Making someone smile is my superpower

May 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

This post contains affiliate links. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Secret Pal gift ideas savingsinseconds.com

Today at work we revealed our identity to our secret pals. Having a secret pal is so much fun. Personally I enjoy giving gifts even more than receiving them. Knowing that I can do it in secret makes it special. Making someone smile is my superpower. The reveal party is always fun because we get to see that all of us care for each other. There were so many smiles, laughs, and hugs. It made me glad to be a girl. [Read more...]

Filed Under: discount, Mommy Talk

On My Bookshelf: Catch A Falling Star

May 23, 2013 By Leave a Comment

I received a copy of this book to review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

I was part of the book tour for Catch A Falling Star. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

You’ve gotta love a title like Catch a Falling Star. Who hasn’t wished upon a star at some point? My daughter used to wish for a real mermaid like Ariel’s. As endearing as that sounds, I do want her wishes to come true. Maybe not for a mermaid tail, but someday she will be wishing on a star for true love and for happily ever after. I want that for her, too. In Catch a Falling Star, Kendall is the third wheel. Even her own mother points out the obvious…..”you’re not married.” The image of the barefoot-and-pregnant wifey is just antiquated. These days many women have a full time job life. Juggling a career, home, and social life is fulfillment enough for many women. Kendall is a successful doctor but that doesn’t seem to be sufficient. She seems to want more, too. So what’s a girl to do? Make a wish.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: On My Bookshelf

Nothing sweeter than little fingers and toes to nibble on.

May 23, 2013 By 10 Comments

Piggy Polish sent me samples to review. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

Try Piggy Paint for perfectly kissable fingers and toes. savingsinseconds.com

Little piggies deserve polishes made for them. I am a fan of mom-designed products anyway, but I was especially interested in trying Piggy Polish because my daughter chews her nails. We have tried so many methods of breaking the habit (that’s a whole other post!) but so far nothing sticks.  Literally.  Now, Piggy Polish isn’t an edible nail polish, but it is a better alternative than traditional polishes for us!  You’ve just gotta check out the adorable pictures on the Piggy Paint page.  There’s nothing sweeter than those yummy little fingers and toes to nibble on!!  With this polish, I don’t worry about my daughter getting toxic chemicals in her mouth every time she bites her nails.   These water-based colors are gorgeous. My daughter was happier than a bird with a French fry when she saw the sparkly purple polish. I loved the pink…for ME!  That’s right, Piggy Paints are for moms, too.  It must be because Piggy Paint was developed by a mom.  She knew what she was doing. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Product review

What’s better than a cookie, and even better than a brownie? How ’bout THE BROOKIE COOKIE?

May 22, 2013 By 21 Comments

I will receive a product sample for posting this article. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.
The original Brookie! featured on savingsinseconds.com

Cookies have that deliciously crisp crunch with varying levels of sweetness.  Their texture is so different from that of a brownie, which is chewy and decadent.  Sometimes, though, a girl needs the best of both worlds.  Enter THE BROOKIE COOKIE….the delightful cross between a cookie and brownie.   You can see from these comments that The Brookie Cookie really hits the spot for its fans!   I’m a huge fan of small business endeavors so I was excited to participate in the campaign to help The Brookie Cookie open a new location.   You can be part of the kickstarter program, too.  There are many levels of involvement, so choose one that works best for you!  This could be a really fun and unique end-of-year gift for the teachers in your life.  It’s an affordable option, too, and the hand-written thank you will let the teacher know that a pledge was made in his/her name.  The deadline to make a pledge is coming up soon……the campaign ends Friday May 24th at 6pm (EST).

The pledge list includes these options:

$1-  hand written thank YOU
$1.99 – one original sample and promo flyer, hand written thank you  (the original sample is what’s pictured above.)
$2.99- one pretzel crunch sample and promo flyer and hand written thank you [Read more...]

Filed Under: Mommy Talk

Working from home with direct sales companies….. Have you tried it?

May 21, 2013 By 3 Comments

This post contains an affiliate link. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

When I started selling cosmetics six years ago, I hadn’t really considered direct sales before.  The business sort of fell in my lap.  We’d been using Arbonne skincare products for my little one’s eczema.  The baby line was so effective, I just needed to share it with others.  I registered as a consultant and worked that job, too.  So many people fell in love with the products that I was placing orders weekly to fill all the requests.   Working was FUN!!  It was nice to set my own schedule based around my family.  I also loved having “girl time” with my friends and customers.  I spent a couple of years teaching full-time and running my business but had to make the tough decision to slow down when my family grew a little larger and my health went downhill.  I’m still a consultant, though I no longer do it for the income.  At this point it’s just a hobby.  Longtime customers still contact me to place orders.  We continue to use Arbonne products for our family.  I’ve always wondered where it might have ended up if I’d been able to continue my business.  Would I have met those goals that I set for myself?  Would my family be in a better financial position?  Would I be able to work from home full-time the way I’d dreamed?  Having that regret, however small, weighs on my heart sometimes.  [Read more...]

Filed Under: Family Issues, Mommy Talk

Info for OK residents impacted by recent storm

May 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment

My heart broke over and over tonight for those souls in OK who are experiencing such a terrible tragedy.   As we watched the news, I was so thankful for the blessing of a sunny day and my sweet babies being safe at home tonight.   Hearing about those third grade babies who were killed in the storm was just too awful for words.    Families and friends of those who were killed, tonight my prayers go up on your behalf.  Those of you who lost your home, I  will be praying for you, too.  I saw this posted on Facebook tonight and hope that it might help someone looking for shelter:

Oklahoma insurance Comissioner Doak just said that Oklahoma Baptist University has opened up 160 dorm rooms FREE OF CHARGE for displaced tornado survivors. You’re to call the Presidents office or just show up and ask for the presidents office. Here are two numbers.  405-275-2850 or 405-878-2402

It’s wonderful to know there are still good people in the world.  God bless you as you recover from this horrible event.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

My garden filled our table — pasta and greens tonight

May 20, 2013 By 8 Comments

My garden is a constant source of happiness for me. I can find something to do every time I go out….from picking maple-seed “helicopters” out of the beds to weeding the strays that have cropped up in between the plants. Now that spring has come full circle, the garden is producing enough for us to supplement each meal with a little bit of fresh produce. Most nights I clip a few bok choy leaves or spinach thinnings to add our dish that night. Pasta with veggies is one of my favorite meals. When the kids are eating pizza or something else that doesn’t appeal to me, I usually throw together some garden goodness with whatever is in the cabinet. Tonight, this was the creation.pasta5

It had been a few days since I harvested anything so there was a lot to choose from. [Read more...]

Filed Under: gardening, Mommy Talk, Recipes

The look of layering without the bulk

May 19, 2013 By 3 Comments

This post is brought to you by My Hip-T.  Thoughts and opinions shared here are 100% mine.

My shirts are shrinking. It’s a weird phenomenon. It certainly can’t be that I am getting bigger!  Right?!   Now that it’s time to break out the tanks and tees of summer, I am in baby panic mode. What if my shirt rides up? Will everyone see my muffin top? I can’t go out and get a whole new wardrobe for summer, so what’s a girl to do?   Even if you are not a chunky mama like me, you might want to have that trendy layered look without the bulk of wearing two tops. Enter Hip-T!  This lightweight band of fabric goes under your top and shows underneath.  It’s wide enough that you can wear it under your shirt and it still won’t show when you bend over.   You can use it to smooth down problem areas or just wear it to have the look of wearing a color blocked outfit.  Layering without the bulk is easy now! [Read more...]

Filed Under: Mommy Talk, Product review, Tricities Tuesday

All tied up in a cute spring wrap that easily goes to fall.

May 19, 2013 By 4 Comments

This post is brought to you by Caron Designs. I received a product to review; the opinions shared here are 100% mine.

its a wrap

The kids get a new wardrobe nearly every season, but mama is still wearing the same old duds from the past five or six years.  Why?  First of all, because I still haven’t lost “the weight.”  That would be the baby weight I gained when my “baby” was not yet 9 years old.  I keep telling myself that eventually I’ll be all skinny again and will want to buy some cute new clothes in small sizes.  Then there’s the money issue.  I just can’t bring myself to purchase new clothes when everything still fits fine.  In the summer we spend most of our time in the pool or in the yard, so there’s no reason for new outfits.   Accessories like “It’s A Wrap” from Caron Designs helps me to wear my current clothes with a fresh new look. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Product review

Learn something new today. #FREE class at Craftsy

May 18, 2013 By 3 Comments

This post contains my affiliate link. The opinions shared here are 100% mine.

It’s been raining all day.  I don’t mind so much because I am still worn out from my camping trip with those sixth graders.  Realizing that I’m not a spring chicken anymore was a hard lesson to learn.  Still, it’s not too late to teach this old girl some new tricks.  I’d love to learn something new today and am all excited about the Free Class Day at Craftsy!   Check out the free class offerings here and see if there’s one that floats your boat. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Crafts, Freebie
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