Thinking on My Toes: Creative Lunch Ideas and My Buffalo Chicken Fries Wrap

Creative Lunch Ideas

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community.  I was inspired to write this post on Creative Lunch Ideas as a part of this shop that has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® and Tyson #cbias #SocialFabric Moms are always thinking on our toes, right?  We deal with two year old tantrums in the grocery store, diaper explosions {cloth or not}, and the lunch time rush.  I really don't know which of those three is more stressful.  It's like I just get done cleaning up breakfast and I look at the clock and it's already time to start thinking about what's for lunch!?  So, this Mom {thumbs point at myself} decided to get creative with lunch the other day.  Ok, actually I was just thinking on my toes, like any Mom does, … [Read more...]

I’m Getting Active and Earning Rewards: Steps with Balance Rewards

Steps with Balance Rewards

It's nice and sunny here in east Tennessee - I think I've mentioned that a few times lately.  It just makes me so happy, though.  The girls and I are spending as much time as we possibly can outside, everyday, and loving it! I'm also loving the fact that I feel like getting outside and getting active.  There's something about the cold months that makes me feel lazy.  Even though I could exercise perfectly well inside, it's just not the same as taking a walk outside! Last year I ran my first race, a 4 miler on July 4th, and then my first 3K a few months later... Hubby was my inspiration and my coach so I just asked him this past weekend to write me up a schedule so I could accomplish my goal again of running that 4 mile race in July!  I've also been using … [Read more...]

Gourmet Smokey Steakhouse Grilled Pesto Chicken Sandwich

Chicken Sandwich

Ahhhh... it's Spring here in east Tennessee!  The weather is getting warmer, the sun is shining, people are mowing their yards... it's finally here!  There are so many things I love about this season and we enjoyed a few of them this weekend, including grilling! I'm not sure why, but there's just something fun about cooking your food outdoors!  We don't reserve the grill only for entertaining, though.  We probably cook our dinner, by grilling, at least 2-3 times per week.  Whether it's steak, chicken, burgers, or even veggies - we love to make it smell yummy in the neighborhood! One part of grilling that I struggle with, though, is the fact that sometimes my foods lose flavor.  For a good marinade, I know the meats should soak for a few hours and that's a problem … [Read more...]

8 Tips on Feeling Safe and Secure While Traveling Close and Far From Home

Safety Tips

I used to live by myself in college.  Actually, I lived by myself in an apartment while finishing my last year of college then lived by myself in another apartment for a couple of years when I first began my career.  I was hardly ever scared or nervous - to come home, to leave home, to go anywhere... Then something happened.  Not sure when it happened, but I do know that now that I have children, I've become a more nervous person.  Nervous about the unknown, unseen, and "what if's".  Maybe it's too many Law and Order episodes or maybe it's just a part of growing up and realizing that there are un-safe situations that people get put into everyday and I don't want to become one of them. When I started thinking about the subject, I came up with 8 things that I do to make myself feel a … [Read more...]

Getting Design Inspiration for my Mom Cave from La-Z-Boy

Mom Cave

Yep, I now have a Mom Cave.  Well, it's kind of a "room that serves every purpose" room, but I'm claiming it. You see, the previous owners of our house added on a delightful, little sun room.  I say little, because it is.  The room is only about a 10'x10' space.  But with all the windows and the exposed brick on one wall, it really is delightful! Since we moved in, over 4 years ago, the room has been changed a lot.  First, we used it as a breakfast nook.  Then it became our Dining Room.  Later, we transformed it into Sophia's playroom.  Then it turned back into a Dining Room, and now it's been transformed into an Office/Study room.  Seriously!  Thank goodness my hubby likes to re-arrange and re-decorate as much as I do, right? The Multi-Uses of my … [Read more...]

On Track for a Happy and Healthy New Year with Walgreens and the Walgreens app.

Walgreens Manicure Needed

Did you make any New Years Resolutions?  I did.  I'm doing pretty good at the list too - now that we're 14 days into 2013.  The thing is, I keep adding to the list.  But that's ok, right?  I'm the Creator, the Do-er, and the Accomplisher of my own resolutions so I can.  It's all about making progress, which is what everyone's resolution should be. And I need to - you can tell by looking at that picture, can't you?  Yep, I've definitely added finding a bit more of "Me Time" to my resolutions.  My original goal was to be a Better Mother, Wife, and Blogger.  I set out a few statements to help me reach them, but I also quickly realized that in order to do any or all of those things, I needed to be a better Me.  I need to take care of my physical and … [Read more...]

I’m an Iced Coffee Addict #LightIcedCoffee

International Delight Light Iced Coffee

New Years Resolution Confession:  I'm an Iced Coffee Addict. I didn't necessarily make a New Years Resolution to lose weight - but I am only 7 pounds from my Weight Loss Goal, so it's there.  I admit that my Iced Coffee obsession hasn't been helping that number get any lower, until this past week. Ok, so drinking the International Delight Light Iced Coffee isn't actually going to make the numbers on the scale go down, but at least I can rest assured that the creamy deliciousness is not working against me so much anymore! You read that right - there is now a Light version of the popular International Delight Iced Coffee!  Since the very first time I tried this at-home Iced Coffee, I fell in love.  I shared it with my Mom, friends, and even had a party where the Iced Coffee was the center of … [Read more...]

My Family is Helping Cross Off Hunger #BetterTogether

unileverbrandscabinet

As the Holidays are getting closer - really, only 13 days!?  I'm back this week to share with you what I did with all those great Unilever products that I bought last week and just how it put me and Sophia in the Holiday Giving Spirit! Why Unilever? But before we get to end of the story, I want to share with you exactly what I'm choosing to support the family of Unilever brands.  Unilever is committed to donating more than two million meals to families in need with Feeding America and every item on your shopping list counts. Show your support by adding Unilever brands to your cart next time you shop. Together we can help to Cross Off Hunger. What this means to me is no matter if I keep my Unilever products in my cabinets at home, or donate them to a Food Bank, I'm helping support the brand and it's … [Read more...]

Our Elf is Bringing #HolidaySmiles

elfwithcolgateholidaypack

After seeing some of the fun Elf on the Shelf ideas floating around Pinterest and blogs last year, I decided that it was a new tradition that I wanted to start with my family.  Sophia is still a little young - but she gets the concept that our "Criddle" flies to Santa every night and gives a report on her behavior.  It's actually quite entertaining because she understands so much that if she's acting up or throwing a tantrum, I simply look up at Criddle {if she happens to be in the same room} and Sophia immediately stops.  I know it will only work for a short time, but hey, I'm using it while it does! But Criddle doesn't only watch the naughty behavior - she reports the nice acts of kindness as well!  One day this past week, Sophia was extra good so she was surprised with Criddle bringing … [Read more...]

Giving This Holiday Season with Unilever #BetterTogether

unileverproducts

There's just something about the Holiday Season that makes people a little more self-less.  Some might argue that Black Friday proves that point wrong, but let's skip over that one!  But it does seem like people want to give - this time of the year you see lots of Toy Drives, Secret Santa Trees, Food Drives, and Coat Collections.  Maybe it's the coziness of our warm homes, the full dinner tables at our Holiday Dinners, and the sweet laughter of our children that warms hearts to share with others. Whatever it is, I'm so glad that people do look for ways to support others that may need a bit of help in these winter-y months.  The great thing about the Season is there really are lots of great ways to pay it forward, even if you're not actively seeking them out.  Unilever is a company that has … [Read more...]

Mama’s Need Pampering Too – Pampering Party with NIVEA #NIVEAmoments

At Home Spa Party NIVEA

I had no clue being a Mama would be so, well, busy.  I had dreams of being a SAHM that could go every couple of weeks and have a nice spa pedicure, lunches at the park, and afternoon coffee dates with other SAHM friends.  Haha.  In my dreams is exactly where those ideas have stayed too!  There is not enough time in the day for all of those things - between changing and washing diapers, preparing lunches and snacks, and fighting over nap times and bath times everyday - there's no time {or money left in the budget}.  So I get creative! I decided to have my own at home spa!  I wanted to invite a few other friends and family, especially other Mamas to come and put their feet up for at least a few minutes and pamper themselves too.  We deserve it!  When I told Rob about my idea, the sweet hubby … [Read more...]

The Blue Princess attends the Royal Ball: Our Halloween Disney Princess Party! #DisneyPrincessWMT

paintingcinderellapumpkins

Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to the Royal Ball - a Halloween Disney Princess Party! A couple of weeks ago, I told you the Tale of a Blue Princess.  Yep, that would be Sophia.  She decided she wanted to be a "blue princess" for Halloween and we wanted to celebrate our little Princess with a fun Halloween Party, Disney Princess style!  She was so excited - we went shopping for her Cinderella costume, bought lots of goodies for Princess and Prince Treat Bags, purchased plenty of Cinderella decorations, and even bought the Cinderella BluRay Diamond Edition for her to learn all about this fabulous blue princess that she loved so much! A couple of days before the Big Event, Sophia and I made our special Princess and Prince treat bags and started filling them with goodies! The excitement of filling the Treat … [Read more...]