tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17455132522240315672024-03-06T14:11:45.612-05:00Marlie and MeTeresha@MarlieandMehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17608834359177585613noreply@blogger.comBlogger1047125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-17347487700418451642014-06-19T23:15:00.001-04:002014-06-20T00:09:59.185-04:00#Make The Perfect Cup of Hot ChocolateIt may seem odd that I am resurrecting my blog with a post about making hot chocolate, especially in June.<br />
<br />
But the fact that it isn't 30 degrees outside shouldn't deter you from reading further. Please, continue. Then bookmark/pin this post for next winter. You'll be glad you did!<br />
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<h2>
<b>Recipe for Perfect Hot Chocolate</b></h2>
<br/>
<b>Step 1:</b><br />
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Open kitchen cabinet and throw away ALL packets of hot cocoa mix! Compost them, shred them—just get rid of them!<br />
<br />
<b>Step 2:</b><br />
Gather ingredients (and an adorable helper). You'll need:<br />
<ul>
<li>2 cups almond milk</li>
<li>1/4 cup half-and-half</li>
<li>2 tbsp malted milk powder</li>
<li>1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder</li>
<li>2 tbsp brown sugar</li>
<li>1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract</li>
<li>1/4 cup your favorite semisweet chocolate chips</li>
</ul>
<b>Step 3:</b><br />
In a saucepan, combine almond milk, half-and-half, malted milk powder, sugar, and vanilla. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Turn heat down to low.<br />
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<b>Step 4 (the most important step, so pay attention!):</b><br />
Slowly add the cocoa powder by straining it through a sifter (I use silicon spoon to press the powder through). This not only prevents clumping, but it also gives my favorite hot beverage a richer flavor. Stir until completely dissolved. Remove the mixture from the heat and add the chocolate chips. Stir until completely melted. <br />
<br />
<b>Step 5:</b><br />
Pour into mugs, filling each cup halfway (leave room for whipped topping!).<br />
<br />
<b>Step 6:</b><br />
Garnish.<br />
Add marshmallows or fresh whipped cream.<br />
Don't forget a pinch of cinnamon!<br />
<br />
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<b>Step 7:</b><br />
Enjoy!<br />
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This post was written by me for <a href="http://clmooc.educatorinnovator.org/2014/2014/06/16/make-cycle-1-how-to/" target="_blank">#clmooc Make Cycle #1: How To...</a><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTQ0OQ8ar702iAqlwcY_m0e27xWwPvJ22mjPq9AIy1q8bKZovwIZTaahWKjV7eD2FOR_8gco102z6Pl2oRhdQ6BFLeIy_8dHG9yTqJxGP0uGP-BG8ergCONyrqN9LNa-YQ3Sa32hxg5g/" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-2778088548210185702013-12-25T00:30:00.000-05:002013-12-25T00:30:02.326-05:00Merry Christmas From My Family to Yours! #WordfulWednesdayMerry Christmas to all of you! I hope you are spending the holiday enveloped in the love of family and friends!<br />
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<br />
It's been a busy month and my blogging has taken a back seat. Here is a recap of what I have been doing in pictures:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FLTJD0GnBuY/UrogviKeAxI/AAAAAAAAGrk/1eVf0hws0nk/s1600/20131129_144020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FLTJD0GnBuY/UrogviKeAxI/AAAAAAAAGrk/1eVf0hws0nk/s400/20131129_144020.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The day after Thanksgiving we skipped the Black Friday madness and went
on a hike<br />
through the Tennessee Valley down to Muir Glen beach with our
neighbors. It was majestic.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Then I took a trip to Atlanta (SOLO!) for the 10th Anniversary of <a href="http://enchantedcloset.org/" target="_blank"><b>Enchanted Closet</b></a>, a fairy godmother charity I founded in 2003. I haven't been back in five years so I took the opportunity to visit with some friends before the gala:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MM5GifcPw1M/UroeQo-70wI/AAAAAAAAGrA/OJxvVmVM8Uk/s1600/20131205_120027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MM5GifcPw1M/UroeQo-70wI/AAAAAAAAGrA/OJxvVmVM8Uk/s400/20131205_120027.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's me and Kia from <a href="http://determinedtobefit.com/" target="_blank"><b>Determined to Be Fit</b></a> having lunch<b>.</b> <br />
Blogging friends since 2009,we finally met IRL!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BSftfb9YF8A/UroehNtD8pI/AAAAAAAAGrA/Z_nvrdRZol4/s1600/20131206_193408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BSftfb9YF8A/UroehNtD8pI/AAAAAAAAGrA/Z_nvrdRZol4/s400/20131206_193408.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I met up with a bunch of my former colleagues for happy hour.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tJCrEOxn0eU/Uroc0XXoQ6I/AAAAAAAAGqI/HyYhYsDw5sQ/s1600/enchantedevening5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tJCrEOxn0eU/Uroc0XXoQ6I/AAAAAAAAGqI/HyYhYsDw5sQ/s400/enchantedevening5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This young lady showed up and made my whole night. She was one of my<br />
high school mentees. Now she is a hard-working nurse. #proud</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The big event! In a packed ballroom at the Courtyard Marriott in downtown Decatur, we celebrated 10 years of outfitting girls inside and out:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d_B6v4PYQDo/Uromc9n4emI/AAAAAAAAGs8/WbWYjR0nXEE/s1600/EnchantedClosetCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d_B6v4PYQDo/Uromc9n4emI/AAAAAAAAGs8/WbWYjR0nXEE/s640/EnchantedClosetCollage.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption(l-r) Me trying to look red carpet ready, me and Bonita Johnson, CEO of Enchanted Closet, <br />
me and the original Enchanted Closet crew. The ladies helped build this organization.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
There was no time to rest when I got back. The holiday season was in full swing. There were holiday cards to mail, parties to plan and attend, lots of holiday festivities to take the kids to, and gifts to buy. So that's why I have been absent from this blog. We took in some culture...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qCt9bjEf4u8/UrogJps0s7I/AAAAAAAAGrM/oappib9vn1s/s1600/20131215_170136-SNOW.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="450" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qCt9bjEf4u8/UrogJps0s7I/AAAAAAAAGrM/oappib9vn1s/s640/20131215_170136-SNOW.gif" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took Marlie to see the production of <i>Cinderella</i> by the African-American Shakespeare Co for our annual<br />
mommy & me holiday outing. It was fantastic and the cast stuck around for pictures!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F11tk4-M9Mo/Uroga7J9i-I/AAAAAAAAGrY/yp4jSiPQG5k/s1600/20131222_093030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F11tk4-M9Mo/Uroga7J9i-I/AAAAAAAAGrY/yp4jSiPQG5k/s400/20131222_093030.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made friends at the grocery store while picking up last-minute ingredients for the big feast!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I am thankful for so many people and experiences that made my life extra blessed this year! <br />
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTQ0OQ8ar702iAqlwcY_m0e27xWwPvJ22mjPq9AIy1q8bKZovwIZTaahWKjV7eD2FOR_8gco102z6Pl2oRhdQ6BFLeIy_8dHG9yTqJxGP0uGP-BG8ergCONyrqN9LNa-YQ3Sa32hxg5g/" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-31620795471266504912013-12-03T15:16:00.000-05:002013-12-03T15:29:24.030-05:00Holiday Cards Are Easy and #TopoftheMantel Worthy at Cardstore.com #sponsored #MC<span style="font-size: x-small;">I participated in a campaign on behalf of <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.momcentralconsulting.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mom Central Consulting </a>(#MC) for Cardstore. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.</span><br />
<br />
Am I the only one who doesn't put off sending out my family's holiday card?! Yes, it's a hassle to get all four of us dressed up to take a photo, then design the card, then address over 50 cards with personalized notes, then go down to the post office and stand in line. Come to think of it, I see why most people procrastinate!<br />
<br />
This year, don't be tardy to the party. Let Cardstore.com help you score the primo spot on the mantel this holiday season! Cardstore removes the hassle from holiday cards by printing, addressing and sending them out for you, AND you get to include your own personalized message.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-95e52RQXKGs/Up471JnAdXI/AAAAAAAAGZY/j0Q9g_A2J80/s1600/cardstorepromo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-95e52RQXKGs/Up471JnAdXI/AAAAAAAAGZY/j0Q9g_A2J80/s320/cardstorepromo.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
<br />
Right now, get 50% off all holiday cards and invitations—including Season’s Greetings, Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Year. Use Code: CCN3125. Valid 12/3-12/4! Log on and make your holiday card today: <a href="http://po.st/PersonalizeYourCard" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://po.st/PersonalizeYourCard </a><br />
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<b>Have you finished creating and mailing your holiday cards? </b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-10330967234685155002013-12-02T00:00:00.000-05:002013-12-02T00:00:11.037-05:00Concious Parenting Means Saying Yes to Less #MC <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b-8dSeVbYxA/UpZM-4N9Q1I/AAAAAAAAGTg/FGqhTl1Kvgs/s1600/MCdisclosure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="105" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b-8dSeVbYxA/UpZM-4N9Q1I/AAAAAAAAGTg/FGqhTl1Kvgs/s640/MCdisclosure.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
As a conscious mom, I am a always looking for ways to reduce excess in my family. So I enthusiastically took the Little Remedies <a href="https://sayyestoless.littleremedies.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>"Say Yes to Less" pledge</b></a>. I pledged to say no to negativity because the holidays are stressful and can wear on a parent's patience. I am vowing to not yell at my kids, to be less snappish, and to exercise more grace in stressful situations. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://jump.momcentral.com/SHk" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" height="150" src="http://media.go2speed.org/brand/files/momcentral/24/WishBadge4.gif" width="150" /></a><img alt="" height="1" src="http://jump.momcentral.com/aff_i?offer_id=24&aff_id=1&file_id=40&tiny_url=1" width="1" /></div>
<br />
I think it is wonderful that Little Remedies is spearheading this campaign because we could all use a reminder not to go overboard this time of year. The holidays bring families and friends together in the spirit of love
and thanksgiving, but it also encourages gluttony in the form of excessive
eating and shopping. This pledge is a great way to rededicate myself to focusing more on my family and less on external distractions like buying more stuff that will clutter my home or unhealthy activities like binge eating.<br />
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<embed allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" flashvars="file=http%3A%2F%2Fvid877.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fab332%2Fmarlieandme%2FLittleRemediesVideo_zpsbd9bf8e2.mp4" height="361" src="http://static.photobucket.com/player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600" wmode="transparent"></embed>
When I was pregnant with Marlie, I made a commitment to raise her naturally and I did the same for her brother Desmond. Our lifestyle includes staying active and eating a diet rich in whole foods. I say no to artificial ingredients and too much sugary and processed foods. It is important to me to put healthy stuff in my children's' bodies. It is my first line of defense to prevent cold and flu!
On the rare occasions my kids get sick I turn to natural remedies first because I want the medicine to support their immune systems rather than just suppress symptoms.<br />
<br />
When Marlie was an infant she got a bad head cold. She was so stuffy but was too little to blow her own nose. I found Little Remedies Little Noses Saline Drops after doing some Internet research and it worked wonders! I always have two bottles in the medicine cabinet. I use it too! What I love most about the product is that there is no risk of side effects.<br />
<br />
Join me in taking the "<a href="https://sayyestoless.littleremedies.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Say Yes to Less</b></a>" pledge. What will you pledge to minimize for the next 30 days?
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-29559815113545645982013-11-27T00:00:00.000-05:002013-11-27T00:00:01.816-05:00Happy Thanksgiving from Marlie and Me! #WordfulWednesdayHappy Thanksgiving from my little butter ball:<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCM2Yg9mnpiQL9NfKTqsfd0FOZ2O4FX-zAu0uh5DD6gXi5uUv27ixeF-A6cZFLH5hKZw3Jr4lFagBtWjzAdSdNvGpL-yFrmkBI1llq6luh7ooQubqjVMSq1hhE9ETYZmC5gN-GZr9aY8/s1600/20131126_090124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVCM2Yg9mnpiQL9NfKTqsfd0FOZ2O4FX-zAu0uh5DD6gXi5uUv27ixeF-A6cZFLH5hKZw3Jr4lFagBtWjzAdSdNvGpL-yFrmkBI1llq6luh7ooQubqjVMSq1hhE9ETYZmC5gN-GZr9aY8/s640/20131126_090124.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTQ0OQ8ar702iAqlwcY_m0e27xWwPvJ22mjPq9AIy1q8bKZovwIZTaahWKjV7eD2FOR_8gco102z6Pl2oRhdQ6BFLeIy_8dHG9yTqJxGP0uGP-BG8ergCONyrqN9LNa-YQ3Sa32hxg5g/" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-91481585868420602572013-11-21T13:47:00.000-05:002013-11-21T13:47:21.113-05:00Christmas Gift Guide for Spirited Girls, Girls with Grit, Tomboys<span style="font-size: xx-small;">This post is not sponsored, compensated, affiliated with any of the brands mentioned in any way. I just love sharing good products! </span><br />
<br />
At my job, I read a lot of research and articles decrying the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/celia-islam/closing-the-stem-gender-g_b_3779893.html" target="_blank">small percentages of women in science, math, technology, & engineering (STEM)</a> and how difficult it is to <a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/stem-education/2012/06/28/minorities-need-stem-role-models-too" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">attract minorities to STEM fields when they have so few role models</a>. This is especially troubling for me as the mom of a little black girl. Marlie shows a interest in natural science and computers. I want to encourage that, but most of the toys and games marketed to girls are dolls and princess paraphernalia. I don't mind if my daughter plays house or castle. I just want her to also have the option to play doctor and engineer too.<br />
<br />
This holiday season I am seeing a host of girl-centric "maker" toys come onto the market and I am so geeked. There is hope! I present to you for your shopping consideration:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.roominatetoy.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Roominate</b></a> (age 6-10): the original wired dollhouse building kit. </li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMl0GlMRzxozpvXZx4L6IyK7JpHIzvdovJPKS2xrRJ0jAWEk02-cAXeJntgzXL0t7ei87YqLvpHCFdXZMywQy3u8gz9D4O2yQy3LndZoF4EGxjPMHUr_twb6cMElX2d6ZsapCaCZQfuM/s1600/roominate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMl0GlMRzxozpvXZx4L6IyK7JpHIzvdovJPKS2xrRJ0jAWEk02-cAXeJntgzXL0t7ei87YqLvpHCFdXZMywQy3u8gz9D4O2yQy3LndZoF4EGxjPMHUr_twb6cMElX2d6ZsapCaCZQfuM/s320/roominate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.mydazzu.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Dazzu Lighy Craft Studio</b></a> (age 8+): Spice up craft projects with interactive lights that you program right from your computer, tablet or smartphone!</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MU7q_P9FTZryLu4GbQrgVPRpW46VzBqtYmCJushhQp1tzd6kAIQPRodjx9wokbTmU0DdUjLb96IdvO038VDwxbF_-ZLIx7MbNeEP08PjDEORiSgb6h3g8n1u2_BC6BpwDffrDzcpksA/s1600/dazzu_lifestyle_album.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_MU7q_P9FTZryLu4GbQrgVPRpW46VzBqtYmCJushhQp1tzd6kAIQPRodjx9wokbTmU0DdUjLb96IdvO038VDwxbF_-ZLIx7MbNeEP08PjDEORiSgb6h3g8n1u2_BC6BpwDffrDzcpksA/s320/dazzu_lifestyle_album.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Educational-Insights-Science-Microscope-Activity/dp/B00B1Z6EXU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384982173&sr=8-1&keywords=Nancy+B%E2%80%99s+Science+Club" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Nancy B’s Science Club Microscope and Activity Journal</b></a> (age 8+): Provides hands-on science experiences that get kids comfortable and excited about science, giving them the confidence to pursue science further in school and in life.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFwpTIQNRFyDVjieoD_EOpFr0_LkT3b6m_8BHgfo2Xw5jLdU70jUnqNyjUW_YTWDoivmNCEbJlyyS36r6oI_uOAu8MqWCMwnXYumvoGKYqGPlYm6YBgqPvDWnQl5UNABnzlWsr8eFdrg/s1600/nancy+B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFwpTIQNRFyDVjieoD_EOpFr0_LkT3b6m_8BHgfo2Xw5jLdU70jUnqNyjUW_YTWDoivmNCEbJlyyS36r6oI_uOAu8MqWCMwnXYumvoGKYqGPlYm6YBgqPvDWnQl5UNABnzlWsr8eFdrg/s320/nancy+B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Goldie-Blox-The-Spinning-Machine/dp/B00BCXU3PQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1384981733&sr=8-1&keywords=goldieblox" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>GoldieBlox and the Spinning Machine</b></a> (age 6-10): a series of interactive books + construction toys starring Goldie, a curious girl with a love of engineering. Goldie’s stories encourage girls to build, developing the spatial skills that are fundamental to engineering</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gxfcdOdRIfvzh6DJPd_HQdpRhtQaZKFFgdLtzrDOpukItopXde5AxPGGAHQKMCi99LR0qyd0HEaDDjmOwomZb5VewN8x3TOK2OT8cB4kovcRJYmVAtq1JQXLKUSdlNwUuNAuAVfuIDU/s1600/goldieblox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gxfcdOdRIfvzh6DJPd_HQdpRhtQaZKFFgdLtzrDOpukItopXde5AxPGGAHQKMCi99LR0qyd0HEaDDjmOwomZb5VewN8x3TOK2OT8cB4kovcRJYmVAtq1JQXLKUSdlNwUuNAuAVfuIDU/s320/goldieblox.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><b><a href="http://www.growingtreetoys.com/product/smartmax-25-piece-basic-set" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SmartMax Magnetic Discovery Basic 25 Building Set</a></b> (age 1+): Designed to make building and learning with magnets more intuitive than ever! </li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eR4quCbl0pNkFQq0OOa3MYdujCcPRyIq9cMrptMt87G2dlMLIMH9ltF-I99zqLzcopajSQirf8H4nVwP2Vj1d87_68DVPkXq4apREAE_9kBvA1aF4vicajtzmfekmtA7BjCxE2W4qr8/s1600/main_building2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4eR4quCbl0pNkFQq0OOa3MYdujCcPRyIq9cMrptMt87G2dlMLIMH9ltF-I99zqLzcopajSQirf8H4nVwP2Vj1d87_68DVPkXq4apREAE_9kBvA1aF4vicajtzmfekmtA7BjCxE2W4qr8/s320/main_building2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>These two aren't available yet, but you can pre-order and get a jump on next year's Christmas shopping!</b><br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lauriep/build-and-imagine-with-constructible-play-sets-for" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>StoryWalls</b></a> (age 4+): constructible play-sets for girls from Build and Imagine. Get your budding architect these beautifully illustrated magnetic construction sets invented by mompreneur Laurie Peterson. They aren't available until summer 2014, but early backers can get special pricing and reserve play-sets.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6N0RFFvBRuRxd-KMKF1rt77Nc64GeiXWhkguAlxZzxPh-I3WgUzCS234r35KIsRSUqiLnrEn2Me5UNhDhGyyGAQcljXizXg7yG71tC2F3G10qUL9r85bUNdKf4rpGleg_kpeOp1e8Vc/s1600/Marlie+w+StoryWalls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu6N0RFFvBRuRxd-KMKF1rt77Nc64GeiXWhkguAlxZzxPh-I3WgUzCS234r35KIsRSUqiLnrEn2Me5UNhDhGyyGAQcljXizXg7yG71tC2F3G10qUL9r85bUNdKf4rpGleg_kpeOp1e8Vc/s320/Marlie+w+StoryWalls.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.play-i.com/crowdfunding/rewards" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Bo and Yana</b></a> (age 5+): delightful robots that fuse play with programming for kids of all ages. Robots ship summer 2014, but you can reserve them and accessories now at special introductory price.</li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLBS28Vk-4RI4ez_GqM1PWSJV1XNFq2KtBnUafn6P_k04QUQIecak1YKLF9Ih2nyHMzZQ6IztIZ-gSDSccvvr8AWyq6Q5bLOs7vzWLOx9NgUX-uDwyTHy2yIdRhDULjUXfHC29XTbYPU/s1600/BoYana_HomeStretchOutfit-9f966e85b9e4cd6c7f36215d257fa56a.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLBS28Vk-4RI4ez_GqM1PWSJV1XNFq2KtBnUafn6P_k04QUQIecak1YKLF9Ih2nyHMzZQ6IztIZ-gSDSccvvr8AWyq6Q5bLOs7vzWLOx9NgUX-uDwyTHy2yIdRhDULjUXfHC29XTbYPU/s320/BoYana_HomeStretchOutfit-9f966e85b9e4cd6c7f36215d257fa56a.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTQ0OQ8ar702iAqlwcY_m0e27xWwPvJ22mjPq9AIy1q8bKZovwIZTaahWKjV7eD2FOR_8gco102z6Pl2oRhdQ6BFLeIy_8dHG9yTqJxGP0uGP-BG8ergCONyrqN9LNa-YQ3Sa32hxg5g/" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-13590539942779838322013-11-20T02:02:00.004-05:002013-11-20T02:04:10.369-05:00Wordful Wednesday: Bathtime Then & Now<b>Bathtime is the only time they don't whine or fight. Bless these 10 minutes of peace. </b><br />
<b> </b>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="450" src="http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/marlieandme/P1000874.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="600" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>June 2012</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FPEgfG2AaBQ/UoxdtP6XpoI/AAAAAAAAGRA/yvnBxvOFB38/s1600/20131119_171937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FPEgfG2AaBQ/UoxdtP6XpoI/AAAAAAAAGRA/yvnBxvOFB38/s640/20131119_171937.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>November 2013</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-38167262521946949932013-11-14T00:00:00.001-05:002013-11-14T00:00:55.563-05:00Stock Up on Holiday Food Staples with Tetra Pak Goods #CartonSmart
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<p>This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of <a rel='nofollow' href='http://app.socialspark.com/disclosure_clicks?oid=11058845'>Carton Smart</a> for <a rel='nofollow' href='http://izea.in/rlgA'>SocialSpark</a>. All opinions are 100% mine.</p>
<p> When I walk into the grocery store these days I see constant reminders that the holiday season is upon us. There are huge displays and aisle end caps filled to the hilt with pantry goods that I need to stock up on for all those holiday meals. I was fortunate to receive an organic Pacific Foods starter kit of chicken stock, pumpkin puree and cranberry sauce to get me going and help me <a rel='nofollow' href='http://app.socialspark.com/clicks?lid=31185&oid=11058845'>Become Carton Smart</a>. </p>
<p style='text-align: center;'> <span class='placeholder'><a target='_blank' href='http://becartonsmart.com/'><img src='http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a487/am_izea/795e421d-1ec8-414e-b1b8-dde8f5f23ded_zps62983f0a.jpg' border='0' alt=' photo 795e421d-1ec8-414e-b1b8-dde8f5f23ded_zps62983f0a.jpg'/></a> <span class='placeholder'><a target='_blank' href='http://becartonsmart.com/'><img alt=' photo d1d52bb8-c150-4f19-9a7c-b8c9ab3c8df3_zpsac6b75dd.jpg' border='0' src='http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a487/am_izea/d1d52bb8-c150-4f19-9a7c-b8c9ab3c8df3_zpsac6b75dd.jpg'/></a></span></span> <span class='placeholder'><a target='_blank' href='http://becartonsmart.com/'><img src='http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a487/am_izea/62adf36b-e1dc-4d93-98c1-aa80d97a468d_zps600d562e.jpg' border='0' alt=' photo 62adf36b-e1dc-4d93-98c1-aa80d97a468d_zps600d562e.jpg'/></a></span></p>
<p> One cooking staple I am always running out of around the holidays is chicken stock. We use it for soup, gravy, stir-fry, and my favorite holiday dish...cornbread stuffing! No holiday dinner is complete until my husband places a dish of southern cornbread stuffing on the table made with his mother's recipe. Her version calls for oysters (they are from the Gulf Coast) but we skip that ingredient and keep it simple.</p>
<p> Her recipe also calls for homemade chicken stock, but who has time for that?! It's amazing how many food products you can get in cartons from non-dairy beverages like almond milk to baked beans. This Thanksgiving, I am swapping the canned chicken stock we usually buy for a Pacific Foods carton of organic low-sodium chicken stock. I can already taste it the yummy goodness!</p>
<p style='text-align: center;'> <img style='width: 400px; height: 400px; border-width: 1px; border-style: solid;' src='http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/marlieandme/TertaPakCollage_zps905503a9.jpg' alt='Pacific Foods starter kit'/></p>
<p> Tetra Pak® cartons are the smart choice for food staples. They are made from a renewable resource, are recyclable, and maintain the freshness of the food without preservatives. This fun infographic explains all the benefits of choosing a carton:</p>
<p style='text-align: center;'> <span class='placeholder'><a target='_blank' href='http://becartonsmart.com/'><img src='http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a487/am_izea/1898ca76-3272-4baf-a8df-07abf60e15e3_zps1bf425e9.jpg' border='0' alt=' photo 1898ca76-3272-4baf-a8df-07abf60e15e3_zps1bf425e9.jpg'/></a></span></p>
<p> <strong>How do you plan to reduce waste while entertaining this holiday season?</strong></p>
<p> Share you tips and learn more on how to be #CartonSmart via <a rel='nofollow' href='http://app.socialspark.com/clicks?lid=31187&oid=11058845'>Tweet @CartonSmart</a> and <a rel='nofollow' href='http://app.socialspark.com/clicks?lid=31189&oid=11058845'>Follow #CartonSmart on Pinterest</a>.</p>
<p>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-24928028235974135142013-11-13T00:00:00.000-05:002013-11-13T00:00:13.674-05:00eShakti Dresses Make Me Feel Pretty, Oh So Pretty!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsy-5dimB3uwHkIrJtFaBwmLI6AsW2Ljuzx_3NGqDBKiTAbkmWWGHYkHUbCAJrtlQ7tjoAU1U5LmtpO8FT46wcd-j8rTSO5LGn5gEZ0QFmZ_MKKCQQDklZWqnMpqRH3mb9JWSmOHaDQc/s1600/eshaktidisclosure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="51" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsy-5dimB3uwHkIrJtFaBwmLI6AsW2Ljuzx_3NGqDBKiTAbkmWWGHYkHUbCAJrtlQ7tjoAU1U5LmtpO8FT46wcd-j8rTSO5LGn5gEZ0QFmZ_MKKCQQDklZWqnMpqRH3mb9JWSmOHaDQc/s320/eshaktidisclosure.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The holiday season is upon us and that can only mean one thing...you need a <a href="http://www.eshakti.com/Products/dresses" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">unique holiday dress</a> for all those dinner parties!<br />
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<a href="http://eshakti.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">eShakti.com</a> is at your service. It's like have a personal tailor because, not only do they offer a wide selection of women's dresses, tops and skirts in all styles from sizes 0-36W, they will customize almost anything to suit you!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6YSY3iphYYA/Un5ZPOnLuwI/AAAAAAAAFiI/e7_Q4pq-1K4/s1600/Screenshot+2013-11-09+07.47.18.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6YSY3iphYYA/Un5ZPOnLuwI/AAAAAAAAFiI/e7_Q4pq-1K4/s640/Screenshot+2013-11-09+07.47.18.png" width="575" /></a></div>
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I was having a tough time finding a dress to wear to a work fundraiser when eShakti offered to send me one! I narrowed down my choices to these three:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-guB1d7CvKac/Un5b2p4w-EI/AAAAAAAAFig/O8IANtg3R9w/s1600/eshaktichoices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-guB1d7CvKac/Un5b2p4w-EI/AAAAAAAAFig/O8IANtg3R9w/s640/eshaktichoices.jpg" width="600" /></a></div>
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I ultimately chose the one on the right for the color and "forgiving" material. This ruffle cascade stretch crepe dress had my name written all over it.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0SEffydusFk/Un5Xfpacn1I/AAAAAAAAFiQ/Mbox5E-SL_o/s1600/Screenshot+2013-11-09+07.30.46.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="349" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0SEffydusFk/Un5Xfpacn1I/AAAAAAAAFiQ/Mbox5E-SL_o/s640/Screenshot+2013-11-09+07.30.46.png" width="600" /></a></div>
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This dress was perfect: the perfect color for the season, the perfect length for my petite frame. Plus, it is machine washable which is a bonus because this mama don't have time to run to the dry cleaner! Only one thing was missing...sleeves! So I added them! And here I am all dressed up for the fundraiser last Thursday:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ePSWy5wpr7k/Un5X0rM5BsI/AAAAAAAAFiA/VPkS0SIbfB8/s1600/P1010846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ePSWy5wpr7k/Un5X0rM5BsI/AAAAAAAAFiA/VPkS0SIbfB8/s640/P1010846.JPG" /></a></div>
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I turned heads when I walked into the event that evening. People were stopping me to tell me how much they loved the dress. It put a pep in my step that night! Head over to <a href="http://eshakti.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">eShakti.com</a> and pick out something guaranteed to make you stand out from the party crowd this fall!
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-6565722078166869792013-11-11T00:00:00.000-05:002013-11-11T01:07:30.120-05:00Turkey Alternative for Thanksgiving: Cross Rib Roast #FreshFinds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dMOn-uhVw8g/UoBXHcvcOgI/AAAAAAAAF1Y/PMWqP17UBrQ/s1600/CB-sponsored-post-white-script-600.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="48" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dMOn-uhVw8g/UoBXHcvcOgI/AAAAAAAAF1Y/PMWqP17UBrQ/s400/CB-sponsored-post-white-script-600.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is the first year that I am attempting to cook the main course for Thanksgiving dinner. In the past I made the side dishes and dessert while hubby handled the bird. Now I am stepping up to the plate, literally. I don't want to make the usual suspect so I started looking for alternatives to turkey at my local <a href="http://www.luckysupermarkets.com/freshfinds" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lucky Supermarket</a>.<br />
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I have been carefully planning the menu from the bottom up. I have roasted sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, sauteed green beans, cornbread stuffing, and yeast rolls. Everything will be homemade. The only thing missing from my menu was the main dish. After browsing the meat case, I settled on the cross rib roast and pick up one to practice on. <br />
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I couldn't help but notice the amazing Buy One Get One deal the Lucky Supermarket was running on turkeys. The BOGO sale will apply to the following meats from 11/13-11/26 so you can mix-and-match:<br />
<ul>
<li>Riverside or Honeysuckle White Frozen Turkeys</li>
<li>Cooks Ham Portions </li>
<li>Master Cut Beef Cross Rib Roasts</li>
<li>Pork Shoulder Roasts</li>
<li>Honeysuckle Turkey Breasts</li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iKGUkTY1Vp8/UoBVKv8ngQI/AAAAAAAAFyU/JUxsOd1o3sQ/s1600/Lucky+Supermarket+BOGO+Turkey+%2523FreshFinds+%2523shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lucky Supermarket BOGO Turkey #shop" border="0" height="284" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iKGUkTY1Vp8/UoBVKv8ngQI/AAAAAAAAFyU/JUxsOd1o3sQ/s640/Lucky+Supermarket+BOGO+Turkey+%2523FreshFinds+%2523shop.jpg" title="Lucky Supermarket BOGO Turkey #shop" width="575" /></a></div>
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This is a HUGE savings for larger families. For me, it means I can get a backup meat for free just in case I botch the first one! But hopefully that won't happen. That's why I am doing a trial run now.<br />
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Cross Rib Roast is usually made as a pot roast, but I find it can be oven roasted too if it is marinaded to tenderize and then slow cooked which produces a firm, but juicy piece of meat. I start by letting the cut sit in the refrigerator in a soy-ginger-garlic marinade for 24-48 hours (the longer the better the results). The marinade is:<br />
<ul>
<li>1/2 cup soy sauce</li>
<li>1/2 tsp sesame oil</li>
<li>6 cloves minced garlic</li>
<li>1 tbsp fresh grated ginger</li>
<li>1 tsp dry mustard</li>
<li>1 tbsp sea salt</li>
<li>1/2 tsp black pepper </li>
</ul>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBVfuB8TNkA/UoBVxWCcOMI/AAAAAAAAFzk/TS_u6Cu7_KY/s1600/soy+ginger+garlic+marinade+%2523FreshFinds+%2523shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="soy ginger garlic marinade" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBVfuB8TNkA/UoBVxWCcOMI/AAAAAAAAFzk/TS_u6Cu7_KY/s1600/soy+ginger+garlic+marinade+%2523FreshFinds+%2523shop.jpg" title="soy ginger garlic marinade" /></a></div>
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The next step is to sear the meat on all sides in a pan on high heat. Place it in an oven bag with onions, carrots and fingerling potatoes. Put the bag in a roasting pan in the oven on 200 degrees until it reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees (medium). This will take several hours because the slow food method is all about not rushing. My 4 lb cross rib roast took 3.5 hours.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jYaCGFc7YR4/UoBWt4-oHCI/AAAAAAAAF0o/Gfa4D_D7Rnc/s1600/Lucky+cross+rib+roast+seared+%2523FreshFinds+%2523shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LU8_cqwcCUs/UoBWknw7mJI/AAAAAAAAF0M/rVwIgGqJjnk/s1600/Lucky+cross+rib+roast+bagged+%2523FreshFinds+%2523shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="oven roasted cross rib" border="0" height="187" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LU8_cqwcCUs/UoBWknw7mJI/AAAAAAAAF0M/rVwIgGqJjnk/s320/Lucky+cross+rib+roast+bagged+%2523FreshFinds+%2523shop.jpg" title="oven roasted cross rib" width="250" /></a><img alt="pan seared rib roast" border="0" height="187" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jYaCGFc7YR4/UoBWt4-oHCI/AAAAAAAAF0o/Gfa4D_D7Rnc/s320/Lucky+cross+rib+roast+seared+%2523FreshFinds+%2523shop.jpg" title="pan seared rib roast" width="250" /></div>
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It turned out lovely! Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. The first slices were medium well and the inside slices were medium. You can definitely cook it for less time if you prefer your roast rarer (to an internal temp of 125-130 degrees).<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kb0OU5oIZ94/UoBvzBcRgGI/AAAAAAAAF2Y/TwZMdxtOk7U/s1600/Lucky+Superrmarket+Cross+Rib+Roast+%2523FreshFinds+%2523shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="486" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kb0OU5oIZ94/UoBvzBcRgGI/AAAAAAAAF2Y/TwZMdxtOk7U/s640/Lucky+Superrmarket+Cross+Rib+Roast+%2523FreshFinds+%2523shop.jpg" width="580" /></a></div>
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<b>What are you making for Thanksgiving? The traditional turkey or will you opt for an alternative? Check out the Lucky Supermarket <a href="http://pinterest.com/luckyfreshfoods/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Fresh Finds</a> Pinterest Board for inspiration!</b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-1049730195419033162013-11-05T00:00:00.000-05:002013-11-05T00:00:11.603-05:00Nano Poo ParticlesI am so over poop.<br />
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Desmond is 18 months and he shows zero interest in potty training. I know boys don't reach this milestone as quickly as girls, so I don't expect him to be out of diapers by age 2. But the boy won't even communicate that he has eliminated. He doesn't pat his bottom and say poo-poo. He doesn't even walk funny as if it bothers him. He just continues to eat, play or whatever until I sniff him from across the room (I have a bloodhound's nose).<br />
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Which leads me to my original statement. I am so over poop. More specifically, I am tired of smelling poop. I once read an article that said the smell of poop is actually tiny molecules of fecal matter reaching your olfactory receptors. Double Ew. I freaked myself out thinking about nano particles of poop trapped in my nose hairs. That article seriously disturbed me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APotty_training_app_screenshot_3.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="By Camiech (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons"><img alt="Potty training app screenshot 3" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Potty_training_app_screenshot_3.png/256px-Potty_training_app_screenshot_3.png" title="Potty training app screenshot 3" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Camiech (Own work) [<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0">CC-BY-SA-3.0</a>], <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3APotty_training_app_screenshot_3.png">via Wikimedia Commons</a></td></tr>
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I have been doing some internet research on how to gently coax little man onto the potty train or at least get him to let me know when he's soiled himself. Is there an app for that? I am open to advice. I need to figure out something pronto because he has started removing his dry diaper at night. He has already peed the crib twice. It's just a matter of time before we wake up to poo-smeared bedding. Then I will be scrubbing poo off the walls and thoughts of micro poo stuck in my nose from my mind. As my Jamaican grandmother would say, "Lawd take the case!"<br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTQ0OQ8ar702iAqlwcY_m0e27xWwPvJ22mjPq9AIy1q8bKZovwIZTaahWKjV7eD2FOR_8gco102z6Pl2oRhdQ6BFLeIy_8dHG9yTqJxGP0uGP-BG8ergCONyrqN9LNa-YQ3Sa32hxg5g/" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-39562118319492656902013-11-04T00:00:00.000-05:002013-11-04T00:00:09.882-05:00Score the Best Fashion Discounts at Modnique!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iwIrUZ25c78/UnW5xO-YcSI/AAAAAAAAFXs/2j0dYbAyncs/s1600/ModniqueDisclosure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="56" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iwIrUZ25c78/UnW5xO-YcSI/AAAAAAAAFXs/2j0dYbAyncs/s320/ModniqueDisclosure.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Modnique.com is like no other <a href="http://www.modnique.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">discount fashion retail site</a>. First off, it is HUGE! There are thousands of deals for the taking. I am not exaggerating when I say you will get lost in this site. This is what I saw when I landed on the homepage...dresses, earrings, and boots oh my! <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kkefc3O8Wyo/UnVfF1xCHQI/AAAAAAAAFVo/SWi4_x0qZ1s/s1600/Screenshot+2013-10-30+20.04.50.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Modnique landing page" border="0" height="309" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kkefc3O8Wyo/UnVfF1xCHQI/AAAAAAAAFVo/SWi4_x0qZ1s/s640/Screenshot+2013-10-30+20.04.50.png" title="Modnique landing page" width="575" /></a></div>
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When I became a mom I lost my fashion sense along with half my brain
cells. But now I am in fashion recovery. I have been having a ton of fun
lately rediscovering my personal style while shopping online. I call my
new style mom chic, sensible clothing accentuated with fancy
accessories like statement jewelry and bold print scarves. I like
shopping online for the convenience, variety and deals so I gladly took
Modnique.com up on their offer to shop their site.<br />
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Modnique lives up to their tag line, "fashion without borders" because they really go above and beyond handpicking <a href="http://www.modnique.com/all-sales" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">designer brands at clearance prices</a>. They have have everything for the whole family from Accessories to Zapatillas, as well as beauty products and home goods. Everything is brand name and on trend. If you are looking for luxury brands they got you covered. Up to 48% off of Tiffany and Co...?! It's like having a premium outlet mall at your fingertips!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jDKyQxffYiU/UnWvBMo2VNI/AAAAAAAAFWg/GtiT_pPLp-Q/s1600/Screenshot+2013-11-02+18.56.28.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Modnique Tiffany and Co. sale" border="0" height="203" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jDKyQxffYiU/UnWvBMo2VNI/AAAAAAAAFWg/GtiT_pPLp-Q/s640/Screenshot+2013-11-02+18.56.28.png" title="Modnique Tiffany and Co. sale" width="575" /></a></div>
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I browsed Modnique.com for hours and got a crash course in international fashion. I learned about several global brands I hadn't heard of before like Jenrigo luxury handbags made in Italy. No one does leather handbags like the Italian designers! I drooled over this page for a good minute. As you can see popular items sell out on Modnique so you don't want to drag your feet: <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z_3wS2Lbg3A/UnVfhyx81GI/AAAAAAAAFV8/8XyDltR8fwM/s1600/Screenshot+2013-11-02+13.20.29.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mondnique Jenrigo handbag sale" border="0" height="177" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z_3wS2Lbg3A/UnVfhyx81GI/AAAAAAAAFV8/8XyDltR8fwM/s640/Screenshot+2013-11-02+13.20.29.png" title="Mondnique Jenrigo handbag sale" width="550" /></a></div>
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One thing I truly appreciate about Modnique.com (besides the knock-your-socks-off prices) is how well the site is organized. Each limited-time sale can be sorted by brand, size, color and price to help you narrow down your search and add to your cart even faster. It is a cinch to shop the retail section too because each category (Accessories, Apparel, Beauty, Jewelry, Shoes) is sorted by designer and then you can filter items by gender, style, size, and color. I would like to see a search box and a better scrolling bar to make site navigation even easier. There is also a daily deal that you must see to believe. I snapped up this pair of VENETIAURUM 24K gold plated silver two-toned Murano glass earrings valued $160 for $11!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bf0mmI9PrOQ/UnW0YKQeIOI/AAAAAAAAFW0/wPfbZBqID6Q/s1600/Screenshot+2013-11-02+19.21.02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Modnique VENETIAURUM Murano glass earrings dail deal" border="0" height="253" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bf0mmI9PrOQ/UnW0YKQeIOI/AAAAAAAAFW0/wPfbZBqID6Q/s640/Screenshot+2013-11-02+19.21.02.png" title="Modnique VENETIAURUM Murano glass earrings dail deal" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here is what else I scored at Modnique.com. A gorgeous Shelby and Palmer Ruffle Dress perfect for work at 68% off. A cute Renee C. Sheer Printed Blouse great for Casual Fridays at 75% off. And a Papillon Multitone Peasant Dress to wear next spring/summer at 83% off. You see that "Make an Offer" Button? I used this to save another dollar on the blouse!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kDJOFN0o03s/UnXGpWN4LZI/AAAAAAAAFYk/Ll_X2KFAq1Y/s1600/ModniqueCollagewithArrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Modnique red tag sale" border="0" height="550" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kDJOFN0o03s/UnXGpWN4LZI/AAAAAAAAFYk/Ll_X2KFAq1Y/s640/ModniqueCollagewithArrow.jpg" title="Modnique red tag sale" width="550" /></a><br />
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So here is what my shopping cart looked like. I bought four items and I didn't even use my entire gift certificate. Many Modnique items ship in 24 hours and shipping is always free for orders $99 and up. I cannot wait for my package to arrive:<br />
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You need to head over to Modnique and take advantage of their incredible savings for fashion mavens! Their 20 Days of Deals kicks off on November 7th. You can keep track of each day’s deal by either visiting <a href="http://www.modnique.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Modnique</a>, the <a href="http://editorial.modnique.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Modnique blog</a>, or the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/modnique" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Modnique Facebook Page</a>. Mark your calendar so you don't miss it!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-43422382771779631252013-10-30T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-30T00:00:07.254-04:00Wordful Wednesday: Halloween 2013 #CostumesYou know I love dressing up my kids in themed costumes for Halloween. And I'm going to keep doing it for as long as I can get away with it! Here is Marlie and Desmond as Minnie and Mickey Mouse. Get ready to be overcome by the cuteness!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTIV5YAMS3Pr9E9IDcRLX6VlwJpxJw8yi2P9YfPMHblAUARRmjqgWT2GLiETSFSIvOgx_0t3lCkV_mqP96r7z1Bx1tytVr6aMehyphenhyphenAVJUp8azN66RVO4vpvntIjzrnQbAOrGJckUK9Tp0/s1600/IMG_20131026_131532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTIV5YAMS3Pr9E9IDcRLX6VlwJpxJw8yi2P9YfPMHblAUARRmjqgWT2GLiETSFSIvOgx_0t3lCkV_mqP96r7z1Bx1tytVr6aMehyphenhyphenAVJUp8azN66RVO4vpvntIjzrnQbAOrGJckUK9Tp0/s640/IMG_20131026_131532.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minnie Mouse Costume: <b><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/165243400/minnie-mouse-costume-dress-with-red?ref=shop_home_active" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Etsy</a></b>; Mickey Mouse Hat: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/62194489/mickey-mouse-hat?ref=listing-shop-header-4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Etsy</b></a>, Black Onesie: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007Y8KWFY/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Amazon</b></a>, Red Pantaloons: <b><a href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Plain-Knee-bloomers-Toddler-4-styles-shorts-pants-Made-in-USA-2T-3T-4T-5T-/370912138169" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ebay</a></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_1DWkusRm0vVC-qzvL4y5qUXbTJp5lEuPFKQcmTwTjzhIPTSVy3AC-_7ms4ONqJeMw7Zf9N8T3LxgXDI3S8KV5rlr2mH6aTKSka9VzV4cGhHSjkjf0EzRXAnyz2wboj8udMlOTYa5HA/s1600/20131026_132741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_1DWkusRm0vVC-qzvL4y5qUXbTJp5lEuPFKQcmTwTjzhIPTSVy3AC-_7ms4ONqJeMw7Zf9N8T3LxgXDI3S8KV5rlr2mH6aTKSka9VzV4cGhHSjkjf0EzRXAnyz2wboj8udMlOTYa5HA/s640/20131026_132741.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our neighbor came out to take pictures of the cuteness</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceqL0oOWSTrZjXeZ8KRsRwATUQK60CNMTI6e0S00sKUpkeDnr91nqqepX5lV1SvRt3VwbDJ2hH-mJUPOvEQ6ILGeTWGcSKCOLVgF6sAPyevC3WcVY0IRwMpDMbVUG_ey6G9xmdmQjxVI/s1600/20131026_132549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceqL0oOWSTrZjXeZ8KRsRwATUQK60CNMTI6e0S00sKUpkeDnr91nqqepX5lV1SvRt3VwbDJ2hH-mJUPOvEQ6ILGeTWGcSKCOLVgF6sAPyevC3WcVY0IRwMpDMbVUG_ey6G9xmdmQjxVI/s640/20131026_132549.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They have their pumpkin baskets and are ready to go trick or treating</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjc8O7xsS_gbEN85Hg2q-H0QEU6vugDvXGjHyRRF52m821Qp_s7ZXbWkkOVMmKNhFhTzrkk1tC-LFlulxQ1e-AxhV1EF4QpYkuNBfr6Z4m64uGzkNmDFciKbLdxNLEvZ3JrXC1VFDa9s/s1600/20131026_142222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjc8O7xsS_gbEN85Hg2q-H0QEU6vugDvXGjHyRRF52m821Qp_s7ZXbWkkOVMmKNhFhTzrkk1tC-LFlulxQ1e-AxhV1EF4QpYkuNBfr6Z4m64uGzkNmDFciKbLdxNLEvZ3JrXC1VFDa9s/s640/20131026_142222.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went to the Fairy Land Jack o Latern Jamboree with our friends</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHi2CM3FJuc0DfKtv9iUI8cxX3pp4xnt32j9FxpWuHRTUR6tVCK8b0Y_p7EDqWQRHdxYy9nMbJkcJeRYvGyLCwv5paPLC1sTOacSUm2dte5jsrIkFF-4LuD-yfOz-tJ10ZrQeVIj4Dl6w/s1600/20131026_150115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHi2CM3FJuc0DfKtv9iUI8cxX3pp4xnt32j9FxpWuHRTUR6tVCK8b0Y_p7EDqWQRHdxYy9nMbJkcJeRYvGyLCwv5paPLC1sTOacSUm2dte5jsrIkFF-4LuD-yfOz-tJ10ZrQeVIj4Dl6w/s640/20131026_150115.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desmond found another Minnie Mouse to flirt with</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<b>What are your kids going dressed as for Halloween?</b>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTQ0OQ8ar702iAqlwcY_m0e27xWwPvJ22mjPq9AIy1q8bKZovwIZTaahWKjV7eD2FOR_8gco102z6Pl2oRhdQ6BFLeIy_8dHG9yTqJxGP0uGP-BG8ergCONyrqN9LNa-YQ3Sa32hxg5g/" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-25851921056459905032013-10-23T17:00:00.000-04:002013-10-26T23:44:38.068-04:00Mohawk Stain Resistant Carpet Gives You License to Spill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yne5bL01AN8/UmSUuR3O5mI/AAAAAAAAEz4/7V5liUMkDJs/s1600/CB-sponsored-post-white-script-600.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="72" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yne5bL01AN8/UmSUuR3O5mI/AAAAAAAAEz4/7V5liUMkDJs/s640/CB-sponsored-post-white-script-600.png" width="580" /></a></div>
Before we moved into our first house the previous owner had brand new Berber carpeting installed on the stairs and in the upstairs bedrooms. It was beautiful. Then we had two kids and I quickly discovered that not every <a href="http://www.facebook.com/mohawkflooring" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">stain resistant carpet</a> is created equal. Years of spilled juice and potty stains that I could never get out turned me into a person fearful of carpeting. I developed a real anxiety about carpet!<br />
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Last weekend I visited the Mohawk Flooring booth at the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival where I learned about their SmartStrand technology and was cured of my carpet phobia. This is the first thing I saw when I arrived:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QRZC8V_mscg/UmV6uz6w8PI/AAAAAAAAE6U/iWoi1Htbrgk/s1600/20131019_105122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mohawk #LicensetoSpill carpet #shop" border="0" height="432" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QRZC8V_mscg/UmV6uz6w8PI/AAAAAAAAE6U/iWoi1Htbrgk/s640/20131019_105122.jpg" title="Mohawk #LicensetoSpill carpet #shop" width="576" /></a></div>
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Your eyes are not playing tricks on you! Those kids are stomping strawberries, chocolate syrup and Halloween candy into carpet. Oh, the horror!<br />
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Not to worry though because that is Mohawk SmartStrand carpet. Unlike other brands that use topical stain protection treatments, SmartStrand's stain and soil resistance is built into the carpet fiber. And it lasts the lifetime of the carpet!<br />
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While the kids played Monster Mash on the pretty carpet, I got to meet some very cool celebrities. Chef Ryan Scott was cooking up his famous sloppy joes (no worries about that spilling on your carpet if you have SmartStrand!). Samantha Harris from<i> DWTS</i> was there to cover the event for the BetterTV Crew. I got to talk to her for a bit. We are total BFFs now.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-surwj6a23yQ/UmV7JAgdmXI/AAAAAAAAE1Q/2GGpQGzVsi8/s1600/20131019_110126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Chef Ryan Scott cooking demo at Mohawk License to Spill Tour #shop" border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-surwj6a23yQ/UmV7JAgdmXI/AAAAAAAAE1Q/2GGpQGzVsi8/s640/20131019_110126.jpg" title="Chef Ryan Scott cooking demo at Mohawk License to Spill Tour #shop" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samantha Harris introducing Chef Ryan Scott's cooking demo for the BetterTV Crew </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HwHKXVVS2Cw/UmV770iz5OI/AAAAAAAAE54/0pMYSzE2vd8/s1600/20131019_111902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Samantha Harris at Mohawk License to Spill Tour #shop" border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HwHKXVVS2Cw/UmV770iz5OI/AAAAAAAAE54/0pMYSzE2vd8/s640/20131019_111902.jpg" title="Samantha Harris at Mohawk License to Spill Tour #shop" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Samantha Harris discussing kids and the weather.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So back to the Mohawk Monster Mash carpet. It got some much needed TLC after an hour. I was amazed by how easily the stains cleaned up with just some water and mild detergent!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lDAvD3Eopl0/UmSRNnS3hrI/AAAAAAAAEzU/WTShG4lYdWQ/s1600/20131019_120635-MOTION.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mohawk SmartStrand Carpet Cleaning Demo #shop" border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lDAvD3Eopl0/UmSRNnS3hrI/AAAAAAAAEzU/WTShG4lYdWQ/s640/20131019_120635-MOTION.gif" title="Mohawk SmartStrand Carpet Cleaning Demo #shop" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
The Mohawk staff gave me my own SmartStrand swatches to take home so I could perform my own demo. I smeared one with lipstick in homage to the carpet in my mom's bedroom that I ruined when I was twelve. I also poured ketchup and sherry on it for good measure. I followed the carpet cleaning tips and used a spray bottle filled with soapy water and a dish rag to blot. The proof is in the photos. There is a faint mark from the lipstick that probably needs a more powerful detergent since it is oil-based, but the other stains vanished! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LYexXPLDH2k/UmX8b4u6i0I/AAAAAAAAE6c/8YlQU0uRIP4/s1600/MohawkCarpetCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mohawk #LicensetoSpill SmartStrand Carpet #shop #cbias" border="0" height="192" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LYexXPLDH2k/UmX8b4u6i0I/AAAAAAAAE6c/8YlQU0uRIP4/s640/MohawkCarpetCollage.jpg" title="Mohawk #LicensetoSpill SmartStrand Carpet #shop #cbias" width="576" /></a></div>
<br />
I can see why their carpet is rated #1 in customer satisfaction. Mohawk is the world's largest flooring manufacturer. They make their products right here in the USA and sell them through retail partners. Go enter to win your own 6’ X 9’ SmartStrand Silk bound carpet rug from the <a href="http://www.mohawkflooring.com/licensetospill/san-francisco/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Mohawk License to Spill National Tour</b></a>!<br />
<br />
Come back and check out the rest of my time at the festival in my <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/112449106030235497651/albums/5937029863875094177?hl=en&partnerid=gplp0" target="_blank">Google + album</a>!<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-82584485073792964702013-10-22T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-22T01:01:23.708-04:00What I am Watching on #Netflix<span style="font-size: small;">I have a backlog of recommendations for you! But only so much space. Here are my picks for this week from Netflix Instant Watch</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>TV Show:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><img align="left" alt="Hit & Miss" height="200" src="http://cdn7.nflximg.net/images/3127/2443127.jpg" width="155" /><i>Hit & Miss.</i> Mia is a pre-op transsexual contract killer with a weakness for saving people. Her life is interrupted when her former lover dies and she is named guardian of the four children, including her son. Each jarring episode reveals the Mia's inner torment as she tries to manage her role as professional assassin, caretaker, and love interest of a handsome local. Another superb British import. It's a crying shame that they did not make a second seson.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Movie:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><img align="left" alt="Hot Coffee" src="http://cdn3.nflximg.net/images/0843/2360843.jpg" /><i>Hot Coffee.</i> This eye-opening documentary explores the "hot coffee lawsuit" of the 90s and how it became the butt of late-night comic jokes and deemed frivolous in the court of public opinion. The film deconstructs why McDonald's invested heaps of money into the PR spin machine to sway public opinion and how we are now living with the results of the aggressive tort reform campaign led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, namely damage caps and and indemnification of doctors from malpractice suits in some states.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTQ0OQ8ar702iAqlwcY_m0e27xWwPvJ22mjPq9AIy1q8bKZovwIZTaahWKjV7eD2FOR_8gco102z6Pl2oRhdQ6BFLeIy_8dHG9yTqJxGP0uGP-BG8ergCONyrqN9LNa-YQ3Sa32hxg5g/" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-80093516876944965272013-10-15T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-20T22:37:17.116-04:00Introducing 9thandElm.com: Daily Deals for Fashionistas + $400 Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sFVvNfpcUkw/Ulyb38kBR0I/AAAAAAAAEqI/6QTPVvziqYQ/s1600/FashionistaDisclosure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="43" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sFVvNfpcUkw/Ulyb38kBR0I/AAAAAAAAEqI/6QTPVvziqYQ/s640/FashionistaDisclosure.jpg" width="576" /></a></div>
<br />
Are you a diehard fashionista shopping on a bargainista budget? Then <a href="http://9thandelm.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>9thandElm.com</b></a> is the daily deal site for you!
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote style="background-color: #ffeedd; border: 2px solid #666; padding: 10px;">
9thandElm.com was founded by Clay and Elly Bethune in the spring of 2013 with a mission to bring it's members fabulous fashion from the best handmade and independent designers. We realize it is extremely difficult to sort through and discover handmade fashion geared towards the "fashionista". Search no longer. Exclusive deals handpicked by our buyers will be delivered daily to our users inbox. This site is a multiple designer site.</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<br />
I was invited to shop at 9thandElm.com and share my experience with you. I warn you that browsing 9thandElm.com is seriously addictive. I am glad that everything is discounted!<br />
<br />
I ordered this Aurora Borealis Peacock Necklace for $44 (a $5 savings off the original price). It is made of beautiful vintage glass rhinestones set in vintage brass crown settings by designer Lilis Gems. The oval shaped vintage glass cabochons change color depending on how the light hits. I wear this at least once a week and all my co-workers want one!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQIeH13vdpQ/Ulyi_B5_VkI/AAAAAAAAErU/VGzrKSgoBhk/s1600/Aurora+Borealis+Peacock+Necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt=" Aurora Borealis Peacock Necklace" border="0" height="528" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OQIeH13vdpQ/Ulyi_B5_VkI/AAAAAAAAErU/VGzrKSgoBhk/s640/Aurora+Borealis+Peacock+Necklace.jpg" title="Aurora Borealis Peacock Necklace" width="575" /></a></div>
<br />
My next purchase was this Crochet Dolman Sleeve Pearl Collar Blouse for $26 ($8 savings off the original price). It is a stunning that feels more like an piece of art than clothing. It is also versatile. I wore it with jeans, but I can see myself wearing this with a long chiffon skirt to Christmas dinner since the fashion police has declared it okay to wear white after Labor Day!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g1MJ7HoLyBc/Ulyj9xfpKQI/AAAAAAAAEr0/G3IGmr1CVsw/s1600/9thandElmCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="CROCHET DOLMAN SLEEVE PEARL COLLAR BLOUSE " border="0" height="600" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g1MJ7HoLyBc/Ulyj9xfpKQI/AAAAAAAAEr0/G3IGmr1CVsw/s640/9thandElmCollage.jpg" title="CROCHET DOLMAN SLEEVE PEARL COLLAR BLOUSE " width="600" /></a></div>
My items arrived super fast because orders ship directly from the vendors. I was happy the process from order to arrival. I cannot wait to shop again! I better get started on referring some friends so I can earn $25 credit for every referral who makes a first time purchase. I am going to get you hooked too!<br />
<br />
Connect with 9thandElm.com on social media: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/9thandElm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/9thandelm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://pinterest.com/9thandelm/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/9thandelm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a><br />
<h2>
Giveaway </h2>
Here's your chance to win a shopping spree to 9thandElm.com!<br />
<br />
Event Prize: 3 Winners $400 Total Value! (1) $200 Gift certificate and (2) $100 Gift Certificates. US AND CANADA ONLY.<br />
<br />
<i>By entering this event, please note that you are agreeing to be subscribed to 9thandElm.com newsletter.
</i><br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e74374211/" id="rc-e74374211" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-38905933047740712462013-10-12T01:27:00.001-04:002013-10-12T01:28:33.974-04:00Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at Macy's #HHM13<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjDAc_sRXWQf2eJoekNXQZ_l8j58xBiZI7R9may1zDO5UC4WIN2sAFEuNPF12Y0o0oV11Fp0s4K8q3ZuBSzj0H5_36S9m41JTGwy86Q4U6c3Gw-ypAhdtU8H4vDYIGYZQkTc7AXAHxeY/s1600/EverywhereDisclosureCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="everywhere society" border="0" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjDAc_sRXWQf2eJoekNXQZ_l8j58xBiZI7R9may1zDO5UC4WIN2sAFEuNPF12Y0o0oV11Fp0s4K8q3ZuBSzj0H5_36S9m41JTGwy86Q4U6c3Gw-ypAhdtU8H4vDYIGYZQkTc7AXAHxeY/s320/EverywhereDisclosureCollage.jpg" title="everywhere society" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Hispanic Heritage Month wraps up this weekend, and I got the chance to celebrate in style at <a href="http://macys.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Macy's</a> in San Francisco on Thursday evening. Macy's cultural events are known for combining music, fashion and cuisine is a festive mix. Macy's salute to Latino culture, history, vibrancy and their 2013 Icon of Style, <a href="https://twitter.com/thalia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Thalía</a> did not disappoint!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4dKj-65drvuKkTh5XJQSw9WzfuVVqDT1Ng9FtnEyZlz75lwUYJExq7ZqAGD9WQNg7brzPI1SZDElNpwds8V1tA-cevBWRrnuXXxBOGozom6zDlt9woRDa2vTgE76JcFl9qNvz_0pEPQ/s1600/ThaliaCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq4dKj-65drvuKkTh5XJQSw9WzfuVVqDT1Ng9FtnEyZlz75lwUYJExq7ZqAGD9WQNg7brzPI1SZDElNpwds8V1tA-cevBWRrnuXXxBOGozom6zDlt9woRDa2vTgE76JcFl9qNvz_0pEPQ/s640/ThaliaCollage.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">When I arrived, the DJ was already hard at work filling the air with Tejano and reggaeton. Servers passed around wine from Esterlina Vineyard and appetizers. Shoppers were treated to some extra perks: copies of Thalía's CD, Vanidades magazine, and the book Dirty Girls Social Club by Alisa Valdes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Sadly, Thalía did not attend in person but Alisa Valdes made sure her spirit was present when she discussed how Thalía inspired her to write Dirty Girls Social Club (soon to be a feature film!) because she busted stereotypes by being shrewd artist who took control of her business dealings. I have already added the book to my reading list!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The highlight of the evening was the fashion show which was a tribute to Thalía's style. The must-haves for the fall is faux-leather and boots! </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqr8SYkLdOZbaO9xOobbMYt1eruKJbcdvK2WJrQ9n805gj95f3OVUX-8_npeQG-mh24wc1GbcH-FbxdpQO5CnxvT8RV_RSlNkp4XDBApHm5BeDAdX155arRQsJAmsUy8bLyyADaw5lXDQ/s1600/HHM+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqr8SYkLdOZbaO9xOobbMYt1eruKJbcdvK2WJrQ9n805gj95f3OVUX-8_npeQG-mh24wc1GbcH-FbxdpQO5CnxvT8RV_RSlNkp4XDBApHm5BeDAdX155arRQsJAmsUy8bLyyADaw5lXDQ/s640/HHM+Collage.jpg" width="576" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Which look do you like the best? What fall trend are you most excited about?</b></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-60036459217462771982013-10-10T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-10T00:00:01.381-04:00Proskins SLIM 28 Day Challenge: The Final ResultsMama has been a bad girl. I didn't post my final results for the <a href="http://www.proskinus.com/proskins-slim" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Proskins</b></a> challenge that ended two weeks ago. I know some of you were waiting to see my outcomes, and I am sorry I made you wait. To make up for it I created a collage of my favorite Proskins wearable moments:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A3uOrzEQAQQ/UlWSO2yYUaI/AAAAAAAAEks/kpyBl3tsaiI/s1600/ProskinsCollage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A3uOrzEQAQQ/UlWSO2yYUaI/AAAAAAAAEks/kpyBl3tsaiI/s320/ProskinsCollage.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Proskins are the perfect accessory to give your fall and winter outfits an extra edge! I still wear mine to workout and relaxing around the house, too. Oh, and I didn't forget the main reason for participating in this challenge to reduce inches and cellulite from my legs. Here are my week 4 results:<br />
<br />
<table border="0" bordercolor="#3300FF" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; height: 215px; width: 516px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><br /></td><td><br /></td>
<td><b>Baseline</b></td>
<td><b>Week 1</b></td>
<td><b>Week 2</b></td>
<td><b>Week 3</b></td>
<td><b>Week 4</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><br /></td><td>Hips</td>
<td>41"</td>
<td>40"</td>
<td>40.5"</td>
<td>40"</td>
<td>40"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><br /></td><td>Top of thigh</td>
<td>25"</td>
<td>25"</td>
<td>24"</td>
<td>24.5"</td>
<td>24"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><br /></td><td>Widest part of thigh</td>
<td>23"</td>
<td>22.5"</td>
<td>21.5"</td>
<td>22"</td>
<td>22"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><br /></td><td>Above knee</td>
<td>15.2"</td>
<td>15"</td>
<td>15"</td>
<td>15"</td>
<td>15"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><br /></td><td>Below knee</td>
<td>13"</td>
<td>13"</td>
<td>13"</td>
<td>13"</td>
<td>13"</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><br /></td><td>Widest part of calf</td>
<td>12.5"</td>
<td>13"</td>
<td>13"</td>
<td>13"</td>
<td>13</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I didn't lose a significant amount of inches, but I also didn't gain any so I consider this experiment a success!<br />
<b> </b><br />
<img br="" height="100" src="http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/marlieandme/img_reviewgiveawaydisclosure_zps6aa41ede.jpg" width="200" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-55295869026260182152013-10-06T12:08:00.000-04:002013-10-21T22:39:24.187-04:00Orange Pumpkin Bread Recipe #FreshFinds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNf6av5XBlo/UlD5ZKZHbQI/AAAAAAAAEbg/JWIW6bt13Zc/s1600/CB-sponsored-post-white-script-600.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="70" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rNf6av5XBlo/UlD5ZKZHbQI/AAAAAAAAEbg/JWIW6bt13Zc/s640/CB-sponsored-post-white-script-600.png" width="576" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;">I am an eater, not a baker. But given the right motivation I can take on a cake (or cookies). I recently had the opportunity to check out <a href="http://www.luckysupermarkets.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Lucky Supermarket</b></a> and shop their selection of fresh-from-the-farm pumpkins for an original recipe challenge.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Being new to the West Coast, I had not heard of Lucky Supermarkets before and was surprised that there was one not far from my house. I took my sous-chef with me and we had fun picking out pumpkins. I bought three. One for the recipe and two for carving Jack-o-Lanterns. I couldn't resist...they were 3 for $9.99! That is the best deal on pumpkins I have seen in these parts. Marlie also picked up a mini pumpkin for herself.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qghXwaMwpkY/UlD-EdS1dXI/AAAAAAAAEb8/bN4yytVLjJA/s1600/Lucky+Pumpkin+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lucky Supermarket pumpkins #FreshFinds #shop " border="0" height="350" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qghXwaMwpkY/UlD-EdS1dXI/AAAAAAAAEb8/bN4yytVLjJA/s640/Lucky+Pumpkin+Collage.jpg" title="Lucky Supermarket pumpkins " width="576" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">We went inside to checkout and I immediately noted how neat the store was. The staff was super-friendly too. A nice cashier helped me use the self-checkout and looked up the codes for the pumpkins. We were in and out in under 5 minutes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Back home, I cut one pumpkin in two and admired the rich color. Then I wrote out my ideas for a fresh pumpkin recipe. I knew I wanted it to be free of artificial ingredients and healthy. Pumpkin is such a great food. I was determined to do it justice. After a couple of drafts, I had my recipe for pumpkin bread. It took two tries to get it right, but it was worth it! I am so proud of this recipe because it is guilt-free. I ate a slice for breakfast with a cup of chai tea. But you can serve it as a dessert with a side of vanilla bean ice cream if you want to be naughty!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Guilt-free Orange Pumpkin Bread</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ingredients</b> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-luKfiu9c_XE/UlF39DxDJSI/AAAAAAAAEeM/tYNrXvrCI3A/s1600/P1010753.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Lucky Supermarket pumpkin #FreshFinds #shop" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-luKfiu9c_XE/UlF39DxDJSI/AAAAAAAAEeM/tYNrXvrCI3A/s400/P1010753.JPG" title="Lucky Supermarket pumpkin" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">2 cups unbleached flour </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1 1/4 tsp baking powder </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 tsp baking soda </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 tsp nutmeg </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 tsp cinnamon </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 tsp allspice </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 tsp sea salt </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1 cup fresh pumpkin puree* </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1 egg </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1/4 cup applesauce </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 cup raw honey </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1/4 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1/4 safflower oil </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">1/2 cup chopped walnuts </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>*To make pumpkin puree, Cut a pumpkin in half and scoop it clean. Carve into pieces, place them in a large pot and cover with water. Boil until tender. Remove skin and place softened pumpkin into a food processor. Pulse until pureed.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Directions</b> </span><br />
<ol>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T572cTY56zI/UlF-_kZCboI/AAAAAAAAEfA/c0L5C8V0K08/s1600/Pumpkin+Baking+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Lucky Supermarket pumpkin recipe #FreshFinds #shop" border="0" height="191" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T572cTY56zI/UlF-_kZCboI/AAAAAAAAEfA/c0L5C8V0K08/s640/Pumpkin+Baking+Collage.jpg" title="Lucky Supermarket pumpkin recipe" width="576" /></a>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Lightly grease a 9x5 loaf pan with olive oil or cooking spray and set aside </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Combine dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Gently blend pumpkin puree, egg, applesauce, honey, OJ, and oil in a mixing bowl </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Add dry ingredients and nuts to the pumpkin mixture and stir </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Pour batter into pan and bake for 60 minutes until a toothpick poked through the center comes out clean. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Remove from pan and let cool on a rack</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Yield:</b> Makes one loaf. <b>Servings:</b> 10</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fiPkOtgDVHU/UlF6DohqgkI/AAAAAAAAEgY/AfkZ8SpRW2A/s1600/P1010769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lucky Supermarket pumpkin bread #FreshFinds #shop " border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fiPkOtgDVHU/UlF6DohqgkI/AAAAAAAAEgY/AfkZ8SpRW2A/s400/P1010769.JPG" title="Lucky Supermarket pumpkin bread " /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Visit Lucky Supermarkets online for more ideas for your <a href="http://www.luckysupermarkets.com/freshfinds" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>fresh finds</b></a>!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-63291976715145366502013-10-03T00:00:00.000-04:002013-10-03T00:00:03.343-04:00Fall 2013 #FashionistaEvents Giveaways Are Open for Entries!<img align="left" hspace="5" src="http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/marlieandme/fallfashionista2013_zps2c160273.jpg" /> <span style="font-size: small;">I am taking a fashion staycation this week so that I can take a trip to the The Fall Fashionista Giveaway Event! Starting today through October 9, I will be entering giveaways to win $26,000 in clothing, jewelry, shoes and other fashion prizes. Join me!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;">The Fall Fashionista Giveaway Eventis hosted by The Chief Blonde at <a href="http://stillblondeafteralltheseyears.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Still Blonde After All These Years</a> and Katy from <a href="http://www.modlychic.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ModlyChic</a>. <a href="http://www.ksquaredglamour.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">K Squared Glamour</a> is our co-host! All Fashion! Only FASHION event! It is the largest Fashion Giveaway event on the internet with $26,000+ in prizes, 100+ participating blogs and 3/4 million entries. Each individual blog has a minimum of $125 prize!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">My Giveaway (open to US/CAN):</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Oh, and I am hosting a giveaway too! My prize is this stunning sterling silver Edmon starfish necklace, valued at $230. It's perfect for your Christmas in Key West or your upcoming Caribbean cruise! <b>Enter using the Rafflecopter form below. After you enter mine, scroll to the bottom of this post for the linky to hop to other Fashionista Giveaway Event blogs!</b></span><br />
<center>
<img src="http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/marlieandme/SterlingSilverEdmonStarfishNecklace_zpsb06c38d6.png" /></center>
<span style="font-size: small;"><a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/14501178/" id="rc-14501178" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
</span><script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Main Event: </span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">For every giveaway in the Fall Fashionista Event that an entrant enters, they gain one entry toward the FALL Fashionista Events Main Event Prizes. Go here to enter Main Event==> <a href="http://stillblondeafteralltheseyears.com/?p=21194" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">$1000 in Main Event Prizes</a> including a $300 prize from <a href="http://www.coupons.com/coupon-codes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Coupons.com</a></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="366" src="http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/marlieandme/Fall-Fashionista-Events-Main-Event-Sponsors_zpsa1968e23.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr align="left"><td class="tr-caption"><ul>
<li>Prize #1 <b>Coupons.com</b> will be providing $300 Pay Pal Cash to <b>Main Event</b> entrants.
They want to make sure you know that they are not just a coupon site,
they also have great shopping deals all through the year as well. Check
out their ever-changing <a href="http://www.coupons.com/coupon-codes/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Coupons.com coupon codes">shopping codes page</a> that is PACKED with shopping deals. Also, they have an incredible <a href="http://www.coupons.com/blog/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Coupons.com blog">Coupons.com </a>blog which summarizes their hottest deals for the week. Be sure to follow along!Prize</li>
<li>#2 — $100 black and white diamond necklace by <i>Rarities: Fine Jewelry with Carol Brodie</i>.</li>
<li>Prize #3 — $400 <i>Mountain Khaki</i> gift certificate</li>
<li>Prize #4 — $189 Ju-Ju-Be <i>Be Prepared Bag</i> in Black and Silver</li>
</ul>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">LEGAL Stuff: 18 years of age or older to enter. Open to residents of US/CAN Only! Read Instructions carefully because rules vary from contest to contest. Make sure to provide a correct email address so we can reach you if you win. You have 48 hours to respond once contacted. Still Blonde after all these YEARS, Modly Chic, K Squared Glamour , Fall Fashionista Events Giveaway or the Fall Fashionista Events Giveaway bloggers are not responsible for sponsors/bloggers that do not fulfill their prizes or for any product failure or harm caused thereby. In most cases, shipping of prizes is the responsibility of the the sponsors who will be sending prizes to you directly. Your prize should arrive within 30 days, let us know if it doesn’t and we will TRY TO HELP OUT! The writer of this blog is self-sponsoring this giveaway. This Giveaway is not affiliated with, associated with or promoted by Facebook. Happy Entering!</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com92tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-81717467061495573732013-09-25T00:00:00.000-04:002013-09-25T00:00:06.113-04:00The Kids Stay in the Picture #WordfulWednesday<span style="font-size: small;">The fall season kicked off this week, and I miss summer already. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy Autumn... cranberry-colored leaves, juicy nectarines, pumpkin pie, Halloween costumes. It's all good! But I just had to give summer one last salute in a pictorial (with words).
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/marlieandme/kidssummer2013Collage_zps0a3c896c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="600" src="http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/marlieandme/kidssummer2013Collage_zps0a3c896c.jpg" width="600" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Clockwise: (top left): Marlie celebrated the BIG 0-4 with a cowboy western-themed party and pony rides to boot! (top right): Marlie on an urban hike with her dad. (bottom left): Desmond in the bathtub using ducky to cover up his bits. (bottom right): Desmond is thriving at his new preschool. His favorite activity is art. He is a budding Picasso!</div>
</td></tr>
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTQ0OQ8ar702iAqlwcY_m0e27xWwPvJ22mjPq9AIy1q8bKZovwIZTaahWKjV7eD2FOR_8gco102z6Pl2oRhdQ6BFLeIy_8dHG9yTqJxGP0uGP-BG8ergCONyrqN9LNa-YQ3Sa32hxg5g/" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-43498720763871275972013-09-22T23:10:00.001-04:002013-09-22T23:10:56.817-04:00A Preview of the 2013 Fall #FashionistaEvents + Lookbook Giveaway!<span style="font-size: small;">The Fashionista Events Giveaway is back October 3-9!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">For those of you who don't know, it's the Internet's largest fashion giveaway event with $26,000+ in prizes and 100+ participating blogs each offering a minimum of $125 prize! I am sponsoring this Sterling Silver Edmon Starfish Necklace ($230 value) as a prize:</span>
<br />
<center>
<img height="212" src="http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/marlieandme/SterlingSilverEdmonStarfishNecklace_zpsb06c38d6.png" width="320" /></center>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">But you don't have to wait until October 3. There are chances to win awesome fashion prizes before the event starts in this Lookbook Giveaway!
</span><br />
<br />
<h2>
Fall Fashionista Events Lookbook Giveaway!</h2>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="500" src="http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/marlieandme/ju-ju-be-bags-Fall-Fashioista-Event-Lookbook-Giveaway_zps68db1d2e.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="500" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ju-Ju-Be Lookbook Giveaway Prizes: Packabee, BeFabulous in Earth Leather, BetterBe</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2>
Welcome to the Fall Fashionista Events Lookbook and Lookbook Giveaway!</h2>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In this Lookbook, you will get a SNEAK PEEK at all the prizes that are being sponsored by all 108 blogs for this year’s Fashionista Event, hosted by <a href="http://stillblondeafteralltheseyears.com/" target="_blank" title="Still Blonde after all these YEARS">Still Blonde after all these Years</a> and <a href="http://www.modlychic.com/" target="_blank" title="Modly Chic">Modly Chic</a>. Event is co-hosted by <a href="http://www.ksquaredglamour.org/" target="_blank" title="K squared Glamour">K Squared Glamour</a>. OH WOW! Can you <b>hardly wait</b> to see all the great prizes in this year’s event?</span><br />
<br />
<h2>
Ju-Ju-Be Smart Bags for Smart People</h2>
<center>
<img height="159" src="http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/marlieandme/Fall-Fashionista-Events-Lookbook-Giveaway-Ju-Ju-Be-Bags_zps0ca6d3ae.jpg" width="400" /></center>
<span style="font-size: small;"><i>Ju-Ju-Be</i> is our Lookbook sponsor for the Fall Fashionista Events Giveaway 2013! They have provided us with three of their darling bags. The winner of each bag will be able to choose their colors. Up for grabs is the <a href="http://shop.ju-ju-be.com/PackaBe-at-Ju-Ju-Be-in-PID11125-05BP01D.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="Ju-ju-be Packabe">PackABe </a>, the <a href="http://shop.ju-ju-be.com/Be-Fabulous-at-Ju-Ju-Be-PID10855-09FM01A.aspx" nofollow="" target="_blank” rel=" title="Ju-Ju-Be BeFabulous">BeFabulous</a> in Earth Leather, and the <a href="http://shop.ju-ju-be.com/Better-Be-at-Ju-Ju-Be-PID12268-12MM01A.aspx" target="_blank" title="Ju-Ju-Be BetterBe">BetterBe</a>. Let’s take a look at these beautiful bags that can be used as everyday totes or high end diaper/parent bags. Watch this video as Susan, the owner of Ju-Ju-Be Bags describes these amazing bags with a presentation of the BetteBe:</span><br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zIaAaQTnlmw" width="400"></iframe></center>
<h2>
Just a few amazing features of a Ju-Ju-Be Bag</h2>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Detachable and adjustable messenger strap</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Messenger strap has a memory foam shoulder pad with a grippy textile underneath … no more straps sliding off your shoulders</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Gusseted mommy pocket with extra long scrunchy key clip, sunglass case, lipstick loops, and pen loop</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">2 exterior insulated bottle pockets … with Thinsulate™ by 3M™. Keep it warm? Keep it cold? Sure!</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Picture pocket to keep photos handy when bragging to friends</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Crumb Drains™ … bye-bye mess!</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Memory foam changing pad included … nice ‘n’ comfy, super cushy</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Teflon® … fabric protector helps repel stains</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Agion® … natural antimicrobial treatment inhibits and reduces the growth of odor-causing bacteria, mold, and mildew</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Metal Hardware … we don’t trust any of the cheap plastic stuff</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Light-Colored Linings … you can actually see what’s inside; it’s not just a big black hole in there</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Machine Washable … air dry</span></li>
</ul>
<h2>
Now, for the Fall Fashionista Lookbook</h2>
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">The Fall Fashionista Lookbook features many of the sponsors for the Main Event and for individual blogs. Our Main Event Prizes total $1000. Coupons.com is sponsoring $300 of our Main Event Prize. They want you to know that in addition to their amazing coupons, they also have coupon codes to use when shopping online.
More sponsors will be added everyday, so be sure to check back and make a list of your favorite products and bloggers. You will then be ready for the Fall Fashionista Events Giveaway which takes place Oct. 3-9. Take the day off work and don’t miss this event!
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e74374220/" id="rc-e74374220" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-78965671370635089252013-09-22T01:21:00.001-04:002013-09-22T01:21:16.945-04:00Thumbs Up Wine Finder Mobile App [Review]B.Y.O.B.<br />
<br />
These four letters seem harmless on their own, but when they appear on a social invitation it's instant pressure to find a crowd pleaser.<br />
<br />
I usually defer to my husband on matters of wine shopping, but since I was sent this new mobile app call <a href="http://www.thumbsupwine.com/Mobile" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Thumbs Up WineFinder</b></a> I have become my own personal sommelier! Okay, that's a stretch. I'm still no wine expert, but <b>this app has helped me become more educated about wines, and I definitely feel more confident about picking out a bottle on my own thanks to Thumbs Up WineFinder.</b><br />
<br />
<img height="312" src="http://www.thumbsupwine.com/Content/Press/Android%20Promotional%20Graphic%201024x500.png" width="640" /><br />
<br />
Have you ever stood in the wine aisle of your grocery store staring at the wall of wine and your head started to spin from all the choices? You'll never get dizzy again with this app. It is designed for the average wine consumer in mind. It's the only mobile app developed to match buyers with wines while they're in the store and the only one that provides national coverage of more than 50 of the largest wine retailers.<br />
<br />
To say the app developers Joe Gaspardone and Matt Eshoo are passionate about wine is an understatement. These guys professionally review hundreds of wines each month carried by retailers like A&P, Albertsons, Costco, CVS, Food Lion, Giant Eagle, Kroger, Safeway, Trader Joe's, Von's, Whole Foods, Winn-Dixie, and other major chain stores. They made Thumbs Up WineFinder to be thorough and user-friendly.<br />
<br />
<img align="left" src="http://www.thumbsupwine.com/Content/Press/iPhone%20Screen%20Shot%20Review%20Detail%20Small.png" />It all starts with the quick search menu. <b>Your search can be basic – price, varietal, food pairings – or more advanced – geography, flavors, and palates.</b> Full-screen images of the bottles allow the consumer to match the picture of the bottle with the wine on the shelf. Another option let you search by occasion: just sippin', meal, party, or gift.<br />
<br />
For example, I can tell Thumbs Up WineFinder that I am in Trader Joe's, planning to eat BBQ read meat, and I want to spend $10-$20 on a wine to pair with my meal. Tap, tap, tap. The thumbs up icons start spinning and return results in a few seconds. The results are displayed in list view and you click each listing to read the review. It would be nice to be able to sort the results by wine type, price, etc... See for yourself how easy it is to use the app in this demo:
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yko-IOu4aDE" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
Thumbs Up WineFinder sent me a bottle of one of their featured wines, the <a href="http://www.thumbsupwine.com/Detail/1562" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>2011 Villa Moscato d'Asti</b></a>. I typed the name into the app and saved it to my favorites. I can also give wines my own rating of 1-5 stars and even share my favorite picks through my social media accounts. There is a "Where to Buy" button that lists the stores that sell the wines I am browsing. It would be awesome if the app was connected with a map service so I can input my zip code and find the nearest location.<br />
<br />
<b>Thumbs Up WindeFinder is a very handy mobile app! I will never shop for wine again without it!</b><b> Available on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wine-finder-by-thumbsupwine.com/id537442643?mt=8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iPhone</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.thumbsupwine.ads" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Android</a>. Download it today!</b><br />
<br />
Connect with Thumbs Up Wine on social media: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ThumbsUpWineReview" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Facebook</b></a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/ThumbsUpWine" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Twitter</b></a> | <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ThumbsUpWine" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>YouTube</b></a><br />
<br />
<img src="http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/marlieandme/img_reviewgiveawaydisclosure_zps6aa41ede.jpg" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-64514210299641398852013-09-11T00:16:00.002-04:002013-09-11T00:20:26.647-04:00What I Wore: #WordfulWednesday <span style="font-size: small;">I had one of those rare days yesterday where I felt like a true fashionista, not just someone who is always admiring another person's fashion sense. Can you relate? I know you know what I am talking about...those days you just love what you are wearing from head-to-toe! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I must brag that I hit it out of the park with this outfit! I am most proud that it is dressy casual; meant to look effortless, but don't be fooled. Look for the small elegant details: </span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="what I wore" src="http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/marlieandme/6aebc92f-3e24-4b4c-ba7e-4d9b7b254427_zps2712f860.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I look good.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>What I wore:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Blouse: Crochet dolman sleeve with pearl collar, $26-from <a href="http://9thandelm.com/" target="_blank">9thandElm.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Jeans: $29.99-from Ross</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Earrings: hammered sterling silver gossamer leaves-gift</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>What grade do you give my outfit?</b></span><br />
<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTQ0OQ8ar702iAqlwcY_m0e27xWwPvJ22mjPq9AIy1q8bKZovwIZTaahWKjV7eD2FOR_8gco102z6Pl2oRhdQ6BFLeIy_8dHG9yTqJxGP0uGP-BG8ergCONyrqN9LNa-YQ3Sa32hxg5g/" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745513252224031567.post-9180216942274650142013-09-09T13:15:00.001-04:002013-09-09T13:15:20.424-04:00Proskins SLIM 28 Day Challenge Week 3 UpdateI just completed week 3 of the <a href="http://www.proskinus.com/proskins-slim" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Proskins SLIM</b></a> 28 Day Challenge. To recap: I have been wearing the Proskins Slim anti-cellulite leggings every day for a minimum of 8 hours in an effort to reduce cellulite and lose inches in my legs. You can read about my journey: <b><a href="http://www.marlieandme.com/2013/08/i-begin-proskins-28-day-challenge-today.html" target="_blank">why I joined the challenge</a></b> and my <b><a href="http://www.marlieandme.com/2013/08/proskins-slim-28-day-challenge-week-1.html">week 1</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.marlieandme.com/2013/08/proskins-slim-28-day-challenge-week-2.html" target="_blank">week 2</a></b> results.
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True story: I misplaced my Proskins for 3 days this week. I wore them to workout on Tuesday and then, poof, they disappeared. I couldn't remember if I removed them then forgot to put them in the laundry or if I washed them then stashed them in the wrong place. I practically tore up my house looking for them. I accused my husband of swiping them for his run (because I bragged how great they felt on a jog). I finally found them on Friday hiding in a leg of my husband's sweatpants (so it was his fault after all). I guess they slid in there while in the dryer. Here I am reunited with my Proskins:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="proskins challenge" height="640" src="http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/marlieandme/20130909_100436_zps038d4783.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">reunited and it feels so good!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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So I didn't get a full week of wearing my Proskins, but here is the skinny (ha! pun intended) on my week 3 results:<br />
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<table border="0" bordercolor="#3300FF" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background-color: white; height: 215px; width: 516px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><br /></td><td><br /></td>
<td><b>Baseline</b></td>
<td><b>Week 1</b></td>
<td><b>Week 2</b></td>
<td><b>Week 3</b></td>
<td><b>Week 4</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><br /></td><td>Hips</td>
<td>41"</td>
<td>40"</td>
<td>40.5"</td>
<td>40"</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><br /></td><td>Top of thigh</td>
<td>25"</td>
<td>25"</td>
<td>24"</td>
<td>24.5"</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><br /></td><td>Widest part of thigh</td>
<td>23"</td>
<td>22.5"</td>
<td>21.5"</td>
<td>22"</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><br /></td><td>Above knee</td>
<td>15.2"</td>
<td>15"</td>
<td>15"</td>
<td>15"</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><br /></td><td>Below knee</td>
<td>13"</td>
<td>13"</td>
<td>13"</td>
<td>13"</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><br /></td><td>Widest part of calf</td>
<td>12.5"</td>
<td>13"</td>
<td>13"</td>
<td>13"</td>
<td><br /></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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<img br="" height="100" src="http://i877.photobucket.com/albums/ab332/marlieandme/img_reviewgiveawaydisclosure_zps6aa41ede.jpg" width="200" />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08700057904506855793noreply@blogger.com4