Immune Support

The holidays are here, that means lots of parties and gift giving. It also, unfortunately, mans lots of germs. I know at my kids school alone we have strep, influenza, stomach flu, colds, and so much more already going around. That means I want to take every step that I can to keep my family healthy. One way that I have found to help boost our immune systems is Elderberries.

We have used Elderberry Syrup and Jam in the past but I just found these Elderberry Gummies that are great! Although we can collect elderberries near my house I love that these are prepackaged so there is less work that I need to do. I also love that they are sweet enough without artificial sweeteners that even my kids will take them without a hassle (talk to your pediatrician before you give these to children under 18).

Overall these seem to be working well. I'm hopeful that they will continue to help us survive cold and flu season without too much craziness. There is absolutely nothing like having a family of 10 where everyone is sick. Moral of the story, try these! You'll be glad you did!

A Fresh Smelling Fur Baby for Christmas!

At the Kerr house we love our fur babies almost as much as our human babies. This year for Christmas I have been working on the perfect stocking fillers for them and am excited to have found this great shampoo. Yes, we like to get them something fun but we also like to make sure there are plenty of practical things included in their gifts.

We just stated using K9 Pro Aloe & Oatmeal Cucumber Melon Shampoo and really like it. It's simple to use, works well, and I don't have an allergic reaction to it. The formula is simple to use, just wet the coat, apply, let sit for five minutes, and rinse.

The one thing I didn't like was simply the packaging. It is really helpful to me if shampoo has a pump top because it is all I can do to keep the dogs and the kids under control while I'm doing baths without needing a hand to open and tip the shampoo bottle but I'm sure for all of you who have much better behaved dogs (and kids) this won't be a problem.

Overall this shampoo did a really good job of getting our fur babies clean (we only bath the dogs around here - the cats get too mean). Now, if I could just figure out a way to keep the dogs out of the dirty snow and mud so they would stay clean I would have a truly great thing going!

Anyway, if you are in the market for a good dog (and cat and horse according to the bottle) shampoo then this is a great option! Make sure you grab some to stuff your fur baby's stocking before it's too late!

When Cleaning Becomes More Important Than Christ

Disclaimer: I usually don't bring up religion here at Kerrific but tonight I'm going to. Tonight I am sad and frustrated and I turn to you. Maybe you will be upset, maybe you will cry with me, but mostly I hope you think. I hope, just maybe, this will inspire someone to be kinder, to think about others and just maybe, through you, it will change someone's life.

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tonight was our ward Christmas party. For those of you not familiar with this concept it's when all those who worship together in our area gatherer together to celebrate Christ's birth. Often we have a dinner, sing carols, and just enjoy being together. We are always encouraged to invite those who live in our area but are not of our faith to join us for this celebration as we Light the World. Tonight was this celebration in our area.

You may have read this and thought that sounds like a wonderful thing, which it should be. However, tonight our celebration was missing the Light if Christ. The Spirit of Christmas wasn't there. How can we celebrate the birth of the Savior without having his spirit in our presence?

Tonight started as a normal night for our family. We had somewhere to go, we were running late. We arrived at the church house about fifteen minutes late and the party had started. We found a place to sit and visited the buffet to fill plates for the children and once they were settled for ourselves. We have a large family, we took up a whole table by ourselves. Nothing about this is new, it's part of parenting. Yes, I was flustered, but I was looking forward to the uplifting that I knew could come as I celebrated a wonderful event with friends and family.


I was feeding myself, I was feeding the baby, it's slow but it was working. My kids were behaving ok and eating well. I was half way though my plate when the singing began. I stopped eating to enjoy the music and sing along to my favorite carols. I helped my little ones follow along with the words. We sang together. The Spirit of Christmas was beginning to fill the room. And then it stopped.

Just like that it was over. Never mind that there were a good number of people still eating. Never mind that some were still visiting the buffet for food. The Bishop himself, the leader of our little congregation, had been so busy serving at the buffet table that he hadn't had the opportunity to sit with his family and eat. All at once everyone was moving, putting away tables and chairs. This was not a gathering of friends, it was a group of people there under obligation and anxious to finish the cleaning so they could be on their way.

Yes, my family of ten were all still eating when a bucket arrived at our table with a frowning face and a quick request for "dirty silverware please". But my faith is strong. I know that Christ's love is bigger than these people who just wanted to go home. What about those who don't have that? What if I had invited that friend who did not share my faith? What would she think of these people? What about that elderly person who doesn't get visitors but put in the effort to wear a special Christmas sweater that went home without a conversation? What about the mother who spent the entire meal feeding others and not herself? What about the person with mental illness who struggled to convince themselves to attend and sits in the corner by themselves? What about the person who was still at work and arrived as quickly as they could? What about you? Did you feel welcome? What would Christ have done?

I know my Savior Jesus Christ and I know what he would have done. He would have hugged that grandmother and listened to every story she had to tell about her grandchildren's letters, complemented her sweater and then invited them to join him for the holiday. He would have hugged that mother too, even if she was covered in baby food slime, and held that baby while mom ate a good meal and chatted with friends all while telling her how wonderful her family is and what an important job she is doing as a mother. He would have sat with that individual all by themselves and asked them quietly about their day and introduced them to others until they felt comfortable and part of the group. Christ also would have sat with that person who arrived late. He would have filled their plate, reheated, found more food, and made them feel welcome no matter the time or the tardiness of their arrival. He would have taken time and given love to each individual in attendance. Each would be welcome and embraced. Each would leave feeling loved and uplifted. As we celebrate Christmas, the day of Christ's birth, are we sharing this love? And are we teaching our children to love each other in this way?


I promise there is no better feeling in the world than the love of Christ! He loves each of us. He even loves me, the frustrated mom with the children that don't always listen. He knows exactly who I am, what I'm going through and what I feel. He loves me for me! I am important to him!

I hope this Christmas that you remember that Christ is so much more than the people who celebrate on his day. I hope you take the time to see, truly see, those around you. And I encourage you to look beyond the gifts and the cleaning and the parties and see the people as Christ would see them. Love them just a little. The world will be better for that love!

The Mini-Mindset Series Tour & Giveaway

My Mini-Micro Mindset Manual 

The Mini Mindset Series 

by Neeta Oza 

Genre: Self-Help, Wellness

My Mini-Mindest Manual is a must read A-Z guide for anyone who wants to know more about the power of mindset. This powerful little book is packed with simple tips, ideas and supportive words, to potentially turn your life around.

(Half of the authors royalties are donated to MIND charity)

Nominated for The Peoples Book Prize 2019 

Add to Goodreads

Amazon * B&N * Google * Kobo * Audiobooks * Book Depository

My Back To Basics Business Bible

The Mini Mindset Series 

Genre: Self-Help, Business

My Back-To-Basics Business Bible is a must-read A-Z guide for anyone in need of a confidence-boost when setting up a business, becoming an entrepreneur, or building a start-up. Those early days in a new business can be a steep challenge, and in this powerful little pocket-book, fitness entrepreneur, Neeta Oza, shares an indispensable mini-guide to how she helps herself during times of doubt, and times of delight. A must-read that you can dip in and out of without taking up too much of your precious time, this little book will lift up everyone who needs some words of comfort and advice during the tumultuous early days of entrepreneurship. My Back-To- Basics Business Bible is packed with pearls of wisdom the author has learnt from many people, near and far. Starting her own fitness business changed Neeta's life in many amazing ways, and she is constantly learning from this journey; all day, every day! Written as part of her own life journey, this powerful little book is packed with simple tips, ideas and supportive words, to potentially turn your life around. It is part of a Mini Mindset Series designed to help people at various stages of their lives, relationships and careers. 

Add to Goodreads

Amazon * BookDepository

My Fun-Filled Fitness Folio 

The Mini Mindset Series 

Genre: Self-Help, Fitness

My Fun-Filled Fitness Folio is an inspirational A-Z guide to keeping fit by Yoga and Pilates instructor, and all-round health, fitness and wellbeing lover, Neeta Oza. This powerful little book offers tips and inspiration to keep newbies - through to fitness fanatics - on track, to keep life flowing during times of finesse and fireworks. Neeta Oza is a Yoga and Pilates instructor, blogger, writer, and all-round health, fitness and wellbeing lover, who started her fitness business in 2017. Written as part of her own life journey, this powerful little book is packed with simple tips, ideas and supportive words, for those who simply love fitness, to those who absolutely loathe it - but are prepared to give fitness a try! My Fun-Filled Fitness Folio is part of a best-selling Mini Mindset Series designed to help people at various stages of their lives, relationships and careers including My Mini Micro Mindset Manual (January 2019), My Back To Basics Business Bible (May 2019) and My Super-Compact Self-Care Script (December 2019). 

Add toGoodreads

Amazon * BookDepository

My Super Compact Self-Care Script 

The Mini Mindset Series 

Genre: Self-Help, Self-Care

My Super-Compact Self-Care Script is a must-read A-Z guide for anyone who needs a helping hand to learn self-care strategies for life. Self-care is not selfish, far from it, nor is it a millennial buzzword with no real meaning. Neeta Oza, fitness entrepreneur and author, has created this mini micro manual for anyone who understands they need to step-up their self-care skills in order to bring their best to their health, relationships, life and work. 

This book is for anyone who wants to boost their wellbeing 

through self-esteem, rest and relaxation, and time-out to help them feel more in control, balanced and happy...but could do with some friendly guidance as to how, what, where and when! 

We can be the masters of looking after everyone else, but it can be more difficult to learn - and remember - to care for ourselves. Neeta shows small steps that can be adopted into daily life to take us on a lifetime journey towards self-care. Neeta's latest mini manual offers practical and realistic suggestions that can be applied with ease to add a sprinkle of self-care to our lives. 

Read alongside My Mini-Micro Mindset Manual (January 2019), My Back-To-Basics Business Bible (May 2019), My Fun- Filled Fitness Folio (September 2019), My Super-Compact Self-Care Script is a wonderful addition to this hugely popular series. 

Add toGoodreads

Book Depository

My notes: I haven't finished reading these yet but I'm so glad they are part of my library as I enter the new year! I love the simple format and the down to earth tips to help me in every aspect of my life!

Neeta Oza is on a mission to show people that health and fitness is not something only available to those with buckets of money to throw around! This book series is for anyone passionate about making a change to their life, their wellbeing and their health. 

Neeta is an EA, Yoga & Pilates Instructor, & Author. Her 1st book - 'My Mini-Micro Mindset Manual' came out in Jan 2019. 50% of her proceeds for MMMMM are going to MIND Charity. All 4 of her books are part of an A-Z Self-Help Series. She is hoping to inspire and be inspired through the powerful beauty of writing! 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Amazon * Goodreads * Book Depository

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Is Your Gut Healthy After The Feast?

We all know we had a great time feasting last week over the holiday, or at least I hope everyone did, but now we have to face the fact that eating this way does not help us be healthy and feel good. Thankfully, there are many simple ways that we can help our guts, and ourselves, feel better. One of them is to take a good probiotic.

Recently I was introduced to these Probiotics 70 Billion CFU and have been impressed. Besides the fact that I can order them from Amazon I absolutely love that they are shelf stable so I can keep them with all my other daily routine essentials. Other great features of these probiotics include:

• 70 Billion CFU Max Strength Available - includes 15 broad spectrum strains
• Doctor Formulated - made with prebiotics and probiotics based on clinical research.
• NON-GMO, Gluten Free, Shelf Stable, Vegan, No Binder, Soy, Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Peanuts, SHellfish, Additives, or Preservatives
• Patented Capsules and Heat Resistant Strains
• Naturally helps to support the digestive system and supports natural stomach balance
• Great for support for digestive health, weight loss, immune system, intestinal health, gut health, gas relief, bloating relief, constipation, and leaky gut
• Made in the USA in FDA cGMP certified facility.

One of the most common questions about these probiotics is how they have made them shelf stable. A Customer Care Specialist tells us that the probiotics do not need to be refrigerated to remain viable because they are produced by a special freezing process, keeping the organisms stable and viable at room temperature. The delayed release capsules also allow for the bacteria to survive stomach acid so they can remain alive when they reach the digestive tract where they can colonize in the small and large intestines. 

If you're looking for a simple way to boost your health and feel better a good probiotic is a great way to start! Make sure you put these on the list of things to check out.