BistroMD Day 3: Blackened Salmon + Balsamic Chicken Roundup

***I received a 5 Day Meal Plan from BistroMD for the purpose of this editorial series. Regardless, no further compensation was provided, all opinions are authentic, and all images are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2013.

Bistro MD: Day 3

It's amazing what eating 3 squares a day can do for one's energy and general outlook. It seems like I ate non-stop as a child, snacking every every few hours on schedule until I could convince Momma my tummy was 'rumbly' again. Mostly, I longed for sweets and salty snacks with minimal nutritional value but ample energy boost. The problem with growing older is the rate at which my body processes these non-essential ingredients, and the constant lagging feeling when choosing trash over actual sustenance. In college I could get away with 'power snacking,' by stashing protein bars in my binder in between classes, and relying on Ramen noodles in the evening. If I dared replicate these habits today it'd surely be a disaster- I suppose that's why the energy drink industry is hitting Millennials so hard. We find ourselves with less and less time on our hands, more and more technological distractions, and inadequate fuel to get us through the day.

I try to eat 3 'meals' a day, but it can be so hard to find those 10-20 minutes to sit down and actually eat; and the very thought of a washed out cardboard nutrition bar is unappealing enough to convince me to skip meals. Usually this means forgoing breakfast, but sometimes lunch makes the cut as well, then I'm left trying to 'make up' at dinner. Any nutritionist will tell you loading up on calories in the evening is not the way to go! Our bodies process food slower and more efficiently in our sleep, making weight loss near impossible with skipped meals and decreased metabolism. Waking up to my doctor designed gourmet breakfast with BistroMD is like a mini-vacation. Straight from the microwave today's Tomato, Ricotta, Spinach Omelet was enticing in aroma and texture. The giant white fluffy omelet was plumply stuffed with a lightly spiced tomato, onion, spinach filling, and served alongside soft baked apple slices in a balsamic glaze. These apples were a tad less sweet than the traditional apple walnut Waldorf blend, and complemented the spinach perfectly.

For lunch I had a real treat when a returning favorite appeared on my menu with a new twist side; seasoned Brussels sprouts. I've never seen Brussel Sprouts make the BistroMD menu before and was tickled to have a healthy side I'm often too afraid to prepare on my own (I know, it's easy, but I'm the only one who eats them, and I worry about over-cooking). Served alongside these deliciously grilled greens was the main course, Balsamic Chicken Breast served on Basil Pesto White Beans. The beans had some shredded red peppers cooked in, and looked a little less appealing than usual (they were mashed and in a thicker sauce than I'd expected), however had a rich pesto flavor that balanced the green flavoring of the Brussels sprouts. At only 290 calories, with 33g of protein, this was the perfect mid day Mediterranean escape! I should also note that all 3 of today's meals were gluten free!

I was surprised to see salmon land on my plate for dinner this day; usually Salmon is a lunch entree in my BistroMD meal lineups. However, I have often remarked in the past just how generous in size the salmon filets tend to be, and the large block of protein is great for a final meal. This Blackened Salmon was garnished with (a little less than I'd prefer) champagne sauce that had a slightly bitter, citrus, flavor. A side of Creole Okra and Tomato stew, that proved less spicy than it's name rounded out this dish alongside a bed of soft slow roasted cauliflower. I'd never had okra before, though I'd approved the ingredient on my initial BistroMD list; and found it to be a pleasant surprise. Not only was I able to experience new cuisine not local to my region, but discovered a new green I enjoy! The cauliflower was also cooked 'fall apart' tender and the perfect addition to the flaky, blackened, salmon fillet. In all, I wrapped this day with 780 calories in BistroMd meals, and an average of 1380 calories post snacks and desert (water was the chosen beverage of the day).

Keep checking back for more of our BistroMD series!

Help End Childhood Cancer w/ Sweet Lemonade PEEPS Giveaway

*** I received samples of the new PEEPS Sweet Lemonade and Bubblegum, Summer varieties, for the purpose of this feature. No other compensation was provided. All images are copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2013.
Momma Told Me: There's nothing like a tall glass of lemonade in the middle of Summer!

Traditionally Wednesday posts are often light and fluffy, especially during the Summer when we bowl league on Wednesdays and are often scrambling between school and meals. Today I decided to take a little foray from the 'usual' structure to share a little post I've been holding onto for a few weeks. Consider it a sort of 'Summertime is here' declaration. Though the topic of today's post is certainly sweet and fluffy, one of the most important aspects of today's product feature is the philanthropic cause it supports; Alex's Lemonade Stand. Before I go into what this charity is all about, I have a few sentiments of my own to share.

When I was barely 4, many of my readers know, Momma was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma (cancer). While I'm certain the adults in my life did their bet to keep me blissfully ignorant as to the purpose of Momma's long-term absence, I do recall visiting her in her hospital bed that Easter. You seem for me, PEEPS have never been an 'Easter' treat, and they're more of a plaything than edible wonder. Everyone has their favorite, bunnys vs chicks, pink vs blue; but to me, PEEPS made memories. As we pranced those colorful little marshmallow critters across Momma's bedside desk I became entirely unaware of the confusion and fear I had felt when first entering. I cared not that we all had been forced to scrub and wear gowns, or that Momma's long, beautiful blonde hair was now gone. I was simply a little girl playing with her marshmallow friends and Momma.

I share this memory in hopes of connecting with you on a more personal level. It is my firm belief that, as great as 'cancer' foundations are, we need to stop labeling cancer by it's cause. Whether it affects the breasts, colon, skin, ore what-have-you, cancer is a an unwanted guest in our bodies and lives. No matter where it resides, a cure is called for each and every kind. So, while I generally 'poo poo' specific cancer organizations, in an attempt to support cancer research of ALL kinds, there is one charity and cause that is particularly close to my heart. As a child I had a parent with cancer, and it was terrifying; I can only imagine the fear that must grip the parents of children fighting this disease- or the bravery called for when facing this foe in your youth. Believe it or not, Alex's Lemonade Stand is founded precisely as it sounds. A brave 4 year old girl, fighting childhood cancer, asked her parent's to set up a front yard lemonade stand to help raise money for the doctors who fought so hard to cure her.

4 year-old Alexandra Scott, while fighting cancer, raised over $2000 in one day, with a little help from her older brother, and a considerable amount more in the years that followed. Sadly, Alex passed away at the age of eight, but her legacy did not end. In 2005 Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer was founded by her parents, who have helps to raise awareness and funds (over $60 million) in the years since. Now you can spread a little extra sweetness by picking up the limited edition Summertime Sweet Lemonade PEEPS at a local store near you. A portion of all profits for these special little chicks will go directly to the Alex's Lemonade Stand non-profit organization! Whether you're a PEEPS fan or not, this is a wonderful cause; pick up a surprise package for the PEEPS lover in your life, or one for every kid you know. Be sure to tell them it's much more than a sweet little marshmallow, it's hope for millions of children fighting childhood cancer.

Now, I know PEEPS can be a love or hate type of specialty treat- personally, I always loved playing with them much more than eating them. The plain PEEPS, with their sugar coating, were always a bit too sweet for me. When the Sweet Lemonade PEEPS landed on our doorstep for review I was immediately won over by the adorable little yellow sugar 'sparkles' that reminded me of the rainbow sparkle Anniversary PEEPS. It's now my opinion that anyone who is a fan of lemonade should hunt these down, the result is quite unexpected, with a slightly sour lemon based mallow coated in delightfully textured sugar crystals. This is a SWEET Lemonade flavor with light zings of lemon, and impressively delicate in sugar flavoring. Just in case you are still thinking PEEPS are a Spring treat- I cut some lemons in half, cored them out and poured Lemon JELLO in them. Once they had set and chilled I sliced them up into wedges and arranged them into little pinwheel daisies with Sweet Lemonade PEEPS centers. All of your backyard guests will be clamoring to know how you made these little treats, and excited to find this exclusive PEEPS Summer flavor! And, while you're at it, why not encourage your child/ren to set up their own Alex's Lemonade Stand this Summer?

****Stay tuned for the second half of our Summer PEEPS special posts, next up: Bubblegum PEEPS Cupcakes!

What Daughter Says: Spread the Alex's Lemonade Stand Cause and a little extra sweetness with Sweet Lemonade PEEPS this Summer!

A Feline Summer? Put Up All 4 With The @CatCrib Giveaway 6/2

***I received a sample product from Cat Crib to facilitate my review. Regardless, all opinions are original and all images contained there in are property of Momma Told Me Blog 2013.
Momma Told Me: Who's home is this, yours or the cat's?

It has been a while since my last pet post, and for that, I am sorry. The intent has been to keep pet content to the Pet Blog, Time Out For Truffles, but the first half of this year has sufficiently kicked my blogger bum. In any case, I am happy to report I have resumed regular blogging on the Pet Blog, and all interested in such content should subscribe now for 3-4 pet related posts a week. Now, on to today's foray into animal merchandising. Any feline owner knows that one does not simply own a cat; the cat owns you. Try to argue otherwise, but when we really take a look at this human to feline relationship it's astounding there aren't more 'Crazy Cat Ladies.' At this very moment in time there is a fine layer of fur floating whimsically across my laptop keypad, and a catnip mouse beneath my feet. Don't get me wrong, we love our pup just as much as the cat; but poor 5lb Nora is no match for our 4.8lb Tuxedo cat. No, I'm not talking turf wars, I'm referring to freedom and mobility. Felines have the prowess to scale the tallest furniture, and wriggle between the most unlikely of cracks.

Some of you may recall a little post I did a month or so back about the strange pet sightings we've had in our home. The very first day we moved in I found Ms. Truffles sitting atop the kitchen counter alongside a pot. Some things are simply inevitable in our home. If there is an open box on the floor, there will be a cat in it. If you leave your laptop open long enough, without your hands at work, there will be a cat on the keyboard (and sometimes while you're typing too). And if Momma, me in this case, has a favorite spot to sit or relax, Truffles will curl up to replace her in her absence. For a while, and still from time to time, Truffles treated our printer as a daybed, lounging with all fours flailing off the sides, lazily staring out the window. The obvious solution would be to provide the cat her own designated space to look out the window; unfortunately for us, the printer is located directly next to a quite expensive cat tree. Much like toddlers, however, cats don't want what they are given; they are much too independent to be told where they should lounge!

Seating is fairly limited in our 2 bedroom condo, which makes me glad to know that Truffles will sufficiently lounge wherever. Unfortunately, when anyone takes interest in the dining room table, she immediately has to be amidst the action, and sitting on one of our four dining chairs. When I am home Truffles is usually not far away, and this can become a problem when guests arrive. I'm embarrassed to admit our furry kids have almost as much furniture as the humans, and I simply cannot invest more space for them. So, when I discovered the space saving Cat Crib I instantly wanted one for our home. This unique hammock of sorts is affordable and discreet, fitting under nearly any chair or side table (anything with 4 legs). It attaches with 4 grip lined straps that feed through buckles and Velcro to secure around each leg of your table/chair. Cats, finicky creatures by nature, tend to need small 'safe' spaces they can lounge in, while feeling safe. The hammock space can be adjusted to provide optimal privacy and support for any feline, and is entirely fuss free- it's machine washable!

The exterior of the Cat Crib is a tough and easy to clean Nylon material that comes in an assortment of design friendly colors, with a black fleece lining for comfort. Upon unpacking I immediately knew I wanted to place the Cat Crib under one of our dining chairs, though the chair base is more of a trapezoid than uniform square, and the chair's rungs are at varied heights. At first the straps kept slipping, until I realized I was not placing the buckle on the outer rim of the chair leg, and one of the straps was inside out (the rubber grip should be hugging your chair's leg). Truffles is just under 5lbs, as an adult, and on the small side of felines, so I knew instantly I needed to reread the directions when the Cat Crib was slipping with a 5lb cat! Once all of that was sorted (installation is a breeze if you read the directions properly), I knew my next chore would be gaining Truffle's interest. It's not easy guiding a cat to a new lounging location when they already have so many awesome favorites!

To introduce Truffles to the Cat Crib I placed the dining room chair by her favorite bird watching window (the porch), and slinked back into the shadows to watch. It didn't take long for her to begin sniffing and marking (rubbing her whiskers) the chair and Cat Crib, though she was hesitant at first. After a good 10 minutes of 'will she or won't she' Truffles hopped into the suspended cat hammock. She didn't waste time sprawling out in approval, her tail swaying in content over the edge. A few times I saw her eyes grow heavy, and her head dangle sleepily over the side, a cheesy "I'm chasing mice in my head" grin on her face. In all, we're very pleased with the construction and durability of this pet furniture. It's virtually undetectable with the chair pushed into our dining area, and provides Truffles a safe and quiet place to retreat when guests come over and the house get's hectic. Now, if only we could keep the dog from climbing in it!

What Daughter Says: Reclaim your space and keep your feline happy with the Cat Crib.

One Momma Told Me follower will win a Cat Crib in their color of choice!

I Can See Clearly Now The Frames Are Gone- ACUVUE Moist

***I received a 1 month trial of new ACUVUE Moist Astigmatism 1-Day lenses for an editorial here on the blog. Regardless all opinions are authentic, and all images original content, copyright Momma Told Me Blog 2013.
Momma Told Me: I'll wear Coke bottles, so long as I can see!

I'm not going to lie, I love my glasses; but that just may be because I've been wearing them nearly every day for 20 years. Believe me, the first time Momma drug me through Lenscrafters, at 6, I was absolutely mortified. Peering up at Momma's circa 80s frames, with lenses as big as an orange in width, I wanted no part in the fashion statement that would only further extend my awkward social status. I'd already had my gorgeous long hair chopped into a bowl cut, thanks to the great hair cleaning incident of '91, and was about to inherit a pair of round metal frames with a nylon neck catcher on them. It was a very low day in my childhood; one I'd avoided for months with lively declarations that I was not squinting in class. As it turns out, my decline in vision was just beginning, and would prove to be a lifelong 'circumstance,' as these things tend to be. So I learned to live with my frames, even hide behind them, and invested in as many pairs as possible to help ease the impact on my fashion life.

Sometime shortly before graduating high school I finally convinced my father to allow me to be fitted for a contact prescription. Back then the lenses that were available were quite hard and rigid, intended for multiple wears throughout the week. I didn't care much for the handling involved with my eyes, but was more concerned with decreasing my nerd status (graduating at 16), and toughed it out. That was until, I moved out on my own and, sans insurance, was faced with swallowing $300 for a pair of new frames of $580 for a year of contacts. So back to glasses I went, until several years later I found the finances to foray into the frame-less world once more. I tell you this because that last lens fitting experience was a nightmare for me. All my life I have had astigmatism, the football shape the cornea assumes from excessive squinting, with the condition being more pronounced in my left eye. At the time, some 3 years ago, I returned to my optometrist for 4 fittings, all without finding a lens that would sit stationery on my left eye.

I was heartbroken; I had learned to love my frames, but living as an adult with my eyes hung off my nose 365/7 was not all flowers and giggles. There are many things us glasses wearers have to contend with and even forgo due to our extended eyes. One of the things I seem to encounter most commonly today is the need to don 3-D spectacles when out to view a feature film in a theater. Every other blockbuster hit is cranked out in the latest technology, HD 3D, and that means putting smeared plastic glasses over my own frames; the experience is NOT the same. And don't even get me started on visiting a theme park with the family, where I have to tote around a glasses case the entire afternoon to secure my frames on rides. And, since I can't see more than 1 foot in front of my face, without my 'eyes,' it's simply not the same thrill everyone else gets. And don't even get me started on how embarrassing it is to have to fumble with smeared and sliding frames during smooch time on date nights! Yes, I love the fashion and expression my everyday frames offer, but having contact lenses on hand simply open my world to more everyday opportunities.

After cutting nearly all sugar from my diet late last year I noticed an immediate and (to me) dramatic change in my vision. Some things that had once been crisp now seemed blurred, almost doubled, through my prescription frames. Alarmed I visited my optometrist, a year before my old prescription was due for renewal, and had my eyes examined. While it turns out I was simply being one of "the most visually discerning patients" my optometrist had ever encountered (my vision had changed, but only by the slightest margins), it was also the perfect time to investigate the health of my eyes. I agreed to a full retina mapping (it's as simple as looking in a computer window for 20 seconds), and prepared myself to hear the "have you ever tried contacts" shpeel again. I immediately opened my mouth to protest, telling the optometrist that contacts simply didn't work for me, when he handed me a flyer for new 1-Day ACUVUE Moist Astigmatism. He informed me that, even in the past 3 years, advances had been made in contact lens technology, and this particular lens was his personal top pick.

I was entirely skeptical, but agreed to the added measurement costs, and waited anxiously for my special ordered prescription sample lenses to come in. It took me near a half hour to get both of those lenses in the first time (a little rusty!) I was surprised how thin and light the lenses were, yet wider in diameter than I had expected. The 1-Day ACUVUE Moist Astigmatism lenses also feature one of the highest levels of UV protection available in 1-Day lenses and patented LACREON technology that extended oxygenation to the eye and maintains that 'fresh lens' feeling all day long. As it turns out, my astigmatism is a special 'diagonal' kind that often keeps lenses from staying put on the cornea. However, with a few special measurements, my optometrist found the perfect prescription and lens for me. Not only do the 1-Day ACUVUE Moist Astigmatism lenses stay put all day, but the improved crispness and clarity, over frame lenses is remarkable. It's the difference between standard and high def vision, for me!

I am in love with the comfort level and clarity of my new ACUVUE Moist Astigmatism lenses; especially the fact that they are 1-Day and can simply be tossed at the end of the night. This cuts down my fuss time spend cleaning and money spent on solution and cases. Even better, I can use them once or twice a week, on days when glasses are less practical, and always have options on hand! I'm not going to lie, these are top of the line lenses, and not the cheapest; but there are many wonderful contact lens rebates available now through your optometrist and the ACUVUE website. Even if Astigmatism lenses aren't for you, I highly recommend requesting a trial of ACUVUE lenses during your next appointment!

What Daughter Says: Don't let your vision get in the way of life, ask your optometrist about new ACUVUE Moist 1-Day lenses!

Paper Towel Flowers + A FREE Movie With #ScottValues

***I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias®  and KimberlyClark® #cbias #SocialFabric All images and altered screenschots are original content copyrighted to Momma Told Me Blog, 2013.
Momma Told Me: Frugal can be fun!

As a child, few things (barring a teenager in a sweaty mouse costume at an arcade) were more exciting than a chance to go to the movies. I recall the mini strip mall in our little Southern California home town had one of the largest arcades I've, still, ever seen; complete with a little snow cone booth outside. This particular strip mall was the mecha of all things childlike and whimsical, for it didn't stop there. All the way on the far East end was a KB Toy Store, and smack daub on the middle was the Edwards 8 Cineplex. Naturally, even though I knew I was already being treated to the special occasion of a movie, I never let Momma leave without visiting the entire array of entertainment attractions. As a child money meant little to me. I always assumed Momma received an allowance magically deposited into her piggy bank each month, much like mine. I never stopped to consider how all the small frugal things she did (like pop our popcorn at home and smuggle it into the theater in Ziploc baggies), made all the awesome treats possible.

Today I'm very much like Momma, when it comes to the household budget and stocking up on essentials at great prices. In addition to frequenting the wholesale club once a month, I am constantly clipping coupons and taking notes for upcoming sales. We shop at Walmart often for their everyday low prices that promise to match or beat local competitors; and of course, for their accommodating coupon policy. Not only can I buy value packages of my family's favorite brands and products, but I can extend the savings with exclusive promotions and paper coupons. Just the other weekend I opened one of our households 3 copies of the Sunday paper to discover the above beauty in a Smartsource insert. Two specially marked Scott paper product value packs now feature an exclusive $4 Vudu movie credit for a limited time. We already stock up on our favorite Scott Shared Values products regularly, so I knew I wasn't going to miss my chance to snag these limited quantity packages.

Our family goes through an astounding amount of Paper Towels and Toilet Tissue. So much so, I constantly find myself turning into the P.T. (paper towel) Grinch, and marching around the house enforcing strict tearing regulations. It physically pains me to see a half torn paper towel laying crumpled on the kitchen counter, or a forgotten roll of toilet paper with several sheets left, in the bathroom waste basket. So, when I saw that I could buy 6 mega rolls of Scott Choose-A-Sheet Towels for just under $6 and score a $4 Vudu movie streaming credit I was in frugal heaven. Not only do these paper towels offer the added value of being tough and extra absorbent, but the simple tear-a-sheet lets us select a size to clean up any mess without waste. I was so moved by this amazing deal I actually told Sabrina (10) we could use paper towels for something other than cleaning!

Nearly everyone recalls paper tube crafts from their Elementary days, but have you ever made crafts out of the paper towels themselves? Naturally this wouldn't work with toilet tissue, but the thick and durable textured Scott Choose-A-Sheet towels offer variety in size and absorbancy perfect for some home dyed paper flowers and butterflies. All you need is a well covered workspace, some food safe dye, plenty of paper towels, pipe cleaners, and a designated 'drying zone.' This craft is a hit with all ages; who doesn't love playing with colors- and food dye isn't just for Easter Eggs! We had a blast folding the paper towels into various shapes then carefully, and quickly, dipping corners and edges into the various colors. When we were done I placed the sheets into our dehydrator (though they will air dry overnight just as well). Making 'flowers' is as simple as crumpling, rolling, or folding the dried sheets and wrapping a pipe cleaner around the base. These were a big hit at Sabrina's school the next day when she handed them out to teachers and staff!

Following our afternoon of crafts I decided it was time for a little break. We carefully peeled the $4 Vudu code sticker off the bundle of 24 Double Roll Extra Soft Scott bath tissue, and put the remaining groceries away. In our home there is a designated spot for overflow paper products; I have a fear of running out of toilet paper or paper towels and am sure to stay fully stocked. Sometimes, however, a deal is too good to pass up, and you'll open a hallway cupboard to find toilet paper tumbling down at you! In any case, with our Scott haul put away we whipped up some quick and healthy homemade frozen yogurt pops, and hit the couch for a double feature on Scott. We don't subscribe to paid cable television in our home, only high speed internet, so digital streaming is a way of life for us. We were no stranger to the Vudu digital media application on our Roku streamer. We simply logged onto the #ScottValues Walmart portal and entered our code to apply the $4 credit to our Vudu account. In no time we were enjoying the newly released Wreck It Ralph with dripping popsicles, and plenty of paper towels near-by.

As amazing as the limited time $4 Vudu Scott promotion is, there are plenty of more values to be found at the Scott Shared Values website. This entirely purchase free program is open to all US residents and provides immediate value from a collection of close brand partners. I've been with Scott Shared Values since it's kick off late last year and am constantly impressed by the quality of savings and deals that can be found. Currently members can enjoy a free roll of new Scott Extra Soft bath tissue, a one month trial of HuluPlus streaming, a special Weber Grill Set deal (just in time for Father's Day), and a free photo print from ClickPhotos.com. Not to long ago we enjoyed a family pass to a local entertainment venue, and a friend of mine took advantage of their NASCAR ticket savings. I'm always sure to log into my Scott Shared Values account each month to see what's new!

To sum it all up, Momma taught me to be frugal; but still have fun. I may stomp through the halls writing imaginary tickets for paper product abuse, but I still know a great opportunity for family fun when I see one. Just in time for lazy Summer afternoons the $4 Vudu credit on select #ScottValues products will keep the kiddos happy and Momma's checkbook in tact. Stock up now to take advantage of these great prices at Walmart, and be sure to join the Scott Shared Values program to continue the savings all year round. Follow us along on our Walmart visit and get a sneak peek behind the scenes in our Google+ album.

What Daughter Says: Don't be a Summertime Grinch, enjoy the hottest movies for FREE while stocking up on your favorite #ScottValues products.

Keep Calm + Stand On: Imprint Cumulus9 Anti-Fatigue Giveaway

 ***I was sent a Cumulus9 Island Runner for a feature here on Momma Told Me, no further compensation was provided. Regardless, all opinions and images are mine, and mine alone.
Momma Told Me: My aching feet!

As a child I remember I was ultimately in awe as to just how much work Momma did around the house; like the Energizer Bunny, she kept going, and going. But Momma's feet weren't those of a faux fur covered plastic rabbit, and she had to rely on her own determination to push through when fatigue set in. The amount of time Momma actually spent sitting, when we were home, barely registered in my memories. The place she spent the most time was, of course, the kitchen. If I didn't know better, I'd have called it the heart of our household. The kitchen was more than just a replicator for foods, but also where the family calendar was kept, the location of the nook where I'd do most of my homework, and the perfect distance from the living room TV to watch soaps while balancing a checkbook. (These are all things I learned from Momma) Regardless, at the end of the day, Momma's poor feet were aching, and it was my job to relieve them.

These days it seems I have turned my own kitchen into an intergalactic hub of sorts. There is always a fresh baked sweet, or two, or three, sitting on the counter waiting to greet far away travelers, and my counters are often covered in top secret documents of intrigue and interstellar importance (mail). But even in my late 20s, I quickly notice the toll of standing on hard vinyl flooring for too long. Old high school injuries begin to re-awake in the form of an aching knee, and the slight curvature of my back drags me down into poor posture and compressed vertebrae. Ironically, it's usually my feet that begin to ache last, but that makes them no less the source of my other woes. In our kitchen I keep a long plush carpet runner out to help pad some of the shock of hours spent standing at kitchen counters. I have long loathed the decision in decor; while it matched our black and red color scheme, it slides from one end of the floor to the next throughout the day. It is also made of carpeting, which has dense and shedding fibers that tend to trap fallen food debris and dust, to look quite dingy no matter how many times it's vacuumed.

It quickly became clear it was time to invest in an anti-fatigue mat. When shopping for the right Comfort Mat for our home it was important to be well educated in the variety and functions. I could walk into my local Walmart and find a soft memory foam runner to toss in my kitchen, and while it would be cheap, I hardly doubt it would offer relief after hours of standing. Investing in an anti-fatigue mat of quality will cost a little bit of money, but quality brands like Imprint offer extended warranties with their top of the line ranges, such as the Cumulus9. Available in 3 standard rectangular sizes, as well as 3 patterns and multiple modern decor colors, the Cumulus9 Imprint Comfort Mat features some of the top of the line university tested compounds and technology. In addition to a 7 year warranty and anti-curl commitment, the dual layered anti-fatigue mat has been proven to reduce overall fatigue and discomfort by up to 60%. I was recently sent an Island Runner Cumulus9 in Cajun Coffee Croco for a feature here on Momma Told Me.

Our 6" long Cumulus9 Imprint mat arrived in a fairly compact, yet heavy, windowed box. I had an immediate concern regarding potential wrinkling and 'curling' from having been packaged rolled for transport. As I pulled the hefty anti-fatigue mat out of the box I was surprised to find there was no chemical odor. It turns out the Cumulus9 technology is manufactured using what the brand calls 'Eco9 technology,' that is environmentally friendly and non-toxic. Once on the floor, the two ends began to curl under; this was easily remedied with one simple roll the contrary direction. While some immediate visible storage wrinkles were evident on the surface (though hardly discernible amid the faux croco pattern), these worked their own way out over the course of the first 24 hours. I was also quite glad to find no additional stick runner was needed underneath the Cumulus9, which has stayed in place through weeks of constant use. In general, the range of Imprint comfort mats are also very design friendly; Sabrina walked into the kitchen and let out a gasp at first sight, "So fancy! Is that a real crocodile?" Of course it is not, but who can deny the whimsy of a 10 year old?

When I hit the kitchen for a project I'm often on my feet for 4-5 hours at a time, and I usually experience the effects of fatigue after the first 2. The unique Cumulus9 multi-core composition features an immediately soothing soft upper layer, and a more supportive gel-like secondary layer to soothe and support arches and joints over time. Just standing on the mat for a few minutes, odd enough, does not seem to leave much of an imprint, however I can really notice the conforming cradle effect after 15 minutes or more of continued use. The easy to clean antimicrobial surface is also a blessing on it's own, wipe-able with most standard anti-bacterial kitchen cleansers, and a great gripping surface in a kitchen were messy spills can become quickly hazardous. Overall I love standing on my Cumulus9 Imprint Comfort Mat; and am looking to invest in a second one of equal length, to cover the entire kitchen floor. For now, I drag the mat from the sink to the stove, depending on where I will be spending the majority of my time each day. Not only is the Cumulus9 an upgrade for my decor, but a lifesaver for my feet and joints!

What Daughter Says: Don't punish yourself for hard work; invest in an anti-fatigue mat like the Cumulus9.

One Momma Told Me follower will win a Cumulus9 anti-fatigue mat from Imprint!