Guest Post: Soul Mind Body Medicine + GIVEAWAY!!

Soul Mind Body Medicine

Dr. and Master Zhi Gang Sha

Every human being has a soul, mind and body. In the East, people talk about soul. In the West, people talk about spirit. Scientists talk about message. In fact, soul, spirit and message are the same thing. 

Modern medicine focuses on matter. Blood tests measure biochemical changes inside the cells. CT scans and MRIs determine whether there are growths inside the body. Surgery removes matter from the body. Medications adjust the matter. 

Traditional Chinese medicine focuses on qi (pronounced “chee”). Qi is vital energy and life force. The Yellow Emperor’s Internal Classic, the ancient authority book of traditional Chinese medicine, states, “if qi flows, one is healthy. If qi is blocked, one is sick.” Traditional Chinese medicine uses herbs, acupuncture and massage to promote the flow of qi for healing.

Several years ago, the Divine guided me to create Soul Mind Body Medicine. From my more than forty years of energy and spiritual study, together with my study of medicine to become an MD and doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, I have realized that soul, mind and body can work together. Modern medicine and traditional medicine can work together. 

Modern medicine focuses on matter inside the cells. Traditional Chinese medicine and many other healing modalities focus on the energy between cells. Soul Mind Body Medicine focuses on the soul. If a person is sick, the soul is sick. 

A soul is a golden light being. Soul is spirit. Soul is message. Soul is the essence of life. Soul is the boss.

Soul Mind Body Medicine states: Heal the soul first; then, healing of the mind and body will follow. Because the soul is the boss, I put the soul first. This is why I use the name Soul Mind Body Medicine. Soul is spirit and message. Mind is consciousness. Body carries energy and matter. 

Every human being has a soul, a mind and a body. A bodily system, such as the cardiovascular system or the digestive system, has a soul, mind and body. Every cell and every DNA and RNA has a soul, mind and body. 

Everyone and everything has a soul. 

Soul Mind Body Medicine states that all sickness is due to soul, mind and body blockages. Soul blockages are due to bad karma. Mind blockages include negative mindsets, attitudes and beliefs, as well as ego and attachment. Body blockages are blockages of energy and matter. 

To heal is to remove soul, mind and body blockages. Soul Mind Body Medicine removes soul, mind and body blockages. The techniques are very simple. In fact, they are too simple believe. I ask that you keep an open mind and try them. Join one of the many complimentary programs offered every day and experience Soul Mind Body Medicine.

Dr. and Master Sha is a world-renowned healer, inspired teacher, and Divine Channel. He is a medical doctor in China, a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China and Canada and a Grand Master of Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Kung Fu, I Ching and Feng Shui. His work is featured in the documentary Soul Masters and the public television program, The Power of Soul. Master Sha is the New York Times best-selling author of the Soul Power Series. Recipient of the prestigious Martin Luther King Jr. Hall of Fame Award for his humanitarian efforts, in January 2011, he founded the global Love, Peace and Harmony Movement with a vision to create love, peace and harmony for humanity and Mother Earth.

 

Learn more about Dr. Sha, his complimentary Soul Mind Body Medicine programs, or his upcoming live events by visiting www.DrSha.com or www.Facebook.com/ZhiGangSha


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Balance Bar Bare Review and Father's Day Giveaway!

Nutrition and energy bars are a staple in our house during the school year. Since we are always on the go, I almost always have a few bars in my purse. Balance Bars, one of America's original nutrition/energy bar leaders, has a great Father's Day gift pack available to help your father/husband stay healthy this Father's Day. 

The Father's Day Gift includes Balance BARE bars in three delicious flavors – Sweet & Salty Peanut Butter; Sweet & Salty Chocolate Almond; and Blueberry Acai, an exclusive Balance Bar water bottle with a compartment for storing a BARE bar, and a playful “BARE Hug” Father’s Day card. It is limited -edition and ships free!

Review:  I received the three flavors of Balance Bars included in the set to review. As always, Balance Bars are totally delicious! The Bare line is truly my favorite and they taste so good it is hard to believe they are good for you!  There is quite a lot of flavor packed into one bar and the contrasting taste of the wholesome top with the sweet bottom is a delightful way to snack during the day. They are filling enough that 1 bar in the morning would satisfy my hunger and keep me full for several hours.  Plus, the sweetness of the bar helped satisfy any craving for sweets that I experienced.  

Buy it here:  The Balance Bar Bare Father's Day Gift Set is only available online  while supplies last. The introductory price of $17.84 - valued at $27 - includes ground shipping and handling within the US. To qualify for free shipping, orders must be placed by June 11, 2012. 

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I was provided with a sample of Balance Bars to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Ocean Spray Craisins Challenge and GIVEAWAY!

Do you like raisins? Whether your answer is yes or no, Ocean Spray wants people to Make the Swap between Craisins® Dried Cranberries and raisins. If you you like Craisins® over raisins, head over to craisinschallenge.com or Ocean Spray’s Facebook tab and pledge to make the swap! By making the swap, you could possibly win even a $5000 prize!

Reasons to choose Craisins over raisins:

• vibrant red color with a sweet, tangy taste
• double the antioxidants of raisins
• can be added to everything from snacking to baking, salads to cereals
• available in four flavors
• one serving equals on serving of fruit and they are a good source of fiber

Recipe: Oatmeal Craisins Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Ingredients

2/3 cup butter, softened

2/3 cup brown sugar 

2 large eggs

1&1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

1&1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

5 oz package of Ocean Spray Craisins Dried Cranberries

2/3 cup white or semi-sweet chocolate chunks or chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 375.

Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar together in a medium mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs, mixing well. Combine oats, flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate mixing bowl. Add the butter mixture in several additions, mixing well after each addition. Stir in dried cranberries and chocolate chunks.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls into ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

Makes approximately 2 &1/2 dozen cookies.

Results: These cookies were a huge hit with my family. I was quite surprised that they liked the Craisins as much as they did.    The cookies were a really nice blend of sweetness with the tart taste of the Craisins plus the stabilizing oats. This recipe went right into my recipe book and will definitely be baked again and again!

 No one in my family is a huge fan of raisins and when I had my children try the raisins and then the Craisins, the Craisins won the taste-test hands down!  I love the way they are sweet and tart at the same time. They taste AMAZING in salads and now I am thrilled that I have found out how delicious they are in baked goods!

Buy it here: You can find Craisins at your local grocer's dried fruit aisle.

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I was provided with a Make the Swap kit in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.  

eFoods Discount Offers

Do you have food in case of emergency? In remembrance of the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in Japan a year ago, eFoods created special family preparedness offers.  eFoods' mission is to empower every family to have food security in the case of storms, natural disasters, or even financial crises like shrinking income or the loss of a job.

Check out the eFoods discounts:
 
6 free meals
Save $25 or 50% - 7 day pantry pack - code: Food50
Save $10 or 40% - Soup and Entre' Pack - code: Food40

I will be reviewing eFoods soon, but wanted to share these great discounts now. 

Guest Post: How to Throw the Perfect Baby Shower

Perfect Baby Shower Basics 

You’ve been asked to throw a baby shower for your favorite-mom-to-be. Excited? Yes. Honored? Yes. Nervous about how to pull off ‘the perfect shower’ that mom-to-be and all the guests will enjoy? YES!!! Worry not, with some helpful tips and a little planning, you’ll put on a fabulous baby shower that all will not soon forget.

Planning

The optimal time frame for a baby shower is within a few weeks of the mom’s due date. You want to make sure it’s early enough to minimize her chances of going into labor. Consider throwing her shower around her 35th week of pregnancy. Next you need to consider mom-to-be’s schedule and choose a date that works for her. You’ll also need to obtain a guest list from her. Typically, baby shower guest lists include family members, friends and coworkers. 

Now that you know the ‘when’ and ‘who’ you can choose a venue. For a small, intimate gathering mom-to-be’s favorite restaurant would be a good choice. Call in advance to book a private room and ask about coming in early to decorate. Other venue options include your own home, mom-to-be’s home or you can book a private event hall such as a hotel suite, country club or community center. ‘As long as there is plenty of room for guests, the location shouldn’t be a major stress point of the planning process. Lastly, be sure to ask mom-to-be where she is registered so that you can include that information with the invitations you mail to guests.

Food and Decorations 

 
Time of day does matter when deciding on the menu, but more so is mom-to-be’s cravings and aversions to food. Take her taste into consideration and consider finger sandwiches, fruit and vegetable platters, cheese platters, her favorite sandwiches and her favorite desserts. Rather than a typical store bought cake, you can be creative and ask your local bakery to create a cake that looks like a baby carriage or a multi-tier cake with a baby on top and the baby’s name on the side.

Decorations can be themed or not; keeping mom and baby the center of attention and possibly following the theme of the nursery or the sex of the baby are good ideas. Diaper cakes and flowers make lovely centerpieces at guest tables. Additionally, you can decorate with balloons and other baby items.

Gifts

Pregnant women typically register for baby items to receive from friends and family, which means you can choose her shower gifts from her registry. Anything listed on her gift registry is something she wants, so you don’t have to worry about her not liking your gift. Some mom’s choose alternative registries, like a cord blood registry to help fund her desire to utilize umbilical cord blood banking; some other mothers have a diapers-only party.

At the end of the day, a baby shower should be a fun event to get everyone excited to welcome a new baby into the world, and to help a new mother prepare her home for the items that baby will need when he is born. Using the simple steps above as a guide, the baby shower will be a memorable day that your friend, and soon to be mom, will cherish forever.

Thanks to Katie Moore for providing this informative post! 

Coppertone Review and Contest Announcement!

Now that summer is almost here, having sunblock on hand is critical.  Vigorous activity combined with water, humidity, and sweat can challenge both you and your sunscreen. To address this issue, Coppertone has launched a new product line that will  keep you and your family happy at the beach and/or pool while staying safe form the sun's harmful rays.

The new Coppertone Wet 'n Clear line cuts through water without needing to towel-dry while also keeping the skin moisturized. The line is available in SPF 30, 45+ and Kids SPF 45+. It is formulated to be water resistant for 80 minutes and protect from UVA and UVB rays.  The products have been tested with adults and kids on the beach and at the pool to show that they won't turn while when applied to wet skin.

Review:  My kids spend a lot of time at the pool during the summer so I am always willing to try new sunblocks. They both have very fair skin so sun safety is at the top of my to-do list. I was given some Coppertone Wet 'n Clear samples as well as Water Babies sunscreen.  The Wet 'n Clear sprays on which has pros and cons. It is super easy to apply and covers great without making a mess, but you have to spray outside and I won't use the spray on their faces because I don't want them to accidentally inhale the product.  So, I decided to use the Wet 'N Clear on their bodies and the Water Babies on their faces.  Last weekend was a fabulous 85 degrees and they spent almost 4 hours in their uncle's pool. They came out of the pool  without any burns!  It was so nice to have them jump out after a couple of hours and respray them. As the product promised, it did not turn white and they did not need to towel-dry.  I am going to keep a constant supply of these products in my house this summer!

Little Miss Coppertone Contest!

Attention parents!  Do you know of or have a little girl between the ages of two and seven? If so, she may be perfect for Coppertone’s nationwide Facebook search to find the next Little Miss Coppertone.

·         Until June 22, parents and guardians can visit the Coppertone Facebook page, where they can upload their favorite photo of their little girl.

·         America will cast a vote for the winner who will receive the ultimate family vacation and be featured in a 2013 Coppertone print ad.

·         Celebrity mom Alison Sweeney has teamed up with the brand as guest judge to select the top 10 finalists who personify the playful, optimistic spirit of Coppertone’s iconic character.

Buy it here:  Coppertone products are available nationwide at food, drug, and mass merchants as well as Internet retailers. The suggested retail price is $9.99.

I was provided with the above mentioned samples for the purpose of facilitating this post. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stay-at-Home Moms

Chicken Soup for the Soul books have been around for as long as I can remember. Each edition contains 101 stories that are frequently inspirational in nature and each book has its own theme. One of the newest editions, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Stay-at-Home Moms: 101 Inspirational Stories for Mothers about Hard Work and Happy Families focuses on the love and chaos experienced by real stay-at-home mothers.  Common themes include making the decision to be a stay-at-home mom, learning how to multitask, finding joy and self-esteem, and more. 

The book is organized into the following chapters:

1. Decisions, Decisions....

2. The Daily Grind

3. Outside the Box

4. Becoming a Specialist

5. Working from Home

6. Ladies Who Launch

7. Gender Benders

8. The Dividends

9. Pink Slips

10. Looking Back

Review: As with other Chicken Soup for the Soul books, this edition does a great job of mixing story themes so from one story to the next you can go from laughing to crying.  These books have an amazing way of evoking emotions and when you can relate to the main theme, it becomes that much more special.  Being a stay-at-home mom, I would imagine, would be one of the most difficult and unappreciated careers.  However, while you are not rewarded with a paycheck, I can see by reading these stories that you are rewarded with much more...the extra time with your children.

Buy it here: Chicken Soup for the Soul:  Stay-at-Home Moms retails for $14.95. It can be purchased for a discounted price on Amazon.

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I was provided with a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own. 

Honey Bunches of Oats Review and GIVEAWAY!

Honey Bunches of Oats has  enhanced their already popular and delicious cereals by adding granola bunches to each of their blends.  The cereal brings together 4 nutritious grains (wheat, oats, corn, and rice) into crispy flakes and crunchy granola bunches.  Each bowl of cereal has 10 grams of whole grain, only 6 grams of sugar, 0 trans/saturated fat, and 0 cholesterol.  There are quite a few varieties to choose from including Honey Bunches of Oats Honey Roasted which provides 9 essential vitamins and minerals!

 

Review:  Sometimes there is nothing like a good bowl of cereal to satisfy my hunger. I enjoy cereals that have oats and clusters yet somehow I had not eaten Honey Bunches of Oats prior to being given this review opportunity.  Well, I am quite sorry that I have been missing out on this cereal for so long.  Granola is one of my absolute favorite cereal ingredients and I loved the combination with the other ingredients.  There was just enough sweetness thanks to the honey.  It is great to have a healthy cereal that actually tastes good!  It has quickly become of my favorites and I have already added it to my weekly grocery shopping list!

 

Buy it here: Honey Bunches of Oats can be found in your local grocer’s cereal aisle.

 

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I was provided with the above mentioned sample as a Purex insider. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.

Kids Can Cook Too - Jack Learns to Grill

My kids are 6 and 8 and they take turns cooking Sunday dinners. Find our more about the Kids Can Cook Too Challenge here and find out how you can participate!  It has been a couple of weeks since my kids cooked due to Jack's First Communion and Mother's Day so they are both eager to get back into the kitchen!

It feels like summer is almost here and Jack wanted to have a picnic dinner this Sunday.  Shrimp is one of his favorite foods so he chose a Grilled Italian Shrimp Skewer recipe from The Family Feast, Everyday Meals We Love to Share.  A full review of the book and a giveaway will be posted next week so be sure to come back and enter to win!  

The meal was absolutely delicious! He made a side salad and garlic bread as well.  It was a perfect Sunday dinner for the warm weather!

For dessert, he wanted to make an easy Cheesecake so we got a no-bake box mix. Although he enjoys making things from scratch, he also wants time to play outdoors so I had no problem allowing him to take a shortcut this week.  

If you would like to join the "Kids Can Cook Too Challenge", please email me the recipe, outcome, and any pictures to jamielz@verizon.net and you could be featured right here on Cake Mom!

The Pregnant Entrepreneur Review and GIVEAWAY!!

The Pregnant Entrepreneur, authored by Darla DeMorrow, is a non-fiction book targeted to pregnant moms, is a guide for ANY mom who is trying to balance family and a business. A business for this purpose could mean just about anything: a cool new product a mom has invented, a bookkeeping job that keeps her in the workforce part-time, or simply trying her hand at blogging as a new career. All of these moms who may want to try their hand at something new have many things in common outside of their pregnancies.  They also need to learn some basic business skills and the many tools that will be needed to succeed in their new business.

 The Pregnant Entrepreneur covers these topics including specifics such as: creating a simple business plan, ideas for bookkeeping help, developing a marketing strategy, child care issues help, stress management tips, and office organization just to name a few.  The fact that the author, Darla DeMorrow, mom of 2, is a professional organizer by trade lends an extra benefit for the reader.  All the information included in the book is shared with the slant of an organizer, providing realistic and practical tips to keep you and your business (and your pregnancy) on track.

Review: The book is extremely thorough and well researched.  It covers everything from dressing to success when expecting, to organizing your life, budget, and how-to  create a business start-up guide.  Although it is written for the pregnant woman, whether you are expecting or not you can find value in the book if you are trying to balance a career and a family.  When trying to make a lifestyle change, especially when you are tackling more than one at a time, there is so much to consider. The author does a very nice job of touching on all of these topics while providing the reader with great tips for dealing with all things expected and unexpected.  At the end of each chapter are thought-provoking questions a woman can reflect on to help prepare her for both baby and business adventures.  Although there are some great business related tips, the book does not read like a textbook.  If you are trying to balance work and family, then you will most likely find this book extremely helpful and informative.  

Connect here:  
You can learn more about Darla Morrow on her Facebook Page  and her Twitter Account. Here is a link to a cool (quick) video that introduces Darla and the book to potential fans.  


Buy it here:  The Pregnant Entrepreneur retails for $15 and can be purchased from Amazon.

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I was provided with the above mentioned product for the purpose of facilitating this review. No other compensation was received and the views expressed here are my own.