Salmon & Veggie Foil Packs

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

September is National Cholesterol Awareness month, and as caretaker of my mom, high cholesterol is something we struggle with every single day. My mom is now 83 years old, but she still loves to eat the way she did when she was much younger, much more active, and less sick. As her caretaker, it can be hard to ensure that she's still eating foods than she can enjoy, while making sure that she's keeping her cholesterol levels down. A clinical study showed Mazola®​ Corn Oil reduces cholesterol 2x more than extra virgin olive oil. To learn more about this claim, see Mazola.com.​

One thing she hasn't had to give up, though, is her favorite corn oil. This is the corn oil that I grew up seeing in our kitchen. It's the corn oil that helped her make all of her amazing dishes throughout the years, and now Mazola Corn Oil also helps her keep her cholesterol levels down. Mazola Corn Oil is an all-purpose, cholesterol free cooking oil that is a smart heart-healthy* choice for your family. *See http://cbi.as/a3bgw for more information on the relationship between corn oil and heart health.

Today, I'm sharing one of the dishes that she enjoys the most, Butter Garlic Salmon with a side of buttery mashed potatoes, with three tweaks that make it lighter and better-for-her. I will skip using all butter in the recipe and instead use Mazola Corn Oil. I will replace the mashed potatoes with veggies and will also replace salt with garlic, pepper and parsley.

It's hard to imagine a grownup of my mom's age not enjoying veggies, but it's actually true. My mom spent her life eating meat and potatoes but very rarely included vegetables or salads in her meals. So now that she is older, getting her to enjoy them has been like teaching a kid to eat veggies. But in this recipe, the veggies are as much a star as the salmon, and I find that she eats her entire portion with very little complaint.



Salmon & Veggie Foil Packs
(serves 2)

2 salmon filets (6-8 ounces)
1 yellow squash sliced
1 zucchini sliced
1 bunch asparagus chopped
2 garlic cloves minced
1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tbsp Mazola Corn Oil



DIRECTIONS:

1. Season (with pepper) both sides of the salmon and place it in the middle of a square of aluminum foil.

2. Add squash, zucchini slices, asparagus and chopped parsley around the salmon, keeping things in the center of the foil.

3. Drizzle corn oil, which I've had sitting with the minced garlic in a little bowl, over the fish and veggies.

4. Fold the edges of each packet and place into preheated oven at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

5. Carefully open packets and serve hot - you can top with a little bit more fresh parsley if so desired.



Not only is this recipe on the easier side to make, all you really have to do is chop your veggies. It's also cholesterol-free and better for my mom. Mazola Corn Oil has more cholesterol-blocking plant sterols than other cooking oils – four times more than extra virgin olive oil and one and a half times more than canola oil.

Plus, it's really delicious and a nice way to celebrate such a beautiful piece of salmon. The simplicity of the ingredients just lets all of its delicious flavor shine through.

When dealing with my mom's growing health issues: heart disease, high cholesterol, etc., it's been hard to get her to make those much needed changes to her diet. But I like that Mazola Corn Oil is such an easy swap for things like butter or lard (which she loved to cook with). Plus, it has such a variety of uses including baking, grilling, sautéing, stir frying, or mixing up a marinades and dressings.



This National Cholesterol Awareness month and every other month of the year, Mazola is our partner in the kitchen. How about you, what better-for-you changes have you made in the kitchen?

5 Must-Haves for the Busy Woman

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

It's officially the first week of summer vacation and while most people might think that a moms job gets easier in the summer, they are actually pretty off the mark. If your life is like mine, summer can be even more hectic than when the kids are in school - because you still have all your daily responsibilites, and also a houseful of kids that need watching and entertaining. So how do I keep it together even when my to-do-list looks longer than the hours in the day? 

I plan ahead, I make sure that I have my essentials with me at all times and I self-care at the end of those really tough days when everything aches, especially my back. 

5 Must-Have's For The Busy Woman

A bag that can hold it all: The first thing that any busy woman needs, whether you're a mom or not, is a great tote bag with enough space to hold your life in. I love bags with plenty of pockets, space for my laptop, phone, reading tablet and with a great design. 

Who says tote bags have to be ugly? These days it's so easy to find a tote bag that fits your personal style. I loved this black canvas tote from the minute I laid eyes on it and especially like that no matter what I stuff into it, it still looks cool.

A mobile office: Being able to take my office with me has always been one of the perks of working from home. As long as I have my laptop, camera and phone with me, I can work from almost anywhere, including and especially my car, where I spend most of my time. 

A daily makeup edit: I've always found that one of the things that makes the biggest difference in how I feel on any given day is if I had time to put myself together, and because there are days that I am out the door super early, I do not always have time to apply makeup. On those days I grab my to-go cosmetics bag that contains all the products I need for a quick 10-minute face. 

That way I can put my face on while I have a few minutes in the car and feel a million times more confident than I did with a bare face. Not saying you need a full face of makeup to feel confident, sometimes all I do is mascara and a red lip, and even those two things alone make a world of difference. 

Comfy shoes: You will never catch me in a pair of heels these days, I gave up heels after a lifetime of working in heels while killing my feet and back, but I will step out in wedges on those days that call for a meeting or something more than my normal routine. And on those days I will always tuck my comfiest pair of shoes in my bag to change into as soon as I can. 

Sunbeam® Renue® Contoured Back Heating Pad: A new addition to my tote bag but one that has become an immediate must-have is this new Sunbeam® Renue® Heating Pad - which you can purchase at Walmart. If you suffer from back pain then you know how painful and hard it is to deal with it, especially when you're constantly on the go. For most women, there is no such thing as a day off. 

I've spent a lot of my working life on my feet and in high heeled shoes, and for the past 9 years I've spent a lot of time sitting in a desk chair and car without much movement throughout the day, making back pain a real thing for me. That's why I now carry my Sunbeam® Renue® Heating Pad with me because I can pop it on if I stop by my moms during the day, or in a pinch I can even use it in my car since I do have an outlet. 

The Sunbeam® Renue® Contoured Back Heating Pad provides targeted heat therapy that is clinically proven to relieve pain associated with muscle tension and stress. The pad’s contoured design is shaped specifically to fit the #1 area of pain for heating pad users, the lower back. The integrated waist strap helps keep the pad in place for hands-free, high-level heat therapy.

Sunbeam® Renue® Contoured Back Heating Pad Features:

• Additional Extender Waist Strap attached, stretches up to 85 inches
• 4 heat settings—low to high-level heat plus 2 hour auto-shut off.
• Entire pad is machine washable for easy care.
• Soft, Micromink fabric for added comfort.

Thirty minutes (or longer) at the end of the day with this heating pad on my back and I feel like a brand new woman. It's been such a great day to aliviate back pain without having to take extra pain relievers.  

I'm too busy to let back pain hold me back from living my life and getting things done, I am super stoked for the addition of the Sunbeam® Renue® Contoured Back Heating Pad in my life. With my tote bag, mobile office and heating pad in-hand, I am ready for whatever summer may bring. #NewellHomeRefresh

We Took the Purina ONE® 28-Day Challenge

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

Take your pet from “good” to “great”! With Purina ONE®, you could see visible differences in just 28 days—like strong teeth, vibrant energy, sparkling eyes, and a radiant coat. Make the switch today and save on Purina ONE® when you register for the 28-Day Challenge at www.walmart.com/purinaone. What differences will you see? Visit your local Walmart to redeem your offer and realize your pet’s potential*.

 *Save on ONE (1) 2.8-lb. or larger bag of Purina ONE® SmartBlend® Dry Dog Food, any variety, or 2.8-lb. or larger bag of Purina ONE® Dry Cat Food, any variety. While supplies last.

Our cats are a big part of the family and as they have gone from kittens to adults it's been important that we care for their health more than ever. It's definitely been a pleasure to watch these guys go from these furry bear looking kittens to these now long and black, panther-like cats. 

Aqua, the only male cat of the three, is especially susceptible to urinary tract problems so I was really interested in taking the Purina ONE 28-Day Challenge with him. We started the challenge by visiting our local Walmart and picking up a bag of Purina ONE® Urinary Tract Health for him. Crafted in Purina-owned facilities in the USA and with no poultry by-product meal, artificial colors flavors or preservatives, I was excited to see how he would take to this new food.

As you probably already know if you own any cats, when switching them to a new food it is always best to slowly introduce the new food, mixed it in with the old one. We did that for the first few days and then he was off on his own with the Purina ONE® Urinary Tract Health. 

Not once was there a complaint of unhappiness or crying for his old food, he has in fact really enjoyed the flavor of this new food. Every time he heard the rustling of the bag and his name called, you could see his excitement for meal time and his new food. 

The purposeful nutrition in every bag of Purina ONE helps support healthy energy in cats and by day 7 you could definitely see a more playful side of Aqua. He's not the most playful of cats but there's been a giddier side to him this past week. He's even had a few runs in the yard with his siblings on the days it hasn't rained.  

Purina ONE dry formulas are highly digestable and promote high nutrient absorption, so more nutrition goes to work inside your cat. More nutrition into this guys belly has meant a happier and more energy-filled cat. 

But definitely one of the more visible differences in Aqua is how healthy his coat is. You can actually see a difference is how thick it is too, which is really nice because we love a good black coat for snuggling and keeping him warm on these really cold days. 

Purina ONE provides him with omega-6 fatty acid, vitamins & minerals  in every bowl, which have lead to a beautiful coat and clear eyes. Crunchy kibble and calcium in every Purina ONE formula helps support strong, healthy teeth and gums, something else that is so important for raising healthy cats.

But of course the most important thing that we look for when choosing a food for any of our cats how it can support and promote their health. Purina PRO brings together the delicious flavor that our cat can enjoy, and because it's filled with all of the essential nutrients his body needs, he will lead a better life overall. 

We took the Purina ONE® 28-Day Challenge with our cat and are very happy with the results. It's so easy for you to take the challenge too, it's as easy as making the switch to one of the many Purina ONE foods available. Register for the 28-Day Challenge at www.walmart.com/purinaone.

Keeping the Kids Busy When You're Sick

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., Abreva, Emergen-C, Lipton, Robitussin and Theraflu. All opinions are mine alone. #SickDayTips #CollectiveBias

Life doesn't stop just because you're sick and when you have kids it can get hard to find time to take care of yourself while having to keep the children busy and entertained as well. Today I am going to share some of the ways that I keep my kiddos busy and happy so that I can get a little bit of downtime.

I am also going to share some of the products that I purchase at Ralphs to support my overall wellness.

I have been susceptible to cold sores ever since I can remember and Abreva® Pump Cold Sore and Fever Blister Treatment has been my go-to since it first launched some years ago. I've never fully understood the cause of a cold sore but I know that I am especially likely to get one during the colder months. Between the mixture of really low temps and having to run the heater indoor, I will usually get a few cold sores each winter.

If you've ever had a cold sore you know how uncomfortable the itch, pain and swelling can be. So even though I used to think Abreva® was on the pricey side, it's always been worth every single little penny and I am never without an open tube.

Purchase all of the above products at your local Ralphs store, where I stock up on mine.



And now that we have our wellness products at-the-ready, it’s time to get the kiddos busy with fun things to do so they can allow us a little bit of sick time to rest.

Encourage creativity: As a child I loved nothing more than a coloring book, a notebook and some crayons. Now as a mom and grandmother, I love to encourage these kiddos to get creative too. We have a container filled with everything they will need to get those creative juices flowing; they can do everything from color a page from a coloring book to publish their own newspaper, using our printer, blank paper and staples.

By luck my youngest is super creative and she also encourages the younger kids to get into the fun of creating even if it’s just getting the boys to color.

Reading time: There is nothing more joyful than a house full of kids where there is not a sound because all of the kids are busy reading. Reading is another habit that is highly encouraged in our household even if it means having to buy all of the latest books. And there is no better companion on sick day than a good book

Girl time: My daughter Sam is now 13 and so is my grandaughter ( I know, highly strange) and they are the best of friends. Since Sammy’s sisters were so much older than her when she was born she didn’t get a chance to do all those things most girl siblings do with each other but she didn’t actually miss anything because she has her niece, Darlene.

A perfect busy time activity for them when I am not feeling well and getting some rest is girl time activities, like doing their nails and even masking. Yes, thirteen year olds now mask! Sam was actually gifted a set of masks for the holidays and now these girls are practically full-grown teens doing their skincare and nails.

Board game action: While my oldest girls call board games “bored games”, these kiddos are super into them, which is so much fun. They will literally spend hours going through all of their board games, laughing and having a ton of fun with the little boys.

Technology hour: And of course we can’t forget to give the kids a little bit of tech time. Our kiddos love their tablets and iPods as much as other kids but because they also love to do so many other things, they only get an hour of tech time per day. Which is perfect for a little bit of bro on bro racing.

Overall we’ve got some pretty good kids and none of them are babies anymore, so for me it’s not overly hard to keep them busy while I take a sick day, I know it’s much harder when you have small ones. But I hope my tips along with product recommendations can help you stay well this cold and flu season. Find more inspiration and sick day tips at the social hub to help you stay feeling your best.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent disease.

Theraflu-(c) 2019 the GSK group of companies or its licensor. Theraflu is for use in adults 12 years and older.Use all products only as directed. Read label and follow directions. Abreva, Emergen-C, Robitussin - Use only as directed. Read label and follow directions.

What We Look for When Choosing Medicare Coverage for Mom

My mom is 82 years old and as she gets older, her health insurance coverage becomes even more important. Today, I have partnered with Anthem Blue Cross to talk about finding the right Medicare Advantage plan for my mom and what we look for when doing so. 

With prescriptions, visits to specialists and her regular doctor appointments, it's important that we find a plan that fits my mom’s budget. As is the case with many seniors, my mom lives on a very limited income. But while cost is very important when picking the right coverage for her, it's not the only thing we look at.

These are just some of the things we look for when choosing a new Medicare Advantage plan for my mom:

• Premium costs
• Prescription drug coverage 
• Out-of-pocket costs
• Access to doctors, specialists, and hospitals in the area that treat her specific needs
• Co-pays for: doctor visits, prescriptions, and hospital stays
• Other support and wellness services

Even though my mom lives with us and has family around her, our entire household goes to school and work for most of the day. That means that my mom can get lonely and restless without having much to do other than cook, clean (she is an avid cleaner who will clean her room daily) and watch tv. We don’t have other family living close by, so it is rare for her to have any visitors. I can see how needy she is for conversation and something to keep her active and busy. And - I can see the importance of giving her brain something to do other than watch television.

But other than me taking a day off of work to take her to her doctors and grocery shop, her weekdays can get pretty lonely. Access to an adult day center that includes transportation to and from is definitely something that would benefit her quality of life and is something that I would love to have access to for her.

Access to the right doctors, specialists, and hospitals is also a top priority for us when picking a Medicare Advantage plan, especially because we live in a small town with limited choices. That has actually been one of the biggest struggles for us since coming to live in this area: finding doctors who can deal with her specific needs. Just like parents of young children like to find the perfect pediatrician for their little one, we strive to find my mom the right doctor to deal with her many health issues.  

And of course, we can't forget about costs when picking a Medicare Advantage plan for mom. There are actually so many that it can be confusing and overwhelming to sort through them: premium costs, doctor visit copays, prescription co-pays, and other miscellaneous out-of-pocket costs. 

We look at all those numbers, especially the copays which can sometimes outweigh the premium costs. Those are the everyday costs that will add up the most and we need to keep them as low as possible.

Anthem Blue Cross is committed to offering Medicare Advantage plans that provide high-quality  care to seniors while also addressing other social and support needs that can impact good health, which is important. In 2019, Anthem and its affiliated plans, like Anthem Blue Cross, are offering a new package of benefits that provides wellness services! Included are healthy food delivery, health-related transportation services, adult day center visits to help reduce loneliness, personal home helpers to help with daily activities at home and even pain management.

Getting my mom to eat a healthier diet is definitely a struggle for us. She still cooks the majority of her meals and forgets about all of her health issues when doing so. Healthy food delivery is something that would definitely improve her health, even if she still cooked most of her meals. But she definitely needs an influx of healthier options every now and again, and food delivery would allow her to rest more. This is something I will definitely be looking into closely for my mom.  

Anthem Blue Cross knows that one of the best ways to help people live healthier is to lower barriers and make it easier for individuals to access items that address everyday health needs. Giving people the option of services, such as delivered meals or time at an adult day center may make it easier for them to better manage chronic conditions, engage more with their community, or avoid preventable health-related incidents.

I think a lot of us tend to forget about taking advantage of all the things our insurance plans offer, I know that I do that with myself. I only go to the doctor when absolutely necessary and forget to find out what else my plan can do for me. But I try to be better about it when it comes to my mom and will, from now on, focus on it even more. 

If you’re currently caring for an older parent or other loved one, like I am, services like health-related transportation, healthy meal deliveries and access to an adult center are definite strong points when choosing a plan for them. I don’t usually get excited when it’s time to once again delve into Medicare Advantage Plans with mom, but knowing about the additional benefits offered by Anthem Blue Cross, has me excited for the future. 

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Anthem Blue Cross, however all opinions are my own.