Morning Complete Iced Mixed Berry Matcha Latte

 More and more people are leaning into at-home recipes for their lattes and smoothies. People want to skip the high prices of unhealthy options at the coffee shops. Keep reading to discover a delicious latte that is loaded with healthy ingredients. 

 Iced matcha lattes seem to be a popular summer drink at the coffee shops. Every place has its own twist on this delicious cold drink. From strawberry to blueberry to ones made with coconut cream, everyone is loving this summer drink trend. 

The one thing that no one seems to mention about the iced matcha drinks is the high sugar content. Then there is also the high price of the drinks made with matcha, making this sweet treat unaffordable. If you are looking for a healthier version of this popular drink, check out this recipe for an Iced Mixed Berry Matcha Latte.

 Iced Mixed Berry Matcha Latte made with Morning Complete

Skip the coffee shop and make this delicious drink at home. This Iced Mixed Berry Matcha Latte is so easy to make. Once you try this drink, you will want to make it daily.

Ingredients Needed for Iced Mixed Berry Matcha Latte 

  ~ Morning Complete, Mixed Berry

  ~ Coconut Milk

  ~ Blackberries

  ~ Agave Syrup

  ~ Matcha Green Tea Powder

About Morning Complete®

Morning Complete is a powerful daily wellness drink featuring a custom-selected blend of nutrients designed to support regular digestive function, daily energy levels, and overall wellness. This delicious drink is perfect for anyone who wants to start each day on a healthy note and enjoy optimized health, thanks to the potent blend of nutrients included in each glass:

  ~ Prebiotics are like the fertilizer for your microbiome. Without prebiotics, the probiotic bacteria that your gut relies on for regularity and wellbeing can’t function.

  ~ Probiotics that replenish and nourish the naturally occurring good bacteria in your gut for enhanced digestive function.

  ~ Energy nutrients from leafy greens — the kind of nutrients your system needs to help you sail through even the busiest days without energy crashes.

  ~ Plus, Morning Complete features five additional hand-selected nutrient blends, designed to rev up your metabolism, keep your spirit lifted, help your body protect itself against oxidative stressors, support healthy liver and cellular functioning, and support healthy blood sugar levels already within the normal range.

Iced Mixed Berry Matcha Latte ~ Recipe is from Morning Complete

1 Scoop Morning Complete, Mixed Berry

1/2  Cup Coconut Milk

3 - 4 Blackberries, Whole

1 1/2 Tbsp Agave (optional)

4 fl oz Matcha, prepared

Ice

Blend Morning Complete, Coconut Milk, and Blackberries (and Agave) until smooth, and set aside. Add ice to your prepared matcha and slowly pour the blended mixture over the ice matcha. Add additional coconut milk if a creamier texture is desired.

Check out some other delicious recipes for healthy iced latte drinks

  ~ Vegan Iced Oat Milk Matcha Latte

 ~  Fat Free Iced Matcha Green Tea Latte

 ~ Dairy Free Iced Bulletproof Coffee Latte

~ Dairy Free Iced Brown Sugar Oat Milk Coffee Latte

Summer Squash Salad & Sardines on Toast

Looking for a delicious recipe that includes vegetables from your garden? If you are looking for a recipe that uses summer squash and tomatoes, keep reading to discover a delicious seasonal lunch.

Summer squashes like zucchini and tomatoes are in season. If you are one of the lucky ones who has a garden bursting with zucchini and tomatoes, you are going to love this recipe that I discovered on the Fishwife website. If you don't have a garden or an awesome neighbor who brings you veggies, then head to the store to buy summer produce. 

This summer recipe is for a delicious sandwich that features summer produce like squash, herbs, sardines, and tomatoes. This is a recipe that I have been making on repeat. This sandwich can be made gluten-free with gluten-free bread.

Summer Squash Salad & Sardines on Toast

 Celebrate summer produce with shaved squash, herbs, and Sardines with Preserved Lemon served alongside crispy toast for an easy seasonal lunch or appetizer.

Fresh summer squash ribbons, sardines, and heirloom tomatoes piled high on toast for a delicious and easy-to-make Summer Squash Salad & Sardines on Toast. Perfectly paired with a schmear of mayo for a satisfying summer meal.

Ingredients needed for recipe

  ~ Fishwife Sardines with Preserved Lemon

  ~ Summer Squash - yellow or green

  ~ Tomato

  ~ Celery

  ~ Parsley

  ~ Shallot or onion

  ~ Lemon

  ~ Mayo

  ~ Bread - can use gluten-free

Fishwife Sardines with Preserved Lemon

The main star of this delicious summer sandwich is Fishwife Sardines with Preserved Lemon. If you are a fan of sardines, you need to try Fishwife sardines with lemon; these are my favorite sardines. The flavor of this tin of sardines is bursting with flavor. The sardines are drenched in a lemon-flavored oil.

Fishwife calls the sardine oil "liquid gold" and recommends saving it for the sandwich dressing. Trust me, this 'liquid gold" is good. I have been known to lick the tin after I eat the sardines.

About Fishwife ~ High-quality, sustainable, delicious tinned fish

The world's tastiest tinned fish became an idea in 2015 when CEO and cofounder, Becca Millstein, was living abroad in Spain and was inspired by the vibrant and delicious culture around Spanish and Portuguese conservas. She believed there was a home for equally high-quality, ethically sourced, delicious tinned fish back home in America.

 Five years later, Fishwife was started in 2020 by Becca and Caroline Goldfarb with the mission to make premium, sustainably sourced, and delicious tinned seafood a staple in every cupboard.

Fishwife uses only the best fish and seafood ~ All of the seafood and fish that Fishwife packs into tins are responsibly wild-caught from places like the Bay of Biscay, South Africa, and Kvarøy Arctic.

Ingredients for Summer Squash Salad & Sardines on Toast

 Recipe was discovered here

  + 1 can of Fishwife Sardines with Preserved Lemon; save the “liquid gold” for the recipe!

  + 1 summer squash, cut into ribbons using a vegetable peeler

  + 1 celery stalk, thinly sliced

  + 1 handful of parsley or cilantro chopped (or both!)

  + ¼ onion or shallot, thinly sliced

  + Salt and Pepper to taste

  + 2 well-toasted slices of your favorite bread

  + A Schmear of mayo

  + Heirloom tomato slices

Directions

To make the salad, combine the first 6 ingredients in a medium bowl. Make sure to dump the whole can of sardines, including the liquid, in the bowl. The liquid from the sardines is what gives this sandwich its intense flavor.

Gently toss this around until everything is well coated and shiny.

Taste and adjust with more lemon juice or salt according to your liking.

To build your toast, grab a toasted slice of bread & schmear it up with mayo.

Place your tomato slices and season them with a little salt and pepper.

Finally, pile your squash ribbon sardine salad high on top. Go big here, people!

Cut in half with a sharp knife for better eating practices

Can I make modifications to the recipe?

You might notice that the original recipe from the Fishwife website included a lemon and three slices of bread. I did not use additional lemon, since I used the lemon slice from the can of sardines. Since I piled my sandwich high with the sardine salad, I only needed two slices of bread. Plus, I was not sharing this sandwich with anyone else. 

 I also omitted a couple of ingredients from the one posted on Fishwife's website. I made my sandwich without the celery and parsley. I am not a fan of celery in sandwiches; I don't care for the texture. I also dislike the taste of parsley and cilantro: I have the gene that makes it taste like soap. 

I also substituted gluten-free bread, as I have a wheat allergy. 

Check out some other recipes that use Fishwife seafood

  ~ Gluten-free Smoked Salmon Bagel With Lemon Hummus

  ~ Spicy Olive Tuna Bowl

  

~ Gluten-Free Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad

6 Items You Need For Hot Summer Night Sleep

Hot summer nights can make sleep difficult. To beat the heat and stay comfortable during warm weather, you need to invest in products that will help your body sleep better. Keep reading to see my top picks for summer sleep products.

Luxe Bamboo Cotton Sheet Set from The Lad Collective 

This summer has been a tough one with many states experiencing heatwaves. With daytime temperatures reaching triple digits and nighttime temperatures staying hot, it has been making sleep difficult for so many. 

The air conditioners have been working overtime, and the fans have been going nonstop. You have been lying awake at night wondering when the heatwave will be over. The 10-day forecast is showing hot temperatures, and you are longing for fall-like weather.

If you are like me and your home is lacking AC, you are just miserable. To help those who need help sleeping during the hot summer, you need to learn about my top products for summer sleeping.

Items You Need For Hot Summer Night Sleep

1. Luxe Bamboo Cotton Sheet Set ~ This bamboo cotton sheet set will help you experience a level of comfort that’ll make you want to cancel all your plans and dive headfirst into bed. 

The Luxe Bamboo Cotton Sheet Set from The Lad Collective is made from a luxurious bamboo/cotton blend. These sheets will keep you cool & sweat-free all night. These soft sheets have some unique features that will leave you happy.

 From the labeled looped straps on the fitted sheets that help you change the sheets quickly to hidden zippers on the pillowcases, to the many awesome colors, you are going to want to buy this sheet set. The sheet set even includes a face mask and laundry detergent sheets.

These sheets are by far the best sheets I have ever owned. They wash beautifully and are so soft and extremely comfortable. I love that they have deep pockets that stay put on my king-size mattress. The looped straps are my favorite part of these sheets. Why hasn't anyone thought of straps on fitted sheets/ No longer does it take forever to make my bed. The straps are even labeled to indicate which corner of the bed to place the sheet. 

2. Senotori Magnesium Lotion for Sleep ~ While the heat may be a factor in your restless sleep, your body may just need some help with relaxation. Even aches and pains may be disrupting your sleep. Something as simple as applying a magnesium lotion may help you sleep better.

Senotori Magnesium Lotion for Sleep is formulated to relax your body so you can fall asleep more easily, sleep more soundly, and wake up refreshed. The magnesium lotion is infused with soothing Lavender & Chamomile essential oils to transform your bedtime into a calming self-care ritual. The lotion also contains arnica for pain relief.

The magnesium lotion is non-greasy and absorbs quickly into the skin. You will love that it is made without toxic fragrance ingredients.

3. Portable Clip-on Fan ~ A fan can help you feel cooler while you sleep, especially if it is close to your bed. While ceiling fans help, adding an additional fan near your bedside can offer more cooling power.

The Warmco Clip-on Fan is perfect for the bedroom. This rechargeable small fan is powerful. Since it is portable, you can place it anywhere. The fan comes with a hanging clip and a clip on base, making it the perfect bedside fan. The fan also has a built-in light. The fan battery provides 12-30 hours of run time.

4. Keycozy Shower Filter ~ Something as simple as adding a water filter to your shower can help you sleep better. Hard water and chlorine can dry out your skin. Dry, itchy skin can make it hard to sleep.

The Keycozy Shower Filter contains a multi-stage cartridge with carbon filtration to help reduce chlorine, fluoride, heavy metals, rust, sediment, and other common water impurities. Cleaner shower water can improve your skin, helping you sleep better.

5. Mattress Topper ~ When your bed is uncomfortable, it can make sleeping hard. While replacing your mattress can make a difference, it can be expensive. Before you shell out big bucks for a new mattress, try a mattress topper first. 

A mattress topper can transform a sagging or old mattress into a premium sleep environment. It can provide an immediate boost to your bed's overall support, effectively extending the lifespan of your current mattress while delivering the luxurious feel of a brand-new bed.

Look for a mattress topper with cooling gel to actively dissipate body heat to make your bed feel cooler. Also buy a mattress topper with straps to prevent it from shifting. A removable zipper cover is also a must for easier cleaning.

6. Sound Machine ~ If you need help with sleep, you need to try a sound machine. The white noise from a sound machine can create a calm environment to induce sleep. Many sound machines have different sounds to help you fall asleep.

The LectroFan Alpha sound machine includes seven non-looping sounds, like 2 ocean wave sounds, heartbeat, white noise, brown noise, and 2 fan sounds to support a soothing backdrop for restful sleep. The rechargeable device lasts for up to 40 hours on a single charge.

Help is on the way!

Try these items to beat the heat and stay comfortable during warm weather. You need to invest in products that will help your body sleep better. Many of these products can be used year-round for a better night of sleep.

The Dead Sea Squirrels Fun Adventures Giveaway

Looking for a fun way to teach your children about core values? The Dead Sea Squirrels books are more than fun adventures. They help bring core values to life for the whole family.

Many thanks to Wander Creative for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Many of you may remember listening to Veggie Tales. Listening to songs like ~ Where Is My Hairbrush? and The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything.  

 As a mom of older kids, I have many fond memories of watching Veggie Tales movies with my kids. When the youngest two, now teenagers, were born, Veggie Tales were a thing of the past. My youngest missed the lessons that the Veggie Tales taught. They have no clue who Larry the Cucumber or Bob the Tomato are.

If I had to choose a favorite movie from the Veggie Tales, it would have to be Jonah and the Whale. I just love the lessons that came out of the Veggie Tales productions. 

From the co-creator of VeggieTales comes The Dead Sea Squirrels

Mike Nawrocki, the co-creator of VeggieTales, co-founder of Big Idea Entertainment, and the longtime voice of Larry the Cucumber, has created a new children's series called The Dead Sea Squirrels. 

The Dead Sea Squirrels books are a new way to help children connect with the Bible. These books present the life and teachings of Jesus through humor, memorable characters, and imaginative storytelling.

About the Dead Sea Squirrel Series:

The Dead Sea Squirrels follows 10-year-old Michael and Merle and Pearl, two squirrels who were preserved in Dead Sea salt for 2,000 years. After being brought back to Tennessee and unexpectedly revived, the squirrels use their firsthand knowledge of Jesus’ teachings to help Michael and his friends navigate modern-day challenges.

Check out the soundtrack from The Dead Sea Squirrels

 The Dead Sea Squirrel soundtrack gives families a screen-free extension of the book series. The fun music gives families a new way to carry the faith-filled fun and biblical lessons of The Dead Sea Squirrels into everyday life, from car rides and school drop-off to playtime, family time, and church settings. 

  + The soundtrack contains 22 sing-along songs about kindness, honesty, and self-control. Children will want to hear the music on repeat while parents will feel good about the lessons the songs reinforce.

  + Themes of the songs include kindness, diligence, honesty, mercy, self-control, overcoming worry, trusting God, Jesus’ birth, baptism, the Kingdom of God, the Last Supper, and the Resurrection.

  + The soundtrack brings together an impressive lineup of Christian music artists, including Matthew West, MercyMe’s Bart Millard, Katy Nichole, Ellie Holcomb, Mac Powell of Third Day, Steve Taylor and three-time GRAMMY Award winner Ashley Cleveland. The album also features Matthew Ward, Durell Comedy, Mike Nawrocki, Jenny Littleton, Mazzy Mason, Christopher Bailey, Aaron Armstrong, Rob Howard, Duncan Phillips, Henry O. Arnold, The Golden Hours and James Weir.

Watch The Dead Sea Squirrels

Teach your children core lessons with the Dead Sea Squirrels soundtrack! Buy now at DeadSeaSquirrels.com

Check out these quotes

Mike Nawrocki (Series creator and voice of Merle Squirrel)

"I’m so excited for families to hear The Dead Sea Squirrels Season 1 soundtrack. The songs are fun and super catchy, but they also carry biblical lessons and themes that parents can feel good about. My hope is that kids will want to sing them again and again, and that the truths in the lyrics will stay with them long after the music stops.”

Steve Taylor (Animated series producer, performer and co-writer of “The Dead Sea Squirrels Theme Song”)

“One of the joys of The Dead Sea Squirrels has been making music for kids that never feels like an afterthought. We wanted every song to be funny, memorable and musically strong while still serving the story and the biblical truth at the heart of each episode. Having so many gifted friends lend their voices made the soundtrack even more special.”

#DeadSeaSoundtrackMIN #DeadSeaSquirrels #DeadSeaSquirrelsSoundtrack

Connect with The Dead Sea Squirrels

Instagram: @thedeadseasquirrels

TikTok: @thedeadseasquirrels

Facebook: facebook.com/thedeadseasquirrelsofficial/

YouTube: youtube.com/@thedeadseasquirrelsminno

Website: DeadSeaSquirrels.com

Giveaway

 I am giving away a Dead Sea Squirrel Soundtrack prize package to one lucky Mom Knows Best reader. 

  ~ The giveaway package includes 1 CD of the Dead Sea Squirrels Season 1 Original Soundtrack & 1 copy of the latest book in the series, Cybersquirrels: The Dead Sea Squirrels, Book 13. 

  ~ The giveaway is limited to US winners only. The giveaway starts on August 11th, 2026, and ends on August 16th, 2026. To enter the giveaway ~ enter on the giveaway form below. 

~ This giveaway cannot accept P.O. boxes as winning addresses. Please submit your address in the giveaway form. 

Entry-Form

How to Simplify Your Household's Financial Paperwork

 

Image Credit: Unsplash

 Piles of mail, old bills, and school notices can quickly turn a kitchen counter into a mountain of stress. Managing your household's financial paperwork doesn't have to be a monumental task. Creating a simple system helps you reduce clutter, find what you need quickly, and make tasks like filing taxes much smoother. The key is to break the process down into manageable steps: decluttering, digitizing, and storing securely.

Decluttering Physical Documents

 The first step toward control is clearing out what you don't need. Many of us hold onto papers "just in case," but a clear set of rules can help you decide what to keep and what to shred. Start by sorting documents into three piles: shred, file, and scan.

 Items like old utility bills (after you've confirmed payment), credit card offers, and expired warranties can usually be shredded immediately. For papers you need to keep, it's helpful to organize paper files at home using a simple filing system. A small file box with labeled folders for categories like "Medical," "Housing," "Auto," and "Taxes" is often enough. For tax-related documents, a good rule of thumb is to keep them for at least seven years. Everything else, like bank statements or pay stubs, can often be shredded after a year, especially if you can access them online.

Streamlining Tax Submissions

 An organized system is especially valuable during tax season. Having your receipts, income statements, and deduction records in one place saves hours of searching. This is even more critical if you're self-employed or have a small business. Many tax authorities are moving toward digital submissions that require more frequent updates. For instance, systems like MTD ITSA (Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self Assessment) require self-employed individuals and landlords to keep digital records and provide quarterly summaries of their business income and expenses. Adopting a digital-first approach for your financial paperwork now can prepare you for these changes and simplify your annual filing process immensely.

Going Digital with Records

 Creating digital copies of your important papers is a powerful way to reduce physical clutter and make your information searchable. You don't need fancy equipment; the scanner on your home printer or even a scanning app on your smartphone will work perfectly. Create a clear folder structure on your computer or cloud service that mirrors your physical files (e.g., "Taxes 2024," "Car Insurance," "Vet Records").

 Once a document is scanned, name it something descriptive like "2024-03-Car-Insurance-Policy.pdf" so you can find it easily later. For those ready to fully embrace a paper-free life, a comprehensive guide to going paperless can walk you through every step, from choosing the right tools to creating a sustainable workflow. The best part of having digital records is the ability to access them from anywhere and knowing they are protected from physical damage.

Secure Storage for Important Files

 While you can digitize most documents, some originals must be kept in physical form. These include vital records like birth certificates, marriage licenses, Social Security cards, passports, and property deeds. These items should be stored in a secure, protected location. A fireproof and waterproof safe or a safe deposit box at a bank are excellent options for safeguarding these irreplaceable documents.

 For your digital files, security is just as important. Store them in an encrypted cloud service or on an external hard drive that you keep in a safe place. Be sure to back up your files regularly in more than one location. For example, you might use a primary cloud storage service and a secondary physical hard drive. Using strong, unique passwords for any accounts that hold your financial information is also a critical step in protecting your family's data.

 Taking an afternoon to set up a system for your household's paperwork will pay off for years to come. You'll not only have a cleaner home but also the confidence that comes with knowing exactly where your important information is when you need it.

Starting a Home-Based Food Business: What You Need to Know

Image Credit: Unsplash

 Turning your love for baking or cooking into a business right from your own kitchen can truly feel like a dream come true. A home-based food business offers a lot of flexibility and a low-cost way to get started. But before you begin taking orders for your famous cookies or artisanal bread, there are a few important steps to take to set yourself up for success.

Legal and Licensing Essentials

 First things first, you'll need to understand the rules. Most states have specific cottage food laws that tell you what you can sell from your home kitchen. These laws often spell out the types of food allowed, which are usually low-risk items like baked goods, jams, and jellies. They might also put a limit on how much you can sell each year.

 You'll also need to check with your local health department about specific permits, kitchen inspection requirements, and food handler certifications. It might sound a bit daunting, but getting these legal bits sorted from day one protects both you and your customers. Taking the time to be fully compliant really builds a strong foundation for your business.

Crafting Your Menu and Brand

 So, what makes your food stand out? The secret to a successful food business is finding your special spot. Instead of trying to offer everything under the sun, focus on what you do best. Are you known for your amazing gluten-free cupcakes, your perfect sourdough bread, or your zesty spicy pickles? A focused menu is much easier to manage, helps with getting your ingredients, and makes your brand much more memorable.

 And speaking of branding, think about a catchy name, a simple logo, and a story that truly connects with your customers. People love supporting small businesses that have a personal touch. There are many great guides on how to start a food business from home that can help you brainstorm initial creative steps and figure out what makes your products unique.

Streamlining Orders and Payments

 Once you know what you're selling, you need an easy way for people to buy it. When you're just starting out, this could be as simple as taking orders through social media messages or a basic online form. For payments, apps like Venmo or PayPal work wonderfully. As you grow, you'll probably want a more organized system. A dedicated website with an e-commerce plugin or a specialized ordering platform can make a huge difference.

 Thinking about how bigger operations handle transactions can give you some good ideas. The logic behind choosing a restaurant POS system, for example, is all about being efficient, tracking sales, and managing orders. These are helpful principles even for a one-person shop looking to stay organized and give customers a smooth experience.

Marketing Your Delicious Creations

 You could have the best food in town, but folks still need to know about it. The good news is that marketing doesn't have to break the bank.

   + Social Media: Instagram and Facebook are perfect for food businesses. Post high-quality photos of your delicious creations, share your story, and chat with your followers.

   + Local Markets: Selling at a local farmers' market or craft fair is a fantastic way to get your product right in front of customers and hear what they think.

   + Word-of-Mouth: Encourage happy customers to tell their friends. A simple discount for referrals can be a powerful motivator.

   + Collaborate: Team up with other local businesses. Could a nearby coffee shop sell your pastries? Or maybe you could provide dessert for a local caterer?

Balancing Home Life and Business

 When your business is also your home, the lines can easily get blurry. It's really important to set clear boundaries to avoid burning out. If you can, designate a specific area of your kitchen just for business use. Set "business hours" for baking, answering emails, and making deliveries. Don't be afraid to say no to last-minute orders that would mess with your family time. Remember, one of the reasons to start a home business is for better flexibility, so make sure the business works for your life, not the other way around.

 Starting a home-based business is an exciting adventure that mixes your passion with entrepreneurship. By tackling the legal stuff, building a great brand, and finding a balance that works for you, you can truly turn your culinary talents into a thriving business.