Mighty Yum Lunch and Snack Options For Spring and Summer

Spring is here and Summer is about to kick off, with kids out of school and busier than ever! And just like adults, kids will be facing all sorts of tempting food options – from chips and snacks on the go, to the processed lunch meats and easy meals, plus candy and desserts. But now since unhealthy diets for kids is showing that 340 million kids are challenged with obesity, with the national rate of obesity among kids ages 2 to 19 increasing to 22.4% during the pandemic – it’s no wonder that health conscious parents are looking for fun, alternative food options for their kids. Since one in five children are vegan or want to be – Mighty Yum’s Vegan Version to lunchables products as a great option for parents to consider for their kids. 

The products are even Picky Eater Approved for kids. Marc Elkman and Howard Panes, are Founders of Mighty Yum, a company with new innovative twist to the nostalgic favorite, Lunchable, Mighty Yum has created a fun snack for all ages. With its 100% plant-based ingredients, this snack is gluten-free, vegan, and has no trace of GMOs. Mighty Yum’s delicious treats triple the amount of protein included, have one-quarter the number of carbs as a typical snack pack, and completely eliminate the sugars. Mighty Yum is not only healthy but 3x more inclusive than the classic brands. Kids who have gluten and dairy allergies, as well as dietary restrictions, can now enjoy the super fun treats their peers do.

Check it all out at Mighty Yum on Instagram!

~Hayley

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. I have used direct text from the website of the company/product I am promoting to facilitate in my review.

All About Salt Water Taffy

Whether you’ve seen it in a birthday party favor bag or you’re walking along the boardwalk of Atlantic City during a vacation, saltwater taffy is a staple of summertime. The origin of the name isn’t exactly clear, but some manufacturers think it came from a storm that flooded an Atlantic City candy store in 1883.

It’s Delicious

Try salt water taffy if you want a sweet treat at home. It’s a delicious candy that will satisfy your sweet tooth, and it also comes in a variety of flavors. Different taffy ingredients include sugar, corn syrup, cornstarch, butter, and glycerine. These ingredients are combined and heated to a certain temperature to make it. Once the mixture reaches this temperature, it’s folded and pulled until it resembles a dough. The most popular taffy flavor is vanilla, but many other unique flavors exist. For example, you can try chili-mango salt water taffy. This unique blend of two flavors creates a candy you won’t want to miss out on!

It’s Fun

Saltwater taffy is the perfect summertime treat! It’s soft and chewy and comes in various delicious flavors. It’s also fun to make! All you have to do is gather up a few ingredients and boil them together. Once the taffy is cooled, you can cut it into bite-sized pieces and wrap them in wax paper. This candy is among the most popular and traditional boardwalk treats associated with summer and the beach.

It’s Healthy

A chewy candy invented in 1880 on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, salt water taffy has become an American tradition. It’s a tasty treat that’s low in fat and is popular with many dieters. Taffy is made from a blend of sugar, corn syrup, sweetened condensed milk, butter, oil, emulsifier, salt, and flavoring. The taffy is then cooked until it reaches 250 deg; on a candy thermometer, then cooled to the handle. When it comes to taffy, be sure to read the ingredients. Some products have added egg whites or bone char from cow’s bones, so check for them before you buy. You may check out Purple Mountain Taffy and other candy stores for more delicious taffy treats.

It’s Unique

One of the most famous American sweets, salt water taffy is a staple at boardwalks nationwide. It’s soft, chewy, and a fun treat to munch on during summer vacation or family gatherings. Taffy is made by stretching or pulling a mixture of sugar, fat, and other ingredients until it becomes aerated (filled with small air bubbles). This process gives the candy a soft, chewy texture. It is usually flavored with fruit or other ingredients and is wrapped in little wax paper wrappers to keep it fresh. It can also be whipped rather than pulled for a lighter texture. It’s a popular choice for candy pull parties because it makes for an exciting event. Traditionally, taffy was pulled by hand, but today’s machines can also make candy.

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. I have used direct text from the website of the company/product I am promoting to facilitate in my review.

Happy St. Patrick's Day #StPattys2023

Announcing #BookTober With The Middle Daughter

Before Covid - the new BC - I did a series called BookTober in the month of October. I had so many great books submitted and was reading for months! I loved it, as I love to read and started out souly as a Book Blogger. And I am bringing it back this year! Here is a preview, with a great book called The Middle Daughter!

About The Book:

A lush, powerful tale of family and sisterhood from award-winning author Chika Unigwe, perfect for fans of Bernardine Evaristo and Tayari Jones. Udodi’s death was the beginning of the raging storm but at that moment, we thought that the worst had already happened, and that life would treat us with more kindness. When seventeen-year-old Nani loses her older sister and then her father in quick succession, her world spins off its axis. Isolated and misunderstood by her grieving mother and sister, she’s drawn to an itinerant preacher, a handsome self-proclaimed man of God who offers her a new place to belong. All too soon, Nani finds herself estranged from her family, tethered to her abusive husband by children she loves but cannot fully comprehend. She must find the courage to break free and wrestle her life back - without losing what she loves most. A modern reimagining of the myth of Hades and Persephone within a Nigerian family, The Middle Daughter charts Nani’s journey to freedom and homecoming.

About The Author:

Chika Unigwe was born in Enugu, Nigeria. She was educated at UNN and KUL (Belgium) and earned her PhD from Leiden University, Holland. Widely translated, she has won awards for her writing. Her books include On Black Sisters Street and Better Never than Late. She teaches at Georgia College, Milledgeville, GA.

~Hayley

Get your copy of The Middle Daughter at DZANC Books!

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. I have used direct text from the website of the company/product I am promoting to facilitate in my review.

Maade for #MothersDay2023

With the time of year coming up to celebrate, we all know that moms deserve monuments, but t's hard to take care of yourself when taking care of others. But don't worry, Maade's got you.

Maade is a hydration pack made especially for moms. It's great for breastfeeding as a lactation support or to keep you hydrated throughout the day (post-workout drink, sleepless nights, or your regular mom activities). And why Maade? It's vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and organic. It's also low in sugar and calories, has electrolytes, vitacholine, and antioxidants!

I got to try Tropical! Escape to your favorite beach with the exotic, balanced flavors of pomegranate, strawberry, and cranberry. These delicious Tropical packs can support you, and boost your parent powers at the same time. Maade packets are infused with the necessary vitamins, nutrients, lactation, and hydration support you need as mom or mom-to-be.

Check it all out at Maade on Facebook, as well as Maade on Instagram. 

~Hayley

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. I have used direct text from the website of the company/product I am promoting to facilitate in my review.

Happy Grub

With Spring Break upon some of us, and right around the corner for the rest of us - something fun to do with the kids - make pancakes! But do it instantly! Squeezable pancake mix is just what you need to create the perfectly fun shaped pancakes on your skillet! Happy Grub provides a variety of flavors from Banana, Apple Cinnamon, Whole Wheat, and Buttermilk. Just add water to your mix and whipping up pancakes never became easier!

We tried the Apple Cinnamon - An apple a day, that is what they say! This flavor smells like a crisp fall morning and tastes just like that apple pie you left in the windowsill to cool off. Just add water, shake and squeeze! Each Squeezable Instant Pancake Mix bottle contains 8.5 ounces of mix and makes about 20 (3 in.) pancakes. This baking mix is also great for waffles, cupcakes, muffins & more!

Check it all out at Happy Grub on Facebook, as well as Happy Grub on Instagram!

~Hayley

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. I have used direct text from the website of the company/product I am promoting to facilitate in my review.

Some Great Reads & Gifts For #MothersDay2023

I always love to be gifted books for occasions, and Mother's Day is coming! Here are few great reads I have found that would make excellent gifts this year!

48 States

About The Book:

In 2042 the United States is recovering from a series of terrorist attacks that upended the government, rewrote our civil liberties, and erased two states from the map. River, a widow, single mother and veteran of the Caliphate Wars, works as a waste hauling trucker in Energy Territory No. 1, formerly known as North Dakota. Living in a dingy motel room with nothing but her books and a semiautomatic pistol for company, she is weeks away from the end of her contract and returning to her young daughter. Finn Cunningham, a hydrologist with the United States Geology Survey (USGS) in Montana, is suspicious of environmental changes he's seeing in nearby western waterways and decides to investigate. His decision sets him on a collision course with River, sending them both on the run. One a fugitive, the other a reluctant participant, they develop an affinity for each other, sharing stories of past loves, loss, and hardship. 48 States is a one-of-a-kind dystopian thriller about the dangers of extremism and the power of love and forgiveness.

About The Author:

Evette Davis is the author of Woman King and Dark Horse, the first two installments of the Dark Horse Trilogy. She will be releasing the final installment along with a new stand alone novel in 2022. When she's not writing novels, Davis dispenses advice to some of the country's largest corporations, non-profits and institutions as a consultant and co-owner of BergDavis Public Affairs, an award-winning San Francisco-based public affairs firm. In 2014 Davis founded Flesh & Bone, an independent publishing imprint. In 2015 Dark Horse garnered an honorable mention at the San Francisco Book Festival. In 2017, Friends of the San Francisco Public Library named Davis a Library Laureate. Her work has also been published in the San Francisco Chronicle and Book Country. Most recently, she was a finalist in the San Francisco Writers Conference's 2021 Writing Contest. A piece from her most reent novel, 48 States, is featured in their anthology. Prior to establishing her firm, Davis worked in Washington as a press secretary for a member of Congress, and as a reporter for daily newspapers in the San Francisco Bay Area. She splits her time between San Francisco and Sun Valley, Idaho with her husband, daughter and dog.

Make Your Mess Your Message

About The Book:

We’ve all had unique - and often messy - life journeys. You know: the good, the bad, and the ugly. But what if your “messy” life experiences have hidden meanings - that if uncovered could help you have mind-blowing insights about your life’s purpose, and deepen your friendships? In this second book in The Friendship Series, life coach Shari Leid chronicles a round of dates with her girlfriends where she asks the question “What is the mess that became your message?” And the responses are astounding! Make Your Mess Your Message encourages each of us to not only give one another the gift of time but to have meaningful life-changing conversations to deepen your friendships and gain insights into your own life journey.

About The Author:

Shari Leid received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Washington in 1992. A former litigator, having graduated from Seattle University School of Law in 1995, she currently operates An Imperfectly Perfect Life, LLC, a professional life coaching business serving clients who are in their fabulous middle age years, helping guide them towards recognizing their power and passion.

~Hayley

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. I have used direct text from the website of the company/product I am promoting to facilitate in my review.