Nourish What's Next With Kellogg's® Special K® And Our DIY Pour Paint Zen Garden

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Momma Told Me: Take a step back to re-center yourself.

This year has been nothing short of a whirlwind so far. 

A string of bad luck in the first quarter of the year had me overwhelmed and ready to thrown in the towel on 2016- Do you ever have those times when you feel like just calling out of work for the week and sinking into the couch with a quart of ice cream? It doesn't sound good, but that's what defeated feels like, and I was good and there. Then, as it turned out, a string of unfortunate events began occurring to those around me, and I switched gears almost overnight- where as I had felt overwhelmed by my burdens and obstacles, I was not immediately empowered by the desire and need to help others overcome theirs. I no longer had time to wallow in pity for myself, and was instantly inspired to pull myself up, so that I could also be of strength and support to others.

You see I'm a 'yes' woman- I thrive on setting goals, tackling obstacles, and, especially, helping others. When I saw my friends and family were struggling with problems of their own I immediately 'snapped' out of my own funk and found myself once again.

But giving so much of one's energy and resources can be emotionally and physically draining. Where I was instantly energized by the immediate need for problem solving and support giving, I was also, unintentionally, putting some of my own welfare and needs on the back burner unknowingly. Much like a mother often finds herself juggling the needs of many within her family, only to realize she hasn't even fed herself, or had time to shower that day- I was consistently letting my own routines and standards fall by the wayside.

This is where many might say- the new year is around the corner, you've worked so hard, let yourself slide a little. But life is more than a jumble of calendar years, and every day is a precious one we'll never get back. Luckily it didn't take long for me to realize the error of my wholehearted enthusiasm, and I've since realized I need to balance the time and resources I give to others with time and resources I focus on me. For me, when I get over-zealous like this, a simple act of meditation can help me prioritize my immediate goals and needs.

There are many activities one can turn to for meditation at home or on the go- and it doesn't have to include a yoga mat and heavy breathing. Some great ways to empty and re-focus your thoughts include simple repetitive or systematic tasks such as tackling a cleaning or organization task, pulling out an adult coloring book, or raking sand in a tabletop zen garden.

Which brings us to today's project, a D.I.Y Zen Garden- a simple 2 day project you can make primarily from objects found in or around your home. A real zen garden would require a large patch of land and some architecture skills but I've condensed the meditative experience to your average baking pan. Here's what you'll need:

Materials:

An old 9" round cake pan, or similar size high walled tray/pan

2-3 Cups of Sand (Craft Sand, Aquarium Sand, or Beach Sand works fine)

5-6 Medium Sized River (Rounded) Stones

4-5 Colors of Acrylic Paint

Cookie Rack or Mesh/Wire Bin

Old/Dollar Store Cookie Sheet

Spray Paint In Your Color Of Choosing

Drop Cloth

Tabletop Zen Rake (Cheap on Amazon) or Small Appetizer Fork

You're going to want to start by painting your cake pan/tray- I prefer to use spray paint for even coats that apply and dry quick to a variety of surfaces, but a brush applied acrylic color could be used as well. Keep in mind, if using spray paint you'll want to put down a large drop cloth, work in a well ventilated area, and wear a basic paper face mask if windy. While your tray/base dries you'll want to source some pebbles of medium size. For this I took a trip to our local creek.

As part of re-fortifying myself for the coming season I've also been paying a lot of attention to when I choose to fuel my body and mind, and what with. This year I've skipped many meals and simply forgotten to refuel throughout many of the trials and challenges I faced. It was easy to notice the toll as I'd slump into my bed exhausted each night, and fight through the hangry outbursts in the afternoons. I've since stocked up on some of my favorite Kellogg's® Special K® products for their delicious varieties that are equally convenient on the go. As I fit pebble hunting in between an afternoon conference call and my evening bowling league I reached for a Kellogg's® Special K® Strawberry Protein Meal Bar to ensure I wasn't skipping a meal.

Once you have the perfect pebbles (and I say pebbles because the often offer the most surface space for this project) you'll want to get down to decorating them. As someone who is energized by vibrant colors, and mesmerized by the flow and movement of liquids- this activity was 'zen' all on it's own. Using simple acrylic paints there are 2 easy techniques you can use to make 'far out' one of a kind rocks for your zen garden; pour painting and drip stamping.

Pour painting is actually a necessity to achieve the second technique, so feel free to grab a few extra pebbles and try both out to see what you like most.

Start by placing one of your pebbles atop the mesh bin (turned upside down) or cookie sheet. Your mesh bin/cookie sheet should be positioned firmly in the center of your cookie sheet to not only act as a mobile workstation (for drying and storage while drying) but also to catch all of the, still very useful, poured paint drips collecting below.

This part of the project is literally so easy anyone can do it- and if you love the sight of contained messes and color mixing, like I do, you'll find this very cathartic. Begin by taking one paint bottle and slowly pouring a stream of color onto the center of your pebble, from about a foot above. Continue to do this with varied colors and amounts of paint until the entire rock is one fluid pool of swirling paint. Play with adding drops of color here and there, or zig zagging paint back and forth across your 'canvas'. Layer colors until you're happy with the ever evolving work of art, and repeat with another pebble.

Once you've done a few pebbles you're going to have a pretty psychedelic pool of paint beneath your mesh bin/cookie sheet. Now it's time to remove the bin/sheet and drip stamp. Holding the edges of a pebble lightly dip the broad side of the pebble into the drip paint puddle, and remove. The sharpest swirls and stamping will occur when the pebble does not touch the bottom of the baking sheet/paint pool, so stamp lightly as to just grab the color sitting on top. The result is simply magical, and the colors can be layered endlessly to make truly one of a kind decor for your mini zen garden.

It's going to take a few days for the thick coating of paint to dry on your pebbles, so you'll want to store them somewhere dry and safe (away from pets and small hands) until they're set.

While my zen garden was on hold I decided to take stock of my cabinets and shelves and continue my re-focusing by working on a new meal schedule for my busywork week, and planning out some snack solutions to ensure I was never left hungry or grumpy on an especially important day. Thankfully my local Ralphs has a large selection of my favorite Kellogg's® Special K® products, from Kellogg's® Special K® Granola, Cereal, and Bars to munchy snack time solutions like Kellogg's® Special K® crackers and pastry crisps. I always have something delicious on hand to help fuel me through the day's schedule to achieve my goals.

In fact, one of my favorite Kellogg's® Special K® snacks, the new Sea Salt Original Multigrain Crackers are made with Quinoa for an elevated snacking experience that gets away from the typical sweet treat to a savory delight that fuels and satisfies. We usually toss a box in the dog stroller, yes dog stroller, whenever we go walk the beach parks hunting for characters on a certain popular mobile game app.

In fact, you'll find Kellogg's® Special K® products across the aisles at Ralphs; and the brand is always innovating new products to help fuel their customer's active lifestyles- I've even heard there's a new Kellogg's® Special K® Crustless Quiche that'll really help elevate my zen time! But, for now, I'm stashing delicious, individually wrapped, Kellogg's® Special K® Berry Struesel Pastry Crisps in my purse for my on the go instant moment of zen.

Once your 'far out' pebbles are dry you simply need to pour your sand of choice about 3/4 full into your painted cake pan and arrange your favorite 2-3 scattered across the top. An appetizer fork will suffice as a zen 'rake' but I also like to keep a variety of tools and stamps on hand to play with patterns and shapes as well as movement. The process of 'raking' sand in your tiny zen garden is as equally rewarding as updating and rearranging it. Feel free to swap out pebbles with your mood, change the color of the sand to match the season, and even add an air plant or two!

It's never easy to get 'back on track' when you've lost motivation or focus- but every life has a rhythm, and it's important to fortify the core of that rhythm order to set one's self up for success. If you're not quite ready to make a zen garden, or don't find any of our other suggestions quite suit you make sure you are at least setting time out for yourself each day. Whether it's just a few minutes here or there, 'me' time is the surest way to re-focus and recollect ourselves so that we can achieve our most immediate, and long term, goals. Now, share with me a goal you've drifted away from, but would like to work on re-focusing.

Did you love our zen garden tutorial? Check out some even more amazing inspiration and ideas to help fortify yourself on the Kellogg's® Special K® Social Hub!

What Daughter Says: Sometimes a quick time out can help refresh and ready the mind, body, and soul for the tasks and goals ahead.

#NourishWhatsNext Special K at Kroger

How You Can Feel Like A Kid In A Candy Store Any Time With Candy Jar

I received a promotional code to help facilitate this feature, regardless, all thoughts and images below are genuine and copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2016.

Momma Told Me: Like a kid in a candy store.


Every time I'd visit my paternal grandmother, growing up, (which wasn't nearly often enough since she lived clear across the country) I'd race through her door and make a beeline for the 'hidden' candy jar. It wasn't really a jar. In fact, I suspect it was actually an antique genuine Crystal bowl- I still recall the way the light would come through the dinette window and sparkle on the beveled edges. Could a container full of candy be magical? It was practically a sugar siren for small hands.

I've met very few people in my life who claim to not enjoy sweets. Sure, you can prefer cake to pie, or chocolate to vanilla, but to be entirely immune to all of sugar's magical forms, is quite impressive indeed. It really only takes one sweet- one perfect for you candy, to lure you in and make you a candy fan. For the 99.9% of the population I've met, who enjoy sweets, I've also learned that sugar for sugar's sake is not merely the solution. Some like their sweets fruity or chewy, while others like wafers and root beer barrels, or fizzing Pop Rocks. Everyone has a favorite, but hardly anyone can choose just one.

That's the magic of candy-

And that's why a jar full of jellybeans on your office desk will always make the work day more pleasant. Sweets are the universal language- that connector that brings each and every one of us back to childhood for just a moment in time. I am a candy girl and I love to share candy with others. Candy, in all it's colorful shapes and sizes, and playful textures, simply puts a smile on my face. But, as we mentioned, everyone's favorites vary so wildly.

What if there was a modern 'penny store' online- virtual barrels lined with your favorite sweets, just waiting to be scooped and put into your own personal Candy Jar?

Well, my friends, there is- And it's appropriately called CandyJar.com.

When I first heard about this concept back on some sort of Kiskstarter-esque site a few years back I was all in. Heck yea I'd back a company willing to set me loose with in a seemingly never-ending variety virtual candy store. Sure, the joy of literally scooping the candy into your jar isn't quite there- but the spirit is, as you pick your jar size and select each of the 'scoops' that will fill it. Browse the virtual barrels of candy, with hundreds of options from specialty gourmet chocolates and brittle to everyday penny candy favorites, character gummis, seasonal offerings and more. This is one candy store that's always getting in new inventory.

So, why do I love Candy Jar?

Outside the obviously reason that it makes me quite literally feel like a 'kid in a candy store' every time I log on to build a custom jar of sweets- Many of you may recall that I've had several family members diagnosed pre-diabetic in the past year. Back in the Spring my grandfather actually spent a few months in the hospital resulting in prescription induced diabetes- and for the greater part of this year he's been off sugar entirely. Since sweets are something I've always associated with my father's parents, and a long hospital and rehabilitation stay can be quite miserable, I have very fond thoughts of Candy Jar.

It might surprise you, but among the specialty options Candy Jar offers they offer an impressive range of Sugar Free sweets. Shopping for a treat for a diabetic or pre-diabetic can feel very dull, and often leads to the same items over and over. Candy Jar quite literally had an entire jar of sugar free options, and more. I built my grandfather his own Candy Jar- and even the nurses considered him quite spoiled for the variety inside. Sugar free chocolates for my grandmother, butterscotch and hard candies for him.

And, as someone who watches her own blood sugar, thanks to hereditary markers, I am ever so grateful to maintain my loving relationship with candy thanks to no-sugar-added and sugar free options available at Candy Jar. Of course, there are a few traditional favorites full of real genuine sugar I can never resist- Rock Candy sticks and sour kids always go into the jar as a treat. My favorite low sugar or sugar free options? No Sugar Added Jordan Almonds, Sugar Free Swedish Style Fish, and Imported Sugar Free Licorice Bears.

When you order a Candy Jar all of your 'scoops' will arrive in pre-portioned bags, tucked inside your jar. This helps keep items fresh, and allows you to separate things such as sour candies from chocolates, if desired. I always layer everything into my jar, regardless, I rather like the surprise of digging for a favorite treat. The jars are also wonderful for gifting- and there truly is a jar for everyone at Candy Jar- if you're not sure what to scoop, you can gift a gift certificate and let your recipient enjoy the fun themselves!

Candy Jar isn't a subscription service- though it could be, if you wanted. It's a place where you can go online to play in the virtual aisles of a giant, always changing, candy store. Shopping to fill your own personal candy jar, or a gift for a loved one or friend, truly gives that 'kid in a candy store' feeling. You'll find nostalgic favorites, and all new cravings in a constantly changing supply of flavors and formats, with a broad range of specialty and premium selections to make your dream jar come true. Candy makes pretty much anyone happy- it's just hard not to smile when you think of your favorite sweet. Check out Candy Jar today (but I warned you!) and follow them on Facebook and Twitter for new selection sneak peeks, promotions, and more.

What Daughter Says: Candy Store offers something for every kid at heart, even my pre-diabetic family members, so we can continue to share memories of sweet smiles.

A New Generation Of Builders With Magnetic Stick N' Stack

We received complimentary product in order to help facilitate the article below, regardless all photos and opinions are genuine and copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2016.

Momma Told Me: If you imagine it, you can build it.

As a young girl I was considered quite the tom boy. While my cousins were toting around baby dolls in toy strollers, playing 'house', I was often drafting the plans for building block skyscrapers and baking glow-in-the-dark bugs with my Creeper Crawler oven. It wasn't the specific type of activity I craved, it was an opportunity to create or problem solve that I truly loved. From early grade school I found myself spending hours making something from nothing- whether with my mothers' crafting scraps, discarded toilet paper rolls, or rainbow building blocks. If Momma said I couldn't have a dragon, Id' make one- if my father told me I'd have to wait until my birthday for new action figures, I'd make new clothes and personas for the old ones. And I am so glad to say that, even in a few short generations, building is now widely accepted as a gender-less play-time activity.

In fact, building blocks are the most popular toys at the after-school daycare I work with on Thursdays. Regardless of a child's age, gender, or background, each can enjoy the satisfaction of bringing their imagination to life, when playing with building blocks.

Of course, as the times change, so do the toys- yet some of the most awesome toys on the shelf remain those with the simplest of concepts, and the most limitless of possibilities. Enter Magnetic Stick N' Stack tiles by Shape Mags. Quite possibly the coolest building blocks ever (and yes, I'm comparing them to blocks that glow in the dark, light up, or stick together like Velcro) these translucent colored tiles feature carefully placed internal magnets which magically fasten them to one another in an almost never ending configuration of shapes and patterns.

Now, you may have seen similar toys at your child's school, daycare, or even in advanced learning classes- There are a few other brands out there cornering the magnetic block movement. However, Magnetic Stick N' Stack sets are actually more affordable than those 'other' brands, while also being 100% compatible! They're also incredibly durable, and the perfect size for small hands- great for kids as young as age 3+.

And, while we did have several 3 and 4 year-olds on hand to build with these, right out of the box, I have to say the adults and even tweens were also eagerly waiting on their turn as well! So what can you expect if you have littles afoot? Magnetic Stick N' Stack sets are perfect for homes with multi-aged children, or toddlers- children can not only grow with the tiles, but also grow and learn while playing with others as well! Carter is often very reserved, yet extremely articulate in his thought processes- at 5 he built several 3-dimensional structures and even a multi-layer vehicle. His pride was evident, as he'd stop those around him often to exclaim, "Look guys! Look what I made!"

Magnetic Stick N' Stack pieces are a little on the heavy side, compared to other brands, which gives me confident they will outlast other sets and toys. This also means a more deliberate hand is required in advance structure design. Lynnsey, age 6, was keen to spot structural flaws in her magnetic structures and would visibly light up anytime she happened to solve a 'problem.' Many of the younger kids worked on a 'piece by piece' level, while the older kids (10+) would gather a group of pieces for their design prior.

I can't lie- I spent my fair share of time trying to sneak away unused pieces to build with. There was something calming as I was taken back to my own childhood of building fantastical structures. I especially enjoyed the more advanced concepts of weights and balances, or structural support. By the time I got my 'penguin' complete, above, I had several pairs of eyes on me. And that's when it officially became a group toy- suddenly the kids were donating their pieces to make one, giant, structure together. And you can't ask much more from a toy than to foster communication, problem solving, and friendship, while remaining wildly fun.

Magnetic Stick N' Stack sets come in a variety of shapes and sizes. I highly suggest investing in a Master or Engineer Builder set to start. While you may not seem too keen to leap into the investment at first, I promise you the wide range of shapes will provide endless entertainment. Once children have had a chance to explore the types of structures they can, and prefer to, make, then you can add on supplemental pieces like a dome set, or building plate. And, did I mention- these don't hurt to step on (that's a building block joke for you!)

If your child is a little less creative, and needs some inspiration- or prefers to recreate and build based on concepts, Magnetic Stick N' Stack also makes some really durable idea books that tuck right away with the blocks. We often started building one concept, then used the foundation of the idea to make something a little more our own. Before long, the kids were going wild creating their own buildings, cars, bridges, animals and more! This is definitely one toy I could have spent hours a day with growing up!

What Daughter Says: I never outgrew building blocks- now kids can grow with a whole new way to build and imagine.