Disclosure: I received complimentary product in exchange for an honest review.
Are you tired of the over commercialization of Christmas? If you answered yes, then this is the sweater for you. My husband couldn't resist this Seinfeld sweater from UglyChristmasSweater.com. They have so many funny Christmas sweaters that it is hard to choose just one. My husband loves this sweater! He has worn it to several Christmas parties already this year and I'm sure it will be making more appearances over the next two weeks.
This cute Ugliest Sweater medal came with the Festivus sweater. It would make the perfect prize for your Ugly Christmas Sweater party.
To get into the true Festivus spirit, get a Festivus pole, have Festivus dinner, air your grievances, and participate in the feats of strength to celebrate Festivus like a true Seinfeld enthusiast. Or just get this sweater and let Kramer and Frank Costanza show you how it's really done.
Add a little fun to your next Christmas or Festivus party with a sweater from UglyChristmasSweater.com. For more ugly sweater ideas follow UglyChristmasSweater.com @UglyXsweater on twitter, @ugly.christmas on instagram and @UglyXmas on facebook.
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I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.
I think bacon and macaroni and cheese were meant for each other and I can't believe this is the first time I have put them together. These little bacon macaroni and cheese cupcakes are amazing! They are basically little handheld mac and cheese casseroles. So much delicious flavor in such a cute little package.
Delicious and easy to eat! Talk about kid-friendly. I am thinking these will go well at kid's birthday parties. I may even try making bacon mac and cheese bites in my mini muffin pan for my 6 year old's birthday this summer which would be even smaller and easier for little hands.
These savory little mac and cheese cupcakes are perfect for backyard BBQ's, graduation parties, and even bridal showers when you want something simple yet unique.
You know what else? These yummy morsels are made with one of my favorite ingredients which I always keep on hand, Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It is made by pressing without heat or chemicals and is the freshest and purest olive oil available.
Did you know the greatest impact on taste is the type of olive tree (cultivar), region (which affects climate and soil) and time of harvest? Olives harvested early in the season, late August (varies by region), are under-ripe and produce oils that are greener, more bitter and pungent. Olives harvested at the end of the season, late November into December, are over-ripe and tend to be mild and buttery. Spanish oil is usually golden yellow with a fruity, nutty flavor. Italian olive oil is often dark green and has an herbal aroma and a grassy flavor. Greek olive oil is strong in flavor and aroma and usually green. French oil is typically pale in color and mild in flavor. So many delicious varieties for all of your culinary needs.
I love using olive oil and cook with it frequently. It has a high smoke point (400° F), so it can handle anything from a light sauté to a deep fry. Have you ever deep fried anything in olive oil? I have not, but will have to try it. If you have, what are your favorite foods to fry in olive oil? You can also bake with olive oil. I love to use it in muffins and cakes.
Store your olive oil someplace dark and cool (around 57° F, if possible), not on a counter or near a stove, and never in the refrigerator. Keep it sealed tight and use your oil within 6 months of opening and within 18 months of purchasing.
Bacon Macaroni and Cheese Cupcakes
Serves 12 Cupcake liners 2 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil 8 strips bacon 8 oz. elbow macaroni 2 C. cheddar cheese, shredded 2 eggs 1 C. milk Fresh ground salt and pepper to taste Seasoned bread crumbs 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 2. Line a 12-cup cupcake pan with liners. Brush each liner with some of the EVOO or spray with some olive oil spray. 3. Cook the bacon in a large frying pan or a microwave bacon pan. Drain cooked bacon and cool. When cool, rough chop the bacon and set aside. 4. Cook the macaroni according to package directions. Drain the cooked pasta, then return it to the saucepan. Add the cheese, chopped bacon and 1 Tbsp. of the EVOO. Gently stir together until the cheese begins to melt. 5. Mix the eggs and the milk together. Pour into the macaroni mixture. Salt and pepper to taste. 6. Scoop mixture into the cupcake liners and sprinkle with bread crumbs. 7. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown on top. When done, take out of the liners, place on a platter, and drizzle with the remaining extra virgin olive oil. Some liners will pull away from the sides of the cupcakes on their own and will look pretty to serve the cupcakes in. (pictured, If You Care cupcake liners which do not stick)
Zucchi is an Italian Olive Oil Company producing traceable and sustainable products that you can trust. Look for Zucchi at Big Y, HEB, King Kullen and Shaw’s.
The Flavor Your Life campaign's goal is to educate North American consumers about authentic extra virgin olive oil from Europe. With funding from the European Union, the Italian government, and a consortium of European Extra Virgin Olive Oil producers, Flavor Your Life is debunking misconceptions while empowering consumers.
Disclosure: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Life as a Mom is wonderful, amazing and I am cognizant of the fact that these years will go by all too quickly, but it's also so so busy. Some days I am lucky to grab a cookie for breakfast between dropping kids off at school and nursing our infant son. I am not complaining, I think parenting is the greatest calling, but there isn't much down time or time to sit and eat a meal (which can contribute to poor digestion).
You can even catch this foodie who loves to cook standing in the kitchen eating store bought (you read that right, processed, not homemade) snacks because real moms don't have time to make healthy snacks everyday, much less sit down and eat them before they are asked to build another paper airplane, clean up another mess, or tend to a waking baby . I was actually asked to build a paper airplane while I was in the shower the other day, LOL. My five year old sat outside the shower waiting for me, paper in hand.
I make a healthy dinner almost every night, but when we are in a busy season like now with sports, end of school year, and parenting an infant, some nights call for pizza or the drive thru. And I am ok with that, I would rather keep my sanity than stress over trying to prepare meals when we just don't have time.
I do care about health though, even and especially in our busy seasons (which is pretty much always). I have four boys to care for so I have to stay at the top of my Mom game. Parenting takes a truckload of energy and add my other responsibilities of running this blog and my graduate courses ...it can take its toll.
I have been gradually adding supplements including probiotics to my routine over the years. NOW is a brand I have trusted for a long time. (I buy the giant bottles of NOW Magnesium Citrate 200 mg,250 Tablets from Amazon). (affiliate link)
About NOW® Women’s Probiotic 20 Billion
NOW Women's Probiotic 20 Billion is really easy to take. One little capsule a day is all you need and it is designed especially for women. Since I am nursing, I appreciate that it may help to support healthy immune function in pregnant and nursing women. I have felt really good lately. Maybe it is due to taking this probiotic along with Now Super Enzymes.
I read recently that because we eat so many processed foods with preservatives our body has a harder time digesting these foods. The idea was that this leads to weight gain through our bodies storing what they can't breakdown. Another article I read said that after age 30, our body's production of enzymes drastically diminishes. Interesting since most of us do gradually put on a few pounds as we age. I also read that taking the digestive enzymes amylase, lipase, protease, and bromelain would help our bodies break down fats, carbs, and proteins. NOW Super Enzymes have all of these plus more.
My kids have been taking the NOW Berry Dophilus Kids for gastrointestinal support.
They love these little berry flavored animal shaped probiotic pills and no one has complained of any tummy aches lately so they must be working:)
Want to win a bottle of NOW Women's Probiotic 20 Billion? Enter here!
And check out NOW’s probiotic chooser tool to help you pick the probiotic or gut health product that best fits your wellness needs.
I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own.
I read an article recently about the impact our clothing choices have on our world. It was pretty eye opening. I generally knew that some choices were better than others, but I didn't really know why. Honestly, I lived most of my life without even thinking about the environmental impact of my clothing choices. Until recently, it didn't even cross my mind. I read another enlightening article about how clothes are potentially polluting the food supply. Love microfiber fleece? We do too, but the fibers have been found to pollute water and marine life.
Over the last year or two, I've noticed a cultural movement towards being more intentional in how we live and the choices we make. Maybe we should be more intentional concerning our clothing choices too and the impact that those choices have on textile workers, farmers, farmland, and now even the water supply. We should consider our overflowing closets too and make intentional choices based on what we really need and will wear again and again.
Luckily because of companies like PACT Organic it is getting easier to find clothing that is better for both us and the planet. PACT Organic uses organic farming practices that don't pollute the soil or water, while working with organizations that protect the well-being of people who make the clothes.
I was excited to review several pieces of PACT Organic clothing. As you can see they sent several things to try. The packages say super soft for a reason...the clothes really are super soft.
I love black leggings and have worn them for years and my new PACT Organic leggings are both soft and strong. I love that they are thicker than many of the leggings I have worn and stay comfortably in place. No tugging to keep them up. They are also nice and long. I am around 5' 10" and these leggings fit perfectly in both length and size.
My husband tried the boxer briefs. When I asked him how he liked them, he said he loved them and that they were so soft and supportive. This is a lot coming from him because he is really particular. I always tell him he should be in quality control or a food critic.
I LOVE my new PACT Organic light weight hoodie. First the color is the most beautiful blue stripe that goes with so many things. Second it is so soft and cozy. I have worn this sweatshirt many many times in the short time I have owned it.
As I have mentioned before, I am on the tall side and often have trouble finding shirts that have long enough sleeves. My new sweatshirt has wonderfully long sleeves, maybe because it has wrist slits for your thumbs which could come in handy if you are a runner. I haven't used this option, but love the sleeve length and coziness. I think my new PACT Organic hoodie might just be my favorite piece of clothing I have ever owned.
I wasn't sure if I would get much use out of my new PACT Organic camisole since I am nursing my 7 month old son, but it actually works well as a nursing tank. I wear a nursing tank every single day under my clothing so that my middle doesn't show when I lift my top shirt to nurse. What I like about this tank is that it is supportive enough to stay in place, but stretches enough to make access for nursing. The fabric is really soft, stretchy and supportive all at the same time. It doesn't loose its shape at the end of the day like some tanks do. I have found that if worn with jeans, it tends to ride up at the waist and I end up pulling it down throughout the day, but if worn with yoga type clothes (which I wear a lot), it stays in place. You can see it peaking out from underneath my shirt in the pictures above.
Check out PACT Organic and see all the cozy, comfy styles available. You can save 25% off your order with my discount code, AtHome25. There are some really cute affordably priced casual summer dresses and adorable baby things too. I just ordered some baby things for gifts and was impressed with the ease of ordering and how quickly my order shipped.
I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my honest opinion on my blog. The opinions posted are my own.
Have you heard of Green Chef? It's an organic meal kit delivery service with pre-measured and mostly prepped ingredients. You select your dietary and delivery preferences.
You can choose from:
2-Person Plan (3 dinners a week for 2 people) • Omnivore: Crave variety? This diverse, flexible menu has meat, seafood, and vegetarian dinners. • Carnivore: Meat and seafood lovers, dig in. Every dinner includes a land or sea protein plus veggies. • Gluten-Free: Always gluten-free and flavor-full, with meat, seafood, and vegetarian dinners. • Vegetarian: More than just salads, every dinner makes veggies the star in unique, delicious ways. • Paleo: Eat like an epicurean caveman. This paleo menu is rich in fresh produce and proteins. • Vegan: Plant-based just got better. An innovative menu with natural, specialty ingredients. • Family Plan (2 dinners a week for a family of 4) • Omnivore or Carnivore
We chose the carnivore family plan (2 dinners a week for a family of 4). Watch our unboxing video to see what it is like to get Green Chef delivered to your door.
We were sent all of the ingredients with the recipe cards to make lemon-chive salmon with dill-roasted red potatoes and mixed green salad and Italian meatballs and orzo. The ingredients are color coded to match the recipe card they coordinate with. (I didn't realize this until writing this post, but it sure does make it easy.)
Both meals were fantastic and we were able to make them in under 40 minutes. Our absolute favorite meal was the lemon-chive salmon (pictured above) It was incredible! The potatoes were perfectly cooked and seasoned, the salad was delicious plus it was fun using ingredients we don't normally use, and the salmon was so tender and flavorful. Luckily our kids ate dinner at church the night we made this because we finished it all ourselves. This meal is amazing and I would order it again, but not to feed a family of four. I think it is best proportioned to feed two to three people.
The second meal we tried was the Italian meatballs and orzo made with cremini mushrooms, lacinato kale, tomato sauce, and fresh herbs. This meal was really good too and expanded our horizons a bit. I have never cooked with kale and was hesitant to do so, but did so that I could follow the recipe exactly and share this experience with you honestly. To our surprise we didn't notice any strong flavors from the kale. It blended in nicely with the recipe which was quite tasty. I thought this recipe was a little more involved than the salmon, but was still fairly quick to prepare. It took right around 40 minutes. The meatballs were even better the next day as leftovers and did make enough to feed a family of four.
Green Chef meal kit delivery service is an easy way to simplify making healthy meals at home. Recipes and all of the ingredients are sent directly to your door. I love trying new things so making recipes I have never made before was a lot of fun. My husband helped make the meatballs and we enjoyed our time cooking together. One of my favorite things about the meal kits is all of the fresh produce and herbs. I don't usually cook with fresh herbs, but feel inspired to use them more often. I just planted some basil and it is already about two inches high. If you want an easy way to eat healthier and expand your culinary horizons, give Green Chef a try.
New customers save $50 off your first box through my link at Green Chef.
Disclosure: I received complimentary products for review, but all opinions are honest and are my own. #ad. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
Welcome to my review of prAna clothing (affiliate link). I have seen prAna online through blog reviews, but had never tried the clothes before this review. I was excited to try out some new things, but a little apprehensive about how I would look in them since I am on the tall side at 5'10" and I have a 2 month old and am carrying a little extra weight around the middle. I was very careful when ordering and took my measurements since I have never worn prAna clothes before and my post baby body isn't back to normal yet. I even read reviews online to get a feel for the sizing. I chose the Kara jean (affiliate link) which is their most popular style in denim size 6 and the Stacia sweater in harbor blue size M. They are both made of organic cotton which I don't think I have ever worn before and have to admit is super soft. The sweater is fair trade certified which makes me feel good as a consumer knowing that the workers who made it are working under fair working conditions.
You are probably wondering how I really feel about my new prAna clothes after wearing them. First let's talk about the Kara jeans. They can be worn cuffed or uncuffed. Since I am so tall, I wear them uncuffed. In the summer, I may wear them cuffed as capri pants. You can see them cuffed at prAna.com. They are cute either way and if you are tall like me, you can still wear them. As far as fit goes, my Kara jeans fit really well except that they are in my opinion too low at the waist. I don't like having to worry about my backside showing when I sit down or bend over. I remedy this by wearing long tops with these jeans. Most of my tops are longer anyway, but I wouln't wear a short top with the Kara jeans.
As far as comfort goes, the Kara jeans are sooooooooo comfortable! The first day I wore them, I commented to my husband that night that I felt like I had worn yoga pants or sweats all day. You get the look of jeans with the comfort of sweats. They are so soft and flexible you could proably do yoga in them if you wanted. The Kara jeans are pricier as far as jeans go, but a good pair of jeans is a wardrobe staple. I have probably worn them at least 10 times since I received them for review. They are my new go-to jeans that I wear all the time. Now let's talk about the Stacia sweater. Based on my measurements and the fact that I just had a baby, I ordered a medium. This sweater is not fitted at the waist and is a little larger than I realized it would be. If I would have known, I would have ordered a small. So my sweater is bigger on me than I would like, but I still wear it because it is super comfy and I love the color. It is a beautiful blue green color. One thing I love about this sweater is that the sleeves are long enough for my arms. I almost always have to order tall size tops and can't just walk into a store and buy one. This is not a tall size sweater and the sleeves are long enough for me. There is one flaw in my sweater and that is that it is not perfectly symetrical across the front. The left side is slightly longer than the right and I find myself tugging on the right side to make it longer. Good news is I don't think anyone else notices. Overall, I recommend the Stacia sweater as a fashionable and comfortable piece of clothing, however, if I had purchased the sweater I would have sent it back for a smaller size that was symetrical across the front. I have had a good experience reviewing my new prAna clothing. I have worn both the sweater and jeans multiple times in the short time I have owned them and know that if I had purchased them myself I would get my money's worth. My new prAna clothes are fashionable and functional which is important to this busy mother of four.
2021 Update: I now have four pairs of prAna jeans that are wardrobe staples in my regular clothing rotation. They are still my favorite jeans I own! You can read a more recent update on my favorite jeans in this gift guide post.
Disclosure: I received complimentary products in exchange for an honest review.
As you can imagine, in a house full of boys, Star Wars is a big deal. When asked to select a Halloween costume from Oriental Trading Company's wide selection, my son went straight for the Star Wars collection.
He chose this "The Clone Wars Commander Cody" costume and the "Clone Trooper Blaster" (sold separately). My son loves this costume with all of the details and the really cool helmet. The helmet has a front and a back piece that velcro together to form the clone trooper helmet. The helmet pieces seem to fit together well, but can come apart easily during play too. When they come apart, you can just put them back together again.
This "The Clone Wars Commander Cody" costume not only looks good, it is flexible and easy to wear for dress-up play too. I'm sure this costume will get hours of play long after Halloween has passed.
The boys are all excited about the Clone Trooper Blaster. They love playing with it and when they pull the trigger, it plays authentic Star Wars movie sounds. It takes two AAA batteries (not included).
Shop Oriental Trading Company for all of your Halloween costume needs for the whole family.
Linking up at Friendship Friday
Disclosure: “The Nature’s Harvest® bread information, coupons, gift card, gift pack, and additional giveaway have been provided by Nature’s Harvest® bread so that I could try the product and share my thoughts and information about Nature’s Harvest® bread. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions of Nature’s Harvest® bread.”
Have you seen the new movie "Finding Dory"? Just in time for it's release (which was today) I made these adorable "Finding Dory" inspired Sparkle Seaweed Toasts and Sea Cucumber Toasts.
Now through July, fans can purchase any four Nature’s Harvest® breads and receive a free, limited edition Dory TY® Sparkle Eye Beanie Boo™ plush toy. Swim by www.wholegrainsplash.com for more info!
The boys love our new Dory TY® Sparkle Eye Beanie Boo™ and they really love our new sea inspired cookie cutters. They were so eager to help make our Dory inspired toasts and couldn't wait to use the new cookie cutters. To make your own "Finding Dory" inspired toast, you will need Nature’s Harvest® bread, cream cheese, cucumber, seaweed snacks, and sea themed cookie cutters. Aren't these Dory's Sparkle Seaweed and Dory's Sea Cucumber Toasts adorable? Plus you can feel good about serving your family Nature’s Harvest® bread because it’s not baked with artificial flavors, colors or high fructose corn syrup. I love how cute these cucumber whales turned out. Perfect for a "Finding Dory" themed party or a fun summer lunch with the kids. Plus your kids will beg to help you make lunch.
Enter to win the Make a Splash with Whole Grains Sweepstakes: Nature’s Harvest® bread will be accepting entries for the Make A Splash with Whole Grains Facebook Sweepstakes from April 28 to July 7. See official rules here . All entrants will have the chance to win weekly prizes, including movie tickets, autographed posters and more. No purchase necessary
Dory's Sparkle Seaweed Toast and Sea Cucumber Toast
Ingredients: Nature’s Harvest® bread Cream cheese Cucumber, thinly sliced Seaweed snacks, torn into small pieces Sea themed cookie cutters These are so easy to make. Simply toast the bread, then cut with cookie cutters. Next spread with cream cheese, followed by seaweed pieces or cucumber slices.
Enter to win my giveaway for two (2) fish-shaped cookie cutters and one (1) coupon valid for up to $5 off any Nature’s Harvest® bread. I am responsible for the giveaway and Nature’s Harvest® bread is only providing the prize.
Linking up at Share the Wealth, Family Joy
I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program (greenmomsmeet.com), May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.
We were excited to try Santa Cruz organic Agua Fresca since we love fruity drinks, but try to make healthy choices too. After trying both Pomegranate and Mango Passion Fruit we all decided that pomegranate was our favorite. (There is also a grapefruit flavor, but we haven't tried it yet.) It is a light fruity drink that is perfect for hot summer days. Since it's an Agua Fresca, it's first ingredient is water making it hydrating and refreshing when you are really thirsty, but still want something flavorful. Santa Cruz Organic Agua Fresca is the perfect drink for on -the-go.
Santa Cruz Organic Agua Fresca is made with organic fruit juice, sugar, and a hint of lemon juice. It contains USDA Certified Organic ingredients, including organic juice/fruit puree as the first ingredient after water. These refreshing and lightly sweetened beverages are Non-GMO Project Verified and Gluten-Free.
Be sure to follow Santa Cruz Organic on facebook, twitter, and pinterest. Interested in trying healthy eco friendly products? Visit Moms Meet for more info. Which flavor of Santa Cruz Organic Agua Fresca do you most want to try?
I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.
We received this adorable set of ASPCA Kids Rescue Readers to review along with a couple of extra ASPCA Kids books. Our children love books and we read aloud to them almost every night so they were thrilled when a box of new books arrived. They are also begging for a pet. We told them that they have to wait until we are no longer renting and are in our own home, which should be very soon. With their love of both animals and reading, they loved these books.
These stories follow real rescued animals (from the animals perspective). They are beautifully illustrated and tell the cutest stories. At the end of the book, they show a picture of the real animal and give more details of the animal's rescue story. The boys love this part and always ask me to read it too. In fact, McKinley was rescued in our hometown so we always wonder if we will see McKinley around town.
• Studio Fun International, in partnership with the ASPCA, has published a children’s book series, ASPCA kids: Rescue Readers. • Each story is inspired by a real-life animal rescue story from the pet’s point of view and includes facts and photographs of the actual pet that inspired the story. • Each book creates a fun and educational hands-on experience written at a Level 2 reading level for early readers. • The importance of care, protection, and love of animals is incorporated into each tale with a focus on the joyous outcome. • Four to five percent of the purchase price of every book goes directly to the ASPCA to help continue its mission. • Stories are available in paperback, library binding hardcovers, and e-books. The paperback books are priced at $3.99 (each) or $15.96 (for all four) everywhere books are sold.
My four year old loves this Mix and Match Pets book which teaches colors and counting.
He likes to read this one himself and has such fun counting the colored objects on each page.
Be sure to follow Studiofun on facebook and check them out at studiofun.com.
Interested in trying healthy eco friendly products? Visit Moms Meet for more info.
What do you think of the new ASPCA Kids Rescue Readers? Which books would your children love?
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Welcome to Home Ec @ HomeHi, I'm Faith, a former Family and Consumer Science teacher turned food blogger. I love God, my family, and food. You can usually find me in the kitchen preparing family friendly, homemade recipes and taking lots of pictures. This website uses marketing and tracking technologies. Opting out of this will opt you out of all cookies, except for those needed to run the website. Note that some products may not work as well without tracking cookies. Opt Out of CookiesFan Favorites
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