Great Idea Thursday's #57

Welcome to:

I am coming to you once again from an empty house... Ok, I suppose not truly empty, but a mostly empty house with a laptop ;)

We are down to our last few days in VA. We are going to miss it here! We spent the weekend at the beach since the ocean will be a little far away from us once we get to Colorado next week. My cooking has been really limited, ok lets be honest here almost non-existent! We've rocked cereal and Pop-Tarts (don't judge, I'm moving!) for breakfast, the boys have been in school still for lunch most days while I raid the fridge for random leftovers that need to be eaten before we go, and we've had food delivered and joined friends in the evenings so I really haven't had the need to cook.  So I have no fun recipe ideas to share, unless directions for cooking Pop-Tarts in the oven for lack of a microwave and toaster counts...  However, the post I wrote a few weeks ago did get published on Parade this last week! Click the link below to check it out :)

To save ya'll from some dead space over the next few weeks, I am searching for some fabulous Guest Bloggers to help me out this summer during my transition period.  If you are interested in being posted here @ A Handful of Everything, please e-mail me:  kristascookin {at} gmail {dot} com, and let me know! I'm looking for anything family friendly and fun for the summer :)

Please give a big hello to my fabulous Co-Host:

Joybee What's for Diner?

See Great Idea Thursday's There too!
Follow Miss Joy Bee:

Great Idea Thursday's #57

Come share what you have been doing every week! If you are interested in Co-Hosting this party with us, shoot me an e-mail me:  kristascookin {at} gmail {dot} com.

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This is what I posted this week:

Tissue Paper Chevron: Just Add Water!

Fitsme App

An InLinkz Link-up

Great Idea Thursdays #56

Hello from my empty house!! My boxes are mostly loaded on the moving truck and my laptop is buried somewhere in the abyss of the backseat so I'm coming to you from my phone tonight :)

I hope that you are doing fabulous! I had a few posts scheduled that I will link up here soon for you to check out, but in the meantime sorry this is so scarce but since my house has been in boxes the last three days and I've got to grab some food for my little ones and still make it to cub scout pack meeting minus uniforms (also buried... Oh well) this will have to work for now.

Thanks so much for coming!!! Y'all are wonderful!

An InLinkz Link-up

Fitsme

For those of you who don't know, I am a member of Sverve! 

It was thanks to Sverve that I was introduced to the Fitsme App!
If you are a fellow Foodie, then you will want to check this out! 

I am always drawn to anything that has to do with food, if you have any doubt check out my Pinterest boards! But as time goes by more and more families are being affected by food allergies or they are simply trying to live happier healthier lives by watching what they are putting in their bodies.  I am new to Fitsme but I am extremely excited about their potential especially as they grow with more readers like you! The app makes finding recipes that your family can eat easy by pulling from different sites across the web and helps you organize them into meaningful meal plans and they've even added a shopping list tool! Maybe now I can finally get organized :) 

I'd love for you to check this out and tell me what you think! 

First check out the site by visiting the link: fitsmeapp.com

Then set up your account information and log in. Then your food journey gets fun!

There are some things about this app that make it easy to work with and can become your best friend! I am horrible about making meal plans shopping lists. I usually just end up going to the store and buying the same types of things every time varying mostly on what's on sale or what looks good at the supermarket. This app makes it easy to cater to your families likes and dislikes plus any allergies or diet restrictions you may have. And, with the click of a button it will automatically generate the shopping lists for you and if you don't want to print them, just e-mail them to your phone! 

• Create Your Food Personality
• Online Chat
• Select Personalized Meal Plans
• Create and Customize a Shopping list (e-mail list)
• Browse Feature
• Customizable Filters
• Like and Dislike Features
• + on recipes adds it directly to a specified meal plan
• Weekly E-newsletter

Your Food Personality

Your Food Personality is a set of enduring filters that are tailored by you and used when you browse recipes and create meal plans. The home screen is just waiting for you to customize!

Specific Diets

You have the option to select a specific diet: Paleo, Vegan, Vegetarian, Pescetarian, or Fodmap. By selecting a diet it will activate some specific likes and dislikes and restrictions on your Food Personality profile.  This is to make it easier for you but you can still customize as much as you like and tweak the auto selections.

Restrictions

The Restriction and Allergy section lists types of foods that are common allergens: Gluten, Lactose, Tree Nuts, Shellfish, and Peanuts.  If you need another allergy or restriction selected the click on the small +  icon in the group header and type in what you need.  There are several options to choose from.

Cuisines

The Cuisine section is how to select your favorite food cuisines. One click in the box is a like, two clicks makes it dislike, and three means you are neutral.  Just like with the restrictions section you can click on the small +  icon in the group header to type in the cuisine you want to add.

Additional Preferences

The additional preferences section is where you can select your other preferences for cooking methods or types.  For example the level of difficulty or recipe type (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack).  Again, use the small +  icon in the group header to type in the preferences you want to add. I typed in Bake because my favorite things come out of the oven!

Meal Plans

To make a meal plan, Click on Plan from the home screen.  Select New Plan, type in your Plan name, and customize your meal plan however you want.  Add breakfast, lunch and dinner. Throw in a few snacks or take out a few meals during the week, whatever is going to work for your family. Don't forget dessert!

Shopping Lists

Once you have completed making your Meal Plan then you can make and print/e-mail out your shopping list.  From the Meal Plan screen select which days you want to shop for, then you can select what ingredients you need to purchase or already have to remove them from your list.  Voila! Shopping made easy :)

Browse

The browse feature lets you look through the Fitsme App's collection of recipes.  If you have set up your Food Personality it will be tailored to your personal likes, dislikes and or any food restrictions or cuisine preferences you have listed.  There are recipes from several fabulous sites all over the internet including:

• http://thepioneerwoman.com/
• http://allrecipes.com/
• http://tastykitchen.com/
• http://naturallyella.com/
• http://www.elanaspantry.com/
• http://www.aspicyperspective.com/
• http://www.chow.com/
• http://101cookbooks.com/
• http://www.epicurious.com/

While you are browsing if you are inspired to look for something with a particular ingredient, for example strawberries, simply type strawberry in the text box label Add filters. And you will be directed to a fabulous page full of fabulous recipes you can add to your meal plan or maybe pin for later??

This recipe for Mixed Berry Shortcake stood out to me. Yumm! See how I can like and dislike the recipe? The little +  icon here lets you add the recipe to a meal plan.

When you click Open Recipe it pulls up the recipe card where you can tweet, like, pin and see the basics for your selection.  In the bottom left it will take you to the full recipe.

E-Newsletter

If you like seeing new trends and great information about the food world then you'll love the fabulous E-Newsletter than Fitsme will start sending you once you have signed up with their app.  I have copied the last two e-mails so you can see an example of the content.

• Food Allergy Awareness Week

• Recipe of the Day Recap

Food Allergy Awareness Week May 11th - May 17th FARE, Food Allergy Research Education, created Food Allergy Awareness Week in 1998 to educate the public on food allergies, a potentially life threatening medical condition. This year, however, FARE is expanding their efforts by declaring May Food Allergy Action Month. May also happens to be Celiac Awareness Month. To bring awareness to celiac disease and other food allergies, Fitsme will be interviewing several people from all over the nation about living with food allergies or food sensitivities. Interviews will be posted on Facebook, Twitter, and our blog.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that often goes diagnosed or is misdiagnosed. Read on. Life with a Gluten Sensitivity, an Interview with Liz Tuggle from Siera Vista, AZ. Read more.  Living with CD Since 2009, an interview with Angie Nieves of Tampa, FL. Read more.

Copyright © 2014 Fitsme, All rights reserved.

Recipe of the Day Recap

Paleo Monday Allrecipes.com Spicy Bacon Wrapped Scallops Perfect on their own and a great addition to steak.  GF Tuesday  The Pioneer Woman Grilled Ribeye Steak with Blue-onion Cheese Sauce "Good steaks do not need sauce, but they are every bit as delicious as they are on their own." Pescatarian Wednesday  Chow Artichoke & Pickled Shrimp w/ Lemon Aioli Fabulous as an appetizer or on top of leafy greens Thirsty Thursday thecookierookie Vanilla Frozen Orange Juice Cool down with this tasty treat.  Vegan Friday Allrecipes.com Quinoa & Black Beans Protein packed and delicious! On the blog Christina McCrone of Cleveland, OH describes being on constant alert because of her multiple food allergies. Follow us on facebook to have our 'recipe of the day' show up in your news feed. Copyright © 2014 Fitsme, All rights reserved.

Love to see you there! fitsmeapp.com

Great Idea Thursday's #55

Welcome to:

Whew! I made it! I actually got my post ready in time :) It's an amazing feat this week.  As a military spouse one of the joyful part of our existence is the PCS. This coming Monday the moving truck will be here to start packing all of our household goods and we will be loading on Wednesday. I get to live in my empty house via air mattress until June 1 so my boys get to finish up their school testing and attend their Scout Family Camp this year then we will be driving across the US to Colorado!

It is a crazy busy and exciting time for our family as we try to see friends and get ready to move.  I hope to eventually be in possession of my brain again and I hope that while I am in pursuit of finding it that you still can enjoy your time here.

I am searching for some fabulous Guest Bloggers to help me out this summer during my transition period.  If you are interested in being posted here @ A Handful of Everything, please e-mail me:  kristascookin {at} gmail {dot} com, and let me know! I'm looking for anything family friendly and perfect for summer :)

Please give a big hello to my fabulous Co-Host:

Joybee What's for Diner?

See Great Idea Thursday's There too!
Follow Miss Joy Bee:

Great Idea Thursday's #54

Come share what you have been doing every week! If you are interested in Co-Hosting this party with us, shoot me an e-mail me:  kristascookin {at} gmail {dot} com.

<div class="A Handful of Everything-button" style="width: 150px; margin: 0 auto;"> <a href="http://ahandfulofeverything.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> <img src=" http://i1296.photobucket.com/albums/ag13/Krista_Low/2d59056e-a962-4a79-bbef-b7f05a43dea9_zps94a044c8.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 2d59056e-a962-4a79-bbef-b7f05a43dea9_zps94a044c8.jpg " alt="A Handful of Everything" width="150" height="150" /> </a> </div>

      

• Please follow me
• Please link directly to your post not your home page.
• Share the love - please visit and comment on at least 2 other posts.  Everyone loves comments :)
• Grab a Button or text link back to A Handful of Everything
• Thank you for stopping by to Party! Have Fun!

This is what I posted this week:

They're Just KIDS!

Enough about me, what amazing things have you been up to?

An InLinkz Link-up