I wish I could share all of my husband's amazing shots of this beautiful bird. Here's two.
 |
| Hummingbird coming in to drink |
 |
| Hummingbird in Rain |
Have a happy Wednesday!
Have a happy Wednesday!
With the girls back in school, I was happy to do a review for Rubbermaid's LunchBlox.
Both girls take lunches from home all school year, so I was intrigued by the portioned containers which would allow me to buy in bulk, split yogurts and snacks, and cut back on storage bag usage. Saving money while feeding my girls a healthy lunch is a top priority for me.
If
you aren’t familiar with these cool lunch sets, take a look at this cute,
organizing set.
 |
| Courtesy: Rubbermaid |
Company
Description:
Rubbermaid LunchBlox™
makes packing lunch easier than ever. These modular containers snap together in
multiple configurations to efficiently use the space in your lunch box or bag.
Containers are perfectly portioned for your favorite lunch foods with handy
measurements on the sides of each container. Your lunch stays chilled with snap
in Blue Ice™. Individual containers are sold separately from kits so you can
configure a different way everyday.
Highlights:
Containers stack compactly to stay organized.
Ice pack keeps your lunch cool on the Go.
Secure lid seal.
BPA- free.
Microwave, dishwasher and freezer safe.
Sandwich container holds regular and specialty bread.
Sandwich kit includes 2 snack containers, 1 side container, 1 sandwich container and 1 medium blue ice.
My Review:
At first I thought the small 4oz. container wouldn’t hold my regular serving
size of baby carrots, but looks can be deceiving. I had plenty of room.
The sandwich
container is very roomy, allowing me to use hearty, 12 grain bread for their
sandwiches. While their old sandwich
keeper had me smooshing down their sandwiches, I had plenty of room with the
Rubbermaid LunchBlox.
My other
concern was that the small ice pack, which goes in between the containers, may
not keep lunches cold long enough, but I was pleasantly surprised again. My
youngest got off the bus at 4:20 pm and asked if she could finish her turkey
sandwich from lunch. I checked its temperature and it was still cold! Impressive!
The lids
come off easily, so even the youngest kids can master them. Although I would
remind them to keep track of all their lids.
Both girls
gave the Rubbermaid LunchBlox 2 thumbs up and as the Chief Lunch Preparer, so
do I.
I highly recommend this product.
If you would
like more information about this and other lunch solutions from Rubbermaid,
please visit them here. While there,
look for their coupon, or use the link below.
 |
| Click Here for Coupon |
I hope you
found this review helpful. Please feel free to share this with friends and
family.
Rubbermaid
sent me one LunchBlox to review. I was not compensated. Coupon link is not an
affiliate link. All opinions are my own.
I am working with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) to help Clubs spread awareness around their upcoming Day for Kids event on September 15.
Boys & Girls Clubs across the country celebrate Day for Kids by hosting picnics, indoor and outdoor festivals, and walks for the entire community to enjoy. Last year more than 85,000 people attended 950 events held across the country and overseas.
This is such a wonderful way to help kids not only be active and remember to play, but it also helps build up our communities.
I am happy to offer my readers a one week free trial membership to a local Boys and Girls Club, just use the printable coupon below.
When you click on the above picture, you will go to their site, put in your zip code to find your nearest participating Boys and Girls Club of America.
Content and/or other value provided by our partner, BGCA.
You can also donate by clicking below.
I encourage you to please share this with your family, friends, neighbors and readers.
Thank you!
I was not compensated in any way to share this information on my blog. As a BGCA Influencer, I may qualify to be entered in a contest for sharing the free trail membership. All opinions are my own.
Several
weeks ago I got an email from Mom Select asking me if I would be interested in
hosting a Gutzy Gear party. A what I wondered
aloud. Enter my tween daughter Ms. M, who immediately said,” say yes please! I’ve
wanted to show you the commercial for those”. Thankfully, I was chosen.
 |
| Gutzy Gear |
Don’t have a
tween talking in your ear about Gutzy Gear? From their website:
Gutzy Gear is a great, new way
to express yourself by customizing your back back, sports duffel, messenger
bag, and more! Gutzies are cool looking removable patches. Gutzies stick to a
Gutzy strap cover that you put wherever you want to go Gutzy! With 56 Gutzies
in a series and new Gutzies constantly being introduced, you can collect and
trade a world of Gutzies.
Fast forward
to Saturday afternoon. What do you get
when you have a group of tween girls, games, snacks and Gutzy Gear?
A fabulously
fun afternoon filled with lots of giggles and bonding. It’s amazing what you
can learn about your kids and their friends when you sit back in another room
and let them be creative. The girls loved drawing versions of Gutzy Gear patches. Even though we
could have played Gutzy Bingo, or a matching game, the drawing was a hit.
Afterwards I
served a light snack and much to the girls surprise 2 hours had past and it was
time for them to pack up.
Here is Ms. M's backpack:
*2/19/13: I have removed the pictures associated with this post due to a large number of visits from websites in foreign countries.*
*2/19/13: I have removed the pictures associated with this post due to a large number of visits from websites in foreign countries.*
We had a
blast at our Gutzy Gear party and would highly recommend them as a fun,
creative activity for a sleep-over, birthday party, or play date. And, Moms-
Gutzy Gear isn’t just for girls! They have the boys covered too.
Head on over to Gutzy Gear and check out
their current buy 1 get one get 1 free deal. Also, between now and
September 7th, your kids can win 1 of 100 Toys ‘R Us gift cards, worth more
than $5000 by showing us how you “go gutzy”. Visit their Facebook page HERE for
more details.
Thank you to
Mom Select and Gutzy Gear for sending me a home party box to host this party. I
was not compensated. All opinions are my own.
Yesterday
was the first full day of school for us.
 |
| Watch out for school buses and school zones! |
Ms.
T and I start our days at 5:35a.m. It is hard to get up that early! No amount of
prepping and doing dry runs can truly make you feel happy about greeting the
day at this hour. But, we try.
Ms. T is a good
sport. She sets her own alarm and then
actually gets up and turns it off. Not many 8th graders do that. I
didn’t. I relied on my parents. Since both of them worked, I could lay there
for “just one more minute” knowing one or both of them would rouse me.
As a work at
home Mom, I know I am blessed to have the ability to stand in my kitchen each
morning, cup of coffee in hand, talking with my girls and husband, helping them
be prepared for their day.
It was and
still is the lifestyle choice that works best for our family. I am a work at home Mom- a Hybrid, balancing both, but putting more emphasis on home than on career. Still, I can see both sides clearly. And can honestly say: All Moms Work Hard! No Mom judgments’ here!
As our girls
enter 8th and 4th grade this year, I know it’s not going
to be all peaches and cream, but I’m trusting in the Lord and a good, solid
routine.
To me, routines
are just as important now as they were when my daughters were babies. Sameness when
it comes to waking, eating, homework, sleeping; etc. is a very good thing!
Have your
children started back to school yet? If so, what do you add or subtract from
your routine during the school months? Do you have a set routine, or do you wing it?
For me, I
add volunteering at both schools, getting together with girlfriends for a quick coffee and going
to small business owner meetings. I subtract late night movies.
Here's wishing you and your children a happy, safe, productive school year!
I have been saving for a Smartphone (and the data pack needed to thrive with said Smartphone).
I thought I had a pretty good idea of cost and had even started thinking I just might be looking pretty smart by years end.
While I've been scanning sales and dreaming, I've also been reading and hearing some pretty funny (no wait, sad!) stories about Smartphone deaths. Some by dogs, coffee, kids, toilets, water. I realized I'm going to need to budget for replacement insurance as well, because bad things can happen to good phones!
Like the time I washed my husband’s cell phone!
I could have sworn I’d checked all his pockets, but obviously I hadn't. How many pockets are on a pair of cargo shorts I ask you?? I didn’t find it until I was putting that load in the dryer. Oops!
Thank goodness it wasn’t a Smartphone because replacing one would have cost hundreds of dollars because he wasn’t eligible for an upgrade and we hadn’t opted for replacement Insurance. We didn’t think we'd need it. When I do get my Smartphone, I will be ready thanks to Asurion.
Check out their Infographic:
Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Asurion.
Win It:
Have you ever washed your phone, or gulp, your hubby’s? Tell me about your mobile mishap by leaving a comment and then enter the contest using the form below.
Disclosure:
This is a sponsored post written by me for Asurion Influencer Network. Writing this post enabled me to host this
giveaway for you, my readers and receive a gift card for myself. Thank You Asurion. All opinions are my own.
By now most
of you have caught on to the fact that I like to plan things out. I like being
prepared. Sure, I can do spur of the moment…
sometimes, if the Moon is in the right sign. No, seriously, I can be spontaneous on some
events, but a whole month of them?
Welcome to
our July.
 |
| Source |
We have by
way of events beyond our control had to be adaptable, flexible.
We have had to look for the silver lining as
our 4th of July party plans were squashed by a no burn- no fireworks
of any kind ordinance.
We had to buck up when our road trip was put
off because my husband, who was already b-u-s-y was asked to fill in for
another person.
We made
peace with staying put and swimming, until our pool grew some nasty algae and
needed to be treated with some major chemicals.
We
completely understood when our sitter cancelled the night before our special
date night at a lovely restaurant. Yes, reservations were required and I
cancelled them without complaint.
Some would
say this was a streak of bad luck, but I say July was a flexibility test. And I’m happy to say, we all passed with
flying colors. Who needs Plan A’s all the time? They are so boring, having
every detail planned out.
I have
watched with admiration and love as our daughters have taken all of this is
stride and still come out happy. A
little disappointed here and there, but always game for one of our Plan B’s.
They even came up with some stellar and fun ideas on their own.
They
reminded me that a little spontaneity is a very good thing.
I hope your
July has been all you hoped and planned for, but if not, look around for a Plan
B. Ask your kids/friends/family for input. I bet you
will have fun too!
Posts
