Granting Kitty Wishes with the Litter Genie

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group®, Litter Genie® and Fancy Feast®, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #Catparents http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Bodhi has been a part of our family for 12 1/2 years now. (He also has a sister named Tilly, but she declined to participate in today's post- diva! ;) ) When I made the two hour drive to adopt a new kitten over 12 years ago, I only had intentions of coming home with one new fur baby. Somehow I ended up with two- siblings, a girl and a boy (who believe it or not was once the runt of the bunch!).  And now I cannot imagine having one without the other. They also happen to be total opposites as far as personality goes- Bodhi is a big cuddly teddy bear who hasn't met a hand that he doesn't want to nudge and rub; Tilly is a pretty girl, but she pretty much only loves me... and sometimes tolerates little miss. Everyone else? Good luck. ;)

There did come a time in my life about 4 1/2 years ago when I suddenly lost my job and found my world turned upside down almost literally overnight. A lot of scrambling happened, and I actually had to give up my two babies to a friend who lived in my home state over 3 hours away. I kept in touch with their newly adopted mama via Facebook. As fate would have it, my family and I found ourselves back in our home state just two years later. Their adoptive mama reached out to me to let me know that Tilly just never came around to her new family...  She offered for us to take them both back into our family. A week later, Bodhi and Tilly were back in our family as if we hadn't skipped a beat. It's funny because I was worried that they wouldn't remember us after being in a new home for over two years. My worries were for nothing. :)

Though I wouldn't say that we are the type of cat parents who overly spoil their fur babies, we do take very good care of them both. Recently we discovered the Litter Genie on sale at our local Target that also included a bonus free cat toy. We couldn't pass it up...

Have You All Met Charlie Yet?

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Purina One, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #ONEDifference

Being predominantly a food blogger, I do not get very many opportunities to tell my readers about the furrier member of our family. So let me introduce you all to Charlie today...

Charlie became a part of our family over 5 years ago.  Looking at this spunky Papillon who runs circles in our yard at break neck speeds and gets excited for every new visitor to the house, you would never in a million years guess his history...

Charlie was rescued from a puppy mill a few months before he joined our family.  I traveled south of Cincinnati to visit a rescue shelter for Shiba Inus, and left with a very shy butterfly-eared pup instead.  All the Shiba Inus were anxious to see me, jumping up on me, eager to be pet... and little Charlie was cowering in a corner, seemingly too afraid to even move.

That dog needed to be rescued.

That dog needed a loving home.

And that dog was the one who came home with me that day... 

5 Simple Tips to Get Swimsuit Ready in Less Than 4 Weeks

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Slimfast, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #14daystoslim  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

So, it just dawned on me earlier this week that we will be on our beach vacation in about a month.

And that our local pool, which we purchased a summer membership to last earlier this month, will be opening THIS WEEKEND.

Anyone else realizing that crunch time for swimsuit season is like... NOW? 

But not to worry, folks.

I have a plan. ;)

And one that can get us all ready to shimmy into those swimsuits and confidently lounging on the beach and poolside in under 4 weeks.... 

Saving Counter Space & Money With Rubbermaid & the Target Cartwheel App...

This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Rubbermaid, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #RMDishRack  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Being a mama, a food blogger, and a home cook, I find myself having to wash certain dishes and items by hand pretty often.

From my wood & bamboo cutting boards to my slow cooker insert to the various pieces of vintage and delicate dishware I have bought for my food photography, I am washing a sink full (or two or three) of dishes at least three times a week.

Yes, once upon a time I was under the impression that once I had a dishwasher in my kitchen, I would never again hand wash a dish. 

And yes, I tested that theory out for a bit and lost a fabulous wood cutting board to warping and some pretty glass dishes that really were too small for the rack and ended up on the floor of the dishwasher with chips in them.

I learned my lesson the hard way, folks.

So, now I suck it up and fill that sink with suds and hand wash those suckers.

The biggest problem I have faced with hand washing dishes is where to put them as they dry. I did buy one of those fabric drying mats, but it took up so much space when laid out & I was always precariously stacking my dishes so they would all fit on the mat.
Which kind of defeats my goal of hand washing my dishes because it is a safer option for them. Am I right? ;)

Pizza Picnic & A Movie- Date Night-In on a Budget

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Tony’s Pizza, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #tonyspizzeria http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV.

Date nights out sadly do not happen very often for my husband and I.  Budget constraints (just one of the drawbacks of being a single income family), time constraints (my husband works retail, so weekends are usually out for us to go out), and our two year old daughter (who is presently going through a "mommy do it" & apparently no one else can phase) have ensured that date nights out for my husband and I are few and far between.

But that doesn't mean we have thrown in the towel and don't try to make time for each other... ;)

What's the solution?

Date nights in that are easy on the wallet & can easily happen when the little one is napping or has went down for the night.

Last week I went to Walmart with the goal of creating a fun and delicious date night-in for my husband and I for under $15.  And guess what, folks? I succeeded!

Yep- delicious, pizzeria style pizza, a bottle of red wine, a movie rental, and even ice cream for two for less than $15.

Strawberry-Pineapple Sansgria

This fruity & bubbly Strawberry-Pineapple "Sans"gria is the perfect kid friendly drink to serve for a spring brunch or summer BBQ! Adults can add a splash of white wine or rum... ;)

I don't know about you all, but I can feel swimsuit season looming ahead.  Don't get me wrong- I am anxious for the warmer weather, the sunshine, the beach vacation just calling my name...

But like everyone else, I have goals and aspirations to look fabulous in my bathing suit & to confidently pull off leg baring flirty summer dresses.

I know I need to work out more.

I know I need to eat healthier & cut down on the sweet treats and the higher calories drinks.

But I am horrible at trying to make and maintain huge, sudden changes in my diet or workouts.  

For me, baby steps are the most successful way for me to make those healthier changes in time for bathing suit season...

Like swapping out the afternoon cookie for a granola bar. 

Or adding a 30 minute workout at home a couple of times a week to my usual gym workouts.

And dropping the high calorie beverages for my new favorite line of low calorie beverages that I discovered at my local Walmart- Four TEN sodas from the Dr. Pepper Snapple Group. 

A Big Breakfast On-The-Go With Jimmy Dean Pancakes & Sausage

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Jimmy Dean, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #onthego http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO.

As the mother to a teenage son, I am always look for tasty, filling breakfasts that...

A. He can easily make on his own

B. Can be made very quickly

C. He can take on-the-go.

I mean, he is the typical teenage boy- he gets up at the latest time that he possibly can get by with.  

Which often means, he will choose to skip breakfast or make some not so healthy choices because he can grab it and go as he is sprinting out the door to catch the bus...

Going Digital for the Holidays With Open Me

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group™ and Open Me, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #OpenMeHoliday  http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO

Confession time- I loathe going to the store to pick out a greeting card.

Not only at this time of the year, but pretty much any time of the year.

It never fails that someone with a shopping cart in hand will be blocking the very section of cards that I need to get to.  And then there is the awkward "excuse me's" while you crouch down and try to reach around the edge of their cart.

I always find myself in the greeting card section for a minimum of 30 minutes, but often longer.

Yes, I am one of those people who cannot just choose a card and go.  It has to be the perfect card for that particular person and occasion.  And if I can't find the perfect card, I would rather not give one at all...  

Boy, am I happy to see a site like Open Me pop up this time of the year!  We typically send out the one size fits all holiday card to all of our family & friends, but I usually go out and buy a special card for my husband each Christmas. 

Any time I buy a card for my husband, it is a grand quest.  Because when you are buying a card for the man that you love in your life, you want it to be better than perfect, right? ;)

I really want to let him know how much I appreciate everything he does for our little family, and how much I love him for all the hard work he does.

Project Mummy- A Halloween Couture Party Game

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

Grab a few rolls of Cottenelle Triple Roll, some dollar store and craft store spooky finds, scissors, and tape and get ready for a fierce game of Project Mummy...

Every Halloween my parents throw a costume party for family and friends.  It is a Halloween holiday tradition that started in my grandparents' garage many years ago and has now been taken on by my parents each year.  They deck out their garage in ghoulish decor, serve spooky party food, and play frightful games.

Slow Cooked Chinese Five Spiced Pot Roast

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

I think you all are pretty aware by now of my love for slow cooking.  It isn't a secret that I break out my slow cooker at least twice a week all year round.  When I was presented with the opportunity to try the WonderBag, I about jumped for joy! :) A slow cooker that is portable and requires no electricity??  Sign me up!