teachers, Mr. Hoffman! 


Joseph Hoffman has always wanted one thing, for more people to be able to learn music and to love it while they're learning. He spent years developing his own comprehensive piano method based on research in early childhood education and great music teaching methods like Suzuki and Kodaly. After receiving his master's degree in music and founding a very successful music academy in Portland, Oregon, he wanted to find a way to teach music to children whose families might not be able to afford private music lessons, or who might live far away from a piano teacher.

Five years ago, Joseph and his wife Kelly came up with the idea to create piano video lessons and post them online, for free, so that anyone in the world could learn piano with the Hoffman Method. To support their project, they sold downloadable lesson materials, like sheet music and audio files, to accompany the video lessons. Mr. Hoffman's video lessons now have over 5 million views, with thousands of students watching lessons every day. But he's not done yet.

Right now, Mr. Hoffman has 120 piano video lessons online. He wants to double that number in the next 16 months, then continue to make more. His ultimate goal is to make Hoffman Academy a complete piano learning program, so that a student who completes all the lessons would be ready to major in music at any university and become a professional musician. 


The Hoffman Academy team is also working on building a new, interactive, subscription-based website that will include music learning games and online progress tracking. Video lessons alone can't give personalized feedback, but the new Hoffman Academy will be able to guide students through developing their skills in rhythm, staff reading, music theory, and ear training, and make learning the piano even more fun and engaging.

In order to fund these projects, Mr. Hoffman is running a Kickstarter campaign through the month of February. Campaign backers can try out the new Hoffman Academy premium subscription for themselves at a great discount. Or, you can contribute to this campaign and fund a Hoffman Academy premium subscription scholarship for a child in need. Head on over and check it out!


Do you believe in music education for everyone? Visit their Kickstarter page to learn more and contribute to help make it happen!

Thursday, May 7, 2015

BerryBreeze Review

I received a product to review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.
Do you have any idea how much we Americans waste? According to a report from August 2012 by the National Resources Defense Council, the average American tosses about 25 percent of food and beverages purchased. For a family of four, the money wasted could total from $1,365 to $2,275. Yikes! Can you imagine what people who struggle to put any food on the table think of that?


That is why I got really excited when I heard about the new product, BerryBreeze, an eco-friendly kitchen gadget that works around the clock to defuse all ethylene gasses that speed up the rotting of your foods.

I know that you are trying to eat healthy when you buy tons of fresh fruit and vegetables, but too often those good intentions turn into a moldy, rotting mess. With the BerryBreeze, you can minimize your food waste while keeping your fruits and veggies fresh for up to two to three times longer. With stainless steel vents to time-release activated oxygen, BerryBreeze neutralizes microbes and bacteria to keep foods in a living state, rather than wasting away in your fridge.

My family recently got a membership to Costco, and we have been buying even more fresh produce, because it comes in bulk. The BerryBreeze is so great at helping keep our produce fresher longer, so we are not wasting any of that good nutrition. To give you an example of how well it has worked for us - we have a huge bulk bag of organic carrots that we bought 3 or 4 weeks ago, and they are still crunchy and fresh like we just bought them today.

All you have to do is put the BerryBreeze back in your fridge and check the smell the next day! You will know it is working by the change in smell in your fridge. My husband described it as fresh. I thought it smelled like cold, if cold has a smell. Either way, it does a great job of sanitizing the air in your fridge and eliminating bacterias. I would recommend the BerryBreeze if you find yourself throwing out any produce and wasting your money when things go bad. 
Are you ready to preserve your produce and spend less time spring cleaning the rotten smelly foods out of your fridge? I think we all are! Find BerryBreeze online.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

7 Ways To Celebrate Earth Day Every Day!

I was provided with product to try out. I am an independent Shaklee distributor who loves their products and cannot help but recommend them to others. No other compensation was given. All opinions are 100% my own.

Earth Day is coming up on April 22nd, but I think we should all get started celebrating today and keep celebrating all year round! After all, keeping the Earth healthy and clean has to start with each of us making habits that preserve this great planet we live on!

Here are 7 very easy ways to do just that (and save yourself quite a bit of money):

1. Start replacing plastic with other things! Get a few cloth bags to use instead of wasting grocery bag after grocery bag. Use a BPA-free reusable water bottle instead of buying bottle after bottle of water. Money saved! Happy Earth!

2. Start using concentrated, naturally safe cleaning products in your home.
Did you know you are not supposed to throw conventional cleaning products away in your garbage? You need to find a TOXIC WASTE site! Why would you want to use something so dangerous in your home? About 7 years ago, we switched out all of our cleaning products for Shaklee's Get Clean products. These products are not only safe and natural, but they are going to save you tons of money!

For instance, Shaklee's Basic H2 organic super concentrated cleaner, which my family has been using for over 4 generations, will literally save your family THOUSANDS of dollars over traditional cleaners AND any other “Green” cleaners available. For instance, one bottle of Basic H2 equals the cleaning uses of 5,824 bottles of 26 oz. Windex, and its not as dangerous to your health as Windex is. It works as well and even better than the other cleaners on the market (traditional and “green”). And yes, there are clinical studies to prove this.
Here are a few of the ways you can use the Basic H2:
I use it to wash my fruits and vegetables (it is that safe) but I also use it to clean my hardwood floors,
clean my tile floors, clean my vinyl floors, use it on my garden as a safe alternative to pesticide, use it to run moles/voles out of my yard, my husband uses it to shave, clean my wood cabinets, dust all my furniture, clean my kitchen counters, remove spots from our carpet, clean my bathroom, use as a mosquito repellant, use it to soothe and treat burns and many other uses!

3. Think about where your fish comes from. I am a huge advocate for eating healthy fish, like Alaskan salmon, sardines, anchovies, even responsibly caught tuna. While a great source of lean protein, Omega 3 and other vitamins and minerals, some fish also have high mercury levels, and if eaten often enough can cause a mercury build up in the body leading to unwanted side effects. One type of fish with potentially high mercury levels that has been an American favorite for generations is canned tuna. We love tuna in our house, but have cut it out for so long, because I wanted to stay away from mercury, BPA laden cans, and did not approve of the fishing methods that are often used.


Now, for the first time, Safe Catch is a new company that is the only 100% mercury tested tuna on the market and it is also cooked using a unique method that seals in more Omega 3s than other brands. Their tuna is traceable from sea to table, and they buy from captains whose catch methods minimize environmental impact. They are very passionate about keeping oceans pure and protecting our Earth. You can pre-order your Safe Catch tuna today!
4. Reduce your disposable tableware use or replace it with sustainable products. Although I do not use disposable plates and cups often, I know there is a time and place when they save you a LOT of time and hassle. You will save a lot of waste if you only use them during those occasions. Plus, what if you could use guilt-free tableware made from plants? I love the whole Repurpose line of innovative, green, single-serve tableware made exclusively from plants.


Their cups, bowls, plates, forks, spoons and knives are made from corn, sugar and bamboo, all of which are annually-renewable resources. They are also BPA-free, chlorine-free, petroleum-free and use only soy-based inks. And unlike traditional plastic or even paper items, all Repurpose products are 100% compostable in an industrial composter. Yay! Plus, Repurpose products are not flimsy or easy breakable. They are high quality products that get the job done!

5. Lower your electricity bill. Turn down your heat in the winter just a few degrees and add a layer of clothing. No, you will not die a frozen Popsicle. In the summer, open the windows and try to save the air conditioning for when it is really, really hot. Turn off all lights in the rooms you are not using. These are all great habits to get started today!

6. Pick up trash that you see on neighborhood walks. Too gross for you? If you can pick up your pets poo, then you can pick up an empty bottle, can and other trash that is polluting our world and could be causing harm to the animals. It just takes a second, but has a great impact.

7. Make a difference with your purchases. When you are shopping at the store, the choices you make and how you spend your money makes a difference! The more healthy, sustainable food and products you buy, the more will be made. We can transform what companies make by what we buy! One company that walks a green walk is Annie’s. In fact, they have purchased 42 Million pounds of organic ingredients, have reforested 296 Acres of degraded land with NativeEnergy via the Oka Trees of Hope Project. Plus, more than 90% of Annie’s packaging (by weight) is recyclable and $459K will be donated this year to organizations supporting a sustainable food system. My favorite organic product is their Annie’s Organic Grass Fed Mac & Cheese - which is made with 100% real cheese from grass fed cows. Awesome!

Enjoy your Earth day, making small changes that will have a BIG impact on our planet!

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Top Five Tips for Puerto Rico!

Cara was sent products for free. No other compensation was given. I only recommend what I use and love!

About two weeks ago, my husband and I returned from a fabulous trip to Puerto Rico. We left the three little munchkins behind with their grandparents, and we set out to have a rejuvenating vacation as a couple. 

Despite missing our flight and not getting to Puerto Rico until the next day, we had an awesome trip! We hiked the El Yunque Rainforest. We swam in the ocean. We learned how to surf in Rincon. We met some lovely people. We visited fortresses and forts from the 1500's. We relaxed on secluded beaches, and we enjoyed some of the most beautiful sunsets ever! If you love to travel, you MUST put Puerto Rico on your list of destinations to see.

Here are a few of my top tips to enjoy your vacation in Puerto Rico without spending your life savings!

1. My first tip is to rent a car and explore the island. This is one of the most amazing, beautiful islands we have visited. It is full of rich history, culture, and beauty. There are gorgeous mountains to hike, beautiful beaches everywhere, and you will want to see it all!

2. That being said, tip number two is to get a good map. Everything is in Spanish, and the road signs are not clear. Our most stressful times on this trip were driving. Once we got a more detailed map, things went a little more smoothly. 
3. My next tip is to visit El Yunque Rainforest. It is just breathtaking. From the easy hikes to the waterfalls right off the road to the secluded spots you can find if you hike long enough, you will be awed by its beauty. We hiked from mid morning until late afternoon for two days. We hiked on easy trails to amazing waterfalls, and we hiked on challenging trails to get all the way to the peak of the rainforest. If you are going to do one of the longer hikes, like the one to the peak, make sure you go to the bathroom first (no bathrooms) and bring lots of water and healthy snacks. The hike we did took us about 5 hours going at a very quick pace. That is why I packed us each a bunch of great snacks, including Skout Trailbars and Taste of Nature Bars. Both of these delicious bars are 100% organic, Non-GMO verified, gluten free, and full of healthy energy. 
Both brands of bars are simply delicious and will fuel all your activities! Trust me, you'll love these!

4. Bring something to filter your water. If you don't bring a water filter of some type, you will be buying bottled water throughout your whole trip. Trust me, paying $3.00 for a bottle of water at a restaurant is not cool. That adds up fast when you are really thirsty.

5. Step out of your comfort zone. There are some really awesome things to experience in Puerto Rico when you step out of your comfort zone. Whether that is eating the local cuisine, like Mofongo - a fried plantain dish, driving off the beaten path to find a secluded beach, talking it up with the locals, or challenging yourself to learn how to surf or paddle board. Learning how to surf is on my list of goals for my life, so I did it! Rincon is known for its awesome surfing, so we planned three days there to surf, swim and relax on the gorgeous beaches. Boy, was it amazing! I was pretty nervous when I was actually paddling out to try my first wave, but it was awesome! My husband and I surfed two hours with an instructor, and every second of that was a memory.
A few other reminders for visiting Puerto Rico: bring safe sunscreen, watch out for toll roads, add extra time if you are driving through busy cities like San Juan, find a coconut and eat it, look for pretty sea glass and seashells, stay at small B&B's instead of large chain hotels, and don't stress about the little stuff!

Have a blast and enjoy yourself!

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Most Popular Health Posts of 2013

Whether you are a long time reader or brand new reader to Your World: Healthy and Natural, I am so happy you are here! In case you missed any of the fun we had during 2013, I am sharing with you my Top 12 Blog Posts of 2013!!!!

Make sure you follow us or subscribe (along the right sidebar) to get all the latest health news, free workouts, great giveaways, product reviews you want to hear about, or just some Friday Fun!

My #1 most popular post of the year is....

Delicious Crock Pot Italian Chicken Soup Recipe - easy, delicious, paleo, whole30, gluten-free, dairy free
 

Here are my other top posts of the year...

2. Crockpot Italian Meatballs Recipe - Paleo, whole30, gluten-free, dairy free, a family favorite!!

3. Chicken Avocado Salad Recipe - Paleo, whole30, gluten-free, dairy free, use this instead of chicken salad with mayo

4. Paleo Gluten-free Apple Crisp Recipe - so healthy and delicious, also vegan and dairy free

5. Crock Pot Mexican Chicken Wraps - paleo, whole30, gluten-free, dairy free, a weekly menu item in our house

6. How I Skipped Baby Food and You Can Too!! - save yourself the money and hassle and skip baby food!

7. Tabata Tuesday Free Workouts - This is the first of my great tabata workouts. Only 20 minutes, but burns calories for up to 2 days later!!! So awesome! (for the other tabata workouts, check out my right sidebar and click where you see tabata workouts)

8. Paleo Slow Cooker Down Home Shrimp Recipe - Full of flavor and guaranteed to satisfy your cravings!

9. Zucchini "Bread"sticks Recipe - gluten-free, Paleo, dairy free, whole30, and a delicious and easy way to use up all that zucchini - actually makes me wish I had planted more!

10. Top 12 Tips for Staying Healthy During Flu Season - Such important tips to keep you and your family healthy and feeling great all winter long!

11. Crock Pot Sweet and Spicy Sweet Potato/Carrot Soup - Paleo, gluten-free, dairy free, whole30, and the perfect comfort food!

12. Free Piano Lessons -We have been using these FREE piano lessons with our 5 year old son, and not only does he love them but he is learning a lot!!

There you have it. YOUR favorite posts from 2013! Here's to another awesome year in 2014! Can't wait to help you get healthier, feel your best, and do your best for others!

Monday, December 30, 2013

Shave Mob - Save Money on Razors

Cara was provided product to review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed are 100% her own.
 
Now that Christmas is over, and you are starting to get the bills from all your merry-making and generosity, Shave Mob steps in to save the day and save you a bunch of money. After all, we all still have to shave, right? Men, we don't actually like kissing you and getting our skin scratched off. Ladies, you know that even though we all shave less in winter, you still have to be trimmed and clean when you get in your workouts to reach your New Year's resolutions!

Shave Mob has come to rescue us, so that we can keep up appearances without breaking the bank. I personally hate going to buy new razors, every time spending more money than I thought I would on new razors. With Shave Mob, you save 70% on your razors! That's right, 70%!!

What's more, you save yourself some hassle too. With Shave Mob, you just head to their website, choose your package of what type of razor you prefer, (which come as low as $2 per month) and then pick if you want a 2 month, 6 month or 12 month supply. You don't have to mess with memberships or recurring fees.

I love the quality of these razors. You might expect them to be less quality, since they are saving you so much money. But that is just NOT the case. They work just as well as any other blade I have ever used. Plus, the green girl in me loves that they come in recycled, low impact packaging. 

Here is how my 2 month Shave Mob kit came:
 
1 handle + a 2-month supply of the women's 6-blade. 
Do yourself a favor: save some money while feeling and looking great!! Check out Shave Mob today!

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Fall Planting Time!

You may not think of fall as planting time, and I didn't either...up until this year. I read up a little on the topic, and fall is actually one of the best times to plant certain things. Fall is the best time of year to plant fruit trees and fruiting berry bushes. Trees and bushes planted in the autumn have a chance to set roots before freezing weather sets in. That way, when Spring finally rolls around, your tree or bush planted in the fall is all ready to burst forth into vigorous growth!

We have really enjoyed doing a bit of fall planting during some of the warmer days. This year, we planted some tulips around the front and sides of our house. We also planted 2 Doyle's Thornless Blackberry plants. And I am hoping to perhaps also plant some garlic, if I get a chance.

The plants I am most excited about are my Doyle's Thornless Blackberry plants. Berries, especially blackberries, are super healthy, full of antioxidants and vitamins, and perfectly delicious! We were so excited to try out Doyle's Thornless plants, because they seemed like the easiest, most productive plants.

The typical blackberry bush produces 1-2 gallons of berries per plant each year. Doyle’s Thornless Blackberry is a variety that yields 10-20 gallons of sweet, vine-ripened berries every summer. That’s 10 times the production of a normal blackberry bush—plus there are no painful thorns. After getting established, the disease-resistant plants start producing sweet, delicious, healthful, antioxidant-rich berries that are great to eat fresh, as beverages and deserts, or frozen for later use.

Don't worry if you think your climate is not right for berries. We live in Minnesota, and if it can grow here, I think it will grow just about anywhere - well, maybe not Alaska. Doyle's carefully sent us our plants in the mail, and we received them in this small little package.
Once I opened the package up, I was surprised by the lovely blackberry plants ready to plant. It was super easy. We just dug into the soft ground near our compost pile and near our fence, so they have rich soil and can climb something as they grow. They aren't high maintenance at all, but you do want to try to plant at least 2 weeks before the first hard frost. And if the temps fall below minus 20 Fehrenheit (pray to God they won't!), then cover them with a plastic sheet to give a little greenhouse effect.

Get ready for some awesome berries come summer! The fruit sets in bunches of 10 to 30 large, sweet berries that ripen over a 6-8 week season in the summer.

These potted plants sell for $20 each or $17.50 each in quantities of 10 or more. To order, call (812) 254-2654 or visit www.fruitsandberries.com/doyles-thornless-blackberry-plants/doyles-thornless-blackberry/.

Next week, I am going to talk about indoor gardening that you can start in the Fall. Don't lose hope for fresh veggies, herbs, and other goodies this winter!

Cara was provided product to review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed are 100% her own.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Save $25 on Weight Watchers

Thanks to Annette for this helpful article!

Just about everyone has heard of Weight Watchers and its success.  This popular program geared towards a healthy way of losing weight has documented great results for people of all ages and types.  When joining the program, you are not required to eat specific foods but the better choices will provide greater results.

Discount Offers for Weight Watchers


Frequently, especially at the start of the New Year, you can find great discounts for Weight Watchers, usually waiving the registration fee.  For this month’s offers visit http://www.weightlosstriumph.com/weight-watchers-coupon-codes-review-promotional-savings-discounts.html.  Other coupons and discounts are readily available at http://www.couponcabin.com/coupons/weight-watchers/.  Just be sure to watch your expiration dates. Some discounts include 30 percent off your first three months of meetings.  If joining the online plan, you can save $25 when signing up for three months; these are just a few ways to save on the road to a healthy new you.

What is Special About Weight Watchers?

Weight Watchers does not involve counting calories but rather is based on a point system.  When you begin the program, you are assigned a number of points for each day depending on your weight.  As you lose weight, your allowed points will go down to ensure you keep losing weight.  Depending on the food choices you make, you will never feel hungry while on this diet plan.

Sure, you can eat cake and candy on the diet, provided they are within your allowed points but a piece of cake will not fulfill your nutritional needs and you can bet you will be hungry in no time.  If, on the other hand, you have a piece of lean meat comparable in points to that cake choice and have it with a serving of zero point vegetables and a side of fresh fruit, you will be full for a long period of time.

On the plan, it is advised that you eat 6 small meals a day rather than 3 larger ones.  When going to meetings each week or following the plan online, you get full support and tips on how to gain the best results from the program.  There is something very motivational about going in to get weighed (discreetly) at each weekly meeting.  What is even more inspirational is the cheering and support you get with pounds lost; a gold star for you and your achievement.

Online and at meetings you are given all the tools you need to succeed on the program. That includes a food journal and slide rule to calculate your point value for each food.  Other options you can purchase may include an electronic point’s calculator that is great to take with when shopping, recipe’ books, diet scales and books on tips for shopping and eating out.

What to eat on Weight Watchers

You generally eat lean meats like fish, chicken, pork and beef, non-starchy vegetables, dairy products and fresh fruits.  Although you are given a limit on points, you are also allowed a list of zero-point foods to add to your food plan that you can enjoy in endless amounts when hungry. 

A list of power foods are encouraged to keep you satisfied such as your whole grains, lean meats and low-fat dairy plus endless fruits and non-starchy vegetables.  Nutritious and filling; it is a winning combination for healthy, permanent weight loss. You can find hundreds of foods in your points guide provided with the program or online on their database.