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Category Archives: Holidays

Valentine’s #DateNight Ready

09 Friday Feb 2018

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Beauty, date night ideas, Fashion, Holidays, Product Reviews, Shopping, Uncategorized

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Advanced Cell Renewal Night Creme, CATRICE Cosmetics, date-night, fibi & clo, jewelry, makeup, necklaces, Night Cream, PUR attitude, sparkle, Ulta, Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! I’m feelin’ extra lovey-dovey this year, with my new lil’ guy here in my arms. Our newborn son is the sweetest cuddliest Valentine I could ask for! Since family will be in town helping with baby, I have this crazy idea that the hubs & I will be able to sneak out for a nice dinner BUT in reality, that might actually be a quick run out to the fro-yo shop 🙂 However the evening plays out, I want to make Feb. 14th feel somewhat romantical during this trying transitional period known as the newborn stage. It’s helped me to do some little things to feel pretty & vibrant these days, even if I am sleep deprived & a tad hormonal. Even if it’s just a date night in, here are some fun things I’m using to get Valentine’s date night ready…

Add Some Sparkle:  I love how necklaces dress up a basic tee like magic. I’m relying on them to be a quick outfit pick-me-up when all I want to wear these days are comfy clothes. Y’all may have heard of fibi & clo, a women’s shoe and accessories brand that offers unique and eye-catching sparkly designs. As Valentine’s Day quickly approaches, jewelry gift ideas can come in large supply, but when they are affordable and on trend – even better. They recently released an all-new line of jewelry that is purposefully paired with their signature sandals. I recently got the Seahorn Necklace & the Montauk Necklace ($55 each) and am fawning over the amount of semi-precious stones on each…so sparkly!fibi & clo jewelry

Putting on a Fresh Face:  One of the rituals I’ve tried to keep up with post-delivery is putting on my makeup. I’m a makeup-lovin’ girl, and for me, it’s something about getting ready for the day & putting on a fresh face of make up that makes me feel like normal again. Even if I’m not leaving the house, the process just helps me feel good about myself. I received a shipment of a new-to-me makeup line, CATRICE Cosmetics, and I have to say: I’m impressed with both the product and price point. Catrice CosmeticsIf you’re not familiar with CATRICE, they are a European brand who just launched stateside. Originally from Germany, they are now available in 60 countries world wide and expanding to 300 ULTA locations in the U.S. this year. CATRICE is known for being a luxury product at an amazing price point, offering a wide range of complexion, eye and lip products, featuring luxury packaging, innovative ingredients and beautiful, on-trend shades.

New Night Cream:  One of my favorite non-toxic skincare lines, PUR attitude, has just released Advanced Cell Renewal Night Crème, a high-performance anti-aging cream that delivers key ingredients into the skin overnight via a natural polymer time-released technology.Night Creme While the health benefits of eating fermented, probiotic foods are widely accepted in the food industry at this time, their use in skin care is relatively new. Fermenting natural oils restructures complex molecules, transforming them into tiny “superfoods” for the skin, providing faster absorption that results in healthier, younger-looking skin. Advanced Cell Renewal Night Crème uses a fermented olive oil for superior performance. –Kind of like Kombucha for the skin!

 

 

Prepping for a New You in the New Year

23 Saturday Dec 2017

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Fitness, health & wellness, Holidays, Pregnancy, Product Reviews, Shopping, Snacks

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Tags

Arivale, Beat Your Genes, Mamaste, New Year, New Year's Resolution, New You, Protein Bar, Salty Unicorn, thinkThin, Weight loss, yoga, yoga gear

As we’re in the thick of holiday parties & Christmas cooking, who else is thinking about dietary & fitness changes they’ll make in 2018? I’m making a conscious choice to indulge now, because 1.) I’m pregnant and giving myself permission to enjoy whatever I want and 2.) it’s the holiday season — my approach is not to restrain myself completely but enjoy all the sweets & dips in moderation. However, I am already feeling that need to get back into a more disciplined lifestyle after the holiday season winds down. Plus, in anticipation of the birth of my son, I know prioritizing healthy eating/sleeping/exercise is huge in postpartum recovery. Here are some things I’m prepping with:

A Data-Driven Approach:  Need a last minute gift idea? Hook your loved ones up with an Arivale Weight Loss kit, offered now through Christmas at a deep discounted price for a healthy 2018. Arivale, a scientific approach to personal health & wellness helps manage holiday weight battles and seasonal stressors with discounts on one of its most popular programs. The Arivale Weight Loss program is $19 each through December 25*. This is 80% off the list price of $99. Both programs come with one coaching call with a Registered Dietician to help you translate your data into action.Stocking Stuffers

  • Beat Your Genes – Weight Loss ($19)
    • Find out if you are genetically predisposed to be sensitive to carbs or saturated fat
    • Should you be eating a lower carbohydrate diet or a lower fat diet?
    • Discover what the optimal diet might be for you
    • Visit www.helix.com/shop/arivale-beat-your-genes to purchase

*Offer ends at December 25, 2017 at 12:00 am PST.

Local Yoga Gear: I’ve found a new mom-friendly yoga apparel brand that I love! Based out of New Braunfels, TX, Salty Unicorn Brand is a unique apparel line that focuses on Moms, Yoga and Texas and is proud to announce it’s new line of Texas yoga tanks and tees just in time for the holiday season. The company prides itself on crafting unique one-of-a-kind Texas and Mom-centric yoga goodies. Salty Unicorn has been producing shirts for moms since 2016, and after seeing the impact made through the Mamaste: the mom in me honors the mom in you campaign, the company decided to foster that same community connection through another unifier, Texas.Salty Unicorn

Protein in my purse: Have y’all tried thinkThin bars? I’m really picky about my protein bars (I gag on most of them!) but these are so yummy and high in protein content! Right now, they’ve brought back their seasonal flavor offerings for a limited time, including top-seller Pumpkin Spice, with notes of pumpkin spice, cinnamon & white chocolate. Alongside the fan-favorite flavor, they’re also offering Dark Chocolate Peppermint. Each seasonally inspired Protein & Fiber Bar provides 10 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber in an individually wrapped 150-calorie bar. thinkThin

 

 

The Practical Father’s Day Gift Guide

13 Tuesday Jun 2017

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Au Naturale, Dapper Dad, Fitness, Holidays, Married Life, Product Reviews, Travel

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Alkaline Water, Alkalizing Water Treatment, caffeinated soap, DirtyBird Energy Bar, ENERGYbits, Father's Day, Father's Day Gift Guide, Practical Gifts for Dad, spirulina supplements, Summer Travel

After nine years of married life, my husband and I have evolved into gifting each other more practical, useful gifts for the holidays. Case in point:  we recently celebrated a wedding anniversary and our gift to each other was a new vacuum. –Seriously. It was a really nice hi-tech vacuum, but a household cleaning device nonetheless. We figure, we have everything we need and buy ourselves what we want –within reason and many times after each other’s counsel. Now, for milestone birthdays & anniversaries, we favor the gift of experiences:  i.e. international travel, concerts, weekend staycations, etc. But especially since becoming parents, for those “greeting card holidays” like Valentine’s Day & Mother’s/Father’s Day, we appreciate unique everyday gifts that are consumable and practical. For starters, he’s asked for a tub of Tacodeli’s “Dona” sauce (now available at Whole Foods Market!) and it’s already in the fridge waiting for him. Here are some other ideas:

For the Clean Freak Dad:  Caffeinated soap. DirtyBird Energy is dedicated to creating products to help productivity for active, busy lifestyles. Whether it is at the office, during a workout, or raising children, they want to help everyone be at their best and most productive. Each DirtyBird Energy Bar is infused with ingredients to help achieve this goal.Dirty Bird—The Energy Soap bars are infused with caffeine and peppermint oil to energize the body and mind. Scientific studies show caffeine absorbs through pores and hair follicles, which will energize the body even before your first cup of coffee in the morning.

—The Relax Soap bars are infused with lavender, chamomile, rosemary, and ylang ylang essential oils. Each of these oils absorbs to relax the body and mind as well as soothe the skin. An evening shower with Relax helps to promote a restful sleep allowing him to wake up refreshed & ready for the day ahead.

And the soap isn’t the only thing that’s special! Each soap comes packaged in a patented reusable container that snaps shut and allows Dad to take his soap anywhere (the gym, camping, vacation, etc.) or use it to keep other goodies in. And DirtyBird Energy is proudly made in the U.S.A. — another plus! DirtyBird Energy Soaps are available in singles, a 2-pack variety, 6 packs or in a monthly subscription, delivered right to his doorstep every month.

For the Traveling Dad:  Alkaline water. With summer around the corner, the whole family will be drinking a lot more water. These alkalizing sachets by Coral LLC help raise the pH of his drinking water, buffer chlorine, and add Vitamin C & antioxidants by way of ionic trace minerals. This is a great thing to pack in his backpack during summer travel — useful for weekend camping trips and international excursions alike (both places where the tap water can be suspect!)Alkaline waterI especially love their portability — perfect for amping up water fountain tap water when refilling your reusable water bottle. Whether at home or on the go, the convenient mineral sachets can easily transform ordinary water—bottled or treated—into a boosted beverage that may help support optimal energy and hydration. Alkalized water has also been known to help the body maintain a healthy pH balance, hydration level, and metabolism, as well as support natural detoxification.

For the Dad Who Does It All:  Spirulina supplements. ENERGYbits spirulina tablets fire up your thinking, improve your alertness and protect your brain health all WITHOUT caffeine, chemicals, sugar or gluten. After his big day, RECOVERYbits step in by speeding muscle recovery. These supplements are a 1-2 punch that will improve everything Dad does, from his golf game to his career. Recovery BitsHe’ll love how razor-sharp his thinking gets with ENERGYbits and it’s all thanks to their high concentration of healthy fatty acids, plant-protein, chlorophyll and B vitamins, with no caffeine, chemicals or sugar. These tiny little algae tablets are the healthiest way for everyone to focus better, recover quick, and work smarter not harder. Show your dad (and yourself) some love this Father’s Day and feed your brain with bits. One size fits all!

 

What Moms REALLY Want for Mother’s Day

01 Monday May 2017

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in date night ideas, Everyday Joie, Holidays, Married Life, Motherhood, Product Reviews

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Backpack Wine, Child Care Credit, Drop-off Childcare, gifts, little luxuries, Mother's Day, Parents Night Out, self-care, Toybrary Austin, Wine

Hint:  it’s not flowers. It’s not chocolates. It’s not a store-bought greeting card. Many moms are over-scheduled, burdened by the day-to-day routine, and weary wearing the hat of caregiver for the whole family. We mamas keep this ship afloat, fo’ real. While we manage it all and love doing it, sometimes it’s a little overwhelming being everything to everyone. Sure, our hearts melt at a hand-crafted creation made with love from the littles but Dadas, consider breaking from the traditional gifts this Mother’s Day:

–What service would provide a momentary vacation from her daily responsibilities at home?

–What hobby did she enjoy pre-kids but is kinda missing out on these days?

–What is a luxury she could use & enjoy but just simply would not buy for herself?

Yes, her heart is bursting with love for your family, but what about the refreshing power of time for herself? –Self-care isn’t selfish! A long brunch with the girls, a week of dinners delivered-in, a surprise mani-pedi appt. — these are just a few thought starters. It doesn’t even have to be fancy or expensive…a drawn bubble bath or a morning to sleep-in goes a long way.  I’ve rounded up a couple more ideas below:

A Toast:  Breakfast in bed is certainly a treat, but a glass of rose’ is even better! Pour, serve, and cheers to her. After the kids go down to bed, escort her out to the back patio…think about & share a few words about what she means to the family or what you love about her as a mom. Perfect for sunset-watching and porch-rocking, these new canned wines are portable, safe around the pool, and easy to pair with even the most casual of meals from the grill. Backpack WineThe Chicago-based Backpack debuted in September and is available in two blend varieties, Cheek Rose’ and Snappy White, in four-can packs. Backpack Wine offers a unique combo of great-tasting, quality wine in an approachable, rebellious and fresh manner.

Adults-only:  Ok, family time is the BEST but we all could use a little adult-interaction from time to time. –We need to talk predictions for Game of Throne’s last season with people who are actually allowed to watch the show! Child-care cards from Toybrary hold a $25 value, which can go toward daytime drop-in care during the week or Parents Night Out on Saturday evenings. Date-night? Summer blockbuster on the big screen? Appt. at the blow-dry bar? –The gift of a child-free excursion is up to her! Whether she’s thinking a couple’s candlelit dinner or lunch with the ladies, these gift cards are little tokens of your support toward her independence. Might just give her the push she needs to get out there and reconnect with an old friend or try that new restaurant in town.Child Care Cards

 

Making Winter Birthdays Special for Kids

04 Wednesday Jan 2017

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Austin, Texas, Baby Girl A, Dining, Everyday Joie, Gatherings, Holidays, Motherhood

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birthday parties, brisket, Dos Chivos, First birthday, Franklin Barbeque, Little Land Play Gym, Mr. Will, Second birthday, Texas Two Step, winter birthdays

frist-bday-cakeThey’ve just opened a plethora of presents under the tree and were drug to more holiday events than they can count.  As much as we try to make them feel special and not forgotten after the Christmas chaos, winter birthdays aren’t the best. Everyone’s coming down from that yule-tide high and ready to just #NetflixandChill. After those packed schedules that come with the holiday season, people are beginning to settle back into their regular routine and at this point, are frankly partied-out.

Personally, my summer birthday was awesome: close enough to the end of the school year to keep in touch with friends on event details, yet everyone was already bored & eager to gather for something fun, and there were boundless ideas for celebrating in the summer sun…I vividly remember amazing birthdays spent at the wave pool, the water park, and more.little-land-pic-1But what to do when the dreary days of January & February have most of us ready to hit the fast forward button to Easter? My little one has an early January birthday and last year I kept it low-key for her first birthday celebration. Admittedly, that approach was due to me feeling like I was still getting my shit together has a new mom and couldn’t fathom adding party planning into the mix. So we went for something small and intimate, no guest list to manage, no decorations to fuss over. I have a little twinge of mom-guilt over it, but we ended up skipping the traditional 1st bday party in lieu of a morning of simply doing an activity she loved. We chose to spend a couple hours at Little Land Play Gym before a Tex-Mex lunch with my parents joining us. A true Texas babe, her first birthday dessert was an avocado tres leches cake from Dos Chivos.little-land-pic-2This year, I am kinda taking the opposite approach…  Thankfully it is now in my capacity to take it up a few notches for her second birthday. We’re throwing our little one a Texas “2”-Step themed party. To kick things off, we are hosting local children’s music artist “Mr. Will” Dupuy for a live performance at our home. Y’all, he’s soooooo good: his kids songs sung with a Texas-country twang, laid back cowboy style, and jokes for the parents that go over the little one’s heads make for a kids concert that all attendees will enjoy. My daughter Alexandra has one of his branded t-shirts and whenever she sees it, she starts singing Wheels on the Bus…it’s super cute BUT…imagine how she’s going to flip her lid when she sees him live and in concert right from her living room!mr-will-picLunch will be catered by Austin’s famous Franklin Barbecue. –Have y’all tried their brisket? Some swear it’s the absolute best in Texas. This Eastside joint is a favorite of President Obama, celebrities, and famous chefs. However, due to their 2-hour wait (like at least 2 hours standing outside in line, with no guarantee that there will be any left for you when it’s your turn to order), we’ve never tasted its deliciousness in the 5 years we’ve lived here. There is a workaround, though: Pre-Orders. Place your large catering order online in advance and walk right up to pick it up at the designated time your choose. –Score!

Now, I know random things like Cedar Fever, toddler tantrums (these have officially started for us!), and last-minute guest cancellations can possibly put a damper on the day, but I’m hoping we fondly remember her epic second birthday party. I’m unabashedly looking forward to a pretty fantastic morning of music and BBQ. However we choose to celebrate birthdays, wether it be small & intimate or over-the-top, I hope my little one grows up knowing how valued she is each and every day of the year.

 

Staying Healthy Through the Holidays

07 Wednesday Dec 2016

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Everyday Joie, Holidays, Product Reviews, Shopping

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Chloraseptic, coconut water, Cold & Flu Season, Hand and Stone, HartFelt 360 Toothbrush, Holiday Season, hydration, INVO Coconut Water, massage, self-care, sore throat, throat lozenges, toothbrushes

It’s that time of year:  with every kiss under the mistletoe comes a little cough…where holiday gatherings inevitably bring along the sniffles…when those quick gift runs result in a sneeze session.  Unfortunately the holiday season is also known as cold & flu season.  While a trip to the doctor might be needed when you come down with something nasty, I wanted to share a few “stay healthy” tips & tricks to help survive the season symptom-free.

Indulge in a little Self-care:  A relaxing escape, an expert massage service is a tool to keep you sane amidst the inevitable chaos of Christmas.  A professional one-hour massage is the perfect way to de-stress and for your first visit, Hand and Stone offers them for just $49.95!  Hand & Stone is a 275-plus unit massage and facial spa franchise with a mission to bring massage and facial services to the masses.  Is there one in your ‘hood?  With locations in 29 states and Canada, they make it super-easy to squeeze in an appointment time that works with your packed schedule.  Do it!  This is the best gift you could give yourself as we lead up to the busy holiday season.

Change out those Toothbrushes:  Has anyone ever told ya to switch out your toothbrush whenever you catch a cold?  –Not sure if there is any scientific evidence behind that advice but I think there is something to it!  Regardless, no one can deny the importance of oral health and its connection to our overall well-being.  Besides the obvious benefits of oral hygiene, did you know a clean mouth means warding off potential non-oral health problems, like heart attack, stroke and even preterm labor?  As the ADA reports, a healthy mouth means a healthy body.360-toothbrushThe HartFelt 360 Toothbrush is the world’s first 360 degree toothbrush and revolutionizes your brushing experience with unparalleled cleaning power.

  • Cleans more than twice the amount of plaque than a standard manual toothbrush
  • Effective without the use of toothpaste! (Perfect for my tiny tot…her doc has advised holding off on toothpaste until after age 2)
  • Ensures proper brushing

Be Prepared:  Stock up that medicine cabinet now, because there’s nothing worse than being sick during the holidays.  Fortunately, for those of us under the weather, there’s Chloraseptic, the #1 sore throat relief brand.  Have their throat lozenges on hand when you travel, too.  The air on airplanes is very dry – which can cause a sore, scratchy throat. These berry-flavored lozenges are a yummy, fast-acting method to soothe coughs & keep your throat feeling great.chloraseptic

Stay Hydrated!:  As the days become shorter and the temperatures drop below freezing, it’s only natural to daydream about a tropical vacation. But when traveling isn’t possible, INVO Coconut Water “Tropical” can transport you to the beach without ever leaving your home or office.coconut-waterINVO Tropical is packed with 5 essential electrolytes, low in sugar and 99% fat free. With a great source of vitamins C and B, INVO’s cold pasteurization process locks in all the nutrients, giving that freshly cracked coconut experience, just as nature intended. It is never frozen, never heated and has nothing artificial added, making it a healthy beverage choice to experience the tropics without the guilt.

 

Alternative Christmas Gift Idea for Families with Kids: Memberships & Season Passes

29 Tuesday Nov 2016

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Austin, Texas, Baby Girl A, Holidays, Motherhood, Shopping

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Children's Museums, Christmas gifts, Christmas list, Christmas shopping, gifts for families, Memberships, Merry Christmas, Season Pass, Thinkery, toy-lending library, Toybrary

That Hatchimal on their Christmas list gone out of stock?  Tired of kids with their eyeballs glued to a video game?  Or (in our case), does your toddler actually play with the box more than the toy inside?  Consider giving the gift of shared experiences this year!  –Not only shared experiences, but a gift the whole family can use year ’round.  I’m talking about the gift of memberships:  wether it be season passes to a local amusement park or an annual family admission package to their local zoo; memberships are a unique way to ensure you give the gift that keeps on giving.  Here are a couple GREAT options local to Austin:

  1.  Thinkery:  thinkery-2Austin’s official children’s museum is a wealth of opportunity for fun & learning for families with kids of all ages & stages.  They put on a slew of summer camps, reserve a “Baby Bloomers” morning just for the littlest crawlers, host a number of special events throughout the year, etc.  As my “Community Placement” with Junior League of Austin, I volunteered there a couple years ago to help with summer camps and kinda feel in love with the place.  Their exhibits are rooted in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) education — it’s almost as if you can see the little cogs spinning in their minds as they interact & play.  The Family Membership is $99/year and grants general admission for a family of four at each visit BUT there are a number of pricing options to suit each family’s needs, including monthly giving.thinkery-1
  2. Toybrary:  A library is to books as Toybrary is to toys. –Super-cool concept, right!?  Toybrary is a toy-lending library and kids’ birthday party venue that also offers drop-in childcare.  Parents and children can stay & play and then check-out their favorite pieces to take home for awhile.  toybrary-1Here’s the dollar-by-dollar breakdown:  the average family in the U.S. spends $740 a year on toys if they have one child, and $1,200 a year on toys if they have two children. (PRWeb.com)  With Toybrary memberships at $40 per month & a year’s membership adding up to $420, the savings most families see is over $300 per year!  If you go once a week, and check out 3 toys each time, the kids get to use 12 toys per month.  But don’t forget, families can visit and exchange toys as often as they like.Toybrary 2.jpg

Highlights from our family holiday photo shoot {the greenhouse}

01 Tuesday Nov 2016

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Austin, Texas, Baby Girl A, Dapper Dad, Holidays

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Christmas cards, East Austin, family holiday photos, greenhouse, Keep Austin Weird, Laura Morsman Photography, Merry Christmas, photo shoot, secret theater, Sekrit Theatre

Well, it’s November 1st.  Halloween is behind us.  The holiday season has begun!  Our family Christmas cards actually arrived from the printer’s last night, marking the occasion perfectly.  I went out around 10 p.m. to bring in the candy bowl and found the box sitting on the porch…my own little trick-or-treat surprise!dsc_3564We recently had the special opportunity to shoot our family holiday photos at Sekrit Theatre located in East Austin.  Our amazing photographer Laura Morsman had the contact & found the location, which is 2-acres of greenhouse, gardens, fountains, and artistic touches at every turn.  dsc_3572-2Although it’s private property and you do need an appt./permission to shoot there, I spoke with the owner at length before our session & he is opening it up as much as he can for photos.  The venue (his home) is his labor of love and called it like a cultural center…holding weddings there is donation-based, for example.
dsc_3602-2It’s sad, really:  due to some city zoning issues & complaints from neighbors, it’ll probably get all torn down and turned into condos soon.  You can read more about the plight of the our community’s “secret theater” here.  Go visit this little Austin gem while it’s still around! dsc_3674-2Today, I’m sharing photos from inside the greenhouse, but more moments from the rest of our shoot will be shared here on the blog & on my Instagram in the coming weeks.  THANK YOU Laura Morsman Photography!!!dsc_3781-2

Life[style]: Oct. ’16 — This Halloween, Trick the Kids with Treats that are Healthy

17 Monday Oct 2016

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Au Naturale, Holidays, Product Reviews, Shopping, Snacks

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breakfast bars, Crispy Fruit, Crispy Green, freeze-dried fruit, GoMacro, Halloween, Halloween candy, healthy snacks, HOPE Foods, hummus, kid-friendly foods, snack bars, Thrive, whole foods market

It’s that time of year again…stores are pushing bags upon bags of that infamous Halloween candy. Sure, they’re festive & wrapped in devilishly attractive orange & black packaging, but don’t be tricked into buying extra treats filled with shocking amounts of sugar and a ton of chemical ingredients you can’t even pronounce. With Oct. 31st a mere two weeks away, I shudder to think about the mountain of artificially colored & sweetened candy that will be at our family’s fingertips. So, I figure it’s no better time than the present to showcase some new healthy snack options to hit the market — call it a little pre-Halloween damage control. Best of all:  everything here is kid-friendly and portable for life on-the-go! Stock up on these healthy offerings to provide a quick hunger-curbing option to reach for over all that leftover Halloween candy:

Thrive by GoMacro:  GoMacro is a family-owned vegan company that was started by a mother-daughter team on their organic farm in Southwest Wisconsin. While you may be familiar with their original MacroBars, they have launched a delicious new line of plant-based bars called Thrive.go-macroThrive are made up of a superfood ancient grain blend, are all less than 200 calories and provide plant-based protein, essential fatty acids, and prebiotic fiber to fuel your body and mind. Like all GoMacro products, Thrive are USDA-Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Kosher, Gluten-Free certified, 100% Vegan, and soy-free. Thrive is currently available to purchase online and will become available at Whole Foods Market locations this month.  *Special discount for Blog Joie de Vivre readers:  Use code Thrive30 for 30% off of your purchase for Thrive at GoMacro’s online store.

HOPE Foods hummus:  Whatever your tastebuds are craving, HOPE has tons of mouthwatering flavors to give you total satisfaction. Featuring unique flavors such as Spicy Avocado, Chocolate, Thai Coconut Curry and more, this label has pioneered adventurous flavors in the hummus category.
hope-hummusA healthy alternative to other fattening dips on the market, HOPE makes a terrific snack for the whole family. Eat it with pita chips, vegetables or try one of their mouth-watering recipes — from mashed potatoes to jalapeño cilantro cornbread, the possibilities are endless! Organic, dairy-free, and vegan-approved, this creamy hummus dip uses a state of the art High Pressure Processing (HPP) technique. Instead of using heat pasteurization which can fill hummus with tons of unwanted preservatives, they ensure the best quality hummus by using cold-pressure technology. You can find HOPE hummus at natural grocers like Whole Foods Market & Sprouts, as well as many conventional retailers like Safeway & Price Chopper.

Crispy Fruit:  Have you tried a bag of these freeze-dried fruit snacks from Crispy Green? There’s just one nutritious ingredient in every bag:  fruit. That’s right, 100% pure fruit, nothing else. Their freeze-drying process produces delicate slices that snack like a chip, but contain the perfect balance of flavor & nutrients provided by mother nature – making it both delicious AND healthy.
crispy-greenLightweight and long-lasting (no refrigeration necessary), the all-natural, Non-GMO Project-verified snack is ideal for Halloween, but also perfect for school lunches and extracurricular activities for kids (and parents) constantly on the go. There are NO skeletons in the closet here – Crispy Fruit has no cholesterol or fat, no added sugar, is free of additives and preservatives, is nut-free, Kosher certified and has a long shelf life. Crispy Fruit is available online and in retailers such as The Fresh Market, Harris Teeter, ShopRite, Safeway and selected Whole Foods Markets.

National Taco Day: free fajita tacos & fundraiser for Austin Children’s Shelter

04 Tuesday Oct 2016

Posted by blogjoiedevivre in Charity Events, Dining, Holidays

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Austin, charity, for a good cause, free stuff, fundraisers, National Taco Day, tacos, Tex-Mex

Calling all my Tex-Mex lovers:  Today is National Taco Day!  Whew, I’ve never lived in a city with so many taco places:  from the fancy modern (La Condesa), to the trailer park (Torchy’s) to the drive-thru (Taco Cabana) — it’s head-spinning!  When I first moved to Austin, I would baffle at how there was a various taco option for every meal of the day.  Well, to celebrate today’s occasion, Austin Taco Cabanas will offer guests one FREE Chicken Fajita Taco from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4. ntd-image-1This event will also celebrate the launch of Taco Cabana’s month-long fundraiser, Taco Treat, to benefit the Austin Children’s Shelter.  Throughout October, local Taco Cabana guests can help raise money for the charity by purchasing $1 coupon books.  Coupon booklets include five free bean and cheese tacos and a buy-one-get-one Dr Pepper fountain drink – a $7 value, with 100% of the proceeds going to the organization.  So go ahead & grab some tacos for lunch AND dinner today — c’mon, it’s for the kids! 😉ntd-image-2

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