Happiness Is....A Day at the Pool!

Last week, I took Little Miss to the local pool for the afternoon.  I'd heard a lot about it (it just opened last year), and wanted to check it out for myself.

They had a great children's area.  Little Miss really enjoyed it!  The area was big enough so that people weren't on top of each other, which was nice.  

I was disappointed that Little Miss cost almost as much as me to get in - because of that I doubt we'll go back, especially since we have a membership to the Y that has a pool and several friends with pools.  But we did have a fun adventure for the afternoon!  

Jake's BBQ Sauce - Make Your Fourth Delicious! Review and Giveaway

Fourth of July weekend is almost here, and I know for a lot of people that means time spent around the grill!  I know we’ll be having some people over on Sunday to enjoy the afternoon and grill some delicious food.  This past weekend we decided to have a test run on the grilling and try out some new sauce we got from Jake’s.  It was delicious! 

We used the Jake’s Medium Hot BBQ Sauce on chicken and shrimp.  It has a nice smoky flavor with heat from pureed jalapeno, habanero, and ginger.  Although it definitely has heat, it’s not so much that you’re gasping for air or can’t taste anything but the heat.  I’ve been adding it to black bean burgers instead of ketchup, and I also made bar-b-q tofu po-boys that were absolutely delicious!   We were sent the mild sauce as well, but we haven’t tried it yet since we’ve been enjoying the other so much.  I’m sure we’ll bring the mild out when we have a bunch of children over this weekend! 

I love that Jake’s BBQ Sauce uses all natural ingredients.  No high fructose corn syrup or things I can’t pronounce here!  It’s like something you’d make at home, but you don’t have to spend time coming up with the perfect recipe (believe me, they have that down!), or actually making the sauce.  I do want to point out, however, that it is NOT a vegetarian sauce.  If you want them to make a vegetarian sauce go to their Facebook page and let them know!  Their sauces have some Worcestershire sauce in them. 

We also got to try the California Chipolte Magic Dry Rub.  It was delicious too!  We tried it on the shrimp, and I also put it in my pasta salad marinade a few days later.  Both turned out great.  It has a wonderful smoky/sweet flavor that both of us really enjoyed.  Be sure to check out the FAQ page for tons of great tips on BBQ’ing!

BUY IT:  You can buy Jake’s BBQ Sauce here.

WIN IT:  One lucky reader will win a bottle of the mild AND medium hot BBQ sauce!  

Contest open to US, ends July 13th.

Don't forget to check out my other giveaways here!

Read more »

What's Blooming Wednesday

It's been so hot and dry here, not much has made it - but my double day lilies are trooping through the summer!

So pretty - wish they lasted longer than a day!  Is it hot and dry where you are?


We're actually dealing with a lot of fires in surrounding areas right now it's so dry.  I had severe headaches for the past three days due to all of the smoke.  They finally started getting them under control yesterday, I hope they are able to put them out!  


You can see a picture here or here.

Franklin and the Thunderstorm - A Review

Franklin And The Thunderstorm, by Paulette Bourgeois, is the endearing story of Franklin the Turtle who is afraid of thunderstorms.  A storm is brewing when Franklin goes to visit his friend the Fox.  His Mom tells him to go ahead and go; that he’ll get there before the storm.  Once Franklin gets to Fox’s house, the storm starts.  Franklin’s friends are happy to play in the rain – Hawk, Fox, Beaver, and even Snail are not afraid, but that doesn’t ease Franklin’s fears.  When the storm hits full force and the power goes out, not even treats can get Franklin out of his shell.  Then his friends start telling him about the Cloud Giants and all that they do during the storms.  Franklin finally comes out of his shell, and even learns a little bit about what really causes thunder and lightning!

I liked this book because in addition to being entertaining, it gave me openings to talk to Little Miss about a lot of things.  There was the talk about how it isn’t safe to play in trees during thunderstorms, the discussion about what really causes thunder and lightning, and a good talk about being afraid – for us, that meant talking about how it’s okay to be afraid, but often if you learn about what you’re afraid of it’s not so scary. 

The illustrations are wonderful – we both loved the bright colors and the adorable characters.  We’ve been reading this book about every other day, which for Little Miss is pretty rare!  She usually doesn’t like to repeat books often.  

Follow Franklin the Turtle on Twitter and Facebook!

**I received an e-book for review purposes, all opinions expressed are 100% my own.  

Indian Sloppy Joes

This recipe was born out of wanting to make another recipe and not having most of the ingredients, but I have to say, it turned out better than I would have ever imagined!  This is good on a nice big roll, on top of a baked potato, wrapped up in a tortilla, or just by itself!  I think it would make a great dip as well.  It is really addictive, thank goodness it’s really healthy!

One of those tastes better than it looks recipes!

Indian Sloppy Joes

• 1 C brown lentils
• 3 C water
• 4 Asian eggplants (the long slender ones), chopped
• ½ tsp garam marsala (optional)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 tsp EVOO
• 1 tsp ginger, minced
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2-3 tsp good quality curry powder
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes (more if you like it spicy)
• ¼ tsp turmeric powder
• ¼ tsp smoked paprika
• 16 oz crushed tomatoes in sauce
• Handful of matchstick carrots
• Salt to taste

1. Put the first four ingredients in a pressure cooker (I used my Instant Pot ) and cook for 20 minutes.  If you don’t have a pressure cooker, bring the water to a boil add the lentils and eggplant, cooking until soft, about 20 minutes.  Add water as necessary.
2. Once the lentils and eggplant are cooked, mash (I used a potato masher).
3. Put  oil in bottom of wok or other large pan.  Once it is hot, add the onions, cooking until browned, about 5 minutes. 
4. Add the spices and cook 2 more minutes.
5. Add the tomatoes and carrots.  Continue cooking for about 5 minutes.
6. Add the bean mixture from the pressure cooker and cook 15 more minutes on low.  

Submitted To:

MMMM
Veggie Converter
Just Another Meatless Monday
my meatless mondays
Hearth and Soul
Tasty Tuesday - FTLOB

Blogorama Bonanza!

Good morning!  I hope you're having a wonderful weekend!  Just wanted to let everyone know that I will be participating in the Blogorama Bonanza this September!  What does this mean?

It means that you'll have a chance in September to hop from blog to blog for a chance to win some great prize packs!  I'm hoping to put together a "Healthy Living" or "Green Living" pack.  What would you like to see in it?  

Also, if you have a healthy or green product and would like to be one of the sponsors of my giveaway please let me know!  

If you are a blogger and want to participate there are still available spots!  

Here are the participating blogs. If you're interested in joining there are still slots available - contact Francisca for info! Please do not add your blog to the below list, it will be deleted:

Five Question Friday!

Happy Friday!  I hope yours is wonderful!




I thought I'd do Five Question Friday - I been busy lately and haven't done it in a while!

1. What is your current favorite tv show?  Since you said current, I’m going to go with something that is airing right now – White Collar.  Art, a hot and charming male lead, and tons of puzzles to solve – love it!   

2. What's the worst haircut you ever got?  Fortunately, for the most part I’ve kept my hair pretty plain – a little longer than shoulder length.  However, I think I did succumb to the dreadful 80’s perm once.  But I don’t have any pictures!! 

3. What was something that you did as a child that you thought you were so cool for doing?  I did my entire dance recital routine at a Captain D’s when I was little.  The whole place actually thought is was cute, I suppose, because they stood up and clapped when I was done!  Maybe they were just happy it was over! 

4. Do you have any GREAT frugal family fun tips?  Take advantage of your area resources!  I know around here we have a ton of free activities for children over the summer!

5. Would you drive across country if you had the money to fly?  If we had plenty of time to make lots of stops and enjoy things along the way, yes.  If we’re on a schedule, then I’d rather just fly.  

For All of You Crafty Mamas - Artistic Letters!

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you’ve seen the cute new trend of letters made from items in nature used in pictures. I know I have!

Photographer Jodi Gerber of ArtisticLetters has created an entire catalog of black & white letter images throughout the past 3 years – all by taking photos of objects in nature that resembled letters of the alphabet. She recently decided to offer her ENTIRE catalog of 250+ letter images to the public on CD or Download so that anyone could create their own designs! It’s a truly original way to make artwork for your home - or even for scrapbooking, greeting cards, and digital designs consisting of wedding invitations, baby’s birth, etc.). Endless possibilities for whatever the mind can imagine!

I’ve seen stores offering the letters framed, and they are pretty expensive! This offers you an affordable way to do it yourself – think of all of the great gifts you can make with these letters!

Jodi teamed up with me and is offering my readers Exclusive Discounted Pricing of up to $6 Off! Please visit her website and browse the images, testimonials, and ideas. I know “The Classic” is sold elsewhere on the internet for more than the cost of her entire package!


Then check out the Exclusive Pricing and Freebie by clicking on this link:
This link is only accessible here for my readers – you won’t be able to find it on her website. ;-)


FREEBIE ALERT: Jodi also offered my readers a Freebie alphabet set (with purchase) as a Bonus! And here’s the great part – you get to choose a Damask set from 6 different galleries! More info is available on the special link above.


The exclusive pricing and freebie offer expires Saturday, June 25 at midnight so be sure you take advantage of this great deal while it lasts.


You can also visit Jodi’s facebook page and click “Like” to find more info, freebies, giveaways, and receive future promotions.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com created by WebBizIdeas.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Happiness Is....

A great gift from my wonderful Husband!  
He really knows how to spoil me!

I can't believe I haven't blogged about this yet - my husband gave me the BEST gift for Mother's Day - an iPad!  He's had an iPhone for a while now, but I've resisted getting one because I don't want our monthly phone bill to go up.  Well the iPad has been great.  I absolutely love reading books on it, and it's so light!  I also have been using it a lot in the kitchen - I don't have to print off recipes all of the time anymore!


Little Miss loves all of the games I have on it - in fact, I think she has more apps than I do!  


Do you have an iPad?  What are your favorite apps?  I'm still looking for great ones.  I love the Daily Suduko app, and I have a pretty good crossword puzzle app too.  

California Black Ripe Olives Recipe Contest

Do you love olives?  I know I do!  They’re low fat, have no cholesterol, and are a great way to add richness to a dish.  If you have a great olive recipe, they can also help you earn some money!    If you need some inspiration, you can check out some of their recipes online here, and then put your own creative twist on it!  You can also check out some of celebrity chef Claire Robinson's recipes here.  

About the “Dress Up Your Dish” recipe contest 

• Those peep-toe pumps. A cool clutch. A classic string of pearls. So often, one essential piece makes the outfit. And when it comes to cooking, California Black Ripe Olives are every season’s—and every dish’s—hottest accessory and we want YOU to show us why!
• Share how you accessorize your dish with California Black Ripe Olives by uploading your original recipe to the California Black Ripe Olives Facebook page for a chance to win a $2,500 cash prize or one of three $100 Gilt.com gift cards. 
• Entries will be accepted through June 30, 2011. Three finalists will be selected based on creativity (25%), ease-of-preparation (25%), taste (25%), and if the recipe uses at least six ounces of California Black Olives (25%).
• Finalists will be announced July 15, but then it’s up to our olive-loving fans to decide who takes the top prize by voting on their favorite recipe.

About California Black Ripe Olives 

• California olive growers produce more than 95 percent of the black ripe olives grown in the U.S.  These growers operate multi-generational family farms from the inland valleys of California from San Diego County to far north of Sacramento County. 
• From breakfast to dinner. January to December. And from every day to gourmet. Olives are as casual or as elegant as you like, adding color, texture and flavor to any meal. 

**I received a prize pack from California Black Olives for writing this post.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own.   

Ten Time-Saving Tips to Make Your Life as a Busy Mom Easier

Do you sometimes feel like you're constantly on the go but never getting anything accomplished?  I know I feel that way sometimes!  These tips will help you save some time and maybe a little money too!

1. Get Organized:  No matter what you are doing, it’s easiest and quicker when you’re organized!  When you spend a bunch of time looking for what you need to get out of the door, you’re starting off on the wrong foot.  We keep a “staging table” near our back door that has things we use consistently when we’re heading out so that they are ready and waiting. 
2. Make a list:  I don’t think I could get through the day without making a list.  I’ve tried it before, and I don’t get nearly as much accomplished because I constantly get sidetracked!  My list helps me plan my day so I can make the most of my time and each trip out the door.
3. Combine tasks:  I do my best to combine tasks, especially when Little Miss is with me.  The fewer times we have to get in and out of the car, the better.  So we tend to run errands immediately after I pick her up from daycare, as opposed to going home first. 
4. Use the internet:  With the internet at our fingertips, it’s so easy to get so many things shipped right to our door!  I used to worry that it wasn’t environmentally friendly, but then I realized that the carbon footprint from shipping was a lot less than the footprint of a big box store, and the money I save lets me get more environmentally responsible products.  As a bonus that’s one less trip I have to make! 
5. Keep A Well-Stocked Pantry:  We always have SOMETHING at our house that we can put together at a moment’s notice.  It may not be exactly what we want, but we never have to run to the store for just one item on a busy day.
6. Get rid of clutter:  This goes back to that get organized tip – if you have a lot of clutter, then you aren’t making the best use of the things you DO have.  This is the one we’ve been working on this year, we still have a long way to go, but things are getting better!
7. Make a Meal Plan:  This one is hard for me, since I’m mainly usually cooking for one.  However, I still do it; I just have lots of leftovers on that plan!  Spend a little time planning out your meals for the week and writing out the ingredients you’ll need.  Not only will it save you time in the long run, but you’ll save money as well since you’ll be able to maximize using ingredients (noticing buying a bag of onions will be better if you’re making a lot of dishes with onions, etc.)
8. Invest in time-saving tools:  I cook a lot of beans, so the Instant Pot has been a huge time-saver for me!  Find the areas that take up the most of your time and see if there is something that can make that job easier.  Are you a working mom?  Consider hiring a cleaning service to come out once a month! 
9. Let Your Children Help:  Okay, so it may not get done exactly how you want it, but most likely it will get done, and your children will enjoy helping you out!  It also teaches them valuable lessons in taking care of themselves one day!  Little Miss already helps with folding the laundry, sweeping, and setting the table! 
10. Presort Your Laundry:  We have baskets in our laundry so that it’s presorted before I even head to the laundry room.  Not only does it save time, but I can tell at a glance what I need to wash next!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Starbucks blogging program, for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” 

Wordless Wednesday - Our Latest House Party

We recently hosted a Sauza House Party.  Although I was pretty disappointed with the party pack, we still had a good time!

Little Miss enjoyed playing in the pool.

While my husband got the party supplies ready.

It was the perfect afternoon to enjoy a margarita!

Social Media - How on Earth did we get along without it?

Thank you to BING Social Search for sponsoring my post about social media. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

How has social media changed my life? I think the better question is how hasn’t it!

Without social media I wouldn’t have this blog – which for me is way more than just a blog! I love being able to share my ideas with others and to get their feedback. When someone leaves a comment on my facebook page or my blog saying that I’ve helped them in some way it really makes my day!  Without social media I would never have had the opportunity to try so many amazing products and share them with my readers.  

It has connected me with lots of other Moms who have the same ideals as me. I remember when I was considering cloth diapering. No one I knew here did it, and at the time I didn’t know that much about it. Thanks to social media I was able to research and find out about a lot of different options, as well as connect with a lot of other parents who were going through the same journey as me! There is nothing like a little support to keep you on the right track!


From diapers to homemade household cleaners, it allows me to research things much more easily. I remember growing up having to spend hours at the library if I wanted to research a topic. With a toddler, this is impossible of course, so having the internet at my fingertips lets me find new recipe ideas, parenting tips, and more. A quick shout-out on facebook or twitter always generates some great advice!


We also love the restaurant recommendations you can get online now! When we’re going on vacation, it’s easy to see what other people thought of all of the local places to eat in that town. It makes it so much easier to try new places when you can see what other people’s opinions!

How do you use social media?  

Tropical Traditions Coconut Cream - A Review and a Giveaway!

One of my favorite foods is Thai food! Over the past few years I’ve started cooking it more and more often. One of the biggest problems I face when cooking Thai food is coconut milk. Most recipes call for it, but few use a full can. This has always been a problem for me. Sure I could freeze the leftovers, but they usually end up getting pushed to the back of the freezer and sitting there until they finally get tossed. I could use coconut extract, but I always felt that I would lose some of the “essence” of the coconut milk that way.

Well, I discovered that Tropical Traditions has a great solution to my problem! They sell Coconut Cream Concentrate, which is certified organic whole coconut meat in concentrated form. Just 1 teaspoon of this cream mixed with 6-8 oz water gives you coconut milk, or you can use it alone as a non-dairy creamer for your coffee or as an addition to your morning smoothie! I’m thinking I may use it in ice cream recipes that call for heavy cream! 


I tried it out in this recipe for Lower Fat Thai Peanut Sauce – I added a little bit more water to mine, because I was having mine over salad greens and wanted it to mix easily. I also cooked my tofu in a mixture of soy sauce, sesame oil, water and chili garlic sauce (1 T each). If you’re new to cooking tofu – don’t forget to press it before putting the marinade on! It will soak up a lot more that way.

The coconut cream worked great in this recipe – I went ahead and put in a full teaspoon, since I like the rich coconut flavor. It’s such a great deal when you compare it to the cost of coconut milk as well – it usually runs from $1.50-2.50 a can, and I’m pretty sure this one jar is going to last me well over a year! No more realizing I don’t have any coconut milk at the last minute or having to use all that room in the pantry to store the cans.


BUY IT: You can buy Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil here. It's currently on sale!


WIN IT: One lucky winner will win their own 32 oz bottle of coconut cream!  Open to US and Canada

Contest ends July 5th at midnight EST

Don't forget to check out my other giveaways here!

Read more »

Reuseit - A Review and a Giveaway!

When the weather is nice around here, Little Miss and I LOVE going on picnics.  It’s such a relaxing way to spend the afternoon, and around here there are tons of places to go – some even have free entertainment! 

That’s why I was thrilled to get some great stuff from Reuseit to use for picnicking.  Of course everything is reusable!  We got a glass water bottle, hemp “anything” napkins, a sandwich keeper, and an insulated bag to keep it all in.

My favorite product turned out to be the reuseit "I'm Not A Plastic Bottle" Glass Reusable Water Bottle.  I love the size, and the message!  I also really liked the lid.  The design keeps ice cubes from hitting you in the face while you’re drinking, or if you prefer you can take the entire lid off and drink that way. 

If you haven’t ditched paper napkins yet, you need to!  It’s such an easy way to be green and save money!  Reuseit Hemp & Organic Cotton Napkins are a great place to start.  They are super-soft, and very easy to clean.  The size is smaller than some of my other cloth napkins, which is perfect for Little Miss!  They’re soft enough for wiping faces too, which is an added bonus when you’re a toddler! 

Little Miss is going to get a ton of use out of the reuseit Snack Bag.  She loves sandwiches, and this is the perfect thing to carry them in.  As an added bonus, the bag acts as a small placemat when she’s eating.  A quick rinse gets it clean, and it dries really quickly. 

Although the reuseit EarthTote Insulated Shopping Bag was a little big for a picnic for us, it’s awesome for taking to the grocery store!  Living in Florida, it’s important to have insulated bags, even when you aren’t travelling very far.  This bag is super-sturdy, and a great shape for holding a lot of your cold items. 

I highly recommend Reuseit products, and will definitely be ordering more from them in the future!  

BUY IT:  You can buy their products at their website.

WIN IT:  One lucky reader will have the chance to win a $25 Reuseit gift card to spend however they choose!  This contest is open worldwide.  

Contest ends July 1st at midnight EST

Don't forget to check out my other giveaways here!

Read more »

Happiness Is....

Updating your wardrobe for cheap!  I admit it, when the seasons change, I always want to update my clothes – at least a little bit!  I’m not into keeping up with the latest trends, but it is nice to have something different to add to the mix!

The other day I went to my favorite thrift store and picked up some great updates for my wardrobe.  I got three cute skirts and a pair of capris, all for $7! 

I love the buttons on these capris from Talbots!

Even though I’m saving money, I still try to follow the one item out for every item in rule.  My husband would tell you that it shouldn’t be a problem for me – I have plenty of clothes I don’t wear!  

Ann Taylor - perfect for the beach!

I'm hoping we'll have a clothing swap soon - another great way to get clothes cheap!

How do you get good deals on clothing?  

This is linked up to:

Wordless Wednesday - Bubble Time!

Little Miss and Snoopy had a great time playing in the bubbles this weekend!

I'm not sure who had more fun!

SUP - A fun way to exercise!

Last week, Little Miss and I had the pleasure of getting to try out Stand-up Paddle Boards for the first time.  If you're not near a large body of water, you may be wondering what on earth SUP is!  In my opinion, it is without a doubt the most fun exercise you'll ever get!  The boards are similar to surf boards, but wider.  You stand on the board and paddle to get around.  

I was terrified that I would fall off of the board, but it was extremely stable!  Once I got comfortable on the board it was so much fun!  We were even in darker water, so you couldn't see the bottom - I imagine it's even better when you can glide and look at all of the cool animals swimming beneath you!  

Little Miss wouldn't get on the board with me, so the kind people there watched her while I took a demo ride.  Unfortunately that meant I wasn't able to stay out long, but it was enough to get me hooked!  How many other things combine relaxation with a great core workout?  Since your board is constantly moving (slightly), your body is constantly working to stay level.  You probably won't even realize it!

Now I just have to figure out how to come up with the money to buy one!  They sure are expensive, but I think we'd get a lot of use out of one.  

Have you tried a SUP?