nature

Stay on the Path to Good Health this Year with a Nature’s Path Coconut Chia Tropical Smoothie Bowl-Giveaway #OnMyPath

January 26, 2016 by Kathryn 218 Comments

While a new year starts out with great intentions for many people, it’s usually around the end of January that resolve starts to fade and we start to slip in our attempts to stick to our new goals. Whether a bought of cold weather convinces you to skip that run or an especially busy week has you reaching for the phone to order takeout instead of cooking at home, little stumbles don’t have to mean the end of good intentions! And this year, Nature’s Path wants to help keep you on the path to good health.

First of all, try making this Coconut Chia Tropical Smoothie Bowl! Packed with fruit, yogurt and delicious Nature’s Path granola, it’s a breakfast that will have you feeling full and energized all day. Personally, I love how easy this recipe is to customize with different fresh and frozen fruit!

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Get Inspired to Meet Your Goals for 2016 with Top Titles from Netflix #StreamTeam

January 18, 2016 by Kathryn 5 Comments

I’ve already shared quite a few of my goals for 2016, and one of my top ones is to do more traveling. With all the changes that took place in my life in 2015, travel had to take a bit of a back seat. But now that my house has been sold, the plans are in place for our move to Ontario and my boys are settled in for the rest of the school year, I have time to focus on fitting more travel into our lives. And to keep me inspired about my goal, I’m turning to Netflix Canada!

I’ve long been a fan of the many great documentaries on Netflix, and I’m not the only one. My oldest son first started watching documentaries when he was just five years old; I remember coming downstairs one morning to find him completely enthralled by a program on the Galapagos Islands. I was so happy that he was interested in the world outside our own small town! [Read more…]

Join the Nature Valley #RediscoverNature Day on September 20 and You Could Win a Trip to Banff National Park-Giveaway

September 10, 2015 by Kathryn 139 Comments

Growing up in the lush Qu’Appelle Valley on the Saskatchewan prairies has meant that nature has always been very important to me. The unique flora and fauna of the area is fascinating to me, whether I’m throwing seeds from ash trees into the air and watching them spin like helicopters to the ground or picking tiny, tart buffalo berries for a snack while hiking.

I’ve tried to share as much of my love of nature with my boys as possible, but there’s no question that doing so is harder with today’s generation. Zackary and Benjamin are more interested in watching cartoons and video games than squirrels and birds. And between school, work and extra-curricular activities, none of us have as much free time to spend outdoors as I’d like either.

That’s why I’m so excited about the upcoming Rediscover Nature Day created by Nature Valley and the non-profit organization Take Me Outside, on September 20, 2015. Nature Valley is a company that understands the importance of exploring nature, and created an informative and emotional 3 Generations video showing just how much we’re losing touch with nature as the generations pass. Rediscover Nature Day is a chance to get outside with the family and see how many fabulous activities and learning opportunities the great outdoors has to offer! [Read more…]

Teach Kids About the Earth with Help from EnviroKidz-Giveaway

June 30, 2015 by Kathryn 120 Comments

One of the things I love about my house is the fact that the yard is big enough for a garden. I enjoy growing my own vegetables each year for so many different reasons. The taste is so much better, I don’t have to worry about pesticides and chemicals on produce and I can save money on my weekly grocery bill. What more could any health-conscious mom on a budget ask for?

But in addition to all those benefits, planting a garden is also a great way to teach children about the importance of plants in our environment. And that’s why I love that EnviroKidz is so passionate about encouraging kids to learn about the earth and the way it sustains us and our animal friends. In fact, the company is doing that in a very fun way this year with a prize pack that will let kids get their hands dirty and grow something tasty! [Read more…]

Teach Kids About Nature with Jessie Farrell’s Children’s CD Take Me Outside-Giveaway

May 13, 2015 by Kathryn 34 Comments

It’s been quite some time since I’ve discovered a great new children’s musician, but recently I was lucky enough to discover the upbeat music of award-winning Canadian singer Jessie Farrell. Her new children’s CD, Take Me Outside, is a collection of thirteen fun songs that are perfect for celebrating the beauty and magic of spring.

I have a love of folk music, so the mellow country/folk style of Jessie’s songs is one that immediately appealed. The songs were catchy and embraced both a love of nature and of spending time together as a family. With kid-friendly themes ranging from mud pies to the moon, these songs offer appeal to both adults and children, something that I always appreciate.

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Three Ways You Should Make Time for Yourself on Mother’s Day and All Year Long-Giveaway #ONatural

May 12, 2015 by Kathryn 95 Comments

With Mother’s Day just having passed, moms around Canada finally had the chance to kick back and enjoy some much-needed rest and relaxation. And having recharged a bit myself, I’ve realized that moms have a very common tendency of putting themselves last. But when it comes to being a parent, taking care of ourselves means more time, energy and patience to deal with our kids. A happy, healthy mom makes the entire family stronger!

I’ve always been bad for neglecting my own needs in favour of my boys, but over the last year or so, I’ve really made a conscious effort to change that and the difference in my energy and patience levels have been amazing! In my opinion, these are three things that every mom should be making time for:

Make Time for Breakfast

The importance of breakfast has been proven time and time again, yet still so many women wake up, pour a cup of coffee, make a meal for their children and never take a bite themselves. I was one of the absolute worst culprits for this, even months after making regular breakfast one of my goals. I’ve finally managed to get into the routine thanks to two things: Orange Naturals ND Shake for Women and the MyFitnessPal app. Whipping up a quick shake in the morning is so easy with the help of my immersion blender, a little fruit, some yogurt, milk or even just water. My personal favourite combination is a Chocolate Strawberry Shake made with ½ cup of frozen strawberries, ½ cup of plain yogurt, ½ cup of milk and two scoops of ND Shake for Women Chocolate. Yet even with such a tasty breakfast to anticipate, I’d sometimes get rushed and skip breakfast anyways. The MyFitnessPal app made all the difference. A morning notification to provide me with motivation to record my breakfast on the app has helped me keep the habit once and for all, while the shakes give me energy that lasts all day! [Read more…]

Nature’s Path EnviroKidz Cereal Makes Breakfast Delicious, Healthy and Eco-Friendly-Giveaway

May 23, 2014 by Kathryn 181 Comments

When it comes to breakfast, I really can’t go wrong giving my boys cereal. They love almost any variety of cold breakfast cereal and as an added bonus for me, Zackary is old enough now to pour out cereal and milk for himself and his brother! But when I’m choosing breakfast cereal for my boys, I ideally want to use a brand that has natural, wholesome ingredients and no artificial colours or flavours. And Nature’s Path EnviroKidz cereal is the perfect choice. EnviroKidz cereal is certified organic, non-GMO, gluten free and made with whole grain. Even better, the company recently released two brand new varieties of EnviroKidz cereal: Choco Chimps and Jungle Crunch!

Nature’s Path very generously sent me a fabulous review package of EnviroKidz cereal and cereal bars. My boys were so excited to see the boxes featuring various animals and couldn’t wait to try out the cereal. They decided that Choco Chimps cereal was going to be the variety that they tried first. They loved the sweet crunchy corn cereal with a fun chocolate flavour, and I loved that they were getting a nutritious breakfast free of any artificial ingredients. [Read more…]

Pledge to Snack Healthy in 2014 with Taste of Nature Food Bars-Giveaway #RealTastesGood

January 24, 2014 by Kathryn 266 Comments

For the most part, I eat fairly healthy. I love fruits and vegetables, eat plenty of lean protein and healthy fats and limit heavily processed foods. But I do have a few weaknesses and one is chocolate. I have a bad habit of reacting to that dreaded afternoon slump by immediately reaching for a few of my very favourite chocolates and a cup of coffee in an attempt to perk myself up. Of course, it’s a very temporary fix and by early evening I’m usually battling exhaustion again.

But Taste of Nature wants to change all that for me by asking Canadians to Take the Pledge to Snack Healthy in 2014! In a recent survey conducted by Taste of Nature, almost half of Canadians felt that replacing one snack per day with a healthy alternative was a manageable way to live a healthier lifestyle. But nearly three-quarters of those surveyed said that great taste was essential for satisfying a snack craving. That’s why Taste of Nature bars are the perfect solution! [Read more…]