Do You Need to Spruce Up Your Blog? #Giveaway

Not too long ago, I met Ro of Mommy Blog Designs online.  I was immediately impressed by her adorable blog design, and we quickly became pals!  In fact, she'll be doing a redesign for me in the near future - I'm so excited about it!  

Does your blog need a little sprucing up?  Then you definitely need to go visit her!  She is giving away an adorable design this Friday!  The giveaway ends at midnight this Friday (7/29), so hop on over there now!  

This design work for BOTH blogger and wordpress blogs!  I absolutely love those butterflies!  

GO ENTER NOW!!  

I'm Moving!

No, not to a tropical villa like this one...

Just wanted to give everyone a head's up that I'll be moving to WordPress over the weekend.  What does that mean for you?  Hopefully nothing!  But if things get a little wonky please bear with me.  And my blog will probably look a little plain for a while, but then it will be back with an amazing design from Mommy Blog Designs.  How cool is that??  I can't wait to tell you more about her!  In the meantime, drop by her blog and say hello - she will have a great giveaway on Friday!  

Things Remembered Photo Contest - Win $200!

It's strange to be thinking about the Holidays in the heat of summer, but honestly they'll be here before we know it!  Our Holidays start in October with Little Miss' birthday, and things don't slow down until after Christmas!  

What is your favorite holiday memory?  Things Remembered wants you to share your favorite holiday memory and photo for a chance to be a part of their Holiday campaign – all entrants whose photos are chosen to be a part of the campaign will win $200.

I love this photo of Little Miss.  It’s from her first Christmas with us.  She was so tiny I couldn’t resist taking a photo of her in this huge stocking!  We still take a photo of her in the stocking each year, although I’m not even sure she’ll fit this year!  It was a wonderful way to see how much she grew each year.  It’s hard to believe how quickly this bald little girl became the amazing young lady she is today!  This photo reminds me of all of the joy I have experienced because of her, and all of the memories we have yet to make.

There is nothing more amazing then seeing the holidays through a child’s eyes.  I’m thankful every day for all of the wonder and magic I get to experience because she is in my life. 

Don’t forget to enter your own photo into the 

Things Remembered Facebook photo contest!

**  I am receiving a free product from Things Remembered in exchange for my post.  All opinions expressed are 100% my own. 

What's Blooming Wednesday!

Despite the heat, a few things have survived this summer....

We call these spider lilies, I'm not sure what their "real" name is.  

I always thought it was humurous that they are called spider lilies, 

considering they don't have eight "legs"!

This is my beautiful pepper plant!

I think it's a Vietnamese pepper plant, one of the girls I used to work with 

gave it to me years ago.  The main plant dies, but another always comes back!

The peppers start off green and slowly turn red, getting hotter in the process!


I looked them up to see how hot they get on the Scoville Scale:
Extremely Hot (above 30,000 Scoville Units)
WOWZA!  No wonder I never eat them raw!

Stay Cool While Staying Green

This summer has been a doozy for everyone where the heat is concerned – record temps have been set everywhere!  Whether you’re trying to keep the AC running a minimal amount or you don’t have an AC at all, these tips can help you stay cool. 

One way to cool off on a hot day!

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Do You Recycle? Take the Pledge!

Pledge to recycle at least two paper products a week!

In our house, we recycle much more than we throw away.  Our trash can goes to the road half-full every other week, simply because I don't like it to sit longer than that.  However, recycling can sometimes be confusing.  Often, people aren't sure what they can or can't recycle.  My husband is always trying to recycle our pizza boxes, which is a big no-no!  I often refer to our local recycling website to stay on top of what we can recycle.    

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Spicy Asian Noodles #Vegan

This super-quick meal is another great summer dish!  The cook time is minimal, so you're not going to heat up your kitchen.  I love the lightness of this meal in the summer!  Delicious served with an Asian cucmber salad.  

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Cut the Cable Cord with Orb BR! #Giveaway

So these days technology is growing by leaps and bounds.   Have you ever had people over to your house and you wished you could show them the latest YouTube sensation?  Or a game that is only on ESPN 3?  Orb BR can help with that!   Orb BR uses your PlayStation to receive and play content from your computer or the internet.  If you can find it on the internet, you can now play it on your TV!  Orb BR easily connects the internet to your home entertainment system without any having to purchase any additional electronic components.  It allows viewing of such things as netflix, hulu, and espn 3 without the installation of additional software. Controlling of Orb BR with a smart phone makes controlling orb as simple as surfing the internet.

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It's Friday! Party like You're Three!

Be sure to party like you're three again!

I don't think Little Miss comprehends how lucky she is to live where most people vacation.  

Have a wonderful weekend!  Have any fun plans?

We're visiting the In-Laws, which is always a good time!  Little Miss is ready to see them, it's been a while!  

The Story of Cosmetics - What Are You Putting on Your Face?

I admit it.  While I've done a good job of getting the majority of my house green, one place where I'm lacking is in the cosmetics department.  I have green chapstick and powder.  I just recently started getting shampoos that are better for me and the environment.  However, I still have a long way to go!  

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A Great Advance in Solar Technology!

Leave it to MIT to give us some break-through technology in solar power!  One of the most expensive things about solar power is the cost of the inactive components - the material (usually glass) that the cells are put on, and the structure that supports it.  Not to mention the costs associated with installing it.  

Photo from MIT News, by Patrick Gillooly

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Wordless Wednesday - Beach Life

When we got done with lunch and browsing a few stores at the beach this past Sunday, we headed to our friend's house and got to see something interesting.

One of his neighbors had caught a swordfish!  I've seen a lot of fish that have been caught around here, but never a swordfish.

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Sun Eleuthero Tea - A Review and a #Giveaway!

Growing up in the South, one of the things I crave in the summer is iced tea.  There is no better way to beat the heat then with a cool, cold glass full of iced tea, the more ice the better!  I used to drink the full of sugar Milos, but for the past few years I try to make my own.  That way I can get more control over what goes into my tea.

I don’t want too much sugar in my tea, and I also don’t want to consume too much caffeine in the evening.  Otherwise I won’t get any sleep at night!   Sun Eleuthero Tea is a great tea that you can enjoy any time of day.  Sun Eleuthero is an herb that not only gives you an extra energy boost, it also reduces stress!   I’ve really enjoyed it in the afternoons.  I make some before I pick Little Miss up, then let it cool while I go get her.  By the time we’re back and she’s fed, it’s cool enough to dump over some ice.  I’ve discovered just a small amount of sugar (I do a scant 1/2 teaspoon per 8 ounces) is just the right amount of sweetness for me. 

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Summer Cooking - Easy Refried Bean Tostadas

During the summer, I often take a lot more shortcuts with my cooking than I would normally.  


For this dish, I started with a can of refried beans, but you could always cook your own!  I typically get the spicy fat free kind, always be sure to check the ingredients label - some have lard in them.

I heated them and added tomatoes (16 ounces) and a handful of shredded carrots.  

I also sauteed some mushrooms in some chipolte sauce to add to the top.  

Put cheese on top of tortilla and heat in toaster oven until cheese is melted and tortilla is crispy.

Top with the beans and the mushrooms.  Top with lettuce as well if you have it! 

Enjoy your quick and easy meal!

Submitted to:

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

Shaklee Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate - A Review and a Giveaway!

So we all know about making our own household cleaners, but let’s face it – in today’s hectic world, a lot of people don’t have the ability to make all of the different cleaners they need.  You have to look it up, make sure you have all of the ingredients (that’s the hard part!), then mix it all together. 

Shaklee has a great solution!  It’s Basic H2 Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate works as an all-purpose cleaner, window cleaner, and degreaser.  Since you buy it in concentrated for, it costs just pennies per bottle it makes!  The window cleaner only uses one drop per 16 ounces, which works out to a coast of less than 1ȼ per gallon.  For general purpose cleaning it uses 2 teaspoons per gallon, giving it a cost of 22 ȼ per gallon.  That’s a lot less than what I pay when I buy cleaners! 

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What's More Important Than Your Child?

Nothing, I imagine!







I hope you'll take a moment to view this video from Healthy Child Healthy World and join their movement to use small steps to add up to a big change by avoiding toxic pesticides, using non-toxic products, cleaning up indoor air, eating healthy, and using alternatives to plastics.  


You can sign up to host a Healthy Home Party, find recipes, get quick tips, find helpful apps, and more!  I hope you enjoy this site as much as I did!

Ten Tips For Making Your Life Easier and More Efficient on the Go

Busy Moms are always on the go!  What do you do to make your life easier? 

1. Plan meals ahead:  Making a meal plan for the week is one of the best time savers!  I check the local grocery store ad, think about what I have on hand, and use those to come up with meal plans for the week.  It takes very little time, and saves so much time and effort!  As an added bonus, you’re less likely to waste money by going out to eat at the last minute if you have a plan.
2. Use the internet to shop:  We buy a lot of things that you can’t really get locally through the internet.  It’s so easy to place an order and have it shipped right to your door!  It requires a little planning ahead, but in the long run saves so much time!  We hardly ever have to go to “big box” stores these days. 

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Win an EcoSMART Insect Repellant Bundle!

It’s summertime!  One of the things that comes with summer is bugs – in the garden, flying around outside, and sometimes even in the house!  You want a good insect repellant spray, but you also want something that is safe and that isn’t going to harm your children.  EcoSMART applies modern science to essential plant oils to create 100% safe pesticides.  These oils attack octopamine neuro-receptors. Octopamine is a key insect neurotransmitter that regulates insect movement, behavior and metabolism.  This kills bugs fast without any toxins are harmful residues!

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Wordless Wednesday - Tired Out!

Little Miss and Snoop Dog had a busy weekend, so by Sunday afternoon it was crash time.  I couldn't help taking a picture!

Aren't they just adorable?

Ten Reasons to go to Virginia Beach

It’s summertime, and of course everyone has the beach on their mind!  Something about being on the beach can make all of that hot weather not seem quite so bad.  I don’t know if it’s the beautiful scenery, the always-present breezes, or the salty air, but being at the beach makes the hot weather more enjoyable. 

Here are ten reasons why I’d like to visit Virginia Beach

1. It’s on the East Coast.  I’ve never been to a beach on the East coast, and I’d love to experience one!  Every beach is different, and I’d like to see what East Coast beaches have to offer!
2. They have camping facilities.  We love camping when we travel.  It makes travelling with children so much easier, and you get to become more familiar with a place, in my opinion.  We would probably try to get a spot at First Landing State Park, where settlers landed in April of 1607.  In addition to it being historically significant, it has hiking, kayak tours, and of course a beach!

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Green Blog Hop!

Meatless Monday - Pierogis with Tomatoes

When it's summer, my meals lean towards quick and easy.  This meal took leftovers and added something new for a delicious dinner that came together in minutes!


I started off with some Mrs. T's Potato, Spinach, and Feta Pierogies.  This was my something new!

I gave them a quick saute in some extra virgin olive oil until they were lightly browned.  


Then I added my leftovers - cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and herbs soaked on oil.  I halved the tomatoes and threw them in the pan with the pierogies after they were browned.  I then sliced one round of mozzarella and laid it over the top - I didn't want too much since there was already feta in there!

What a light, delicious dinner!  

What are some of your easy summer meals?  

Submitted to:

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

Living Landscapes Review

Although Little Miss gets to watch television sometimes, we do try to keep it to a minimum.  However, sometimes I’m too tired or it’s too hot or for some other reason we end up inside watching television.  On these days, I love it when I can find something that she enjoys but that isn’t going to take her undivided attention, so hopefully she’ll end up playing and looking at books instead of just watching television.  This is when things like Living Landscapes HD Collection come in.  With amazing scenery and relaxing music, it’s a great thing to put on when you want to relax, get some work done, but want to have something to watch as well.

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It's Blue Angels Weekend!

We're getting ready to head to the beach for Blue Angels weekend!  We're watching the show today and skipping the one tomorrow, which will be much more crowded.  I hope you all have a wonderful day!

Be you. Be true - A Review and a Giveaway!

Even at this young age, I find myself encouraging Little Miss to choose her own path in life and not worry about what other people say or think.  We want more than anything else to raise a daughter who is self-confidant and knows what she wants to be in this world.  I firmly believe that especially for girls, self-confidance is so important! 

That’s why I love the message of be you.be true.  Little miss pink is their spokesperson and she is all about smiles, being confident and nice, making new friends and being thoughtful of the planet.  What do you want to be?  What does your daughter want to be?  Be a dreamer, be loved, be educated, be girlie (that fits Little Miss to a T!), be creative, be you, be true.

The T-shirt that Little Miss got was really nice.  It was pink (her favorite color), soft, and constructed well.  They have the tag printed on the back, which I really like – no tag hanging down to itch your back!

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Pensacola Museum of Art - Chagall for Children

We're fortunate enough to have a great museum here in Pensacola.  Even better, it's free on Tuesdays!  So really there is no excuse not to go if there is something of interest to you.  It's also a great way to spend some time when it's too hot outside.  For a while now they have had a Chagall for Children, and I finally got the chance to get Little Miss to the museum to enjoy it.  

She absolutely loved all of the interactive displays!  

This was a favorite - you found the picture on the side in the painting, and it would do something interactive when you touched it!

The phones talked about the paintings, but Little Miss used them to call her Daddy.

She even got to try her hand at creating her own artwork.  

Trying your hand at painting your own face is always fun!

If you're in the Pensacola area, I highly recommend this exhibit!  It's a great one to get your children interested in art!

Mexican Pasta Salad

It's summertime!  So if you're like me, you're eating a lot of food that travels well these days.  We often eat at the park, beach, or a friend's house during the summer.  Even when it's at a friend's house, food may be sitting out for a while, so you want to make sure it's not something that will go bad!  This is a fast and easy pasta salad that you can take with you and it can stand the heat!

Mexican Pasta Salad

Salad:

• 1 box (13 oz) garden pasta 
• 1 C California Black olives, chopped
• ½ Vidalia onion, chopped
• ½ cucumber, chopped
• 1 (16 oz) can black beans
• 1 (16 oz) can diced tomatoes with chilis (can also use fresh tomatoes and a jalapeno)
• Handful of cilantro, chopped

Dressing:

• 2 T extra virgin olive oil
• 2 T salsa
• 2 T Jake’s California Chipolte Magic Dry Rub (or other dry rub of your choice)
• 1 garlic clove
• 1 tsp lime juice

Bake pasta according to package directions.  Run under cold water to stop the cooking. 

Add the remaining ingredients. 

Add dressing, toss well. 

Top with feta or cheddar cheese, if desired.


Submitted to:


Hearth and Soul
Tasty Tuesday - FTLOB

PureAyre Odor Eliminator - A Review and a Giveaway!

As many of you know, we recently got a puppy.  We all love Snoopy, but having her around means we occasionally have puppy messes, which create odors.  We don’t use those air fresheners that just cover up odors with chemicals, so I was excited to give PureAyre for Pet a try!  PureAyre is a safe odor eliminator that actually breaks down the molecular bonds of odor causing enzymes, so you’re eliminating the odor instead of just covering it up. 

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