Erin Condren Life Planner {review & giveaway}

I've had my eye on these Erin Condren Life Planners for a long, l o n g  time.  I finally sucked it up and bought one.. and I must say that I love it.  It's every crazy-organizer-list-makers dream.  I bought the 18-month classic life planner in "viva espana watercolor".  The planner is so sturdy and well made... I have no doubts that it will last.

I like the fact that they're so colorful and bright.  And the fun quotes they throw in there are definitely mood-boosting!  It has a whole section for "special dates" such as birthdays, anniversaries, etc.  And then there's space for important numbers and contacts.  I like having everything all in one place!

I just love that there's so much space in these!  They have a monthly view of each month, as well as a daily view.  With tons of room to right what you need.  I use my binder for practically everything... my blog (scheduling posts and keeping track of deadlines), meal planning, weekly to-do lists, exercise, appointments, and just to jot down things I want to remember!  These planners are so worth it.

This neat little video kind of takes you through and gives you a closer look at it.



 And now, the exciting part!  Erin Condren is offering a $25 gift code for one lucky winner!  Say whaa!  That's right.. just enter below using the rafflecopter form for your chance to win!  You can put it towards a Life Planner or one of their other fun products from the website!

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Didn't win or just can't wait?  You can sign up and order your Life Planner here!

Our Little Carving Party

If your read my blog regularly, you already know that we went to the pumpkin patch last weekend.  It was a good time, and of course, we found a couple pumpkins to carve up!  This is the first year we've carved pumpkins since Clara was born, and it was a lot of fun because she really got to be involved with it.  We wanted to carve the pumpkins outside, but it was raining so we opted for the garage instead.  More room to move around and make a mess than inside the house.  ;)

We were gifted the Pumpkin Masters carving kits, tools, and little strobe lights for inside the pumpkin.  They were actually really neat.  It came with all the tools you need to carve and scoop and even came with fun designs to trace and carve out.  I've seen these kits a lot of places.. Walmart, grocery stores.. I even saw them at the pumpkin patch last week!

I will definitely be using these kits every year.  I don't think I could carve a pumpkin with a big ol' kitchen knife while my 2-year old is running around.  And with these, she was able to sit down and 'help' me do it!  Plus it was just so easy to use.

And although she liked the carving part, she was not a fan of the whole scooping-it-out part.  She did not like the way the pumpkin felt on her hands... she's such a girly girl that way.. she does not like her hands being dirty.

My husband decided to carve out a ghost, and I did a "surface carving" of an owl.  If you didn't know, a surface carving is where you just shave out some of the pumpkin, and not carving out a whole piece.  All I had to do with tape my outline onto my pumpkin, and then I took my rotary and marked long the lines... it left an outline on the pumpkin, and you just shave out the designated areas with their little shaver tool.

Ta-da!  My owl!  I've never surface carved before, so it was pretty fun!  It's not perfect.. but hey, it does look like an owl.  ;)  Made me feel all creative and artistic.. haha!

If you want to get all creative and artistic too, you should enter the Pumpkin Masters' annual carving contest!  The contest runs until October 31st, and you can catch up on all the details here.. you'll have a chance of winning quite a few cool prizes.. including $5,000 for best pumpkin!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

An Honestly Good Break

"This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group and Lean Cuisine, but all my opinions are my own.  #pmedia #HonestlyGood #ad  http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO"

You may or may not have noticed that there's been a serious lack of posts the past few weeks.  My life has been a whirlwind of crazy.  I'm still figuring out how to balance things now that I'm working.  I have significantly less time outside of work.. and getting a good schedule on cooking, cleaning (is it just me, or does the laundry pile up entirely too fast?), filling Etsy orders, blogging, and quality family time isn't something I've quite got the hang of yet.  Bless my husbands heart for having to deal with my scatterbrained self lately.

I love cooking for my family, but sometimes I just need a break.  I was given the chance to try out these new Lean Cuisine Honestly Good meals - and man, were they good.  As I've said before, things have been crazy busy around here.  My husband also has a hectic work schedule and goes to class two nights a week... and with these I knew we were still getting something that tasted fresh and delicious.. and fast!  Quick and easy can still be healthy - and with these Lean Cuisine Honestly Good meals you still get 100% natural with no artificial ingredients or preservatives.  Win!

You can buy Lean Cuisine's Honestly Good meals at Target (one of my happy places).  The meal pictured is the Pomegranate Chicken.. is was so good!  It had a whole grilled chicken breast filet, whole grain pilaf with currants, green beans, yellow beans, ribbon cut carrots, and a pomegranate glaze.  I almost forgot I was eating a frozen meal!  They have 5 other delicious meals that include:  Honey Citrus Chicken, Lemongrass Salmon, Pineapple Black Pepper Beef, Plum Ginger Grain-Crusted Fish, and Roasted Red Pepper Chicken.  

I wasn't sure about the pomegranate sauce when I first bought it.. but after tasting it, it went so well with the chicken and the pilaf!  My husband enjoyed it too.

The next time you're at Target, I highly suggest picking up some of these Lean Cuisine Honestly Good meals to keep in your freezer.. you know for those times that are just too busy, or you're just too tired but you still want to have a good meal.  If you try them out, comment below and tell me what one you like best!

Fun Stenciled Clipboards {diy}

I had the opportunity to test out Plaid's new FolkArt Multi Surface Paints the past couple of weeks - so fun!  Not only that, but I also dabbled in some stenciling with the new Handmade Charlotte stencils.  Now I honestly just want to stencil anything I can get my hands on.  It's slightly addicting.  Both of these products are available at Michael's craft stores.

I truly love these paints - they are so versatile.  You can use them on practically any surface... fabric, wood, tin, glass, etc.  It's also dishwasher and wash machine safe!  Pretty neat, right?  And Handmade Charlotte has a ton of stencil designs to choose from.

My poor "office/craft area" is in dire need of attention.  It's the one thing that's been put on the back-burner since we moved into our home a year ago.  I decided to do a little stenciling on some clipboards for that room... a couple for decor, and a couple to hold my massive to-do lists (I mean very massive)..

The hard part was deciding what exactly I wanted to stencil on my clipboard.  I decided upon this little saying.. because I think it's something important I need to remind myself of often.  But once I got past that, the stenciling was a breeze!  ;)

First I used the tape to adhere the stencil to my project, so it would stay in place.  Then I took the small foam pouncers and I stippled the paint on.  Stippling helps so the paint doesn't bleed under the stencil.  For the white, I did two coats because I want to make sure it was nice and vivid.

I also did a couple more little stenciling projects to add a little life to my "office" area.. one of them being a pretty little heart stencil on one of my glass jars that holds some odd and ends.. tags for my Etsy items, a little ribbon, small clothespins, etc.  :)

Enter the giveaway to win the FolkArt Multi-Surface Acrylic Paint Collection and a $100 Michael's Giftcard below!

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Smart Snackin' with Peter Rabbit {& a giveaway!}

I can't possibly be the only person with a picky eater living in their house.  I have friends who always say that their child eats so well.  Sometimes I give them the side-eye and then sometimes I wonder if they're lying.  Secretly, I'm just jealous.  Though I'd like to think it fairly 'normal' for a toddler to go through this stage.

Let me just say, though, that Clara does eat pretty healthy.  We've cut out processed food, and buy organic when we can.  And the girl can eat her weight in fruit, but she won't touch a vegetable unless it's pureed into one of these fabulous little pouches.  I always offer her whatever we eat, but.. no such luck on the veggies... yet.  I suppose she's just too much like I was at that age (sorry mom!).  :)

So when I happened to stumble upon the Peter Rabbit Organics fruit and veggie pouches, I was excited (oh the things us mama's get excited over!).  And I was hopeful, that my child might actually consume a vegetable.  I knew Clara would love the fruit pouches, that was a no-brainer.  But the veggie blends would be the true test.  And wouldn't you know... she loves them!  She even enjoyed the 'Pear and Pea' blend!  

Peter Rabbit Organics has 6 different fruit pouches and 5 different veggie blends.  Their pouches are all organic and 100% fruit and vegetable.  What you see is what you get!  Never any added sugar, salt, or artificial ingredients.  No hidden ingredients here!  And they come in BPA-free pouches, easy for on-the-go grabbing... and a no-choke cap (that's also important to me.. because for whatever reason, Clara loves to screw and unscrew the cap onto the pouch when she's finished with it... easily amused!)

These pouches aren't just good for all you mama's worrying over the fact that your kiddo snubs veggies.  But they're also good for snacks, even if you have a kid who does like veggies (or at least eats them.. and I may or may not be giving you the side-eye right now).  We always throw them in the diaper bag if we're going to be out and about, or take them in the car on long road-trips, or even just for a healthy night time snack!  Our pantry is always stocked with some Peter Rabbit.  :)

 One lucky reader will win 10 assorted pouches, courtesy of Peter Rabbit Organics!  Just follow the instructions and fill out the Rafflecopter form below.  The first entry is mandatory (leaving a comment on which flavor you think your little one would like best), and the rest of the entries are optional.  However, the more you complete, the better your chances at winning.  The winner will be contacted by email on August 8th.  Good luck!  U.S. residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway You can find Peter Rabbit Organics in Starbucks nationwide, in select Whole Foods Markets, natural food stores, Amazon.com, Target.com, BabiesRUs.com... hey, I even found them at my local Walmart! 

*I was gifted with some Peter Rabbit Organics pouches for a review and received no other compensation.  All thoughts & opinions are 100% my own.  Peter Rabbit Organics is responsible for sending 1 lucky winner 10 assorted pouches.*

Blog Giveaway Directory

Series: Keeping it Clean with Kleenex (#3)

We had so much fun having a week full of family time.. it was very special! The last day or so, we just kind of lounged around and relaxed - which included some Redbox DVDs (skyfall! my dad is a James Bond fan:) and some half-priced shakes from Sonic. And we made a special breakfast - blueberry waffles! Made with fresh blueberries from the Farmer's Market (and homemade butter, of course). My favorite! Anyone else have a complete love for breakfast food?? Anyone? We try to have it for dinner once a week, too.

Thanks to Kleenex Hand Towels, I had less laundry to do this week... and an easier clean up. The product’s unique, Cottony-Soft™ towel is free of inks, dyes and fragrances and highly absorbent – drying hands effectively, with enough capacity in the brand’s proprietary, absorbent Dry-Touch™ fibers for secondary quick clean-ups around the bathroom sink. But you know what else it's good for? Cleaning lipstick off of your toddler's face. And yes, I've had to do that twice this week. I guess she's just trying to be like her Mama. ;)

We were sad to see my family go, but we're hoping to go up and visit them this fall. I have such a beautiful family, don't I? :)

Kleenex Hand Towels can be found in the paper towel aisle at grocery and mass retailers nationwide at a suggested retail price of $2.99 per box (60-count).

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Series: Keeping it Clean with Kleenex (#2)

As I've said in my previous post, we've been quite busy this summer. One of the best things, is that my parents and little brother were able to come visit for a week! When they arrived at our doorstep, Clara didn't even know what to do with herself. She ran around and spun herself in circles (which is what she does when she's excited, haha) We were all so delighted. Clara always gets so attached to 'Nana and Papa'... she had to have Nana rock her to sleep every night.

One of the things we love to do when we are visiting with family is EAT. We love to cook, grill-out, bake.. you name it. We just really seem to enjoy being in the kitchen and eating good homemade food. We grilled some chicken, made turkey burgers, baby reds with pesto, enchiladas, ribs, fresh fruit salad, peach praline upside-down cake, etc... I'm making myself drool just thinking about all the good food we had.

When there's 6 people in our little house for a week.. going in and out... in the kitchen an awful lot... lots of hands being washed... these Kleenex Hand Towels have saved me from doing a ton of laundry. The last thing you want to do when you have house guests, is think about laundry. They're perfect to set right on the bathroom counter... or if you have a towel rack, their design makes it easy to flip it over and set them right on top of the rack.

In home bathrooms with heavy foot traffic, shared cloth towels are often damp and germy due to overuse. Take control of your towel situation by visiting Kleenex.com, and join the 14 million people who have already joined the Clean Hands Campaign by using Kleenex Hand Towels.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Series: Keeping it Clean with Kleenex {#1 & a giveaway}

So summer is half over (I know, I can hardly believe it myself)... how have you been spending it? Despite the sticky and humid weather here, we spend a lot of time outdoors... we have a daughter who gets stir-crazy if she doesn't get a breath of fresh air... playing at the park, enjoying the zoo, grilling up something delicious, strolling around the local Farmer's Market, swimming at the pool, having get-togethers, or just hanging out... plus we have a few more adventures planned before the summer is over.

We obviously keep pretty busy.. and that leaves absolutely no time for getting sick. So I was pretty excited to find out about Kleenex Hand Towels. In the U.S. alone, people dry their hands on cloth bathroom towels approximately 200 billion times per year. Just because a towel looks clean doesn’t mean it is. Even after they’re washed, hands are only as clean as the towel used to dry them. Kleenex has found an ideal way to dry hands at home by delivering a clean, fresh towel each time for proper hand hygiene. And they are especially nice to have when you have house guests - less laundry (anyone else dislike doing laundry?!).


Which would would you choose:


"Even after they’re washed, hands are only as clean as the towel used to dry them." That really makes me think twice about using a towel! With all the guests we have/had this summer, and with all the in-and-out of the house that we do.. the last thing I want to try to remember is when the last time I changed my hand towels are. So I just use Kleenex Hand Towels and keep on keepin' on! Because I have more important thing to think about.. like shaved ice and soakin' up that Vitamin D at the pool!

And what better way to start your weekend than a fun little giveaway?? Just use the form below. Winners will be notified by email next weekend! US residents only

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Take the Guesswork Out of Gift-Giving with Ziftit

Have you ever had to buy a gift for someone who has "everything".. or someone who is just plain hard to buy for? *raises hand* Me. Story of my life. Or maybe I just feel like men are hard to buy for. My dad, my husband, my father-in-law. I love giving gifts. But sometimes it gives me a little stress and anxiety. Anyone else?

Anyway, Ziftit had offered me a chance to try out their website to buy a gift for someone - I chose to use this opportunity for Father's Day to find a gift for my husband.

It's a simple concept. You can create wishlists for yourself and others, and others are able to view it. So when my husbands asks what I want for Christmas.. wah-la.. just visit my Ziftit List, babes. Or you can create events.. ie: Father's Day, birthdays, etc. And if you're like my husband, and have expensive hobbies (hunting, fishing, guns, woodworking, anything manly).. there's also an option for people to 'pitch in' money, so multiple people can contribute to a big gift. Kind of fun! And you can search the Ziftit website for gifts, or you can download their plugin and add to your Zift List from any website.

After debating over chop saws and fishing poles, I ended up going for a gun holster. Happy Father's Day to him! ;)



I also took the liberty of making a Zift List for myself... I mean, why not? A girl can dream.



Ziftit is also one of those companies that likes to contribute some good into this world. Who doesn't like that? This past Christmas, they provided 1,000 gifts to children and families displaced by Hurricane Sandy and they are now reaching out to residence of Moore, OK and all the families affected by the tornado.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Woolzies {review & giveaway}

Laundry.  It's never-ending, and not something I'm ever able to 'catch up on' (is that possible even?).

I was sent a box of Woolzies Dryer Balls to try out and review - and there's also a chance to win your own box!  Woolzies Dryer Balls are 100% eco-friendly and are a natural fabric softener.  And they are guaranteed to last at least 1,000 loads!  No more buying those chemical filled dryer sheets.  Each box contains 6 dryer balls, and I use them all at once.  Here are a few facts about them:

I've found all of them to be true except for the static.. there is still some static there when I take my clothes out of the dryer.  However, Woolzies suggests to place in a ball of aluminum foil with the dryer balls to help reduce static as well, which I haven't done yet.  And I've also heard that you can put a few drops of essential oils onto the dryer balls to make them smell good.  I haven't done that yet either, but I plan to!  :)

All in all, I really do think these are a good buy.  They do their job, they are chemical-free and eco-friendly.. and they will last me 1,000 loads!  I don't know how long that is... BUT, it's a lot longer than a box of dryer sheets would last me.  The only 'downside' is that every time I do laundry, my daughter wants to play with them.  Haha.

You can buy your own box of Woolzies here, or you can enter below for a chance to win a box! 

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Spring Shopping for Baby Girl

 

Since Old Navy's Kids & Baby Sale started last Thursday, my husband and I took Clara out shopping!  Old Navy always has the cutest clothes - all the fun, bright, spring colors and the pretty floral dresses.  Regular priced items are a little expensive, in my opinion.. so when I found out the Kids & Baby Sale was going on I was pretty excited to stock up on some things for spring/summer.

I did take Clara in the dressing room and try a few things on her... she was patient with me, for at least a few minutes.  ;)   I  had a hard time narrowing down what I wanted to actually purchase.  Little girls clothes are just too precious.

For $75 I was able to buy quite a few outfits for Clara.  I bought 2 rompers, a pair of capri's with a tank top, 4 t-shirts, a pair of yellow skinny jeans, and a pretty blue top.  I was a little bummed at the selection of colored skinny jeans.  I was really excited about those, but when I went shopping they were sold out of a lot and only had a couple pairs left in Clara's size.

 

I'm absolutely dying for summer to get here so I can stick her in the adorable rompers!!  I also love how the jeans and capris have an adjustable waistband - very convenient since she always seems to be in-between sizes.  The one thing I didn't get, but wished I did, were some jelly sandals.  But trust me, I'm going to go back for those!  Right now she's in this phase where all she wants me to put on her foot are her little sneakers (she wouldn't even let me try the sandals on her).

This child definitely has a better wardrobe than I do.  But that's on my list before spring.. this Mama has to have some stylish clothes too!

 

 

That last photo.. I asked her to show me her teeth.. and that is what I got.  ;)

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.